I think the issue of sanctions is much more of a hurdle that you imagine. I can’t see European countries going back to anything vaguely resembling a normalisation of ‘peacetime’ trading relations with Russia, and whatever the military reality, they will not want to directly provide Russia with any vehicle to rearm.I would imagine it's up for discussion.
Russia wants some of the money back but would probably be willing to give some of it up. Could be used for reparations but not neccesarily called reparations.
They would need most of the sanctions lifting too, but might accept the military focused sanctions have to stay.
Giving Ukraine a few of them to drop on Moscow would liven things up a bitKyiv says Russia has launched intercontinental ballistic missile in attack on Ukraine
It's the first time such a missile has been used in the war - Ukraine says it was targeting the central-eastern city of Dnipro but the extent of the damage is unclear.www.bbc.co.uk
Russia fired an ICBM with conventional warhead. targeted somewhere in Dnipro.
I don't get the hysteria to be honest. Listening to the media, you'd think we'd launched these missiles ourselves. We've donated this equipment, we're just stepping back on the restrictions that were originally in place and giving Ukraine more flexibility. They aren't long range missiles in the sense of they are not being allowed to be used in a range anywhere near their full capability & are clearly targeting specific military targets while strict restrictions are still in place.I may be being a bit cynical but you can't tell me that this has not been ongoing for quite some time. I mean there has been a lot of support provided to Ukraine and they decided a couple of days ago (due to a timely synchroniseed go ahead) that they can start using supplied weaponry in Russian territory whether it be claimed/owned?
Kyiv says Russia has launched intercontinental ballistic missile in attack on Ukraine
It's the first time such a missile has been used in the war - Ukraine says it was targeting the central-eastern city of Dnipro but the extent of the damage is unclear.www.bbc.co.uk
Russia fired an ICBM with conventional warhead. targeted somewhere in Dnipro.
I think the issue of sanctions is much more of a hurdle that you imagine. I can’t see European countries going back to anything vaguely resembling a normalisation of ‘peacetime’ trading relations with Russia, and whatever the military reality, they will not want to directly provide Russia with any vehicle to rearm.
I also think Ukraine is unlikely to fall into line based on nebulous ‘security guarantees’ and who could blame them for that? If they are forced to cede territory then they are going to want far more assurance that it won’t happen again. De facto (or actual) membership of NATO being the only guarantee that’s worthwhile. Treaties can be subject to change if it is expeditious to do so. Don’t see any good reason this can’t be accommodated.
The notion of Ukraine losing all that territory AND not having any meaningful umbrella of protection is unconscionable in my view and would send out entirely the wrong signal.
As would doing business with Russia for as long as this regime is in place.
I did previously post on this thread about the danger of isolating Russia after this conflict, but that was predicated on the basis of them being repelled. If that isn’t the case then they cannot be seen to profit from what they have stolen, which means sanctions continuing indefinitely, and, as you (to some extent) say, the deployment of (all of) the frozen assets for reparations, or whatever they want to call it.
I posted about that yesterday but deleted as I thought it was just scaremongering.
You were on the money unfortunatly. I think a lot of countries thought they were going to hit Kyiv with all the embassy's closing