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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Britain should have nothing to do with this war

594 replies

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 12:54

After yesterday's news, Britain shouldn't be the one funding war as USA has said they are out now. There's no chance Britain can fight this war alone with Ukraine against Russia.
Since this war started, our life has only become miserable with CoL increase.
AIBU to think we shouldn't have anything to do this war and we should fix our own problems first before giving away our tax money?

OP posts:
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5
StandFirm · 01/03/2025 16:14

By the way, going away whimpering 'please don't hurt me' because we're scared of Putin is not going to protect the UK. Anyone who knows Russians, especially Russian men will tell you they despise cowardice. We cannot ever show fear.

Mummabear04 · 01/03/2025 16:19

War is completely to do with power and economics. If Ukraine falls to Russia then all of the wealth of Ukraines minerals and food production will go to Russia, which in turn will go to China. The CoL will only increase rapidly with inflation and the UK will be in a worse state than it is now. The global power of the west is very much in decline (just look at the economic outputs/trends of Western countries compared to BRICS countries). Ukraine very much matters from an economic point of view and if Trump does not support Ukraine then he will shoot himself in the foot. USA is an empire in decline (just look at the statistics) and they are not the powerful country they were back in the 50s. As someone from the UK you certainly should care about backing Ukraine.

Butchyrestingface · 01/03/2025 16:22

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:13

I didn't realise there are so many war hungry people here.
I think the solution should be diplomatic negotiations and peace.

Is that you, Neville Chamberlain?

How's your Russian, btw? I find the subjunctive an absolute bastard to conjugate.

TooBigForMyBoots · 01/03/2025 16:22

Bit late now @Foodtimeisit. We've been part of it for 3 years.

StillTryingToKeepGoing · 01/03/2025 16:24

Are you a Russian plant or just really naive?

chipsewfast · 01/03/2025 16:24

Educate yourself OP

wholettheturnipsburn · 01/03/2025 16:32

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:13

I didn't realise there are so many war hungry people here.
I think the solution should be diplomatic negotiations and peace.

Then maybe the great orange peace maker can ask his buddy Putin to get the fuck out of Ukraine.

That would be great. Instant peace

Maia77 · 01/03/2025 16:33

sahmtoosen · 01/03/2025 13:08

I disagree . I think Putin only wants Ukraine. It’s clearly always been about the natural resources and he thought it would be easy as Zelensky isn’t an experienced politician or leader. I think a lot of countries backing Ukraine were hoping to help and get something in return (access again to those natural resources) but now it’s gone on so long that Trump has steamrollered in and made it clear what it’s always been about, thought he could get it sorted asap and is now losing his temper as he can’t. He will be warning us off next and telling any country that backs Ukraine that they are also going to be responsible for WW3

Edited

100%. It's about natural resources, control over the region and countering NATO expansion.

Echobelly · 01/03/2025 16:42

We don't have a choice in the matter. Capitualiting to Putin opens up all of Eastern Europe to Putin and he is not a friendly leader to live under.

My mum is from an EU country that borders Ukraine that was under the control of Soviet Union and has a house out there my parents spend much of the year in. Is that country safe if Putin gets Ukraine or a significant part of it? This is much closer to home than you think.

Russia is not omnipotent - for a start it is broke, but if Putin gets encouraged we could see him rolling into easier target former Soviet states that have valuable resources and building Russia's economic power again, and then looking to European states again.

Newbutoldfather · 01/03/2025 16:43

It would be much better to secure 80% of Ukraine, rehabilitate Putin (painful as it might be) and have Russia as an unreliable ally, rather than create a Russo-China enemy.

It seems to have been forgotten that diplomacy is the art of the possible given constraints as opposed to imposing perfect morality regardless of the cost of getting there.

in addition, the U.K. shouldn’t be trying to be a great power. We aren’t. We should be a part of a European solution, at best equal to Germany and France, both in terms of money and military.

There is no reason for the U.K. to put a target on her back in isolation.

Talonz · 01/03/2025 16:46

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:22

By negotiation involving Russia, Ukraine, USA and other allies.

While at the same time substantially rebuilding our armed forces through full investment (not creative accounting) so that Putin and his proxies are dissuaded from attacking Europe.

travellinglighter · 01/03/2025 16:46

sahmtoosen · 01/03/2025 13:08

I disagree . I think Putin only wants Ukraine. It’s clearly always been about the natural resources and he thought it would be easy as Zelensky isn’t an experienced politician or leader. I think a lot of countries backing Ukraine were hoping to help and get something in return (access again to those natural resources) but now it’s gone on so long that Trump has steamrollered in and made it clear what it’s always been about, thought he could get it sorted asap and is now losing his temper as he can’t. He will be warning us off next and telling any country that backs Ukraine that they are also going to be responsible for WW3

Edited

Except of course he has said he wants to reunify the Warsaw pact. The poles have started rearming and have said they won’t contribute troops to the defence of Ukraine because they need them to defend Poland. Estonia, Latvia and most of the Baltic states are sounding the alarm.

The reality is that we have a hostile US president and a hostile Russian dictator and now is the time for us to rearm and get ready for the next war. Chamberlain learned his lesson and we need to learn ours. Putin has made his ambitions clear and we need to take him at his word.

susiedaisy1912 · 01/03/2025 16:51

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:13

I didn't realise there are so many war hungry people here.
I think the solution should be diplomatic negotiations and peace.

Ideas on how to do this ?

Wildflowers99 · 01/03/2025 16:51

Do you know what, I am really not any longer going to engage with posters who are clearly primary school level when it comes to global affairs and don’t even want to learn.

Us ‘spending money on ourselves’ by bloating the NHS and benefits is what has caused our military to be on the bones of its arse at a time when we most need it. If we had kept up 3-4%, we would have a well equipped military ready to deal with this threat. Instead we’re having to kow tow to Trump and beg everyone to make up, all while scrabbling around to look like we’re even a worthy participant at the table.

lifeonmars100 · 01/03/2025 16:53

DuncinToffee · 01/03/2025 15:50

Trump mentioned his attire when he greeted Zelenskyy on arrival.

The reporter is a trusted Trump supporter

Imagine Trump dressed in the same style as Zelenskyy, or maybe best not to...

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 01/03/2025 16:53

.

TW war crimes

Currently, 18% of Ukraine is occupied by Russia which is the same land mass as 45% of the UK.

Imagine 45% of the UK being occupied by, let's say, France, who in this example do not recognise us as a sovereign country. Initially, they demand London capitulates and the government submits to French rule. Obviously, we won't, so they invade our borders and begin to systematically kill off towns and villages, they dig mass graves for the dead (and half dead), forcibly deport our children for adoption by French families (because we are Nazis) rape men and women, old and young, boys and girls, in front of their families, and video the removal of penises of POWs and sharing this on SM. They torture our pets, literally raze the city of Hull to the ground (equivalent to Mariupol in geographical size) and eventually occupy 45% of our land, whilst relentlessly bombing the other 55%, day after day, for three years. Thousands of civilians are killed, 70,000 soldiers dead, likely members of your family and friends.

For those who don't care about this current genocide happening on European soil (3.5 hrs away so closer than the Canaries, Greek Islands etc) let me appeal to your long term security...

I know this line is trotted out ad infinitum but it is the truth - Ukraine is fighting this war for Ukraine first, and Europe second. If Putin conquers Ukraine he will 100% invade the next country on his list. He desperately wants mother Russia to be restored to her rightful place, the most powerful empire in the world. So, whilst he might not want to take anything (much) beyond the Baltic nations, and the UK may remain physically in tact, our sovereignty would depend on the mercy of a monstrous predator with a huge nuclear arsenal, their borders now much closer to home. Make no mistake, we would become increasingly subjugated to Russia, not in the future, but in our lifetimes and most certainly in our children's lifetimes.

You might not want a fight, but they do.

Mrsdyna · 01/03/2025 16:55

Yes, if the US isn't leading then there's just no way to win.

countingthedays945 · 01/03/2025 16:56

I try not to be rude on these threads but I wish people were not so ignorant of history and politics.

To have this thread title given what we have witnessed in the last 24 hours is absolute ignorance at its worst!

Patterncarmen · 01/03/2025 16:56

Trump’s thinking is making me reconsider World War 2

All Britain had to do was to avoid that terrible was to surrender to Hitler

Why on earth didn’t Churchill think of that ?

(From John Cleese)

lifeonmars100 · 01/03/2025 16:57

DuncinToffee · 01/03/2025 15:52

Compared to Trump and Vance he behaved like a saint

Especially given that English is his third language so it must take a bit longer to process and respond to the crap they were coming out with. Even so his English was better than Trump who constructs his sentences like a 5 year old, in fact many 5 year olds are more articulate and have better vocabularies than Trump

Isitforreal1942 · 01/03/2025 16:57

coldandfrostymorning23 · 01/03/2025 13:09

Putting aside the moral arguments, and the lessons of history for a moment and taking your post on face value

  • the UK would not be fighting this war alone with Ukraine. Most EU nations will continue to support Ukraine because they know full well that if Putin succeeds they will be next. Together these economies dwarf that of Russia.
  • Increasing defence spending will create jobs and stimulate growth and help alleviate the cost of living crisis.

The issue being that Europe doesn’t have an army….and none of the European countries can defend themselves… it can only be done with help from the US…..

Stonewallslemon · 01/03/2025 16:57

I don’t think I can better what Hillsmakeyoustrong and Travellinglighter have said.
For what it’s worth I agree we have been at ‘ soft ‘ war for some time and I fear the real thing is becoming inevitable, supporting Ukraine is morally and militarily the absolute right path.

Biscuitsnotcookies · 01/03/2025 16:57

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 01/03/2025 16:53

.

TW war crimes

Currently, 18% of Ukraine is occupied by Russia which is the same land mass as 45% of the UK.

Imagine 45% of the UK being occupied by, let's say, France, who in this example do not recognise us as a sovereign country. Initially, they demand London capitulates and the government submits to French rule. Obviously, we won't, so they invade our borders and begin to systematically kill off towns and villages, they dig mass graves for the dead (and half dead), forcibly deport our children for adoption by French families (because we are Nazis) rape men and women, old and young, boys and girls, in front of their families, and video the removal of penises of POWs and sharing this on SM. They torture our pets, literally raze the city of Hull to the ground (equivalent to Mariupol in geographical size) and eventually occupy 45% of our land, whilst relentlessly bombing the other 55%, day after day, for three years. Thousands of civilians are killed, 70,000 soldiers dead, likely members of your family and friends.

For those who don't care about this current genocide happening on European soil (3.5 hrs away so closer than the Canaries, Greek Islands etc) let me appeal to your long term security...

I know this line is trotted out ad infinitum but it is the truth - Ukraine is fighting this war for Ukraine first, and Europe second. If Putin conquers Ukraine he will 100% invade the next country on his list. He desperately wants mother Russia to be restored to her rightful place, the most powerful empire in the world. So, whilst he might not want to take anything (much) beyond the Baltic nations, and the UK may remain physically in tact, our sovereignty would depend on the mercy of a monstrous predator with a huge nuclear arsenal, their borders now much closer to home. Make no mistake, we would become increasingly subjugated to Russia, not in the future, but in our lifetimes and most certainly in our children's lifetimes.

You might not want a fight, but they do.

100% this ^

Biscuitsnotcookies · 01/03/2025 16:58

Our big pants are now needed. Enough is enough, and if Trump has lost his bottle then we are a big enough continent to continue without them.

Charlottejbt · 01/03/2025 17:01

Arrivals4lucky · 01/03/2025 13:24

Then you’ll be familiar with Germany ‘reuniting’ with Austria followed by the invasion of Poland and the consequences that followed Europes last attempt at appeasing a megalomaniac dictator.
Russia are NOT currently winning this war - they need it to stop before they run out of cannon fodder… there are ways to end this conflict that don’t entail Russia being allowed to invade and keep another country.

If Russia is running out of cannon fodder (true) then how is it going to invade the rest of Europe?

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