Putin!

[Leicesterbaggie]

It is about time we started to get tough with this individual, and I mean tough! He is a bully of the forest order and there is only one way to deal with bullies. He is also a coward who hides himself away at the first sign of any personal danger. He is bombing Ukraine with impunity and needs to receive some of his own medicine.

It does not help the situation with Trump cosying up to him. Deploy forces on the ground in neighbouring countries whether he likes it or not. Show him that his bullying tactics will not work. If we do not do this he will not stop with Ukraine, that is for sure.

[On Balance]

Don’t get me started on this one LB.

Putin and his lapdog Trump. It absolutely amazes me how the loud mouthed over weight yanky president is so blinded by a cowardly, lying, murdering moron like Putin. It actually makes Trump an accessory to the murders of all the innocent people who has lost their lives since he was voted President by a nation of people who were duped by this overweight moron and is now a country slowly losing its identity.

[Omegstrat6]

Putin may rightly claim that NATO promised the alliance would move " not one inch closer" to Russia in 1990 at the end of the Cold War, but he conveniently forgets why so many former countries of the USSR have subsequently pushed to join and been accepted-him! Putin has made no secret of wanting to reclaim those territories for Russia so, of course, they sought protection. That both Sweden and Finland, who were not members for decades during the Cold War have recently joined speaks volumes.

Leics is right, a show of force is the only thing Putin understands but Trump consistently refuses to do so. Put the National Guard into DC? Sure. Send armed ICE agents into cities to literally abduct civilians , no problem. Continue to support Israel despite what Netanyahu is doing in Gaza and the West Bank, no worries. Curtail important USAID under the guise of MAGA? Not a blink. Actually stand up to my bestie Vlad though? Didn't think so.

[baggieal]

It is about time we started to get tough with this individual, and I mean tough! He is a bully of the forest order and there is only one way to deal with bullies. He is also a coward who hides himself away at the first sign of any personal danger. He is bombing Ukraine with impunity and needs to receive some of his own medicine.

It does not help the situation with Trump cosying up to him. Deploy forces on the ground in neighbouring countries whether he likes it or not. Show him that his bullying tactics will not work. If we do not do this he will not stop with Ukraine, that is for sure.

I agree completely but the NATO countries are too weak and free loaded on the US for too long. Every NATO country should commit the same percentage on defence from their GDP but they don?t. Hungary actually side with Russia. The American attitude is why should we fight another war at our tax payers expense after what happened in Afghanistan. I totally get that.

Regardless what we think of Trump it?s irrelevant as we don?t elect him. After touring the US in the Summer many don?t like him but illegal immigration is down to below 1% and the tariffs will be good for businesses given time. I would rather we had a horrible ruthless individual rather than a weak lattice. Our homeless FFS don?t get treated to posh hotels and three meals a day and their laundry washed. Here lies the problem.

Putin knows NATO is split and cowardly and here lies the problem. We can?t expect the USA to commit more than any other NATO country and why should they.

Washington has sanctioned at cost long range missiles to be used so that?s more than wet lettuce Biden did!

[On Balance]

A seven minute read of why you should not be convinced by all Trump says. In effect he is a perpetual liar.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/29/p...aine-inflation

It is these things that make one wonder about his ability to lead a country like the US.

He is more like a President of a country akin to the one Putin is President of. Now that is not a surprise to most.

[Omegstrat6]

I agree completely but the NATO countries are too weak and free loaded on the US for too long. Every NATO country should commit the same percentage on defence from their GDP but they don?t. Hungary actually side with Russia. The American attitude is why should we fight another war at our tax payers expense after what happened in Afghanistan. I totally get that.

Regardless what we think of Trump it?s irrelevant as we don?t elect him. After touring the US in the Summer many don?t like him but illegal immigration is down to below 1% and the tariffs will be good for businesses given time. I would rather we had a horrible ruthless individual rather than a weak lattice. Our homeless FFS don?t get treated to posh hotels and three meals a day and their laundry washed. Here lies the problem.

Putin knows NATO is split and cowardly and here lies the problem. We can?t expect the USA to commit more than any other NATO country and why should they.

Washington has sanctioned at cost long range missiles to be used so that?s more than wet lettuce Biden did!

Trump's claims about other European members of NATO freeloading off the back of the US are (as with nearly everything he claims) exaggerated. That said, it is still undeniably true that European nations have eroded their financial commitment to NATO since the end of the Cold War whilst the US have continued to invest in its military and, by extension, NATO. The reasons why -to me at least- seem pretty straightforward.

The decline of Russia in the early years after the end of the Cold War coupled with greater unity in Europe through the EU saw growing stability in Europe and, with Russia seeming less of a threat, priorities changed and many NATO countries significantly scaled down their military spending to focus instead on domestic issues. In hindsight, this, of course, was a grave mistake as they belatedly found that -ironically aided by their own Western investment-both Russia and China would grow in power and pose a threat to them. The US, on the other hand, whilst similarly enabling the economic growth of both Russia and China and similarly oblivious to the consequences of this, saw itself as a kind of world policeman, defending democracy against the new enemy of Islamic extremism in its vaunted "war on terror". As a result, the US invested heavily in its military as it fought wars in Somalia, the Middle East and, later, Afghanistan. Eisenhower's end of office speech (as even Sleepy Joe could see) was coming true.

Go back in time and it was the US, under Truman and Eisenhower, who were the prime drivers in the creation of NATO. The Second World War had turned the fortunes of the US around and made it the global superpower but fear of the spread of Communism and of Russia and China led to their policy of containment. Maybe Trump forgets that NATO, whilst undeniably also protecting its European allies, was primarily created for the benefit of the US-but then his grasp on history is probably just as slippery as many of the American public's seems to be.

[baggieal]

Illegal immigration has drastically reduced in the US - complete fact! Governments anywhere can?t really manipulate numbers like our own can?t. Any illegals still there don?t get comfy hotels that?s for sure! Trump has the cards in terms of tariffs too apart from China.

Don?t like the man myself but it?s action that counts. If there was another vote in the US - I am sure Trump would get in again but that?s their business ie citizens!

If I was a ruthless President I would not commit a dime more than any other NATO country. Why would you? What these NATO countries have committed and some still commit is a complete joke!

Putin will only be stopped if EVERY NATO country is all in it together, We can?t stop the boats let alone scare Putin FFS!

I feel for the Ukrainians so don?t know what the solution is other than attack the bully altogether!

[baggieal]

Correct me if wrong! Oil feeds the Russian military machine and India are one of the biggest culprits for buying cheap Russian oil. The USA have slapped India with a tariff of 25% because of this and quite rightly.

As the Tool Makers Son scrapped the trade deal which was signed with India in July 25? If not why not and why no retaliatory action with the US?

You surely can?t have it both ways and this again is at odds with the US providing over 4%!if their GDP to support NATO in Ukraine whilst some NATO countries give less than 2% or in Hungary?s case not a dime.

[Omegstrat6]

Of course the situation in Ukraine is tricky and no-one wants more bloodshed but I agree with Leics that Putin will only back down through a show of force. Of course he will use threats and insinuations about escalation and even the use of nuclear weapons because he is a bully and wants to be known as the strong man, but even he knows that no-one wins if it gets to this stage.

Its a game of chicken and so far Putin has been winning. Only a few European NATO countries, like Poland, have worked hard at increasing their military capacities and it will take time for many others, including the UK, to reach anywhere near where they need to be but if-and it is a big if- the so-called "coalition of the willing" can gather broader support from other NATO members and actually put boots on the ground in Ukraine, now is the time to do so as Putin has already depleted much of his military manpower and weaponry.

The interesting thing to see then is what Trump would do. Regardless of whether China or North Korea would support Russia, would he belatedly step up to the plate against Putin or would he effectively ditch America's long-time allies in favour of not upsetting his bestie? The sad thing is that I really don't know the answer to that.

[baggieal]

Of course the situation in Ukraine is tricky and no-one wants more bloodshed but I agree with Leics that Putin will only back down through a show of force. Of course he will use threats and insinuations about escalation and even the use of nuclear weapons because he is a bully and wants to be known as the strong man, but even he knows that no-one wins if it gets to this stage.

Its a game of chicken and so far Putin has been winning. Only a few European NATO countries, like Poland, have worked hard at increasing their military capacities and it will take time for many others, including the UK, to reach anywhere near where they need to be but if-and it is a big if- the so-called "coalition of the willing" can gather broader support from other NATO members and actually put boots on the ground in Ukraine, now is the time to do so as Putin has already depleted much of his military manpower and weaponry.

The interesting thing to see then is what Trump would do. Regardless of whether China or North Korea would support Russia, would he belatedly step up to the plate against Putin or would he effectively ditch America's long-time allies in favour of not upsetting his bestie? The sad thing is that I really don't know the answer to that.

Surely Omeg if NATO countries committed the same percentage of their GDP as the USA then the USA would do more! One of the biggest culprits of purchasing cheap Russian oil is India who the USA have just slapped a 25% tariff on them due to this. Is the lettuce the Tool Makers Son going to abort the U.K./India trade deal signed in July? If I was the US - I would be asking well we have imposed a huge tariff but are you going to abort your trade deal. Surely these things work two ways?

For the U.K. to immediately come on par to the USA and Poland?s contribution they need to stop throwing money at foreign aid and illegals! for a start, Taxes will rise in Autumn to those already struggling like hell so what do you think these folk will think when endless pots of money is being wasted elsewhere? What about our homeless - are they being put up in comfy hotels and having three meals a day! Fairs fair in life!