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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
Talonz · 01/03/2025 14:01

You are right @Foodtimeisit that the UK should not be funding this war.

And we aren't. We have contributed military aid of about 2.4% of worldwide contributions and about 1.6% of non-military aid. It is more of a combined effort with the US contributing most.

Hwi · 01/03/2025 14:01

DomPom47 · 01/03/2025 13:52

On the face of it I agree with things like charity begins at home - get your house in order before looking at others etc etc etc But the world isn't that simple—we are not a self sufficient independent island. What happens abroad affects us in the UK. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens European security, disrupts global economies, and sets a dangerous precedent. If we don’t support Ukraine the message Russia and other such governments (e.g China) gets is invade and take what you want, the world becomes more unstable, which will have consequences for the UK too. Foreign aid and defense spending aren’t just charity; they’re strategic investments in a more stable world—one where we’re less likely to face bigger crises at home.

These years are Europes good years. Once the fight over precious metals are over we have the issues of environmental refugees and conflict over access to water to come :(

At the risk of showing my age, I felt much safer in the times of the Iron Curtain, the world nicely divided up, US and UK besties, NATO bases in Europe, their bases in Europe. Balance of power. Nobody got the wrong message. We can't be the policeman of the world, turns out the US can't either. And yes, I resent one pence spent on making foreign lives better whilst our citizens are lacking the basics.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 01/03/2025 14:04

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

I don't understand why people keep saying Putin only wants Ukraine when he has made no secret of the fact that he wants to restore the borders of the Russian Empire.

Even if it's "only" about Ukraine's rare earth minerals, a leader who will invade a country for what it can give him can't exactly be counted on not to do it again if he decides he wants something another country has, can he?

528htz · 01/03/2025 14:04

kistanbul · 01/03/2025 13:56

There are a lot of people who just seem to say Well, if I was in charge I’d just have world peace.

Great idea. Really excellent. Just talk me through how we get from today to world peace given Putin’s history of reneging on international agreements.

It's the sort of stuff a Year 5 or an 'influencer' would come out with 😆

Mischance · 01/03/2025 14:04

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.

Indeed that is the solution. But sadly we are dealing with men who do not know what diplomatic negotiations mean as yesterday's fiasco clearly shows.

How might you approach "diplomatic negotiations" with a knife wielding lunatic?

Macaroni46 · 01/03/2025 14:04

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:20

I am pretty familiar with European history and how it goes for the common people. Solution should be world peace not war.

So what do you suggest Ukraine should do? Allow Putin to take over their country?
Should we allow Putin to get a toe hold into Europe?
You are niaive at best!

Purplebunnie · 01/03/2025 14:07

Do you think the man who sent his people into this country and used novichok is really going to stop once he has Ukraine? Total disregard for what else might have happened. He wants all of Europe and not just what was lost.

W0tnow · 01/03/2025 14:10

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/03/2025 13:59

The Ukraine war has already damaged Putin’s credibility. Gone are the days when the Soviet tanks could roll in and take over another country in a matter of days. Putin will not stop until he either has capitulation or he is forced to.
The EU and the U.K. has no option but to show strength now. No Russian politician will publicly respect a softly softly approach. They will all be jockeying for position behind Putin so won’t show weakness. Putin is not young and his health is suspect so domestic Russian politics is a significant factor behind this.

Is it? He’s not super old, and I thought he was in good shape? He could be around for 20 years. He reminds me of Mugabe; mad as a cut snake, and long lived.

ThePearlBee · 01/03/2025 14:11

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.

Tell it to Russia, hun.

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 01/03/2025 14:12

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

Yes, those lovely dictator chaps, they only ever want the first country they’ve invaded don’t they? If we would only just fall into line and let Putin have Ukraine he would be as a quiet as a lamb and not invade anyone else. Said no one. Ever.

Joystir59 · 01/03/2025 14:16

WW3 here we go

Princessfluffy · 01/03/2025 14:16

DecafDodger · 01/03/2025 13:31

There's no chance Britain can fight this war alone with Ukraine

What has given you the idea that UK and US have been the only supporters of Ukraine? UK is not even in the top 10.
www.statista.com/statistics/1303450/bilateral-aid-to-ukraine-in-a-percent-of-donor-gdp/

The UK is a major contributor to Ukraine in terms of the amount of military and cash given

To think Britain should have nothing to do with this war
Joystir59 · 01/03/2025 14:16

Europe can't stand against both Russia and the USA

Pickledpoppetpickle · 01/03/2025 14:17

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.

did you watch what happened last night?!

HettyMeg · 01/03/2025 14:17

Do you really think Putin would stop at Ukraine?

AliasGrace47 · 01/03/2025 14:19

Hwi · 01/03/2025 14:01

At the risk of showing my age, I felt much safer in the times of the Iron Curtain, the world nicely divided up, US and UK besties, NATO bases in Europe, their bases in Europe. Balance of power. Nobody got the wrong message. We can't be the policeman of the world, turns out the US can't either. And yes, I resent one pence spent on making foreign lives better whilst our citizens are lacking the basics.

As a Pole I'm utterly disgusted you blithely say things were better when we & other Eastern Europeans (an amorphous 'they' to you) were brutally subjugated. So selfish. W your I'm alright Jack attitude, 'Saudis are fine bc they buy our armaments, women's rights don't matter bc they're overseas', I wonder if you would expect any other country to help us if we had a misogynistic dictator or war?

I agree not everyone can be helped, mostly we can't, but no charity or even sympathy is an extreme attitude. Would you really say any aid given is immoral when in some countries children die of starvation, in comparison to here, where many suffer but that is rarer? I agree aid can't be given now but it's a bit much to say it was always wrong to give it.

SharpLily · 01/03/2025 14:20

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

Not sure why you would think that, given that Putin has clearly stated otherwise.

lifeonmars100 · 01/03/2025 14:21

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

And you think that is acceptable that "Putin only wants Ukraine"? I hate to disabuse you of this odd notion, that it is fine to try and occupy another country, it is not . And he won't stop at Ukraine, he wants as much of eastern Europe as he can grab. We are living in very precarious times.

EasternEcho · 01/03/2025 14:25

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:22

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

Negotiation only works when the parties do it in good faith. Putin has never kept any promises. If you do know history, then you would know what happened when Chamberlain negotiated with Hitler and came to an agreement. Also when the US was resolute on staying out of the war in Europe until the war landed on their doorstep in Pearl Harbour. The world is too interconnected now for countries in a region to "stay out of it".

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/03/2025 14:25

@W0tnow
There are lots of reports that suggest he may have a neurological condition. Late last year he seemed to have leg spasms or shaking at a meeting in Kazakhstan and is sometimes pictured needing to hold on to furniture. Even the suggestion of ill health makes him vulnerable domestically. He is in his 70s.

ThePearlBee · 01/03/2025 14:25

Hwi · 01/03/2025 13:34

Calm down! I totally agree, but then again I won't give 1p of my money to foreign causes, overall. I only contribute to UK-focussed local charities, really local ones. I only buy the Big Issue from native sellers, on principle. I am fine with the UK being friends of Saudis, they buy our armaments, I think it is vile we get involved in changing governments be it by peaceful means (colour revolutions) or war (Iraq) - if they want women's rights and gender rights, let them do it themselves. Same about Ukraine. I genuinely don't have the capacity to care for any cause that is non-UK. I resent any foreign aid. I think those who are for it, should pay for it individually. So many people think the same, but they are compelled to virtue-signal, either because of their careers or their so-called friends. Briefly, I resent every penny, never mind million. spent on foreign aid, Ukraine included, whilst our own suffer.

Do you realise how repellant this is? By the fortunes of birth, history and Britain's past colonial rapacity you live in a country that has a vastly disproportionate amount of the world's wealth, and produces a vastly disproportionate amount of the world's waste. You earned none of it. You were born into it. You are lucky.

My husband works in the foreign aid you so despise. My children and I have lived in various places across the globe while he does this work. I've seen poverty that simply does not exist in the UK. In places where the UK has historically helped to create that poverty.

Why does a child born in a poor part of West Africa not deserve their share of the world's wealth? Why do you feel is is owed to you and people like you, and not to them?

Why do you consider it fair that you will probably never have to worry about your children dying of malaria, your daughters being raped by soldiers, or dying for lack of maternal provision, your kids getting no education, your family working in a mineral mine and being slowly poisoned as an alternative to being starved to death, whilst around the world people live in fear of those things every day?

What did you ever do to deserve that freedom? How can you think it's right to say we should not help? You are rich. That'll probably piss you off, but trust me, even just as far as free education and healthcare go (and don't @ me about how bad it can be, I come from a poor northern industrial town, I know) and running water, and cleaner air, and many other things, compared to people I meet every day, you are rich. Why do you deserve to be rich and they don't?

I am glad your taxes pay for the foreign aid you hate and you have no choice about it. I despise the stupidity of people who can't see that foreign aid is a driver of global stability and ultimately benefits Britain and every other country that provides it. I despise the selfishness you describe.

LondonJax · 01/03/2025 14:26

Foodtimeisit · 01/03/2025 13:24

Pressure should be put on Russia to cease fire.

And how do you do that? What do you offer him to make it palatable for him? He's got face to save with his people. He won't want to be seen as 'weak'. Or threaten him with? Sanctions? How well is the current round of sanctions going in bringing about peace? What do you say to start the conversation? 'Mr Putin, we'd really not get dragged into a war, would you mind cease firing? We'd be ever so grateful'. Do you think world leaders (including Trump) don't want a ceasefire? They've tried sanctions, they've put vast amounts of cash into Ukraine, so far it's not working. So what's next in your opinion?

Hwi · 01/03/2025 14:26

AliasGrace47 · 01/03/2025 14:19

As a Pole I'm utterly disgusted you blithely say things were better when we & other Eastern Europeans (an amorphous 'they' to you) were brutally subjugated. So selfish. W your I'm alright Jack attitude, 'Saudis are fine bc they buy our armaments, women's rights don't matter bc they're overseas', I wonder if you would expect any other country to help us if we had a misogynistic dictator or war?

I agree not everyone can be helped, mostly we can't, but no charity or even sympathy is an extreme attitude. Would you really say any aid given is immoral when in some countries children die of starvation, in comparison to here, where many suffer but that is rarer? I agree aid can't be given now but it's a bit much to say it was always wrong to give it.

Edited

I am sorry if I upset you, but foreign countries, including Eastern European ones, are not our concern.

Ultio · 01/03/2025 14:29

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.

@Foodtimeisit oh the irony. The warmongers are those who are siding with Putin, which you are even if you claim not to be. Once you let Putin have his ‘peace’, and he disappears and oppresses millions under his occupation in Ukraine, and then moves on to Georgia and Moldova, and maybe even the Baltic states, will you accept that you are the fucking warmonger? God, people like you are just so bloody naive.

Wintersgirl · 01/03/2025 14:30

Arrivals4lucky · 01/03/2025 13:15

Good luck negotiating with a dictator. Putin INVADED a peaceful country, claiming an ancient right over their land - sound familiar?
Appeasement didn’t work before and it won’t work again.

Exactly, people seem to forget this, the gaslighting that went on in the Oval office yesterday was staggering, blaming Zelensky for WW3 if he doesn't give in to Russia..unbelievable