Russia could possibly flatten Ukraine (although I understand it is already pretty flat), but it's not that simple. In wars that are not total and not existential, you still have to manage your diplomatic relations. Hearts and minds. The territory Russia would gain from a much more aggressive approach to this war would pale into insignificance with the economic and diplomatic penalties they would be sledgehammered with and completely isolate themselves on the world stage. As it is, pretty much every western person, and every non-aligned has to be sympathetic towards Ukraine on this.
He said sent home, not behead them.
Cancelling of visas != "ethnic cleansing". I suppose there's a chance this might be ended if pressure piles on Russia, but if it doesn't (+ casualties and death and destruction continue to mount up) and/or Putin succeeds in the end here, yes they should be removed from the West and can go home to enjoy life in Russia's brand new Empire & sphere of influence with Putin.
Talks by who about putting guardrails around Trump?
Western Military command will simply be discussing the situation directly with the Russian Military Command. They have connections going back decades and will be able to get a Russian pulse check.
I'm not expecting success from talks, but it's a better step than the current war. Ukraine negotiating from an increased position of strength now
From the Guardian:
"Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said “we will not give up a single inch of our territory” ahead of talks agreed between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations.
Russia initially said it did not want talks, then said it wanted talks with conditions. Now, after a series of military setbacks that some observers say may have shocked Russian president Vladimir Putin, the conditions have been dropped – which Kuleba said was “already a victory”."
This is a country who until these very recent decisions have been very mindful of their own history. I really don't see that as a reason to reprimand them as they were in a very unique situation and that policy served them well for decades.
China needs to step in and force Moscow's hand on this.
China didn't sign up for nuclear winter that would itself wipe China off the map.
Impressive? He has no chance.
That would be a terrific propaganda win for Putin and massively increase his support at home. Where do people get these ideas.
That whole nuclear preparedness spiel is nothing more than to scare people. Are the usually not nuclear prepared? Especially at a time of war? Yeah I don't buy it, why announce it?
You can listen to military advisers but if that had been done during the Cuban missle crisis there would have been escalation to Nuclear war.
Counsel from Military experts is fine but Elected Politicians make decisions and the decision was that carrot rather than stick for Russia and finesseing fudges was the chosen path up until now.
Fully agreed. Russians are a fine people, their country has been stolen for the last 20 odd years (literally) by a mob crew. They should not be held to account. We know who is responsible for this - there are probably 100 Russian men that led us to this point - it's a very narrow strand of people. Pretty much everyone else in Russia is reluctantly along for the ride.
unfortunately Putin does not seem to be a rational actor and he is surrounded by useful idiots
It's also a recognition of what they should have been doing over the past decade, what the experts were telling them they should have been doing over the past decade, and how people going "why spend money on defense when we need (insert social support structure here)" are not looking at the big picture. A military capability is not something you can buy immediately just by spending money, it is fortunate for Europe that the attack fell on ukraine and not the EU. If you need the capability, you need it now, not after a year of implementation.
Ukraine's defense budget is 4% of GDP, this is proving, after the fact, to be money well spent.
I remember video of guided missles from the first gulf war in U.S. debriefings and that was 1990.
I remember the luckiest cyclist in the world passing through just before a guided missle struck.
What an idiotic thing to say. Just look what is happening to people who are protesting: arrest, beatings, jail.
Crazy sentiment that needs to be nipped in the bud straight away. Ordinary, innocent Russians should be left the hell alone.
The closely Putin connected in the West should be sent packing and their host countries know full well who they are, but ordinary Russian immigrants have nothing to do with anything.
I think he must be cracking up. As another poster said, he's been allowed to run his rogue state with little interference for 20 years, enriching him and his cronies. Now he stands alone with the eyes of the world on him, and allies deserting him, sanctions, no air passage. It must feel like his end of days.
The idea of talks is bizarre. Invade a country, and after 3 days engage in talks to end hostilities because it's going so badly. Whilst I understand Zelenskys taking part as an effort to end the bloodshed, part of me wishes he told Putin to go f**k himself, you started it and the only way to end it is a complete withdrawal
Stop it. I know 2 Russians. Lovely people. Totally against what has happened. One was even outside the Russian embassy yesterday.
The Cold war went on for so long because the people thought that we hated them.
I was wondering this too.
So many ridiculous and insane comments to see here: someone needs to nuke Russia now! someone needs to assassinate Putin in a coup! We're not living in a Holywood movie.
All that's clear is that things have moved very quickly to an unsustainable stage. As Russia apparently wants to annex the whole of Ukraine it can't back out now without looking weak. But for people who think this shows how feeble the Russian army is, I think they're mistaken. These guys have fought alongside Assad for the last few years testing countless new weapons. They can destroy Ukraine if they want even without nuclear weapons, the question is whether Putin is willing to become the Assad of Europe. Surprisingly, they seem to be making an effort not to deliberately target civilians so far. That could change quickly.
Meanwhile I agree with the poster above who says European and other NATO countries openly sending weapons to Ukraine is getting dangerously close to direct involvement in the war even without putting troops there.
It's hard to see an easy way out right now. Putin can't back down, Ukraine definitely won't back down. I don't think there will be nuclear war, but make no mistake if Russia is destroyed it will take a lot of the world, including all of Europe with it.
Conservative MP, Sir Roger Gale, has made the same argument.
It's a very extreme, and counter-productive argument. You want ordinary Russians on your side against Putin as a common enemy.
The lads are all fed up after having nearly 2 years of covid-induced zoom and vehemently refuse to ever use it again. They'd rather take their chances with the Russians trying to shoot them.
I don't think the west will do if he does. One thing you know that if he did use them the west knows he did use them and would I think not get involved any further as would be nuclear war, I just can't see them getting into that but I can see Russia becoming if they do more isolated, more or less north Korea if they do go that route.
So now you're calling for worldwide ethnic cleansing huh?
He already controlled 1/8 of the land mass of the world but it wasn't enough.
I think it's stupid where they're meeting, which is effectively in the middle of a war zone. What was wrong with Zelensky's suggestion of meeting in a neutral city?
Anyway Zoom's a thing nowadays. Is a physical meeting even totally necessary between delegations?
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