It is definitely a scary situation and sets a dangerous precedent that countries can just invade and take territory. I don't think that is something we can tolerate and the right thing to do would be to help Ukraine defend and keep its territory. Bringing up the China and Taiwan issue does illustrate how ugly things could potentially get and also further illustrates why we can not afford to let Russia chip away at Ukraine the way it is attempting to do so.

I do understand your fear.

GOD help us all.

Not fazed at all.  My best mate's father was Ukranian...and spent about 4 years in a Nazi labor camp....so there's nothing new under the sun when it comes to that part of the world...

It's starting right now. Explosions in the capital.

I am not scared yet. It would appear that in the future Russian troops may be right up to the border of Poland which is a NATO nation. If Putin decides to go after Poland than World War III would be on. If that happens kiss your ass goodbye because nukes come into play. Let's pray to God that doesn't happen.

Big question will China go after Taiwan. If they choose to invade, that would be parallel to Russia invading Poland, for the USA, I believe.

Russia invading Poland(NATO) would be WW3. China invading Taiwan would be unopposed by the current regime in the USA. Putin wants to restore the old Russian empire, Xi wants the world. Currently they're no world leaders with the brains or balls to do anything about it.

As A Long Serving Soldier and Private Military Contractor, i have worked in War Zones in Africa and the Old Yugoslavia, seen things you never read about in the news, terrible things.

The Russian Federation have now launched a Full scale Invasion, Putin is making Threats to any who may come to there aid, some will say , reading between the lines, he is threatening to Nuke any Power who helps Ukraine, but all the big leaders know there will be NO winner in a Hot Nuclear War, only degrees of losing. War in Europe of some kind is inevitable now. N.A.T.O. countries including my own have already sent advanced anti aircraft/ Missile Systems and other weapon systems to Ukraine. They are Brave people who will fight to the end.

Already i have had phone calls from old mates still serving, some have already left the country on Deployment to eastern Europe to back up N.A.T.O. Allies.

Would be very Interested in knowing what portion of Countries Navy's have also left for deployment as this can show an Intent by what ships move to crucial points, Aircraft Carriers mean Business, whilst Nuclear Subs which not many will know about as there deployment is kept secret, will silently be taking up positions, some may have already dropped off Highly Specialized Units (SAS, Delta Force Etc..) to recon and report back.

Sorry Starkers as my replies will not make you feel better or alleviate your worries, but i do understand War too well to sugar coat things. This will affect us all sooner or later in varying ways.

Well you should be.  It's not just the unsettling events occuring in the Ukraine.  With the other crackpot here in Asia, we too could have a major conflict right here on our doorstep.

Yeah, so I read this morning, that Russia has seized an airport and has begun shelling Ukrainian the capital.  It is not what the world needs right now, what with China saying it will take Taiwan by force if necessary.  Either or both actions could be the sparks to start WWIII.... conflict on both sides of the globe.

I'm already scared and worried about the futures of my grandchildren, not to mention world peace and all the innocents who will be killed or displaced, even enslaved by the Russian lunatic.

It think Xi is waiting to see the world's response to the russian invasion before deciding to take Taiwan by force.  Sadly, there is little to nothing to oppose these actions, other than economic sanctions, and look at how that has not prevented Iran and North Korea from their nuclear ambitions. 

That's it exactly, there is not one world leader with the balls to stand up to these dictators.  Other than economic sanctions there is no opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Russia is a big enough country to survive those economic restrictions. 

As for Poland, it'll be all too late if Russia expands it's territorial claims there.  With China pursuing it's own agenda in the East, the balance of power will have already shifted.  The threat of nuclear retaliation if anyone interferes with Russia's agenda is what will deter other world leaders from launching military measures of their own to aid the Ukraine.

No need to apologise, I was pretty much aware that the situation would escalate, but I see no point in sending troops and equipment to the region if they are given no authority to act militarily.  Putin is unfazed by the presence of Nato and other troops in close proximity, and the additional troops now pouring into the region will not deter him whatsoever.

It is hard to say at this point. I can understand peoples view of Bidden being weak in the face of these land grabbers, I hope it does not become true. But at the same time the United States is sending in a massive amount of troops along the Russia and Ukraine borders, Finally. It does seem a bit sickening to see that this is being allowed to happen though

The West's response to Putin was primarily dictated by logistics. Russia borders Ukraine. How far away is a viable army to oppose him? How long are the supply routes? Not at all viable.

As for Xi? He'd be basing a conclusion of "a weak US response" on a misunderstanding of the reasons and risks. The US is committed to supplying Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself. The actual act of supplying that materiel could easily cause mistakes by Chinese forces and escalation. Xi's territorial aims do not differ from Putin's.

China and Russia have nukes. If Chapter 5 of Nato happens because Russia starts to invade Poland I can see the exchange of nuclear weapons happening. I don't think Putin would risk that. No one wins in that scenario.

Taiwan is another matter.

The following is from this article: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/reality-check/reality-check-10-china-will-not-invade-taiwan/

Being an island Taiwan presents completely different challenges to any invasion force. " With a potential defending force of 450,000 Taiwanese today, using the traditional three-to-one ratio of attackers to defenders taught at war colleges, China would need to deploy over 1.2 million soldiers (out of a total active force of over 2 million). Many thousands of ships would be required to land all those forces, and doing so would take weeks."

Let's not freak out.

Troops will already be either on there way or already landed by Subs. These will be very small units of special forces with instructions to Recon and Record and report back.

I understand why you think there is no point in having troops there when they can not act, i seen the exact same thing in Yugoslavia, men i knew from back home wearing Blue Berets of the U.N. with no authority to act and forced to watch Villages and Town being Ethnically Cleansed, but having special forces there to Recon is standard operating Procedure in these kind of events and can be vital in deciding any future action.

Hoped i would not live to see this again in Europe.

That and the US has 4 nuclear powered aircraft carriers in the area. That is a huge hornet's nest to have to pass by.

Actually, while all will be hurt by sanctions, Russia will be hurt most. Worse for Vlad is that the US will boost troop levels in NATO countries bordering Russia. If that doesn't make him think twice about further invasions he's quite mad...and I don't believe he is.

Given Putin's continued push into the ukraine, I do not believe the economic sanctions are causing him to rethink his intentions.  Those sanctions may prove to be effective over time, but by then the Ukraine will have already fallen and become a puppet state of Russia.

Furthermore, China is an ally of Putin's and there will be no economic sanctions between them, just trade as usual, if not an increased trade due to Russia's economy being strangled by the West.  Sadly for the Ukraine, the fighting will be over, with Russia taking total control before the West sees a need to support it militarily as well as economically.

Re the map above, this just in: https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-698665

Population of Finland is about 5 million.

The thing is Finland kicked the Red Army's ass in WWII and was an ally of Nazi Germany. The Finns aren't fascists now but Putin doesn't care. He probably wants revenge on them as well. He's at the point now of calling anybody who doesn't go along with him Nazis!

Putin is trying to reshape Europe back to the way it was after WWII with Russia having more control in Europe.

He's going to bankrupt Russia the same way the Soviets did.

DrJBHL

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Actually, while all will be hurt by sanctions, Russia will be hurt most. Worse for Vlad is that the US will boost troop levels in NATO countries bordering Russia. If that doesn't make him think twice about further invasions he's quite mad...and I don't believe he is.

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For over 20 years now Vlad has made noises about his intent for The Russian Federation, the western powers, even though the see him as an Imperial wannabe, up until now, they have considered him A Stable Leader, something has changed in Putin's  thinking and he has now become reckless, but already it is not going how he hoped, he thought he would revive little resistance, even more so he thought the majority would lay down there weapons and welcome him and his Armies as Liberators. Ukraine will fall, but not without fighting to the last, Putin did not expect this at all, his supply lines are already running at a stretch.

I seen this up close serving in Yugoslavia for 2 Combat Tours. The only way to advance Tanks and Armour into Kyiv is to level the City with Artillery, if this is not done and Tanks roll into Kyiv, they are easy prey for concealed Anti Tank Weapons in this kind of urban environment. The member of the Ukraine opposition Parliament (the woman) we have seen on TV with her AK47 saying she will defend her Resident Tower Block creates something we in the Military call BlowBack. She is correct to say she will defend herself, the more the better, but then the Russians will consider Resident areas as Legitimate Targets, and will be more likely to Level those buildings. (I know we have already seen some Rockets hit resident areas)

Sanctions will hurt Russia in the long term but that will be too late for Ukraine, banning the use of the switch system will send a strong message to Putin and will hurt him and Russia, all of us really will be affected by this, but with Italy and Germany depending almost totally on Gas supplies from Russia, they are likely to be week partners in any European Stance, so other countries in Europe will have to supply those with Gas First, and as we all know global Fuel prices are hiking up massively already.

No corner of the world will be unaffected by this either it be Trade , Fuel, Sanctions etc..

I read not long ago that Russia is willing to hold peace talks with Ukraine... but in Belarus where they hold ground and staged the Northern part of the invasion.  President Zelensky, however, has rejected peace talks in this location and has offered to do so in Poland or another neutral location.

I can see that, why would President Zelensky offer himself up to the Russians in hostile territory?  For mine, though, Russia is facing greater resistance and logistic difficulties than Putin first believed, and I believe that he has since suggested these peace talks because his troops are strugging and dying in greater numbers than he'd like, not to mention the millions Russia is losing in military equipment.  The Ukrainians have put up such stiff resistance that Putin is worried.

Furthermore, the economic sanctions are starting to bite hard into the Russian economy, and Putin himself has been targeted by them.  Then there's the disconnection from the banking entity, SWIFT, which further prevents Putin funding his war machine. 

It's suggested that Putin is one of the richest men in the world, with property portfolios around Russia as well as Europe.  For mine, given his disregard for the civilian damage his missiles have caused in Ukraine, somebody ought to send a few missiles and totally destroy ALL his properties and holdings.  Hit the bastard where it hurts most.... his own hip pocket... his own wealth.

Anyway, that's it from me for now, I have other things I'd like to do before it gets too late.