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

I assumed that when Britain or other countries give arms that the arms are a gift. Therefore we, the British people will pay. I certainly don’t think Ukraine should be made to pay for all the arms they’ve received, like we did and were paying the USA until 2006, I think. Ukraine will need massive support and funding when this is all over, in order to rebuild their country and their lives.

maddyone

I assumed that when Britain or other countries give arms that the arms are a gift. Therefore we, the British people will pay. I certainly don’t think Ukraine should be made to pay for all the arms they’ve received, like we did and were paying the USA until 2006, I think. Ukraine will need massive support and funding when this is all over, in order to rebuild their country and their lives.

Yes, I am wondering if we (the west) are seeing it as a proxy war.

Whitewavemark2 I think you may be right

I am wondering if we (the west) are seeing it as a proxy war

n 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.'

all the necessary assistance? Like, no-one else has given any?

That must be a mistranslation or a misquote. Because otherwise it's deeply insulting to every other country that has supported them.

So when is Hero Johnson going to do anything about waiving visas for desperate Ukranian refugees? Or do they not really count because they're only women and children, not heroes? You can't prance around the streets of Kyiv with your full team of professional film makers to make a slick video in time for the May elections when it's just desperate women running out of money because the UK is taking so long to process their applications.

Giving weaponry is EASY. We already manufacture and sell tonnes of the stuff all over the world.

Letting in Eastern European refugees? Now that could be a bit politically detrimental to him, couldn't it? Hmm, don't think we'll try too hard on that one.

I do hope that he wasn't shown or told anything on his visit that might be helpful to the Russians. You never know what old blabbermouth might be passing on to his Russian mates...

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2 I think you may be right

^I am wondering if we (the west) are seeing it as a proxy war^

Of course it is. I think that's why the West is being so helpful.

They're terrified of it spreading through Europe and the US doesn't want a resurgence of Russia as a 'great power'.

I can absolutely agree about Johnson’s little trip to Ukraine - May elections looming large.

Proxy war? Then are we charging Ukraine for the privilege of fighting for us.

Anyone know?

We certainly haven’t given weapons away to those fighting in other parts of the world like Yemen, various African nations and the Middle East.

We are coining it in.

Whitewavemark2

We certainly haven’t given weapons away to those fighting in other parts of the world like Yemen, various African nations and the Middle East.

We are coining it in.

My thoughts exactly, Wwmk2

I don't for a moment resent what is being done for Ukraine, but it's a bit out of character, isn't it? All we usually do is a bit of handwringing.

If it were a proxy war, one of the major forces would be Russia, but then they are fighting, so not proxy. The opposing side if it’s proxy would be NATO I guess. But isn’t the threat of nuclear weapons being used the deterrent to NATO becoming actively involved?
I’m not a war specialist, but those are my thoughts.

Iuliia Mendel
@IuliiaMendel
·
8m
A detachment of technical and scientific gendarmes from France has arrived in Ukraine - they will investigate war crimes committed by the Russians in the Kyiv region.

I would bet anything that we are not giving weapons away.

I'm very happy that we are giving Ukraine what they need. I'm told by somebody who knows these things that the anti-tank measures, in particular, will be making a huge difference because its something we are really good at.

But why do we have to get into this comparison with what other nations are doing? Why do we have to pretend that Johnson is Zelenskyy's new best friend and yah boo sucks to the others? Its not a playground full of 12 year olds.

International diplomacy and politics is a bit more complicated than that, I expect.

But why do we have to get into this comparison with what other nations are doing? Why do we have to pretend that Johnson is Zelenskyy's new best friend and yah boo sucks to the others? Its not a playground full of 12 year olds.

Surely you've been on Gnet long enough to know that some people have just never grown up?

Actually, I suspect it's insecurity. Maybe a suspicion that Britain isn't as world leading as painted...

Both the UK and the EU are giving aid and weapons to Ukraine for free. Not sure about America.

No one is pretending Boris is Zelenskyy's best friend just reporting the facts and transcript of Zelenskyy's speech.

Obviously for some Boris bashers it's proving to be a tad upsetting ?

The foreign leaders who have recently visited Kiev have done so at the invitation of President Zelensky. He decides which leaders are most important - the leaders of neighbouring states, then Ursula von der Leyen, now, some time later, Boris Johnson, representing a country which is now far less influential having left the EU, but has still given significant financial and military support to Ukraine.

Seem some people's bitterness knows no bounds.

varian

The foreign leaders who have recently visited Kiev have done so at the invitation of President Zelensky. He decides which leaders are most important - the leaders of neighbouring states, then Ursula von der Leyen, now, some time later, Boris Johnson, representing a country which is now far less influential having left the EU, but has still given significant financial and military support to Ukraine.

I would think President Zelensky is pretty glad of the UK military support I doubt he worries too much how influential we are and I would think the military and financial support is important

Maudi

Seem some people's bitterness knows no bounds.

As does some people's complete lack of judgement.

then Ursula von der Leyen, now, some time later, Boris Johnson,

Johnson went the day after van der Leyen.

I've no time for the man but let's not make thing up that suit what we want to believe.

Maudi

Seem some people's bitterness knows no bounds.

Which bit of Johnson's moral and legal turpitude can you be so completely unaware of that make you think the phrases of a child cover just what people know about this man?

Maudi

Both the UK and the EU are giving aid and weapons to Ukraine for free. Not sure about America.

Do you have a source for this information? Thank you.

I believe that Mr.Johnson was the first of the G7 leaders to visit President Zelensky in Kyiv.

There are many reasons to justly criticise the PM but this is not one of them. He did what is expected of a PM and it makes no sense to belittle it.

GrannyGravy13

I believe that Mr.Johnson was the first of the G7 leaders to visit President Zelensky in Kyiv.

Yes timing was apt I thought.