Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Bingo.

The US government is offering $ 10 million.

You either support the war effort of Ukraine to defend itself and drive out the invading Russian army or you don't.

There is no middle ground when the level of destruction, death & misery is plainly evident.

People who sit on the fence and waft on about the USA/ NATO/ EU meddling are at nothing, you might as well sign up and fight for the Russian army.

It's as simple as that.

War is polarising.

And yes Ireland should be sending troops and weapons to assist.

Who wants a wider war?

Hardly Russia, they'll be spread too thin and will lose in all contested areas. Also, they're hardly going to go nuclear against an alliance of other states.

So, a wider war might suit opponents of Russia PROVIDED THAT other *rogue states aren't **attracted to the fray.

* Yes, I know, they're only rogue from our Western perspective.

** By "attracted" I'm including supply of military aid in ANY form.

In essence, I guess I'm saying that a wider war would take pressure off Ukraine and invite wrath upon Putin's finite forces.

Sorry.

What is your solution here then. Because you haven't offered one. So far it's just being 'asking questions'

What's your solution here. Because you specifically target giving Ukraine weapons as questionable policy.

All ears open on your solution to this and reasons for said solution. Go.

Putin had an awful lot of US attention as he built up his forces and had Biden running about thither and yon + regularly talking with him about Ukraine, its future, and NATO etc. before the war. All proved to be a waste of time.

The UN Secretary General is not a Western leader and has no selfish interest in this except to have a peace break out. How did he get on? He went and spoke to Putin/Russian govt. Then he went and spoke to Zelenskyy and while he in Kyiv the Russian army fired some missiles (almost) on top of his head, just to make sure he completely got a clear message they are not so interested in peace right now, and are displeased he's treating the Ukrainian govt. as legitimate.

You are right though, there's little incentive there for Biden to go crawling to Putin in public, imploring him to stop the war (and likely have it thrown in his face). I think it is more up to Putin to invest some political capital himself now, make some move showing he might be interested in a negotiated settlement. Macron and some others have tried, and they still (publically) talk to Putin regularly. It hasn't helped and just makes them look a bit foolish (although I don't think they are wrong to keep trying myself).

No doubt Putin enjoyed and got a thrill seeing all the Western leaders incl. Biden rushing about and imploring him not to invade when he'd his mind made up to do it.

On the weapons/military aid aspect + why it is the correct policy to send them to Ukraine to help them fight Russia and try and repel their attack, won't go into that as others have covered it.

One hopes that the general consensus of all those viewing or contributing to the thread can be distilled a little by burning off erroneous arguments and condensing more valid arguments.

I know, it's not a distillery.

Raise the common denominator if you will.

According to the Ukrainians manpower isn't the issue, weapons are. Which is why they are specifically asking for them. They don't have any key issues with training and so far have adapted very well to weapon supplies sent to them.

They have a standing army of 200k to 300k, and nearly 1 million with some military training. They can't speed that up anymore than they currently are. What they can do is ask for weapons they are lacking, which is what they are doing.