To admit I have no idea wtf is going on with Russia and the

[Dustlandcinderella]

I follow the news and can see that There is a lot about Russia and the Ukraine. But I can’t quite figure out what is happening , what the background is, and what the truth is (bearing in mind in any war there is propaganda on each side).

Am I the only person who doesn’t actually understand what’s going on

The whole thing is horrific. What is concerning me is Putin's mindset and the language he is using.

The threats to the West about intervening were utterly chilling. If there is no military intervention now (in line with NATO policy) - then Putin will likely overwhelm Ukraine - so he becomes emboldened and thinks "okay, the threats worked before - where next?" - this is the problem. If - horrific as it is - he gets what he wants with Ukraine - then what? Will he be satisfied or will he feel invincible and emboldened? If it's the latter... well... it doesn't bear thinking about. Either way it's not going to end well.

@Sickoffamilydrama

I know can you see any other way? We can do a no fly zone, we can send equipment but eventually we'll have to send people.

Even enforcing a No fly zone over the Ukraine is almost certainly a non -starter…

NATO isn’t dealing with the likes of Iraq here, it is dealing with Russia which has a very well equipped Air Force and on the ground they have some very very capable surface to air missiles such as the S-400 which would cause real problems for any NATO aircraft trying to intervene over the Ukraine.

I have no answer other than hope that as a best case Putin will be satisfied with just taking control of the eastern part of Ukraine.

You're not alone OP and my advice to you, assuming you have no family involvement with any of the participants, is to stick your head firmly in the sand and get on with your life. You can't affect the events, can't change them and wars belong to the men fighting them. Just get on with your life as best you can.

You can't stick your head in the sand, this is happening right next to us, to people just like us! It is not possible to say oh well, I will go and watch the daffodils and blossom flowering. The world is now much more dangerous for everyone, not just Ukraine.

You are absolutely correct. How will you alter unfolding events?

Keep Calm And Carry On

As they said during that minor of skirmishes, WWII.

I will be pressing my MP to encourage more arms to Ukraine and to cover at least the Ukraine air space long

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

I will be pressing my MP to encourage more arms to Ukraine and to cover at least the Ukraine air space long

What do you mean by “cover the air space”?

In the current situation NATO can no more do that than “cover the land space” of Ukraine.

Russia will be far from willing to concede a no fly zone over Ukrainian territory and any attempt to force that issue would bring NATO (air) forces into direct conflict with Russian (capable) forces, something I think everybody is trying very hard to avoid.

Ukraine is asking for air space cover, it is not impossible that it will be granted. Russia can not invade another country and expect the red carpet to be laid out. This is going to get very very ugly very quickly.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon,

But the U.S can invade Iraq, a land in a different continent from them? Imagine if the Russians had provided 'air cover' over Iraq.

I think that there is a degree of fantasy going on here. You do know that the Russians could annihilate the UK in about 15 minutes if they wanted to?

Ultimately the Ukraine is not our war, however sorry for them we feel.

And, if left alone, Russia will probably leave, having put in place some type of puppet government, from which the Ukrainians at least have a chance to emerge again and have another revolution in more favourable times.

If we start a World War over Ukraine, it will be a wasteland. There will be few survivors to rebuild anything.

As I said on another thread, our line on the sand is not Ukraine, it is the other side of it, where the countries are already in NATO.

If Putin goes there, all bets are off.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

Ukraine is asking for air space cover, it is not impossible that it will be granted. Russia can not invade another country and expect the red carpet to be laid out. This is going to get very very ugly very quickly.

I’m really not sure what you or they mean by the term “air space cover”…

If they are asking for NATO aircraft to enter Ukraine airspace to actively engage with the Russian Air Force I suspect I know what the answer will be.

Rightly or wrongly NATO were not willing to put their troops on the ground in Ukrainian, I’m not sure they’ll agree to put their “troops” in the air over Ukraine.

If they do then yes, it could turn ugly very quickly.

The thing is if he’s left to it with sanctions (aka like parking tickets for the rich) he could quite possibly set his sites on the likes of Poland next.

The man is insane. He’s 70 with nothing to lose. I genuinely think this is all about wanting to leave a legacy of rebuilding the USSR bigger and better, he’s willing to take risks.

Russia will be far from willing to concede a no fly zone over Ukrainian territory and any attempt to force that issue would bring NATO (air) forces into direct conflict with Russian (capable) forces, something I think everybody is trying very hard to avoid.

Everybody? Putin is trying so hard to avoid having NATO on his border that he has just invaded the country right next to … the NATO border. I think he will go further. Get used to the idea.

A no fly zone is being discussed right now at the most senior level.

I appreciate some think I’m not familiar with “modern capabilities” but IMVVHO enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine territory takes us straight back to politics.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukraine-invasion-russia-ben-wallace-b2023072.html

It’s all enough to make me wish some (Russian) general would send a column into Poland or somewhere. Bastards.

As I said on another thread, our line on the sand is not Ukraine, it is the other side of it, where the countries are already in NATO

I will admit that pre conflict, i was very of the view that we needed to negotiate.
However, we are past that atm and Putin has said given the veiled threat of nuclear war.
So we have basically backed off, what if he then goes into Latvia to "free" Kaliningrad and tells us to stay out or he will use nuclear weapons.. what will we do then? Maybe kick Russia out of the World Cup? that'll show him.

We've told him how to get his own way and like all bullies, he will try this tactic again.

*why isn't there a bloody edit function???

Latvia is in NATO and the EU. NATO is the more significant.

Kyiv is HOLDING out folks, there is still hope for Ukraine - there will always be hope for Ukraine because now it is being decided regardless of this invasion, Ukraine will not fall - as the world will never recognise or accept a Russian Ukraine. Very best case scenario now for Putin is a relentless war of resistance and the eventual removal of any puppet government he puts in place. Worst case scenario is he loses the war altogether.

Ukraine will prevail either way

www.newsweek.com/russia-threatens-finland-sweden-nato-ukraine-invasion-1682715

Russia has threatened Finland and Sweden.

Keep it's great news, after Afghanistan I think people were expecting another quick fall.
It's heartening and emboldening to hear they are holding out.

So, what the hell is the EU doing? This is on their borders?
Land borders?

Is any one country able to push back if necessary or are they all relying on NATO?

What on earth is going on!

@Tigersonvaseline

So, what the hell is the EU doing? This is on their borders? Land borders? Is any one country able to push back if necessary or are they all relying on NATO?

What are you suggesting/what do you mean by “push back”?