The Winter Wonderland is up and running in Bournemouth, ready for Christmas. All the old installations from last year have returned. There are some new ones too, including this tree. It’s the Kyiv Tree. A token of my town’s support for the beleaguered people of Ukraine who have been invaded by the armed forces of the Russian fascist regime. There aren’t many, if any, Winter Wonderland’s being set up there this year. Last year? This was how Mariupol looked.
There are seven nations, once incorporated into the USSR that today share borders with both Russia and NATO. Three of them (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) have since joined NATO. None of these countries have been invaded by Russia. Four of them (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus) have not joined NATO and all of them have been invaded by Russia. Yes, Belarus too, albeit by stealth.
It seems to me that the problems we have today would not be problems, had NATO membership been granted to at least three of those republics more than a decade ago. Yet some folk still think that the problem lies in granting membership to any of the Eastern European nations. These folk have a weird, and often fascist-friendly way of thinking. “I don’t support Putin, but…” works much the same as “I’m not racist, but…”
The weather has taken a sudden cold turn in the UK recently. I walk past the Kyiv tree most days. I’m sorry that they are being forced to endure this war, and endure it through a frozen winter. I’m equally glad I’ve never had to suffer what they must. I hope that remains the case.
We in the West absolutely should provide them with what they need to prevail. I continue to do my bit, and keep the heating a little lower. And as soon as the war is won, Ukraine will have my tourist dollar.
The Mexile 
One regret I have is that Stew and I never visited Ukraine. The bombed-out ruins attest to what a beautiful country it was before Russia’s invasion, which every day looks more like genocide. What a tragedy. Here’s hoping the NATO allies don’t go wobbly on their support of the courageous Ukrainian people.
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The right wing/Trumpists in the USofA would like to pull their support. But then, what would you expect. They and Putin and are part and parcel of the International Fascist Club.
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There are seven nations, once incorporated into the USSR that today share borders with both Russia and NATO. Three of them (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) have since joined NATO. None of these countries have been invaded by Russia. Four of them (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus) have not joined NATO and all of them have been invaded by Russia. Yes, Belarus too, albeit by stealth.
That says it all, nothing more need be said.
Putin is a thug, his people are thugs. Europe and its confederation could crush Russia like a bug and it may have to. The US before WW2, wanted no part of warring on the fascist powers until it had no choice . The part about a sleeping giant could well be said of Europe…
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This war does mark a fundamental change in the social, political and economic dynamics of both Europe and the world. A watershed moment. And it must be won, and be seen to be won. The outcome will shape our future.
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The Reds are coming, the Reds are coming….
The whole debacle is a sad sorry state of affairs. It is said that an army marches on it’s stomach and with winter fast approaching the Russians are in the position of further annihilation or will perhaps freeze to death on the battlefield. They are far from home and are not being supported from behind to the degree they hadn’t planned or prepared for and in reality Putin hasn’t learnt from either Napoleon or Hitler’s armies who struggled and then died in their droves once that mind and body numbing weather descended upon them.
Perhaps the war machine ramped up their creative juices and generated all the goods needed for an invasion once they could see it faltering in the early days of the invasion however that is another vast resource wasted as working men are being sent to the front.
I suppose that might bring the war to a sputtering halt, Putin either way is finished, the European, American and Asian countries won’t trust him, not that that they ever did, business is business and Russia has vast resources at its back to trade. The other eastern bloc countries will probably trade in their sickles for Nato membership or not if they feel they are safe from further domination. His days may be numbered however if he is eliminated by his own people or through subterfuge there is still that gnawing feeling in the pit of my gut that he may use his red button.
The American space boys spent millions to make a pen that could write upside down in space the Russians used pencils for the same purpose. Likewise with the final countdown don’t overthink it before he pushes his odd coloured greyish bakelite button sourced from the Chernobyl reactor spare parts department. It may be red to us but if he feels cornered he may just do it!
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The only satisfactory outcome of the war is for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to win their freedom and join NATO. Is there a caveat, an olive branch, an off ramp for Putin? I guess it is possible that Crimea could be negotiable. A demilitarised Crimea. Perhaps. If absolutely necessary. But frankly, there’s a good chance a big chunk of the Russian army will freeze to death this winter.
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