Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Mariupol prisoners. I just skipped through this guy's propaganda but you might be interested

It's not the athletes fault fo that their country is at war with another.

They have nothing to do with it and probably hate it too. They just want to do there job in sport whatever that is.

That's not the point and you must know it. Banning Russian citizens from cultural & sporting events is about ramming home the message that the actions of their state are deplorable. It's about denying them the propaganda of acceptance & success in Europe and elsewhere. Shame on the French & tennis - rotten at the core. At least the Brits have stood up and banned them from Wimbledon, seems now this has led to a split, with this tournament being downgraded.

Yes, Wimbledon decided to exclude them (not a decision of UK govt...) but the international tennis governing bodies don't seem to be for that (article below from about a week ago). Would agree with a ban myself. The cut off and freezing out of Russia (and Belarus) + their citizens from the West needs to get deeper.

That's not a popular position in France and especially in Germany. We hope the Ukrainian forces do well, in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands etc they hope the Ukrainian forces come to a settlement, in Berlin they hope for a deference to Russia.

Don't imagine your and many of our views are positively received in Western Europe.

some pictures

I find the overall French reaction to the war unbelievable - unless there is something that I do not know. We now have Macron getting involved with Putin to try. And get grain out of Ukraine safely to feed the world. A very opportunistic man. I suppose we will have to stomach. His involvement because it might help to alleviate world famine from occuring

Germany clearly want a convincing Russian victory. A Ukraine in EU dilutes their power, and an alliance with Poland, the Baltic's, Czechoslovaks, Romania forms a powershift due to the numbers.

Germany will have to find another way to rejig the EU to ensure they have the most power. It will be full of the usual threats of joblessness and economic ruin. I cannot believe so many people fell for this act the Germans suddenly have humility after WW2 and have totally abandoned their national psyche, just because they lost.

Mariupol

Scholz

and all because one old man who sits in comfort longs for an idea from the past.

That's a pretty spectacular 1938 reading of Germany. It is really not what they are doing although your warm anti-EU feelings are noted. Sure it may be slow versus the old warrior Biden or the self-serving toe rag Bojo saving his own career but it is still happening. I really don't get this wild rage against one country just because they are not doing what people demand of them or that they are not ranting like some other countries. It's not as if they started this mess. The EU is complex, has 27 members, and rarely comes up with instant decisions. Even if they were doing whatever they are not, this thing would still be going in August.

Nearly 100 days into this, much as Ukraine continues to need military support and Zelenskiy reminds people of it daily, he has an agenda and his Koolaid needs the same caution as Putin's.