A negotiated peace in Ukraine

Ukraine appears to be fighting back against a superpower in a manner that few expected possible, possibly even the people of Ukraine themselves.

Yesterday, I snapped at my mother when she had talked about how a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Ukraine should take place.  Part of my annoyance is because there is to be a Stop The War meeting later this month were people are to discuss how the war should end.  Many blame NATO expansion for this war, but forget how Russia has invaded other nations before this, Russian troops continuing to occupy Transnistria (‘92), Abkhazia (‘93), South Ossetia (‘08), also the way it invaded and annexed Crimea and the conflict the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine which resulted in Russia accidentally destroying MH17.  Those in the Baltic states are nervous of Russia and have joined NATO to prevent what happened to Moldova happening to them.   

Before this war, in the build up to it, the intention of Russia to annex both Luhansk and Donetsk was discussed in a socially distanced meeting with Putin, though he denied that this was to happen, referenda into this were planned and have now been delayed.  

The irony of course is that the Stop the War meeting would be banned in Russia, Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Russian occupied Ukraine.

So my question to those who want a negotiated peace, is should this involve Russia keeping the parts of Ukraine it occupied in 2014, or should more of Ukraine be given to Russia now?  

Love Sarah and grandparents

Yesterday, we went to visit my mother and my in-laws. We have not seen them for a while so this trip was overdue. However, on Wednesday, my mother had a fall when in the street. She waited for an hour but no ambulance came, but fortunately, some kind passers by helped her and she got home. She is in pain and our visit I hope lifted her spirits, though she did make some interesting statements on the War in Ukraine (she wants negotiations to take place which in essence means negotiating for Putin to gain more Ukrainian territory) and women leaders including Liz Truss. I try not to snap, but there is only so much I can take!  While she was glad to see both children, it was my daughter who was the main attraction after her exam results.

After this, it was a trip to see my in-laws.  Again, the star of the show was my daughter as this was the first time that they have seen her since her exam results but both were still happy to see my son.  My father-in-law appears ambivalent about Leia but now accepts that she is part of the family.  

Once we got back home, my son went to spend some time alone (he had been around us for a long time) and my wife picked a film for my daughter and I to watch her with her.  This was Love Sarah.  It started off in a depressing manner, but improved afterwards.  We liked the film, though I felt that the story arc did not have to employ the romantic end which involved a cad being turned by a lady.  However, like many films set in London, it is part fairy tale, and this rose tinted view was picked up by the Guardian.  It was a nice film for use to watch, but I doubt I will ever watch it again.  Apparently it was meant to have been released in cinema's, but I am not sure if this took place over the lockdown.  What was interesting was to see a pilot from The Phantom Menace feature in it, though many will remember the person as the Vice Chancellor from Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Back at school

The kids have been back at school, or in the case of my daughter, now at the Sixth Form College.  Both have had some issues with their peers and I suspect would follow the example of Anakin Skywalker, sorry, Darth Vader, in the Jedi Temple if given the chance… 

King Charles and the Greenest Government Never

Yesterday, before the Queen became ill, our Prime Minister was extolling the benefits of increasing the contribution of our great nation to Climate Change.  Our Queen has died and our King, Prince Charles, a campaigner for the climate, will have to make a Kings Speech were he is going to promote policies which will harm our planet and country.  

And that is ignoring any issues with immigration, as he is the son of an immigrant himself and has commented on the process of sending asylum seekers abroad before.

The Queen is dead, long live The King

I am not shocked that we have a change in monarch.  I am surprised that it has happened so soon after a change in Prime Minister, to quote Twitter, I’ve got a bottle of milk in the fridge that has seen two Prime Ministers and two monarchs. My son earlier today asked if he would get a week of school if she should die. I told him no. My daughter debated the monarchy in her politics class today, though I have yet to hear what she thought on the matter.

I am glad that it is Liz Truss who is Prime Minister though, the thought of Boris Johnson, the man who partied on the night of the funeral of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, talking to the nation about our late Queen would have been an insult to her memory.  And let us not forget how he lied to her when it came to the prorogation of Parliament. 

 

May she rest in peace, and may her son, also the son of a man born in Greece, reign in peace. 

Liz Truss and her first PMQs

I see why Conservatives think that Liz Truss did well in PMQs today. They do not mind energy companies making huge profits during the upcoming energy crisis.  Labour and the SNP were right to ask her about a windfall tax which would mean that energy companies would not make huge profits at the expense of the nation.  

If Jeremy Corbyn had decided to waste tax payers money in the way Liz Truss is to do so with increasing our debt to deliver a tax cut that will benefit the few, the would rightly have a go at him.  Instead they had a go at him over his fully costed plans in the last election while ignoring our new Prime Minister.  Let alone the comments our new Prime Minister has made about British workers!

Which arm would Sir like to have removed?

Tomorrow, our nation will have its 5th Prime Minister in twelve years.  While the choice between the two candidates was like deciding which arm I am to have removed for me, for some the decision was easier.

My son, who had his first day back at school today wanted Truss to win as he was not too keen on having to learn both Mathematics and English until the age of 18.  He was not too forthcoming about how his day was but appeared to be in a good mood when I got back.

My daughter heads off to the Sixth Form College tomorrow. I did not see her today, but talking to my wife, that may have been a good thing as she sounds a bit stressed.

Hopefully she will have a good day tomorrow. Fingers crossed!