It's a peninsula. It is attached to Ukraine. Not Russia.

Those are facts.

Whether some or all of the people there want to be a part of Russia, it is not geographically so.

That's another fact.

You do realise that state boundaries are more often than not arbitrary lines drawn on a map? The Crimea has been "attached" to Russia at various times. Ethnically it is signifcantly Russian (and Tartar). Crimea is more Russian than modern day Ukrainian. Fact as you like to say.

Ah, you're talking about "state boundaries" now, are you?

Are you Owen Paterson in disguise?

The President left of his own accord, the government remained and it's structure ramains. Russia needs to get the f*** out of Ukraine and let them sort their own internal affairs. This isn't a country tearing itself apart, it's a people who got really angry with their President and got rid of him. Once he went the violence and the protests stopped - no civil war, no ethnic violence. In fact even the Crimean ethnic Russians and Ukranians have faced each other peacefully. There is absolutely no need for any Russian troops in Crimea.
I would say, if ethnic Russians in the Crimea found themselves the targets of violence, property seizures, murder, were being kicked out of their homes and business's, forced into camps, etc. then Russia could well be very justified in sending in troops to prevent that from continuing. But this is a land grab, pure and simple.
If you want an example of Russia intervening in the affairs of the former Soviet states then look at the devestation in Georgia. And boy, am I lovin the straight faced comments of Russian politicians talking about the West and Afghanistan - really? You can't remember Afghanistan, Soviet army, 10 years, ar$es handed to them etc...

If you want to talk about hypocrisy of the West then I would say that sitting on our bums doing nothing watching Russia invade another country that wanted to become part of NATO and eventually join the EU is a pretty good example. "There is nothing we can do, the Germans don't want to jeopardise their gas supplies...blah...blah..." Actually I think Russia is in a very vulnerable position right now. In the Cold War they were set up behind the iron curtain, self contained, ideologically driven with the sole intent of not ever being invaded from the West again. Now they have ventured into our world. They are capitalists who have all their business intrests in the West, they are run not by hardened communist party veterans who endured WW2 and Stalin's pogrom's they are run by gangsters who like fine champagne, big yachts and money - most of which they are stealing from their own people. And the place they spend it is in the West. Take that away from them and they will turn on Putin. If you ask them, do you want to carry on fleecing your country and partying at the most exclusive club in Europe or do you want to watch Putin wave his d**k around and annexe the Crimea, well, it's obvious.

Perfect time to take back Hyde Park One?

Is this a Ukrainian or Russian political prisoner, or are you talking about One Hyde Park?

Neither, it's David Moyes' new Korean striker I think.

The first act of this nw "government" was to ban Russian as an official language. I would suggest that was inflammatory.

The West supported (Kosovo) the division of the former Yugoslavia along ethnic grounds, against Russian wishes. Now the West does not support Russia taking action along those previously implemented grounds. I suppose you would prefer to await civil war and attempted ethnic cleansing before any action is taken or maybe not then?

Whichever way you look at it the West is just being anti-Russian and being inconsistent with their own previous actions in many parts of the world.

That would involve having backbone so it'll not happen.

Is Barraco Barner involved now too did I hear?

Backbone but no brains.

One Hyde Park is a British development funded by Qatari money. It is partnered with the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The record sale was to a Ukranian billionaire.

Russia have far more right to "invade" Russia than the UK Govt has to "take back" One Hyde Park. It's pretty much as ignorant as a Londoner wanting to bomb Leeds because of the 7/7 attacks.

Yes. Absolutely 100% I would.

I'm talking of the whopping big and expensive building – one among many (and they're increasing) – that, rumour has it, are actually ways of laundering eastern European mafioso dosh, as opposed to the others that are being bought by Hong Kong sources at equally daft prices (thus helping to drive up property costs further) and are then not even lived in, as they're simply there as an investment.

Think how many people you could house in any of those?

And if it's the Ukranian mafia instead of the Russian variety – perhaps that's a reason to support the Russkis.

So you believe in the principle of appeasement (except where it involves appeasing Russia)!

Can we take back Australia, after all there are more English speakers than Aborigines and their army isn't amazing, and they are getting a bit too big for their boots?

No...anyone?