A big step toward EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Georgia. We’ll probably never know how much Orban had to be paid off. He put on a good show of faux outrage at the decision.
According to Politico:
“Hungary does not want to be part of this bad decision!” Orbán said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Orbán left the room when the decision on enlargement was taken, according to a national official and a EU diplomat who were both briefed on the discussion. This allowed for an unanimous decision from the European Council, which another EU official, who like the others was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the circumstances, said was completely legal under EU law.
“If someone is absent, they are absent. Legally it is totally valid,” added the official.
Another day, another 1,000-plus casualties for Russia. And with Russia now stepping up attacks at Avdiivka that number is only likely to increase.
Russian losses in Krynky are heavy too. Rather than retreat to better defensive positions, Russia prefers to counter-attack, despite the cost in personnel.
Meanwhile, in Fantasy Land:
Russia soldiers complain about conditions, lack of pay and vacations. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The Izgoy tells his father that moral(e) in his unit is poor and all the fighters are tired and mentally exhausted from constant shelling, hunger, cold and the deaths of comrades.
He said this has turned many into refuseniks and deserters.He tells his father that the battalion political officer recently paid them a visit to try and raise their morale.
The PO made some speeches about the fight against NATO and world evil, but the fighters were not interested and instead asked about when they would get their promised combat pay and vacations. The PO promised that everything would be taken care of but nothing has happened which only adds to their poor moral(e).
Opinion: It is obvious the Russian command knows these men won't last long so they care very little about meeting the obligations of their contacts.
He’s obviously not very experienced at this Vox populi thing.
While Putin heatedly discusses that Russia did not ruin relations with Europe and the US, it was all their fault, a message appears on the screen (sent in by people): "We gave gas to Europe, we gave gas to China. When will gas be given to Khakasiya? [a Russian region]" The camera hastily returns to Putin and his lies.
"Why does a tray of eggs cost 550 rubles in Dagestan?"
"Mister President, when will the reality in Russia not be different from what is told on television?"
"Why is your reality different with our reality?"
The head of the IOC defends his bullshit decision.
"Individual athletes cannot be punished for the acts of their governments." This was, he said, "one war among 28 wars and conflicts going on this world and all the other athletes are competing peacefully with each other."
While House Republicans play political games, other nations continue to step up for Ukraine.
You look up and see a drone about to drop a grenade on you. You realize there is no escaping it.
Speaking of drones.
This is actually pretty funny. You don’t shoot down a fighter with a MLRS, unless you’re really lucky.
Too bad they missed.
I’m no expert on arson, but I don’t think power lines burn like that accidentally.
Russia continues to attack Reni, which is right on the border with Romania, and incidents like this are going to continue to happen. This drone crashed 6.5 km inside Romania.
He’s so young.
Rest in peace.
On October 19th, 2023, Volodymyr went to evacuate his wounded brothers-in-arms. While he was supporting a badly wounded person to the car, a tank shelling started and Volodymyr was killed. The last thing he did was cover the wounded soldier with his body and saved his life at the cost of his own.
I was here first. No, I was.