Ukraine- the situation is VERY serious

MayBee70

Wasn’t the initial reason for setting up the EU to maintain peace in Europe after WWII? Brexit was imo part of a plan to destabilise Europe.I still question what Cummings did in the time he spent in Russia.So many people and organisations worked towards Brexit eg Cambridge Analytica. Strange that, when it suits people they describe the EU as ‘just a trading partnership’and yet, at other times the accusation is that it had become more than that and it took away our sovereignty and was therefore a valid reason for leaving it.

No, it wasn’t.NATO was set up in 1949 to protect against the Soviet Union.
The EEC as it used to be called was set up as a European trading agreement, and the French under de Gaulle never wanted the UK to be part of it.Governments here fought to get into the Common Market.The people in the UK in recent years fought to get out of it.

GrannyGravy13

David49 I find myself agreeing with you on this.

And I agree with that analysis too.

As I said previously, it’s looking likely that some of Ukraine will (sadly) be ceded to Russia, allowing the war the end with Putin saving face.

I think a peace keeping force made up of European soldiers will then be stationed in Ukraine - should Ukraine want that (which I’m sure they will).

David, do you believe that Putin “won’t allow” a European peace keeping force to be stationed in Ukraine, after the war has ended?

LizzieDrip

As I said previously, it’s looking likely that some of Ukraine will (sadly) be ceded to Russia, allowing the war the end with Putin saving face.

I think a peace keeping force made up of European soldiers will then be stationed in Ukraine - should Ukraine want that (which I’m sure they will).

David, do you believe that Putin “won’t allow” a European peace keeping force to be stationed in Ukraine, after the war has ended?

I think it’s highly unlikely that troops from any NATO country are part of a peacekeeping force, he might allow an independant force.

Most don’t seem to realize Ukraine has few options, Putin believes NATO is not going to get directly involved. European leaders are mistaken if they really believe they will be part of any peacekeeping.

Daily Mail online is running an article under the following headline. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to stoop any lower, but there they go.

"How to profit from WAR: the stocks to consider buying as the world re-arms, from great British companies to little-known European firms that could make you a FORTUNE in uncertain times."

David
”European leaders are mistaken if they really believe they will be part of any peacekeeping”

I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

LizzieDrip

David
”European leaders are mistaken if they really believe they will be part of any peacekeeping”

I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

David49 only thinks that, he doesn’t know, any more than we do. I doubt if anybody does yet. From where I’m sitting, Trump and team are making an almighty balls up of the whole negotiations, and anything could yet happen.

Not all of the Europeans are interested in being part of a peacekeeping force. Poland has ruled it out. The German chancellor said the subject irritated him when questioned today. He said it was far too premature to think about it. So there is no concensus.

Poland is at significant risk of being attacked itself, they already have troops on their own border with Russia, and there have been very significant NATO manoeuvres there. It’s not a case of being ‘not interested’.

Churchview

Daily Mail online is running an article under the following headline. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to stoop any lower, but there they go.

"How to profit from WAR: the stocks to consider buying as the world re-arms, from great British companies to little-known European firms that could make you a FORTUNE in uncertain times."

It’s obscene isn’t it!

Churchview

Daily Mail online is running an article under the following headline. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to stoop any lower, but there they go.

"How to profit from WAR: the stocks to consider buying as the world re-arms, from great British companies to little-known European firms that could make you a FORTUNE in uncertain times."

As it's behind a paywall, you must be subscribing to the Daily Mail, Churchview! 🤔

dont abandon them

One of the best Marsh Family songs I've heard, using Bob Dylans song "blowing' in the wind

speaking up for the Ukrainian people

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8GftJEa4_8

Casdon

LizzieDrip

David
”European leaders are mistaken if they really believe they will be part of any peacekeeping”

I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

David49 only thinks that, he doesn’t know, any more than we do. I doubt if anybody does yet. From where I’m sitting, Trump and team are making an almighty balls up of the whole negotiations, and anything could yet happen.

I fear for Ukraine as an independant nation, the US does not want to escalate against Russia, it would amount to a declaration of war and could result in China openly supporting Russia. The sanctions against Russia has pushed them much closer to China who wants their resources.

Sacrificing Ukraine is the least worse option, just how much independence they will have remains to be seen, Russia might push for a high degree of control over the whole of Ukraine not just the annexed land.

According to ITV breakfast news, many EU Countries have apparently declined any offer of their troops acting as peace keepers in Ukraine including Poland and Spain.

Ukraine was never going to win against Russia. We can only hope they can be left with some dignity and land.

Churchview this is what Trump wants I think.
He wants us to up our war budgets by buying American weapons.

NotSpaghetti

Churchview this is what Trump wants I think.
He wants us to up our war budgets by buying American weapons.

If we do have to buy more weapons, I sincerely hope we can buy them from anywhere other than America!

Churchview

Daily Mail online is running an article under the following headline. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to stoop any lower, but there they go.

"How to profit from WAR: the stocks to consider buying as the world re-arms, from great British companies to little-known European firms that could make you a FORTUNE in uncertain times."

This is just sick. The DM supported the nazi regime at the time and clearly saw financial profit in this. And Reese Mogg's dad wrote a book about how to protif financially in times of real crisis.

How can anyone support this dreadful, populist, manipulative rag?

LizzieDrip

NotSpaghetti

Churchview this is what Trump wants I think.
He wants us to up our war budgets by buying American weapons.

If we do have to buy more weapons, I sincerely hope we can buy them from anywhere other than America!

And not from Israel either!

So the three biggest countries in Europe are in agreement regarding a peacekeeping force.

Poland has said it wouldn’t put its troops into Ukraine (for obvious reasons) but will provide backup services. Spain has its own reason (the threat or not of tariffs on energy) to prevaricate, although it hasn’t closed the door entirely on ukraine, merely shelved it for the time. Italy presents no surprises given its far right politics at present. Belgium and Holland are strong supporters of Ukraine and will almost certainly support the peacekeeping force.

So whilst a relatively mixed picture, it isn’t a disaster by any means and a good base from which to start.

It does surprise me that anybody would think it would be possible for Poland to be a full part of a defence force for Ukraine when it already has to permanently site many of its troops on its own border with Russia - which is a huge threat to them. There are a lot of US troops on that border too, which is a worry when they withdraw.

LizzieDrip

Churchview

Daily Mail online is running an article under the following headline. I honestly didn't think it was possible for them to stoop any lower, but there they go.

"How to profit from WAR: the stocks to consider buying as the world re-arms, from great British companies to little-known European firms that could make you a FORTUNE in uncertain times."

It’s obscene isn’t it!

War generates a lot of income, unsavoury but a fact.

It is preferable that a wholly U.K. owned company profits or the general public via investments than a foreign conglomerate.

Personally I am all for large, expertly trained and well equipped armed forces as a deterrent, than the alternative of sending troops into war.

We have family members in the armed forces including eldest AS, it is worrying times for all armed forces families.

Whitewavemark2

So the three biggest countries in Europe are in agreement regarding a peacekeeping force.

Poland has said it wouldn’t put its troops into Ukraine (for obvious reasons) but will provide backup services. Spain has its own reason (the threat or not of tariffs on energy) to prevaricate, although it hasn’t closed the door entirely on ukraine, merely shelved it for the time. Italy presents no surprises given its far right politics at present. Belgium and Holland are strong supporters of Ukraine and will almost certainly support the peacekeeping force.

So whilst a relatively mixed picture, it isn’t a disaster by any means and a good base from which to start.

Did you watch Newsnight last night WWM? It looks like Germany isn't agreeing with Starmer.. and we will need to raise our defence budget to the sort of level (anywhere up to 5%) that the NHS and Welfare Benefits would be substantially deprived.. It's going to take some tough negotiating to try to keep US on board or UK will be really badly hit..

Those in the armed forces have chosen to make it a career.

At least we don’t have conscription, where people have no choice.

I read this morning that Germany was in favour of a peacekeeping force? I must dig it up and look again.

We have, in the past spent a much larger % of our GDP on defence alongside reasonable spending on our public services. We can do it again.