Yesterday Boris signed a treaty offering UK military aid to Sweden and Finland should they be invaded.
They're not NATO members, so what has this to do with UK ? If Sweden and Finland decide not to join NATO would this mean UK defends them on our own ? The EU seems a bit quiet........
I guess because we voted in the Tories, they're doing this on our behalf, nobody asked me. :worried:
Finnish PM has said it is vital they join NATO ASAP
That'll please Putin :rolleyes:
This is all going to end in tears. :cry:
I think it was an offer of interim aid while the process for them to become NATO members completes.
There is no easy option here. If you let Putin do just what he wants it is at least as dangerous as helping those under more direct threat defend themselves. Appeasing Hitler lead to a 5 year world war.
Quote from: klondike on May 12, 2022, 07:40:14 PM
I think it was an offer of interim aid while the process for them to become NATO members completes.
There is no easy option here. If you let Putin do just what he wants it is at least as dangerous as helping those under more direct threat defend themselves. Appeasing Hitler lead to a 5 year world war.
And 60 million premature deaths
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on May 12, 2022, 09:41:02 PM
And 60 million premature deaths
Mike
And if Putin looses too much face and did ever press his button it will lead to billions of deaths.
Hopefully some of his people will stop him doing that, it would also sign Russia's death warrant as the response would be immediate and deadly from others with the same weapon, especially the US.
Quote from: klondike on May 12, 2022, 07:40:14 PM
I think it was an offer of interim aid while the process for them to become NATO members completes.
There is no easy option here. If you let Putin do just what he wants it is at least as dangerous as helping those under more direct threat defend themselves. Appeasing Hitler lead to a 5 year world war.
Of course, if we hadn't helped Poland, WW2 wouldn't have happened.
Sorry, Phil, but that just isn't a credible scenario. Hitler's ambitions would not have been sated by further appeasement
Mike
Quote from: Flying Bomb on May 13, 2022, 05:20:30 AM
And if Putin looses too much face and did ever press his button it will lead to billions of deaths.
So perhaps we should just walk in and reclaim our lost empire? Anybody interferes we'll just nuke 'em?
The principal of Mutually Assured Destruction applies now as it has from when these things were first produced. If Putin launches nukes then everybody could lose maybe but one thing that is certain is that Russia will most certainly lose. Putin may give launch orders but the launch requires the actions of many others for it to happen.
Being in partnership with Finland we can put our subs in their waters, where we can keep a close eye on Russia. Finland have a well trained armed forces so a very good partnership.
Turkey will veto both joining NATO
I read today that Putin has said that he will tolerate Sweden and Finland joining NATO as long as there are no NATO bases there.
Putin's got no say in the matter, and shown the world just how weak his arm forces are.
Quote from: Alex on May 17, 2022, 08:46:08 PM
Turkey will veto both joining NATO
Turkey can vote against Sweden & Finland under Article 10 but I don't think the Turkish PM arsehole will be able to stop them from joining as the political pressure & potential sanctions against Turkey will be too great.
Last I read he hasn't said he will actually veto anyway. As Phil says the politics are against him doing so.
I know they should be free to join NATO, but don't you think it's actually poking the bear ? I'm hopefully wrong, but I think this action would escalate the situation with Russia.
The bear only has one trick left and using that one just means everybody loses. Putin may say launch the nukes but would the order get obeyed? Come to that, given the state of the Russian army and it's equipment, would they even work or has somebody flogged the wiring off as scrap.
https://truthaboutrussia.quora.com/
(https://i.postimg.cc/YCNTFGsm/main-qimg-9d9cfe12893fe16ef48a852415e6cf91-lq.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Bottom Line........It's none of Putin's damn business if other countries want to join NATO. :nooo:
Quote from: Raven on May 18, 2022, 11:10:00 AM
Bottom Line........It's none of Putin's damn business if other countries want to join NATO. :nooo:
We know this Raven, it was none of his business what went on in Ukraine, but that didn't stop him.
I know, but wasn't there some sort of agreement between both countries about NATO, and Ukraine went back on it? That annoyed Putin......... I'm not sure.......I really should pay more attention to World News. [2010]
Ukraine were made ineligible to apply for NATO membership when Putin annexed Crimea in 2014. You can't apply for membership if you have any current border dispute.
Ohh, Right I see.
Putin not going to allow grain to leave Ukraine unless sanctions are removed ???
He's going the right way to lose more of his fleet then imo.
Yes I agree with you klondike :upvote: :upvote: :upvote: :upvote:
DW are reporting that there are efforts to set up train routes carrying grain through from Ukraine to other ports.
What I can't see happening is capitulation to Putin now. He only has one big stick left to wave and using that won't bring him victory. All it would do is destroy Russia completely. Probably along with the rest of the planet of course.