These photos kind of perfectly sum up just how bizarre the situation is.
Sadly, it seems more russians are concerned about not getting a BILLY than standing up to Putin.
Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
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Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#32What I'm curious about all the sanctions is what if Russia changes? Say Putin quits or is killed and the replacement withdraws from Ukraine. Are we back on again?
The sanctions will likely ease. Back to normal? The reason Europe reacted is not so much in defense of the Ukrainian democracy (though there is also that), but because Russia became a direct threat to European states (Baltic states, Poland, Czech Republic, etc), and therefore had to be stopped in Ukraine. It may take a while before Russia is not deemed a threat anymore.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#33They say every crisis is an opportunity. This could be a great opportunity for Russian owned brands to establish themselves and thrive later when the crisis is hopefully resolved.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#34They say every crisis is an opportunity. This could be a great opportunity for Russian owned brands to establish themselves and thrive later when the crisis is hopefully resolved.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#35They say every crisis is an opportunity. This could be a great opportunity for Russian owned brands to establish themselves and thrive later when the crisis is hopefully resolved.
Provided they are vertically integrated and own the entire supply chain. Otherwise they will find that planes not flying in/out and container ships not delivering will make it hard to import anything at scale. Not that they could pay for goods anyway. Also I suspect China may use its new found leverage to flood the Russian market with their goods.
Beyond just economically, perhaps potential big gains politically by using money & leverage to become the controlling mother that Russia is to Belarus, making russia the dependent & ruled child.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#36Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Putin is 69 in a country where average age at death is 73. So the most likely scenario is that the status quo remains until he passes away. At which point there would be an opportunity for a clean reset in relations.
Gorbachev is 91 and still alive.
Because a lot of death occurs young, brining the average down. But if you survive into adult hood you have good shot at living longer.
Plus he has way more resources than the average Russian.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#38They say every crisis is an opportunity. This could be a great opportunity for Russian owned brands to establish themselves and thrive later when the crisis is hopefully resolved.
Provided they are vertically integrated and own the entire supply chain. Otherwise they will find that planes not flying in/out and container ships not delivering will make it hard to import anything at scale. Not that they could pay for goods anyway. Also I suspect China may use its new found leverage to flood the Russian market with their goods.
Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#39Re: Last Day of IKEA in Moscow
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Cold War ended when McDonald’s went up in red square. Now what?
I went to that McDonalds about 3 months after it opened, it was a well planned family outings. It still is one of my favorite stories that I tell. The line was about an hour long. Once you got within 15 minutes of the doors, there were helpers who helped people who have never been with explanations of what to expect and how to order, and helped one plan an order. I got in and ordered a hamburger and Coke, and I remem…