Ukraine war thread

[Dr Strangelove]

Finnish President Alexander Stubb: “First is a direct answer to the question of this panel: Can Europe defend itself? My answer is unequivocally yes. Without the Americans? Without the Americans. But you're relying on them for these key elements. How would you do it at scale and at duration and at intensity? With an assumption that the United States would cut off completely any kind of work. Well, if we look at the defense composure of Europe by and large, and a country like Finland, we have conscription. One million have done it. We can mobilize 280,000 soldiers within weeks. We have 62 F-18s. Your next question is going to be, do they fly without Americans? No, they don't. But do we trust that they will continue to fly because it's in the interest of America to do so? Yes. We just bought 64 F-35s. We have the biggest artillery in Europe together with Poland. We have long-range missiles, land, sea, and air. We have these because we're worried about Stockholm, right? So the bottom line is that if you ask me the question can the Finnish military defend itself against a Russian attack, the whole defense posture of the way in which you do it, yes, we can.”

“What has Russia achieved in 4 years of war?” — Finland’s President delivers a brutal verdict

Alexander Stubb explained why Putin’s war is a complete failure on all fronts.

— ~20% of Ukraine occupied
— ~1 million killed and wounded
— Sphere of influence reduced
— Economy broken: ~30% inflation, ~16% rates, zero growth, reserves drained
— Soon — no money even to pay soldiers

And the verdict is clear: this war is a strategic failure of Putin.

— NATO got bigger
— Ukraine became European
— Europe massively increased defence spending

“Are we able to defend ourselves? Yes.”

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

aww was his fe's fe's hurt?

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

Two more Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Mediterranean Sea experienced an unusual event.

Crude oil tanker "Progress" (IMO: 9306627) is north of the coast of Algeria and drifting. The vessel is declared “Not under command” while transporting 730,000 bbl of Urals crude toward Suez, Egypt, with its final destination being China.

A second tanker, the Chariot Tide (IMO: 9323376), which is not far from Gibraltar, is also declared "Not under command" as well as drifting.

Both ships are under sanctions. The status indicates a complete loss of navigational control, without specifying the reason.

Yesterday, French forces seized the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker "Grinch" (IMO: 9288851), which was also sailing in this region.