If it works, good! The Europeans have brought this upon themselves. But it's not yet in the bag, and the Hegemon cannot be trusted. (Nor can the Europeans.)
No, the war Democrats in the US started the war in Ukraine. And had they won the US election again recently, we would probably or rather for sure have the Third World war within the next four years. But now the Trump administration has taken over.
Let's hope we can trust Trump and Co. They will still have obstacles from the Deep State within which the military complex is deeply involved and on which the US (war) economy is partly dependent.
On many parameters I don't agree with Trump, but the war in Ukraine must be the most important parameter for the world.
Hello Per, I am glad that you liked my comment. I agree with your first paragraph. And I agree that the war in Ukraine is more important than which of the pigs has the more attractive lipstick—that was indeed implied by my shortly-stated comment. As for the rest, I support your hopes that Trump and Co. will really go a different route and manage their withdrawal from supporting the continuation of that awful war; but it will be tough unless they realize that it will necessitate compliance with the real demand, which is the revision of the security architecture of Europe, that being Russia's chief goal. Trump and Co. will have to concede that such a revision is really in everyone's interest and perhaps claim it as their own idea. The lunatic Europeans will have to be pushed into it kicking and screaming, because so many of them can't stand the idea that the Russians have won that war and humiliated NATO. Well, screw them. NATO deserved to be humiliated and should have been disbanded in 1990. But the European ethnophobia (Russophobia, Sinophobia, and Muslimophobia) is so deeply intrenched that they hate the idea of peace unless it is achieved through the destruction of half of the world's population without comparable destruction of themselves. The Norwegians (of all people—but their virtue turns out to be phony) are adulating Stoltenberg (the hate-driven man who longs for a nuclear exchange with Russia) as a hero. If Trump can find a way out that makes himself look good (difficult, as I said) then that war will end, Europe will be safer, and more power to him. But I'm skeptical . . . Particularly in view of what Trump. and Co. are up to in Palestine. Mikjall
The Europeans brought this on themselves by being vassals of Washington, but the last time Europe showed spine was 2 decades ago, and then Washington bitched about cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Biden's and Europe's non-vassals (Orban and Fico) had the US try and organize Orban's political demise (through USAID), and Fico was shot 5 times.
And now the US is running away and handing the bag to Europe. Sure, I think our political leaders here are both cretins and pygmies, but this mess has Washington's fingerprints all over it from 2014 when f*ck the EU Nuland organized a coup d'etat in Kiev.
Hello Asgard, Yes, I agree with you. Never. said otherwise. I wasn't glorifying the Americans in any way. In fact they are the worst offenders in all of the ways criticized by Mr. Vance and are ultimately responsible for the whole dirty mess. I did say that the Hegemon can't be trusted, and we'll have to see what actually comes of this supposed Trumpian "realist" reversal. But the fact that Vance's rant applies even more, if anything, to the US than it applies to Europe, doesn't negate the fact that the Europeans deserved it in spades and brought it upon themselves, as I said. And that includes putting themselves in the position where the US could run away and hand off the bag to them (don't they read any history?), which will probably mean that the vicious, Russophobic war will end, because the Europeans can't do jacks**it without the US. If it means that, then, as I said, it's a good thing. I don't care that the Americans are not acting admirably and are themselves the worst of the lot. I 've never thought otherwise. Mikjall
Glenn, what do you think of this new US/Trump narrative that suddenly ‘Ukraine is Europe’s problem?’
*) Wasn’t it American NGOs like USAID, NED, and American citizen George Soros’ Open Society Foundation that have been funding anti-Russian sentiment for decades in Ukraine?
*) Wasn’t it the US and the American CIA that was behind the 2014 regime change Maidan Coup?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Victoria Nuland that was handing out cookies on Maidan Square?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Victoria Nuland that said “fck the EU?”
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Trump who deviated from Obama’s policy and started sending lethal military “aid” to Ukraine?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Trump who cancelled the INF and Open Skies Treaties with Russia?
*) Wasn’t it the American 2017-2021 Trump Admin that moved US NATO troops from Germany to Ukraine’s neighbours Poland and Romania?
…but now it’s suddenly ‘Europe’s problem’ and Europeans have to clean up America’s mess? 🤔
Ukraine war is always US war against Russia; Ukraine is being used as proxy in this war against the Russians. As per US standard “protocol” on losing a war they created is to abandon their vassal state and start pointing finger at their puppet as fall guy. This is what happened when one made deal with the devil you become the fall guy. Also, the war is not over until Putin says so. All the billions of $$$ spent on anti Russian propaganda and rhetorics, Russia is not our enemy and has never been our enemy. US,UK ,and now the pariah EU are major threats to all existence.
The funny part is European mis-leaders claiming that the US is making peace in Ukraine "behind their backs". As if the US asked Europeans their permission to arm Europe's most corrupt country to the teeth, platform neonazis there, or build bioweapons labs there?
And where have the gangsters from Europe's most corrupt county migrated to? America? Nope. They are now legally resident in Europe.
It would be interesting to hear the various Russian perspectives on various scenarios and cost benefits of prolonging the war vs ending it soon.
Around the start of the war, I recall reading, in very small print, so to speak, around the start of the war, that there was a faction in Russia which thought that the best possible scenario was a long war. The longer the war, as long as it was carried out at a relatively slow, non-startling nuclear provoking pace, the more it would weaken the West by using up military and financial resources, increasing societal divisions, keeping the inept elite in power, and basically hastening the decline of the West. Hastening the decline of the West being the main strategic goal.
What are the Russians thinking now given the new US administration making stronger peace overtures than anticipated?
Another fine piece from Mr Diesen, I am Scottish and have detested all Westminster Political Parties since 1984 all of them Tory Labour Liberal Greens have Stripped My Nations Wealth Thatcher Sold the Oil and Gas Rights from the North Sea. Britains should have no Poor Homeless Unemployed and I use the name Britain because that’s what we are, no matter my feelings on the subject which is We as a Nation should be Independent NOW. Moving onto your excellent article I personally have never Feared Russia no matter who the Leader was but a huge Number of the POTUS have absolutely frightened the shit out of Me Even the Sainted Obama was turned into an establishment Rogue but the US is moving into the Realms of Dr Strangelove and Mars Attacks Biden was a Gibberish spouting Idiot spouting Nonsense and Lies. Now we come to Trump a Maverick with Insane people in his Government who are a danger to Humanity as for the Warmongering NATO COUNTRIES run by People who are Geared towards Evil and Destroying Humanity without War they have no reason for being. Now our insidious Leader Starmer who persuaded the English Jeremy Corbyn was a Racist and Antisemite all the while knowing Jeremy was a Man of Peace a Christian and a Socialist with not a Racist Bone in His Body so as to gain the Leadership of The once Great Labour Party and turn it into a Blairite Tribute Show. The Majority of the Worlds Leaders and their sycophants are Corrupt beyond Belief and Out and Out Liars. All one has to do is look back to the near completion of the talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey then Boom end of talk and onto War Russia is pushed and pushed until in my opinion they had the right to protect their Borders and did so, NATO the UK and America are to blame foe every Life lost in this unnecessary War. Then we have UK America and the rest of the NATO Countries screaming Russia is committing Genocide in Ukraine who are being supplied with weapons Hamas and Hezbola can only dream of, Then if we move to Palestine where a Proper 21st Century Holocaust being committed by an Apartheid Fascist Regime led by a Homicidal Maniac with an Army to match the SS a Regime so RICH it could buy and sell America. But no America the UK and the rest Send a Regime with nuclear capabilities Billions of Dollars and Billions of Pounds along with Weapons to turn Gaza and Lebanon soon to move onto Syria into a replica of Dresden and Coventry. That’s more than enough from “Me PJM The Free Thinker” There is nothing Quite like a Demented Rant to clear the Sinuses OoooooooRah. Don’t blame me for this shit it’s The Russians Fault.
JJM @ 10:00ish: "at some point Trump is going to have to bring the Europeans and Ukrainians into the deal"
I'm not sure I really agree with this. Trump doesn't seem to be that interested in a deal per se. Trump seems to be more interested in telling Europe and Ukraine: "This is how it's gonna be."
Trump must know a deal is almost impossible, so he's simply signalling to all parties that Article 5 is not going to apply if Europe and Ukraine continue to pursue a strategy of losing the war, and that the USA is not going to be dragged in by e.g. a false flag attack on Chernobyl by Ukraine.
Trump and Putin can clearly come to a sort of unofficial unsigned 'deal' – rather a mutual understanding, or an 'agree to disagree', than a deal. Some important building blocks appear to be on the table, put there by the Trump administration i.e. We don't care about this, or that...
Trump knows that you can't negotiate with thirty different countries at the table. Two is hard enough. He didn't strike New York property deals by having twenty-eight NY property tycoons present, them having demanded to be present as any deal relates to their business interests.
Trump also appears to be setting up Europe and Ukraine as the people to blame if/when a deal fails to materialise. To that extent, the likes of Starmer are playing right into his hands (already). If you refuse to negotiate, you make yourself an easy target when the blame game commences.
–––
JJM @ 12ish: "the danger that the Russians will capture a lot more territory"
This for me is overstated and perhaps JJM listens to Alexander Mercouris too much. On his 'show', the latter regularly lapses into self-indulgent fantasies about the collapse of [a two-minute long lists of population centres] and then the Russians "going all the way to the Dnieper."
This is predicated on the Ukrainian lines completely collapsing, and the Russians taking advantage by striking in a direction perpendicular to the lines, whereas the Russian army really shows no signs of doing anything other than plodding along and making very minor advances.
At the rate the war has been going, taking seven oblasts (a number plucked out of nowhere by JJM) could take Russia twenty years. Capturing 10km square a day will not impact negotiations.
–––
JJM @ 49ish: "we [the West] don't pay attention to what I would call brute facts"
An ingenious turn of phrase that JJM must have come up with very recently as he repeats it several times. It is worth paying attention to what JJM means by these two words. The essence of the phrase is that it signifies facts that carry overwhelming force. These are indefatigable facts. Facts that 'Ukraine supporters' cannot deal with. Unpalatable facts. Unacceptable facts.
The French came up with a phrase for this a long time ago: fait accompli. Something you don't like but you're just going to have to deal with it because no matter how much you crybaby about it, it's still going to be there when you wake tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.
Accepting something as a brute fact, a fait accompli, allows you to grieve, and then to move on to strategise, work out how best to try to deal with it, to counteract it. What I see from our so-called 'leaders' in Europe is crybabying; "No! Mummy! It can't be a fait accompli! It's not fair!"
A fait accompli is not meant to be fair. If it were, it might be called a 'fair accompli', but it isn't. You're not supposed to like a fait accompli, to think it is fair. That is not the nature of the beast.
Crybabying is of no use to anyone. Another nauseating EU photoshoot, in which our European 'leaders' present a choreographed show of group crybabying, united crybabying, is just denial.
Denying facts is a road to madness. Living in an alternative reality, where everything is how you want it to be, to be fair, is a road to madness. Casting out those with alternative voices, the Glenn Diesens, the JJ Mearsheimers, rational people capable of identifying solutions, is mad.
You completely misunderstand the Russians. They are not interested in taking over Europe or even the entirety of Ukraine. They are only interested in defending their borders, getting rid of Nazis, and preventing Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO. You are among the ignorant group who claim that Russia is losing because it is not advancing quickly enough. But you are mistaken. Russia is winning. The eastern provinces of what was once Ukraine voted to become a part of Russia because they are Russians. The Russians do not want to take over what remains of Ukraine. They want it to be a buffer state. Your windbaggery is based on a false perspective.
I have access to Russian Telegram channels and have been following them for three years. I understand exactly what the Russians are doing and why they are doing it. They are doing it painfully slowly. That is simply a fact. They've been trying to take Chasov Yar (a small town) for a year.
If they carry on at this pace, they might have everything east of the Dnieper by the end of this century.
"They are not interested in taking over Europe or even the entirety of Ukraine"
Correct.
"They are only interested in defending their borders, getting rid of Nazis, and preventing Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO"
Correct.
See. We agreed all the time.
I simply said capturing 10km square a day will not impact negotiations, which it won't, because it is infinitesimal. Donald Trump is not going to shit the bed and surrender because Russia captured four fields and a telephone box.
This is all a product of Russia fighting a war that Putin didn't want to fight. He spent three months waiting for the West to see sense. He might as well have worn a t-shirt bearing the words: "Come on, this is ridiculous, don't make me do it"
Having run out of patience after three months and ordered an invasion in the hope that Kiev would quickly capitulate like they did in Crimea, then having an agreement almost signed before Boris Johnson was sent to sentence Ukraine to a million dead, Putin has then forced his generals to pursue the war in a fashion that minimises Russian military losses, hence the ultra-cautious approach.
Putin has also ensured minimal civilian losses on the Ukrainian side. I am confident that at the war's end, the percentage of civilian losses will be extraordinarily low, and put to shame the USA and Europe whose wars in the likes of Iraq were barbaric in terms of the (deliberate) scale of destruction of the civilian population. No remorse from the likes of Madeleine Albright (an evil spirit if ever there was one). The West's attitude to civilian destruction can be shown today in their support of Israel's genocide of the Palestinians. The West calling Putin a war criminal is laughable. Perhaps he will be in Wikipedia, but the rest of the world can judge for themselves. Any objective review of the war will highlight the minimal civilian losses.
Glenn, what role do you think the war debt and the financial liability that Ukraine will be post-war play in the current conflicts between US and EU states on how to conclude the war?
If it works, good! The Europeans have brought this upon themselves. But it's not yet in the bag, and the Hegemon cannot be trusted. (Nor can the Europeans.)
No, the war Democrats in the US started the war in Ukraine. And had they won the US election again recently, we would probably or rather for sure have the Third World war within the next four years. But now the Trump administration has taken over.
Let's hope we can trust Trump and Co. They will still have obstacles from the Deep State within which the military complex is deeply involved and on which the US (war) economy is partly dependent.
On many parameters I don't agree with Trump, but the war in Ukraine must be the most important parameter for the world.
Hello Per, I am glad that you liked my comment. I agree with your first paragraph. And I agree that the war in Ukraine is more important than which of the pigs has the more attractive lipstick—that was indeed implied by my shortly-stated comment. As for the rest, I support your hopes that Trump and Co. will really go a different route and manage their withdrawal from supporting the continuation of that awful war; but it will be tough unless they realize that it will necessitate compliance with the real demand, which is the revision of the security architecture of Europe, that being Russia's chief goal. Trump and Co. will have to concede that such a revision is really in everyone's interest and perhaps claim it as their own idea. The lunatic Europeans will have to be pushed into it kicking and screaming, because so many of them can't stand the idea that the Russians have won that war and humiliated NATO. Well, screw them. NATO deserved to be humiliated and should have been disbanded in 1990. But the European ethnophobia (Russophobia, Sinophobia, and Muslimophobia) is so deeply intrenched that they hate the idea of peace unless it is achieved through the destruction of half of the world's population without comparable destruction of themselves. The Norwegians (of all people—but their virtue turns out to be phony) are adulating Stoltenberg (the hate-driven man who longs for a nuclear exchange with Russia) as a hero. If Trump can find a way out that makes himself look good (difficult, as I said) then that war will end, Europe will be safer, and more power to him. But I'm skeptical . . . Particularly in view of what Trump. and Co. are up to in Palestine. Mikjall
The Europeans brought this on themselves by being vassals of Washington, but the last time Europe showed spine was 2 decades ago, and then Washington bitched about cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Biden's and Europe's non-vassals (Orban and Fico) had the US try and organize Orban's political demise (through USAID), and Fico was shot 5 times.
And now the US is running away and handing the bag to Europe. Sure, I think our political leaders here are both cretins and pygmies, but this mess has Washington's fingerprints all over it from 2014 when f*ck the EU Nuland organized a coup d'etat in Kiev.
Hello Asgard, Yes, I agree with you. Never. said otherwise. I wasn't glorifying the Americans in any way. In fact they are the worst offenders in all of the ways criticized by Mr. Vance and are ultimately responsible for the whole dirty mess. I did say that the Hegemon can't be trusted, and we'll have to see what actually comes of this supposed Trumpian "realist" reversal. But the fact that Vance's rant applies even more, if anything, to the US than it applies to Europe, doesn't negate the fact that the Europeans deserved it in spades and brought it upon themselves, as I said. And that includes putting themselves in the position where the US could run away and hand off the bag to them (don't they read any history?), which will probably mean that the vicious, Russophobic war will end, because the Europeans can't do jacks**it without the US. If it means that, then, as I said, it's a good thing. I don't care that the Americans are not acting admirably and are themselves the worst of the lot. I 've never thought otherwise. Mikjall
Glenn, what do you think of this new US/Trump narrative that suddenly ‘Ukraine is Europe’s problem?’
*) Wasn’t it American NGOs like USAID, NED, and American citizen George Soros’ Open Society Foundation that have been funding anti-Russian sentiment for decades in Ukraine?
*) Wasn’t it the US and the American CIA that was behind the 2014 regime change Maidan Coup?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Victoria Nuland that was handing out cookies on Maidan Square?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Victoria Nuland that said “fck the EU?”
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Trump who deviated from Obama’s policy and started sending lethal military “aid” to Ukraine?
*) Wasn’t it American citizen Trump who cancelled the INF and Open Skies Treaties with Russia?
*) Wasn’t it the American 2017-2021 Trump Admin that moved US NATO troops from Germany to Ukraine’s neighbours Poland and Romania?
…but now it’s suddenly ‘Europe’s problem’ and Europeans have to clean up America’s mess? 🤔
Ukraine war is always US war against Russia; Ukraine is being used as proxy in this war against the Russians. As per US standard “protocol” on losing a war they created is to abandon their vassal state and start pointing finger at their puppet as fall guy. This is what happened when one made deal with the devil you become the fall guy. Also, the war is not over until Putin says so. All the billions of $$$ spent on anti Russian propaganda and rhetorics, Russia is not our enemy and has never been our enemy. US,UK ,and now the pariah EU are major threats to all existence.
The funny part is European mis-leaders claiming that the US is making peace in Ukraine "behind their backs". As if the US asked Europeans their permission to arm Europe's most corrupt country to the teeth, platform neonazis there, or build bioweapons labs there?
And where have the gangsters from Europe's most corrupt county migrated to? America? Nope. They are now legally resident in Europe.
Good luck with that.
Good move Mr President
It would be interesting to hear the various Russian perspectives on various scenarios and cost benefits of prolonging the war vs ending it soon.
Around the start of the war, I recall reading, in very small print, so to speak, around the start of the war, that there was a faction in Russia which thought that the best possible scenario was a long war. The longer the war, as long as it was carried out at a relatively slow, non-startling nuclear provoking pace, the more it would weaken the West by using up military and financial resources, increasing societal divisions, keeping the inept elite in power, and basically hastening the decline of the West. Hastening the decline of the West being the main strategic goal.
What are the Russians thinking now given the new US administration making stronger peace overtures than anticipated?
Another fine piece from Mr Diesen, I am Scottish and have detested all Westminster Political Parties since 1984 all of them Tory Labour Liberal Greens have Stripped My Nations Wealth Thatcher Sold the Oil and Gas Rights from the North Sea. Britains should have no Poor Homeless Unemployed and I use the name Britain because that’s what we are, no matter my feelings on the subject which is We as a Nation should be Independent NOW. Moving onto your excellent article I personally have never Feared Russia no matter who the Leader was but a huge Number of the POTUS have absolutely frightened the shit out of Me Even the Sainted Obama was turned into an establishment Rogue but the US is moving into the Realms of Dr Strangelove and Mars Attacks Biden was a Gibberish spouting Idiot spouting Nonsense and Lies. Now we come to Trump a Maverick with Insane people in his Government who are a danger to Humanity as for the Warmongering NATO COUNTRIES run by People who are Geared towards Evil and Destroying Humanity without War they have no reason for being. Now our insidious Leader Starmer who persuaded the English Jeremy Corbyn was a Racist and Antisemite all the while knowing Jeremy was a Man of Peace a Christian and a Socialist with not a Racist Bone in His Body so as to gain the Leadership of The once Great Labour Party and turn it into a Blairite Tribute Show. The Majority of the Worlds Leaders and their sycophants are Corrupt beyond Belief and Out and Out Liars. All one has to do is look back to the near completion of the talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey then Boom end of talk and onto War Russia is pushed and pushed until in my opinion they had the right to protect their Borders and did so, NATO the UK and America are to blame foe every Life lost in this unnecessary War. Then we have UK America and the rest of the NATO Countries screaming Russia is committing Genocide in Ukraine who are being supplied with weapons Hamas and Hezbola can only dream of, Then if we move to Palestine where a Proper 21st Century Holocaust being committed by an Apartheid Fascist Regime led by a Homicidal Maniac with an Army to match the SS a Regime so RICH it could buy and sell America. But no America the UK and the rest Send a Regime with nuclear capabilities Billions of Dollars and Billions of Pounds along with Weapons to turn Gaza and Lebanon soon to move onto Syria into a replica of Dresden and Coventry. That’s more than enough from “Me PJM The Free Thinker” There is nothing Quite like a Demented Rant to clear the Sinuses OoooooooRah. Don’t blame me for this shit it’s The Russians Fault.
JJM @ 10:00ish: "at some point Trump is going to have to bring the Europeans and Ukrainians into the deal"
I'm not sure I really agree with this. Trump doesn't seem to be that interested in a deal per se. Trump seems to be more interested in telling Europe and Ukraine: "This is how it's gonna be."
Trump must know a deal is almost impossible, so he's simply signalling to all parties that Article 5 is not going to apply if Europe and Ukraine continue to pursue a strategy of losing the war, and that the USA is not going to be dragged in by e.g. a false flag attack on Chernobyl by Ukraine.
Trump and Putin can clearly come to a sort of unofficial unsigned 'deal' – rather a mutual understanding, or an 'agree to disagree', than a deal. Some important building blocks appear to be on the table, put there by the Trump administration i.e. We don't care about this, or that...
Trump knows that you can't negotiate with thirty different countries at the table. Two is hard enough. He didn't strike New York property deals by having twenty-eight NY property tycoons present, them having demanded to be present as any deal relates to their business interests.
Trump also appears to be setting up Europe and Ukraine as the people to blame if/when a deal fails to materialise. To that extent, the likes of Starmer are playing right into his hands (already). If you refuse to negotiate, you make yourself an easy target when the blame game commences.
–––
JJM @ 12ish: "the danger that the Russians will capture a lot more territory"
This for me is overstated and perhaps JJM listens to Alexander Mercouris too much. On his 'show', the latter regularly lapses into self-indulgent fantasies about the collapse of [a two-minute long lists of population centres] and then the Russians "going all the way to the Dnieper."
This is predicated on the Ukrainian lines completely collapsing, and the Russians taking advantage by striking in a direction perpendicular to the lines, whereas the Russian army really shows no signs of doing anything other than plodding along and making very minor advances.
At the rate the war has been going, taking seven oblasts (a number plucked out of nowhere by JJM) could take Russia twenty years. Capturing 10km square a day will not impact negotiations.
–––
JJM @ 49ish: "we [the West] don't pay attention to what I would call brute facts"
An ingenious turn of phrase that JJM must have come up with very recently as he repeats it several times. It is worth paying attention to what JJM means by these two words. The essence of the phrase is that it signifies facts that carry overwhelming force. These are indefatigable facts. Facts that 'Ukraine supporters' cannot deal with. Unpalatable facts. Unacceptable facts.
The French came up with a phrase for this a long time ago: fait accompli. Something you don't like but you're just going to have to deal with it because no matter how much you crybaby about it, it's still going to be there when you wake tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.
Accepting something as a brute fact, a fait accompli, allows you to grieve, and then to move on to strategise, work out how best to try to deal with it, to counteract it. What I see from our so-called 'leaders' in Europe is crybabying; "No! Mummy! It can't be a fait accompli! It's not fair!"
A fait accompli is not meant to be fair. If it were, it might be called a 'fair accompli', but it isn't. You're not supposed to like a fait accompli, to think it is fair. That is not the nature of the beast.
Crybabying is of no use to anyone. Another nauseating EU photoshoot, in which our European 'leaders' present a choreographed show of group crybabying, united crybabying, is just denial.
Denying facts is a road to madness. Living in an alternative reality, where everything is how you want it to be, to be fair, is a road to madness. Casting out those with alternative voices, the Glenn Diesens, the JJ Mearsheimers, rational people capable of identifying solutions, is mad.
You completely misunderstand the Russians. They are not interested in taking over Europe or even the entirety of Ukraine. They are only interested in defending their borders, getting rid of Nazis, and preventing Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO. You are among the ignorant group who claim that Russia is losing because it is not advancing quickly enough. But you are mistaken. Russia is winning. The eastern provinces of what was once Ukraine voted to become a part of Russia because they are Russians. The Russians do not want to take over what remains of Ukraine. They want it to be a buffer state. Your windbaggery is based on a false perspective.
A very rude post. Where's your manners?
I have access to Russian Telegram channels and have been following them for three years. I understand exactly what the Russians are doing and why they are doing it. They are doing it painfully slowly. That is simply a fact. They've been trying to take Chasov Yar (a small town) for a year.
If they carry on at this pace, they might have everything east of the Dnieper by the end of this century.
"They are not interested in taking over Europe or even the entirety of Ukraine"
Correct.
"They are only interested in defending their borders, getting rid of Nazis, and preventing Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO"
Correct.
See. We agreed all the time.
I simply said capturing 10km square a day will not impact negotiations, which it won't, because it is infinitesimal. Donald Trump is not going to shit the bed and surrender because Russia captured four fields and a telephone box.
This is all a product of Russia fighting a war that Putin didn't want to fight. He spent three months waiting for the West to see sense. He might as well have worn a t-shirt bearing the words: "Come on, this is ridiculous, don't make me do it"
Having run out of patience after three months and ordered an invasion in the hope that Kiev would quickly capitulate like they did in Crimea, then having an agreement almost signed before Boris Johnson was sent to sentence Ukraine to a million dead, Putin has then forced his generals to pursue the war in a fashion that minimises Russian military losses, hence the ultra-cautious approach.
Putin has also ensured minimal civilian losses on the Ukrainian side. I am confident that at the war's end, the percentage of civilian losses will be extraordinarily low, and put to shame the USA and Europe whose wars in the likes of Iraq were barbaric in terms of the (deliberate) scale of destruction of the civilian population. No remorse from the likes of Madeleine Albright (an evil spirit if ever there was one). The West's attitude to civilian destruction can be shown today in their support of Israel's genocide of the Palestinians. The West calling Putin a war criminal is laughable. Perhaps he will be in Wikipedia, but the rest of the world can judge for themselves. Any objective review of the war will highlight the minimal civilian losses.
The petty tyrants of the EU are moral narcissists... think about it.
Glenn, what role do you think the war debt and the financial liability that Ukraine will be post-war play in the current conflicts between US and EU states on how to conclude the war?
Male/Female civilisation. Trump declaration. Collision of ideologies.
Male/ Female civilisation Trump declaration. Collision of ideologies.