To think Britain should have nothing to do with this war

If we wanted to stand up to Putin then we needed it to do it in 2014 when Crimea was annexed, or Abkhazia before that.

Where were all the armchair generals and history lecturers then ?

Mainly turning a blind eye whilst enjoying warm homes and jobs dependent on cheap gas.

And a fair few making like bandits, selling them cars and iPhones.

We are not the heroes we like to think we are. We only finally made a stand against Russian aggression and started sanctioning people because it was politically expedient for people like Boris. A welcome distraction from domestic woes.

Sadly, Ukraine is lost and the OP is correct.

Whether they negotiate for peace or continue to fight, we can’t help them.

We now need to strengthen NATO to ensure Putin remains deterred.

Keep planting that astroturf - it’s never going to grow.

I disagree . I think Putin only wants Ukraine. It’s clearly always been about the natural resources and he thought it would be easy as Zelensky isn’t an experienced politician or leader. I think a lot of countries backing Ukraine were hoping to help and get something in return (access again to those natural resources) but now it’s gone on so long that Trump has steamrollered in and made it clear what it’s always been about, thought he could get it sorted asap and is now losing his temper as he can’t. He will be warning us off next and telling any country that backs Ukraine that they are also going to be responsible for WW3

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Zelenskyy wants us to up our contribution to the war. Financial aid is no longer helping. He wants feet on the ground - wants us to provide human fodder for their war. How many on here baying for Russia to be destroyed would be happy with their sons, husbands, brothers going to fight in Ukraine? Not many I’ll bet. Financial aid can only help so far, but then you need actual foot soldiers. Money won’t buy soldiers, only finance weapons. Russia will win eventually without Europe providing people to fight for them.

Perhaps you and the other poster who replied similarly could now answer the same questions about the part of Ukraine occupied by Russia?

Indeed. And some aren't. And the EU definitely isn't. The poster I was replying to was specifically moaning about the EU organisation not making contributions, not countries who also happen to be in the EU.

Countries in NATO:

1. Albania
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Canada
5. Croatia
6. Czech Republic
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. France
10. Germany
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Iceland
14. Italy
15. Latvia
16. Lithuania
17. Luxembourg
18. Montenegro
19. Netherlands
20. North Macedonia
21. Norway
22. Poland
23. Portugal
24. Romania
25. Slovakia
26. Slovenia
27. Spain
28. Turkey
29. United Kingdom
30. United States
31. Finland (joined in 2023)

I didn't realise there are so many war hungry people here.
I think the solution should be diplomatic negotiations and peace.

Perhaps you and the other poster who replied similarly could now answer the same questions about the part of Ukraine occupied by Russia?

@IcecreamWhatSandwich

Say what?
a) 22% of Ukrainian population is Russian
https://www.demogr.mpg.de/books/drm/009/6.pdf
b) History of Ukrainian nationality goes back to 9th century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ukrainian_nationality#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20Ukrainian%20nationality,the%209th%20to%2012th%20centuries.
c) Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security provided by US and the allies.

If we wanted to stand up to Putin then we needed it to do it in 2014 when Crimea was annexed, or Abkhazia before that.

Where were all the armchair generals and history lecturers then ?

Mainly turning a blind eye whilst enjoying warm homes and jobs dependent on cheap gas.

And a fair few making like bandits, selling them cars and iPhones.

We are not the heroes we like to think we are. We only finally made a stand against Russian aggression and started sanctioning people because it was politically expedient for people like Boris. A welcome distraction from domestic woes.

Sadly, Ukraine is lost and the OP is correct.

Whether they negotiate for peace or continue to fight, we can’t help them.

We now need to strengthen NATO to ensure Putin remains deterred.

@Biscuitsnotcookies they certainly have the raw materials and can probably unearth their how to manuals. It's building the processing and manufacturing facilities that will take time but they are an extremely resourceful country.

Calm down! I totally agree, but then again I won't give 1p of my money to foreign causes, overall. I only contribute to UK-focussed local charities, really local ones. I only buy the Big Issue from native sellers, on principle. I am fine with the UK being friends of Saudis, they buy our armaments, I think it is vile we get involved in changing governments be it by peaceful means (colour revolutions) or war (Iraq) - if they want women's rights and gender rights, let them do it themselves. Same about Ukraine. I genuinely don't have the capacity to care for any cause that is non-UK. I resent any foreign aid. I think those who are for it, should pay for it individually. So many people think the same, but they are compelled to virtue-signal, either because of their careers or their so-called friends. Briefly, I resent every penny, never mind million. spent on foreign aid, Ukraine included, whilst our own suffer.

Don’t cheer for a war you’re not prepared to fight in yourself or see your family members go off to fight first.

Considering Putin cant even "get" Ukraine after 3 years, will be a hard job for him to go after anyone else.

And if you feel its morally right to defend Ukraine who wouldnt ever do the same for the UK, then yeh - be sure to get your children on the front line first in your pursuit of standing up for that "right".

🤦‍♂️

Perhaps Putin is mainly interested in invading territory where: a) most of the population is Russian, b) it is historically part of Russia, c) previous US administrations refused to allow the territory to be neutral and deployed WMD there.

The lesson taught by the history of 'domino effects' isn't completely clearcut, is it?

Why do you expect the EU to make contributions to NATO when it's not a member? Very strange.

As a Pole I'm utterly disgusted you blithely say things were better when we & other Eastern Europeans (an amorphous 'they' to you) were brutally subjugated. So selfish. W your I'm alright Jack attitude, 'Saudis are fine bc they buy our armaments, women's rights don't matter bc they're overseas', I wonder if you would expect any other country to help us if we had a misogynistic dictator or war?

I agree not everyone can be helped, mostly we can't, but no charity or even sympathy is an extreme attitude. Would you really say any aid given is immoral when in some countries children die of starvation, in comparison to here, where many suffer but that is rarer? I agree aid can't be given now but it's a bit much to say it was always wrong to give it.