Tango01 | 18 Sep 2014 3:09 p.m. PST |
"German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reports that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told European Commission that Putin made the threat in a recent conversation. President Vladimir Putin privately threatened to invade Poland, Romania and the Baltic states, according to a record of a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart. "If I wanted, in two days I could have Russian troops not only in Kiev, but also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucharest," Mr Putin allegedly told President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, reported Süddeustche Zeitung, a German newspaper…" Full article here link Interesting "what if". Do you think that Russia can made that so easy? Amicalement Armand |
Mardaddy | 18 Sep 2014 3:27 p.m. PST |
Getting there, and holding them, are widely differing things. |
GeoffQRF | 18 Sep 2014 3:30 p.m. PST |
Just a bit of muscle flexing. With the front line strength of armed forces in those countries at this time, the Russian armed forces probably could be in most, if not all, of those in a few days, but it would be a lightning drive to do so and the chances of sustaining them long term would be extremely slim. It's not really a threat, it's a bit of "you know, if I really wanted to, I could…". I suspect the combined forces of NATO could be in Moscow in a few days, if they were so inclined. |
Mako11 | 18 Sep 2014 4:21 p.m. PST |
Wouldn't surprise me, though I imagine Poland would be a fight. The others, less so……. I heard Moldova and another smaller territory are on the "wish list", first. |
Deadone | 18 Sep 2014 4:36 p.m. PST |
By the sounds of it, Putin was trying to say how much easy it would be to take over Ukraine. Realistically the Russians could also rumble through most of Eastern Europe and not face any serious resistance. In fact Poland is the only country left in Eastern Europe with any sort of real military capability. The rest are just token forces lacking in virtually everything. In fact Eastern Europe is so demilitarised that a WWII Panzer Army could do it easily with WWII era equipment. A operational Bf 109 or Panzer IV is still a far more useful than a non-operational MiG-21 or T-55/-72 rusting away in open "storage" for a couple of decades. |
James Wright | 18 Sep 2014 5:18 p.m. PST |
I think mainly what holds Russia back is just the fear of a more global war. Cold Warriors running the show have to remember what made the Cold War so cool. I doubt they want to risk oblivion. But then, who knows. From a war gaming perspective, it is interesting to think that the old NATO v Russia aspect of hypothetical wargaming is back. |
Zargon | 18 Sep 2014 5:51 p.m. PST |
Yup 6am Monday, in fact they decided to phone it in, as its far more convenient . |
Barin1 | 19 Sep 2014 3:03 a.m. PST |
We're too integrated in the world economy now, I also can't see any real benefits of occupying Eastern Europe. These revelations from Poroshenko came just in time when Ukrainian president was touring USA and trying to secure all possible help including lethal and heavy weaponry as well as status of NATO "best partner". It is not too difficult to figure, that the part of conversation was either invented, or edited to trigger more help from NATO. Also, puts some doubts that he really wants a peaceful solution in the East. |
Chokidar | 19 Sep 2014 5:31 a.m. PST |
Barin1 – are you for real? Come back in a decade when Putin has taken you back to real economic hardship.. |
Weasel | 19 Sep 2014 8:39 a.m. PST |
I will bet a free copy of every game I've written that we will not see a shooting war between Russia and NATO in my lifetime. |
Zargon | 19 Sep 2014 10:11 a.m. PST |
Weasel you know its a suckers bet , B1 is on the money and the rest cummon get a referendum (cheeky Zargon:) Choc King just signed the original 'strings attached' that started the whole rotten story. He is all in for the pot. But its a game for Politicians not CEOs of sweety companies. My take it will settle down to a simmer with the occasional poking of a sharpened stick buy NATO (actually only their members that don't read situations well+big arms investors) in opposition the so call separatists will pop up and 'outrage' which the press will love. And the people? Well they endure these AHs because they have no choice. Crimea? Opportunity was given because democratic principles were not applied. Now Weasel? When are those sci-fi rules/supplement your working on from "No End In Sight" :) I got toy Space Marines waiting :) to stop those hoards of insect monsters at the perimeter. Cheers PS Weas, I'd like the supplement idea as I then get to do modern/near future too :+) |
Weasel | 19 Sep 2014 10:22 a.m. PST |
Note taking and gadgetry is being written for No End in Sight :-) It'll be a few months out though but it's coming. People started asking for it almost immediately :) |
Barin1 | 19 Sep 2014 10:35 a.m. PST |
Chokidar, well, if there will be a real economic hardship, then the possibility of a small victorious war grows. However, I doubt it will be ever worse than when we had end of 80s under Gorbachev or beginning of 90s when Chicago boys were bringing us market economy under champion of democracy Yeltsin. I'm afraid that living in the country and selling products to all branches of industry I know a bit more on the situation than your average armchair strategist. Catastrophic future aside, I don't understand how our possible financial collapse can be solved by invading struggling countries like Romania, or Baltics. Poland is a bit better from economy point of view, but with eternal hatred between our countries it is not going to work in any case. |
totalmech | 19 Sep 2014 2:01 p.m. PST |
They may invade.Im woundering how in situation when Russia threats to EU countries France will justify seling weapons toRussia are French collaborating again with the evil force here? |
Special Action Group Anton | 19 Sep 2014 5:35 p.m. PST |
Its typical Russian silliness. Sabre Rattling improves Putin's popularity, as does the push for aurtarky in response to the sanctions. If the west allows the status quo with respect to Crimea there will be more expansionist moves. |
Legion 4 | 20 Sep 2014 5:46 a.m. PST |
Hopefully we'll only have to game it on tables or board games. I hope the West, and the East in this case, have seen the bigger picture paradigm of another war in Europe … it's a bad idea. Just watch documentaries on WWI & II … If nothing else, it's too costly from an economic standpoint … not ot mention the human cost .. |
Zargon | 20 Sep 2014 9:22 a.m. PST |
Yes Weasel, your a victim of your own success. Hooray for rule writers who are victims of success. :+) OK now get back to work . Cheers |