The US President is putting out a lot of information about Russian troops, weapons and naval deployments. He is telling us that an invasion of Ukraine may well be imminent. Russia denies an invasion but cannot credibly deny the deployment of a lot of military might. Mr Putin tells us these are Russian and Belarus forces jointly exercising on their own lands. The USA has a different view.
The USA speaking for NATO makes clear that NATO forces would not respond to invasion by entering the fight in Ukraine, but NATO would clearly be on the side of the Ukrainian government and the large majority of the people who would fight against a military takeover of their country. Some NATO members have supplied weapons to Ukraine and offered training to Ukrainian personnel. Presumably in the event of an invasion more such support would be supplied.
NATO’s main threat to Russia is its members will impose wide ranging sanctions with a view to damaging the Russian economy. The idea is these would be tougher than the ones introduced after the annexation of Crimea . It is not clear they would extend to preventing Russia using western banking systems, nor has Germany made clear whether any of this extends to gas.
France and Germany hope for a negotiated settlement of the issues surrounding the Russian presence in Luhansk and Donetsk. They wish to revive the Minsk 2 Agreement they helped broker in 2015 which aimed to secure Russian withdrawal from east Ukraine in return for substantial devolved power to new elected governments in the two anti Kiev provinces. The original Agreement failed because the local forces and Russia wanted more devolution than Ukraine wished to provide, and Ukraine wanted a faster and more comprehensive Russian withdrawal than was on offer. Events in Crimea followed the expulsion of an elected Ukrainian President who wanted to follow a more pro Russian and less pro EU foreign policy.
The fate of East Ukraine is not however the only thing Russia is raising. Russia also wants assurances Ukraine will not pursue her wish to join NATO, and wants NATO to cut its forces deployed in its eastern member countries for self defence. The USA needs to handle the NATO discussions following consultation with allies, and France and Germany should continue the Minsk discussions following talks with the Ukraine government and the Eastern opponents of the Kiev line. President Biden has to erase again his suggestion that a limited Russian incursion would not be so bad, and stress the corrections his team have put out.
February 15, 2022
Good morning.
Just tell the Russian’s that Ukraine will not be joining NATO. Problem solved.
February 15, 2022
A lot of influential people very much do not want the problem solved.
That is the ordinary person’s problem in Ukraine, Russia, here, and elsewhere, and has been since the beginning of history.
February 15, 2022
That is for the Ukraine and no one else to do.
February 15, 2022
Who joins NATO is between NATO and the candidate.
You are suggesting that Russia would be the one choosing who joins NATO.
Will never happen.
February 15, 2022
Correct – no country should have a veto, especiually one thats not even in NATO….and on that note I’d be happy to re-organise the structure of the p5 of the UN
February 15, 2022
And see the UK replaced by India?
February 15, 2022
There shouldnât be a UN permanent five (p5) member elite or indeed a hierarchy of countries
February 15, 2022
The UK should volunteer to leave. Waste of space and energy.
February 15, 2022
Billy Elliot
Imagine that in reverse. What if, say, Russia wanted ‘democratic’ inclusion of a country on America’s land border ?
Anyway. Our problem has been our reaction to woke, covid and greenism. Russia and China have seen our weakness – it doesn’t quite match our world policewoman role… much more like PCSOs now.
February 15, 2022
Russia looks after Ukraine. NATO is not needed there, especially as Russia sees NATO as potential threat.
February 15, 2022
It certainly can’t happen any time soon as no country can join NATO if it hs a dispute with another country, NATO’s rules.
February 15, 2022
You are wrong comrade. Russia should never be allowed the power of veto over which countries can join NATO. Appeasement has never been a successful policy. I suggest you do your history homework.
February 15, 2022
Russia has the power to stop Ukraine getting in NATO by continuing a dispute with it which NATO rules say it can’t join. Job done. I’ll let Putin know as he doesn’t say that.
February 16, 2022
NATO Has no purpose other than to act as a Vanguard for the EU. The EU is a federal superstate in the making and is headed by France and Germany, two countries that have invaded Russia in the past. Naturally this makes the Russians nervous and makes conflict more likely not less – Witness what happened over Crimea. Not that long ago so history buffs can easily look it up. If Russia wanted Ukraine it could have taken it long ago.
February 18, 2022
Wasnât it Macron who on 7 November 2019 said in the Economist âwhat we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATOâ? Thatâs a rather curious way to consider âNATO as a vanguard for the EUâ, specially when he appears to push for âa true European armyâ.
And if I am not mistaken, the UK was there with other countries in 1918-1920 to help White Russians. But for you, I guess that was not an invasion, just a âpolice operationâ or something as benign as that.
February 15, 2022
The fancy name for it is assymetric warfare. I suspect it is aimed as much at us as it is at Putin so that we are conditioned by relief there will be no war. This is to help ensure that people will accept whatever “peaceful” settlement is achieved and/or to provide cover for a change in policy. One possible outcome is to lean on Ukraine to accept the Minsk agreement, another is to get the USA to accept Nordstream 2, a third is to agree that the Ukraine will not join NATO. These are all Russian objectives. Some may regard this as a too cynical view of the world. But it seems to me that, as inexperienced chess players sometimes discover, the West is at risk of being forked. PS sanctions would cut both ways not least in the loss of Russian gas supply to Europe.
February 15, 2022
Russia -one of the largest suppliers-has also banned the export of fertilisers for two -critical -months and Belarus-another major supplier -is under EU sanctions.
February 15, 2022
‘…to get the USA to accept Nordstream 2’ what has that go to do with the USA? Oh right, the USA owns the whole world, every country is in the US back and front yard.
Did you know this – the former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy saying âWeâd really, really not like to see a Chinese facilityâ on the Atlantic, (Equatorial Guinea) and discusses “American concern about Chinaâs global expansionism and its pursuit of a permanent military presence on waters the U.S. considers home turf. That facility would be 6000 miles from the US – very scary!
I wonder if Equatorial Guinea will be stronger than the UK in standing up to the US, not difficult I think.
February 15, 2022
It’s a good job that Johnson re-cast our Defence capabilities so that we can do little more than take on a few terrorists driving around Somalia in ‘technicals’. Last year’s Defence review needs re-visiting, with the defence of Europe attracting more attention. Our air defences, in particular, are in a bad shape.
February 15, 2022
We need a proper Navy. It’s disgraceful how many Frigates and Destroyers we have.
February 15, 2022
Indeed. The RN could probably put a strong squadron to sea in the Atlantic, OR the Med, OR the Indian Ocean – but the FCOD seems to think OR is the same as AND. The destroyer and frigate force needs increasing, beyond the government’s stated ambition. And the T32s must be given a full outfit of weapons.
February 15, 2022
That dont seem to work.
February 15, 2022
A disgrace how few we have I assume you meant?
But then with the net zero religion we will not have any diesel or other fuels for the ships/tanks/aircraft anyway will we. We will have to go for sailing ships or battery ones that can only sail 10 miles between charging at 2 knots. As Mrs May, Carrie Johnson, Ed Miliband, Boris and Lord Debden (Gummer)… demand this!
Is this moronic government and their brainless regulators really going to force the capping (with concrete) of the two shale gas developments? This for no sensible reason other than virtue signalling or to prevent them being used (or rather make it hugely more expensive when we do use them).
February 15, 2022
The Oil and Gas Regulator is fulfilling the remit it was given …. which is basically to ensure that regulations deliver Net Zero.
The solution is in the Government’s hands: change the Oil and Gas Regulator’s priorities. But they won’t because we are governed by Eco Lunatics who would rather see the British people driven into fuel poverty and freeze in their own homes than change policy.
February 15, 2022
Its was this Tory governments decision, this Tory parliaments decision, the Tory MPs, this Tory party decision to stop fracking in Lancashire…and history will record that fact
February 15, 2022
It seems so but there is not need to cap these far better to keep the options open and save on the concrete and cost. Concrete/cement is rather CO2 producing too.
February 15, 2022
I see in Canada, France and a few other countries the populace rises up and confronts their govts. when they see stupid policies being forced on them, but not here – why not – I think we are too comfortably ensconced in our existential positions to think of losing any of that – that’s my position too now and I don’t know if my old age is sufficient excuse. Only those with little to lose have the power to do anything really powerful altho recently with covid demonstrations/BLM, even if one disagrees with their arguments, many there had a lot to lose and did.
2 million marched against the Iraq war but with no real ‘action’ it was futile. It would have to go on for weeks or months but who would do that?
February 15, 2022
But budget was there, the Joint forces would find a way to spend it …
February 17, 2022
O, âIn France ⊠the populace rises up and confronts their governmentâ: well, 32,100 French people participated to the demonstrations last week over the French territory, followed by about 500 vehicles having tried to go to Paris, then about 300 moving to Lille, then about 200 leaving for âBruxellesâ. (lemonde.fr & ouest-france.fr, 2022/02/12).
According to various interviews (and pictures) in French papers, these people were either out-of-work (for various reasons) or retirees.
If I take your own reasoning, more of a million people marched against the Iraq war with no tangible result. What would you expect of even 32,100 âinactiveâ people making some fuss?
February 15, 2022
Oh yes so we can go to war with Russia? Sounds very sensible to me.
February 15, 2022
And it seems Mauritius has planted their flag on one of the Chagos islands which is ours.
‘Boris’ will do nothing not that we have anything to do much with. He’ll probaly think its funny and then grant concessions. Chances are another foreign power is behind it.
February 15, 2022
Is Boris going to launch a recovery mission as Thatcher and the Falkland Islands but then he cannot even organise stopping or deterring the RIBs coming over to Dover from France can they?
February 15, 2022
The UK prides itself on âself-determinationâ âŠlet them vote, otherwise weâre no better than Russia
February 15, 2022
Chagos Is. ‘Ours’? you mean stolen surely and leased out to make loadsa money while the deported suffered in poverty – good ol’ UK.
February 16, 2022
Not stolen, ceded by France to the UK in the 1800’s
February 16, 2022
So much âoursâ that the local population was expelled between 1968 and 1973, so that the island could be ÂŽlentâ for the USA to set up their Naval Support Facility there.
February 17, 2022
TPW, In fact on two islands, Peros Banhos and one of the Chagosâ Salomon Islands.
Do not worry, the US-UK base in Diego Garcia is safe and so your patriotic pride can be.
February 15, 2022
When I ask myself who exactly is the real enemy of western peoples and their civil freedoms the name Putin doesn’t spring readily to mind. The name Trudeau does or Biden-Harris. Or Ardern. Or indeed Macron and this British PM now he’s in office has dropped his libertarian stance
When a government in North America declares that the word ‘freedom’ is being used as a front by racists and extremists to stoke hate then I know we have entered into a Neo-Marxist, progressive dystopia.
I genuinely fear for our voice and our democracy after the actions of leaders like despot Trudeau who has not been condemned by one single western leader. I find that very troubling indeed
Reply I have tweeted against Trudeau today
February 15, 2022
Absolutely right. The real dangers lie closer to home.
February 15, 2022
in plain sight…always the worst kind.
February 16, 2022
As the late Christopher Hitchens said:
âI have always found it quaint and rather touching that there is a movement [Libertarians] in the US that thinks Americans are not yet selfish enough.â
February 16, 2022
Did you insert the word libertarians NHL?
February 17, 2022
He identified them as the subject in the rest of his piece.
February 17, 2022
You missed the bit where he talked about the benefit to society of people being more self reliant and trying to look after themselves.
But you grabbed on the word selfish
As I would have expected you to do.
February 15, 2022
Except the word freedom is being used as a front by racists and extremists.
Our countries are in danger of permanently falling to the far right. In America thatâs the Trumpists. Here itâs the Brexitists. It isnât Trudeau.
February 15, 2022
As “progressive” and “tolerance” are often used by authoritarian, intolerant proponents of socialism
February 15, 2022
At least Donald and Vladimir would have had a quiet discussion and sorted out Russia’s Ukraine worries.
February 15, 2022
Come on Andy…name them.
February 16, 2022
Indeed, Andy.
The “freedom” that they demand is the same as that craved by a savage, snarling dog, straining at the leash towards a child.
Under NO circumstances must they be allowed it.
February 16, 2022
Getting a bit worked up now NHL
Who do you and young andy refer to in your odd conspiracy
Come on eh?
February 17, 2022
What has the National Hockey League to do with the above?
February 15, 2022
I could not agree more.
(Except you also need to add in all the woke charities that do so much to divide our country.)
February 15, 2022
I agree Dom. Over the past 18 months, I have found the authoritarian behaviour of Biden-Harris, Trudeau, Ardern and various Australian “Leaders” at least as frightening as anything Putin’s done.
February 15, 2022
Donna. +1. And also agree withJ. Bush and Peter.
Just how much threat does Russia pose to us? Very little I believe. The real threat are the socialists in charge of countries that were once our friends and alies. Worst of all our own government. Authoritarian, woke and busy destroying our culture, history and all that made this country great while pursuing a policy of population replacement.
February 15, 2022
+1
I also don’t consider Putin a danger to the UK.
Conversely, given the continual uncontrolled illegal immigration of fighting age men allowed onto our small island, the Johnson regime behave as if the UK doesn’t need any border control, so why the ‘sabre rattling’ because Russia is doing its annual military exercises on its own border?
Could be it because Putin (unlike Johnson & Co) wants no part of the WEF NWO which, by removing Nation boundaries will “build back better”, but don’t worry plebs “you will own nothing and be happy”.
February 15, 2022
J Bush,
Agreed. Nothing done about illegal invaders to the U.K. who we have the military capacity (but not the will) to deter.
Showboating over Ukraine where we do not have the might to challenge and the UKâs interest is negligible anyway.
It does fit it with what would appeal to the globalist crowd that Johnson seeks to please as you correctly point out.
It also provides an additional distraction from Partygate which is no longer the big headline. There are even commentators now prepared to say that Johnson could survive.
February 15, 2022
Johnson is taking the lesson of Bashir Assad. Remember all the pundits years ago that said he’s toast, be out in a week, cannot possibly remain – he’s still there!
February 15, 2022
Putin easily established we will do f*** all about all manner of his taking murderous liberties in London, Home Counties and Salisbury weekenders….
We present no threat whatsoever.
February 15, 2022
Heâs probably a little be scared of our campaign of ânet-zeroâ and the fear that it could spread to the east
February 15, 2022
Indeed.
February 15, 2022
DOM – Absolutely spot on and we the people are meant to be stupid?????
February 15, 2022
I suppose offering Ukraine weapons hasn’t at added fuel to the fire?
February 15, 2022
One other thing. Let’s assume that war will be averted, after Ukraine says that it will not apply for NATO membership, making itself firmly neutral. Should NATO then go ahead with sanctions anyway? I feel that it should. Putin’s behaviour has been appalling. Whatever the arena, Russia cheats. And China needs a demonstration of Western strength.
February 15, 2022
I am pretty naive in these matters, but I fail to see what difference NATO membership would make to Russia. NATO is assisting Ukraine even though they are not members. It is in the interests of many NATO members to prevent Russia from invading/seizing Ukraine.
February 15, 2022
The main difference is the commitment within NATO that an attack upon one member is an attack upon all. In peace this leads to Nato forces, typically US and British forces, stationed in frontline member countries. In war it means that an aggressor, e.g. in this case Russia, would be fighting Nato forces, not just Nato-supplied equipment used by Ukrainian forces. Look at it from a Russian perspective of mild paranoia: they would be ever more closely surrounded by enemies, potential or real. Is it not understandable that they don’t want that?
February 15, 2022
I don’t think this is mild paranoia as you say. Putin knows perfectly well that NATO does not represent a threat unless he attacks a NATO country. No, Putin is after recreating the old Soviet Union, not necessarily as it was but with Russia having not just an sphere of influence but having dominion over the old Soviet states. If he were to succeed in Ukraine he would go after Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and then for the southern small states in Europe. That is why we must stand firm.
February 15, 2022
+1
February 15, 2022
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are member countries of Nato.
February 15, 2022
+1
February 15, 2022
What’s preventing Russia from invading the Ukraine is that there is no profit in it only problems – what’s in it for Russia?
February 15, 2022
“And China needs a demonstration of western strength.”
Lord Palmerston died in 1865 or didn’t you hear?
February 15, 2022
A lesson in history â how long did it take for the US to renege on the Laramie Treaty? The US have a long history of reneging on signed and ratified treaties. Why should Russia (and Iran) trust them.
Countries have been destabilised and bombed to further their interests. With holding Afghan funds from Afghanistan and their starving population (because of 9/11) is a crime against humanity.
The damage in the US from the recent tornados horrified many Americans â but this parallels the deliberate destruction to many foreign countries in the name of pseudo democracy.
Nord Stream 2 is an economic threat to American interests. Hence the interference. Deliver (or more likely lend) high tech weaponry to Ukraine, pull back your experts and see what happens.
In the event of a full scale incursion into the Ukraine, it will all be over in 36 hours. The Ukraine only has limited fuel reserves.
The BBC were up there with the propaganda saying Russia was threatening its âsmallerâ neighbour (the second largest country in Europe).
February 15, 2022
Russia has long since labelled the US as “non-agreement capable”.
If you want the essence of the USA go to Youtube and hear/see Mike Pompeo tell a West Point audience in 2019:
“I was the CIA Director.We lied,we cheated,we stole.It was like we had entire training courses.It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment.”
This is the third time I have tried to post this gem-which is fully verified.If it doesn’t get through this time,it will speak volumes of our host.And not very complementary volumes.
Reply This time i have found the time to check the tape and have viewed what you viewed .
February 15, 2022
Reply to reply.
Typical of keeping the head below the parapet. Nice piece of avoidance of view – fence sitting. Is that it -perhaps Sir John you dare not express a view. No comment such as ‘interesting’ or ‘concerning’. Not likely.
February 15, 2022
‘…… the CIA Director.We lied,we cheated,we stole.It was like we had entire training courses.It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment’.
And do you think no other countries do that?
February 16, 2022
Do you expect it from the “shining city on the hill”?
February 15, 2022
Old person – very good post. I heard Ben Wallace say on the BBC that Russia signed the Minsk Treaty – they didn’t – that’s the calibre of UK politicians.
February 17, 2022
The Minsk Protocol was signed on 05/09/2014 by Russian ambassador to Ukraine acting as Russian representative, Mikhail Zurabov.
Following the violations of this original protocol, a follow-up memorandum was agreed on 19/09/2014. Following the continuation of combat in the Donetsk region, and the victory of âpro-Russian Ukrainian rebelsâ in that region by January 2015, the first protocol and memorandum were considered obsolete, and a second Minsk II protocol was discussed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) during February 2015. Again this Minsk II document was signed by representatives of separatist Ukrainian leaders, Ukrainian representative Leonid Kuchma, Russian ambassador Mikhail Zurabov, and OSCE representative Heidi Tagliavini on 12 February 2015.
Local elections were held in Ukraine on 25 October 2015, except in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions where they kept being postponed. Fighting had generally subsided but sporadic fighting continued over the years with as many as 15,000 casualties in total.
There were elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on 11 November 2018 giving majority to the pro-Russian parties. Following these elections, discussions for the application of this Minsk II Protocol collapsed, as Russia wanted to be considered as a mediator between the Kyiv government and the two pro-Russian regions.
So Ben Wallace was kind of right.
February 15, 2022
As long as the Kiev government refuses to negotiate directly with the separatists, the situation surely cannot be resolved. For better or worse, direction negotiation with Sinn Fein/IRA is what Britain had to do to end the Northern Ireland conflict. And the conflict was ended, whatever we think of the outcome.
This is also what Trudeau needs to do to end the standoff in Ottawa. Jaw-jaw etc. It’s the best way in the end.
February 15, 2022
A practical referendum on vaccines has been held in every developed country, with a resounding 80+ to 20- at least in all of them, in favour.
These anti-Enlightenment types are defying the clear, incontrovertible Will Of The People.
February 15, 2022
I don’t know what his has to do with my comment, Nottingham Lad Himself.
But since you raise the point, nor do I recall going to a polling booth knowing that, if I didn’t vote a particular way, I could be deprived of rights such as the freedom to travel, go to events, and even earn my livelihood.
February 15, 2022
Thatâs precisely what happened to us when you voted for your Brexit.
February 15, 2022
‘freedom to travel, go to events, and even earn my livelihood.’
Which of these are denied? Witness Winter sports, F1, Tennis, Olympics, Theatre, Cinemas, Museums open – are you unemployed? – claiming Universal Credit are you?
February 15, 2022
NLH. As are all minority groups regarding net zero, veganism etc.
February 15, 2022
Get with the programmeâŠyouâre so 2021
Kiev is now call Kyiv, (Kiev is Russian while Kyiv is Ukraine) likewise Turkey is now called TĂŒrkiye (Turkey Christian while TĂŒrkiye is Muslim)
…..and according to the Olympics, the BBC and the UN; Tiawan doesnât exist
February 15, 2022
We don’t call Germany Deutschland, Finland Suomi, nor Poland Polska.
So I’ll stick with the English words for Turkey, Burma etc. too, which have served me well for decades, and which others understand when I use them, thanks.
It all went wrong when some TV journos started calling Constantinople Istanbul.
February 15, 2022
Not very politically correct there NHL
Get with the programme.
February 16, 2022
It’s zero to do with politics and started as TV journos showing off that they’d actually been to places and knew what the locals called them.
The rest is down to people not thinking this through.
We speak English, not Burmese, nor Welsh for that matter.
I don’t call Swansea Abertawe.
February 17, 2022
Constantinople became Istanbul on 28 March 1930. I had not realised you were so old.
If you want to go there make sure you book for IST or SAW. CON is in New Hampshire.
February 18, 2022
Touché
February 15, 2022
Tiawan doesn’t exist? — was it nuked, I missed that?
February 15, 2022
‘chinese taipei’ comrade….because china says so
February 15, 2022
+1
February 15, 2022
It is funny watching Brexitists try diplomacy. Photocopy Liz went to Russia – tried dressing like Thatcher did – and looked completely silly. She then made a basic geography mistake and was, rightly, insulted by Lavrov. But Photocopy Liz still put out a taxpayer funded video or her achievements on her Twitter. If she were half as good at government as she is at self promotion sheâd be dangerous. The reality is that she is a complete lightweight. That said she is more competent than the last two foreign secretaries. But seeing that they were Raab and Bunter that is not hard.
Then Bunter himself is parading around Europe like anybody cares. It is such an embarrassment for our country that the Tories have imposed this useless lump of lard on us. He thinks he is a statesman. That isnât the word everybody I know uses to describe him. They mostly use the rudest four letter word I know.
February 15, 2022
If the EU is as great as you think it is, then why hasn’t Putin applied to join?
February 15, 2022
Look in the mirror Andy.
February 15, 2022
A good part of Mr. Putin’s rather adroit manoeuvring does perhaps rest on his wish to be taken seriously by the West and have his views taken into account. As the recently departed head of the German navy said, why should he not be granted that?
Explanation of present postures may require an understanding of what Mr. Putin’s operatives thought they were doing in Salisbury. Prima facie, it does seem astonishing that an attack by a foreign power using biological warfare was dismissed with such timidity by our Government.
As to what what Mr. Biden is up to and how truthful he is being, who can tell?
February 15, 2022
There can be no globalism without control of Russia.Russia and China are going to blow the globalists out of the water,one way or another.When the dollar ceases to be the reserve currency-and it’s coming-it will be curtains for the western elites.Nowhere will feel that more than London( I have already predicted that the capital that will,in a manner of speaking,be reduced to rubble after this failed march on Moscow,will be London.
That’s why the shrillest,most desperate voices are based here-they can feel it slipping away and are inventing fantasy narratives etc ed
February 15, 2022
Surely London won’t be troubled by the demise of the dollar as they will continue to live on the laundered rouble or change over to Bitcoin.
February 18, 2022
The UK is the second country on the list of global money laundering hotspots (fstech.co.uk, 10/02/2022) with ÂŁ88 bn laundered here every year (4.3% of GDP, not negligible, which might explain why the powers that be and the Little Helpers they employ are not too keen on correcting this state of affairs). According to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committeeâs âMoscowâs Gold: Russian corruption in the UKâ, session 2017-2019, 38 pp (available from publications.parliament.uk) this âoldâ report published just after Salisbury quoted ÂŁ100 bn of Russian money arriving in the UK in the last 20 years (to 2018), an unknown but thought to be sizeable fraction of which was âdirtyâ money.
On 10/01/2022 the same committee was supposed to look again at the same question, with our âwonderfulâ FS Liz Truss repeating that âthe UK has some of the toughest anti-corruption laws in the worldââŠ
As for Bitcoin, how do you want to use it when the value of 1BC went from $0.5 in 2010 to $10 in 2011 and 2012 to $600 in 2013 to $310 in 2014 to ⊠to $19,000 in 2017 to $3,800 in 2018 to ⊠$35,000 in 2021 to ÂŁ29,673 today (bytwork.com âBitcoin price chart for the entire history from 2008 to 2022â).
Wouldnât the MPC at the BoE be very busy if the UK economy were really to be relying on the BC?
February 15, 2022
Surely the whole point of NATO is mutual security. On the basis that the West would never intervene militarily if Ukraine was a member, it makes that membership meaningless so just like the toothless boleaux thrown at China a few years ago why antagonise Putin?
Bidenâ s and Borisâs pathetic huffing and puffing is in Bidens case trying to make up for Afghanistan and Boris a diversion from domestic troubles, both trying/pretending to be world statesman.
February 15, 2022
Boris is supporting Biden more than the Ukraine in this situation. He’s probably after some trade concessions.
February 15, 2022
Maybe.
Whatever trade concessions he might get would actually be worth very little:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/09/24/the-problems-with-the-single-market/#comment-1262165
âA trade agreement with the US could increase UK GDP in the long run by around 0.07% … or 0.16% … under scenario 1 and scenario 2 respectively.”
but that reality would not stop him vastly exaggerating their value as he did with his trade deal with the EU:
https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2021/12/11/advisers-advise-ministers-decide/#comment-1283033
“Well, last Christmas Eve Boris Johnson went on TV and told us that his âCanada styleâ trade deal with the EU was worth ÂŁ660 billion, which would work out as about 30% of our GDP … “
February 15, 2022
Biden or indeed any US President will not give any trade concessions.
February 15, 2022
cynic !
February 15, 2022
NATO doesnât need Ukraine. Many people in Ukraine donât want NATO they see their allegiance to Russia not Western Europe. We have to see Russiaâs point of view.
February 15, 2022
Not just Russia but (and I haven’t seen any mention of this anywhere yet) China-Ukraine has recently became a member of the Belt & Road Initiative.(Euractiv.com-20/10/21-“Ukraine is China’s new bridge to Europe”).
And is already making a mess of it(Silk Road Briefing-20/1/22-“Ukraine proving an unreliable trade partner as China-sourced goods to Poland are refused transit.”):-
“Beijing ….signed off agreements to help Ukraine develop road,rail and other infrastructure developments on 30 June last year.Ukraine is a member of the BRI and Chinese investors have been putting in US $2bn pa the past three years to help develop supply chains and ease congestions.Ukrainian political issues impacting on China-sourced supplies to EU markets will not be seen as helpful to diplomatic,trade or investment relations and will lead China to look at alternative routes bypassing Ukraine should the situation continue.Kiev will also lose out as it will lose valuable transit fees in an economy that is already suffering and is spending much needed revenues on US weapon systems rather than it’s supply chain obligations.”
Hungary is already much favoured by China (and Russia) with a huge new inland port for East-West freight set to open at the end of this quarter.
BTW ,as agreed with the EU a couple of years ago,all containers passing through Russian territory and waterways (as almost all east-west rail freight does)have to be fitted with track and seal devices that incorporate Russian GLONNASS technology-their proprietary equivalent of GPS.
February 15, 2022
English is spoken through ‘most of the world’ – -should we claim it all back?
February 15, 2022
Ukraine may want to join NATO, but that doesn’t mean NATO has to accept their application. Most European member nations, including Germany, don’t pay the minimum 2% of GDP. At the very least that could be used as a justification for refusing another European member.
In yesterday’s Daily Telegraph it was reported that “EU hands Britain post-Brexit olive branch â an offer to lead new security council,” –
So if this is correct, after 6 years of an aggressive attempt to damage our economy and force Northern Ireland to join Eire, they appear to want us to provide a free defence service for the EU ….. basically pay for it, and save them AGAIN.
The answer should be NO ….. at least until they scrap the NI Protocol.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/02/13/eu-hands-britain-post-brexit-olive-branch-offer-lead-new-security/
February 15, 2022
Agreed. I have less trust in the EU than our incompetent government. The EU always want 100% of the benefits for themselves, and try to get others to pay for it all. They would take our money, take our expertise, and at the first sign of the UK benefitting they would want us out, as with Galileo, but they would keep the UK’s contributions for themselves.
Sadly, I expect Boris to agree, as it will stoke his ego and his virtue signalling.
February 15, 2022
Donna and Shirley. Correct.
February 15, 2022
I wouldn’t connect those issues, I’d just do whatever was necessary to bring some sanity to the situation that the EU and the Irish government and their Remainer allies in this country – traitors, in my eyes, even if not in the eyes of the law, and certainly not fit to be in Parliament – and especially George Osborne and Theresa May and of course the Great Charlatan Boris Johnson have together combined to create in Northern Ireland, which it seems is now functioning as the very back door into the EU Single Market that the EU said must be avoided at all costs.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/irish-trade-northern-ireland-booms-112958144.html
British imports direct into Ireland down by âŹ2.3 billion, imports from Northern Ireland up âŹ1.6 billion.
Because with only a small fraction of the EU mandated checks and controls actually being implemented at the points of entry into Northern Ireland, and no checks and controls at all on goods taken across the land border into the Republic, it may be easier for hauliers to take the longer route.
February 16, 2022
Here’s some nonsense:
https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2022-02-15/huge-rise-in-exports-across-irish-border-in-2021
“The figures were pointed to by some parties on both sides of the Irish border as one of the benefits of the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.
SDLP MLA Matthew OâToole said that the figures show that âmany businesses on both sides of the border are adapting to take full advantage of the Protocolâ.
He said: âNorthern Ireland now has the unique ability to export seamlessly into both the British market and the EU single market â making us the envy of exporters in Scotland, England and Wales having to deal with new barriers to trade.â
Mr OâToole said that data âproves the DUPâs scaremongering and brinkmanship does not reflect the interests of our economy or the vast majority of people hereâ.
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the CSO figures were âvery welcome newsâ.
He added: âPositive Brexit dividends have been few and far between and it is vital that we capitalise on them where possible.
âThe Protocol is not only protecting Northern Ireland from the worst of Brexit, economically, but it also offers far greater potential than many would have expected.â”
So what has changed to improve the prospects of companies in Northern Ireland who may wish to export their goods across the land border into the Irish Republic, what new opportunities have become available that some of them are now seizing? The border was open before and it is no more open now, they were working to EU rules before and they are still working to EU rules now, so why the upsurge in exports?
It might make sense if one effect of the protocol was to open up a previously closed border, or another effect was to bring would-be exporters into regulatory alignment with the market on the other side, but neither of those is true. And why has the flow of goods in the opposite direction also increased?
Could it possibly be connected with this?
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/freight-traffic-rises-at-ni-ports-as-irish-truckers-find-rules-easier-41250161.html
“Freight traffic rises at NI ports as Irish truckers find rules easier
Exports to the Republic surge by 64%
More than 250,000 checks carried out
Freight traffic from Great Britain to Northern Irelandâs three ports has increased by around 20% as hauliers take advantage of customs rules under the terms of the NI Protocol, according to Logistic UKâs Seamus Leheny.
It comes after hauliers and Dublin Port officials reported an increase in GB goods entering the Republic via Northern Irish ports because of less onerous customs rules here.”
Why do we never get any sensible commentary from the UK government, why do they continue to allow anti-Brexit rubbish to circulate unchallenged?
February 15, 2022
DT âEuropean leaders impressed with Westminsterâs handling of Ukraine crisis set to propose leadership of new body and put tensions behind themâ.
Is that the follow-up of âUK offers deep security partnership with EU post-Brexit in the face of growing global threatsâ, gov.uk, 12/09/2017?
Or of the link.springer.com âDo or die? The UK, the EU, and internal/external security cooperation after Brexitâ, S.Sweeney & N.Winn, 02/03/2021, European Political Science, doi.org/10.1057/s41304-021-00322-0.
Reading this last paper, one can wonder who is more in need of cooperation.
And is Joe Barnes, the Telegraphâs Brussels correspondent, any more reliable than some Boris Johnson?
February 15, 2022
The Russians – who only respect strength – have analysed Biden and concluded, correctly, that he will not fight. They wish to show that the Americans are unreliable allies and so far, they are succeeding.
Putin is clearly not bothered at all by the prospect of sanctions. Imposing American sanctions will cut off the gas supply to Europe in the middle of the winter. Putin has not – and is not – threatening to cut off the gas to Ukraine or Europe. Biden is!
Wallace went to Moscow last week, got his marching orders and the next day takes all British troops out of Ukraine. How absolutely pathetic is that? Regrettably, 12 years of Conservative defence cuts have emasculated our armed forces.
February 15, 2022
It hasn’t been widely pointed out here but Defence Minister Shoigu had Wallace pose for a photo with him under a large canvas of the Reichstag in ruins.
Ooooooh those Russians!
February 15, 2022
OT
Many health professionals are concerned that Sunak – who is not clinically qualified – has demanded that the NHS stop analysing new variants of the Chinese plague virus in an attempt to save a few coppers.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents all trusts, said âTrust leaders are concerned at reports that, to save money and to align with a political narrative that we have conquered Covid, the government is going to dramatically scale back on the Covid testing and surveillance infrastructure we have worked so hard to create.
âAt a time when a number of scientists are warning that there is no guarantee that the next variant will be milder in effect than Omicron, we need to keep sensible precautions in place.
âA living-with-Covid strategy canât just be about celebrating the removal of restrictions. It must also set out what is needed to protect our nation from what can still be a deadly virus.â
This government just never learns……
February 15, 2022
In life there is no guarantee of anything very much – beyond death at some point and taxes perhaps. Chris Hopson always sounds like a trade union leader for the vast army NHS workers, always wanting yet more money (much of which is clearly wasted). Rather as Cressida Dick seemed to be the same for the police. Both rather deaf the genuine needs of the public.
They should both remember it is the public who pays vast sums for these (often very second rate and very misdirected) public services. They should provide decent services that serve the people with what they actually want & need – in a timely and polite manner. This while offering decent value for money and convenience.
February 15, 2022
Perhaps the NHS should concentrate on attempting to provide adequate medical care for sick people and leave viral analysis to appropriate University research departments?
February 15, 2022
We have a tired old man, well past his ‘use by’ date as President of the USA and Putin is maximising his advantage to get NATO to refuse Ukraine membership but as I said earlier this for the Ukraine not us or NATO.
There was a glimmer of hope whispered by the Ukraine president, so let’s hope he follows through.
February 15, 2022
Putin is doing no such thing – NATO cannot grant membership to Ukraine as it has a dispute with Russia – NATO’s own rules.
February 15, 2022
The man in Moscow is a monster, sending out assassins to rub out his political opponents. I won’t forget what happened in Salisbury and him subsequently wiping his mouth and denying everything.
Perhaps we can have better relations with Russia when he’s finally gone. Until then, whatever he wants, do the opposite.
February 15, 2022
Your last sentence is, I’m sorry to say, the hallmark of a very weak mind indeed.
February 15, 2022
how do you figure that out – bizarre.
February 15, 2022
This ridiculous,self-deluding narrative that if only Putin was gone……Russia is not a creation of Putin-Putin is a creation of Russia -and proving to be one of Mother Russia’s greatest sons.
It has been around for a very,very long time and been very,very big for a very,very long time too.I firmly expect it will still be around (and still very,very big)when the USA implodes.
February 15, 2022
Nice to have a very very very big Putin fan on here.
February 15, 2022
Dave Andrews
Salisbury.
Had a couple of dumpster divers not tried to get a freebie then this would have been a well targeted hit.
Unlike how the west takes out whole families when it drone strikes a terrorist.
February 15, 2022
Putin is playing the West. He will carry on playing the West until our âleadersâ run out of things to discuss. Eventually Putin will move to annex the separatist areas of Ukraine. If sanctions are applied he will reduce or cut the gas supplies to Europe until a settlement is reached.
February 15, 2022
For âseparatistsâ read russian army in civilian cloths
February 17, 2022
Oh, how I am in awe of the dab hand at explaining foreign affairs.
February 15, 2022
Yes, Biden and other western leaders keep banging the war drums, but if Russia were going to invade it would not have waited for NATO to be ready.
The West is making a big thing about this because they want Russian energy without strings attached.
As for sanctions – Russia needs the West far less than the West imagines
February 15, 2022
‘…if Russia were going to invade it would not have waited for NATO to be ready.’ Yes my thought exactly but I have never heard anyone saying that in the media, odd really as it seems obvious plus all the ‘defensive’ weapons that have poured in.
As for sanctions, if any country could apply them to the USA, the USA would declare that an act of war and the bombers would be flying the next day, if not sooner.
February 15, 2022
For months Putin has been on the back benches regarding his profile amongst world leaders. He is getting older and has a raft of internal problems, so it cannot come as a great surprise to see his actions have achieved in the eyes of his people what he considers to be his rightful place on the world stage. Because whichever way you look at it the world leaders as sure as hell are not ignoring him now.
February 15, 2022
Nonsense!I monitor who is visiting the Kremlin and there has been no shortage of high profile visitors ever since 2014.Just because you don’t hear about it,doesn’t mean it’s not happening.The world stage is not getting your face on the BBC or Sky.
It’s over for the West as a concept,the future axis is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.That doesn’t get mentioned in western media either but do some research.The UK is irrelevant(it’s a case of the empty vessels making the most noise) and even the EU Foreign Minister,Borrell,admits that “for Russia the EU doesn’t exist or is not relevant.”Mr Putin knows that,in the west, he only needs maintain contact with the US.
February 16, 2022
So why do you spend increasing amounts of your most valuable time on here? It’s not as if you offer incisive critiques on Russia nor analyse the benefits of any cooperation. All you do is laud Putin and the rest in bandit country.
If the West is finished why do you bother?
What is the purpose of the new trade routes you rave about if the West is totally irrelevant?
February 16, 2022
Throughout history control of trade routes has determined wealth and power and the location of marketplaces and financial centres.And throughout history trade routes have shifted as they are now shifting.It is the west (ie the USA and the UK primarily ) which is not co-operating with a new emerging order,seeking to retain their unwarranted privileges.Putin has offered co-operation but the “Anglo-Saxons” only want control.
JK Galbraith:”People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of that advantage.”That’s why it’s over!
February 16, 2022
There you go … “unwarranted privileges” – How are the Russian elite’s privileges warranted and in particular the China elites who stole most of the intellectual property from the West. You sometimes offer interesting perspectives but hardly unbiassed, more like thinly veiled propaganda.
I am not familiar with the offers of co-operation from Putin, between actions of his kill squads .. but then I am not privileged.
February 15, 2022
Sanctions won’t work- they didn’t work even against tiny Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and Putin knows that. The only effective thing Western countries could do is send armed forces into the Ukraine to help Ukraine and I (and Tobias Ellwood M.P., chairman of the Defence Select Committee) think that should be done. In their absence I expect the only calculation Putin is making is over whether the military casualties the Ukrainians would inflict on an invading Russian army is going to be a price worth paying for him or not.
February 15, 2022
Tobias Ellwood!! That man has never considered anyone else’s thoughts but his own deluded ones – he’s a fool. That he is a chairman of anything is frightening.
February 16, 2022
Even if Mr.Ellwood (or anybody for that matter) is wrong about some things (I think he is wrong about wanting to change Prime Minister) does not mean he is wrong about everything!
February 15, 2022
Is there a reason the Russians, or the Chinese, Marxists would bother with the mess and expense of military action to destroy the West when they are using so successfully the UN and the easy corruption and widespread decadence of the West to cause it to self-destruct?
The UNâs climate crisis will bring about economic collapse as the West dashes for net zero without the technology to achieve it.
The UN’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and REGULAR Migration will bring about social collapse and additional economic destruction.
Why send in troops when you can invade a country with either students to capture the universities or send in daily a band of young men of fighting age with no ID having first disabled the legislature, the bureaucracy and the judiciary to make them unable to defend themselves against the creeping invasion?
February 15, 2022
A lot of good points in your post, which is probably closer to the truth than many would believe.
Plus Gas and Oil supply are also weapons that could be used against Europe in particular.
Putin has been testing Europe’s responses of late by upping incursion approaches, both in the Air and at Sea.
February 15, 2022
Putin is just trying to determine the geopolitics of the West. I suspect he is in league with Xi, to determine that the decimated West will do in the face of aggression. The West needs energy, now controlled by Putin. The world needs chips, soon to be controlled by Xi, if he decides to invade Taiwan. What did Silicon Valley extort from the Democrats in exchange for getting Dopey Joe elected?
I think all that puts Partygate in perspective and Westminster needs to rise above trivia like Sturgeon and Wakeford and Johnson and raise its sights.
February 15, 2022
To take you back a couple of decades, Intel had a big problem in California and Texas where they led the world in making ever smaller faster computer processors. They found various competitors sniping away at the top table of development achievements. Shifting production towards Dresden, and ultimately outside USA was triggered not so much by that, they could buy them out, but unreliable POWER at their FABS (wafer production factories). Hence the rise of Tiawan etc.
February 15, 2022
Britain has no vital interests in the Ukraine, or indeed in central Europe, and never has had.
We should stay well clear of this whole disaster area.
February 15, 2022
+1
We need to worry about our own borders and the types of people entering our country.
February 15, 2022
Off topic: the news tells me that care work will be opened up to new immigrants. Very few immigrants will stay in care work, as they will seek higher paid work as soon as possible therefore even more immigrants will be needed to fulfil the newly vacated jobs. Another open door to mass immigration as we will permanently be recruiting for these low paid jobs, and the added load onto our benefits system.
February 15, 2022
Do they come with satisfactory references?
February 15, 2022
Why should being a care worker be a low-paid job?
February 15, 2022
Supply v demand.
February 16, 2022
Particularly if you open it up to all comers from anywhere in the world.
February 16, 2022
So government policy is to keep care work as a low-paid job, rather than to control immigration as you would wish.
When you need care, then you’ll be looked after by someone from beyond Europe, more likely than not.
You voted for it.
February 16, 2022
What government policy is that NLH?
February 16, 2022
brexit
February 16, 2022
So your conspiracy theory is that a secret policy of the government is to deliberately try to keep care workers wages low by leaving the EU
Despite you telling us repeatedly that the effects of leaving the EU has been to reduce numbers of overseas staff coming here.
February 16, 2022
Fearful of that are you MiC?
February 15, 2022
A huge thanks to John for openly condemning this thing in Canada. You’re a decent politician who can stand up and look people people in the face with a clean conscience
Kudos from all freedom loving, right thinking people
February 15, 2022
Hear hear
February 15, 2022
Agree
February 16, 2022
+1
February 16, 2022
George Monbiot today is absolutely right.
These incoherent protesters are, in general, anti-Enlightenment obscurantists.
They often couldn’t name the main internal organs of a human. They don’t get Newton’s Laws of motion, and don’t know the difference between an element, a compound, and a mixture.
They simply want to tear down the architecture of a decent society, because it protects those whom they unjustly hate.
Freedom, my backside.
February 16, 2022
Yes you can always depend on George to come out with an excellent opinion.
Lol
February 17, 2022
P2, funny you never admonish LL when he keeps quoting the Telegraphâs geniuses that A. Heath, A. Pearson or C. Moore are.
Could it be you somehow are a bit one-sided?
February 17, 2022
Perhaps I agree with those opinions.
Is that allowed?
Or do we all now have to agree with your opinions.
Are your opinions not one sided?
February 21, 2022
My dear P2, you were the one who started with NLH and Monbiot. Personally I donât care what opinion formers you agree with. It was a free country not that long ago âŠ
February 17, 2022
Gosh, are you saying the truckers are deliberately hiding the truth of the enlightenment! How can Europe possibly recover from such a mortal blow!
Did you poll these protestors directly and test them on the anatomical knowledge? But I doubt they would take the carpings of someone who doesn’t know the proper name for their backside and instead calls it “freedom”, so why should we.
PS I imagine as truckers they probably have a more acute and practical sense of Newton’s laws of motion than you.
February 15, 2022
Bulgaria, Romania, etc should never have been allowed into NATO. For one they wouldnt fight on our side if we got invaded, for two they should not be where the line in the sand is. For three it clearly makes Russia more nervous.
Best way to deal with Russia to to encourage them to be more free market, and enjoy the fruits of its success, not introduce more communist policies here like NHS excesses, rationing of housing & schools, etc.
February 15, 2022
I think you are right in pointing out Russia is clearly nervous of the West. I’ve never forgotten Cameron saying that he wanted to see the EU ranging from the Atlantic to the Urals. I don’t recall the context at that time but I suspect he was echoing EU thoughts or perhaps even intentions on that matter.
February 15, 2022
I remember Cameron in India telling people that he wanted to give them lots more work and indefinite leave visas, pretty much immediately after he had been going round the UK telling the voters that he wanted to cut immigration.
February 15, 2022
MARTYN G – I would not agree that Russia is nervous of the west at present. The west should be nervous of Russia who will not make any moves unless provoked. Do you or anyone trust the present US under Biden’s supposed control, NATO, the UN, the EU, and for that matter, factions within the UK??? I do not trust any of them.
When Donald Trump was president of the US it was a different matter but there again we would not be in this situation.
February 15, 2022
I think Russia is nervous of its own people, the USA and China in that orderâŠ.theyâre not nervous of Europe or NATO
February 17, 2022
Once Bulgaria and Romania had accessed the EU it would have been difficult not to allow them into NATO. And who pushed for the accession of these Eastern European countries into the EU?
âBritish policy toward the eastern enlargement of the European Union: Historical aspectsâ, A. Hrubinko, 2016, Europ.Histor.Studies, doi.org/10.17721/2524-048X.2016.05.20-32.
February 15, 2022
The Russian military movements were communicated to the west in 2019, that war games in Belarus and around Ukraine would take place this winter of 2022.
Putin is not complaining, he is being well paid, 5 times more for the gas and extra for oil and metals and the less he take out of the ground for the west is the more he has to sell to the east at lower prices, iit’s a no brainer.
On the other hand, you in the west have to worry about the GREAT RESET which started in 2019 with the man made VIRUS, now going on to, your be happy and owner nothing and by the way that is not a idle theory as you will see in the future, it’s all going to take place under the NWO and the west one world government to which your government has already sign up to.
As you know ICE CARs are going, holiday overseas are going as well as eating out and pubs, white goods will go up as well as foot ware and clothing, it all about mend, repair and reuse and not forgetting prices of meats going up so you consume less. They, the elite or NWO only have to have a war of words in the future with China or Russia by way of the western media and things will double in prices over night.
I don’t see anything changing at the next election, people are set in their ways,doing what the elite media tell them to vote, i for one would not stand at election because media would cut me into pieces to win the election for one of the big parties to win.
You been voting for it for years without even knowing it, all the writing and TV programs from the late 1960s till now, you treated it just as a joke, well your not laughing now are you.
The elite do not like people, the people in this country have no more standing with the elite than a African on two dollars a day living in Africa, then you must ask yourself, who are they trying to save the planet for if not for you and your family or does the planet need saving.
February 15, 2022
After the Bolshevik Empire collapsed and with it the Warsaw pact, the threat of an invasion of Western Europe by forces including those of countries occupied against their people’s will, receded. What was the US response? NATO through which the US occupied Western Europe, instead of going home, expanded into Eastern Europe. Is the US paranoid? No, they want to become world hegemon replacing
the Bolsheviks, a criminal gang that took control of Russia via a coup d’etat and since have been replaced by ethnic Russians who are not interested in occupying people against their will whether in Ukraine or elsewhere or undermining them with organisations like Comintern. However, the West supports the occupation of people against their will otherwise they would not be siding with the Kyiv regime, a Western construct, against those who would much prefer to reside within the Russian orbit.
Unfortunately, the Tory Party would much prefer to act the poodle of a man and a country whose interests do not coincide with ours, either strategically or economically. Opposing Nord Stream II will
do nothing to prevent poor people being hammered with astronomical gas prices and it will do nothing to bring about the end of the US occupation of Europe with their military whilst they drag us into a non-ending series of foreign conflicts chosen by the US State Dept. and which do not defend our vital interests; on the contrary, they have triggered the invasion of our country by refugees whilst the US gets a free pass.
February 15, 2022
‘After the Bolshevik Empire collapsed ‘
It didn’t collapse its alive and well headed up by Boris and his party in the Commons
February 15, 2022
I’m not sure I know what an ethnic Russian is-there are said to be c180 (indigenous) ethnic and/or cultural groups across Russia’s vastness.It’s a civilisational state,rather than a nation state.There are numerous non-Slavs in the inner circle(as there always have been,both in Tsarist and Soviet times)and I would expect Russia’s Asian-ness to become more prominent in coming years.
There is a famous quote by Dostoevsky :”Russia would always be treated as a slave in Europe but would walk as a master in Asia.”
February 15, 2022
Slavs are European; who said Russians were all Slavs? Solzhenitzyn averred that the Bolsheviks were not Russians, however.
February 16, 2022
I believe Solzhenitsyn wrote that many of those bolsheviks responsible for carrying out the terror were not Russian.Clearly most bolsheviks were Russian.As for the Slavs,no-one is sure of their origins but it is quite probable they came out of Asia,as did many inhabitants of East Europe.
February 16, 2022
Obviously Solzhenitzyn, a minor Russain literary figure who experienced the Bolsheviks first hand whilst incarcerated in one of their gulags, was wrong as his opinion contracts that of Michel.
February 15, 2022
The threat to putin of “if you invade Ukraine you won’t get nordstream 2 ” if that’s the case and he wasn’t going to invade he gets the pipeline agreement he’s been seeking. A laughable threat.
February 15, 2022
If Putin wins a limited engagement and takes control of Donbas â win
If Putin pulls his army back from Ukraine border â win
His goals where to disrupt & weaken NATO, split European support for Ukraine, test & analyses NATO and European military response, evaluate Nord Stream gas pipeline commitmentsâŠ.and to get the western world dancing to his tune â win win win
February 15, 2022
yep.
February 15, 2022
Indeed, particularly with our own would-be manager of a dress shop scurrying to Moscow with inanities, and Johnson trying to frighten us (again)….
February 15, 2022
Talking of a “War of Words”
Well said Oliver Dowden
Conservative Chairman
February 15, 2022
“Britons should stop âobsessingâ over pronouns and “decolonising” the school curriculum.” Actually, ‘Britons’ do nor obsess about pronouns. It’s all a play-off between cretinous politicians and the mentally deranged.
February 16, 2022
Indeed – it’s stirred up by the media with headlines such as “Fury over….” when all that’s happened is a few tweets by some attention-seeker or other.
February 16, 2022
Ask JK Rowling if she agrees with you NHL
February 17, 2022
Oliver D, the CUPâs Alastair Campbell? Every time there is something ridiculous to be proferred, one can be sure that P2 will be there to fulfil the task.
Does he know where the Honourable Member for Hertsmere was talking from? The Heritage Foundation, the think tank keen on banning books from US school and libraries. Is he âindulging the painful woke psychodramaâ denounced by OD?
February 17, 2022
Thanks hef
Gosh you are so brilliant.
How can anyone post on here without your critical feedback.
February 21, 2022
Plenty of people writing interesting stuff never have got any âcritical feedbackâ from me. Only windbags like you get my attention. But I admit, youâre a first-class windbag.
February 16, 2022
Why is Russia seen as a threat to the UK?
Threats to UK are closer to home and this Ukraine concern is being used to attempt distraction from real threats. As our defence budget attests.
Effectively open borders. No independent energy policy. A biased and irrational need to degrade UK based production of power , goods and service in favour of EU supplies. Its almost as if they are guiding the UK to a known supply crunch of various things. Why?
It would be better to engender a self sufficient independent energy policy with a view to being able to swing produce and sell gas/power into the EU or at least reduce net imports from the EU. This will aid our EU friends as well.
February 16, 2022
Oh but we are pretty good at having to enforce, an internal border within the UK at the behest of an unfriendly power. Why worry about Russia and Ukraine? We need to be worried about the EU. Its leverage over current key supplies.
February 16, 2022
Our supreme Parliament, elected by you, promised to put that border there, in a freely-negotiated treaty by Frost.
The Tories fulfilled their election manifesto by voting for it and thereby getting brexit done, as you wanted.
Yes, as you were told it would be, it’s dreadful.
February 16, 2022
A very fair summery of the situation Sir John
However the US,UK, EU and NATO have all sorts of agendas in regard to Russia. Russia has got out of the mess it was in at the collapse of the USSR and basically the West don’t like it.
Why are the West not helping to sort out the Devolution issue in Ukraine? You would have thought the UK could bring some useful advice and experience on the subject of devolution đ But perhaps better to send arms instead.
What would the US do if a major strategic Naval base in a friendly country became overnight in a very unfriendly country with close ties to Moscow ? Perhaps Russia should ask for Alaska back.
I am sure the Crimea issue can be settled with the doggy Kiev Government if Moscow crosses a few palms with silver, and just buys it đ Don’t forget it did belong to Russia before given to Ukraine by the USSR. A bit like Alaska. What if the unrest in Canada makes the government resign and a Moscow leaning Government is installed to keep the peace. Canada could cut off land access to Alaska.
February 17, 2022
Does anyone have a view on whether a DMZ should be considered between Russia and Ukraine?