Russia puts its nuclear deterrent on high alert

[Libertybear80]

Does anyone know what that actually means? Is he threatening nuclear war?

But Russia would have got what it wanted through invasion--a large chunk of Ukraine. Suppose it turned its gaze to other areas where there is/used to be a strong Russian population?

It would end the war that has been raging for 8 years and killed 14,000 people and is likely to continue without some kind of solution.
And whilst I would like nothing more than Ukraine to come out of this totally intact, including Crimea, some realism is needed.
It may be the least bad option.

Russian speaking Ukrainians will have the choice. It is a contested area anyway and has been for a long time. Not everyone or even anyone will walk away from this as the 'winner' or 'victor' it is not a movie. It will be up to other countries to join Nato or other alliances if they have not already done so to protect themselves.

The alternative is what alexandra ? Millions of lost and shattered lives, an endless war, a nuclear war - it needs to end with both parties accepting the position and an end to hostilities. I don't know this is going to happen, or what Ukraine is comfortable to concede maybe nothing, but that is my best guess.

I am not talking about a large chunk of Ukraine - but two small areas where the issues are most concentrated.

Donetsk and Luhansk

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

And what CBA? Your property value might be affected? I can't see why this is important if you are reduced to ash if Putin follows through. This thread is about nuclear war not property prices and fluctuations. Maybe you posted on the wrong thread by mistake.

Yes it's about wether Uk is likely to be nuked. My point is it is unlikely, part due to the extent of Russian interests in the U.K. and the obvious relationship that entails, despite what the government says about investigating Russian interests. I think you are missing my point. Also it's not my property.

BBC news has just reported this action was a direct response to Liz Truss' comments, according to the Kremlin. Not Putin randomly deciding to raise it, apparently he's taken her comments about supporting people going to fight in Ukraine as a sign of aggression from a NATO country, after it was understood we wouldn't get involved in physical combat.

@OhLordyWhatNow

To everyone who is worried please try to stay calm it's all bluff and bluster and propaganda on Putin's part. If you are in the UK you are safe. Hug your loved ones and feel thankful for all we have; we are truly fortunate.

Let’s hope you’re right. We were told his troops amassing on Ukraine’s borders were bluff and bluster and Willy waving and ‘he’d never dare invade’. I wouldn’t put anything beyond him.

must admit it's terrifying me, the world is a very sad place at the moment

I think Liz Truss needs to be sent on some diplomacy course! Is she an idiot?

@Cognoscenti

BBC news has just reported this action was a direct response to Liz Truss' comments, according to the Kremlin. Not Putin randomly deciding to raise it, apparently he's taken her comments about supporting people going to fight in Ukraine as a sign of aggression from a NATO country, after it was understood we wouldn't get involved in physical combat.

Had to be a woman he blames

I don't think Putin really cares about a few London based billionaires CBA They would be warned and would leave anyway. I have property to consider - but right now it is the least of my worries how much we stand to lose before of this war.

Cognoscenti I thought Lizz Truss' comments were irresponsible. Ben Wallace confirmed this morning that they were referring to non military personnel, but those with a military background no longer employed by the British Army that could 'help'. It was a misstep by Liz Truss I believe, and quite reckless. I am not surprised it has pissed of Putin, it looks like we are fighting with Russia through the back door - which is not the case, but he is so paranoid it doesn't take much.

@Libertybear80

I think Liz Truss needs to be sent on some diplomacy course! Is she an idiot?

She went to Oxford, she's supposedly intelligent. I've yet to see much sign of it.

Liz Truss was the one who insisted a wrek or two back that Britain would never recognise Russian sovereignty over Voronezh and Rostov.

A fairly typical product of the education system here, unfortunately.

If Putin nukes the UK he is well beyond caring about London based oligarchs or russian monies. It will be the end of Russia and all things. On that score, I don't think he will do it. But if he does do it, it makes bugger all difference if it's London or Kosovo or Boston. Someone will have retaliated before it hits the ground and thats pretty much the end for all of us within a few years. Again, I don't think it will happen, but he may be so infuriated that he wants to go out with a bang.

She went to Oxford, she's supposedly intelligent. I've yet to see much sign of it

She is very intelligent and eloquent most of the time, I suspect she is under a lot of pressure and appeared to have very little sleep. It is not an easy job at the best of times, never more the case than when you are being threatened with nuclear strikes. I say we give her a break as Putin had already raised that spectre way before Liz Truss' interview.

Liz Truss is more concerned with playing dress up.

I'm so upset with Liz Truss' comments. What a fucking stupid thing to say. Lack of sleep / pressure isn't an excuse when the consequences are so dire.

Ben Wallace needs to make clear that the UK does not support her view. Perhaps a statement that anybody leaving the UK to fight will be deemed a terrorist, I don't know. We can't allow her statement to be the UK narrative.

That needs to be rectified immediately.

The stakes are too high for her to make these sweeping errors! She's not packing toothpaste!

@Libertybear80

The stakes are too high for her to make these sweeping errors! She's not packing toothpaste!

Absolutely.

The government must jump to damage limitation now. Make it clear her comments are being overridden and not to be listened to. Undermine her. Christ what a bloody idiot.

Maybe she needs to be sacked?

The alternative is what alexandra ? Millions of lost and shattered lives, an endless war, a nuclear war - it needs to end with both parties accepting the position and an end to hostilities. I don't know this is going to happen, or what Ukraine is comfortable to concede maybe nothing, but that is my best guess

Until we know if Putin wants a settlement or not, its a moot point.

From all we see, he wants war, a city in the east is under sustained artillery fire as we speak.

I believe we are heading for NATO vs Russian conflict, as he will soon use nuclear battlefield weapons on civilian areas and we cannot accept that.

Of course a partitioned Ukraine is better than this but what does Putin want and will settle for?

We have known for a long time that our own politicians have been lacking in diplomacy and statesman-like skills. But it is all very clear under a sharp microscope when people like Truss and Wallace, with their 'Gerald Ratner moments' are compared to someone like Zelenskyy and other European politicians.

Maybe she needs to be sacked?

I said this yesterday but was shouted down. I gave up trying to discuss it any further.

To those being glad Corbin hadn’t got in - even IF he had got rid of our nukes - it wouldn’t have made a blind bit of difference.

Err…it would make a massive difference if anybody got rid of them!

1. Anyone using one nuke knows they’ll get at least the same back. It’s called Mutually Assured Destruction and it’s what has kept them from being used so far.

Yes…because they act as a deterrent. Which you wouldn’t exist if you didn’t have any.

2. We’re in NATO so we don’t really need our own. A strike on any country belonging to NATO is a strike on NATO, so even if he decided to single the U.K. out (and why would he, we are a very insignificant player on the stage, particularly since we jumped out of the EU, he would be buying himself nuclear retaliation.

As a rich economy, it’s not anybody else’s job to foot our bill. What if all those equipped with nuclear weapons took the same stance?!

3. Nukes are REALLY powerful. He supposedly has 7200. Less than a hundred would wipe the life on earth out in an instant. The UK has over 200 nuclear warheads, 120 locked and loaded ready to go. We don’t need that many. Corbin wanted to stop spending money on NEW ones. We have plenty. You cannot ‘win’ a war using nukes, so why keep making more? I would rather the money were spent on something we DO need more of. Like hospital beds, like free university education, like building more affordable houses.

They become more and more advanced - as does the anti-ballistic tech that shoots them down. So you would lose your edge if your weapons were lesser. Also, they require maintenance so you have to spend. Russia has many decomposing at the bottom of the sea and we’ve ended up sending in Nuvia to deal with them.

Not Putin randomly deciding to raise it, apparently he's taken her comments about supporting people going to fight in Ukraine as a sign of aggression from a NATO country, after it was understood we wouldn't get involved in physical combat.

If he wasn't using LT's comments as an excuse he'd be using someone else's. Countries not giving in to his demands are perceived as acts of aggression so I take his latest lame excuses with a mountain of salt. He threatened Finland and Sweden with absolutely no provocation so I don't think blaming LT for the deranged thinking of a despot is helpful. Claiming aggressive action from NATO countries is how he's justifying the war at home, his words are for Russia not for us.

It's a shame she can't be thrown in prison for making such inflammatory statements at a time of European crisis. It should be criminal for somebody like her with her platform to provoke another country when we are teetering on the edge of global crisis.

I'm going to be dumbfounded if there isn't a rapid retract of her ridiculous comments going out on TV in the next 24 hours. The government must try to undo some of the damage that silly woman has caused.

She cannot say what she has said and then cower under the table.