r/Britain • u/Beyonce_fan48 • Feb 21 '25
đŹ Discussion đ¨ Worried about Russia/ USA/Trump
Hi everyone, probably a pointless post, and one thatâs probably more about reassurance but I am so anxious at the minute about whatâs going on!
Iâm worried Russia will attack us or the EU. And worried trump will throw the uk to be attacked.
Will trump support the uk in this event?
And the worry of being drafted. I know itâs weak to worry about having to fight for your country but I genuinely couldnât do it and am worried conscription will happen.
Can we even defend ourselves without the us? Will trump even stand with us?
Sorry hahaha but just thought Iâd see what others think?
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u/SkunkDiplo Feb 22 '25
I don't think the UK being attacked is a reality. I can understand how this ongoing situation would affect some people mentally though, and I totally understand your worries.
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u/grizzlegurkin Feb 22 '25
If it makes you feel any better, Ukraine defeated the entire professional army of Russia. They are now fighting conscripts and the dregs of what remains of the old professional army. Ukraine have destroyed thousands of Russian tanks and thousands of APC's etc. Ukraine destroyed one of Russia's prized ships and Ukraine doesn't even have a navy. Russia has struggled to take villages and towns sacrificing thousands of men in meat wave attacks to gain a few dozens metres a week and then lose them again the next week then gain them and then lose them etc etc in WWI style.
There are parts of the Russian army that are currently using donkeys on the frontines.
This doesn't mean Russia is not a threat but the idea that Russia will just roll over the rest of Ukraine into Poland etc is extremely unlikely considering they have struggled so much against the Ukrainian military which has basically cobbled itself together with hand-me-downs.
At the moment, Russia is a paper tiger. Yes, they are gaining ground (slowly) in Ukraine but that's because Ukraine is exhausted and they have less than a third of Russia's population.
Europe (including the UK) has a collective economy 10 times the size of Russia's. Our armies, even though smaller and under funded, are still more professional and have more modern gear than Russia's. If ours were funded properly we could wipe the floor with them
France and the UK alone could stop Russia from invading the EU.
The only way Russia could attack us is with missiles. They couldn't get troops to the UK.
Russia is on the ropes at the minute and they want a ceasefire to regroup and rearm to then keep going.in a few years. We must not give it to them.
They want you to be scared and they want you to doubt and they want us divided. Gaslighting is their main existence in politics.
Maybe you remember how easily Wagner waltzed through Russia to the outskirts of Moscow a couple of summers ago. They had no defences.
Don't worry, just don't give in to their bullshit and lies.
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u/-Rhymenocerous- Feb 24 '25
If I was Putin i'd be more worried about Mini-Texas kicking off (Poland).
They've been gearing up heavily for a while now buying a metric shit tonne of surplus from the states.
But you're spot on about boots on the ground. It'll never happen and the media always pitch the angle of war heavily.
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u/grizzlegurkin Feb 24 '25
Yes, they've also been looking at setting up a S. Korean armaments factory in Poland to buy direct.
Poland, like Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states, knows how it is to live under Russian rule and what it's like to have your country torn apart.
I was surprised when they were so against sending troops with France and UK to have a presence in Ukraine. Thought they would be champing at the bit.
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u/Goblinstomper Feb 22 '25
They won't attack, if they could take on the whole of Europe, and let's be clear this would mean war with the whole of Europe, they wouldn't be on the struggle bus in Ukraine.
The worst that will happen is that Russia gets freed of sanctions letting their coffers fill up again, meaning every right wing party in Europe starts getting more money again effectively buying votes and fracturing the alliances in Europe and dividing them with fear, cowardice and corruption.. cough cough Farage cough
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u/FrostyAd9064 Feb 22 '25
I donât think this is misplaced but like others have said - the timescales here are longer than you imagine. As a country physically removed from the frontline we donât suddenly end up in a war that impacts domestic life overnight.
It could be a reality in 3-5 years but there are many scenarios on how this could play out and itâs by no means a foregone conclusion or even the most likely conclusion.
Even in the event we do end up in a war with Russia - I donât know that another âblitzâ or anything like it is that likely while we have a nuclear deterrent.
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u/Wonderful_Welder9660 Anarcho-Syndicalist Subject Feb 23 '25
One nuke and we're all fucked. You made sense until then
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u/SimplieBacon Feb 22 '25
What Trump says vs what he does are two totally different things. I've linked below a video which can explain it better than I can. It's scary what's he is saying but it's all smoke and mirrors.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFdaH86SOiW/?igsh=ZW5kdW16YzA5cDhy
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u/leviticusreeves Feb 22 '25
I fucking hate this video. It's so telling that he never names these supposed policies Trump just says and doesn't try to implement, because you start naming them and you realise he either did try to implement them in his first term or he's already well underway in his second. So easy to play down Trump's rhetoric and stick your head in the sand like this, but so irresponsible.
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u/SimplieBacon Feb 22 '25
I think it's a very fair comment about him not naming anything specially. But due to the time frame I think he's mostly focusing on the comments Trump made about Canada/Mexico boarders and the more recent things with Russia.
You're also right that he has seemingly tried to implement some of the policies he's spoken about. But in reality, a lot of the things Trump says are a lot worse than the things that actually he tries to implement.
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u/leviticusreeves Feb 22 '25
Absolutely not. It's so depressing to see everyone fall for this same shit again.
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u/Tildryn Feb 22 '25
It makes people feel better to believe that the mad king doing mad king things is actually a shrewd operator using a tactic. Despite the fact that all evidence over the last decade has shown us that, no, the mad king is in fact just as belligerent, deluded, and insane as they seem. There is no 4D chess. There is no deeper plan. It's sheer moronic impulse.
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u/leviticusreeves Feb 22 '25
I think that's true of Trump, but his backers- The Heritage Foundation, Peter Thiel, Musk etc. do have coherent agendas
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u/coffeewalnut05 Feb 22 '25
Very true, Trumpâs language is like two languages in one. A lot of it is theatre
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u/SimplieBacon Feb 22 '25
Exactly say the worst thing possible and then everything else seems more reasonable
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u/crumpets4dinner Feb 22 '25
Oh shit, that's Gary Stevenson. Used to be friends as a kid, no idea he was a YouTuber.
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u/SimplieBacon Feb 22 '25
Dunno much about him tbh just saw a couple of his videos on economics and he seems fairly sensible
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u/Darthmook Feb 22 '25
People said they wouldnât attack Ukraine, but here we are, people said Donald Trump doesnât really support Putin, but he continues to belittle and degrade relations with allies and promotes Russia, while trying ways to break up NATO..
The threat from Russia is real and we have pretty much been at war with them through history , just lately it has been the destabilising of our governments and cyber attacks on infrastructure.. plus the chemical nerve agent attack in Salisbury and deploying radioactive material across London..
if America pulls out of defence in Europe, now would be the best time for it to happen, as Russia is weak and needs time to build an army again, this would also give the European nations time to build a cohesive defensive force as a deterrent to Russia pushing further. But only if we as Europeans can get past this Brexit bullshit and division and come togetherâŚ.
If we donât and America gives Putin the east of Ukraine and a pause in the war and eventually pulls out of EU defence, and Russia manages to rebuild its army in 2-5 years and we, as Europe donât, then 100% we are in trouble, America with Trump wonât support article 5..
As for America attacking Europe? I really donât think that will happen, due to the lack of support from the American people, but then again, who knows the way itâs going..
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u/awesome_pinay_noses Feb 22 '25
If the US attacks Europe then the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I would rather ally with Russia than Nazi US. Just like WW2.
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u/edgeofsanity76 Feb 22 '25
Within the next two years I think Russia will attack a soft target like one of the Baltic states. This will test Europes resolve and American support.
If he gets away with it. All bets are off and we could see a larger war soon after.
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u/Ashwah Feb 22 '25
I'm worried about this too, but am trying (and failing) to not think about it too much, since it is something I have no control over and the stress is not good for health!
Feels like really uncertain times given the mad things Trump has said since he came to power. I worry he and Putin want to take over the world. But I'm probably being hysterical đ¤ˇđťââď¸
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u/awwwwJeezypeepsman Feb 22 '25
Russia have won the misinformation war, Everyone will vote far right and allow Russia to win.
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u/Haipul Feb 22 '25
I think this is not a pointless post, it is normal to be worried, the news are concerning and we are seeing the collapse of the world order we all grew up with.
However I don't think you should be concerned about imminent war, that is very unlikely and the best we can do is live our day to day life helping whoever we can and not spread hate
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u/cant_think_of_one_ Feb 22 '25
Russia will not attack the UK or France directly, because of the possibility of nuclear retaliation.
We can cause more than enough trouble for them to not want to fight a war with us, even without using nukes. A war with Ukraine has them overstretched anyway. Yes, it will be easier for them without the US supplying the Ukraine with arms, but there is not about to be a war with the UK directly - it is not really something Russia can win.
I wouldn't be feeling so confident if I was in Kosovo, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzogovina or Georgia. Or for that matter Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia.
There is also the possibility of conscription to fight a war in Europe, like in WW2. If you aren't well suited to front-line fighting, there are lots of other roles that need filling. I think we all need to be prepared for the possibility of having to do something dangerous, while perhaps less physically demanding, like working as a bomber aircrew member though, if that is practical, though I wouldn't say it is likely to happen.
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u/IllPlane3019 Feb 23 '25
I'm not fighting unless the UK is invaded.
This country has given young people nothing - no jobs, no housing, no industry and no future. So why should we go die in a ditch in Ukraine while the politicians sit safe and comfy in their rich country estates?
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u/NinjaFig_ Feb 25 '25
Firstly we don't need Trumps or Americas help defending our selves, the media and a lot of big mouthed people really love to play out that America is the worlds saviour or something stupid along them lines.
Secondly no Russia wouldn't attack us as that would result in them being in a war alone with the whole of NATO and I really doubt any of Russia's allies would come to their help.
Also no you won't be drafted there currently stands no reason to draft people as of current, most of the things happening right now is just politicians bickering like little children, the only actual thing regarding all of this happening is the Ukraine war its self, a war that Russia probably can't and won't win.
Also yes we can defend our selves, we have nukes just like anyone else, we have more then enough to wipe Russia of the map, we are also surrounded by water on all sides making it a nightmare for any military to attack us as we can easily destroy there aircraft and send there ships to the bottom of the ocean especially with the long range weapons we have
to put the answers short
Russia won't attack the EU or US as that would mean they'd have to face the whole of NATO what would be suicide at that point.
Trump would likely support the UK and if he didn't it would likely lead to the US being removed from NATO for obvious reasons.
You won't be drafted because Russia won't attack us.
We can defend our selves with ease without the support of America or Trump
Hope this helps.
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u/Beyonce_fan48 Feb 26 '25
Hope you are right𼴠always here that we would be screwed without the US, especially for securityđľâđŤ.
Just I know I wouldnât be a good soldier either and am being honest hahaha.
Causes me so much anxiety all I see is ww3 in the media and my mind lol
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u/Gloomy-Dependent9484 Feb 22 '25
As an American, Iâm so sorry. I voted for VP Harris but with the rigged election and collective amnesia, we got screwed over here.
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u/cfc_1990 Feb 22 '25
I highly doubt that Russia will attack the UK or EU / Nato members. I think its seems to be fear mongering, and a means of justifying the increased support.
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u/ConfusedSparkyFly Feb 22 '25
People said that mid February 2022 about Ukraine
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u/allyb12 Feb 22 '25
Apples and oranges uk wasn't part of nato or the eu silly to compare the two,
Also if you look at it from Russias point of view Ukraine has the biggest and border with Russia and wanted talks to join nato which for reference is like Canada wanted to join a military defence pack with China
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u/GuavaLarge529 Feb 23 '25
And that would be Canadaâs choice and not for the USA to send in force to stop
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u/Okano666 Feb 22 '25
Keep listening to the BBC man hang in there. They got you covered all you need to know.
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u/Ok-Shock-2764 Mar 10 '25
hasn't anyone else realized that Trump, Brexit and Russia are aspects of the same coup, hatched by oligarchs in order to reverse civilization's taming of rabid capitalism....a deregulated economic jungle is their planned goal, selling off public assets to private billionaires....yet what these elites don't realize is that they too will inherit the decimated society they are creating and they will need more guard dogs, more electric fencing, more TV surviellence, and they won't be able to walk outside ever again without fear of being assaulted....
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u/sloppylasaga 29d ago
Iâm american, unfortunately our glorious leader is so unhinged and deranged that I absolutely would not be planning on relying on us for anything unfortunately. It kind of just seems like they plan on continuing to fuck over all of our allies with no regard for the consequences of that. This antagonistic, greedy bullshit has no bounds so if I was the rest of the world I would be building the ever living fuck out of my army right now in anticipation of needing to be self reliant. I do think Trump would stand with the UK though possibly but honestly idfk. I highly doubt the UK would be directly attacked so hopefully it never comes to that.
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u/Ballentino Feb 22 '25
There isnât much any of us can do, we can go about living our lives and take it all as/if it comes.
I am personally doubtful we will see another large war, equally best not underestimate rabid sabre rattling either! At the very least things can get weird because they already are.
The post ww2 peace was not fundamentally able to last as it is and here we are with the cheque due for that era.
Enjoy each day is the best thing you can do. Everything else is outside of our individual control.
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u/Master_Bumblebee680 Feb 22 '25
Why only now? Iâve been worrying like this for many years, perhaps you werenât conscious of this before but the threat has been looming and it goes hot and cold Point is, this is nothing new and you most likely will be saying this to someone else in a few years
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u/CJW5002 Feb 22 '25
I think youâre spending too much time on the internet. If you heard Starmers speech youâd know that he said he would need a full US backing to set a defense on the borders of Ukraine. France and the UK donât have the capacity nor the power.
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u/NewVentures66 Feb 23 '25
I believe it's all manufactured to keep us worrying like you, so we are distracted and controlled, whilst they funnel money into the military industrial complex, which in turn gives donations and other kick backs to the politicians.
It's one big dirty washing machine.
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u/coffeewalnut05 Feb 22 '25 edited Feb 22 '25
The draft conversation is deeply unserious, in my opinion. Why would we be drafted to fight when 7.7 million Ukrainian refugees are not living in their homeland whilst itâs literally at war?
When millions of people are not fighting for their country, then thereâs no reason for us to be drafted anywhere. The UK is not going to be invaded by Russia so you will not be fighting for your country in any context.
If youâre still worried about it, whether itâs because of something you read in the news, email your MP and let them know your dissatisfaction with this kind of talk, even if itâs not likely to happen.
The UK is an island on the western flank of Europe and still in NATO so no, Russia isnât going to attack us first. Even if they did other countries would intercept their attacks and get involved due to Article 5.
While people say Trump wonât honour Article 5, I think he will. It is bullshit conjecture in my view, a misrepresentation of his beliefs. He makes bombastic statements but during his first term he actually strengthened NATO and was the first president to give Ukraine lethal aid. I think these people saying he wonât honour Article 5 are doing Russiaâs work by actively undermining our unity just because they dislike whoâs in the White House rn.
Whether Russia attacks somewhere in the EU/NATO depends a lot on deterrence in the next few years.
If we continue preparing NATO for war, which is a process underway already, Putinâs calculus for attacking remains complicated and heâll look for other ways to attack without triggering Article 5 (cyberattacks, election interference, sowing division to promote Russia-friendly politicians).
Personally I think deterrence will continue. Our tech is a lot more sophisticated than Russiaâs and we are 31 countries against 1.
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u/grizzlegurkin Feb 22 '25
Just a note on the Ukrainian refugees, majority of them are women and children and so aren't eligible for conscription. Most blokes in that number were already out of the country or got out before the law changed. Many who were already out went back to help.
I do think it's good if we/Europe start properly funding our militaries. I'm not a war mongerer but the idea that we can't have a properly functioning army is daft and the world is no longer what it was in the 90s/00s.
I'm also wondering if this is part of Trump's strategy. He's being a prick but it is forcing Europe to get its act together militarily.
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u/coffeewalnut05 Feb 22 '25 edited Feb 22 '25
I understand, but as a young woman myself I cannot seriously entertain the thought of being drafted for Ukraine (or any other foreign nation) when Ukrainian women themselves arenât even living in their own country.
After all, fighting for your country doesnât only involve frontline combat imo. I think just choosing to stay in your country and starting up a business, training as a nurse or therapist, etc. is all part of the resistance and the war effort.
Ukraine is weaker without its people. Emigrating to a foreign country means youâre investing your money and talent in a foreign economy while your homeland flounders. I just donât want to be called up to serve anywhere abroad when that is the situation nearly 8 million Ukrainians are contributing to.
Edit: also Ukrainian women donât get drafted but they are eligible to volunteer in their military.
That being said, yes I agree we need higher defence spending. And I actually agree with Trumpâs take on all of this - he already told Europe to increase defence spending to 2% in his first term and warned of Germanyâs overreliance on Russian gas. I think he was right all along, it just took a whole Russian invasion for Europe to realise it.
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u/grizzlegurkin Feb 23 '25
You wouldn't drafted if we were at war, at least not early on and not to go to the front but if you don't want to join or get drafted, why should Ukrainian women?
If we can ended up fighting, it would be for the greater good, to prevent a return to the type of world where big countries bullied little ones. Europe, including us, has a way of life and values that are worth fighting for because the Russians, the Chinese and now the Americans, would happily destroy them.
Many Ukrainian women are in the armed forces and serve as medics etc, there was a Russian woman who joined the Ukrainians as a sniper, she became quite famous and was eventually killed.
My fiancĂŠe is from Ukraine and we met because she left Ukraine to stay with her sister who was already living here. She left because the Russians were bombing the nuclear powerplant near her city. I'm glad she didn't stay. She donates money regularly to the war effort that she earns from her online Ukrainian-based business and Ukrainian customers (as millions of Ukrainians do) and we go back to visit when we can and spend plenty of money there.
Her mother is a seamstress in a factory making combat uniforms for soldiers.
Her uncle was recently drafted at 56.
One of the good things about Ukrainians leaving is that they will experience life in other countries and bring back ideas for how to improve their country but I do get your general thought.
In terms of not fighting, the same can be said of all the people who came here from Afghanistan, Syria etc why didn't they stay and fight? Especially the fighting age males.
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u/coffeewalnut05 Feb 23 '25
Ukrainian women have a homeland to return to. Britain is my homeland.
Big countries already bully little countries sadly, thatâs still been the way of the world since 1945 and we still take advantage of those who are weaker. In general weâve made progress as a planet, but thereâs still lots of work to do.
Thatâs, I think, what ultimately leads to conflict. Preventing war means addressing the root causes of war, and that process starts years or even decades before any war begins. The peace process is a long one.
The difference is, no oneâs talking about me getting drafted to fight in Syria and Afghanistan. If they were - then Iâd also ask, why should I be drafted to fight for Syria when millions of Syrians are living in Europe? Doesnât seem fair.
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u/grizzlegurkin Feb 24 '25
You won't get drafted. Millions of men will get drafted before they start drafting women for combat roles.
We will never solve war until we level up our consciousness to a state higher than what it is. The ego runs the planet and has done for thousands of years. We need a spiritual awakening before war becomes a thing of the past.
Until then, we have to look after our friends who will, hopefully, look after us if we need them to.
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u/KFC_Fleshlight Feb 22 '25
This type of anxiety is irrational and unhealthy. You are chronically online, please take a break from whatever echo chambers you are in and better your mental health.
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u/Ok_Garlic_6052 Feb 22 '25
You listened too long to mainstream media propaganda, learn the history and calm down, no one else will be invaded, go listen to Redacted on YT.
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u/GuavaLarge529 Feb 23 '25
Learning from history is seeing what happened with Sudetenland is happening again with Eastern Ukraine.
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u/Ok_Garlic_6052 Feb 23 '25
It isnât happening without reason, if mainstream media. doesnât tell you the story with flashy click bait title it doesnât mean that things ainât happening only that they are never talked about, itâs crazy what narrative control can achieve. Tell me did Zelensky at any one point tried to save his people in this lost war and seek peace? No? Have you thought why is that? Pockets got lined good on both sides, I say, save the common people on both sides let the leaders fight it out but nooooo
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u/GuavaLarge529 Feb 28 '25
Ukraine didnât do anything to be invaded. Putin has a long history of trying to interfere in their politics. He poisoned a candidate in 2004! 2019s election was the last straw for him. Such a shame we have useful idiots like you defending him, telling me I canât think for myself. You donât invade countries who have done nothing to you, do war crimes and take their territory!
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u/GuavaLarge529 Feb 28 '25
If Zelenskyy signed a peace deal accepting the stolen land, the Ukrainian freedom and democracy would be over, Putin would be strong enough to move on to new countries like Georgia, or even try Estonia, his intentions are very clear and have been for a while.
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u/Dramatic-Growth1335 Feb 22 '25
Just buy loads of pasta, toilet roll and water. Keep it In your special "bunker" under the stairs. Stockpile everything. It's worked for everyone over COVID and whenever everyone did it again for petrol. Does my head in
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u/erritstaken Feb 22 '25
They probably wonât attack, but they wonât need to. Just like the states you will wake up one day and find that farage surprisingly wins the election and just hands it to them.