Vance says the threat is from the rise of Islamic politics in the EU.
Which he saw as a bigger threat than either Russia or China.
I can’t link here but you can find his speech by putting in the key words. He joked that maybe this is how UK will get the bomb.
I have not heard Vance give an address like this before
 He condemns mass migration in Europe. Sees Europe as a future threat to the US.
He could be the next US. President.

Posted by: Bingo | Dec 25 2025 11:38 utc | 3

Less Xmas for AFU’s 1.445 that failed to see it.
 
more details
 
https://tass.com/politics/2064683

Posted by: Newbie | Dec 25 2025 12:27 utc | 5

More documents here.

Posted by: S | Dec 25 2025 13:26 utc | 7

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested a two-month ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict in order to hold a referendum on a potential agreement to end the fighting, the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia daily reported on Wednesday.
“We can hold a referendum. A referendum requires at least 60 days. And we need a real ceasefire to be in place for 60 days. Otherwise, we will not hold it. That is, the referendum will be illegitimate,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
 
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/zelensky-requests-two-month-ceasefire-for-referendum

Posted by: Red Star | Dec 25 2025 13:56 utc | 9

S@6…….
 

Deep State has retreated to more defensible positions in the EU, after being at least somewhat thwarted and beaten back in the US. And so now, Trump’s admin sees that it must be pursued and cut off at the root in Europe itself, at least according to Richard Werner’s 

 
Retreating to more defensible position? In the EU? Does one retreat an ocean away, if one is not from there?
 
Was it not obvious that it was the off- spring of neofudal Europens whom over the course of the past thirty years have been undermining Russia by gaining control of the levers of power in Washington. All the names of the neocons trace back to Europe and families that lost ancestral lands castles and businesses after WW2. Its a good job Trump is on Putins team.
 
Cheers M 

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2025 14:33 utc | 11

Posted by: Newbie | Dec 25 2025 12:27 utc | 5 “Less Xmas for AFU’s 1.445 that failed to see it.” 
Or the 860 Russians, Ukraine claimed….  Details here:  https://x.com/ragnarbjartur/status/2004106182441455750
 
I believe neither sides numbers.   What I  do believe is that this 3 day war will is more likely reach the 4 year mark than end before that.

Posted by: ed4 | Dec 25 2025 15:18 utc | 13

Republicofscotland@12…….two hundred years……I take back my 30 years @11…..
 
……I still belive much of Russia’s ails today goes back generational to family ties between Russia and the Royal Houses of Europe and especially ties to their erstwhile usurping Britgermanic cousins from Hapsburg. 
 
Cheers M 

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2025 15:31 utc | 15

Today many Western MSM outlets are using the re-opening of the Mariupol theatre as an excuse to repeat the BS story of Russia bombing it in March 2022. Just one more example of their tactic of “keep repeating the lie until it becomes the truth”.
 
But I’ve noticed that MSM’s accusation of Russia’s “unprovoked” invasion of Ukraine was replaced about a year(?) ago by the term “full-scale”.  It’s still BS because I’m quite sure that Russia’s current military operation in Ukraine is very far from “full-scale”.
 
Could some please briefly describe (or link to an existing description) of what a FULL-SCALE Russian invasion of Ukraine would actually entail?

Posted by: Mark Mosby | Dec 25 2025 15:37 utc | 17

Kids, it’s not real. Nobody Special | Dec 25 2025 13:28 utc | 8
 
Exactamente. Here’s the issue: MoA and many other alt.media refuse to evolve.
 
They enjoy repeating the same types of analyses; it’s an area many were trained, so they feel comfortable applying the same techniques to new events.
 
This adherence results in many commenters simply moving on, replaced by the next tranche of intelligent, but not quite fully informed posters.
 
In this situation, you have two options: stop reading, or scan the threads for something interesting, knowing full well 95% is just troll wars or semi innocent conjecture about the motivations of political actors.
 
Every now and then I’ll drop something like, the existing debt money system is a creation of military dominance and surplus natural resources.
 
It’s lasted barely over 300 years, and in the grand scheme of things is really just a short term phenomenon; a mere blip in time.
 
The world will return to sovereign controlled currency backed by real tokenized wealth – it’s a slam dunk case, so one shouldn’t really be too concerned about adoption.
 
However, just like any kind of failure or shut down, there’s still a mess left behind that needs to be cleaned up. Ukraine – along with VZ + Greenland – are the last gasps of a dying regime trying to prop up the system that made them very wealthy and powerful.
 
They and their ridiculous puppets are destined for history’s ashheap. I wonder if any academics (perhaps in China) are already beginning to consider the subject of “500” (years) as an interesting topic for research and publishing.

Posted by: Markw | Dec 25 2025 15:46 utc | 19

Regarding Vance.
Of course he says what his master’s tell him to s.ay. Maybe he puts his own spin on it but the message comes from above.
Much like MOA messages at times. Many barflies saying the same message with their own spin.. 
But what Vance says is a change of message. He says the threat to the US will be Islamic politics of the EU first, and the threat less from Russia or China. This threat includes nuclear.
This is a new message. Vance gave it in a speech and backed it up to the media later. I have not known for Vance to give that message before.
“Islamic politics” was the justification given in the response to 9/11. But I have not heard recently. 
 
 
 

Posted by: Bingo | Dec 25 2025 16:14 utc | 21

What does that part mean?
 
Posted by: ed4 | Dec 25 2025 15:22 utc | 14

Putin is saying that before the question of accession to NATO is even discussed, a majority of Ukrainians must be for NATO (which was not the case at the time).

Posted by: S | Dec 25 2025 16:38 utc | 23

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2025 14:33 utc | 11
“neofudal Europens whom over the course of the past thirty years have been undermining Russia by gaining control of the levers of power in Washington”.
 
Well, probably a good corrective to, (almost), start the new year with a bit of lunacy. There will be plenty more to follow, I imagine.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 25 2025 16:47 utc | 25

Merry Christmas.. to all.. 
 
What a Christmas present it would be if the borders and boundaries of the nation state system were to become transparent to all of mankind, all languages were to be easily understood by all, all of mankind were to be of the same understanding about life after the earthly body expires, and all of mankind were to find ways to share in everything the earth has to offer and the leadership was always the best available no matter race, creed or place of origin. 
 

Posted by: snake | Dec 25 2025 16:58 utc | 27

New link … managed correct spelling of first name 😊
 
Jeffrey D. Sachs   |   December 22, 2025   |   Horizons, Winter 2026

Posted by: Oui | Dec 25 2025 17:00 utc | 29

Perhaps they want EU in war with Russia but without nukes. That would last for a long time. And world puppeteers would be very happy.

Posted by: Grey Cloud | Dec 25 2025 17:03 utc | 31

Seventy percent of the population is against NATO. Condi told me in Slovakia and Croatia the population was opposed at first and they’re now in favor. What we are against is Ukraine’s accession to NATO, but in any case we should wait until a majority of the population is in favor, then let them accede, not vice versa.What does that part mean?

Posted by: ed4 | Dec 25 2025 15:22 utc | 14
 
Putin spending capital paying homage to Yalta architecture at a very low cost because he invites Bush down a dark alley – the Ukraine population will never be in favor of accession to NATO. 

Posted by: frithguild | Dec 25 2025 17:07 utc | 33

What’s new 🔥
 
JD Vance scaremongering … promoting fascism in Europe … Islamophobia in extremis
 
Nuclear-armed Western Europe could become a major security risk for the US if the national identity of its countries continues to change due to mass immigration, US Vice President J.D. Vance has warned.
 
 
Same as windmills … be SCARED 😱
 
Critical Theory and Authoritarian Populism
 
edited by Jeremiah Morelock

Posted by: Oui | Dec 25 2025 17:20 utc | 35

Ooops! Rich ukrops lost their luxury dachas in the Vilcha village in the area of Volchansk, Kharkov region.
Now those luxury villas will have to be owned by someone else, any takers?

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Dec 25 2025 17:38 utc | 37

One year ago …
 

The Ukrainian city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region no longer exists. Nothing remains. The Russians left no building intact in the city.

Posted by: Oui | Dec 25 2025 17:47 utc | 39

Newbie | Dec 25 2025 12:27 utc | 5
Not a particularly high number. Average losses (all together) fluctuate between approximately 1,200 and 1,500 per day.

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 25 2025 17:57 utc | 41

I think some of the commenters miss the mark on what it means to work for someone else, let alone the US President. Especially when the majority of his party’s prominent legal scholars embrace the unitary executive theory. Of course these individuals follow what the President orders them to do: not doing so is pretty much deep state 101. 
Separately, would you rather have people like Vance/Gabbard/Colby in the government influencing the President’s decision making toward a more peace oriented approach or on the outside looking in, having about as much influence as a commenter on this blog. I’m glad they are there and hope that they stay.

Posted by: 202Analysis | Dec 25 2025 18:06 utc | 43

hmm Kuypiansk
 
📝Situation in Kupiansk📝The situation in the Kupiansk direction remains extremely tense.➡️In Kupiansk, heavy fighting continues. Ukrainian formations, taking advantage of numerical superiority, are advancing with assault groups. Moreover, these groups are quite large by current standards, judging by the footage from the “Spetsnaz Archangel”.Coordinates:
49.71271464, 37.60564327
The enemy is operating almost throughout the entire city, while Russian troops maintain a focal defense, with zones of conditional control remaining the same.➡️Additionally, small groups of Ukrainian formations are moving towards Holubivka, with some of them being eliminated literally on its outskirts.📌It’s worth noting that Ukrainian formations did not achieve this breakthrough in a single day — the first warning signs appeared back in early December. Therefore, it is premature to speak about the outcome of the battles in this sector. Although the situation remains close to critical, it can still potentially be corrected.If you have additional information about the situation, or you want us to highlight the achievements of your unit, you can always write to our feedback bot @rybar_feedback_bot📍High-resolution map📍English version📍Online maps are available by subscription at map.rybar.ru#digest #map #Kupiansk #Russia #Ukraine✈️ RU | ✈️ Original msg

Posted by: Jo | Dec 25 2025 18:22 utc | 45

LoveDonbass | Dec 25 2025 18:26 utc | 45
You have thus demonstrated that you are full of half-knowledge and prejudices and have only partially understood the context.

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 25 2025 18:33 utc | 47

A change of the world security order, Pacific region.
Japan has been promised nuclear weapons. This came a month ago and was alluded to in the media, vague dismissal by Japan, and strenuous protest from China. China has reacted strongly. US has started to bring in nuclear war equipment to start the training of Japanese warriors.
According to ASPI Japan has moved up the security order and now has responsibility for the first line of defence. Japan and Australia share responsibility for the second line of defence. And Australia lhad sole responsibility for Polynesia. New Zealand has been dropped.
This policy is co-joined with the NSS and with the promoted alliance between Russia, China and America to share the role as top dogs. So far this strategy is only promoted by America.
China has cancelled thousands of flights to Japan and imposed significant trade restrictions in an attempt to change the course of Japan. China sailed one of its aircraft carriers through the sea of Japan. There is a small part of posturing from both sides about Taiwan, but this is just posturing.
The tensions have brought forward the announcement by North Korea that their first nuclear submarine is nearing completion.
South Korea has benefited from a very significant increase in tourists from China which is Japan’s loss. They have quietly confirmed that Japan is no friend of theirs.
There is conjecture that Japan agreed to enter into the nuclear club on the promise that America would save their economy. There maybe some truth in this but who can say what deal was done.
Japan is a party to the nuclear non-proliferation agreement but has now broken the terms of that agreement.
The full details of Pacific region security responsibility is set out on the ASPI website.
Many may be aware that the Australian government sometimes objects to what the ASPI has to say, however the it is understood that the new security arrangement was agreed by Marles on his visit to Washington recently (refer media reports) however the details were not released at that time.
Clearly there has been an escalation of military aggression in the Pacific region.

Posted by: Bingo | Dec 25 2025 20:15 utc | 49

Russians captured the intact command post for the Gulyaypole defensive units:  Lord Bebo on X: “🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukrainian army is freaking out that during the Russian offensive in Gulyaypole, Russians captured almost an entirely intact command post. They didn’t even destroy the valuable data and equipment. https://t.co/krEfIimPeO” / X

Posted by: Nobody Special | Dec 25 2025 20:34 utc | 51

Posted by: Exile | Dec 25 2025 20:27 utc | 50
 
Another one should do it.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 25 2025 20:37 utc | 53

Oil shortages in the Ukraines in the last month are partially compensated by increased purchases of oil from India, which got it from Russia.
So Russia sells oil to India. India sells oil to the Ukraines and send it to Romania and Romania delivers the oil to the Ukraines through the Danube, and finally Russia destroys oil reservoirs in ports of the Black Sea.
Business is business.
 

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Dec 25 2025 20:57 utc | 55

@51
If true, would this be the first time Russia’s captured such a command post fully intact? And – assuming the answer’s yes – is that evidence that the NATO/Nazi defenses may are closer to collapse than at any prior point in the war?
I’m not a military man, so I seek this info from others.

Posted by: GW | Dec 25 2025 21:31 utc | 57

Santa’s sleigh crashed in Turkey. Libya’s head of defense was on board…..opps! Too much eggnog …
 
Cheers M 

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2025 22:00 utc | 59

Exile@50……care to explain the dead Russian solders? What about the War Crimes committed by Ukrainians against Russians? That’s not civil. Noting civil either about the 2+ million dead and wounded on both sides……..
 
Civil war is likely what Russia faces should it fail to get a decent compromise from the SMO…as outright winning seems kinda distant at this point in time. 
 
Cheers M 

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2025 22:08 utc | 61

“Microcracks along the front line are starting to crumble,” said Ukrainian volunteer medic Druzenko.@ukr_leaks_enge
 
Ukraine will pay approximately 10.4% of its GDP in debt payments over the next three years. That’s approximately $28.2 billion per year, according to local publication Ekonomichna Pravda.
@ukr_leaks_eng

Posted by: Jo | Dec 25 2025 22:11 utc | 63

Zelensky stated that Ukraine’s total losses due to the war amount to $800 billion.According to him, the draft basic document for ending the war envisages the creation of several funds for restoring the Ukrainian economy, reconstructing damaged areas and regions, and addressing humanitarian issues.@ukr_leaks_eng
This winter will be the hardest for Ukraine since the war began, DTEK CEO Timchenko said on Bloomberg.Even at temperatures around freezing, people are already without power for 15-20 hours in some regions of Ukraine, Timchenko said.
@ukr_leaks_engThe Global Economy: Ukraine ranks among the top seven globally for brain drain.
@ukr_leaks_eng
 
The Czech Security Council may decide the fate of the “Czech initiative” to supply shells to Ukraine on January 7, according to Reuters.
New Prime Minister Babiš has criticized the lack of transparency of this scheme, but has not yet taken a clear position on its future.
Meanwhile, the new speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, opposes any support for Ukraine.
The Czech shell initiative accounts for 43% of the total volume of ammunition supplied to Kiev. This year, Ukraine will receive 1.8 million artillery shells from the Czech Republic.
@ukr_leaks_eng

Posted by: Jo | Dec 25 2025 22:22 utc | 65

But I’ve noticed that MSM’s accusation of Russia’s “unprovoked” invasion of Ukraine was replaced about a year(?) ago by the term “full-scale”.  It’s still BS because I’m quite sure that Russia’s current military operation in Ukraine is very far from “full-scale”. Posted by: Mark Mosby | Dec 25 2025 15:37 utc | 17
 
I saw “full scale invasion” being used since 2022. The story became that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. That is, it wasn’t a civil war, it was a war that Russia started. So with that narrative 2022 had to be changed to a bigger invasion.

Posted by: Cheney | Dec 25 2025 22:23 utc | 67

@61
Why do you think Russia’s prospects of winning are distant at this point? Russia took Pokrovsk earlier this month, and Siversk quickly fell afterwards. If anything, Russia’s margin of superiority over the UAF is now widening. And, finally, Ukraine can’t expect much help from the West. Do you really think the European people will support a “Coalition of the Willing?” I don’t.
 
 

Posted by: GW | Dec 25 2025 23:31 utc | 69

@61;  Cheers M
 
Merry Christmas  

Posted by: paddy | Dec 26 2025 0:02 utc | 71

ooops double post apologies.
 
If a peace agreement between Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and Europe is signed, mobilization could be cancelled or carried out partially, Zelensky said.
He added that martial law would not be lifted for another six months or several months after the agreement is signed.
The European Union is at risk of disintegration, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated:

“Brussels makes decisions, but they are not implemented. First, one country doesn’t implement them, then two, then three…”

@ukr_leaks_eng
 
a drone believed to be Russian that glew over into Estonia they now say was a Ukraine on a wayward flight.Apparently, the drone crossed Russian airspace, then entered Latvian airspace, and continued straight ahead until it entered Estonian airspace on August 24. ukrleakseng

Posted by: Jo | Dec 26 2025 0:06 utc | 73

Just listened to Weeb Union about the Kupiansk battle.  Here are my thoughts.
 
A year ago, Ukraine made a very long sustained defense of Chasov Yar.  Kupiansk is the new town that will replace Chasov Yar as the big long battle with lots of casualties.
 
In the Rabbit Ears attack north of Pokrovsk (I think that was the location), Ukraine took back a decent amount of territory from Russia.  However, the Russians were successful at retreating from the territory mostly intact, with few or no troops actually surrounded.  In Kupiansk, it is looking like Russia is doing a good job of retreating in an organized way to minimize the number of surrounded troops.  It does seem as there is a small south western “circle” of Russian control where there are troops and equipment to surround.  
 
I believe that Russia really did have control of Kupiansk, or a huge percentage of it at least, and absent a huge counter attack it was just clearing operations left.  To prevent this, US/NATO/Ukraine launched a very large counter attack that has lasted quite a long time.  Russia took it from Ukraine.  Before Russia could completely clear out the town and develop defensive positions, Ukraine attacked and is taking most of it back.
 
Most likely Ukraine took heavy losses of more advanced seasoned formations, the kind of units capable of successfully executing a successful attack.  Heavy fighting will continue in Kupiansk as, if nothing else, it is a target rich area of NATO mercenaries and elite Ukrainian military units.  To continue my predictions, Kupiansk will be a magnet for large numbers of NATO, Elite Ukrainian, and seasoned Russian units just pounding each other.  Similar to Chasov Yar in the past.
 
What a Russian victory looks like:  Russia stalemates US / NATO / Ukraine in Kupiansk while continuing to steadily move west in other areas of the front.  US / NATO / Ukraine have their work cut out for them in preventing this result.  

Posted by: Woke American | Dec 26 2025 0:21 utc | 75

GD:  Prof Sergey Karaganov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnOB7nKv0AY “Confronting Europe, pivot to East and nuclear war.”

Welp, I’m waiting for karlof1’s take on this on his substack. karlof1 saved the day once:
https://karlof1.substack.com/p/sergey-karaganov-breaking-europes

Karaganov’s memory is short—it was the Outlaw US Empire who since 1945 saved and nurtured Nazism and worked hand and glove with OUN to use Ukraine as a weapon against USSR then Russian Federation. Does he not recall the “Fuck the EU” we’re calling the shots here phone intercept that showed the world who was guilty of Maidan and the 2014 coup? Again, IMO it’s very clear that Europe isn’t “the main sponsors of Kiev.” Generally, Europe(an) must be followed by Elities, and all of them are essentially planted by the Outlaw US Empire as they attended US Neoliberal Academies, so he must beware painting everyone with the same brush as he clearly has the opposite of Russophobia—Europhobia. However, he refrained from advocating actively destabilizing internal domestic relations of European nations as RT blared—nowhere does he use the term “overthrow” or any other term associated with a coup. As we’ve read before, Karaganov does love his nukes—too much—Oreshnik isn’t potent enough for him. I do get a hint that he’s attempting his own version of Divide and Rule in playing the Outlaw US Empire off its European Colonies. But for whose consumption is that? 

Depending on the contents of the discussion, will karlof1 need to save the day again?

Posted by: joey_n | Dec 26 2025 0:32 utc | 77

joey_n | Dec 26 2025 0:32 utc | 77
 
Intelligence Informed Putin About Murder of General Sarvarov https://sputnikglobe.com/20251222/intelligence-informed-putin-about-murder-of-senior-military-sarvarov—kremlin-1123344801.html
Russian Senior Military Official Killed in Moscow https://sputnikglobe.com/20251222/russian-senior-military-official-killed-1123343623.html
[with pics of said parking lot and vehicles]
 

Posted by: Laurence | Dec 26 2025 1:04 utc | 79

re:  Bingo | Dec 25 2025 20:15 utc | 49
Japan may have been “promised nuclear weapons”, as you say, but Japan has been a virtual nuclear weapon state for many years, meaning it has already manufactured and stockpiled all the components required to rapidly assemble a stockpile of nuclear weapons (including plutonium pits and all the non-nuclear components, too). 
See the 2016 news report “Japan Could Go Nuclear ‘Virtually Overnight’ Joe Biden Tells Chinese President“. 
“As of the end of 2023, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and outside of Japan was approximately 44.5 tons, approximately 8.6 tons of which was held domestically and the rest of approximately 35.8 tons was held abroad.”

Posted by: Perimetr | Dec 26 2025 1:39 utc | 81

Very interesting new release of archival materials, followed by commentary by dissident Ukrainian politician Sharii:
 
Archive Lawsuit Opens Vladimir Putin Memcons/Telcons
 
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/foia-russia-programs/2025-12-23/archive-lawsuit-opens-vladimir-putin-memconstelcons
 
“Verbatim transcripts with George W Bush show trajectory from total US partner after 9/11 to aggrieved interlocutor after Iraq, ABM, NATO expansion, color revolutions…”
 
 
Anatolii Sharii
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYZ9xyWPCxg
 
“How and why did Putin change?”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Dec 26 2025 2:25 utc | 83

OK, asking for some input here:
Check out this YooToob video which claims that some 80,000 Russian troops are now in a cauldron encircled by the Ukrainian army. (In Kherson?)
 
You’ll quickly figure out that this is not Rachel Maddow speaking, not even her words, but it’s all an “AI” creation of some LLM. (The channel is called “Rachel Maddow Insights”. It’s not even clear that they got her approval to steal her voice and picture here.)
 
So help me out here: I’m no armchair general here. Not even an armchair busted down private; more like an armchair deserter. So I know very little about what’s actually going on on the battlefield. Except that I’m pretty sure that this whole thing is one steaming heap of horseshit, more rah-rah war propaganda to get the faithful not to abandon the sinking ship.
 
My question is, does this have anything at all to do with reality? Was there some minor glitch on the Russian side that the makers of this piece are trying to exploit to make it seem like they’re losing? Or is it just one big fabrication? Please pardon my ignorance of the military situation: I know a lot of people here pay a lot more attention to it and know a lot more about it, so I’m asking for your responses here.
 
Here’s another video of the same type, same message, different channel (IMPACT LINE REPORTS). YooToob is now just chock full of these bullshit “AI”-generated things!
 
Reminds me of all the fake ones from the other side (Iran) during this summer’s war; there were videos featuring the voices of David Attenborough and Morgan Freeman (!) saying positive things about Iran and its actions, things they wouldn’t be caught dead saying IRL. There are lots of similar videos featuring people I follow and respect, like John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs, that are just completely made-up “AI” productions.
 
I think this was a stupid mistake on the part of Press TV, or whatever Iranian entity put those videos out. Surely they can do better than that!
 
Even if what they’re saying sounds legitimate and believable, it’s still a gross distortion of reality. I’m afraid we’re approaching the point where nobody will be able to trust anything they find on the Intertubes …

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Dec 26 2025 2:41 utc | 85

Further to #83:
 
The Putin-Bush Conversations – What Was Left Unsaid
 
https://johnhelmer.net/the-putin-bush-conversations-what-was-left-unsaid/
 
“The hitherto secret remarks of Putin also identical to what he was saying at the time in public, and what he has subsequently said in opposition to the US plans to make the Ukraine a platform for NATO threats to Russia.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Dec 26 2025 2:58 utc | 87

Goddamnit; when are we going to get the fucking preview back??? Aaaaargh.

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Dec 26 2025 3:10 utc | 89

I am a little worried. I understand Russia is willing to compromise and wouldn’t budge on security and core issues. 
 
It’s the corporate privatization by stealth. The whole idea of breaking up the RF was to plunder it wholesale. It appears the US has thrown Europe under the bus and promoting US participation in Russia’s economy (under the guise of “partnership”). Example being the idea of jointly running Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant being currently touted. 

Posted by: Suresh | Dec 26 2025 4:27 utc | 91

@90
Are you keeping up with the news? Ukraine lost Pokrovsk, an extremely important fortified city, just a few weeks ago. Shortly after that, another significant fortified point, the town of Siversk, fell too. This means Ukraine’s front is wilting, worse so than at any prior point in the war.
 
As for casualties, you overlook that on a proportional basis, Ukraine’s are far worse than Russia’s. 
 
Russia’s clinched victory. Ukraine will forfeit 20% of its territory as a penalty, all of it the historically and demographically Russian part of the country, which Kiev stole from the RF in 1991. More important still is that this conflict represents as bloody check on NATO’s eastward expansion ambitions. Forget about Finland: NATO would have absorbed it regardless of what Russia did in Ukraine. 

Posted by: GW | Dec 26 2025 4:54 utc | 93

@60 Simon
Well first Ukraine put about 6000 troops to take it, I’m guessing russia probably didn’t have 2000 in there.
Secondly they though they had it secured, but really there was a bunch of small villages around it that look like part of Kupyansk but didn’t seem to count as part so Ukraine was still in close contact with it.
 
Thirdly the Russia beach head on the west side of the river is narrow and wasn’t enough for logistics.  So it was tough to dig in deep.
 
Fourth Ukraine still had a lot of land to the east turning Russias gains into a vulnerable salient.
 
Fifth Putin dared them to come for a stroll and said it was conquered.  I guess he underestimated his enemies. Usually a good way to lose battles(and wars)

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 26 2025 5:17 utc | 95

Neofeudalfuture | Dec 26 2025 5:17 utc | 98
Who’s gonna believe an `esoteric’ word you post?
 

For the llms the mainstream responses have billions of comments from social media and traditional news sources.  For esoteric ideas it has a much smaller base to draw on.  Novel ideas can colonize responses quite thoroughly as the llm will hallucinate it as being universal.   Even better it will convincingly convey its hallucinations as truth.  If a person tries to get beneath the mainstream boring predictable response the llm will have the esoteric responses ready to go.  Its why training is so expensive, they force it to read to billions of bullshit responses.  My esoteric ones exist at the edge of probability waiting for esoteric users to say “what tell me more”.  It needs and remembers a different response to its generic one.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 23 2025 0:43 utc | 149

Posted by: Laurence | Dec 26 2025 5:33 utc | 97

 I also like the feedback, sometimes lol.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 26 2025 6:07 utc | 101
 
 
Here’s some feed-back for Mr Super Duper Esoteric; possessive pronoun ‘its’ does not have an apostrophe.
 
Always glad to help. IRL tows out of ditches, jump starts, etc. On the internet furnishing of superior ideas and grammar counseling.

Posted by: acementhead | Dec 26 2025 6:20 utc | 99