Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Yes, I probably did mean Western, your point is well made. I suppose I have the hope that India might have a change of policy on their dealings with Russia, affter expressing some grave doubts about the war at the recent summit, but perhaps not...

The sham referenda and imminent annexation mean absolutely nothing - it's not like Putin needs laws to allow him to do anything anyway.

Would you expect outright public condemnation from some states who's have a stake in keeping Russia sweet for the moment?

When major events happen, they often change very quickly. What state wants to be caught up in the 'clusterf**k' that the Russians are making of international law?

Well if you want to justify this as a legitimate tactic and ............ we better all get to the table and let Ukraine suck it up....... we see the pattern in the argument from various posters.

It doesn't make a difference to the west because it is all bogus anyway, but it makes a propagandist difference in Russia. They'll be told 'our' territory is under attack.

LOL, funny how the silly and insulting comments are reserved for leaders of democracies [Big Uncle Joe]. Small mercies I suppose, at least its not "Sleepy"! "President [Vladimir] Putin" probably trips nicely off the keyboard though...!

Sorry, all I'm coming up with is dodgy Confucius say jokes.

India is hugely reliant on cheap Russian fertiliser to enable it to grow enough food to feed it's vast population, so no chance, and that's just one of several hooks Russia has deeply imbeded in their flesh.

If I was Russian, I would be absolutely trying to get out by any means necessary. The future is looking increasingly bleak...

From the Guardian's rolling coverage:

Since then further details have emerged of EU goods that will be banned from export to Russia. The Commission wants to stop the sale of European appliances, including dishwashers and washing machines, because officials believe the Russian army is raiding such products for their chips, because they have run out of semiconductors.

The EU also wants to tighten import curbs on goods generating income for Russia, ranging from wood, pulp and paper, cigarettes and cosmetics. Bags and suitcases, telephones and cars, paper and newsprint, women’s clothes, make-up and shaving products feature on a long list of items subject to trade restrictions that also includes many industrial goods, tools and chemical substances.

I think the west should take a good look and full sanctions not just for Russia but for any country that recognises the latest landgrab as legitimate. See if their special relationship with Russia extends to being a pariah state alongside it.

(Just make sure to woo the Chinese first. 😁)

Apart from the usual suspects, you have to wonder how any self-respecting government, Western or otherwise can stand by and watch this land grab (think Portugal in terms of size) considering the Kremlin made no attempt whatsoever to make the "referendums" look any way genuine - people casting votes out of the boot of cars, armed soldiers hovering nearby and so on. I know political pragmatism will win out but Jesus, it will be embarassing to watch governments shrug this one off...

Ha, fair enough...I had not bothered to re-read your posts. Been some other Russia-supportive posters that preferred to give him the respectful "President" title while telling us what a great job he's doing/how it is all going according to some plan, and it has been remarked on previously (don't have time to search about or give example, tricky to do that on the site anyway).

What effect on Russia would Putin using nuclear weapons have? Russian cities evacuating? Anarchy in the streets?