Russia invades Ukraine Feb 2022

[Dag Dog]

The tankies who were cheering on Russia because they hate the USA will be hugely confused now. Will they switch sides?

[tbrick18]

Why, did they  put  that money pre-Ukraine into the NHS?

Funny that they always  seem to find money for war.

That money is currently frozen Russian assets and doesn't exist on the UK's balance book.

The loan will be created by making more national debt.

Eventually those frozen Russian assets will be sold and the proceeds given it to Ukraine, who will use it to pay back the loan.

The loan which is going to pay wages here will then be wiped off the national debt.


After all the pass the parcel has completed, everyone's face is clean - apart from whatever Russian oligarch owned the Russian assets.

I was thinking these seized assets would become part of any future negotiation, hence why they haven't already been cashed out. I could be wrong, would love to see the Russian billion being used to support Ukraine.

[Banks of the Bann]

The current situation as I see it is this:

1. The US is aligning itself with Russia.

2. The US and Russia have done a deal on Ukraine or at least have an understanding at this point. If I had to guess Trump's thinking it would be Russia gets their part of Ukraine (annexation), we get our part (economic domination).

3. The deal is basically giving Putin everything he wants, i.e. Ukrainian surrender.

4. They both see Zelenskyy as standing in the way which is why the lies and campaign against him are ramping up massively.

5. The US has now stopped all military aid to Ukraine. I'm reading this includes air defence. Their hope will be once the civilian death toll inevitably rises the pressure will build on Zelenskyy to go or accept the surrender deal.

6. It's a trap either way of course, an election in Ukraine now would throw the country in turmoil. Putin's preferred candidate would be someone like Arestovych (despised and distrusted by most Ukrainians).

7. Putin will of course not allow the US to get their slice of the pie and as soon as they are ready the shells will be flying again.

p.s. What a snake Peter Mandelson is going on a solo run up Trump's arse.

[tbrick18]

So the US pauses weapons aid to Ukraine, essentially siding with Russia.
Europe now close to agree on re-arming, preparing for war with Russia.
If I was Russia, now would be the time to go all in on Ukraine and anywhere else they had aspirations of controlling as Europe don't have the weapons stockpiles to repel them.
Should the European countries go all in and send resources and men to Ukraine? Or create a new nato-esque european alliance without the US and including Ukraine? Does Europe need to increase it's Nuclear capability?

As things stand, Putin now holds all the aces with Trump in his pocket.
For the first time in this sorry affair, I feel WW3 (or at least full scale war in Europe) is now a real possibility.

[tyroneStatto]

We?

I certainly wouldn't be fighting on the Brits side would you?

I think in this case, anyone rational would back the side the Brits are on rather than the opposite.

Or neither.

This.

[Milltown Row2]

Sinn Féin take a similar view to Trump about dumping the people of Ukraine

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-calls-ukraine-missile-deal-for-belfast-plant-incredulous/a1159576698.html

I'm more vaxed at the claim of using money for better things like housing when the local government has been stalled more or less from the start, the waste of money that has happened because of it is lost on Michelle

[Main Street]

Street artist Banksy's take

[Banks of the Bann]

Sinn Féin take a similar view to Trump about dumping the people of Ukraine

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-calls-ukraine-missile-deal-for-belfast-plant-incredulous/a1159576698.html

I'm more vaxed at the claim of using money for better things like housing when the local government has been stalled more or less from the start, the waste of money that has happened because of it is lost on Michelle

That's Sinn Fein (along with the DUP) that appropriate funds from charities for their pet projects. Better use of money indeed Michelle.

[Main Street]

Sinn Féin take a similar view to Trump about dumping the people of Ukraine

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-calls-ukraine-missile-deal-for-belfast-plant-incredulous/a1159576698.html

I'm more vaxed at the claim of using money for better things like housing when the local government has been stalled more or less from the start, the waste of money that has happened because of it is lost on Michelle

That's Sinn Fein (along with the DUP) that appropriate funds from charities for their pet projects. Better use of money indeed Michelle.

When it comes to all matters to do with Ukraine, Sinn Fein speak with a forked tongue, absolute hypocrisy and ignorant to boot.

[theskull1]

Keep seeing it mentioned that Russian aggression is a threat to the sovereignty of other countries..... It doesn't look to me like they have the manpower to take, hold and control militarily speaking. Holding onto what they've taken in the ethnically russian speaking oblasts in Ukraine seems to be hard enough for them. Do they really possess the capability to expand beyond those areas?

[HiMucker]

So the US pauses weapons aid to Ukraine, essentially siding with Russia.
Europe now close to agree on re-arming, preparing for war with Russia.
If I was Russia, now would be the time to go all in on Ukraine and anywhere else they had aspirations of controlling as Europe don't have the weapons stockpiles to repel them.
Should the European countries go all in and send resources and men to Ukraine? Or create a new nato-esque european alliance without the US and including Ukraine? Does Europe need to increase it's Nuclear capability?

As things stand, Putin now holds all the aces with Trump in his pocket.
For the first time in this sorry affair, I feel WW3 (or at least full scale war in Europe) is now a real possibility.

Russia is already all in on Ukraine. They have been shown up militarily to be a paper tiger. They would not be able to simultaneously take on anyone else IMO.

[Milltown Row2]

Keep seeing it mentioned that Russian aggression is a threat to the sovereignty of other countries..... It doesn't look to me like they have the manpower to take, hold and control militarily speaking. Holding onto what they've taken in the ethnically russian speaking oblasts in Ukraine seems to be hard enough for them. Do they really possess the capability to expand beyond those areas?

Oh, I thought they were heading to the capital in 3 days when the war started? Didn't realise they only wanted the Russian speaking areas.. France will be given the go ahead to take the French speaking Wallonia of Belgium soon

[Banks of the Bann]

Sinn Féin take a similar view to Trump about dumping the people of Ukraine

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-feins-michelle-oneill-calls-ukraine-missile-deal-for-belfast-plant-incredulous/a1159576698.html

I'm more vaxed at the claim of using money for better things like housing when the local government has been stalled more or less from the start, the waste of money that has happened because of it is lost on Michelle

That's Sinn Fein (along with the DUP) that appropriate funds from charities for their pet projects. Better use of money indeed Michelle.

When it comes to all matters to do with Ukraine, Sinn Fein speak with a forked tongue, absolute hypocrisy and ignorant to boot.

They are tankies at heart, student union politics at its best.

[Milltown Row2]

So the US pauses weapons aid to Ukraine, essentially siding with Russia.
Europe now close to agree on re-arming, preparing for war with Russia.
If I was Russia, now would be the time to go all in on Ukraine and anywhere else they had aspirations of controlling as Europe don't have the weapons stockpiles to repel them.
Should the European countries go all in and send resources and men to Ukraine? Or create a new nato-esque european alliance without the US and including Ukraine? Does Europe need to increase it's Nuclear capability?

As things stand, Putin now holds all the aces with Trump in his pocket.
For the first time in this sorry affair, I feel WW3 (or at least full scale war in Europe) is now a real possibility.

Russia is already all in on Ukraine. They have been shown up militarily to be a paper tiger. They would not be able to simultaneously take on anyone else IMO.

Would the likes of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania have the capabilities, weapons manpower army as big as Ukraine? 

[Banks of the Bann]

Keep seeing it mentioned that Russian aggression is a threat to the sovereignty of other countries..... It doesn't look to me like they have the manpower to take, hold and control militarily speaking. Holding onto what they've taken in the ethnically russian speaking oblasts in Ukraine seems to be hard enough for them. Do they really possess the capability to expand beyond those areas?

How many times do you need to have it explained to you?

There is no such thing as an 'ethnically Russian speaking Oblast' in Ukraine.

There are Ukrainians who speak Ukrainian, there are Ukrainians who speak Russian, and there are Ukrainians who speak both.

Language is not a marker for national identity or allegiance in Ukraine. This is peak Jeffrey Sachs BS.

Are you ethnically English Skull? Is the north of Ireland an 'ethnically English speaking Shire'?

Edit: They don't have the capability now (thanks to Ukraine) but Trump is handing them a lifeline and they can't believe their luck (or not luck probably, maybe the dividends from a lot of hard work) It's why a ceasefire is going to be so deadly for Ukraine - they will gear up their war machine and relaunch again.