Russia - threadbanned users in OP

There will be no Ukraine military defeat, the West, and in particular, the US, is keen to push for Ukraine to drive the Russians back to pre-Feb borders. There will be lots of taking and re-taking of land and towns, but there will come a time when munitions stocks will run low on the Russian side. That's when desperation will rise to the occasion. Its at that point when the West needs to either risk a major escalation in the war ( with Russias back to the wall and the use of a tactical nuke or other WMD becoming attractive), or be prepared to give Russia a way out while saving face, with no Ukranian defeat. The support that Ukrainian forces are getting from the West is beyond vast and can continue for years. Russia cannot. I think the US is seizing the opportunity to whittle down Russias capabilities and world standing under the Umbrella of NATO, and that's fine, so long as there is an off-ramp presented to Putin. Don't underestimate how proud Russians are. They would do anything for the Motherland.

Turkey is acting the cnut about Finland and Sweden joining NATO claiming they are home to terrorist organisations.

I said that if we were next to russia,I'd be in favor of us joining NATO.

You then said that only until my kids went to war.

Let's look at that. You didn't address the actual point. You made a comment implying that I was gung ho about joining NATO and would chicken out as soon as my kids went to war. You avoided talking about why I'd be in favor of NATO. And rather you decided to insult me.

Even for what we need right now we have terrible capabilities. We need to be able to interdict and escort planes and we need a solid navy to patrol our waters. As far as defense goes, we'd be pretty fecked if a major power decided to invade. To get the capability to fight a pitched battle would be impossible but we can prepare for a more asymmetrical type of warfare (which I believe they train for now). And of course our peacekeepers should be the best euiped in the world.

Peace and complete withdrawal, not ceasefire. And why do you need to call putin to say that, do you need his approval?

Did he admit that the claim that there's nazis in Ukraine is false?

And what did he say? Did he approve, or did he told you to idi na hui?

Sure they do. Here's one example: "I will be delighted when Ukrainians have advanced past their current positions and repelled the invaders back to Russia"!

I don't imagine we'd ever be able to fight off an airforce. The airplanes are there so that we can use them for peacetime operations. Maritime patrols and the interdiction of planes that enter our airspace without permission.

I don't think he actually cares, he's probably using the veto as leverage to get something.

it would be interesting to see who stands up to be counted out of the Nato countries if a war were to break out in a Nato country with Russia, count Hungary out anyway

Can't see Trump getting anywhere near the WH next time round. The US intelligence services now have Russia firmly back on the radar as more than just a nuisance hacking centre but not much bother beyond that. The thoughts of a Russian friendly, possibly compromised President isn't going to fly next time round so there will be serious efforts preventing the propoganda and social media bubble that surrounded him last time. He might cry Make America Great again but his real mantra is make Donald rich again so he won't be tolerated at a time like this.

Some of the targets hit only recently arrived on the island too

Time I reckon for another country to take possession with Ukraines agreement and refuse access to Russian forces.

A really good article by Anne Applebaum (excellent writer on all things Russian, Polish) that skewers Putinism and its war on truth and memory.

This really struck a chord: