This show exactly why Russia was right to ask for security guarantees from NATO - and also it makes it clear why Russia won't get it. This was the plan all along:

«Kiev has asked the United States to deploy several divisions of American THAAD anti-missile systems near Kharkiv, the source said. According to him, if Ukraine receives THAAD complexes from the United States, the radar included in it will be able to monitor the situation over a significant part of Russia.:
https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/13638603?utm_source=vk.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share»

My guess is that the issue Ukraine will look completely different by then:

https://yangx.top/intelslava/18155

Ukrainian schizos: We do not see any signs Russia will invade — Russia has invaded in 2014 already, we've been at war ever since!

«"There is no need to scare Ukrainians with war. We have been fighting this war since 2014"

Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba sharply replied (https://bit.ly/3sqEdF1 ) to reports about the "timing of the invasion" of Russian troops in Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine is ready for anything and will fight if the Russian Federation imposes another phase of the war.

How do you like this statement of the Minister?

https://yangx.top/uniannet/30100»

Deutschland/NATO gehen davon aus, dass sie über die Souveränität der Ukraine verfügen können, wenn sie wollen.
Übersetzt sagen die NATO/Deutschland: Die Ukraine gehört uns - nur Russland darf keine Einflusssphären haben.

That's basically their purpose in life: Fight Russia. They have no other purpose, just as Ukraine itself has no other purpose than to create problems for Russia:

««Nationalist groups continue to thrive in Ukraine, the main task of which is defined as the "fight against Russia".

Literally at the beginning of this year, a certain "Nationhood" [Dignity of the Nation] was created in Volhynia. There is little information about the new network yet. It is only known that the organizers of the group call it a "closed guerrilla network", which now has a thousand people from 13 regions of Ukraine. However, judging by the records in the FB, the recruitment of newcomers-nationalists continues.

The "recruits" will be taught "the identification of anti-state forces" in Ukraine and "the fight against Russian special services."

The spirits are instructed by more experienced fighters who have been highlighted more than once in the Donbass.

Among them are Aidarovets (battalion "Aidar" - Valentin Likholit and Andrey Pastushenko (call sign "Gray") - deputy commander of the OUN battalion*.

The weapon, judging by the photo, is fashionable, foreign. But maybe for the purpose of attracting attention.
The faces are covered with balaclavas.

Ukraine is simply asking for war.»
https://yangx.top/sashakots/28385»

Written guarantees are worth exactly nothing, as Iran can tell you:

«In a good way, any of the NATO countries could formally meet Russia's demands on Ukraine.

To do this, we need written guarantees that in the event of an attempt to admit Kiev to the alliance, this NATO country will definitely vote against. In NATO, decisions are made only unanimously.

But this is in an ideal world.

The experience of voting on sanctions shows that even our oldest friends, to whom we sell gas for free, vote as Uncle Sam should. That is, against us.

We are waiting for the results of the negotiations. We hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
https://yangx.top/vladivostok1978/8751»

The next step will be for NATO to thrash all rules and offer both NATO membership. It's the best way to protect them - and quite logical, considering what NATO is saying right now. European democracy is defended in Ukraine, so why not go all in? They just don't care anymore:

«NATO is to hold meetings at the level of heads of state with Ukraine and Georgia as part of the alliance's forthcoming summit in June. Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke about this at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, TASS reports.

"If we talk about the upcoming NATO summit, I suggested to the Secretary General (he said - ed.) that we should hold meetings according to the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia formula," the Polish leader said.

He stressed that these meetings should be held "at the level of heads of state" "to show solidarity with these countries, to show that we do not leave them on their own."

"They have always been loyal allies of NATO," the head of Poland added.
https://yangx.top/vestiukr/26004»

«What do we have in the Black Sea and some of this list are on the way, without the MRC and MPC of the Black Sea:
Varyag Cruiser
Cruiser Moscow
Cruiser Marshal Ustinov
Frigate Admiral Grigorovich
Frigate Admiral Makarov
Frigate Admiral Essen
Frigate Admiral Kasatonov
BOD Admiral Tributs
BOD Admiral Kulakov
BDK Korolev
BDK Minsk
BDK Kaliningrad
BDK Olenegorsky miner
BDK George the Victorious
BDK Pyotr Morgunov
BDK Yamal
BDK Azov
BDK Caesar Kunikov
BDK Novocherkassk
BDK Nikolay Filchenkov
BDK Saratov
BDK Orsk
SRZ Vasily Tatishchev

Also, in pursuit of the Atlantic group, the BF pushed out two more corvettes, which went south to Gibraltar in the Celtic Sea.

+ Raptors + Caspian group + submarine fleet.
https://yangx.top/voenacher/8462»

Finally some clear words from the Kremlin, in a way that cannot possibly be misunderstood:

«❗️Since February 2014, Russia has considered a coup d'état to be the source of power in Ukraine
This is a bad sandbox, we don't like this kind of game - Putin on the armed seizure of power in Ukraine in 2014

"Representatives of several countries, European countries have signed a guarantee under the peaceful course of the political process. Three days later, they seized power by armed means. They don't do anything themselves, but they demand some kind of performance from us"»
https://yangx.top/rusmonstr/19578

«The President of Ukraine has said that he does not like any of the clauses of the Minsk agreements. Like it, or not - be patient my beauty. They must be fulfilled.»
https://yangx.top/rusmonstr/19575

«Do you want to make war with Russia? Ask your readers, viewers and internet users whether they want France to make war with Russia, because that's what's going to happen.»
https://yangx.top/rusmonstr/19576

MiG-31K with the "Kinshal" complex in the Kaliningrad region.

Trolling from Putin:
«⚡️ We are ready to grant political asylum in Russia to people like Mr. Poroshenko — Putin»
https://yangx.top/bbbreaking/113392

Poroshenko probably wouldn't like to go to Russia:

«For understanding: Poroshenko is not just a man whose hands are up to the elbow in blood. He's up to his neck in blood. In our blood.
He gave orders for destruction, for shelling, for the elimination of our people, civilians.
Remember all these women with children torn in half, remember the dying woman under Lu Gogh with her legs torn off, remember the murdered men, women, children, old people of Donbass - it's all Poroshenko.

Just so you understand.»
https://yangx.top/ghost_of_novorossia/1488

He's definitely trolling:
«And here is a video of Putin's sensational statement that he is ready to grant political asylum to Petro Poroshenko.

According to Putin, he promised this to Poroshenko when he was still president.

And now confirms this offer.

Well all. Now the main agenda of Ukrainian politics for the coming days has been determined. Zelensky and Co. will brand Poroshenko as an agent of Putin (in the spirit of "shaking hands, hugging"), and Poroshenko will record angry videos as Putin and Zelensky conspired together to destroy his rating.»
https://yangx.top/kornilov1968/8434

US Embassy may/will be moved to Lviv. Welcome to the new Ukraine:

«The American embassy in Kiev may be moved to the west of Ukraine due to rising tensions on the border with the Russian Federation.
/MEDIA/
#Ukraine»
https://yangx.top/new_militarycolumnist/71076

He's definitely trolling:
«And here is a video of Putin's sensational statement that he is ready to grant political asylum to Petro Poroshenko.

According to Putin, he promised this to Poroshenko when he was still president.

And now confirms this offer.

Well all. Now the main agenda of Ukrainian politics for the coming days has been determined. Zelensky and Co. will brand Poroshenko as an agent of Putin (in the spirit of "shaking hands, hugging"), and Poroshenko will record angry videos as Putin and Zelensky conspired together to destroy his rating.»
https://yangx.top/kornilov1968/8434

Still a hard pass on NATO enlargement to the East (or anywhere else, for that matter):

«Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that some of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron's ideas for defusing the Russian-Western crisis over Ukraine could be put forward, following more than five hours of talks in Moscow.

"Some of his ideas, his proposals (...) are possible to lay the foundations for common progress," Putin said during a joint press conference, while deeming it premature to expose them publicly.

The Russian and French presidents will talk again after Mr Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kiev on Tuesday, according to Mr Putin.«
https://fr.euronews.com/2022/02/07/crise-ukrainienne-certaines-idees-de-macron-peuvent-permettre-d-avancer-poutine

Full press conference Macron-Putin, with French translation:
https://twitter.com/Elysee/status/1490793351288868868

Yea, "agreed", right. It's been stated from day one by the Kremlin that Russia is not intending to invade Ukraine. It's also been clear that troops will return to their bases after exercises are over, that's normal. Of course, you can sell this as a "concession Putin made" if you want - but that's cosmetics:

«Sources: Putin and Macron agree on some de-escalation

According to sources close to Emannuel Macron, Putin has agreed to some concessions that indicate he is ready to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine, writes The Financial Times.


«After yesterday's meeting between Macron and Putin, according to FT sources, Putin agreed not to launch new “military initiatives”, saying he is willing to withdraw soldiers from Belarus.

What Macron promised in return is unknown.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov does not confirm that there is an agreement, but says that it is willing to continue the dialogue on the proposals of the French president, provided that the United States also agrees to them.»

Two thieves tried to rob ATMs in a bank outside of Moscow, but used a bit too much gas to blow them up. Several ATMs were destroyed, one perpetrator died on the spot, the second was arrested later on. A security camera filmed the incident: