[Youngian]

Greasy little rat changes his uniform sharpish

[Nigredo]

As far as I can see it was a bait and switch. He made out he was going to invade, rattled his little sabre, then took over an area Russia already had to practically all intents and purposes. He looks strong back home, the border is closer to make people sweat, and he gets to create a narrative about the world hating Russia to justify what he wants to do domestically.

Putin couldn’t afford a real war (literally - Russia’s economy for the size of the country is tiny). He gambled that threatening more but doing less would let him get away with the lesser thing with minimal impact.

I suspect we won’t really know what he did this for for some time yet.

It's also not implausible that Putin seeks to destabilise the west with another refugee crisis and financial fallout from the resulting conflict.

[Cyclist]

Uncle Vlad must be quaking in his boots

Boris Johnson has announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three billionaires, after Russia ordered troops into eastern Ukraine...


...He added the "first barrage" of sanctions would be extended if the situation escalated further.

He said the three Russian individuals sanctioned would have their UK assets frozen, and be prevented from travelling to the UK...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60476137

[satnav]

By delaying future sanctions he is basically giving Russian oligarchs the heads up to move their assets while they can which totally undermines the purpose of the sanctions.

[mattomac]

It’s election year in France, Scholz is new in Germany, Biden is in an election year that pretty much determines his next (last) two years in office and well Johnson is just a side show and he won’t attack because they fund it.

Any later Macron could be back and secure for another several years, Johnson could be toppled.

Everything is in flux I do think Scholz move today may hurt the plan mind.

[Youngian]

Liz will take action against a Tory donor if any proof emerges that the wife of Putin’s former deputy finance minister has Kremlin connections. Its been a long wait for the BBC to ask these questions

[Boiler]

An interesting suggestion by former BBC correspondent Angus Roxburgh on how to really hit Putin hard - not the oligarchs, but members of the Duma.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... er-ukraine

Most of these people love to travel to Europe and the US. They educate their children here. They own properties here. The members of the Russian elite, their families and children, love to swan around on yachts, ski slopes and fine hotels in the west, posting pictures of themselves on Instagram. If they are denied visas to travel to the west – if they are effectively imprisoned in Russia – it will not take long for the discontent to permeate the entire political class. The message to them will be clear: if you want to enjoy your western lifestyles, you need a new leader who respects western values; until then, you’re banned.

[Bones McCoy]

Liz will take action against a Tory donor if any proof emerges that the wife of Putin’s former deputy finance minister has Kremlin connections. Its been a long wait for the BBC to ask these questions

Ahh yes

The donors all hold British passports.

Passports that were fast tracked by whom?

[mattomac]

Is Dan Walker off to LBC next?

[Boiler]

Trump has now put in his two penn'orth.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... ine-crisis

Trump said he saw the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis on TV “and I said: ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine … Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”

The former US president said that the Russian president had made a “smart move” by sending “the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen” to the area.

[mattomac]

Its a bit like “is that still on TV”.

If they go to war can we lock these people up under special measures. I know that might mean most of the cabinet but.

[mattomac]

I can’t sleep due to illness and it seems war in Europe has started.

[The Weeping Angel]

Death to Putin.

[Oboogie]

Early reports are confused and may prove to be inaccurate, but It sounds like Putin's going for the whole country rather than just the Donbass.

[Cyclist]

As a robust response to the latest developments in Ukraine, the Prime Minister has announced a ban of sales of Airfix Sturmoviks. That'll show Putin we're serious.

[Rosvanian]

I've read countless opinion pieces on the Ukraine -Russia situation over the last few weeks but I'm none the wiser about one thing: now that the invasion of Ukraine has started, will this event have any real practical implications for the lives of ordinary British people? (higher fuel costs, etc).

[Cyclist]

You'll notice some changes quite shortly

Oil prices have surged past $100 (£74) a barrel after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "special military operation" in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine.

The price of Brent crude hit $102.30 a barrel at one point, the highest level for more than seven years.

Russia is the second biggest exporter of crude oil, and is also the world's largest natural gas exporter.

Stock markets fell, with the UK's FTSE 100 index opening down more than 2.6%...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60502451

I saw something yesterday that fuel will (almost certainly) go over £1.50 per litre. When this happens, the (already rising) prices of goods in the shops will rise too. If nothing else, Putin has fuelled a hefty rise in inflation.

[NevTheSweeper]

Russia has missiles which reach far beyond its borders. The UK will be first in the firing line as its the USA's ally....and of course they have nuclear weapons....

THE WORLD IS SCREWED.

[Rosvanian]

Russia has missiles which reach far beyond its borders. The UK will be first in the firing line as its the USA's ally....and of course they have nuclear weapons....

THE WORLD IS SCREWED.

So you're seriously suggesting that there is real chance that Britain will attacked with nuclear weapons? Well, that escalated quickly from £1.50 for a litre of unleaded.

[Boiler]

Closer to home, let's see RT off-air in the UK now.

On the anxiety forum I frequent, this has seriously triggered a lot of people who are thinking like Nev.