Diarmuid Breatnach

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We are taking the Ukrainian side, naturally. No, I don’t pay any attention to what Putin has to say.

Yes, I do look at the whole situation before I decide what’s right.

Well, of course I’m on Ukraine’s side, they got fucking invaded, right? By that fucking bastard Putin.

Yeah, I know his excuse about NATO squeezing him. Yes, I am saying it is just an excuse. He’s out to build an empire — doing what his corrupt oligarchs want.

Yes, of course Ukraine has businessmen too. And probably corrupt. And yes, I did know that they are called “oligarchs” as well.

Well, yeah, they are mostly NATO countries in Eastern Europe. But that’s those countries’ choice, right? And if Ukraine decided to join NATO, that would be their democratic choice too.

Yes, I have heard about the fighting in Donbas and other areas since 2014. Russian separatists against Ukrainian military.

Really? Up to 14,000 killed there? Around 30% of them civilians? Yes, it is a lot. Well the Ukrainians don’t want Russians taking over a part of their country and before you say anything, we do know that they are mostly Russian-speaking people in that region and that the fighting started after the change in government in 2014.

Well, yes, the Azov Battalion were fighting the Russians there and yes, they are quite right-wing …

ok, some are outright nazis …. But they are helping the Ukrainian government hold their country together. And yes we do know that the Azov are now integrated into the Ukrainian military.

It is true that the elected Ukrainian Government was overthrown in 2014. No, I don’t believe fascists managed that. NATO may have favoured the next government, ok but so what?

Yes, I did hear about some fighting between Ukrainian nationalists and Russian separatists in Kyiv and other places during the coup.

And yes, I did read about the 40 or so Russian supporters burned to death in the trade union building. Terrible! But that doesn’t make the Ukranians as a whole fascist.

No, not their government either. Their President and Prime Minister are both Jewish, for God’s sake!

Yes, I know the Ukrainians are naming streets after national heroes, that’s pretty usual. Some from WWII.

It’s true that some of those were Nazis and Nazi collaborators. But it’s just the past, national heroes …. No, of course we don’t like it. But it doesn’t make the State fascist.

Yes, you’re right, Stephen Banderas was an outright Nazi, anti-semite, war criminal. Of course he shouldn’t be commemorated.

I wouldn’t support torchlight processions in his honour through Kyiv. But that’s not the Government.

Yes, we do know that some Ukrainian Left organisations have been banned. Some of them are Russian supporters …. No, of course, they shouldn’t be banned. But there IS a war on ….

No, I’m not worried about Russia being censored – they are in the wrong.

What two sides? There’s a right side, Ukraine and a wrong side, Russia.

Yes, well, people like Hedges and Oliver Stone are being blocked on social media. And we don’t feature Chomsky any more – they’re just wrong, that’s all.

You can call it censorship or just us not publicising irrelevancy.

No, we are not making the decision to take them off social media – that’s the social media companies.

Naturally they are Western capitalist companies – what else would they be?

Of course we understand that NATO is a western imperialist military bloc. That is not the point.

Yes, the biggest imperialist military bloc in the world. But the point is that Russia is in the wrong – it’s not our fault that NATO is backing Ukraine for their own reasons.

I already said it doesn’t worry us that Russia or some NATO critics on the Left are being blocked or sidelined. Look, whose side are YOU on? You’re beginning to sound like a Putinista!

Yes, an apologist for that Russian megalomaniac!