Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

On minerals, based on information in various Ukrainian and foreign media and podcasts, it goes as follows.

It was the Ukrainians who brought this up in Q4 2024. They knew this could be one of their cards to play with Trump. In fact, it was Zelensky's team who wanted Trump to get interested in this. Reportedly, it was Republican senator Graham who introduced this idea to Trump. Now, both parties have been trying to reach a mineral deal for several weeks. There have already been several updates of the text, and Zelensky was reportedly heard yelling at the US negotiator at one of these sessions. The Ukrainians weren't happy with the version before the Friday meeting. Zelensky's mandate was to ensure security guarantees, and knowing the current version of the text was suboptimal, he suspected that team Trump wouldn't move, but he had to be seen as attempting to strike the deal in DC. He wouldn't have agreed to this version of the deal anyway, so the Trump team ambush and drama culminating with them throwing him out was actually what we wanted. He couldn't get a better result. A few days later, all the EU, UK, and Canada rallied behind Zelensky, and Trump's team again signals they want to negotiate. This will go on for some time because neither of the parties is happy with the current version of the treaty. Ukrainians aren't that much in a hurry; Russians are getting hammered as we speak. So right now, Zelensky is playing a delaying game; he signals he is open to signing it, but that's all - it's only a signal. It's Trump who is in a hurry because of his "24 hours" nonsense and the Russians who desperately need a pause. Stopping aid and intelligence services by the US sucks. It's a pathetic attempt of the Trump team for Ukrainians to concede. But Ukrainians won't concede easily.

Note: The prospecting re UA minerals was done in the 70s during the USSR. Something to consider.

That sounds spookily similar to a speculation I posted on here a little while ago, especially with regards to the timeline. Trump is currently burning bridges with the civilised world almost as fast as Putin is sacrificing men and beasts on the frontline. Two old men watching the clock run down on their imperial fantasies.

Contrary to the narrative peddled by the concerniks on here, time is on Ukraine's side. Our baby-faced leaders can afford to plan for the medium and long term; in all likelihood, they'll still be around to enjoy it.

In the short term, Ukraine has brought Russia's advance to a standstill overall: what small gains they're making in some areas are being wiped out by serious losses in others, all because they (the Russians) have overstretched their supply lines, while the Ukrainians have achieved effective drone supremacy over those same lines.

The biggest imbalance in the conflict these days is in regards to the missile strikes on Ukrainian territory - missiles launched from a considerable distance behind the frontline. Patriots and the like are part of the defense against these, but even without restrictions they're obviously not enough to protect all targets, so I would imagine Ukraine is aggressively developing an alternative strategy to deal with that threat in a more effective manner.

They'll do that without US assistance, and when they succeed, Trump's selfish shortsightedness will be irrelevant … but the damage he's done to the reputation of the US will be long-lasting.

They'll do that without US assistance, and when they succeed, 

Zelensky isn't acting to me like a man who believes this. He seems willing to say and do whatever it takes to get American weapons flowing again, even to the point of totally abasing his country, which strongly suggests to me he is convinced Ukraine is fecked without those weapons

He's got to nearly 80yrs old without getting what he deserves, it's unlikely to change in his remaining years.

Brilliant contribution, point well made

What’s Macon up to, are we all going to war with Russia now?

I'm not a fan of Turkey under Erdogan at all, but it would be a good development if they can help Ukraine endure this period.

when Trump said “ your gambling with world war 3” that was 100% classic projection.

That’s what is in his head. That thought crosses his mind every day. That he is the one gambling with world war 3. In the heat of the moment he blurted it out and accused Zelensky of it.

Only people who voted for Sinn Fein.

You would have to assume that all the leaders of Europe think that Trump is in bed with Putin, though they won’t say it in public, yet….

I feel very sorry for friends of Russia

How can they Rusplain that the war they started continues now that US who they insisted started and fought this war for over three years is not involved in any way or fashion anymore

They were never good at addressing the fact that Ukrainians are very good at extermination of the Russian neo Nazi invaders, often just shrugging and saying “Da life in Russia is cheap but it’s an honour to die for dear leader”

The especially devout Putinistas on thread are notably absent now, probably struggling squaring the notion 🤯 that US are now the “good guys” from the Russian point of view

The way I see it is the Trumps wwiii brainfart of a invaded country not surrendering to Russia is an expression of fear that Russia, who he admires, is at risk of collapse.

By his behavior towards the invaded he gets no say over what happens Russia.

Agent Krasnov activated.

Nothing very exciting tbh

That is the answer of a spokesman who doesn't want to lose his job by saying something newsworthy.

"The war is neither foreseeable or unforeseeable"