USSR invades Ukraine. (4 Viewers)

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Russian officials say they expect Ukrainian negotiators to arrive on the Polish-Belarusian border for the next round of peace talks on Thursday morning, where a ceasefire is set to be discussed.

Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, told Russian media the Ukrainian delegation has left the capital city of Kyiv and that Russian troops are providing a security corridor for the delegates.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier on Wednesday that Moscow remains committed to the "demilitarisation" of Ukraine and added there should be a list of specified weapons that can never be deployed on Ukrainian territory.

But he said that Vladimir Putin's regime recognised the Ukrainian people's right to chose their own leader and that Russia accepts Volodymyr Zelensky as the legitimate president.


Is this the first sign of a change in approach from Russia saying they accept Zelensky as president? Or is it meaningless?

 

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[duffer]

brilliant Dave the most brutal and Undemocratic country on the planet offers to assist - wow I’m feeling so much better now

I'm pretty sure the most brutal and undemocratic country on the planet at the current moment is Russia, given what they're doing in Ukraine. After that I'd probably vote for North Korea ahead of China.

Interestingly though, there's a school of thought that says China really doesn't want this scale of conflict in Europe, not least because it's damaging their markets and raising question marks about how the world should treat tyrannical rulers who threaten other states.

What if one solution to this was Russia withdrawing from Ukraine, and China guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial sanctity rather than NATO?

Not likely to happen, but I sense a way out would be a lot easier to negotiate if there was a non-aligned power that both sides respected at the table.

The problem, as usual, is Russia; Putin respects nobody.

 

[duffer]

Suggestion on Twitter to leave Google reviews for Russian restaurants with the words

Ваше правительство лжет вам об Украине. Пожалуйста, найдите способ узнать правду от семьи, друзей и источников новостей за пределами России! Убивают невинных людей. Вставать!

Worth trying anything

Google Translates as:

Your government lies to you about Ukraine. Please find a way to get the truth from family, friends and news sources outside of Russia! Innocent people are being killed. Get up!

 

[xcraigx]

 

[David O'Day]

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

We have a very multi national workforce but we seem to have only one Russian, he had a heated discussion with my Lithuanian colleague in Russian, it ended with the Lithuanian calling him a communist pig and told him to sit on dick and never speak to him again. They just stare at each other as they pass.

 

[skybluetony176]

I think they might have a role to play. If they decided to reduce trade/implement sanctions I’d imagine Russia will be well and truly fucked so they could certainly apply pressure. I said yesterday China doesn’t want this escalating to a nuclear war any more than us so it’s in their interests for Russia to de-escalate to reduce that risk

Agree. China could be key and I don’t think they’ll risk their trade with the rest of the world over a tyrant with a GDP similar to Spain. Russia might be in the G20 but it isn’t one of the big fish by any stretch. The ruling elite in China enjoy the benefits of consumerism and world trade too much to risk it all for Putin. Which is why it was so good to see the Unity in the UN vote today which again China abstained, which is as good as a vote against Russia from them.

 

[Houchens Head]

Made a gif. file if anyone wants to nick it.
.

 

[David O'Day]

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Anyone see Biden refer to the iranian people

 

[Grendel]

I'm pretty sure the most brutal and undemocratic country on the planet at the current moment is Russia, given what they're doing in Ukraine. After that I'd probably vote for North Korea ahead of China.

Interestingly though, there's a school of thought that says China really doesn't want this scale of conflict in Europe, not least because it's damaging their markets and raising question marks about how the world should treat tyrannical rulers who threaten other states.

What if one solution to this was Russia withdrawing from Ukraine, and China guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial sanctity rather than NATO?

Not likely to happen, but I sense a way out would be a lot easier to negotiate if there was a non-aligned power that both sides respected at the table.

The problem, as usual, is Russia; Putin respects nobody.

Utter drivel I have no words

Human rights in China

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in China with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

Who are the Uyghurs and why is China being accused of genocide? - BBC News

China has been accused by the US of genocide and crimes against humanity against the Muslim minority group.

www.bbc.com

 

[Sick Boy]

the EU of course is doing nothing about the gas reserves are they? What a progressive movement the EU is

It’s not really the thread to start going on about the EU.

 

[Grendel]

It’s not really the thread to start going on about the EU.

The thread has include suggestions that tbe uk decision to leave the union was something that helped Putin and if we were a collective force his position would be weaker - so yeah it is

 

[Sick Boy]

The thread has include suggestions that tbe uk decision to leave the union was something that helped Putin and if we were a collective force his position would be weaker - so yeah it is

Russia has focused on trying to divide the western world in general, you're naive at best if you think it hasn't been.
It's still not really the thread to start going on about the EU - the UK has left, so not sure why you're still obsessing about it anyway.

 

[Grendel]

Russia has focused on trying to divide the western world in general, you're naive at best if you think it hasn't been.
It's still not really the thread to start going on about the EU - the UK has left, so not sure why you're still obsessing about it anyway.

I’m not I am merely pointing out the EU block has a massively varied opinion on Russia purely down to economic self interest. Italy and Germany as well as France to a lesser extent are reliant on Russia to function due its total need for its energy reserves. It totally destroys the myth that a United eu is a strong one as in the end the big countries in it will talk big and still take the Russian gift of energy

it will also of course sell the arms to the ukraines to make even more money while continuing to suck up to Putin

Scum aren’t they?

 

[PVA]

I’m not I am merely pointing out the EU block has a massively varied opinion on Russia purely down to economic self interest. Italy and Germany as well as France to a lesser extent are reliant on Russia to function due its total need for its energy reserves. It totally destroys the myth that a United eu is a strong one as in the end the big countries in it will talk big and still take the Russian gift of energy

it will also of course sell the arms to the ukraines to make even more money while continuing to suck up to Putin

Scum aren’t they?

The irony of you complaining about Russian gifts and sucking up to Putin.

 

[Kieranp96]

Chelsea been put up for sale

 

[Sick Boy]

I’m not I am merely pointing out the EU block has a massively varied opinion on Russia purely down to economic self interest. Italy and Germany as well as France to a lesser extent are reliant on Russia to function due its total need for its energy reserves. It totally destroys the myth that a United eu is a strong one as in the end the big countries in it will talk big and still take the Russian gift of energy

it will also of course sell the arms to the ukraines to make even more money while continuing to suck up to Putin

Scum aren’t they?

The UK sells arms to Saudi Arabia, scummy behaviour unfortunately follows money around.

 

[skybluetony176]

Chelsea been put up for sale

So has his London property apparently. Getting his money out while he can.

 

[Grendel]

The irony of you complaining about Russian gifts and sucking up to Putin.

You do realise most of Russian income from Europe is through gas reserves in Germany Italy and France

So should these counties continue to support him or stop.

if you were head of eu would you suspend this immediately?

 

[Sick Boy]

Europe's plan to wean itself off Russian gas

The European Union laid out plans on Tuesday to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end it "well before 2030", in a bid to wrest countries free from depending on Moscow for energy.

www.reuters.com

 

[Grendel]

The UK sells arms to Saudi Arabia, scummy behaviour unfortunately follows money around.

An odd response. You seem to always be very critical of the Uk but with respect never directly do so with the eu

Should the eu abandon energy supply today from Russia?

 

[PVA]

You do realise most of Russian income from Europe is through gas reserves in Germany Italy and France

So should these counties continue to support him or stop.

if you were head of eu would you suspend this immediately?

Oh so sanctions do work?

It's hard to keep up with you when you continually flip flop between opinions depending on who you're trying to denigrate at the time.

 

[Grendel]

Europe's plan to wean itself off Russian gas

The European Union laid out plans on Tuesday to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end it "well before 2030", in a bid to wrest countries free from depending on Moscow for energy.

www.reuters.com

Oh dear

 

[Sick Boy]

An odd response. You seem to always be very critical of the Uk but with respect never directly do so with the eu

Should the eu abandon energy supply today from Russia?

I'm not being critical, just pointing out the hypocrisy.
Unlike you, I don't have in-depth knowledge of energy imports into Europe from Russia.
As I said, it's not the right thread to start derailing and going on about the EU.

 

[Grendel]

Oh so sanctions do work?

It's hard to keep up with you when you continually flip flop between opinions depending on who you're trying to denigrate at the time.

No the only thing that would at least show they care is immediate suspension of energy - they don’t as they need Putin and his energy - you must be very disgusted at the eu right now

 

[Grendel]

I'm not being critical, just pointing out the hypocrisy.
Unlike you, I don't have in-depth knowledge of energy imports into Europe from Russia.
As I said, it's not the right thread to start derailing and going on about the EU.

Well it is as without these Russia are starved of far far more income than every other sanction and that’s what you want isn’t it?

 

[CCFCSteve]

So has his London property apparently. Getting his money out while he can.

To be fair he said he’s donating all proceeds of Chelsea sale (guessing £1.5-£2bn) from the sale to the victims of the war. Maybe a bit of guilt money but fair play, more than other oligarchs are doing. Apparently he was also trying to help Ukraine broker peace deal. not sure of ulterior motives but I think Ukraine confirmed his attempts to assist on their behalf

 

[Finham]

UK has taken Russia Today off the air. About time too!

 

[PVA]

No the only thing that would at least show they care is immediate suspension of energy - they don’t as they need Putin and his energy - you must be very disgusted at the eu right now

You're right, it's all the pesky EU's fault that Russia is shelling civilians.

 

[Grendel]

You're right, it's all the pesky EU's fault that Russia is shelling civilians.

No it isn’t and it’s not the UK’s either but hey ho

 

[Sick Boy]

Well it is as without these Russia are starved of far far more income than every other sanction and that’s what you want isn’t it?

Weren't you saying a few days ago Putin wouldn't care about sanctions?

 

[Grendel]

Weren't you saying a few days ago Putin wouldn't care about sanctions?

he doesn’t but again you do and the biggest one is the one the eu could deliver so if you do are t you furious they continue to pump billions into Russia? Or do you not care as long as your economy carries on as normal?

 

[PVA]

No it isn’t and it’s not the UK’s either but hey ho

Nobody said it was the UK's fault, obviously.

You're windmilling all over the place here.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Georgia have also applied to join EU. The Putin master plan is working like a dream