Ukraine wants permission from the west to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to destroy targets deep inside Russia, believing this could force Moscow into negotiating an end to the fighting.

Senior figures in Kyiv have suggested that using the Anglo-French weapons in a “demonstration attack” will show the Kremlin that military sites near the capital itself could be vulnerable to direct strikes.

The thinking, according to a senior government official, is that Russia will consider negotiating only if it believes Ukraine had the ability “to threaten Moscow and St Petersburg”. This is a high-risk strategy, however, and does not so far have the support of the US.

Ukraine has been lobbying for months to be allowed to use Storm Shadow against targets inside Russia, but with little success. Nevertheless, as its army struggles on the eastern front, there is a growing belief that its best hope lies in counter-attack.

  • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Nobody besides maybe some of the right wing brain dead mouthbreathers supports genocide.

    That’s odd, because DNC seems quite content to support it.

    Weird we don’t hear the same outrage about the genocide happening there. That one doesn’t fit your narrative though does it?

    Nobody is giving billions of dollars worth of arms to china to bomb civilians. So no shit people aren’t as outraged. What the fuck does that have to do with any narrative? You’re not making any sense.

    • lennybird@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      You can’t say the DNC supports genocide but also supports an immediate permanent ceasefire. These are mutually-exclusive.

      So there is a bit more nuance than you give credit as to why they denounce the collateral damage Israel is causing but continue to provide weapons. I don’t agree with the giving of those weapons, but there are substantive reasons as to why they haven’t stopped. The only people actually pulling the trigger on those weapons is the IDF. Bibi and Putin are of the same cloth.

      • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        but also supports an immediate permanent ceasefire.

        Talk is cheap. And as you said, they’re continuing to provide weapons. Not much of an effort to prevent genocide.

        • lennybird@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Pretty obvious they’ve been trying heavily to get a permanent ceasefire.

          You can see that by the way Trump went behind their backs and told Bibi to not take the deal.

          I mean, what, do you actually believe Harris and Biden want to be associated with and commit genocide? If the decision were that simple, during an election year, wouldn’t you think they just — you know — would stop sending the aid? What is their motive?

          • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Pretty obvious they’ve been trying heavily to get a permanent ceasefire.

            Trying would have been ending the weapons deals, applying sanctions, etc.

            I mean, what, do you actually believe Harris and Biden want to be associated with and commit genocide?

            No, I don’t think they do. But I also think their campaign managers are looking at the number of “we stand with israel” signs in people’s yards (among other things obv) and they’re realizing that taking a hard stance against Israel’s genocide of palestinians would lose them too many votes.

            So they’re skidish about doing the right thing, and taking a half assed approach of trying to negotiate with a dude who’s doing a genocide.

            • lennybird@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              they’re realizing that taking a hard stance against Israel’s genocide of palestinians would lose them too many votes.

              !!!

              Exactly! You got it! They’re skittish because this is an election year and the bigger picture is this: 1) Signal to the pro-Palestinian group by way of leaks of how much Harris & Biden dislike Bibi now, 2) Publicly denounce the collateral damage done in Gaza, 3) Negotiate for a permanent ceasefire behind the scenes… All the while recognizing: IF Harris loses this election, then all your complaining and all the protests will just be ignored farrrrr more than they are now.

              I mean look, even IF Biden pulls all aid. There is nothing stopping Trump from just immediately resuming it in 6 months. At the same time, we all know Bibi is a corrupt sadistic fuck who ignored obvious intelligence of an impending attack once already; so what’s stopping him from utilizing a false-flag after Biden withdraws aid to smear the Democrats and say, “Omg, look Biden took all the aid away and we were left defenseless against the rapist murdering Hamas!” <- This sinks a campaign, btw.

              So here’s the calculus at play: You either toe the line with both groups to carve out the largest electorate possible to defeat the guy who couldn’t care less about Gazans and put an end to this FOR GOOD in February… Or you come down hard and risk losing the election and fucking Gazans for the next FOUR years — which is it?

              • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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                4 months ago

                Oh I agree that they’re in a no win situation. I’ve been aware of that and never in denial.

                But to say they’ve been trying hard for a ceasefire fire is misleading at best. That’s the part I disagree with you on.

                There is no convincing Bibi, that’s been made clear. He is perpetuating this situation for his own power, and the land he wants to seize. The only thing that’s gonna put a stop to it from our end is embargoes and sanctions, and even then that’s only ever going to do so much.

                • lennybird@lemmy.world
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                  4 months ago

                  I think we agree on the meat of the matter. I’m just confused because you wrote:

                  they’re continuing to provide weapons. Not much of an effort to prevent genocide.

                  Trying would have been ending the weapons deals, applying sanctions, etc.

                  but then also recognize why they can’t do these things; so within the framework of what they can and cannot do, are they not doing everything they strategically can do without jeopardizing the bigger picture of the election? That’s all I’m trying to say.

                  That’s why people like me who absolutely despise Bibi and are pro-civilian are trying to convey this message by trying to point to the big picture. I mean Bibi and AIPAC are basically doing all they can to get a Trump presidency, much like Putin. Leftists associating Biden and Harris with genocide ahead of the pivotal election is effectively shooting ourselves, and Gazans, in the foot.

                  • Olgratin_Magmatoe@lemmy.world
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                    4 months ago

                    I think we agree on the meat of the matter

                    Definitely.

                    but then also recognize why they can’t do these things;

                    It’s a no win situation after all.

                    so within the framework of what they can and cannot do, are they not doing everything they strategically can do without jeopardizing the bigger picture of the election?

                    Sure, that is what they’re trying to do. But the problem is that there is always going to be another election. They’ll always have motivation to not rock the boat on this. I don’t think there is any reason to hope they’ll change their behavior in February.

                    A good example of this is the democrat convention:

                    https://www.axios.com/2024/08/22/dnc-palestinian-american-speech-denied

                    They had an israeli speak at the convention, but when they were pressured to allow a palestinian to speak, they said no. Now I know the DNC/the people who run it and Kamala/Tim and the people that run their campaign are different. But I think this is a window into their psyche. It wouldn’t have cost them the election to have a palestinian speak, let alone a palestinian doctor like they were asking.

                    So if they can’t even do the right thing when it won’t cost them an election, why is it going to be any different in February? Sure, AIPAC would most likelt throw a fit over it, but enough to throw the election? Probably not.

                    Leftists associating Biden and Harris with genocide ahead of the pivotal election is effectively shooting ourselves, and Gazans, in the foot.

                    I partially agree with you here. Yes, a lot of leftists are being short sighted and arrogant about this. But they have good reason to protest, because after all, our tax money is going towards turning palestinians into red mist.

    • InternetUser2012@lemmy.today
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      4 months ago

      Nobody is giving billions of dollars worth of arms to china to bomb civilians. So no shit people aren’t as outraged. What the fuck does that have to do with any narrative? You’re not making any sense.

      There’s a genocide happening there but you don’t care? Why are you supporting a genocide in China???

        • InternetUser2012@lemmy.today
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          4 months ago

          By your own logic you support the genocide in China. We know who you are bro, people aren’t falling for your bullshit, this isn’t .ml

      • LwL@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Thefuck are you on about. I take just as much issue with chinas genocide, I just take less issue with my own (and other) governments’ handling of said genocide. For one Israel is getting active support while china has frosty trade relations, but also the balance of power would allow both the EU and US to pressure Israel into stopping, which they can’t just do with china because china is a global superpower. I still kinda think they should but we all know citizens will cry about any QoL loss they might experience as a result, and that is reasonably something governments have to consider.