The invasion has begun

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Russia has begun it's invasion of Ukraine. Who knows where this will end.

apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1

@Crookedman

Genuinely worried that if he takes ukraine that he then demands the suwalki gap and attacks the baltics. All the while threatening to nuke everyone. God those poor people, I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in Ukraine right now.

He has said fight back and something bad will happen which has never happened before

I agree reactions and escalation are just as worrying

Yup. Even if Putin could be removed, how often have we seen that just creates a vacuum into which someone even bigger and badder steps?

Not that I know the answer, of course.

It seems some countries are able to be sacrificed and others not

Yes, sadly. Although of course this all kicked off when Ukraine wanted an association agreement with the EU and was making noises about NATO membership. It was ok when they had a semi-communist leader like in Belarus. Once they had a more Western-looking leader, Putin wasn't pleased (slight understatement there).

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

As with any bully, the world needs to stop right now cowering in the corner. We have to learn that appeasement simply does not work.

We have to stop worrying about his reaction, and start making this operation as painful and difficult as possible.

We need to stand up to him, as painful as it might be for some, we need to do so or there really will be WW3

What do you propose?

Russia is a huge exporter of Wheat, metals that are vital to western economies, oil and gas and these are priced in dollars.

Easy to come out with cheap rhetoric but the reality is that people need to drive to work, feed themselves and heat their houses.

Perhaps what we really need to do is get troops into Nato countries?

Unfortunately the people of Ukraine don’t have the option of simply becoming neutral.

Russian stock market falls 30% as sanctions increase as attempt to undermine ability to fund war

@drayday

My Ukrainian friend called her family early this morning and they can see explosions from their windows. They are terrified.

It's nothing, i know. But I will be donating money to a Ukrainian based Animal Rescue.

Cos animals are the priority?

You never know, hopefully someone gets worried and poisons Putin with a chapstick or something

We can't do anything, he's not bothered about sanctions.

The Russians excel at assassination. I think now's the time someone needs to do just that.

Sanctions won't stop Russia. Sanctions have a history of not working. Putin has planned for sanctions. The only thing that will stop him is military support from the West. Will the west do this? No. It will cause world war III.
It's a mess. And I feel horrible for the Ukrainian people. I'm sure lots of Russians don't want this either.

I have been wondering if, as has been alleged some in his government aren’t happy if anyone would dare to try that @Crookedman.

Susie Dent posted a word of the day recently...

Empleomania:- a 19th century word meaning 'the desire to hold office or wield power, whatever the cost.'

An apt description of Putin ( and someone else springs to mind!)

I cannot imagine what is going through the minds of all those Ukrainian people right now..
All roads west are gridlocked.

Utter madness.

[quote OohRahhMaki]@MarshaBradyo - unfortunately it is not Russia against the world.

It is Russia against the West, which, let's face it, is fairly divided and weakened thanks to internet conspiracies, Alt right etc (perpetuated by Russia).

China isn't going to go against Russia as they also have similar plans to regain their ex-territories.

Why would the rest of the world (excluding Europe + NATO) care about Ukraine? Europe haven't rushed to help other global conflicts and disputes. The rest of the world is facing their own disputes, autocratic governments, genocides etc.[/quote]
True it should have been v the West

A general in why NATO can’t go in it would likely precipitate a Third World War

But talked about what else we should do - in the region

I don't want war but surely the West can't just sit back and watch this happen. Putin doesn't care about sanctions. And I don't believe he if successfully invades Ukraine that he will stop there.

The only thing that will stop him is military support from the West. Will the west do this? No. It will cause world war III. It's a mess

It is a mess, but I also think not doing anything & assuming Russia will be satisfied & stop with Ukraine is deluded

@swirlsy

We can't do anything, he's not bothered about sanctions.

No but his people do. And he doesnt want a lot of internal dissent. Sanctions wont work for a while because theyll just make his fat cats fatter but eventually theyll start to hurt.

@KitKat1985

I don't want war but surely the West can't just sit back and watch this happen. Putin doesn't care about sanctions. And I don't believe he if successfully invades Ukraine that he will stop there.

What do you think it should happen then? USA, UK and the EU send troops to Ukraine and start an all out war with Russia with nukes involved?

I have heard that Putin doesn't even have full support within Russia, amongst other Russian officials who are worried about his state of mind. You have to wonder if he knows physically and/or mentally he is on his decline and this is his sort of last 'hurrah', going out in flames as opposed to slowly fading away.

Is absolutely hideous how the lives and futures of so many lie in the hands of egotistical men.

@Porcupineintherough you think Russian people will rebel once they have had enough of the sanctions?

@Blinkingbatshit

I wonder how many MPs have investments that are tied up with Russia somehow?🤔…..

Bloody loads.

Anneliese Dodds identified 34 Tory MPs who have links to/received received funds from just one oligarch. It may still be on her twitter feed.

Corbyn was lambasted for bringing this up in parliament.

This might be of interest:

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/read-the-russia-report-in-full-195501/

What do you think it should happen then? USA, UK and the EU send troops to Ukraine and start an all out war with Russia with nukes involved?

But at what point do we have to act? How far will he go?

Putin. Mad.As.A.Box.Of.Fucking.Frogs.

I'm all for British sanctions but we're an insignificant small useless Island.
China need's to do something and the EU and of course the states

& because of allowing so much dirty money to flow into the UK we have our hands tied behind our banks.