Russian-aligned Serbian president predicts “all hell will break loose”

[FfFfFfFF 58,133]

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a "world war" with the West as he continues his invasion of Ukraine, an ally said Wednesday.

In an interview with independent Serbian TV Channel Pink, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, who has yet to condemn Putin for invading Ukraine, accused the West of sparking a "war" against Russia through the Ukrainian people. 

"We should understand that amid the world war, all the talks that it’s a regional or a local war must be dropped. The entire Western world is fighting against Russia via Ukrainians. It is [a] global conflict," Vucic said, according to Russia’s state-run news agency TASS.

“I know what awaits us. As soon as Vladimir Putin finishes business in Sieversk, Bakhmut and Soledar, and then on the second line Sloviansk - Kramatorsk - Avdeevka, his proposal will follow. If they don’t accept it, and they don’t intend to, we will go to hell,” Russian news service Izvestia quotes the Serbian leader as saying on July 14.

Vucic is not the first person to allude to the war in Ukraine being a world war. In early June, Russian state TV host Olga Skabeeva said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could just be the beginning of a global conflict. "Russia’s special operation in Ukraine has come to an end, in a sense that a real war had started: WWIII. We’re forced to conduct the demilitarization not only of Ukraine, but of the entire NATO alliance," Skabeeva said.

While he has not mentioned the possibility of World War III, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently also warned against Russia possibly invading Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, Poland and Romania, following the war in Ukraine.

Source - https://caliber.az/en/post/94066/, https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/823864.html, https://www.ibtimes.com.au/wwiii-putin-ally-confirms-world-war-western-world-1831667

[Dennis 8,391]

I'm just surprised by how many supporters Putin has.

The world should be ashamed of itself. And I'm talking particularly about latin american countries, african countries, and even middle eastern countries (including Israel) who just continue to talk with him as if nothing happened.

And add to that, the far right and the tankies (left) in western societies too who also support him.

There was an opportunity to exert immense pressure on Putin, by completely isolating him. But the international community failed its duty. And now dictators will feel like they can easily get away with war crimes and genocide.

If Hitler was living, they'd be happy to make deals with him.

[FfFfFfFF 58,133]

28 minutes ago, Dennis said:

I'm just surprised by how many supporters Putin has.

Serbia being close to Russia was always a given, apart from Belarus is Russia's closest ally in Europe. Serbia hates NATO because of NATO's bombardments during the Yugoslav Wars, the loss of Kosovo. There just too much resentment and Russia always acted like a protector for Serbia in international insitutions.

To a lesser extend this also applies to Armenia, which is surrounded by two hostile nations with territorial ambitions (Azerbaijan, Turkey) and has no one to really look for protection. Though after 2020, when Russia failed to protect Artsak public opinion in Armenia might have shifted.

28 minutes ago, Dennis said:

There was an opportunity to exert immense pressure on Putin, by completely isolating him. But the international community failed its duty. And now dictators will feel like they can easily get away with war crimes and genocide.

Which brings me to the second point, which is that wars never stopped. In 2020 we had a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, multiple conflicts in the Middle East and north Africa over the years. Russia used chemical weapons, caused massive destruction in Syria just last decade. Russia itself invaded countries in the past (Moldova, Georgia). The difference is that the war came closer to the heart of Europe and virtually for the first time since WW2 we had an full-fledged attack on a European capital. 

[lilboyblue 6,041]

28 minutes ago, Dennis said:

If Hitler was living, they'd be happy to make deals with him.

The way I didn't flinch while reading this. Given the events of the last decade... so true. Worse, he'd probably be celebrated. I mean, look at Trump and his fanatics.

[FfFfFfFF 58,133]

13 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Serbia being close to Russia was always a given, apart from Belarus is Russia's closest ally in Europe. Serbia hates NATO because of NATO's bombardments during the Yugoslav Wars, the loss of Kosovo. There just too much resentment and Russia always acted like a protector for Serbia in international insitutions.

To a lesser extend this also applies to Armenia, which is surrounded by two hostile nations with territorial ambitions (Azerbaijan, Turkey) and has no one to really look for protection. Though after 2020, when Russia failed to protect Artsak public opinion in Armenia might have shifted.

Which brings me to the second point, which is that wars never stopped. In 2020 we had a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, multiple conflicts in the Middle East and north Africa over the years. Russia used chemical weapons, caused massive destruction in Syria just last decade. Russia itself invaded countries in the past (Moldova, Georgia). The difference is that the war came closer to the heart of Europe and virtually for the first time since WW2 we had an full-fledged attack on a European capital. 

One might also argue it's countries like Israel (which does occupy parts of Ierusalim, West Banks which do not belong it according to international law) are older instances that make other countries feel like they can get away with military occupations. Similarily, pro-Russians love to point to how many Western countries embraced Kosovo's unilateral secession from Serbia (which happen in accord with the right of national self-determination of Albanian Kosovars), but heavily criticized Crimea.

[LilyLark 10,213]

44 minutes ago, Dennis said:

I'm just surprised by how many supporters Putin has.

The world should be ashamed of itself. And I'm talking particularly about latin american countries, african countries, and even middle eastern countries (including Israel) who just continue to talk with him as if nothing happened.

And add to that, the far right and the tankies (left) in western societies too who also support him.

There was an opportunity to exert immense pressure on Putin, by completely isolating him. But the international community failed its duty. And now dictators will feel like they can easily get away with war crimes and genocide.

If Hitler was living, they'd be happy to make deals with him.

Agree, but I do think it's complicated for some of the African countries which are so heavily reliant on Russian trade/grain/etc. (and Ukrainian grain). Very possible that those countries will endure severe famine the longer this goes on, and many abstained versus voting for Russia (still not great, but better for voting for Russia at the UN).

I'm more disappointed in Serbia, various Lt. American countries, etc. who support Russia. TBF, some prominent Latin American politicians have spoken out against Putin but there's more support or ambivalence more than anything else. It's like some sort of reflexive anything anti-US/"West" (and I put West in quotation marks, as Lt. Am is technically "West" even if it's considered the Global South) must be in the right, and a refusal to recognize both the US and Russia have imperialist tendencies and Russia is currently in an imperialist war. Also, there's sort of a fondness for the Russia of old (aka Soviet Union) even though that had its own serious problems, and the USSR gave out a lot of scholarships/aid (my mom almost took one actually lol back in the 70s), and a refusal to recognize that Russia now is a fascist country (not that the USSR didn't have serious, horrible issues at times and commit war crimes, particularly the genocides, but for the most part it wasn't fascist).

[LilyLark 10,213]

The Balkans seem they are having their own very serious internal issues right now and Russia is fanning the flames within Serbia.

[FfFfFfFF 58,133]

1 minute ago, LilyLark said:

The Balkans seem they are having their own very serious internal issues right now and Russia is fanning the flames within Serbia.

Republica Srpska is also very warm to Russia and as stated Russia naturally favours Serbia in its disputes with neighbour countries... Croatia and Serbia are also lowkey in an arms race.

 

[FfFfFfFF 58,133]

8 minutes ago, LilyLark said:

Agree, but I do think it's complicated for some of the African countries which are so heavily reliant on Russian trade/grain/etc. (and Ukrainian grain). Very possible that those countries will endure severe famine the longer this goes on, and many abstained versus voting for Russia (still not great, but better for voting for Russia at the UN).

I'm more disappointed in Serbia, various Lt. American countries, etc. who support Russia. 

Even in Africa and Latin America, there are nuances. For instance, you have stronger Russian allies such as Algeria, Ethiopia, Eritreea and lesser ones like Egypt. Then there are also countries that favor the West (Morocco). In Latin America we have a neutral and lowkey pro-Russian Brazil, but also a stronger US ally like Colombia while at the same time Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are almost legit Russian puppets. Also something to be noted is the countries dependent on Black Sea grains are the ones in North Africa and the Middle East, while the countries in subsaharan Africa are more dependent on Western European/ French grains.

13 minutes ago, LilyLark said:

(not that the USSR didn't have serious, horrible issues at times and commit war crimes, particularly the genocides, but for the most part it wasn't fascist).

No need for a disclaimer! Stalin was just as bad as Hitler period, in fact was responsible for even more deaths. The only reason why URSS doesn't have the same reputation as Nazi Germany is because the Soviets didn't have a public trial as a defeated, humiliated nation and many Westerners were and still are sympathetic to communism. Nazi Germany was the far right and URSS the left left, both just as bad.

[CautiousLurker 19,709]

This is just an aside, but I feel like a lot of the support for Russia in other countries, at least from the public's side, has to do with just plain hatred for progressive ideals - I've seen people online refer to the US and Europe as 'woke land' in a pejorative way and it's doubly sad considering that many countries in Europe, and the US, are quite conservative... People just hate the idea of letting marginalized groups live even a marginally less shitty life, and genuinely want them to suffer instead because the thought is emotionally gratifying to them - it satisfies their sadism...

Gays... I don't think we're getting our femme catboi utopia we've been trying to establish uwu

[LilyLark 10,213]

1 minute ago, CautiousLurker said:

Gays... I don't think we're getting out femme catboi utopia we've been trying to establish uwu

LOL

 

1 minute ago, CautiousLurker said:

This is just an aside, but I feel like a lot of the support for Russia in other countries, at least from the public's side, has to do with just plain hatred for progressive ideals - I've seen people online refer to the US and Europe as 'woke land' in a pejorative way and it's doubly sad considering that many countries in Europe, and the US, are quite conservative... People just hate the idea of letting marginalized groups live even a marginally less shitty life, and genuinely want them to suffer instead because the thought is emotionally gratifying to them - it satisfies their sadism...

Gays... I don't think we're getting out femme catboi utopia we've been trying to establish uwu

It's a strange situation where the very far, hard right and some (not all) on the very far left/far left are supporting Russia for very different reasons. As you said, a lot of the right wingers see it as a war against 'woke' culture and have some weird, idealized fantasy of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

[Dennis 8,391]

9 minutes ago, CautiousLurker said:

This is just an aside, but I feel like a lot of the support for Russia in other countries, at least from the public's side, has to do with just plain hatred for progressive ideals - I've seen people online refer to the US and Europe as 'woke land' in a pejorative way and it's doubly sad considering that many countries in Europe, and the US, are quite conservative... People just hate the idea of letting marginalized groups live even a marginally less shitty life, and genuinely want them to suffer instead because the thought is emotionally gratifying to them - it satisfies their sadism...

Gays... I don't think we're getting our femme catboi utopia we've been trying to establish uwu

That's part of it. But what's also worrying is how many progressives, directly or indirectly also support Putin or at least justify his invasion. The most popular progressive streamer for example said that the invasion of Crimea was justified

Or like this guy (who is also a leftist personality)

[Guest]

We been knew. Reason why I try to enjoy every single moment of this artifical "peace", because I just know that just because war is in one country, doesnt mean you wont get involved in it fully. There's no other scenario in my mind where it's just Russia vs Ukraine, because he won't stop, and that's unless something happens to Putin to make him stop, a bad event, or that the russians start a revolution but they won't. Revolutions don't come easy and not every nation has the mentality for a revolution or the strength/stamina for it. It's just something I gotta prepare myself with mentally, and well, there's climate change that scares me and then this, and both are gonna break loose at some point that's for sure. So enjoy your beaches, your cocktails, your parties, your house etc, I don't know... I make plans for the future but I don't even know what's gonna happen anymore, I just do it to feel like life is normal

[Benji 20,113]

He is vastly over stating Russia’s abilities and understating the west’s abilities.  The west isn’t fighting the war in Ukraine, Ukraine is doing a great job of holding Russia off by just having some of our weapons.  If we physically intervened then it would be over very quickly but we are avoiding that escalation because there’s no way around the fact that it would lead to us having to completely flatten Russia in a nuclear attack, which would be an awful loss of life and horrendous for the world and it’s environment.

[VTV 13,940]

Damn boomers ruining it for everyone.