Ukraine

Interview on local radio this morning with a family who had arrived in UK, one was a 15 year old girl - asked how she felt she answered with one word "safe". Says it all for me

When peace finally comes - Russia should never be rewarded with retaining Ukrainian land north of Crimea because of the unspeakable cruelty inflicted on the population in cities like Mariupol.

MerylStreep

DaisyAnne
I think you’ll find that Germany has a bigger problem than us attaining those green credentials.

www.politico.eu/article/the-catch-with-germanys-green-transition-transformation-coalition/

Of course it is true that every country will have difficulties weening off their current source of fuel. I do believe Germany is determined to work towards that. I am not convinced our government is.

Chestnut

varian

The UK is not united with the 27 EU countries which have granted Ukrainian refugees a welcome without any need for a visa application.

When the refugees arrive at an EU border they are given all the assistance they need and can travel free of charge to any EU city.

The UK is the shameful exception.

I think you'll find the UK is also dealing with illegal immigrants arriving by boat totalling 3,000 already this year. And maybe you should remember that Germany has a population density of 234 per sq km. France has only 119 per sq km. whilst England has *434 people per sq km.*

I think you'll find the UK is also dealing with illegal immigrants arriving by boat ...

Those people are "migrants"; many will be "refugees". You find them guilty of illegality no court has found simply because of prejudice.

Two-thirds of those arriving have fled persecution [source: Refugee Council] which makes them refugees. Others trying to migrate to this country for work can find no legitimate means of doing.

Who will next be termed "illegal" by this New Right government and its followers? Will it be those not sharing their political view? Or will it be those who are seen as "unpatriotic" while their allegiance to this country, even when under threat, is unwavering?

Whitewavemark2

When peace finally comes - Russia should never be rewarded with retaining Ukrainian land north of Crimea because of the unspeakable cruelty inflicted on the population in cities like Mariupol.

I think their economy will be slowly strangled although they can look to China, it seems.

After this war is over (sooner rather than later please) daylight will dawn in Russia as the truth will be revealed. So many soldiers not coming home will, alone, tell a story. Photographs film and personal testimony will be circulated. Putin must go - and he will!

I see that Putin is doing what all authoritarian and populist governments do, and that is identifying scapegoats in order to divide and rule.

In Russia, it is so called “5th columnists* in Trumps America and in our Johnson’s government it is illegal immigrants . We have had the added burden of Europe being identified as unfriendly etc.

It looks like the Z has become the new Nazi swastika, and being painted on individuals doors along with a “traitor” message.

This is entirely as a result of Putin’s encouragement.

Some encouraging news about savvy Russian citizens (source: CNN Business news):

“Despite Putin's efforts to clamp down on social media and information within his borders, a growing number of Russian internet users appear determined to access outside sources and circumvent the Kremlin's restrictions.

To defeat Russia's internet censorship, many are turning to specialized circumvention technology that's been widely used in other countries with restricted online freedoms, including China and Iran. Digital rights experts say Putin may have inadvertently sparked a massive, permanent shift in digital literacy in Russia that will work against the regime for years.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russians have been flocking to virtual private networks (VPNs) and encrypted messaging apps, tools that can be used to access blocked websites such as Facebook or safely share news about the war in Ukraine without running afoul of new, draconian laws banning what Russian authorities consider to be "fake" claims about the conflict.”

Good to know. ?

Very encouragingUrmstongran

The Council of Europe is the continent's leading human rights organization. It includes 47 member states, 27 of which are members of the European Union.

On Wednesday, Russia was expelled from its membership, an unprecedented move made in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The body's council of ministers said in a statement that "the Russian Federation ceases to be a member" as of today. In a highly symbolic gesture, the staff went outside of its headquarters in Strasbourg, France, and took down the Russian flag, neatly folded it, and took it away.

It was the end of Russia's 26 years of membership, and many said it was fully deserved. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted his country would have left the body anyway, claiming NATO and EU countries had abused their majority in the council, "eventually transforming it into a tool for anti-Russian policy."

Good to hear that UG

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted his country would have left the body anyway, Oh yes, of course they would, they just hadn't got around to it

I wonder about the many Russians living in the Ukraine. It must be very conflicting for them having to cope with the violence and still remain loyal to their country.

Which is "their country" nanna8?

nanna8

I wonder about the many Russians living in the Ukraine. It must be very conflicting for them having to cope with the violence and still remain loyal to their country.

Do you mean Russian language speakers? Only if so their country is Ukraine.

Zelensky is a Russian language speaker

Millions of people in the “old eastern block” speak Russian, it was compulsory until the regime collapsed.
It’s also very useful when doing business with your neighbours.

Well done David Beckham for handing over his instagram account to an Ukrainian doctor, to allow his followers to see what is happening in Ukraine.

It is not easy to tell the truth to ordinary Russian people.

If the David Beckham fans in Russia can still access his instagram, great, but I have been told that Russians can no longer see instagram, facebook, telegram, twitter etc.

Their world is closing in to the point that the only information is Kremlin propaganda and nothing else.

I’m watching ch4 news, brilliant journalism, very distressing information and film of the devastation, the fear and the bravery of the Ukrainian people

I’m struggling with ‘we need to do more ‘

Interesting that there's panic buying in Russia

I don’t think it’s quite as bad as you suggest varian, as it’s virtually impossible for the Kremlin to block all access to news. In that respect Russia’s a bit like the UK, older people are more likely to watch news channels on TV, more likely to believe and support the government without question. (? more gullible, or less inclined to check out what they are told by the state), but there’s also a strong movement for the news from other perspectives, there’s a lot of anti Putin support. The techies can circumnavigate him.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/19/russia-vpn-internet/

I heard that too, that many Russians are finding ways of accessing information. Putin is actually helping the Russian people become more tech savvy, and in the future it will be harder to hide what is going on in the world.

Found on Twitter.

www.itv.com/news/2022-03-21/ukrainian-girl-who-sang-frozen-hit-in-bomb-shelter-performs-at-poland-concert

Heart breakingly beautiful