Up until now, Russia had been our best bet for kicking off World War (huh!) 3. Now, however, the once great opponent who met our watery capitalist eyes over the Iron Curtain with a steely communist gaze is a broken shell of its former mass-tractor producing self. Its armed forces are barely functioning, for all the supposedly good kit they have knocking about, and they can barely pay the manpower that they still have. Moreover, if diplomatic push with their effete capitalist running dog foes comes to potential military shove it's entirely unlikely that Mother Russia would actually man up and break out the armoured divisions or the MIRVs. The majority of their wealth derives from selling us fuel, and there's a gravy train they can't afford to derail, for all of Putin's Cold War Warrior rehetoric.

We do have a treaty with Ukraine, so if they do get invaded properly, I can’t see us doing nothing about it. There will be enormous pressure from the Central and Eastern European NATO members for us to do something, so they are reassured that we’ll step in if they’re next. That or they may end up taking things into their own hands. I can’t see how we can sit back and do nothing at all if there is an actual, honest to goodness invasion. Then again, maybe the takeover of Ukraine will be another Sudentenland-esque approach which allows our fearless leaders to back down without looking like spineless cowards.

Nonsense! Right now the various EU Heads of State are writing a *very* strongly worded letter. In the unlikely scenario that that isn't enough, they're willing to write *another letter*.

Nonsense! Right now the various EU Heads of State are meeting to decide whether to writeing a *very* strongly worded letter.

whether or not Putin likes who's in charge in Ukraine gives him precisely fuck all right to invade the place

I don't know why I even bother writing this, because the tone of the posts above suggests I will be pissing in the wind, but here goes nothing.

EU+USA have seemingly been pouring billions into Ukraine over several years, finally staging a coup against a democratically elected government, putting neonazis in charge in its place.

From a Russian point of view, Putin is simply drawing a line in the sand against western neocolonialism. At least he is doing so openly, instead of using all the covert bullshit tactics employed by the west (I'm not saying he wouldn't use those if he could, mind you). Personally I am a rather terrified by the one sided coverage all this is given in the western media.

I am not suggesting "he" is right and "we" are wrong, but maybe things are a tad more complicated than him being the evil overlord - at the very least I think blaming Putin alone for things coming to this is just a wee bit naive.

While I don't dispute what you have said here, I feel it is naive to consider that Putin has not influenced the Ukraine in a similar manner to the EU. He is influencing overtly now, but I think it is safe to say that he was influencing covertly beforehand.

I feel bad about my post, it was needlessly confrontational. Not really the way to try and enter into any sort of discussion. Apologies for any toes stepped on by my big, clumsy feet.

I feel bad about my post, it was needlessly confrontational. Not really the way to try and enter into any sort of discussion. Apologies for any toes stepped on by my big, clumsy feet.

I feel bad about my post, it was needlessly confrontational. Not really the way to try and enter into any sort of discussion. Apologies for any toes stepped on by my big, clumsy feet.

Whatever, Chamberlain.

I am not reassured. I am getting 'Peace for our time' vibes about all this.

I went to Google Maps yesterday to see how it demarks Crimea. I wondered how long it would take before this Russian land-grab is recognised officially by anyone. The result is an impressive half-measure; the border of Crimea is a dashed line with no indication whether it's considered Ukraine or Russia.

Appetite for war? I seriously doubt there's even 10% of the public who'd openly support another all out war.

Torn between viewing the defence secretary's warning of Russian sabre-rattling against the Baltic states as either an honest admission that things are more out of control than they have previously let on, or a pre-election ploy to remind voters that they're better off trusting the Tories on defence matters.

Yeah, I read about that earlier - do you know if the sightings were confirmed?

EDIT: yes, but they weren't in UK airspace. A bit of willy-waving, do you think?

I am sure Kern knows more.

I am fairly sure it is a regular occurrence but only deemed newsworthy now.

I suppose worse case in the short term is a proxy war in the Baltic states, followed by booing at Eurovision. I heard somewhere Putin is very much of the old school and very distrustful of the West, viewing it still as the enemy. this is then reinforced by continuing sanctions.