NATO

 

and others are not seeing a quick end to this conflict and we shouldn't be expecting one either.

Thousands try to flee eastern Ukraine as Russia refocuses attacks on east and south; U.S., EU to impose new sanctions

"The Luhansk regional governor has urged civilians to “evacuate while it is safe,” predicting a larger Russian assault to come."

"...in the besieged eastern city of Mariupol, where aid agencies say the humanitarian crisis is worsening as some 160,000 residents have no access to water, power, heating or communication."

(They are going to do to others what was done to them at Leningrad somebody said...:-(.)

"NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is preparing to support Ukraine for “the long haul,” saying there’s no indication Russian President Vladimir Putin has changed his position.

“We were well prepared when they invaded Ukraine but now we need to take a new step for a more long-term strengthening of our collective defense, and I expect that this will be discussed among the foreign ministers today and tomorrow,”"

(It's not just about Ukraine, more on that in a separate post to come here in a bit)

"Stoltenberg said the war, even once it ends, will have long-term impact on the security of the alliance, “because we have seen the brutality. We have seen the willingness by president Putin to use military force to reach his objectives and that has changed the security reality in Europe for many, many years.”

(Not just on NATO and the security alliance but on the rest of the world as well. Covid had ripple affects that weren't felt till year(s) later, and so will this war.)

 

"Scholz also said that Germany can only send arms to Ukraine that it will actually know how to use, pointing out that Ukraine’s forces have long used much older equipment, meaning weapons once used by the army of former Communist East Germany are an appropriate fit.

(Germany reunified 30 some odd years ago...WTH?)

Germany’s decision to send offensive weaponry to a conflict zone following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represented a historic reversal in policy and the first such move since World War II.

"The new sanctions package proposed by the EU will require approval by all 27 member states. While it’s the fifth sanctions round levied against Russia by the bloc since its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, critics say it needs to go further and ban Russian oil and gas imports, which bring Russia billions of dollars in revenues weekly.

The EU relies heavily on Russia for its energy needs, importing roughly 40% of its gas and 37% of its oil from the country in 2020."

(Never should have allowed such dependence on Russian oil and gas to start with, now that the EU countries are so dependent? There is no easy way out. Wait till late fall, early winter and the Russians restrict oil and gas shipments to the EU. Do you think we will hear all the chatter about how unified NATO is then?)