Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 05/04/2025 11:05:58 AM PDT by marshmallow
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not initiate its military operation in Ukraine any earlier because it believed in the Minsk agreements and aimed to resolve the Donbass issue peacefully.
Russia did not prepare specifically for a military operation, but instead sought a peaceful resolution to the Donbass conflict, Vladimir Putin told journalist Pavel Zarubin in a documentary dedicated to the 25th anniversary since the president's first inauguration.
The country could not proceed with drastic action on Ukraine without first addressing key issues in the spheres of security and the economy.
The president pointed out that the United States is now openly acknowledging that the West is engaged in an existential war with Russia. Putin emphasized that Russia is essentially standing alone in its confrontation with the collective West.
Until 2022, Russia had approached agreements with its Western partners with cautious trust. The signing of the Minsk agreements was a hopeful moment for Russia, expecting compliance from all parties. However, Putin pointed out that the country was ultimately deceived. The West used the pause under the guise of complying with the Minsk agreements to rearm Ukraine and prepare for war with Russia, he added.
Putin said that as Western companies began to leave Russia, many risks loomed over the country's economy. But despite these challenges, Russia did not fall into crisis, thanks to strong economic fundamentals that kept the country resilient.
(Excerpt) Read more at sputnikglobe.com ...
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
LOL.
Countries invaded by the Russian Empire, the USSR, and the Russian Federation in the 20’th and 21’st centuries.
1905 - invasion of Japan
1914- invasion of Austria and Germany
1917 - invasion of Ukraine
1917 - invasion of Alash autonomy (modern Kazakhstan)
1918 - invasion of Finland
1918 - invasion of Latvia
1918 - invasion of Lithuania
1918 - invasion of Estonia
1918 - invasion of Georgia
1919 - invasion of Georgia
1920 - invasion of Azerbaijan
1921 - invasion of Georgia
1921 - invasion of Armenia
1924 - invasion of Romania
1925 - invasion of Afghanistan
1929 - invasion of China
1929 - invasion of Afghanistan
1932 - invasion of Empire of Japan
1937 - invasion of China
1939 - invasion of Poland
1939 - invasion of Finland
1940 - invasion of Latvia
1940 - invasion of Lithuania
1940 - invasion of Estonia
1940 - invasion of Bukovina
1941 - invasion of Iran
1945 - invasion of Denmark
1945 - invasion of Empire of Japan
1950 - Korean war
1955 - invasion of Vietnam
1956 - invasion of Hungary
1968 - invasion of Czechoslovakia
1970 - invasion of Israel
1974 - invasion of Eritrea
1975 - invasion of Angola
1977 - invasion of Somali
1979 - invasion of Afghanistan
1981 - invasion of Nicaragua
1991 - 1993 Georgia
1991 - 1993 Abkhazia
1992 - Transnistria/Moldova
1992 - East Prigorodny, Ossetia
1992 - 1997 Tajikistan
1994 - 1996 Chechnya
1999 - Dagestan
1999 - 2009, second war with Chechnya
2008 - Georgia/Osettia (again, 3rd time)
2009 - 2017, Caucasus/Dagestan/Chechnya
2014 - present, Ukraine
2015 - present, Syria
2018 - present, Central Africa
2022 - fourth invasion of Ukraine
There is absolutely no excuse for authorizing a penny more of new military aid to Ukraine.
Let Europe fund it.
Poor Putin. He had no choice but to invade Ukraine. /s
Is Vladimir Putin actually the richest man in the world?
Official records from the Kremlin state that Putin earns a modest annual salary of approximately $140,000 and owns minimal assets, including an 800-square-foot apartment, a trailer, and three cars. However, numerous reports and experts estimate his net worth to be as high as $200 billion, which would place him among the wealthiest individuals globally, potentially surpassing figures like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. These estimates stem from allegations of hidden wealth, including:
Luxury Assets: Putin is rumored to own extravagant properties like a $1.4 billion Black Sea mansion (often called “Putin’s Palace”), multiple yachts (including a $700 million vessel), 700 cars, 58 aircraft, and high-end watches worth multiples of his declared income.
Control Over Oligarchs: Some sources, like former investor Bill Browder, suggest Putin amassed wealth by extorting Russian oligarchs, demanding significant shares of their earnings, and controlling state resources and companies like Gazprom and Rosneft. The 2016 Panama Papers revealed a network of offshore deals worth $2 billion linked to Putin’s associates, though not directly to him.
Opaque Finances: Putin’s wealth is notoriously difficult to verify due to his use of proxies, complex financial schemes, and lack of transparency. Forbes and other wealth-ranking entities exclude him from billionaire lists because his assets cannot be independently confirmed.
Then the lying bastard should settle it.
Killed hundred of thousands for no GD reason.
Only leftist idiots ever believed we threaten Russia. Especially it was under that pathetic imbecile Biden.
>>”Trump must get out of this war or he’ll own this disaster like Nixon ended up owning Vietnam.”
We’re not in the war. Trump is trying to use smart diplomacy to bring it to an end. All else being equal, an independent Ukraine is a better geo-strategic outcome for the U.S. than one that’s been absorbed by Russia.
More paranoid rantings for internal consumption.
I have to hand it to them, they have a playbook and they stick to it. They have been using this same theme since the time of Catherine the Great.
If the average Russian came to the west and discovered how little anyone here actually thinks about Russia, let alone wanting their stuff, they would be shocked.
BTTT
I see 3 outcomes for this war.
1. Russia wins outright on the battlefield (i.e., stops at their discretion), or through a comprehensive peace settlement.
2. Russia uses tactical nukes on the battlefield and then Trump decides that escalation is not a good idea - so Russia wins anyway.
3. Russia uses tactical nukes and then the West escalates (maybe France/UK), and no one wins, except, maybe, New Zealand.
The Neocons launching a nuclear first strike on Moscow is not credible, at least with Trump in office and neither is driving out Putin’s government through sanctions.
Russia is alone against the white race?
Russia itself is majority white.
“Democrats Face ‘Major Wake-up Call’ as Trump Trounces Them in Polling”
Given this headline from another thread, it wouldn’t completely surprise me if the Democrat do a COMPLETE FLIP on Ukraine, much as they did on both Gulf Wars and Vietnam - now that Trump has managed to maneuver himself to the losing side.
I base this on a number of factors:
1. The Neocons cannot win the war, the only question is how bad they lose.
2. Much of Trump’s base is ready to jump back to the Democrats if they can credibly oppose the war.
3. Getting to right of Republicans on major issues is ALWAYS a winning strategy for the Democrats. I remember the 1992 election vividly - Clinton promised a Middle Class Tax Cut while Bush Sr. RAISED taxes on Americans (one of many examples).
Without something major like this, the only other option for the Democrats is to split down the middle, thereby destroying their party.
putin still is evil.
I’ve seen reports he has $1 Trillion (with a T)
There is a lot of Mongol/Asian bloodlines in Russia.
When you explicitly set your up as the adversary to everyone else, don’t be surprised when you find yourself an international pariah. Russia is on good diplomatic terms with North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela to name a few. If that ain’t enough of a clue, I don’t know what is.
Lots, and a huge Muslim population as well but the majority is white like the little white part of the world that some here hate so much and want erased.
Now do an American list. Also separate from Russia and American govs to those controlling and let’s see who was behind it all and still is. Then we can have meaningful dialogue.
Was wondering how long it would take you to start maligning President Trump.
Regards,
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.