Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Well, there is a search function. Go waste your own time.

There was around 100,000 troops on the border in spring last year. I'm not going to argue about the amount of troops that are there now as I'm not sure how they done their calculations, although the Ukrainian president did say recently that USA satellite images alone are insufficient to judge the amount of troops on the border, citing that many of the tents included in the calculations appeared to be empty, although he did admit it's the best we have to go on.

Seems clear to me the invasion is imminent based on the clarity of the warnings from US intelligence and now the seeming playing out of attempts to get Ukraine to retaliate against unprovoked shelling in the eastern regions by the Russian backed separatists. Playing out exactly as predicted while Putin gets desperate for his excuse.

Thanks to the forethought and clarity of NATO members telegraphing to the public every expectation of Russia's plans Putin won't get away with it and will be hit with really, really damaging sanctions if/when it happens.

No one to blame but themselves.

I said nothing about the US.

You managed to avoid mentioning how Russia carved off parts of their country in 2014.

Many countries in Europe have minorities belonging to the dominant nationality in their neighbour. It doesn't give that neighbour the right to invade and grab land.

He didn't ask how it was spelled he asked how it was pronounced, Kyiv is also known as Kiev.

Crimea has changed hands many times in it's history.

It was part of Russia and part of the soviet union for quite a long time. Most people in Russia, as well as most people in Crimea, consider it Russian territory. Nikita Khrushchev's decision to transfer it back into Ukraine, was deeply unpopular with many people in Russia. Such is the nature of these ancient age old territorial disputes.

This is the problem of course with all the armchair overnight experts that tend to pop up when these conflicts occur. You guys jump in largely blind to important historical facts, pick your favorite team, and then stumble around selectively deciding which things better support the narrative you prefer.

Crimea is now a permanent part of Russia again. This isn't like Northern Ireland. Nobody is going to be pressuring Russia into giving back Crimea, as they have always had a legitimate claim to it.

Have any of you even asked yourself, if Russia's actions are so universally condemned, then why have the EU continued to happily do business with them after they annexed Crimea?

And everyone will continue to do business with Russia once all of this American propaganda dies down too. This should be a very strong indicator that the main power brokers in the region, are not buying into all the media hype. (unlike many of you chaps)

They're just trying their best to negotiate their way through the ocean of horsesh!t and misinformation, so they can hopefully do what's best for the people that really matter - the citizens of the EU and eastern europe. Unfortunately, they have to do this while their so-called "friends" the yanks try their very best to destabilize the region.

It seems that well known Irish 'Putinbot' and 'paid Kremlin messenger' Fintan O'Toole is making a bit of a nuanced argument that seems to be beyond most of the Western shrills on here....

I wouldn'agree with everything he writes here but at least he shines a bit of a light on NATO aggression too...

Another one! 🙄

Any how, lots of thugs in this world, the US pick and choose who they support and enable, Putin not on the pro list...

You can put them on ignore

No. Giving the two regions to him would only result in further concessions down the line. History has shown the kind of liar Putin is, he cannot be trusted. The west is at a tipping point now, we've seen Draghi last night say that energy should not be part of any sanctions, this is music to Putins ears.

That's a very typical reaction by people who cannot handle any opposing viewpoints to their own. Many people want to live in an echo chamber, where they only have to read views that support their own biased perspective.

We have people on this very thread, who are openly calling for posters to be silenced and forcibly removed from the site as Russian "conspirators". (with zero evidence btw)

And you guys have the nerve to talk about your opposition to tyrants and dictators!? The irony of it all. 🤣

And once more the same dishonest method is applied...

Please respond to me accurately and don't spin to suit whatever predisposed narrative you have in your head.

Countries can join what they want if they have a mandate to do so, that does not preclude another country pointing out how their security is potentially compromised by a particular organisation such as NATO in this regard. FFS, the US is currently trying to bribe the gov in Eq Guinea to not allow China build a base there as it's in 'thier back yard'...8,000 KM away, it points to both the hypocrisy of US imperialism and shows a glimpse into how they see their role in the globe.

Secondly I've made no attempt to turn the situation on it's head...I'm acutely aware of what's happening.

That makes two of us, I'm not brainwashed or paid by anyone which unlike most here allows me to view the current situation without parroting US 'intelligence'...