Ukrainians fleeing Putin are refused entry to the U.K.

Riverwalk
Having lived in Bulgaria, owned a property in Romania ( and traveled there extensively) been involved with charities in both country’s I know an awful lot as to why eastern block countries take this stance.
But as you may have noticed ? GN isn’t the place to discuss emotive subjects.

9:37Whitewavemark2

Maudi

So you agree with Poland not letting any blacks in then, no condemnation from you it seems.

You have no idea of my reaction to this, as I haven’t posted about it.

But I have noticed that where you can your posts are trying to divide those allies fighting and resisting Russia.

? Don't be rediculous.

I see that Ukraines request to immediately join the EU has been met positively by the EU

Taking them into the fold will help them recover economically much more quickly from the devastation the wretched Russians are inflicting.

Brilliant. As you say it will help them recover and recovery will protect not just them but Europe and the rest of the world too.

Good news from Russia too. Tass has been hacked apparently (BBC) and this message is showing.

“We urge you to stop this madness, do not send your sons and husbands to certain death,” the message read. “Putin is forcing us to lie and is putting us in danger…It’s not our war, let’s stop him!”

If Ukraine is admitted to the EU will the next move be admission to NATO with all the consequences that would bring?

Germanshepherdsmum

If Ukraine is admitted to the EU will the next move be admission to NATO with all the consequences that would bring?

I'm not sure one would automatically follow the other GSM. The reasons they cannot join NATO at the moment will not have gone away.

I’m not suggesting that one would automatically follow the other but it seems like a possible step in that very dangerous direction. I voted to remain in the EU but if Ukraine is allowed fast tracked entry I think I’ll be very glad we left, for reasons of safety.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m not suggesting that one would automatically follow the other but it seems like a possible step in that very dangerous direction. I voted to remain in the EU but if Ukraine is allowed fast tracked entry I think I’ll be very glad we left, for reasons of safety.

IF (and it's a very big 'if) this conflict ends 'peacefully', don't you think that Putin may well be 'removed' for his failure to achieve the integration of Ukraine into his 'empire'?

And, 'if' he were deposed what might come after him? More hardliners or an altogether more pragmatic approach to living with 'the West'? I wonder what the Russian people think?

No, I don’t think Putin is likely to be deposed despite the demonstrations in Russia. It would be very interesting to see what happened if he were ‘taken out’ though. Those who live by the sword …

Sorry, but I cannot see anything positive in the EU saying Ukraine can join at the moment.

It’s like poking the Russian bear with a stick…

My thoughts exactly.

Don’t you believe in sovereignty?

Sweden and Finland are in the EU but not in NATO , it’s not a condition of entry, despite all those who believe the EU is some sort of dictatorship. wish we had their protection.

The EU’s protection? Are you serious?

President Putin will be just as miffed if Ukraine becomes a member of the EU as he would if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO.

vegansrock I know that some EU Countries are not members of NATO

vegansrock

Sweden and Finland are in the EU but not in NATO , it’s not a condition of entry, despite all those who believe the EU is some sort of dictatorship. wish we had their protection.

What protection?

Do you mean NATO? If so, we have.

Do you mean the EU? The EU has no combined military structure so would not offer protection as a combined force.
Perhaps you mean solidarity? We can still show solidarity with other European countries whether they/we are in the EU or not.

vegansrock

Sweden and Finland are in the EU but not in NATO , it’s not a condition of entry, despite all those who believe the EU is some sort of dictatorship. wish we had their protection.

What protection do you think the EU offers that NATO doesn’t?

“Caller to
@lbc
making an amazing comment that Brexit means that Europe can respond more compassionately towards Ukrainian refugees because they no longer risk the U.K. vetoing a decision!”

I must watch Patel again, but at the moment I am unclear of her planned policy towards the refugees.

She surprisingly didn’t make a ministers statement as I suspect she wanted to avoid too much questioning from the house.

She talked about British nationals. But not at all clear about Ukrainian nationals.

Patel insists that the routes have been in place for weeks, but she is talking about the arrangements that she put into place weeks ago.

She said it would allow 100,000 refugees, but no expansion on how this would be achieved.

One wonders what she has been doing over the past couple of days, but it sure as hell isn’t as efficient or capable as most of the countries in Europe.

All over Continental Europe, visas have been dropped, free railway travel for all fleeing Ukraine, and so many sites with 1000s of people offering to host refugees, from 1 to all families, with pets or not. People driving to the border to pick up anyone, and return to their home, giving good quality clothes and sanitary products, buying flights to get to the offered accommodation, and picking up from airport. Strangers- just reaching out and prepared to do the right, amazing things. It has really lifted my heart an spirit.

Sadly the wonderful UK people cannot join in- as Johnson and Patel are ordering people to be turned away at Gare du Nord, Airport and ferries.

The EU offers protection to its members in agreeing standards on all sorts of things from banning certain pesticides, cleaning up waterways , ensuring health and safety legislation, ease of movement between member states, helping poorer regions, mediating peace within the bloc etc etc. I could go on. I feel far less protection from the whims of a selfish incompetent government when not part of the EU. Why do you think Ukraine is eager to join? To get ensured support from the member states.

Just emailed my (Tory) MP about the need to forget red tape and the fear of strangers and let Ukrainian refugees in without visas. Wonder if I'll get a reply...

At least we can donate to the UNHCR, Unicef, the Red Cross, and/or the various Refugee Councils in the UK, so that might be of some help.

We're not talking about those kinds of things, though are we vegansrock!

Unless they are fruit pickers, of course. Brilliant cartoon in The Times of Pritti asking a Ukrainian in a burning building if he is interested in fruit picking.