Russia - threadbanned users in OP

We WOULD have got involved militarily if Putin had not raised the nuclear threat. And because of that threat 5 million people have been displaced so far. Tens of thousands have been killed. And women and babies are raped. Yet you have supreme confidence in the fact that we'll stand rigid and flatly refuse to do business with him if he made the same threat about trade.

How do you know that? Simple answer: You don't. It's just your opinion.

I hope you're right - we all just have to wait and see how things pan out.

I just feel there are going to be some mighty big shocks to come - I hope I'm wrong.

Apple has removed the TikTok app from the AppStore for users in Russia

Huge blow to the chickens sorry Chechen's

Are you German or have German family? You spend an awful lot of time defending their response to the war whilst simultaneously complaining about Ireland's response.

Do you know how many Russian diplomats were even in Ireland to begin with? Is it possible that smaller countries closer to the halls of European power or to eastern Europe might tend to contain more diplomats? Or that embassies in countries with larger native Russian populations or conversely larger ethnic populations in Russia might tend to contain more diplomats? I mean there are plentiful reasons that Russia's Ireland mission would be smaller than many others in Europe and beyond.

I mean the supreme irony here is Ireland is entirely on its own if Russia decide to bomb us into next year. We will get no more support from NATO, the EU, or any other nation than Ukraine has gotten; yet we're still siding with Ukraine, supporting their rapid accession into the EU, sending them humanitarian and military (albeit not lethal) aid (even though we have never been a belligerent in any conflict other than against our occupier), taking in their refugees, calling for Russia's expulsion from human rights bodies, and co-signing UN resolutions to try and apply pressure on Russia.

And there sits Germany, smack bang in the middle of Europe and EU, surrounded on all sides by numerous air defence systems and ships, a member of NATO, stores nuclear weapons for use by NATO, 3rd largest standing army in the EU, 2nd largest yearly defence budget in the EU, 4th largest arms exporter in the world, was a belligerent in two world wars over the last century and a bit; and it won't even let its massive arms industry sell outdated vehicles to Ukraine.

If you still want to argue that somehow Germany and Ireland are "just the same" then I don't even know what to say to that.

If I, as an Irish passport holder, had been living and working in Russia, on February 24th I would have started getting my affairs in order and made a plan to leave that cesspit of a country asap. If I had any wobbles about my decision, Putin's nuclear threat within that week would have sealed it for me. I can't see how any Westerner, or any right -thinking person would live there. I know there's family issues etc. but as an Irish passport holder I would have the entitlement to get my family to Ireland. The innocent citizens of Ukraine didn't have the choice that I would have had.

In other news, Germany is threatening to invade Ireland. « Too many Nazis on boards.ie posting willy-nilly anti-German rhetoric ». Or as the Germans actually said « villy-nilly »

Alot of questions...I must have annoyed you. No I'm Irish with no German links whatsoever. I mainly just read along rather than post, and find the thread useful as a news aggregator. I don't have that many (or maybe any) unique thoughts or insight about this situation to share that others better able are not already doing a good job of providing so don't always post.

I don't agree at all with the hysterical bile about the Germans (Russia's "ally" in the war one would almost believe and "blood on its hands") that gets dished out here (mostly by @Danzy in fairness but not exclusively by him!).

I don't think it is good for anyone, and it deserves to have someone challenge it in text with a small dose of reality + perspective and a reminder of Ireland's own flaws. This is an Irish focussed site after all isn't it, it is Ireland most of us will know best perhaps.

Noone else seemed to be doing it this particular evening, and so I posted. You have a point that maybe I've done somewhat too much of it now (and becoming a broken record/bore), so will try and refrain from now on.

On the embassy, there are alot more than 4 staff in there anyway...read in some other reports that the embassy complement of "diplomats" is completely outsized e.g. below article states there are 31 actual diplomats in it and presumably other staff helping them too:

As said, despite the large complement I assume we expelled just 4, because, and I speculate here, our own embassy in Russia is likely of a more normal size given population of Irish in Russia and trade links (i.e. it is tiny) - so if we expel a big block of Russians and Russia just retaliates in tit for tat fashion it will either be rendered unable to do any work or closed.

As for us being "entirely on our own" in face of any threat from Russia, we are not as we are an EU member same as a number of others that are in EU, and neutral, and still I believe did not equivocate somewhat on the EU aid facility as we did (this was/has been my main personal gripe with what Ireland has done - edit: I should say it is not a "major" gripe + think we've most done a good job). I don't think we'd be left entirely to our own devices either if a military (or some "grey zone" type) attack was launched by Russia on the country, but I admit you are right to point out we are more exposed given we're defenceless against any type of aggression whatsoever (unlike those other "neutrals") as well as being in no military alliance.

Yes, I agree far more is rightly expected of Germany than of us given its position and influence, the huge size of its economy, its arms industry etc. etc. Maybe not its military, as everything I've been reading suggests it is in a very poor state and not at all ready for war (or to help another country fight a war by giving supplies) despite a rapid increase in spending over last couple of years. It is still useful to reflect IMO on what Ireland is actually doing or not doing here in its own much smaller and far less vital way when people here take up the cudgels about all the German failings.

Relocating from Russia back to Ireland does sound like a no brainer....until you exit Dublin airport to find you cant get a rental or buy a house!

I'm highly sceptical this is a video of equipment being transferred to Ukraine.

Considering they're only just talking about training Ukrainians on howitzers in some "unnamed eastern European country"; I don't see why or how they would have transferred a bunch of these vehicles. They also look brand new to me; although they could just be well maintained.

Also the M142 HIMARS has a range of up to 300km; I don't see anyone transferring weapons to Ukraine with that kind of range. It's also compatible with precision guided munitions; again a capability I can't imagine Ukraine being given.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong though; because these would be amazing for Ukraine.

It's only few spare parts as in a few pieces .

No complete aircraft or functional aircraft from anyone ,the gas thing is America has Russian Migs and suhkoi jets they bought off the likes of Moldova, add the 30 mig 29s from Poland they could give Ukraine 60 odd combat aircraft,

If they don't or won't let them have jets give them predator and reapers with as many hellfire missles they can give ,

Even the newer variant that comes with 2 miniguns and 10 + hellfires would be an absolute game changer to the Ukrainians .

Give them C-rams to take out incoming missles and rockets too

Better than being trapped in the basement of your house in Maripuol with no food or water and being bombed by your neighbour.