Current Affairs Ukraine

[BlueToff]

You need an element of approval, there is a history of people overthrowing their leaders there afterall.

If he continues to suppress opposition and quality of life appears to drop without the unifying/distraction act of something like a war then things could get ugly for him. Now he can say he pulled the west's trousers down and expanded the empire etc.

He hasn't got approval here, if the reaction from St Petersburg and other Russian cities is anything to go by

 

[BlueToff]

USM is listed on the US' sanctions list, btw

 

[BlueToff]

I really doubt your run of the mill Russian is gagging for a war or the Soviet Union to come back

 

[Neiler]

I think you may be correct in this. Ukraine is gone, but who is next?

Belarus is gone mate, it’s essentially the modern day Anschluss , they won’t survive outside of Russia now as they will be sanctioned like Russia (again playing into Putins hands), which is just going to see them absorbed.

Putin been burying himself in Europe for years now. He’s everywhere deep in national systems all over Europe in every country, we’ve all been complicit, greedy and frankly naieve. He’s been planning this for decades - peice by peice.

 

[tsubaki]

The point of NATO is to defend the countries in NATO. If Putin invaded one of them the equation would be different. Ukraine is not though.

What I'm saying is entering into a war that is not yours when the other side is a nuclear power puts a lot of mutually assured destruction scenarios on the table and at this moment that is a non-starter. I feel horrible for the people of Ukraine but not horrible enough to put the rest of Earth in the firing line.

The strongest sanctions (they're failing here) and a strong program for refugees (also failing) are the best options right now.

I'd add to that (and this is especially true for here in the UK) sorting our own mess out with regards to his influence.

There was an update on the Guardian's liveblog earlier talking about how Schroeder was under pressure to give up the three jobs the Russians have given him, and contrasting his failure to quit them with three other ex-European leaders who had given up their Russian sinecures. How on earth were they ever allowed to get them in the first place?

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

Merci. History and Politics for my first bachelors, with particular focus on Europe 1900+, British Imperialism and Post-1945 decolonisation for my units.

I did a Modern History MA with some of the above and others bits, and recently another philosophy bachelors.

Amazing, I got a C in gcse French, that’s it!
Not only do you study this stuff, but you retain it also!
Top skills

 

[PhilM]

Amazing, I got a C in gcse French, that’s it!
Not only do you study this stuff, but you retain it also!
Top skills

Just pieces of paper really. They’re topics I enjoy, read about and have a knack of remembering. Yet, my wife will regularly say I forget to put the washing machine on.

There’s people far more intelligent and knowledgable than myself, with no qualifications.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Sanctions wont mean a thing, utterly useless.

Putin has been planning this for decades. He went out to the China last year and got the green light, Xi Jinping, watch Russia export to China which will soon be the world biggest economy enabled by Russian energy. This has been planned for beards strategically and well telegraphed. The east are laughing their heads off at the West and sanctions.

May as well be weeing in the wind

What would you do then?

 

[Efcjake]

I really doubt your run of the mill Russian is gagging for a war or the Soviet Union to come back

They're all worried over what it means for then financially as they will be the ones who bear the brunt of the market crash.

The average Russian probably cares more about their food bill than "protecting separatist republics" as you would expect of any regular human.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Just pieces of paper really. They’re topics I enjoy, read about and have a knack of remembering. Yet, my wife will regularly say I forget to put the washing machine.

I feel seen, as the kids say

 

[BlueToff]

They're all worried over what it means for then financially as they will be the ones who bear the brunt of the market crash.

The average Russian probably cares more about their food bill than "protecting separatist republics" as you would expect of any regular human.

exactly my point

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It will be interesting to see how China responds to this from an economic perspective. Obviously sanctions are only effective if you're not fairly self sufficient. The West relies pretty heavily on China not being economically insular. This could be a turning point for globalisation, especially if it also prompts America to lose patience with European free loading from a military perspective.

 

[summerisle]

Merci. History and Politics for my first bachelors, with particular focus on Europe 1900+, British Imperialism and Post-1945 decolonisation for my units.

I did a Modern History MA with some of the above and others bits, and recently another philosophy bachelors.

That's all fine and dandy, but do you know where the Arteta money is ?

 

[summerisle]

 

[Bluerover]

Amazing, I got a C in gcse French, that’s it!
Not only do you study this stuff, but you retain it also!
Top skills

Mangetout!