War in Ukraine: the UK becomes first country to give long-range missiles to Ukraine

[Artoo]

Exactly, that's what I fear about those sanctions as well. We always say 'Blame Putin, not the Russians!', while I doubt that Putin is the one preparing sandwiches for a living.

There are no winners in war. Sanctions damage Putin politically, which is the whole point of introducing them. Yes the people of Russia will suffer - but at least they aren’t being bombed, hiding in shelters or fleeing to another country as a refugee.

[Ewokguy15]

Whilst true, it’s doesn’t excuse them for not speaking out and taking a stand. If McDonalds changed their branding from red and yellow in Russia to yellow and blue there isn’t a single thing the franchises could do about it.

Yeah I agree, Mcdonalds is one one of the biggest companies in the world, as is Coca-Cola, they should be the first to say something.

Prada and Luis Vuitton pulling out of Russia isn't gonna hurt anyone who can't go without this stuff for a while.

[LittleLinda]

I don't see how being able to order a big mac or not changes Putin's mind, to be honest...

Don’t be silly. This is about stifling the Russian economy and not supporting the war with millions in taxes. Plus decreasing Putin’s approval ratings, because the average Russian wants to be able to order a Big Mac and/or keep their burger flipping job.
Now, the latter effect surely isn’t desirable from a moral viewpoint, but as harsh as it may seem, turning the Russian population against Putin is probably the strongest weapon there is.
As others have said, Russians might blame the West for the sanctions, but with more and more sanctions in place, more countries and companies joining in and more and more tangible effects for the individuals, there will come a point when propaganda will no longer stop the populace from demanding an end to this from their leader.

Putin might not care too much for the little man, but he needs a certain number of people on his side.

I think the reason people are so upset with McD and CocaCola not taking a stand is that those companies can definitely afford it. So them not taking a stand makes it seem like they are too greedy to accept a dent in their huge profits and prefer to (indirectly) co-finance a war of aggression.

[aRat]

I can't at their baffoon of a leader claiming that the UK was leading in the humanitarian aid just recently

[Artoo]

Immigration, even refugees, is a big ticket item for Boris and part of the reason people vote for him. He and his party have spent decades blaming the UK’s problems on them.

You can come to the UK from Ukraine if you have family here. But you must apply for a visa, of which 300 have been granted - but supposedly 17,700 applications have been started (though I’m guessing not finished).

Glad I didn’t vote for him.

[Thriller]

The Tories' stance on immigration just makes them massive hypocrites in this whole situation.

[spiritboy]

What you guys fail to understand is that you can NEVER turn some people against Putin. All these sanctions will actually increase Putin's support and popularity and enmity against Western countries will grow. Just wait and see.

[theMathematician]

What you guys fail to understand is that you can NEVER turn some people against Putin. All these sanctions will actually increase Putin's support and popularity and enmity against Western countries will grow. Just wait and see.

Agreed. I would compare that to how sanctions didn't get some people to get vaccinated either...

[Artoo]

What you guys fail to understand is that you can NEVER turn some people against Putin. All these sanctions will actually increase Putin's support and popularity and enmity against Western countries will grow. Just wait and see.

You can say that about any political leader at any time in history. People follow people on nothing more than blind faith alone. The real test will be when Putin is found guilty of his war crimes - it’ll take some serious devotion to overlook that as it is bound to make people wonder which side of history they are on.

But the average Russian isn’t stupid - they’ll be wondering now why shops and brand are pulling out, why their economy is in crumbling, why media outlets are shutting down, and why new laws were required to stop ‘fake news’. If Russians do not eventually read between the lines then perhaps they deserve Putin.

Personally I think Russia could end up with a big generational divide - there’s a lot of Russia that grew up in times of relative peace and don’t support Putin’s Soviet ambitions.

[Artoo]

Temperatures in Ukraine set to plunge

In recent days Ukraine has seen snowfall across parts of the country, and as our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet tweeted earlier, more is falling.

BBC weather presenter Ian Ferguson has provided more details on the cold snap, saying it's due to turn even colder from midweek.

Cities like Kharkiv and Kyiv will experience "biting windchill" of -13C to -20C at times during the next few days.

BBC.

Even the weather is against Russia

[aRat]

BBC.

Even the weather is against Russia

I am fearing for the ukranians who are trapped in basements without electricity or heating though

[stevyy]

What you guys fail to understand is that you can NEVER turn some people against Putin. All these sanctions will actually increase Putin's support and popularity and enmity against Western countries will grow. Just wait and see.

if that is so... the list of countries who are thinking that Russia made a mistake is 130 countries long (out of 196 nations). They represent all continents on this planet.

That's a huge number. I wish the UN would have got at least 150 nations to sign up... but ... some countries are "Sh!tholes" as some former and disgraced president once said. He did have a point, even tho his original point targeted the wrong countries religions.

[stevyy]

I can't at their baffoon of a leader claiming that the UK was leading in the humanitarian aid just recently

Boris is now and has been for while.... the biggest political laughing stock on the global stage. He's just as disgraced as his American clone.

[stevyy]

Yeah I agree, Mcdonalds is one one of the biggest companies in the world, as is Coca-Cola, they should be the first to say something.

Prada and Luis Vuitton pulling out of Russia isn't gonna hurt anyone who can't go without this stuff for a while.

LV and Prada are targeting the elites and those who can actually put change forward.

McDonald's and Coca Cola are targeting the youth which is currently protesting and thrown in jail. I wish those two would finally say NO to Mr Putin and rile up even more people.

[Artoo]

Russia trying to recruit Syrian fighters - US official

Russia is trying to recruit Syrian mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, a senior US defence official has said.

"We find that noteworthy that [Russian President Vladimir Putin] believes that he needs to rely on foreign fighters to supplement what is a very significant commitment of combat power inside Ukraine as it is," the official told reporters.

Russia launched a military campaign in support of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in 2015 that has been crucial in turning the tide of the country's civil war in the government's favour.

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal cited US officials as saying the Russian military had in recent days been recruiting fighters from Syria, "hoping their expertise in urban combat can help take Kyiv".

The Syrian activist-run Deir Ezzor 24 news network reported last month Russia was offering Syrians in government-controlled areas salaries of between $200 (£152) and $300 (£229) to "go to Ukraine and operate as guards" for six months.

The senior US defence official said they were unable to provide an estimate on the number of Syrians who had been recruited already or whether a quota had been set.

BBC.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

[LittleLinda]

What you guys fail to understand is that you can NEVER turn some people against Putin. All these sanctions will actually increase Putin's support and popularity and enmity against Western countries will grow. Just wait and see.

My point was if prices explode, unemployment rises and shelves remain half empty, even the staunchest Putin supporter will reach a point where they demand an end to this, regardless of whether they think he is in the right or not, because blaming the West will not solve their problems. There’s only so much the average citizen can endure, and they will want him to do something about it. In such a situation continuing the war with no end in sight and telling your people that “we will be victorious eventually” will only work for so long.

But my main point was that McD and Coca Cola are under fire for co-financing this war (not for denying Putin or his people their fast food). That is the reason for most companies withdrawing from the Russian market. Then of course there are those who are forced to cease business with Russia due to delivery embargoes, but that’s a different story.

[jordi_89]

The eldest and most loyal to him may not change their minds, but I think the rest could do that if things are bad enough in Russia.

[aRat]

BBC.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

LOL they can't even handle the logistics of their own troops that border Ukraine what makes them think ordering troops from thousands of km away is gonna work

[jordi_89]

Can you imagine if the rebels retake Syria if enough soldiers leave to fight in Ukraine?

[aRat]

Can you imagine if the rebels retake Syria if enough soldiers leave to fight in Ukraine?

Also screaming at them only getting 200$ a month to go die in a foreign country thousands of km away

I bet Putler wont even pay the travel costs

[jordi_89]

They did it!

They'll temporarily close 850 stores in Russia.

[jordi_89]

If Coca-Cola follows suit, Putin will become a skinny legend but his people will hate him I guess.

[jordi_89]

Finally. Now we just need the EU to do the same (but like for real and no buying it on discount).

[Artoo]

So McDonalds will close 850 restaurants in Russia and continue to pay all staff in full. Apparently McDonalds owns most of its Russian restaurants (84%) so very little franchise issues. But Russia and Ukraine bring in revenue of $2bn annually so will be interesting to see exactly how long this lasts.

[SholasBoy]

So McDonalds will close 850 restaurants in Russia and continue to pay all staff in full.

McDonalds don't always have the best rep, but in recent years they do seem to strive to do good, and I think this is a better result than we could have even expected. Coca Cola, Starbucks and Shell have all made announcements too, these are massive names pulling out of Russia.