PILOT SPIN
Spin Zone => Spin Zone => Topic started by: Little Joe on February 16, 2025, 12:49:20 PM
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The EU has their panties in a twist because Trump called Putin and has scheduled a meeting, and they weren't consulted or invited.
Zelensky is similarly huffy about it, but at least he has a little more justification. It is his country.
But if it were me, I'd much prefer have one tough, proven negotiator pleading my case than a committee of people, all with their own agendas. If anyone in the world can negotiate with Putin and not have their underwear handed to them, it is Trump.
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I agree with you but the left and anyone who is a die hard Ukraine supporter, they're all going apoplectic simply because Trump is setting up peace negotiations. And no, the EU can fuck themselves. It's not their fight. I understand they THINK it is, but it's not.
They're all upset because Vance called them out on their old world elitism and fake ideas of "free speech" and democracy, and their own self destructive immigration policies which hurt the common people while the elite class doesn't give a shit. Europe is still feudal and autocratic, it's the whole reason we told them to fuck themselves and started our own country.
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I would take Joe’s point or step further and say that the asshat eu fuckwads KNOW that President Trump will succeed quickly, reminding the world, AGAIN, that the unelected, self appointed scum bags of the eu couldn’t.
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Fuck the EU, and Zelensky, who I do not trust. He’s already lobbying the EU to take up the fight and replace US aid. Oh and he doesn’t know what or where a 100 million is….rightttt!
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I agree with you but the left and anyone who is a die hard Ukraine supporter, they're all going apoplectic simply because Trump is setting up peace negotiations. And no, the EU can fuck themselves. It's not their fight. I understand they THINK it is, but it's not.
When I add up the military of the countries Germany down to Lithuania on this statista.com web page (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303432/total-bilateral-aid-to-ukraine/), for the period of January 2022 to June 2024, those countries had provided 51.17 billion EU in military aid compared to 51.58 billion EU in military aid provided by the US. Humanitarian aid from the EU countries individually along with EU institutions during that period is clearly much larger than that provided by the US.
There are also the millions of displaced Ukrainians that Europe has absorbed. A small fraction came to the US. And the war handed NATO two new members on Russia's border. It didn't frighten them to stay neutral or decide to enter the Russian realm.
So the US is more like an equal partner in terms of military and humanitarian support. Physical proximity to Russia would also make EU a more affected partner in this fight than the US. After all, the Russians are busy cutting European undersea cables, among other clandestine destruction of EU infrastructure - more reason it is a EU fight. And the nuclear states of UK and France vs Russia also makes the fate of Ukraine a part of their concern.
Trump's leverage over Europe is good, but it has its limits. If the objective is to end the war, then I think Trump can't ignore Europe's wishes because they don't want a negotiated peace wherein Russia/Putin believes they have "won". But if the objective is to disengage the US militarily from Europe then Trump can do that - but the war will go on for a while afterwards because Europe will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is feasible.
All IMHO of course.
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When I add up the military of the countries Germany down to Lithuania on this statista.com web page (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303432/total-bilateral-aid-to-ukraine/), for the period of January 2022 to June 2024, those countries had provided 51.17 billion EU in military aid compared to 51.58 billion EU in military aid provided by the US. Humanitarian aid from the EU countries individually along with EU institutions during that period is clearly much larger than that provided by the US.
There are also the millions of displaced Ukrainians that Europe has absorbed. A small fraction came to the US. And the war handed NATO two new members on Russia's border. It didn't frighten them to stay neutral or decide to enter the Russian realm.
So the US is more like an equal partner in terms of military and humanitarian support. Physical proximity to Russia would also make EU a more affected partner in this fight than the US. After all, the Russians are busy cutting European undersea cables, among other clandestine destruction of EU infrastructure - more reason it is a EU fight. And the nuclear states of UK and France vs Russia also makes the fate of Ukraine a part of their concern.
Trump's leverage over Europe is good, but it has its limits. If the objective is to end the war, then I think Trump can't ignore Europe's wishes because they don't want a negotiated peace wherein Russia/Putin believes they have "won". But if the objective is to disengage the US militarily from Europe then Trump can do that - but the war will go on for a while afterwards because Europe will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is feasible.
All IMHO of course.
Yes, Europe has direct stakes but they had four years they could have been the ones to broker peace and didn’t. Now they want to tell Trump how to do it? They’re right next to Russia but everyone knows if the shit REALLY hits the fan it will be the U.S. that saves all their asses - for the third time in barely more than a century.
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A small fraction came to the US.
They were Ukrainian brides though! 😂😈😂
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The EU is finally paying its fair share of the cost of NATO. The guideline is 2% of GDP. In 2013 only 3 nations paid that. In 2024 23 will meet or exceed the 2%. The US is currently paying 3.38%. Not surprisingly countries bordering Russia are all over 3%. Canada is only 1.3%. So you're right that we're paying as much as all other countries combined in absolute dollars. But more than our fair share of GDP.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_226465.htm
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The EU is finally paying its fair share of the cost of NATO. The guideline is 2% of GDP. In 2013 only 3 nations paid that. In 2024 23 will meet or exceed the 2%. The US is currently paying 3.38%. Not surprisingly countries bordering Russia are all over 3%. Canada is only 1.3%. So you're right that we're paying as much as all other countries combined in absolute dollars. But more than our fair share of GDP.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_226465.htm
I can't get past the title of that thing. Defence? De-fence? Like to tear down a structure that encloses an outdoor area?
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They were Ukrainian brides though! 😂😈😂
They have some seriously beautiful women there.
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They have some seriously beautiful women there.
And I think those women know it. Our neighbor married one. As did my local coffee shop guy. For some reason I’m scared for them. Was it for love, or citizenship? I know, I shouldn’t feel that way. Just a gut instinct.
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They have some seriously beautiful women there.
I have never been to Ukraine, so I cannot speak to them.
I was in Prague in 1995. The women there were amazing. I was engaged and not on the market, but DAYAM....
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Yes, Europe has direct stakes but they had four years they could have been the ones to broker peace and didn’t.
I distinctly remember everybody and their European brother were trying to negotiate with Putin. The leaders of France, Britain, and Germany and several other countries all tried (e.g. Austria (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/13/europe/nehammer-putin-meeting-connect-the-world-intl/index.html), Israel (https://www.voanews.com/a/israeli-prime-minister-naftali-bennett-meets-with-russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-moscow-/6473174.html).) There were early meetings and negotiations. Russia was magnanimous in that it was always willing to negotiate the terms of Ukraine's surrender.
The Trump administration recently sent out a questionnaire to EU nations asking, among other things, what manpower and resources would they commit to Ukraine for its security. I recall reading that only Britain and France would commit to troops in Ukraine. Germany said "nein" and Poland allegedly declined also.
Anyway, it is my impression that Trump always tries his best to honor the promises he makes during campaigns. He promised to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine. He did not promise anything else and it is clear he will do what he can to honor that promise. It does look like he is willing to negotiate the terms of Ukraine's surrender, since he believes Ukraine started the war by not taking Russia seriously.
Not surprisingly, the WSJ editorial board doesn't think much of Trump's current views:
Trump Tilts Toward a Ukraine Sellout (https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-volodymyr-zelensky-10464d9c?st=Xd7utg&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)
One new thing I learned about Britain in WWII:
"Ukraine has delayed elections while it is operating under martial law and fighting a war for survival. Its constitution allows this, and Britain under Nazi siege didn’t hold an election during World War II. Was Churchill a dictator?"
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Meanwhile, negotiations between Ukraine and the US over mineral rights are still ongoing:
Exclusive-Trump could pursue streamlined initial deal on Ukraine minerals, sources say (https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/202502192014RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KCN3F502S-OUSBS_1)
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People can posit anything and usually do, but biden and his infuriating lack intelligence, understanding, and general ignorance started that war, just like bill clinton started the Iraq invasion of Kuwait.
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I distinctly remember everybody and their European brother were trying to negotiate with Putin. The leaders of France, Britain, and Germany and several other countries all tried (e.g. Austria (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/13/europe/nehammer-putin-meeting-connect-the-world-intl/index.html), Israel (https://www.voanews.com/a/israeli-prime-minister-naftali-bennett-meets-with-russian-president-vladimir-putin-in-moscow-/6473174.html).) There were early meetings and negotiations. Russia was magnanimous in that it was always willing to negotiate the terms of Ukraine's surrender.
The Trump administration recently sent out a questionnaire to EU nations asking, among other things, what manpower and resources would they commit to Ukraine for its security. I recall reading that only Britain and France would commit to troops in Ukraine. Germany said "nein" and Poland allegedly declined also.
Anyway, it is my impression that Trump always tries his best to honor the promises he makes during campaigns. He promised to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine. He did not promise anything else and it is clear he will do what he can to honor that promise. It does look like he is willing to negotiate the terms of Ukraine's surrender, since he believes Ukraine started the war by not taking Russia seriously.
Not surprisingly, the WSJ editorial board doesn't think much of Trump's current views:
Trump Tilts Toward a Ukraine Sellout (https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-volodymyr-zelensky-10464d9c?st=Xd7utg&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)
One new thing I learned about Britain in WWII:
"Ukraine has delayed elections while it is operating under martial law and fighting a war for survival. Its constitution allows this, and Britain under Nazi siege didn’t hold an election during World War II. Was Churchill a dictator?"
First of all, that opinion piece …. Where do I begin? Blaming Trump for Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and the explosion of violence in the Mideast- come on.
And this:
The war began not because Mr. Putin had legitimate security fears—but because the aging former KGB agent wants to reassemble most of the Soviet empire he saw crumble as a young man.
Has this “Editorial Board” (the author of the opinion piece - okay the whole board is in lock step with their opinions) ever actually listened to Putin? He has very legitimate security fears. He seems more nostalgic about the old Russian empire than the Soviet Union, which he saw as a vehicle for the aforementioned security need. But the real cohesion he wants to return to is one of the culture and values of Mother Russia, not Soviet era communism and isolationism. Putin wants to participate in the global economy but at the same time wants a security guarantee, which he feels it doesn’t have after NATO encroached beyond promised borders.
A security guarantee is not an unreasonable need for any nation. Likewise Ukraine wants a security guarantee. At this point however, that means nothing short of rearming with nukes. Zelensky has all but stated this outright.
The core problem no one talks about is Ukraine has an internal civil war. Ethnic Russians vs ethnic Ukrainians. I know, to us it’s hard to see the difference. Maybe we’d take it seriously if they had different skin colors or something. One group wants to align with the EU and the other leans toward Russia. If not for the Russian population in the eastern part of Ukraine, and the 2014 colour revolution, it’s hard to imagine Putin would have invaded in 2022. He thought he’d be welcomed as a liberator but it’s not working out quite that well. Zelensky did a good job cracking down on any ethnic Russians that hinted at supporting Putin’s invasion.
Negotiating a cease fire that leaves Ukraine intact won’t resolve this tension, and Putin won’t accept it anyway. Zelensky’s line in the sand is an absolute security guarantee which means Ukraine joins NATO and/or is rearmed with nukes. Zelensky has also stated he won’t relinquish any territory, which means denying the ethnic Russians self-determination.
If Trump can pull off a peace deal that sticks, it would be a historic miracle. But instead of addressing all these insanely difficult issues, we’re focusing on Trump’s over-the-top rhetoric. Trump haters just can’t deal with his style of speaking and negotiation tactics. You’d think after 8 years they’d get a clue.
You make a good point that the European nations are unable to broker peace, and the reason is they simply can’t enforce it. Trump’s memo about what they can provide in the way of security sidesteps the reality that only the power of the U.S. can do so, and only because of the threat of mutual annihilation.
Trump knows this. But Europe needs to contribute something more than lip service to their own security. That’s all he’s asking for.
The truth is the Cold War never ended. It just changed clothes.
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People can posit anything and usually do, but biden and his infuriating lack intelligence, understanding, and general ignorance started that war, just like bill clinton started the Iraq invasion of Kuwait.
????
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(https://i.imgur.com/BsljKEd.jpg)
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Wow. JD Vance is good.
https://x.com/JDVance/status/1892569791140946073
This is moralistic garbage, which is unfortunately the rhetorical currency of the globalists because they have nothing else to say.
For three years, President Trump and I have made two simple arguments: first, the war wouldn't have started if President Trump was in office; second, that neither Europe, nor the Biden administration, nor the Ukrainians had any pathway to victory. This was true three years ago, it was true two years ago, it was true last year, and it is true today.
And for three years, the concerns of people who were obviously right were ignored. What is Niall's actual plan for Ukraine? Another aid package? Is he aware of the reality on the ground, of the numerical advantage of the Russians, of the depleted stock of the Europeans or their even more depleted industrial base?
Instead, he quotes from a book about George HW Bush from a different historical period and a different conflict. That's another currency of these people: reliance on irrelevant history.
President Trump is dealing with reality, which means dealing with facts. And here are some facts:
Number one, while our Western European allies' security has benefitted greatly from the generosity of the United States, they pursue domestic policies (on migration and censorship) that offend the sensibilities of most Americans and defense policies that assume continued over-reliance.
Number two, Russians have a massive numerical advantage in manpower and weapons in Ukraine, and that advantage will persist regardless of further Western aid packages. Again, the aid is *currently* flowing.
Number three, the United States retains substantial leverage over both parties to the conflict.
Number four, ending the conflict requires talking to the people involved in starting it and maintaining it.
Number five, the conflict has placed--and continues to place--stress on tools of American statecraft, from military stockpiles to sanctions (and so much else). We believe the continued conflict is bad for Russia, bad for Ukraine, and bad for Europe. But most importantly, it is bad for the United States.
Given the above facts, we must pursue peace, and we must pursue it now. President Trump ran on this, he won on this, and he is right about this. It is lazy, ahistorical nonsense to attack as "appeasement" every acknowledgment that America's interest must account for the realities of the conflict.
That interest--not moralisms or historical illiteracy--will guide President Trump's policy in the weeks to come.
And thank God for that.
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He does make a case for 2028
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Ukraine is completely dependent on the US to function. That means that they're not really a country, but instead a dependent, vassal state. So, let's just declare them to be a US Territory and be done with it.
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Or just detach completely. I'm not sure what, if anything, we're getting out of them being dependent on us. If it's a buffer to Europe, then let Europe do the funding. If they don't care, why should we?
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Or just detach completely. I'm not sure what, if anything, we're getting out of them being dependent on us. If it's a buffer to Europe, then let Europe do the funding. If they don't care, why should we?
Sunflower seeds?
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Sunflower seeds?
Huh... I didn't know that! Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds, followed by Russia. Let Russia have Ukraine in exchange for more seeds. Win Win!
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Huh... I didn't know that! Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds, followed by Russia. Let Russia have Ukraine in exchange for more seeds. Win Win!
Yep! Although slight correction, Ukraine is the largest exporter. Russia the largest producer. But between the two they cover most sunflower seed and oil production in the world.
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Yep! Although slight correction, Ukraine is the largest exporter. Russia the largest producer. But between the two they cover most sunflower seed and oil production in the world.
I wonder if that's why I have been unable to find sunflower seed oil lately. I only use it to make home-made mayonaise. Avocado oil (with a small part coconut oil) is a decent substitute, but sunflower oil makes it taste like Hellman's, without all the additives.
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I wonder if that's why I have been unable to find sunflower seed oil lately. I only use it to make home-made mayonaise. Avocado oil (with a small part coconut oil) is a decent substitute, but sunflower oil makes it taste like Hellman's, without all the additives.
It did result in big price hikes and some shortages in 2022 but in general the market adjusted however there are ongoing instabilities due to the war and other factors (weather) so who knows why your local area seems not to have it. Could be there is less demand for it if the price rose higher than alternatives so the store just isn't stocking it.
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Weather related shortages: "In January 2025, Kernel, Ukraine's largest sunflower oil producer and exporter, stopped production at one of its sunflower oil sites. This was due to a 2024 drought that led to a smaller sunflower harvest"
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https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1892714137492312352
It’ll happen. The TDS screaming about WW3 notwithstanding.
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Or just detach completely. I'm not sure what, if anything, we're getting out of them being dependent on us. If it's a buffer to Europe, then let Europe do the funding. If they don't care, why should we?
Mineral Rights.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/zelensky-folds-like-cheap-suit-will-sign-ukraines/ (https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/zelensky-folds-like-cheap-suit-will-sign-ukraines/)
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The way I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), a large chunk of land bordering on Russia holds people who identify as Russian vs. Ukrainian. Seems like it's natural to break off that part of the land that wants to be Russian and end the war.
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The way I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), a large chunk of land bordering on Russia holds people who identify as Russian vs. Ukrainian. Seems like it's natural to break off that part of the land that wants to be Russian and end the war.
If I'm not mistaken, that conclusion is the result of death threats if they say otherwise.
If Trump can negotiate mineral rights in an amount that will pay for our past and future involvement, then I'm all for it.
And I still think that the West (EU, NATO, Ukraine, the Balkans etc) will be much better off letting trump do the negotiations rather than a committee of countries with varied self interests, and an inability to play their cards close to their vest. Everyone is saying that trump is giving away too much before the negotiation even starts. Have they not been paying attention? Everyone seems to be predicting what Trump will do while on the other hand they are complaining because Trump is so unpredictable.
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If I'm not mistaken, that conclusion is the result of death threats if they say otherwise.
There is an actual pro-Russian faction; this played a big part in the 2014 protests that kicked off the war, which the 2022 invasion was sort of a continuation of, after the 4 year Trump term break.
But there are ethnic Russians who would rather stay with the westward looking Ukraine. I wouldn't be surprised if they're getting death threats from Putin, AND persecution from Zelensky. I saw video of Zelensky's troops entering the home of a Russian speaking resident to arrest him for posting pro-Russia stuff on the internet. Of course, anything can be staged and in a war you have to take everything with a grain of salt.
Probably a lot of people there just want to be left alone, and they're getting shit from both ends.
If Trump can negotiate mineral rights in an amount that will pay for our past and future involvement, then I'm all for it.
And I still think that the West (EU, NATO, Ukraine, the Balkans etc) will be much better off letting trump do the negotiations rather than a committee of countries with varied self interests, and an inability to play their cards close to their vest. Everyone is saying that trump is giving away too much before the negotiation even starts. Have they not been paying attention? Everyone seems to be predicting what Trump will do while on the other hand they are complaining because Trump is so unpredictable.
Right. Nobody knows what exactly is going on. Trump's not going to publicly announce details of his strategy or talks with either party.
Mineral rights as a joint venture between the U.S. and Ukraine would be excellent, as it would assure us access to resources we need, and our stake in it would give us incentive to guarantee Ukraine security. The details just need to be hammered out. My understanding is yesterday Zelensky nixed the deal because he didn't want it to be a 50/50 split but today he is more amenable, who knows what they're working out. However something will need to be ceded to Putin, and it's likely Crimea and Donbas, whatever territory he has managed to take and is currently occupying, containing more ethnic Russians, whether or not they want to go with him or stay with Ukraine. Putin's not going to just pick up and leave.
Zelensky can say he's not going to cede any territory but he's gonna be forced into it because we can't let him lead the two nuclear superpowers into a direct head to head. Not gonna happen. And Trump will not continue funding this endless meat grinder anyway. Zelensky will have no choice.
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Mineral Rights.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/zelensky-folds-like-cheap-suit-will-sign-ukraines/ (https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/zelensky-folds-like-cheap-suit-will-sign-ukraines/)
That article fails to mention that the idea of exchanging mineral rights for aid originated with the Ukrainians, not with anyone in the US. From the original WSJ article:
"Zelensky’s administration had itself floated the idea of Ukraine granting preferential access to its mineral resources last year, hoping that it would entice Trump to continue military support for Kyiv by offering the U.S. some economic benefit."
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However something will need to be ceded to Putin, and it's likely Crimea and Donbas, whatever territory he has managed to take and is currently occupying, containing more ethnic Russians, whether or not they want to go with him or stay with Ukraine. Putin's not going to just pick up and leave.
If I could put a bug in Trump's ear, I'd suggest that if parts of Ukraine have to be ceded, anyone in those parts that wants to be a part of Ukraine rather than Russia be given transport to Ukraine, and Russia should pay for their relocation. They get the land (and the mineral resources, and the buffer) but they don't get the people that don't like them and will cause them trouble in the future.
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If I could put a bug in Trump's ear, I'd suggest that if parts of Ukraine have to be ceded, anyone in those parts that wants to be a part of Ukraine rather than Russia be given transport to Ukraine, and Russia should pay for their relocation. They get the land (and the mineral resources, and the buffer) but they don't get the people that don't like them and will cause them trouble in the future.
I agree.
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I'm curious about how far Trump would go to guarantee Ukraine's security, IF he signs an agreement with them giving us a substantial stake in their rare earth and other minerals. Would he put boots on the ground if needed? Would he respond in kind to a tactical (or other) nuke from Russia?
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I'm curious about how far Trump would go to guarantee Ukraine's security, IF he signs an agreement with them giving us a substantial stake in their rare earth and other minerals. Would he put boots on the ground if needed? Would he respond in kind to a tactical (or other) nuke from Russia?
If I had to guess what’s going on behind the scenes that’s the sticking point. Or one of two big ones. The first being Zelensky wants to keep Ukraine’s borders but he’s destined to lose on that point.
The second is he wants a “security guarantee” which to him means defend Ukraine at all costs, up to and including nuclear.
For example, early in the conflict he asked the U.S. to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine and enforce it with fighter jets. We of course declined, because obviously that would risk an escalation into direct hostilities between the U.S. and Russia.
The type of support we’ve given so far keeps this a proxy war which is less than Zelensky wants, but if we invest directly in Ukraine’s resources and Russia becomes belligerent again, there is substantial risk of a direct confrontation with Russia including boots on the ground, depending on who is president at the time. Unfortunately Trump will be gone soon along with his crazy style of keeping peace.
Putin has already hinted at his willingness to use a tactical nuke. We hope he’s bluffing. But if the U.S. engages in direct combat with Russia, backing Putin into a corner, he just might.
People talk about Ukraine joining NATO as the solution. The theory is it would deter Russia from ever invading Ukraine again, however if you listen to Putin directly when he talks, a large part of his problem with the West is the encroachment of NATO closer to the Russian border. If there is a single biggest sore point with Putin, that’s it, and allowing Ukraine into NATO would be twisting that knife.
But to answer your question would Trump put boots on the ground or respond in kind to a tactical nuke? Nobody really knows. That’s the whole reason he is able to keep peace; they have to believe he would.
In behind the scenes negotiations is Trump promising he would? To get Zelensky to sign a peace deal? Whatever we see reported, you can bet that’s not the whole story.
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AP and WSJ report Ukraine and US have allegedly reached an agreement that Zelensky is willing to sign:
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-agrees-to-mineral-rights-deal-with-u-s-3bbd871f?st=z61Qju&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-agrees-to-mineral-rights-deal-with-u-s-3bbd871f?st=z61Qju&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-economic-agreement-us-72ee2cfa720f6a42455c5425007060e6 (https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-economic-agreement-us-72ee2cfa720f6a42455c5425007060e6)
I'm unclear how this agreement will persuade Putin to any peace talks since his goal has never wavered.
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I'm unclear how this agreement will persuade Putin to any peace talks since his goal has never wavered.
I'm sure there are many people that are much more involved than you and I that are unclear about what Trump has in mind. But he has had talks with Putin already and I'm sure they discussed some of this. I'm just a little peeved that neither one of them gave ME any insight.
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Well apparently Zelensky will sign an agreement without a security guarantee. I did not see that coming. And Putin is now offering the U.S. mineral rights, some in the Ukrainian territory it is occupying, lol!
Lordy Lord.
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Does Zelensky own a freaking suit?
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The little dictator is running out of options. He is trying to save his ass because he knows these peace negotiations will result in an election, and he doesn’t stand a chance at winning. The best he can hope for is asylum somewhere.
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Does Zelensky own a freaking suit?
I hope not. That's one of the things I like about him.
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Did y'all watch that? The "fight" in the Oval Office? Look at Zelensky's body language. Totally defensive. He's coming up against not one but TWO Alpha Males - totally different from weak, corrupt Biden.
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FAFO
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Russia and the U.S. are both huge, massive, strong superpowers, with nukes and everything. Both have an uneasy relationship with China, the only other country who can plausibly claim superpower status, and be a true threat to either of us.
All other countries fade into irrelevence.
So Russia gets into a squabble with one of these other irrelvent countries and we've been helping the little skinny weak tyke try to fight the other big superpower, annoying the hell out of it.
Trump comes along and wisely thinks, "If Russia and the U.S. become allies, that secures both of us against China, and any other threat on the planet. WTF are we doing propping up Ukraine's doomed fight against Russia? If we don't befriend Russia, Russia will strengthen ties with China. That's not good. We're putting a stop to this."
I think this is sort of Trump's thinking, and maybe what's behind his treatment of Zelensky. Zelensky and Ukraine cannot be allowed to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Russia. We were allies in the two great world wars, and need to remain allies. The Cold War in the interim is past, we need to stop hanging onto that. They aren't the USSR anymore.
Isn't it weird that the left has a big problem with the idea of befriending Russia? They liked them when they were communist.
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Hello...
(http://www.pilotspin.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8071.0;attach=4624)
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Hello...
(http://www.pilotspin.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8071.0;attach=4624)
From: https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/02/28/1099576.html (https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/02/28/1099576.html)
MOSCOW, February 28 - RIA Novosti. Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexander Dubinsky, who is in jail in Ukraine on charges of treason, called Vladimir Zelensky's public humiliation in the White House "the final act of the collapse of the regime" in the Telegram channel, and demanded the immediate convening of an emergency meeting of the Rada to decide on Zelensky's impeachment.
A call for impeachment from someone in jail is not terribly telling about the feelings in the rest of the Ukrainian government.
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From: https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/02/28/1099576.html (https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/02/28/1099576.html)
A call for impeachment from someone in jail is not terribly telling about the feelings in the rest of the Ukrainian government.
Someone who was jailed by the little dictator.
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Every day more shocking news. I hope it all stays good news.
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Every day more shocking news. I hope it all stays good news.
The little dictator wants the war to continue. With war he remains in power without fear of elections. He is convinced he can defeat Russia (at our expense).
He was use to showing up and walking away with huge monetary gifts. Those days are gone. His European allies are tired of his war. The US has no use for his war.
It’s only a matter of time for him, and he knows it. He thought his tirade in front of the media at the WH was going to win him support. It backfired.
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. He thought his tirade in front of the media at the WH was going to win him support. It backfired.
Actually it did gain him support. From the liberal side. The MSM and liberals in general are all piling on Trump as if this was his fault.
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The little dictator wants the war to continue. With war he remains in power without fear of elections. He is convinced he can defeat Russia (at our expense).
He was use to showing up and walking away with huge monetary gifts. Those days are gone. His European allies are tired of his war. The US has no use for his war.
It’s only a matter of time for him, and he knows it. He thought his tirade in front of the media at the WH was going to win him support. It backfired.
He met with several Democrats just before that meeting and it is rumored they advised him to stand up to Trump. If true that’s despicable and probably treasonous but it would be so like the Democrats.
If you watched the whole Lex Fridman interview you know that Zelensky has zero interest in talking with Putin or negotiating anything. He focused on his absolute hatred for Putin and basically stated Putin isn’t even human. These emotions are completely forgivable but a leader must set aside his emotion for the sake of saving his people.
Zelensky has also stated several times he will not concede any land, and that any cease fire deal must include a “security guarantee” and to him that means (correctly) backed by nukes (because only nukes can defeat Russia). Either give Ukraine back the nukes they relinquished or accept Ukraine into NATO or otherwise guarantee the U.S. will defend Ukraine (with nukes if it comes to that.)
This is also understandable that he feels this way, however he does not have a position of strength where he can negotiate and get these things. He just doesn’t. He needs to accept that and compromise for something less. But he was misled by 4 years of Biden and now the Democrat traitors behind Trump’s back, into thinking the U.S. will continue supporting and enabling the war until Russia is defeated and kicked out of Ukraine.
But it’s not going to happen. Putin has no intention of giving up the land he gained. If he did he would correctly face the absolute wrath of his own people, and anyway his ego won’t allow him to walk away from this with nothing at all after killing a million of his own men. He was wrong to invade Ukraine in the first place (our opinion, not his) but if the West tries to stand on moral rectitude and insist he keep nothing for his illegal efforts, we WILL end up in WW3.
Trump is right, we need pragmatic diplomacy, not stubborn inflexibility. But Zelensky is digging in with the latter. Dubinsky is right, looks like replacing Zelensky ASAP is what’s needed.
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My FB feed is suddenly filled with "I stand with Ukraine" messages.
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The little dictator wants the war to continue. With war he remains in power without fear of elections. He is convinced he can defeat Russia (at our expense).
He was use to showing up and walking away with huge monetary gifts. Those days are gone. His European allies are tired of his war. The US has no use for his war.
It’s only a matter of time for him, and he knows it. He thought his tirade in front of the media at the WH was going to win him support. It backfired.
100%
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My FB feed is suddenly filled with "I stand with Ukraine" messages.
Getting a few of those myself. People don't realize this is what they actually look like with their worthless virtue signaling.
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Actually it did gain him support. From the liberal side. The MSM and liberals in general are all piling on Trump as if this was his fault.
As you know, they're both irrelevant now.
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I think this is actually her. This picture is not a joke.
https://x.com/NatetheLawyer/status/1895579202453451205
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It all comes down to do you want peace or do you want war. If you want peace, Ukraine will have to give up some land. If you want war, then this never ending war of attrition on both sides will continue with no gains in either direction. The only winners are the military industrial complex and corrupt politicians. The poor sods on the ground will continue to die for nothing.
Trump wants peace. No more killing. Yes, that looks like Putin wins some territory. He does. But there is no way that Ukraine will gain back its territory. There seems to be no way that Russia will make more gains into Ukraine.
You want peace? Great. Here's what each side has to do. You want war? Great. Go on without the United States. See what the EU has to offer. Peace in Ukraine does not mean that Trump sides with Putin. It means he sides with peace. And is that not a good thing?
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As you know, they're both irrelevant now.
We can’t let our guard down. They come back like weeds.
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It all comes down to do you want peace or do you want war. If you want peace, Ukraine will have to give up some land. If you want war, then this never ending war of attrition on both sides will continue with no gains in either direction. The only winners are the military industrial complex and corrupt politicians. The poor sods on the ground will continue to die for nothing.
Trump wants peace. No more killing. Yes, that looks like Putin wins some territory. He does. But there is no way that Ukraine will gain back its territory. There seems to be no way that Russia will make more gains into Ukraine.
You want peace? Great. Here's what each side has to do. You want war? Great. Go on without the United States. See what the EU has to offer. Peace in Ukraine does not mean that Trump sides with Putin. It means he sides with peace. And is that not a good thing?
This bullshit about Trump “siding” with Putin is such a leftist lie. Most Democrats still believe the Russia Russia hoax. Trump peed on the bed with the hooker. ANY contact with Putin and it’s “ZOMG Trump’s sucking Putin’s dick, they’re in cahoots, Orange Hitler is taking over the world as Putin’s bitch!”
I’m sick of those disingenuous twatwaffles.*
*Term stolen from some poster on X 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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We can’t let our guard down. They come back like weeds.
Agreed. Or a virus.
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It all comes down to do you want peace or do you want war. If you want peace, Ukraine will have to give up some land.
Russia wants full control, either directly or by proxy, of Ukraine because these are and always have been their demands:
"Our proposals for the demilitarization and de-Nazification of the territories controlled by the [Ukrainian] regime, the elimination of threats to Russia's security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy," Lavrov told Tass when discussing possible peace negotiations. He continued, "The point is simple: Fulfill them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army."
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/full-lists-demands-russia-ukraine-have-made-end-war-1769742 (https://www.newsweek.com/full-lists-demands-russia-ukraine-have-made-end-war-1769742)
So they want land they have yet to capture and the demilitarization of Ukraine. The latter insures a military takeover at a later date. Basically peace comes at the terms of Ukraine's surrender. It has never been a case of peace at the cost of some land.
As a guess, I suspect that if Trump pulls the plug on further aid then Europe may up financial support to Ukraine but the military supplies will be purchased from the US and other suppliers since Europe doesn't have the production capability until they can ramp up. I just can't see Ukraine surrendering to Russia. Zelensky could drop dead tomorrow and anyone who thinks the Ukrainians would rush into the arms of Russia lives in an alternate reality.
Remember that Ukraine had effectively no aid in the first few weeks and managed to bloody the bear - so regardless of the US involvement I expect the Ukrainians to continue fighting.
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Russia wants full control, either directly or by proxy, of Ukraine because these are and always have been their demands:
"Our proposals for the demilitarization and de-Nazification of the territories controlled by the [Ukrainian] regime, the elimination of threats to Russia's security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy," Lavrov told Tass when discussing possible peace negotiations. He continued, "The point is simple: Fulfill them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army."
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/full-lists-demands-russia-ukraine-have-made-end-war-1769742 (https://www.newsweek.com/full-lists-demands-russia-ukraine-have-made-end-war-1769742)
So they want land they have yet to capture and the demilitarization of Ukraine. The latter insures a military takeover at a later date. Basically peace comes at the terms of Ukraine's surrender. It has never been a case of peace at the cost of some land.
As a guess, I suspect that if Trump pulls the plug on further aid then Europe may up financial support to Ukraine but the military supplies will be purchased from the US and other suppliers since Europe doesn't have the production capability until they can ramp up. I just can't see Ukraine surrendering to Russia. Zelensky could drop dead tomorrow and anyone who thinks the Ukrainians would rush into the arms of Russia lives in an alternate reality.
Remember that Ukraine had effectively no aid in the first few weeks and managed to bloody the bear - so regardless of the US involvement I expect the Ukrainians to continue fighting.
Ukraine doesn’t have the manpower to continue fighting, hence why the dictator wants to escalate the war and get other countries involved.
Trump and Vance are 100% correct on this. The little dictator has backed himself into a corner and has no cards to play.
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Ukraine doesn’t have the manpower to continue fighting, hence why the dictator wants to escalate the war and get other countries involved.
Trump and Vance are 100% correct on this. The little dictator has backed himself into a corner and has no cards to play.
This thread. He’s desperate for men:
https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1895752927991792126
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Interesting take. And very true.
https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1895883813223354871
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Interesting take. And very true.
https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1895883813223354871
Could be true, but Carlson has not volunteered any evidence for his claims. He believes sufficiently emotive assertions can substitute for supporting evidence. Much like your "and very true" implies if you also have seen the evidence - somewhere. This article diplomatically calls Tucker a bloviating liar:
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011 (https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011)
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Could be true, but Carlson has not volunteered any evidence for his claims. He believes sufficiently emotive assertions can substitute for supporting evidence. Much like your "and very true" implies if you also have seen the evidence - somewhere. This article diplomatically calls Tucker a bloviating liar:
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011 (https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011)
Newsweek. Seriously? Maybe you should throw something up from the NYT and WSJ as well. ::)
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.
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I'm sure Jim was posting regularly about Adam Schiff and Russia, Russia Russia.
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Could be true, but Carlson has not volunteered any evidence for his claims. He believes sufficiently emotive assertions can substitute for supporting evidence. Much like your "and very true" implies if you also have seen the evidence - somewhere. This article diplomatically calls Tucker a bloviating liar:
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011 (https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-tucker-carlson-ukraine-weapons-black-market-cartels-2030011)
How very odd.
newsweek never once corrected their lies about January 6th, russia, russia, Russia, and covid19, not to mention the lie they participated in that President Trump commandeered the Presidential Limo, and other - just as pathetic - lies.
Oh... that's right. They didn't, and jim never corrected them.
How truly comforting it must be for him to only read and read into things what he wants to believe and then post.
Any minute we will be treated to thinkprogress' assumptions (lies) and he won't point out how they differ from reality, either.
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Newsweek. Seriously? Maybe you should throw something up from the NYT and WSJ as well. ::)
Did Carlson provide verifiable evidence to support his claims? Like, say, US military weapons found in the hands of captured Hamas or Mexican cartel operatives?
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I'm sure Jim was posting regularly about Adam Schiff and Russia, Russia Russia.
Is it a requirement to post regularly on every subject, even if many are just going to be “I agree with that” posts in order for me to be allowed to post at all? In any case, I’m unsure how my posting habits exonerate Lucifer or Tucker Carlson of simply supplying evidence to back their serious claims.
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Let Russia have Ukraine and we get Canada and Greenland. ;D
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Did Adam Schiff provide verifiable evidence of Trump Russian collusion?
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I don’t believe anything anyone on the right or left says.
I might accept it conditionally while I watch over time to see if evidence is produced. I might give more or less benefit of the doubt depending on who it is.
I generally trust Carlson but this is war and “fog of war” is a thing. All side are pushing out propaganda.
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Let Russia have Ukraine and we get Canada and Greenland. ;D
Or, Ukraine becomes a state. That would be really interesting.
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I totally agree…
Newsweek hasn’t give. Permission for people to notice their utter lack of journalistic ethics, so Jim is being obedient to the leftist gods.
I do notice google has severely limited which news sources you have to choose from when the topic is political. When the search engine rigs the outcome it’s hard for the intellectually weak to call for the tripe they find.
newsweek and cnn, bastions of lies are first along with such biased rags as possible, long before you come to an actual news link. If one is intellectually lazily the scam sites are easier to access.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/some-us-arms-shipments-ukraine-ending-up-hands-criminal-gangs-arms-traffickers-watchdog-says
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Did Adam Schiff provide verifiable evidence of Trump Russian collusion?
He didn't and that lack of evidence was noted by many posters to this forum. I had nothing extra to add nor disagreement with the general assessment that Schiff was shit, so posted nothing.
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I totally agree…
Newsweek hasn’t give. Permission for people to notice their utter lack of journalistic ethics, so Jim is being obedient to the leftist gods.
I do notice google has severely limited which news sources you have to choose from when the topic is political. When the search engine rigs the outcome it’s hard for the intellectually weak to call for the tripe they find.
newsweek and cnn, bastions of lies are first along with such biased rags as possible, long before you come to an actual news link. If one is intellectually lazily the scam sites are easier to access.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/some-us-arms-shipments-ukraine-ending-up-hands-criminal-gangs-arms-traffickers-watchdog-says
The Fox News article is good evidence supporting claims of some arms being diverted to Ukrainian gangs. But Carlson's claim was more global and accuses "western patrons" and the Ukraine government of selling American weapons:
"Over the past three years, with the tacit support of its western patrons, the Ukrainian government has committed a remarkable number of serious crimes. The Ukrainians sold huge quantities of American weapons on the international black market at twenty cents on the dollar. These weapons are now in the hands of armed groups around the world, including Hamas, the Mexican drug cartels and the forces now controlling Syria."
How "huge" are these quantities? What proof the governments are involved rather than some well placed corrupt individuals or small groups?
(Lastly, as an atheist, I have no gods - religious or political.)
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This! Every word.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/victor-davis-hanson-10-bad-takeaways-from-zelenskyy-blow-up?dicbo=v4-7KcS0CA-1088916728-1
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: 10 bad takeaways from the Zelenskyy blow-up
Ukrainian leader boxed himself - and his country - in with petulent White House display
March 2, 2025 6:26am EST
Friday's extraordinary Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy went off the rails, leaving hopes for a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Russia and Ukraine in question. Here are some reasons why things went wrong, and where it leaves efforts to end the war.
1. Zelenskyy does not grasp—or deliberately ignores—the bitter truth: Those with whom he feels most affinity (Western globalists, the American Left, the Europeans) have little power in 2025 to help him. And those whom he obviously does not like or seeks to embarrass (as with his Scranton, Penn. campaign-like visit in September 2024) alone have the power to save him. For his own sake, I hope he is not being "briefed" by the Obama-Clinton-Biden gang to confront Trump, given their interests are not really Ukraine’s as they feign.
2. Zelenskyy acts as if his agenda and ours are identical. So, he keeps insisting that he is fighting for us despite our two-ocean-distance that he mocks. We do have many shared interests with Ukraine, but not all by any means: Trump wants to "reset" with Russia and triangulate it against China. He seeks to avoid a 1962 DEFCON 2-like crisis over a proxy showdown in proximity to a nuclear rival. And he sincerely wants to end the deadlocked Stalingrad slaughterhouse for everyone’s sake.
3. The Europeans (and Canada) are now talking loudly of a new muscular antithesis, independent of the U.S. Promises, promises—given that would require Europeans to prune back their social welfare state, frack, use nuclear, stop the green obsession, and spend 3-5% of their GDP on defense. The U.S. does not just pay 16% of NATO’s budget, but also puts up with asymmetrical tariffs that result in a European Union trade surplus of $160 billion, plays the world cop, patrolling sea-lanes and deterring terrorists and rogue states that otherwise might interrupt Europe’s commercial networks abroad, as well as de facto including Europe under a nuclear umbrella of 6,500 nukes.
4. Zelenskyy must know that all of the once-deal-breaking impediments to peace have been settled. Ukraine is now better armed than most NATO nations, but will not be in NATO, and no president has or will ever supply Ukraine with the armed wherewithal to take back the Donbass and Crimea. So, the only two issues are a) how far will Putin be willing to withdraw to his 2022 borders and b) how will he be deterred? The first is answered by a commercial sector/tripwire, joint Ukrainian-US-Europe resource development corridor in Eastern Ukraine, coupled with a Korea-like DMZ; the second by the fact that Putin, unlike his 2008 and 2014 invasions, has now incurred a million dead and wounded to a Ukraine that will remain thusly armed.
5. What are Zelenskyy’s alternatives without much U.S. help—wait for a return of the Democrats to the White House in four years? Hope for a rearmed Europe? Pray for a Democratic House and a third Vindman-like engineered Trump impeachment? Or swallow his pride, return to the White House, sign the rare-earth minerals deal, invite in the Euros (are they seriously willing to patrol a DMZ?), and hope Trump can warn Putin, as he did successfully between 2017-21, not to dare try it again?
6. If there is a cease-fire, a commercial deal, a Euro ground presence, and influx of Western companies into Ukraine, would there be elections? And if so, would Zelenskyy and his party win? And if not, would there be a successor transparent government that would reveal exactly where all the Western financial aid money went?
7. Zelenskyy might see a model in Netanyahu. The Biden Administration was far harder on him than Trump is on Ukraine, suspending arms shipments, demanding cease-fires, prodding for a wartime, bipartisan cabinet, hammering Israel on collateral damage—none of which Westerners have demanded of Zelenskyy. Yet Netanyahu managed a hostile President Biden, kept Israel close to its patron, and, when visiting, was gracious to his host. Netanyahu certainly would never before the global media have interrupted and berated a host and patron president in the White House.
8. If Ukraine has alienated the U.S., what then is its strategic victory plan? Wait around for more Euros? Hold off an increasingly invigorated Russian military? Cede more territory? What, then, exactly are Zelenskyy’s cards he seems to think form a winning hand?
9. If one views carefully all the 50-minute tape, most of it was going quite well—until Zelenskyy started correcting Vance firstly, and Trump secondly. By Ukraine-splaining to his hosts, and by his gestures, tone, and interruptions, he made it clear that he assumed that Trump was just more of the same compliant, clueless moneybags Biden waxen effigy. And that was naïve for such a supposedly worldly leader.
10. March 2025 is not March 2022, after the heroic saving of Kyiv—but three years and 1.5 million dead and wounded later. Zelenskyy is no longer the international heartthrob with the glamorous entourage. He has postponed elections, outlawed opposition media and parties, suspended habeas corpus and walked out of negotiations when he had an even hand in spring 2022 and apparently even now when he does not in spring 2025.
Quo vadis, Volodymyr?
Victor Davis Hanson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author most recently of "The Dying Citizen."
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Let Russia have Ukraine and we get Canada and Greenland. ;D
Just the good part. The middle part that makes all the money.
Or, Ukraine becomes a state. That would be really interesting.
Why not? We already paid for it.
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The Fox News article is good evidence supporting claims of some arms being diverted to Ukrainian gangs. But Carlson's claim was more global and accuses "western patrons" and the Ukraine government of selling American weapons:
"Over the past three years, with the tacit support of its western patrons, the Ukrainian government has committed a remarkable number of serious crimes. The Ukrainians sold huge quantities of American weapons on the international black market at twenty cents on the dollar. These weapons are now in the hands of armed groups around the world, including Hamas, the Mexican drug cartels and the forces now controlling Syria."
How "huge" are these quantities? What proof the governments are involved rather than some well placed corrupt individuals or small groups?
(Lastly, as an atheist, I have no gods - religious or political.)
Any clue as to how weapons get into the black market? Perhaps you think the little dictator runs ads on craigslist? Ebay? ::)
How do you think these gangs make money? Or what part of the chain they are in moving these weapons.
Zelenskyy is running out of time and he knows it. After the peace is negotiated and he gets kicked out, then and only then will the real depth of his corruption become known.
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Any clue as to how weapons get into the black market? Perhaps you think the little dictator runs ads on craigslist? Ebay? ::)
How do you think these gangs make money? Or what part of the chain they are in moving these weapons.
Zelenskyy is running out of time and he knows it. After the peace is negotiated and he gets kicked out, then and only then will the real depth of his corruption become known.
Zelensky will be in Switzerland, or the Caymans with his Billions soon, less Biden's kickbacks of course.
He's a grifter and a con man. Do you know any normal, rational comedians?
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Let’s assume for the sake of argument Zelensky is not corrupt and enriching himself off our money. Let’s assume he sincerely wants to save his country and has all good intentions. Let’s also assume he is not trying to be a dictator but legally suspended elections under Ukrainian law because of severe logistical problems trying to hold fair elections when much of your country is under fire, many voters have fled, and large portions of the land are under enemy occupation.
In that case, he is turning out to be a bad leader anyway. He might be forgiven for accepting U.S. aid at the beginning but we are now 3 years in, and it is becoming obvious that no matter how much aid he gets, Ukraine cannot win. The U.S. or some strong combination of European forces would have to engage directly in conventional war with Russia which would literally touch off a non-nuclear WW3. The alternative is to nuke Moscow and hope Putin doesn’t return the favor.
Even under Biden that wasn’t going to happen. Biden and the MIC aren’t interested in saving Ukraine and defeating Russia. They want to continue indefinitely for their own enrichment. Zelensky’s mistake is not understanding this. He is too emotionally invested in keeping Ukraine’s borders intact and not letting Putin win anything at all, so is stubbornly digging in and deluding himself into believing continued lukewarm support - if he can’t get hot support - from the West will eventually lead to Putin giving up and withdrawing completely. In his defense, the U.S. left, the Uniparty, and Europe are all telling him this is possible.
The long and short of that is that he is weak. He is invested in sunk cost (he can’t quit or the lives lost will mean nothing), he cannot accept the reality that the war is already lost, and he is not an actual leader, either politically or militarily, but at core, an actor and entertainer. This gives him a certain charisma and he did perform admirably in the very beginning, bravely remaining in Kyiv while under attack and gaining assistance from other countries. That was not necessarily inappropriate at the time, but the situation now is very different.
From the start we have been told Russia was on the verge of losing, running out of resources, all their stuff is breaking down and so on, but it’s not actually true. Russia can continue this for a while, and if she gets to the point she just can’t, Putin might drop a nuke on Kyiv.
It’s clear to any thinking person that it’s time to negotiate an end. That means talk to Putin - an idea which Zelensky seems unable to stomach - and concede some land, sorry, but that’s what it’s going to take.
Zelensky is steeped in entertainment culture which is dominated by liberals, socialists and leftists and just like the left in America, he thinks that’s “normal” and is unaware and un-exposed to the other side. Hence his shock at Trump/Vance not behaving like he expected, and the whole power structure in the U.S. being completely turned on its head last November.
How to win a war: Well, part of it is knowing when you can’t, and negotiating an end the best you can.
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The Oval Office Incident:
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1896741246825295948
I had to watch it about 3 times to keep up.
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The Oval Office Incident:
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1896741246825295948
I had to watch it about 3 times to keep up.
Another Democrat plan backfire. The democrats wanted this to happen, so they met with the little dictator beforehand and talked him into it. Their hopes this would damage Trump.
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Another Democrat plan backfire. The democrats wanted this to happen, so they met with the little dictator beforehand and talked him into it. Their hopes this would damage Trump.
That’s exactly what happened. Zelensky fell for it. He thought “the machine” was still basically in charge. Did not grasp the nuance of the total power flip that happened with Trump’s election, that Trump isn’t just a figurehead like Biden was, and that the American people’s support of continuing aid to this war is fast dropping.
The Democrats meanwhile are still trying to run things illegitimately, outside the proper channels, and against the will of the people, because they are incapable of anything else.
But more important than anything is they need to take Trump down. If Trump were wanting to continue funding the war just like Biden was doing, the Democraps would be screaming about how he’s a warmonger killing Ukranian babies.
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As the real facts about the Butler, PA shooting come out, don't be surprised to find the swamp, the fbi, and the secret service were involved in the planning and attempted execution of President Trump.
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As the real facts about the Butler, PA shooting come out, don't be surprised to find the swamp, the fbi, and the secret service were involved in the planning and attempted execution of President Trump.
I've thought this all along. They missed, and got their worst nightmare back....TRUMP, and probably Vance after that.
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As the real facts about the Butler, PA shooting come out, don't be surprised to find the swamp, the fbi, and the secret service were involved in the planning and attempted execution of President Trump.
I’m waiting for more about the other guy too, the one hiding at the golf course. That dude has some background with the feds IMO.
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At the very least, they allowed it. I give 50/50 odds it was a deep state operation. Poor “never gonna get laid” Crooks was a patsy.
If they ever release the JFK files we might get more insight into their methods.
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(https://i.imgur.com/jKuZ1jN.jpg)
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At the tail end of his speech last night Trump revealed the latest letter he got from Zelensky. Z ticked all the boxes, thanked America profusely and said he was ready to negotiate with Putin and sign a mineral deal with the U.S.
Of course it remains to be seen if Z meant it or will break his word again, but for now it appears he possibly has learned his lesson and realized there is no way out of this except to come crawling back to Trump. Maybe he was under pressure from his parliament, and/or his people. Maybe Europe can’t consistently match the funding we’ve been giving him, who knows?
But for now it’s a good sign, however I won’t believe it until it actually happens.
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At the tail end of his speech last night Trump revealed the latest letter he got from Zelensky. Z ticked all the boxes, thanked America profusely and said he was ready to negotiate with Putin and sign a mineral deal with the U.S.
Of course it remains to be seen if Z meant it or will break his word again, but for now it appears he possibly has learned his lesson and realized there is no way out of this except to come crawling back to Trump. Maybe he was under pressure from his parliament, and/or his people. Maybe Europe can’t consistently match the funding we’ve been giving him, who knows?
But for now it’s a good sign, however I won’t believe it until it actually happens.
He's a snake. And he knows without a deal in place, he will be a fugitive soon. Watch to see that deal include a safe haven for his exit.
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He's a snake. And he knows without a deal in place, he will be a fugitive soon. Watch to see that deal include a safe haven for his exit.
Possibly the "pressure" put on him was threats of assassination or something. I'm sure there's all kinds of stuff going on behind the scenes we can't even guess at.
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(https://i.imgur.com/VGgggRD.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/AaVoPzl.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/ehcF5wC.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/VGgggRD.jpg)
To be fair, turnabout is fair play after Joe Biden used threats, also concerning Hunter, to withhold money from Ukraine. And then openly bragged about it!
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it's all a clever plot by President Trump to garner support for the Ukraine. Knowing that so many liberals hate him, he can get those crazies to support Ukraine simply by being mean to the z-man.
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it's all a clever plot by President Trump to garner support for the Ukraine. Knowing that so many liberals hate him, he can get those crazies to support Ukraine simply by being mean to the z-man.
I thought the liberals already loved Ukraine?
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(https://i.imgur.com/KI5GsC6.jpg)
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https://thehill.com/opinion/5198022-ukraine-conflict-disinformation/
Sadly, Trump is right on Ukraine
I rarely agree with President Trump, but his latest controversial statements about Ukraine are mostly true. They seem preposterous only because western audiences have been fed a steady diet of disinformation about Ukraine for more than a decade. It is time to set the record straight on three key points that illuminate why Ukrainians and former President Joe Biden — not merely Russian President Vladimir Putin — bear significant responsibility for the outbreak and perpetuation of war in Ukraine.
First, as recently documented by overwhelming forensic evidence, and affirmed even by a Kyiv court, it was Ukrainian right-wing militants who started the violence in 2014 that provoked Russia’s initial invasion of the country’s southeast including Crimea. Back then, Ukraine had a pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, who had won free and fair elections in 2010 with strong support from ethnic Russians in the country’s southeast.
In 2013, he decided to pursue economic cooperation with Russia rather than Europe as previously planned. Pro-western activists responded with mainly peaceful occupation of the capital’s Maidan square and government offices, until the president eventually offered substantial concessions in mid-February 2014, after which they mainly withdrew.
Just then, however, right-wing militants overlooking the square started shooting Ukrainian police and remaining protesters. Police returned fire at the militants, who then claimed bogusly that the police had killed the unarmed protesters. Outraged by this ostensible government massacre, Ukrainians descended on the capital and ousted the president, who fled to Russia for protection.
Putin responded by deploying troops to Crimea and weapons to the southeast Donbas region on behalf of ethnic Russians who felt their president had been undemocratically overthrown. While this backstory does not justify Russia’s invasion, it explains that it was hardly “unprovoked.”
Second, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky contributed to a wider war by violating peace deals with Russia and seeking NATO military aid and membership. The deals, known as Minsk 1 and 2, had been negotiated under his predecessor President Petro Poroshenko in 2014 and 2015 to end fighting in the southeast and protect endangered troops.
Ukraine was to guarantee Donbas limited political autonomy by the end of 2015, which Putin believed would be sufficient to prevent Ukraine from joining — or serving as a military base for — NATO. Regrettably, Ukraine refused for seven years to fulfill that commitment.
Zelensky even campaigned in 2019 on a promise to finally implement the accords to prevent further war. But after winning election, he reneged, apparently less concerned about risking war than looking weak on Russia.
Zelensky instead increased weapons imports from NATO countries, which was the last straw for Putin. So, on Feb. 21, 2022, Russia recognized the independence of Donbas, deployed troops there for “peacekeeping,” and demanded Zelensky renounce his quest for NATO military assistance and membership.
When Zelensky again refused, Putin massively expanded his military offensive on Feb. 24. Intentionally or not, Zelensky had provoked Russian aggression, although that obviously does not excuse Moscow’s subsequent war crimes.
Third, Joe Biden too contributed crucially to the escalation and perpetuation of fighting. In late 2021, when Putin mobilized forces on Ukraine’s border and demanded implementation of the Minsk deals, it seemed obvious that unless Zelensky relented, Russia would invade to at least form a land bridge between Donbas and Crimea.
Considering that Ukraine already was existentially dependent on U.S. military assistance, if President Biden had insisted that Zelensky comply with Putin’s request, it would have happened. Instead, Biden lamentably left the decision to Zelensky and pledged that if Russia invaded, the U.S. would respond “swiftly and decisively,” which Zelensky read as a green light to defy Putin.
Had Trump been president, he likely would not have provided such a blank check, so Zelensky would have had little choice but to implement the Minsk deals to avert war. Even if Zelensky had still refused and provoked Russia to invade, Trump would have denied him a veto over peace negotiations, which Biden recklessly gave by declaring, “There’s nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
That pledge tragically emboldened Ukraine to prolong the war in expectation of eventually decisive U.S. military aid, which Biden then refused to supply due to fear of nuclear escalation. In that way, Biden raised false hopes in Ukraine, needlessly perpetuating a war that has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands in the last two years alone during which the frontlines have shifted by less than 1 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
The basic outlines of a deal to end the fighting are obvious even if details remain to be negotiated, as Trump and Putin started doing today in a phone call. Russia will continue to occupy Crimea and other portions of the southeast, while the rest of Ukraine will not join NATO but will get security guarantees from some western countries. The sad thing is that such a plan could have been achieved at least two years ago if only President Biden had made military aid conditional on Zelensky negotiating a ceasefire.
Even more tragic, whatever peace deal emerges after the war will be worse for Ukraine than the Minsk accords that Zelensky foolishly abandoned due to his political ambitions and naïve expectation of bottomless U.S. support.
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“There’s nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
What the hell does that sentence mean?
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What actually happened between Trump and Zelensky at the White House. I actually laughed out loud a long time.
https://x.com/viipin8/status/1911403772212822098
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A mineral deal has been signed. I wonder if this is progress.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/us-ukraine-sign-economic-deal-terms-natural-resources-war-torn-country-rcna203963
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A mineral deal has been signed. I wonder if this is progress.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/us-ukraine-sign-economic-deal-terms-natural-resources-war-torn-country-rcna203963
Ukraine, but more so Zelenskyy can't be trusted. We don't know what's going on behind the curtain, but guessing I would say Zelenskyy is trying to secure an exit to a safe haven for himself and family. He knows he's toast if and when a peace deal is made and an election can be held to get rid of him. He will try to hand pick his successor, but that won't work either.
Plus it doesn't help that we have the lunatic left trying to derail any peace deal from happening.
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Ukraine, but more so Zelenskyy can't be trusted. We don't know what's going on behind the curtain, but guessing I would say Zelenskyy is trying to secure an exit to a safe haven for himself and family. He knows he's toast if and when a peace deal is made and an election can be held to get rid of him. He will try to hand pick his successor, but that won't work either.
Plus it doesn't help that we have the lunatic left trying to derail any peace deal from happening.
Zelensky has flip flopped so much but one thing I find consistent: He is hanging on to the “the enemy is the face of pure evil - they are not human,” point of view that is necessary to fight wars. It’s the right thing to do in the heat of a necessary fight, but when the time comes to admit defeat, or victory, or an irreconcilable stalemate in which you must negotiate an end (which is the case here), then you must discard that idea. Like it or not the enemy is human, but if you can’t come around to that fact then you will not be able to negotiate; it requires seeing the other side’s point of view at least a little bit.
The lunatic left in our own country is completely out to lunch.
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There’s a lunatic right, too. A conservative friend insists we can’t let bullies like Russia win and we must fight them at all costs. He has two sons. Would he send them in to die? I haven’t asked him that yet. The other thing is that people become unreasonably sympathetic toward Ukraine, “feeling” that we just have to keep “helping” them. You can’t talk to these people. It’s a “feeling.”
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There’s a lunatic right, too. A conservative friend insists we can’t let bullies like Russia win and we must fight them at all costs. He has two sons. Would he send them in to die? I haven’t asked him that yet. The other thing is that people become unreasonably sympathetic toward Ukraine, “feeling” that we just have to keep “helping” them. You can’t talk to these people. It’s a “feeling.”
I believe those to be part of the low information crowd. They read headlines or watch network news and don't question the narrative. The same crowd that keeps people like Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, John Cornyn and Lyndsey Graham in office (among others).