Russian invasion of Ukraine

[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.