February 23, 2022

You never know who you'll run into in Kyiv!

https://twitter.com/VladDavidzon/status/1496269923030556672

February 22, 2022

A history lesson for Putin:

https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv/status/1496115593149358081

February 22, 2022

NY Times Dealbook: What's at stake in Ukraine.

The biggest concern is over disruption to supplies of oil and gas, with prices rising since Moscow backed the separatists. That could inflict pain on Europe, which relies heavily on Russian supplies of natural gas in particular and is already suffering from spiking energy prices.
Global oil producers and traders are also worried that sanctions could severely hit their businesses, with even limited sanctions on Russian assets likely to create problems. Multinational banks will also have to react to how sanctions are designed.
Russia and Ukraine are major producers of wheat, acting as crucial suppliers to Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Economists fear that disruptions to food supplies could spur social unrest.
Russia is a leading exporter of palladium, a crucial metal used in cars, smartphones and even dental fillings.

https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=4&emc=edit_dk_20220222&instance_id=53925&nl=dealbook&productCode=DK®i_id=63878655&segment_id=83531&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2Fdf7bcb3a-7008-51cc-9a31-cadf674153fb&user_id=13ffad9bdbc094431ac6c5ff94c77b8c

February 22, 2022

EU statement on Sanctions:

Statement by the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council on Russian aggression against Ukraine


The decision of the Russian Federation to recognise as independent entities and send Russian troops to certain areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts is illegal and unacceptable. It violates international law, Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Russia's own international commitments and it further escalates the crisis.

Both Presidents welcome the steadfast unity of Member States and their determination to react with robustness and speed to the illegal actions of Russia in close coordination with international partners.

An informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers chaired by the High Representative will take place today at 4 pm. Following that, a first package of sanctions will be formally tabled later this afternoon.

Appropriate bodies will then meet to finalise the package without delay.

The package contains proposals:

to target those who were involved in the illegal decision,
to target banks that are financing Russian military and other operations in those territories,
to target the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU's capital and financial markets and services, to limit the financing of escalatory and aggressive policies,
and to target trade from the two breakaway regions to and from the EU, to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions.
The EU has prepared and stands ready to adopt additional measures at a later stage if needed in the light of further developments.

Both Presidents supported by the High Representative continue to follow closely developments on the ground and consult with fellow EU leaders and international counterparts.

The Union remains in full solidarity with Ukraine and united in support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We stand by and will continue to support Ukraine and

February 21, 2022

Ukraine Separatist territories: What they occupy v. What they want.

https://twitter.com/AstorAaron/status/1495884230949285893


https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495868229553696770

February 21, 2022

Putin is speaking now!

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495835097064480772

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495836390281682953

https://twitter.com/samagreene/status/1495837412286738444

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495837942639648770

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495838435801714698

https://twitter.com/samagreene/status/1495839755422031875

https://twitter.com/samagreene/status/1495843120533155842

https://twitter.com/michaelh992/status/1495840133698002944

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495840860939993099

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495843040220655618?

https://twitter.com/samagreene/status/1495844092311441414

https://twitter.com/samagreene/status/1495844947769106436

https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1495844990005690378

February 21, 2022

Putin to give televised address shortly:

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin listened to the members of the Russian Security Council, who favored the recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, but did not announce the final decision, adding that the decision will be made later today.

"Dear colleagues, I’ve heard your opinion. The decision will be made today," Putin told the Security Council.

During the meeting, all participants favored the recognition of Donbass republics. Previously, Russian State Duma, LPR and DPR sent corresponding requests to the Russian President.

Rossiya-24 TV channel announced that Putin will deliver a televised address shortly.




https://tass.com/politics/1407541

February 21, 2022

Some good news from Russia:

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1495787266773594119

February 20, 2022

Pretty Ballerina - Left Banke

Yet another song inspired by the teenage Renee Fladen.

February 19, 2022

Watching a Gen Z bartender try to figure out

how to make a martini. She had to look it up on her phone.
The end of civilization is upon us.