Just two quick housekeeping notes. First, tonight and tomorrow night’s updates will be brief. Just a couple of long days so I’ve got less time to do deep dives. Second, several of you have asked after Rosa, aka Rosie, aka the Flooferina. She has now had two chemo treatments. When we took her in for the second one the oncology vet did an exam before she got the second treatment. The oncology vet was very pleasantly surprised to find that her lymph nodes had shrunk so much after one treatment that they were almost back to normal sized. We’re all taking that as a good sign. So thank you all again for the good thoughts.
The Senate cleared the threshold to move the aid package to the floor. Which is a good sign.
BREAKING: The Senate has cleared a major procedural hurdle, by a vote of 81-19, to advance a $95 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
The final vote and the bill’s passage is expected later tonight, ending a grueling 6 month political battle
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) April 23, 2024
We are, however, dealing with the US Senate, the world’s greatest deliberative country club for otherwise unclubable geriatrics, members of the young fogeys club, and a few dozen normal people. So let’s not jinx anything by taking premature victory laps.
Here’s the no votes:
The NO votes on advancing the aid package pic.twitter.com/j577v5aOTz
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 23, 2024
Rand Paul (R-Profile in Courage of One’s Convictions).
Here’s the full text of McConnell’s statement:
Mitch McConnell, a staunch backer of Ukraine aid, says the anti-Ukraine movement began with Tucker Carlson, “who, in my opinion, ended up where he should have been all along, which is interviewing Vladimir Putin.”
The Senate just voted 80-19 to break a filibuster on $95B aid package. Final passage expected tonight
Speaking of useless idiots:
Where…was this … MONTHS ago?!?!
— Adam (@ackwhacker) April 23, 2024
And the full text of Graham’s (R-Brownnose) statement:
US-Senator Lindsay Graham is currently having the floor and he is making the case in favor of Ukraine as well as Israel and Taiwan. He is comparing the isolationists in the US with Charles Lindbergh, who back then in the 1940s claimed that it is useless to fight Hitler.
Graham further encourages using ATACMS against the Kerch Bridge.
Also Linday Graham:
There will be no money for Ukraine, Israel, or even our own needs until we STOP the abuse of parole at our Southern Border. pic.twitter.com/w6HlDfv1ps
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 18, 2024
And it just passed:
The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday night to give final approval to a $95.3 bil package of aid to Ukraine, Israel $ Taiwan, sending it to President Biden & ending months of uncertainty about whether the US would continue to back Kyiv https://t.co/nTvMhk7FCB
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) April 24, 2024
But it came at a price:
Thank you, Senate!
Thank you, people of the USA!My city just experienced not one but three missile attacks while I listened to debates. The situation here is critical, and we desperately need help. That's why I'm struggling to hold back tears.
Thank you so much
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) April 24, 2024
Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Ukraine Withstands Terrorists’ Attacks Because There is Always Someone Willing to Become a Pillar of Life – Address by the President
23 April 2024 – 19:55
Dear Ukrainians!
For this day I’d like to thank all those who really do their best to keep lives going.
I thank our warriors, each one of those who are at the front now, on combat missions, in positions, at posts, and all those who train our warriors and prepare Ukrainian brigades. I thank all the volunteers who support our defense, our active actions, all our combat medics, and each doctor who saves the wounded. I thank everyone who implements new technologies in the Ukrainian army, who makes our strikes more accurate and who fights for Ukraine exactly as one should fight for one’s home. Today I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, among other things, about how to strengthen our warriors in key areas of the frontline. And special attention is now being paid to the Donetsk region. I am grateful to all those who are truly resilient and who support the warriors in their positions nearby with their courage.
I thank all those who work at our defense production facilities – at hundreds of companies that do their best to make our country stronger. Ukrainian artillery, Ukrainian missiles, our drones, Ukrainian equipment, Ukrainian ammunition, Ukrainian electronic warfare systems, Ukrainian defense software – I thank everyone whose contribution helps Ukraine fight. This is at least 300,000 employees at the enterprises that are directly related to the defense industry. I also thank every company that cooperates with them and helps them. I am grateful to all the partners who help and implement agreements on joint defense projects. Our production should increasingly supplement the supply of weapons from our partners each month, and this is the goal we set: more Ukrainian weapons every month.
Today, we also have some much-needed good news about military packages from our partners – a new package from the UK. Half a billion pounds. We have discussed the details with Prime Minister Sunak, and the main thing is to deliver the weapons to Ukraine on time. The kind of missiles that we need. Armored vehicles that are expected at the front. Air defense systems. As well as boats to ensure our economic security in the Black Sea. Thank you, Great Britain!
We have also discussed with Prime Minister Sunak the preparation of the first Global Peace Summit. It is important that as many countries as possible participate in it. The Summit – the Peace Summit – can and must prove that it will be not one person’s decision on how everyone else in the world should live, not someone’s malign power that will determine this, but the world majority – together, on the basis of international law, on the basis of the UN Charter, on the basis of our Peace Formula, which restores the effectiveness of international law. I thank every leader, all political and public figures who are helping us organize the first summit. Today I have held several meetings on this issue – I am grateful to our entire team that is working to ensure that our Peace Formula is fully implemented. We will be engaged in a lot of relevant activities in the coming days and weeks. Together, the world must force Russia to peace.
One more thing. Today, Russian terrorists attacked our lives again. Odesa, cities, towns and communities of Dnipropetrovsk region, Donetsk region, our Kostyantynivka, Kharkiv region, Mykolaiv, Kherson region… Every time there is someone to save lives, extinguish fires, demine, help our people, our communities – in all the regions of Ukraine, in every city, in all districts, no matter how close they are to the frontline or the border with Russia. I thank the entire staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, all the officers of the National Police who care about people, everyone who works in emergency medical teams. Today, Ukrainian psychologists celebrate their professional holiday, and I thank everyone who helps our people to overcome all the emotional and psychological challenges of this time of war. I am also grateful to all those who are already rebuilding life in Ukraine. Ukraine can withstand the attacks of terrorists because there is always someone willing to become a pillar of life. We also appreciate every country that helps us with the rebuilding process. Today, I had the opportunity to thank Denmark, as the Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs was on his visit to Ukraine. We discussed, among other things, Danish patronage of our Mykolaiv region, joint projects that have already been implemented and are still planned. We also talked about working together to restore our energy sector, which was destroyed by Russian strikes. It was a productive visit, thank you for the additional support of €380 million.
I thank all who are with Ukraine and in Ukraine! I thank everyone who contributes to the strength of the Ukrainian defense every day! Everyone should now find their own way to be part of the nation that is fighting and will definitely win.
Glory to Ukraine!
While we wait for the Master Debaters of the Senate to finish doing what they do best, wasting hot air and tax payer’s dollars, the United Kingdom has stepped up.
Read the full announcement: https://t.co/R7Dze3W8BK
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 23, 2024
Here’s the relevant bits from His Majesty’s government:
Delivering a speech alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Poland, a country at the vanguard of the continent’s defence, the Prime Minister said we are at a turning point in European security and urged allies to step up.
An axis of autocratic states like Russia, Iran and China are increasingly working together to undermine democracies and reshape the world order. They are also investing heavily in their own militaries and in cyber capabilities and in low-cost technology, like the Shahed attack drones Iran fired towards Israel last weekend.
This poses a direct threat to the lives and livelihoods of people in the UK, as well as across Europe and the wider world. The Government has already committed record investment in defence and the UK armed forces are world-leading – but the Prime Minister has said that we must take further action now to deter these growing threats.
- Backing Ukraine’s defence: Ukraine’s security is our security. As part of this plan, the Government will commit an additional £500 million this year for the ammunition, air defence and drones Ukraine needs; the largest-ever single delivery of military equipment to Ukraine’s frontlines; and a cast-iron commitment to maintain existing levels of support to Ukraine for as long as it Is needed.
Britain's largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine: £500 million boost including 60 ships, air defenses, and Storm Shadows. Thank you, Britain! 💪🏻🇺🇦 🇬🇧 Russia, get ready. pic.twitter.com/x3BIIEzsHl
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) April 23, 2024
The UK is providing £500m in additional military funding to support Ukraine and its largest-ever package of equipment, which includes:
•60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns.
•More than 1,600 strike and air… pic.twitter.com/hyM0Fhx5x9— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 23, 2024
The UK is providing £500m in additional military funding to support Ukraine and its largest-ever package of equipment, which includes:
•60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns.
•More than 1,600 strike and air defense missiles, as well as additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles.
•More than 400 vehicles, including 160 protected mobility ‘Husky’ vehicles, 162 armored vehicles and 78 all-terrain vehicles.
•Nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.We are grateful to the UK for its unwavering support.
The solidarity of the free world will ensure the victory of democracy over tyranny.
Together, we will win!
I don’t think the protected mobility vehicles should be body shamed. They’re just big boned.
Lithuania continues to contribute as well:
Lithuania has handed over M577 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. Also, Lithuania delivered a disassembled L-39ZA "Albatros" light attack aircraft.
We are grateful to our Lithuanian friends for their unwavering support. The power of unity brings victory closer.
🇺🇦🤝🇱🇹… pic.twitter.com/PpuVmej8f4— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 23, 2024
Lithuania has handed over M577 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. Also, Lithuania delivered a disassembled L-39ZA “Albatros” light attack aircraft.
We are grateful to our Lithuanian friends for their unwavering support. The power of unity brings victory closer.
🇺🇦🤝🇱🇹
#WhateverVictoryTakes
@Lithuanian_MoD @LKasciunas
Denmark:
Since this is getting a lot of retweets:
For any Danes reading, while we can be proud of what we are doing, we can do better:https://t.co/ox3DJzevuu— Troels Just (@Tsuroerusu) April 23, 2024
Czechia:
It’s the third year of the war and the Czech president has to reiterate points that should’ve become obvious to everyone a long time ago.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) April 23, 2024
Tohohle chlapíka jste tady nemohli minout. Nejsledovanější ukrajinský novinář @IAPonomarenko děkoval Česku za pomoc a popisoval, že Petr Pavel je na Ukrajině zdaleka nejoblíbenější zahraniční státník. Velmi otevřený a osobní rozhovor brzy na @Aktualnecz. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/NOD5rQwWm9
— Jan Hejl🇨🇿 (@janhejl) April 23, 2024
Here’s the machine translation into English:
You couldn’t miss this guy here. The most watched Ukrainian journalist @IAPonomarenko thanked the Czech Republic for its help and described that Petr Pavel is by far the most popular foreign statesman in Ukraine. Very open and personal interview coming soon on @Aktualnecz. Stay tuned.
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) April 23, 2024
Here’s the full video:
The enemy always gets a vote:
With the passage of US military aid for Kyiv imminent, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says his army will step up attacks on Ukraine and won't let up until the goal of Moscow's brutal invasion is achieved: “We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and…
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 23, 2024
With the passage of US military aid for Kyiv imminent, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says his army will step up attacks on Ukraine and won’t let up until the goal of Moscow’s brutal invasion is achieved: “We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and storage bases for Western weapons. The Russian Armed Forces will continue to carry out assigned tasks until the goals of the special operation are fully achieved,” Shoigu said. – RIA Novosti
Kyiv:
Protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad has always been and remains a priority for the MFA. At the same time, under the circumstances of Russia’s full-scale aggression, the main priority is to protect our Homeland from destruction.
How it looks like now:…
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 23, 2024
Protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad has always been and remains a priority for the MFA. At the same time, under the circumstances of Russia’s full-scale aggression, the main priority is to protect our Homeland from destruction.
How it looks like now: a man of conscription age went abroad, showed his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state. It does not work this way. Our country is at war.
Besides, the obligation to update one’s documents with the conscription centers existed even before the new law on mobilization was passed. If anyone believes that while someone is fighting far away at the frontline and risking his or her life for this state, someone else is staying abroad but receiving services from this state, then this is not how it works.
Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the Homeland. That is why yesterday I ordered measures to restore fair attitudes toward men of conscription age in Ukraine and abroad. This will be fair.
Soon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide further clarifications on the procedure for obtaining consular services within the legal framework for men of conscription age in foreign diplomatic missions as we approach the entry into force of the law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Military Service, Mobilization and Military Registration”, as well as after it comes into force.
Kharkiv:
These photos of the TV tower destroyed yesterday by the Russians were taken by my colleagues from the Kharkiv Journalists' Solidarity Center. Denying access to independent information is a Russian tactic in this war. @EFJEUROPE @IFJGlobal @nsju_org pic.twitter.com/GIZeAKef7o
— Sergiy Tomilenko (@Stommedia) April 23, 2024
Odesa Oblast:
Odesa region. Defenders of the sky destroy russian Shahed drones.
📹: South Air Command pic.twitter.com/mxqHIl2Fzv
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 23, 2024
Novopavlivka:
Novopavlivka direction. russian armored equipment is being blown up day and night.
📹: Presidential Brigade pic.twitter.com/u9e8chYxeD
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 23, 2024
Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:
/2. The radars on the video above and on the one attached were identified as 9S32M1 radar systems of the S-300V4 air defense systems. https://t.co/IEIcoUpp0a https://t.co/bKsPku2gDE pic.twitter.com/AdUy1IR4mr
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 23, 2024
/4. Strike location on one of the S-300V4 radars is located approximately 45km from the frontline.
47.393133,37.654928https://t.co/Y0sorMEYue pic.twitter.com/CKG2luCL4B— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 23, 2024
Here’s the full text of tweet 3:
/3. With these published strikes on Russian S-300V4 radars it’s also interesting that a bit earlier in April it became known about the death of the commander of the anti-aircraft missile battery of the Russian 38th anti-aircraft missile brigade, which is armed with S-300V4 air defense systems.
Left bank of the Dnipro, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:
HIMARS strike on the Russian Grad MLRS. Left bank Kherson region. https://t.co/9rLU5Z2IbE
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 23, 2024
Obligatory:
Russian occupied Donbas:
Detonation of Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer. Filmed by Russians. https://t.co/27fIkb6KS3
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 23, 2024
Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia:
Fallen Ukrainian kamikaze drone “Lyutyi”. Ulyanovsk region of Russia, at least 730km from the frontline. pic.twitter.com/x5YKiZzXus
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 23, 2024
Moscow:
Evan's appeal has been rejected again. He will remain in the high-security Lefortovo prison till at least June 30. Evan has now spent almost 400 days in a tiny cell. insufferable https://t.co/sXox0ilN5z
— Pjotr Sauer (@PjotrSauer) April 23, 2024
Russia:
Here is a link to the report: https://t.co/CYBSPk1IkQ
— Max Bergmann (@maxbergmann) April 23, 2024
Here is the summary from the Center for Strategic and International Studies:
This report examines Russia’s evolving defense industrial capabilities and limitations during the second year of the Russia-Ukraine war and analyzes how these changes have affected and will continue to affect battlefield outcomes in Ukraine. The report starts with an overview of Russia’s domestic arms production efforts throughout 2023, followed by a detailed examination of key Russian weapons systems (such as tanks, artillery, drones, missiles, and electronic warfare systems) and their changing roles on the battlefield. The report then analyzes Russia’s general procurement dynamics and identifies the imported components and weapons categories that Russia’s defense industry has particularly relied on in the second year of the war. This part includes a case study on China to illuminate Russia’s evolving procurement patterns. The report then dives into analysis of the Kremlin’s remaining weaknesses, which have been aggravated by a long war of attrition and which can have both short- and long-term effects on its military. The final part of the report assesses how Russia’s performance throughout 2023 and its evolving defense capabilities might be translated into its offensive posture in Ukraine in 2024. This part of the report is followed by recommendations to Western policymakers on how to counter the Kremlin’s war effort by capitalizing on the Russian military’s existing vulnerabilities.
Here’s the link to the full report.
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
David Anderson
Officially cleared the Senate a few minutes ago. Biden to sign tomorrow AM and address the nation. Supplies pre-stocked to Germany and Poland
Jeffro
I don’t think we should call the Senate “unclubable”, Adam.
They’re perfectly clubable and for about 60-70 of them, I’m willing to do the clubbing.
Adam L Silverman
@David Anderson: Yes, I know. It’s actually in the update.
Gin & Tonic
@David Anderson: I am very grateful this finally passed. The wait has been excruciating.
hrprogressive
So, will this materially help Ukraine…you know…win?
Or is this designed to continue the maddening posture of “not enough to win, just enough not to lose outright?”
Or is the impact TBD?
Another Scott
WhiteHouse.gov:
A good day.
Slava Ukraini!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Wombat Probability Cloud
@Gin & Tonic: Yes, painful to think about all the unnecessary death as a result of our screwing around for months. Now we look toward the future and do what we can.
Soprano2
Of course both my useless senators (Hawley-Russia and Schmitt-Russia) voted no. I’m sure my useless rep in the House (Burlison-Russia) voted no too.
Freemark
Looks like Rick Coplen will not be running against Scott Perry. Janelle Stelson is projected to win. She won on name recognition from being a local news anchor for 20+ years. I’m disappointed since she isn’t a resident of the district and she just switched her registration from Republican to Democrat. But almost anybody will be a gigantic improvement over Perry.
Would have liked to see Rick in there.
SpaceUnit
This is good.
But why the fuck did Jeff Merkley vote against the bill? Christ.
Bill Arnold
Thanks for the “The State of Russia’s Defense Industry after Two Years of the War” link
Any document with a section name “Part III Existing Russian Military Industrial Vulnerabilities” is catnip (to me at least). (Note: it’s “Drawbacks” in the table of contents.)
Devore
Thanks Adam
any predictions, now with the new lethal aid on its way
Mapaghimagsik
At last. To late for many, but at last.
David 🏀Caitlin Clark🏀 Koch
@Devore:
Predictions – pain (video)
Another Scott
More on the speculated first tranche. VOANews.com:
Cheers,
Scott.
BR
@SpaceUnit:
I don’t know specifically about Merkley but Bernie said that he supported the Ukraine funding but not the Israel funding. I imagine both would have voted for a Ukraine-only bill.
Westyny
Thanks, Adam. I’m glad it’s done, mad and grieving that it took so long.
Jay
@SpaceUnit:
@BR:
Gaza, specifically no conditions for Israel’s aid being tied to Gazan relief. All carrots, no stick.
BigJimSlade
Hm, Bernie Sanders voted Nay – anyone know his take on it?
Jay
As always, thank you, Adam.
I am glad that Rosie is doing very well.
Mike in NC
Looking forward to the president’s address and hope he mentions Fat Bastard, Putin’s loyal lapdog.
David 🏀Caitlin Clark🏀 Koch
@BigJimSlade: Is that the same guy who honeymooned in the Soviet Union?
Roberto el oso
@BigJimSlade: opposition to the aid package to Israel, which was the same reason as Merkley (Oregon).
Chet Murthy
@BigJimSlade: Both Sanders and Merkley voted Nay on the bill. They did so on cloture too. Grrrrrr.
Chet Murthy
@hrprogressive: From what I have read, this will help Ukraine to hang on, and not lose more ground and more people. But it will not be enough for a counteroffensive. For that, Ukraine will need to find a way to qualitatively beat Russian forces. At least, that’s what I saw Ukrainian officials saying.
matt
@SpaceUnit: Sanders also voted against, probably because of the Israel aid.
RaflW
Marco Rubio is just such a a piece of sh*t.
That is all.
rikyrah
@David Anderson:
So glad it passed. The GOP traitors😠😠
BigJimSlade
@Roberto el oso:
Yeah, I was guessing that was aid for Israel was the issue.
Chet Murthy
I know that we’re all in the privileged position of being able to watch from afar. But many of us have felt despair and fear for Ukraine and Ukrainians, these last five months. I know that this new aid bill will not end the danger for Ukrainians (far from it). But at least, maybe things will stabilize, maybe fewer Ukrainians will be dying and losing their homes. I’m not breathing a sigh of relief yet, but looking forward to doing so, sometime in the next week or so, as shipments arrive and start reaching the front.
I really, really, really hope Biden and Secy Austin and their guys have the logistics all taped-out, ready-to-go.
Carlo Graziani
@Chet Murthy: In my view, going back on the offensive is probably not in the cards for Ukraine in 2024. But availing themselves of the advantages of defense over offense in war to butcher Russian forces directed on mad objectives by strategic incompetents is very achievable, and could set the stage for more active developments.
Carlo Graziani
@Roberto el oso: For what it’s worth, I think they would have held their noses and voted for passage, if the outcome had been in doubt. Neither of them would have relished handing that kind of defeat to the administration. They just know how to count votes.
way2blue
@Gin & Tonic: +100
wjca
The UK aid includes “60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns.” Are these small enough that it’s practical to ship them overland? Or will Turkiye allow them to be shipped thru the Bosphorus?
I’m assuming that it isn’t planned to use the against the Russian Baltic Fleet….
wjca
@Another Scott:
A week or so ago, I expressed hope that something like this had been done. And was loftily informed (not, IIRC, by you) that this couldn’t possible be done, because the military couldn’t do anything unless they had a budget code from the already approved budget to link it to first. Feeling vindicated.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
@wjca:
They can be shipped by rail, truck or by sea.
The Montreau Convention allows shipping unarmed vessels, below a certain tonnage.
YY_Sima Qian
The CSIS report contains some very strange data. It plots the number of transactions, rather than the cumulative values of the deals or the volume of goods sold. The plots suggests that Türkiye was just about the only source of “key military goods”, “Tier 3 High Priority Items” or “CNCs” throughout 2022, w/ relatively small number of transactions. Then Mar. 2023 comes around the number of transactions suddenly explodes, the majority involving the PRC (not clear whether Hong Kong is included), but also a large number from “Others”, as well as a number of transactions via the EU & India that were not preset before Mar. 2023.
Since sanctions were levied on Russia very quickly after the current invasion, it is inconceivable to me that Russia had solely relied up in Türkiye as the intermediary for dual use parts & machinery from Mar. 2022 to Mar. 2023, & w/ a small number of transactions at that, that the PRC & other were not supplying such goods to Russia during that time. Xi’s visit to Russia cannot explain the cliff face shaped explosion in the number of transactions. Bureaucracies & companies do not react that fast. Nor does the visit explain the cliff face shaped explosion in the number of transactions from other sources/intermediaries, including the EU & India.
I suspect there are issues w/ the research methodology: somehow it was only capturing Turkish transactions until Mar. 2023
Certainly the PRC (among others) has been instrumental in providing the dual use parts & machinery that helps to keep Russia’s military industrial complex & civilian economy from collapsing, but the CSIS report is not telling a credible or coherent story.
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: Related to the above, in the FT Agathe Demarai looked the Sino-Russian trade relationship from another perspective, w/ the section most relevant to current events quoted below:
Geminid
@wjca: As anither commenter points out, boats of that size could shipped overland by truck or rail. I think they could also be sent through the canal system that connects German rivers with the Danube.
Another Scott
@wjca: Actually, yeah, it was me. We both agreed that there was always some flexibility in where to charge things. Having the President say – do this! makes it different too (there are often legal exceptions for official presidential findings, etc). I’m sure Biden stayed within the lines.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
twbrandt
Late to this thread, but I’m glad the thing finally passed. Hawley and the rest can go fuck themselves.
Zelenskyy looks old and worn in that thumbnail.
Geminid
@Geminid: This passage from the North Sea to the Danube and on to the Black Sea was used by Vikings 1200 years ago. It followed established trade routes and required portaging between river systems. Now there are canals.
Bill Arnold
This would be one explanation for the report of an ATACMS strike a week ago.
Ukraine war latest: Biden signs $61 billion aid bill for Ukraine; US began secretly providing ATACMS in March (The Kyiv Independent, April 24, 2024)