badgerx16

Not when the person you see on the TV is the one that triggered your nervous breakdown.

Negotiation was never his route to his preferred outcome, it was just a means to test how strongly the West would respond to particular actions. This has been building for 8 years. Vlad is a Cold War warrior who hasn't seen a Russian victory, only the gradual disintegration of the empire he was born into. With the intention of being written into history as the strongman who rebuilt Russia, he has now taken Europe back to 1941, when many in Ukraine saw the start of Operation Barbarossa as an act of liberation from the Soviet yoke, and many actively supported the Germans. Russia is now 'de-Nazifying' Ukraine, justifying this with talk of torchlight parades, concentration camps, and genocide - who needs evidence when you have complete control of the media ?

So Tonto has started "correcting" the outcome of the Cold War.

Using "Jedi mind tricks" on the FAA is a novel corporate approach.

Ny biggest problem with Ricky Gervais is that David Brent is an exact twin to my old boss. Not a characature, his actions and personality are painfully identical.

By publicly stating he wanted to withdraw US financial support for NATO in Europe, and making it plain that he ( Trump ) had no interest in continuing to paint Russia as a threat. By not opposing Putin, Trump encourages him.

Brexit voters?

Tree

Of course it would not have happened the same way, the US would have done even less to stop him. Donnie would have been in Vlad's pocket.

Meanwhile at the Kremlin, Vlad is pacing round his office gesturing to his cronies; "I don't understand the West, can't they see that all I want is a little peace, a little peace..... A little piece of Donetsk, a little piece Luhansk, The whole of the Crimea, and Chernhiv perchance." ( With apologies to the shade of the great Mel Brooks )

Once a twat, always a twat. ( Trump, GM, or both - dear reader, you decide )

Trump says Putin is "smart" and a "genius". How might things be going if Vlad HAD managed to get Donnie back into the White House ?

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.