Sanctions must be imposed but will take time for any effect. The huge moral question is ‘Do we stand by and watch Ukrainian democrats being massacred”? Putin seems set on taking Kyiv – and if his rhetoric is to be believed the rest of the Ukraine. Whist flat the terrain is heavily wooded in places so guerrilla tactics can work. A country of 40 million which does not want to be occupied is a tall order, especially if armed with advanced weapons by the west. Conscripts to the Russian Army may not be the best occupation force. the whole situation is horrific. Is Putin mad enough to use nuclear weapons to save his skin – possibly. I would not like to be President Biden at the moment with the responsibility involved. And please tell me Johnson does not have the capability of letting his grubby fingers anywhere near a nuclear button.
Just a thought – should Chelski be withdrawn from tomorrows Cup Final? Owned by a Russian with close links to the Kremlin (I think that is beyond doubt). Maybe a total show of support for Ukraine, or at least condemnation of Russia’s actions should be made across all areas. Even the Eurovision contest has banned Russia, UEFA has moved the Champions League final from St.Petersburg to Paris. RT tv should be taken off air. Harrod’s and other luxury shops should freeze accounts of Russians – with a legal pathway to show that they are totally ‘clean’ available – there must be a few dissidents amongst the hordes from Russia who have been buying property and goods in London.
Internet companies like Facebook and Twitter must be told that they must take down false news and propaganda immediately with of course proviso’s to ensure no erosion of personal liberty – difficult but they have the money to ensure it can be done.
Should cyber attacks be used? On the surface they would seem like victimless crimes – but tit-for-tat? I suspect most of our public services would be shut down quite easily by a professional concerted attack – energy supply, water, banking system, air traffic control, even traffic lights could cause chaos. It sounds like I am supporting the fringe element of American Society who believe in the self-sufficiency of the outback. I am not, but we all have a preservation element – hence the ridiculous stockpiling of toilet roles at the first sign of a crisis – itself a rather comical idea (nuclear war, pandemic, snow – go buy a ton of toilet roles!). Perhaps greater self sufficiency as a nation regarding the basics of energy and food production would just be … errr sensible? We have been lured away from this by globalisation which has contributed to poverty across the world whilst creating an elite of obscenely rich people.
I wonder how many of the oligarchs have super yachts – next time they are in a harbour in the free world – hit them with a bill for the damage in Ukraine? Now that would fuck them off!
Can Britain offer a posthumous Victoria Cross to the Ukrainian Border Guard who when asked to surrender by a Russian Naval Vessel said ‘Go fuck yourself’.