UK pussies out on tough action on Russia. No trade sanctions allowed.
63 replies, posted
[quote]The government will not curb trade with Russia or close London's financial centre to Russians as part of any possible package of sanctions against Moscow, according to an official document.
The document, which was photographed as a senior official carried it into a meeting in Downing Street, says that "the UK should not support for now trade sanctions or close London's financial centre to Russians", while it confirms that ministers ARE considering - along with other EU countries - visa restrictions and travel bans on key Russian figures.
It also says that ministers should "discourage any discussion (eg at Nato) of contingency military preparations" and support "contingency EU work on providing Ukraine with alternative gas" and oil supplies "if Russia cuts them off".
[/quote]
[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73344000/jpg/_73344509_document.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26426969[/url]
paper tigers meow
Britain's hands, much like most of the rest of the world, are tied at the moment. There's not much any of us can do without risking an escalation that nobody wants. Yes, the situation in Ukraine sucks at the moment but jumping the gun will get us nowhere. Besides, it's not like Russia's going to listen at this point.
[QUOTE=PulpedFiction;44118493]Britain's hands, much like most of the rest of the world, are tied at the moment. There's not much any of us can do without risking an escalation that none of us want. Yes, the situation in Ukraine sucks at the moment but jumping the gun will get us nowhere. Besides, it's not like Russia's going to listen at this point.[/QUOTE]
"rawr rawr this is completely unacceptable but we won't do anything significant because we like those trade deals too much"
i'm sure there was a report earlier today from the chancellor saying they would do exactly this. absolute u-turn
Our fucking government.
War when we don't need it or want it.
Then not even sanctions when something needs to be done.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;44118501]"rawr rawr this is completely unacceptable but we won't do anything significant because we like those trade deals too much"[/QUOTE]
Wouldn't severing a few economic ties to Russia hurt the UK as well? Perhaps not as badly, but I can't see how not doing business anymore would help an economy.
Apparently the US just banned trade and investments with Russia
Dont ask for a source just yet, it came up as an alert on my phone
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;44118549]Wouldn't severing a few economic ties to Russia hurt the UK as well? Perhaps not as badly, but I can't see how not doing business anymore would help an economy.[/QUOTE]
Not trading with Iran or even North Korea hurts the other countries, but hey lets follow your logic.
Curbing trade isn't exactly what I think of when someone says "tough action" against Russia.
[QUOTE=Blazyd;44118568]Curbing trade isn't exactly what I think of when someone says "tough action" against Russia.[/QUOTE]
It is when Russia's entire economy depends on trade.
Depends, if the situation deteriorates more, then they will do what they were going to in the first place.
Damn cowards. It's their duty as a nation of the Earth to make an example of nations that pull against the weave of humanity, and at the moment it's a duty they're shirking. People have been fired for less grievous infractions than this.
-snafu-
[QUOTE=ironman17;44118586]Damn cowards. It's their duty as a nation of the Earth to make an example of nations that pull against the weave of humanity, and at the moment it's a duty they're shirking. People have been fired for less grievous infractions than this.[/QUOTE]
What do you expect the UK to do? Declare war?
Crimean War 2.0?
I bet this was Clegg's idea
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;44118625]What do you expect the UK to do? Declare war?
Crimean War 2.0?[/QUOTE]
Actually be willing to hit Russia where it hurts?
Its economy.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;44118636]Actually be willing to hit Russia where it hurts?
Its economy.[/QUOTE]
Are you a broken record?
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;44118640]Are you a broken record?[/QUOTE]
huh?
[img]http://i.imgur.com/xDfvNS8.png[/img]
never thought i'd see an astronaut and a cosmonaut argue the details of trade embargoes vs military intervention against russia
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;44118640]Are you a broken record?[/QUOTE]
What are the Russians going to eat/wear once everyone stops trading with them? Last I checked AK47s aren't edible.
[QUOTE=ironman17;44118586]Damn cowards. It's their duty as a nation of the Earth to make an example of nations that pull against the weave of humanity, and at the moment it's a duty they're shirking. People have been fired for less grievous infractions than this.[/QUOTE]
Do you really think politicians are all people with the concern for the good of all humanity in mind? Politics is a business. They aren't really thinking about 'pulling the weaves of humanity' here.
[QUOTE=lifehole;44118701]Do you really think politicians are all people with the concern for the good of all humanity in mind? Politics is a business. They aren't really thinking about 'pulling the weaves of humanity' here.[/QUOTE]
And it makes good political sense to stop Russia getting away with destabilizing Europe.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;44118577]It is when Russia's entire economy depends on trade.[/QUOTE]
The total seclusion from trading with the west and the crap quality of the products that were being made in USSR were some big factors to the downfall of the regime.
Their people wanted jeans,hollywood movies and the like.
[QUOTE=pkhzor;44118691]What are the Russians going to eat/wear once everyone stops trading with them? Last I checked [i]AK47s aren't edible.[/i][/QUOTE]
Check again, you'd be surprised.
[QUOTE]The UK should not support [b]for now[/b] trade sanctions[/QUOTE]
My guess is they don't want to jump the gun and are waiting to see if Russia shows any more of their hand, because right now, while it is bad, it's still hard to figure out what Russia is exactly trying to do.
[QUOTE=LoganIsAwesome;44118561]Apparently the US just banned trade and investments with Russia
Dont ask for a source just yet, it came up as an alert on my phone[/QUOTE]
Looks like I'm moving to Canada early, boys.
[QUOTE=gk99;44118735]Looks like I'm moving to Canada early, boys.[/QUOTE]
Why?
We are probably going to follow suit.
[QUOTE=gk99;44118749]Because Canada will still be less shitty than the U.S. regardless.[/QUOTE]
Uh, but then if your decision is irrespective of trade sanctions then why would this make you move to Canada early?
[QUOTE=Thlis;44118743]Why?
We are probably going to follow suit.[/QUOTE]
Because Canada will still be less shitty than the U.S. regardless.
Key phrasing in the document is the talk of the current time, it could change in the future. Also, as nothing has been mentioned about this document it could have just been advice that one minister was going to give or something.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;44118712]And it makes good political sense to stop Russia getting away with destabilizing Europe.[/QUOTE]
I would hardly say this is destabilizing europe. Maybe if they're invading the entirety of the Ukraine and then the rest of eastern europe, but them taking Crimea is not worth cutting off the resources russia proliferates throughout the rest of it.
Russia's being a bully, yes, but in the globalised world of today, cutting off trade with a country as massive as russia would be a move you'd make against a murderer, not a bully.
What I'm trying to say is, it would hurt us as much as it would hurt them.
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