Current Affairs

[screwy]

Ukraine asking for immediate acceptance to joining the Eu, where does that leave the Eu if they allowed it.?

Does that bring about an armed conflict with Russia seeing as they’ve invaded an Eu country.?

[Ray B]

Not to worry screwy, EU have never worked that fast, lots to take into account after recent developments.

[Kendhni]

Switzerland has deviates from its neutral status to sanction Russia ... I really think Putin is in a tiny minority on this, even within his own country.

[david63]

I really think Putin is in a tiny minority on this, even within his own country.

He might be, but he is not giving way and he still has his finger on the button.

[Kendhni]

I really think Putin is in a tiny minority on this, even within his own country.

He might be, but he is not giving way and he still has his finger on the button.

The location of Putin's fingers is of great concern ... globally!

[Stephen]

It’s all very well us and other countries sending munitions when what is also need are more boots on the ground if Ukraine has any chance of pushing Putins thugs back. But for whatever reason we and others are reluctant to provide. Normally the US are straight in there with us hot on their heels asking how high do you want us to jump, but it’s not happening. Scared of upsetting Putin and his finger by any chance?

[Ray B]

The finger on the button can not be taking lightly. Who will call his bluff, make the wrong call and all hell will be let loose, difficult to predict the moves of a mad man.

[Bensham33]

I think one thing is certain, if there were no nuclear weapons then we would have all piled in and cleared Ukraine of Putin's thugs. It's definitely the thought of having a nuclear war that's keeping us and the rest of the world out.

[Manoverboard]

Another thing that is certain .... if the West had kept its nose out and not cut off Russian Banking via Visa and Mastercard etc the Ukrainian peoples would still be able to get US Dollars / Euros out of their ATMs to enable them to carry on living day to day. Needless to say the Ruble rate has taken a dive and in a stroke has wiped out much of their savings.

Serves them right eh ... we hit the wrong target in my book.

[towny44]

Another thing that is certain .... if the West had kept its nose out and not cut off Russian Banking via Visa and Mastercard etc the Ukrainian peoples would still be able to get US Dollars / Euros out of their ATMs to enable them to carry on living day to day. Needless to say the Ruble rate has taken a dive and in a stroke has wiped out much of their savings.

Serves them right eh ... we hit the wrong target in my book.

Ukraine has it's own currency and I dont believe that we have placed any sanctions on Ukraine. Incidentally ATMs only ever give you the local currency, if you want foreign currency in Ukraine I assume you need to go to a foreign exchange dealer.

[barney]

Another thing that is certain .... if the West had kept its nose out and not cut off Russian Banking via Visa and Mastercard etc the Ukrainian peoples would still be able to get US Dollars / Euros out of their ATMs to enable them to carry on living day to day. Needless to say the Ruble rate has taken a dive and in a stroke has wiped out much of their savings.

Serves them right eh ... we hit the wrong target in my book.

On the contrary Moby.
The sanctions are the best way of having a chance of deposing Putin.
The sanctions should be even tougher in my opinion.
A total cut off from the world outside Russia.
The only way that Putin will be deposed is from the inside.
When pensioners can’t get money and things run out, there will be a total mood change in Russia.
I said right at the beginning that Russia should be totally isolated, in finance, in sport, in every way possible.
It’s tough on the population but no where near as tough as having your children blown up.

[Manoverboard]

Ukraine has it's own currency and I dont believe that we have placed any sanctions on Ukraine. Incidentally ATMs only ever give you the local currency, if you want foreign currency in Ukraine I assume you need to go to a foreign exchange dealer.

You may be right but we were encouraged to use USD else Euro during our visits.

I also reckoned that their Visa / Mastercard links were connected via Russian Banks.

[Manoverboard]

On the contrary Moby ... It’s tough on the population but no where near as tough as having your children blown up.

Do you think so ?

Having had both of our sons caught up in IRA bombings, one in Manchester and t'other in London, I would tend to disagree with you but I do see where you're coming from of course.

[Stephen]

Tell it like it is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-e ... type=share

[Kendhni]

Great to see so many of the delegates in the UN HRC, from all around the world, walk out in Geneva today when the Russian foreign minister decided to spew his propaganda.

Johnson like others has told Putin to turn the tanks around, but I am not sure that Putin is this side of sanity any more and given his personality he will not accept any loss of face. The world has to think of a way in which they can get him to back track while allowing him to claim some sort of victory ... disgusting to give in to the bully boy but sometimes it is better than the alternative.

[david63]

The world has to think of a way in which they can get him to back track while allowing him to claim some sort of victory

I don't think that there is any way to do that. The only victory that he will accept is to annex Ukraine and the rest of the world will not allow that. Plan B - assassination.

The idea that the Russian people will force his hand when the going gets tough is also a non starter as Putin has no respect for human life - he would allow his people to die of starvation and his army to be massacred rather than capitulate - although the Russians have been known to revolt before now.

[Ray B]

Madder than Hitler, hard to tell as he has different and more powerful weapons than Hitler to compare with.
It may be he is suffering with egomania as he sits smugly facing the camera, or even worse megalomania, which is where you can compare the two. Look how Hitler ended up, madder than a March Hare.

[Kendhni]

An obscure angle on Putins behaviour
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/five-reasons- ... 32496.html

[Kendhni]

The world has to think of a way in which they can get him to back track while allowing him to claim some sort of victory

I don't think that there is any way to do that. The only victory that he will accept is to annex Ukraine and the rest of the world will not allow that. Plan B - assassination.

Curiously assassination never seems to be considered as a viable option? There has to be a compromise out there.

The idea that the Russian people will force his hand when the going gets tough is also a non starter as Putin has no respect for human life - he would allow his people to die of starvation and his army to be massacred rather than capitulate - although the Russians have been known to revolt before now.

I agree, Putin does not care what the Russian people think, only what his inner circle of yes-men tell him (yes-men that are probably too cowardly to be honest with him). Not unless the army itself unilaterally decides to return to base.

[towny44]

I hope there are a few senior commanders in the Russian army who are less morally corrupt than Putin and his political allies, which gives me hope that maybe someday there could be a coup.

[Kendhni]

Sounds like am assassination attempt on Zelensky has been foiled.

At this rate Zelensky will go down in history as one of the greatest leaders of the 21st century while Putin will go down as being a thug that was as mad as a box of frogs.

[david63]

It would not surprise me if Zelensky was given the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

[david63]

I hope there are a few senior commanders in the Russian army who are less morally corrupt than Putin and his political allies, which gives me hope that maybe someday there could be a coup.

That to me seems to be the only way out at the moment but I doubt that anyone would put a lot of faith into that happening anytime soon.

[barney]

As the sanctions bite deeper and deeper, there will be change.
It’s a long term strategy.
It won’t stop Putin’s invasion but will eventually remove him.
No commerce
No finance
No sport
Total isolation

[Kendhni]

It would not surprise me if Zelensky was given the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

He would well deserve it.