To stop watching the news as getting quite scary re Russia

[Viviennemary]

I was just watching the news on this poisoning and seems this was deliberately done to provoke the UK into a response. I think the timing is quite significant that we are at odds with the European countries and Russia is taking advantage of this. AIBU to be worried that this could be a trigger into something unthinkable.

Russia is going to complete its invasion on 1 April 2019 and Europe won’t help because we Brexited and they won’t care. HTH.

If it stresses you out, don't watch. Or turn off/over when they mention Russia.

I agree, it's not great. But the chances of it personally affecting the average British citizen in any significant way are incredibly small.

No, it's making me anxious too, OP.

We're still in NATO and the UN!

I wouldn't be too concerned. They are always pulling this sort of shit. Putin is basically a toddler having a tantrum. That's why he gets on so well with Little Lord Trumpykins.

Yes it's definitely worrying. What is Putin going to do next? We're on our own, due to Brexit and due to Putins friend Trump in the Whitehouse.

And the EU have nothing to do with international security.

Despite Brexit and Trump, the US and rest of Europe are still our allies.

Exactly, Dalek the EU is an economic union, not military.

It's just scaremongering to give us a 'bogeyman' to focus on.....instead of our government's continuous cock-ups.

"Europe won’t help because we Brexited and they won’t care. HTH."

Phew - because it's NATO we need for that one. Seriously wouidn't want EU getting mixed up in that.

But any comments on Russia's motivation is just speculation.

Serious thread about this (including whether if would trigger Article 5) here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/3187585-Is-there-a-thread-about-the-poisoning-of-Skripal-title-edited-by-MNHQ

Don’t be too alarmed or you’re giving him what he wants.

Russia is strapped for cash at the moment. Syria costs a literal bomb(s) as does Ukraine, Crimea and other Putin Projects. The public purse is struggling, not least cos Vlad nicked all his people’s assets and gave them to his mates.

There’s only so much a state can do when it hasn’t got much money. Fear in the age of mass media is quite cheap though.

I was listening to a podcast the other day about news anxiety. The advise was relevant in this case. If there is NOTHING YOU CAN DO then stop listening/watching it.
I was worried about North Korea but look what’s happening now - they are arranging a nice meeting in America! May not happen but they are making all the right noises now.

How old are you, op? Don't mean that in a mean way. It's just that we have had far scarier shit than this, as dreadful as this attempted murder was.

Oh, yes, Brexit is relevant only in the sense that it is news. Thankfully, we do not rely on the EU for our defence.

Things I know about that are scary/interesting:

The UK has been accepting Russian money going through London for years making it an oligarchs playground. Is there any thing about our financial regulations that make easy for Russians to launch money in the UK.

The Russians have been killing people they don't like for years in the UK.

The police investigations have been surprisingly incompetent or inconclusive in some cases seeing as it is bloody obvious at least on the surface. Also the police have suffered serious cuts so maybe russians offing other Russians isn't a huge priority for them.

The NHS was targeted by cyber terrorists thought to be Russian a few months back

The eu was set up to help promote peace in Europe, which was previously dreadful for having wars. Putin would love nothing more than the eu to be weakened. Some of the leave side paid IT companies with Russian connections millions during their campaign.

I doubt the poisoning of stirpal (sp?) was done to provoke the UK more than he lived here and they gotten away it many times before. But russia is a bully and they know that the UK is a weak target. (Brexit, economy, self-serving government whose protection of the party is more important than its citizens).

It's all very interesting and scary. Buzzfeed has an excellent series of reports on Russian murders in the UK.

I doubt that I have reassured your fears. But in general no news is best for your mental health.

I am not remotely arsed. I am more scared that Brexit will be stopped.

Now THAT would fuck me off!

This is as much about Russian internal politics as relations with the UK. The Russian economy is the pits and Putin is standing for re election.He needs to distract the populace from domestic problems by a show of strength. He is also showing what happens to people who betray Russia - popular with many Russians and puts the fear of God into all the Russians who have escaped abroad. Putin actually doesn't give a shit about the UK.We are no real threat to him, he doesn't need us and we have become a haven for his enemies.Committing state sponsored murder on foreign soil... win win for Putin and he does't give a flying fuck about international law.

It's always been the case. A nasty, meddling and aggressive foreign policy - just read your history.

I'm genuinely confused about why this is such a big deal. He was a former spy, of course they hated him and tried to kill him. Why should those of us who are not former Russian spies be worried?

Not trying to be goady, just honestly a bit confused.

The eu really has done a great fine propaganda number on some posters if they really feel we are on our own after brexit!

We are not only part of nato which is far more powerful and useful alliance in this instance we are also major army power in nato.

Do you think Poland and Romania would be rushing to our aid if we were still going to stay in the eu? Its those countries who beg us for help and support from big bad Russia! We have just promised more air power to Romania!
Honestly!!

If you'd been in zizzi that day I'm sure you wouldn't be asking.

That, plus a foreign power assassinating a UK inhabitant (not sure of they are citizens) in a very public way to cause them great pain, fear and suffering, and panic in the general public.

notthatbecause its an act of illegal chemical warfare on UK soil.. Hundreds of people have been affected.. Had to burn, wash clothes. Be tracked down etc even if not been made ill.

They might expel the Russian ambassadors. That’s it. They didn’t even do that when it happened to Litvinenko.

Rosie... How many alliances have been mademoiselle between eu nations throughout the centuries and how many have broken down?

One could strongly argue its Brussels that doesn't give one fuck about its eu nations... Self centred on itself and its own greedy end game.

The eu is not weakened by brexit its weak because its weak.