[Blacktemplar]

Originally Posted by JR1664

In relation to Russia / Ukraine I do wonder what the Russian public think of this.

....

It would be interesting to view things from their perspective.

I think that could be quite a complex question. Russia is such a huge country with so many diverse ethnicities that I'm sure you'd hear a very wide spectrum of opinion. Like most economies it has a a vast wealth gradient, so it would also be interesting to hear the response from different economic perspectives as well.

I've only met a few 'European' Russians who tend to come from Moscow & surrounding regions, and they come across as very Nationalistic, more than a bit arrogant, pushy & entitled. Much like some Londoners sometimes do to the regions here....

I'm sure that the vast majority of Russians are just ordinary folks like everywhere else, with the same hopes, fears, aspirations & insecurities.

My son's girlfriend is Russian, but is ethnic Mongolian from Elista. She left Russia to live in Spain because of lack of work, but also due to the appalling racism & discrimination against ethnic minorities, particularly in Moscow. There seems to be quite a large expatriate Russian community in Barcelona, so it would be interesting to hear their views.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

Not going to dispute that - already said my point was badly made to JNW1 - it was aimed at Putin and how this plays with the Russian public

It was just plain wrong hence I refuted it, General Galtieri is the person you should be comparing to Putin not Thatcher, then the point makes sense.

[SuperHamz]

Good distraction from what's happening domestically, plus any sanctions against them would backfire as they'd just turn off the gas supply.

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by Blacktemplar

I think that could be quite a complex question. Russia is such a huge country with so many diverse ethnicities that I'm sure you'd hear a very wide spectrum of opinion. Like most economies it has a a vast wealth gradient, so it would also be interesting to hear the response from different economic perspectives as well.

I've only met a few 'European' Russians who tend to come from Moscow & surrounding regions, and they come across as very Nationalistic, more than a bit arrogant, pushy & entitled. Much like some Londoners sometimes do to the regions here....

I'm sure that the vast majority of Russians are just ordinary folks like everywhere else, with the same hopes, fears, aspirations & insecurities.

My son's girlfriend is Russian, but is ethnic Mongolian from Elista. She left Russia to live in Spain because of lack of work, but also due to the appalling racism & discrimination against ethnic minorities, particularly in Moscow. There seems to be quite a large expatriate Russian community in Barcelona, so it would be interesting to hear their views.

I'd imagine that most Russian ex pats would hold Putin in utter contempt, particularly the younger ones. The clues in the name, they've voted with their feet

My godson's wife is Russian and she's been living here for around 12 yrs now. She and her family loathe Putin. Her stories of state corruption, fraud and the failure of state provided services are breath taking. The recent siphoning off of public money to donors and chums via multi £million PPE and Covid testing contracts by the Tory govt pales into insignificance when compared with what is regarded as the norm in Russia.

People have mentioned gas on here and I was interested to read that we only import 5% of our natural gas from Russia, unlike mainland Europe which is far more dependent on Russian supply. So, whilst we have screwed up by having the lowest gas storage capacity in Europe, we appear to have got something right by sourcing most of our natural gas from Norway and the North Sea.

[Wills2]

Russia are not going to invade the Ukraine (any more than they already have) it would be a disaster for them, they are a minnow in terms of financial fire power and the West could bankrupt them and Putin personally, and also defeat them militarily if they chose to. (but it will not come to that for MAD reasons)

He's been taking the piss for years and has been tolerated if he gives them an excuse they will act, a full scale invasion would be that excuse.

They did it to the Soviet USSR and they can do it to Putin's Russia.

[planemad]

All gone quite in the media today on this front

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by planemad

All gone quite in the media today on this front

Boris must not have had any issues to deflect today....

[winther1]

Ukranian president is less worried than Biden, although the invasion will happen any minute now - what a load of bs
https://thehill.com/policy/internati...-under-control

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

Boris must not have had any issues to deflect today....

Just a quick phone call to Dame Cressida and a photo opp wearing a mask in a vaccinarion centre, and that was his day done.

[TodmordenLad]

Crisis averted - Johnson is visiting the region next week and is calling Putin 😂😂😂😂

[Vista]

Originally Posted by JR1664

In relation to Russia / Ukraine I do wonder what the Russian public think of this.

I apologize for interfering in your discussion. However, to begin with, I would like to know the opinion of this society on one issue - where does everyone get such a conviction about Russia's passionate desire to seize Ukraine?
There must be some important reason (well, besides the fact that Putin is Doctor Evil who wants to conquer the whole world)?

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Vista

I apologize for interfering in your discussion. However, to begin with, I would like to know the opinion of this society on one issue - where does everyone get such a conviction about Russia's passionate desire to seize Ukraine?
There must be some important reason (well, besides the fact that Putin is Doctor Evil who wants to conquer the whole world)?

Yep it's weird, maybe ask Vladimir why he wants it? I guess you're allowed to pose questions to him? Free and just country after all...

[Vista]

No, of course, I can’t ask about this, because the KGB is watching me around the clock and police bears do not allow us to talk to each other (((
But seriously - can you think of at least one serious reason (economic, military) for the attack? Why does Russia need Ukraine?

[XAlp]

I don’t know the political answer but I wonder about food security and land grab. In my trade we often find prime farmland in unexpected parts of the world being bought by Chinese, Russian and Middle Eastern interests.

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraine-can-feed-the-world/

[SantaEugence]

Similar to the lack of logic they used when they annexed Crimea no doubt…

[goram]

Originally Posted by Vista

No, of course, I can’t ask about this, because the KGB is watching me around the clock and police bears do not allow us to talk to each other (((
But seriously - can you think of at least one serious reason (economic, military) for the attack? Why does Russia need Ukraine?

Putin loves to wave his dick around, that’s why.

[Vista]

Originally Posted by goram

Putin loves to wave his dick around, that’s why.

Sorry, is this your maximum level in the discussion?

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by Vista

I apologize for interfering in your discussion. However, to begin with, I would like to know the opinion of this society on one issue - where does everyone get such a conviction about Russia's passionate desire to seize Ukraine?
There must be some important reason (well, besides the fact that Putin is Doctor Evil who wants to conquer the whole world)?

Hundreds of articles online explaining Putin's motives. Here's just one in The Washington Post. They all say the same thing, however and one dominant theme is that Putin does not want Ukraine joining NATO nor strengthening its ties with the rest of Europe. Obvs really. And aggression is Putin's modus operandi.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...-explain-maps/

[winther1]

Remember this? Still appearing once in a while in case we forget how dangerous the Russians are.


At the same time, we happily roll over for China - an actual threat.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Vista

No, of course, I can’t ask about this, because the KGB is watching me around the clock and police bears do not allow us to talk to each other (((
But seriously - can you think of at least one serious reason (economic, military) for the attack? Why does Russia need Ukraine?

Why did they need to invade and annexe Crimea why did they need to invade the Donetsk region of Ukraine, Russia has already invaded..so your question is a moot point.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by winther1

Remember this? Still appearing once in a while in case we forget how dangerous the Russians are.


At the same time, we happily roll over for China - an actual threat.

IMO both Russia and China are actual threats and from the sound of things they're now in a process of cosying-up even closer together which potentially makes the situation worse. Combine that with the lack of strong, credible, leadership in the West and it makes for uncomfortable times in my view....

[goram]

Originally Posted by Vista

Sorry, is this your maximum level in the discussion?

No, but you come across as either a bot or a troll. Not unusual these days on Internet forums. What on earth could possibly be going on? 🤔