Yes I understand that, but it reaches the point where enough is enough.

 

 

The war in the east was a brutal one. Unimaginable horrors.

 

Why would the EU want Ukraine to join the European project at all?

My limited knowledge tells me that the place is broke with few natural resources. It will be in an even worse financial state if Russia withdraws its support. It would be a huge drain on EC funds, a political nightmare and take decades to straighten out.

Or have I got my assumptions wrong?

dl

 

Like Greece/Ireland/Italy/Portugal? The EC seems to do daft things with membership

 

To expand the European single market. The bigger the market, the more business for EU companies.

 

Well they might get shot of Scotland so that'll even things out

dl

 

Split it in half, that's what they want

What's the problem

 

With any luck they will.

 

So by the looks of it the Russians have sent troops into the Crimea. Why do I have the feeling this could get interesting.

 

In one of life's little peculiarities Ukraine is due to play the USA in a football 'friendly' next week :: the match has been switched to Cyprus......

 

Looks like Russia will Annex Crimea and the East of Ukraine IMHO..

I'm too old for all this but 40 years ago we learnt words like Lebensraum, Sudetenland......

Shaun

 

This is getting incredibly serious now

 

Their gas prices are going to go through the roof

 

Russia ' s motives are like those employed in Georgia. They are trying to provoke the pro western Ukrainians to fight whilst encouraging Russian sympathists in the south and eastern regions.

Russia can't stand the thought of losing another state to the west. Very serious situation. Hopefully the Ukraine's will not be bluffed into a fight and Russia lose interest with international outcry.

 

Historically there has always been a lot of distrust between the two ethnic groups

Not helped by the western Ukrainians "support" for the *****, as they rampaged through the region in 1941/2

Old wounds are slow to heal

 

If it wasn't for the ***** imprisoning my west Ukrainian grandparents in a PoW camp, I wouldn't be able to type this message.

 

They should let the russkies keep Crimea, it's obvious isn't it?

 

The only reason half of the Ukraine became Russian was because Stalin wiped out millions of Ukrainians in a genocide-famine, they were then replaced with Russians.

 

Just watching Hague pompously saying that Russia have made a big miscalculation over Crimea/Ukraine and they are going to regret it. He followed it up with the usual guff about sanctions but ruled out military action.

So basically he is saying the West are very 'cross' with Russia.

The bloke is an imbecile!

 

What do you think Hague should have done?

dl

 

Keep his mouth shut for once

 

If one looks to the future then it's on the cards that Crimea will be a Russian annexe and the rest of Ukraine will become part of the EC.

So it is likely that living standards in Ukraine itself will inexorably rise as EC money pours in and Crimean citizens will default to a miserable Russian existence?

So they may come to regret voting YES to a Russian state. Again, a bit like Scotland

dl

 

What I don't understand is the USA et al and its diatribe of carefully-spoken-yet-malign statements that say this referendum is illegal and will not be internationaly recognised; This is all from countries that purports democracy.

Meanwhile in Scotland they are having a referendum and apparently thats all OK.

In my eyes they are both unified states having a referendum to be come a separatist state. What's the difference?

I also somewhat understand Putin's statments and his actions - the current acting president of the Ukraine is only there through forcing the president to flee under duress. Why are democratic principled countries suporting a forced regime change without an election?

 

The joys of international politics eh. Do/say nothing and everyone presumes your giving them free reign to carry on. No one has the appetite to go to war, so that leaves the usual war of words/sanctions the EU/UN embark on on a regular basis.

 

You're mostly correct but didn't UK give Scotland permission? And in the election in Crimea the Russians will only allow Russian observers in for the elections and they have already started beating up pro-Ukraineans. Basically it's a done deal. Perhaps Salmond is getting jealous

dl

 

LMFTFY,

mb

 

All Hague needs to say is the UK government doesn't approve of Russia's actions, all the 'bad miscalculation' and 'they will regret it' rhetoric is pompous nonsense unless it's backed up with something substantial... Putin must be laughing his **** off at the West as there is nothing we are prepared to do that will make them do anything other than what they want. FFS the Ukrainians even refused to boycott the Paralympics LOL!

 

WTF kind of comment is that?

 

A stupid one?