Do we need to worry?

[KateLMead]

Russia 's heckles are up ! America has warned them not to interfere in the Ukraine.
150,000 troops mobilised.

Now where do we go from here.
Time in my opinion that we learned to keep our nose out of other countries affairs. I have not seen or heard the Union
Getting involved.

We will have by 2015
82,000 troops
227 tanks
318 aircraft,
68 warships.

Russia is mobilising just a fifth of its forces. This amounts to
150,000 troops.
880 tanks.
210 aircraft.
80 warships.

We could be in very real danger of world war three.
I hope our government has learned a few lessons following this countries failure to keep its nose out of other countries affairs
We are still reaping the rewards of B'liars illegal invasion of Iraq, and indeed Afghanistan.
If America want to take on Russia let them do so at their own cost.

[Kaz]

Time in my opinion that we learned to keep our nose out of other countries affairs. I have not seen or heard the Union
Getting involved.

This!!!

[Workingman]

Yes, we should be worried.

Western Europe, but not the UK, gets 40% of its gas and 33% of its oil from Russia. If Russia gets fed up and tightens the taps, even slightly, we could be in big trouble.

[KateLMead]

Bigger trouble if we get involved with the Americans and action is taken.

[cromwell]

Ukraine could be trouble, yes. As WM points out, a lot of Europe depends on Russia keeping the gas flowing; so I'd guess Putin knows he has the upper hand with any EU diplomatic mission.
There are differing factions in the Ukraine. In 1919 the Red Army invaded in the Ukraine-Soviet war. The reds beat the Ukrainian nationalists.
When the Nazis swept through the Ukraine in WW2, some Ukranians were therefore very happy to fight against the Russian communists.
Then in 1944 Stalin deported almost 200,000 muslim Crimean tatars to other parts of the USSR; many died of starvation in the first winter.
Then ethnic Russians started settling in the Ukraine; so Ukranian is the main language in some parts and Russian in others.
So all the ingredients are there for a major fall out!

[moondancer]

I wouldn't be worrying about WW3 Kate; no one is going to use nuclear weapons, but I hope the UK has learned its lesson and stopped interfering in other countries wars.

The US will no doubt plunge happily in and send troops, they always do, but if we do the same then basically we're up sh*t creek.

The Russians don't want to lose Ukraine obviously, it has always been a part of Russia, but it's nothing to do with us, and as WM says we depend greatly on Russia for oil and gas.

It's about time countries kept their noses out of the affairs of others.

[Workingman]

It's about time countries kept their noses out of the affairs of others.

Time, maybe, but can politicians resist?

Interesting report on RT saying that Ukranian nationalists have invited Chechen jihadists to help fight Russians in the eastern provinces. An excuse for Russia to step in?

[KateLMead]

Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan.. We do not have many friends abroad in spite of attempting to bribe them . We are done as a leading nation, but then I think we have always been mis- lead.
Corruption is rife in all parties. This country is in free fall.

[TheOstrich]

In a way, Russia's response to the Ukraine crisis is inevitable. Not only are the Crimean people basically pro-Russia, but Crimea is currently a major operating centre for their Black Sea fleet, and Russia needs to protect its interests.

Personally, I blame the EU for this whole muddle-up (putting it politely) ...... they have been singing siren songs to Eastern European countries and wooing them westwards. They should never have done this, they should have let matters be. If you disturb any status-quo, turmoil will follow. If Russia cuts off or restricts gas flows to European countries, the EU will only have itself to blame.

(Although I suspect Russia won't halt the gas supplies, it needs the money too much ...)

[KateLMead]

I agree with every thing you have written, Crimea considers itself to be Russian, as do the population in general. "play with fire, expect to get burned" interfere at our cost we in the West created this situation that has developed, Russia like Iran it's friend is a military power not to be messed with.