Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
February 23, 2025
Ukraine Open Thread 2025-036

News & views related to the war in Ukraine …

Comments

The Russians have made significant gains north and west of Velyka Novosilka, pretty much taking all of the fortified positions that were in their way; making more aggressive gains now possible. Also, driving westwards through the line of fortified positions to the west of Andriivka and in the process of finishing off Kostyantynopil before moving westwards. The south-west front is being cracked open.
Also, continuing to slowly overwhelm the Ukrainians in and around Chasov Yar, ready for the Spring. Also expanding the bridgehead over the Oskol north of Kupyansk even more and increasing the pressure in Vovchansk – all points to a Spring offensive in Kharkov oblast. And cutting the neck of the Kursk salient.
From Weeb Union: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMz3ELnqIes
The Ukrainian daily losses, as reported by the Russians, are now just above 1,000. This speaks to a defensive line giving way and retreating, rather than the kind of bloody battles (for the Ukrainians) that were taking place last year. And a heavily understaffed Ukrainian front line.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 24 2025 15:43 utc | 201

seeing how EU (not europe, as russia and others are also europe) is now openly into nazism, among some other nato members like canada, its clear that they are in complete fear of the bear.
they now have to militarize, as their proxy projects falters, and they are shitting their pants that russia may retaliate after their proxy falls. maybe rightfully so.
you cannot support a proxy killing civilians, and then once your proxy is dead, claim “i am not responsible for hiring the killer that shot your wife, the killer murdered her, not me!”.
this wont fly. and the EU(rotards) know that. they know that they have stepped into the biggest smelly pile of shit by supporting the “ukraine”.
and now they fear retaliation. its not russia or putin thats weak and afraid, as esteemed commentators and world renown persons of interest like vargas, always want you to believe. the russian army marches on, one tiny square kilometer at a time, as reported by anonymous sources daily, until it knocks at your door.
the west is the one living in fear.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 24 2025 15:45 utc | 202

Suresh@98….a big arrow would have been tactically nuked in the Ukraine proper. End of war. So list all the places in 404 that Russia could nuke in retaliation. For what? Getting nuked in someone else’s country, I think that might be allowed within Queensbury Rules.
Cheers M
Of course you think Russia would nuke the EU, where? All of it? If they need nukes to contain NATO then NATO could be perceived to be stronger than Russia……because as of yesterday, minus the nukes, those weakling EUers signed on for the long haul, without Big Sam.

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 24 2025 15:52 utc | 203

Russian gas (LNG) creeping back into Europe.
“The cost of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases for the EU has nearly quadrupled in three years due to soaring prices and increased import volumes, according to Eurostat.
Data released on Monday in a report titled ‘EU trade with Russia’, shows that in the fourth quarter of 2024, the volume of LNG imported from Russia was 18% higher than in the first quarter of 2021. Over the same period, the value of these imports surged by 274% due to the energy crisis.
European gas prices rose dramatically following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, alongside the EU’s commitment to phase out Russian energy dependence. While pipeline gas imports from Russia have mostly ceased due to sanctions and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, EU nations have continued purchasing record volumes of LNG from the country.
According to Eurostat, Russia’s share of the EU’s LNG imports grew from 11% in Q4 2022 to 22% in the last quarter of 2024. The US remained the bloc’s top supplier, accounting for 36% of its overall LNG imports.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2025 16:00 utc | 204

Looks like Ursula VDL is back to the ‘Russian economy is in tatters’ narrative, in conjunction with boasting about the latest EU free money tranche to Ukraine.
https://x.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1894055394890178813

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 24 2025 16:04 utc | 205

The US warhawks the Ukrainian Neo-Naz’s and the European Atlanticists won’t like this one little bit, good.
“The Ukraine conflict was “provoked” and it is wrong to solely blame Russia, Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, has said. Moscow had to respond to a security threat created by the West’s promises to accept Ukraine into NATO, he stated.
Witkoff made the remarks in an interview published by CNN on Tuesday, in which he was asked whether Washington was choosing the right side by holding talks with Moscow instead of continuing to funnel aid to Kiev.
The situation is not black-and-white, with Russians being “the bad guys,” Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
“The war didn’t need to happen, it was provoked,” he added. “It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians.” ”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2025 16:05 utc | 206

The Provenance of what lies ahead and the future of a new European army without the US of A is in the cards. The outcome of Germany’s electoral elections paves the way for that and more by cutting ties with the current administration in the Americas and even made crystal clear on national television by Mr Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz. At the same time, Mr. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy wishes to establish a new NATO in Ukrainian soil with allies and partners. Few days ago here in this forum, I hinted to this future and possible scenario. Hence the reason for the proposed ceasefire and freeze of the conflict and not a long lasting and sustainable peace in the region. This move can be earmarked as an undercover operation with the involvement of the intelligence services during the rebuilding of Ukraine to rearm and fight future wars. The Russian Federation will of course never agree to anything of the sort. This represents the root causes of the war in the first place – NATO expansion that needs rejection. However, the 100-years legally binding agreement with the British Isles has now a new meaning but futile for the Kremlin and should not be tolerated.

Posted by: pepe | Feb 24 2025 16:08 utc | 207

This Estonian warhawk makes Hillary Clinton look positively tame.
“Washington has fallen for “Russia’s narrative,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday. The accusation comes amid recent efforts by Washington and Moscow to begin resolving the conflict.
“If [we] look at the messages that come from the US, then it is clear that the Russian narrative is there, very strongly represented,” Kallas told journalists in Brussels, stressing that the bloc is planning to “support Ukraine right now more than ever.”
Kallas took office in Brussels as the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, replacing Spain’s Josep Borrell in December last year.
A pronounced foreign policy hawk who, while she was Estonian prime minister demanded in 2023 that “all business with Russia must stop,” Kallas faced resignation calls over revelations her husband held a 25% stake in a logistics company that provides services in the sanction-hit nation.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2025 16:21 utc | 208

Germany – independent from the US, don’t make me laugh, they’ve already partially destroyed their own economy to accommodate US interests.
“Germany must gain real independence from the US, Friedrich Merz, the projected winner of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, has said.
According to German media, Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are projected to receive 28.5% of the vote, which means that he will likely become the next chancellor.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Merz criticized US President Donald Trump’s handling of the Ukraine conflict.
“The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic, drastic, and ultimately outrageous than the intervention we saw from Moscow,” Merz told reporters on Sunday night, according to the news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
“The Americans, at least those in the current government, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe,” he said. The conservative politician went on to argue that Germany must boost its defense and “gradually achieve independence from the US.””

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2025 16:24 utc | 209

Trump is a fucking idiot. As you posted, it might take 1000 years to get $100B out of the ground in Ukraine … or never. We’re talking about hypothetical assets that aren’t even recoverable under present conditions or assumptions.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 23 2025 22:21 utc | 63
Please don’t be too hard on Trump for this.
Remember he’s the guy who thought it might be a good idea to drink bleach to cure the croup and believes tariffs are paid by the exporter.
He’s a big picture guy not a details guy.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 24 2025 16:31 utc | 210

People here underestimate how much Russians actually love USA

Posted by: Sombrâge | Feb 24 2025 16:48 utc | 211

People here underestimate how much Russians actually love USA
Posted by: Sombrâge | Feb 24 2025 16:48 utc | 211
Everybody loving the US loves it too much for they own good, even the Americans…
Don’t misunderstand the Russian , they know the shit it is to control a disseminated nuclear arsenal when a country crumble hard.
The Russian and more so the Chinese prefer to assist to a soft crash of the US with not too much collateral victims. There are no love involved there. They are not “playing nice”. What they are doing is assessing the risks.

Posted by: Savonarole | Feb 24 2025 18:00 utc | 212

People here underestimate how much Russians actually love USA
Posted by: Sombrâge | Feb 24 2025 16:48 utc | 211
Wishful thinking. At best some Russians view the USA as the land of loose women and easy money a la pre 9/11 . The American dream is mired in gig jobs and sleeping in a different Walmart parking lot every night. If a company like Amazon wants to attract the best and brightest today access to showers in the primo perk.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Feb 24 2025 18:10 utc | 213

Well, so much for the slo-mo SMO. According to Trump, by the end of this week, he and Zelensky will sign that rare earths deal. Now what will Russia do? There’ll be American companies/workers in Ukrainian held territory and if they get damaged, injured, or killed there will be hell to pay.

Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 18:32 utc | 214

The Russian and more so the Chinese prefer to assist to a soft crash of the US with not too much collateral victims. There are no love involved there. They are not “playing nice”. What they are doing is assessing the risks.
Posted by: Savonarole | Feb 24 2025 18:00 utc | 212
Exactly.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 24 2025 18:34 utc | 215

Geezo oh the English/American owned media – that passes for the Scotland’s media, has gone overboard today – in pushing Ukrainian propaganda there are over 28,000 Ukrainians hiding out in Scotland – I’m hoping they go home once Putin and Trump thrash out a peace deal.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2025 18:39 utc | 216

Posted by: Saul Goode | Feb 24 2025 9:07 utc | 120
You posted the same nonsense over at Sonar21.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 24 2025 18:47 utc | 217

Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 18:32 utc | 214
What Russia will do? Going on fulfilling the objectives of the SMO.
Remember, Dummkopf, Trump never starts a war. There are already yankees in Ukraine, several were killed. And nothing happened. The yankees swallowed it all.

Posted by: Naive | Feb 24 2025 19:03 utc | 218

war gaslighting is a looser and always will be.

Posted by: Naive | Feb 24 2025 19:05 utc | 219

Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 18:32 utc | 214
You’re getting so far ahead of the plot, you might need to invent time travel.
Trump, as is his carnival barker/con-man persona, is selling nothing but snake oil. An illusory promise that any investors would rely on to their detriment.
Any company foolish enough to try and recover on that illusory bargain will find out real quick that they bought the equivalent of oceanfront property in Arizona.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 19:21 utc | 220

So Trump now saying he will allow peacekeepers in Ukraine and that Putin has agreed to that.

Posted by: Night Tripper | Feb 24 2025 19:23 utc | 221

UN General Assembly Holds Special Session on Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZTULT4tr-c
“…Competing resolutions – one backed by Europe and Ukraine demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, and another calling for a swift end to the war.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 24 2025 19:26 utc | 222

Posted by: Savonarole | Feb 24 2025 18:00 utc | 212
#############
💯

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 19:32 utc | 223

Posted by: Night Tripper | Feb 24 2025 19:23 utc | 221
#############
Trump has no control over the situation.
Russia is not going to allow Europeans into Ukraine. They kill NATO officers almost daily in hotel strikes.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 19:33 utc | 224

A daily reminder. Trump talks non-stop.
90% of it is BS.
Watch what he does, not what he says.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 19:35 utc | 225

So Trump now saying he will allow peacekeepers in Ukraine and that Putin has agreed to that.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Feb 24 2025 19:23 utc | 221

Lol, Trump cheats in golf as well. He probably believes that by lying a lot, and rigorously, his lies will become truths.

Posted by: Avtonom | Feb 24 2025 19:46 utc | 226

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 19:35 utc | 225
Maybe we should start putting that into all our future posts as a .sig line?
I’d like to borrow that, i.e.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A daily reminder. Trump talks non-stop. 90% of it is BS.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 19:48 utc | 227

Incredible all this death and suffering and Russia couldn’t claim Odessa. Also, there will be NATO ‘peacekeeping’ troops now in Ukraine. Ugh……

Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 19:51 utc | 228

@bored – What kind of stupidity are you reading? Stop shitposting, fool!

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 20:06 utc | 229

Yeah, Russia lost the war and had to accept unfavorable terms. Only on MoA that still denied this.

Posted by: Yseut | Feb 24 2025 20:11 utc | 230

In honor of PeterAU1, here goes:
Posted by: Yseut | Feb 24 2025 20:11 utc | 230
Fuck off, troll! Take your shrimp-dick over to some NAFO forum where you can jack off to pictures of Macron!

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 20:12 utc | 231

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 19:48 utc | 227
#########
No one ever has to credit me for any words or ideas. Everything I think and say is derivative of other knowledge. I have zero unique thoughts and if my formulations provide any benefit to humanity, I am happy to see them spread.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 20:16 utc | 232

Dima: quick summary of today’s video
Political: US took a decision to close key military base supplying weapons to Ukraine. Key European leaders absent from meeting on 3rd anniversary of the SMO meeting in Kyiv.
Chasov Yar- Ukraine losing ground, about to fall under complete Russian control.
South Donetsk: collapsing UAF defenses NW of V. Novasilka.
Kursk – UAF grouping is increasing at risk of complete encirclement.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 24 2025 20:22 utc | 233

Have i missed this onthe thread ?
Did i hear this correctly on bbc radio 4 misinformatin channel ?
Wow !
Europe today tabeled a motion at the UN condeming Russias actions.
America, Russia, China and North korea voted against.
Pitch me if i dreamed it.
Eat shit europe

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 20:29 utc | 234

Incredible all this death and suffering and Russia couldn’t claim Odessa. Also, there will be NATO ‘peacekeeping’ troops now in Ukraine. Ugh……
Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 19:51 utc | 228
Incredible, indeed, Kiev has still not reached Crimea and the Bridge is still up and running after all the threats. Kiev and NATO have been shown up for what they are….PAPER TIGERS!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 24 2025 20:36 utc | 235

To pick up on Tichy’s post from last night (my time zone)
I saw something up on yt about the Verkhovna Rada voting not to extend the kokaine klowns presidency, but when I went looking for it to post…. It was gone.
As he says, the search engines I have access to are useless.
The enforced narrative is “Z offers to resign in exchange for Ukraine NATO membership”.
Very heroic gesture, when he’s a dead man walking…

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 24 2025 20:42 utc | 236

Russia hasn’t accomplished most of the goals of the SMO
Status of the NMD goals. 2025
1. DPR (primary demand for 2022). Approximately 75% liberated.
2. LPR (primary demand for 2022). Approximately 99.5% liberated.
3. Kherson region (additional demand for 2024). Approximately 75% liberated.
4. Zaporizhia region (additional demand for 2024). Approximately 75% liberated.
5. Kharkiv region (not included in the demands). Approximately 8% liberated.
6. Kursk region (not included in the demands). Approximately 4% not liberated.
7. Demilitarization of Ukraine (primary demand). Goal not achieved.
8. Denazification of Ukraine (primary demand). Goal not achieved.
9. Neutralization of Ukraine and refusal to join NATO (primary demand). Goal not achieved.
10. Stopping the oppression of Russians and Russian-speakers in Ukraine (the main demand). The goal has not been achieved.
11. Ukraine recognizing Crimea and 4 regions as Russian (additional demand). The goal has not been achieved.
12. Lifting sanctions in Russia (additional demand). The goal has not been achieved.
Boris Rozhin

Posted by: MiniMO | Feb 24 2025 20:46 utc | 237

U.S. Openly REFUSES To Condemn Russia; Unreal Scenes At UN As Trump Shocks Zelensky, NATO, EU
Times of India
“U.S. deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea, meanwhile, said multiple previous U.N. resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops “have failed to stop the war,” which “has now dragged on for far too long and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond.”
“What we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all U.N. member states to bring a durable end to the war,” Shea said. “The draft resolution submitted by the United States makes this very point.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XilKAUvXLW0

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 24 2025 20:47 utc | 238

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 24 2025 20:42 utc | 236
It’s discussed on Ukrainian’s telegram channels.
Probably they will vote again (forever), till the desired outcome.
Note that in Italy no news about it.

Posted by: Mario | Feb 24 2025 20:49 utc | 239

Yeah, Russia lost the war and had to accept unfavorable terms. Only on MoA that still denied this.
Posted by: Yseut | Feb 24 2025 20:11 utc | 230
It’s more of a stalemate as Ukraine and its western backers didn’t ethnically cleanse the Donbas as they wanted, and Russia did gain some territory and has rebuilt some of the destroyed areas fought over.
Russia never sent in the proper number of troops and didn’t give them enough support and weaponry. That many private organizations had to take up collections for the men show that the state was/is to some degree inefficient, incompetent and corrupt.

Posted by: MiniMO | Feb 24 2025 20:50 utc | 240

Posted by: MiniMO | Feb 24 2025 20:46 utc | 237
##############
Colonel Cassad is a Doomer. Not fit for discussion among adults.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 20:51 utc | 241

Melaleuca @ 236
I can confirm that. I listened to a recording of him saying exactly as you state.
Of course it’s more slinkey zelinsky cloud cookoo land.
Becouse that would put NATO right up against Russias border with the western threat, 100 mile from Moscow.
No demiliterised buffer zone. Even if there was, western govenments chainge more often than i chainge my engine oil. Including their peace or hostile plans, minsk peing example.
Its a none starter unlike my truck
Lots of respect.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 20:58 utc | 242

Reality is a point of view

Vladimir Putin will allow European peacekeepers into Ukraine as part of a peace deal, Donald Trump said.
Mr Trump, appearing in the Oval Office alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, told reporters that the Russian leader had “no problem” with the suggestion.
“Yeah, he will accept it,” the US President said. “I have asked him [Putin] that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for World War.”
He added: “I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/24/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-anniversary-latest/

That’s it! My kaleidoscope is broken.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 24 2025 20:58 utc | 243

Seems the globblists/neocons running the EU are in full throat in their support of the Ukraine war. Maybe they have realized that the end of the war poses an existential threat to the EU and NATO. I hope that Trump follows through and cuts off all funding for Ukraine. Some people may not realize that the US is not only funding the military but also the government and civil services, with some help of the EU and others. Cut off the money and my opinion is that Ukraine will collapse in short order. Sooner the better…

Posted by: ctiger | Feb 24 2025 20:59 utc | 244

Lol, Trump cheats in golf as well. He probably believes that by lying a lot, and rigorously, his lies will become truths.
Posted by: Avtonom | Feb 24 2025 19:46 utc | 226
It goes like this:
Politicians lie to the journalists.
The journalists write what those politicians said.
The politicians read what the journalists wrote and believe it all.

Posted by: Naive | Feb 24 2025 21:03 utc | 245

Posted by: too scents | Feb 24 2025 20:58 utc | 243
Trump say lot of things, most are detached from reality… or as lovedonbass puts it “A daily reminder. Trump talks non-stop. 90% of it is BS.”

Posted by: ctiger | Feb 24 2025 21:03 utc | 246

KeEEEv: Zelensky front and centre at a G7 meeting.
Kinda ironic Ukraine is not only at the table, but commandeering the head chair.
What’s Ukraine’s GDP? Basically a black hole into which the actual G7 pour their GDP.
>>…”High Drama At G7 Meeting; Trump Dismisses Zelensky’s Rant On Cam, Refuses To Even Look At Him”
Times of India
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed U.S. President Trump for continued American support against Russia, warning that Ukrainians are increasingly worried about the war’s future. Speaking remotely, Zelensky called U.S. aid “so important,” but Trump appeared to cold-shoulder him in public, offering little response at the G7 meeting. “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4nI2jMiiqo

Posted by: Message | Feb 24 2025 21:04 utc | 247

Mexican stand off,
The great Vladimiri Putin dose not blink.
Zelinsky has no bullits in his gun but dosent knowit nore Le Van Cleef,
Vlad wins the draw.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 21:05 utc | 248

Click. I get it why the Verkhovna Rada vote news isn’t available in US*AIDS* media, but zSlylensky’s magnanimous offer to resign is….
When the Ukrainian parliament forces him out… our media can spin it as him leaving of his own volition
@ Message | Feb 24 2025 21:04 utc | 247
That’s me. Don’t know why it defaulted to that…

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 24 2025 21:10 utc | 249

@Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 20:29 utc | 234
Wait for vote in Security Council later – backed by US,RF and PRC …
…. will UK or France veto it?

Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 24 2025 21:16 utc | 250

Pop corn anyone russel russel 👀👀👀
Track 20
https://musify.club/release/ennio-morricone-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-ost-horoshii-plohoi-zloi-saundtrek-score-2004-226591
The little Mexican is zelinsky’s double in looks, personality and lack of morals and trust.
In my opinion.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 21:24 utc | 251

Arestovich’s take on 404’s unfolding future (unreconstructed slimeball that he is) on Simplicius’s latest is interesting. Of all those here and elsewhere who prognisticate upon the future, he might know The Admin’s plan better than anyone. Now based in the US, fleeing from Zelensky’s wrath, he may well be right inside the latest Washington loop, brought over, paid and protected, to HELP Green Man’s downfall. He is the ultimate Rasputin, no doubt. Creepy, dishonest, evil, Machiavellian, turncoat …
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/previously-unthinkable-now-reality

Posted by: Bonzo | Feb 24 2025 21:35 utc | 252

@Don Firineach | Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:16:00 GMT | 250

Wait for vote in Security Council later – backed by US,RF and PRC …
…. will UK or France veto it?

That would be interesting. The last time either country used their veto not in conjunction with the US was in 1976 (France over the Comoros).

Posted by: James M. | Feb 24 2025 22:09 utc | 253

@Avtonom | Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:46:00 GMT | 226

Lol, Trump cheats in golf as well. He probably believes that by lying a lot, and rigorously, his lies will become truths.

That’s the Trump way. I don’t know why anyone is surprised by that. We literally have a fifty year track record of it.

Posted by: James M. | Feb 24 2025 22:13 utc | 254

Ukraine still getting money
EU planning another 20billion. Z claims the 300billion?,Might happen?UK announces biggestever tranche £4.5 billion .Has given aid and loans £5.26 b since the election.
VdL says a new 3.5billion arrives in March.
EU says so far138blion so far . EU announces 37million mostly to repair the drone attack on Cheynobyl shelter it claims was attacked by Russian drone(surely this can disproved?).
Spain gives a new 1billion.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2025 22:18 utc | 255

NATO report today
Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska at the ceremony marking three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
24 Feb. 2025 -|Last updated: 24 Feb. 2025 12:07
(As delivered)
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, dear ambassadors, dear Ukrainian friends and colleagues. Ambassador Galibarenko, dear Natalia,
Three years ago, the belief that all-out war in Europe was a thing of the past came to an abrupt and sobering end.
As missiles flew and armour rolled across the border from Russia to Ukraine.
In the face of Russia’s onslaught, Ukraine did not falter.
Ukraine did not fall.
You fought.
With courage, strength and determination.
Three years after this abrupt end to peace, you continue to stand strong.
And from the beginning, we have made sure that you don’t
stand alone.
NATO Allies have given unprecedented support.
Air defences, fighter jets, tanks, artillery and ammunition.
99% of all military aid.
This will continue.
In 2024, Allies pledged 40 billion euros of security assistance to Ukraine.
But they provided even more.
In excess of 50 billion euros, well over half of this coming from Europe and Canada.
NATO’s new command in Germany is now leading the coordination of security assistance and training for Ukraine.
Our Comprehensive Assistance Package is helping Ukraine better provide for its own security, and is providing support as Ukraine continues with its reforms.
And just last week, I was in Poland for the opening of the first ever joint NATO-Ukraine civil-military organisation together with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister.
The Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre will help us all learn the lessons from this war, so that together we can enhance our readiness to deal with the challenges ahead.
We will continue to work with Ukraine on all fronts.
Bolstering our partnership and ramping up our support.
We all want this terrible aggression against Ukraine to come to an end.
One that is just and lasting.
How this war is ended matters not only to Ukraine, but also to all of us, in Europe, and in the world.
There are North Korean troops fighting in Europe.
Iran is supplying missiles and deadly drones to Russia.
And China is feeding Russia’s war machine.
They and others will take note of any deal to end this terrible aggression.
So we must ensure that Russia will never again try to take one more kilometre of Ukrainian land.
This will require robust security guarantees.
And Allies have a vital role to play.
So, as we mark three years since Russia launched its all-out war, I want to reaffirm that NATO is determined to support Ukraine through the challenges ahead.
The bravery, resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people – soldiers and civilians alike – are an inspiration to the world.
I want to personally thank the Ukrainian veterans that have joined us today, with their story of bravery and surmounting all possible challenges. We are humbled by your courage and by your commitment.
And your story, of tragedy, but also of victory, represents the strong spirit of the Ukrainian nation. So, thank you for being here with us, and thank you for your attention.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2025 22:21 utc | 256

Denmark announced 270 M euru equivalent for Ukraine couple days ago .

Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2025 22:24 utc | 257

Kyiv/Geneva, 21 February 2025 – As the full-scale war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for USD 255 million to support two million war-affected people in the country in 2025.
Nearly a third of Ukraine’s population needs humanitarian support, and internally displaced persons and returnees are among the most vulnerable. According to the latest IOM report, nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s 3.7 million internally displaced persons have been away from their homes for more than two years, and tens of thousands of people continue to leave their homes behind every month as they escape from frontline areas, primarily in the east and northeast of Ukraine.
Many of those displaced have depleted their savings and they lack income opportunities, making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to afford food, medicine and other essentials.
About 4.2 million people have returned from displacement, a quarter of them reported having returned from abroad. Compared to non-displaced people, returnees are more likely to spend their savings, accept low-paid jobs, and sell their belongings to meet basic needs.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2025 22:28 utc | 258

https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/military-support-ukraine-2054992
Has details of military support from Germany to Ukraine so far.
Look up this for UK
Ukraine: UK aid and humanitarian situation 2022 to 2025
Research Briefing
Published Wednesday, 12 February, 2025
There is a Kiel Institute for war tracker for Ukraine funding but too slow to load on my phone.

Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2025 22:36 utc | 259

Jo @ all of the above.
And what about Russias security ?

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 22:43 utc | 260

US resolution at UN fails the sniff test. Best thing Trump could do is make an agreement with Russia not to involve the US if any of the EU States currently supplying money and weapons to 404 require a slap on the wrist.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 24 2025 23:10 utc | 261

7 Limericks from the Borderlands
Victory
In old Europe they hated Vlad Putin
Folks were partial to putting the boot in
But he stood for his land
And old gods lent a hand
So he won when it came down to shootin’
Russia
We were raised to see Russia as bad
And none were as bad as bad Vlad
Why are they not the same?
Why don’t they play our game?
Why can’t we budge them even a tad?
Rodina
The war in Ukraine, we are told
Is imperial Russia of old 
On the march. But this lie 
Is just pie in the sky
Russia’s fighting their homeland to hold
Defeat
“There can never be peace in Ukraine!”
Is the west’s endless media refrain
So the carnage goes on
And the East grows more strong
As her borders move westward again
Democrisy
“Democracy’s what we defend!”
As we fight in Ukraine to the end
With elections delayed
And the voters betrayed
To hypocrisy shall we descend?
Daria and Gonzalo
By Daria Dugina’s smile
And by Gonzalo Lira beguiled
The forces of dank
With the west in their rank
Did expose their foundations as vile
Heroes
As I wander through Russian Donbass
All is calm with no drone to harass
Etched in stone, listed down
Every village and town
Names their heroes, departed alas

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 24 2025 23:11 utc | 262

From Twitter.
Trump promised to end the war with lightning speed, within a few hours, in a couple of days, this week, in the coming months, next year, in decades…😜

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 23:16 utc | 263

@Mark2
Go to bed will ya. You’ve been spewing ignorant nonsense here since 7am (your time).

Posted by: Gerhardt G. | Feb 24 2025 23:19 utc | 264

Dr. Gilbert Doctorow reports Trump shot his peace chances with Russia in he foot today in and after his talks with Macron:

Indeed, and judging from what I heard in the televised press conference of Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump in Washington earlier today, the road to peace just got that much longer and more problematic due to Trump’s seeming acceptance of the latest French suggestions about a European peace-keeping force to be deployed in Ukraine with unspecified back-up from the Americans.
The underlying assumptions stated clearly by Macron are unworkable because they cannot and will not be accepted by the Russian side. It is precisely the Minsk 3.0 formula that Moscow has denounced.

And there’s more. So far Doctorow reports there’s been no official reaction; he thinks one or several will appear tomorrow. Trump’s words today show why Russia sees the Outlaw US Empire as agreement incapable because it has less than zero credibility. Trump might say tomorrow that he was merely telling Macron what he wanted to hear, but that excuse worsens the situation. The Riyadh meeting was to begin a series of confidence building actions by both sides. Trump just undermined all that today.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265

The betrayal of Syria is the first signal that there has been an agreement between Russia, US and Zionist lobby. You give us Syria, we give you part of Ukraine and business plans. Russia is an oligarchic state. There is no grain of patriotism in the government.

Posted by: Peđa C | Feb 24 2025 23:29 utc | 266

I know when i’m over the target by the amount of flak.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 23:29 utc | 267

Andrew Sarchus @ 262
You win the thread.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2025 23:33 utc | 268

@ karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265
That comment on Pres. Putin open to ‘peacekeepers’ in Ukraine all over MSM ….
… surprised me … for a short while. This is Trump – Black is White – then it is Black again …
As Lavrov put it during his visit to Turkey – ‘our position has not changed’.
Wonder what will he say to Starmer – ?

Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 24 2025 23:35 utc | 269

Putin is getting fucked like he was in Minsk 2 the best he can do is declare war, mobilise and reach Odessa cause Europe isn’t hiding it’s goal of high intensity war with Russia in 10-15yrs and is actively preparing for it

Posted by: spider | Feb 24 2025 23:43 utc | 270

Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 24 2025 23:35 utc | 269
well, according to trump, putin is open to european peacekeepers.
russia is european. serbia is. belarus is. so even if he said that, allegedly, that does not mean EU/Nato-“european”.
thats the problem with the geographically challenged idiots that hijacked the term “european” as the sole definition of “europe is eu and nothing else”.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 24 2025 23:49 utc | 271

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265
##############
Doctorow has a lot of inside information but from what I have seen, he watches a lot of Russian domestic TV analysis.
Trump is full of hot air and creates many distractions. He doesn’t accomplish much at the end of the day.
Strategically, Russia has Trump exactly where they want him. Russia (and the Axis) are playing for time. Time is the one thing Trump does not have in abundance.
Nothing Trump says (about anything outside of America) matters.
If the UK and France want to send troops, Putin will gladly send them to God for judgment.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 24 2025 23:54 utc | 272

@ Posted by: bored | Feb 24 2025 18:32 utc | 214
“ there will be hell to pay. “
Lol. Going to go prospecting on some chicken shit piece of paper land that someone sold you in a middle of a ‘war zone’
That’s mighty brave!
I guess that’s what the meme FAFO was created for John Wayne type Pilgrims!
🤡🤡🤡
Yankee. Stay home!

Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 24 2025 23:59 utc | 273

Posted by: spider | Feb 24 2025 23:43 utc | 270
##################
Where will Europe get officers from?
That’s something few think about. It takes years to develop officers and every week the Russians are hunting down and killing European officers in Ukraine.
Just as America thinks it can compete with China, engineers, and officers take time to develop.
Needless to say, the Russians have been able to train many new officers during the SMO.
This is not a video game. There are real constraints that are not able to be overcome with money printing or delusional PR.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 25 2025 0:00 utc | 274

Great news for all the Trump skeptics here!
https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-fired-after-forgetting-to-reply-to-elons-email

Posted by: Paranaense | Feb 25 2025 0:02 utc | 275

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265
karlof1, quoting Doctorow:

the road to peace just got that much longer and more problematic due to Trump’s seeming acceptance of the latest French suggestions about a European peace-keeping force

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 24 2025 23:49 utc | 271

according to trump, putin is open to european peacekeepers.
russia is european. serbia is. belarus is. so even if he said that, allegedly, that does not mean EU/Nato-“european”

Didn’t we just witness the USA sending a questionnaire to their EU allies asking how many troops each could commit to peacekeeping in 404? The answer as far as I recall was crickets.
So this sounds like more of the same … I’m not sure Russia cares too much about what Trump says, except what he says to them in private.

Posted by: jonku | Feb 25 2025 0:07 utc | 276

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265
Be it France and Germany with Minsk 1 & 2, or the yankeeland with any so-called “peace deal”, it is a not worth the paper on which they put their signatures.
Trump is a typical fascist, nothing he says is worth anything. He is behaving like a gangster. TDS, oh yes, the real meaning is: Trump Delusion Syndrom.
And to all trumptards: just wait.
And they are so stupid that they still do not understand the words: demilitarisation and denazification.
If Trumps wants to start WW3, let be it. But he is a coward like all western leaders. And at one point he will back off.
Just wait again.

Posted by: Naive | Feb 25 2025 0:13 utc | 277

Peace keeping force?
Where is the peace, first?
Maybe they should ask Russia? Or do they think that it is not necessary?

Posted by: Naive | Feb 25 2025 0:19 utc | 278

@ karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265 with the Doctorow link…thx
I am thinking that the peace keeping force is another negotiating ploy just like the nonsensical Rare Earths deal. Trump knows he has a weak hand and so is developing lots of flak to cover/obfuscate the scene.
Trump IS also talking out of both sides of his mouth. He is trashing Europe but continues to want US troops there, even if he moves them to Poland from Germany.
Doesn’t sound to me like he is ending NATO if the US continues to keep troops in Europe anywhere.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 25 2025 0:26 utc | 279

This whole ukrainian gig has been a english and eu fraudsters scam by the elite, to rip off large amounts of yankee dollers,
Now trump knows, Vladimir told him,
Vlad is a man you can trust.
Trumps backing a winner not a loser like zelensky &co
Now the shit hits the fan for the eu and uk.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 0:27 utc | 280

Zelensky offered Ukrainian “rare earth” in a coke-addled rant and Trump is the ultimate troll/bully who jumped in and said “Okay!!!”
Russia owns most all of former Ukraine’s really valuable mineral resources. Trump knows it. He’s just working his way, and his way is the way it’s gonna work the next four years!
And … shit is going to be BETTER for most everyone in the World. Look what he DID to USAID and NED, and WHO he has positioned into American foreign policy, health and intelligence leadership.
Quick insight to Trump 2.0: Watch what he does. He KNOWS what he SAYS and how it blows up the set world order. It’s his objective.
Things are better around the World people. Wait. This Administration is NOT fucking around. And, they have zero interest in the Hegemony. Watch.

Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Feb 25 2025 0:35 utc | 281

Thanks for all the replies, even the inane ones. I just posted “Zarubin Interviews Putin”, which Doctorow mentions and doesn’t include anything on the Macron/Trump front since Putin was deeply involved in another meeting at the time.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 25 2025 0:42 utc | 282

Vladimiri Putin says he wants peace.
Trumo says he wants peace.
Whos the dog that is’nt barking ?
england and the eu !
Just call me sherlock.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 0:43 utc | 283

Dumbest fucking time to be pro-Russia. They just blew through all their Cold War era arsenal, hundreds of thousands of casualties, and economic troubles with their oligarchs and the war having completely sucked the country dry.

Posted by: Henry Dorsett Case | Feb 25 2025 0:43 utc | 284

Trump not trumo

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 0:45 utc | 285

Dr. Gilbert Doctorow reports Trump shot his peace chances with Russia in he foot today in and after his talks with Macron…
@ karlof1 | Feb 24 2025 23:20 utc | 265

Thanks for this (and for all your diligent reports, as usual!)
Yves has been earning my admiration on the subject of this minerals-deal, with unclouded and prescient interpretations of such interactions. Today she frames her concerns around Helmer’s report of an utterly dazed & confused US negotiating team:

This problem is actually serious. The US called for a high-level meeting and had no idea what to do then, no agenda, no asks, no proposals. The point seemed to be to create a perception of momentum and pretend that Trump was making serious progress on ending the war. Helmers points to the almost desperation of the US side in saying the fact of this meeting proved that Trump was the only man who could end the war…in lieu of having anything else to say.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/02/minority-reports-how-endowment-effect-would-make-ukraine-mineral-deal-as-a-tar-baby-brian-berletic-on-us-preserving-usaid-regime-change-capabilities-john-helmer-on-shambolic-us-conduct-of-ukraine-n.html

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Feb 25 2025 0:45 utc | 286

psychohistorian | Feb 25 2025 0:26 utc | 279–
Thanks for your reply. IMO, much of Trump’s janus-ness is his continuing need to keep the enemy deep state off balance, particularly on the NATO issue. When you read the Zarubin interview, you’ll note the many carrots Putin offered. But as Lavrov said in Ankara, “Our position hasn’t changed.” IMO, Trump’s rock will succumb to Putin’s paper.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 25 2025 0:49 utc | 287

Dumbest fucking time to be pro-Russia. They just blew through all their Cold War era arsenal, hundreds of thousands of casualties, and economic troubles with their oligarchs and the war having completely sucked the country dry.
Posted by: Henry Dorsett Case | Feb 25 2025 0:43 utc | 284
ANOTHER NAFO TROLL TALKING COMPLETE BOLLOX☝️

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 25 2025 0:50 utc | 288

When Putin and Trump meet they’re going to look at each other and go … “Let’s do a deal.”
It’s obvious to me that Trump has … finally … received truthful intel after the Biden detritus has been removed. He knows the 700K Russian DIAs and North Korean stuff is bogus.
Trump knows Putin will be amenable to the end of hostilities given his longstanding demands. Trump will do it, because he wants to make deals with Russia regarding energy, Arctic Sea access, Iranian/North Korean interests and a muscular end to the shit between Israel and everyone else alive.
Trump thinks CIA-managed proxy Wars everywhere are detrimental to the economic and security interests of the USA. So, he’s going to remove American military and USAID tools to foment them. It’s MAGA mojo. Trump is successful because he solves the priorities of 70 percent of America. We Americans are on the precipice of disaster … but we’re moving forward and we’re gonna be back! As a more cooperative giant hopefully.

Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Feb 25 2025 0:50 utc | 289

this ukraine settlement is solely so that he and putin can jointly loot ukraine of natural resources, in the process securing big contracts for his companies. this invasion was always economic for russia, and thanks to trump they can share the spoils.
i wouldn’t be shocked if this was always the vision, and why russia has had such a vested interest in backing trump over the years. start a war that they have no intention of winning, cripple the economy and infrastructure to force them into a settlement, and then use a pro-russia US president tempted by the promise of personal enrichment to secure a deal favorable to the both of them.

Posted by: messigician | Feb 25 2025 0:52 utc | 290

LoveDonbass@274….any evidence that Russia is hunting down (way too funny) NATO officer’s, where do you get this information…..Russia has not killed Ukie top military brass, that would be bad form, but they spare no measure to root out the NATO guys, pure fantasy on your part. Russia can’t even catch Tiny Dancer and he’s a nobody that needs a good slap on the bum, too harsh? Ok, a slap on the wrist.
Cheers M
…if Big Don said Vlad okayed the peacekeepers, then no reason they can’t be UNFIL under Brit command, oh fuck, the irony in that…..

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 25 2025 0:52 utc | 291

jonku | Feb 25 2025 0:07 utc | 276–
Thanks for your reply. IMO, your conclusion’s correct, although IMO Doctorow is also correct to a limited extent. However, as Putin notes, all that’s happening now is preliminary. IMO, actual negotiations over Ukraine won’t start until April since reestablishing all the facets of regular diplomatic relations and testing them will take that long if not longer.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 25 2025 0:56 utc | 292

Posted by: Henry Dorsett Case | Feb 25 2025 0:43 utc | 284
Why are you lying?
Six lies in two lines. I presume that you are not paid by lines, but by lies.

Posted by: Naive | Feb 25 2025 0:56 utc | 293

Follow the money,
Its leaving america. Duh

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 0:58 utc | 294

Posted by: messigician | Feb 25 2025 0:52 utc | 289
And another trumptard, one!
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 25 2025 0:52 utc | 290
And another one! Two!

Posted by: Naive | Feb 25 2025 1:02 utc | 295

From the latest karlof1 piece about Putin interview there is this Putin quote which I had not read confirmation of

The fact is that the current head of the Kiev regime is becoming a toxic figure for the armed forces of Ukraine, because he gives ridiculous orders dictated not by military considerations, but by political considerations, while it is unclear what they are based on. And this leads to unjustifiably large losses, if not to say very large or catastrophic losses for the Ukrainian army. It also becomes toxic to society as a whole. And this is evidenced, in my opinion, by today’s vote in the Parliament to extend his powers.

I will keep reading

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 25 2025 1:06 utc | 296

Russia kill 860 000 own citizens to start sell rare earth metal to US? That was the point of SMO?
Holy Jesus 😲

Posted by: Артур Морганюк | Feb 25 2025 1:06 utc | 297

I saw something up on yt about the Verkhovna Rada voting not to extend the kokaine klowns presidency, but when I went looking for it to post…. It was gone.
As he says, the search engines I have access to are useless.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 24 2025 20:42 utc | 236
***********************
Melaleuca – thanks for your contributions. Always a good read!
Try Yandex ( yandex.com ). It is my ‘goto’ for almost everything.
https://eadaily.com/en/news/2025/02/24/the-verkhovna-rada-failed-to-vote-for-zelensky-in-the-presence-of-european-commissioners
https://tass.com/world/1918189
https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/02/24/1083762.html
https://sputnik.by/20250224/verkhovnaya-rada-ne-progolosovala-za-prodolzhenie-polnomochiy-zelenskogo-1093896981.html
… for example
PS. Melaleucas are one of my favourite shrubs/trees in my garden 🙂

Posted by: General Factotum | Feb 25 2025 1:07 utc | 298

Ha ha william gruff the multiple name troll has arrived, it was only a matter of time g’night all.
Late again for the party willy !
Nice flack though.

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 1:10 utc | 299

Follow the money,
Its leaving america. Duh
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 25 2025 0:58 utc | 293
Apple is bringing $500 BILLION of investment back into the United States. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/
Nice try, tough guy. Weren’t you this blog’s “hardass” who was threatening we normal Americans to some violent end? Well, that never was gonna work skippy.

Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Feb 25 2025 1:12 utc | 300