Germany would plunge into a deep recession if its supply of Russian natural gas was suddenly shut off. The country would lose 220 billion euros ($238 billion) in economic output over the next two years in the event of such a shock. In the end this is money verses lives - nothing else. There is no excuse to keep funding the murders in Ukraine. Surely Western countries can all chip in and support Germany? I'd be quite happy to turn the thermostat down. At least Germany are looking to build some floating lng storage facilities - to end their reliance upon Russian gas - but will it be too late by then?
Surely they could find alternative suppliers, at a cost no doubt. There should be no questions about this all western countries should cease trade with russia immediately.
I'm not sure just turning your thermostat down is enough to make up the difference. So, a Russian ship catches fire and ammunition blows up, the ship then sinks. Russia denied it was a missile strike and just one of those unavoidable accidents. Russia then fires cruise missiles at a factory in Ukraine which manfacures anti ship missiles. Do they think everyone is as stupid as they are? I think it was the Ukrainian version of a Russian anti ship missile. So much the better.
I don't think that Putin realises that technology has advanced so much - control of the media is impossible - the world can see what is happening with crystal clear clarity. He's shut down the 'Moscow Times' now - does he think that this will make any difference? He was expecting to roll into Ukraine unchallenged and didn't factor in that the majority of economies larger than his were going to give him a good spanking. He's going to lose - because Russia will simply run out of cash. He wants NATO to stop sending weapons to Ukraine - I don't think so. Russia has banned Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior ministers from entering Russia over the UK's "hostile" stance on the war in Ukraine. This did give a good laugh - who in their right mind wants to go there?
Didn't Boris vist Kiev the other day? Probably Putin is worried he might drop in on him unannounced possibly gatecrashing any parties that the Kremlin might be throwing. He does like a good party, does our Boris, or so I'm told.
In their desperation to control the media - Russia have issued a fake news report that copies the look of the BBC - logo, font style, the lot. To be honest it is convincing - the only sticking point is that BBC have outed it as nonsense. There's no point - the world already knows what Putin is.
Putting 2 and 2 together here but very rarely see military planes over here, too much civilian air traffic, but a Polish C130 Hercules as just flown over bound for Warsaw and it left Biggin Hill.
Tony reckons that Ukraine about to get some more jet fighters to bash Putin. I wonder where they came from? Poland...
Inflation in Russia now stands at 17.6% and is on track to accelerate to 22% this year, while the economy is set to shrink by 9.2% in 2022, according to a poll of economists. Hold the line Boris - sanctions must remain in place for a long time yet. Putin must be on his knees before sanctions are lifted. Tony Blinken...