He turned down an American offer to evacuate as well saying 'I need ammo not a ride'

If he leaves it would cripple the Ukrainian morale and it would likely be over quite quickly. Still... Most would be long gone. Boris would have been across the Atlantic before the first bullet was fired.

Yeah I agree, you can't really ask citizens to stay and fight when the government leaves. Still amazed by how well he speaks and conducts himself, must be getting almost no sleep with a lot of the military action taking place at night and then having to give speeches and speak to other leaders in the day

The capital seems to have just about held up last night, the longer it goes on Putin will either have to come to the negotiating table or take some big risks to end things quickly..

The statements he comes out with are also pretty metal which I can only assume is entirely intentional - not only will it ramp up and inspire the Ukrainians, it's the sort of thing that will resonate with the Russian population too.

putin has already said that america told the ukrainians to position their defences in residential areas, which means the russians will just attack anything.

putin is a dirty lying b astard

also, poland has opened up their border and welcomed all refugees. Who saw that coming? :laugh:

They have said all are welcome, no documentation needed. They expect up to 5 million refugees

Contrast to

Ashraf Ghani revealed that when he woke up on 15 August he had "no inkling" it would be his last day in Afghanistan.
It was only when his plane left Kabul that he realised he was going, Mr Ghani said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He was heavily criticised and accused of abandoning the country at the time. He is now in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Ghani made the comments in conversation with Gen Sir Nick Carter, the UK's former Chief of the Defence Staff, who was guest-editing the Today programme on Thursday.

UN Security council have voted on resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine:

Yes
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Norway
- Ireland
- Albania
- Gabon
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Ghana
- Kenya

No
- Russia

Abstain
- China
- India
- United Arab Emirates



The resolution will also be voted on in the UN General Assembly.

second night in a row, pro-ukraine protests in Tbilisi, Georgia against the russian invasion in ukraine, The crowd, estimated at 30,000, chanted slogans against the current Georgian government, after the ruling party said it would not join the Western sanctions on Russia. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 to aid pro-Russia separatist forces. Experts have drawn parallels between that conflict and the one currently unfurling in Ukraine

https://i.imgur.com/85vpy5g.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1z67aNp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/J6sjH1r.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TkPQzzZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LV5d8In.jpg

Pope Francis posted a message on his twitter account https://twitter.com/Pontifex with a message in ukrainian, english, russian

https://i.imgur.com/FhQohHO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MJ8OZKo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wMGcfTd.jpg

Interesting that Brazil is in the Yes column, there are economic implications there for Russia (there was interest from Brazil around nuclear energy) and it was reported that Putin was shaking hands with
Bolsonaro whilst being pointedly cold with most other world leaders. Strongly suggests Putin was hoping for BRIC support.

Of Course,
India has a Big Arms Contract buying from Russia.

The Abstains are obvious but interesting too. For China I feel like it's a "No, but we don't want to actually say that or actively support them" and for India it's "Yes, but we don't want to burn any bridges". UAE's on the fence status is really all that could be expected because of the unpredictability in the Middle East, and also, the amount of Russian Oligarch $$$ floating around over there.

Indeed. I doubt they support the military action that's been taken but the economic links with Russia are too strong for them to condemn them. There's also the fact that, when it comes down to it, India would love to reclaim Pakistan...

Bolsonaro having a soul after all

:laugh:

Netherlands already have raised over than 1.5 million euro for emergency help to Ukraine with Giro999

https://nltimes.nl/2022/02/25/ukrain...15-million-aid

Never happen
as Pakistan has it's Nukes

Yes that's what keeps it a permanent stalemate. But they would still like to so when it comes down to it, they are sympathetic to things like the former Soviet Union and the China/Taiwan situation. Another reason why China abstains, of course. They can't condemn without condemning their own probable future actions. Although, they would argue, it's different as they insist Taiwan is not an independent country, and thus their presence couldn't be an "invasion". Which is why other countries should steer clear of arguing againt that IMO. China has been quite happy to let Taiwan exist as a self-governing entity so long as it isn't legitimised.

[Labour MP Zarah Sultana receives death threat
describing her as 'Putin's W****'

Zarah Sultana was one of 11 current Labour MPs who
had previously signed a Stop the War statement
that criticised NATO expansionism.
On Thursday, these 11 MPs were written
to by the shadow chief whip and asked
to withdraw their signatures.
All of them are believed to have done so.]


https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mp...s-w-e-12551753

I think some of you could be persuaded to go over and fight in this war. I think if the television told you so then you'd jump to it.

I think bees grow up to be cows. I think you just ate an entire turkey you had in the freezer from Christmas. I think Trump is secretly 7 badgers in a trenchcoat.

That just sounds like you're going mad.

Netherlands: eredivisie football match between RKC Waalwijk and FC Twente both teams did a peace gesture before the match

https://sportnieuws.nl/app/uploads/2...32-756x422.jpg

https://sportnieuws.nl/app/uploads/2...3-1024x683.jpg


this young RKC fan combined carnaval and team colours to also honour Ukraine

https://sportnieuws.nl/app/uploads/2...1-1024x683.jpg



and also in the KeukenKampioenDivisie (first division) Almere City team captain Ramon Leeuwin had worn a special blue-yellow captain's band for Ukraine

https://sportnieuws.nl/app/uploads/2...4-1024x683.jpg


https://sportnieuws.nl/voetbal/binne...rsband-almere/

[Russian forces kill 198 Ukrainian civilians
including three children and tower
block is ripped apart by MISSILE strike - as defiant
president Zelensky refuses to lay down weapons
in bloody Battle for Kyiv]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02...5862590305.jpg
[People take cover as an air-raid siren sounds,
near an apartment building damaged by
recent shelling in Kyiv]


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ault-Kyiv.html

No thank you


i'm also happy to hear quite some dutch people have managed to get out safely of Ukraine towards Poland