He Already occupies part of it
A positive step but these talks can drag on for years and years. Really makes no difference as the war lurches towards year 3 with no sign of any significant breakthrough
Ukraine isn't joining anytime soon, and Kyiv will know this; they're not idiots in thinking the door will open tomorrow. What it does do is send a clear enough signal that as far as the EU is concerned, Ukraine is part of "Western Europe" and a potential bloc member.
It's not gonna stop the russian tanks or anything but it colours the whole geopolitical landscape a shade more blue. Suddenly the whole "empire games" angle beloved of tankies and contrarians rings a little hollower given that ... well. Ukraine are no longer just a pawn of NATO or whatever sitting in the middle: they're an independent nation actively seeking a peaceful union with the EU.
Of course, the hard right and left tutting about Ukraine already hate the EU, so it's unlikely to soften their cough - but it does change the overall music a little. Ukraine has a goal - and a clear roadmap of its future. Best the Russians, turn West and join a bloc in which they'd actually wield some sway.
Ukraine still being here and starting to join EU three years into Putin’s Three Day War is a win for Ukrainians
Yes have the book. Good read. RIP daler 😥. Worked with him before emigrated to Texas and spent many a night out. Good guy. I was only chatting to him last year. Was looking to move home at some stage
Good. Interesting that article says Hungary basically abstained.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was reportedly absent from the room during the vote....
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán disagreed with the decision but decided not to use his veto power.
I think what usually happens with decisions that need unanimity in the Council is if a country/countries are known to object, it doesn't go as far as a vote and they keep negotiating/bargaining to try and get a consensus.
This time it must be that the other leaders said we are having this vote now anyway, that is it, if you want to obstruct, you will have to stand up + be counted.
I'd say someone had a quiet word with him and frightened the living daylights out of him. There's ways and means of dealing with his kind.
This was the aerial photograph of Marinka that was put out in March of 2023, so it's had another 9 months to be pounded since then.
If someone had told me it was a CGI render from the latest post-apocalyptic blockbuster, I'd believe it. In fact, I'd say it looked a bit too grey and pessimistic. I'm not sure it's that accurate to say Russia captures towns/cities so much as it artilleries them off the face of the Earth and its forces move onto the smouldering ground.
so were Latvia, Poland , East Germany, etc, etc, etc former Soviet states. That decision today gives a MASSIVE enticement to Moldova and Ukraine to even more intensively tackle the areas that need improvement /changing , etc. The EU has mechanisms to remove the said ‘roadblocks’. The EU should not , for even one second, allow any of its members to put up roadblocks which are based on ABSOLUTLY NO LOGIC -
Scorched Earth......
The Russian way
So what?
I would say that the EU will do its best to get the business done as fast as is possible. The main delay will be how long it will take UKr to get its ‘ house in order’. Of course it goes without saying that Putin will do everything in his power to SPIKE the process at every opportunity
delay’
"Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security."
next time someone here questions insane Russian losses please point them at Putin who slipped
NATO is all about security, so this statement isn't really a surprise.
None of those countries were under partial occupation when they joined the EU. Of the obstacles to Ukrainian membership, that's got to be the most pressing one. Putin probably fancies that as long as his forces keep a foothold in Ukraine, they can never really join the EU, because of the EU's historical aversion to instability and adherence to standards.
If the EU is not willing to set the precedent of accepting a partially occupied country, then Ukraine still has to somehow push Russian forces out of the entirety of its recognised territory, or else cede some portion of the occupied lands in order to make a clean break westward, which would be a geopolitical version of cutting off an infected limb to save the rest of the body.
The good news just keeps on flowing today
Germany delivered second patriot system from Germany and ammo, Russian TASS confirms
Zelensky also just landed in Germany so probably more bilateral announcements tommorow
It's also possible that he agreed not to object beforehand and so the EU thought they had consensus of the 27. Perhaps his departure from the room for the vote was not expected by the other 26.
Do they have 3 or 4 patriot's now? Realistically they need about 9 or 10 to really block the hypersonic missiles.
This article is interesting
apparently some new development
“Ukrainian forces’ apparent jamming edge is no accident. Kyiv lately has chosen to prioritize electronic warfare, a traditional strength of Moscow’s forces. When Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, recently listed his troops’ most urgent needs, electronic-warfare systems tied with command, counter-mine, counter-artillery and air-defense systems.”
The war started in 2014
Winning hearts and minds every day.
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 while part of the country was under Turkish occupation. The Republic of Ireland joined the EU while it claimed rights to the north of the island of Ireland that is under UK administration. The EU has already set a precedent for accepting member states while border disputes continued and Ukraine should be given full EU membership and support to continue its work in countering putin's imperialist aspirations. Saying putin continuing to occupy parts of Ukraine will prevent them joining the EU is incorrect in my opinion and just offers encouragement to his efforts to diminish the economic well being of counties that neighbour his dictatorship.
Not sure I'd agree with this assessment. There already is a precedent within the EU of having admitted a country with disputed borders.....Cyprus.
‘We will stand until the end’
"For two months, the Russian army has been trying to seize the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. First, it launched a massive frontal assault. Dozens of pieces of equipment were destroyed. Then it dispatched armoured columns in different directions. Now, in a third wave, small groups of infantry are being sent to penetrate Ukrainian positions.
Mod - Don't paste entire articles. The first couple of sentences and a link are sufficient
But the majority of Cypriots hold greek citizenship who just happen to be a member of the EU at the time ,and it wasn't an active warzone either unlike Ukraine
There is no glasses here unfortunately
If its confirmed then it's looking hopeful that a compromise will be reached before the new year and Ukraine funding bill will be passed. Hard to imagine they'd be postponing holidays if Congress weren't serious about getting a deal done.
Encouraging.
“Gaining ground” yeh that’s a good description of this video from Avdiivka with Russians littering the ground
And yet they are gaining ground they don't care about the numbers both sides are losing men and equipment,you don't win moving backwards.....
Even Russia media Tass would tell you that
Fingers crossed.
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