buctootim

Another one who doesn’t know the difference between the Soviet Union and Russia

They arent former Russian states, at least not in the past 100 years . Too much trading propaganda and not enough history

While western response has been shameful imo. What has happened to us?

Two different days, two different locations and two different sources though. Ben Wallace was talking about an airbase outside Kyiv not being taken on day 1. The Ukrainians are reporting tanks in north Kyiv on day2.

An alcoholic poisoner writes

And we know what happens next - a super free and fair referendum on joining Russia.

When I was working in Kyiv I dated a woman who was an internal refugee from Donetsk. The perfect house guest.

Gotta be crazy to damage your own house.

Sounds erm, great. Cant think why we moved on.

You think God has insurance?

Western conspiracy to hobble Russia by taking (some of) their drugs away.

Saturday should be fine. Probs late Friday too according to met office

I’d meet him and have sex with him for £5m. Not Fergie though

You're years out of date Jamie (who knew??). Offshore wind is generating electricity at 5p per kw/h but it is charged to consumers at the price of the most expensive generator - nuclear, currently around 24 per kw/h. Its the regulation system which is broke. not renewables. https://theconversation.com/renewables-are-cheaper-than-ever-so-why-are-household-energy-bills-only-going-up-174795

I'm sure Putin thinks he has won - he got some attention and lots of important people ran around trying to deal with problem he had created. In reality though he has simply shot himself in the foot again. He's come out looking like a big man in his eyes and in the process proved Russia is an unreliable supplier of gas, an unstable location to invest money into and a military threat requiring more defence spending His policies have seen Russia continue to decline even as the oil and gas money pays for another shiny mercedes and some new granite paving in Moscow. No-one wants to have a baby in Russia - which is the surest sign of how happy people are and their confidence in the future, the demographics are horrendous. Even former PM Medvedev described the economy as primitive and corrupt. Once the price of oil % gas starts to decline in 10 years or so they are absolutely screwed - there is almost nothing else. 30 years ago Ukraine was broadly pro Russia, now even the ethnic Russians cant stand Russia because of Putins policies towards them, ditto Georgia. Russia are literally friendless apart from a few client states like Belarus and Kazakhstan whose authoritarian leaders rely on Russian miltary support to keep them in power

You think every country has the right to not have any potentially hostile neighbours on its borders? How doe that work out for anybody, let alone the largest country in the world stretching across 8 time zones? You think China doesn't have any nukes on its border with Russia? You think there arent nukes in Kaliningrad or St Petersburg - less than 400 miles from Berlin, Warsaw, Stockholm, Prague, Vienna, Kyiv, Copenhagen and Helsinki?

It's a fascinating region for some many reasons. I have a small collection of old Soviet watches which mark first man in space, atomic bombs, triumph of the workers, for almost every event in 20th century history there is a watch for it! The lack of access to capital is very real. Not only is it hard to get but the interest rates are sky high - 24% pa for a mortgage in 2018 so whilst people can afford rent they cant afford to buy. I was going to a buy a flat when I working out there and rent it out after. You could buy a decent modern 1 bed flat for £25,000 and rent it out for £5,000pa - so basically have it bought for you in five years

Thats true, agree. Never been to Kharkiv but I know there is a fast train there from Kyiv so pretty easy to get to. I reckon if you have friends and someone to show you around you can have a great time anywhere

Almost nobody in Ukraine, whether ethnic Russian or Ukrainian wants to be tied to Russia. They look at how Czech Republic, Poland, the Baltics etc have developed since the fall of the USSR and they see Russia still corrupt, authoritarian and entirely reliant on gas and oil. They want a different kind of future to the one they had/ tried for 70 years. You should definitely go. Kyiv and Lviv are beautiful and super cheap

I've just got marketing email from Ukrainian airlines. They're offering 15% off if I travel between today and end of March. I love a discount but cant help thinking I'd need more than 15% to go atm.

The weather in Ukraine was milder than usual, meaning mud rather than hard ground for armour. Its cold now. Personally I think Putin is finished either way (unless the West totally caves). If he invades and there is massive bloodshed he will be toppled. If he pulls back now he will lose credibility and he will be toppled. Already some the Generals are quietly criticising him as they think the real enemy is China, the media is less obedient than usual and Belarus are claiming its not their fault

WW3 on the 16th

Will probably go after Cummings as the whistleblower instead. Can share a cell with Assange and Edward Snowden.

He should have asked them to write in 44 years time.