So nuclear war is actually being voiced?

[changeisuponthem]

I hadn't before now, heard anyone say anything about it in black and white with the actual words 'nuclear war'

But NATO are addressing Russian now on the radio and he's just said 'Nuclear war cannot be won' etc

It's terrifying. Talk about keeping close eyes on Russians nuclear position wtf

Bump!!!

Its a well known phrase often used in international diplomacy and speeches

Nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought

We should talk all the time about the risk or Nuclear conflict. Its incredible how as a species we have our head in the sand about the ever present risk

Only today this was reported on today's news, "There are no current signs that Russia is considering the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war, the head of GCHQ has said". We share intelligence with other countries, so you'd think GCHQ would know if any of them had picked up on anything.

Yes just seen breaking news on BBC but only caught part of it.

Yes but it's the fact they mentioned it in the first place 😟

I'm surprised you haven't heard this phrase previously. Like waterrat says the phrase 'nuclear war cannot/can never be won and must not be fought' gets used a lot as a diplomatic position. I've heard Biden say it, and Obama before him and Bill Clinton before that. Fairly certain it originated with Reagan and Gorbachev in 1985, so it's been around for almost 40 years.

What I'm finding rather disproportionate is the ongoing freakouts on here about (still extremely unlikely) nuclear actions, when day by day many Ukrainians are being killed and their homes and cities destroyed by bombardments of conventional weapons.

They're the ones who are suffering, and who will continue to suffer, in this appalling war.

(I have empathy for the vast majority of the ordinary Russian people too, who have been dragged into this despite their wishes.)

Putin has been threatening to use them since the invasion in February.

They’ve been talking about it for months, a lot more in the last couple of weeks. Putin is a little man with big issues who’s trying to scare people with his big nasty toys. He can’t push a button by himself and his generals have their own agendas which I’m sure aren’t served by starting anything like this.

I don’t worry about it at all. Far better informed and wiser people than me are thinking about all of this stuff. As individuals we can’t do anything about it, that’s liberating, we can’t control it, we can leave it in the hands of those who know more than we do.

@changeisuponthem What do you mean, "why can't we let them have Ukraine"? It's not ours to give away. Consider what Ukrainians are going through.

Oh God @changeisuponthem don't talk like that. The west is making clear to Putin they will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats which is why they are also showing they are not afraid to talk about it directly. Putin's trump card (he thought) was to threaten to go nuclear but now he's being shown he will get the same in return if he dares, so this apparent escalation in rhetoric actually increases safety for us.

If you're thinking how to end it if it happens I suggest you've spiralled and need to have a total news detox for a while!!

Why can't we just let Putin have Ukraine to end this nightmare?!

Putin wants more land. Lets start by giving him yours then. Or is it just other people's homes you want to surrender?

Sorry but I've suffered with psychosis in the past and struggle with what's reality and what's very unlikely :( I get Very paranoid

Oh my god

So your need for control trumps the sovereignty of 44 million people? Have some compassion...

No one can 'let' Putin have Ukraine. Not even Ukraine, really.

Well yes of course it's just other peoples. Most people will think to protect themselves first and foremost

I disagree. I think most people want to do what's right and just and will fight for that at risk of great loss to themselves.

It has been a very real threat since day 1 unfortunately and with questions being asked about Putin's health it raises the risk quite significantly

Erm you think Putin would stop at Ukraine if the west appeased him? Yeah that sort of policy went down well in 1938... Seriously are you not aware of how WW2 started?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're just being both thoughtless and facetious. This sort of thing should never be joked about.
It is deadly serious. Words matter. You can't give away someone else's country; or leave them all to be slaughtered because you hope by sacrificing their lives you can save your own.

(By the way, Russia has been threatening nuclear war for quite some time; I'm surprised you've only just seen news reports about it. It's also not the first time the world has been at risk of nuclear war - Cuban Missle Crisis ring any bells, for a start?)

Do you really think that giving Putin what he wants will stop him? Of course not. No bully was ever stopped by getting what they want.

If you have mental health problems then arrange therapy for yourself. Don't shout to give up ither peoples country and freedom because you are a bit scared.

Just flagging that I think @mumsnet should keep a wee eye on this thread, considering OP has a history of psychosis and has asked the quickest method of suicide.

I don't think you would say that if you were Ukrainian. Your obviously unhinged just don't watch the news anymore would be my advice to you

I’ve already reported it

Oh my god, it gets worse! Please start thinking before you speak. If you genuinely aren't aware of why attitudes like this are so abhorrent, please read some history. Some philosophy may also help...

“Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.”

I understand the phrase but really why make the bloody things in the first place 🤦‍♀️ and even after that why continue making them and not just dismantle the lot after the end of ww2

all very well saying it can never be won/should never be fought that is the majority view yes but seems v unfortunately we have one of the minority in charge of a huge amount of warheads