War

Russia has its allies and also a border with China so all the sanctions in the world by the West won’t make that much difference. Many will support him just as a way to hit back at European countries,sadly. They don’t care about his border and his aggression, they just want to oppose the ‘democracies’. Has Russia ever been defeated in war over the ages? It is a big place, not an easy task. The hope is that he will make peace in some way., some sort of compromise which isn’t all his way.

I’ve been very saddened today to see reports of how Putin has launched a big bombing campaign in Ukraine, all around the country. Domestic premises, a maternity hospital, and other buildings have been hit, and people have been killed. I don’t have numbers so can’t quote those. Two years of war and it still goes on. I admire the Ukrainian people for their courage and fortitude in these terrible circumstances. As far as I am concerned, Putin is the personification of evil.

AmberSpyglass

I’m no fan of war, but I don’t think letting Putin say he’s won is exactly the best move…

Me neither.

It's a euphemism for "I'm losing too many young troops, ships and some Russian people are becoming restless".

Quite correct Katie. It’s sad but true.

65KL

When will we learn that war has never successfully solved anything , only created more hatred , we are a stupid species!!!!

WW1 and WW2 was started by those that wanted to dominate others I believe it was right to fight and stop them, there comes a time when bullies have to be stopped.

There are many wars currently, of most concern to us:-

Ukraine, they are not going to win unless NATO provides 10 times the weaponry to drive Russia out, I don’t believe that will happen.

Gaza, Hamas cannot win Israel is too strong, the only question is how many Palestinians will die before they are driven out. Israel is not to going to stop because Hamas will rearm, its entirely up to Hamas how many civilians die. So far all the humanitarian pressure is on Israel but Hamas could surrender tomorrow and save lives.

When will we learn that war has never successfully solved anything , only created more hatred , we are a stupid species!!!!

As with most wars, neither sides are exactly saints. A lot of Russians live in the Ukraine and I often wonder what their take is on all this. Who do they support? Not straightforward, anymore than the Hamas thing is.

Putin is a lying murdering b******d who rids himself of anyone who challenges him. He is hateful beyond words.

I see the war dragging on for the foreseeable future.

Apparently the war in Ukraine is not going too well for the Ukranians. One (perhaps the main) reason is the lack of armaments. The US Congress is now on holiday without agreeing on further aid for Ukraine and armaments destined for Ukraine have been diverted to Israel.

eazybee

Chamberlain's pact gave Britain a year to start preparing for war; Chamberlain was much maligned.

It did, but such a pact would give Russia that time too.

Keeper1

Surely Hamas need to want peace as well?

Its stated aim is to drive all the Jews out of Palestine, they will fight to the last man, woman or child. Israel has vowed to fight and destroy Hamas, both are ignoring global opinion, if it continues Israel will win, the only uncertainty is how many innocents die in the meantime

Surely Hamas need to want peace as well?

maddyone

Perhaps Iran and Qatar could possibly put pressure on Hamas and get them to release the hostages and stop firing rockets into Israel. Then we might have peace.

Iran in particular is the main cause of all the fighting in the Middle East and Africa, they support any Islamic group that will fight the West.
They even provide Russia with a lot of weaponry in Ukraine and the Houthis harassing shipping in the area.

Chamberlain's pact gave Britain a year to start preparing for war; Chamberlain was much maligned.

Whitewavemark2

NYT reporting that Putin had indicated that he is open to ending the war, if he is allowed to declare victory.

Hopefully that will end in peace.

We just now to see a hopeful signal from Israel and 2024 can be greeted with much more optimism.

Yes, but Putin has also said he will end the war when Ukraine is again part of Russia.

Nothing that man says will result in peace.

All this blethering on his part about ending the war is solely because he is running out of conscripts and getting nowehere fast on the Ukrainian front.

I know Ukraine isn't moving fast either, but that is partly our fault for being so blooming dilitory in sending them fighter planes and everything else they need to win.

If Putin ends up with anything he can call a victory, he will just start a new war somewhere else. Like Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great he wants all of the Baltic.

Perhaps Iran and Qatar could possibly put pressure on Hamas and get them to release the hostages and stop firing rockets into Israel. Then we might have peace.

DaisyAnneReturns

It sounds as if someone will get to wave a piece of paper once again and talk about "Peace in our time", once again. My guess would be about as useful as Chamberlain and Hitler's pact turned out to be.

Think I agree with this.
It’s sad, but true.

I wouldn't trust Putin any further than I could throw him. If he keeps the territory he's gained then he might pause for a little before attacking again, after having used the lull to build up his forces.

Ukraine continuing the war depends entirely on NATO, the US in particular supporting them with arms, European countries do not have large enough munition industries to support Ukraine without depleting their own defence capability.
It’s a low tech war largely fought with obselete Cold War weapons that were being phased out anyway, Russia has been given time to ramp up its weapon production and installed deep defensive barriers.

If NATO had armed Ukraine properly a year ago they may have been able to regain territory, any advantage has now been lost.

This war was all about joining NATO, maybe that will be achieve but only at a loss of 1/3 of the land area

I wouldn't have said a flat "no" either.... unfortunately.

Wow. I not sure that I would have said "no it won't" Redhead56. How can you know? A little chat about how we all need to get on with each other even when we don't agree wouldn't have gone amiss though.

I was knocked for six today my GC told me they heard on TV about countries at war now. They asked me if war would happen here they are only seven. I explained no it won't but admit I was shocked they even asked.

I think Putin needs to feel that he's not losing face, so if some sort of agreement can be reached in that context then maybe there is a glimmer of hope.

There will never be peace in our time, unfortunately.

I doubt very much there will ever be peace.

Yemen is in the grip of awful war but it doesn't attract much attention. Approximately 377 thousand people killed. 150 thousand civilians. Many of them children.

But the silence about this is deafening

It sounds as if someone will get to wave a piece of paper once again and talk about "Peace in our time", once again. My guess would be about as useful as Chamberlain and Hitler's pact turned out to be.