Ukraine situation

[SpringTime]

Was planning to go to Kharkiv for a short holiday this summer. As last year's developments progressed I decided to cancel. I've been worrying about Ukraine for several years now, and over the past few days am beginning to feel rather terrified. Any Ukrainian people (or Russians) on the forum willing to share their opinions?

[DulwichFox]

The situation is indeed worrying.

One thing we all have to be thankful for is that Trump is no longer in charge.

DulwichFox

[KidKruger]

I do wonder what the predicates are for it going nuclear !

[diable rouge]

Hopefully this is just more grandstanding on Putin's part, playing to a domestic audience and in the process seeing how the West/Nato reacts. It hasn't exactly been a united front in that respect. France and Macron seem to be the main players.

Russia/Putin has been seeking to weaken the Western/Nato alliance for sometime now, and why they were so keen on the success of Trump and Brexit, both seen as destabilisers, France also accused Russia of 'interfering' their Presidential election.

Bill Browder is worth checking out, he reckons that the West just needs to 'follow the money' and cut-off Putin's money supplies in the West, e.g. London based oligarchs, and he would soon back-off. And on that subject, just who and how much Russian money is financially influencing our politics? Hasn't the Tory party in particular received donations from UK based Russians?...

[Guest]

From earlier reports this evening it appeared as though the UK Embassy have departed themselves leaving UK nationals to fend for themselves. Go West and head for the Polish border is my advice.

[Loutwo]

Any invasion could spark a mass exodus of civilian populations towards the EU borders. It would cause a migrant crisis of millions. It?s a frightening situation for everyone.

Louisa.

[KidKruger]

Loutwo Wrote:

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> Any invasion could spark a mass exodus of civilian

> populations towards the EU borders. It would cause

> a migrant crisis of millions. It?s a frightening

> situation for everyone.

>

> Louisa.

Which would suit Putin just fine, I imagine !

[malumbu]

Looks like we are all lapping up what the Western powers are telling us. Now that may well be right but history will tell. An alternative view by Simon Jenkins in the Guardian, a border dispute and nothing to do with us. You may well disagree but worth a read in any case.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/20/britain-russia-ukraine-border-dispute

[JohnL]

I see it as a Cold War proxy war as we lived through many times - they are not nice but USA and Russia don't fight directly.

[SpringTime]

BBC News online latest headline:

Russia threat is new normal for Europe, says Nato chief.

I find this sentence utterly disgusting. It's not new, it's not normal and never has been, and if it is a threat it isn't solely a European problem.

[JohnL]

We lived on a knife edge in the 70s and 80s - not sure if the end was nigh at any moment.

And the solution was to "Duck and Cover" (hide under your desks)

[SpringTime]

Five banks sanctioned along with three people. That'll scare Putin. Pathetic.

[JohnL]

AT least Germany has put on hold (cancelled) the Nord 2 pipeline

[diable rouge]

SpringTime Wrote:

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> Five banks sanctioned along with three people.

> That'll scare Putin. Pathetic.

He's not going to cut-off money supplies to the Tory coffers.

Johnson's Boosterism exposed yet again as Blusterism...

[diable rouge]

Pray for the uber-Brexiters in the coming weeks who will get into all sorts of contortions and convolutions as they try and justify an illegal Russian invasion of an independent sovereign nation that just happens to be pro-EU.

Seems the 'will of the people' only applies to their own causes...

[JohnL]

It's just like the Isle of Wight

[Sephiroth]

Global Britain, enfeebled by Brexit and Russian money, looking very lame today

Just weeks ago it was all ?Germany is so laaaaame?

Yet here we are with Germany cutting gas ties and Johnson lying/pretending that people like abramovich have already been sanction.

Absolutely pathetic.

[KidKruger]

JohnL Wrote:

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> It's just like the Isle of Wight

?which voted Brexit !

[SpringTime]

The US sanctions are naff as well. As for the gas for Germany et al - I don't think Putin will flinch. It can be kept, forgotten, or sold to someone else. The Russian regime will not care! Sanctions didn't work last time and these delicate pats on Putin's head certainly won't work this time. Does anyone think that freezing the assets of a few individuals (or even a few thousand) will do anything at all? The regime can reimburse them anyway...

[SpringTime]

And Dugin fans (or not) will know:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Dugin#Stance_on_Ukraine_and_role_in_Russian_politics

[SpringTime]

PS If anyone's interested in further angles on this then Nikolai Tolstoy is talking about the Russia-Ukraine conflict at the Royal Geographical Society from 7pm to 8.30pm on Tuesday 22nd March with drinks beforehand; proceeds to go to orphans in Russia and Georgia. I'm going (but shan't be drinking).

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nikolai-tolstoy-on-the-history-behind-the-russia-and-ukraine-conflict-tickets-269633118917

[JohnL]

"On Wednesday the pope said the threat of war in Ukraine had caused ?great pain in my heart?, and urged politicians to make a serious examination of conscience before God about their actions."

This is a bit wimpy

To be fair he should be condemning Putin and his cohorts souls to eternal damnation.

[SpringTime]

The Pope's about as much use as tits on a fish. If he really gives a hoot he should go directly to Putin and give him a thorough whipping. On the telly.

[diable rouge]

Boris Johnson announces U.K. will be providing more military aid to Ukraine including defensive weapons and non-lethal aid.

That's code for a job lot of Band-Aid, a dozen peashooters, a couple of catapults and a spud gun...

[TheCat]

I think the conservatives, Boris and Brexit made Putin invade Ukraine!!!....who's with me!!!!????