Scholz writing in the WSJ today
From yesterday Vladyslav Rykov was shot down and killed during a mission over Ukraine an experienced pilot and commander with over 300 combat missions to his name
Neither has Ukraine - yet.
I don't think I am saying anything radical here.
If in 12 months time the border hasn't moved much and Russia proposes that they will stop attacking once Ukraine accepts the new border at the current battle line - how could that be spun as a Ukraine victory?
The war has been a disaster for Russia. I am not denying that. However Putin's view on what is a victory will be very different to what the west would view as one are very different. Whether people realise it or not he has successfully divided NATO. Europe needs to realise that it is on its own as the US can no longer be trusted. Even within NATO in Europe, there are divisions opening up.
They'll be in for an even bigger surprise if they ever visit Russia.......😎
I remember there were many on here who called Scholz a Russian in the beginning. People are too quick to knee jerk reactions, the same with Ukraine to hold Crimea by Christmas 2023 and now the inevitable Russian victory.
Things change on the battlefield and if the US suddenly change policy then we could be back to Ukraine to hold Crimea by Christmas 2024. I'm not saying that pressure shouldn't be put on the US for further funding (or the EU for that matter) but let's keep in mind that long term plans in war need to be adapted often due to the ever changing situation on the ground so we shouldn't be surprised when the tide of the war shifts back and forth.
And new Polish PM, not happy with the US Republicans
If we invest any money in security, we should invest it against cyber attacks. We should divert resources away from soldiers and tanks and start producing our own drone technologies here too.
Read an article earlier that a lot of Columbians are heading to Ukraine to fight there for Ukraine. Lots have military experience, there going for the money more then the cause but seems to be a lot of them there.
@Gatling threadbanned
Speaking of recruits, anyone hear the Ukrainian chap living on Sherkin on the news earlier? Came here by his own account and sent to Sherkin Isl, met Ukrainian woman there and child born there in last few days. Grand but wonder would he consider going back to give his country a dig out? No details given but seemed very likely to fit the required criteria there. That Zelensky is calling for.
Meeeeeow
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1755427575600390212?s=20
Not really. Defense treaties are just formalising what would happen anyway.
Monaco isn't defended because of a treaty with France. It is defended because France would suffer if it was taken over by a hostile force. Similarly for other countries, the larger military sees a benefit in having the smaller country protected. Nato was to establish bounds as to how far Russian aggression could go and the US saw this as an advantage for itself and obviously smaller countries saw the benefit of Russia not being able to attack them.
We can join Nato or not join Nato. The end result if Ireland was invaded would be the same. It would be unacceptable for the US/EU to have Atlantic shipping threatened by a large hostile army in Ireland and the UK would struggle to build adequate defenses.
That said I don't see an issue formalising it though obviously Ireland would need something other than a gdp target as it is a skewed number for us. However a defensive alliance is simply not a requirement for Ireland. We should put money into cyber which is easily the most likely avenue of attack and one it is hard for friendly nations to protect us from.
No point in throwing a generation of teenagers into the mix if they have nothing to fight with. Without artillery supplies this will go south fast and no amount of people and small arms will halt an army with artillery. It will be the meat grinder again except it will be Ukrainians this time.
For a party so obsessed with Commies and Reds under the bed, the republicans have fairly changed their tune.
Lots of the Slava Ukraini brigade here (almost all banned or disappeared by now) called Scholz a Marxist Russia lover early on. Which was ridiculous even then. Germany was slow to get going but has really pulled its weight in the last year and a bit.
However I still think his use of words is interesting. It's always "Putin must not be allowed win", never "Putin must lose". Part of this very clear Western policy of going Ukraine enough so it can keep fighting, but never enough for real victory.
You're relentless, I'll give you that much
Wouldn't blame him for not wanting to leave his infant and head back to a war zone.
How many troops do Ukraine have defending this town?
Hold your breath today everyone.
We're probably going to find out whether Senate Democrat Chuck Schumers plan to separate the border bill from the foreign aid bill will be palatable to the Republicans. If they choose to play games, obfuscate or just generally sniff the orange man's pants like they did yesterday it could be a very tough year for Ukraine in 2024.
Well, we are back to this again
Update:
Ah yeah. Man who fled the war for whatever reason, meets a woman and settles down, recently has a baby and then thinks, "ya know what, I'm gonna high tail it back to a war zone and maybe get myself killed"
One more.
That isn't a Russian victory.
Let's go back to 2022
A Russian victory and the total capitulation of Ukraine was the goal, along with a more divided West, and fractured NATO.
Today
NATO is bigger than ever.
Large commitments to increase spending in NATO countries, especially Germany
Ukraine still exists under the old pro-West guard and has been pushed forever into the Western fold.
The Russian military has lost approx 50% of its pre-war strength.
From here, it looks like the war is in a stalemate. Neither side has the edge to achieve total victory.
Strategicly Russia has lost this war though.
Yes correct, This war is already a Strategic defeat for Russia. Bigger stronger NATO, hated by Ukrainians for many years to come, Shown to the world to be a kleptocratic dictatorship, their army shamed with war crimes and shown to be inept.
Well done Putin.
Oh and their propaganda machine has been exposed also.
Ukraine and Russia will both lose the war. It is not realistic that either side comes out of this better than they started.
The real winners are the USA. Not a soldier killed, they got rid of or sold lots of their unneeded stock, lots of orders for US mil equipment to replace European countries old stock that was given to Ukraine, a bigger NATO, and Russian army gets massively depleted.
Not to mention field testing patriots and other weapons against Russian missiles, planes and vehicles. A roaring success for the US, without a doubt.
Ukraine releases footage when it favours them. Russia does likewise when they make gains or force Ukrainian losses. So I'll ask again why no footage.
Oh I see you are thread banned again. I don't know the reason but maybe you should have just laid off replying to almost everyone in this thread. It can be a bit overwhelming.
Do you ever stop?
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's new army chief is a great choice. Born in Russian, graduated from the Moscow Higher Military Command School, the Soviet Union’s leading higher military educational institution, served in the Soviet Army in Afghanistan.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
New man in.
https://x.com/front_ukrainian/status/1755636687089066153?s=20
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