What is it you imagine they should have done? Few countries anywhere will get into this type of direct action on a whim and the only other option is sanctions.
This was set in stone when Biden walked meekly out of Afghanistan. The US is no longer a reliable partner for Europe (a process that has been taking place over 15 years) - we will need to get to the point of having a stronger unified EU defence.
And both of them would be blaming Sinn Fein...
He's not going in , that's already clear
This is a dark day for Europe
If you hurt those who are keeping the nutter Putin in power then they may choose to remove him.
If the west put boots on the ground in the Ukraine we will just strengthen his support in Russia. If we give the Ukrainians the means with weapons to bleed the Russian military visibly and use economic weapons to bleed the oligarchs economically that should push a change in Russia
Went to sleep early this morning knowing full well this was about to start, and feel sick to my stomach now. I hope the Ukrainians are sing their country proud.
The world, mainly Europe and the US have invented this situation with their cowardice towards Putin in the past.
Martin would already be his bunker and varadker would be in new York.
Glad to read a few hours earlier that some of the initial reports regarding Mariupol were wrong, still firmly in Ukrainian control according to reporters now on the ground.
Also interesting that the Ukrainian military are claiming they have retaken some villages near the line of contact in Luhansk and inflicted serious casualties on the separatists leading the offensive in that area. Again, totally unverified stuff so all the usual caveats apply.
I love the rhetoric from the Ukraine PM. "You will see our faces, not our backs". It's stirring stuff. Could you imagine Michael Martin saying something like that, ever?
Belarus is only a vassal state.
This is true. None of them would be respected by Putin as a worthy opponent. As for Von der Leyen, well, don't make me laugh.
We'll never know of course, but I suspect Putin wouldn't have done this with Trump as president. I think Trump was feared/respected (cross out whichever one you want) by despots around the world.
Apologies yeah you are right.
I am not buying the woe is me act.
A lot of posters on this thread should have a long hard look at themselves cheering on a f#cking psycho, comfortably behind their keyboards.
Yes totally any assets that Putin supporting oligarchs hold should be seized.
One point Usmanov sold his shares in Arsenal to Kroenke in 2018. I believe he now has an interest in Everton.
He may be all of these but he may also be probing to see how far he can push. He's still very good at that and obfuscating his real intentions. Direct confrontation is an option but like sanctions no guarantee that it will not make things worse. The trouble is that he has no interest whatsoever in negotiations that involve give and take, just what he wants.
What happens here if Russia gets pushed back,
what kind of force will they use then?
even if they neutralise the military, they will never control the country.
there are a lot of hardened men over there from the Soviet Union days that know how to use weapons and have been in the army with training.
any older Ukrainian I know has experience with weapons, military equipment and fighting.
this will go on for a long long time as long as they are occupied.
Abramovich is one of Putin's supporters so yes seize Chelsea Football Club and pass the ownership to the fans. Solve two problems with one stone.
What twitter accounts are best to follow for news?
I never fully bought into the apartment bombing theory. There was certainly circumstantial evidence to suggest some f*ckery with the FSB possibly was involved. Morning like this would make you wonder though...
Do you think that Putin's nuclear arsenal at his disposal is equally or substantially worse than the likes of nuclear weapons located out in the ME if he ever tries to inflict those arsenals on Ukraine.
Do the same with arsenal Usmanov owns a large chunk...Monaco as well is russian owned
I recall years ago (1970s) a Chelsea full back being substituted after attempting to man mark George Best. The commentator stated his injury was twisted blood.
I suspect you have a similar ailment in inventing new lies to support your murderous dictator.
Last week I was convinced that there would be no war and the drama was being whipped up by the Biden administration and the activist US media.
Now I have to pretend that I knew all along there would be war, that it was obviously going to happen with that much troops on the border.
It ain't easy being a smart @rse hurler on the ditch......
The kind of thing that would grab the average Joe's attention:
Relegate Chelsea to the bottom tier of English soccer, explaining clearly who that gangster Abramovich is and where his money came from.
He was banned from this tread and then went off to post anti-vax nonsense on another one.
Given the Russians blew up their own people blaming terrorists to justify their attack on Chechnya and the Russian public bought it hook line and sinker.
Such a move would be counterproductive. If and when the Ukrainians use asymmetrical warfare it would better to bleed the Russian forces and inflict visible losses to them.
No it wouldn't ...the IRA bombing campaign resolved nothing...and went on for just a little longer than overnight
Actually Putin would love that. In fact that is how he came to and stayed in power when he sent out his ex-KGB goons to blow up apartment blocks in Moscow and blaming it on Chencens.
I told you last week: he's off his head.
Paranoia, isolation and absolute power are not a good recipe for solid mental health.
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