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European Union President Ursula Von Der Leyen visits Ukraine to see Bucha massacre victims for herself.

(105 Posts)
DaisyAnne Fri 08-Apr-22 18:54:45

Brave women and just the right thing to do.

Obviously it needs to be done with care but going into Ukraine tells Putin we have not bowed to his views. We still see Ukraine as a sovereign state.

Callistemon21 Sun 10-Apr-22 10:55:22

I think they bought up agricultural land in Eastern Europe - control the fuel and food and you will start to gradually control the people and their governments.
Everyone was blinded by money.

Callistemon21 Sun 10-Apr-22 10:56:57

Zelenskyy was the first to fight against this and now Russia is destroying Ukraine.

MaizieD Sun 10-Apr-22 10:58:07

Our Armed Forces have been training with the Ukrainians for several years

And Johnson has only been PM for three of them. The Ukranian's war with Russia has been going since 2014. He really can't take any credit for previous British help'

I don't find his visit to Ukraine at all admirable. It was a photo opportunity for him and a chance to escape from the Sunak row (which there is no doubt that he instigated).

He will have talked very big to Zelenskiy, who will either be aware that Johnson always promises more than he can perform or has a bit of a shock coming to him.

I also think that Zelenskiy, who I hugely admire, is an actor and has run a highly successful campaign to win hearts and minds. When he talks about his friend Boris I'm thinking 'I bet you say that to all the girls..'

Nor is Johnson the first European leader to visit Kyiv since Russia retreated... Bandwagon jumping comes to mind...

LilacChaser Sun 10-Apr-22 11:00:41

Whitewavemark2

Doing well, yes, but not as well as UK gov, who have been much, much better with economic sanctions and weaponry.

MaizieD Sun 10-Apr-22 11:03:41

Everyone was blinded by money.

Which is true about anyone with money, not just Russian oligarchs. Just look at threads about excessive wealth and Rishi Sunak.

Money is power. It opens doors and it pays for legal steamrollers to destroy opposition. It has the ear of governments, it corrupts governments and voters kow tow to it.

MaizieD Sun 10-Apr-22 11:07:44

LilacChaser

Whitewavemark2

Doing well, yes, but not as well as UK gov, who have been much, much better with economic sanctions and weaponry.

Much better with economic sanctions shock

When the UK gave the oligarchs lots of time before implementing them to allow them to move their assets? And sanctioned far fewer than others had done?

I'll give you the weaponry, but not the sanctions!

And we still have a Russian asset leading our government and the son of a KGB agent in the House of Lords...

LilacChaser Sun 10-Apr-22 11:12:04

Not perfect, certainly, Maizie D, and lots of room for improvement, but definitely better than the EU.

Callistemon21 Sun 10-Apr-22 11:15:19

and the son of a KGB agent in the House of Lords...

I'm ashamed that he has the nerve to call himself Baron Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia and am surprised the good citizens of Hampton have not protested.

maddyone Sun 10-Apr-22 11:29:40

I don’t find his visit to Ukraine at all admirable.

That’s fine. I hope you apply the same sentiment to all the Prime Ministers/Presidents who have visited Ukraine and pledged support to Zelensky.

MaizieD Sun 10-Apr-22 22:57:20

maddyone

^I don’t find his visit to Ukraine at all admirable.^

That’s fine. I hope you apply the same sentiment to all the Prime Ministers/Presidents who have visited Ukraine and pledged support to Zelensky.

They are also doing something about the millions of refugees who have fled Ukraine. Letting them into their countries without lengthy checks. Whereas some Ukranians who have applied to come to the UK have actually gone back to Ukraine because the delays and difficulties they've encountered in applying for a UK visa have exhausted their finances and they can no longer afford to stay in another country while they're waiting. And the UK is insisting on these lengthy procedures because some of those desperate refugees, mainly women and children whose menfolk have stayed to fight for their country, might be Russian spies or terrorists... Johnson could easily do something to get them here much faster. He is in charge, don't forget...

And if anyone is going to throw the arms we have provided in my face, I'll remind you that we have arms aplenty to send as we are one of the world's major arms producers. Easy to be generous with them...

We know that Johnson is a mendacious, corrupt and self seeking individual. Leopards don't change their spots overnight...

DaisyAnne Sun 10-Apr-22 23:37:56

I don't think you can compare Ursula Von Der Leyen's very professional visit and Johnsons. So no, I wouldn't be applying Maizie's sentiment willy-nilly to all visits.

Did anyone hear Johnson say something like "this hastily arranged visit" to President Zelensky? I wonder why that would be. Photo opportunity/local elections/to help Richi out perhaps.

Jaberwok Mon 11-Apr-22 07:58:54

?? Usual.predictable comments on here, by the usual predictable people. B.It's popularity in Ukraine must be SO annoying, and it shows!!

Jaberwok Mon 11-Apr-22 08:03:34

And the business over the oligarchs? Who would have dreamt that the sainted EU, especially Germany would be involved with that???

Maudi Mon 11-Apr-22 08:03:34

UK Support so far

120 armoured vehicles
New anti-ship missile systems
800 anti-tank missiles
$500 million more in economic guarantees
This support is on top of 10,000 anti-tank missiles, £400 million of humanitarian and economic aid we've committed to date, and sanctions against Putin's corrupt elite.

There is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful. Putin must fail. (copied)

Maudi Mon 11-Apr-22 08:06:58

In an address to the Ukrainian people overnight, Mr Zelensky said: 'The leadership of the united kingdom, in providing our country with all the necessary assistance in terms of defence, as well as leadership in sanctions policy, will go down in history forever.'(copied The Daily Mail)

Well done Boris we can hold our heads high ?

Jaberwok Mon 11-Apr-22 08:08:18

Sorry, 'B.J 's popularity '. (for clarity)

Jaberwok Mon 11-Apr-22 08:10:36

Hear, hear, Maudi.

Campervanner Mon 11-Apr-22 08:45:18

What's a very professional visit to Ukraine when it's about? Strange comment. Isn't every foreign visitor doing their job to help?

Whitewavemark2 Mon 11-Apr-22 08:49:48

Anyone know to whom Ukraine owe the money for all our armaments?

Is it the arms industry itself or the tax payer?

GrannyGravy13 Mon 11-Apr-22 09:12:17

Whitewavemark2 people are be killed and tortured daily by President Putin’s soldiers and you are worried about Ukraine owing either the arms manufacturers or the tax payer?

volver Mon 11-Apr-22 09:15:57

Asking a question about one thing does not automatically mean that the questioner does not care about something else.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 11-Apr-22 09:19:49

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2 people are be killed and tortured daily by President Putin’s soldiers and you are worried about Ukraine owing either the arms manufacturers or the tax payer?

No not worried just an enquiry. Ukraine will end this war with an enormous debt, and I am wondering to whom it will be due. If it is the various countries, they will be able to extend the debt for decades - something that the arms industry can’t or won’t do.

Looking forward, I am hoping that the EU will accept them as members asap as this will provide them with an enormous cushion of financial help for those folk to get their country back to a liveable state.

I am looking forward to when they have won the war and are beginning to rebuild their lives - that is all I am doing.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 11-Apr-22 09:23:08

volver

Asking a question about one thing does not automatically mean that the questioner does not care about something else.

Naturally I couldn’t care less about the deaths, torture, rape, life changing injuries, devastated communities, traumatised children, widows, complete collapse of treasured institutions etc.

Oh no I couldn’t care less about that

Whitewavemark2 Mon 11-Apr-22 09:24:52

And please don’t mention the refugees!

GrannyGravy13 Mon 11-Apr-22 09:37:13

Thank you for your answer Whitewavemark2

No doubt the respective Governments will sort out the financial side once this illegal invasion of Ukraine is over.

Ukraine will need financial assistance for many years whilst they rebuild their Country and the remaining population has time to heal.