Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
A fortnight ago the #LevellingUp White Paper recognised that "the UK’s centralised governance model means local actors have too rarely been empowered". Last week, the Government announced it's "looking into concerns" after Haringey published its local magazine too frequently.
People arguing NS2 suspension is only temporary don’t understand German politics. Inertial forces are gigantic. Once you move to a new position it would take a dramatic improvement to create conditions for a reversal. Do you see Putin reverting yesterday’s declaration?
Sounds like a pause for today an unpause on a different tomorrow not cancellation to me, however Germany wish to spin it. Last week the German leadership were in Ukraine urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin - hence we arn’t shocked they merely paused Nord2 until a day they can unpause.
Surely it makes sense to pause, rather than cancel, the project? That way the Germans still have the carrot of reopening to wave at Putin. Cancelling would simply remove that option from their arsenal without giving them any advantages.
And I don't believe for a moment that "the German leadership were in Ukraine urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin". Where did you read that?
“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who traveled to Kyiv on Feb. 14, tried to talk Zelensky into granting Russian-occupied regions autonomy, which is one of the key demands made by the Kremlin.”
Right, so they weren't actually urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin. They were suggesting that Zelansky might consider granting the regions a degree of autonomy, which, on the face of it, might have been a way of defusing the situation. Why the need for the ridiculous spin on your part?
Granting the regions "autonomy" = giving them to Russia, in this situation.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.* And "The Ukraine" is Putin's preferred term, not Ukraine's.
*well there is the world in which you get what you demand by overwhelming force.
It happens to be my preferred term also.
What's up, The Topping, aren't you getting the answers you'd hoped for?
I got an excellent answer from @Richard_Tyndall and smartarse ones from everyone else. .
You asked for short and to the point! I would have happily written more (although I think Richard's answer is better than what I would have written), so I kept it to just the key point about Russia's explicit treaty acknowledgement of Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. One line, case closed, what more do you want?
The extra point about the "The" wasn't meant to trigger you, it was additional information that I thought you might find useful. Take it or leave it, I don't care, but you got what you asked for.
Not from you I didn't. You didn't answer at all you gave me a wiki link. Hence the only substance of your post was to make an idiot of yourself in telling someone how they should refer to a country name which, as @JohnLilburne pointed out, is non-sensical in English. .
Apology accepted
I bet you're the sort of person who tells people they should pronounce Paris Paris instead of Paris aren't you.
Yes but how do you pronounce Nice?
Three years ago I went on holiday to the south of France.
Which was Nice.
I guess you had nothing, Toulouse?
I bought some French trousers whilst there. They were Toulon and Toulouse.
I think you might be Lyon.
Getting a bit bordeaux of these puns to be honest.
That's not real pain you're showing, though, it's only Champagne.
If you add up all the puns that have been posted on PB, we've probably Saint-Emilion.
“If you have Covid symptoms, you should continue to go for a PCR test. Access to these tests will remain free of charge at testing sites across the country.
“Second, you should continue to make regular use of lateral flow tests even if you don’t have symptoms.
“The only immediate change we are making to current arrangements on lateral flow tests for the general population is in our advice on the frequency of testing.
Instead of advice to test before going anywhere to mix with others, we will, from Monday, revert to advice to test at least twice a week and in particular if you are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable.
“Lateral flow tests will remain free of charge in the transition phase.”
A fortnight ago the #LevellingUp White Paper recognised that "the UK’s centralised governance model means local actors have too rarely been empowered". Last week, the Government announced it's "looking into concerns" after Haringey published its local magazine too frequently.
Isn't the actual allegation there (they it's not stated out loud) that a borough magazine acts as a party political publication for the party in power.
Boris has misjudged this. The whole house wants more done.
Too early to say this. This might prove correct, but an extra few hours aligning multiple countries isn't the end of the world. Multilateral action is a good instinct to have here, let's wait and see.
Sorry I badly worded that. He has misjudged the house (maybe not in what he done). MPs from all sides wanting more and in particular worried there won't be more sanctions if Putin doesn't move further but doesn't withdraw. Multiple MPs from all sides asking for clarification on that and getting a woolly answer each time.
There were a few MPs on both sides asking very good questions. Nice to see bipartisan politics. All too rare.
PS That question just asked again (umpteenth time)
Unfortunately, woolly answers are probably appropriate here. You don't want to be doing international diplomacy on the hoof in parliament. MPs asking the right questions, PM right to not want to tie his own hands in this arena. It probably only looks frustrating because politicians, especially Boris, tend to do this when they don't need to. So it sounds like business as usual waffle. But put yourself in the PM's shoes. The private conversations will be happening behind the scenes, and the PM is saying what he can right now in the house. Everything here appears to be working as it should, as a dialogue, promptly but not in a headlong rush.
I don't agree, although I might be in a minority here or it might be you are not aware of the question. Generally MPs are unhappy about the level of sanctions (understandable, but I agree with you this may be down to the negotiations behind the scenes). However Boris gave the impression (possibly incorrectly because of clumsy wording in his reply) that sanctions would only increase further if Putin made further incursions into Ukraine, rather than if Putin refused to remove troops from the current incursion. MPs repeatedly wanted clarification on that because it seemed wrong, weak and contradictory re previous statement regarding sanctions if Ukraine was invaded and to be honest it wasn't clear that Boris even meant that anyway because his answer was confusing.
Not unreasonably MPs were concerned and wanted clarification. Often (particularly on the Tory benches) they welcomed what he has said, but wanted clarification of what he was saying if Putin stayed put (no further advance, but no retreat either).
Do we all not agree that if Putin stays put where he is that it is unacceptable for us all to go 'Oh ok then, that's fine'.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
A fortnight ago the #LevellingUp White Paper recognised that "the UK’s centralised governance model means local actors have too rarely been empowered". Last week, the Government announced it's "looking into concerns" after Haringey published its local magazine too frequently.
Isn't the actual allegation there (they it's not stated out loud) that a borough magazine acts as a party political publication for the party in power.
Apparently Pickles brought in legislation banning the publication of local magazines more than quarterly or something.
Probably because of the reasons you cite.
But it’s a good example of the utter lunacy of UK centralisation and why the country will never, in fact, level up.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
Russian stock offerings in London that had just started gathering pace again have ground to a halt as the U.K. explores sanctions in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine.
Share sales by Russian companies raised $2.4 billion in Britain last year, the most since 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Now, appetite for London-listed Russian stocks is quickly evaporating.
Seize the assets of every Russian in UK with more than say £1m. Make them regret any involvement with Putin. Time to fight back hard.
Does every Russian with more than £1m in London have ties to Putin? £1m won't get you a 3 bed semi in zone 2...
Seize the assets of Russian dissidents then?
I think the point is that there are an awful lot of Putin's friends who have washed dirty money through London. Examination and sanction would be good, whilst of course giving safe harbour to his opponents.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
I quite like Malcolm.
He’s never rude to me.
Perhaps you have never said anything vaguely critical of Salmond or Scottish Nationalism. He is a vile and rude little man, but then what should one expect from the number 1 fanboy of someone as repulsive as Salmond?
Sky announcing a lot more sanctions up the UK's sleeve announced by Liz Truss.
Why didn't Boris announce them in Parliament? Weird.
This is so very typical.
Almost as predictable as your response, tbf.
I find that if I'm critical of everything Boris Johnson does I'm not disappointed
Until election night..... 😂
No you are wrong.
I can see a Johnsonian renaissance. He is PM Sine Die, or a retirement in circa 25 years at 80. He has no shame, and useful idiots like Livingstone, Corbyn and Putin keep cropping up at perfect points in his timeline.
I will either be dead or past caring by then.
I have missed today's events until I heard the BBC R2 news bulletin at 1500 eulogising Johnson and strangely enough Mrs May. Starmer must have been utterly useless in the HoC today as his only mention was he agreed fully with Big Dog.
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.
But, outside the legitimate worldview, a Russian nationalist might claim that it was always part of their fantasy 'greater Russia' and would place great cultural importance to it, and no doubt Putin is playing on this emotional attachment.
Russia in the early Middle Ages had its capital in Kiev, and Kievan Rus was, by the standards of the day, relatively progressive and decentralised. Then the Mongols invaded, and ever since, Moscow became the centre of power and centralised autocracy the order of the day. As has already been said Kiev was for centuries part of Lithuania, later in personal union with Poland, until Catherine the Great's Russia partitioned it in the late 18th century.
Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas · 40m PM's list of sanctions against Moscow doesn’t go nearly far enough. When I asked him for a proper investigation into Kremlin meddling in our own politics, he said he’s not aware of any
Presumably that's because he hasn't bothered to look. Has he even read the Russia Report?
I think that we will want to look very hard at dual nationality rights in the case of Russia and other hostile countries. It is possible to acquire UK citizenship very easily, and could be undertaken cynically by people with connections to hostile regimes.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
This is highly unusual - deputies of Russia's Federation Council recalled after the end of their usual working day for a 6 pm closed-door session (so, happening now)
Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant · 1h There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
I think that we will want to look very hard at dual nationality rights in the case of Russia and other hostile countries. It is possible to acquire UK citizenship very easily, and could be undertaken cynically by people with connections to hostile regimes.
They already stopped new applications for Tier 1 visas, tbf.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant · 1h There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
I don't think he is mad in the real sense. He has psychopathy and megalomania, both which could be regarded as a type of "madness", but I think he is, very sadly, extremely rational. Everything has been calculated. Whether those calculations turn out to be miscalculations, only time will tell.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
I don't think he is mad in the real sense. He has psychopathy and megalomania, both which could be regarded as a type of "madness", but I think he is, very sadly, extremely rational. Everything has been calculated. Whether those calculations turn out to be miscalculations, only time will tell.
I thought last night's address was really pretty unhinged though tbh. No?
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.
But, outside the legitimate worldview, a Russian nationalist might claim that it was always part of their fantasy 'greater Russia' and would place great cultural importance to it, and no doubt Putin is playing on this emotional attachment.
Russia in the early Middle Ages had its capital in Kiev, and Kievan Rus was, by the standards of the day, relatively progressive and decentralised. Then the Mongols invaded, and ever since, Moscow became the centre of power and centralised autocracy the order of the day. As has already been said Kiev was for centuries part of Lithuania, later in personal union with Poland, until Catherine the Great's Russia partitioned it in the late 18th century.
For scale/reference - occasionally people (including myself) make a joke of The Treaty of Troyes. The above is equivalent to seriously believing that the Treaty of Troyes should be enforced by war......
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
Not sure.
The most sustainable solution here is that Ukraine be a buffer state between NATO/EU and Russia. Regrettably, the West should also accept the annexation of Crimea.
But that requires Russian withdrawal from Donbas etc and the closing down of these Potemkin People’s Republics. But Putin is doubling down…
What I simply don’t understand about the graduated approach to Boris Johnson’s sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs is anyone who thinks they will be targeted will now be shipping their liquid assets out of London by the lorry load https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1496140100316639247
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
I don't think he is mad in the real sense. He has psychopathy and megalomania, both which could be regarded as a type of "madness", but I think he is, very sadly, extremely rational. Everything has been calculated. Whether those calculations turn out to be miscalculations, only time will tell.
I thought last night's address was really pretty unhinged though tbh. No?
This is highly unusual - deputies of Russia's Federation Council recalled after the end of their usual working day for a 6 pm closed-door session (so, happening now)
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
But that's what we did in 2014 and 8 years later he tears up the Minsk agreement.
There were no realistic sanctions that hurt after Flight 17 was shot down. Did we in the West just not care.
I don't know the answer, but if we give this b*****d and inch he will be at Calais before we know it. By some means he needs to leave the Kremlin feet first.
Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant · 1h There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant · 1h There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant · 1h There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
but if we give this b*****d and inch he will be at Calais before we know it. .
No no. Calais is a shithole and never part of the Greater Russia.
Jesting aside, I do think you need to calm down a tad. He's not about to invade western Europe.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
Of course you don't, you were wrong and won't even admit it.
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.* And "The Ukraine" is Putin's preferred term, not Ukraine's.
*well there is the world in which you get what you demand by overwhelming force.
Although of course when speaking Russian he can say no such thing.
The Ukrainian argument is based on English usage, not Russian or Ukrainian, neither of which languages have articles.
The argument is that as you do not generally use the word "the" to refer to countries in English, if you do so it makes it sound like a geographical area rather than a country.
Generally being the operative word there. There have always been a smattering, though over time they have fallen out of fashion. 'The Argentine' is the only other one which springs to mind in the vaguely modern era.
Not many articles attached to geographical areas either - the one which springs to mind is 'The Wirral'.
On a similar note, am I right that we have now started calling the capital city Kyiv rather than Kiev because the former is Ukrainian and the latter is Russian? If so, it isn't the only place where we call a city by the language its inhabitants don't use. In particular, we often seem to use French where the locals do not (e.g. we call it Bruges, as the French do, whereas the locals call it Brugge; we call it Basle, as the French do, while locals call it Basel.)
Interestingly, I think both German and French speakers refer to Switzerland with a definite article: Der Schweiz and La Suisse. In German, at least, it is not standard to do this to a country.
Also while I'm on about it: why does the Hague have a definite article?
Pedantry: it's "die Schweiz" (feminine like la Suisse). der Schweiz would be dative or genitive. German also has "die Türkei"
This is highly unusual - deputies of Russia's Federation Council recalled after the end of their usual working day for a 6 pm closed-door session (so, happening now)
If you're gonna listen to any speech about #Ukraine 🇺🇦, let it be this one.
The Kenya ambassador to the UNSC perfectly explains how people across Africa understand Ukraine, and what the Kremlin's acts of aggression mean in our post-colonial world.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
I don't think he is mad in the real sense. He has psychopathy and megalomania, both which could be regarded as a type of "madness", but I think he is, very sadly, extremely rational. Everything has been calculated. Whether those calculations turn out to be miscalculations, only time will tell.
I thought last night's address was really pretty unhinged though tbh. No?
Perhaps, but like all politicians, he is an actor. I imagine it is largely calculated. The problem with people that have been in power too long is that they start to genuinely believe their own genius, and I guess you could see that as a type of madness, but from his point of view, things have gone his way quite a bit; the silencing of his critics, alliance with China, Crimea, Trump, Brexit. He will fuck up eventually, we just have to hope he doesn't kill too many people as part of the collateral damage.
What I simply don’t understand about the graduated approach to Boris Johnson’s sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs is anyone who thinks they will be targeted will now be shipping their liquid assets out of London by the lorry load https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1496140100316639247
Yep, Nevis offshore (St Kitts and Nevis) is one of their most favoured destinations. Total anonymity. Full of Russian money.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
Putin apologist.
Russian troops are literally in Ukraine right now. How is that "not an invasion".
People arguing NS2 suspension is only temporary don’t understand German politics. Inertial forces are gigantic. Once you move to a new position it would take a dramatic improvement to create conditions for a reversal. Do you see Putin reverting yesterday’s declaration?
Sounds like a pause for today an unpause on a different tomorrow not cancellation to me, however Germany wish to spin it. Last week the German leadership were in Ukraine urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin - hence we arn’t shocked they merely paused Nord2 until a day they can unpause.
Surely it makes sense to pause, rather than cancel, the project? That way the Germans still have the carrot of reopening to wave at Putin. Cancelling would simply remove that option from their arsenal without giving them any advantages.
And I don't believe for a moment that "the German leadership were in Ukraine urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin". Where did you read that?
“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who traveled to Kyiv on Feb. 14, tried to talk Zelensky into granting Russian-occupied regions autonomy, which is one of the key demands made by the Kremlin.”
Right, so they weren't actually urging the Ukraine government to surrender that territory to Putin. They were suggesting that Zelansky might consider granting the regions a degree of autonomy, which, on the face of it, might have been a way of defusing the situation. Why the need for the ridiculous spin on your part?
😃 I don’t even understand why you are digging yourself deeper into a hole arguing with me on this point.
I’ll place it into a sitrep so you get the full story to then make your judgement on.
The Normandy Team created the Minsk Protocols. You know who they are? Ukraine France, Germany and Russia.
Ukraine agreed to hold refs in two rebellious regions (guess who) but havn’t done so because they claim the places are full of paramilitaries so it can’t be a free and fair election (my mind went to the Good `Friday Agreement)
Both France and Germany went to Ukraine after meeting Putin first and told them to stop prevaricating over enforcing that part of Minsk2 and hold the referendums. The refs would have resulted in vote to cede from Ukraine, immediately tanks would have rolled into them to keep the peace and firm the new border.
EXACTLY THE SAME AS YESTERDAY, BUT PERFECTLY LEGALLY.
This WAS the German and France position last week. All I am saying in the previous post is, let’s take with a pinch of salt how they seek to suggest their position is different this week.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
but if we give this b*****d and inch he will be at Calais before we know it. .
No no. Calais is a shithole and never part of the Greater Russia.
Jesting aside, I do think you need to calm down a tad. He's not about to invade western Europe.
Eastern Germany was part of greater Russia post war.
I have no idea what to do next, but it looks to me like you are standing on the aircraft steps at Heston waving papers at me.
This is highly unusual - deputies of Russia's Federation Council recalled after the end of their usual working day for a 6 pm closed-door session (so, happening now)
Sky announcing a lot more sanctions up the UK's sleeve announced by Liz Truss.
Why didn't Boris announce them in Parliament? Weird.
Agree. I thought it a poor response and some confusing answers given. I accept what @Farooq says about diplomacy, but still not impressed with level of sanctions nor the confusing answers given to MPs questions.
On the other hand I thought the MPs were generally very good from all side with some very good questions asked.
Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas · 40m PM's list of sanctions against Moscow doesn’t go nearly far enough. When I asked him for a proper investigation into Kremlin meddling in our own politics, he said he’s not aware of any
Presumably that's because he hasn't bothered to look. Has he even read the Russia Report?
Has anybody seen anything out of the Swiss re sanctions so far? Whilst the UK is a big player re Russian money it would help if the Swiss also clamped down or does their “neutrality” supersede this?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
I was personally involved in the contingency planning at BAE to move Type 26 shipbuilding operations from Glasgow to Portsmouth and/or Barrow in 2013/14. It was a real issue, and it would have happened. That's why I was motivated to become actively involved in the 'No' campaign.
Has anybody seen anything out of the Swiss re sanctions so far? Whilst the UK is a big player re Russian money it would help if the Swiss also clamped down or does their “neutrality” supersede this?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
Sky announcing a lot more sanctions up the UK's sleeve announced by Liz Truss.
Why didn't Boris announce them in Parliament? Weird.
Agree. I thought it a poor response and some confusing answers given. I accept what @Farooq says about diplomacy, but still not impressed with level of sanctions nor the confusing answers given to MPs questions.
On the other hand I thought the MPs were generally very good from all side with some very good questions asked.
The EU hasn't agreed their suite of sanctions yet (Hungary playing silly buggers).
And nobody has woken Biden up yet, so the Yanks can't tell us theirs either.....
Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas · 40m PM's list of sanctions against Moscow doesn’t go nearly far enough. When I asked him for a proper investigation into Kremlin meddling in our own politics, he said he’s not aware of any
Presumably that's because he hasn't bothered to look. Has he even read the Russia Report?
Bitch slapped by The Greens for promised Barrage at Putin being nothing more than a Pea shooter response is very definition of trolling 😧
Not a good day for Boris and his government.
However I will cross reference this with Snookie, my green friend on the ground in Bristol and report back to you. 👍🏻
I wonder how long it will be before some good quality investigative reporting will pull the lid on Russian interference in the UK and US. I won't just be damaging for teh Tories.
What I simply don’t understand about the graduated approach to Boris Johnson’s sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs is anyone who thinks they will be targeted will now be shipping their liquid assets out of London by the lorry load https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1496140100316639247
Yep, Nevis offshore (St Kitts and Nevis) is one of their most favoured destinations. Total anonymity. Full of Russian money.
I don't think there are many Russian oligarchs with millions sitting in UK bank accounts. Property, yes. Offshore funds accessible in the UK, also yes.
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
Putin apologist.
Russian troops are literally in Ukraine right now. How is that "not an invasion".
You are a disgrace.
No she's not. She has a point of view which is pragmatic but dangerous in the longer term.
Your boy nor the EU haven't exactly covered themselves with glory today. Sequester the dodgy Russian money now. All of it!
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.
But, outside the legitimate worldview, a Russian nationalist might claim that it was always part of their fantasy 'greater Russia' and would place great cultural importance to it, and no doubt Putin is playing on this emotional attachment.
Russia in the early Middle Ages had its capital in Kiev, and Kievan Rus was, by the standards of the day, relatively progressive and decentralised. Then the Mongols invaded, and ever since, Moscow became the centre of power and centralised autocracy the order of the day. As has already been said Kiev was for centuries part of Lithuania, later in personal union with Poland, until Catherine the Great's Russia partitioned it in the late 18th century.
For scale/reference - occasionally people (including myself) make a joke of The Treaty of Troyes. The above is equivalent to seriously believing that the Treaty of Troyes should be enforced by war......
Yes, good comparison. Our monarchs did keep the claimant title 'King of France' right up until the French Revolution - I guess when the incumbent loses his head the job rather loses its appeal.
There are any number of claims that would work under the same bizarre logic, since European borders have changed so much - it would be like Spain, Austria and the Netherlands each claiming the right to conquer Belgium, or the UK claiming Ireland isn't a country.
THOSE WHO ARE FRIENDS AND APOLOGISTS OF THE AGGRESSOR ARE ALSO THE AGGRESSOR.
All sort of tough painful Decisions to be made today, for a range of governments and other organisations to prove, rather than say, they oppose Mad Vlad’s aggression (not just the tanks on someone else’s sovereign land, but his disgraceful remarks threatening everybody in his crazed address)
Gazprom feature heavily, as it’s four of their pipelines which now should not be used, but also they should be cut off from UEFA completely and champions league final moved. Ditto F1 have to take action pronto, strip Putin of his race and look at the funding from his regime.
Boris needs to do 2 things to prove he is serious, he needs to be vocal that Nord cannot be used by Europe, not just announce our sanctions today but speak up and say Gazprom/Putin pipelines cannot be used, but also be more straight with us that what he is calling for does impact us, as where UK gets it’s Gas must now have heavy competition for it, Boris already got off to a bad start today talking spin and bollocks about this part to the British People. He can’t try to make out the sanctions and counter sanctions won’t hurt us, he needs to be straight with us about this.
Western Europe (not the UK - we get most of our gas from North Sea and Norway) can't stop using Russian gas altogether. Going... er.. cold turkey would stuff a fair number of countries.
Not using Nord Stream 2 is the key - it is designed so that Russia can send gas to Western Europe, while cutting off the Near Abroad (aka the bits Russia wants to steal back). So if it goes into operation, Putin can play off Western and Eastern Europe.
Sounds like the German government is pausing that, according to a report in the Independent.
It sounds also that Germany is getting serious about changing the longer term direction of energy policy, too. While that won't make any immediate impact, it could significantly reduce dependency on Russian gas over time.
Germany keeping the nuclear plants running, at least until there’s other sources of electricity to replace them, might be a reasonable starting point.
Everyone getting their arses in gear with the deployment of renewables would also be a good idea, both for the climate and for geopolitical stability. Enough of the foot dragging.
With a supportive government, we could have 8-10 tidal power stations on stream by the early 2030's, many of them starting partial production sooner. Each when complete the energy output of a Sizewell C. Popular. Creating 80,000 jobs in the process. And dependable electricity for centuries to come, at a fraction of the cost of nuclear. Without the waste along the way, without the risk of Chernobyl/Fukushima disaster along the way, without the massive costs of dismantling them at the end of their useful life.
C'mon Boris, you said you supported them on your hustings tour of Wales. Now deliver them. That is the sharpest kick you can give to Putin's shins.
Have you tried bribing somebody? I'm joking but I'm not.
Has anybody seen anything out of the Swiss re sanctions so far? Whilst the UK is a big player re Russian money it would help if the Swiss also clamped down or does their “neutrality” supersede this?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
German banking is interesting to look at as well.
Well yes. Just this morning I turned down a project where the client was a Russian national using Commerzbank to hold ridiculous amounts of funds and I cannot tell you the sizes I’ve seen sitting at Deutsche in Frankfurt over the last few years.
Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas · 40m PM's list of sanctions against Moscow doesn’t go nearly far enough. When I asked him for a proper investigation into Kremlin meddling in our own politics, he said he’s not aware of any
Presumably that's because he hasn't bothered to look. Has he even read the Russia Report?
Bitch slapped by The Greens for promised Barrage at Putin being nothing more than a Pea shooter response is very definition of trolling 😧
Not a good day for Boris and his government.
However I will cross reference this with Snookie, my green friend on the ground in Bristol and report back to you. 👍🏻
I wonder how long it will be before some good quality investigative reporting will pull the lid on Russian interference in the UK and US. I won't just be damaging for teh Tories.
Absolutely. I have been say this for weeks. It hasn’t happened and won’t happen by the politicians because they are all up to eyebrows in it - libdem literally sleeping with the enemy, Barry Gardner got off Scot free for accepting half a million.
For the same reason the press won’t go there. But that is what the front of the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph is there for, if it was all party’s but Tories you would have seen the lid lifted there by now. The fact is they never will lift it, so do we the people actually have a free press? Because we can even question where the papers get their scoops from, like the Mail destroying the British Ambassador in Washington.
As I said for months, it’s our security forces trying to keep us a free fair functioningdemocracy with all this corruption and greed going on I feel sorry for. ☹️
Has anybody seen anything out of the Swiss re sanctions so far? Whilst the UK is a big player re Russian money it would help if the Swiss also clamped down or does their “neutrality” supersede this?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
German banking is interesting to look at as well.
Well yes. Just this morning I turned down a project where the client was a Russian national using Commerzbank to hold ridiculous amounts of funds and I cannot tell you the sizes I’ve seen sitting at Deutsche in Frankfurt over the last few years.
I have seen some data in the past.....
When DB finally goes down, it's going to do to German politics what the Italian scandals did there - wipe out all the usual suspects.....
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
So now that Russia are the official baddies can we now have publication of the report into their meddling in our affairs? Surely we can all then collectively boo Putin and put right the damage he has done...
No, that is the limited ISC one that urged Downing Street to order a full enquiry and implement a framework to protect us from future attacks. Big Dog refused. We need the proper report that the ISC says we need to investigate Russian meddling in elections and referendums which Downing Street refuses to look at.
Why is Big Dog afraid of investigating Russia? Aren't they now the big bad who need to be Stopped? How can we stop them if he won't even look at it? Especially when the limited report showed meddling in the Scottish Independence vote - its totally logical to assume further meddling in the Brexit vote and both of the rerun elections of 2017 and 2019.
Here is the reality. The Tories take a lot of money from Russians. The Tories benefited from Russian state meddling in our democratic processes. The Tories say Russia is bad but are happy to take their money and their assistance because the Tories are brazenly corrupt.
So take everything the Big Dog says about Russia with a pinch of salt. They are his mates.
Do the Tories take Russian money though? I keep hearing this trotted out - is there any evidence of it? I'm tempted to treat this with a pinch of salt, like the Russia-interfered-in-the-2016-US-election meme. It seems on the face if it unlikely. And if so, money from which Russians? Money from the Russian state, or from their fugitives? I concede that it also seemed unlikely that Barry Gardiner was taking money from China, or that apparently everyone is taking money from Qatar.
That's one report. There are others. Temerko himself came to a hustings in Stockton South in 2015 to see what his money was being spent on.
If the government are serious about going after Russian money and influence to deter Putin, it would be a good start to stop taking Russian money and influence themselves.
Temerko is a British citizen.
Yes, and? Abramovich manages to be Israeli, Portuguese and Russian. Does each new nationality wipe a little more of his background away?
Your argument is truly in bad faith.
Yes, yes it does. That's the whole point of allowing people to acquire nationality.
Unless you're a blood and soil racist.
You're an absurdity on this front. Nationality does not supersede intent nor does it wash away uncomfortable backgrounds.
'Blood and soil racist' come on Phil. Some of us wonder where Russian energy moguls acquired their wealth.
As we have a right to when they are donating millions to the Conservative party.
Don't you see what has happened to the Russian state over the decades? Would you like aspects of it to appear here?
Sorry but this is nasty racism and xenophobia.
Do you accept that people who emigrate here and take citizenship here are real British citizens?
Or are they second class people with aspersions to be cast upon based upon where they were born?
Either you accept immigrants who've taken up a life and citizenship here or you don't. If Temerko is Russian to you, you're no better than the National Front.
I am asking:
Where did his wealth come from and why is he giving such a lot of it to the Conservative Party?
That he is a citizen has no bearing on these questions. And does not excuse anyone of actions under another passport.
(Can you argue more than one angle? Because you seem to have prepared heuristics that you beat the conversation down to. Not a man of nuances Mr Roberts)
He's the director of a British company and has been holding high positions in businesses for decades now.
What evidence do you have of dodgy money other than racism? Is it news to you that directors of successful businesses might be wealthy?
That's way below your usual standard of invective.
C--
Try harder.
Seems pretty par for the course. Malcolm is a perfect example of a Nationalist thug, except that instead of throwing rocks through fellow Scots' windows he frequently haunts a political site where he has no hope of engaging in articulate debate because he has zero capability in debating, which makes him amusing, though not in a way that he would like. I suppose the one thing you can say for Salmond is that though he is reputed (by his own QC) to be a sex pest and a bully he is/was pretty articulate unlike his thuggish followers. We can also add No1 Useful idiot to Putin to his dubious CV.
I quite like Malcolm.
He’s never rude to me.
Perhaps you have never said anything vaguely critical of Salmond or Scottish Nationalism. He is a vile and rude little man, but then what should one expect from the number 1 fanboy of someone as repulsive as Salmond?
Malc's been rude to me but I still quite like him. Strange, dunno why?
Salmond? Everyone knew what he was like, certainly Sturgeon will have done, but his chutzpah and indispensability pre-IndyRef, kept him safely in place. One of the ironies is the Nicola holier-than-thou act, given the way so many women were so badly let down by the whole avoidable Salmond charade which she, effectively, tolerated. And given her status as THE powerful woman in ScotGov, must have made so much more difficult for other women to challenge.
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.
But, outside the legitimate worldview, a Russian nationalist might claim that it was always part of their fantasy 'greater Russia' and would place great cultural importance to it, and no doubt Putin is playing on this emotional attachment.
Russia in the early Middle Ages had its capital in Kiev, and Kievan Rus was, by the standards of the day, relatively progressive and decentralised. Then the Mongols invaded, and ever since, Moscow became the centre of power and centralised autocracy the order of the day. As has already been said Kiev was for centuries part of Lithuania, later in personal union with Poland, until Catherine the Great's Russia partitioned it in the late 18th century.
THOSE WHO ARE FRIENDS AND APOLOGISTS OF THE AGGRESSOR ARE ALSO THE AGGRESSOR.
All sort of tough painful Decisions to be made today, for a range of governments and other organisations to prove, rather than say, they oppose Mad Vlad’s aggression (not just the tanks on someone else’s sovereign land, but his disgraceful remarks threatening everybody in his crazed address)
Gazprom feature heavily, as it’s four of their pipelines which now should not be used, but also they should be cut off from UEFA completely and champions league final moved. Ditto F1 have to take action pronto, strip Putin of his race and look at the funding from his regime.
Boris needs to do 2 things to prove he is serious, he needs to be vocal that Nord cannot be used by Europe, not just announce our sanctions today but speak up and say Gazprom/Putin pipelines cannot be used, but also be more straight with us that what he is calling for does impact us, as where UK gets it’s Gas must now have heavy competition for it, Boris already got off to a bad start today talking spin and bollocks about this part to the British People. He can’t try to make out the sanctions and counter sanctions won’t hurt us, he needs to be straight with us about this.
Western Europe (not the UK - we get most of our gas from North Sea and Norway) can't stop using Russian gas altogether. Going... er.. cold turkey would stuff a fair number of countries.
Not using Nord Stream 2 is the key - it is designed so that Russia can send gas to Western Europe, while cutting off the Near Abroad (aka the bits Russia wants to steal back). So if it goes into operation, Putin can play off Western and Eastern Europe.
Sounds like the German government is pausing that, according to a report in the Independent.
It sounds also that Germany is getting serious about changing the longer term direction of energy policy, too. While that won't make any immediate impact, it could significantly reduce dependency on Russian gas over time.
Germany keeping the nuclear plants running, at least until there’s other sources of electricity to replace them, might be a reasonable starting point.
Everyone getting their arses in gear with the deployment of renewables would also be a good idea, both for the climate and for geopolitical stability. Enough of the foot dragging.
With a supportive government, we could have 8-10 tidal power stations on stream by the early 2030's, many of them starting partial production sooner. Each when complete the energy output of a Sizewell C. Popular. Creating 80,000 jobs in the process. And dependable electricity for centuries to come, at a fraction of the cost of nuclear. Without the waste along the way, without the risk of Chernobyl/Fukushima disaster along the way, without the massive costs of dismantling them at the end of their useful life.
C'mon Boris, you said you supported them on your hustings tour of Wales. Now deliver them. That is the sharpest kick you can give to Putin's shins.
Have you tried bribing somebody? I'm joking but I'm not.
Sadly, new industries don't have the sort of money to out-compete with nuclear....
Has anybody seen anything out of the Swiss re sanctions so far? Whilst the UK is a big player re Russian money it would help if the Swiss also clamped down or does their “neutrality” supersede this?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
German banking is interesting to look at as well.
Some people were talking up barrage of sanctions making Putin think twice or at least a strong punishment a few weeks ago. I think you are nailing in that post why sanctions been such a weak response in the past, too easily by passed. Not enough uniting as one, reacting firm as one.
Who is a Russia watcher on here. Is there any world in which Russia has legitimate claims to The Ukraine.
Keep it short and to the point here pls.
tia
No.* And "The Ukraine" is Putin's preferred term, not Ukraine's.
*well there is the world in which you get what you demand by overwhelming force.
Although of course when speaking Russian he can say no such thing.
The Ukrainian argument is based on English usage, not Russian or Ukrainian, neither of which languages have articles.
The argument is that as you do not generally use the word "the" to refer to countries in English, if you do so it makes it sound like a geographical area rather than a country.
Generally being the operative word there. There have always been a smattering, though over time they have fallen out of fashion. 'The Argentine' is the only other one which springs to mind in the vaguely modern era.
Not many articles attached to geographical areas either - the one which springs to mind is 'The Wirral'.
On a similar note, am I right that we have now started calling the capital city Kyiv rather than Kiev because the former is Ukrainian and the latter is Russian? If so, it isn't the only place where we call a city by the language its inhabitants don't use. In particular, we often seem to use French where the locals do not (e.g. we call it Bruges, as the French do, whereas the locals call it Brugge; we call it Basle, as the French do, while locals call it Basel.)
Interestingly, I think both German and French speakers refer to Switzerland with a definite article: Der Schweiz and La Suisse. In German, at least, it is not standard to do this to a country.
Also while I'm on about it: why does the Hague have a definite article?
And also why you're on about it what's up with street and road.
The Balls Pond Road and Carnaby Street as examples. Why is one "the" and the other not.
My theory is that roads which are named after their destination take the article, effectively "the road to Balls Pond". Streets don't normally go anywhere and are more purely intra-urban in nature.
The Hague is a direct translation, Den Hague or 's-Gravenhage, The (Count's) Hedge although haag probably means something more like enclosure or fortification in this context.
Only in London though. The Edgware Road, the Gloucester Road. You don't get that anywhere else. The Stockport Road, The Oldham Road? No.
That would explain my Liverpool Road. The East Lancs, mind.
How about the Scottie Road?
Indeed. And there's the Scotswood Road in Newcastle, too. And Westgate Road. Known as the West Road. Maybe it's just local habits?
Last wk the Home Sec announced she’s closing the T1 visa scheme saying it was a route for “kleptocrats” into the UK. On that basis for a piece on Friday we asked the Conservative Party if they plan to review money donated by T1s who have become UK citizens.This is what they said. https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1496148819028946957/photo/1
Comments
A fortnight ago the #LevellingUp White Paper recognised that "the UK’s centralised governance model means local actors have too rarely been empowered". Last week, the Government announced it's "looking into concerns" after Haringey published its local magazine too frequently.
@GuidoFawkes
Rishi’s Approval Rating Goes Negative
https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1496137082858885130
Absolutely typical that we've left Roman Abramovitch untouched. One of dozens.
“Second, you should continue to make regular use of lateral flow tests even if you don’t have symptoms.
“The only immediate change we are making to current arrangements on lateral flow tests for the general population is in our advice on the frequency of testing.
Instead of advice to test before going anywhere to mix with others, we will, from Monday, revert to advice to test at least twice a week and in particular if you are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable.
“Lateral flow tests will remain free of charge in the transition phase.”
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendumnews/19943001.nicola-sturgeon-update-live-covid-roadmap-published/
More like “living with fear and control” than “living with COVID”.
I really think he missed his chance. Will we look back 5 years from now and say, 'Remember when Rishi Sunak was a shoo-in for PM?'
Not unreasonably MPs were concerned and wanted clarification. Often (particularly on the Tory benches) they welcomed what he has said, but wanted clarification of what he was saying if Putin stayed put (no further advance, but no retreat either).
Do we all not agree that if Putin stays put where he is that it is unacceptable for us all to go 'Oh ok then, that's fine'.
That is all they were all repeatedly asking.
My issue is adding the definite article where non exists, as I said in my OP.
Probably because of the reasons you cite.
But it’s a good example of the utter lunacy of UK centralisation and why the country will never, in fact, level up.
I can see a Johnsonian renaissance. He is PM Sine Die, or a retirement in circa 25 years at 80. He has no shame, and useful idiots like Livingstone, Corbyn and Putin keep cropping up at perfect points in his timeline.
I will either be dead or past caring by then.
I have missed today's events until I heard the BBC R2 news bulletin at 1500 eulogising Johnson and strangely enough Mrs May. Starmer must have been utterly useless in the HoC today as his only mention was he agreed fully with Big Dog.
But, outside the legitimate worldview, a Russian nationalist might claim that it was always part of their fantasy 'greater Russia' and would place great cultural importance to it, and no doubt Putin is playing on this emotional attachment.
Russia in the early Middle Ages had its capital in Kiev, and Kievan Rus was, by the standards of the day, relatively progressive and decentralised. Then the Mongols invaded, and ever since, Moscow became the centre of power and centralised autocracy the order of the day. As has already been said Kiev was for centuries part of Lithuania, later in personal union with Poland, until Catherine the Great's Russia partitioned it in the late 18th century.
@CarolineLucas
·
40m
PM's list of sanctions against Moscow doesn’t go nearly far enough. When I asked him for a proper investigation into Kremlin meddling in our own politics, he said he’s not aware of any
Presumably that's because he hasn't bothered to look. Has he even read the Russia Report?
https://twitter.com/CarolineLucas
I do think tough sanctions and asset seizure is required. But if Putin goes no further (and I don't call this an invasion) I think we should stop right there. A lot of noise and then we hope that three, six, months from now the separatists states have been another casualty of oligarchy but war in Europe has been avoided.
I recognise however that we're dealing with a madman.
https://twitter.com/markmackinnon/status/1496139568592076806
Harriet Sergeant
@HarrietSergeant
·
1h
There’s only one sanction that will work. Lock up Russians oligarchs and Putin backers in Russia with no access to their European playground. Do a North Korea on them.
https://twitter.com/HarrietSergeant/status/1496118195345887240
I think TSE would be pleased at the first part.
The most sustainable solution here is that Ukraine be a buffer state between NATO/EU and Russia. Regrettably, the West should also accept the annexation of Crimea.
But that requires Russian withdrawal from Donbas etc and the closing down of these Potemkin People’s Republics. But Putin is doubling down…
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1496140100316639247
He has been rolling 6s on the international stage for a long time.
There were no realistic sanctions that hurt after Flight 17 was shot down. Did we in the West just not care.
I don't know the answer, but if we give this b*****d and inch he will be at Calais before we know it. By some means he needs to leave the Kremlin feet first.
EDIT: Oh sorry, that's not your daughter - that's your wife?
How could we conceivably manage Chinese interference in London if we can't handle Russian money when it is this obvious?
Tough for retailers, but we are now effectively at war.
Jesting aside, I do think you need to calm down a tad. He's not about to invade western Europe.
If you're gonna listen to any speech about #Ukraine 🇺🇦, let it be this one.
The Kenya ambassador to the UNSC perfectly explains how people across Africa understand Ukraine, and what the Kremlin's acts of aggression mean in our post-colonial world.
https://twitter.com/ThomasVLinge/status/1495978202728210435
Russian troops are literally in Ukraine right now. How is that "not an invasion".
You are a disgrace.
I’ll place it into a sitrep so you get the full story to then make your judgement on.
The Normandy Team created the Minsk Protocols. You know who they are? Ukraine France, Germany and Russia.
Ukraine agreed to hold refs in two rebellious regions (guess who) but havn’t done so because they claim the places are full of paramilitaries so it can’t be a free and fair election (my mind went to the Good `Friday Agreement)
Both France and Germany went to Ukraine after meeting Putin first and told them to stop prevaricating over enforcing that part of Minsk2 and hold the referendums. The refs would have resulted in vote to cede from Ukraine, immediately tanks would have rolled into them to keep the peace and firm the new border.
EXACTLY THE SAME AS YESTERDAY, BUT PERFECTLY LEGALLY.
This WAS the German and France position last week. All I am saying in the previous post is, let’s take with a pinch of salt how they seek to suggest their position is different this week.
Why are you arguing?
I have no idea what to do next, but it looks to me like you are standing on the aircraft steps at Heston waving papers at me.
On the other hand I thought the MPs were generally very good from all side with some very good questions asked.
Not a good day for Boris and his government.
However I will cross reference this with Snookie, my green friend on the ground in Bristol and report back to you. 👍🏻
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/22/birmingham-six-journalist-hearing-reporters-ban
Does the right of journalists to protect sources extend to an IRA bomber from the mid 70s ?
Also would be helpful if Greece and Turkey put pressure on their halves of Cyprus as a huge hub for Russian money and corporate structures along with Malta and Montenegro.
https://twitter.com/PaulJSweeney/status/1496142874597109770
And nobody has woken Biden up yet, so the Yanks can't tell us theirs either.....
Your boy nor the EU haven't exactly covered themselves with glory today. Sequester the dodgy Russian money now. All of it!
There are any number of claims that would work under the same bizarre logic, since European borders have changed so much - it would be like Spain, Austria and the Netherlands each claiming the right to conquer Belgium, or the UK claiming Ireland isn't a country.
For the same reason the press won’t go there. But that is what the front of the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph is there for, if it was all party’s but Tories you would have seen the lid lifted there by now. The fact is they never will lift it, so do we the people actually have a free press? Because we can even question where the papers get their scoops from, like the Mail destroying the British Ambassador in Washington.
As I said for months, it’s our security forces trying to keep us a free fair functioningdemocracy with all this corruption and greed going on I feel sorry for. ☹️
When DB finally goes down, it's going to do to German politics what the Italian scandals did there - wipe out all the usual suspects.....
Salmond? Everyone knew what he was like, certainly Sturgeon will have done, but his chutzpah and indispensability pre-IndyRef, kept him safely in place. One of the ironies is the Nicola holier-than-thou act, given the way so many women were so badly let down by the whole avoidable Salmond charade which she, effectively, tolerated. And given her status as THE powerful woman in ScotGov, must have made so much more difficult for other women to challenge.
Not very diplomatic.
https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv/status/1496115593149358081
What's the rush?