Still looking for a downside.
The primary objections I’m hearing are “Russia wouldn’t agree to that.” I’m talking about the case where Russia loses badly in Ukraine and the international community negotiates terms for gradual removal of economic sanctions. Return of all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, would be top of the list but demilitarization of Kaliningrad Oblast would make sense to accomplish exactly what you’re describing.
Let me phrase it differently:
Russia has strategic and tactical nukes in Kaliningrad. Russia has ships in Kaliningrad. Russia has bombers and fighter jets in Kaliningrad. Russia has strategic cruise missiles of different reach in Kaliningrad. Russia has hypersonic cruise missiles in Kaliningrad.
My prediction is that Russia simply cannot give that all up. We cannot negotiate with someone as well armed, as desperate, and as untrustworthy who cannot give something up without loosing everything.
Well, if he couldn’t, he probably did after that.
That should be a war crime.
There’s a lot of nuance between “no problem, Russia; the damage you did to Ukraine will buff out” and nuclear war. Demilitarizing the oblast would mean removal of nukes in Kaliningrad, not seizure of them.
We’re also talking negotiated terms. If negotiation of the end of hostilities leads to thermonuclear war, that’s some shitty negotiation.
Have you met us?
In the 100 days since the Finance, Justice, Home Affairs, and Trade Ministers and European Commissioners committed to prioritizing resources and working together to isolate sanctioned Russians from the international financial system, REPO members have:
- Blocked or frozen more than $30 billion worth of sanctioned Russians’ assets in financial accounts and economic resources.
- Immobilized about $300 billion worth of Russian Central Bank assets.
- Seized, frozen, or detained yachts and other vessels owned, held, or controlled by sanctioned Russians, including the Amadea, the Tango, the Amore Vero, the Rahil, and the Phi.
- Seized or frozen luxury real estate owned, held, or controlled by sanctioned Russians.
- Restricted Russia’s access to the global financial system, making it more difficult for Russia to procure technology necessary to sustain its unjust war in Ukraine.
Mine is we don’t all end in a fiery mess because of one egotistical dickhead projecting delusions of imperial grandeur from his deathbed.
Nothing is impossible.
So, when does “re-distribution” begin? I’m sure Syria et al could use some cash right now.
On that map Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg are on the same pixel
The whole point of strategic nuclear weapons is it doesn’t matter where we put them, they can go anywhere in the world in an hour
