Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Ah right, aye sure have millions living in a no man's land. That makes loads of sense.

The reality is it was never no man's land, it just so happens that the Ukrainian people overthrew a Russian puppet who was living a ridiculously lavish lifestyle while they got increasingly poorer and lost many civil rights. So now that Putin and whoever else has lost influence in the country they'll do anything to either regain it or at least stop the people of Ukraine from achieving their goals.

It'll be very curious to see what happens in Belarus because they came very close to a revolution last year. I doubt many of their citizens have an appetite for a war, especially one instigated by the state that has helped keep them down for so long.

Belarus and Russia could very easily have their own internal problems if they push this too hard, Lukashenko is hugely unpopular and Putin is certainly waning on popularity as the Russian economy continues to decline and civil rights are continued to be curtailed. Kazakhstan is also seeing similar unrest, the relations of the countries who signed the Budapest Memorandum are clearly strained. Inflation is making people desperate, a war will only push that further, especially with sanctions.

Agreed, the USA provided the Russians with money to help them defeat Hitler.

Doesn't make a difference to the point I made that the Russians almost single handedly defeated the Nazis with some minor help from the USA and UK.

US was also busy fighting Japan across the Pacific, and heavily invested in the Chinese war.

$10 billion (about $470 billion is today's money).

Minor help.

Catch yourself on.

The funny thing is all these Putin apologists complain about Us/UK apologists for defending things like the Iraq war and other conflicts. Then they try to pile everyone condeming Russia into that same box despite the fact that the majority of people on these very threads condemning Russia at the minute were probably just as condemning of US/UK actions.

The irony of complaining about people justifying the actions of war criminals while defending the actions of a human rights abuser and potential (if not already) war criminal.

There were people in the west, who saw all of this potentially happening one day.

But sadly, their voices were ignored.

It was the Clinton administration in the 90's who pushed hard for expansion east, and they made no secret of their need to contain Russia. But some people disagreed with that there was any need to contain Russia, at that time, as they were not actively threatening anyone.

After the US senate approved the NATO expansion in the late 90's, US diplomat George Kennan said this in an interview shortly afterwards: "I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely, and it will affect their policies" ... "I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anyone else".

Prophetic words.

Unfortunately, rather than trying pacify a former adversary, they instead decided to poke the bear as much as possible and find out what would happen. Well now we know, we have a very pi$$ed off bear!

As I've already said numerous times the USA didn't do nothing, they helped the soviets defeat the Nazis.

All I'm saying is the Soviets done most of the work, fought most of the battles, killed more than 3 quarters of the Nazis single handed and launched the invasion that finished them off, the Soviets were also bombed to shreds on their own land. The Nazis spent the majority of their time during the war trying to defeat the Soviets.

The Soviets lost 10 million soldiers in WW2 and also 27 million civilians, the USA lost a measley 350,000 soldiers and a few thousand civilians. The USA provided massive logistical support to the Soviets,no one is denying that.

Don't get me wrong when I was younger I used to also believe it was the US and UK who defeated Hitler, they have very much painted this picture for us but it simply doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

Double standards are always a good read. USA was about to airstrike Cuba in the ’60s and get rid of Russian nukes and next invade only for Kennedy to realize that begin WW3, Cuba was hundred of miles from the coastline of Florida.

Russia has an equal reasonable right to protect its security when a hostile alliance wants to set up shop in Ukraine. Nato's one and only aim is to destroy Russia. It has a military aim, not an economic one. Would the UK tolerate a hostile force setting up shop in Scotland? What would the US do if Spetsnaz and Russian troops were airborne into Mexico? Pure silliness we think Russia should not be concerned by this advance of Nato further to the east.

Think most societies do prefer the western way of living and freedom, it is not about that. You don't understand Russian moves, potentially make a grave mistake. He's trying to do the politics and negotiation route ( carrot and stick approach) Putin make a peace and friendship if we agree to a couple of concerns and if we don't care then the Russian army will march into Ukraine and then whole different ball game then for security for the rest of Europe including Ireland. Right now got a chance to solve it the right way Ukraine remains out of Nato. 

The DM is claiming Putin has ordered the invasion/war. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

Ukraine is hostile to Russia in direct response to Russian aggressions and attempts at domination against it which are driving it into NATO.

Ukraine gave up its nukes in a treaty with Russia. Russia violated that treaty. Ukraine did not. True or false? Come on answer up.

Stop being a conduit for Russian propaganda.

It's all over social media ..

Wonder where the french are

Of course, Putin is willing to negotiate. France thank god willing to. Unfortunately, the US and UK are imperialists and at this moment are hoping a war breaks out. WW3 real possibility then because of what will happen. Don't think going to invade here unless channels of communication got so bad left with no choice. There no single leader past or future of Russia will accept Ukraine joining a hostile alliance of nations. Think that's ok is stupid.

Welcome back, can't wait for you to get back to full Cheerful Spring form.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/110081462/#Comment_110081462