Meanwhile in Ukraine

[Tonge moor green jacket]

52 minutes ago, Morizio said:

On what are you basing this?

My view. 

If a full invasion of the whole country was planned, they could have done it much sooner, giving less time for Ukraine etc to prepare. They have had many troops and lots of equipment there for some time and could have brought in air defence systems etc sooner.

Additionally, a full scale war would yield many casualties on the Russian side, and irrespective of whatever efforts were made to suppress them, the they stories would emerge from the families.

Putin isn't as popular as he once was, and is regarded as weaker at home than before. In addition reports repeatedly state their isn't a great deal of desire amongst the Russians in general for a conflict, particularly one against a group of people with close connections. 

Chuck in economic factors too.

These factors have been reported on for some time, and when looked at in the round, do cast some doubt over a full scale war.

A recent article on the bbc about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468264

Of course it could be wrong, and other reports may say differently. 

It seems to make more sense to swallow up tracts of land that is already "half in" with a fair degree of Russian support, which would yield fewer casualties and could he presented the the people as an easy victory.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

6 minutes ago, Spider said:

Just posturing, lads.

 

He's been posturing for 8 years.

 

[Spider]

5 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He's been posturing for 8 years.

 

Aye.

Got his ducks in a row.

[leigh white]

All those troops in Ukraine , I bet the WAGS in Russia now are gagging for it.

[Morizio]

13 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

My view. 

If a full invasion of the whole country was planned, they could have done it much sooner, giving less time for Ukraine etc to prepare. They have had many troops and lots of equipment there for some time and could have brought in air defence systems etc sooner.

Additionally, a full scale war would yield many casualties on the Russian side, and irrespective of whatever efforts were made to suppress them, the they stories would emerge from the families.

Putin isn't as popular as he once was, and is regarded as weaker at home than before. In addition reports repeatedly state their isn't a great deal of desire amongst the Russians in general for a conflict, particularly one against a group of people with close connections. 

Chuck in economic factors too.

These factors have been reported on for some time, and when looked at in the round, do cast some doubt over a full scale war.

A recent article on the bbc about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468264

Of course it could be wrong, and other reports may say differently. 

It seems to make more sense to swallow up tracts of land that is already "half in" with a fair degree of Russian support, which would yield fewer casualties and could he presented the the people as an easy victory.

So, to summarise. You are thinking a full invasion isn’t the objective?

[Spider]

I’m fairly sure Putin would rather stoke unrest and win back land that way.

But he also wants to make sure everyone knows he’s the Man.

Theres no way he wants to battle the West, but he just senses that there isn’t much appetite for conflict, the pandemic has weakened economies and his time is running out.

Now or never for him really.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

26 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

My view. 

If a full invasion of the whole country was planned, they could have done it much sooner, giving less time for Ukraine etc to prepare. They have had many troops and lots of equipment there for some time and could have brought in air defence systems etc sooner.

Additionally, a full scale war would yield many casualties on the Russian side, and irrespective of whatever efforts were made to suppress them, the they stories would emerge from the families.

Putin isn't as popular as he once was, and is regarded as weaker at home than before. In addition reports repeatedly state their isn't a great deal of desire amongst the Russians in general for a conflict, particularly one against a group of people with close connections. 

Chuck in economic factors too.

These factors have been reported on for some time, and when looked at in the round, do cast some doubt over a full scale war.

A recent article on the bbc about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468264

Of course it could be wrong, and other reports may say differently. 

It seems to make more sense to swallow up tracts of land that is already "half in" with a fair degree of Russian support, which would yield fewer casualties and could he presented the the people as an easy victory.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/21/uk-says-serious-doubts-exist-within-russian-military-about-invading-ukraine

Another, possibly more pertinent article.

Gradual annexing of more territory after crimea, create his buffer zone against NATO. 

[leigh white]

Just knock a few nukes over in some remote part of Russia to show the beetroot eaters the power of the west.

[Not in Crawley]

6 minutes ago, leigh white said:

Just knock a few nukes over in some remote part of Russia to show the beetroot eaters the power of the west.

I think I might have spotted a couple of flaws in that plan.

[fatolive]

32 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

My view. 

If a full invasion of the whole country was planned, they could have done it much sooner, giving less time for Ukraine etc to prepare. They have had many troops and lots of equipment there for some time and could have brought in air defence systems etc sooner.

Additionally, a full scale war would yield many casualties on the Russian side, and irrespective of whatever efforts were made to suppress them, the they stories would emerge from the families.

Putin isn't as popular as he once was, and is regarded as weaker at home than before. In addition reports repeatedly state their isn't a great deal of desire amongst the Russians in general for a conflict, particularly one against a group of people with close connections. 

Chuck in economic factors too.

These factors have been reported on for some time, and when looked at in the round, do cast some doubt over a full scale war.

A recent article on the bbc about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468264

Of course it could be wrong, and other reports may say differently. 

It seems to make more sense to swallow up tracts of land that is already "half in" with a fair degree of Russian support, which would yield fewer casualties and could he presented the the people as an easy victory.

Agree with this. Annexing more territory will allow him to portray a climb down as a victory .

it may also be accepted by the west as a price worth paying to avoid potential full scale conflict, seeing as there seems to be at last some of the citizens who’d prefer it. 
 

then again, it also might embolden him to try elsewhere.

[kent_white]

I was reading today that sanctions might not have the affect we are hoping for. At least not anytime soon. 

Apparently - Russia have a surplus built of through gas money and could quite happily burn through that for a couple of years without sanctions really biting....

[Spider]

Bottom line, there will be Russian tanks and troops on Ukrainian soil in the next few days. Call it what you like, but it’s not posturing.

Marching unopposed into ukraine will probably encourage him to start on Estonia next.

In many ways, if war doesn’t break out, Vlad has played a blinder.

 

[Rudy]

 

[Spider]

21 hours ago, bolty58 said:

This is becoming as predictable as one of those WWE contrived farces.

Macron and Putin meet and Macron announces that diplomacy will solve the problem (the most likely outcome by a long way IMO).

Sleepy Joe Geriatric sits around a table at the White House with his 5 star generals and puts forward the notion that there is 'credible evidence' that the Russians have given the green light to launch an invasion (shades of Saddam's WMD's anyone?).

Biden meets Putin and, when the expected diplomacy resolves the problem, the leader of the free world claims to be the hero who stopped World War 3 happening. Millions of anti-Trumpers re-enact the final scenes of Independence Day as a pre-cursor to the beatification of Saint Joe . America saves the world.

Australian crystal balls are a proper rip off

[little whitt]

9 hours ago, leigh white said:

All those troops in Ukraine , I bet the WAGS in Russia now are gagging for it.

you can get one shipped over for next to fuck all 

fuck Knows what she will think of Leigh 

she will probably get the first flight home 

[gonzo]

Russia wont give a fuck about sanctions when theyve got China tickling their balls.

[mickbrown]

10 hours ago, kent_white said:

I was reading today that sanctions might not have the affect we are hoping for. At least not anytime soon. 

Apparently - Russia have a surplus built of through gas money and could quite happily burn through that for a couple of years without sanctions really biting....

That why sanctions have to hit the oligarchs, not the government.

Seize every fuckers yachts for starters.

[Farrelli]

40 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

That why sanctions have to hit the oligarchs, not the government.

Seize every fuckers yachts for starters.

Kick Chelsea out of the league.

[Rudy]

#Peacekeeping

Edited February 22, 2022 by Rudy

[ErnestTurnip]

Cornwall will be next, watch this space.

[Carlos]

Has anyone watched Bald and Bankrupt on YouTube? He travels round these places. Jesus, every single one of them is desolate.

[gonzo]

Theres a few on here couldve hosted that

[Rudy]

😂

[kent_white]

26 minutes ago, Carlos said:

Has anyone watched Bald and Bankrupt on YouTube? He travels round these places. Jesus, every single one of them is desolate.

Yes. He's interesting. And loves the word 'soviet' 😁

[mickbrown]