Russia Invades Ukraine

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

11 hours ago, Mr Brightside said:

I could only read some of the article as the rest is behind a paywall.

It provides a potential reason for the attack but not a justification. If Russia’s response to NATO increasing in size is to attack Ukraine then all Russia are doing is confirming that NATO were right to be concerned about Russia. This supports the narrative that Putin is a paranoid narcissist.

 

As the article states the US are part of the cause of the Russian aggression, which further highlights the awful behaviour of Trump and Vance towards Zelenskyy and the hypocrisy of the mineral deal.

 

As you say it’s a good article and confirms that Putin and Trump (USA) are the bad actors and Ukraine are an innocent party.

yup if you believe that article Ukraine have sadly been done up like kippers - used

 

if you read the experts on here Russia are in a right mess for what has been fairly marginal gains in land compared to their so-called expectations

 

USA haven’t suffered too much tho 😥 and about to get their money back ✔️ 

 

 

 

 

[JFK-1]

Another factor coming into play is apparently the territory Russia is occupying is pretty much wrecked and littered with unexploded ordinance and mines.

 

It’s economically dead and will remain so for years to come without mega billions being spent to restore it. Think what Mariupol looks like. Russia going to do all that rebuilding?

[JFK-1]

Putin will reject Trump’s Ukraine ceasefire deal despite Trump’s pandering

 

 

 

[Mikey1874]

It does look like Russia is fully regaining Kursk. Ukrainians complained that stopping US intelligence assistance allowed Russia to make a big push. Might have been the point of that as Ukraine holding Kursk would have been a problem in the negotiations.

 

Russia also doing this in Kursk and elsewhere.

 

 

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 hours ago, JFK-1 said:

Another factor coming into play is apparently the territory Russia is occupying is pretty much wrecked and littered with unexploded ordinance and mines.

 

It’s economically dead and will remain so for years to come without mega billions being spent to restore it. Think what Mariupol looks like. Russia going to do all that rebuilding?

I’m trying to find out what concessions Putin is making.

Any links would be appreciated.

 

[JFK-1]

8 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

I’m trying to find out what concessions Putin is making.

Any links would be appreciated.

 

 

He might be conceding that Trump is too dumb to even be a good puppet. I bet the Kremlin were cringing at that debacle with Zelensky in the oval office.

[The Real Maroonblood]

7 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:

 

He might be conceding that Trump is too dumb to even be a good puppet. I bet the Kremlin were cringing at that debacle with Zelensky in the oval office.

That’ll be the only concession.

Absolutely pathetic.

[Taffin]

The house burglary analogy only works if there are no police. Rather a friendly neighbour asking the burglar to not do it again and him say "fine as long as I get to keep some of this stuff".

 

There is no world police in International Relations.

Edited Thursday at 10:18 by Taffin

[Malinga the Swinga]

1 hour ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

I’m trying to find out what concessions Putin is making.

Any links would be appreciated.

 

Just wait an hour or so and one if the many political heavyweights will come and let you know. They do after all appear to have direct lines of contact with Moscow, Kiev and Washington.

[Mikey1874]

If there's interest in articles

 

 

[Mikey1874]

8 hours ago, JFK-1 said:

Another factor coming into play is apparently the territory Russia is occupying is pretty much wrecked and littered with unexploded ordinance and mines.

 

It’s economically dead and will remain so for years to come without mega billions being spent to restore it. Think what Mariupol looks like. Russia going to do all that rebuilding?

 

They've done the same in Kursk. Don't seem to care whether they were in Ukraine or Russia destroying towns and villages.

[Cade]

1 hour ago, Mikey1874 said:

It does look like Russia is fully regaining Kursk. Ukrainians complained that stopping US intelligence assistance allowed Russia to make a big push. Might have been the point of that as Ukraine holding Kursk would have been a problem in the negotiations.

 

Russia also doing this in Kursk and elsewhere.

 

 

 

The Kursk operation was never about holding ground long-term.

It was designed to pull Russian troops away from their own advances in the Donbas and that certainly seems to have worked, with Ukraine on the counter-attack right now both in Pokrovsk and Toretsk.
The other reason for the operation was to be used as a political card in any peace negotiations but that was designed around the attitude of the previous US administration. Now it seems that Trump doesn't give a shite, there is no longer any need to hold this card.

 

[Dennis Denuto]

1 hour ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

Just wait an hour or so and one if the many political heavyweights will come and let you know. They do after all appear to have direct lines of contact with Moscow, Kiev and Washington.

I would be more interested to know your views on what concessions the Russians should be making in order to bring about a ceasefire, you have very much promoted pragmatism and getting the deal done to save lives/money, so what should each side be offering, where should the red lines exist?

[Malinga the Swinga]

Just now, Dennis Denuto said:

I would be more interested to know your views on what concessions the Russians should be making in order to bring about a ceasefire, you have very much promoted pragmatism and getting the deal done to save lives/money, so what should each side be offering, where should the red lines exist?

I have absolutely no idea on what concessions Russia should offer or Ukraine should offer. I have absolutely no idea what the truce will entail. I have absolutely no idea what red lines either side will have.

If everyone on here is honest, neither have they.

[Dennis Denuto]

1 minute ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

I have absolutely no idea on what concessions Russia should offer or Ukraine should offer. I have absolutely no idea what the truce will entail. I have absolutely no idea what red lines either side will have.

If everyone on here is honest, neither have they.

You have no view on what you think should be their positions? You are correct none of know what they will be but I at least have a view on what i think they should be

[Joey J J Jr Shabadoo]

12 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

Speaking of Palestine.

 

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a “Palestinian” as he defended the GOP’s government spending bill and his policies on corporate taxes and rising grocery prices.

 

“Schumer is a Palestinian, as far as I’m concerned,” Trump said in response to a question about the U.S. corporate tax rate during an Oval office meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. “He’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore.”

 

Schumer is Jewish and not of Palestinian heritage.

 

The president routinely likened Schumer to “a Palestinian” during the campaign, at one point calling Schumer a “proud member of Hamas.” Trump also routinely criticized Jews that planned to support Democrats in the November election, calling them “fools” who need “their head examined.”

Schumer should say Trump is a rapist, just like the invading IDF.

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

2 hours ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

I’m trying to find out what concessions Putin is making.

Any links would be appreciated.

 

if putin agrees to stop the war presumably his concession will be not taking over all of Ukraine and potentially the whole of Europe - both reported on here as what he intends to do without being forced not to

 

Spoiler

despite having no proper army left no serious weaponary and his country being economically wrecked - again also reported on here

 

[Mikey1874]

Putin mainly wants a pro Russian Ukraine Government. The whole point of the invasion. He seems to think he can achieve that now by undermining Zelensky. Still a lot of pro Russian people within Ukraine. But his main problem is the invasion has turned the Ukrainian people against everything Russian. 

[The Real Maroonblood]

1 hour ago, MoncurMacdonaldMercer said:

if putin agrees to stop the war presumably his concession will be not taking over all of Ukraine and potentially the whole of Europe - both reported on here as what he intends to do without being forced not to

 

  Reveal hidden contents

despite having no proper army left no serious weaponary and his country being economically wrecked - again also reported on here

 

Sounds fair.

What a guy.

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

47 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

Sounds fair.

What a guy.

Nobel peace prize incoming

 

 

Edited Thursday at 14:26 by MoncurMacdonaldMercer

[The Real Maroonblood]

3 minutes ago, MoncurMacdonaldMercer said:

Nobel peace prize incoming

 

 

[Footballfirst]

Politico article outlining why Putin is unlikely to agree to the current ceasefire proposal.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-unlikely-embrace-ceasefire-proposal-united-states/

 

 

[scott herbertson]

The Kursk withdrawal appears to have been more a result of supply lines being cut (by a more effective Russian drone unit) than the lack of intelleigence/ satellite tech

[Cade]

1 minute ago, scott herbertson said:

The Kursk withdrawal appears to have been more a result of supply lines being cut (by a more effective Russian drone unit) than the lack of intelleigence/ satellite tech

 

Russians started using fly-by-wire fibre optic drones, which are immune to jamming.
And, as stated, the operation had achieved it's strategic goal of hampering the main Russian offensives in Donbas.

No point fighting to the death for Russian villages.

[Footballfirst]

A follow up to the earlier Politico article after Putin has spoken.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-puts-heavy-conditions-on-trumps-ukraine-ceasefire-plan/

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday placed burdensome conditions on American proposals to end the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, which threaten to stall progress toward any deal.

“We agree with the proposals to stop military actions, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis,” the head of state noted. 

“I am for it [the ceasefire]. But if we stop here in Kursk for 30 days, it would mean that the Ukrainian military would have several opportunities,” Putin added, outlining a series of questions he had.

“How will they use these 30 days? To supply weapons? For forced mobilization? For training? How can we be sure that none of this will happen in the future? Who will give the orders to ceasefire? What is the value of those orders? Who will decide? Who and where will violate this agreement?” he said.

According to Putin, “all these questions need to be thoroughly studied in the near future.”

 

A report from the BBC on the same press conference.

No surprises from Putin todaypublished at 16:58

16:58

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

No surprises there, it’s a no disguised as a yes.

Vladimir Putin put forward conditions that will be devastating for Ukraine: No more weapons supplies, no more mobilisation, surrender rather than withdrawal of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, and most importantly the removal of “underlying causes of this crisis.”

Recent history suggests that for President Putin, these “underlying causes” include the very existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state free to pursue its own policy at home and abroad.

The US and Ukraine have both said that the ball is now “in Russia’s court,” but Russia’s president has just tried to push the ball back into their court.

Edited Thursday at 17:12 by Footballfirst

[Mikey1874]

So Putin will stop Russian armed forces resupplying.

[JFK-1]

6 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the crisis,

 

The root cause is he invaded a neighbouring country, get out and it's eliminated.

[JFK-1]

 

This video has an excellent description of Trump and his unfitness for office inside just the first 2 minutes. Without even mentioning that he's a convicted felon and an adjudicated rapist.

 

John Bolton's Warning to Allies on How to Survive the Trump Rollercoaster

 

In this exclusive Kyiv Post interview, John Bolton pulls no punches as he dissects the enigmatic foreign policy approach of U.S. President Donald Trump, unraveling misconceptions held by many observers worldwide.

Drawing upon his extensive experience as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush and later as Trump’s own National Security Adviser, Bolton provides a rare insider’s perspective into managing the turbulent and unpredictable tendencies of a president known for changing his stance multiple times within a single day.

He offers pointed guidance on what Ukraine, Europe, Canada, and the broader NATO alliance must do to successfully navigate Trump’s shifting political landscape.

With remarkable candor, Bolton reveals a troubling yet essential truth: the U.S. president is particularly susceptible to personal flattery—a weakness expertly leveraged by Russia, yet often underestimated by America's allies.

 

Bolton cites the tense Oval Office exchange between President Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky not merely as an example of diplomatic friction, but as a vivid illustration of Trump’s volatile temperament and his deep-seated personal animosity toward the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief.

This illuminating conversation between Ambassador Bolton and Kyiv Post's Jason Smart serves as both a cautionary tale and a strategic roadmap for nations seeking to effectively engage a leader whose personal impulses frequently override conventional diplomacy.

 

 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

6 hours ago, JFK-1 said:

 

This video has an excellent description of Trump and his unfitness for office inside just the first 2 minutes. Without even mentioning that he's a convicted felon and an adjudicated rapist.

 

John Bolton's Warning to Allies on How to Survive the Trump Rollercoaster

 

In this exclusive Kyiv Post interview, John Bolton pulls no punches as he dissects the enigmatic foreign policy approach of U.S. President Donald Trump, unraveling misconceptions held by many observers worldwide.

Drawing upon his extensive experience as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush and later as Trump’s own National Security Adviser, Bolton provides a rare insider’s perspective into managing the turbulent and unpredictable tendencies of a president known for changing his stance multiple times within a single day.

He offers pointed guidance on what Ukraine, Europe, Canada, and the broader NATO alliance must do to successfully navigate Trump’s shifting political landscape.

With remarkable candor, Bolton reveals a troubling yet essential truth: the U.S. president is particularly susceptible to personal flattery—a weakness expertly leveraged by Russia, yet often underestimated by America's allies.

 

Bolton cites the tense Oval Office exchange between President Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky not merely as an example of diplomatic friction, but as a vivid illustration of Trump’s volatile temperament and his deep-seated personal animosity toward the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief.

This illuminating conversation between Ambassador Bolton and Kyiv Post's Jason Smart serves as both a cautionary tale and a strategic roadmap for nations seeking to effectively engage a leader whose personal impulses frequently override conventional diplomacy.

 

 

 

To be clear this is the bloodthirsty warmonger who's been trying to get us to invade Iran for 25 years.

 

He does have up-close experience with Trump though.

[Mikey1874]

The current uncertainty reflects the main problem. That Russia is a lot further away from it's war aims. Ukraine doesn't want to be losing territory but has conceded the reality of the situation and admitted it has to accept I the short term it won't get it back.

 

Russia wants Ukraine to disband its military and a pro Russian Government.

 

Hard to see any agreement without Russia basically conceding. 

[JFK-1]

 

Why Elon Musk CAN’T Shut Down Ukraine’s Starlink

 

After the United States paused aid to Ukraine (now resumed), lots of people began wondering about what would happen if Elon Musk also ended Ukraine's Starlink access. In this video, I talk about why Elon Musk cannot cut off Ukraine from Starlink without destroying himself. I also discuss Ukraine's alternatives to Starlink IF a cutoff were ever to take place. It's an important new chapter in Ukraine's war against Russia's invasion.

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

20 hours ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

 

To be clear this is the bloodthirsty warmonger who's been trying to get us to invade Iran for 25 years.

 

He does have up-close experience with Trump though.

For once I’m in agreement with you he’s exactly as you describe  . 

[Jacques de Gatineau]

37 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:

 

Why Elon Musk CAN’T Shut Down Ukraine’s Starlink

 

After the United States paused aid to Ukraine (now resumed), lots of people began wondering about what would happen if Elon Musk also ended Ukraine's Starlink access. In this video, I talk about why Elon Musk cannot cut off Ukraine from Starlink without destroying himself. I also discuss Ukraine's alternatives to Starlink IF a cutoff were ever to take place. It's an important new chapter in Ukraine's war against Russia's invasion.

 

 

It's an impressively close race in the 'who can talk more shite per day' contest: Trump and his people, or the sub-industry of vloggers and writers who have come to bottom-feed off of the anti-Trump lot.

[Libertarian]

I see that a leading fascist has been assassinated in Odessa. Demyan Ganul was one of the ringleaders implicated in the notorious murders in Odessa's Trade Union building in 2014. Apparently he headed up a press gang grabbing guys off the streets and forcing them into the Ukrainian military. The assassin is the father of one of his victims. 

[Mikey1874]

Who to believe 

 

 

[Malinga the Swinga]

14 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

Who to believe 

 

 

There were no tanks in Baghdad either if I recall.

[Libertarian]

11 minutes ago, Jeff said:

 

You ever gonna answer that question about the article you linked?

Here's a link, however if you do a Google search there's lots more. Apparently the assassin was a Ukrainian soldier.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/notorious-ukrainian-activist-demyan-ganul-shot-dead-in-odessa/articleshow/119014631.cms

[Jeff]

15 minutes ago, Libertarian said:

Here's a link, however if you do a Google search there's lots more. Apparently the assassin was a Ukrainian soldier.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/notorious-ukrainian-activist-demyan-ganul-shot-dead-in-odessa/articleshow/119014631.cms

 

Not the article or subject I was talking about

[Mikey1874]

4 hours ago, JFK-1 said:

 

Why Elon Musk CAN’T Shut Down Ukraine’s Starlink

 

After the United States paused aid to Ukraine (now resumed), lots of people began wondering about what would happen if Elon Musk also ended Ukraine's Starlink access. In this video, I talk about why Elon Musk cannot cut off Ukraine from Starlink without destroying himself. I also discuss Ukraine's alternatives to Starlink IF a cutoff were ever to take place. It's an important new chapter in Ukraine's war against Russia's invasion.

 

 

 

Shutting off other things instead

 

 

[Mikey1874]

[Mikey1874]

Clarity 

 

Trump appointed Keith Kellogg, who seems not to be liked by Moscow, as special envoy to Ukraine. He’ll deal directly with Zelensky and Ukrainian leadership. Previously, Kellogg was Trump’s special representative for Russia and Ukraine.

 

U.S. Special Representative Kellogg has been removed from peace negotiations at the Kremlin’s request due to a “too pro-Ukrainian stance.” — NBC News

 

[Victorian]

Ukraine should get their lads out of Kursk.   Trump's obviously trying to force that as yet another weakening of Ukraine's hand and is risking them actually being cut off and being forced into becoming prisoners as,  yep,  yet another gift to Russia.   Better to look after those troops instead of Trump selling them down the swanny.

[Cade]

1 hour ago, Victorian said:

Ukraine should get their lads out of Kursk.   Trump's obviously trying to force that as yet another weakening of Ukraine's hand and is risking them actually being cut off and being forced into becoming prisoners as,  yep,  yet another gift to Russia.   Better to look after those troops instead of Trump selling them down the swanny.

 

They are leaving, slowly, in a properly conducted fighting withdrawal.

The main supply roads are under constant fire and the strategic value of the operation is now invalid.

Forcing the Russians to slow their efforts in the Donbas in order to fight the Ukrainians on Russian soil worked as intended. Pokrovsk and Toretsk remain uncaptured and the Russian army is utterly exhausted.

[Mikey1874]

Long Neptune 1000 explained 

 

 

[trotter]

5 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

Long Neptune 1000 explained 

 

 

I don't get why there is this narrative that Ukraine is dependant upon the US for survival. Yes, they, amongst other Western nations have given them advanced weaponry, but they seem to be using what they have very effectively all by themselves. 

[Dennis Denuto]

On 15/03/2025 at 12:38, Malinga the Swinga said:

There were no tanks in Baghdad either if I recall.

Which one are you equating to Comical Ali?

 

I have been saying that Karoline Leavitt reminds me of him, in that she is brilliant at her job but is talking absolute bollocks.

[Mikey1874]

US are going to play Russia at ice hockey. And that's about it.

[Mikey1874]

Russia has just bombed an energy facility in Eastern Ukraine, so looks like we're good to go.

[Mikey1874]

So the agreement was for an immediate end to attacks on 'energy infrastructure'.  Apparently the militaries were informed "straightaway". 

 

Shortly afterwards Russia bombed a Ukrainian energy complex.

 

Ukraine stated categorically that it does not bomb Russian energy facilities. Overnight Ukraine bombed a Russian oil terminal.