‘The West gave Putin green card to invade’ - Will Self, William Hague

As Putin invades Ukraine we are joined by top experts throughout the day to discuss what this means for the future of Europe.
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[@stevphenrose7820]

The Russians give money to the Tories so they can move to London and prosper. The Tories look the other way and just took the money. Brexit was a big plus for the Russians

[@susannamarker2582]

Brexit is a big plus for the UK.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

We don't want a war with anyone. So we don't want to go blundering in or sending any of our lads over there.

[@Lee_303]

Do we actually need to put NATO in Ukraine, with the equipment we have already? It's just provocation.

[@progressivedemagogue8480]

Yeah

[@happychappy7115]

Are you talking UK, EU or US? The US and EU are coordinating a response. The UK is doing fuckall

[@dolphin069]

You have no idea what you are flapping your gums about.

[@nathanielfrance5829]

@ RADIO Times - inaudible, low volume

[@RDHamel]

When you hear this kind of mendacity from yet another in a line of tories you know that nothing real will be done.

[@edwardcatton315]

my mind is still on China/ Taiwan?.

[@thodystack]

So Russia and Putin would have benefitted by helping in the fight by our government to destabilise the European Union. Well we did get Brexit done. Which certainly didn't make Europe tighter.

[@1701enter]

I also remember Haig (old six pints remember that?) Who,s fault is it then? Putin was the risk/danger. Your job as it was all the other government's job was to never allow VP to assume or see a weakness in our system, this did not happen. Indeed we have for decades weakened our military ability (Ninrod junked, and no cover, Regiments disbanded, Aircraft carriers built with no aircraft to fly off them, battle groups with half the vessels required to protect them, Tanks obsolete, and far too few the list is endless That is all down to you and your kind) And as for Afghanistan... that tragedy will play out for a hundred years. No wonder Africans and Asians prefer Putin's world (that will also prove to be a mistake and I did not even mention what China is going to do now) I have yet to see a politician put their hand up and say that could have been done better.

[@timcomley3241]

You think we’d take in Russia by ourselves 🤥

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

While I agree in general about defence, can we please put to bed this whole 'aircraft carriers with no aircraft', F-35's have been flying off the first for three years, the second carrier completed tests with operating them last year. Worth remembering that when HMS Invincible was completed in 1979, there was exactly one Sea Harrier to fly off it. I don't recall any great noise about that at the time. It is the case that the disaster that was the 2010 Defence Review, which suddenly axed the Harriers meant regenerating that fast jet from carriers ability took longer than had their planned around 2017/18 retirement date been stuck to.

[@meanwhileme4128]

@@timcomley3241 Why would we they the Russians are right to stop NATO putting Missiles on their Borders

[@aynos629]

The volume is really low

[@normanstewart7130]

My neighbour left his front door unlocked, so he gave me a green card to go in and steal his television.

[@13strange67]

Poppycock ! You stole that green card !

[@vincentciliberti5026]

Unfortunately I still remember the invasion of the former Czechoslovakia. No matter what politicians say or recall. This must be a repetition of the invasion. Everybody and his dog knew that Vadimir Putin intended to stage the invasion in Ukraine. So, I ask: why did the West not act before the invasion?

[@firebyrd437]

I agree I knew weeks ago this was going to happen honestly our government are useless

[@JackMott]

Because the West did not want to spend resources and people on what we perceived someone else's problem. Just simple selfishness.

[@wieslawmaciag2142]

Because NATO wasn't as unified as it is now Its always the same . And the previous 4 years did not help matters when USA was absent from the leadership of NATO and Germany was becoming more than over reliant on fossil fuel from Russia . Obviously there are other European countries which made the same fatal mistakes . As always in couple of years it will all come out in a wash in some high ranking politicians autobiography .

[@rhobatbrynjones7374]

The sound is a very clear issue on what is a very intelligent debate.

[@mossychops]

Ban Chelsea football club. And make Jimmy Savile a saint.

[@kernowarty]

What is needed in situations like this is an international voluntary freedom fighters task force comprising of people from many nations that can be deployed to assist in fighting in the country being oppressed. Then despotic tyrants like Putin cannot retaliate against one or two nations for sending in their soldiers. A true United Nations action force.

[@billturner6564]

the sound of weakness

[@susannamarker2582]

Put the sound up.

[@charlottemarceau8062]

The hope is that Putin wouldn't destroy so much Russian London property in an atomic fire..

[@roberthurst3909]

The trap was set and he fell right through it

[@DPJTrump]

Great guests, interesting commentary, it's just such a shame that it is so quiet. I could barely hear it.

[@vivo-audio]

I do wonder if they've poached some of the technical staff from GBeebies News.

[@seanlykes196]

Dude Ukraine put themselves in this situation. Instead of focusing on security they decided to be the most corrupt country in europe.they lucky were still helping them out.

[@martindice5424]

All this comparing Russia invading Ukraine with the UK invading Ireland is nonsense. The Ukraine is the size of France, has a well organised , trained and equipped army with upwards of 1 million reservists. The Russian invasion force numbers 150-180 thousand troops. Bear in mind, two thirds of these are non combatant support personnel (even in the Russian army). It’s not enough boots on the ground unless the Ukrainians roll over (which they won’t). Also the Russian army is a ‘one shot’ outfit with limited logistical and administrative support. If the Ukrainians can bog them down this could yet go very wrong for Putin.

[@johnshaw4140]

I hope and pray that you are correct But I worry , is Putin insane enough to use thermobaric weapons or other WMD's if he's backed into a corner

[@martinradcliffe4798]

Fair point. The Russian army is very much a limited war force, with all the best troops and equipment concentrated in relatively few formations.

[@spewter]

Yeah, it was nonsense. Self said that Ukraine and Russia are essentially the same because of their overlapping histories. I don’t know about that tbh but I do know that UK and Ireland are fundamentally different countries and cultures so I’m confused by Self using this as an analogy. I suspect he was chatting s**t

[@stephenwise2735]

4.43 WH ' They are not all friends of Putin ...I hope they are not...' . Well let's all hope, shall we?

[@stainlesssteelrat8010]

Innocent Russians are currently in Kharkiv. Being shelled by the guilty Russians.

[@barrystanton6693]

Nukes: what’s the point of spending a fortune on weapons you can never use?

[@comanchio1976]

Deterrence. Putin wouldn't have rolled a single tank into Ukraine if they'd have held on to their nuclear weapons at the end of the cold war.

[@helenswan705]

unlistenable - it's whisper-quiet.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

So did the Russians and the Yank's.

[@rudela9900]

Your audio is too soft.

[@aynos629]

Not alike Trump or Brexit, the strong man myth has worked until now

[@grecosgreecedaz6026]

Both are same ok wee know what like putin is but West are not saints themselves

[@multipipi1234]

Russians will.

[@daramccluskey]

What if the Yanks wanted him to invade cos it gave them the pretext to take him out?

[@lindanapier-burrows1799]

boring, un original

[@darkhorse6428]

I'm irish and Ireland has notting to do with this . Too many opinions. Keep them to yourself

[@yetidodger6650]

debates don't work like that mate.

[@shortattentionspantheatre5075]

Get the air defense to Zelensky NOW!!!!!!!! Long live Ukraine

[@arsxs04]

Maybe NATO should have stopped getting closer to Russia each year.

[@adamhaycock7982]

Surely sovereign countries should be able to vote on their own membership. NATO expansionism requires a nations democratically elected assembly to vote to request to join. It’s notable that Ukraine, one of the few nations on Russia’s border that’s pro-west but not in nato is the country being invaded

[@daikucoffee5316]

That’s the most idiotic analysis I’ve read. Ukraine is not Part of NATO and NATO Has not even accepted a potential request. Meanwhile the terrorist Putin breaks very international law to exist. Death to Russia!

[@meanwhileme4128]

@@Hartley_Hare Cuba couldn't have missiles so clearly Ukraine cannot.

[@mickeythompson9537]

@@meanwhileme4128 It was nuclear missiles. And Ukraine doesn't.

[@oppsiedaisy3720]

@@daikucoffee5316 Death to Russia is an idiotic statement.

[@toddaustin5180]

Vladimir Putin must be under consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022

[@Deletedguy]

Can Poutin stop foolish westerns ?

[@spewter]

I’m trying to understand Will Self’s point… He says Ukraine has historically been a land ruled by various powers and, as one of those former powers, Russia sees the Ukraine as theirs. Ok, sure. But Self doesn’t acknowledge the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination. Isn’t that the moral heart of the matter? With the notable exception of the Donbas region, the Ukrainian people want an independent Ukraine and would rather have closer links to Europe than be subsumed by the Russian Federation. History might help explain Putin’s perspective but it doesn’t justify the invasion. Frankly, I think Self is just showing off some historical knowledge , and indulging in some smug sneering at the West’s ignorance. But ultimately Self is not using that knowledge to provide any real insight. If you don’t agree with me, try deciphering those wildly confused UK-Ireland analogies Self was chuntering out.

[@AleksandarBloom]

I think his point is mostly about Western reaction and outrage, how phony is it - self-determination is alright only if those that want it are on their side. Look at Kosovo, massive American army base, largest in Europe, or reaction of EU towards the sitiation in Catalonia, at least two parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina wanna split, they would not respect their rights.

[@spewter]

@@AleksandarBloom That, I understand. Times Radio should get you on