Russia invades Ukraine

You took words out of my mouth mate.......India and Pakistan are 2 countries with supposedly close ties with United Kingdom, I fail to understand why they not with us and with Russia

 

The xenophobes will be clamouring for Boris to send them all back.

 

I think Russia will try and permanently annex the Donbas region and maybe Luhansk. I don't see them holding past the Dnieper long term. Putin knows that defeating Ukraine and holding it are two different things. It can do the first but I doubt the latter. I think they'll eventually take Kiev, but won't annex that part of Ukraine as such. Taking Kiev gives them leverage and they'll try and install a government with pro-Russian leanings (which will be a task, given itll be seen by millions as illegitimate). I suspect the Americans will get more involved at this point and work with the Russians to provide them with an off ramp. Like the Cuban missile crisis, there will be a public deal, a private ultimatum and private sweetener. I expect the Americans to agree to a partition of Ukraine, eventually (but they'll need a shift in tone domestically first... It'll probably start with a change in tone RE figures like Zelensky).

Of course, tragic that countries' fates are often decided by other nations. I don't like that, but it's often the case throughout history. The British have a long history of creating and erasing nations. Thucydides made the point, however, "the strong do as they can and the weak must suffer what they must". The tragedy of great power politics.

Just my thoughts, I'm likely way off...

 

No. Once again I think you're spot on.

 

Sadly that is the most likely outcome. Nothing will have really been gained that is worth the enormous cost.

and as a side note, very sad to see so many thousands of Russians jailed for protesting against the war started by Putin and at the same time seeing the British Government bringing a bill to stop people protesting..... I don't like where it is all heading.....

 

Very true and this will most likely happen in Lithuania, Estonia and Poland because as far as Nato goes they offer very little other than a place to build bases and house troops. I doubt USA and the allies would enter conflict over them either.

 

Exactly. Makes me want to throw up when I see Boris and co talking about the importance of upholding freedom and liberal values.

 

Absolutely they would.

 

Well should we all witness our loved ones die horrific deaths in our last few seconds, I’m sure Mr Thucydides words will be of great comfort to us. Athenian t w a t.

I’ll be going out with:

“Those who plough evil and those who sow trouble, reap it.” Job 4:8

 

Wise words Mr Deafening Silence. Wise words.

I think is was French soldiers who'd been in the trenches who said that those who gloried in war, wouldn't do so if they're experienced it first hand.

 

Lots of innocent people in Russia being treated badly by companies around the world. Go after mates of Putin but for companies to go after anyone Russian? It doesn't seem fair. Our own politicians have decided over the years to invade foreign countries. If we the general public had restrictions put on us because of something out of our own control we wouldn't have liked it.

 

We’d have second thoughts on who governed us and if we didn’t like what was happening we’d get rid of the govt on charge .
All the actions of other countries is for the Russian people to put pressure on the govt otherwise why would they bother if things didn’t affect them ?
Sanctions are the most effective way to let the Russian people know we won’t tolerate them invading peaceful countries and killing civilians in the process .
If they feel aggrieved should do all they can to change their governments minds

 

Volkswagen and Toyota have closed their Russian plants, a few thousand out of work...stuff like that can have an effect, let's hope its resolved and they can get back to work.

 

Hoping not to raise worries further.

Being reported that an estonion cargo ship has sunk off the coast of Ukraine following an explosion.....

Now, bearing in mind Estonia IS in NATO.......

 

Exactly .
Posters complaining about the treatment of Ordinary Russians whilst Their Government invades peaceful countries and claiming it’s nothing to do with them so leave us alone ?
It’s their government it’s for them to get rid , at least they aren’t being bombed like the Ukrainians .

 

The government won't care what the public think and the people who need stopping won't go hungry or have to worry about being homeless like the Russian public have to worry about. You have people such as sport stars unable to do what they have done for years just because of their nationality when they haven't done anything wrong. It's a mess.

 

What !!!?
Who the hell is to blame ? The Russians can’t say it’s not their fault when it’s they through their govts have invaded with the Russian Peoples Army .
The fact you don’t want people to have sanctions because of the actions of their govt so what do we do then let the Russian Army invade whoever they like and the Russian people carry on as if nothings happened ?
The Russian Army act on the orders of Russian Politicians who represent the people of Russia .

 

There are some increasingly devastating images doing the rounds from some of the journalists in Ukraine.

Civilian areas absolutely razed to the ground. And though not verified, images of several people just lying dead on streets.

Russian armed forces haven't been shy of doing such things in recent incursions. It's shocking to see how indiscriminate their attacks have been in some areas surrounding certain cities and hitting them with incessant shelling.

My heart is with Ukraine.