The bad news is that the Ruble has strengthened very rapidly, which means unfriendly countries now have to use more of their local currencies to buy Ruble to pay for the gas and oil. That will have a further lifting feeling for the Ruble going forward. What is even more painful, for Japan in particular, is that the Yen has been sliding downwards. Japan must be baffled by this too. Careful, because they started a war when pushed against the wall before.
From the initial start of the conflict and imposition of sanctions, the Ruble actually went down to 140 Rubles to the US$. Biden was gloating how successful he was with the sanctions, and wanting to bring the Ruble down to 200 Rubles to the US$ to collapse the Russian economy. Putin just played one simple card and chaos ensued all over Europe, Japan, and those unfriendly countries. All the Washington and Brussels Gang of geniuses thought they could outfox one man Putin. Today the US$ is just worth 76 Rubles. Realistically, how much is Putin's strategic ability worth compared to all the geniuses in Washington and Brussels? That same question had been asked about Xi earlier.
Now for the most important news. Russian soldiers, from running tanks over their own commanders, are now shooting down their own planes. And it is reported by some MSM that Russian soldiers are eating dogs because they are fed up with eating rations. Now, will animal lovers now investigate Russia's act of cruelty to animals as another issue from this report? This is a sure sign that the Russians are on the verge of collapsing. Why then is Zelensky negotiating for a ceasefire? He should push the Russians back into Russia if Ukraine is winning the war, right.
The other important news (I could not differentiate whether it is good or bad, as it affects two sides, but definitely important) is that the USA is releasing oil stocks to lower the oil prices. But a few dollars is not going to make any difference to Europe if the USA's oil and gas is going to cost them five times or more than Russian oil and gas. But as they say, no fish prawn also good. The question is for how long and how much oil stocks can the USA release without replenishing and become a National Security issue? Taking oil out and replenishing it shortly makes no difference to the supply shortage, right? And of course Russia can just keep it's oil reserves underground for as long as they like. And it is said that when Russia fights a war, it is going for the long haul, just like against Hitler and Napoleon. So, sit tight and see who blinks first.
News is now so difficult to comprehend. There are fake new, fabricated news, alternative news, selective news, distorted news and even contorted news like dog eating.
Anonymous
16 comments:
Some – like commentator Tay Kheng Soon – were not pleased with Lee’s administration sticking the country’s collective neck out on behalf of the now war-ravaged Eastern European nation.
Tay, one of the country’s best-known architects, said he had a gripe with the characterisation of Russia’s actions as “unprovoked”.
While he opposed Russia’s military actions, the state of affairs – as he saw it – was that Kyiv did indeed needle Moscow into aggression. He cited the civilian death toll during the eight years of war in Eastern Ukraine, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. He said the Donbas region at the centre of the current conflict had been attacked by Western Ukrainian “neo-Nazis”.
Given Singapore’s roots in Asia and its reliance on both the West and China, the country was in a “difficult position” and it was “not wise of Singapore to take sides”, Tay, 82, said in an interview.
His views are representative of an increasingly vocal group of Singaporeans who have openly questioned the wisdom of what they view as the city state’s bandwagoning behind the West against China and its strategic partners.
Singapore’s services trade with Russia could be at risk after Moscow’s warning Other prominent individuals, such as retired newspaper editor Leslie Fong, have also aired such views.
“Let it be known that there are Singaporeans who are not blind to what is going on and can think for themselves,” Fong wrote on Facebook on March 16, attaching his own column in The Straits Times on why China would not join the West against Russia.
A national debate has now emerged over whether the government’s position on Ukraine could hurt Singapore’s national interests. It is a far cry from the status quo, around which the establishment has tended to strongly converge for the government’s viewpoint on foreign policy.
EU nations and US vassal states in Asia Japan S Korea and Australia are real dumbasses to follow their master Muricans on Ukraine in particular applying sanctions on Russia. Russia is no Cuba or Venezuela. If these nations and Iran, N Korea could survive US sanctions, needless to say Russia would.
Now the with roubles strengthening and Russia insist on payment by roubles, the blowback of sanctions is hitting back at these "unfriendly countries" . Singapore must be wondering whether 'standing on principles" as a lone state in Asean is worth the cost that is about to hit them- the lost of Russian trade and services, FTA, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and perhaps even Russian flight space ban on SIA.
The only nation that played this strategically brilliantly to serve its own national interest and not that of the US is India. Although an American good friend and member of AUKUS, they refused to toe the line to condemned Russia over Ukraine and insisted on buying Russian oil and gas at greatly discounted prices in agreed currency other than the dollars . In return selling their goods to Russia which many other nations were unable to do so because of sanctions.
India knew of their strategic importance to US and West in containing China so when UK and US called and even threatened sanctions, India doubled down and invited, to their horrors, Chinese FM Wang Yi and Russian FM Sergei Larov for talks in Delhi. Biden and Johnson must be sucking thumbs thinking how the got it wrong with India given puppet states Japan, Australia are so lockstep with them and ready in compliance.
If Singapore Foreign ministry had a Jaishanker as its FM, I wonder how much should he be paid given in India he's paid a lot less but delivering alot more . Perhaps, we should send our FM officials to learn a few tricks from them.
Doubt Sin is consequential in World Politic.
What will happen next shall be how ASEAN Members will respond to the Position that Sin is taking in the Russia Ukraine War as well as the Ongoing Myanmar lnternal Strife.
Sin is apparently taking a different stance from the Rest of the ASEAN Members. And this could lead to problem between Sin and the Other Fellow-members.
Yet to know how Sin relationship will pan out within ASEAN itself.
Right now, no ASEAN Leader has talk to Sin and this could be a sign that they are not interested in the Role Sin is playing in the Relationships between the US versus those friendly to Russia and China.
Anyway,
thing will become clearer as day goes.
Let us see how thing develops.
Cheers
Principled approach in diplomacy versus pragmatic approach:
Principled approach - inflexible, stupid, manipulated, theoretical, impractical, unwise
Pragmatic approach - flexible, sensible, realistic, practical, strategic, wise
When you are small, do not try to play the game of the big powers by taking sides. As they say, when elephants fight, the grass suffers. This is not without basis. Openly taking sides is very unwise for us, especially in this region and with other ASEAN nations not moving in a similar direction. We do not want to be seen as inviting elephants into the ASEAN region to fight each other and cause others to suffer collateral damage.
Most ASEAN states do not want to get involved in big power rivalry. Even Indonesia's Widodo already said just as much when he told the USA that big powers should stay away and not involve countries in this region with their rivalry. It really was s shock that Singapore is now standing out like a sore thumb among ASEAN states and it's action has been spelt out glaringly on MSM, glorified by some and criticised by others. Our leaders must be proud of their achievements in advertising Singapore's heroic stance.
What then is the motive of the USA dragging Singapore into the Ukraine conflict in relation to other aloof ASEAN states. Think about it!
It appears to me that ASEAN Members, including Brunei, are giving Sin the Cold Shoulder, with regards the Strong Stance that Sin has taken.
Biden was very pleased with Singapore, praising the city state for punching WAY above its weight . . .
Vaccine Delivery Canceled to Country That Did Not Condemn Russia
At least you can live like a multi-millionaire in Russia with your SGD. Even more shiok than staying in Malacca.
There was one documentary I came across about living in Moscow that surprised me. It said that Moscow is such a nice place to live in, rich in history, culture and theatre and the arts. Many past musical composers are Russians and many painters as well.
Though Russia is the Largest Nation in the World, very little is known about its history. Most only know Russia after the Second World-war and when it embraces Communism. And it was the Oposition and Attack by the So-called Democracy that cause the Attention at Russia. Russia is also much known for its space exploration and nuclear development.
To date and as a whole, there is little about Russia, there were no Qin Shi Huang, Genghis Kan or Hitler and the Likes in Russia History.
In fact, Russia was and is targetted with antagonism from the Democratic World lead by UK, US and their Allies.
Now
that the Situation has come to the Head in the Russia Ukraine War instigated and prodded by the US, UK, NATO and the European Union, Russia is in the Glaring Spot-light for the Wrong Reason. It happens and hope it will not be too ugly for the World.
The USA, in trying to drag the Europeans into it's plan to destroy Russia, is now destroying Europe instead. And in just two months, Olaf Scholz has single handedly started destroying the German economy.
The war in Ukraine is all about energy, with the USA trying to sell oil and gas to the EU to replace Russia. On price alone that would be impossible for the USA to muscle in, as USA oil and gas will cost at least five times or more than Russian oil and gas. According to statistics the EU bought 155 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in 2021. USA is said to be only able to provide one tenth of that. Is that enough to save Europe? What about securing specialised ships for bringing those gas, in liquified form, from USA to Europe? What about the facilities needed to turn the Liquified Natural Gas into suitable usable form that has yet to be built? We will see what happens towards the end of the year when winter comes to Europe.
The intention was clear since the fear mongering, threats, tussle and sanctions imposed by the USA during the construction of the Nord Steam 2 pipeline. The USA could not put into play it's evil designs while Angela Merkel was in power, by stopping the construction of the pipeline, but now they have Olaf Scholz eating from their hands. Yes, there is now oil and gas coming from USA and the USA plan to replace Russia in energy supply to Europe is taking shape.
But the stupid Europeans have not yet realised they have been conned big time by the USA to take a stand against Russia. They are the ones to suffer, not the USA, which is standing by to reap the benefits from the sanctions fallout. Europe will be buying gas at exorbitant prices from the USA, compared to Russian gas via pipeline. If for long term, there will be a terrible toll exacted on the EU economy, with very expensive products unable to compete with Asian countries.
And guess what, the UK is telling the EU it can also sell gas to them as well. It is laughable. Even the USA cannot replace Russian gas in the EU and only can supply a token 10% of what the Russians have provided in 2021. And Little Britain is thinking of muscling in on the EU oil market?
Only a few years before Europe no longer need Russia oil & gas.
Maybe in a few years time, the Europeans will not need food and in a decade more or so, they will not need water and air. By then, most would have migrated to their favoured realm, heaven.
Europe would soon find a few big oil fields in France and Germany and a lot of land to produce food. Then it would not need oil and gas and food from Russia or the USA, or the Middle East.
Until then....better be nice to the Russians.
Europe got plenty of land for food crops & resources for energy. They just need to be less green, like US & China.
Currently they are too emphasis on environmental --- cannot use or build nuclear plants, cannot dig for coal/oil/gas, cannot plant on the land, cannot rear cows/sheep/pigs/goats on the land, cannot take water from the lakes, the rivers, etc etc.
They will become more pragmatic like Singapore & US & China.
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