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

Calling Ukraine by its correct name is the least of our or its problems ffs.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

I don't think this is the time or place for lame jokes joy you do realise thousands of people, children and babies are likely to die?

I'm really not part of the problem am I?

I'm a lesbian, perhaps my lame jokes are a way of warding off my deep primal terror of ever being at the mercy of the Putins of the world.

It came across as intensely flippant.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

It came across as intensely flippant.

I think it came across as laughing at Putin. I think that's what people do with the insanely powerful, laugh at them. No flippancy towards the seriousness was implied. I mean the whole of political satire is this surely, sticking pins in inflated windbags like Putin?

[quote Joystir59]Anyone else think Putin is actually Mel Brooks? images.app.goo.gl/TkoN1ruvWAPJM4jy8[/quote]
It's the weird slightly crossed eyes. And it makes me wonder what weirdness is going on inside his head (Putin, not MB).

Putin looks like a total psychopath to me. I can't laugh, I am worried sick.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon

Putin looks like a total psychopath to me. I can't laugh, I am worried sick.

He looks like one to me too, I can't bear to look at him on the news.

Who is going to stop him?

Far too little, too late. Everyone has been using appeasement for so long and this only going to inspire all the other dangerous tin pot dictators to take pot shots on their interests around the world.

The Golden Times of democracy leading the way, security and safety now hang in the balance for all of us, no matter where we live.

It goes without saying that my heart goes out to the people of Ukraine and how scary this must be. They are the ones facing the immediate threat and I hope that minimal lives are lost.

Not to take away from that, but from a place of concern, realistically what does this look like for the UK? Sajid Javid said that if Russia invades Ukraine than Britain will be at war with Russia. Well, they've invaded. What will war look like? I just can't see a scenario where this will end well for anyone. The thought of being pregnant during a war is freaking me out as well but I'm probably thinking more along the lines of the previous wars when I imagine this will be very different. Is there any indication of what's going to happen to us? Do we need to make preparations of any kind or is it not going to be that kind of thing?

I apologise if this reads like I'm making it about fear for myself and not Ukraine, it's just coming from a place of concern for my babies born and unborn

Ukraine need to fight fire with fire, starting with immediate retaliation and nothing should be off the table. They should hit Russia where it really is going to hurt.
The only real chance that this will end well for the rest of the world is the outcome of Russia going down in spectacular style, and with a million soldiers and one of the most well funded armies in the world that are trained and ready, this will not be easy, but if the Vietnam can do it, so can Ukraine. It is not a done deal.

@MrsNoelFielding

Putin needs to go.

Do you think we have spy’s over there? I feel daft asking this question but surely we must have intelligence on the ‘inside’?

Yes, and vice versa.

It is the nuclear capability that is so terrifying. That and the fact that there is nobody capable or sensible in charge anywhere. Putin is a psychopathic dictator, just like all the other psychopathic dictators now and throughout history. Johnson, Biden, Macron way out of their depth. Germany dependent on Russia for their power supplies, It is like a flock of sheep without a sheep dog.

Javid said that if Russia invades Ukraine than Britain will be at war with Russia.

Did he? I’d take that comment with more than a little pinch of salt.

Germany has just announced it will halt the approval process on Nord Stream 2.

It's a very unpredictable situation

For now I think we all jsut need to be prepared for a rise in fuel prices ont he forecourt as the price of oil has gone up again in light of this

Does anyone remember the part ordinary women played in kicking off the Northern Ireland peace process?
Am I mad to think some kind of similar initiative could be pulled together? Like a women's strike involving the women of Ukraine and Russia too? Stop it men, you'll get no dinner if you don't stop being damn stupid! I'm not being flippant I'm feeling helpless despair and trying to find a response that is something more. Another Arab Spring type swell from the grassroots?

I am glad Germany have finally stepped up and done the right thing, rather belatedly but better late than never.

To have trusted Putin and Russia at all was a big mistake, and to rely on anything they supply especially essential infrastructure was a terrible mistake and Europe was warned over and over again, and took no notice, money talks.

The UK has been laundering Russian dirty money for decades and selling most of our business assets and property to the Chinese. We have no room to talk tbh. It is practically impossible to buy anything not made in China because we want cheap goods.

@Joystir59

I'm a lesbian, perhaps my lame jokes are a way of warding off my deep primal terror of ever being at the mercy of the Putins of the world.

I thought it was great satirical comment as Mel Brooks produced The Producers. '...springtime for Hitler in Germany' being the most famous song line. Quite prescient of you, if you ask me, given that the man is literally a dictator who is invading another country as we speak!!

Germany is the EU. it's the only member with any real power so I don't blame them if they are reticent shout the gas line.
Without Germany there is no EU.
I'e push back against Putin.

Ukraine has lots of mineral reserves - Putin wants to get his hands on them. That is the bottom line, never mind the history.

@renovating

The UK has been laundering Russian dirty money for decades and selling most of our business assets and property to the Chinese. We have no room to talk tbh. It is practically impossible to buy anything not made in China because we want cheap goods.

Covid tests are made in China - how ironic.

"Covid tests are made in China - how ironic."

Quite. And the Chinese vaccine has been supplied throughout SE Asia. Win/win really.

I'm trawling back looking for the offensive jokes?
Joy what were they? Surely not the Mel brooks pic??

It's a perfectly natural response to laugh at times of crisis.
It's very natural to laugh and poke fun at people like Putin also.
That doesn't detract in any way from the horror that could unfold here.

Horror I might add that has already been unfolding in Russia since he tightened his grip.