Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

He is a disgrace, there is no doubt about that. Meeting Putin, treating him like a normal leader of a country, is unforgiveable.

A good point there. All going well Ukraine are likely going to become a cornerstone of Western European defense technology and training. Within the crucible of this Russian-designed stupidity, we have seen one reason why the Russian Federation is not the USSR. The USSR, had a Ukraine within it, building arms, tech and supplying troops. Ukraine was very much the brain that kept the old Soviet Empire ticking over with their innovation and skill.

That now all goes to the EU. Ukraine want to be part of the EU, they see themselves increasingly as part of the wider European family, and there are mutual benefits across the board for such a link. European defence will benefit from Ukraine's on-hand experience with using Europe's arsenal in an actual war. Ukriane will gain access to a huge market for their goods, and EU structural funds to rebuild and upgrade themselves to an EU-standard. It is a win-win in that respect. If only the Russians hadn't insisted on being the knuckle-dragging nitwits that they keep showing themselves to be…they might have even benefited from that too.

Not to mention Poland and the Baltics are arming up at an exponential rate

Even if Putin is tied up and has a bloody nose now, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be that way in e.g. 5 years

Good overview here on how certain European countries are going ham on military spending

I guarentee you would like it even less if the Russian's felt emboldened enough to actually attack an EU member. Volitility in the economy is nothing compared to what would happen to all of it if the continent was put into a shooting war with the Russians.

Defense against them is as much about maintaining our standard of living as it is about maintaining our living. The Russians have zero interest in your ability to afford a house nor have they any real interest in the health of Europe's economy beyond what they themselves can get out of it. If we maintain an effective military deterrent, the Russians would be less inclined or able to attack, and that is in the best interest of the purchasing power of working slobs such as you or I.

That would be appropriate. Before the First world War, the phrase 'The Russian Steam-roller' was popularised, demonstrating other states exaggerated beliefs in Ruzzia's martial prowess and supposedly limitless resources and manpower.

If I recall correctly you predicted Europe would freeze and the world would starve in 2022 and have made all sorts of bonkers hysterical claims typically garnered from some very dodgy social media accounts, so that's a bit rich.

The Rub was 113 in January. It's since come down due to Trump getting in and the potential for a settlement - it could easily flip the other way if that goes off the table. That's just the volatile exchange rate, Russia has nearly 10% inflation (possibly higher) while the rest of us are closing in on 2%. Last check Bank of Russia rate was 21%.

If any modern economy was hitting those figures there'd be something very very wrong going on.

European defence ministers criticise that stupid orange cnut Trump

The US and multiple US presidents, Democrat and Republican, have spent decades pushing soft power, wielding the largest stick, etc. NATO is built on it, everything is built on it.

That has radically changed in the short term, yes Europe needs to come to terms with it, yes we need to focus more on security (I'm a big backer of it) but Trump is highly volatile, he's only just back to power, and the polls were close right up to the election. If Harris had e.g. won we'd be in a completely different situation now.

It's a difficult tune for the world to dance to.

Trump has gone to Putin, said god knows what, and is blackmailing Ukraine for rare earth minerals. Maybe he'll take over Greenland, Panama and Gaza, maybe not. No one knows.

Naturally Europe is concerned, naturally Europe can't flipflop whichever direction Trump does, naturally we can't play all his games and preempt all his whims.

We aren't a super-state with a singular autocrat figure in charge, we are a multitude of countries with different systems. Change takes time. Countries have been spending dramatically more on military spending but it doesn't all happen overnight.

And all of this could be a game by Putin. Which Trump doesn't take into account and doesn't care about - but we have to.

We all want Putin's invasion to end, but not at the cost of giving him everything and opening the gates for another invasion in a few years time. All the while trying to please a volatile US president who couldn't point to Ukraine on a map and is currently a bull in a China shop.

Speaking of China, yeah no, with their Taiwan conflict of interest, they'd be worse than Trump.

I see Kaja Kallas is saying that any handshake deal between Trump and Putin and done behind the backs of Europe, NATO and Ukraine simply won't work : everyone has to be on board.

European countries right now should ship to Ukraine all their ammo and artillery ammunition and storm shadow missiles etc. If there is going to be a deal made that doesn't benefit Ukraine then Ukraine should make as much damage within that short period of time to hold the Russians back and inflict more damage before the agreement is made. There might be only a few weeks before there is an agreement made so get as much to Ukraine now and let them unleash it on the Russians as fast as they can before this happens as it might mean a few more villages etc. that remain in Ukraines position and not Russia.

That’s a statement of the obvious as theoretically Ukraine and Europe can keep this war going until the last Russian and North Korean male is turned into dust

But Russians are convinced they are at war with USA and can’t admit that Ukrainians kicked their ass, so no wonder they are happy to think it’s Trump who holds all the cards

And tbh let em think that, if it means they go back home to terrorising each other

All along in this war it was obvious that Putin can stop at anytime and go home and declare victory over imagined wrongs and his serfs would swallow any 💩 and their slurry hoses would propagate these myths

Notice how whenever I asked they avoided answering the basic question of “what in Russian eyes constitutes as victory”

They can’t answer that as the script was not handed down yet

I say Zelensky is biting his tongue trying not to laugh at just how stupid Trump is

genius move offering a highly transactional Trump something zelensky doesn’t have and if Trump wants to get he would need to get it somehow from the Russians who are occupying the minerals

All of Europe and Ukraine are being ignored and brushed aside as the US and Russia do a deal on Ukraine over our heads.

European leaders across the board today expressing their dismay and anger but deep down they know we aren't at the table and won't be. Decisions are made for us.

I'd hope people think about that the next time some lefty Irish 'peacenik' NATO military hater pontificates and moralises in the media.

We are powerless.

why should UKr thrust any agreement that Trump hammers out with Putin when the US was the guarantor of a CAST IRON agreement re UKr sovereignty when UKr gave to Ru the ‘ keys’ of all of UKr nuclear arms and the US did not defend UKr when attacked it starting Feb 2022 - or for that matter going back to 2014.
and ESPECIALLY now that TRUMP is in charge.
I would no trust Trump to even push an empty pram not to say a pram with a child in it

Trump is now just as senile as Biden was, he makes it up as he goes along then forgets what he has actually said or done earlier. I don't suppose the media will call him out for it the way that Biden was criticised.

I wonder if he actually is being regularly medically assessed for his ability & competence for office by qualified US government medical professionals?