We could stop funding the cunts.
Its frankly disgraceful that western governments are saying all the right things but continue to pump billions of euros into the russian war machine on a daily basis......
It appears we care......but not actually enough to suffer any economic hit & inconvenience of not importing russian oil & gas.
We can’t if we have to share our access to norways oil with the eu once contracts finish, that’s the only reason we’re not utterly dependent like our European partnersOil is the biggie but for UK we can wean ourselves off Russian oil and gas quite quickly but fit Germany and France up to 60% dependent not so easy to just turn it off as prices would go up considerably and their economies would suffer extensively - Hungary also is pretty dependent and although orban has welcomed Ukrainians he hasn’t dissed Putin
Completely agree.
I would just make one small point; there's a strong argument that says NATO engaging, even in a limited form, with Russia in Ukraine starts WW3. However in Vietnam, US and Russian forces were in effect directly engaged in aerial battles in particular, and that didn't end up escalating.
Different place, different time, I know, but I just wanted to point out that there is some history that tells a different story.
All very well but you can't just decide that independent countries should be your buffer zone. Yes I know that that is what has happened historically but it doesn't mean it's right.There is also the defence of Moscow. Belarus and Ukraine are strategic in location to how Moscow have defended themselves from attack since ww2.
They have always tried to put a buffer zone between themselves and Europe.
It is also why Finland has never officially joined Nato.
Seems a bit of a balancing act.
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Spheres of influence. Vietnam wasn't part of the former USSR.
Vietnam was about ideological differences and the domino effect in that region of the world.
Ukraine, as Russia sees it, is virtually home soil.
Very different ball game.
There is also the defence of Moscow. Belarus and Ukraine are strategic in location to how Moscow have defended themselves from attack since ww2.
They have always tried to put a buffer zone between themselves and Europe.
It is also why Finland has never officially joined Nato.
Seems a bit of a balancing act.
View attachment 24323
And because of the madness of Putin, Finland is now very likely to join NATO, and the Baltic republics will be substantially reinforced.
Ukraine isn't really about getting a buffer zone back, it's about putting the old Soviet Union back together, imho, something that Putin's made no great secret about wanting.
I suspect he also didn't like seeing a thriving democracy in place just next door; an example to his own population that he didn't like, and a country that was turning away from his influence.
Putin's a clever man, by all accounts, did he or anyone else ever really think that there was any appetite in the west for invading Russia, given all its nuclear weapons and huge military?
That seems unlikely to me, I think the buffer against possible invasion threat falls a bit flat; this is more about regaining control of something he couldn't bear to lose.
All very well but you can't just decide that independent countries should be your buffer zone. Yes I know that that is what has happened historically but it doesn't mean it's right.
I suspect he also didn't like seeing a thriving democracy in place just next door; an example to his own population that he didn't like, and a country that was turning away from his influence.
Ask grendel about the uk and johnsonThere have been obvious issues in Ukraine with the path the people want to take. The west of the country being on large more western looking than the east.
This can lead to a tyranny of the masses.
What do you do when large population centres are fundamentally opposed to the direction of travel a commonwealth has taken?
There is an issue though when people want to leave a commonwealth. Tyranny of the majority and all that.
How can a democracy flourish when corruption is rife?
There have been obvious issues in Ukraine with the path the people want to take. The west of the country being on large more western looking than the east.
This can lead to a tyranny of the masses.
What do you do when large population centres are fundamentally opposed to the direction of travel a commonwealth has taken?
There is an issue though when people want to leave a commonwealth. Tyranny of the majority and all that.
How can a democracy flourish when corruption is rife?
There have been obvious issues in Ukraine with the path the people want to take. The west of the country being on large more western looking than the east.
This can lead to a tyranny of the masses.
What do you do when large population centres are fundamentally opposed to the direction of travel a commonwealth has taken?
There is an issue though when people want to leave a commonwealth. Tyranny of the majority and all that.
How can a democracy flourish when corruption is rife?
No.Hold up a moment.
Are you implying that the current government of Ukraine weren't legitimately elected?
Top Putin stanning. There’s no evidence those in the East want out but crack on, I’m sure there’s a job at RT waiting.
Hold up a moment.
As far as 'tyranny of the majority' goes, it's actually far from clear what the Eastern regions of Ukraine would have chosen, even in a free and fair referendum...
The issue as I see it is that most governments don't like the idea of countries breaking up.
Didn't the people of Catalan do the same and the same arguments were made there?
The issue as I see it is that most governments don't like the idea of countries breaking up.
Didn't the people of Catalan do the same and the same arguments were made there?
Getting so desperate.Ukranian forces video'd executing russian conscripts with hands bound.....and now a Russian rocket attack on a train station full of folks fleeing eastern Ukraine.....
There will be war, conflict & terrorist acts along that border for decades to come.....what a fucking world eh.
Bit of an outdated policy IMHO. ICBMs don't wait at check points or borders.There is also the defence of Moscow. Belarus and Ukraine are strategic in location to how Moscow have defended themselves from attack since ww2.
They have always tried to put a buffer zone between themselves and Europe.
It is also why Finland has never officially joined Nato.
Seems a bit of a balancing act.
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You would think zero training wouldn't you.What could possibly go wrong
Basically what Ukraine has done. Anyone over 16 issued with a weapon. Only real difference is more training probably needed for an offensive action.You would think zero training wouldn't you.
Here's your rifle, go shoot people.
Russia have Nazis too?Basically what Ukraine has done. Anyone over 16 issued with a weapon. Only real difference is more training probably needed for an offensive action.
Reports here of Russia's own neo- nazi groups being rearmed and sent back to Donbas.
You would think zero training wouldn't you.
Here's your rifle, go shoot people.
Anyone thinking Russia means the Azov Battalion when they talk about Nazis needs to read this. Russia is very clear when they say “Nazi” they mean “Ukrainian”
The full Russian propaganda piece, directly translated into English, is below. If it's any kind of true reflection of what Putin believes, it's frightening.
Stalin has had a bit of a image renaissance in Russia in recent years. Unsurprisingly while Putin has been in power. It's not an accident.If the translation is accurate then this is a truly appalling statement about the intentions of the Russian leadership. Arguments about the levels of casualities needed to meet the definition of genocide are spurious when the intentions and methodology of the Russian leadership are laid out in this mannner.
Issues like the re-education of people, slave labour etc take us into to the darkest days of authoritarian regimes. Comes as no surprise considering how many Russians still hold Stalin in high regard despite his track record on oppression.
The full Russian propaganda piece, directly translated into English, is below. If it's any kind of true reflection of what Putin believes, it's frightening.
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