Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Dirty Harry]

He was definitely emboldened by past “successes”… It appears they were expecting Ukraine to welcome the with open arms. I wonder if anyone in his circle of advisors ever give him a reality check. This is what makes the situation so dangerous.

Having seen some of his latest press releases, I don’t think they’d have the bottle tbh mate, he shows utter contempt to anyone around him who doesn’t share his view or agree with him, in his own head he is omnipotent.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Not a chance. An incoming missile will be seen as a threat and the UK would retaliate before he had a chance to explode it over the North Sea and shout “gotcha”

You're dreaming mate. At least I hope so, because any nuclear retaliation from the UK - or the US or France or whovever - against Russia, and it's the end of the world as we know it.

We'd have very little (if any?) ability to intercept a nuke launched towards us from western Russia, and were that to happen - with a nuke aimed at the North Sea - the very best thing that could happen would be that we did nothing. Anything else would - literally - be suicide.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Russia has a lot of Thermobaric weapons that we have not seen yet, I'd be very concerned if he starts using them

These are devastating and could probably level Kiev.

And lose the war in the long term. The hatred of the Ukrainians for the occupying power would ratchet up to the maximum possible. In a country with a population 40 times larger than Chechnya and 100 times larger in area.

 

[PinkFinal]

It looks like Putin is being backed into a corner and that he might decide to take the whole world down with him as a result, to 'save face'.
However correct you think our political stance is on this you'll still be dead at the end of it.

 

[Octavian]

The scary part is how badly does it have to be going before he decides if he can’t have it, nobody is going to want it…and starts obliterating it?

Fingers and toes crossed it never gets that bad and common sense prevails.

He has a way out, but it’s a propaganda nightmare…

Declare the emergency action to protect Russians in Ukraine a success and turn around and leave the country, while holding onto the Donbas & Crimea. Declare victory and heap praise on the brave forces that helped protect Russians.

Does he have it in him to de-escalate, ir does he only understand escalation to secure his goals, even if it cuts his nose off to spite his face?

I think this only happens if Zelenskyy gives him a chunk of the east of the country… and given how resolute Zelenskyy has been, I doubt he’d agree to that.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

It looks like Putin is being backed into a corner and that he might decide to take the whole world down with him as a result, to 'save face'.
However correct you think our political stance is on this you'll still be dead at the end of it.

Jesus. The joys of Monday eh?!

 

[Octavian]

It looks like Putin is being backed into a corner and that he might decide to take the whole world down with him as a result, to 'save face'.
However correct you think our political stance is on this you'll still be dead at the end of it.

Stop causing unnecessary worry with nonsense like this.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

German utility companies dutifully paid Gazprom $220 million yesterday.
I think we’ll stay away from the mercantilist twats thanks.

And you think UK companies ate not doing the same?

The brexit BS game is up mate, its increasingly being seen for what it is.

 

[AlgarveBlu]

Not sure about that RT is fucking hilarious to watch. A bit like listening to Lord Haw Haw in WW2, it gives you EVERY confirmation as to why you are against Putin.

Did about 10 minutes this morning on RT (broke my record) and some presenter was calling out the EU on banning RT as an assault on civil liberties and impartiality. There are some top talent writers working in that organisation that could really help turnaround the BBC's fortunes in comedy programming.

 

[Coatigan]

I think it’s a lot worse than what Trump has done and Johnson hasn’t done comparable to either.

Obviously it is far far worse.

I wasn't really making a comparison, nor was it my point to begin with. I was just adding that forgotte little episode, not that it is particularly relevant. Johnson doesn't even factor into it, I agree there. Unnecessary footnote by me aside, agree with everything else.

 

[Keith Moncrieff]

New dog, house extension or even a baby was most peoples lockdown project. Putins is invading Ukraine, absolute dickhead

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

It looks like Putin is being backed into a corner and that he might decide to take the whole world down with him as a result, to 'save face'.
However correct you think our political stance is on this you'll still be dead at the end of it.

Its going spectacularly bad for him. I'm starting to suspect that he new his power was drifting away and the oncoming cost of living issues hitting home everywhere were going to seriously pressure him. I dont see a way back for him, however this plays out he is hanging on from here onwards. He might hang on for another 20 years but the rot is well and truly set in and visible for all to see. Hitler survived numerous attempts at his life from his own military - you wonder what conversations are ongoing.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

It’s NATO that’s been united throughout this and where defence really matters. Putin’s actions has hopefully given NATO a bit of a boost in cooperation and we’ll move out of this with less bickering with the EU.

It’s clear liberal democracy, that we all cherish, is only secure if we have a strong defence and work together.

One good thing that has already come out of this awful mess is that many Western countries have now realised that they have to have the means to defend themselves and therefore they have to put money and resources into their armed forces.

I posted a few days that the head of the German Army had put a message on LinkedIn essentially saying that their armed forces weren't fit for purpose. Several replies were on the lines of nations shouldn't put more into defence spending and that other countries didn't want to see a strong German military. Complete and utter nonsense in my view and seemingly now in the view of the German government. They are putting an immediate 100 billion extra into defence and they will be introducing a minimum 2% of GDP level of defence spending into the constitution.

Decades overdue and it shouldn't have taken the current war in Ukraine to do it but it is welcome nonetheless.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I think this only happens if Zelenskyy gives him a chunk of the east of the country… and given how resolute Zelenskyy has been, I doubt he’d agree to that.

Well I hope the politicians and diplomats have some ideas up their sleeves because Putin withdrawing all his forces and just saying "Oops, sorry about all that", is just NEVER happening.

There has to be a way for him to sell this as being at least somewhat successful, or else this is going to end as badly as anyone could imagine it ending.

Maybe throw him Ukraine not joining Nato for the next 25 years or something. Anything he can portray as a success. But he needs something.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

I think this only happens if Zelenskyy gives him a chunk of the east of the country… and given how resolute Zelenskyy has been, I doubt he’d agree to that.

Zelenskyy may be resolute, but the Donbas feels like it’s done and dusted, like Crimea.

Putin would be mental to make any accords with Zelenskyy, as it not only elevates Zelenskyy while detracting from Putin’s ability to declare victory if he has to make any agreement.

The minute this is over, the EU needs to welcome Ukraine in, send aid, and NATO agree to allowing them in and moving in en masse, albeit not on right up on the Russian border!

Putin clearly does not have the educated urban Russian population behind him and one hopes he has miscalculated this so poorly it becomes the inflection point on his demise.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

One good thing that has already come out of this awful mess is that many Western countries have now realised that they have to have the means to defend themselves and therefore they have to put money and resources into their armed forces.

I posted a few days that the head of the German Army had put a message on LinkedIn essentially saying that their armed forces weren't fit for purpose. Several replies were on the lines of nations shouldn't put more into defence spending and that other countries didn't want to see a strong German military. Complete and utter nonsense in my view and seemingly now in the view of the German government. They are putting an immediate 100 billion extra into defence and they will be introducing a minimum 2% of GDP minimum level of defence spending into the constitution.

Decades overdue and it shouldn't have taken the current war in Ukraine to do it but it is welcome nonetheless.

2% of GDP was supposed to be a requirement of being a NATO member!

 

[domalino]

 

[Chippy_boy]

Putin clearly does not have the educated urban Russian population behind him and one hopes he has miscalculated this so poorly it becomes the inflection point on his demise.

That in itself is a very worrying hope though isn't it. What does a somewhat mad, power-crazed despot do prior to being overthrown? A man who has killed or had killed tens of thousands of people without so much as a sigh. These are truly very worrying times indeed.

 

[jaseirai]

And you think UK companies ate not doing the same?

The brexit BS game is up mate, its increasingly being seen for what it is.

EU countries purchase $70 billion worth of oil and gas every year. That’s what pays for weapons.
A few houses in Belgravia and some refined diesel is neither here nor there.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

2% of GDP was supposed to be a requirement of being a NATO member!

It was/is but many members, including Germany, have never got anywhere near it.

Germany has had an underfunded, poorly equipped 'peace keeping' army for decades. That's about to change.