Russia - threadbanned users in OP

The guy across the table has jumped on it it and is coming at you with a knife. 'Understanding' isn't going to do you much good.

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are set to meet for a second round of talks in Belarus today, after a Ukrainian presidential adviser confirmed that their representatives were on the way.

He said they can maintain their fleet from within Russia, but with the proposed sanctions on parts how long can they keep the fleet air worthy? He only stated the German base was one of their larger maintenance bases that they may not be able to access.

Absolutely Wibb's.

Another thing I will add is that referring to the Ukraine as a democratic country (which many online commentators are doing), is misleading.

Considering the Ukraine a democracy is a very generous outlook on its very recent history.

To state that doesn't mean I'm pro Putin or a Putin bot, and make no mistake Russia and Putin is the aggressor, but its another relevant branch in the discussion of the crisis.

Ukraine isn't in the EU or the NATO for valid reasons.

So is there pressure we can apply to private business to cease trading in Russia.

Any petitions to sign?

Let's apply a little bit of pressure here, maybe another thread could be created with links to petitions?

Maybe one big push might put enough pressure on Putin to either be ousted or a Russian revolt.

If we let this drag on the momentum will decrease so now is the time to hit hard.

Why create this silly strawman?

Ukraine is a sovereign nation, they can choose to join NATO if they want. Russia only sees NATO as a "threat" because it gets in the way of it's imperialistic designs on other nations.

Clarification from Ciarán Cuffe about the IT article. I was annoyed when I read the IT article, but in fairness to him, I don't think he should be included in that list.

I find it pretty hard to believe that the Russians

A) Hadn't the intelligence operation to know if Bush was flying solo or not; to put out some feelers in Washington whether this was to be America's policy going forward.

B) Weren't going to at least sit back and see what the next U.S. president did or said.

Now, you might say that the Russians saw a window of opportunity to invade Georgia with the South Ossetia conflict going on and decided that time was as good as any to use it as a pretext, but here's the problem with trying to invade countries - they don't generally like being invaded or enjoy the threat of it. The more neighbours you invade, the more neighbours you make think, 'Hmmm, perhaps we'd be better off throwing our lot in with someone else...'

And here we go again with this kind of sh**t.

Ukraine expressing a desire to join NATO does not equal NATO being in the Ukraine.

On the other hand Russia is very much in the Ukraine right now invading and killing people.

To be honest why on earth would Ukraine not want to be in NATO right now? Their citizens are being killed with Russian bombs while they can look across the border to countries like Poland and see how they are protected against this kind of aggression.

Their are many countries in Nato in Eastern europe that do not host nuclear weapons and only wish to have the security of not being invaded.

Name every country you want to give Russia absolute power on their alliances.

Noting that Finland and Sweden have already been threatened if they join Nato. You can say Ukraine today but then Putin will want power over any country Russia borders if he can get away with it.

One sanction might not have an impact, 100 might not have an impact but as more and more pile on it applies pressure. Will it stop Putin-I doubt it, Might it make everyday Russians demand answers - Maybe, Does it give moral support to Ukraine - Yes.

Many of us have donated already and continue to do either in supporting humanitarian aid or weaponry but i'm sure i am not the only one who wants to do more. Short of leaving for Ukraine and fighting.

I believe in the cause but admittedly not enough to sacrifice my life... Maybe a pussy for not fighting for what i believe in or maybe being realistic in what level of support i can offer. Will let you judge me if you so wish.

That would entirely depend on how much money and how many jobs they offered.

I was somewhat sceptical of that story but know it’s clear that Putin very much capable of such an action

The last one is an impossibility for starters. The only reason there are Russian troops there right now is because they illegally invaded.