“On the whole, members of Russia’s economic elite “understand this isn’t going to end well,” the Russian billionaire said. Prokopenko, the former Central Bank official, said the Russian elite, including many under sanctions, are watching the situation in horror: “Everything they built collapsed for no reason.”
No good ending / No way out
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Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
RE: “Everything they built collapsed for no reason.”
There are two different ways to understand this statement. One holds that Prokopenko means to criticize Putin. The other holds that Prokopenko means to criticize the West.
Considering the latter, it is important to realize that the U.S./NATO banned Russia from using SWIFT, the international system central banks rely on to settle financial transactions. There was “no reason” for the U.S./NATO to take this action, because the immediate effect has been to impoverish Europe without significantly punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
But if Prokopenko means to criticize Putin, this suggests that Russia allows political dissent to a degree that Western Putin-haters don’t recognize.
Because of this particular ambiguity, the source article looks like fake news to me.
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The context removes all ambiguity. But it is not surprising that someone like you would cry “fake news” at a reality that you do not like.
The overall thrust of the story is that Putin is increasingly isolated, doesn’t know what to do and that powerful people in Russia are disillusioned with his leadership. Common sense says there is no reason to cry “fake news.” What is described is what always happens when “winners” turn out to be losers.
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RE: “The overall thrust of the story is that Putin is increasingly isolated, doesn’t know what to do and that powerful people in Russia are disillusioned with his leadership.”
Yes, that is the thrust. Unfortunatly, little in the story substantiates this message. For example, we are told Putin is “isolated,” but he is depicted as meeting with Russian and foreign leaders, holding press conferences and receiving critical opinions from the Pope. So which is it: Is Putin isolated or engaged?
The story quotes a former advisor who thinks Russian forces “do not have enough weapons,” but what exactly does he mean? This is the third straight month of large-scale Russian missile strikes on energy and military infrastructure deep inside the Western part of Ukraine. This is the second straight month of stalemate on the battle front in Donbas, with Russia shooting 6-10 times more artillery rounds per day than Ukrainian forces. Have there not been enough weapons for these actions?
I gave you the key for recognizing that this story is fake news: Study the ambiguous elements.
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“I gave you the key for recognizing that this story is fake news:”
Uh, no.
You are grasping at straws to validate your love of this murderous, America-hating tyrant.
“Isolated” does not mean he is alone in a room. Taking meetings, standing on a dais or receiving the news of criticism by the Pope does not mean he is not isolated. And, the fact that Russia still has SOME weapons does not negate the fact that they are running out and, unlike Ukraine, does not have the “arsenal of democracy” to help them restock.
And you are still dodging the obvious question – why would a supposedly loyal American be rooting for the success of our enemy?
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RE: “…why would a supposedly loyal American be rooting for the success of our enemy?”
I root for the destruction of double-think. You claim that a man can be isolated when he isn’t and that a military can be running out of weapons when there is no sign of it. I’d say YOU are the one grasping at straws.
In any case, my opinion of the war hasn’t changed since it started. I think the U.S. is guilty of killing innocents.
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“I think the U.S. is guilty of killing innocents.”
But Putin is not?
Our “guilt” is answering the call for help from a democratic nation with the will to fight tyranny. And yet you blame our country for the bloodshed, not the guilty fascist tyrant with the blood of hundreds of thousands on his filthy hands.
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RE: “Our ‘guilt’ is answering the call for help from a democratic nation with the will to fight tyranny.”
There’s that double-think again. Ukraine is far from a democratic nation. See, for example:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/12/taking_stock_of_the_situation_in_ukraine_111_billion_and_10_months_later.html
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“Ukraine is far from a democratic nation”
No democratic nation is perfect. Out own country is proof of that with major leaders trying to hold power with violence. But Ukraine is much closer to democratic ideals than is the fascist invader – even while dealing with a major problem of Fifth Columnists undermining their war efforts. So, no double-think required – Ukraine is fighting for values we supposedly believe in. Russia is not.
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RE: “..Ukraine is fighting for values we supposedly believe in”
Yes, like the indiscriminate slaughter of women and children.
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“Yes, like the indiscriminate slaughter of women and children.”
When you are invaded and fight back, people – innocent people – are going to be killed. The blood is on the head of the invaders, not the defenders. Simple, really.
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It appears Mr. Roberts believes that Ukraine should be a lao dog for Russia. Could that be because the old US lap dog of Putin lost the election in 2020?
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…”like the indiscriminate slaughter of women and children.”
Funny how you think Russia’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure are the the values of Ukrainians. Anyone with a 6th grade education could figure out that you are a projecting moron who hates the idea of anyone else’s freedom and liberty except his own.
How many Russian women and children have died in this conflict? How many Russian power plants, water supply systems and rail lines have been destroyed in the illegal invasion?
You are so full of shit, that your grass is gonna grow just fine, no matter how cold it gets.
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There is only one way to understand “collapsed.” You can say the banker was blaming it on Putin or you can say the banker was blaming it on the west, but either way, he said everything they had built had collapsed. You can call it fake news. You can call it chocolate cream pie. Whatever you call it, the Russian banker called it “collapsed.”
This is an excerpt from the Wall Street Journal calling Putin “isolated and distrustful.” https://russialist.org/jrl-newswatch-putin-isolated-and-distrustful-leans-on-handful-of-hard-line-advisers-wsj/
It’s what happens when you surround yourself with yes men and murder anyone who challenges your point of view. If you are to survive, you must be open to hearing both sides AND be smart enough to distinguish facts from fiction. Putin is neither. (And no, alternative facts don’t count.)
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