1. As of Sunday morning, Chancellor Scholz has done something that Chancellor Merkel avoided for years and years....agreeing to spend more than 2-percent of the yearly GDP on the German military. Yes, rather shocking.
I would add....he worded it in an odd way...saying it would come out of a 'special' fund.
2. As of 3 PM on Sunday.....all of German airspace is closed to Russian flights, period.
3. The Bundestag agreed today (Sunday) that more military aid for the Ukraine will occur. No one says in what fashion. Some of this will be announced within the next day or two.
4. Someone brought up this odd topic.....back in mid-September 2021....most all of the insiders to Putin (probably around thirty of them, as the story goes)....had Covid at the same time. Putin? He seems to have avoided it, or he just avoids saying he had it.
But after this Covid-drama, they all got more or less attached to the screw-Ukraine attitude, and the planning for the invasion took off. I noted a comment via social media where someone just asked the question....did this whole group (Putin included) just get Covid-brain fog?
First, there's various opinions over Covid-brain fog, with the suggestion that 20-to-30 percent of people end up with it, and demonstrate declined mental abilities.
Second, there's this odd opinion that if you already suffer from stress....it actually projects the declined mental issues more profoundly.
If we did wake up in a WW III situation.....a world on fire, and then realize the whole Kremlin crew were on a brain fog event....then what? Pretty crazy theory, I must admit.
5. Chancellor Scholz announced today (Sunday) that Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven will both be new hydrogen/natural gas ports, as the government will ramp up funding and go full-speed ahead. Greens hinting as long as they can handle hydrogen import.....they won't say anything or go prevent the work.
If you asked over start of this....it's doubtful that any dirt will be moved in 2022, and it's probably 2025 before you see this operational.
The hint here.....they will buy LNG from someone else beside Russia.
Also, he remarked that a coal and gas reserve should be built up (note, he didn't say 'would'). This gas reserve idea has been discussed for years, and nothing ever occurs.
6. Bahn doing its part. German railway said that six trains a day...a lengthy German train will run from Warsaw, to Germany, and any Ukrainian (must be able to show a passport) can ride freely upon it. Refugee centers are being prepared for the Ukrainians.
7. The EU is reviewing this idea of blocking all Russian-flagged vessels from EU ports. To be honest, I don't there is that many to effect the situation.
8. Ukraine releasing prisoners from jail/prison....who agree to fight. Odd episode brewing here....there two former commanders who were convicted of murder/torture...who are asking they be pardoned, and allowed to fight Russians. This is one those things which might sound good on paper, but just how far would they go in fighting the Russians, and would they become reckless?
9. Apparently, there are around 6,000 Chinese citizens in the Ukraine, and the Chinese government has said now that NONE of them will be evacuated. Some were on construction projects....some in colleges.
10. Ukraine is discussing the idea of a 'international' fighting force (volunteers from abroad). Pretty wild idea, and could end up with hundreds of Germans on this 'adventure'. Whether Scholz and his coalition would bless this or not....unknown. It's typically been a no-go for the German government in the past.
11. In the past hour or two.....Putin has put all nuclear forces on 'alert'....saying NATO is now threatening Russia. If you were to gauge German public feelings right now.....it went up a good bit, and it's the closest moment to war since 1945.
12. The Ukraine has agreed to meet....just NOT on the border of Belarus....to have talks. No terms. I doubt if you can take anything positive out of this.
No comments:
Post a Comment