I'll say this.

I'm no more pro Russian than I am pro Ukrainian. I don't care about Russia, I'm an Anglo Saxon, I care about this skepled isle and always will. That is where I was born and this is where I will die.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't care who controls what part of a border between slavs in Eastern Europe. My over-riding interest is in this terrible war to end as soon as possible....I say no to escalation and for common sense to reign.

I think that's going to happen by the way...As stated I don't see this war seeing out the winter....and I think that harsh conclusion is being reached amongst western leaders now...the gambit failed.

I have explained where I stand on why and how this war started. There are many notable commentators who also hold that position and yes, I'm highly critical of the missed opportunity in the nineties for Russia to be accepted into Nato rather than the 'jobs for the boys' status quo. It sits among the many reasons why I think this war is a disaster of the highest order in multiple ways.

As for Putin....Putin is no friend of mine, Russia is no friend of nationalists in the west or indeed the further right in Russia, he has jailed many nationalists in his own country. He's a social conservative but also a civil nationalist and the Russian Federation is a multi ethic and cultural state....though unlike in Europe they don't believe in forcing people together.

If my concern was for which country was more nationalistic and more European that concern would be with the Ukraine.....However, it's been a political football and the social liberals are obsessed with turning another conservative society into a rainbow flag....but that's going off track.

Putin interests are rightly only concerned for his country. It amuses me that some think that Russian propaganda isn't seen for what it is. It's no different to western propaganda....edited to present a one eyed view....any balance omitted.

Anyone who is actually interested in anything approaching truth has to be very careful and observe the events that can't be manipulated and come with some actual proof....which is why, I like actual battlefield events for example. As who holds what ground can be confirmed from shelling reports.....as armies rarely shell themselves and so who holds what territory can be confirmed from that.

Aside from being an incredibly stupid, costly and avoidable war, I said from the start that it was an unwinnable war.....The actual outcome of forcing Russia out of the Ukraine would come with dreadful costs itself....it sometimes amazes me just how few steps forward some people are willing to think.

I'll say it again, Nato have never intended to win on the ground in the Ukraine....only to prolong the war to force Russia to stop by economic means....I think they understand that this has failed and that Russia could continue for at least another year and probably longer....they haven't even called for a general mobilisation yet.

On the western side I don't see the west coping with the economics and social unrest of a winter with massive inflation and power black outs.

So I see an increasing support for some resolution in this war.....by some point in August Russia would have taken the whole of the Donbas....I hear that they will offer peace terms at this point, which if rejected will mean they will carry on and the Ukraine essentially gets carved up...or they dig in, create a large militarised border and shell until it ends.

We will see what the state department thinks when those terms are offered (because in reality they are the prime deciders).

As for Wisbech, the only satisfaction is that once again he's judgement is going to be shown up for being what it is....which, despite him being bright, just isn't that good.

Edited by Stirlingsays (17 Jul 2022 11.07pm)

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

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The knifes will be out for Johnson, though it's unlikely to be physical ones.

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

So, what is your interpretation of the UK’s approach to supplying weapons into this arena. Are we acting outside the scope of our NATO membership authority, thereby winding up the Russians?

Surely Putin looks at all the assistance being given as antagonism or threat by a Western nation towards his regime regardless of whether a NATO boot actually lands on Ukraine soil.

I agree with what you say about the future relationship with them but I am concerned that our current actions are assisting Putin in making more radical decisions. It’s a difficult balance to find for sure between being critical and enforcing sanctions on the one side and not directly interfering in politics of Eastern European countries on the other.

Johnsons friendship with the Lebedev's (along with senior representatives of the BBC) was already known so why is this now re-framed as a scandal?

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"Sarah Sands, editor of the Today programme and Amol Rajan, BBC Media Editor, receiving benefits in kind from their former employer, Russian oligarch Evgeny Lebedev. They attended parties thrown by Lebedev in his Italian palazzo. A third guest was Boris Johnson, now prime minister. It seems impossible for any reporter on the Today programme to fully investigate widely reported stories that as Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson was seen as a “security risk” because of his attendance at Mr Lebedev’s parties if their editor was also a beneficiary of Mr Lebedev’s generosity. Amol Rajan as BBC Media Editor has reported on Mr Lebedev’s business affairs and he too has been a beneficiary of the oligarch’s generosity"

By the way, that was a rhetorical questions because it's all corruption.

Battlefield update:

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