Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Bonuses for making the turd extra shiny.

Unless Trump is prepared to send the US Armed Forces into Ukraine, he doesn't get to dictate the terms of any peace negotiations and he's not prepared to do that. He's the same coward that dodged the draft with falsified medical reports his daddy paid for in the late 60's.

He can stop the flow of US Military Aid, disrupt third party provision of US materiel, lower US sanctions on Russia and stop sharing intelligence with the Ukrainians but if they choose to fight on (which I think they would, they know they have Russia on the ropes), Europe will continue to support them (and no doubt increase aid).

@protexblue you can repeat the phrase "proxy" all you like but it still won't be true. Ukraine didn't start this war on behalf of the US and they're fighting for their existence as a democratic people, not on behalf of US interests. They're fighting because they don't want their wives, mothers and daughters raped by your comrades and their children kidnapped or killed. They're, quite literally, fighting for their freedom from tyranny.

Any deal with Putin will merely pause the war. He's stated his intentions and any interest he has in a treaty is just to buy time to try and rebuild the military his misadventures in Ukraine have destroyed.

The only way to end the Russian invasion in Ukraine is to beat them militarily and force them from Ukrainian sovereign territory or to do so much damage to their demographics, oil industry and wider economy that the nation state collapses or ordinary Russian civilians are persuaded that now is the time to revolt.

Both likely end with Putin dead at the hands of his own people.

Putin's an evil prick but he's not as stupid as his footsoldiers. He knows he's lost this war but he also knows he has no off-ramp, he's continuing it because it's death for him to order a retreat.

I say USA will do exactly that. Nothing at all from us to Ukraine. Be massive loss to Ukraine with intelligence not being provided to Ukraine by the US. Ukraine could fight on with European backing but i suspect if the US pulls 100% support to Ukraine which I believe they might do if Ukraine do not like the outcome of negotiations you will get some other European countries probably pulling back on support for Ukraine. What way the outcome of the war would go then I'm not sure. But I honestly believe the EU if in the EU including Ireland should have to be in an EU army. Trump might not be an anomaly as US president, the mold there has been broken and they could have someone over there down the line much worse then him. Europe should have a proper EU army and look after EU interests 1st. Ukraine should be in this army as well.

I hoped they discussed window safety.

The key is this: If some sort of deal is reached

Anything can happen in the future. Putin could pop his clogs, could be a change in the international order, anything.

Even if "No NATO membership' is written into the deal, if there's a decent length period with peace, Ukraine can (and likely will) reinforce the living hell out of it's border. It can rebuild.

Once it's in a position of relative strength it's possible those kind of things could be overturned or changed. However there absolutely needs to be some kind of deal to get itself into that position in the first place.

Territory is much more difficult to recoup though indeed, IF a deal is reached, Russia will very quickly start to settle Russians there with cheap property, that's how they take over. That's a much more difficult pill to swallow. It's making more and more sense at this juncture why the Ukrainians took Kursk.

The combination of a bad faith member in Trump and Putin's invasion has made NATO compromised security.

However it really was Bush Jr's ultimatum of "being with us or against us" while at the same time smooching Putin at Crawford Range that really started the rot of the north Atlantic treaty.

If the Russians were smart they would want the Ukrainians to join NATO

Otherwise all they are doing is ensuring Ukraine rapidly (which we seen them do) recaptures their land and more the moment Putin “goes away” and country falls apart into a bunch of feuding warlords

Just look at Azerbaijan recapturing what they lost and more after few decades of relative prosperity

What lifeline?

Who's going to force Ukraine to retreat from Russia?

Think about that, the only way Trump can force Ukraine to withdraw from Russia is by foregoing NATO entirely.

Explain how Trump could force Ukraine to withdraw from Russia?

I can't see how, unless Trump actually sends US forces to help Russia. Ergo, bye bye NATO.