Notes

What does the Ukraine war mean for the UK? How Russia invasion and Putin sanctions can affect life in UK
Around 900 British troops are stationed in Estonia under Operation Cabrit, the UK’s contribution to Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic states, which some fear could also be targeted by Mr Putin. The FCDO itself has a small presence in the country in the form of the British embassy, which has relocated to Lviv near the Polish border, nearly 300 miles west of the capital, Kyiv. Up to 5,000 British citizens were estimated to be living in Ukraine before the crisis. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has since advised all UK citizens to leave the country, but it is not known how many remain and the FCDO has declined to comment on numbers. This could include sanctions on more oligarchs – for instance, Chelsea FC owner and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Roman Abramovich – or larger banks such as Sberbank or VTB, which has already been sanctioned by the US and EU.


All of this disruption could massively increase the price of gas in Europe and, consequently, the UK. Europe itself could restrict future gas flows by abandoning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which would run under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. Western powers are acutely aware this crisis is being closely watched by the rest of the world. Some migrants might stay in neighbouring Poland and eastern European countries, but some might head further west and eventually end up in the UK.

Inside the British Army drill for war with Russia - on the streets of Rutland
Mr Johnson was among leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations who met to discuss the situation. Earlier, the prime minister said on Twitter that the invasion was a "catastrophe for our continent". The prime minister also sought to reassure the British public, pledging to do "everything to keep our country safe" and work with allies "for however long it takes" to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and independence. But the senior Western intelligence official warned that "military options are highly likely on the table in the Kremlin" if Russia's demands are not satisfied. A senior Western intelligence official has warned that if Russia decides to invade Ukraine, a conflict could spill over further into Europe.

This could include sanctions on more oligarchs – for instance, Chelsea FC owner and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Roman Abramovich – or larger banks such as Sberbank or VTB, which has already been sanctioned by the US and EU. "A frank and constructive dialogue is expected to improve relations between states," the Ukrainian president's office said on its official channel on the Telegram messaging app alongside a photo of Mr Szijjarto, Mr Kuleba and Mr Yermak. The UK is not protected from rising prices purely because it relies less on Russian gas.
Around 350 Royal Marines from 45 Commando were sent to Poland this week – taking the total numbers of military personnel there up to 500 – as the two countries continue to work together to try and de-escalate the tensions around Ukraine. When that failed, No.10 sanctioned five Russian banks and three “hit net wealth” individuals. The Russian president said his goal was the “demilitarisation” of Ukraine, warning that if the West were to interfere they would endure “consequences they had never seen”. Putin already sent in “peacekeeping troops” to two separatist regions of Ukraine on Monday – prompting the West to issue a string of sanctions against Russia – but went even further early Thursday morning when he declared war on Ukraine. He highlighted the threat from Russia and pointed to steps being taken by other European nations to put their populations on a "war footing". The US currently has warheads stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, under a Nato nuclear-sharing arrangement.

Two years on from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and this war benefits no one: UK statement at the UN Security Council
“We have become so comfortable here in Britain that it’s hard to imagine young people fighting, and when I went to Afghanistan a decade ago, I didn’t think the youngsters of would be up to much,” he said. The logistics of training a “Citizen Army” are also formidable, according to one former Territorial Army (TA) soldier. “If you are talking about mass mobilisation to defend the homeland, that is hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. Military kit also needs boots on the ground to operate it – hence Sir Patrick’s call for a “Citizen Army” to boost the regular Armed Forces. According to a 2022 YouGov poll, only one in five Britons would volunteer for service in the event of an invasion.


The US navy secretary, Carlos Del Toro, then urged Britain to “reassess” the size of its armed forces. On Friday, No 10 defended the Government’s military spending, pointing out that “the UK is the second biggest defence spender in Nato and the largest in Europe”. Meanwhile, the US is struggling to pass a $100 billion military aid package for Ukraine amid Republican opposition, with defence sources warning that if Donald Trump wins the presidential race, it will hand Russia victory.

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Despite warnings from the US and its Nato allies that any invasion by Russia of Ukraine would have "severe economic consequences," Moscow's military build-up on the border continues. Since its illegal and unprovoked attack, over 300,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded. Media organisations have been shut down, and many journalists are now in Russian prisons. But https://euronewstop.co.uk/what-happens-if-ukraine-falls.html was followed up with missile attacks, using different kinds of weapons in a bid to overwhelm and break through the city's defences. At least 32 people have died in Ukraine's capital in that time, 30 of them in one attack - on 29 December, when Russia launched one of the largest ever aerial attacks of this war.


"We could have a very large number of refugees, deaths could reasonably be expected to be high as would destruction within Ukraine," he said. Meanwhile, other Western defence sources have expressed concern about an increase in signals intelligence and "chatter" being monitored which could signal Russia's preparedness to invade. The intelligence official described the build-up as a "slow drip" and a "slow ratcheting up of pressure". The admiral described Russia's military build-up on its border with Ukraine as "deeply worrying". Russia continues to impede access for humanitarian organisations to the millions of people in need.

At least seven people are known to have been killed by Russian shelling, including civilians. "The nightmare scenario would be that the states close to Russia double down on aid to Ukraine while those farther west decide to force a deal on Putin's terms. Then Europe itself could fracture," he says. Madame Chair, as we approach the third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UK’s support will not falter. Its purchase and use of Iranian drones involves both states violating a Security Council resolution. The memorandum is not a treaty and lawyers dispute whether it is legally enforceable.
Ukraine had feared ahead of the winter that Russia was stockpiling weapons for large-scale attacks. Since launching its invasion Russia has never stopped attacking Ukraine by the air, but this latest series of strikes marks a deadly escalation. Russia's Vladimir Putin vowed to increase attacks on Ukraine - now Kyiv is realising what he meant. A source familiar with the situation said the drone fell at about 7am local time but had not affected fuel output. The Russian president has intensified a crackdown on opposition since the start of his invasion of Ukraine, and this has ramped up further as the elections have approached.


Here's my website: https://euronewstop.co.uk/what-happens-if-ukraine-falls.html