Nah, he knows how money gets to his family and that is what he cares about. Plus Trump needs a successful strongman in the world to show it is a model that can be used for the US. A strong Europe is far more annoying for him. Everything from him so far has been deferential to Russia, little reason to believe he would change.
Agreed. Europe has tried to hedge for too long. If Russia believed it wouldn't be allowed go further it would retreat. The main reason it has not gone after Finland for joining or trying to join Nato is because it knows there would be an immediate response from Europe and the US that is far far stronger.
I wonder sometimes is there a psychological hangover among the current generation of European leaders about Ukraine being Russian territory. I remember when Chernobyl happened. It was a “nuclear explosion in Russia/soviet Union”. For the formative years of most of the current leaders in power in Europe Ukraine was deep Soviet territory far beyond the Iron curtain. Do they really deep down believe they should be sending troops there?? And Putin really tries to exploit that uncertainty.
When I was 17 or 18 years of age I had never heard of Lithuania , Latvia or Estonia. Lithuania suddenly appeared in the same qualification group as Ireland after the 94 World Cup. That was the first time I became aware of its existence.
where as my grandfather 50/60 years previously would have heard of those countries.
There was no internet / Wikipedia back then. I was oblivious like most of my circle and many others.
Most of the current leaders in power in Western Europe would have had their formative years in the same period of ignorance of imprisoned countries of the Soviet Union. Unless they were history buffs.
Getting doddery?!
Trump has always been an idiot. He inherited a fortune, squandered it on cocaine, sex workers, mail order brides and bad investments (which were often illegal) and accidentally found himself in the White House because the American political, taxation and education systems are fundamentally broken.
He's an odious cretin who could have lived a life of luxury if he'd just lived off the interest on his inheritance. His ego wouldn't allow him to do that so instead he's become the most infamous conman of the 21st century.
Well, the "House of Terror" museum in Budapest which commemorates the brutal occupation of Hungary by the Soviet Union (or "Russia" as most would have referred to it then) did just commemorate the 22nd anniversary of it's opening by being lit up in the Hungarian flag all last week (and the people of Budapest took to the streets for the second time in a month to protest Orban's regime) so in all likelihood he's just trying to play to his domestic support base here...
Plus make sanctions even more effective. I’d say that there are some big loopholes being exploited
I assume that ORBAN had to put the motion re Sweden joining NATO to a vote. I think that it was passed by a large majority - 80%+ I think. That figure must have shocked him re his popularity / lack of same in the parliment
IMO Macron was never pro Putin
What I think is happening is Macron trying, quite successfully, to appear as a resolute leader. His fruitless conversations with Putin made him look weak. Letting everyone know that the possibility of sending NATO troops was discussed in Paris sends a signal to Putin that the gloves may come off. It is still very much a political trick, not a military decision.
No doubt Macron's statement was carefully thought out among NATO leaders before he said it. What you see in the public domain is just window dressing. I have no idea of the purpose of it but it is not an off-the-cuff remark.
It probably has something to do with the oscillations and vacillations in the US? Maybe sending a message to Putin that the US Congress etc. being in a heap over support to Ukraine right now doesn’t mean that the EU gives up - on the contrary in fact, some countries could be looking to widen their options on the support they make available. Something like that. (If it’s with that in mind, I would especially expect it from Macron, more than anyone. He really likes to “project” and do the whole power balance to AUKUS thing, doesn’t he? Plus I think Scholz said that there was no mention in Paris of the troops on the ground.)
Actually, thinking on it, I believe this was a solo run-of-the-mouth by Macron.
In that case fight to the last man .
I don't think Putin is going to die or become geriatric any time soon .You believe Zelensky only 31000 Ukrainians have been killed . The New York Times quotes 70000.
Got a link for 13:1 k/d ratio .
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/ukraine-war-toll-zelensky.html
No fight until Russia and Putin return to their borders and stop their illegal occupation.
Until then Ukraine will fight on and your dreams of Ukraine surrendering their land to Putin is pie in the sky.
Do you think the Ukrainians will fight if the aid is stopped.
Not a question of dreams just logic believing Russia just leaving is absurd.
They've already been fighting for over 10 years now. They were fighting the second Russia rolled in 2022 before the American weapons showed up(minus some Javelins they already had). The only question will be their ability to hold the line or retake territory. Not their will.
Why is Russia leaving absurd? You haven't explained that at all. Why would that be any more absurd than believing the Kremlin will honor any peace agreement made? The former has happened several times in the past. The latter...... well... anyone who believes it's anything other than fantasy that Putins word can be trusted is either childishly naive or a Kremlin apologist. Which are you?
Exactly so they must be pushed out with the only thing they understand.
But Putin will only stop at Ukraine we were told.
He smells the fear of the West and he’s going for it.
All too predictable by us plebs here yet our so called leaders couldn’t or didn’t want to see it.
Here is MEP David McAllister - Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee
He says he would like to see a Commisioner for Security and Defence in the next European Commision. She or perhaps He .....
And straight away it came to my mind, how about Alexei Navalny's WIFE Yulia Navalnaya .. now that would rub it in hard to Mr Putin and Co .. ?? :D
Expected but still not good
Moldova’s Breakaway Region Appeals for Help From Russia
Yulia Navalnaya is who you want for security and Defense in the next European Commission. Putin might actually die from laughing
Well I did say it was a thing that came straight to my mind for some reason .. did not say whether its a good or a bad idea, though I do think she is a very strong woman and could be an interesting person with a big platform like this
Yeah, she ain't the answer to anything.
Strong speech from a strong woman
I'm sure Wallace & Daly especially enjoyed it
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://we.vanillicon.com/v2/e050b53be62f0ae2404c620976170938.svg)
