Russia invades Ukraine

[hwhatting]

So, is Russia going to attack Moldova now?

In order to do that succesfully, he'd need the corridor Torco mentions. Of course, he can stir trouble or lob missiles at Moldova, but strategically it doesn't make sense - it would only be a diversion.

[Raphael]

And Putin has talked about how we're shortly before World War 3 again. Is it it this time?

[hwhatting]

And Putin has talked about how we're shortly before World War 3 again. Is it it this time?

My father would have said "Yes, it is. Will you stop fretting about that now?" He could be mean like that.
As this is one of the ways I've decided not to be like my father, here's what I think. Nobody can be 100% sure that Putin doesn't do what he says, but on past form, his sabre-rattling against the West, warning to use nukes, warning of taking the war to the West, have only been for show and an attempt to diminish the West's support for Ukraine. I don't see any reason to think it's different this time, and on past form, to take anything he says at face value. Honestly, I would be more likely to be scared if he'd say that he is in love with the the EU and NATO and would never think of attacking any of them - that might mean he's preparing something...

[WeepingElf]

And Putin has talked about how we're shortly before World War 3 again. Is it it this time?

My father would have said "Yes, it is. Will you stop fretting about that now?" He could be mean like that.
As this is one of the ways I've decided not to be like my father, here's what I think. Nobody can be 100% sure that Putin doesn't do what he says, but on past form, his sabre-rattling against the West, warning to use nukes, warning of taking the war to the West, have only been for show and an attempt to diminish the West's support for Ukraine. I don't see any reason to think it's different this time, and on past form, to take anything he says at face value. Honestly, I would be more likely to be scared if he'd say that he is in love with the the EU and NATO and would never think of attacking any of them - that might mean he's preparing something...

I concur with you. Nobody can say for sure that Putin will not unleash World War III, but his behaviour up to this point seems to indicate that he probably won't. He is too coldly rational to do that. He knows that even without help from the United States, the European Union plus the United Kingdom would be too big an enemy for Russia. He has enough trouble in Ukraine - he expected to manage a quick coup d'état but ended up in a quagmire.

And Raphael has a tradition of Eddyfying about World War III in this thread

[Ares Land]

The media being a little...overenthusiastic at times, I don't blame anyone for worrying.

Myself, I don't think WWIII is particularly likely. It looks more like Putin likes to periodically remind NATO that the MAD doctrine is still in full effect.