Ukraine Open Thread 2025-060
News & views related to the war in Ukraine ...
Posted by b on March 23, 2025 at 14:37 UTC | Permalink
next page »An interesting point, with just a sliver of Kursk , AFU is still losing 190 per day there.
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 23 2025 15:37 utc | 2
I get the impression that Russia operates this war on a quota basis, with a target of around 1000 Nazi corpses a day. If they achieve this quota they don’t advance and are content to let the other side feed them meat. If it starts to drop, they take over one more village or do an incremental advance to goad the Ukies into a mindless counter blitz which seems to work 100% of the time. Repeat and rinse. Hence why Kursk is not yet fully cleared: it’s still “profitable” to them.
It remains the most amazing thing about this war that the Ukrainian people keep supplying this daily quota without complaint. The power of mind control on full display.
Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 23 2025 16:01 utc | 3
Ukraine Weekly Update, 21st March 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-f46
Posted by: The Busker | Mar 23 2025 16:05 utc | 4
" I get the impression that Russia operates this war on a quota basis, with a target of around 1000 Nazi corpses a day. If they achieve this quota they don’t advance and are content to let the other side feed them meat.
Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 23 2025 16:01 utc | 3 "
Your theory is only correct if this is an intentional depopulation operation against hapless Ukranian conscripts. Additionally, how many Russians are also lost because of this "quota" system?
Posted by: Salami | Mar 23 2025 16:06 utc | 5
“In this case, we don’t have a traditional victor who imposes capitulation terms on the traditionally defeated adversary,” Andrei Kortunov said. “Any attempt to have a *talk-down* approach to President Putin is not going to work. We should therefore be modest in our expectations. Conservative gains in more neutral areas of the negotiation topics can pave the way to resolving controversial issues in other areas.”
<<
Kortunov, a former director of the Russian International Affairs Commission, was speaking w/ Glenn Diesen and Alexander Mercouris on 23 March.
>>
“In destroying the Deep State, President Trump is destroying the traditional pattern of the relationship with Russia (meaning the frenemy-to-enemy sliding scale of the past 30 years.) “We should not underestimate the resilience of the anti-Russia sentiment in Washington. These trends will not disappear overnight. We’ve got to gauge the current limitations when it comes to Trump’s stance toward Russia.”
<<
One of the great changes over the past three years is that the U.S. found itself in a kinetic war against Russia—-and no matter what the U.S. tried, whether w/ weaponry on the battlefield or w/ sanctions on the economic front, the U.S.’s efforts against Russia did not work: it has been a massive strategic miscalculation, a failure if you like.
Russia has shown itself to be a Great Power, and the U.S. now has to deal w/ that fact. The U.S., which is a Great Power itself, can grok this better than European nations, for instance, who do not evince that type of stature (however much they cosplay.)
>>
“Trump is different than he was in the first term,” Kortunov said, “also the world is not what it was 8 years ago. Trump is more committed and he has a much stronger team behind him now. It’s remarkable, for instance, how Silicon Valley threw support behind him during the campaign. If you go through an assassination attempt like Trump did, it’s a transformative experience. We shouldn’t underestimate the impact this has had on him. The greatest danger for Trump is not on the foreign policy front—it is on the economic front.”
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 16:15 utc | 7
Ukraine has just broke the ceasefire again in Zaporozhye according to governor Balitsky: https://t.me/TheIslanderNews/36590. If were Putin, I'd just call the whole thing off.
Posted by: The Busker | Mar 23 2025 16:18 utc | 9
Trump has planted a 'politically unwordly' figure like Witkoff into peace talks to justify a no-plan 'ceasefire' because the issues are 'too complex' for a political amateur like Witkoff to deal with.
The upshot is the plan to trap Russia into a 'freeze' giving them no recognition for anything while they move on to China and clear up the Russian 'mess' later, is allowed to stay in place.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:23 utc | 10
Trump has planted a 'politically unwordly' figure like Witkoff into peace talks to justify a no-plan 'ceasefire' because the issues are 'too complex' for a political amateur like Witkoff to deal with.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:23 utc | 10
The Zionist Cabal that runs America has sent one of their most trusted intermediaries to handle the really important work of negotiating Ukraine's capitulation to Russia.
There is nothing 'politically unworldy' about Witkoff ("Whitehead?"), he is probably the best sheister the American chapter of Chabad Lubovitch could conjure up for this job.
Amateurs don't get to play in this phase of the game. He is probably one of their best shadow operators.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 23 2025 16:38 utc | 11
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 15:34 utc | 240 (on prior Ukraine thread)
RE: Trump is modifying his language on Putin now...
<<
Maybe DJT did not like the oil painting portrait VVP gave Witkoff to take to him-?
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 16:09 utc | 241
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 16:46 utc | 12
Mr. Donald John Trump (DJT) does not have any cards to play except for bluffing. All of the US of A ”wonder weapons” have been destroyed. They have lost billions due to sanctions, which have backfired. Additionally, they wasted $120 billion and received nothing in return. The Russian Federation (RUF) possesses more nuclear weapons and superior military technology, and there is little the Yanks can do in this situation. Meanwhile, RUF’s economy is strengthening due to its self-reliance and the development of its own technology. The Motherland never disappoints her people and the Supreme Commander in Chief Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (VVP) is our sacred salvation.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 16:53 utc | 13
An interesting point, with just a sliver of Kursk , AFU is still losing 190 per day there.
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 23 2025 15:37 utc | 2
The Russians are giving them the Stalingrad treatment in Kursk. Ukrainian forces are in fields and forests cut off from food, ammo, rest and replacements. The wounded aren't getting care. It's hell on earth there and the Russians are taking their time letting lice, disease, hunger and cold do the work for them. Imaging the smell of the dead, gangerene, hunger, the moans of the wounded and constant shelling 24/7. A quick finish would be merciful.
Posted by: HB_Norica | Mar 23 2025 16:55 utc | 14
There is nothing 'politically unworldy' about Witkoff ("Whitehead?"), he is probably the best sheister the American chapter of Chabad Lubovitch could conjure up for this job.
Amateurs don't get to play in this phase of the game. He is probably one of their best shadow operators.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 23 2025 16:38 utc | 11
yes, well thats why i put in in quotations. but you are saying his inabilty to name the 4 oblasts on camera was all part of the ruse?
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 15
Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 23 2025 16:01 utc | 3
Many expert sources have said in earlier years that RUAF was content with the line not moving, in case the enemy launches attacks in unfavorable circumstances.
Due to British generals running the Ukrainian side, there have been more than enough generous AFU attacks in unfavorable circumstances since the beginning of SMO. But the initiative has moved to RUAF hands after the AFU 2023 'counter-offensive' started seriously failing. Colonel Trukhan said one of the major problems now is the AFU is occasionally retreating, which forces RUAF to advance, making it tougher to gain fire control over enemy positions. Perhaps every round of advance requires another round of detailed recon to find next positions, etc.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 16
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 16:53 utc | 13
I wonder what conspiracy theories will you fall back on, when your version of reality hits the real thing?
Posted by: Milites | Mar 23 2025 17:03 utc | 17
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 15
#########
Guys like Witkoff, Trump, and Lutnick are big picture.
They can always hire some nerd like Elon to work on the details.
Knowing the subject's history or names is errata to these galaxy brains.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 23 2025 17:04 utc | 18
"The Russians are giving them the Stalingrad treatment in Kursk. Ukrainian forces are in fields and forests cut off from food, ammo, rest and replacements. The wounded aren't getting care. It's hell on earth there and the Russians are taking their time letting lice, disease, hunger and cold do the work for them. Imaging the smell of the dead, gangerene, hunger, the moans of the wounded and constant shelling 24/7. A quick finish would be merciful.
Posted by: HB_Norica | Mar 23 2025 16:55 utc | 14"
There is always the option of surrender, with the risk of being shot by the closest NATO advisor or another superior. It is an option nevertheless, and, I'm sure taken by many.
I certainly hope so.
Posted by: g wiltek | Mar 23 2025 17:07 utc | 19
but you are saying his inabilty to name the 4 oblasts on camera was all part of the ruse?
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 15
Absolutely. Because there's really no guarantee it's going to be 4 oblasts or "just oblasts".
You see, after this shitshow there's no way 4 oblasts are going to be enough.
The Russians are pissed and there's no way they're going to let the Americans dictate to them how to slice up Ukraine.
So Witkoff would be presumptive to start mentioning which oblasts exactly whether they'll remain 4 oblasts or be piled into one big "novorossiya" oblast - along with others - because that's probably still under discussion.
Plus there's a diplomatic politics dimension to this:
Naming all the oblasts exactly means that the US has accepted the lines Putin drew on the map. That's not the kind of political concession one gives away for free.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 23 2025 17:10 utc | 20
John Mearsheimer with Daniel Davis' "Deep Dive":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nhV_G4YGi0
One interesting thing in the video was a map of the Ukraine in the (near ???) future (at 03:00) what a future Ukraine could look like.
I am surprised to see that Russia doesn't want to march towards Kiev and occupy the city.
Posted by: WMG | Mar 23 2025 17:13 utc | 21
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 15
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 23 2025 16:38 utc | 11
>>>
Mr. Steven Charles Witkoff (SCW) is not a diplomat but a sales man.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 17:15 utc | 22
Embarrassing but not unexpected. The movement of troops and equipment to attack Belgorod oblast was reported more than a month ago. RUAFs biggest enemy remains corruption and incompetence. No wonder they are not rushing to liberate the new oblasts when a possible peace settlement is in the air. No sane commander would rush his troops into a certain death when a victory is going to be given away again and the high command wants them to fight with one hand behind the back. All the while NATO keeps destroying RUAF on russian land with HIMARS and F-16's.
https://t.me/starshii_pogrannaryada/10758
In the early morning, the enemy was able to engage in small arms battles in the village of Demidovka itself. The presence of small groups of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers is noted in the area of Mostovaya Street. The enemy does not use heavy equipment, the approach of reserves, rotation and evacuation of the wounded is carried out on foot. The enemy is continuously under fire from artillery and aviation, and damage is also inflicted on the concentration of troops in the rear. Both sides are actively using FPV kamikaze drones.The Ukrainian Armed Forces are actively using HIMARS MLRS, as well as guided aerial bombs to destroy our strongholds and command posts. With the help of drones like "Baba Yaga", they are remotely mining the supply and evacuation routes of our group in the Krasnoyarsk region.
The operational and combat situation remains stably tense. Border guards, together with units of the Russian Ministry of Defense, continue to repel enemy attacks.
Posted by: cirnosad | Mar 23 2025 17:21 utc | 24
Essential reading for all non-surface feeders:
Tucker Carlson’s Interview with Steve Witkoff Reveals Surprising Ignorance
23 March 2025 by Larry C. Johnson
"...[Witkoff]...revealed a surprising depth of ignorance about the situation in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. I was shocked...
...
While Mr. Witkoff emphasized and reiterated that President Trump is sincere about securing peace deals between the Palestinians and Israel and between Russia and Ukraine, the terms being offered are likely to fail to entice the Palestinians and the Russians to ignore their own demands.
With respect to Russia, Witkoff demonstrated a similar lack of understanding about Russia’s key demands.... He continues to labor under the delusion that Russia can be finagled into accepting a total 30-day ceasefire.
While Russia is genuine about wanting to restore normal relations with the United States, and sees Donald Trump as the best hope of achieving that goal, Russia is in no hurry to put a hold on its military operations without concrete actions by the West, including an end to military assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine’s withdrawal from Russian territory.
Here is the reality… Trump is more eager to reach a quick deal than is Russia. Russia may be able to throw him a bone by brokering a deal the certifies Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program. Let’s call it JCPOA II. If Russia can persuade Trump that they will guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, this could give Trump a diplomatic victory he yearns for and avert a dangerous war.
Excerpt from:
https://sonar21.com/tucker-carlsons-interview-with-steve-witkoff-reveals-surprising-ignorance/
Posted by: TobyClear | Mar 23 2025 17:26 utc | 25
Posted by: Milites | Mar 23 2025 17:03 utc | 17
>>>
You're barking the wrong tree.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 17:32 utc | 26
Your theory is only correct if this is an intentional depopulation operation against hapless Ukranian conscripts. Additionally, how many Russians are also lost because of this "quota" system?
Posted by: Salami | Mar 23 2025 16:06 utc | 5
It is one of the stated aims of the SMO - demilitarisation of Ukraine.
Posted by: Simon C | Mar 23 2025 17:34 utc | 27
Suicide bomber blows up police station in Odessa.
https://x.com/LogKa11/status/1903859374876930125
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 23 2025 17:35 utc | 28
...] The greatest danger for Trump is not on the foreign policy front—it is on the economic front.”
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 16:15 utc | 7
Very plausible. US may be about to enter recession and stagflation can not be ruled out.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 17:36 utc | 29
Posted by: cirnosad | Mar 23 2025 17:21 utc | 24
Been saying this for months but I've been called a troll. Ukraine is NOT running out of ammunition OR troops any time soon. Money, arms, and mercenaries keep pouring in all the while the sanctions are crippling Russia. Russia better fully mobilize, or they are going to lose this.
Posted by: bored | Mar 23 2025 17:37 utc | 30
If the U.S. achieves a ceasefire on Black Sea commercial vessels in its Saudi talks w/ Ukraine, starting on Sunday 23 March and its talks w/ Russia beginning on Monday 24 March, the guarantee is that Ukraine will breach the ceasefire agreement right & left.
<<
DJT said on Saturday that efforts to stop further escalation in the conflict were “somewhat under control.”
Concern Trolls wring their hands, perseverating over whether there is actually a ceasefire happening when they hear of a series of drone & missile attacks by both Ukraine and Russia.
>>
It is not as if drone & missile attacks will stop for either side, because the war is still ongoing, regardless of a limited ceasefire on targeting energy infrastructure. Russian Forces are on the verge of liberating Chasov Yar, for instance, after 18+ months of tackling the citadel. It is such a choice token. No chance that Russia takes the foot off the gas. It was next on the radar, after all, directly west of Artyomosvk. The capture & liberation of Chasov Yar connects the war's strategic successes since the victory @ Artyomosvk.
<<
Hat tip to Wagnerians.
>>
After Artyomosvk, the Russian Forces racked up robust gains & wins. Practically the entire summer of 2023 was focused on acquiring trophies--the Challenger 2s and Abrams and Leopard 2s--which became metal sculptural art in Moscow's Victory Park. Practically the entire summer of 2023 was spent destroying the AFU during its futile counteroffensive.
<<
On the heels of that critical defense, Russian Forces steamrolled toward Avdeevka. Success after success after success followed. That Chasov Yar now is on tap to fall is a notable coda to what blossomed powerfully in Artyomosvk. The liberation of Chasov Yar is a bookend to Artyomosvk.
<<
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 17:42 utc | 31
28 - A woman, apparently. Female suicide bombers are occasionally found in Turkey, but Odessa?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvLXqghhTPM
A new Russian song about a disused pipeline...
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 23 2025 17:43 utc | 32
It remains the most amazing thing about this war that the Ukrainian people keep supplying this daily quota without complaint. The power of mind control on full display.
Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 23 2025 16:01 utc | 3
It's not such a mystery really. You will beaten, tortured, killed and your family the same if you resist the neo Nazi dictatorship. You can die an official traitor coward behind the lines or die on the line and be buried as a hero patriot.
The wage slave Ukrainian has no civil or political rights in reality.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 23 2025 17:44 utc | 33
The wage slave Ukrainian has no civil or political rights in reality.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 23 2025 17:44 utc | 33
and this will come to the rest of western europe once the unelected autocratic regimes get their war going. people think that they are safe, that they can refuse conscription (germany just revoked this right in january?), that because we are "the civilized west with values", the same grey vans like in the ukraine wont drive around our towns.
the ukrainian wage slave thought the same.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 23 2025 17:51 utc | 34
Your theory is only correct if this is an intentional depopulation operation against hapless Ukranian conscripts. Additionally, how many Russians are also lost because of this "quota" system?
Posted by: Salami | Mar 23 2025 16:06 utc | 5
It is one of the stated aims of the SMO - demilitarisation of Ukraine.
Posted by: Simon C | Mar 23 2025 17:51 utc | 35
Dima:
-massive drone strikes in Odessa and Kiev
-100 FAB type bomb strikes in and around Sumy over past few days
-RUAF making progress into Sumy region from the north of the city
-small AFU pocket in Guyevo
-RUAF making gains into Sumy, in the forests west of Guyevo (this seems to confirm the AFU caught in cauldron in the village, with complete RUAF drone control)
-AFU hasn't managed to improve position in Demidovka or Grafovka (Belgorod region), most likely they will be forced to abandon those positions
-RUAF seems to be poised to continue moving into Dnepropetrovsk region from Ulakly
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 23 2025 17:51 utc | 36
Additionally, how many Russians are also lost because of this "quota" system?
Posted by: Salami | Mar 23 2025 16:06 utc | 5
Up to 200 a day give or take
Average kill ratio between 5 and 6.
----------------
An interesting point, with just a sliver of Kursk , AFU is still losing 190 per day there.
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 23 2025 15:37 utc | 2
The Russians are giving them the Stalingrad treatment in Kursk. Ukrainian forces are in fields and forests cut off from food, ammo, rest and replacements. The wounded aren't getting care. It's hell on earth there and the Russians are taking their time letting lice, disease, hunger and cold do the work for them. Imaging the smell of the dead, gangerene, hunger, the moans of the wounded and constant shelling 24/7. A quick finish would be merciful.
Posted by: HB_Norica | Mar 23 2025 16:55 utc | 14
Last cauldron is guevo, otherwise it's the not too stupid ones that understand that trying to retreat on roads under fire control is a good recepie for a painful suicide. Probably trying to dicretely stroll anyway they can out of there.
----------------
Due to British generals running the Ukrainian side, there have been more than enough generous AFU attacks in unfavorable circumstances since the beginning of SMO. But the initiative has moved to RUAF hands after the AFU 2023 'counter-offensive' started seriously failing. Colonel Trukhan said one of the major problems now is the AFU is occasionally retreating, which forces RUAF to advance, making it tougher to gain fire control over enemy positions. Perhaps every round of advance requires another round of detailed recon to find next positions, etc.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 23 2025 16:59 utc | 16
British generals, they keep making remakes of the charge of the light brigade,, over and over again.
As for the AFU retreating, nasty buggers, anonymous will feel betrayed
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 23 2025 17:58 utc | 37
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 17:36 utc | 29
RE: US may be about to enter recession and stagflation can not be ruled out.
<<
DJT no doubt comprehends that the only way to turn the inflation ocean liner around is to loosen up the energy market, meaning to revert to the natural flow, quite literally, of oil & gas which existed *prior* to the SMO.
How to turn back the hands of time--?!
The SMO has crippled U.S. prosperity sectors, while racking up a lot of paper wealth for the MIC, and the sheer lopsidedness of the situation has exposed the U.S.'s vulnerable flank to the sanctions, which the U.S. assumed would destroy Russia's economy, but which have---as everyone understands now---boomeranged back on them.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 18:06 utc | 38
https://www.flightradar24.com/CKS9706/39977493
Kalitta Air freighter just left Rzeszow. They frequently carry weapons to State Department customers.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 23 2025 18:07 utc | 39
And these wars, they can't be won
Does anyone know or care how they begun?
They just promise to go on
And on and on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaTPw8M0NbM
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 23 2025 18:08 utc | 40
The plane had arrived at Rzeszow from Dover Air Force Base in the States.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 23 2025 18:09 utc | 41
Anyone else finding that the "translate" extension to the Brave browser fails to translate Russian all of a sudden? Been a couple of days now.
It uses Google Translate.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 23 2025 18:15 utc | 42
and this will come to the rest of western europe once the unelected autocratic regimes get their war going. people think that they are safe, that they can refuse conscription (germany just revoked this right in january?), that because we are "the civilized west with values", the same grey vans like in the ukraine wont drive around our towns.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 23 2025 17:51 utc | 34
That would be misreading the situation.
People in Ukraine still genuinely support to an extent the war effort due to nationalism/patriotism, desire to join the West etc. Early on they had quite a lot of volounteers even.
Can't really make an army run on coercion alone.
People in the alt sphere do not like to hear that but it is.
As for Europe, well...let's see how the grey van fare in the "diverse" neighbourhoods...
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 23 2025 18:25 utc | 43
fyi
Seven Reasons Why Putin Might Compromise on Territory to Secure a Peace Deal with Trump (23/03/25
https://geoffreyroberts.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Why-Putin-Might-Compromise-on-Territory.pdf
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 19:09 utc | 44
It's difficult for me to imagine Syrian-Germans, or Moroccan-Spaniards, or Libyan-Italians, or Somali-Dutch, or Iranian-Swedes, or Ugandan-Brits, etc, being willing to go fight and die over the question of whose flag flies over Donetsk.
Posted by: Kkaus | Mar 23 2025 19:18 utc | 45
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 19:09 utc | 44
########
FYI, linking PDFs is a good way to spread viruses.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 23 2025 19:25 utc | 46
@Arch
Witkoff ("Whitehead?")
No, Witkoff is a name of Slavic origin. It appears in Russian, Bulgarian as Vitkov (in modern EN translation), in Polish as Witkow, more often Witkowski, which is just the fancy version.
The writing Witkoff is phonetic (how it sounds), likely via German, not graphic & letter-wise (because the original was in Cyrillic) as it would be today. The same is true für (beef) Stroganoff. This also gives a probable timeline when his great grandfather arrived in the US around 1890-1900.
This makes the ignorance towards Russian geography and history even more strange for the Russians, no respect for his own ancestors
Posted by: BG13 | Mar 23 2025 19:29 utc | 47
It's difficult for me to imagine Syrian-Germans, or Moroccan-Spaniards, or Libyan-Italians, or Somali-Dutch, or Iranian-Swedes, or Ugandan-Brits, etc, being willing to go fight and die over the question of whose flag flies over Donetsk.
Posted by: Kkaus | Mar 23 2025 19:18 utc | 45
They might get a few interested into a jihad if they manage to stir shit in central Asia. But fighting under the flags of Europe for its values?
Good luck with that. As for yurrop press gangs, necklacing comes to mind...
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 23 2025 19:29 utc | 48
@YetAnotherAnon | Mar 23 2025 18:15 utc | 42
Just tried it with Brave on Tass.com, Russian pages. Right click "Translate to English" seems to work fine. However, I mostly use https://translate.yandex.com/ for any translation.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 23 2025 19:33 utc | 49
In a 4-day period which gave us Tucker's sit-down w/ Witkoff, we now receive a masterclass in diplomacy & foreign affairs from Zakharova on Ritter's interview podcast (called The Russia House.). Link below.
<<
Zakharova fronts an impressive take-no-prisoners comprehension of the U.S.'s fomenting this proxy war against Russia. She does not pull any punches.
>>
By contrast, Witkoff seems squishy, unable to say *certain* things, which his interlocutor Tucker permitted rather than interrogating, perhaps to allow the viewers--us--to decide for ourselves. Meaning: anyone fooled by Witkoff stays fooled.
<<
Zakharova brings bare-knuckles candor, while Witkoff tugs at the emotions, as any good sales guy would do to seal the deal: mentioning that VVP prayed in a church w/ his priest after the first DJT assassination attempt. It is the kind of anecdote that makes one say, "Awwwwww." Heart-meltingly.
>>
Zakharova does not indulge in ploys like that. See--
https://scottritter.substack.com/
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 19:35 utc | 50
You can die an official traitor coward behind the lines or die on the line and be buried as a hero patriot.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 23 2025 17:44 utc | 33
Not really, most are listed as missing, family does not get any money either. And since they're hunting men at the border with planes and drones, I'm thinking they're escaping in large numbers, probably dropped under 15m or so total. That would explain the move to send 18yo, currently only volunteers paid in Mcdonald's ads, but in a month or two it'll be by force.
@Newbie | Mar 23 2025 17:58 utc | 37
You must have too much free time to keep coming back so often with these numbers pulled out of your ass.
Posted by: rk | Mar 23 2025 19:40 utc | 51
Posted by: Kkaus | Mar 23 2025 19:18 utc | 45
RE: It's difficult for me to imagine Syrian-Germans, or Moroccan-Spaniards, or Libyan-Italians, or Somali-Dutch, or Iranian-Swedes, or Ugandan-Brits, etc, being willing to go fight and die over the question of whose flag flies over Donets
<<
The guys you mention will not care about which flag flies over Donetsk. If the merc money is good, and their families are taken care of, they will sign on.
It is like "the jobs Americans won't do"--but seriously jackedin this instance because of the all-too probable threat of dying.
Some *will* sign on for merc-related reasons--but it will not be enough to turn the tide.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 19:41 utc | 52
Posted by: Kkaus | Mar 23 2025 19:18 utc | 45
There are not so many Italian-Libyan or Italian-Somalian. That was the 'so called' Italian empire but those from that time were integrated long time ago.
Immigration in Italy exists but far less than it is claimed by some political parties.
I the end Italian themselves are, actually, not so keen on going at war, most of those who prise war are older people that think that they will not fight.
Probably they will change they posture when their sons, grandsons will be drafted.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 23 2025 19:45 utc | 53
33 - I saw a photo of repatriated Kiev POWs following a recent prisoner exchange (Western MSM never show repatriated Russians as far as I have seen). They had been given Ukrainian flags to drape over themselves. They all looked slightly bewildered and seemed to be over 30.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 23 2025 19:50 utc | 54
Losers are definitely ... US too given they are abandoning their strength.
The upshot is the plan to trap Russia into a 'freeze'
Mr. Donald John Trump (DJT) does not have any cards to play except for bluffing.
Three commenters, three clean misses.
* US isn't abandoning anything, just extracting itself from another corrupt moneypit (like Afghanistan).
* There's no freeze trap; the US is best served by Russia taking all of Ukraine.
* DJT is simply jawing to keep his opponents at bay while Russia finishes the job.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 19:52 utc | 55
Been saying this for months but I've been called a troll. Ukraine is NOT running out of ammunition OR troops any time soon. Money, arms, and mercenaries keep pouring in all the while the sanctions are crippling Russia. Russia better fully mobilize, or they are going to lose this.
Posted by: bored | Mar 23 2025 17:37 utc | 30
And you've been hilariously wrong on all counts for months... will you ever learn?
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 19:55 utc | 56
Posted by: Mario | Mar 23 2025 19:45 utc | 53
Correct but the point he makes still stand. A lot has been made to tear down the kind of society that would accept that kind of sacrifices Russia/Ukraine are putting up with.
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 23 2025 19:56 utc | 57
57 - In Afghanistan, the British Army was using soldiers from places like Fiji or Tonga. "Commonwealth" connections possibly with British citizenship offered as an incentive but it is likely they were not managing to fill the ranks with people from London, Birmingham or Glasgow, indigenous Brits or not. The British Army is notably tiny, which makes the posturing of Starmer ridiculous.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 23 2025 20:04 utc | 58
Posted by: Kkaus | Mar 23 2025 19:18 utc | 45
It's difficult for me to imagine Syrian-Germans, or Moroccan-Spaniards, or Libyan-Italians, or Somali-Dutch, or Iranian-Swedes, or Ugandan-Brits, etc, being willing to go fight and die over the question of whose flag flies over Donetsk.
<= its not about flag, its about competition.. Russia's oil and gas keeps the world price of oil and gas very low (Russia's energy is tough competition for competitors to match or beat). this means those who cannot produce the oil and gas as cheap as Russia sell's it, cannot make any money: China is an enemy, Iran is an enemy. The same is true of other things competitors have technology, educational systems that produced engineers and scientist able to produce competitive marketable goods and able to provide useful services.
This is my view of the problem. The whole idea of NATO push East was to eliminate Russia as a competitor and to gobble up its resources (regime change it or destroy it by war or internal take over, something). After several treaties and agreements (since 1990) designed to stop that eastward advancement failed, and because Ukraine began outlawing the Russian language in Ukraine, and because Ukraine was treating Russian speaking people as inferior minorities, and because Russian speaking people in Ukraine were being killed, Russia moved to protect both its interest and the interest of the Russian speaking Ukrainians.
Those Russian speaking Ukrainians invited Russia to help and a referendum was held and the Ukrainians in four different political subdivisions of Ukraine voted to be Russian rather than Ukrainian. They exercised their right of self determination by a vote. Ukraine does not recognize these people's right to self determination so they do not recognize the outcome of the vote.
Continuing my view of the problem. The people who subscribe to the king of the mountain ideology desire to keep full possession of Ukraine and after Ukraine Russia and after Russia China, and so on. They feel that they have a right to exploit Ukraine's wealth? But generally these people are indifferent to who they want to invade and exploit. They just want to lap up all of the goodies and own and control and profit from the goodies in the world.. plus to be king of the mountain it is necessary to deny all competition from whatever source.
IMO, Competition is the only challenge king of the Mountain people fear. This class of psychologically defined persons usually want to deny anyone at any time any where in the world any chance to compete in economies that king of the mountain folks want to own and control. Competitors to the King of the mountain folks are world class enemies, competition to the King of the mountain person is worse than terrorism. Moreover, king of the mountain people often work through proxies. Usual proxies are politicians, NGOs and intelligence agencies and media outlets. Often king of the mountain folks control the media and they use it together with lobbying to control both their proxies and to maintain for their proxies the consent of those who are the governed and who are subject to be enlisted to help eliminate competition when it arises (to the last Ukrainian)
Posted by: snake | Mar 23 2025 20:16 utc | 59
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 23 2025 19:56 utc | 57
As it always has been going to war is never a choice of the common people.
Ukrainians had been lured to war but a great part of them flied away from the country.
Indipendently of the kind of society those who are smarter and have the possibilities are not going to war.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 23 2025 20:19 utc | 60
The British Army is notably tiny, which makes the posturing of Starmer ridiculous.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 23 2025 20:04 utc | 58
Hence the ridiculous "Britain can incinerate them with nukes" statements. If UK were to start WWIII it would cease to exist shortly thereafter. Whatever nukes didn't take out directly the Russian Poseiden "tsunami nuke" would drown.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 20:22 utc | 61
It remains the most amazing thing about this war that the Ukrainian people keep supplying this daily quota without complaint. The power of mind control on full display.
Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 23 2025 16:01 utc | 3
...or intentional depopulation, exploiting the RF defenses to cull the parts of the Ukraine/EU herd the jabs failed to do. How can it be anything else after 3 years of mass death, and the real tell is obvious: the Ukies are STILL IN DONBASS!!!
Posted by: Ering46z | Mar 23 2025 21:11 utc | 62
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 19:35 utc | 50
Respectfully, before you cite that f'ng freak show ritter again, look up what he served nearly 2 years in prison for.
Posted by: Ering46z | Mar 23 2025 21:14 utc | 63
...or intentional depopulation
Posted by: Ering46z | Mar 23 2025 21:11 utc | 62
Only of the military, which was always a stated goal of the SMO. Civilian casualties are extremely low for such a conflict.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 21:16 utc | 64
..] The greatest danger for Trump is not on the foreign policy front—it is on the economic front.”
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 16:15 utc | 7
Very plausible. US may be about to enter recession and stagflation can not be ruled out.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 17:36 utc | 29"
Largely money enters the USA economy via the government. Cutting goverment jobs and spending directly effects the economy. While the jobs might have no definable value they do have the value of inserting money in the economy. Trump shows no indication of lessening deficit spending however. The "cut the military budget by half" is just so much blah blah to instill hope in people like me. Trump however does demonstrate courage n cutting unneeded things but he could care less. The plan seems to be war. Then cutting everything is justified except MIC spending. The Republicans with MIC in their states get a share of the money created by debt but largely it goes in the for profit MIC profits. DJT is applying his bankruptcy model. Anything possible gets transferred to personal ownership. Those extending credit take the loss. In this case its treasury note holders and the loss is the radical difference between inflation and interest rates. The job cuts mean more $ for DJT to plunder with his bankruptcy model. A recession is pretty much baked in the cake and this in combination with the war guarantee a return of the neoliberals in 2028 should WW3 not occur in the next 3.5 years. Then they bring their money laundering in to replace Trumps with more giveaways for the people. MIC spending is the same regardless. Maybe a little more as the neoliberals try to resurrect NATO with their brothers in the EU. We should be pretty far along with WW3 in 3.5 years. Assigning India to part of the China front and the like at the very least. India gets tooled for manufacturing if China gets rubbled. The recession will be attributed to a war economy and thats the truth. I dont think Trump cares who wins in 2028. The neoliberals have toned down their TDS knowing full well war is on the way. DJT is entering the hallowed halls of a wartime president and that crosses party lines. Even the jobs cut will be infinitesimally small compared to the supply chain from China ending. The other half of the economy other than goverment spending has been reselling Chinese goods bought for pennies sold for dollars. As China has established a monopoly they have triple their cut and this is why the oligarchs are unhappy. China say we do what we want and builds out the military. Too bad you gave away all your manufacturing. The oligarchs go you cant do that war! Of course they knew but who cares profits were good when China was behaving.
Trumps bankruptcy model is actually the business model of the past several decades. Pillage. Get your bonuses and leave the businesses and nation in smoking ruins. War is coming and they intend to hedge bets with both sides. Just like Prescott Bush nazi finance father and grandfather of two USA presidents. Oh didnt learn that in your history class? Except this time its different. The destruction technology will create will not leave a safe haven in the North hemisphere. They get it and were preparing Australia and New Zealand with dictatorships. Lex luthor ruler of Australia. China just sent the message that thats going to get blown up too so its going to have to be south America.
There is no reason to go to war with China other than them assigning the price they want for their goods. Did they steal what they have? Some. But mostly it was given. Oh they didn't practice the honor system? Thats called giving in China. Happens all the time. One contract does not make the next. Gave it away morons. So sorry. Just like eastern Europe gave it away after 91. Anyone wanting war for that rip off?
Now the USA goes well we dont want to have to get nasty. China says just try and builds out their military. The USA NEEDS china. Everthing is made there . They cant just walk away.
The solution is pretty simple. Cut military spending. Limit scope to around the USA. Someone wants trouble they come here and they will have it. Build stuff in the USA like Russia. Tool for manufacturing instead of MIC boondoggles. Mind our own business. Theres nothing to pillage if you do that. Trump is a pillager. Was it ever disputed? Pillage or die.
A "recession" is fake because the "economy" is fake. A "recession" assumes a certain standard of living is normal. If that standard isnt met its because of this or that lie. "Trump caused a recession" No. Hes a pillager but that didnt cause the "recession". The reality s the whole shebang is a wet dream for ponzi pillaging beginning to end. The neoliberals are ponzi pillagers. You run out of things to pillage. People with things to pillage say no. Is that a "recession"? The primary difference between the ponzi pillagers is one wants to pillage China and one wants to pillage Russia. Both China and Russia say no. How dare they! They are going to cause a recession! The people support who each think they will be safe and the other side gets pillaged in the domestic pillaging. Pillaging isnt questioned just who gets pillaged. They dont get it. Its a pillage club and you aint in it.
Posted by: Ralpheaterofcheese | Mar 23 2025 21:19 utc | 65
Indipendently of the kind of society those who are smarter and have the possibilities are not going to war.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 23 2025 20:19 utc | 60
That has almost always been the case.
That said an army and a society which absolutely do not want to fight an enemy, won't. A few fanatics can exterminate the odd individual or unit but cannot deal with mass mutinies and an enemy bearing down.
Posted by: Satepestage | Mar 23 2025 21:24 utc | 66
@ Apollyon, §40:
Reminds me of "After Blenheim":
´Twas a summer´s evening
Ol´ Kaspar´s work was done
And he, before his cottage door,
Was sitting in the sun
. . . (Robert Southey 1774-1843).
Posted by: John Marks | Mar 23 2025 21:26 utc | 67
@ Waldorf | Mar 23 2025 20:04 utc
"British Army was using soldiers from places like Fiji or Tonga"
In Fiji and Tonga overseas military service provides income for families somewhat akin to the Gurkhas of Nepal. Their training is modeled on Imperial lines and both Fiji and Tonga are go-to forces for UN peacekeeping operations and likely all of them have seen previous deployments and are easily integrated into UK service. They do it for the money and I can say (having lived in the UK and spent much time in Fiji and Tonga) British citizenship is likely the last thing on their minds.
Posted by: Raumati | Mar 23 2025 21:34 utc | 68
If were Putin, I'd just call the whole thing off.
Posted by: The Busker | Mar 23 2025 16:18 utc | 9
Hi Rob, I get where you're coming from, but I believe keeping the lines of communication open between Russia and the US is important. One of the anti-Russian goals was complete isolation.
The "Cease Fire" talks will be anything and everything in-between but that.
The Americans just don't know it yet.
Thank you for your updates.
Posted by: Suresh | Mar 23 2025 21:50 utc | 69
The western alliance disintergrates before our very eyes !
Today as we all know, Mark Carney stood up to Trump in a strong speech, declaring an election.
Their is no love lost between america and england. As seen by me in the UK.
Europe as individual countrys are all out for what they can salvidge financialy from this conflict against Russia.
I dont think the above will have escaped Vladimiri Putins notice.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 23 2025 22:19 utc | 70
@ Ralpheaterofcheese | Mar 23 2025 21:19 utc | 65
Appreciate your response from the heterodox perspective of the logic of pillaging.
From your logic the pillaging hordes are salivating, short of panic, at what can be pillaged from the carcass of what used to be known as Ukraine as the Big Prize is clearly unattainable for now and apparently will stay so well into the future: fu€k. Cut losses; maximize gains.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 22:25 utc | 71
and the real tell is obvious:
Posted by: Ering46z | Mar 23 2025 21:11 utc | 62
Yes, you're very obvious, sitting next to bor(ing)ed by any chance?
Posted by: Suresh | Mar 23 2025 22:29 utc | 72
The western alliance disintergrates before our very eyes !
...
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 23 2025 22:19 utc | 70
No, not in the way that many people hope. We have the typical case of competing factions joining forces because they have defined a common enemy. The common fight against this enemy forges them together, regardless of their own losses and disadvantages. The only thing that can still divide this group is the fight for leadership, when there are several who are determined to see themselves as alpha, i.e. ego takes precedence over cooperation. We have the signs in Europe: three “kings” and a would-be empress.
Posted by: smartfox | Mar 23 2025 23:03 utc | 73
Sounds like the U.S. delegation to Saudi for the talks w/ Russia are back-benchers, as far as political strength is concerned. But the Russians have sent full-strength diplomats.
Let's be clear: Russia does diplomacy at a more cultivated level than anyone in the U.S., so it is always going to be the case that Russia fields a more robust field.
<<
Even though Russia, at a critical moment, has inexperienced partners with which to negotiate, I have no doubt that Russia can more than make up for the deficits on its opposite side.
>>
I mean, the fact is simply this: no nation gets to *choose* 100% its negotiation partner. The U.S. team, right now, is putting forward its best, we are assuming at any rate, so that's what the Russians have to work with. These are the "expert groups." If Ukraine gate-crashes the talks, well--that will be an additional data point.
<<
The U.S. is hiding behind its fig-leaf proxy in these *negotiations.* The fact is simply this: the U.S. can pull the plug on its proxy war at any point. That is to say, the U.S. can say, "Hey, listen, Ukraine. It did not work. And now we have to wind this down." After which the U.S. will pull all U.S. assets out of Ukraine and cease military support.
>>
Until that happens, and until the U.S. can accept Russia's terms, we'll see this dance play out.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 23:20 utc | 74
@ Ralpheaterofcheese | Mar 23 2025 21:19 utc | 65
Appreciate your response from the heterodox perspective of the logic of pillaging.
From your logic the pillaging hordes are salivating, short of panic, at what can be pillaged from the carcass of what used to be known as Ukraine as the Big Prize is clearly unattainable for now and apparently will stay so well into the future: fu€k. Cut losses; maximize gains.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 23 2025 22:25 utc | 71"
To be honest Im leveraging of this Brenner interview with My favorite host Nima. Generally Im not a parroting sort of person and I have regarded psychological profiles of Trump suspiciously. I took a huge amount of flack for supporting Trump in 2020 and lost a lot of friends. My support fo Trump came largly from my understanding of events in Ukraine and Bidens involvement. Unfortunately what I regarded as fact was considered conspiracy theory even though i was more than willing to provide the basis for my statements. My girlfriend of four years broke up with me even though I was providing for he and her child. "trump is a tyrant and he hangs out with tyrants." I told everyone "the democrats want war with Russia." I had no Idea how right I would be. It really sucks to be right sometime.
Now I really have no stomach for Trump. Just because he was falsely persecuted does not mean that certain analysis of him does not have validity. The events in Ukraine and Palestine are on the cusp of making me physically ill. Because of this I am more open to analysis of Trump psychology. It makes sense to me that he is practicing what he knows. this is a near universal human trait. It fits. Trying to grab rare earths out of Ukraine is like grabbing art out of the lobby of the failed casino. Providing weapons and intel is just leverage for negotiations just like bankruptcy negotiations. What matters is what you can get away with your lawyers. Evert hing is about the game including the words that come out of your mouth. Fighter planes named after yourself.
While I know Trump is wealthy I dont hold that against him. I have wealthy friends even though I am poor. I knew Trump was no angel. I had hope that Trump had the decency I associate with people that work hard that do not want war. Trump said he didnt want war. Unfortunately I now find the assessment made by Brenner to have validity. Im tired of waiting for Trump to end thewars. You said you would end them end them. Attacking Yemen is moronic. Attacking China will be catastrophic.
Hopefully I am wrong. Brenners analysis is that coming from the biased neoliberals. I surly hope that my growing suspicion of Trump is wrong. Please let me be wrong just this once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTExhNpLNgY
Posted by: Ralpheaterofcheese | Mar 23 2025 23:21 utc | 75
From what i'm seeing and hearing norh south east and west america just got kettled.
Trump could indeed "end this war in 24 hours"
Just withdraw military and finanacl support from ukraine.
Why not.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 23 2025 23:21 utc | 76
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 23 2025 23:21 utc | 76
RE: america just got kettled
<<
If the U.S. cannot simply end matters, sign the capitulation documents and walk away it means that...
The U.S. still is trying to recoup---something?
Rare earths-? A seacoast resort in Crimea-? Nuclear power plants-?
What is obvious is that the U.S. cannot admit defeat, even if Russia would not ostentatiously rub the U.S.'s nose in it. But the sticking point for the Americans is problematic in the extreme.
Clearly, Ukraine cannot in any way win this war militarily. I wonder if the U.S.'s lack of diplomatic experience has compromised maximally any kind of negotiation objective at all. When I compare Witkoff's sit-down w/ Tucker, in which Witkoff principally worked to *sell* DJT as a consummate deal-maker to Tucker's U.S. audience with Ritter;s podcast interview of Zakharova, I see that the U.S.'s side is very light-weight, skim milk indeed.
Witkoff-on-Tucker may play well domestically--but that display has zilch for currency in Russia, where the Major Players already know what a poser Witkoff is. Of course, they would never insult Witkoff's efforts. Or DJT's efforts. That the U.S. re-engaged with Russia again, after the Collective Biden embargo, is critical.
The bummer is that Russia has so little to work with on the American side. Again--one doesn't get to choose one's negotiation partners. This is the only game in town.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 23:39 utc | 77
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 19:55 utc | 56
I suggest you read Rybar's English X or Telegram channel to get the low down on what's really going on. He's obviously pro-Russian (because he IS Russian) and he lays out the good AND the bad. Things are actually pretty bleak for both warring sides. Here is the link :
https://tgstat.ru/en/channel/@rybar_in_english
Posted by: bored | Mar 23 2025 23:43 utc | 78
Steel-porcupine @ 77
i deffinatly think were on the same page here.
Maybe my glass is more half full.
The good thing about haveing an imaginary enemy (Russia) is that of couse you can un imagine him/them, in an instant.
Trump is in the perfect position having Putin as an adversary.. putin has entegrety and morals. Putin has'nt got the same advantage.
As far as Trumps supporters go, just throw them a biden shaped bone to savage. And rightly so.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 23 2025 23:55 utc | 79
I suggest you read Rybar's English X or Telegram channel...
Posted by: bored | Mar 23 2025 23:43 utc | 78
I already follow dozens of X, Telegram & Youtube channels and Rybar isn't credible. Determined that years ago. Same with War Monitor, David D., Andrew Perpetua and a host of other clowns.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 23:58 utc | 80
"Shoulder to shoulder" - used to hear this phrase a lot, especially with the Special Relationship even if it was at times sniggered at by the western side. Looks like it might be on the endangered slogans list any time soon.
Guess they should be held to account for not being shoulder to shoulder.
Posted by: MiGao | Mar 24 2025 0:02 utc | 81
Rybar isn't credible.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 23 2025 23:58 utc | 80
CORRECTION. I was thinking of another channel. Rybar English isn't bad.
Nonetheless, even if looking strictly at Rybar's feed the trends have been clear for since 2023. Russia's still winning, the lines are still moving steadily westward, the Ukrainians are still scrambling for weapons and manpower, the RF isn't running out of anything, Russia's economy is doing better than all Western countries, and the Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory haven't in any way whatsoever altered those trends. Oh, and the Kerch Bridge -- Zelensky's "white whale" -- still stands.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 24 2025 0:26 utc | 82
They are getting that desperate they are putting out AI versions of Col Magregor.
Here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r1fjWuGumK8&pp=0gcJCWIABgo59PVc
This is AI generated and a fake. Keep an eye out for these..
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 24 2025 1:04 utc | 83
One day with the AI generated videos it will be impossible to tell the difference. Between real and fake.
Some people in the comments fell for it and actually thought it was Col Magregor. Unless of course they are part of the scam also.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 24 2025 1:08 utc | 84
Moment When British Mercenary Was Captured by Russian Troops in Kursk
Also vid of drone demo of Ukrainian positions across Kursk and Belgorod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7keT7e10xk
I believe this is the Brit mercenary that just won a 19-year term in a Russian prison for playing a game of “hero merc in Ukraine”.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 24 2025 1:16 utc | 85
Taking a look at the TWZ and seeing a lot of mentions to frankenSAMs but kind of underwhelming
stuff, BUK1+RIM 7, another with R-73.
At the same time the us is getting a cheap FE1 to counter drones…
Guess the time for patriots and iris in certain theaters is over.
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 24 2025 1:23 utc | 86
Posted by: Ralpheaterofcheese | Mar 23 2025 23:21 utc | 75
I get where you are coming from. While I did not lose friends I suffer that my family think I am a red necked moron unable to make rational judgements, despite the fact that I know 1000 times as much as them, and much as i love and admire my kids i know i am a little smarter that each of them - not by much but enough to move me from a gullible professional with TDS to a skeptic with a nuanced appreciation of the complexities and more importantly the hypocrisy of most with TDS.
I am not sure i held out as much hope as you did re Trump (except for a few hours after THAT press conference), but I thought (probably still think but I am struggling) that Trump was better than the amorphous blob of the democrats.
As I see it there are three potential WWIII flash points - Ukraine/Russia, China, and Iran/Israel. Trump probably genuinely want to settle Ukraine/Russia, but has not the power/skill to do so. He probably wants war with China but I am mildly optimistic he will listen to rational voices from the military and hold back. I do not think the Democratic mush has the brains to listen to any advice they do not agree with.
However on Israel/Iran he is just terrible. Even worse than Biden and that is a large task to beat.
So we are between the devil and the deep blue sea. The nightmare of Scylla and WWIII or the whirlpool of economic and social chaos as empires collapse. (or both)
Posted by: watcher | Mar 24 2025 1:35 utc | 87
@ steel_porcupine | Mar 23 2025 23:39 utc | 77
Thank you steel-porcupine for your many fine contributions — and for making them an ease to read at a glance.
👍 🙏 (buddhist)
The system here has been failure-up — rewarding mediocrity, mendacity and menace, for so long that it will take time to raise up competent statesmen and diplomats…
Posted by: suzan | Mar 24 2025 1:38 utc | 88
xRespectfully, before you cite that f'ng freak show ritter again, look up what he served nearly 2 years in prison for.
Posted by: Ering46z | Mar 23 2025 21:14 utc | 63
You mean the character assassination the CIA/FBI/Deep-State setup?
If you fall for that, you'll fall for anything.
The only thing Ritter did wrong was cross the CIA.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 24 2025 2:06 utc | 89
Posted by: BG13 | Mar 23 2025 19:29 utc | 47
Thanks for the tutorial, I was interpreting it an a semi-Germanic sense.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 24 2025 2:15 utc | 90
Mr. Steven Charles Witkoff (SCW) is not a diplomat but a sales man.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 17:15 utc | 22
Probably not that either. The one good thing about salesmen is that you're very clear early one what they're selling.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 24 2025 2:19 utc | 91
The one good thing about salesmen is that you're very clear *early on* what they're selling.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 24 2025 2:19 utc | 91
Typo. Hangover.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 24 2025 2:19 utc | 92
Mr. Steven Charles Witkoff (SCW) is not a diplomat but a sales man.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 23 2025 17:15 utc | 22
The western world doesn't have any more diplomats. If it weren't for the Russians it might be a lost art.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 24 2025 2:25 utc | 93
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 24 2025 2:25 utc | 93
############
I think that Wang Yi and Jaishankar are formidable, just they aren't white so most people don't know that they exist.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 24 2025 3:23 utc | 94
Ask yourself why Russia is "negotiating" with America.
America is a co-belligerent. America is at war with Russia. Ukraine doesn't even rate, not territory, not neutrality.
All of the Zelensky stuff, all of the meetings in the ME, it's all a show.
IMO, Trump has been feeling out the Russians to see how involved they will get in the ME when America makes its move to conquer the entire region for Israel, which is in actuality, America.
This is the end state of Wesley Clark's admission about West Asian regime change.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 24 2025 5:33 utc | 95
!—-The Carrot Was Always Really A Stick—!
Before VVP took a phone call from DJT on Tuesday 18 March, he spoke to a convention of industrialists, entrepreneurs and engineers in Moscow, representatives of the business and manufacturing community who are running the economy and whose responsibility it is to make the long-term investment decisions. He told them that the period of Russia participating in a global community is over. “Even if some sanctions are lifted, others will be applied which negate those removed.”
>>
Without mentioning the Magnitzky Act of late 2012 directly, VVP spoke of the prior Jackson-Vannick Act, a sanctions package which was a precursor to the Magnitzky Act. As Jackson-Vannick ended, Magnitzky came in to replace it. “The carrot-and-stick approach doesn’t exist for us any more,” VVP said. “The carrot-and-stick approach is irrelevant.”
And this was what the industrialists, engineers and entrepreneurs *wanted* to hear. It is also what China, India, Brazil and South Africa wanted to hear. This was Russia’s commitment to BRICS+
<<
VVP explained to the auditorium of business leaders that “We’re looking at a world of permanent sanctions. This is a challenge which Russia will meet—and it will do do by formulating its economy on the lines that it has since 2014.” He mentioned that, in all, Russia is *under* upwards of 28,000 sanctions. Integrating with the West and with Western institutions is *over* once and for all.
>>
The world ‘that was’ didn’t work for us,” he told them. “The world ‘that was’ is over once and for all.” He described a different type of Russia emerging today: “We will trade with the West, but we will do so on our own terms. We’re not interested in the economy that was created in the 1990s. There will no longer be a naive trust in the West and its institutions either. Sanctions, having them lifted or having more applied, are immaterial to us at this point.”
<<
Although the Americans have re-engaged, Russia is still prioritizing the approach and strategies they began implementing in 2014. When companies exited Russia after Crimea “returned” itself to Russia, homegrown businesses filled the niches, like in the dairy industry, replacing European cheeses and in viticulture, replacing Champagne. This accelerated especially in early 2022. VVP said that Russia will protect those enterprises.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 24 2025 6:06 utc | 96
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 24 2025 5:33 utc | 95
----
I always said the big elephant in the room is the ME. VVP unserstands that too.
The Outlaw US of A can never be trusted.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 24 2025 6:26 utc | 97
The place of the negociation, Riad, means that it was played as a gift to MbS to rehabilitate him in international politics. In exchange of what, we shall see.
Posted by: Tom | Mar 24 2025 8:02 utc | 98
If I have understood Steve Witkoff correctly, Putin wants to give Ukraine the extremely important port city of Odessa to appease the Western partners.
Posted by: guest from franconia | Mar 24 2025 8:45 utc | 99
Posted by: Tom | Mar 24 2025 8:02 utc | 98
>>>
The Outlaw US of A convincing MBS to agree to the genocide in Gaza and the Zionists' takeover over the region.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 24 2025 8:50 utc | 100
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About 2 years ago an external commentator insisted the Russia wins by merely continuing to pursue the SMO.
Winners are still India and China.
Losers are definitely Ukraine and Europe, and seems like US too given they are abandoning their strength.
Posted by: Polli | Mar 23 2025 15:32 utc | 1