Branislav Slantchev
@slantchev • 13,252 subscribers
Professor of Political Science at the University of California San Diego IR theory and conflict, formal modeling. All views expressed here are strictly personal
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Sachs, apparently before he lost his mind, during his visit to Ukraine after Maidan (which he now claims is when he learned how the CIA staged it), on April 17 2014: “I’m no expert on Ukraine by any means… Ukraine’s economic growth had already basically run out of steam in recent years and the quality of governance was very bad with massive corruption and lack of vision about transformation. The crisis that is really very very serious that Russia has really provoked in recent weeks, with the economy so intertwined with Russia, the various hostile actions by Russia are profoundly challenging for this country, obviously, not only militarily but also economically. … If it happens that Russia remains antagonistic and aggressive to this country — really closing trade, provoking crises — that would have serious economic effects. … If Russia pursues this course, which is a very dangerous one, it will have massive economic implications for Russia. … Of course that’s the same for Ukraine or for others that the only way to upgrade industry adequately here, to really raise living standards, would be much closer integration of production here, and in Europe, with China, with other parts of the world. And now Russia seems to be putting its geopolitics in front and cause what it would seem to be a very, very serious economic setback for it if it pursues this line. So the line that it’s been pursuing with Crimea and, right now, with the troop buildup and so forth, is a very dangerous for the Russian economy.” What the hell happened to this guy?
Branislav Slantchev160,770 views • 8 months ago
The Ukrainian sanctions are working. The Kremlin wants to take “currently unused” savings in private banks for “emergency repairs” of the oil facilities at the ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk, and Novorossiysk, which are “begging for help.” Matviyenko (the Chair of the Federation Council of Russia) says this isn’t confiscation but a “temporary redirection” and the depositors will be eventually repaid with interest. She did not explain how the government that does not have enough money for these repairs is going to come up with said repayment. Maybe that’s why she choked when she said that part.
Branislav Slantchev56,362 views • 3 months ago
Elena Mizulina, one of the most prominent faces of conservatism under Putin, on the isolation of the Russian internet (runet) from the rest of the world: “A ban is precisely the greatest freedom of a person. You are constantly being told: your representatives are always forbidding you from doing things. This is a lie, a misleading and mistaken view. A ban can only exist when a person is free. Because he says “this isn’t allowed, but everything else is as you wish. You are free to choose.” And what are rights? Rights are exactly the greatest unfreedom. I can tell you that the more rights we have, the less free we are.” I always thought Orwell was just too on the nose blatant to be believable, that actual propaganda wouldn’t be that stupid. But I was wrong.
Branislav Slantchev49,981 views • 3 months ago
Russian sources report that the attack on Moscow continues. Ukraine’s response to the recent atrocity Russia perpetrated in Kyiv involves (per current Russian counts) 250 drones, along with some jet powered ones. The war that Moscow residents pretended didn’t concern them for more than four years has come home. Some of them are unhappy about the state of air defenses, either unable to shoot down the drones or hitting own buildings instead.
Branislav Slantchev10,400 views • 1 month ago
Since so many butthurt Kremlin bots commented on this post denying the existence of this iconic video, here it is — the confrontation in occupied Henichens’k on February 24 2022. Here’s the translation: UKRAINIAN WOMAN: Who are you? RUSSIAN SOLDIER: We have exercises. Please go this way. UA: What kind of exercises? Are you Russian? RU: Yes UA: So what the fuck are you doing here? RU: Right now, our discussions will lead to nothing. UA: You're occupants, you're fascists! What the fuck are you doing on our land with all these guns? Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here. RU: Right now, our discussions will lead nowhere. Let's not escalate this situation. Please. UA: What situation? Guys, guys. Put the sunflower seeds in your pockets, please. You will lie down here with the seeds. You came to my land. Do you understand? You are occupiers. You are enemies. RU: Yes. UA: You are cursed. I'm telling you, and from this moment, you are cursed. I'm telling you. RU: Now listen to me… UA: I heard you. RU: Let's not escalate this situation. Please go this way. UA: How can it be further escalated? You fucking came here uninvited. Pieces of shit.
Branislav Slantchev22,804 views • 6 months ago
Friends: I did a brief commentary on the Trump-Putin call for the BBC.
Branislav Slantchev12,612 views • 1 year ago
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