Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Russia is a creeping barrage of filth. Anything it occupies is tainted.

No one called for Ukraine to unilaterally pause. I said Ukraine has to achieve a pause in the fighting. That can only be done if Russia is willing to reciprocate.

I think Putin - and indeed others in the Russian leadership - have been clear that they have never refused negotiations, and wont refuse a call. There is no law in Russia against negotiations.

What they have said is that there wont be a ceasefire while negotiations occur, and that negotiations have to be realistic. "Freezes" along the line, or Russia being "allowed" to hold what they already hold, or Ukraine in NATO now or in 20 years: all this is NATO fantasy, not negotiations that will be entertained by the Russians.

For there to be genuine negotiations, NATO needs to address the root causes of the conflict. Which of course they will never do as they have no incentives. Its only Ukrainians dying, not NATO. So I don't believe there will be negotiations. The US says Ukraine will run out of manpower in 6-12 months. At that point, organised resistance will become patchy at best and the Russians will be able to dictate terms on whatever is left of the Ukrainians.

And the "friends of Ukraine" will beat their chests and wail performatively, and then and move on to the next project.

Ukraine need a break 'cos on the brink. Russia is not going to pause now.

Your post contradicts itself.

Russia is not open to negotiations if they "wont entertain" the concerns of Ukraine, given that Russia has repeatedly violated previous agreements with Ukraine. Given previous conduct it is entirely reasonable for Ukraine to think that any agreement that leaves Ukraine without Nato protection and assistance will mean Russia rearms and invades again.

Try approaching the issue from a perspective other than that of a so called "friend of Russia" trying to score points against so called "friends of Ukraine".

Certainly someone who shows zero concern for Russias conduct of atrocities and illegal war and breach of previous diplomatic agreements is no friend of Ukraine, diplomacy or peace for that matter.

The root cause of the conduct is Russia's goal to dominate Ukraine and reduce it to a vassal state. Anything else is Russian propaganda and fantasies for the consumption of those hostile to the West, EU and a Ukraine free to choose its own course. And under the Nato Russia Founding Act and Helsinki Accords Ukraine is free to make that choice.

Anything that does not recognise that is a post that incentivises war mongering and atrocity.

You forgot to add that they are here to just ask questions, are always wondering, and concerned, and every sentence starts with "Ukraine needs to give up, stop,etc…" The other poster is right, I also think its a mental issue.

I'd tend to agree, unfortunately. There was no sign in readouts of the Scholz/Putin discussion that anything has changed. Putin reiterated the demands for 4 oblasts and Ukraine neutrality. It's just going to go on.

jesus wept, two "banned boards convicts" agreeing on something. lol.

While there may be criticism of Scholtz call to Putin to withdraw it does mark a major departure of Germany normally passive posture in international affairs.

With the upcoming election security in the east will become a leading issue and an opportunity to make support for Ukraine a matter of national German defense.

I think Orban is demonised for a lot more then just talking to Putin. Sure he'd of loved if Kyiv fell. Probably would have taken the border region for himself.

I noticed Orban mentioned that the war must end to bring down energy prices, yet it's Hungary that has been the most dependent on Russian energy per head of population. So roughly translated he's blaming the EU for his dependence on Putin.

Gazprom to stop supply of gas to Austria over a payment and legal issue from midnight tonight.

Also puts export restrictions on enriched Uranium to the US.

Germany cant afford national defence. Fantasies about building a large military requires a large industrial base and a large industrial base requires cheap energy. Germany deliberately cut itself off from cheap energy by alienating its natural supplier of cheap energy over issues that have no benefit to Germany, only costs. Now its industrial base is eroding. It is in deep economic trouble - the government has fallen over a budget dispute because Germany cant anymore afford to send aid to Ukraine. And this is the economic engine of the EU.

The strategical dead end Europe has driven down after 2003 (last time Europe pursued an independent policy from the US) is truly awesome. A 100 years from now it will be taught in classrooms the same way the Europeans stumbling into WW1 through stupidity and hubris is today. Rather than the EU giving Europe strategic autonomy it has instead served as a vehicle to complete the reduction of Europe to vassals of the US. Even now, the EU is engaged on a doomed trade war with China - not because it helps Europe but because the US demands it.

Nah, Russia has obvious weaknesses but fantasies about Germany - or the EU - building a massive military ignore reality. If Germany, or the EU, or even the US could suddenly pull together a massive, modern, well equipped army then why hasn't it used the last three years to churn out tens of thousands of tanks? Tens of millions of shells? Thousands of air defence systems and hundreds of thousands of missiles?

It's not for lack of will. Its not for lack of money. Its for lack of capability. Could they build up the capability to do these things? Sure - with a serious plan. There is no serious plan. There isn't even the beginnings of a serious plan. Not in Germany, or the US for that matter. Its just cartoonish thinking that somehow Germany can churn out a top tier army while its industrial base is collapsing and its access to cheap energy and cheap raw materials is cut off.

You talk as if Russia is the only outlet of cheap resources in the world.

Just admit it, you're in balls deep into Russia stonk.