News & views related to the war in Ukraine …
Back to Main
February 27, 2025
Ukraine Open Thread 2025-039
Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NDxmIkBcpo
Some surprising insights about US/EU weapons being inaccurate and slow to adapt in Ukraine
Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 27 2025 14:26 utc | 1
The military reality remains as it was in Biden’s time. As it has been since February 2022. The Ukrainian army is nowhere near strong enough to cope with the Russians by themselves. The Americans don’t have the manpower or the equipment to do so either.
I believe that when it comes to the ability to wage a land war in Europe most Americans don’t understand that their armed forces are a paper tiger. The American forces that could be assembled and deployed in Europe are quite inadequate for the job of taking on the Russians. They could perhaps make a fight of it but if they did so they’d lose. Saying that isn’t “pro-Russian” or “anti-American”. I happen to be pro-American but whether one is pro-American or not the facts are undeniable.
I don’t believe the Americans could even make a fight of it. Such meagre forces as they could deploy would have to be based in Europe. Europe’s fantasy-land at present but even the Europeans would wake up when supply depots and air bases in Europe itself started to get hit. Not forgetting, as Colonel Lang said, Americans and Russians can’t fight each other head to head in any case. Too much risk of nuclear.
So the American people, and it seems most of the American political classes, are suffering from an even more severe case of the disease we suffer from in Europe. Folie de grandeur. They believe they are a predominant military power though in comparison to their opponent they have little military power in reality. No amount of neocon exceptionalism or MAGA chest-beating can get over that. To alter that reality they’d have to go back to Willow Run days and those times are long past for the United States.
Similarly with the economic war. That was lost early on. So Trump is merely recognising the military and economic reality that the fantasy-ridden Biden administration could never accept. His job is to attempt to wind up this disastrous Ukrainian venture, to undo the damage of the Biden years, and to lead his nation out of fantasy-land.
He’s a bit of a rogue, my judgement, is Donald Trump. Not averse to some dissimulation and misdirection. He’ll need all of that, if he’s to bring his country back to reality without getting hit by the backlash in the midterms.
Posted by: English Outsider | Feb 27 2025 14:29 utc | 2
Larry Johnson’s views ring true
“…There is a wide gap between what Donald Trump says in public and what he actually decides to do…
In public, Trump insists that Russia will have to make concessions, but concedes any peace deal must be negotiated between Russia and Ukraine. On a positive note, Trump continues to refuse to provide US forces as a security guarantee for Ukraine and says that is the job of Europe, if they choose to do so. Trump appears confident that he is going to sign a rare-earth, oil/gas agreement with Zelensky on Friday. While such an agreement serves Trump’s public relations campaign in the United States, it is worthless because Russia controls much of the territory where those resources are located in Ukraine.
Trump’s public pronouncements are at odds with Russia’s clearly articulated position: No European troops will be allowed to take up positions in Ukraine, no ceasefire until Ukraine is demilitarized, and Russia’s frozen assets must be returned.
…
The Europeans are trying to play the Big, Bad Wolf. But Russia ain’t a collection of Three Little Pigs: Europe is just a bunch of malevolent hot air. Huffing and puffing like crazy persons, but lacking any means to weaken Russia’s brick house.
Trump’s Jumbled Messaging on Ukraine and Russia
26 February 2025 by Larry C. Johnson
https://sonar21.com/trumps-jumbled-messaging-on-ukraine-and-russia/
“We Have To Get Along. We Can’t Have War …a couple of Nukes & we’re all dead. Donald Trump
Posted by: TobyClear | Feb 27 2025 14:44 utc | 3
I altered that comment a little from the original. Trump not averse to “some” dissimulation etc. I remembered that at other times Trump is startlingly frank.
I have the same problem with him that I believe I’ve seen Larry Johnson identify, and other important analysts. Gaza. That’s psycho stuff by anyone’s reckoning, as is what’s happening on the West Bank and in Lebanon.
Ukraine was psycho stuff too. Using a police state run by extremists we put and kept in power. Using it to get at Russia. That was so wrong but at least Trump now seems to be grasping that. So he’s half way there and half a loaf’s better than the no bread we got during the Biden years.
Posted by: English Outsider | Feb 27 2025 14:45 utc | 4
‘Hard To Comprehend ‘Israel’s Vote Against Ukraine, Says Country’s Ambassador’
https://x.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1894838907185045979
“I wonder if Zelensky still wants Ukraine to become a ‘big Israel’.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 27 2025 14:54 utc | 5
Check out the Russian neonazi Denis Kaputin, marching this saturday in Berlin to ask for the destruction of his country and the killing of his people. What struck me is the guy only has half of a forehead, all the upper part of a normal forehead is covered in thick pointy hair. How low is his IQ? And he is the leader of his group of traitors. How low is the IQ of his followers, one wonders?
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 15:06 utc | 6
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 15:06 utc | 6
His last name is Kapustin. Kaputin (sans s) is an athlete.
Posted by: Mary | Feb 27 2025 15:14 utc | 7
Re: Days of Willow Run ?
For those barflies who missed the reference by English Outsider;
Willow Run, also known as Air Force Plant 31, was a manufacturing complex in Michigan, United States, located between Ypsilanti Township and Belleville, built by the Ford Motor Company to manufacture aircraft, especially the Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.[1] Construction of the Willow Run Bomber Plant began in 1940[2] and was completed in 1942.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run
Posted by: Exile | Feb 27 2025 15:14 utc | 8
Posted by: Mary | Feb 27 2025 15:14 utc | 7
Thanks for the correction, Mary.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 15:22 utc | 9
The best tool Germany has to stop Russia is Deutsche Bundesbahn.
According to a study Germany can move 1 Battalion (4k soldiers plus equipment) at a time – with sufficient lead of course.
Posted by: SOS | Feb 27 2025 15:31 utc | 10
https://t.me/s/DDGeopolitics
“Elon Musk has written a formal letter to new FBI Director Cash Patel about bringing in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a suspect in the murder of American journalist Gonzalo Lira.” WSJ
White House sources report that Volodymyr Zelensky may be detained after arriving in the US — media report.”
Wouldn’t it be great if the “great” Zelensky was arrested upon arrival? For corruption? Doubt anything will happen but I can always dream…
Posted by: ctiger | Feb 27 2025 15:32 utc | 11
Posted by: SOS | Feb 27 2025 15:31 utc | 10
sorry to be nitpicky but a battalion is more like 1k in size, give or take.
https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Military-Units/Army/
A battalion is a tactical-sized unit that can conduct independent operations of limited scope and duration and is usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel. It consists of four to six companies and can include up to about 1,000 soldiers.
Posted by: ctiger | Feb 27 2025 15:37 utc | 12
Posted by: ctiger | Feb 27 2025 15:32 utc | 11
>>>>
Doubt it very much while Sir Keir Stamer is there.
Posted by: pepe | Feb 27 2025 15:38 utc | 13
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 15:06 utc | 6
>>>>
British-colonial-ruled and basket case Canada continues reviving Nazism by rejecting Interpol’s request to extradite Ukrainian Nazi Yaroslav Hunka. A refusal to do so means harbouring a Nazi war criminal, justifying his atrocities, and, in fact, reviving Nazism. Many of these war criminals had taken shelter in Canada after World War II. Yaroslav Hunka, in 1943 volunteered to serve in the Nazi 14th SS-Volunteer Division known as Galicia.
Posted by: pepe | Feb 27 2025 15:39 utc | 14
They’re upping the ante, from attacking to killing the recruiters:
Lord Bebo
@MyLordBebo
🇺🇦 REALITY IN UKRAINE: Military recruiters are killed!
“A 39-year-old military recruiter officer was escorting a group of conscripts when, during a midnight petrol-station stop in Poltava province, a man with a hunting rifle stepped out from the dark.
He asked for Mr Sikalchuk’s weapons. The soldier refused, and then the man shot him dead.
The killer escaped with one of the conscripts, someone he seemed to know.”
Posted by: Mary | Feb 27 2025 15:44 utc | 15
There you have it:
The minerals deal negotiated between the United States and Ukraine is a devastating development for Russia… Once implemented, it will mean that Russia has effectively lost the war.
…
With this deal, the United States is now invested — literally, not figuratively — in what the deal calls “a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine.” That means the United States now has a massive financial incentive to help safeguard Ukraine’s independence. If Ukraine survives, the United States will stand to gain hundreds of billions of dollars; if Ukraine falls, we get nothing.
…
Those who say Ukraine failed to win security guarantees in exchange for the minerals deal are missing the point: The minerals deal is a security guarantee. Trump has made clear that he is not going to send American troops to Ukraine. But with this deal, he is going to send something better: American workers, bulldozers and earthmovers.
…
“It’s a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there,” Trump explained during his Cabinet meeting Wednesday. “We’re going to be working over there. We’ll be on the land. And you know, that way it’s this sort of automatic security, because nobody’s going to be messing around with our people when we’re there.”
…
But this deal is a critical step forward. Russia wanted to diminish Ukraine economically, politically and militarily. With this deal, Trump has enhanced Ukraine economically and politically. Now, to secure our new investments, the United States must enhance Ukraine militarily as well.
Trump just dealt Russia a devastating blow
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/27/minerals-deal-ukraine-russia/
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:45 utc | 16
Posted by: English Outsider | Feb 27 2025 14:29 utc | 2
The US Air Force & Navy aren’t too shabby. 5,000 nukes is more than good enough. Space Force, a first, is being developed… Cyber warfare is the unknown. Not sure about the focus on the US military weakest advantage, or Russian strength. As others have stated, it does not matter how strong your army is, as If a land conflict is not internal or next door, Air Force & Navy are more important to ensure supplies.
With real time enhanced space based global ISR coming into use, the two forces could potentially enforce effective embargoes on specific countries.
My guesstimate is that the US is winding down UKrain so that it can implement the combined branches sanctions. Most likely Iran, or Venezuela. Regime changed to US controlled energy is paramount. To do so Russian oil needs to freely flow or a minor disruption in oil/gas has an outsized economic effect. This will only grow with time. Hence my pet theory of the Green Movement, a way to have a slight margin of oil surplus to enable force application to ‘evil’ regimes. There is a carefully calculated balance on how much oil/gas can be taken off the world market at any one time.
US$=MIC=energy
The whole UKrain gambit cost little to the US, old weapons, digitally printed money (Son of Ala bama), some prestige. The immense upside (for the globohomos) was the fall of Putins Russia.
The biggest cost to the US is the uniting of the world against the globo police it impulse. That resistance rekindled with the Iraq war, but has accelerated with this UKrain expedition. We are in a rat race to see who will prevail.
The way I see it, my country desperately needs the Trump framework. Retrench, cut costs, fall back (a bit), UKrain set adrift, woke luxuries discarded, corruption & grift anthelmintic prescription.
Our evolution of spiritual awareness is deficient, to say the least.
Time for something other than geopolitics…
All the best,
Posted by: jopalolive | Feb 27 2025 15:49 utc | 17
By pressing for the agreement, instead of taking the Russian offer for access to minerals, Trump has committed himself to continue the war in Ukraine. (…)
It will lead to the failure of his peace initiative. (…)
The war Ukraine is now destined to become Trump’s Vietnam.
B (on previous thread)
Agree to everything except the gloomy forecast.
Imagine, for a minute, that only Trump and Putin needed to find common ground. It could produce a peaceful result like I formerly (manually navigate to 352) discussed. Allthough Putin has little to offer Trump, providing access to Russia’s minerals could make the difference.
Including Kiev in the arrangement is what makes matters complicated. Zelensky makes it even harder.
– he is no longer the legitimate president
– he changes his plans and proposals on a daily basis
– he is still the lapdog of the British and many Europeans
– he is an experienced manipulator of people (like all sucessful comedians are)
Trump tried to ignore him, which would have been the better strategy – But Z caught him at his weak spot: money. By the proposed agreement, Donald tries to improve the US financial gains, hoping to have all bystanders applauding. However, the price is to keep Z in the game, legitimize him and allow him to further pursue the war. Z has been the main proponent of the war lately, next to the Europeans, who complicate the matter even more: by sending new equipment (like the Taurus, or novel autonomous drones) and demanding like Scholz: “There must be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine”.
Exactly this advice is what Trump should ignore in order to terminate the war.
Posted by: grunzt | Feb 27 2025 15:49 utc | 18
ZH has a posting up that links to Moon of Alabama [send b money!]
the title is
Putin Says Talks With US “Inspire Certain Hopes” As 6+ Hour Istanbul Meeting Concludes
quote
These talks have been focused on restoring full staffing at the two sides’ respective embassies and the improving of relations – with an eye toward preparations for achieving a lasting peace settlement in Ukraine.
Importantly, on the same day President Vladimir Putin spoke of positive developments on these fronts in a meeting of the Federal Security Service. “We all see how rapidly the world is changing, the situation in the world. In this regard, I would like to note that the first contacts with the new US administration inspire certain hopes,” he said.
“There is a mutual dedication to work towards restoring interstate relations and gradually resolving the enormous volume of accumulated systemic and strategic problems in the global architecture.”
He emphasized that “it was precisely these problems that provoked both the Ukrainian and other regional crises at the time,” as cited in TASS.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov separately took the opportunity to reaffirm what will remain a key Russian sticking point in any negotiations – that the four annexed territories in the east are not up for discussion.
“The territories which have become subjects of the Russian Federation, which are inscribed in our country’s constitution, are an inseparable part of our country,” Peskov told reporters.
This after Ukraine’s President Zelensky recently tried to push the possibility of an “exchange” of territory with Moscow – Kursk for the four annexed regions. But Moscow has issued a firm no to this possibility.
Peskov additionally said that Moscow doesn’t see any immediate breakthroughs happening in these ongoing talks with the Trump administration.
“No one expects easy or quick solutions – the problem is too complex and has been neglected for too long. However, if both countries maintain their political will and willingness to listen to each other, I believe we will be able to navigate this working process,” he said.
“There is no need to jump ahead. Information on the outcome of the negotiations will be provided in due course,” he added.
Meanwhile, Moon of Alabama says that the US side risks getting further entangled in Ukraine via the controversial rare earths minerals deal being sought by the Trump White House…
…
This “will lead to the failure of his peace initiative,” the geopolitical blog continues. “The war Ukraine is now destined to become Trump’s Vietnam.” Let’s hope this doesn’t become the case.
What will Trump say to Starmer today?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2025 15:55 utc | 19
To English Outsider ( Feb 27 2025 14:29 utc | 2 ):
Yes, megalomania.
Back in the day NATO defense of Europe was always based on winning time for reinforcements and any onset/development into nuclear war or deescalation by diplomacy.
No normal person in the NATO of roughly thirty years ago and earlier during most of the cold war had any serious belief in anything else being possible or likely. In comparison we now have the current madness of attacking Russia.
Yes there were loons back then too but they were kept in check, somehow that failed spectacularly.
· · · · · · · ·
Ctiger that would be amazing but they should have done it with Nethanyahoo first.
· · · · · · · ·
Zet: nope, just no. 100% fantasy and even if it wasn’t it would be nothing but self-harm.
The Washington Post is bad for anyone’s brain, just ignore their nonsense.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 27 2025 15:55 utc | 20
Trump tried to ignore him, which would have been the better strategy – But Z caught him at his weak spot: money.
…
Exactly this advice is what Trump should ignore in order to terminate the war.
Posted by: grunzt | Feb 27 2025 15:49 utc | 18
Is that the new line of the Trump fangirls? Now Z played Trump? Just because the lord must not be another manager of the empire? Usually I stay away from this expression but come on: WAKE UP!
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:57 utc | 21
Zet: nope, just no. 100% fantasy and even if it wasn’t it would be nothing but self-harm.
The Washington Post is bad for anyone’s brain, just ignore their nonsense.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Feb 27 2025 15:55 utc | 20
Trump: “It’s a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there,” Trump explained during his Cabinet meeting Wednesday. “We’re going to be working over there. We’ll be on the land. And you know, that way it’s this sort of automatic security, because nobody’s going to be messing around with our people when we’re there.”
It’s not fantasy, it’s what will happen: make “peace” and start mining, all while re-building the military potential of Ukraine (and also Europe) for another take in 2028+.
Will it work out? I’ve got my doubts but we will see if the Empire hasn’t crashed until then.
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 16:03 utc | 22
Trump just dealt Russia a devastating blow
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/27/minerals-deal-ukraine-russia/
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:45 utc | 16
Or a division of spoils?
Posted by: jopalolive | Feb 27 2025 16:03 utc | 23
Posted by: pepe | Feb 27 2025 15:39 utc | 14
It’s so irritating to see the reality of my nation being a British colony that also gets pushed around by DC. I’ve had to accept the reality that I will likely never see a sovereign Canada
Posted by: Chris N | Feb 27 2025 16:11 utc | 24
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:45 utc | 16
Seriously?? First of all, there is no deal yet… Secondly, Russia will just keep on pushing forward. Just for the sake of argument, suppose a “deal” does get signed. If you are a US company, are you going to send your employees into a war zone? If so, when? and where? just a propaganda piece by the Washington Post hardly worth commenting on …
Posted by: ctiger | Feb 27 2025 16:13 utc | 25
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 16:03 utc | 22
You’re in need of some critical thinking skills. The agreement isn’t legally binding, and would not be implemented for years. No US business is going anywhere near Ukraine without a peace deal and a cessation to hostilities
Don’t let yourself get gas lit by Trumps BS – remember what LoveDonbass wrote: paraphrasing
90% of what Trump says is BS
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 16:15 utc | 26
Some domestic denazification required.
“Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a Kiev-backed neo-Nazi militia force, will take part in an anti-Kremlin march in Berlin on Saturday, organizers have confirmed. Other participants have expressed safety concerns, citing threats issued by the RDK’s leader.
On Wednesday, the RDK announced its intention to join the demonstration in the German capital organized by various political factions opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement urged “all supporters of the armed struggle by the Russian people against the Kremlin regime to attend this event, gather under our banners, and together show the world the real Russian opposition.”
RDK leader Denis Kapustin, known as ‘Nikitin’ and nicknamed ‘White Rex’, issued a warning to rival opposition groups attending the event, in particular supporters of libertarian politician Mikhail Svetov and “other degenerates.” Kapustin cautioned them to “mind your f*cking mugs” and remember that RDK members “will hit first,” as reported on social media.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2025 16:16 utc | 27
Posted by: Chris N | Feb 27 2025 16:11 utc | 24
#########
I find that most Canadians don’t understand the role or effect of having a Governor General.
Makes me giggle every time some neo-liberal Canadian pol mentions democracy.
It’s just another colony.
Children.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 16:18 utc | 28
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 16:15 utc | 26
#######
These days I focus little on Trump and more on China/Iran.
Trump will say anything. Those countries have a record and responsibility for making accurate statements.
I do find Trump endlessly amusing and entertaining. If one was investing based on Trump’s claims, they would be broke quickly.
People watch WWE for the drama, not the technical fighting. Trump is pro-wrestling on a governmental scale.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 16:23 utc | 29
Trump: “It’s a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there,” Trump explained during his Cabinet meeting Wednesday. “We’re going to be working over there. We’ll be on the land. And you know, that way it’s this sort of automatic security, because nobody’s going to be messing around with our people when we’re there.”
It’s not fantasy, it’s what will happen: make “peace” and start mining, all while re-building the military potential of Ukraine (and also Europe) for another take in 2028+.
Will it work out? I’ve got my doubts but we will see if the Empire hasn’t crashed until then.
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 16:03 utc | 22
Russia had no problem with hitting foreign instructors including americans and mercs since the beginning of the SMO, they’re not going to stop doing that now. If it means killing every servant of the criminal american regime in Ukraine, so be it, better for Russia and the whole world. There will be no ceasfire to allow Ukraine to rebuild and try again, Putin won’t make the same mistake twice.
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Feb 27 2025 16:28 utc | 30
If I understood correctly Russia has already offered the US to obtain the rare earths from them in a joint project.
I dont think Trump means to send those workers to the russian territories where those substances are unless he is invited to do so by Russia
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Feb 27 2025 16:31 utc | 31
Going in Ukraine to secure and control the mining supposes that a deal has been concluded with Russia to stop the hostilities beforehand. Russia won’t accept a deal that will allow to rearm Ukraine because the « Americans are in Ukraine and cannot be exterminated.
Illusions.
Trump should stop talking Russia something and talking the opposite with Ukraine or the eurotards.
Posted by: scc | Feb 27 2025 16:33 utc | 32
Interesting development that Elon is requesting the USDOJ to detain and interrogate Volo the First when he comes to DC
Elon is convinced that Volo had a lead role in the torture and death of an American journalist in a Ukrainian jail…….a crime which the senile patient Joe Biden completely ignored……….
Posted by: tobias cole | Feb 27 2025 16:34 utc | 33
Volo will be a no show in DC Friday, you can bet on that……….
Posted by: tobias cole | Feb 27 2025 16:36 utc | 34
“I find that most Canadians don’t understand”
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 16:18 utc | 28
You could have stopped there. No need for a specific topic.
I am Canadian and am surrounded by those who “don’t know that they don’t know”, certain that they are well informed and knowledgeable. They parrot that which is on TV, so it must be correct to them. “It was on the news” is often the presented argument. Any further prodding for other argument is just confusing to them.
It is not even worth trying to educate them. If, by some miracle, you can get them to understand that something they ‘know’ is untrue, they will be angry and vindictive that you have broken their illusion. Not that it matters or is worth doing as, within a few days or hours, they will have reset to their previous belief.
I doubt it is much different in other Western countries, as teh forigners I know seem to behave similar.
Posted by: saner | Feb 27 2025 16:38 utc | 35
@LoveDonbass
A disciplined mind will learn to tune out everything Trump says or posts. He’ll gas light everyone; just look at the ridiculous AI-generated video he threw out on Gaza.
It is a deliberate tactic designed to get people distracted and talk about the irrelevant while hiding the real card under a shell. It’s misdirection.
Notice that nobody is talking about how his Gaza plan is going nowhere? How he’s following in Biden’s footsteps?
I see too many good commenters still falling for it. Ignore what he says, watch what actions he takes.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 16:39 utc | 36
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:45 utc | 16
Lol! Anybody quoting the WP on anything related to geopolitics is a complete moron.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 16:45 utc | 37
@ ctiger | Feb 27 2025 15:32 utc | 11
well, that would certainly resolve the quagmire surrounding zelensky if the usa was to do that!! that is killing a few birds with one stone and it will drive the eu and rest of the nato puppets wacky…. i like the idea… i doubt very much the usa would do this..
Posted by: james | Feb 27 2025 16:49 utc | 38
@ Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 16:45 utc | 37
i see zet as just the opposite fwiw… the wapo on the other hand – moronic for sure.. all the blackrock, imf, world bank money sunk into ukraine means wall st is heavily invested already… war=money and is basis for this stupid war…. as of yet – their is no accountability of any of it either by those who are most responsible for it… trump is mostly a circus side show distraction..
Posted by: james | Feb 27 2025 16:52 utc | 39
Volo will be a no show in DC Friday, you can bet on that……….
Posted by: tobias cole | Feb 27 2025 16:36 utc | 34
Only kabuky.
You are not going to tell Volo, or anyone else, in advance that you will jail them if you really want to jail them.
So, USA will do nothing or it’s simply a mean to trash the rare earth business.
Posted by: Mario | Feb 27 2025 16:54 utc | 40
I find that most Canadians don’t understand the role or effect of having a Governor General.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 16:18 utc | 28
It means that Canadians can treat politicians with the contempt that they deserve. (without offending the titular head of state)
Posted by: dh-mtl | Feb 27 2025 16:59 utc | 41
Only kabuky.
You are not going to tell Volo, or anyone else, in advance that you will jail them if you really want to jail them.
So, USA will do nothing or it’s simply a mean to trash the rare earth business.
Posted by: Mario | Feb 27 2025 16:54 utc | 40
It is a fake, there is no article on WSJ that says Elon has written a letter to DOJ about Gonzalo implicating Zelensky. The post on DDGeopolitics that stated and the possible arrest of Zelensky is gone too.
This on the other hand is real, peace deal any minute now, lmao.
Trump extended for a year a number of sanctions that the United States imposed against Russia in connection with the “threat to the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the White House reported.
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Feb 27 2025 17:01 utc | 42
Perhaps this follow up by Naked Capitalism is relevant here?: https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/02/col-douglas-macgregor-why-is-trump-arming-ukraine.html
Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 27 2025 17:16 utc | 43
The rare earths mining deal is beginning to remind me of the Three Stooges. Zelensky’s term ended last May; the Rada as well. Now I learn that the justices of Ukraine’s constitutional court and their version of the Supreme court)are on the run! There is no way to legally challenge the rare earths agreement in court or else: you wind up like Gonzalo Lira.
Posted by: Stierlitz | Feb 27 2025 17:22 utc | 44
90% of what Trump says is BS
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 16:15 utc | 26
Read what I posted in yesterday’s thread.
—
There will be no ceasfire to allow Ukraine to rebuild and try again, Putin won’t make the same mistake twice.
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Feb 27 2025 16:28 utc | 30
Exactly, it’s about a ceasefire not peace – and yes, I’m pretty confident that Putin won’t allow that.
—
Lol! Anybody quoting the WP on anything related to geopolitics is a complete moron.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Feb 27 2025 16:45 utc | 37
The point is not about agreeing with them (“Russia lost!”, yeah right…) but about understanding the thinking behind all of this negotiations & mineral charade. We can see now how the puzzle pieces fit together and what the intention of the Empire might be… it’s not about peace. It’s about shaping the future battlefield.
—
Posted by: james | Feb 27 2025 16:52 utc | 39
Thank you, James.
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 17:23 utc | 45
Today, Sir Keir Stamer is in the US of A and his mission is to hypnotize Mr. Donals John Trump (DJT). Having Trump’s attention fixated as though by a spell, the baron from the City of London is at the White House to accomplish his mission completely unchallenged. The concern here though is that Mr. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (VOZ) will push for a new NATO based in Ukraine, planed and crafted by the aggressive but savvy British empire and the House of Lords. Would DJT and Mr. Howard Lutnick agree to it? That’s a different matter altogether.
Posted by: pepe | Feb 27 2025 17:26 utc | 46
I’m sure everyone here has experienced a situation where a project has either been terminated – or at least no longer being actively supported – with commensurate focus, resources and funding being directed elsewhere.
Now imagine your surprise (or bemusement) If you discovered a few laggards were still beating the proverbial dead horse while everyone else has moved on. Maybe B is to blame; after all he continues to post dedicated threads for Ukraine and Palestine.
The biggest global event occurring right now is the US (cold) civil war. If you’re not paying rapt attention, you’re missing what Russia, China and the RoW are intently studying as it effects both their domestic policies and strategic interests.
Ukraine is not just yesterday’s news, it’s a real distraction from being fully informed as to how the post Pax América age is going to play out.
Posted by: Markw | Feb 27 2025 17:29 utc | 47
“with an eye toward preparations for achieving a lasting peace settlement in Ukraine.”
@Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2025 15:55 utc | 19
That is fake, ZH fantasies for their low iq readers. The meeting today was publicly of officially announced to be about embassies and other things like that, most of them actually closed by Tronald Dump. There were no talks on Ukr or anything else scheduled today and that was explicitly stated. Sure, they can say one thing and do another, but that was the official topic. Even Putin said yesterday that there were no serious talks on Ukr with US, currently everything is about bilateral relations which were in large part broken by Mr Dump himself.
Posted by: rk | Feb 27 2025 17:32 utc | 48
Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 27 2025 17:16 utc | 43
This is excellent and just shows that b (and myself) might be on the right track.
If you have time to listen, start at 1:00, with Boris Johnson praising the prospect of a US-Ukraine minerals agreement because it “commits the US to a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine.”
That’s what I was talking about yesterday when I said that the UK got the memo, the EU not (well, they caught up today).
Oh, and it’s not only about minerals… remember ports. Odessa is the big prize and Macron is happy to secure Trumps “investments” by putting his troops there, maybe even enabling fresh weapons shipments. And now Starmer is also in the US… that should give us more information in which direction the ship is heading.
Russia won’t allow that and it will be interesting to watch the propaganda machine spin it then as: “see, we always told you. Russia is not interested in peace, doesn’t allow European troops, now we really have to get going”.
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 17:42 utc | 49
according to south korean stupi.. i mean intelligence, more invisible north koreans are beeing sent to kursk.
i wonder if they ride the new sentient ai donkeys that russia has deployed. i have reliable sources close to the matter, that i have to keep anonymous of course, that those are beeing used as launchpads for the hypersonic washingmashines.
oh and the donkeys have no socks. almost forgot that.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 17:44 utc | 50
The minerals deal negotiated between the United States and Ukraine is a devastating development for Russia… Once implemented, it will mean that Russia has effectively lost the war.
I agree. Russia is weak.
Putin is afraid of Trump becsuse Trump is a rich alpha male.
Posted by: vargas | Feb 27 2025 17:45 utc | 51
they should have absolutely nothing to do w/ the Russian – the sanctions are taking effect and that country needs to be contained, not rewarded for their crimes
Posted by: abee | Feb 27 2025 17:47 utc | 52
“Ignore what he says, watch what actions he takes”
Simple as that.
Might attend to inactions by others as well
don’t follow the medias misdirections.
Follow your own interests.
Posted by: Not Ewe | Feb 27 2025 17:48 utc | 53
it will mean that Russia has effectively lost the war.
Posted by: vargas | Feb 27 2025 17:45 utc | 51
please explain how, and give us your train of thought on how you came to this conclusion. thank you very much.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 17:49 utc | 54
and give us your train of thought on how you came to this conclusion
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 17:49 utc | 54
must have seen it on Thomas the tank engine, since he doesn’t watch Dima anymore
Posted by: 5thcolumn | Feb 27 2025 17:54 utc | 55
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 17:49 utc | 54
but but but the russkies do not stand on capitol hill so they lost, they always wanted that! Kappa :3
Posted by: Macpott | Feb 27 2025 17:57 utc | 56
12 – It depends. In the US and British armies, a typical battalion commander would be a lieutenant-colonel. This was certainly true in WW2. However, in the German and Soviet armies, perhaps because a full-strength battalion might be only 500 or 600 men, it was quite common for captains to be battalion commanders.
Posted by: Waldorf | Feb 27 2025 18:00 utc | 57
Canada has a huge Nazi problem, but they are the politically useful kind of Nazi so the government has turned a blind eye to it for the last 60 yrs. The Nazis here dont run around with the swastika as such or call themselves Nazis. Instead, they waive around nationalist flags for made up micro-states and call themselves ethnic minorities that want independence. But when you look into the people the idolize, lol and behold nothing but a collection of Nazis informers and collaborators. Even worse, when you look at their policies and then look at a map, you realize these people claim to represent populations that make up at most 20% of the regions they are demanding control of. What are they going to do with the 80% of the population that isn’t part of tiny little group, obviously they plan to ethnically cleanse them – but of course no one in the West ever asks that question.
Posted by: Kadath | Feb 27 2025 18:03 utc | 58
The english will be moved to Greenland.
Starmer will sell england (he’l get a good deal)
England will be bulldozed and made into a large golf course.
It was a good deal a very very good deal.
Were all be happy in Greenland ! The donald told us.
So thats all right then.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 27 2025 18:03 utc | 59
7 – Kapustin is presumably derived from the word kapusta which means “cabbage”. Appropriate…
Posted by: Waldorf | Feb 27 2025 18:05 utc | 60
English Outsider // 2
Neocons: Former Eastern European (mostly Polish, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian), and Russian Jews who backed Trotsky. When Stalin exiled Trotsky, many of Trotsky’s supporters moved to western Europe and the United States. For context, Trotsky wanted to use Russia as a base to conquer the world (Permanent Revolution). Stalin wanted to limit the communist revolution to the areas controlled by the former Russian Empire (Socialism in One Country). The Trotsky Jews in the United States became disillusioned with attempts to unseat Stalin as the Soviet leader. They began to hide their pro-socialist beliefs and joined the Republican party posing as anti-communist freedom lovers. The idea was these were commies who had seen the light and turned to good. That’s why they got the name neo (new) conservatives. Turns out these Jews never had allegiance to the United States, but saw the country as a base to launch a take over of Russia which they would then use as the Heartland (see Halford Mackinder) base to realize Trotsky’s dream of a global Jewish empire. Along the way, non Jews (the Bush family, Cheney family, Rumsfeld, etc.) joined the neocons. None of them give a shit about the United States. It’s only a tool to be used for their personal ambitions of becoming rulers of the world.
MAGA: A large number of Americans who are sick of having a bloated, corrupt, and predatory government. They don’t care about anyone or anything outside of the United States. They have no interest in your country and they have been constantly annoyed for decades as the U.S. government has stuck Americans into the petty little conflicts of worthless, shitty foreigners. They want to return to the American isolationism of the pre-1890s where they can get married, have kids, raise their families and be left alone. People who identify as MAGA want isolation.
So when I read someone saying something about “neocons exceptionalism” or “MAGA chest-beating,” I know I am dealing with someone who is profoundly ignorant of what these factions represent and believe.
Posted by: Nobody Special | Feb 27 2025 18:08 utc | 61
nobody special @ 61
back in the day of the jim crow laws.
Good luck with that (sarc)
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 27 2025 18:16 utc | 62
News from Rutte after a telephone conversation with Trump:
Allies are preparing to provide Kiev with “additional billions” in aid
Some countries are also preparing to allocate contributions for security guarantees for Ukraine
“NATO allies are rapidly increasing their defense investments. Large increases have been announced, and more will follow.”
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 18:18 utc | 63
“”Elon Musk has written a formal letter to new FBI Director Cash Patel about bringing in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a suspect in the murder of American journalist Gonzalo Lira.” WSJ”
Elongated Mush [Elon Musk] is over-estimating his importance. He is NOT in the chain of command, he’s just the president sweetheart.
Posted by: lester | Feb 27 2025 18:22 utc | 64
“NATO allies are rapidly increasing their defense investments. Large increases have been announced, and more will follow.”
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 18:18 utc | 63
—
Two idiots at an auction can bid up a worthless lot to the moon.
In such a situation the only winner is the auctioneer.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 27 2025 18:23 utc | 65
Interesting. In German.
Trump has no time.
https://fktdeutsch.wordpress.com/2025/02/26/friedensgesprache-in-riad/
Posted by: Diego | Feb 27 2025 18:30 utc | 66
Journalists and artists are reportedly banned from leaving Ukraine. Z-team takes everyone under control.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 27 2025 18:34 utc | 67
USAID was into everything in Ukraine.
“The US Agency for International Development (USAID) funneled millions in American taxpayer dollars into Ukrainian fashion and pet companies, then attempted to hide the funding from Congress, American conservative newspaper the Federalist reported on Wednesday.
While they were restricted in what they were allowed to see, Ernst’s staff found that millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded grants were funneled into Ukrainian confectionery, fashion and pet companies, the Federalist wrote.
The agency allocated Ukrainian luxury fashion businesses a total of roughly $733,000, a “custom carpet manufacturer” a $2 million grant, and a “specialty biscuit and confectionery company” around $678,000, the outlet said.
Beyond the “in-camera review,” USAID “failed to provide any of these documents” to her staff, Ernst said. The agency often cites national security as a reason for keeping “controversial charges” in its books obscure, the Federalist wrote.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2025 18:42 utc | 68
Russia – would be mad to return to the status quo with the US and the EU for that matter, once hostilities (to an extent) cease with Ukraine. Continuing, to develop means away from the dollar – must be the safety net that the Global South and Russia and China must attain.
“A US ban on providing petroleum services to Russia officially took effect on Thursday, in the latest round of sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.
The restrictions on the operations of American companies in Russia are part of sanctions targeting the country’s oil production and exports, which was approved by the US Treasury Department in conjunction with the UK on January 10.
The measure bars US services for extracting and producing crude oil and other petroleum products in Russia. The export or re-export of oil production services, including their indirect sale, has also been prohibited. Additionally, 30 Russian companies have been placed on a special sanctions list.
Businesses were given a grace period to wind down their operations with Russian partners, which ended on February 27. Three major projects – the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Tengizchevroil, and Sakhalin-2 – were granted exemptions and will be allowed to receive US services under a special license until June 28.
The sanctions were introduced less than two weeks before the end of Joe Biden’s term as US president.
It targeted two major Russian oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, along with their subsidiaries and entities providing insurance and transportation services. More than 180 vessels allegedly used to transport Russian oil in defiance of Western restrictions – described by the US as a ‘shadow fleet’ – were also sanctioned.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2025 18:45 utc | 69
Le Petit, made very little progress in Washington.
“French President Emmanuel Macron failed to secure any concrete US security guarantees for Ukraine during his recent talks with President Donald Trump in Washington, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Trump met with Macron at the White House on Monday, where the US leader reiterated his desire for an end to the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, while refraining from condemning Moscow. Macron agreed that he also wanted “a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine,” but stressed that this “must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians.”
According to Politico, Macron tried to get assurances for Kiev from Trump, but without much success, and later briefed his EU counterparts on the results of the talks during a hastily convened 30-minute video conference.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2025 18:51 utc | 70
If I were Trump I would have Zelensky in my office Friday along with pat Bondi and Patel.
Then I would instruct Z. to sign the pillaging deal with no security guarantee or the FBI and DOJ will be charging him and detaining him by defrauding the USA.
Machine-translated from https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/news/detail/9886
The Ukrainian Defense Industry
However, another source that could be profitable in one way or another may open up—the Ukrainian defense industry. This industry has grown rapidly since the beginning of the war. For example, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) points out in a recent analysis that the defense conglomerate Ukrainian Defense Industry (formerly UkrOboronProm) was able to increase its revenues by 69 percent to $2.2 billion in 2023 alone. Smaller defense companies are also booming. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) reports that the number of startups supplying the Ukrainian armed forces more than doubled in 2024 and now stands at around 1,500. They produce a wide variety of products—from drones controlled by fiber optic technology, which cannot be jammed, to remote-controlled machine guns for unmanned ground vehicles, and even anti-drone drones. SIPRI describes the sector as “dynamic, diverse, and innovative.” Additionally, their products are said to be battle-tested.
Investment Opportunities
Ukrainian officials and industry experts regularly point out that investments in Ukrainian defense companies—especially some startups—could be very lucrative for Western companies in the long term. Some Western European corporations, including Rheinmetall, have now established a foothold at Ukrainian sites. Although the volume of investments is still small, with reports indicating a total amount of only between $20 and $40 million, a noticeable upswing is said to be emerging.
Export Hopes
Furthermore, the Ukrainian defense industry is beginning to hope for lucrative arms exports. Recently, Ukrainian arms manufacturers called on the government in Kyiv to ease a wartime export ban that is currently in place. A representative of the industry explained in December that production capacities had now been created, some of which exceeded what the Ukrainian armed forces needed: “Everything that our army does not need or cannot buy, we propose to export in a controlled manner to countries of the Ramstein Group.” There was talk of an export potential of defense goods worth more than 10 billion euros. Manufacturing costs in Ukraine are far below those in Western Europe; taxes and levies bring money into the heavily indebted state treasury as weapons production increases, which favors the repayment of billions in loans to the EU.
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 18:54 utc | 72
Le Petit wants in on the stripping of Ukrainian minerals – maybe that’s why he met with the Orange Yankee Zionist POTUS Trump, – of course Le Petit’s troops, have been unceremoniously booted out of many African countries – (mainly in the Sahel) and now, he has a plethora of troops standing around not making money for the French elite or French corporations – of which French politicians receive kick-backs.
“Paris would like to participate in the discussions between Washington and Kiev about developing Ukraine’s mineral resources, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has said. Speaking on Franceinfo radio on Tuesday, he revealed that France has been engaged in talks with Ukraine since October about securing raw materials for its defense industry.
This comes as the US and Ukraine have recently been negotiating a deal over the latter’s mineral resources. US President Donald Trump initially sought $500 billion in compensation from Kiev for US military and financial support but has since reportedly dropped this demand. Meanwhile, the EU has also expressed interest in Ukraine’s mineral wealth and has proposed a separate agreement to secure access to key resources.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2025 19:06 utc | 73
Feels like “rare earth” is the new bubble now the “AI” bubble is deflating.
It feels like not being worth what it’s sold by a lot… seeing Hellensky overplaying the new trending scam is quite telling.
The best part is all the usuals morrons falling for it. I loved how VVP was “wise trolling” DJT : you want ? Take it all “winner” we couldn’t care less.
Nothing good is gonna come out of this.
Posted by: Hiro on mobile | Feb 27 2025 19:07 utc | 74
Kadath@58…. Canada does not have a huge Nazi problem…..Canada has a huge Zionist problem…..
Cheers M
….the Nazi bit makes for great distraction…..
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 27 2025 19:13 utc | 75
The Ukrainian state still functions. Their army is still able to hold the line. So much money is poured into Ukraine. And Putin wants to negotiate. Russia wants to negotiate as it cannot defeat Ukraine. Thst is my chain of thoughts.
Posted by: vargas | Feb 27 2025 19:15 utc | 76
Re: Sean @75,
you can have both a Nazis problem and a Zionist problem at the same time, they after all want the same thing, just in different places in the world. Both Ideologies are equally abhorrent and should be shunned by proper people. But they justify foreign war & oppression so our Oligarchs are in love with both of them
Posted by: Kadath | Feb 27 2025 19:20 utc | 77
Posted by: canuck | Feb 27 2025 18:51 utc | 71
############
That will happen right after Trump locks up Hillary.
Donald has had his opportunities to go Dark MAGA and always backed down. Even the deportations are mostly for show.
I don’t know if he doesn’t have the means or he doesn’t have the inclination.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 19:27 utc | 79
Posted by: Zet | Feb 27 2025 15:45 utc | 16
You may have not noted mr zet, but Trump said the minerals deal starts AFTER “the end of the conflict”.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 27 2025 19:29 utc | 80
Russia wants to negotiate as it cannot defeat Ukraine. Thst is my chain of thoughts.
Posted by: vargas | Feb 27 2025 19:15 utc | 76
then you obviously havent paid a single dinar of attention.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 19:31 utc | 81
OK…peacekeeping troops. Thats fine. Shall we say those will come from the likes of….eg
INDIA? CHILE? ANGOLA? Vietnam?
….or any combination of global south countries?
Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 27 2025 19:39 utc | 82
If that’s your chain of thoughts, vargas, I can recommend a good addiction therapist, you obviously have a glue-sniffing problem.
We can all fight drugs, together!
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 19:43 utc | 83
As long as Russia keeps bombing central and western Ukraine I won’t believe in the ‘effectiveness’ of any mineral deal
Posted by: Night Tripper | Feb 27 2025 19:48 utc | 84
There has been a vast improvement in telling us what we want to hear since Trump took office.
Posted by: Deniz | Feb 27 2025 19:53 utc | 85
🇷🇺Observers in the trenches are now being replaced by remotely controlled machine gun systems.
This one is armed with a 12.7mm Kord machine gun. The operator remains warm and safe inside a bunker while controlling it.
https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1895195565727850568
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 27 2025 19:55 utc | 86
51 are you gesting? Putin is worth 70 billion and he’s hardly a beta. Putin has survived in the swamps of post Glasnost Europe and has given Russia her esteem back. Putin has rebuilt a country not just a few condos and leisure resorts.
Posted by: Cavery | Feb 27 2025 20:01 utc | 87
https://x.com/i/status/1894882856033571270
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: If you take a step back and assess the situation from the strategic level, Russia is a dead man walking.
I don’t know exactly when Russia will run out of manpower or equipment. It could happen next year, or it could take three or four.
But Russia is on a timer, and Putin knows it. That’s why he is so desperate to settle this conflict as soon as possible.
If our decision-makers had even a modicum of ambition and foresight, we would have no problem sustaining Ukraine’s war effort until Russia exhausts its resources. The primary issue we are dealing with in Europe remains a lack of understanding and political will, not capacity.
Posted by: FR Hoffmann | Feb 27 2025 20:29 utc | 89
IMHO Trump is NOT going to grant Anyone anything. He is however willing to establish as precident the willingness to sell Anyone including the NATO or Ukraine any military hardware.
He is also willing to take natural resources instead of hard currency.
He is more than willing to set up a deal where Russia, Ukraine, and the US work together to extract minerals in Ukraine for profit.
For those of you who think that is not possible in a war zone I point to Russia and Ukraine working together in energy/gas transit during the entirety of the SMO.
Just my opinion.
Posted by: TundraTide | Feb 27 2025 20:30 utc | 90
For those with a strong stomach, live link to Trump-Starmer press conference:
https://thehill.com/video-clips/5167259-watch-live-donald-trump-keir-starmer-white-house/
So far nothing but bloviating, lies, and platitudes.
Nothing about a backstop of UK or French troops or any words by Trump suggesting something has changed
Starmer says UK is “all-in” and ready to share more of the security burden.
Q&A from the press still coming …
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 20:42 utc | 91
Who is actually pushing for the mis-named “minerals” deal?
Some forgotten background….
Back in 2014 the Ukrainian Central Bank gold [maybe $150b in value at that time] was extracted in the dead of night and acquired by the NY Fed bank.
[there are 2014 news reports of this that I linked to some months back]
Now, the NY fed wants more collateral.
Take note, the Trumpelstiltskin blather about “rare” earths is camouflage for a much more and wider resource grab.
Watch for more details to leach out between now and Zelensky’s White House photo op.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2025 20:43 utc | 92
BBC intro. Titles uses “Mr” Trump then “President” Zelensky.
This link has is for just the intro. The rest is time consuming nonsense and already out of date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtBsMw4T4T4
>…President Trump confirms no US security guarantee for Ukraine | BBC News] {why do they want the unwashed to believe there’s no “security guarantee”.?}
~~~~~
Two despicable creatures of The Blob.
Amanpour providing a platform for Ben Wallace. Who weighs in {pun intended) on increasing defence spending.
fundamentally we’re going to have growing defense bending continuing that is important uh uh for all of us in Europe and we better better listen to this if we if we really value NATO we’ve got to step up [and increase defence spending]
And
“…… if you really want to change your culture cut something else in your public spending and focus on lifting your defense spending and indicate to the Russians that you aren’t going anywhere and that you are going to defend both Ukraine and indeed invest in your own defense capability that’s the best deterence of all
Fuck him.
I’m not a Brit, but where they are leading, Australia soon follows.
Schools, health, potholes and public transport. I don’t want a single AUD taken from these to bolster “defence” spending on conflated poxy proxy wars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_Em_1Jnn4
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2025 20:48 utc | 93
Q&A
Starmer: No US backstop if any UK troops go into Ukraine, more talks needed, blah, blah, blah.
(My readout: He got nothing from Trump, just like a good little pet he’ll roll over.)
The UK press guy is trying to provoke Trump, asking about calling the Green Goblin a dictator.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 20:54 utc | 94
That’s why he is so desperate to settle this conflict as soon as possible.
Posted by: FR Hoffmann | Feb 27 2025 20:29 utc | 89
you forgot the “weak”. honestly, after usaid has been cut off, the quality of the nafos has sunk.
but points for keeping the “desperate” narrative management going. maybe theres hope for a bigger cubicle.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 27 2025 21:01 utc | 95
Europe is toast…. A PhD makes 1800e …. soon flooding to India and China.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 27 2025 21:11 utc | 97
Why are France and the UK stating they will place “peacekeeping” forces in Ukraine?
Because Russia is incrementally encroaching on significant investments in places like Kharkiv.
Nat Rothschild had $2 Trillion invested in Kharkiv and mining interests in the East, just before the war in 2022.
Now they’re worth $0 while the war goes on.
Kharkiv Development & Investment — International Conference 2021
Look at what was “on the table” Three years on, Kharkiv is vulnerable, and the lucrative reconstruction contracts will be lost also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VE5UNfpMzE&t=49s
Decolonisating Russia: A moral and strategic imperative | Jun 2022
https://www.csce.gov/briefings/decolonizing-russia-a-moral-and-strategic-imperative/
For the Red Shield aficionados:
On top of the projected value of the mining interests Rothschild has majority ownership of, the redevelopment loans Rothschild has made the Government of Ukraine since 2014, and the contract value of Rothschild becoming the central banker of Ukraine to “restructure Ukraine’s debt”, the total value of all investment are approximately $2T — all worth nothing while a war is going on, mining is closed down, and redevelopment infrastructure isn’t being built because it’s being hit with missiles.
https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/ukraine-picks-rothschild-as-advisor-hopes-for-debt-swap-idUSL8N1LO3RP/
Nathaniel Philip Victor James Rothschild, 5th Baron Rothschild (born 12 July 1971), is a British-born financier who settled in Switzerland and is a member of the Rothschild family.
Chairman of Volex plc, a UK-listed manufacturer. He has a wide range of international business interests.
https://www.volex.com/investor-relations/our-leadership/
Nat Rothschild joined Volex in 2015 as a Non-Executive Director and quickly became Executive Chairman. Nat has extensive experience in principal investing and corporate finance and has held a significant number of directorships over the years. Through his investment company NR Holdings Ltd, Nat is the largest shareholder in Volex plc. Nat holds a degree in History from Oxford University and an MSc in Addiction Studies
https://www.volex.com/our-products/integrated-manufacturing-services/printed-circuit-board-assembly-pcba/
And
Rothschild chides Trump for his unpredictability, but approves of increased defence spending.
https://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com/en/news/show/1565-14705-market-flash-as-peace-talks-between-russia-and-ukraine-start-donald-trump-remains-unpredictable
European markets continued to surge thanks to financials, healthcare and defence. Financials gained on central bank calls for an easing in European banking regulations.
Defence gained on news concerning the Ukraine conflict after European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen suggested excluding defence spending from government deficit calculations.
This should mean a surge in defence budgets.
Saab, Leonardo, Thales and Rheinmetall all gained on the news as did Exosens which recently listed in Paris.
In macroeconomic indicators, PMIs showed no real signs activity was recovering.
France came in at 44.5 but Germany edged surprisingly into expansionary territory at 51.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2025 21:11 utc | 98
If that’s your chain of thoughts, vargas, I can recommend a good addiction therapist, you obviously have a glue-sniffing problem.
We can all fight drugs, together!
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 27 2025 19:43 utc | 83
Maybe I am stupid, but that seems to be obvious.
Ukraine stands, the West is unified again, Trump, unfortunately fooled Putin into negotiations, or Putin was begging for that.
So, one fact draws the other, a simple chain of thoughts.
we see that the Serbian leader (criminal) is betraying Russia more and more. What does that mean, that Russia is weaker and losing respect.
I am not glad with my conclusions, but I am rational.
Posted by: vargas | Feb 27 2025 21:18 utc | 99
All Europeans and the Brits have disqualified themselves from any UN authorised peace keeping force because they are protagonists; they have declared their undying enmity to Russia and its people., and have been open about orchestrating terrorist attacks on Russia itself. Britain has gone out of its way to commit acts of war against Russia which makes British troops a legitimate and legal target.
As for metal deposits in Ukraine, there are lots of them.
Minefields, unexploded ordinance, and thousands of dead bodies will make prospecting for minerals too much of an interesting experience.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Feb 27 2025 21:21 utc | 100