to think Boris is begging Putin to bring forward his invasion of Ukraine?

[JetTail]

Lighthearted to an extent. Is anyone else remotely concerned that Putin has us by the balls wrt Ukraine and he will take it and there is nothing the US or the EU or the UK can do about it?

And where next? Poland are begging the EU for assistance for a long time but it's not forthcoming? MI6 have spoken out before Christmas (which is rare for them) saying that Putin would do this but nobody seems remotely concerned in fact it was barely covered.

I'm just surmising really but I imagine Boris saying 'Hey Vlad, I'm in a bit of hot water here so need a distraction. Is there any chance you could invade The Ukraine in the next 24 hours?"

I bet he is desperate for her Maj to pop her clogs...

Another good deflection!

I don't think it would be in Putin's interest to bring his invasion plans forward to help Johnson. It's definitely in his interest to have a weak UK PM and government so that's something he will work to maintain.

The only thing that would cause Putin to want to save Johnson would be if there was a credible, strong leader waiting in the background.

I think Putin's view is either the UK will keep Johnson (shit leader), the Tories will elect Sunak or someone like that (also shit) or even Labour will get in (who've chosen shit leader after shit leader for decades).

I never understand why they don't seem concerned about this all escalating out of control. I'm petrified of nuclear war.

@Ciaram55

I never understand why they don't seem concerned about this all escalating out of control. I'm petrified of nuclear war.

It won't go nuclear. We can't even organise nuclear energy let alone nuclear munition. Putin will take Ukraine and that will be that.

@MorningStarling

I don't think it would be in Putin's interest to bring his invasion plans forward to help Johnson. It's definitely in his interest to have a weak UK PM and government so that's something he will work to maintain.

The only thing that would cause Putin to want to save Johnson would be if there was a credible, strong leader waiting in the background.

I think Putin's view is either the UK will keep Johnson (shit leader), the Tories will elect Sunak or someone like that (also shit) or even Labour will get in (who've chosen shit leader after shit leader for decades).

Putin is not remotely concerned about any UK leader. The EU are more of a threat but he has them over a barrel as they also have insufficient fuel. We can't impose sanctions on Russia or it effectively plummets the entire EU and UK into a desperate recession as there will be no fuel.

I don’t even think BJ would stoop that low. It must be utterly terrifying to be in the situation the Ukrainians are in.

Hey Putin, No!!

Sorry.

Seriously I feel sorry for the Ukrainian people.
I have friends from Odessa. And I think Putin's ambition stretches further than the Ukraine.

Boris doesn't have the clout to cause Russian aggression, but he's certainly milking it. His "rivers of blood" interview yesterday was the most appallingly transparent and cynical exploitation of other people's suffering - but that's what you get when you elect a sociopathic, lying sack of guts to the highest office in the land.

@JetTail

"It won't go nuclear. We can't even organise nuclear energy let alone nuclear munition. Putin will take Ukraine and that will be that."

You make very confident declarations for someone who seems entirely ignorant of the UK's nuclear capability. As we speak there's a Vanguard submarine at sea armed with trident nuclear missiles. It's been that way since circa 1970. We also don't have a No First Use policy.

I'm not saying they'd be used to defend Ukraine, but what you wrote is nonsense.

but that's what you get when you elect a sociopathic, lying sack of guts to the highest office in the land.
Yeah, perfect description of Putin. And they can't elect anyone else either.

@Nightlystroll

but that's what you get when you elect a sociopathic, lying sack of guts to the highest office in the land. Yeah, perfect description of Putin. And they can't elect anyone else either.

Oh, I didn't realise it was a race to the bottom

At least Boris won't have far to run

Russia will most likely invade Ukraine (to what extent everyone disagrees) and the EU/NATO will not do very much about it, beyond sanctions.

But there is always the possibility of unintended escalation so it's a very dangerous situation and we should absolutely be very concerned.

Poland and the Baltics are NATO members so that is a completely different scenario.

The OP said the statement was lighthearted to an extent. Yet subsequent posts seem anything but lighthearted.

I can’t believe that people can seriously believe that our Prime Minister is the aggressor in this situation, trying to provoke an invasion by a superpower on another country!

The UK are the one of the first, if not the first, to supply armaments to the Ukraine. I feel glad that the UK are helping the Ukraine to stand up to it’s aggressor.

@dreamingbohemian

Russia will most likely invade Ukraine (to what extent everyone disagrees) and the EU/NATO will not do very much about it, beyond sanctions.

But there is always the possibility of unintended escalation so it's a very dangerous situation and we should absolutely be very concerned.

Poland and the Baltics are NATO members so that is a completely different scenario.

Ukraine has the third largest military in Europe. They've also been well-supplied with arms by allies, including recently the UK when we sent anti-tank weapons. If Russia did invade, they would face a long and bloody insurgency. Couple that with crippling economic sanctions from the US and European allies, and it may prove to be an effective deterrent. They certainly won't simply steamroll their way to Kyiv.

Putin doesn't give a shit about the UK.

Wasn't it him who said we're a "small island nobody pays attention to" and mockingly referred to "colonial thinking"

I think he thinks UK simply lives on past glories and is increasingly irrelevant.

@IncompleteSenten

Putin doesn't give a shit about the UK.

Wasn't it him who said we're a "small island nobody pays attention to" and mockingly referred to "colonial thinking"

I think he thinks UK simply lives on past glories and is increasingly irrelevant.

To be fair, he's not wrong.

@IncompleteSenten

Putin doesn't give a shit about the UK.

Wasn't it him who said we're a "small island nobody pays attention to" and mockingly referred to "colonial thinking"

I think he thinks UK simply lives on past glories and is increasingly irrelevant.

And he’d be right 😂

@Theresthat Ukraine's air defence systems are no match for what Russia would unleash in a full-scale war, and their military assets could be degraded rather thoroughly by Russian air/missile strikes and cyber attacks before Russian ground forces enter en masse.

I agree they wouldn't try to take Kyiv though, more likely eastern Ukraine and more of the coast to Crimea, and only temporarily until they get the political settlement they want.

@dreamingbohemian

Their air supremacy will be useful against large targets. A ground invasion would still entail a huge human and equipment cost for them. Russia didn't seem to have the stomach for a counterinsurgency in Syria.

A full scale invasion and occupation would turn into their Afghanistan or Vietnam. Couple that with coordinated sanctions, and Putin's already plummeting approval ratings at home. It may deter him, although they do appear to have committed significant resources already relocating troops and equipment.

I have a feeling the Russians might get rid of Putin soon. He's coming under pressure at home and he's trying to flex his muscles.

I don't think the Russians can get rid of Putin. I don't think any elections are truthful.

Well the threat of sanctions wont help, only the Russian people would suffer for that not those in power/oligarchs etc

Perhaps while Russia is busy invading Ukraine, China could nip into Russia !