Ukraine

[french frank]

This tragic "exercise" seems to be just a very cynical land grab.

This exercise is a brutal land grab.

[Dave2002]

I don’t really know how to react to this.

https://mobile.twitter.com/pevchikh/...19344710311937

Clearly fake Western propaganda!

[Dave2002]

This exercise is a brutal land grab.

Yes - we can add a lot of other adjectives too. Sadly!

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes - we can add a lot of other adjectives too. Sadly!

It realy would help, though, for the likes of Lyn Truss to keep her nose out of it and let the Ukrainians determine how much they are prepared to negotiate away parts of their country in the interests of peace, if any.

[teamsaint]

This exercise is a brutal land grab.

Land and resource grabs in general get way too little publicity. There is a lot of it going on, one way or another.
Understanding what drives them is important.

[french frank]

Understanding what drives them is important.

In the case of Ukraine, various analysts have tried to get to Putin's psychology. The pattern seems to show it as no more than nationalism and his grudge over the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I don't think Russia need Ukraine's resources.

[Joseph K]

In the case of Ukraine, various analysts have tried to get to Putin's psychology. The pattern seems to show it as no more than nationalism and his grudge over the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I don't think Russia need Ukraine's resources.

Regarding resources, I recall recently reading somewhere that not that long ago under Ukraine's share of the Black Sea there had recently been discovered a large source of gas that would have ended Western dependency on Russian gas.

Just remembered the source of this - 'Price Wars' by Rupert Russell.

[muzzer]

I’ve recently started reading Red Famine by Anne Applebaum, as I feel I need to be far better informed about why what is happening is happening, but it’s a depressing tale.

[french frank]

Regarding resources, I recall recently reading somewhere that not that long ago under Ukraine's share of the Black Sea there had recently been discovered a large source of gas that would have ended Western dependency on Russian gas.

Just remembered the source of this - 'Price Wars' by Rupert Russell.

Interesting. Could well be true but in that case it still wouldn't be the case of Russia needing the resource itself, just protecting its own. Prima facie there's no reason why the West would prefer Ukrainian gas to Russian gas - if Russia were still pursuing the friendly policy vis-à-vis the West which Putin himself was doing 20 years ago.

[Frances_iom]

I’ve recently started reading Red Famine by Anne Applebaum, as I feel I need to be far better informed about why what is happening is happening, but it’s a depressing tale.

in the Nasty Imperialist table Russia and Belgium vie for top dog, Russia probably wins as killing more - both well ahead of Great Britain

[Joseph K]

Prima facie there's no reason why the West would prefer Ukrainian gas to Russian gas - if Russia were still pursuing the friendly policy vis-à-vis the West which Putin himself was doing 20 years ago.

Not if Ukraine could offer it cheaper? It would be competition.

[french frank]

Not if Ukraine could offer it cheaper? It would be competition.

That's true, but a lot of other countries are in competition. There is global price regulation, isn't there? I think the repetitive behaviour in Chechnya and Georgia indictates political aims.Why Putin turned from rapprochement with the west to suggesting the west wants to attack Russia I can't imagine. If he takes over Ukraine he will create a long border with Nato countries which is what he says he doesn't want.

[Serial_Apologist]

How many others are as sickened as me by Boris Johnson's milking of Ukraine to boost his party's waning electoral prospects on Thursday and self-seeking one-upmanship on the world reputation stage? I feel an additional cause for sorrow for the people of Ukraine being subjected to Churchillian gestures bearing no weight of the experience of this man's record of insincerity and mendacity at home.

[Dave2002]

How many others are as sickened as me by Boris Johnson's milking of Ukraine to boost his party's waning electoral prospects on Thursday and self-seeking one-upmanship on the world reputation stage? I feel an additional cause for sorrow for the people of Ukraine being subjected to Churchillian gestures bearing no weight of the experience of this man's record of insincerity and mendacity at home.

Absolutely. See the recent Private Eye cover.

[french frank]

How many others are as sickened as me by Boris Johnson's milking of Ukraine to boost his party's waning electoral prospects on Thursday and self-seeking one-upmanship on the world reputation stage? I feel an additional cause for sorrow for the people of Ukraine being subjected to Churchillian gestures bearing no weight of the experience of this man's record of insincerity and mendacity at home.

Infuriating. Tha Falklands were supposed to have saved Thatcher's skin; let's hope the British public see through Boris Churchill's amateur dramatics.