An Exceptionally Grave Situation

[ichkeria]

Surprise surprise Russia is now talking up the conflict in E Ukraine.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/shelling-breaks-out-in-east-ukraine-as-west-and-russia-dispute-troop-moves

These are very dangerous times.
It feels like the calm before the storm and I’m not talking about Eunice

[ichkeria]

In fairness I didn’t have a question Peter :-)

Other than perhaps What The Funicular

[Khandro]

Danny; From your link; "Relations between NATO and Ukraine date back to the early 1990s and have since developed into one of the most substantial of NATO’s partnerships...."

That is the biggest load of spin & bull**** I've heard for some time.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so what is this 'most substantial relationship' ?

[ichkeria]

Ukraine is not a member but an “active partner” in NATO

The link explains it all if you read it

[Khandro]

ichi as I said it is baloney and spin by the west.
NATO is like my golf club, you are either a member of it or you are not

[dannyk13]

Khandro don't talk such rubbish.Ukraine is not a full member of NATO but has a relationship with it.

[ichkeria]

“ NATO is like my golf club,”

I’m surprised you’ve not left lol

[ichkeria]

Donetsk and Luhansk “republics” are evacuating their residents to Russia by bus
That’s rather ominous too

[Khandro]

The NATO Member States are:

Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.


With, Austria, Cyprus, and Malta, Finland and Sweden being the only EU states that are not members of NATO.


Can't find Ukraine in there anywhere.

[ichkeria]

You have already had it explained to you by myself and danny that Ukraine is not a member of NATO. So of course you will not find it on that list.
Howver as danny's link explains; NATO has partnerships with certain countries, and Ukraine is one of those.
I am not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse.

[Peter Pedant]

I am not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse or else this is normal for AB

Ich - this is normal for AB - on a windy day - hur hur hur

Donetsk and Luhansk “republics” are evacuating their residents to Russia by bus. That’s rather ominous too

oh, odd - they were "put" there post 1945 by Uncle Joe ( Joseph Stalin silly!) - with a view to giving him a "casus belli" if needed ( cause of war silly) . Northern Baltic states returned the people OR the land in the 1990s

Crimea was Russian - Uncle Joe had killed or deported the Crimean Tatars and substituted ethnic Russians for collaboration with the Germans 1941-5.

[Peter Pedant]

ich not you silly
silly ABers who whinge as soon as they see a word of Latin

[davebro]

a few words in English would be nice!

[ichkeria]

There’s some discussion that the Russians will attack the convoys as they head to Rostov and blame it on Ukraine.
Whether that’s paranoia or prophesy time will tell. I’m naive enough to incline to the former view
You’re maybe thinking that’s a lot of buses - probably not, actually. Thousands of peuple left Donetsk in 2014, 2015. Basically anyone who had anywhere to go. Many who didn’t. Most of those who stayed were the elderly or those who believed the propaganda about fascists running the country.
Or those who had a stake in staying.
I’d imagine not everyone would leave.
Just enough to make the teatime Russian news look dramatic

[William51]

Ukraine in the past has explored the possibility of applying for NATO membership but some Ukranian parties were against it. Ukraine and other neighbouring countries have relations with NATO.

[youngmafbog]

//Sometimes I despair, not of the Russians but some on our “side”//

Translated to you dont like others having a view.

[ichkeria]

What actually is your view now you mention it?
I know what khandro’s is and although I don’t agree at least I know where he stands.
You on the other hand den to pop in occasionally and just say “it’s propaganda”and “you can’t believe anyone”
You said that about the US intelligence warning of false flag operations in E Ukraine but it looks very likely that they were dead right

[webbo3]

American drone flying over the Ukraine.

https://www.flightradar24.com/FORTE10/2adc4b3b

[ichkeria]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/17668361/us-spy-planes-ukraine-flight-tracker-russia-invasion/amp/

[Khandro]

ichi: I've just watched this 8.5 minutes video of Peter Hitchens, what do you have to say? P.H. Knows Ukraine & Russia (he once lived there) very well;