What was broadcast live from the meeting at the White House didn’t really offer much. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and exchanged pleasantries. Everyone (including Trump himself) tried to outdo each other in praising him. It was so exaggerated that one could rather get the feeling that it was like a couple of parents with an overtired child trying their best to avoid it losing its temper and going into a frenzy at any moment.
From a European perspective, they also tried to sneak in their opinions, for example, that a ceasefire is required for the next meeting, that all parties must participate, etc. It seemed to work to some extent. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and both Zelenskyy and the others from Europe did well.
Zelenskyy had already held a press conference with Trump before the larger meeting. There, he also did well, but it was a peculiar press conference where maybe 10% was about Ukraine and the rest of the meeting was about how talented Trump is, among other things, cleaning up in Washington and how unfortunate it is for him not to be praised for it, and that he has arranged peace in six wars just in this past half year. Zelenskyy also received praise for his suit and quickly replied, “I changed, you still have the same suit.” He’s quick! One might get the impression that he is a bit slow at times, but that is probably only because he still has some issues with English and it takes a few extra seconds to articulate himself.
Now, I’m not sure about the exact schedule, but it seems like the meeting where everyone participated was interrupted prematurely. Trump had previously said he would call Putin after the meeting but apparently interrupted it in the middle to call him. I’m very curious about what was discussed and what made him feel the need to make that call. The meeting was supposed to continue afterward, but it seems like it was interrupted shortly after the phone call. Zelenskyy’s interview with Fox News was apparently also canceled.
We may have to wait a few days before we get a clear picture of what was actually said at the meeting and what the outcome will be. It sounds like there is already supposed to be a new meeting where Putin will also participate, but nothing is confirmed from the Kremlin.
By the way, we have been grappling with what Trump’s “endgame” really is because no matter how you twist and turn it, it’s hard to see the logic in helping Russia. I have been thinking that Putin is completely playing Trump from the sidelines.
Here is a quote from OMNI (CNN is probably the source) that could be a sign of that:
“A microphone captured a private conversation between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron during Monday’s summit at the White House. As they were about to sit down, Trump discussed his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska last Friday.
– I think he wants to make a deal for my sake. Do you understand? However crazy it may sound.”
https://omni.se/trumps-viskning-putin-vill-gora-det-har-for-min-skull/a/rPQQp8
Of course, it could be something that Trump made up; he has no problem with spreading falsehoods otherwise, but I suspect that he truly believes that Putin is his friend and is on his side when it comes to ending the war (and probably everything else as well). Since Russia has helped Trump before, it may not be so strange if he falls for that lie.
It would explain a lot if Trump really has that trust in Putin and trusts him 100%, then it’s not at all surprising if he swallows all of Putin’s lies and distrusts Zelenskyy.
Russian losses in Ukraine 2025-08-19
No armor at all, but plenty of artillery and soft vehicles, unfortunately also many UAVs (of course, it’s good that many are shot down, but it also means that Russia has sent a large number, and some always reach their target).
- 890 KWIA
- 66 Artillery systems
- 1 MLRS
- 209 UAVs
- 123 Vehicles and Fuel tanks
- 1 Special equipment
SLAVA UKRAINI
Don't forget to donate, Ukraine's cause is ours! Support Ukraine!
186 combat clashes
5,350 shellings (86 from MLRS)
“Experts downplay hope for peace in Ukraine: “Putin is a master of stalling”
Monday’s summit at the White House appears to have been a step in the right direction, but anyone who believes that it signals a soon end to the war in Ukraine is hoping for too much. This is according to Charles Kupchan at the think tank Council on Foreign Relations, speaking to TT.
He believes that the issue of security guarantees is up in the air. Germany states that Europe and the USA will guarantee Ukraine’s security together, while Donald Trump says that the USA will help to “coordinate.”
Russia expert Tatiana Stanovaja writes on X that the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine is backwards. Over three and a half years of war, the Western world has made it clear that it is unwilling to go to war against Russia.
“How can security guarantees, which by definition require the ability to forcefully stop the attacker, be given? Such guarantees are only realistic when the attacker has been defeated and surrendered.””
Monday’s meeting with Trump was the best so far, says Zelensky at a press conference according to several media outlets.
“In the phone call with Trump, Putin suggested a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and Russia, and also opened up for a trilateral meeting where Trump also participates,” continues the Ukrainian president.
“We are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin,” says Zelensky, adding that it should be held without preconditions.
Furthermore, Zelensky says that he has had long conversations with Trump and the other leaders about territories and security guarantees, and that the details of the guarantees will be worked out “within the next ten days.”
Confusion reigns over whether the USA should be part of the security guarantees or simply coordinate well.
“US Chief of Staff Dan Caine and his staff have been working on developing potential security guarantees for Ukraine on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter for CNN.
European governments have had similar discussions, according to the source, who did not provide details on the plans.
Caine and Defense Minister Pete Hegseth were both present at the White House during the evening summit. This, along with Trump’s statements during the press conferences, indicates that the US government is serious about wanting to contribute to security guarantees.
However, after the meetings at the White House, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Europe should provide the security guarantees and the USA should “coordinate” them.”
“Ukraine offers the USA a deal to buy American weapons for 100 billion dollars in exchange for security guarantees. This is shown in a document that Financial Times has read.
The weapon purchases will be financed by Europe. Ukraine also offers the USA a deal worth 50 billion dollars to manufacture drones through Ukrainian companies that have become leaders in drone technology during the war.
The proposal was shared with European allies ahead of tonight’s talks in Washington, according to several sources with insight.”
buy a friend
“🤬 Kremenchuk is filled with smoke — residents are asked to close their windows. They hit everything at once: with “shaheds”, ballistics and cruise missiles. Administrative buildings of energy enterprises were damaged, gas storage facilities in Poltava region were also hit.” https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3lwqc7ubupc2c
💥🔥👍 It seems like they’ve targeted Lukoil in Volgograd again!
“❗️Drones attacked the 🇷🇺Volgograd oil refinery at night. The governor said the fire was caused by falling “debris.””
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3lwqajuqgts2g
“Multiple explosions now confirmed in Volgograd. Russia says air defence is working, and fires on the ground could be falling debris but it’s probably more likely to be successful drone strikes by Ukraine. Target not yet confirmed.”
https://bsky.app/profile/twmcltd.bsky.social/post/3lwpn7qcjsk2o
Accent Man, about ZAPAD 2025
“Here, President Alexander Lukashenko has openly warned his population to prepare for war, with new brigades being mobilized on the border and the groundwork being laid for a rapid mobilization. Concrete moves on the ground are matching this warning, as upcoming military exercises might once again lay the groundwork for two new major escalations.”
“Belarusian Troops Rushing to the Border in Thousands! | RFU News”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09kzoo48vJE
https://www.rfunews.com/articles/troops-rushing-to-the-border-in-thousands
Does anyone know where the Belarusian armed forces stand? In dictatorships, it is often the case that the security forces are fiercely loyal to the dictator and that the military stands a little more and leans towards the dictator’s side, but with extensive popular pressure, it changes sides or simply lays down their weapons. Or is the defense closely integrated with Moscow with the same type of dehumanization?
I would guess that the highest-ranking officials are appointed directly due to loyalty. Regular soldiers and lower officers probably have a different view on that.
The fact that Lukashenko so far has chosen not to actively participate in the war, I see as a sign that he does not trust that such an order would be followed, that people simply refuse to fight, and that there is also a risk that it could lead to the army turning against him.
Of course, Putin may have increased the pressure on him, perhaps made direct threats (against him personally, or economic threats against the whole country) and then he may have no choice.
If one can dream, it would be perfect if he actually gives the order and then it leads to the military refusing and taking power, to later announce democratic elections.
That Lukashenko has chosen not to actively participate in the war so far, I see as a sign that he does not trust that such an order would be followed, that people simply refuse to fight, and that there is also a risk that it would lead to the army turning against him.
Sounds reasonable considering that in early 2022 there were reports of Belarusian officers also opposing the Russian full-scale invasion. It may have been in March/April.
If one were to dream, it would be perfect if he actually gives the order and then it leads to the military refusing and taking power, to later announce democratic elections.
Yes. But note that Wagner has been stationed and training Belarusian soldiers in Belarus for almost two years. Wagner known for execution squads behind the front lines.
Part of the slime gnome’s Maskirovka! #fckptn is facing tough economic times and PROBABLY wants peace but on their own terms (like all narcissists) and then threats are an important part of the game, since diaper leaders in the EU usually back down instead of showing muscles (like Poland, Finland) 😉
Creating a THREAT image via Lukashenko ties up troops and shows threats of more war!
Lukashenko dares to play that game but we all know that if he acts that way he’ll get caught in the act, causing both war and internal uprisings within his own army!
Yes, empty threats seem to work all too well.
Yes, that’s true. Wagner are not nice guys (probably much more effective as shock troops than the Kadyrovites).
After Prigozhin’s death, satellite images showed that the Wagner camps were dismantled again and it was later reported that they left Belarus.
But it is true that there has been talk of them providing training, so there are probably a few remaining who are doing that.
3000-11000 left in the country
This is what I can find:
From the end of May 2025:
“The Belarusian training grounds that hosted Russian units as part of the Regional Group of Forces (RGF) during this period were dismantled. The latter was later used by militants from the Wagner Group, who conducted and potentially continue to conduct training for Belarusian military personnel (some of whom, apparently, were subsequently integrated into the internal troops under the command of Nikolai Karpenkov). By autumn 2023, following the death of Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the remaining Wagner elements (numbering a few hundred) were employed by Minsk to train Belarusian special forces and exert psychological pressure on Poland and Lithuania, as they were also stationed near the city of Grodno at Belarusian military bases, the deployment sites of the 6th Belarusian Separate Mechanized Brigade.”
https://prismua.org/en/985457-2
Then we have this from 2024:
“Today, no more than 1,000 Wagner mercenaries remain in Belarus. Most of them are still in a camp in the Asipovichy District of Mogilev Region, southeast of the capital, Minsk. That’s according to Valery Sakhashchyk, effective defense minister of the United Transitional Cabinet, a government-in-exile under Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who now resides in Lithuania.”
https://www.dw.com/en/what-are-wagner-group-mercenaries-still-doing-in-belarus/a-68077456
Who usually writes that?????
whoooo
Russia redeploys troops for new push in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine’s army chief says. “The goal is to break through our defenses and advance deep into (our) territory. Their goal, of course, is (occupying) the entire region,” Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-redeploys-troops-for-new-push-in-zaporizhzhia-oblast-ukraines-army-chief-says/
It was well a couple of days ago when it was written about a lot of transportation going that way too.
Stämmer har ett inlägg på gång
I like Macron’s proposal, straight to The Hague for Putin! 😂
“A future summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky could take place in Geneva. This is stated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
– It will be arranged by a neutral country, perhaps Switzerland, I suggest Geneva, or another country, says Macron to the French news channel LCI.
However, Switzerland could arrest Putin, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the country has signed the Rome Statute.”
https://omni.se/macron-zelenskyj-och-putin-kan-motas-i-geneve/a/pPwwkR
den Haag is a negotiating card I haven’t seen, but want to bring into the game!
(However, I want that card to never be played but it’s totally OK to pretend to give him safe passage but still arrest him)
Play the same game as #fckptn: “Putin has violated 25 peace agreements in the last decade!”
So #fckptn in all situations!
Putin can promise anything because no country has stood up for the security guarantees given to Ukraine, so he expects this to continue. He thinks it’s safe to agree because he breaks it anyway!
I’m posting this everywhere so it’s not missed:
Putin has broken 25 peace agreements over the past decade!
So #fckptn
FCK PTN!
What happens if it turns out to be a doppelganger that one catches and puts in The Hague?
🤣🤣🤣
The question of European and American troops in Ukraine after the war was not discussed at all during the summit at the White House, says NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in an interview with Fox News.
“It will be part of the discussions that are now beginning,” he says.
But what all meeting participants agreed on is that the Minsk Agreement from 2014 must not be repeated, Rutte continues. The agreement was signed to resolve the Donbass war in eastern Ukraine, but has not been adhered to, and eight years later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Again: Putin has violated 25 peace agreements in the last decade!
So #fckptn
Patience is running out 👍
💥🔥👍
“🔥🚂Russian fuel train was blown up today on the Zaporizhzhia front.”
https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3lwqhnit75c2q
Good good
Oil prices are rising because there is a belief in a decreased chance of peace, while defense stocks are falling because there is a belief in an increased chance of peace? 🤔
“Oil prices rose 1 percent following statements from the White House that dampened expectations of a quick resolution to the conflict, according to Bloomberg.”
https://omni.se/oljepriset-stiger-uttalanden-grusar-hopp-om-eldupphor/a/eMjV5R
“European defense giants under pressure after peace talks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that a direct meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin could take place within the next two weeks, followed by Trump expanding it to a trilateral meeting to then initiate negotiations, as reported by Reuters.
European defense stocks are falling broadly on the news. The German defense giants Renk Group, Rheinmetall, and Hensoldt are all declining between 1.9 and 3.2 percent, while the Italian Leonardo is down by 4.6 percent. Domestically, Saab is at the bottom of the OMXS30 and falling over 4 percent, thus appearing to erase yesterday’s gains.”
https://omni.se/forsvarsjattar-i-europa-pressas-efter-fredssamtal/a/kwkkVj
European defense stocks are likely to fall on Zelensky’s statement about buying American for 100 billion USD?
That’s how it can be understood!
If one had known this in advance – good money 👍
I believe (yes I) that this is a game for the gallery and that everyone (on the EU side) understands that this is a game for #fckptn will never come up with anything sensible! So playing along while Ukrainian soldiers start crushing heavily in the war, is what I believe! Resources are saved!?
So when the EU has pulled Putin’s pants down to his ankles, there is no longer any reason to do business with the USA, so those 100 billion are probably on a REAL EU shopping list!
Trump’s downfall is also on the agenda! Epstein will grow and as we Finns would say, it will be a real EPOstein and become a strong candidate to bring down Trump!
So soon we will shout in Canadian style: “TIIIIIMBEEEEEER”
Putin is deceiving Trump as if he were a little child. So tragic to see. Talk about the wrong man at the wrong time for Europe. Macron looked furious during the meeting when Trump was rambling. I think he remembers how Putin lied to his face when they had a series of meetings before the invasion of Ukraine. There is a good documentary about this that was aired on SVT. Zelensky calls Macron and informs him that Russia has started the full-scale invasion, upon which Macron turns completely pale and unreachable. Obviously in shock. Putin has been lying to him all along.
Haha, yes, he probably believed in it.
I am more suspicious of the Germans.
Zelensky also played it down the month before, but that was to avoid provocation.
Russians are shameless – nothing is sacred and nothing is too young to torture
Stubb called them barbarians at the meeting 🤣😐
They are sometimes called the beyond-the-wall vermin in Finland too, right?
Don’t forget in this context that Trump has also called Lukashenko
pajas call a jester 😉
But why?
So… no idea at all… just some thoughts popped up in my mind regarding land exchange, Luka stepping down in 2030 or whenever it was, Puttes priority 1 maybe Krym and its livelihood paths….
Is a land swap being considered where Ukraine releases the eastern regions and is compensated with merging with Belarus? Or Belarus is divided between Ukraine and Russia?
I and Johan agree that Stubb has a strength in how he presents facts without “scaring off” the token trump!
https://www.tiktok.com/@foxnews/video/7540015591189482807
Hyvä Stubb
If, like me, you watched the meeting at work, Stubb was the one who most strongly criticized Russia – according to rumors, he called them barbarians.
Trump was very respectful towards Stubb in a way that is unusual for him.
Stubb represents Finland, which is very small.
Stubb is unique.
I looked at my spare time, but still noticed the same thing.
If you were drunk at least when you watched, it can be a mitigating circumstance.
Well, Stubb is perfect in his role, he can speak directly, without a lot of extra words when needed, and he has a twinkle in his eye when needed. He also knows what he’s talking about.
We have to pat ourselves on the back a bit here in Finland as we usually manage to vote in such good presidents. Niinistö was good, and now we have one who seems to be even sharper.
I repeat what I have said before:
Putin and Xi are collaborating to weaken the USA.
Trump is just a pawn in the game.
Yes, XI is the one holding the little one’s hand. Crystal clear.
“🇺🇸🇺🇦🏌️♂️ Video of Trump thanking Ukrainian soldier Kostiantyn Kartavtsev for golf club gift.”
https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3lwqtvzuvp223
“Overnight August 18–19, Russia launched 280 air targets at Ukraine: 270 Shahed drones, 5 Iskander-M missiles, and 5 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Air defense, EW units and mobile fire groups shot down/suppressed 236 of them — including 230 drones, 2 Iskanders and 4 Kh-101s.”
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3lwqwrmeb7s2b
Anyone who would have thought that?
“Trump: USA will not send soldiers to Ukraine
In an interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump is asked about the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
– There will be some form of security, but it cannot be NATO, says Trump.
When asked if he can guarantee that there will not be American soldiers on the ground in Ukraine, he replies “you have my assurance and I am the president.”
However, he says that Europe may consider doing so.”
https://omni.se/trump-usa-kommer-inte-skicka-soldater-till-ukraina/a/qP50Xm
Could one have guessed.
The EU probably had to press them hard before they finally agreed to even impose sanctions against Russia. Something that later they tried to have a vote on to revoke but fortunately failed.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be arrested, but offered immunity, if he comes to Switzerland for peace talks. This was announced by Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Tuesday, reported by Le Monde.
This announcement comes despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an international arrest warrant for war crimes against the Russian president. Normally, ICC member countries have an obligation to arrest the wanted individuals.”
There are too many Russian funds in Swiss banks for them to do anything.
“Trump on what the European leaders said to him: “They want to get back to leading their countries. They’re consumed with this far more than we are… There will be some form of security. It can’t be NATO because that’s just not something that would ever, ever happen.””
Okay, it may not be NATO, but European countries, most of which are almost part of NATO. So if, for example, Lithuanian soldiers are in Ukraine and Russia attacks Lithuania, then Trump, Orban, Fico, and Erdogan will shout that Article 5 does not apply because they are parties in the conflict in Ukraine.
Start raking the arena only to have to give up occupied parts? Ukraine could probably consider letting all Russians who want to go home to “safety” in Russia, if that’s where the shoe pinches.
“🐴🤡 Russia never set a goal to acquire Crimea, Donbas or Novorossia. The main task was to protect the Russian people, — Lavrov”
https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3lwqlvoofmk23
😶
Just Mats and “De-Nazification” Which sources show the system influence of Nazis? Election results, composition of the government, Jewish president, absence of legislated extremism support
“Genocide of Russian speakers” Where is the independent verification? Reports from the UN/OSCE lacking evidence of genocide; civilian losses caused by Russian aggression
“Legal Crimea referendum” How can an election be free under military occupation? Lack of recognition, absence of free elections, violations of the UN Charter
“NATO urgently threatened Russia” What concrete decisions were made about bases/troops in Ukraine before 2022? Absence of NATO bases in Ukraine; Ukraine’s status before the invasion
“Minsk was violated by Ukraine” Who armed and led the separatists? Evidence of Russian military presence, weapons flows, and command
“Bio lab / secret weapons” Has the claim been reviewed by independent bodies? Recurring denials from independent institutions; lack of technical evidence
One must invert everything they say. What they accuse others of, is what they themselves do, or plan to do.
The nagging about the threat from NATO, NATO is a defense alliance, with voluntary members. Russia doesn’t know what voluntary means. No one has allied with Russia voluntarily, and Russia has always exploited the countries they forced into the alliance.
Genocide of Russians, bah. Genocide is what the Russians do in the occupied areas, and what they have done throughout history wherever they have been.
Good, feel free to wake up the Polish bison ox!
“⚡ Pro-Russian hackers carried out a cyberattack on a hydropower plant in Poland’s Pomeranian Voivodeship.”
https://bsky.app/profile/united24media.com/post/3lwr5sv3xiw2g
Hörrudu – the same as what happened in Norway 🧐
What will happen this winter if RU has managed to empty our hydroelectric power plants since autumn?
It could be a problem if they manage to synchronize their attacks. It takes a while for maintenance personnel to get out and manually lower the gates, and if they raise, for example, the gates on a number of power plants in the same river, it quickly becomes wet downstream. It may be enough for them to access and change a parameter value, then there will be a problem.
I was at a power plant once at the end of the commissioning phase, and the automation guy downloaded the program online, and the parameter value for the upper water level was set to 0. I was looking at a screen in another room when I suddenly saw the power output go up to maximum. I went into the control room and saw the sweaty automation guy hammering on the keyboard to lower the gates. I think around 250m3/s was flowing through the unit and 3 gates were on their way up, so maybe another 500m3 was on the way. Then they called from the power plant 5km downstream and asked what we were doing, the water was flowing over the gate tops. 😀
haha, he never forgot the anxiety the automation guy had 🤣🤣🤣
MXT continues with Wagner above because it’s too high up –
Wagner may leave Africa for Belarus, but then they are the Africa Corps now.
https://en.belsat.eu/86704125/media-the-remnants-of-the-wagner-group-may-be-transferred-from-africa-to-belarus
What happened to Wagner?
They were absorbed into the Russian army or maybe they were assigned to serve in the Belarusian defense forces and protected Lukashenko for a while.
Those closed training camps, etc., are probably more uniformed Wagner, but it would be a dereliction of duty if Lukashenko sent them all away when he had them there, right?
Apparently, a couple of thousand took jobs in Akhmat.
https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-04-12/akhmat-the-russian-shadow-army-taking-over-from-wagner-in-ukraine.html
Here in 2023, 3000-10,000 came there.
https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-july-31/
What I believe is that they are still around but not as WAGNER, rather in the Belarusian defense forces; they hate Russia, and those serving in Akhmat do it as a statement.
In the summer of 2024, China and WAGNER had exercises with the Belarusian defense forces.
https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/07/20/wagner-and-belarus-hold-military-training-exercises-near-polish-border/
Seemed to be over 30,000 in total available.
https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-july-31/
That Wagner was present in larger numbers in 2023 and that some remained for training and are probably still there today, I completely agree with.
However, I cannot find anything indicating that they would have any significant presence there, and nothing at all about their participation in the exercises with China in 2024. If they have trainers on site, they have surely participated, but I cannot find any traces of them having a battalion that has been involved, etc.
In August 2024, the British Ministry of Defence estimated that Wagner had a total of approximately 5,000 soldiers stationed in Belarus and Africa. The distribution, however, is not clear, but if I were to guess, the presence in Africa should be significantly larger than in Belarus.
Since Wagner still exists, I suspect that they have continued to recruit, so today they are probably significantly more than in the summer of 2024, but if they have grown since then, it is probably mainly in Africa.
Yes, I saw that there are suspicions that they may be returning from Africa, which is of course worrying.
I think everything that has happened is still compatible with the simple idea: the USA does not care about Ukraine but is preparing for war against China and wants to win over Russia to its side.
The above is the simple theory that has persisted for several years now, and it does not require multiple layers of aluminum foil on the head. On the contrary, it is quite reasonable from a cold analytical perspective. This theory is also bigger than Trump. The fact that Trump personally is fond of Putin becomes a side note because it is the dry military strategists behind the U.S. empire who are in control. This explains why Biden also refrained from hitting Russia hard.
So what can we hope for? Well, that the Europeans and Ukraine are so determined to win that the USA cannot bring Russia on board by helping them to win the war. Then the only option left is to defeat Russia instead and install a USA-friendly puppet government. Such things have been done by the USA before, so no tin foil hat is needed there either.
Absolutely, the USA is not our friend.
In addition to your brilliant analysis that pushes our prime minister off the chair is that the USA also gladly wants a weak EU that buys everything from them, preferably protection too.
Yes, that is also compatible with how the USA has behaved. This also applies to the Middle East for decades. To take a cold look at the situation: 1) Is the chaos in the Middle East an energy thief for Europe? 2) Has the USA done anything other than caused chaos in the Middle East by first supporting Al-Qaeda, then wanting to destroy Al-Qaeda by smashing Iraq (which had nothing to do with Bin Laden) to pieces and also supporting Daesh, and then trying to crush them when they have grown and become IS. The same story in Libya, of course.
Yes, that is probably a likely theory, which would explain a lot.
However, I believe Russia is too tied to China now for the USA to drive a wedge.
However, there is probably quite a bit of love-hate relationship towards China from Russia’s side. On the other hand, I believe Russia really likes the West, rhetoric notwithstanding. Just look at Putin’s smile when he got to visit the USA.
So, industrially and economically they are tied to China, but emotionally to the West. What Trump wants is probably to provide an economic and industrial lifeline by easing sanctions.
At the Foreign Office tonight, this is brought up with a weak EU. But we get no response. With the UK out of the EU, we have become even weaker. What is missing? Will Stubb be the one to unite us and push for demands on RU. Mertz is too weak politically on the home front to dare to stand out, Macron is on his way out, and Keir has the same problem as Mertz. It’s sad.
Even Norway has a border with Russia. They are well off financially too. Twenty trillion in the oil fund. Sweden has Gotland to think about, and has a good weapons industry. Denmark is already in gear. So it seems to me that it will be Scandinavia, Finland, and Poland that are best positioned to take the moral leadership. The other countries are too far away and get stuck in other things or have too many pro-Russians. Is it really that difficult? We never built the high-speed train, so we have 300 billion left over, right?! The Finns and the Poles have the right intuition about the Russians.
It’s so easy. Build production lines for long-distance robots in all these countries, including Ukraine, without considering profitability. Turn off the phones so it’s not heard if Trump calls (because then everyone goes into fetal position immediately) and flood Russia with these until all military industry, oil industry, and infrastructure (aviation, railways) are completely destroyed. Especially all infrastructure towards China so they can’t transport materials to the front.
I think it would be relatively risk-free to go to war with Russia at the moment actually even if we would need to show some tolerance as citizens because things will start to explode in the country.
All Ukraine needs is allies on their side then they unleash the beast and start fighting things that really hurt – they are a hurricane once they get going.
Azerbaijan is already in.
They have been able to free Putin for example and everyone says “the one who comes after won’t be better” but the point is that then the power struggle starts about who will come after which with the right help in the right place may lead to a violent civil war where they start killing each other instead.
Now it’s easy to say and a country like Finland has already partly experienced what it’s like to be invaded and then make the mistake of doing what we would need to do – go to war with Russia. They have had 80 long years as a consequence of that.
You don’t need to go too far but the whole area north of Ladoga and Onega should be able to be conquered pretty quickly and then the Arctic fleet can move.
“it will be a trade of territories” – do you think we will hear Trump say that 🤣🤣
Kaliningrad will fall quickly if the Poles are on board and Belarus is just a popular uprising away from falling, the only reason they didn’t get their freedom was because Europe turned their backs on them and covered their ears so we didn’t hear the screams 😐
Voila – somewhere around there Finland has received some payback and our Empire’s eastern border against Russia is quite manageable.
A violent battle and a quick rush – a few weeks in summer shorts and we’re there 👍
Putin, just like Hitler, deserves capital punishment.
Hoping for the Russian economy to collapse is taking this a bit too lightly, but if Ukraine can start inflicting defeats on RU on the battlefield AND if the USA + Europe don’t stop their strategic drone warfare ever again, it might be the beginning of the end.
Azerbaijan has now thrown in the towel – they are on Ukraine’s side.
As you yourself previously wrote, there is no bottom, think Zimbabwe, Central Africa, and some other African countries. The economy does not go down from 100 to 0. There is no zero point, it just goes down into a bottomless pit. However, there is a point where the economy does not allow sufficient production of war material, whereby Ukraine will gain a persistent advantage.
Wondering if Stubb is up for a violent offensive to Onega’s waters and Petsamo’s nickel mines 🧐
Russia is de facto not the least bit afraid of us and has left its entire border undefended – why should they get away with this irresponsible behavior?
Isn’t it time for the damn Russians to give up some land that someone else took in a fair war?
Since the USA promptly wants to keep Russia to combat China, maybe the best thing is for Europe to make a quick raid as above and put Russia under forced administration. Then the USA can hire Russian forces as mercenaries to fight against China, and the money goes to Ukraine. Everyone gets what they want, including Russia who likes to fight.
Good morning!
920 KWIA
1 Tank
4 AFVs (Armored Fighting Vehicles)
50 Artillery systems
260 UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
7 Cruise missiles
142 Vehicles and Fuel tanks
https://bsky.app/profile/matsextrude.bsky.social/post/3lwsmlzinhk2i
Glory to Ukraine