Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Looks like the Ruble is the strongest currency in the world against the USD this year to date currently up 25%. An amazing recovery given the hysterical end of the world predictions by some just a couple of months after sanctions were put on some banks. All of that is sorted now and it has been gradually strengthening since.

That Ukr begging for arms bit. Those this mean that Ru ‘buys’ it’s Arms from NK, Iran, etc, etc, etc?

Yes, this is the real risk. Putin must be thrilled to see Trump take a wrecking ball to NATO and to the US - Europe alliance.

I wouldn't be as pessimistic about the rise of the far right in Europe though. Those clowns have shown time and time again that they are useless at running a country or managing an economy. Trump has a head start in that he is in charge of the richest country in the world, but the European versions of him have no such advantage.

Assuming there's some sort of peace deal, people are suggesting that Ukraine will be forced to cede territory. I don't think this is going to be the case at all.

I don't think Ukraine will sign up to such a deal. I do think they would consider some sort of ceasefire agreement though. Both sides stop fighting, Russia occupies the territory it currently holds, but Ukraine doesn't formally recognise the Russian claim. It's essentially a frozen conflict, same as in Moldova and Georgia.

I think it probably suits all sides. Any sort of agreement that stops the war will be a big boost to Trump, Europe can go back to pretending that they care about its security, Zelensky can say Ukraine lives to fight another day, and Putin of course gets breathing space.

Hysterical pessimism. Things are bad in the West but not that bad. Ask yourself a simple question: if the West and Russia opened all borders tomorrow which way do you think migration would go, West to East or East to West? We know the answer and that says everything about where, by far, the more desirable place to live is, both politically and economically

Hardly a coincidence who was in the Whitehouse the day before the "phonecall".

It would appear that Musk's unprounouncably named child is the one who finally told Emperor Don he's not wearing any clothes while his Daddy interupted the president and took over his press conference.

Americans need to start worrying about this foreign invasion of their own country. Kids don't come out with stuff like "I want you to shut your mouth up" or "You're not the president, you need to go away." by themselves. He's clearly heard that somewhere else.

Maybe that's part of the reason Elon bought X? To get access to Donald's DMs? Trump has history of being wildly careless with classified material and it was 2022/2023 before DMs were encrypted on the platform.

Musk has a lot of ties to Putin and X was largely purchased with Russian money.

Maybe the best way to end Putin's influence over Trump is to take Elon out of the equation?

Lots of hyperbole, zero evidence presented. And we're meant to take your 'concerned' and 'neutral' posts seriously??

Russia poisons people on foreign soil, disappears political opponents, and you're worked up about a US agency which makes no bones about the fact that it seeks to support pro-democracy organisations around the world?

So easy for you to have that theoretical/ philosophical outlook on the world, tucked away safely as you are in a democratic first world country whose citizens enjoy the greatest amount of civil rights protection of anywhere on earth at any time in history. And you turn your eye blindly to the struggles of those who live on the border between democracy and autocracy. Congratulations to you and your cherry-picking of facts and news reports.

In a way, we should be thankful to the US for being the greatest benefactor to Ukraine for 3 years now - despite Russia being no threat to the US themselves. Practical next steps could be:

• Give them a share of Ukraine's mineral wealth, see it as a repayment of sorts.
• Come up with a concrete plan that Europe takes over the costs of this war, and increase NATO spending gradually (including purchase of US weapons)
• Start by using the $200billion in seized Russian assets held mostly in Brussels

Probably what Trump wants deep down is Ukraine to win, but the US not to have to pay for it. Like he's saying: "Hey, Europe. you better start paying for this and stop buying Russian energy to fund the war. Hey Ukraine, we'd like some of those minerals after all the help we gave you. Otherwise I'll screw you, I have Putin on speed dial here….don't think I won't do it".

Trump is Putin's last chance of victory, if we can mitigate this. Make Trump an attractive offer.

It's interesting to see Putin supporters like yourself becoming emboldened by what Trump is up to and posting pro-Russian propaganda on the forum. You are quite correct though to interpret everything he is doing as not being about peace but instead about his hero worship of the dictator. He clearly is in awe of the guy and has no time whatsoever for EU / NATO / western leaders.

They hilariously enough are both pro and anti trump depending on the spin they need to put out that day

Often in same thread page 😂

BlyatGPT sure has bugs around consistency

Even before Donnie came back into the White House to play-act as a "President", I had been considering the one positive thing that had come out of his first 4 years of staining the Resolut Desk with rings of Diet Coke. He had created the impression for possibly the first time since end of the Cold War, that the US could no longer be counted upon as a NATO partner.

This made Europe start to at least look at the nessesity to rearm itself properly, and by the time we get to the Ukraine War it became clear that Europe needed to be armed and prepared for war with Russia. The progress on that front is not great, but it is happening. Futhermore, the strategic pinch-points for NATO in the Baltics are now shored up by the inclusion of Sweden and Finland in the alliance. With Norway they have been developing intergrated Scandinavian battle groups and compatibily programs where they use similar or even identical weaponry.

For the first time since possibly WW2, Russia now borders a European alliance that has the means, organisation and preparation to actually wage war agains them.

But unlike previous examples of this, today's Europe is not interested in military conquest of the Eurasian Steppe or even of Russia. European expansion is now political and economic. But the means of military defense of the block does need to be part of that, espeically now. Even in the best case scenario of a Russian defeat or withdrawal from Ukraine, the future Russian Federation is going to be a dangerious and unstable neighbor who will needed to be guarded against. Likely alas, for the rest of our lifetimes.

Despite Donnie thinking he can cart out his "Art of the Deal" shadow-written fiction to a negotition table, keep in mind that he has been and will continue to be worse than useless when it comes to discussing anything of substance. He's all about throwing sound-bytes at anything he encounters. Remember how he met Kim Jong Un and ended the Korean conflict? Yea…not much really happened there except a photoshoot and "talks" that went nowhere….twice…. I don't expect much useful this time either.

Because of all of the above, it is now critical for Europe to assume the mantle of peace keepers in the Western World. Pax Americana is being eroded by the Americans themselves to their own disadvantage. It is now time for Europe as a whole, with about 1/2 Billion people, the most powerful trading block in the world, and as a leader in progressive democratic values to establish a new Pax Europaea. It does mean taking defense far more seriously and to reformat all planning with the assumption that the Americans will not be of help. Until the US get's it's head screwed by on properly, we cannot count on them again.

More fantasy stuff

How will Russia sell gas to Europe?

• nordstream - gone
• south pipes - full of Azeri gas, going via Turkey, soon also Syrian gas
• further south pipelines being built from Israel, Egypt and Cyprus all of whom are sitting on massive reserves and want to sell to Europe
• pipeline through Ukraine, LOL 😂
• Pipeline thru Belarus and Poland, why would poles like Ukrainians permit transit knowing it helps their biggest enemy
• LNG - would require massive investments as russian European and arctic lng facilities fallen apart and more importantly direct threat to US gas interests, who the hell would invest? Chinese didn’t even bother with Siberian pipelines in three years choosing Central Asia, western companies all been burned by Russia repeatedly

this word ‘if’. Did you hear something on the grape vine to make that suggestion. a? While you were at it why not include Quatr,, Saudi A , Oman, UAE, Baherin et. Al.?

brilliant insight imo