2801

If that happens this is going to be real interesting, in a dying of radiation sense.

2802

Boris Johnson wants the G7 to remove Russia from SWIFT, but Germany balks.
(Pasted from Guardian coverage)

According to a report in the Financial Times, Boris Johnson is pushing for Russia to be excluded from the Swift international payments system – a key Ukrainian demand, see 3.52pm – but meeting resistance from other countries, and particularly the EU. The FT (paywall) says:

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, is pushing “very hard” for Russia to be ejected from the Swift international payments system, a move that would deliver a heavy blow to the country’s banks and its ability to trade beyond its borders.

However, Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, warned Johnson on Thursday that his country would not support such a dramatic move and neither would the EU, according to officials close to sanctions negotiations. A German official declined to comment, saying only that “all options are still on the table”.

My colleague Jessica Elgot says No 10 sources are confirming that Johnson pushed for Russia to be excluded from Swift in the virtual G7 leaders’ meeting that has been taking place this afternoon.

2803

Fucking Germans.

Seize every asset, cut them off from the global economy. Every relative of a Russian oligarch now becomes a hostage in some CIA black site.

Do it now.

2804

These are the sanctions Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just announced the UK will put on Russia:

  1. All major Russian banks will have their assets frozen and will be excluded from the UK financial system. This will stop them from accessing sterling and clearing payments through the UK. This includes a full and immediate freeze of VTB bank
  2. Legislation will stop major Russian companies and the state from raising finance or borrowing money on UK markets
  3. Asset freezes will be put on 100 new individuals or entities
  4. The Aeroflot airline will be banned from landing in the UK
  5. There will be a suspension of dual use export licences to cover things which can be used for military purposes
  6. Within days the UK will stop exports of hi-tech items and oil refinery equipment
  7. There will be a limit on deposits Russians can make to UK bank accounts
2805

That’s not bad.

What the fuck is wrong with Germany though?

2806

We had this when I was active duty in the early 90s:

2807

Great, now seize the rows upon rows of Russian-owned properties in London.

2808

Pretty cold without gas.

2809

So, given that Belarus is sending its own military into Ukraine to fight with the Russians, I’m curious as to what @alekseivolchok thinks about that particular aspect, given that he’s Belarussian, if I recall.

I mean, your country is doing this and guilty of this invasion as well, right? What do you and other folks in your country think of this?

2810

Yup. Every single asset that is owned by the Russian elite should be seized by the local governments. Not frozen, taken completely.

‘nice house there and 4 billion bank account. Thats mine now’

2811

Seize it and give it to the Germans on the condition that they buy tanks.

2812

Lets look back at how folks here thought about going into Iraq for an idea.

At least we live in a democracy and were able to express our discontent, even if people like the Dixie Chicks were run off of country radio for doing so. It’s not like the people in Belarus or Russia have fuck-all to say about what their governments do. Can’t be a very good feeling.

2813

Actually - most of them probably support the invasion. Such is the strength of propaganda.
Russian state media has been saying they are saving the Ukrainians from the Nazis(!?).

2814

And media who says otherwise find themselves falling out of windows.

2815

Very true.

2816

Ya, I think that’s a thing I’m curious about.

Like, are folks there just in denial about what’s happening? Do they recognize it, but can’t voice any concern?

2817

Yeah, one thing that’s really interesting about this, is that some of the right wing folks who support Putin in the West, actually LIKE Nazis these days!

2818

Moved on is a pretty relative term when you have a Russian president using Soviet grievances to justify invasions. If anything I see a lot of world leaders who are desperately trying to stop the clock, or force it into reverse, as ridiculous as that is.

I think it’s obvious they aren’t going to do nothing, whether they’re in NATO or not. One thing that unites most Scandinavians is that we don’t like injustice at home or abroad. These wars are clear violations of international law, so technically even Angola has plenty of justification to join in the defense of Ukraine or the Baltics.

The more relevant question is how they’ll respond to the new Russia at this point where we find ourselves. The Finns are discussing NATO, the Swedes seem to be standing firm.

Worth noting that even though some are arrested as soon as they leave their homes, people have still tried to demonstrate against the war, in Russia, and another Levada poll stated that only 45% were in favor of recognition.

2819

The thing that’s really upsetting is while I want to see Ukraine make Russia pay a price for this (I don’t think they have a chance of stopping them), it’s going to be Russian kids that pay the price. Last I checked, Russia still has conscription, I don’t even know if those frontline soldiers even have a choice of being there. Maybe the troops moving in are on volunteers? But still.

So a bunch of Russian kids on the front die for what? A bunch of Ukrainians die for what? It’s just so fucking sad all around.

2820

For Russian Oligarch money.