# Russia invades Ukraine -- The regional situation **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349 "2023-12-30T18:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 65
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1283 "2025-10-09T03:36:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I got that reference! I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1284 "2025-10-16T18:35:56Z")
Trump has agreed to meet Putin in Hungary in a development that surprises nobody, following a phone call between Trumpm and Putin which the Kremlin initiated. The idea that Putin, Trump and Orban are getting together is scary. The Ukrainians are in Washington to meet Trump tomorrow but of course this has completely undercut them. They must absolutely hate visiting the White House. And of course no way Ukraine gets those missiles now. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1285 "2025-10-16T20:57:25Z")
How does Putin travel to Hungary? Is the ICC Warrant meaningless and countries like Poland and Romania are obliged to let his plane pass through? I’d love to see Ukrainian fighters intercept his flight path. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1286 "2025-10-16T23:02:40Z")
Yeah, it’s also interesting that Putin agreed on a NATO nation being the host site for such a meeting. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1287 "2025-10-16T23:36:07Z")
Putin just visited the US a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1288 "2025-10-16T23:39:13Z")
Yes, but he did so by flying directly from Russian airspace to US airspace. If I were Poland, I’d be damn tempted to throw a few hundred drones in his way… ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1289 "2025-10-18T08:40:21Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > I’d love to see Ukrainian fighters intercept his flight path. Putin would put his nuclear forces on alert, inform the world he was putting his nuclear forces on alert, and dare the Ukrainians to shoot him down. If the man dies, he’s taking the rest of us with him. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1290 "2025-10-18T08:49:58Z")
I don’t know whether the Russian armed forces, the designated survivors of the Putin government and the high command are loyal to anyone at all, but ~~Shirley~~ surely not to a dead man. I’d say let’s try! Bonus points if Labrov and Medvedjev are on board too. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1291 "2025-10-18T08:54:40Z")
They’re loyal to Russia, or at least some of them are, and since the Tsar and the land are one, an attack on Putin is an unforgivable humiliation to all of them. They have to retaliate or their own people will tear them limb from limb. Besides, bold of you to assume that a Russian cares whether he lives or dies. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1292 "2025-10-18T12:53:15Z")
This article addresses that issue: > **[Can Putin's Flying Kremlin travel to through EU airspace to Budapest?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkd40yypwo)** > > If Putin does go to Budapest to meet Trump in the next two weeks, he would need to clear a few hurdles first. The most likely routes are long. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1293 "2025-10-19T02:55:54Z")
I’m morbidly curious what would happen if the Flying Kremlin decided to brazenly fly over NATO airspace anyway to reach Hungary. It’s doubtful NATO would dare shoot it down, and there isn’t any other way to force a jet to land. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1294 "2025-10-21T17:47:26Z")
Poland have basically just said “not over our territory”. > **[Poland issues Putin arrest warning ahead of Trump meeting](https://www.newsweek.com/poland-issues-putin-arrest-warning-ahead-of-trump-meeting-10912110)** > > The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023. However there are signals from Russia that the meeting may not happen now. I suppose Putin’s already got what he wanted from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1295 "2025-10-21T18:00:35Z")
11 European leaders issued a statement that the present frontline should be the starting point of negotiations. > **[Europe's leaders back Trump call for frontline freeze but Russia says no](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0exgnwl092o)** > > Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejects the idea of halting the conflict at the current contact line. (In 2024 and earlier a proposal for Russia to effectively keep what it had conquered would have been utterly unacceptable to Ukraine and its European supporters, but now the main fear would be that Trump will give Putin _more than that_.) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1296 "2025-10-22T12:00:49Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > However there are signals from Russia that the meeting may not happen now. I guess my mom shouldn’t have chosen Hungary. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1297 "2025-10-23T07:14:28Z")
There is potential for Saab to supply up to 150 Swedish-made JAS-39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine. One wonders, though, how the financing will be done given the massive cost (it’s got to be something like $14 billion USD or more when munitions, training, maintenance, support, logistics, etc. are included.) Notably, a 150-strong Gripen jet fleet would be larger than even Sweden’s own Gripen fleet itself. > **[Huge Gripen Fighter Order Letter Of Intent Signed By Ukraine](https://www.twz.com/air/huge-gripen-fighter-order-letter-of-intent-signed-by-ukraine)** > > Sweden and Ukraine have unveiled a plan to deliver up to 150 Gripen E fighters to the war-torn country, but major questions remain. Sweden and Ukraine have unveiled a plan to deliver up to 150 Gripen E fighters to the war-torn country, but major... ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1298 "2025-11-06T15:28:45Z")
This is really interesting: > **[Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/putin-repressive-machinery-turns-inward-target-pro-war-figures)** > > Analysts say a purge of the Russian regime’s own supporters is under way as rival factions turn on each other It seems like _any_ organic assembly of mutual supporters must be broken up before it coalesces into a threat to the regime, even if that assembly seems superficially like it would be the regime’s allies. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1299 "2025-11-06T15:45:59Z")
Perhaps. Another interpretation is that Putin is now seeking (with his stooge trump’s help), an offramp from the active fighting into e.g. a “frozen conflict” status where nobody is happy, everything nearby is and stays wrecked, but nobody is officially shooting at each other. See also Kashmir. And as such the pro-combat-forever / we-mustn’t-dishonor-our-dead-by-quitting-before-total-victory lobby is now an obstacle. Silence them, rewrite history a bit, declare victory, and Vlad’s your uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1300 "2025-11-18T04:14:32Z")
And now, talk of Ukraine getting 100 French Rafales. > **[Ukraine to get 100 French-made Rafale F4 fighter jets in 'historic' deal](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy170jkekdo)** > > President Volodymyr Zelensky hails a "historic" deal aimed at boosting Ukraine's defences against deadly Russian air attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1301 "2025-11-18T05:02:08Z")
I have to wonder if some of these arms deals with Ukraine are pump and dump sort of things. Ukraine cannot afford these weapon systems. It is running on donated money from EU and others. But arms manufacturers can have the orders on their books to boost their companies value. An order with a EU country will have to be paid for with money donated or loaned to Ukraine by the EU. So France is going to get a big load of cash for it’s arms manufacturer from the EU and itself. If the deal is ever actually paid for at all. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1302 "2025-11-18T05:13:19Z")
I think it’s more likely that they are mere verbal statements and good-looking photo ops that will either 1) not happen at all or 2) only happen on a much smaller scale. I can’t fathom any way that Ukraine scrounges up the 20 billion euros for hundreds of Rafales and Gripens or that anyone donates Ukraine that much money, much as I wish they would. If it happens, it will probably be a fleet maybe one-third or half that size at most. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=64) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=66)