Char wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 2:42 pm
.. if the reports that Belarus has started sending troops in are true the untrained Ukrainians don't have much chance.
That does appear to be happening plus the hugely-long (20km ?) armoured grouping is snaking its way to the capital.
This invasion is taking on an even more grotesque form.
It makes me feel so very cross that this is being allowed to happen to undeserving Ukraine.
Last edited by suein56 on Tue Mar 01, 2022 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way into darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine.........The Corpse Bride
If NATO sends troops into Ukraine, it will be direct confrontation with Russia and could lead to something far more serious than we have now. For the moment, what Russia wants is Ukraine not to join NATO or the EU and for Ukraine to act as a buffer state between Russia and the rest of Europe.
The Ukrainians have little chance of defending themselves again Russian tanks and missiles and due to Ukrainian resistance, Russia has upped the stakes. This is not going to end well for Ukraine.
No-one in Europe wants to get involved militarily if at all possible because such involvement could be catastrophic. That's why economic sanctions are being applied, in the hope that this could be a "peaceful" way to avoid the risk of all out war. It's commendable that people want to go to help, but many are likely to be untrained, have never known war and have an idealistic vision of what they are going to. It's bad enough to imagine a trained army with all its equipment being sent there, but a bunch of untrained, unarmed civilians ? You need more than idealism to fight a war.
Apologies if this has already been posted (I'm a bit behind as usual) but it sooooo made me laugh in the midst of this crisis - especially the bit 'use your oars'
With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way into darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine.........The Corpse Bride
Blaze wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 3:05 pm
" what Russia wants is Ukraine not to join NATO or the EU and for Ukraine to act as a buffer state between Russia and the rest of Europe."
"No-one in Europe wants to get involved militarily if at all possible because such involvement could be catastrophic. "
First point - isn't that exactly what Macron was trying to negotiate with putin all along?
Second point - that's exactly why the remark from Mis Truss-t is ludicrous, in that she is supporting any that do go, on one hand, when they're telling people not to go, on the other hand.
I see that many Ukranian men living in the UK are packing their bags to go and help fight in Ukraine - at least that cannot be seen by putin as other countries stepping in, we hope.
@Bayleaf
"First point - isn't that exactly what Macron was trying to negotiate with putin all along?" Yes, but is that what the Ukrainians want ?
"Second point - that's exactly why the remark from Mis Truss-t is ludicrous, in that she is supporting any that do go, on one hand, when they're telling people not to go, on the other hand".
Those who go of their own free will are free to do so - it was ever thus in times of war. They're not military and will have no physical support either military or government. It's quite a different matter for untrained civilians to go out there than sending the army in. Those untrained civilians will never have seen war, and if they had, it's highly unlikely they would go to UIkraine.
I would rather wait until there is a more reliable news source such as Reuters or Press Association, Agence France Presse.
Reuters did say yesterday
LVIV, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday said he had signed an official request for Ukraine to join the European Union.
Zelenskiy has asked the European Union to allow Ukraine to gain membership immediately under a special procedure as it defends itself from invasion by Russian forces.[/quote]
They do not say whether this application has been approved yet.
Apart from anything else, there are formalities to go through : What happens if Russia "takes over" Ukraine ? Where would that leave Ukraine vis à vis the EU ? It's not a simple request with a simple approval. Normalement, all member states have to agree but with the current instability, there may be hesitation by some states.
Bayleaf wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 3:58 pm
News just in, if correct:
Ukraine EU.jpg
If correct I cannot see what that will achieve - the EU is not yet a mutual defence pact - and may just provoke Putin further (if possible to do that).
Grab a chair, kick off your shoes, chill and chat.
