Russia - threadbanned users in OP

China calls for peace but then they invade Taiwan,and then Tell the world to minds it's own business.

Not going to happen

Im saying EU with its gigantic financial power and infrastructure can take the hit and survive. We can take a step back, we'll still be living at a high standard. It won't be a multiple year issue.

Russia, with its low hdi, per capita gdp lower than Romania, and huge dependence on the EU market cannot take what will be dealt back. That will be a multiple year issue, we don't need Russia for anything other than gas. Once thats replaced Russia may as well be Mongolia to us. No more trade for you.

Think it works the same way for Russia, that Russia can do the same and just turn its back on Europe? Russias number 1 export destination since forever. Think again.

Some 70% of Russias population lives in the extreme west of Russia for a reason. There's fck all to the east. And a bunch of '-stans' to the south.

So just kill Putin, leave Ukraine. And the trouble is over. No need to risk national collapse.

And we can all go back to chilling out. Like it was 2013 again.

This is not about being sent to war without a chance...Have you any idea what Russian military service entails? Even in peace times? So called "Hazing" of new recruits is the primary cause of the suicide rate amongst conscripts and it's the highest in the world. And still going on, despite reforms instituted in recent years. And if I was a betting man, I'd say that its gotten much worse since the war in Ukraine started....how to you get unwilling recruits to obey you? That's the whole purpose of hazing....you terrorize them, with brutality. So, yes. And if I lived in Russia ( and I did ) and had a son, and he was being called up for military service, I'd move heaven and earth to get him out it, either by getting him an exemption ( university) or into a branch of the military or civil service where hazing does not take place,,,, Apropos of nothing, if you had to go and fight in a war to defend your Country, would you go?

Not sure what your delusion is about here pal. Since you've came on this thread it's been nothing but you whining about being inconvenienced because people might have to pay more for their heating, having to talk to Russia to end the war. Those ehave been your two talking points. No thought to the poor Ukrainians who have been slaughtered, or raped, or had their children taken from them and shipped off to some random shithole in Russia.

So you can take your little pity party and **** right off. I'm perfectly happy to pay more to heat my home, or whatever else I have to pay for, so these Russian Scum can get what's coming to them.

You eat gas, mikewest. It makes the fertiliser that grows all that stuff that provides you sufficient calories to make smug posts like this one.

Do you think their plan would have stopped at Ukraine if they hadn’t met the resistance they did?

I certainly don’t think they would. They are stating it day in and day out in their propaganda outlets that the entirety of Europe is fair game.

Historically when countries are invaded and defeated in this region it has been the case that surrounding countries are given their pound of flesh to bring them into the fold. Hungary would no doubt be induced by being gifted territory in western Ukraine and Belarus could be further induced likewise. A successful strong Russia would have no trouble getting some former Yugoslav states to back them and would probably flip the Bulgarians on to their side too. Possibly even the Greeks if they played them off against the Turks or vice versa. It is vital that Russia are seen to be a failure and a shambles as some of these countries ,bizarrely have a lot of latent and vocal Russian sympathy.

These must be the HIMARS the Russians 'destroyed'.

He's correct though, any via restrictions would need to be agreed by the Irish and UK government as it's a common travel area. No point in the Irish government restricting visas for Russians if they could freely travel into the UK and onwards to Ireland.