Ukraine

[niemeyjt]

To prove that point the Germans need to stop the decommissioning of their nuclear plants immediately . . .

Absolutely agree - but with a Green coalition government nuclear power, however much it makes sense, is on its way out in Germany.

One of many foolish energy policies and practices across a Europe trying to be more green.

[Nomoss]

niemeyjt I agree its nothing new but it still p's me off when the US starts sabre rattling against Russia from behind thousands of miles of ocean with a handy buffer zone called Europe. Then there's the UK, the fifth strongest economy (blah blah blah) so messed up they have to have food banks, is traditionally so far up the president's backside they have to ask him to remove his trousers to see if it is day or night.

Or a few dozen miles across the Bering Strait
Don't forget the back door!

[tagh]

Well, there are landing ships in play.
Estonia has a 25% Russian population, so if he manufactures a call for help?

[exile]

As does Latvia. Ukraine itself has 17% ethnic Russians* and many USSR states will similarly be populated with a significant number of Russians.

* Not sure how many are in separated or annexed part of the Ukraine.

On the other side The Kaliningrad enclave might become a pressure point.

[niemeyjt]

As does Latvia. Ukraine itself has 17% ethnic Russians* and many USSR states will similarly be populated with a significant number of Russians.

* Not sure how many are in separated or annexed part of the Ukraine.

On the other side The Kaliningrad enclave might become a pressure point.

Wikipedia, if accurate, puts ethnic Russians at 87% in Kalingrad - so not sure the remaining 13% will rise up.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliningrad#Demographics

[tagh]

Is Putin running defence for the Chinese who will take the opportunity to have a go at Taiwan?

[exile]

As does Latvia. Ukraine itself has 17% ethnic Russians* and many USSR states will similarly be populated with a significant number of Russians.

* Not sure how many are in separated or annexed part of the Ukraine.

On the other side The Kaliningrad enclave might become a pressure point.

Wikipedia, if accurate, puts ethnic Russians at 87% in Kalingrad - so not sure the remaining 13% will rise up.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliningrad#Demographics

I wasn't suggesting that anyone would rise up, but it would be comparatively easy to make the enclave completely enclaved. Stop road/rail transport through Lithuania and Poland. Blockade Gulf of Finland and Skagerrak or at least make passage difficult.
Result - a large part of Russia's Baltic navy tied up in Kaliningrad and the rest in St. Petersburg.

[Bayleaf]

For my simple brain cell, my thoughts are this:

It doesn't make sense for Putin to "invade" Ukraine, as he supposedly considers it part of Russia already - he has said as much. The West, particularly certain European countries rely on Russia for much of their gas supplies, so are reluctant to threaten that relationship.

Like I say, my simple brain cell won't understand anything more complex than that!

[niemeyjt]

You forget the MIC - Military-industrial complex

There's money to be made. Money talks.

[rabbit]

Estonia is mainly anti Russian