Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mabxmjddqs2m

Russians in Kupyansk have been completely cut off from supplies. A small contingent of Russians -hidden in basements- is present in the center. It will take some time, but they will eventually give up, surrender or get killed. Just like the Kucheriv Yar pocket(s).

Is this a cauldron?

And should I be concerned?

Looks like the deal to use frozen russian monies to fund Ukraine has fallen through.

https://www.euractiv.com/news/eu-fails-to-back-merz-von-der-leyens-ukraine-loan-plan/

EU leaders failed on Thursday to agree a plan to lend Ukraine billions of euros using immobilised Russian assets, dealing a blow to supporters of the scheme and handing Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever a major win.

At around 3am, European Council President António Costa said leaders would only agree a €90 billion loan to cover Kyiv’s short-term needs, while continuing to look at the so-called reparations loan that has been met by consistent opposition by Belgium.

So, has Europe/EU balked? To the delight of putin? Not a message of unity and strength? A show of weakness?

A decisive message needed to be sent, didnt happen. Will €90bn of "common borrowing" ( more EU debt ) be enough? Looks like Orban and co ( putin ) won?

€90bn is better than nothing but Russia should be the one paying for the destruction it has caused.

The Guardian reports Russia used an influence campaign including death threats to Belgian politicians and finance bosses to block the use of the Russian assets to help Ukraine.

Russia is now spending 38% of its budget on defence and has a €70 bn deficit.

Russia appears to have spend up tp 210 bn in 2025 on defence and security with hundreds of thousands in casualties. They captured an additional 1% of the Ukraine. I dont know how much resillience the Ukraine has left but the challenging position in a conflict like this is forward momemtum. Damage to Russian oil and gas production plus oil at e7 a barrell means Russian oil moneys way down. Without western tech they are also 20 30% less eficient 90bnwill along way against them.

Interesting take on this from this journalist who writes for the economist

On a different note- more ukranian sanctions over night

This is not a surprise, it was predicted unfortunately. Ukraine is in big trouble financially and this will not help

Who are those White House reports being attributed to?

Why did the European leaders ever propose giving the Russian embargoed money to Ukraine when they weren't certain that they could deliver on their plan. Why didn't they just give them money from the EU coffers directly as they ended up doing late last night anyway. They created self inflicted damage to the EU needlessly. Chancellor Merz stated that a failure to deliver on the Russian money issue would set the EU back decades. Well they failed to deliver on it and he's now claiming their climbdown was a success. Pathetic imo.

Are you concerned?

A big start to the day folks

Not exactly happy myself but I understand that Europe isn't a unliteral dictatorship, it's 40+ countries - seizing a foreign state's assets is fairly unprecedented - hence the discussions over it. Sometimes bills pass, sometimes they don't, likewise legislation, likewise getting proposals over the line.

Using this thread of all threads to bash the EU at every available opportunity is odd

Picture is a bit misleading as it doesn't convey the full extent of what Ukraine has just done. One could almost describe it as an "escalation". First, they've overtly attacked the ship with aerial drones (several hits) which means they have a team operating a long, long, long way from Ukraine. And secondly, it seems Russian sources say that the Ukranians killed and injured several GRU officials. Purely coincidental that this happens only a few days after EU/NATO sources say that they know the Kremlin has agents on these vessels?

….