Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Ha, fight for nation integration. The only think that fat fcuk ever fought for was he way to the top of the queue in the local chipper.

He'd have a heart attack getting off the back of a transport truck

At least this guy could name a number of capitals that they're going to destroy, although I guess the missile threats are on repeat on Russia TV1.

I've seen many of these over the last few months and what always surprises me is that they are well dressed in suits and ties.

Surely an appropriate attire (and gait) for such people would be a baggy grey trackie with hands on their nuts?

Appropriate garb for these gangsters would be what ever is fashionable at the moment in the Black Dolphin prison..some where they will become acquainted with at some stage hopefully.

I am sorry, but your comment that "Putin has beggared his country" has no basis in reality.

Russia has just posted a record current account surplus. The stuff that Russia exports and that everyone needs (commodities) are still sky high and despite best efforts, the rest of the world is still buying everything they produce. Out of all the advanced industrialised countries, Russia is one of the few that runs something that resembles a balanced budget. It's not all sunshine and roses, but the Russian economy is doing relatively well.

On the flipside, Ukraine is in a dire situation and is an actual beggar. For every €10 they are spending today, they're only taking in €4 of tax revenue. They have already deferred their debt. Their current government deficit is either being met by a combination of printing money to pay their soldiers and by whatever scraps the EU are throwing to them. They are 100% dependent on the kindness of strangers to continue the war.

No, just ban the scum unless they aren't scum and can prove a history of brave vocal opposition.

They lie all the time, but the fact is that natural gas prices in Europe are up 600%. They are certainly shipping less natural gas, but they are shipping what's left at a far higher price. If the Russian economy was in trouble, they wouldn't be playing games, like they are currently with the Nordstream Pipeline 1 and gas shipments to Europe.

If you want to dispute the above, that's fine. What cannot be disputed is that Ukraine is insolvent. If they do not get €100bn a year from the West, they cannot afford to pay their armed forces, they cannot continue the war. This is even before we consider the billions of Dollars they requires in weapons to fight this war.

What did Russia spend their surplus on before? Yacht's from Italy, high priced fashion from France, London property in Britain. This is all gone now as Europe has sanctioned Russia from taking part in their luxury economy. On the otherhand, no sanctions exist on Russian energy, which has meant that while the flow of Russian money to Europe has stopped. the flow of European money to Russia continues. If Russia needs Western technology, they will have pockets deep enough to buy it on the black market. Maybe a ball bearing costs €2 instead of €1. Maybe a microchip costs €8 instead of €4 - as long as you have money and a global market, there will be a way.

Your second point is indefensible. Ukraine is absolutely at the mercy of strangers right now, they are neither in NATO, nor the EU, so there is no actual treaty or obligation that binds Ukraine to anyone else. While they absolutely have the right to defend themselves, they have no right to expect anyone else to pay for it, as the US/EU are currently doing. What happens if the Republicans take control in the mid term elections and pull the plug on funding to Ukraine? It's a nightmare scenario, completely out of the hands of Ukrainians and exactly what I mean when I say they are totally dependant on the kindness of strangers.

If the war was not in Ukraine it would be in Poland/the baltics/Romania/Moldova/Finland.

Russias ultimate fantasy is to get back to where they were before 1989 right back to Berlin. They are preaching this every night on their propaganda TV. So to say that Ukraine is only being backed up by the goodwill of strangers is completely disingenuous. Ukraines sacrifice is sparing European soldiers from actual combat. When this war started in February most people fully expected the Russian army to have completely over run Ukraine which would mean that their army would now be knocking at the door of NATO/EU countries proper. That this has not happened is a hugely successful outcome for the entire continent of Europe and has encouraged the backing of Ukraine to the hilt. Looking at it through black and white economic figures of the warring countries missed the mark entirely. The combined economy of the US/EU dwarfs that of Russia by many multiples. That’s where you need to be looking. We are holding an enemy “superpower” at bay thousands of miles away without any real inconvenience to our lives other than increases in energy bills. Contrast that to the rationing and hardship non combatants endured in world war 2.

Very sobering view from an Ukrainian soldier, I do hope he is wrong...

You're conflating what I said.

All I have stated is that Russia are self-funding this war, their economy seems to be coping. Ukraine on the other hand are totally dependent on massive monthly injections of Western money to sustain their war effort, their economy has collapsed and swathes of the country are ruined. Your argument that Russia would invoke Article 5 by invading a NATO member is a strawman.

As long as Russia commits medieval atrocities this war will stay in the news. If they are not commiting Medieval atrocities then they are at nothing going nowhere cause they have nothing else up their sleeve beyond a full mobilisation. If that happens the war will be top of the news agenda again.