Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Even people who aren’t Trump supporting in the U.S. media keep trying “Trumpsplain” it’s all maybe he’s trying to push Europe into spending more on the military. Maybe he’s trying to bounce Putin into a position by creating a sense of chaos.

They never seem to conclude: maybe he’s an elderly windbag with all strategy of a late night caller to a talk radio station…

It's striking how its been open season on Zelensky amongst the supporters of Trump in the US over the last day or two. Trump himself doubled down on describing Zelensky as a dictator, and the missing billions. Musk reminded X about the American, Gonzalo Lira, who died in Ukrainian custody, and accused Zelensky of having Lira killed. Trump Jnr posted a mocking fake video of Zelensky dancing with the comment that "Zelenkyy [sic] should really just go win the war without our endless $$$. Let's see how that works out". So on and so forth.

There really seems to be an effort to salt the earth as regards Zelensky. Presumably so its easier to walk away from Ukraine.

Despite the adoring media coverage Zelensky has never been a good diplomat or politician. He is a comedian, who has no political experience prior to 2019. He and his staff are known for being arrogant, abrasive and entitled with a panache for irritating and angering people they really shouldn't. The Polish PM in 2023 told Zelensky to never insult the Poles again after sneering remarks he made at the UN. Scholz was regularly insulted despite sending aid to Ukraine. One of Zelensky's team incredibly foolishly insulted a Chinese diplomat by mocking his name. Even Biden found Zelensky unlikeable and had rows with Zelensky where he accused him of being ungrateful for US aid. There was rumours about the Biden wanting elections to replace Zelensky in late 2023/early 2024, but in Biden in the end endured Zelensky.

Zelensky must have thought he could carry on in his normal way with Trump. Trying to fact check Trump is a massive error of judgement for someone utterly dependent on US goodwill. Trump has no particular need to indulge Zelensky and every interest in discarding him and Ukraine. It's crazy to think the whole row blew up over the media trying to misrepresent what Trump actually said. I just wonder if Trump deliberately set a trap for Zelensky, or if it was a simple mistake by Zelensky to think he could scold Trump and win somehow.

“If Zelensky was actually loved by the people of Ukraine, he would hold an election. He knows he would lose in a landslide, despite having seized control of ALL Ukrainian media, so he canceled the election,”

-that insecure twat who makes electric cars

"Trump seems to want to simply negotiate a surrender on Ukraine's behalf and treat/reward Putin like a powerful equal that deserves his respect. Why? Really, no-one seems to have the faintest clue."

Could this be a WHY? An alt view that doesnt seem too off in these strange days:

Philip is a Prof in University of St Andrews and not given to conspiracy theories, none that I have seen in the past anyway

If its not a conspiracy theory its an on/off interpretation of events with no nuance. Either the US is fully committed to Ukraine defeating Russia OR the US is working with Russia to defeat Ukraine. Only those two options exist.

There is many alternatives - most of which are explainable by there being no US critical interests at risk in Ukraine, and no justification for the vast expenditure of resources it would require to defeat Russia. The US simply has higher priorities and can walk away from Ukraine. No support for Russia required. For all the crying and wailing about the US-Russia meeting earlier this week, all it amounted to was an an agreement to restore embassy functions, normalise communications on a number of topics and to meet again. Ukraine was barely even mentioned.

I honestly think Trump wants to take Ukraine and maybe more of Europe.

He wants the EU out of the picture in his new world order.

Hardly a new take. If he read boards 4 weeks ago he'd have heard that at least 3 times.

Waltz, the national security advisor said in a presser that the US wanted to invest in Ukraine to help "grow the pie". Like, they're not even trying to hide the planned carve up of the country. It's mad.

can Zelenskyy afford to gamble on that though? If he tells trump to stuff his peace deal, can he be sure he’s not opening the gates of hell, unleashing a continental- scale rape of nanking on his country?

"I asked from Poland something no other German statesman could have dared. I asked for the return of the old German provinces, then only with a plebiscite. If Churchill and the warmongers felt half the responsibility toward Europe that I did they never would have started the war.

"On Sept. 2, 1939, war still could have been avoided. The British and the French wanted war, however-they wanted a three-year war in order reap profits from their war investments."

After alleging that the Germans had obtained possession of documents proving the "machinations of the warmongers" aimed at the spread of war, to Finland, Scandinavia, the Balkans and the bombardment of Baku and Batum, Hitler said that "after 18 days the Polish campaign ended. Then I issued an appeal to responsible men.

"I warned all against war, particularly the French against the pursuance of a war which would be horrible. This only served to incite the Franco-British warmongers, who saw their war profits most endangered. They began, however, to call it danger to civilization and culture."

Hitler said that only the armistice in the Russo-Finnish war prevented Allied intervention in Finland.

"Nevertheless, they determined to occupy Narvik and if necessary defeat any Norwegian-Swedish resistance," he said.

"When we learned this we were determined to anticipate them."

Sounds familiar? Trump has alraedy stated that discussions on a new world order would include The US, Russia and China he didn't see anyone else being involved. A massive change in mindset and a challenge to the EU and others.

Seems like the nervous breakdown of European politicians continues as German foreign minister Baerbock threatens to pressure the US. If you take away those two Kremlin spies in Hungary and Slovakia it is probably the worst bunch of European politicians in history.

Sounds like Macron and Starmer will be getting an earful this week also due to the lack of diplomacy when it has been badly needed

Speaking on a Fox News podcast, Trump was asked about his upcoming meetings with Starmer and Macron and interrupted the host saying, "They didn't do anything...no meetings with Russia!"

"They haven't done anything," Trumps adds.

"Macron's a friend of mine", he continued, adding that Starmer was "a very nice guy" but that neither of them have done anything on Russia.

As we all predicted

What is extremely disappointing is the slavish subservience of the Republican party to Trump, even in matters that harm USA's interests. Land of the free, my ***.

indeed ha ha. Looks like got paid extra for those long unreadable waffles.

I think he's just upset that his trolling gets ignored, even though he pretends to be a statesman.