Russia-Ukraine War

[Chips]

Thousands of North Koreans are being sent to work in slave-like conditions in Russia to fill a huge labour shortage exacerbated by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the BBC has learned.

Moscow has repeatedly turned to Pyongyang to help it fight the war, using its missiles, artillery shells and its soldiers.

Now, with many of Russia's men either killed or tied up fighting - or having fled the country - South Korean intelligence officials have told the BBC that Moscow is increasingly relying on North Korean labourers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2077gwjlvxo

It isn't that surprising, given how both countries treat their people these days... (well, North Korea always treated it's people horrifically).

[fiksal]

which is increasingly interesting


we often talk about racism in US, and skip over that it exists elsewhere. In this case, in Russia, which is extra relevant here since Russians think of North Korean (and anyone who looks Asian), as less than people. Add to the mix the State idealogy of Z fascists which think they are the superior people over everyone. And yes, over Americans included.


This thought returns me to "land swapping" idea. I am somewhat unsure what would Putin say if Trump would offer Alaska. Not like he'd need an approval from Congress. Putin might pause his war before going to Baltic countries. So that would be a win for Trump and for peace?

[Observe]

I don't get the concept of land swapping. What does Ukraine have to offer? Zelensky says that Ukraine won't "gift" Russia with land, because Ukraine's Constitution prohibits it. How can Ukraine gift something that's already been taken? Their Constitution isn't worth the paper its printed on, unless they have the power to uphold it - which obviously they don't.

I'm sort of expecting the result of this meeting on Friday, will be Trump once again telling Zelensky that he doesn't have any cards in the game.

[chew-ie]

I like the idea of Trump handing over Alaska. Should show the last bonehead in the US what Trump is and what he is not.

[mr.WHO]

Yep, out of all possible places he could pick, he picked land which Russia claim it's theirs.

Normally such places are picked to sign humiliating surrender, except it looks like it's US who's surrendering.

[Chips]

I don't get the concept of land swapping. What does Ukraine have to offer? Zelensky says that Ukraine won't "gift" Russia with land, because Ukraine's Constitution prohibits it. How can Ukraine gift something that's already been taken? Their Constitution isn't worth the paper its printed on, unless they have the power to uphold it - which obviously they don't.

I'm sort of expecting the result of this meeting on Friday, will be Trump once again telling Zelensky that he doesn't have any cards in the game.

I think this perhaps highlights a lack of understanding or fuller reading around media headlines / opinions voiced by commentators?

Zelensky says that Ukraine won't "gift" Russia with land, because Ukraine's Constitution prohibits it. How can Ukraine gift something that's already been taken?

The "gift" is in relation to the demand Russia is expected to make in any serious attempt to get peace; that Ukraine gives up territory that the Ukraine *does* control.

So that's the rest of the Donbass area; the non-Russian held areas of Donetsk Oblast. It's expected Russia is going to say "no ceasefire unless we get the 30% of Donetsk Oblast we don't hold already", and the swap being "and we may give back territory around as a sweetener... " (unlikely) - but unless Trump is actually willing to carry out his threats, Russia's just stalling as usual. Trump's the one talking about swapsies.

Trump's repeatedly showing to be all talk and absolutely zero trousers when it comes to strong personalities he can't bully; so about all we expect is Trump will actually talk about what the US can gain from this circumstance (mineral rights, rebuild money) in return for Russia to get the Donbass, Crimea, and probably the land corridor, lifted sanctions, promises US pulls back it's forces from Europe, won't help out in European theatre, forbids sales of munitions to Ukraine and so on. The list could be endless.

Trump's "USA NUMBER 1" and likely why he doesn't want Zelensky there. It's not about what's best for Ukraine... it's about what's going to be best for Trump/USA. If Russia can make some attractive sounding "deal" for US benefit, then Ukraine's going to be bullied into accepting it and there may be a raft of conditions attached to diminish European "strength".

So now we get to wait and see if Trump *can* actually make deals, or, even stand up (obviously, from the above, you can tell I have a very very negative view of Trump - so hopefully he can surprise. I'm literally expecting the worst though )

[fiksal]

That's correct, Russia is officially demanding the land that isn't under Russian army control, plus two large cities, like Odessa.

And as a broken record that I am I will once again repeat that Russia never changed its terms in any last negotiations. In the last one with Rubio they have concluded that USA now sees the war from "their perspective".

So the demands are:
- area west of Donbass
- cities of Odessa, Kherson
- demilitarization
- "denazification" which we can read as repressions
- change of government with pro Kremlin one. Which you can read as - appointed.
- dictate to EU to never admit Ukraine
- dictate/veto in NATO to never admit Ukraine. Even if all members vote for it

That's the main stuff I can recall.

Annexing Baltics, Finland, Poland will be asked later I think, not now
-