Ukraine

But it seems that I guess like all dictators he is only listening to his own reality.

Yes, I find people's mind functions fascinating to analyse.
You may have read my comments on a different thread, but Lord Owen speaks knowledgeably about Putin from his experiences over many years, and as a neuro physician.

Lyce Doucet, Orla Guerin and Clive Myrie deserve the highest public recognition on their return to the UK. They are so brave, giving us up to date factual information.

Rather than the Government elevating Russians to the House of Lords!

....Putin’s character and how it has changed from when Campbell first met him in the 1990s before Putin became leader, then again in 2003 and now

Alistair Campbell was an alcoholic. His memoirs said he was drunk most of the that time WWmk2. I read his autobiography. Can he even remember stuff from then?

Putins change of character.

Looks and sounds completely different.

In 1993 Blair and Campbell had a meeting with Putin before he became leader - He appeared Timid, small, quiet and indicated that he would look towards the west in reforming Russia should he become leader.

But Putin was up against the old guard and in fact found reform difficult.

Another meeting took place on 2003 When Putin Invited Blair to a vast Dacha, where initially at a press conference and later at dinner proceeded to abuse Blair, raging about USA. - U.K. diplomats had never seen anything like it.
Putin was a totally changed individual.

Two decades later to now - there is no reason to assume he hasn’t changed even more.

Urmstongran

^....Putin’s character and how it has changed from when Campbell first met him in the 1990s before Putin became leader, then again in 2003 and now^

Alistair Campbell was an alcoholic. His memoirs said he was drunk most of the that time WWmk2. I read his autobiography. Can he even remember stuff from then?

Thanks for that useful contribution. I think you make more sense criticising the BBC and praising RT.

Katie59

vegansrock

Zelensky, what a lone beacon of integrity to highlight the pathetic, weak nature of many current politicians and what a counterpoint to the incompetent, lazy clowns who are in certain governments.

Zelensky is brave no doubt but he is going to loose this battle, all he can do is make it more difficult for Putin, the price is thousands of Ukrainian lives if Russia takes Kiev by force. He is in the position of France in 1940, a much stronger enemy on his doorstep.

He may lose the battle Katie but Russia will not be able to subjugate the population as they have set out to do.

How many lives would we give not to be subjugated by a man? Russia, where it knows the truth, is not behind him; they too will suffer. It feels very like France in 1940, I agree. But we live in different times. News is spread and propaganda disarmed whether Putin wants it to or not. It will take time but we must continue to back the Ukrainians. We may think we have avoided WWIII but we have not. Economically and politically WWIII is being fought. Once again we must not give up but this time we are far from standing alone.

Everyone criticises the BBC!
And I said I sometimes watched the Russia Today channel on Freeview because it would occasionally give some news items deeper coverage - like the truckers over in Canada for instance. I never said I ‘praised it’. Those are your words. You make me sound like a Putin fan of fake news!!

You may say that. I couldn’t possibly comment.

Whitewavemark2

Urmstongran

....Putin’s character and how it has changed from when Campbell first met him in the 1990s before Putin became leader, then again in 2003 and now

Alistair Campbell was an alcoholic. His memoirs said he was drunk most of the that time WWmk2. I read his autobiography. Can he even remember stuff from then?

Thanks for that useful contribution. I think you make more sense criticising the BBC and praising RT.

It is relevant.
Surely no-one could function properly and have perfect recollection with that much alcohol in their system, although perhaps he had stopped drinking by the time he met Putin.

He admits to drinking as many as 32 pints a day as well as shots of whisky. He ended up a complete wreck but managed to escape his problems with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I really can’t be doing with this nonsense.

Campbell will have all the information available from these meetings from diplomatic/foreign office sources
, even assuming that he was legless at the time. And none of you have any evidence that he was.

I am trying to understand our deadly enemy - what are you doing?

Get a grip.

Don't make personal attacks on other posters then.

I have ordered a book called red notice by bill browder. I am hoping it helps me to understand more about russian corruption and human rights abuses

karmalady

I have ordered a book called red notice by bill browder. I am hoping it helps me to understand more about russian corruption and human rights abuses

I think it is useful to look at a variety of sources. It all adds to our knowledge.

Be interested in any useful stuff?

Callistemon21

Don't make personal attacks on other posters then.

When a poster has little to contribute but posts based on nothing but fact-less opinion, then I’m afraid that I will always feel free to criticise. Whether that is taken personally is entirely up to the poster.

Urmstongran

Everyone criticises the BBC!
And I said I sometimes watched the Russia Today channel on Freeview because it would occasionally give some news items deeper coverage - like the truckers over in Canada for instance. I never said I ‘praised it’. Those are your words. You make me sound like a Putin fan of fake news!!

I don’t criticise the BBC
I think the BBC are excellent. Compared to TV in other countries especially.

Karmalady. I read Red Notice a few years ago. Very good indeed and very informative although chilling. Putin and his cronies really are corrupt thugs.

Whitewavemark2

Oz Katerji is an independent journalist who has close contact with the Ukrainian government.

I will post as soon as I hear more, but quite frankly if it hasn’t happened yet it undoubtedly will.

President Zelensky: Russia assassination plot foiled thanks to ‘information from the FSB’, Ukraine claims

This was the headline in one of the online newspaper reports. Can’t find a link that works, but according to the article it’s true - they foiled an attempt on Zelensky’s life.

Thank you. I haven’t had much time today to look.

New graffiti in Cardiff.

Over 2000 civilians killed now in Kiev, how can they cope? I don’t know how this can end, it’s hanging over the world, I keep crying as I feel so helpless. I wish the Russians could shoot Putin, that’s too good for him, it’s not what they want this slaughter, just following order and the lies they have been fed.

Allsorts

Over 2000 civilians killed now in Kiev, how can they cope? I don’t know how this can end, it’s hanging over the world, I keep crying as I feel so helpless. I wish the Russians could shoot Putin, that’s too good for him, it’s not what they want this slaughter, just following order and the lies they have been fed.

Same here. Now hearing on the news of children in orphanages with no one to look after them because the staff have to protect their own families. How can Putin go to church ffs. I just don’t know what I can do. I feel so helpless.

I think it is useful to look at a variety of sources. It all adds to our knowledge.

In one WWmk2
Which is why I occasionally tuned into Russia Today on Freeview!

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The widow of murdered former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has called for Roman Abramovich to donate profits from his Chelsea sale to Ukraine to prove he is not a foil for Vladimir Putin.

✅

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Oz Katerji
@OzKaterji
·
1h
Even if we take these figures at face value (with the Kremlin you should never do that), this number is already at 10% of the US troops lost in Iraq. In seven days.
Quote Tweet

Christo Grozev
@christogrozev
· 1h
Wow. Russian @mod_russia admits 498 casualties, over 1500 wounded. You know what this means in Kremlinspeak.

A picture says a thousand words

Thank you