You might have heard of this geezer, Putin, and his country, Russia.

Mentioning homophobia in connection with both is about as on-topic as mentioning the same country's kowtowing to religious sensibilities and surprising free speech – see Pussy Riot (and I'm not referring to Dally's 'minge' thread) et al.

Cronus has made the point that if you really think that Russians are getting a wonderfully honest and open version of events, then you're naive at best.

None of which, however, changes the current situation over Ukraine, Russia and the Crimea, although my earlier point about substantial cultural differences does – or perhaps should – influence to a degree how we view the current situation.

I don't know whether the telephone conversation is true.

There are also plenty of reports around of the far-right, ultra-nationalist nature of some of the new government, which could give rise to some validity to the idea that those in the country's east, who are much more Russian, do feel threatened.

As to hypocrisy – well duh. The UK is still selling arms to Russia – as are others. Politicians are fumbling around trying to understand what's going on and trying to be seen to 'do something'.

The US are keen on sanctions precisely because they would damage European industry and create opportunities for theirs.

The US are keen on sanctions precisely because they would damage European industry and create opportunities for theirs.

Well, these sort of [url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/03/06/uk-crystal-meth-vet-accused-killing-man-toothbrush-extreme-sm-sex-session/shenanigans[/url may simply be considered a good night out in your circle, but are the cause for many a raised eyebrow amongst the more normal of us........ And of course the West Country is still flooded!

If the Russians are worried about the Russian speaking people of the Crimea, give them asylum in Russia or give them a house and some land, it's big enough.

Crimea is part of Russia. It was given to Ukraine by an allegedly drunken president at a time when they were both part of the USSR (ie when it didn't matter).

So it's not part of Russia.

Lol

Nope.

Try again. Preferably after actually consulting a map.

It is also autonomous and has decided it wants to rejoin Russia. The people will vote that way shortly. So it will be the democratic will of the people, which the West espouses love for everywhere else. Contrast Western support for the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government in Ukraine and you start to see that there is no interest in democracy just geophysical meddling in Russia's backyard.

At what point in time?

It's a peninsula. It is attached to Ukraine. Not Russia.

Those are facts.

Whether some or all of the people there want to be a part of Russia, it is not geographically so.

That's another fact.

You do realise that state boundaries are more often than not arbitrary lines drawn on a map? The Crimea has been "attached" to Russia at various times. Ethnically it is signifcantly Russian (and Tartar). Crimea is more Russian than modern day Ukrainian. Fact as you like to say.

Ah, you're talking about "state boundaries" now, are you?

Are you Owen Paterson in disguise?

The President left of his own accord, the government remained and it's structure ramains. Russia needs to get the f*** out of Ukraine and let them sort their own internal affairs. This isn't a country tearing itself apart, it's a people who got really angry with their President and got rid of him. Once he went the violence and the protests stopped - no civil war, no ethnic violence. In fact even the Crimean ethnic Russians and Ukranians have faced each other peacefully. There is absolutely no need for any Russian troops in Crimea.
I would say, if ethnic Russians in the Crimea found themselves the targets of violence, property seizures, murder, were being kicked out of their homes and business's, forced into camps, etc. then Russia could well be very justified in sending in troops to prevent that from continuing. But this is a land grab, pure and simple.
If you want an example of Russia intervening in the affairs of the former Soviet states then look at the devestation in Georgia. And boy, am I lovin the straight faced comments of Russian politicians talking about the West and Afghanistan - really? You can't remember Afghanistan, Soviet army, 10 years, ar$es handed to them etc...

If you want to talk about hypocrisy of the West then I would say that sitting on our bums doing nothing watching Russia invade another country that wanted to become part of NATO and eventually join the EU is a pretty good example. "There is nothing we can do, the Germans don't want to jeopardise their gas supplies...blah...blah..." Actually I think Russia is in a very vulnerable position right now. In the Cold War they were set up behind the iron curtain, self contained, ideologically driven with the sole intent of not ever being invaded from the West again. Now they have ventured into our world. They are capitalists who have all their business intrests in the West, they are run not by hardened communist party veterans who endured WW2 and Stalin's pogrom's they are run by gangsters who like fine champagne, big yachts and money - most of which they are stealing from their own people. And the place they spend it is in the West. Take that away from them and they will turn on Putin. If you ask them, do you want to carry on fleecing your country and partying at the most exclusive club in Europe or do you want to watch Putin wave his d**k around and annexe the Crimea, well, it's obvious.

Perfect time to take back Hyde Park One?

Is this a Ukrainian or Russian political prisoner, or are you talking about One Hyde Park?

Neither, it's David Moyes' new Korean striker I think.

The first act of this nw "government" was to ban Russian as an official language. I would suggest that was inflammatory.

The West supported (Kosovo) the division of the former Yugoslavia along ethnic grounds, against Russian wishes. Now the West does not support Russia taking action along those previously implemented grounds. I suppose you would prefer to await civil war and attempted ethnic cleansing before any action is taken or maybe not then?

Whichever way you look at it the West is just being anti-Russian and being inconsistent with their own previous actions in many parts of the world.

That would involve having backbone so it'll not happen.

Is Barraco Barner involved now too did I hear?

Backbone but no brains.

One Hyde Park is a British development funded by Qatari money. It is partnered with the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The record sale was to a Ukranian billionaire.

Russia have far more right to "invade" Russia than the UK Govt has to "take back" One Hyde Park. It's pretty much as ignorant as a Londoner wanting to bomb Leeds because of the 7/7 attacks.

Yes. Absolutely 100% I would.

I'm talking of the whopping big and expensive building – one among many (and they're increasing) – that, rumour has it, are actually ways of laundering eastern European mafioso dosh, as opposed to the others that are being bought by Hong Kong sources at equally daft prices (thus helping to drive up property costs further) and are then not even lived in, as they're simply there as an investment.

Think how many people you could house in any of those?

And if it's the Ukranian mafia instead of the Russian variety – perhaps that's a reason to support the Russkis.

So you believe in the principle of appeasement (except where it involves appeasing Russia)!