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[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 3 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Portrait of a Nation: How Ordinary Russians’ Lives Have Changed in 3 Years of War

... “Since the special military operation began, I no longer live my life but merely exist in this world. I lost my only son [in the war]. I have my daughters to care for, so I have to keep living and go to work,” said a middle-aged woman from the Mongolia-bordering republic of Tyva.

“My husband started drinking heavily after our son’s death, but he stopped after I once tried to take my own life. Of course, I haven’t told any of this to people around me — I just often cry quietly when no one is around,” she told The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity ... “There are many funerals here, and there is much more drinking and aggressive behavior [from men] — that’s how people choose to express their pain and dissatisfaction,” said the Tyvan woman ,,,

“There is a deep and growing resentment toward the authorities,” a woman from the [Russian] Kursk region whose parents are missing in Kyiv-occupied territory told The Moscow Times. "We are asking for our loved ones to be evacuated from there. But we don’t understand why no one is making any effort to get them out," she said ,,,

... “At tea gatherings [a social tradition among Indigenous Bashkirs], people discuss how many buses with coffins they saw arrive, whose sons were killed or taken to the front, recall how soldiers who came back for a short-term leave raped women in villages…There are many of these stories,” Altynay [a native of a village in Bashkortostan’s southeastern Baymak district who asked to be identified by a pseudonym] told The Moscow Times ...

... In the Kremlin’s quest to promote “traditional values,” Russian authorities have intensified their crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community, outlawing it as “extremist” and pushing many queer spaces further underground or forcing them to shut down entirely. “A lot has changed since the war began,” a member of Moscow’s LGBTQ+ community told The Moscow Times. “Many clubs, especially gay clubs and sex parties, have either gone deeper into hiding — or disappeared altogether.” ...

... The rising food prices might be the one impact of the war that almost every Russian has felt. “Food and fuel prices in our republic have always been higher than in neighboring regions, so I didn’t feel how much the prices have increased right away,” said the man from Tyva. “Six months into the war, I noticed the first sign [of inflation] — car parts became more expensive. Now the cost of everything…is five times more than pre-war,” he told The Moscow Times ...

[Edit typo.]

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 34 points 10 hours ago (4 children)

As an addition: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK also announced new sanctions against Russia at the start of this week.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 6 points 10 hours ago

As an addition: The UK stands here with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan in a rare show of global solidarity as these countries also announced new sanctions against Russia.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 6 points 10 hours ago

Yeah, it's sort of a Neville Chamberlain moment.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Nato without US, but with Australia, New Zealand, Japan: the three countries reaffirmed and announced new sanctions at the start of this week.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 13 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

Yeah, and don't forget that the UK announces largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022

Addition: Australia, New Zealand, Japan also just announced new sanctions.

 

The sanctions will also target Russia’s military machine, entities in third countries who support it and the fragile supply networks that it relies on.

Targets include:

  • producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics and dual-use goods for Russia’s military, including microprocessors used in weapons systems. These are based in a range of third countries including Central Asian states, Turkey, Thailand, India and China, which is the largest supplier of critical goods for Russia’s military
  • North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang Chol and other North Korean generals and senior officials complicit in deploying over 11,000 DPRK forces to Russia. Putin is using DPRK forces as cannon fodder; DPRK has suffered over 4,000 casualties
  • 13 Russian targets, including LLC Grant-Trade, its owner Marat Mustafaev and his sister Dinara Mustafaeva, who have used the company to funnel advanced European technology into Russia to support its illegal war

[...]

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 12 points 11 hours ago

UK announces largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022

The sanctions will also target Russia’s military machine, entities in third countries who support it and the fragile supply networks that it relies on.

Targets include:

  • producers and suppliers of machine tools, electronics and dual-use goods for Russia’s military, including microprocessors used in weapons systems. These are based in a range of third countries including Central Asian states, Turkey, Thailand, India and China, which is the largest supplier of critical goods for Russia’s military
  • North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang Chol and other North Korean generals and senior officials complicit in deploying over 11,000 DPRK forces to Russia. Putin is using DPRK forces as cannon fodder; DPRK has suffered over 4,000 casualties
  • 13 Russian targets, including LLC Grant-Trade, its owner Marat Mustafaev and his sister Dinara Mustafaeva, who have used the company to funnel advanced European technology into Russia to support its illegal war
 

Archived

The European Council has approved its 16th package of sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a statement on the Council’s website.

[...]

The new measures target 48 individuals and 35 entities accused of “undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

The E.U. also imposed restrictions on 74 vessels that it classifies as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

Additionally, 13 Russian banks will be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking system, though their names were not disclosed. For the first time, the E.U. has also banned financial transactions involving credit and financial institutions outside Russia that use the Russian Central Bank’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS).

The sanctions extend to eight Russian media outlets, including Lenta.ru and Zvezda TV, which will lose their broadcasting licenses in the E.U. The Council said these outlets had “been essential and instrumental in bringing forward and supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and for the destabilization of its neighboring countries and of the E.U.”

The package also expands restrictions on exports of goods that support the development of Russia’s defense industry.

[...]

 

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2029861

Archived

Canada will send $5 billion in aid to Ukraine using funds from seized Russian assets, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday at a peace and security summit in Kyiv.

Trudeau made the pledge as he and a dozen other world leaders are in the Ukrainian capital to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, where support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms and with its territory intact remained strong.

“This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” Trudeau said at the summit table.

This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia’s desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire.”

[...]

“We cannot return to an era where might makes right,” Trudeau said. “We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table.”

 

Archived

Canada will send $5 billion in aid to Ukraine using funds from seized Russian assets, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday at a peace and security summit in Kyiv.

Trudeau made the pledge as he and a dozen other world leaders are in the Ukrainian capital to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, where support for Ukraine to end the war on its terms and with its territory intact remained strong.

“This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” Trudeau said at the summit table.

This is a war started for one reason and one reason only: Russia’s desire to erase Ukrainian history and expand their empire.”

[...]

“We cannot return to an era where might makes right,” Trudeau said. “We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table.”

 

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2029800

Archived

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a peace agreement in Ukraine might pose greater risks than the ongoing conflict.

She also expressed concerns over shifting U.S. policies and reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.

While many see a ceasefire or negotiated settlement as a positive step, Frederiksen believes such an outcome could carry significant dangers.

“We risk that peace in Ukraine could actually be more dangerous than the war itself,” she stated in an interview with 21 Søndag on February 24, as reported by Danish media outlet DR.

[...]

“I have to be honest—I do not believe in Putin. I don’t think he wants peace in Ukraine,” she said.

She also voiced concerns over the evolving U.S. stance on Ukraine, NATO, and European security.

“I no longer have the same confidence in the Americans as before. I never expected a second Trump term to mirror the first, but I think we have all been surprised by how quickly uncertainty has emerged from the U.S. We will have to respond to that,” she noted.

[...]

 

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2029800

Archived

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a peace agreement in Ukraine might pose greater risks than the ongoing conflict.

She also expressed concerns over shifting U.S. policies and reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.

While many see a ceasefire or negotiated settlement as a positive step, Frederiksen believes such an outcome could carry significant dangers.

“We risk that peace in Ukraine could actually be more dangerous than the war itself,” she stated in an interview with 21 Søndag on February 24, as reported by Danish media outlet DR.

[...]

“I have to be honest—I do not believe in Putin. I don’t think he wants peace in Ukraine,” she said.

She also voiced concerns over the evolving U.S. stance on Ukraine, NATO, and European security.

“I no longer have the same confidence in the Americans as before. I never expected a second Trump term to mirror the first, but I think we have all been surprised by how quickly uncertainty has emerged from the U.S. We will have to respond to that,” she noted.

[...]

 

Archived

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a peace agreement in Ukraine might pose greater risks than the ongoing conflict.

She also expressed concerns over shifting U.S. policies and reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.

While many see a ceasefire or negotiated settlement as a positive step, Frederiksen believes such an outcome could carry significant dangers.

“We risk that peace in Ukraine could actually be more dangerous than the war itself,” she stated in an interview with 21 Søndag on February 24, as reported by Danish media outlet DR.

[...]

“I have to be honest—I do not believe in Putin. I don’t think he wants peace in Ukraine,” she said.

She also voiced concerns over the evolving U.S. stance on Ukraine, NATO, and European security.

“I no longer have the same confidence in the Americans as before. I never expected a second Trump term to mirror the first, but I think we have all been surprised by how quickly uncertainty has emerged from the U.S. We will have to respond to that,” she noted.

[...]

 

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2029538

[This is an op-ed by Owen Au, an independent researcher, focusing on China’s diplomacy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, maritime security, and human rights.]

[...]

In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, Starmer may see engagement with China as a pragmatic move to prevent conflict with a rising superpower. However, aligning too closely with Beijing could prove more risky than beneficial by weakening the UK’s standing among democratic allies.

[...]

For decades, the UK has struggled to define its global role. The Labour government blames its Conservative predecessors for clinging to nostalgia and failing to recognise Britain’s diminished place in today’s world.

[...]

More than 200 days after the transition on Downing Street, however, the China audit appears to have become little more than a post-mortem, with “cooperate” appearing to be the only surviving pillar. From Starmer’s expressed desire to strengthen UK-China relations during his first meeting with Xi Jinping to the first UK-China strategic dialogue since 2018, and from the resumption of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue to the green light given to China’s mega-embassy proposal, Labour has prioritised cooperation above all else. As it stands, the party’s promise of a consistent China policy means a panda-hugging approach, despite China’s ongoing human rights violations and assertive behavior abroad.

[...]

China as an authoritarian state [...] views liberal democratic ideals as dangerous to its national security. A political directive issued at the outset of Xi Jinping’s presidency made clear that China sees the liberal international order as inherently threatening.

[...]

Despite London’s warm embrace, China’s mistrust of the UK remains unchanged. Four sitting UK MPs and two members of the House of Lords—including one from Labour — remain under Chinese sanctions.

[...]

Labour’s push for stronger UK-China relations will not only fail to deliver meaningful benefits, but it will also backfire. It is no secret that cultivating a friendly relationship with China often requires turning a blind eye to human rights abuses and even condoning aggressive territorial claims. This damages the UK’s international credibility and distances it further from Lammy’s own vision of “progressive ends”.

[...]

In a volatile international landscape, the UK’s strategic focus should be on strengthening ties with Europe, with which it shares cultural, ideological, and geopolitical interests.

[...]

In recent years, the EU has increasingly recognised China’s geoeconomic playbook and has adopted a more defensive posture. The bloc has emphasised “de-risking” from China, as demonstrated by its newly imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and a crackdown on Chinese e-commerce imports. Additionally, since the war in Ukraine, Russia has emerged as Europe’s top security threat, and China’s economic and military support for Russia through substantial exports of dual-use technology has further strained EU-China relations.

The more the UK aligns itself with China, the more it will raise suspicion among its European partners, pushing itself further into isolation.

[...]

[Edit typo.]

 

[This is an op-ed by Owen Au, an independent researcher, focusing on China’s diplomacy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, maritime security, and human rights.]

[...]

In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, Starmer may see engagement with China as a pragmatic move to prevent conflict with a rising superpower. However, aligning too closely with Beijing could prove more risky than beneficial by weakening the UK’s standing among democratic allies.

[...]

For decades, the UK has struggled to define its global role. The Labour government blames its Conservative predecessors for clinging to nostalgia and failing to recognise Britain’s diminished place in today’s world.

[...]

More than 200 days after the transition on Downing Street, however, the China audit appears to have become little more than a post-mortem, with “cooperate” appearing to be the only surviving pillar. From Starmer’s expressed desire to strengthen UK-China relations during his first meeting with Xi Jinping to the first UK-China strategic dialogue since 2018, and from the resumption of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue to the green light given to China’s mega-embassy proposal, Labour has prioritised cooperation above all else. As it stands, the party’s promise of a consistent China policy means a panda-hugging approach, despite China’s ongoing human rights violations and assertive behavior abroad.

[...]

China as an authoritarian state [...] views liberal democratic ideals as dangerous to its national security. A political directive issued at the outset of Xi Jinping’s presidency made clear that China sees the liberal international order as inherently threatening.

[...]

Despite London’s warm embrace, China’s mistrust of the UK remains unchanged. Four sitting UK MPs and two members of the House of Lords—including one from Labour — remain under Chinese sanctions.

[...]

Labour’s push for stronger UK-China relations will not only fail to deliver meaningful benefits, but it will also backfire. It is no secret that cultivating a friendly relationship with China often requires turning a blind eye to human rights abuses and even condoning aggressive territorial claims. This damages the UK’s international credibility and distances it further from Lammy’s own vision of “progressive ends”.

[...]

In a volatile international landscape, the UK’s strategic focus should be on strengthening ties with Europe, with which it shares cultural, ideological, and geopolitical interests.

[...]

In recent years, the EU has increasingly recognised China’s geoeconomic playbook and has adopted a more defensive posture. The bloc has emphasised “de-risking” from China, as demonstrated by its newly imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and a crackdown on Chinese e-commerce imports. Additionally, since the war in Ukraine, Russia has emerged as Europe’s top security threat, and China’s economic and military support for Russia through substantial exports of dual-use technology has further strained EU-China relations.

The more the UK aligns itself with China, the more it will raise suspicion among its European partners, pushing itself further into isolation.

[...]

[Edit typo.]

 

Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. We look at “ripe for russification” Crimea, which was annexed 11 years ago, Moscow’s subsequent efforts to assert itself in the separatist East, and the Kremlin’s challenges in subjugating parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is not rumors. Weidel admitted to have met the Chinese ambassador, she was on China's payroll, and her close ties with China have long been known. All these ate facts. Just read the article (and other sources across the web).

 

Cross posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2020642

Archived

Whilst the threat to Europe’s economic autonomy from a reliance on Chinese technologies has been evident for some time, many are now fearing that this dependence has created significant vulnerability in terms of national security [...]

Security services are fearful that sensors embedded within the hardware [of green energy technology] could collect data, control assets or even be used to monitor shipping and submarine activity if attached to wind turbines, for instance. As Chinese businesses dominate renewable supply chains in the green energy sector, there are limited options to source equipment from Western suppliers [...]

There are also wider concerns about the ownership of European terminals by Chinese companies, such as in Hamburg and Piraeus in Greece. One research paper commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Policies suggested that not only should Chinese investment in critical infrastructures be reviewed (and potentially blocked) at a European level, but that ports using Chinese software should be identified as well as the data being transmitted. It was also suggested that all EU members should put in place laws, ‘…to retake control of ports/terminals and other maritime infrastructures ownership and/or considered contingency plans in case that is required in a scenario of conflict (kinetic or otherwise) with China, in co-ordination with EU and other Member States.’

[...]

 

Cross posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/2020642

Archived

Whilst the threat to Europe’s economic autonomy from a reliance on Chinese technologies has been evident for some time, many are now fearing that this dependence has created significant vulnerability in terms of national security [...]

Security services are fearful that sensors embedded within the hardware [of green energy technology] could collect data, control assets or even be used to monitor shipping and submarine activity if attached to wind turbines, for instance. As Chinese businesses dominate renewable supply chains in the green energy sector, there are limited options to source equipment from Western suppliers [...]

There are also wider concerns about the ownership of European terminals by Chinese companies, such as in Hamburg and Piraeus in Greece. One research paper commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Policies suggested that not only should Chinese investment in critical infrastructures be reviewed (and potentially blocked) at a European level, but that ports using Chinese software should be identified as well as the data being transmitted. It was also suggested that all EU members should put in place laws, ‘…to retake control of ports/terminals and other maritime infrastructures ownership and/or considered contingency plans in case that is required in a scenario of conflict (kinetic or otherwise) with China, in co-ordination with EU and other Member States.’

[...]

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Europe's -or any European country's- dependence on Chinese renewable energy technology is evident. Literally all experts agree on that, even if there ate first steps to reduce this dependency.

They also agree on the threat this poses to the EU and democracy. Of course, tbere should be rules and norms for profit-oriented firms operating in Europe. These rules are never perfect and may need to be adjusted in Ireland and elsewhere.

The enemy does not come from within, though.

Europe should avoid relying on China for renewable technology, says EU minister -- (October 2024)

Europe should avoid relying on Chinese technologies in building wind and solar power infrastructure across the Continent to prevent a repeat of its dependence on Russia for oil and gas, an EU energy minister has said.

Speaking in Brussels, Belgian energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten said the European Union had learned the dangers of relying on one country for energy “the hard way” after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. “We cannot make this mistake twice. If all our [renewable] technologies are in the hands of China, delivered by China, it will have a big security impact,” she said.

I don't 'toss out' the AfD and the CCP. This article is about Germany and China, and I don't see why I woukd engage in whataboutery.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

How is this bad?

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 3 points 1 day ago (5 children)

I would be more concerned about the technology that often comes from non-European, autocratic countries. Europe risks to replace its dependence from Russian fossil fuel with dependence from Chinese renewable energy tech.

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