UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the "evidence is pretty clear" that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine.

Johnson cuts short a trip to North West England as he says there are "signs that show that there are serious preparations" being made by Russia.

Russia denies plans to invade Ukraine, despite massing 100,000 soldiers on Ukraine's borders and a reported 30,000 close to the Belarus-Ukraine border.

More than a dozen countries, including the UK and the US, have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings of an "imminent" invasion.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv later as part of efforts to defuse tension.

Russia wants assurances Ukraine will never be allowed to join Nato - but the alliance's members have opposed this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-60372815

If Russia do plan on invading Ukraine they will do so after the exercise they are conducting with Belarus and the naval exercise in the black sea-Both exercise ends Feb 20. There's also this friendship between Russia and China-If Russia attack now during the OL in China-The Chinese may be angry.

Markus

Russia has said that a diplomatic solution to its escalating standoff with the West is still possible.

In a televised meeting, President Vladimir Putin was told that diplomatic talks had not yet been been exhausted.

The comments come after more than a dozen nations urged their citizens to leave Ukraine, and the US said aerial bombardments could begin "at any time".

Russia has always denied plans to invade Ukraine, despite massing more than 100,000 troops on the border.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60379833

If Johnson says something it must be true.
So the alliance's members said that Ukraine will join NATO. Otherwise there would have been no problem for such a guarantee.

I think the response was their way of pointing out that any free country has the right to determine for themselves what they want to do in any given set of circumstances rather than that dictated to them by another country.

Perfectly clear.
So who in the west would have let the Ukraine join NATO, or the EU for that matter? No. one. Not with the corruption and turmoil there, and economic crisis. Maybe possible ten years from now, but even then - why exactly? To provoke Russia? To make the whole world join NATO in the end?

I think the answer to that depends on which conspiracy theory one supports :)

I belong to the one that says Russia pulls their Troops back to make the West look like fools.
:har:
And if I'm wrong? It was just a conspiracy theory after all!

According to these Danish expert there will not be a war-Invasion of Ukraine

https://nyheder-tv2-dk.translate.goo..._x_tr_pto=wapp

Markus

The United States is relocating its embassy operations in Ukraine from the capital Kyiv to the western city of Lviv, citing the "dramatic acceleration in the build-up of Russian forces".

I think one of the conditions for NATO membership is that the membership-seeking candidate has no territorial conflicts on its grounds or at its borders and is not engaged in any martial or constitutional problems regarding its territorial integrity.



The Ukraine might feel that getting NATO membership would allow them to pull all NATO into a war to retake the Crimean.

The Ukrainian say the invasion will come this Wednesday 16th of Feb.
(Saw the Ukrainian President talk to the press on our news channel)

Markus

Reposting this in case anyone wants to understand what it takes to join NATO

Here is a good site that describes how a country can become a member of NATO

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49212.htm


Has the Ukraine fulfilled these requirements?

^

1. No.
2. I don't know.
3. By words: yes, but would deeds follow the words, and what regarding the Crimean? Sothe answer is: unclear.
4. The need us more than we need them.
5. Well, corruption ranks high, and stability ranks low in the Ukraine. LRankling lists of related world indices also express this.


BTW, also a reminder: there is no right that a candiate cna demand acceptance even beyond these five criteria. He can ask, but the alliance always has the right to simply say No for whatever a reason. There is never a claim for membership.


Same is true regarding the EU, btw. No state has automatic claim for membership even if he fulfills the demanded criteria.

^ To say it simple-They are fare from being a NATO candidate.

Markus