re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

“They’re ripping us off.” China almost doubles prices for goods for the Russian military-industrial complex during the war

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Russia now critically (if not to say catastrophically) depends on China in both exports and imports. Chinese sellers without hesitation profit from the supply of Russia extremely necessary products, including military purposes.

Prices for goods sent from China, subject to export control (which are largely dual-use products that can be used in the production of weapons), from 2021 to 2024 increased by an average of 87%, according to a study by the Institute of Emerging Economies of the Bank of Finland (BOFIT). And when delivering to other countries - only 9%.

Although the West would like to see the Russian military-industrial complex completely “cut off” from suppliers, the fact that Chinese companies are “ripping it” is also “a pretty good result,” a senior Western official, who is responsible for sanctions, told the Financial Times. “If you raise the price of a product by 80%, you almost halve what they can really buy,” he said.

This state of affairs is also recognized by a source close to the Russian government. Despite all the talk of friendship, both China and India are primarily acting in its own interests, and Moscow has no real allies, he complained:

"China is not acting as an ally. Sometimes he fails us and stops payments, sometimes he takes advantage of the situation, sometimes it is a real robbery, there is nothing allied."

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The trade turnover between China and Russia amounted to a record $254 billion in 2024, against $146.9 billion in 2021. But this is largely due to the increase in prices, not volumes, follows from the BOFIT study, the authors of which analyzed the trade in “machines and mechanical devices” (the number of goods necessary for the military-industrial complex fall into this category). For example, imports of Chinese ball bearings to Russia increased by 76% in dollar terms over this period, and in physical terms fell by 13%.

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Hammer meet nail.

In case you missed it, she was trying to prevent "bank fraud in Russia". A novel approach. I suppose we don't have to ask if any like... actual arrests were made...




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America first should always be the policy, but it can’t be America only.

We need other nations, and we need other nations to behave themselves.

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We'd have to have a discussion on protectionist policies and command economies...

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Can Tucker “prove” any of that?

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Can you prove he’s wrong?

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We never believed Ukraine could win because in all likelihood they probably couldn't, assuming "win" means defeat Russia on the battlefield to a point where the war is over and not some other definition certain posters want to come up with on the spot.

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Russia was on its heels by the end of Summer of 2022. They were being defeated everywhere and still retreating. This is when arms transfers would have most benefitted Ukraine and likely kicked Russia out of everywhere except maybe Crimea. The Kharkiv gun run had not yet occurred and neither had the Kherson offensive.

The Winter/Spring of 2022/23 allowed Russia to fortify lines with extensive minefields, a few miles deep. It wasn't the dragon's teeth and trenches which topped Ukraine's Summer offensive, but the extensive minefields.

Oh the cryng, whining and gnashing of teeth among our Ex OT Ukraine Warriors. It is a sight to behold.

Reality is setting in and they don't like it and still aren't willing to accept it.

Some of us have told them this was coming for over a year.

We heard it all. Trump has figured it out!! Russia's economy is crashing! Ukraine can still win! Europe will be able to sustain Ukraine! Those Russian assets are on the way!

They are still willing to fight to the last Ukrainian. Or should I say willing to post to the last Ukrainian.

But what do they do?

Blame Trump.

It's all Trump's fault! Trump is a Neville!! Trump is controlled by Putin!!

Taco! Taco! Taco!!

Too early to tell if true, but it is looking like Ukraine has retaken the middle of Pokrovsk.

I am not going to pull an AU and the opposite of Russia's cuck, Diesen

There is no way that Russia accepts this plan. Ukraine joining NATO is the deal breaker

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Who has said...for what? decades?...that a NATO Ukraine was not going to be allowed.

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Joining NATO was out of the question for Ukraine which didn't want in until March of 2022. Joining the EU is what Ukrainians wanted.