According to the Ukrainian historian I was listening to, it matters to them a great deal as the work Ukraine means border/edge so being called The Border/Edge plays into the Russian trope that the country is within Russia on its border/edge.A lot of people seem keen to make this point but I wonder how relevant it is. We happily talk about the UK, the Netherlands, and the US without delegitimising their existence as sovereign states.
I think one of the African nations uniquely officially has ‘The’ at the start of its title in a territorial sense (referring to the river). Can’t remember which one, The Gambia, The Congo, maybe.
Many other nations proudly have ‘The’ at the beginning in their official names, although generally in a non-territorial sense. Our own ‘The United Kingdom of…’ and various others: ‘The people’s democratic…’ etc.
What's taught in schools now isn't necessarily the benchmark for what is factual - more likely demonstrates modern day sensibilities., which as we know, ride roughshod over history.
IMO appeasement left us further off guard and a false sense of security that led to some complacency.
But happy to agree to disagree.
Ps You're wrong.
Ursula von der Leyen has definitely given the best speech in response so far, not holding back at all.
Can you imagine trying to enforce conscription these days?All down the length and breadth of Europe the café vlogging cappuccino drinkers will be trying to sort out a doctors appointment so they can get an exemption certificate from conscription.
All the people that have gone to the streets to protest have been arrested and are still being arrested.
Then they need to get out there in numbers that are too great to be arrested...
Revolution is not painless.
Putin would of fired missiles at them.Tell that to the 100k demo in Chicago who protested again the Vietnam War.
Police baton charged the lot of 'em!
Got to be hard lined. Russia’s economy is not varied, and can quickly and easily have a foot put on its neck.Moscow Stock Market lost 45% this morning, now suspended. Banks are being emptied as Russians hunt for Euros and dollars and according to journos in Moscow, there seems to be little or no popular enthusiasm for this latest Putin move.
The Czech PM, who is Putin friendly, has branded Putin insane and wants tougher sanctions including cutting Russia out of SWIFT.
We need actions, not just words though. The first round of European sanctions were tougher than people anticipated, so let’s see where we go from here.
Moscow Stock Market lost 45% this morning, now suspended. Banks are being emptied as Russians hunt for Euros and dollars and according to journos in Moscow, there seems to be little or no popular enthusiasm for this latest Putin move.
The Czech PM, who is Putin friendly, has branded Putin insane and wants tougher sanctions including cutting Russia out of SWIFT.
We need actions, not just words though. The first round of European sanctions were tougher than people anticipated, so let’s see where we go from here.
Cutting Russia out of SWIFT might be quite difficult as according to BBC news earlier companies in France, Germany and the US are all owed over $25Billion by Russian organisations and if you cut them off from SWIFT that money's not coming back.
Got to be hard lined. Russia’s economy is not varied, and can quickly and easily have a foot put on its neck.
I also think it’s time for the West to expel Russians from their countries, sons and daughters of oligarchs at our schools and unis, investors who launder money through British businesses, close down certain investments even if it means losing money.
All down the length and breadth of Europe the café vlogging cappuccino drinkers will be trying to sort out a doctors appointment so they can get an exemption certificate from conscription.
The So be it Union?So be it.
Did you really just say that
So be it.
For as long as I can remember we have had MAD theory.Is WW3 all that infeasible? Do Russia (and China), deep down, want WW3 to establish a new world order?
Russia (and China) has been taking the piss for 15 years, with little repercussions. I’m not sure the threats off the back of invading further worries them.
Is the threat of all our nuclear arsenals just that - a threat - and would never actually be used? Therefore meaning WW3 could easily come about in ground and air forces, and medium range ballistics. Rather than nuclear war and a few keys and big red buttons?
Post of the thread!The So be it Union?
The Germans built a fair few in that time too.We’d have lost the Battle of Britain if we’d have gone to war a year earlier. We had fuck all fighter aircraft in 1938 but built over 1,000 between 1938 and the summer of 1940 and each and every one was needed.
Turn Stamford bridge into a big internment camp.I don’t think it’s quick but otherwise agreed, especially about sending their kids home from uni and schools. Got to get them on a personal level and that is something that can be done by the weekend.