Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

A timely reminder especially since he is now over 25 years in power

I really don't understand the delay in putting this money to use. Russia absorbed billions in foreign assets, mostly European in the opening weeks of the war. 4 years later we're still humming and haa'ing about whether its legal to take these funds. Its crazy stuff. You have a country openly threatening war on you including nuclear attacks and we're waffling about the intricacies of international investment. Utterly bonkers

So let's get this right. Ukraine started the war because a US official refused to publicly acknowledge that NATO would not expand to Ukraine. It takes some real mental gymnastics to get from that to Ukraine started the war. I have listened to Sachs, Mearsheimer and Greenwald and whilst they claim NATO caused or provoked the war, I don't think any of them ever claimed Ukraine started the war the way Trump did.

Is Rupert having a little crisis wondering if supporting the soon to be dicator in chief wasn't so good for business after all. Fox didn't report on Trumps outbursts over Ukraine either.

Not being able to actually win and Trump really wanting a “win”

Putin and co will just declare victory in three days (three years into the war he started), reality on ground be damned

That’s Trumps master plan there, deny there is a war because his genius solved it

"Finland, Poland and Baltics are freaking out altogether as their whole defence policy was turned upside down overnight"

Well, it hasn't really. Poland has been busy building up their military strength, which makes sense given what has happened to them in various wars over the past 500 years. The Baltics have always known if a war with Russia starts, they'll be the first ones attacked and as small countries can only do so much about it. Finland's defense policy only exists to counter a Russian invasion. Any country close to Russian border knows they will need to rely on themselves first, before any help can arrive. For Finland joining NATO has increased the chances of someone coming to help, but it has made zero chances in their defense policies.

Another Baltic submarine cable damaged in Sweden's economic zone, hence them doing the investigation. Cable is damaged but still fully functional.

Sweden has launched an investigation into suspected sabotage after yet another underwater cable in the Baltic Sea was found damaged. The cable links Finland and Germany and is the last of a string of telecom cable disruptions in the region in recent months.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250221-sweden-launches-probe-after-yet-another-baltic-sea-cable-is-damaged

Here is the Reuters article on these OTHER meetings tween Russia and its new friend the USA. Hard to get head around this. Pretty much 80 years of a world order we have had, now up in smoke. Whats next one wonders, I would still take the imperfect last 80s years vs what could be coming down the track - back to might is right

https://www.reuters.com/world/americans-russians-have-discussed-ukraine-war-through-swiss-side-channel-sources-2025-02-20/

From this article;

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/19/britain-and-france-working-on-plans-for-reassurance-force-to-protect-ukraine

The country’s defence ministry estimates that 20% of its arms come from the US, compared to 55% from its own manufacturing and 25% from Europe. But the US arms tend to be of a higher quality, the experts added.

If the US is ‘only’ supplying 20%, and Ukraine and the EU are actively ramping up production, does this not mean that the Ukrainians should be well able to stay in the fight? (Not withstanding potential manpower shortages, but Russia has similar problems there). Their expertise with drones (largely home produced now I believe) and electronic warfare in particular seems to be excellent, allowing them to carry out all sorts of strikes.

Are the other things the US supplies, like intelligence, logistics, etc., the real kicker here?

Like anyone gives a toss what anyone in the Trump administration says. It carries as much weight as yours.

May 9th folks, mark it in your diaries. This will be the GREATEST most incredible Celebration ever seen

After Trump came out and told blatant and outrageous lies on the global stage like a petulant child simply because he didn't get his way and his desired spotlight, no-one apart from Russia actually gives a flying **** what two lads in his back pocket say.

You know it's bad when your former VP and a load of Republican Senators have to come out and say "Hang on, now…..".

Democrats are never going to approve of Trump but the complete insanity he and his deranged lap-dog Musk are peddling the last few days on Ukraine has plenty of Republicans baulking too.

Even Fox News couldn't bring themselves to put out the most outlandish fantasy claims Trump made and they have an article on many high-profile senators refuting the "dictator" thing.

The stupid thing is Trump has gained nothing from this whatsoever, other than convincing his global allies that he's a huge unreliable man-child and the US cannot be trusted under his tenure.

If he had just said "We're stopping direct aid to Ukraine, it's time for Europe to do more", I'm not saying it would be popular, but there would at least be a reasoning and logic to it.

What he actually did, pushing out completely transparent and outrageous lies about Ukraine, cuddling up to Putin, throwing his toys all over the room……on a list of Plans A through Z it shouldn't even have featured.

You said it, if we are to save our way of life and give our children a future where they aren't slaves to Russian or US oligarcs we have to stop "playing nice".

The biggest power a bully has is fear (which I hear is the mind killer, maby we should permit it to pass over us and through us, then we can sh*t it out all over Russia).