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Russia already threatened Sweden and Finland with military repercussions if they join NATO. Sweden used the same argument as Ukraine that as an independent sovereign nation it had the right to make its own decisions.

Not oil. Gas as well ( some EU countries 100% reliant on Russian gas). Paying a premium now due to conflict pushing prices up. Immediate problem there are no alternative suppliers due to long-term contracts.

Not just that. China making massive investments in Africa and the like to expand their influence and gain control of land, food production and minerals for their consumption.

Used them with impunity in Syria and "got away" with it. So aren't going to be worried about using them now. Already using cluster bombs. These thermobaric bombs are indiscriminate and inhuman.

Don't think anyone thinks the "west" is getting boots on the ground. Been stated too many times. Only if atrocities get out of control could see public pressure impact political decision making. But we are militarily involved with the weapons being sent to Ukraine.

Assumptions made they are close seem to be based on political history ( which no longer apply). It's more an informal collaboration to stymie the Americans. Both are about self- interest and not getting involved in each others business. China's interests are far more global than Russia's.

But they had democratic elections in 2014 and 2018 where the winners wanted to maintain good relations with Russia whilst developing relations with EU - which at the time was not a military force. It only reignited interest in joining NATO following the Russian invasion in 2014. How do you have...

Generally accepted by both sides that a nuclear war is mutually assured destruction. China only winners as they'll pop across the empty Russian border to help themselves to the energy sources

What's interesting is when nations like Sweden and Switzerland are getting involved maybe the picture is bigger than people would like to believe.

We had the Budapest agreement. Russia wouldn't threaten Ukrainian territorial integrity if it gave up it nuclear weapons. Putin's argument is that he signed that with a pro- Moscow govt and this one isn't. So the treaty is not longer valid. The territorial arguments that Ukraine historically...

Then we get into the nuclear weapon and MAD discussions. An all- out conflict between NATO and Russia would surely cost more than a million lives ( the approx population of Estonia)

What are we going to be negotiating?

Not sure he wants to annex all of the Ukraine. He'll take the 2 new separatist states but put in a new pro-moscow govt for the rest.

This is key. NATO never been tested. Would it start a possible nuclear war over a country of 1.3 million people? Again a sizeable Russian minority. If the tactics are repeated will the world go to war because Russia creates another enclave of around 250000 people?

Fair enough. It literally is on my doorstep. I'm a 2 hour tank ride from the border in one of the countries Putin has stated ( increasingly frequently) needs to be removed from NATO and returned to the Russian "sphere of influence". what is your "line in the sand" that you feel needs to be...

So he's offering what for the removal of sanctions?

You're 100% confident NATO membership is the ultimate guarantee so that Ukraine is the stopping point westwards? Once Ukraine falls sanctions will finish, Putin will make no further demands?

News here has been that he has shut himself away in some hideout in the Urals for much of the past 12 months surrounded by a large bodyguard unit. Other unconfirmed intelligence reports are that he is turning on those closest to him and throwing his toys out the pram (that's a paraphrase)...

Could argue that the Blitz was his version of nukes. First time the world had seen indiscriminate mass bombing of civilian areas. Then the Allies responded with the same tactics in 1944-45. Often been argued if he could have got his rockets projects completed they would have changed the war...

Belarus now looking like it's sending in tanks so that will kibosh the peace talks tomorrow. This 40 mile convoy turns about to be a lot of pockets of vehicles apparently caused by machine breakdowns - something that hasn't improved from old Soviet times seemingly is the maintenance and...