I'm not sure that Russia will be able to hold substantial areas of Ukraine, but can see a gradual chipping away of it over time. I mean essentially that is happening. Where the line is drawn is partially dependent upon Ukraine and the West. The trouble being that Russia has clearly not operated in good faith, or in any other position than fantasy during this 'peace process' and so cannot be trusted. Something firm and fixed will need to be in place whatever is agreed, else it will gradually get pushed back and we'll be back at square one

And just to add, that the western Aerospace and military supplies companies must be chuffed. They have seen a lot of their most modern equipment used most effectively against Russian hardware.
That can only be good for sales to , say, Saudi Arabia and others.

I disengage, I turn the page.

After the war it's likely that some of those weapons will be used by criminal gangs and terrorists on the continent of Europe.....You notice our politicians don't breath a word of this yet it isn't rocket science.

That's how most lying is done....omission.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

It would certainly have helped a lot.

However, I think after the 2014 coup this was coming at some point. Maybe if Trump had won an agreement could have been reached on Ukraine before this because we had a president Putin would talk to.

I think that western media haven't quite accepted that Russian speaking parts of Ukraine are going to become part of Russia. But from what I gather of the situation it'll happen whether by force or by agreement (there will be far less death by the latter).

It's wrong of course but the meddling in Ukraine polarised that country and its people have chosen based upon their ethnicity. Conflict is the manifestation of that. Sometimes you suspect that it's almost deliberate.....a lot of money being made out of this, while the vulnerable lose their lives.

Edited by Stirlingsays (07 Apr 2022 10.29am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

That will happen if previous events are a byline. However, you would hope that if a peace deal is reached and territory ceded that relocation of that Ukrainian minority will be the least worst option.

Most civilians will already have left the contested areas and the unfairness of war will decide the rest.

Edited by Stirlingsays (07 Apr 2022 10.31am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Without the West's military assistance in recent weeks there would likely be no Ukraine now. This highlights why it's farcical to suggest that if they'd declared they wouldn't seek direct help (NATO), rather than indirect they would have simply been left in peace.

Russia has been on this path with the territory in one way or other for longer than NATO has even existed. Most recognise that Ukraine joining NATO was a pipe dream anyway. It's just excuse number 387 from the Kremlin supported outside of Russia both by the somewhat naive, and also those so ill at ease with aspects of their own country, culture and the West that they look elsewhere for affinity.

My hope is that a peace agreement can be reach, but it has to be fixed and firm in terms of securing Ukraine's future, and so ironically that will likely be much more like a NATO agreement than anything that would've happened or has come before it.

Edited by BlueJay (07 Apr 2022 12.19pm)