O/T:- Ukraine [Incorporating 'Congrats to Russia' thread]

[queenslandpie]

Don't know why Putin is bothered about Nato, waste of space, Yugoslavia prime example. Crimea, let him just waltz in, alright may have an element of Russia but the bottom line was it was part of Ukraine
Sanctions waste of space. Not stopped N Korea
The West needs to send a load of bombers over there now, will make him have 2nd thoughts as most ordinary Russians don't want a war with Ukraine

So to be clear you are advocating that the west bombs a nuclear power? Putin has the west by the balls and he knows it. The reality is that there can be statements and sanctions but they 'aint gonna send any troops in. And statements and sanctions won't stop them or it already would have. Empty gestures from the west who are in reality completely clueless and fairly powerless. Russia can do what it wants in this position and it knows it and it is doing exactly that.

[irishpete]

No, didn't say bomb a nuclear power. I said send bombers(fighter jets) over there to the Ukraine. Have the Jets sitting on the ground. Show Putin we aren't the P ussys he reckons we are. He has been laughing his balls off at the French & Germans running to him. Great publicity for him in the World spot light & in Russia

[i961pie]

North Korea is not like Russia. The Russian people especially the young know what is happening in the outside world they have access to social media etc. even though their government tries to stop this.
NK on the other hand are like a third world country in regard to the population and only know what they are told and have no idea how the rest of the world live.

[andy6025]

Jampie, will reply to your ‘knowledgeable’ predictions later when I have more time.

As for the breaking news... it seems that Ukrainian missile defence successfully intercepted a Polish tractor.

[Old_pie]

Jampie, will reply to your ‘knowledgeable’ predictions later when I have more time.

As for the breaking news... it seems that Ukrainian missile defence successfully intercepted a Polish tractor.

Are you cheering each Russian missile strike as we would cheer a Langstaff goal?

[sidders]

I am not a Putin apologist and i agree that he is a dangerous man. My wife said it would solve the whole thing if someone 'took him out' but I disagree. The next Putin is already being trained up and the general opinion is that he will be even more offensive. The Russian people are ferociously nationalistic and that always needs to be taken into account. However, that nationalism also applies to separate entities like Georgians, Belorussians, Siberians, etc. It's a hard act to hold them together because sometimes their interests collide (against each other and against Mother Russia).
Irish Pete, sanctions didn't work against North Korea because the people have absolutely no power of protest and can be easily quelled. Russia is a vast province with far greater capacity for protest and non-cooperation.
I read an interesting article which compared the Ukraine's possible allying with Nato as comparable with when Cuba was considering installing a Russian rocket base. No way was the USA gojng to allow that. I remember going through a ridiculous exercise at school whereby the teaching staff were doing dummy runs to get us to take shelter under our desks. Yes, that's how seriously the threat of war was being taken in 1963?
This may be stretching the comparison too far but it is always healthy in diplomacy to consider a situation from your opponent/enemy's point of view.

[irishpete]

I am not a Putin apologist and i agree that he is a dangerous man. My wife said it would solve the whole thing if someone 'took him out' but I disagree. The next Putin is already being trained up and the general opinion is that he will be even more offensive. The Russian people are ferociously nationalistic and that always needs to be taken into account. However, that nationalism also applies to separate entities like Georgians, Belorussians, Siberians, etc. It's a hard act to hold them together because sometimes their interests collide (against each other and against Mother Russia).
Irish Pete, sanctions didn't work against North Korea because the people have absolutely no power of protest and can be easily quelled. Russia is a vast province with far greater capacity for protest and non-cooperation.
I read an interesting article which compared the Ukraine's possible allying with Nato as comparable with when Cuba was considering installing a Russian rocket base. No way was the USA gojng to allow that. I remember going through a ridiculous exercise at school whereby the teaching staff were doing dummy runs to get us to take shelter under our desks. Yes, that's how seriously the threat of war was being taken in 1963?
This may be stretching the comparison too far but it is always healthy in diplomacy to consider a situation from your opponent/enemy's point of view.

Sid

You really think the Russian people can protest, dream on. Sanctions won't work, unless you hit them hard, not p ussy footing around. All or nothing. Give him an inch he'll take a mile

[frenchmagpie]

Follow the money! It's basically a gangster regime and London is stuffed full of looted Russian cash and assets and I bet most western countries are too. Just look at the Riviera property market and yachts. Just sieze the lot, any assets owned by Russian citizens or associates. But Boris won't want to as the Tories are funded by them!

[irishpete]

Follow the money! It's basically a gangster regime and London is stuffed full of looted Russian cash and assets and I bet most western countries are too. Just look at the Riviera property market and yachts. Just sieze the lot, any assets owned by Russian citizens or associates. But Boris won't want to as the Tories are funded by them!

Know of people who have holiday homes in Spain. Surrounded by Russians

[Mapperleypie]

Follow the money! It's basically a gangster regime and London is stuffed full of looted Russian cash and assets and I bet most western countries are too. Just look at the Riviera property market and yachts. Just sieze the lot, any assets owned by Russian citizens or associates. But Boris won't want to as the Tories are funded by them!

Absolutely this. We don't have to set one boot on the ground in Ukraine at this time. Many of those closest to Putin and many other extraordinarily rich Russians that possibly disagree with him but have remained silent so far would soon change their tune if their assets were frozen.

Johnson is more likely to make Putin a lord as opposed to closing the UK bank accounts of his mates. Him and his corrupt Tory/Brexit mates are completely compromised. A truly sad state of affairs.