₦airaland Forum

I copied that answer from quora, i did not write it.
Also, you seem to have forgotten the bolded,
If my observations about China apply, Putin will come out the winner in the end, even though he will suffer in the short-term and will never be accepted in the West. But that doesn’t matter, because in the end, it is what Russians think of him which is most important.

d142475:
This is insightful and I get the angle you’re coming from. I agree that Putin and XI are tougher and more experienced actors than their peers.
However, comparing the Chinese situation or clampdown and the Russian aggression is like comparing apples and oranges.
First, the Chinese communist party fought internal rebellion (more or less like an internal clash of values ), so the issue of national sovereignty did not arise as much. The Russians have been fighting internal dissent for years in a similar fashion to the Chinese and they’ve pretty much gotten away with it. But this case is totally different; It’s the case of Russia attacking a sovereign nation and killing her civilians. To help you see how this is different, even countries that have always been neutral have taken a stand and are even sending lethal aids to Ukraine. Germany of all countries sent weapons. This is an existential threat to surrounding nations and they recognize it as such. For instance, Germany, pacifist for more than half a century, has immediately increased her defense budget and started undertaking an overhaul of her military. Also, hitherto neutral countries like Finland and Sweden have started contemplating the idea of joining NATO.
Yes, Europeans depend on Russia for energy and their economies are intertwined, but they’ve also started exploring ways of being less dependent on Russia. There is going to be massive changes in policy in Europe and America after this act of aggression. The white man can easily forget the plight of people in far away Middle East and Asia and Africa, but they won’t easily forget the specter of seeing their fellow Europeans with “blue eyes” and “blonde hairs” being turned into refugees by this act of aggression. This hits differently with them and they are already lamenting this.
Second, Russia will lose this war with regard to their strategic objective. They may bring down Zelensky and overthrow his government, but they will NEVER be able to capture or occupy Ukraine forever. If they install a puppet leader, they will never be able to win the Guerrilla warfare that will ensue. Remember, the Ukrainians a few years ago, brought down their previous Putin-puppet president - Yanukovych. The Ukrainians will fight any Putin installed regime with the last drop of their blood. Moreover, Ukraine, like most countries of the Eastern bloc, will never accept closer ties with Russia over ties with the West. If there was a slight chance of this happening, Putin has finally buried that chance. Overtime, the Russia economy will totally collapse from fighting the resistance of the Ukrainians and from the crippling sanctions. It costs a lot to wage a war! They can’t even sustain this war for a month without taking a substantial economic hit, let alone for years.
Third, this war is not even that popular in Russia. There have been credible reports that some of the soldiers sent to Ukraine didn’t even want to fight. Also, there are domestic protests against this war and Russia is trying hard to deprive her citizens of the full information about the affairs, because they know it’s not popular. It is not sustainable for a nation to engage in a war that is unpopular among her own people. Even those on the fence will turn against Putin when their economic situation deteriorates(as it’s beginning to) or when they see the blood shed perpetrated by their government or when their sons (the soldiers) begin to come home in body bags or when they are isolated from the rest of the world. This may lead to a popular uprising against Putin and it may be the beginning of the end for him.
Putin made a big mistake and miscalculation, and in the end, he will pay for it. Russia will never remain the same; Ukraine of course will never remain the same; Europe at large will never remain the same.
Trust me, they’d be lasting consequences from this war. Some will come naturally and others will come as a result of intentional policy shifts and a fundamental change in mindset among Europeans.

You can read these answers on quora
https://qr.ae/pGdoiM
https://qr.ae/pGdoic

d142475:
This is insightful and I get the angle you’re coming from. I agree that Putin and XI are tougher and more experienced actors than their peers.
However, comparing the Chinese situation or clampdown and the Russian aggression is like comparing apples and oranges.
First, the Chinese communist party fought internal rebellion (more or less like an internal clash of values ), so the issue of national sovereignty did not arise as much. The Russians have been fighting internal dissent for years in a similar fashion to the Chinese and they’ve pretty much gotten away with it. But this case is totally different; It’s the case of Russia attacking a sovereign nation and killing her civilians. To help you see how this is different, even countries that have always been neutral have taken a stand and are even sending lethal aids to Ukraine. Germany of all countries sent weapons. This is an existential threat to surrounding nations and they recognize it as such. For instance, Germany, pacifist for more than half a century, has immediately increased her defense budget and started undertaking an overhaul of her military. Also, hitherto neutral countries like Finland and Sweden have started contemplating the idea of joining NATO.
Yes, Europeans depend on Russia for energy and their economies are intertwined, but they’ve also started exploring ways of being less dependent on Russia. There is going to be massive changes in policy in Europe and America after this act of aggression. The white man can easily forget the plight of people in far away Middle East and Asia and Africa, but they won’t easily forget the specter of seeing their fellow Europeans with “blue eyes” and “blonde hairs” being turned into refugees by this act of aggression. This hits differently with them and they are already lamenting this.
Second, Russia will lose this war with regard to their strategic objective. They may bring down Zelensky and overthrow his government, but they will NEVER be able to capture or occupy Ukraine forever. If they install a puppet leader, they will never be able to win the Guerrilla warfare that will ensue. Remember, the Ukrainians a few years ago, brought down their previous Putin-puppet president - Yanukovych. The Ukrainians will fight any Putin installed regime with the last drop of their blood. Moreover, Ukraine, like most countries of the Eastern bloc, will never accept closer ties with Russia over ties with the West. If there was a slight chance of this happening, Putin has finally buried that chance. Overtime, the Russia economy will totally collapse from fighting the resistance of the Ukrainians and from the crippling sanctions. It costs a lot to wage a war! They can’t even sustain this war for a month without taking a substantial economic hit, let alone for years.
Third, this war is not even that popular in Russia. There have been credible reports that some of the soldiers sent to Ukraine didn’t even want to fight. Also, there are domestic protests against this war and Russia is trying hard to deprive her citizens of the full information about the affairs, because they know it’s not popular. It is not sustainable for a nation to engage in a war that is unpopular among her own people. Even those on the fence will turn against Putin when their economic situation deteriorates(as it’s beginning to) or when they see the blood shed perpetrated by their government or when their sons (the soldiers) begin to come home in body bags or when they are isolated from the rest of the world. This may lead to a popular uprising against Putin and it may be the beginning of the end for him.
Putin made a big mistake and miscalculation, and in the end, he will pay for it. Russia will never remain the same; Ukraine of course will never remain the same; Europe at large will never remain the same.
Trust me, they’d be lasting consequences from this war. Some will come naturally and others will come as a result of intentional policy shifts and a fundamental change in mindset among Europeans.

No, it is not my write up. I copied it from quora.

Ah sir, you are making a mistake by attaching morals or legality to world politics. World politics is about raw power not morals or legality.
Take for instance the USA. What moral or legal justification did they have to invade a sovereign state Iraq? None.
But because they have the power, they have the might they invaded Iraq anyway.

Another instance, what moral or legal justification does the USA have in invading a sovereign state Afghanistan and after invading, refused to give them back their money, about $7 billion, instead the USA is going to share the money to victims of 9/11. You can read about it here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/11/us-biden-to-split-frozen-afghan-funds-between-9-11-families

In the case of Russia invading Ukraine, the truth is that, the issue is beyond Ukraine. The issue is between the USA(NATO) and Russia. Ukraine is just the pawn.
NATO is an organisation created to contain Russia. There were agreements that NATO would not expand towards eastern europe. But it was happening anyway little by little(REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT WORLD POLITICS BEING ABOUT RAW POWER). Ukraine shares a border with Russia. Once Ukraine joins NATO, NATO can now place missiles in Ukraine that can hit Moscow without giving Moscow to time to intercept the missiles or retaliate with their own missiles. Also, because there are missiles in Ukraine that can destroy Moscow at anytime, it would be like your enemy holding a gun to your head, that enemy controls you. If he says jump you jump.
Russia/Putin had been warning, and asking for security guarantees from the USA and NATO, that Ukraine would not join NATO. He was ignored.

Sir, what right thinking world leader who cares about the sovereignty and security of his nation(HIS NATION IS A NUCLEAR POWER O!) would keep quiet and allow Ukraine to join NATO? To join an oragnisation that was created to contain them?

Or do you think, Putin is like Buhari, that does not care whether Boko haram or herdsmen are having a party of blood in his country?

Putin is doing what any right thinking leader would do, REMEMBER HE HAS THE RAW POWER. Russia is not a small country that can be pushed around.

The USA got intelligence report that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan, they did not tell the Pakistani government(a sovereign nation o!) they entered Pakistan killed Osama bin Laden and bounced out. What did Pakistan do?

REMEMBER....RAW POWER!!!

Oyiboman69:
I like your write up... but,what is the moral or legal justification for Russia invading a sovereign state Ukraine?. I really want you to answer this question.

https://www.quora.com/Whos-winning-Ukraine-or-Russia/answer/Paul-Denlinger?ch=15&oid=341949069&share=35048d7e&srid=uT7V2k&target_type=answer

Who's winning, Ukraine or Russia?
In times like this, it helps me to look back to get perspective.

In 1989, there were the Tiananmen demonstrations in Beijing, where students called for western-style freedom and democracy, and urged Deng Xiaoping and the Chinese Communist Party to relinquish power.

The most famous image from that time is the image of tank man, the individual who became a symbol for so many people in the west of the desire among ordinary Chinese for freedom and democracy.

The whole world outside China sided with this one individual. Following the events of June 4, sanctions were imposed on the Chinese government; some of these are still in place, such as the US and EU arms embargoes against the Chinese government. For years, the Chinese economy slowed down. Deng Xiaoping called on Chinese to continue to go about their lives. In 1992, he visited southern China and Shenzhen to encourage business and trade with the rest of the world. Slowly, the economy picked up. Today, China has the largest economy in the world.

Who won: the Western media and western values of freedom and democracy? Or was it the Chinese Communist Party?

I would say that it was the Chinese Communist Party which rode out all the criticism and embargoes coming from all directions, and got on with the business of modernizing China. The people who made the most noise and predicted its downfall lost.

In 2019, there were severe demonstrations and arson in Hong Kong, with many of Hong Kong’s youth calling for Hong Kong to become independent of China, or even becoming a British colony again. They repudiated their own Chinese heritage, and fully embraced Western values of freedom and democracy, and called on the US government to intervene on their behalf. Western non-government organizations (NGOs) gave financial support to these demonstrators which made it difficult for many people to go to work. The Hong Kong government was helpless in dealing with the demonstrations.

The Western media again embraced these Hong Kong demonstrators as a symbol for how the people of Hong Kong and ordinary Chinese wanted freedom and democracy so that they could elect their own political leaders, just as they are elected in the west.

The Chinese government in Beijing passed a National Security Law for Hong Kong; the Hong Kong government had been unable to pass this since Hong Kong was returned to the PRC in 1997 because of local opposition. With the passage of the National Security Law, Beijing was able to send security personnel to Hong Kong to provide support to the Hong Kong police in apprehending demonstrators, and in putting the leaders on trial.

Today, in 2022, there are no more demonstrations in Hong Kong, and people are able to commute to their daily jobs without fear. The National Security Law has made clear that calling for overseas support against the Chinese government is illegal. Some Hong Kong people who do not like this law are emigrating to western countries. But the majority of people in HK have chosen to stay, and are just quietly getting on with their lives.

Most people in the Western media have forgotten about these Hong Kong demonstrations, because now they are focused on what is happening in Ukraine.

Here are the lessons I have learned, and how I apply them to the Russia/Ukraine dispute:

Issues are complicated, and most people don’t have the patience to understand all the contributing factors. Instead they embrace their own emotions and images. But often these are not real, because politics and international relations are about raw power, not emotions.
The stronger the initial reaction, the more quickly it is forgotten. People have short attention spans, and they are getting shorter;
Sanctions work until the nations and companies applying the sanctions review their profit and loss statements at the end of the quarter. Then they start wondering;
The western media has a stranglehold on western audiences because they like to focus on human interest stories with victims. How can anyone not sympathize with a Ukraine mother who loses her 9 year-old daughter who was shot by a Russian soldier? Doesn’t that show how evil Putin is? What more needs to be discussed?
The people and politicians who win in the end are the ones who take the long view and can ride out a tough situation, and don’t let the media frenzy distract them. Who was in charge in China in 1989? The Chinese Communist Party. Who is in charge in China in 2022? The Chinese Communist Party. I am not saying that they are good or bad, but they certainly know how to ride out a tough situation without getting distracted by western media noise.
Putin was a KGB colonel stationed in East Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. He has ruled Russia after the collapse of the USSR, and when it went through a decade of chaos before it gradually rebuilt its economy and society. Setting aside what you think of him personally, he is a tough person who has seen a lot more than any other western politician, and has had to survive these challenges.

China’s Xi Jinping is also a tough character; he was sent to a village for seven years where he had to clean latrines, among other tasks, for seven years. Do you know any western politicians or media personalities who had to do this? I don’t.

I believe that the close personal bond between Putin and Xi is based on the fact that both have had to deal with huge personal challenges, and they came out winning in the end. They understand that patience wins in the end, not what other people, especially the western media, say about them.

Right now, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is doing all he can to stay in front of the western media and win sympathy for Ukraine. Most in the west denounce Putin for his policy, and he is largely staying out of public view. Most people in the West are convinced that Putin is insane.

Putin is toughing things out, while western governments and the media are trying to land a knockout blow against Russia.

But Russia has had to deal with very tough situations before, and they came out as winners, just as the Chinese Communist Party has in China.

If my observations about China apply, Putin will come out the winner in the end, even though he will suffer in the short-term and will never be accepted in the West. But that doesn’t matter, because in the end, it is what Russians think of him which is most important.

I don't know. However, don't think that it is easy to get permission from the federal government for such things.
It is all about control. Even the Dangote refinery the FGN of Nigeria still had a say in it and not Lagos State government.
So restructuring would help a lot.

jmoore:
Have any state applied to own/build a refinery and the FG rejected?

Is it owned by the the Lagos State government? Did you skip the part where I said permission from the federal government needs to be obtained?
Dangote got permission from the federal government and Lagos State was happy to host his refinery.

jmoore:
Is Dangote refinery owned by Federal government?

The bolded, you mean nothing stops state governments from having refineries?
If that is what you meant, you're wrong. Natural resources in Nigeria are not controlled by the state governments but by the federal government. So, for a state to have a refinery they have to take permission from the federal government.
This is why restructuring is needed. States can't do much until Nigeria is restructured. You can read more on how we got to this level in the article below
https://nairametrics.com/2021/11/15/reviving-palm-oil-exportation-by-solving-the-derivation-controversy/

jmoore:
There will be no significant changes if we still have mediocre governors.
[b]
Nothing stops government from having refineries in their states. [/b]But how many governors in Nigeria built a refinery?

It is a welcome development

The bolded,
Instead of blaming the hypocritical west you are blaming Putin, a leader that is fighting for the security of his country. Maybe you think Putin is like Nigerian leaders that don't care about the security of their country?

Dazall:
This is very painful as a Chelsea fan, nobody can replicate the kind of love Roman Abramovich has for Chelsea.

Right now what Chelsea needs is an Arab ownership which will be a very welcomed development.

If an American or British owner takes over that will be end of Chelsea football club.

Putin has really destroyed alot of things with his actions, I feel so sad for my favourite club which has given sweet lovely memories under the Roman era.

This did not age well

ninja4life:
For the past 3 days we've had 24hrs light in my area at oke-ado/oke bola axis In Ibadan

For about 2weeks now. we've had atleast 18hours light in my area.

Is there any improvement in the power in your area.

I will also like to know if the private sector as taken full control of PHNC?

It seems the constant power supply is partly due to rainfall, so i will like nairalanders to state the state of power supply in your area.

Note:am not supporting any apc or pdp cos they are all the same to me, thieving bastards i only want to know how power supply is in other area before i get addicted to this constant power supply which may affect me when nepa disappoints.

thanks

She is too careless. She should stop coming to your house.

There is no such thing. Too much of everything is not good.

Too many ignorant people on this thread.

The bolded, I do believe you. I was saying that the men that suffered in your hands you did not like them.

UyaiIncomparabl:
I have gotten to my final bus stop.

When I was still in the world, men suffer for my hands. Believe my words when I tell you this.

Lol you have not jammed the man that would make you to travel to see him.

And no, it is not about anything. I know for a fact that when a woman really likes a man, travelling to see him or doing things(cooking, cleaning etc) for him would not be a problem.

So just say that you have not met a man that is worth travelling for.

UyaiIncomparabl:
I don't travel to meet men. Men come down to my house to meet me. So, when they misbehave, I send them packing not minding the time of the day. Even when leaving, they still give me transport money like I was the one who visited.

Women, place a high premium on yourselves. If you don't, these men will use you like rags.

Follow me for more relationship tips.

did you report her to the police?

HenryDion:
She wanted to rape me on our first date. Kept telling me how handsome and fit I look. I was freaked out.

Lol

Revolution2022:
She give me address to come visit her.When I locate the address na plywoods dem dey sell there.I asked for her them say no such lady dey live there.I see her the following week I bone Waka pass.

you don't know the meaning of the word pedophile.

Mercychen:
He's a peodophile.

Who knows if he's not been touching the girl while she was his student and still underage. All this male teachers though.

Congratulations to them.

Argue with your ancestors.

you said it yourself, it is not entirely true, that means there is some truth to what I said.

backbencher:
That's not entirely true (Blatter's FIFA fought its own share of battles with federations over government interference), plus politics has always been part of football. No matter how hard we try to say it isn't.

During the time of Sepp Blatter, football was separated from politics, but now the woke people have taken over.

backbencher:
At the end of the day, FIFA is going to have a long hard chat about whether it can separate sport from politics.

You don't understand.

If Ukraine is allowed to join NATO. NATO would be able to build air bases and missile stations. Those missile stations would be able to launch missiles directly to Moscow and because of the distance from Moscow, the Russian army would not have enough time to react to those missiles. So basically the US and NATO could launch missiles at Moscow and Moscow would not have enough time to react and launch their own missiles.

Also, having those missiles so close to Moscow, the US basically has a gun to Putin's head, and you know what happens when someone has a gun to your head. If the person says bark like a dog, you would bark.

Like i said in a previous thread what Putin is doing, is what any reasonable leader would do in his position. It is unfortunate that the people of Ukraine elected an idiot for a president.

I am happy you said even the US would not tolerate such if they were in Russia's position.

venabili:
Oh, i actually meant Russia shouldn't have invaded because they feel encircled. I do understand that they feel NATO is getting too close to them, and frankly USA will never allow such within their sphere of influence, the fact remains that as long as the Russian Nuclear triad remain effective and up to date, NATO will never be able to put boots on Russian soil no matter how close they get.

Sovereignty is subject to your ability to defend it. Same as human rights. When i approach a military checkpoint, i ensure my phone is out of sight. There is no law preventing me from using my phone, but the men in khaki have superior firepower and can overide my rights should dey desire. I dont try to quote laws when facing the business end of a Kalashnikov held by a nigerian soldier.

NATO launched a campaign against the sovereign nation of Serbia when Kosovo tried to break away. They did not mention sovereignty then. World powers basically do or say what suits them.

The security and sovereignty of a country is worth war sir.

venabili:
Its crazy and definitely looks like encroachment. But nothing is worth war. Too many innocents suffer

Well said

Goodmarlian:
Look at this map and tell me the America and NATO doesnt have alterior motives,every body cannot be foolish like Nigerian leaders that doesn't care about the security of the country, you want your NATO to plant her missiles in Ukraine so that if there is war tommorow Russia wouldn't be able defend herself because the missiles are too close to Moscow, an ICMBM launched from America mainland takes 25 minutes to reach anywhere in the world,imagine if that kind of missile is placed in ukraine which time will Moscow have to intercept it ? It will take seconds to reach Russia and wreck havoc .

hypocrite Nigerians that never condemns the killings in kaduna and benue no go let us hear word ndi uchu.

Is not this woman that falsely accused Reno Omokri of making a pass at her?

Lol Nigeria wants to chill with the big boys.

Thank you

iLegendd:
Let me answer all of you at the same time to save time. There are too many ways. One of them is Dukascopy.

When you open an account with them, you can buy Virtual card for $20. I bought two virtual cards ($ and €) from them for $40.

I use the cards everywhere around the world. I use it on Binance, and every online store I want.

To verify with them, you need a valid international passport. That's the only ID they accept at the moment.

Today, being the 25th of February, Amazon sent me some money to that account. I will move it to their virtual card and spend it online if I want. Also, there is a better way I can move it around.

Yes, I used UBA Dollar card, but I haven't touched it for 5 months now. I just abandoned it with some money in it.

I no longer have interest in using Nigerian Dollar cards. I go foreign most times to give me extra spending freedom. So, I don't know the UBA limit.

Below are screenshots of Dukascopy. I heard they are rejecting some Nigerians nowadays. E be like say Nigerians don cast am, but it still works for me.

Every Nigerian Dollar card has limit nowadays, though large. I don't use them anymore, so I don't have any idea at the moment.

Yes and no. If the Dollar card is prepaid, yes you can recieve money directly to it, but if it's debit, you can't.

Every company has limit and restrictions to whatever they do. At the moment, I'm clueless on any Nigerian banks' limitations. Yes, I bank with more than 30 Nigerian banks, but I don't have much of their time of recent. So, I can't really answer some questions about them.

CBN made them to make too many changes that I can't keep up with.

For more info, consult Google or YouTube. I'm unavailable for now.

yes i am

peppermint7:
Are you on Twitter
I can direct you

Please what is your source?

peppermint7:
200 and counting from the Ukrainian side
Not sure of the exact figure on the Russian side

he is but it is clear from his eagerness to negotiate that he never wanted things to reach this level.
Russia has been at pains asking for guarantees from NATO and the US that Ukraine would not join NATO. Russia for years have been expressing their concern with the expansion of NATO towards its borders. Every time, their concerns and complaints have ignored, their request for guarantees were been rejected. So what should Putin do? Sit back and watch while NATO which is an organisation that was put together to contain Russia, installs missiles right on their doorsteps? Meaning that Russia would forever be having missiles pointed at them, they would not have their freedom again. If they cough they would be threatened with missiles, if Russia refuse to co-operate they would be threatened with missiles.
Look, Putin is doing what a reasonable leader would do in his position, which is, protect the security and sovereignty of his country.

All this military movement could have been avoided since.

Lastmankc:
I thought this guy is ruthless

how many people have been killed?

Ournolly:
A welcome move, enough killings, please.
I still do not understand why Russia should be at 'war' with Ukraine.
Such unmatched chaos should be avoided by any means necessary.

how many people have been killed?

ifadiuyu:
Something they should have done earlier, shedding blood should never be the first option.