badgerx16

But other than China, where can they spend it ?

sex

When is China going to offer a line of credit to Russia to compensate ?

Analogy appears to be beyond AL76.

Sergei would not have disappeared "at will".

Russia effectively annexes the 2 rebel controlled areas, we sanction 3 billionaires. Ouch, Putin really felt that response.

Stalin would have nodded to Lavrentiy Beria, Beria would have nodded to an NKVD officer, Sergei would have disappeared.

Try telling BoJo that.

Putin is sulking because he failed to fix the US Presidential election.

Russian state television reporting that the Queen wants a war to distract from the Prince Andrew situation.

And Russia was involved then.

People who fancy a long holiday in Siberia.

The Baltic states are in NATO, different fish entirely.

So now we will see how far to Hell this handcart is going to be driven. Putin has known all along that the West ( NATO ) will not actually go "hot" for Ukraine, and the UN is impotent to act against a permanent menber of the Security Council. By his declaration this evening Putin can now legitimately move troops into the Donbas at the request of the "Governments" of the 2 republics.

Pi

To paraphrase "If you don't find Alan Partridge funny you are probably of lower intellect".

We have a large sink, in which sits a smaller washing up bowl. Uses less water, and consequently less energy to heat it.

Vlad about to ramp things up by recognising the 2 rebel regions as independent republics.

Are Al Murray and Dara O'Brien "obvious and slapstick" ? Are John Richardson, Bill Bailey, or Ross Noble, all of whom I find funny. I don't think The Thick Of It fits your characterisation, nor Father Ted, but the only response Partridge induces in me is to cringe.

Ripple

Agree to differ.

Ministers have agreed Boris' plan. Apparently he told them part of this is to have "the best possible eyes in the crow's nest to spot the iceberg". Presumably he is unaware that the binoculars on the Titanic had been locked away and nobody could find the key.

If we are ahead of last season on H2H, why shouldn't it continue ?

Perhaps, but the timing now is very convenient.

And many more probably would have done if we had gone with HI as 'Plan A', as Boris originally espoused.