|
|
Post by Paulus de B on Feb 2, 2023 14:14:25 GMT
Russia may not have invaded Ukraine if Brexit had not happened, senior MEP Guy Verhofstadt has said on the third anniversary of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Mr Verhofstadt – the European parliament’s former Brexit coordinator – suggested Vladimir Putin calculated that the continent was not united on defence after the UK’s exit from the bloc. “This war, this brutal invasion started with Putin and Russia,” he told LBC. “It’s really an attempt by Putin to restore the old Soviet Union. The only difference is the communist party is replaced with his own cronies.”
Mr Verhofstadt added: “A united Europe, certainly on defence matters, would make an enormous difference. I think maybe without Brexit, maybe there was no invasion. I don’t know.”
For Guy Verhofstadt (aka the Prince of Darkness  ) to argue in favour of uniting Europe on defence matters is nothing new. He is a federalist fundamentalist, and the fact that he has also described himself as a Eurosceptic shows the emptiness of that term. Europe is fractionally more likely to unite on defence matters now that Britain is out of the way, but only fractionally. It isn't actually going to happen. Even Verhofstadt, though, says "may not", "I think", "maybe", "maybe" and "I don't know". He's just borrowing the Ukraine situation to give his anti-Brexit, Euro-federalist feelings another airing, and all his maybe's shows that he knows the weakness of his argument. His suggestion that Putin is seeking "to restore the old Soviet Union" doesn't hold water, either. The Soviet Union, like the Russian Empire that preceded it, as a contiguous empire, can't be wound up neatly. The borders that made sense for the administration of an empire are also the borders of the home country, and they don't correspond to the collective identities of the people living within them. There are likely to be other wars across those frontiers in the future. Britain should be more sympathetic to these problems, by the way - we sailed away from our overseas empire and left the natives to face the consequences. The Russians didn't have that option. |
|
|
|
Post by sword on Feb 2, 2023 15:36:36 GMT
No he didn't,any actual footage of this invasion in 2014? jets tanks thousands of troops etc,thats the sort of bullshit that starts wars. They didn't invade Crimea they were already stationed there thousands of them as you know Sevastopol was home to the Russian black sea fleet,that was one reason for the war now,those post Coup Nazis in Kiev would have handed it over to the Americans and Nato,thats why Putin acted,what did you expect?also its the only invasion i have seen where no one was killed. |
|
|
|
Post by sword on Feb 2, 2023 15:43:09 GMT
The reason that Russia invaded Ukraine was because the EU were obviously warming to the idea giving Ukraine EU membership. Also NATO membership was on the cards. The EU should have kyboshed both but didn't. This was always liable to lead to a very dangerous war. What caused the war were Russia's red lines that kept being crossed, Putin said there would be a response,the Americans and Nato thought it was all bluff,well they found out what a mistake that was,as for Europe its just a US Colony. |
|
|
|
Post by Toreador on Feb 2, 2023 16:48:15 GMT
Russia may not have invaded Ukraine if Brexit had not happened, senior MEP Guy Verhofstadt has said on the third anniversary of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Mr Verhofstadt – the European parliament’s former Brexit coordinator – suggested Vladimir Putin calculated that the continent was not united on defence after the UK’s exit from the bloc. “This war, this brutal invasion started with Putin and Russia,” he told LBC. “It’s really an attempt by Putin to restore the old Soviet Union. The only difference is the communist party is replaced with his own cronies.”
Mr Verhofstadt added: “A united Europe, certainly on defence matters, would make an enormous difference. I think maybe without Brexit, maybe there was no invasion. I don’t know.”
For Guy Verhofstadt (aka the Prince of Darkness ) to argue in favour of uniting Europe on defence matters is nothing new. He is a federalist fundamentalist, and the fact that he has also described himself as a Eurosceptic shows the emptiness of that term. Europe is fractionally more likely to unite on defence matters now that Britain is out of the way, but only fractionally. It isn't actually going to happen. Even Verhofstadt, though, says "may not", "I think", "maybe", "maybe" and "I don't know". He's just borrowing the Ukraine situation to give his anti-Brexit, Euro-federalist feelings another airing, and all his maybe's shows that he knows the weakness of his argument. His suggestion that Putin is seeking "to restore the old Soviet Union" doesn't hold water, either. The Soviet Union, like the Russian Empire that preceded it, as a contiguous empire, can't be wound up neatly. The borders that made sense for the administration of an empire are also the borders of the home country, and they don't correspond to the collective identities of the people living within them. There are likely to be other wars across those frontiers in the future. Britain should be more sympathetic to these problems, by the way - we sailed away from our overseas empire and left the natives to face the consequences. The Russians didn't have that option. Here, this will help, take your pick: www.youtube.com/results?search_quer |
|
|
|
Post by Paulus de B on Feb 9, 2023 11:22:47 GMT
For Guy Verhofstadt (aka the Prince of Darkness ) to argue in favour of uniting Europe on defence matters is nothing new. He is a federalist fundamentalist, and the fact that he has also described himself as a Eurosceptic shows the emptiness of that term. Europe is fractionally more likely to unite on defence matters now that Britain is out of the way, but only fractionally. It isn't actually going to happen. Even Verhofstadt, though, says "may not", "I think", "maybe", "maybe" and "I don't know". He's just borrowing the Ukraine situation to give his anti-Brexit, Euro-federalist feelings another airing, and all his maybe's shows that he knows the weakness of his argument. His suggestion that Putin is seeking "to restore the old Soviet Union" doesn't hold water, either. The Soviet Union, like the Russian Empire that preceded it, as a contiguous empire, can't be wound up neatly. The borders that made sense for the administration of an empire are also the borders of the home country, and they don't correspond to the collective identities of the people living within them. There are likely to be other wars across those frontiers in the future. Britain should be more sympathetic to these problems, by the way - we sailed away from our overseas empire and left the natives to face the consequences. The Russians didn't have that option. Here, this will help, take your pick: www.youtube.com/results?search_querI'm always grateful for help, but your link doesn't help at all, it tells me that no results have been found. |
|
|
|
Post by Vinny on Feb 12, 2023 10:44:07 GMT
In 2014 the Russia Ukraine Friendship Treaty was in place as was a treaty guaranteeing the use of Sevastapol until the 2040s. All Putin had to do was be a good neighbour, wish the new Ukrainian government well and make an offer of a treaty extension until the end of the century, with a good offer of cash.
The Ukrainian government would have happily accepted the money and seen no reason to consider NATO membership.
You catch far more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.
Putin's bullying has guaranteed the outcome he didn't want.
It's guaranteed that he will lose everything he wanted.
|
|
) to argue in favour of uniting Europe on defence matters is nothing new. He is a federalist fundamentalist, and the fact that he has also described himself as a Eurosceptic shows the emptiness of that term. Europe is fractionally more likely to unite on defence matters now that Britain is out of the way, but only fractionally. It isn't actually going to happen. Even Verhofstadt, though, says "may not", "I think", "maybe", "maybe" and "I don't know". He's just borrowing the Ukraine situation to give his anti-Brexit, Euro-federalist feelings another airing, and all his maybe's shows that he knows the weakness of his argument.
