I'd give any peacemaker-type statements my support no matter where they come from while diplomacy is still possible. Once hostilities start and there is a clear wrong party, the entire dynamic changes. At least it does for me. That is the point at which I feel contempt for some on the left, who I think, do not understand that pacifism (if that is what they are championing) does not preclude self-defense, on the national or personal level. There's a time and a place for everything.
AFP reports from Germany that Russian composer Valery Gergiev has been told to speak out against Putins invasion of Ukraine or risk losing his job as conductor of the Munich Philharmonic.
Completely inappropriate to compel private citizens to make political statements and potentially endanger relatives back home.
I'm not going to pretend to have some massive insight but just about any Eastern European (non-Russian) people I know have never let go of their suspicion of Russia. I've seen a couple cringe when I asked if they spoke Russian, they did and they didn't seem happy about it. Was good mates with a Ukrainian lad in school and he could speak both but was very clear about being Ukrainian.
I don't think "hate" is too strong a word in many cases. There's a good (and really obvious) reason so many Eastern European countries ran, they **** sprinted to do everything they could to join NATO. But some gobshite in Ireland who cares about refugees and tells everyone all the time still has to blame America.
They've already been kicked in the head by a horse.
On steroids maybe...they handed out 20k plus guns to citizens and are being armed by other countries...
Russia and Putin are going to seriously regret this imo. It will also possibly push more countries to join NATO.
Has he seen Michael Martin?
No idea tbh. But good to see them being so welcoming
I think one of the big issues for me with what I call the hard left, is their sticking to idealogy, an idealogy that treats all things American as imperialist. Everything then stems from that, hence yesterday we see the likes of Boyd Barrett spending a minute or so condemning Putin but then the next five minutes laying into NATO. They just can't help themselves.
He's well protected. It would be hard to get near him.
It will end up like Northern Ireland during the troubles.
Anyone that gave that APE or Claire Daly a vote should do stretches and see of thy can manage to kick themselves in the head.
Remember they have a big problem will illegals coming across the channel ,if they announce no visas for Ukrainians boats will be full of Ukrainans tonight despite none of them even knowing where ukraine is on the map
The level of misinformation Putin is attempting to put out there is baffling. We really are in the post fact phase of history at this stage.
What's the ultimate goal? Recapture all the former soviet states? It worked out so well the last time I can't see why the average Russian wouldn't be over the moon about the prospect of queuing in bread lines like it's the 80's all over again.
Good to see the war crimes have begun (tank running over car incident), not like Russian soldiers have form for raping their way through countries, ah well they're all Nazis anyway honest.
Are they Polish or Ukrainian ex pat's? The Polish despise the Russians. I had Polish neighbours before who said Poles hated them and I know hate is a strong word to use.
Anonymous reportedly hacked and leaked database of Russian MOD
I saw that at the time of the 1916 commemorations here and remember thinking that the Maidan protests made the Easter rising look like a picnic. What’s happening as we speak now is much much worse.
Ah yeah the UK government are all heart
Tory party bought and paid for by dodgy Russians don't forget.
Yep, the narrative that NATO or the US is the issue in this scenario is fucked. And it's been pushed by portions of the left and right. The likes of Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have been exceptional in terms of pushing what is effectively Russian propaganda. This was the other day but realistically they've been doing it for years, it's basically like certain portions of the left have been pretty open to Russian propaganda simply based on constant opposition to NATO or the US regardless of logic. It's pretty painful to watch and I lean left on most things but I'm also realistic with the facts or try to be.
Also worth remembering that there's also a few posters around here that have pushed Russia Today lines for the likes of the shot down Malaysian plane and annexation of Crimea. So I honestly would not rule out Russian troll farms hitting even the likes of boards at this stage. It's been beneficial for this kind of scenario.
And ironically it's the right in the US who have been licking Putin's ass. There was some absolutely disgraceful commentary on Fox about the Ukrainian president (jewish) from someone caught doing a Nazo salute once.
IMO any such public 'encouragement' would be counterproductive. If Russian military move against Putin it will because they believe it is in the country's interest. Any sense that they are doing NATO's dirty work would only inhibit them from acting...
And everyone to live happily ever after. Absolutely delusional. People say Putin is very intelligent. Any chance he has ben overestimated.
Me neither. My first post on this thread was me praising the UK government. I'm not above being fair. I had my suspicions about Farage but to see him actually go this far is shocking. Anyone praising a tyrant should be remembered for it.
Don’t we always. For fear of offending someone or putting ourselves out one iota. The Irish way as ever
That's one problem with the Russian idea of they want a pro Russian government and their military permanently based there and no Ukrainian military or civilian authorities
I'm not looking for tarring and feathering but I really just hope against hope people remember the true colours of people being exposed right now. Not to necessarily disregard entire movements but just to remember what they really think. Also, meant to say it was a relief at first to see Starmer make it clear Labour would vote in favour of the sanctions yesterday. Alas losing any of the "left" coalition will leave them fighting one-handed next time against the Tories.
We're in it because as proven by the current situation in Ukraine , nobody is coming to help unless we're in Nato or something similar like an EU army ...
but we expect other countries to send their sons and daughters to fight on our behalf
Sure he basically threatened nuclear war on Wednesday night on anyone who interfered.
Which was actually extraordinary thinking about it.
Maybe check the Panama files
Very sad, the reporter in Poland showed a telegram group of over 20k people (only up and running a few hours I think) offering to take in refugees from Ukraine.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://we.vanillicon.com/v2/e050b53be62f0ae2404c620976170938.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wa.vanillicon.com/v2/a08d55691d6f78a042612a7aa18ff3ab.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://w2.vanillicon.com/v2/282101dc2976956f9dfc87f7a2ef2413.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wb.vanillicon.com/v2/bd89cdce15309a6ec2dff928c865017a.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wd.vanillicon.com/v2/dbba4c22aa1d352d2cdbb076e36aea8c.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wc.vanillicon.com/v2/c635d680d76ce16e490d61f21d7a1353.svg)