Why does the UK gov support for Ukraine feel like a constant PR stunt?

[trythisforsize]

Just that really.
It feels like the war is a great big chance for the government to very publicly pat themselves on the back. As they edge us steadily towards an all out war between UK and Russia the PR machine is pulling out all the stops to tell the world how great the UK government is at supplying arms.

@Windingdown NATO membership rather counters the first two points you make. On the third, I am not convinced Labour would be any better.

This outcome of this war is pivotal to future world peace and stability. Sunack comes across as a completely embarrassing pillock and he is total cringe but I think it’s important for the world to see solidarity and strength from European leaders.

Greenshake So do you think the Tories have done a good job over the last 12 years, and are doing a good job for the country now?

I’ve no issue with us helping Ukraine but the Tories seem to use Zelensky as a photo opp to distract us all when they’ve cocked up again. The Tories have broken every good thing about this country. Now they’re emptying what’s left of our war chest and handing it over to the Ukraine.

Imagine we were still in the EU. We would have led them in standing up to Russia and rallied them into giving the arms needed to Ukraine instead of the indecisiveness that we’ve seen from Germany and the empty promises from France. Instead we’re an insignificant little island that talks big while everything is collapsing around us.

When does the revolution start?

Happyher - I think the revolution's already started with all the strikes we're seeing. People have had enough. I agree with everything in your post.

@Windingdown What does that have to do with the topic in hand?

@Happyher it’s not The Ukraine, it’s Ukraine. That’s the Russian styling.

Greenshake You said you thought Labour couldn't do better and I was wondering what it is about the Conservatives performance to date that made you think they were a better option.

Instead we’re an insignificant little island that talks big while everything is collapsing around us.

True, unfortunately.

🙄

All Tory PR makes me want to spew. But let's not forget it is good for Zelenskiy for there to be lots of OTT PR and photo ops and speeches in grand settings. He needs to ensure we don't forget about this war , that the media continues to cover it and we continue to support him. Its also a powerful message to Putin showing him with his allies in London. So I can deal with it for that reason.

I meant in relation to Ukraine

This is a very interesting and sobering document from the US think tank the Rand Corporation - an august body funded by the US arms industry and the Pentagon so you can assume that such a piece of work carries a lot of weight in informing and helping to shape US foreign policy. It has been released with virtually no press interest so one could assume it is intended to leak slowly into the debate of how this war could end.

My take is that we will start to see a pivot in the narrative shortly as Biden calculates what is the off ramp and can he deliver a peace that brings the oil price down and a resurgent economy before the next election and that the war in uniting NATO , spurring rearmament and degrading and exposing Russian weakness has been a big win for US foreign policy. Just a shame that Zelenskiy and Ukraine has to suffer so terribly as a consequence.

In short they assert that US interests are not the same as Ukrainian interests and US policy must put the US economic and military first.

They say that maximalism in Ukraine demands to return all their territory from the Russians are unrealistic.

The primary focus should be on China not Russia and the Ukraine war is a distraction.

Peace should be brokered and maintained by potentially withholding further US military and economic aid if Ukraine doesn't agree.

A partial removal of sanctions from Russia should be considered as part of the peace deal.

That no side can win and that there is a high risk of escalation that risks the situation spiraling out of control.

That rebuilding Ukraine would take enormous investment from western partners and that will only be forthcoming if some sort of DMZ / international partnership brokers a lasting peace which benefits both Russia and Ukraine.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA2510-1.html

I despair. It's the right thing to do. Zelensky is using every angle he's got. The British government has set the tone for the western alliance and rightly wanted to thank us publicly yesterday....as well as ask for more help.