View Full Version : Here we go again-Ukraine once again pt2
The production capacities are not there, must be build first.
Years.
And think of the many things and infrastructure and capabilities of the US that must be replaced. We must get rid of all that US-made sh!t, it now is a threat that is directed against us.
I fear the overwhelming majority of people and decision makers in Europe have not yet fully understood that and think they can still depend on Patriots and US intel and US aircraft and so forth.
No. We can not.
Not to mention DNS servers. Software. Internet. Economic dependencies on the giants form the US.
What we belied was safe since WW" - now reveals itself to have been a huge monumental trap. We will need decades to get out of it. For the time being we cannot do much more than to stop buying US-made weapons and IT.
We are economcially strong enough and technologically competent enough to make all that ourselves, but we must build the means to do so first, and to secure the supply lines for the needed global ressources. Of course we must also stop sharing that with the US.
We must also ready ourselves for the US no longer sharing terror warnings with us, like they did in all the past decades as an unspoken background policy even if the climate between Europe and the US was not good. When terror plots became known to the US that would lead to mass killings in Europe, the US intel shared intel discreetely with europe, no matter what, especially with the impotent Germans (and I am very thankful for that, believe me). I expect this to end with snakes in the pit like there now are. There is nothing noble in the Trumpists.
The more this all goes on, the more I realise I start to think of the US as an enemy, Sorry, but thats how it is, I am only pulling consequences. Tnhats wgho I tick if you push me too far, all of a sudden I flip the switches and plot a completely new course, a more aggressive one. We cannot trust the US anymore. And no, I do not think the US would help anymore in the defence of Europe if Russia attacks.
I just take the king cobra by its words. Wo are you - whoever feels adressed - to tell me he does not mean it?
Let me see if I got this straight, this is not an "American" war (without a mineral deal at the least, we have no dog in this fight), Europe has the most to gain by continued fighting. Europe cannot supply Ukraine with the needed material to continue the "war", but you're mad at the U.S. for not continuing to fund the war until you get up to speed on your ability to supply it yourselves?
What drugs are you guys on?
In the summer of 416 BC, Athens decided to annex the puny island of Melos, which had never done anything wrong to the Athenians and had until then been neutral in the conflict between Athens and Sparta. Athens had respected their neutrality until then, but considered the time had come when Athenian tolerance with regard to Melos could be seen as a sign of weakness. The Athenians sent an impressive military force to Melos, after which they opened negotiations for a peace agreement, which as far as they were concerned amounted to the immediate unconditional surrender of the Melians. The Melians said such an agreement would be unjust. ‘Justice and injustice are irrelevant concepts in this context,’ the Athenians replied. ‘Justice may apply among equals. In the present situation, a different truth applies, and that is that those who are strong do what they want, while those who are weak endure what they must endure. It is necessary for the preservation of our empire that our strength is feared in the islands and that in the islands, where people have good reasons to oppose us, there is no talk of the fate of one island that might justify hopes of independence.’
‘If there are apparently so many good reasons in the other islands to oppose your empire, it would show unacceptable cowardice if we were not prepared to do everything possible to prevent us from being incorporated into your empire,’ the Melians said. ‘It would be foolishness if you were not prepared to see that there is no way to prevent it,’ the Athenians said. ‘The dilemma facing you is not the choice between cowardice or bravery, but the choice between self-preservation and total destruction.’ When the Melians said they trusted the gods, the Athenians replied, ‘The right of the strongest is a natural law that even the gods obey. We did not invent this law. It existed long before we appeared on the scene, and it will still exist long after we are gone. We have found this law in divine and human nature and are making temporary use of it, that is all.’ The Melians refused to come to an agreement. After a brief siege, their state was destroyed by the Athenians in January of the year 415 BC. All the male inhabitants of the island were put to death, and the women and children were sold as slaves.
The main difference between these negotiations of Athens with Melos, as minuted by Thucydides, and the disconcerting meeting of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance of the United States on Friday 28 February 2025 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington was stylistic. Trump and Vance could not match the eloquence of the Athens negotiators. In their efforts to humiliate Zelenskyy in front of the television cameras, they barely let him speak, while at least the Athenians still exercised the decency to let the Melians speak during their intimidation. All other differences between the two situations, separated by almost two and a half millennia in time, pale in comparison to the corresponding principle underlying both. Unlike Athens, America is not the aggressor, agreed, but the surrender that America demands of Ukraine is motivated by American greed regarding Ukrainian mineral resources worthy of an aggressor. The main and most shocking agreement is that the principle of justice is declared irrelevant. ‘We should not confuse the victim and the aggressor in this terrible war,’ the incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rightly said. In Trump's world, which is the new American reality, only the law of the jungle applies. ‘You don't have the cards,’ Trump said. Those who are strong do what they want, while those who are weak endure what they have to endure.
The reason Trump hates Europe is that he fears it. All the individual countries of Europe each pose no threat to America, but in his awe of the law of the jungle, he sees a united Europe as a formidable adversary. That is why he consistently refuses to speak to Union representatives. He hopes to pit the individual countries of Europe against each other with bilateral agreements. We could also phrase the challenge we face in these terms: let it then be our mission to become who he fears us to be. It is a matter of self-confidence and unity, and unfortunately these are not Europe's greatest talents. But we have no choice Project 2025 in action, but we will survive.
Let me see if I got this straight, this is not an "American" war (without a mineral deal at the least, we have no dog in this fight), Europe has the most to gain by continued fighting. Europe cannot supply Ukraine with the needed material to continue the "war", but you're mad at the U.S. for not continuing to fund the war until you get up to speed on your ability to supply it yourselves?
What drugs are you guys on?Ukraine and Europe will never accept your terms, but you're enjoying this so much your lot are so on a high oh BOI you be disappointed in the end.
Skybird
03-09-25, 12:37 PM
Let me see if I got this straight, this is not an "American" war (without a mineral deal at the least, we have no dog in this fight), Europe has the most to gain by continued fighting. Europe cannot supply Ukraine with the needed material to continue the "war", but you're mad at the U.S. for not continuing to fund the war until you get up to speed on your ability to supply it yourselves?
No. I am mad over the betrayal of Ukraine - while you could have demanded Europe to pay for your weapons you deliver them. WE SIMPLY HAVE NONE AT STOCK. Cant produce them on the fly. You have.
Instead you chosed to walk about their dead corpses, took side with Putler, cooperate with him in securing his war goals, and plan to plunder the dead corpus as much as possible.
Your great leader mocks the victim, tells lies about it, glorifies the attacker, ridicules anbd offends his victim, and now holds its arms on its back so that Russia can stab it to death easier.
You can weasel and you can turnign words and you can play the innocent. But you ended up on the wrong side of history here, you ended up in the company of those who play in team Evil. You do not take a neutral stand, you actively have choosen, you have changed sides. You actively support Russia and assist it in reaching all its war objectives. Because you hope to feast on the dead cadaver once Ukraine is done and over.
Weasel on if you think you must. But I call it a policy of infamy and betrayal that will stick to America's reputation forever. You do not stay out - YOU ACTIVELY HAVE CHOOSEN TO SIDE WITH RUSSIA AND ITS WAR OBJECTIVES. You help realising them, you prevent resistence to them, you prevrent self-defence to them. Ukrainians pay with their lives for this your decision, America. Every night, because their air defences are crumbling, thanks to you. And your great leader even has the chruzpe to clal that "peace". No he is not about peace, He is about greed, he is about plundering. Nothing else but just this.
Your great leader is a personality-disordered murderous insane madman. A clinically ill man, a psychopath. No genius at all! A psychopath. You are under a spell, you are blinded, your inner trust is misled, your reason is corrupted, and your good will is being abused. You walk into the same trap and on the same paths into doom like the Germans once did. The psychological mechanisms of projecting the leader's power over the many - ARE THE SAME. The mechanisnms of power always are the same set of things.
So stop playing the innocent reasonable one. Your choice is neither innocent, nor reasonable. You side with your old enemy, America. You side with Russia, you assist it. You run Russian policy goals. Shame on you, stupid America. Shame on you. Your fathers and grandfathers who fought in WW2 are turning in their graves over what you do in the present.
No. I am mad over the betrayal of Ukraine - while you could have demanded Europe to pay for your weapons you deliver them. WE SIMPLY HAVE NONE AT STOCK. Cant produce them on the fly. You have.
Instead you chosed to walk about their dead corpses, took side with Putler, cooperate with him in securing his war goals, and plan to plunder the dead corpus as much as possible.
Your great leader mocks the victim, tells lies about it, glorifies the attacker, ridicules anbd offends his victim, and now holds its arms on its back so that Russia can stab it to death easier.
You can weasel and you can turnign words and you can play the innocent. But you ended up on the wrong side of history here, you ended up in the company of those who play in team Evil. You do not take a neutral stand, you actively have choosen, you have changed sides. You actively support Russia and assist it in reaching all its war objectives. Because you hope to feast on the dead cadaver once Ukraine is done and over.
Weasel on if you think you must. But I call it a policy of infamy and betrayal that will stick to America's reputation forever. You do not stay out - YOU ACTIVELY HAVE CHOOSEN TO SIDE WITH RUSSIA AND ITS WAR OBJECTIVES. You help realising them, you prevent resistence to them, you prevrent self-defence to them. Ukrainians pay with their lives for this your decision, America. Every night, because their air defences are crumbling, thanks to you. And your great leader even has the chruzpe to clal that "peace". No he is not about peace, He is about greed, he is about plundering. Nothing else but just this.
Your great leader is a personality-disordered murderous insane madman. A clinically ill man, a psyhcipath. No genius! A psychopath. You are under a spell, you are blinded, your inner trust is misled, your reason is corrupted, and your good will is being abused. You walk into the same trap and on the same paths into doom like the Germans once did. The psychological mechanisms of projecting the leader's power over the many - ARE THE SAME. The mechanisnms of power always are the same set of things.
So stop playing the innocent reasonable one. Your choice is neither innocent, nor reasonable. You side with your old enemy, America. You side with Russia, you assist it. You run Russian policy goals. Shame on you, stupid America. Shame on you. Your fathers and grandfathers who fought in WW2 are turning in their graves over what you do in the present.HEAR F'ing HEAR HEAR!
Russia, one of the largest military powers in history, with active support from Iran and North Korea and the benevolent neutrality of China, has been unable to erase Ukraine from the world map for 12 years and now requires US assistance to somehow choke it to death after three years of a failed full-scale war. Zbigniew Brzezinski would have gone mad seeing this. Moscow’s facade crumbles when faced with the resilience of Ukraine. US actions now seem to facilitate Russia's strategic aim of turning Ukraine into Belarus. The narrative that Russia is strong is a fallacy, a united Europe's economic power, combined with Ukrainian spirit, can collapse Russia's ability to fight. Yes I do not want a peace I want an Ukraine victory!
Jimbuna
03-09-25, 02:03 PM
No matter how much I disagree with Ukraine’s policy, I will never turn off Starlink, - Musk
Elon Musk, the American billionaire and head of the US Government's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has assured that he will never disconnect Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
He wrote about this in his account X, Censor.NET reports.
"To be very clear, regardless of how much I disagree with Ukraine's politics, Starlink will never turn off its terminals. I am simply stating that without Starlink, Ukrainian communication lines would collapse, as the Russians can jam all other communications," Musk wrote.
According to him, he would never do that and would not use such a solution as a "bargaining chip".
As a reminder, Elon Musk, an American billionaire and head of the US Government's Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), is convinced that Starlink is key for the Ukrainian Defence Forces, as without it the front line would collapse. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540178
Call me a cynic but I'm not convinced he is telling the truth :hmmm:
Ukraine and Europe will never accept your terms, but you're enjoying this so much your lot are so on a high oh BOI you be disappointed in the end.
Not really, We in the U.S. have other issues to deal with closer to home. If you go back 2 years to the beginning of this thread you'll see I posted the same thing back then as I'm doing today, It's NOT our fight.
Skybird
03-09-25, 02:36 PM
Call me a cynic but I'm not convinced he is telling the truth :hmmm:He showed the torture instruments so that the sight would have its effect. That's what they did in the Middle Ages too. Most offenders confessed at the sight of them, without the torture having to be carried out.
He said exactly the opposite of what the words seem to express literally. How can anyone - not you, Jim, but some others - fall for that...?
BTW, he has already switched off Starlink before, to prevent a huge Ukrainian attack on the Russian fleet.
Call me a cynic but I'm not convinced he is telling the truth :hmmm:Around April it won't matter any more (The Ukraine army switch satellite provider for several European providers on the moment it takes a month) let them doit Musk can shut down what he wants we pull out of his companies the largest investors pulling out of the US its market lost in 6 weeks +1 trillion it goes into a depression this year because of his wannabe "Royal" orange dumbass.
Not really, We in the U.S. have other issues to deal with closer to home. If you go back 2 years to the beginning of this thread you'll see I posted the same thing back then as I'm doing today, It's NOT our fight.
I respect this, however then you should have stayed out of it from the start-2014 'cause by sending instructors, weapons and ammo you have taken side in this conflict. Now it looks like you have changed side.
Markus
Yes I do not want a peace I want an Ukraine victory!
I pray it does happen, despite the problem with different thing in the war, such as low morale after USA have stopped deliver weapon, ammo and now intel.
Markus
Maybe I have to explain myself, I do not want an "Orange" peace but Yellow-Blue peace. :D
As I understand it, the European pay USA for the weapons and ammo they send to Ukraine.
What I also understand is, that the military complex in USA, is earning trillion of dollars.
By stopping delivering they will lose these trillions of dollars.
If this is true then I expect some very angry leaders.
Markus
This will have effect for future defence orders, why buy from a "friend" that is a turncoat. It is already happening we're looking to other trade partners, solutions, to do business with others than the US.
Wealthy Chinese investors are quietly funnelling tens of millions of dollars into private companies controlled by Elon Musk using an arrangement that shields their identities from public view, according to asset managers and investors involved in the transactions. The investments are being placed through opaque structures known as special-purpose vehicles, which have the benefit of concealing the investors’ identities, to avoid the ire of US authorities and companies wary of Chinese capital during a nadir in relations between the two countries. Asset managers behind the deals have told investors that the entities are specifically designed to avoid disclosure. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of Chinese investors tuned in to a webinar to hear a representative from Homaer Financial, an asset manager in eastern China, pitch an opportunity to invest in SpaceX for as little as $200,000 per person. https://archive.ph/85Hul#selection-2449.0-2449.246 Make America Chinese Again? :har:
A war between Europe and Russia seems inevitable, I understand by watching the video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zglsaS6X-ts&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
He showed the torture instruments so that the sight would have its effect. That's what they did in the Middle Ages too. Most offenders confessed at the sight of them, without the torture having to be carried out.
He said exactly the opposite of what the words seem to express literally. How can anyone - not you, Jim, but some others - fall for that...?
BTW, he has already switched off Starlink before, to prevent a huge Ukrainian attack on the Russian fleet. Get a clue. The use of starlink in the Ukraine is a lot more complicated than one man making decisions. :rolleyes:
If you paid attention you would know the U.S. Government is in control of the Starlink system in Ukraine.
In June 2023, the Department of Defense officialized a contract with Shotwell's SpaceX to buy Starlink satellite services for Ukraine. The deal includes the Pentagon buying 400-500 Starlink terminals for Ukraine, giving the Pentagon control of where Starlink works inside the country without fear of interruption. The terms of services of the final contract were undisclosed for security issues. Following the contract, The Pentagon stated Starlink was a "vital layer in Ukraine's overall communications network" amidst "a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities they need.
Skybird
03-09-25, 05:08 PM
And Musk and Trump are - well...
Musk has done it already once. He can do it again.
And Musk and Trump are - well...
Musk has done it already once. He can do it again.
Must be the language barrier, cause you just don't get it.
Otto Harkaman
03-09-25, 06:49 PM
A war between Europe and Russia seems inevitable, I understand by watching the video below
Markus
You just have to accept and prepare for our government to perhaps change radically every 4 or 8 years.
You should already be thinking of the next President 4 years from now.
https://youtu.be/jg3tCOdLW7Q?si=VMzHz-mweY5vtEfF
Skybird
03-10-25, 12:55 AM
Must be the language barrier, cause you just don't get it.No, you dont get it because you take political claims literal, for opportunistic reasons.
Jimbuna
03-10-25, 08:47 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ua3uxOJ-Cc
Jimbuna
03-10-25, 08:55 AM
Tusk after Sikorski’s criticism of US regarding Starlink for Ukraine: True leadership means respect for smaller and weaker
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has defended Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was criticized by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and SpaceX owner Elon Musk for his posts on social media.
He said this on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.
"True leadership means respect for partners and allies. Even for the smaller and weaker ones. Never arrogance. Dear friends, think about it," Tusk said.
What preceded it?
As a reminder, the American billionaire and head of the U.S. Government's Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), Elon Musk, is convinced that Starlink is key for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, because without it, the front line would collapse.
Afterward , Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reacted to billionaire Elon Musk's statement: "If SpaceX turns out to be an unreliable supplier, we will have to look for others."
Later, Rubio responded to a post by his Polish colleague Radoslaw Sikorski, in which he reacted to billionaire Elon Musk's threats to cut off Starlink systems for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Later, Musk assured that he would never stop Starlink's work in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540261
Restoration of relations between Russia and United States will be long and difficult, - Peskov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the restoration of relations between Russia and the United States will be a long process.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Russian news agencyInterfax.
He noted that the countries are at the initial stage of the path to normalizing their ties.
"The path is going to be quite long and difficult, but at least two presidents have expressed political will in this direction," Peskov said.
According to him, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have had only one phone conversation so far, but it was constructive and gave hope for the continuation of the dialogue.
To recap, senior officials of the Trump administration were to meet separately with the delegations of Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia this week.
Afterward, the Russian Foreign Ministry denied information about a possible meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia this week. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540266
A remarkable gift from the Russian authorities to relatives of fallen Russian servicemen in Ukraine have brought them criticism. Last week, politicians from Putin's ruling party visited mothers of fallen servicemen, as part of International Women's Day. This took place in the small town of Polyarnye Zori in the Murmansk region. Local representatives of United Russia handed over flowers in the process, but also arrived with a remarkable gift: mince pies. Images of the moment were shared on social media by the party. :o
France is speeding up supplies of military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine now that US aid has been suspended, Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Sunday in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche. To speed up aid, the French army is transferring older equipment, including tanks and armoured cars. France will also allocate a new aid package of 195 million euros this year, financed with interest from frozen Russian assets. This includes artillery shells and missiles for the Mirage 2000 fighter jets that France has been supplying to Ukraine since February. :up:
Ukrainian army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky has arrived in the Russian border province of Kursk, which his country partially occupies. Russian and North Korean militaries are making significant ground gains over Ukrainian military forces there. According to Ukrainian media, Ukrainian units are said to be in a predicament. The Russian military is said to have blocked supply lines for Ukrainian troops on the frontline. Troops were also reportedly surrounded. The fact that the US has stopped sharing intelligence is said to play a role in this. The Ukrainian side denies that there is any different picture on the frontline. Syrsky contradicts the reports on Kursk. ‘There is no risk of encirclement,’ he said on social media. ‘The situation is under control.’ However, troops are being reinforced. Moreover, the US newspaper The New York Times reports, based on military analysts and Ukrainian soldiers, that the Russian offensive in the Donetsk region has virtually ground to a halt. Large losses are said to mean that Russia can only focus on one front at a time.
Exocet25fr
03-10-25, 01:07 PM
In 2014 there was a coup. Soon after, there was a massacre in Odessa (dozens of people were burned alive). Ethnic Russians living in Ukraine were treated as subhuman. Their language and culture was being oppressed. A civil war broke out due to the rise in ethnic tensions. For 8 years the Ukrainian military was indiscriminately shelling civilians living in Donbas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULOOkKtYLQ
Jimbuna
03-10-25, 01:18 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPRr5YjnN-4
Exocet25fr
03-10-25, 01:49 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK5Ooa_CyAU
Jeff-Groves
03-10-25, 02:00 PM
Well I'll bet that just puts your panties in a bunch don't it?
:hmmm:
Exocet25fr
03-10-25, 02:08 PM
^
farts suddenly you are all red !:O:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFC6shogUw4
Didn't knew Ukraine already got fighter jets from France.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIOyWJ7reXY&ab_channel=OracleEyes
Markus
Skybird
03-10-25, 05:23 PM
Sounds to me as if Kursk is now collapsing.
---------------------
[NTV] The Russians are making massive advances in the Kursk region, parts of the pocket have collapsed. Now the Ukrainian troops must try to get out safely, Colonel Reisner tells ntv.de, and also explains how the lack of help from the USA is forcing the Ukrainians to attack blindly.
ntv.de: Mr. Reisner, in the past few days the Russians have very quickly recaptured a lot of territory in the Kursk area. How could that happen? What is making the Ukrainians so weak there at the moment?
Markus Reisner: Of the almost 400 square kilometers that the Ukrainians still occupied a week ago, they now only control around 150 to 200. The entire northern part of the pocket has collapsed. There are several reasons for this: Firstly, the Ukrainians have not managed to achieve even local air superiority in recent months. Although they have repeatedly shot down Russian drones, Moscow's army has air superiority. Their constant bombardment with glide bombs, artillery and drones has worn down the Ukrainians. In recent days, Russian troops have managed to get underground behind the Ukrainian lines. They marched several kilometers through a gas pipeline underground and then suddenly appeared behind the defenders' lines. This was a nasty surprise for the Ukrainians.
Moreover, had the Russians also interrupted an important supply line? We have already talked about this several times here.
Yes, about four weeks ago the Russians managed to fire on the supply route near Kiyaniyza with first-person view drones. In doing so, they actually interrupted not an important, but the most important supply route to Sudja into the Kursk Pocket. The troops there were thus cut off from supplies. And Sudja is not just any city, but the central logistics hub from which the Ukrainians have distributed supplies in the Kursk Pocket in recent months. The moment the Russians managed to do this, it was clear: If the Ukrainians could not replace the interrupted route with another supply route, the troops in the pocket would not be able to hold off the enemy for much longer.
Another indication of how important logistics are in war?
Without supplies of ammunition, equipment, and equipment, without the ability to rotate soldiers and transport the wounded, you cannot hold out at the front for long. The history of war is full of examples of how quickly things can then happen. At the same time, the Russians continued to put pressure on the pocket, as if in a pincer grip. From the northwest by Russian paratrooper units and from the southeast by marine infantry units.
Are the Ukrainians now in danger of being encircled there in Sudja?
The first retreats on the Ukrainian side began a month ago. At the moment, the troops are still holding a small part of the pocket. I see no signs that they are attempting a counterattack. On the contrary. Everything indicates that the entire pocket will soon be taken over by the Russians. Now the Ukrainians must do everything in their power to withdraw in as structured a manner as possible. Videos from there show, however, that this is only partially successful. I think the Ukrainians will try to hold the area at least until the talks between the USA and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia are over. They are supposed to take place this week. If Sudja falls, the battle for Kursk will be lost in my view.
If you say that a structured withdrawal is only partially successful: What does that look like?
We see that the Ukrainian soldiers are withdrawing in small convoys. That is a clear sign of the Ukrainian withdrawal order. Where the soldiers can no longer move forward with the vehicles, they dismount and try to fight their way to the border in small groups. All of this under observation and attacks by Russian drones.
Are we then talking about an escape on foot?
Ultimately, yes. The pocket is bordered by some bodies of water towards the Russian border. The Russians are trying to to destroy the last intact bridges or Ukrainian engineer bridges and thus cut off the Ukrainians' route of retreat. As soon as forces build up in front of the bridges, the Russians attack with artillery, glide bombs or first-person view drones. The Ukrainian soldiers who survive these attacks must surrender or try to escape on foot. It is now just a matter of getting out of the pocket as unscathed as possible and saving their own lives.
If the Ukrainians manage to reach the border with their homeland, are they safe for now?
Not necessarily. The decisive factor will then be that the Ukrainians can receive these returning units in a structured manner, that the fighters can refresh themselves, be re-equipped and given a chance to recover. To do this, however, there must be at least some kind of provisionally manned defense or delaying line there on the border so that the Russians do not immediately advance further.
Conversely, this means that if things go really badly, could the Kursk offensive by the Ukrainians lead to a Russian counter-offensive on Ukrainian territory? What if the Russians could cross the border and then just keep marching?
That is certainly possible if the Ukrainians cannot retreat in an orderly manner and are not intercepted by the units that have been deployed. If neither of these things succeeds, the Russians can simply keep advancing until they encounter a stable line of defense. The worst that can happen with such a retreat is that chaos and panic break out.
Parallel to the dramatic reports from the Kursk front, the USA announced at the weekend that it was now also cutting off Ukraine from its findings from satellites and special reconnaissance aircraft. Are you already seeing the consequences at the front?
Using the reconnaissance of the Istar sensors - Istar stands for Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance - the USA has so far tracked down potential targets for Ukraine over great distances. Russian command posts, for example, jammers, anti-aircraft devices, logistics hubs, ammunition depots, command posts or concentrations of forces. This enabled the Ukrainians to act very precisely with their very limited resources. This is no longer the case.
And without US reconnaissance, the Ukrainians are blind?
In this area, yes. At the operational level, they can hardly generate the situation picture they need to hit the Russians in precisely these sensitive areas. Being blind also means that the Ukrainians can no longer see what the Russians are preparing. They have to assume that the Russians could attack at any time on any possible front and no longer have the opportunity to concentrate their forces. The loss of US reconnaissance has no effect on the short range, i.e. on the tactical level, where in the individual combat zones there are often only a handful of Ukrainians fighting against a handful of Russians. In the area of less than 50 to 60 kilometers from the front, the Ukrainians can still reconnoiter the enemy with their own drones and keep them at a certain distance with first-person view drones and artillery. Behind that, things are now getting very difficult.
Are there alternatives to the US satellites?
The Trump administration has also instructed the British and the private satellite operator Maxar to stop providing satellite images to Ukraine.
No one will probably oppose such an order?
The US government can exert enough pressure to ensure that such orders are followed. At the same time, the US special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, made a very drastic statement: He compared Ukraine to a stubborn mule that needs to be hit on the nose with a log to make it understand what to do. That is not the language that allies should speak, but nothing is surprising these days. It seems that the US is currently exerting significantly more pressure on Kiev than on the Kremlin.
While they lose ground in Kursk Oblast, they are gaining ground around Pokrovsk.
Markus
Skybird
03-10-25, 05:52 PM
Yes, Pokrovsk is a bit surprising. I think its less the Ukrainians having grown strenght there, but Russia having gone a bit on the weaker side there.
Or the Russians withhold forces to prepare a spring offensive. That would be my guess. There are rumours they launch one in April.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3L8iX1n6ek&ab_channel=CombatVeteranReacts
Markus
Jimbuna
03-11-25, 06:42 AM
Kremlin expects to receive information from US on outcome of talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia - Peskov
The USA plans to inform Russia about the results of the talks with Ukraine to be held in Saudi Arabia.
This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Censor.NET reports with reference to the Russian news agency "Interfax".
Peskov noted that the American side, which is seeking a peaceful settlement, will ‘somehow’ inform Russia about the outcome of the talks.
"Today there will be US-Ukrainian contacts in Jeddah. Somehow the American side, which is looking for ways to reach a peaceful settlement, will inform us," Peskov said.
He added that the Kremlin would announce this when it receives the relevant information.
As a reminder, today, 11 March 2025, a meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations begins in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540447
66% of Ukrainians believe that Russia’s goal is to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians - KIIS poll
66% of Ukrainians believe that Russia is seeking to destroy Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
This is according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), Censor.NET reports.
According to the survey, 28% of respondents believe that Russia seeks the physical destruction of Ukrainians, and another 38% are convinced that Russia's goal is to destroy Ukrainian statehood and nation by seizing most of the territory.
In addition, 14% of respondents believe that Russia seeks to establish a puppet government after capturing most of Ukraine's territory, and 7% believe that Russia will limit itself to capturing Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Only 4% of respondents believe that Russia seeks to retain the already occupied territories, while 3% chose the option of ‘denazification’ and demilitarisation. 7% of respondents were undecided.
"Our polls show that the greater the threat Ukrainians feel, the more they are inclined to continue resistance and reject unacceptable demands. Accordingly, the spread of the narrative and the belief that Russia has ‘limited’ its goals and/or is ready for peace on ‘compromise’ terms may undermine the internal readiness to continue the struggle," the researchers noted.
KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi stressed that despite the fatigue from the war, the majority of Ukrainians are categorically against peace ‘on any terms’. According to him, this is due to a sense of existential threat.
"Ukrainians are quite flexible and ready to discuss even painful options for ending the war. At the same time, Ukrainians are ready to continue to defend their ‘red lines’ (which are the survival of the Ukrainian nation, preservation of sovereignty and security guarantees) and are definitely not going to simply lay down their arms and surrender to the enemy," he added.
As noted, the survey was conducted from 14 February to 4 March 2025 by telephone interviews (CATI). The study involved 1,029 respondents living in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. The statistical error does not exceed 4.1% for figures close to 50%. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540444
US-Ukrainian negotiations in Saudi Arabia are over for today after eight hours. In a joint statement, negotiators report that the talks went well, and it was decided that the US will again share intelligence with Ukraine. Military support will also be provided to the country again. Ukraine is also ready to accept a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and to take steps towards a lasting peace. The resource deal between Ukraine and the US could also be reinstated. That deal had still fallen through during the clash between Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House. ‘The ball is now in Russia's camp,’ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared.
Jimbuna
03-11-25, 01:29 PM
Your quick...post deleted :)
Jimbuna
03-11-25, 01:54 PM
Vladimir Putin's three ridiculous demands to finally end Ukraine invasion in full
Vladimir Putin has laid out the three things that would see him pull back his troops from Ukraine.
Senior US and Ukrainian officials are getting ready to sit down in Saudi Arabia for talks centred on bringing the war to a halt three years after Putin first ordered Russian boots on Ukrainian soil. President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent his chief of staff Andriy Yermak to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Yermak says that Ukraine is "ready to do everything to achieve peace". But tyrant Putin has "made deliberately maximalist demands" in the lead up to the negotiations, it's been claimed.
Citing western security officials, the feeling is that "there is no indication Putin is willing to compromise on any of his goals", and happy to continue fighting - throwing more and more Russian citizens into the meat grinder - if "he does not get what he wants".
Putin has demanded Ukraine "must formally commit to neutrality, abandon any ambition to join NATO, demilitarise and recognise Russian claims to annexed territory", Bloomberg reports. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has already "ruled out European peacekeepers" being sent in to keep the situation under control.
If these claims are true, Putin may have hoodwinked US leader President Trump into thinking he wanted peace, and that Ukraine was the warmongering state, at their meeting earlier this year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told US president Donald Trump he wanted the talks to have a "positive outcome" that would see military aid and intelligence-sharing resume when the pair spoke on Monday. The US leader paused the supply of weapons and crucial information for Kyiv's war effort following his public spat with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, military chiefs from potential members of the so-called "coalition of the willing" will meet in Paris, with French officials indicating around 30 countries could take part. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK before Defence Secretary John Healey meets opposite numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital on Wednesday.
The PM is meeting ministers for Cabinet on Tuesday before leading a call with like-minded allies from the "coalition of the willing" on Saturday. The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Russia's Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.
The meeting of defence ministers will also be attended by representatives from Nato and the European Union, with Ukraine's Rustem Umerov dialling in. Not all the nations involved in the "coalition of the willing" are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.
The PM has stressed the need for Mr Trump's US to provide a "backstop" security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat. Hours before talks were due to begin, Russia's defence ministry said it had shot down 337 drones that had targeted more than 10 regions, including the capital city, in what appears to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack of the war.
Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said one person had been killed and three injured as a result of the attack, which also damaged seven apartment buildings in Ramensky, one of the capital's south-eastern suburbs.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/vladimir-putin-s-three-ridiculous-demands-to-finally-end-ukraine-invasion-in-full/ar-AA1AHoz2?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=eec99cd0a9a14530b32f2925b198fad0&ei=9
The US said in a statement that it was a 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended if Ukraine and Russia agree. ‘The US will let Russia know that they must agree in order to end the war and achieve long-term peace,’ the statement said. Trump says talks will be held with Russia today or tomorrow. The statement shows that other parts of the peace process have also been discussed in Saudi Arabia. For instance, Ukrainian prisoners are to be exchanged for Russian prisoners, and Russia is to return abducted Ukrainian children. Zelenskyy thanked US President Donald Trump for the ‘constructive talks’ between US and Ukrainian mediators, stating that ‘the US understands our interests’. 'The most important thing is that we are again supported by the Americans. They now have to convince Russia to agree to the truce,' Zelenskyy said. According to Zelenskyy, the 30-day ceasefire would cover not only missiles, drones, and bombs, but also extend across the entire front line, including the Black Sea.
First reaction of the Kremlin:
The Russian Federation will not go to a 30-day truce, as it will only allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm, - State Duma deputy of the Russian Federation Sobolev.
Take for what it is-An action packed YT video-No way Europe will place boots on the ground in Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzrhWZFxJkU&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
Skybird
03-11-25, 02:46 PM
I am not certain when it was, feels like it was around one and a half year ago, when Putin said that Russia would never accept a just temporary ceasefire, since such a ceasefire would neither acchieve the "special operations" objectives nor would it benefit Russia in any other way. Then he repeated his maximum demands, and never has a Kremlin speaker ever moved away even a tiny little bit from these.
All this mumbo jumbo of today is just stage thunder to me.
I do not think Putin changed, he is still the same so will demand the same terms as he wanted +10 years ago. Hope he will do this and this fires back like all his gambles did. The Kremlin does not want a peace if it survives this or not, their intentions were/are never peace.
Looking from Putins point-of-view I somehow understand him.
His troops have the momentum in Kursk Oblast. A 30 days ceasefire would give Ukraine time to regroup and get fresh soldiers, weapons and ammo to the front.
Otherwise I do not understand him-He has everything to lose and only a small victory in Kursk.
As I see it he has already lost the war.
Markus
Skybird
03-11-25, 03:43 PM
Putin needs the war for survival. I think if he makes a peace deal he is as good as dead.
And isnt the ceasefire only for actions in the air and on the sea?
Putin needs the war for survival. I think if he makes a peace deal he is as good as dead.
And isnt the ceasefire only for actions in the air and on the sea?No, Zelenskyy had rigged a proposal for a first step towards a ceasefire, namely stopping air strikes and attacks on the Black Sea. The Americans then said: let's make it a complete ceasefire. That has been agreed on today.
Putin needs the war for survival. I think if he makes a peace deal he is as good as dead.
And isnt the ceasefire only for actions in the air and on the sea?
What I understand is that the deal is 30 days ceasefire on the entire frontline. It does not say anything about limitations to air and sea.
Markus
So this is going to be literally the 26th attempt to declare an armistice in the Russian war on Ukraine since 2014-2015. Putin violated the previous 25 declarations of ceasefire. They will violate it rather quickly, blame Ukraine, and then claim they tried peace, but it didn’t work because of Zelenskyy.
Platapus
03-11-25, 04:37 PM
And some people here will believe that
And some people here will believe that
Even though I'm a Pro-Ukrainian I have hard to believe it was Russia who violated every ceasefire since start of the war in 2014.
Markus
Exocet25fr
03-12-25, 05:50 AM
Remember when I said these F-16s models are obsolete.....!:hmmm:
Ukrainian F-16s cannot compete with Russian Su-35s – Ihnat explains the reason. According to him, a comprehensive approach involving ground-based air defense systems, EW (electronic warfare) tools, and much more is needed to counter Russian aviation.
https://tsn.ua/en/ato/ukrainian-f-16s-cannot-compete-with-russian-su-35s-ihnat-explains-the-reason-2785392.html
Even though I'm a Pro-Ukrainian I have hard to believe it was Russia who violated every ceasefire since start of the war in 2014.
Markus
Believe it Markus!! :doh: One good thing is if Putin violates/refuses it at least Ukraine will get its support back! :yep:
Skybird
03-12-25, 06:36 AM
Depending on sources and the defintion of ceasefirings, ther ehave been 20-25 thosuand ceasefires since 2014. Ukriane broke them,Russia broke them, and it seems Russia broke them far mor eoften and seriously.
But nobody can provide exact numbers, nobody.
I was right then!! :03::D
Skybird
03-12-25, 06:46 AM
[Focus] Members of the Russian State Duma and military bloggers react with horror to the proposals of the Ukrainian-American peace summit. “A ceasefire is definitely not what we need,” says the far-right Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, whose visions Vladimir Putin also listens to time and again.
The military blog Woennyj Oswedomitel believes that the Ukrainians only wanted to “take a long-awaited breather and replenish their army with personnel, equipment and weapons”.
Propaganda reporter Alexander Koz put it even more drastically. “Shove your peace initiatives up your asses!” he wrote. Ukraine had been sent conditions for peace negotiations. It had responded to these with new attacks. “The message has been received.”
After the Russians had recently been almost enthusiastic about Donald Trump's announcements, the assessments now sound somewhat different. “Donald Trump is yet to show his true colors. Joe Biden, on the other hand, will end up looking like a benevolent grandfather,” says propaganda reporter Roman Saponkov.
Political scientist Sergei Markov therefore demanded that the ceasefire would only be agreed to if there was an arms embargo against Ukraine at the same time. This would then not apply to Russia.[/quote]
--------------
No surprises. Has anyone assumed the Russians were stupid?
The heavyweight comment in the above is that of Dugin.
In the end Trump maybe is more about playing for his home audience than the substance of things happening in Ukraine.
^If it is nto all staged by Trunmp anyway. I could imaginen a scenario where Russia now demands more concessions by Ukriane and Trump starting to dictate right these concessions to Ukraine to realise that ceasefire.
Ukraine have lost Kursk and are now in retreat-This is what has been said in the news here.
Now the question is: Was it a good idea in the first place to invade Russia ?
Markus
Skybird
03-12-25, 12:17 PM
"Außer Spesen nix gewesen."
They could not afford the losses they had there, in total, while Russia can. So I stick to my initial assessment from the beginning of the operation: a strategic desaster. Yes, Russian losses were higher, probably. But again: the Russians can afford such losses, Ukraine cannot.
Ukraine have lost Kursk and are now in retreat-This is what has been said in the news here.
Now the question is: Was it a good idea in the first place to invade Russia ?
MarkusYes it has cost a lot of resources and troops for Russia, North Korea and military, this was an opportunity that any army in the world would act on. If you see a weak spot you attack that was/is the whole story, any army would make that decision.
Hans van Koningsbrugge (Professor of History and Politics of Russia University of Groningen) that after attempts to stall for time, the Russian president will eventually reject the offer to temporarily silence the weapons. ‘This proposal is intended for the Americans as a stepping stone to eventually ending the war,’ he says. ‘But for Russia, none of the goals of that war have already been achieved and the ‘root causes’ of the war have not been addressed. In particular, the four annexed Ukrainian oblasts have not been fully conquered, even though they are enshrined in the Russian constitution as Russian territory. In the meantime, the Russian economy is shattered, hundreds of thousands have died, and now they should stop fighting? While Russia hates having to do anything imposed from outside anyway.’ According to Van Koningsbrugge, it is clear that President Putin is in a difficult position. ‘Russia has always opposed a temporary ceasefire, with the reasoning that Ukraine has to accept ‘the reality on the ground’ first. Moreover, Moscow says it would give Ukraine time to train its troops and collect weapons from the West. ‘If Putin now suddenly says yes anyway, he is showing weakness. If he says no, he will be dismissed as the party standing in the way of peace and get Trump and the United States on his ass. It is an impossible choice, the Russians are not in a good position.’
Mart de Kruif, former commander of the Dutch Land Forces, warns that Putin's ambitions are still the same as three years ago. ‘Russia has spent three years using all its resources to control Ukraine politically, financially, militarily and economically. It has not succeeded. Stopping now would mean that all those sacrifices have been for nothing, so Putin is not going to do that.’ On the front, Russia did manage to achieve renewed success on Wednesday in its border region of Kursk, where Ukrainian resistance now appears to be all but broken. It is likely that the last Ukrainians will be driven out of the region in the coming days, which would be a success for Russia. ‘But apart from that, things are not going well militarily for the Russian army,’ says De Kruif. ‘It is barely making any progress, quite the opposite. So rationally, you could argue that Putin too needs a ceasefire.’ De Kruif warns that Europe ‘a ceasefire could put Europe back to sleep and weaken the initiatives to strengthen the continent again on the defence front’. ‘I don't rule out the possibility that a ceasefire will bring back discussions on whether we really need to spend 800 billion euros on defence. Putin will be happy to see that happen. ‘We should absolutely not confuse a ceasefire with a peace treaty. We are nowhere near that yet,’ De Kruif adds. ‘Since the Russian invasion of Crimea and the Donbas in 2014, there have already been several cease-fires, which Russia has violated each time and which eventually led to the 2022 invasion. That is why Ukraine also wants cast-iron guarantees.’
Jimbuna
03-12-25, 01:00 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzX0f8pt-pY
Jimbuna
03-12-25, 01:06 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhQNBYehSGQ
Skybird
03-12-25, 01:28 PM
Yes it has cost a lot of resources and troops for Russia, North Korea and military, this was an opportunity that any army in the world would act on. If you see a weak spot you attack that was/is the whole story, any army would make that decision.
No, it was a mistake. They suffered serious losses themselves, too, and different to Russia they could not afford their losses like the Russians can afford theirs. The units they used in Kurks were missed in the Eastern hotspots of fighting - and there they paid.
They paid too much for too little compensation for their losses. The costs-versus-gains ratio does not compute well.
Skybird
03-12-25, 01:33 PM
[NTV] In Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United States reached surprising agreements after significant tensions. The path to this agreement was apparently not easy. There were reportedly difficult moments during the hours-long meeting. There was even talk of an impasse.
Ukraine has provided insights into the recent talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi declined to go into detail so as not to "cause any damage," but hinted that the surprising agreements were anything but easy to reach.
In a lengthy post on Facebook, the spokesperson wrote that the negotiations lasted eight hours almost continuously. "Especially in the final hours, when fatigue is already palpable, a way out of an impasse suddenly becomes possible—or even a difficult compromise," the spokesperson said. "The winner is the one who survives the last one and a half kilometers through sheer willpower and strength of character."
According to Tykhyi, it was important to keep emotions under control. This had already been one of the most important challenges even before the talks. "One that, in my opinion, we all handled well."
The previously escalated meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump and his Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House had caused major tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The presidents were not personally present at the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv's head of state, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, had made an effort to calm the situation after the scandal, even though he had been paraded before the world's eyes at the White House.
Tykhyi cites numerous articles published the previous evening, citing anonymous sources, as one of the reasons for the success of the talks in Saudi Arabia. This was a kind of "coded dialogue" between the key players. "Expectations, attempts to promote or torpedo the process, random statements or interpretations – all of these played a role."
The composition of the negotiating teams, including diplomats and military representatives, was also said to have been extremely important. Everyone behaved extremely "professionally, principledly, and wisely." Tykhyi recounts a particularly difficult moment toward the end of the negotiations. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha looked at him, and his expression conveyed both "incredible" and "everything will be fine."
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is said to have played the decisive role despite his absence. "He led the delegation in such a way that it maintained an iron defense of several key positions," reports the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. He considers the negotiations among the most interesting he has ever participated in. However, according to Tykhyi, all details of the meeting could only be revealed in many years.
Many observers consider the results of the talks a major success for Ukraine because they succeeded in persuading the US to resume military aid and provide intelligence.
By agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire, Kyiv has also made unmistakably clear the commitment to peace, which Washington has vehemently demanded. "The ball is now in Russia's court," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio afterwards.
Jimbuna
03-12-25, 01:34 PM
Vance on talks between US and Russia: they will be held by phone and in person
US Vice President J.D. Vance said that contacts between the United States and Russia will take place in the coming days in person and by phone.
He said this in the Oval Office during a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, CNN reports, Censor.NET informs.
"The talks will be held over the phone and in person with some of our representatives over the next few days," Vance said, without adding any details. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540824
Turkey hopes that Russia will react constructively to idea of ceasefire - Erdogan
Turkey considers Ukraine's agreement to cease fire with Russia for 30 days to be positive and important and hopes that Moscow will respond constructively.
This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a joint press conference in Ankara with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Le Figaro newspaper reports, Censor.NET informs.
"Now we hope that Russia will respond constructively," the Turkish leader said.
As a reminder, at the talks in Jeddah on March 11, Ukraine expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal to immediately introduce a temporary, 30-day ceasefire. It can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, subject to acceptance and simultaneous implementation by the Russian Federation. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540808
Jimbuna
03-12-25, 01:36 PM
French and British Defense Ministers discuss continued support for Ukrainian Armed Forces
On the sidelines of the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecorneuil and British Defense Minister John Healey discussed security guarantees for Ukraine.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
"Thanks to the leadership of our two heads of state and government, France and the United Kingdom will remain committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Meeting with my British counterpart John Haley last night on the sidelines of the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum.
Following yesterday's meeting of the Chiefs of Defence of the Volunteer Armed Forces in Paris, discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine in the presence of our respective Chiefs of Defence, General Thierry Burkhardt and Admiral Tony Radakin. The first of these will be continued support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure their long-term defense of the country," Lecorneu wrote on social network X. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540799
Putin may demand halt of arms supplies to Ukraine as condition of ceasefire - Bloomberg
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may demand the cessation of arms supplies to Ukraine as a condition for a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine.
This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources close to the Kremlin, Censor.NET reports.
According to the agency's interlocutors, Putin will try to stall because he wants to achieve more favor able conditions for himself.
Another source told Bloomberg that Russian officials have not discussed with the American side a specific deal, which the Ukrainian delegation agreed on March 11 in Saudi Arabia. Krell considers the proposed terms unacceptable, the article says.
In addition, according to one of the sources, the Kremlin may also demand that Ukraine cease supplying weapons as a condition for a ceasefire.
As a reminder, at the talks in Jeddah on March 11, Ukraine expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal to immediately introduce a temporary, 30-day ceasefire. It can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, subject to acceptance and simultaneous implementation by the Russian Federation. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540794
No, it was a mistake. They suffered serious losses themselves, too, and different to Russia they could not afford their losses like the Russians can afford theirs. The units they used in Kurks were missed in the Eastern hotspots of fighting - and there they paid.
They paid too much for too little compensation for their losses. The costs-versus-gains ratio does not compute well.If you make that kinda assumptions, you have to provide the real "source" not what is printed in the media. Nobody, you or me can know what is or not is lost and this oh Ukraine cannot... They planned, intergraded all those systems (that some have said ohhh that they never could do it is too complex) into their army with a good result and faster than we could do. Planning an offensive is no sandkasten spielen they have war gamed this before. Plans can go wrong, sure, but you still underestimate Ukraine because you do not have all the data. Russia is scraping the barrels, and you still have a costs-versus-gains ratio that is based on media sources, if the Russian publishes what they really have or lose they are notorious liars for centuries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGJUH-bs-Jo
Maybe it was a success in the long term or maybe it wasn't a success-I can't tell.
It could have been a plan on using Kursk invasion as a trade for ground in Ukraine-This is gone now...Which is a lost if this was the reason for the invasion in Kursk from the start.
Will Ukraine try a similar tactics in the future-Invade part of Russia ?
Markus
Rheinmetall says it could take over idle Volkswagen plants to produce tanksRheinmetall is considering taking over one of Volkswagen’s soon-to-be idle plants, as the growing arms maker scours Germany for extra production capacity while struggling carmakers scale back. Chief executive Armin Papperger on Wednesday said VW’s plant in Osnabrück was a “good fit” for Rheinmetall operations, but stressed any decision to acquire idle car factories would depend on securing more tank orders.
VW’s Osnabrück plant is one of three set to become idle within the next two years after the carmaker decided in December to halve production capacity in the country because of a slowdown in European car sales. Papperger said it was “far more complex” to build something than to use “something that’s already there”. He said Rheinmetall was in “constant conversation” with VW because of a military trucks joint venture with the carmaker’s MAN Truck & Bus... https://www.ft.com/content/f4bb94b3-afba-4661-812b-bbba26d0f7ec
Russian 'Groundhog Day' :D https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1899594451862843475.html
America Turns to Ukraine to Build Better DronesAmerican defense startups have teamed up with Ukrainian manufacturers to develop advanced drones for the US military, according to The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-drones-american-defense-tech-startups-25f1fe92).
The media notes that U.S. startups have spent billions of venture capital dollars in hopes of developing the small drones that the Pentagon says it needs for future conflicts, but many have produced only expensive aircraft that donÂ’t fly very well. Ukrainian drone makers, meanwhile, have mastered mass-producing drones despite limited resources and are looking for new customers and capital. Now, both sides are coming together, and this cooperation is attracting the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense.
“No American company is keeping up with Ukraine. Their developments work perfectly, and they have the best laboratory for testing all models in combat conditions,” Nathan Mintz, co-founder of the Southern California startup CX2, which last year signed an agreement to install its software and sensors on Ukrainian drones for combat testing, stated... https://mil.in.ua/en/news/america-turns-to-ukraine-to-build-better-drones/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YrRY8tqJkw&ab_channel=UkraineMatters
Markus
Skybird
03-12-25, 07:19 PM
Putin has arrived in persona in Kursk. That he vists the front is not an often seen event. While the ukrainian supreme command ominously indicates it has ordered or mulls the full withdrawel from Kursk, Putin has given order to fight down and drive out the few remaining Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainians' hopes of having a bargaining chip to exchange territory for possible negotiations have thus been dashed. If one is optimistically minded, one might be tempted to ask whether Putin's trip is a signal that he might accept the ceasefire temporarily after all, once the Kursk nuisance is out of the way and the path to Russia's unrestricted imperial demands on Ukraine is cleared.
Otto Harkaman
03-13-25, 02:16 AM
https://youtu.be/uvLxfmCJAkQ?si=zW9banvXXidquaaO
Skybird
03-13-25, 05:20 AM
If you make that kinda assumptions, you have to provide the real "source" not what is printed in the media. Nobody, you or me can know what is or not is lost and this oh Ukraine cannot... They planned, intergraded all those systems (that some have said ohhh that they never could do it is too complex) into their army with a good result and faster than we could do. Planning an offensive is no sandkasten spielen they have war gamed this before. Plans can go wrong, sure, but you still underestimate Ukraine because you do not have all the data. Russia is scraping the barrels, and you still have a costs-versus-gains ratio that is based on media sources, if the Russian publishes what they really have or lose they are notorious liars for centuries.Your sources - media - are not better than mine. The media refer to bloggers. If war bloggers from both sides agree, that gets my raised eyebrow. You are sceptical of people like Reisner, ignoring how very often he was right. I do not listen to people like Hodgson anymore, and many others, because they were always wrong in tbe first 18 months or so - and they disappeared from the media, almost. Rightly so.
Jimbuna
03-13-25, 07:46 AM
An aide to Vladimir Putin dismisses a short-term ceasefire with Kyiv, saying it is "nothing but a temporary respite" for Ukraine
It comes as Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow ahead of US-Russia talks on a 30-day ceasefire proposal
Russia's military says it has recaptured Sudzha, a key town in the Kursk region that was previously taken by Ukrainian forces
Earlier the Kremlin said it was the final stage of the operation to drive Ukraine from territory it seized across the border
Putin made a surprise visit to Kursk on Wednesday. The head of Ukraine's military, Oleksandr Syrsky, also indicated that some of its troops were withdrawing from Kursk
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says the country is "determined" to work "as quickly as possible" with its partners towards peace. Meanwhile, Putin has yet to comment on the offer
Jimbuna
03-13-25, 07:56 AM
Russia has set out its maximalist demands for peaceful resolution to war in Ukraine - WP
The Washington Post has obtained access to a document prepared by a Moscow think tank closely linked to the FSB, which contains Russia's demands for an end to the war in Ukraine.
This was stated in the publication on March 12, Censor.NET informs.
The document, written in February 2023, reveals the Kremlin's maximalist positions, which not only reject previous peace initiatives but also define new tough conditions for ending the conflict.
One of the main demands in the document is that a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine cannot take place before 2026. Russia rejects the possibility of peace agreements that would provide for the return of the captured territories to Ukraine. In the absence of official recognition of Russian sovereignty over them, the probability of a renewal of the conflict in the medium term remains high. This calls into question the possibility of a final peaceful settlement without the implementation of these demands.
The document also contains proposals to strengthen Russia's negotiating position. In particular, Russia plans to increase tensions between the United States, China, and the European Union to use this to its advantage. It is noted that Russia may offer the United States access to its minerals, in particular in the occupied Ukrainian territories, which looks like an attempt to destroy the proposed agreement between Ukraine and the United States on the development of natural resources.
The document also suggests that Russia normalizes relations with the United States through the restoration of diplomatic relations, in particular, by appointing a new ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev. In addition, it is indicated that Russia will agree not to deploy its medium-range ballistic missiles, "Oreshnik" in Belarus, in exchange for the fact that the United States will not deploy new missile systems in Europe.
Regarding the issue of arms supplies, the document contains a demand for the United States to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, in exchange for which Russia undertakes to stop supplying weapons to its allies in countries considered "unfriendly". However, it is noted that the implementation of this demand is difficult.
The document rejects peace initiatives aimed at territorial concessions by Ukraine, including the renunciation of captured territories in favor of Russia. It also categorically rejects holding elections in Ukraine in which pro-Russian parties would participate and calls for the "dismantling" of the current Kiev regime.
It is noted that the presence of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine is also considered unnecessary since, in Russia's opinion, these forces would be under "serious Western influence." The preservation of a large Ukrainian army and constant support for its equipment by the United States are unacceptable to the Kremlin.
The document also calls for the further fragmentation of Ukraine, proposing the creation of a buffer zone in the northeast of the country on the border with the Bryansk and Belgorod regions of Russia, as well as a demilitarized zone south of Crimea, which would affect the Odesa region. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540934
Skybird
03-13-25, 08:29 AM
^ Jim to the win. :salute:
[Focus] According to the British newspaper "Daily Mail," a Russian document intercepted by Western intelligence agencies suggests that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin intends to continue his war in Ukraine. The document is said to reveal the Russians' goals and plans. The newspaper cites a report in the "Washington Post."
According to the report, the Kremlin's goal is to weaken Donald Trump's negotiating position in a potential peace agreement while simultaneously stoking tensions between the US and other countries.
Instead of accepting the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Trump and his mediators, Putin instead intends to continue his attacks to gain further territory, the "Daily Mail" reported, citing the document.
A visit by Putin to the Kursk region, which was occupied by Ukrainian forces, could also be interpreted as a sign of the continuation of military operations. According to Kremlin sources, an offensive to completely recapture the region is in its final phase.
The alleged secret document, which media reports say was written by a Kremlin-affiliated think tank for the Russian secret service FSB, contains strategic recommendations for influencing international relations. According to the document, Russia should actively promote tensions between the US, China, and the European Union in order to break Moscow's diplomatic isolation.
The document particularly highlights the change in the US position in UN votes. The Americans have already sided with Russia twice in UN votes.
For example, the US recently rejected a European-drafted resolution condemning the Russian invasion and instead advocated for a more neutral formulation.
The document also contains suggestions on how Russia could delay a peace agreement with Ukraine through targeted measures. For example, it mentions the creation of a demilitarized zone on the border with Ukraine and a further division of the country.
According to the recommendation, a buffer zone should be established, particularly in northeastern Ukraine, where the country borders Russian territory. Moscow also has a strong interest in preventing Western states from providing military support to Kyiv.
The confidential document also questions whether a peace agreement within 100 days, as Trump had envisioned, is realistic. Rather, it suggests that an agreement would not be possible until 2026 at the earliest.
The information that has emerged suggests that Putin could be pursuing a strategy in which Russia is deliberately delaying negotiations in order to gain military advantages. Moreover, there is currently little evidence that Russia could abandon such a strategy.
In recent months, Russian troops have made significant progress in eastern Ukraine. Putin may therefore believe he is in a stronger position. Given this military superiority, Putin may be reluctant to agree to a short-term ceasefire and continue to attempt to regain and conquer territory to further strengthen his negotiating position.
According to the leaked document, Russian negotiators could also use this situation to offer American companies access to rare earths in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine, thereby strengthening their position in negotiations and thus strengthening their own economy.
-----------------
The big Don will have to wait a little bit longer for his first of amazingly many peace Nobel prizes. However, gaining access to Ukrainian rare earths sooner may make the wait more bearable for him.
Commander Wallace
03-13-25, 08:29 AM
@ Jim in post #682 (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2948455&postcount=6825)
^ This is ridiculous. Much better to just give Ukraine what they need to end this war on their terms. Work out the costs much like Lend-Lease was done between England and the U.S in WW2.
@ Jim in post #682 (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2948455&postcount=6825)
^ This is ridiculous. Much better to just give Ukraine what they need to end this war on their terms. Work out the costs much like Lend-Lease was done between England and the U.S in WW2.
Didn't Biden and Zelensky made a sort Lend-Lease deal 1½-2 years ago ?
Markus
Jimbuna
03-13-25, 08:42 AM
^ Should this be true then the US and Europe should maximise sanctions against Russia to the greatest extent possible.
^ Should this be true then the US and Europe should maximise sanctions against Russia to the greatest extent possible.
Made a search and found this
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/article/3025302/biden-signs-lend-lease-act-to-supply-more-security-assistance-to-ukraine/
With this in mind, have Trump dismissed this agreement ?
Markus
Skybird
03-13-25, 09:53 AM
@ Jim in post #682 (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2948455&postcount=6825)
^ This is ridiculous. Much better to just give Ukraine what they need to end this war on their terms. Work out the costs much like Lend-Lease was done between England and the U.S in WW2.Did you really think it would be that easy? The Great Don says “Let there be peace”, and there was peace...? Even the Great Don has no real means of exerting pressure on Russia. He can drive the price up a little more, but that's all he can do. If he even really wants to. Getting access to Ukrainian resources, no matter how, seems to me to be much more important to him. He always says it's “not our war”. Then he couldn't really care less what happens to Ukraine and in Ukraine.
If it weren't for his private vendetta with Obama, who still has a 1:0 lead after winning the Nobel Peace Prize - no Donny takes that very well.
Commander Wallace
03-13-25, 10:09 AM
^ Should this be true then the US and Europe should maximise sanctions against Russia to the greatest extent possible.
:agree: Come together, reach a consensus and help Ukraine achieve a lasting peace. Putin is a lying murderer. You can't make deals with garbage like that.
Otto Harkaman
03-13-25, 10:15 AM
Yep looks like everyone is going to delay till they get what they want so Europe needs to start sending troops to the Ukraine meat grinder because that is the only real solution if you don't want to loose more territory or even gain some back. Every country needs to round up all the hiding Ukraine men of military age and send them to the front.
Commander Wallace
03-13-25, 10:21 AM
Yep looks like everyone is going to delay till they get what they want so Europe needs to start sending troops to the Ukraine meat grinder because that is the only real solution if you don't want to loose more territory or even gain some back. Every country needs to round up all the hiding Ukraine men of military age and send them to the front.
I have no idea what the solution to any of this is. One thing is certain. Putin is very much like Hitler was. The world tried to appease Hitler way back. It didn't work. The world ended up in WW2. I don't see this ending any better or different.
I think our friends in Europe Understand that this Russian land grab won't end with Ukraine.
Otto Harkaman
03-13-25, 10:48 AM
Trump can't slander Putin he has to be able to communicate with him. Our side was caught off guard twice, first time with such surprise there was minimal bloodshed but lose of Crimea, 2nd time was almost the same but the Ukrainians were able to rally and hold. We can see with full clarity that modern combat eats up a lot of lives and material, and Putin is willing to be the butcher and fed the monster. Violence is the ultimate arbitrator we just cloak it in ritual in an attempt to master it. The Europeans better arm up fast if they want to stop the man, and everyone needs to wake up to the fact this is going to cost a lot more lives.
This is all the European's fault for not maintaining their NATO obligations and at the same time expanding NATO Eastwards. If we missed what was going on in Crimea and Ukraine they should have been aware of it since its are on their doorstep and made some preparations.
Commander Wallace
03-13-25, 10:55 AM
Trump can't slander Putin he has to be able to communicate with him. Our side was caught off guard twice, first time with such surprise there was minimal bloodshed but lose of Crimea, 2nd time was almost the same but the Ukrainians were able to rally and hold. We can see with full clarity that modern combat eats up a lot of lives, and Putin is willing to be the butcher and fed the monster. Violence is the ultimate arbitrator we just cloak it in ritual in an attempt to master it. The Europeans better arm up fast if they want to stop the man, and everyone needs to wake up to the fact this is going to cost a lot more lives.
Sadly, I think you're right. I think this is why Trump wants to modernize as fast as he can. Trump and his people know it's coming. Savings from DOGE would help there. Never enough though.
Skybird
03-13-25, 11:29 AM
Every country needs to round up all the hiding Ukraine men of military age and send them to the front.
Not our decision, but a call between these men and their state/nation. I would not principally claim they are all cowards, as is more or less openly implied. Some maybe are. But many are not, but have reaisnable or moral arguments not to go. Not everybody is in love with his country, state, government. Some are simply pissed by it.
Of course we can abstain from replacing their lacking manpower with our own.
Putin should be saying yes to this 30 days ceasefire, if certain demands has been fulfilled before he can say 100 % yes to the deal.
What interest does Putin have-Peace or war ?
Guess it's becoming more and more inevitably that Europe have to send boots to Ukraine-Unless they aren't interested in a Ukrainian victory or a stalemate.
Markus
Ostfriese
03-13-25, 12:31 PM
Putin should be saying yes to this 30 days ceasefire, if certain demands has been fulfilled before he can say 100 % yes to the deal.
What interest does Putin have-Peace or war ?
Guess it's becoming more and more inevitably that Europe have to send boots to Ukraine-Unless they aren't interested in a Ukrainian victory or a stalemate.
Markus
Putin wants to re-establish Russia in the style of the Soviet Union, both geographically as well as politically, only the dictatorship will no loger be disguised as "communist" (which the Soviet Union actually never was).
He doesn't care about how to achieve that, and as it's not possible diplomatically he will resort to war no matter what.
Jimbuna
03-13-25, 12:36 PM
Putin’s peace statement is promising but incomplete – Trump (updated)
US President Donald Trump has called Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin's statement about the possibility of a 30-day truce promising.
According to Censor.NET, Clash Reports writes about it.
"Putin made a very promising statement, but it was not complete," Trump said.
He added that many details of the deal have already been discussed.
"We will see if Russia agrees, and if not, it will be a very disappointing moment. "I would like to see a ceasefire from Russia. We hope that Russia will do the right thing. I'm ready to talk to Putin," Trump said.
In addition, he said that territorial issues were discussed with Ukraine, in particular "who will get Zaporizhzhya NPP in case of the end of the war". Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541010
Exocet25fr
03-13-25, 12:55 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_LIWU6tX2s
Putin has rejected the US-Ukrainian proposal for a ceasefire in its current form. ‘Why do they need a 30-day ceasefire, for mobilisation or arms deliveries to Ukraine?’, Putin responded at a press conference in Moscow. According to Putin, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the proposal, which the US and Ukraine agreed earlier this week. For instance, he said, it is not clear who should monitor compliance with a truce. At the same time, Putin has previously rejected proposals for a European force in Ukraine. In his own words, Putin supports a ceasefire, but wants it to resolve ‘the underlying causes of the conflict’ and lead to a ‘long-term peace’. By this he seems to be referring, among other things, to Ukraine's possible membership of NATO and the presence of NATO troops in Eastern Europe. Putin says he wants to hold talks with the Americans on the proposal.
Trump has called Putin's response to Ukraine's ceasefire proposal ‘promising but incomplete’. He said this during a visit by NATO chief Mark Rutte at the White House. ‘Hopefully Russia will do the right thing,’ Trump said. He said it would be a ‘great disappointment to the world’ if Russia rejects the proposal. That is exactly what Putin seemed to do earlier today. For instance, Putin suggested that Ukraine could use a 30-day ceasefire to rearm, especially now that the Ukrainian army is on the defensive in Russia's Kursk province. According to Putin, there are still open ends to be discussed with the Americans. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is currently in Moscow to discuss the proposal with Putin. Trump said Putin himself would ‘like’ to ‘speak or meet’, but added that ‘it does need to be arranged quickly’.
Speaking about NATO chief Rutte, Trump said he ‘did a superb job last week’. Among other things, Rutte mediated between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rutte in turn praised Trump for ‘breaking the deadlock’ on the war and urging NATO countries to put more money into defence. Following Trump's lead, Rutte repeatedly called on European NATO member states to increase their defence spending. At the White House today, Rutte said NATO must produce more weapons to catch up with Russia and China.
This gone take years to solve, the Kremlin will drag this out for as long as they can, or till Putin is still alive. Russia and the Western world are two worlds with completely different mentalities. The Slavic mind simply views many things completely differently from the Western, this is a fact that cannot be changed, the methods of Russian diplomacy under Putin, the Soviets are still the same as those of the Czars, whatever their desires. Still the main motive is suspicion! A distrust of the West in general!
Jimbuna
03-13-25, 01:52 PM
Trump will find Putin a much harder not to crack than Zelensky.
Otto Harkaman
03-13-25, 02:26 PM
https://youtu.be/rTtusAINYDM?si=-vD-8vTK7aoF5vky
Well I guess Col. Macgregor is saying for there really to be a settlement we have to totally stop funding and supplying the Zelenskyy government. I don't know
Jeff-Groves
03-13-25, 02:58 PM
Trump will find Putin a much harder not to crack than Zelensky.
Yeah. The nots that fall from my Oak tree are much tuffer then the nuts that fall off it.
:O:
Ukraine Sets “Red Lines” for Peace Talks, Rejects NATO RestrictionsUkraine outlined its “red lines” for peace negotiations with Russia, emphasizing that there can be no restrictions on the size of its military or prohibitions on joining international organizations, including the European Union and NATO. This was reported by European Pravda, citing it’s own sources. Speaking on March 13 at a press conference, Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said, “We all understand that part of our country is currently under temporary Russian occupation—that is a matter of fact, a reality. But if we are talking about legally recognizing any part of Ukraine as belonging to Russia, that will not happen.” During the talks, Yermak reportedly raised the issue of NATO membership, insisting that Russia should not have a veto over Ukraine’s accession. https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-sets-red-lines-for-peace-talks-rejects-nato-restrictions-6709
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-3NyZmSgbU
Platapus
03-13-25, 05:12 PM
Trump will find Putin a much harder not to crack than Zelensky.
Putin will play Trump like a fish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDe1qAmOd88&ab_channel=CombatVeteranReacts
Markus
Jimbuna
03-14-25, 07:55 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbYYpnbOlWc
Jimbuna
03-14-25, 08:10 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teX4H5MUpH4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrDgut0QKhY&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
Jimbuna
03-14-25, 11:23 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq1em773m50
Skybird
03-14-25, 01:00 PM
So much for Kursk.
Nothing but expenses. The bill is paid by the Donbass front. And it seems that once again - once again in this war - Ukrainian troops are being withdrawn too late and suffer more casualties than needed.
https://www-focus-de.translate.goog/politik/ausland/lage-an-der-front-ukrainer-in-kursk-eingekesselt-jetzt-haengt-alles-an-den-amerikanern_id_260759388.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp
The war currently runs good for Putin. Costly but successful. He has the Ukrainians in his garrotte, and he knows it. His American Mini-Me so far is just a snack for an intermediate break, a useful idiot. How anyone in the US can believe they could intimidate Russia by threatening to sanction everybody doing business with them, is beyond me. I dont get it.
Putin has zero reasons to stop the war. And thats the problem. His confidence in victory is not artificial, it is genuine. Someone with that conviction doesn't give up all of a sudden!
Noticed a lot more war-crimes ( killing POWS) are being made by the russians.
So much for Kursk.
Nothing but expenses. The bill is paid by the Donbass front. And it seems that once again - once again in this war - Ukrainian troops are being withdrawn too late and suffer more casualties than needed.
https://www-focus-de.translate.goog/politik/ausland/lage-an-der-front-ukrainer-in-kursk-eingekesselt-jetzt-haengt-alles-an-den-amerikanern_id_260759388.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp
The war currently runs good for Putin. Costly but successful. He has the Ukrainians in his garrotte, and he knows it. His American Mini-Me so far is just a snack for an intermediate break, a useful idiot. How anyone in the US can believe they could intimidate Russia by threatening to sanction everybody doing business with them, is beyond me. I dont get it.
Putin has zero reasons to stop the war. And thats the problem. His confidence in victory is not artificial, it is genuine. Someone with that conviction doesn't give up all of a sudden!
This man claim the deep strike was a success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3GaQwlLfFA&ab_channel=UkraineMatters
Markus
Skybird
03-14-25, 08:30 PM
This man claim the deep strike was a success
So does Dargo. But thsi claim can be challenged. I do. And others do that as well. The men in Kursk, both those who are sthere and those wgo died there, are terribly missed at other parts of the front where Ukraine paid a high price for their absence.
The bold probem form day one on: Russia can afford high losses, Ukraine can much less so. Thats why Ukraine is losing. They kill more Russians than Russian kill Ukrainians. But the kill ratio is not high enough for Ukraine to turn the helm around.
The problem from day one on. The ukrainian kill ratio is positive, but it is not sufficiently high enough to compensate for their numerical and equipment inferiority. The tactical success of ukraine are there, but they do not reach saturating effect to stop the Russians.
Brutal logic of the maths of attrition warfare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DvfCYe7TZw
About Kursk, I claim only that this counter-offensive was a need at the moment and that no army would walk away from a weak spot in the front where there is the possibility of a breakthrough. You can say Ukraine has lost too much, but we do not know the real figures, only the data from videos that we can geolocate with satellites images. I only know that Russia at its ceiling of war (production 24/7) can not break through, they fight like a snail that will take its army over 80 years to reach Kyiv. What ever comes from those so-called sources claiming Russia doing swell is a lie told too us from the Tzars time. What about Ukraine, then? Apart from the fronts where they keep ... for reasons any state in wartime including ours have done. But economical, we can verify the data that we can not from Russia.
The Kursk retreat was planned, I think it was part of the strategy of Ukraine to play this card ;). Ukraine has told the US a couple of days ago ceasefire, and we are prepared to give up Kursk why else they could come with a quick result in Riyadh. Other thing is, have you ever looked at the map of Kursk? Do you really think you can defend tree lines and open fields? No so the main reason for this retreat, but it has got its use this occupation of a part of Russia it did divert troops, supply and equipment meant for other parts of the front. It took the Russian more than a half year to get it back, so yes there is a victory in this counteroffensive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNF0ZYp-7_A
Skybird
03-15-25, 07:50 AM
[FOCUS] Hopes for peace, or at least a ceasefire, are growing. But the coming days threaten to expose Donald Trump as a greedy egomaniac without a plan.
In the Ukraine war, one US about-face follows another. Trump throws Zelensky out of the White House, Trump stops US military aid to Ukraine, Trump stops the transmission of intelligence information to Ukraine, Trump doesn't want a raw materials deal with Ukraine after all – and then the reverse.
First, whio, whip, whip! And then a tiny bit of carrot.
The obvious goal of this seemingly erratic strategy of the Trump administration was to force the Ukrainians to the negotiating table, where they have been trying to go for years anyway, to stop Vladimir Putin's invasion and fulfill Kyiv's sole task at the moment: to ensure Ukraine's survival as a nation. One thing is clear: Trump doubts that Zelensky truly wants peace.
The Americans' crackdown was intended to make it clear to the Ukrainians: If you don't follow our orders, we'll make you suffer. And there they were. Tormented and humiliated, betrayed and abandoned, a battered Ukrainian delegation gave the US delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, its OK for a 30-day ceasefire, which was ultimately presented to the warmongering Russians.
This alleged "milestone" in the war that has lasted over three years has been the subject of much speculation ever since. The fact that Trump is once again providing military aid to the Ukrainians – apparently as a reward for their compliance – has caused many observers to rejoice.
It was – and is – a process that makes Russia the beneficiary – and Putin the puppet master.
It doesn't take much to recognize this. The mere question of what benefits Ukraine actually gained by agreeing to the 30-day ceasefire is enough to justify this. The answer is: ultimately, nothing that wasn't already available to it a few weeks ago – even before Trump cut off the aid.
Sure, one can, for good reasons, believe that the mere possibility of silencing the guns after three years of war is a positive thing. Yes, the deaths would stop for a while. A long-awaited moment, especially for the battered Ukraine, its soldiers, and its citizens. This ceasefire can, of course, lead to peace – and perhaps that is the Americans' hope and strategy.
But that is only a hope. The question is: How sustainable is it? When one looks at the harsh reality of Putin's actions in recent years, one fears that it is not at all. Russia has violated ceasefires repeatedly since 2014 – from early agreements in Donbas (Minsk I/II and follow-up meetings) to local ceasefires that were clearly violated by the Russians.
Each time, the agreements were likely violated within a short period of time by Russian military or allied forces. A ceasefire would possibly be the calm before the next (Putin) storm.
And where does Ukraine actually stand today? Pretty much exactly where it was before the talks in Jeddah – only its negotiating position and the situation on the battlefield have deteriorated significantly. "Dealmaker" Trump himself was also responsible for this.
During the period in which Ukraine received no US support, Russian troops were able to achieve significant successes – such as the massive destruction of energy infrastructure or progress in the Ukrainian-occupied Russian region of Kursk, which could have served as a bargaining chip in potential negotiations with Putin. This bargaining chip is now also almost gone.
The only thing that has become clear is that Ukraine has been and continues to be under intense pressure to make concessions. Such as giving away a fifth of its territory – for many Ukrainians, no less than their homeland – to an aggressive despot, completely disarming itself, and ceasing any efforts to secure security guarantees. For Ukraine, it would henceforth be a life of ambush, oppression, and fear.
But Trump does have a peace plan! There's much more to it than that! If that's indeed the case, it's by no means – as things stand – one that will ensure a secure future for Ukrainians.
So far, nothing concrete has been demanded from Russia other than its consent to the ceasefire. 4.662 / 5.000
Trump's leverage: vague threats of sanctions, nothing really concrete.
"There are things you can do that wouldn't be pleasant financially. I can do things financially," he said.
The more you read that, the more bizarre it sounds.
What Trump's plan will look like remains a mystery. Trump wants to separate Russia from China, some say. But alienating historical allies, NATO and the Europeans, and sacrificing a free nation could backfire. As demonstrated, Putin is simply untrustworthy. Trump will now feel the consequences.
Putin now clearly sees himself on the road to victory. His reaction to the ceasefire proposal on Thursday already shows how infinitely expensive the "deal" will be for Ukraine – and for Trump.
Here's a little taster:
Putin asked a question about the Ukrainian soldiers on Russian territory in the Kursk region: Would they be allowed to withdraw under the ceasefire? Or would they instead have to lay down their weapons and become prisoners of war? In the same breath, Putin made it unmistakably clear that he would only accept the latter.
Putin also expressed fears that Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to mobilize new troops and, with Western support, bring more weapons into the country. This, he made clear, was unacceptable for Russia.
Putin asked: "Or won't all this happen? How can we be guaranteed that this won't happen?"
Putin says no to the ceasefire without saying no. Several renowned experts, such as Carlo Masala and Thomas Jäger, see it exactly the same way. He asks questions to which Trump's negotiators have no ready answers, except perhaps to simply say yes and amen.
Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. In recent days, Vladimir Putin's troops have succeeded in recapturing more and more villages.
But things may get even worse. While Putin is coming up with the "salami tactic" – as political expert Thomas Jäger put it in an interview with FOCUS online – and thus embarrassing Trump and playing for time, the puppet master's followers are already demanding the big pieces of the pie:
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's negotiator, rejects the 30-day ceasefire. His reason: It would only give Ukraine a respite and thus help its army.
Russia does not want European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. The reason: That would be a "direct armed conflict."
Russian diplomat Dmitry Peskov called for the abolition of the "illegal" sanctions against Russia.
The pro-Kremlin commentator Sergei Markov proposed an arms embargo for Ukraine. Then Moscow could agree to a ceasefire.
Another of Moscow's wishes: presidential elections in Ukraine. These would be possible after martial law is lifted. "Peace would allow Russia to influence Ukrainian politics and ensure friendly relations through peaceful means," Markov said.
Whether it's an arms embargo, a lifting of sanctions, or elections in Ukraine: the benefits for Russia would be immense. And then, once again, it's a matter of relying on Putin's word.
The next few days will reveal to the world how great Trump's "great relations" with Putin, which he so often boasts about, really are. The days will show whether this supposed spiritual connection actually has any effect.
Yes, Trump is good for surprises. Yes, perhaps we simply haven't understood Trump's strategy yet. Yes, he seems to be the only one at the moment who is at least bringing some movement into the conflict.
But he's dealing with a seasoned, unscrupulous despot. Putin can give Trump a good showing and entangle him in exhausting talks. The Kremlin can pile up conditions one by one and continue pursuing its strategic goals in the meantime.
This Trumpian peace offensive is running into a dangerous dead end.
The last glimmer of hope is this: All of this is false, and the Ukrainians are actually the clever masterminds here. US historian and professor of strategic studies Phillips O'Brien describes this optimistic scenario (which he himself no longer believes in) as follows:
The Ukrainians are the ones outmaneuvering the Trump administration. How? By getting Trump's negotiators to agree to the 30-days ceasefire, they have at least made it possible for Trump and Putin to fall out, says O'Brien.
Because, as the world now knows, nothing is more important to Trump than his reputation. That could now seriously suffer. And if Trump doesn't get his ceasefire and Putin refuses, or his demands are too far-reaching even for Trump, the US could actually reverse course and be prepared to do what Trump is threatening: impose tougher sanctions on Russia.
The Ukrainians would then move closer to their goal of moving closer to the US and receiving more military aid, and it could even lead to the US reviving its relations with NATO, the expert says. A clever maneuver that lures Putin into a trap. That's the theory.
As great as the desire may be, too many facts speak against it today.
Jimbuna
03-15-25, 08:22 AM
Putin will be forced to sit down at negotiating table "sooner or later" - Starmer
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke before the start of a virtual meeting of world leaders to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, this was reported by Sky News.
Starmer emphasized the importance of continuing to put pressure on Vladimir Putin.
"I believe that sooner or later he will have to sit down at the negotiating table and start a serious discussion. But we cannot sit back and just wait for that to happen. We must continue to move forward, push forward and prepare for peace - peace that will be secure and lasting," he emphasized.
This means strengthening Ukraine's own defense, "being prepared to defend any agreement ourselves with a coalition of the willing," and continuing to "put pressure on Putin to come to the negotiating table," the British prime minister added.
As a reminder, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Putin has no plans to end the war in Ukraine and will continue his aggression, even if he does not agree to a temporary truce. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541328
US Senator Kelly gives up his Tesla after a dispute with Musk over Ukraine
American Democratic Senator from Arizona and former astronaut Mark Kelly, who recently visited Ukraine, refused to use his Tesla car after a public altercation with its CEO Elon Musk.
This is reported by Bloomberg, Censor.NET reports.
"I'm here in Washington, D.C., driving my Tesla to work for the last time. When I bought it, I didn't think it would become a political issue. Every time I've gotten in this car over the last 60 days, it reminds me of how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing to our country," Kelly said in a video posted on the social network X on March 14.
In an interview with the agency, Kelly called Tesla a "billboard" demonstrating Musk's work for President Donald Trump.
According to the senator, he bought a white Chevy Tahoe instead of a Tesla.
Later, the senator also explained that he did not want to drive a Tesla anymore, given the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, which has launched a campaign to fire tens of thousands of government employees.
"He (Musk - ed.) is trying to fire all these people...destroying people's lives just to make room for a giant tax cut for billionaires like him," Kelly said.
The American official suggested that Musk resign from the government "and focus on SpaceX again."
As a reminder, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly called for support for Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv. Billionaire Elon Musk reacted to this and called him a traitor. The official later criticized Musk. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541336
Jimbuna
03-15-25, 08:33 AM
No one trusts anyone, - Erdogan’s advisor Kilic on obstacle to peace between Ukraine and Russia
Foreign Affairs Advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Akif Çagatay Kilic has named one of the main obstacles to a peaceful settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
According to Censor.NET, his statement was cited by The Guardian.
According to Erdogan's adviser, one of the key obstacles to peace in Ukraine is the "loss of trust" between Russia and Ukraine.
"The main problem is the loss of trust. No one trusts anyone," Kilic said.
It is noted that Turkey plays a key role as a mediator in the negotiations and maintains good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, despite its military support for Ukraine. It hosted the talks in 2022 and offered to do so again if asked.
Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey supports the ceasefire in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541333
First territorial defense division created in Germany
The German Armed Forces have formed and manned the first territorial defense division.
According to Censor.NET, citing DW, this was stated by Army Commander Alfons Meis
The unit's personnel will number six thousand people.
It will be tasked with protecting critical infrastructure (ports, railway facilities, pipelines, roads, bridges, etc.), as well as facilitating the redeployment of troops and assisting in the event of emergencies and natural disasters. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541332
Operation of Defence Forces in Kursk region continues. There is no encirclement of our troops - Zelenskyy heard Syrskyi’s report
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy said this on Telegram, Censor.NET reports.
According to him, it was about defending positions in Donetsk and other parts of the frontline.
"I am grateful to all Ukrainian troops for their resilience and efficiency in destroying the occupier. The situation in the Pokrovske direction has been stabilised. Separately, regarding the Kursk region. The operation of our forces in certain areas of the Kursk region continues. The units are performing their tasks exactly as required. Thanks to the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a significant number of Russian forces were pulled back from other areas. Our troops continue to hold back the respective groups of Russia and North Korea in the Kursk region. Our troops are not surrounded," he said.
Also, according to the President, we see areas along our eastern border of Ukraine where the Russian army is amassing forces.
"This indicates a desire to strike at our Sumy region. We understand this and will counteract it. I would like all partners to understand what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will ignore. The accumulation of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy in the future. Russia's prolongation of the war is obvious. We are ready to provide our partners with all the real information about the situation at the front, in the Kursk region and along the border," he adds.
As a reminder, the day before, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Kursk operation had achieved its main goal of pulling back a significant part of Russian troops from the Pokrovske and Kharkiv directions. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541324
That is not how the Kremlin views this they see Ukraine as a NATO army, and basically they are not wrong, we NATO integrated Ukraine into NATO for years. DELTA, a system developed for, and by, the military, is the largest Ukrainian integration platform and national data lake that operates in the cloud. It is unique in its ability to create situational awareness tools, such as a digital map platform that allows for manual information input or integration with various sensors, trackers, radars, and satellite providers. This enables users to track the location of friendly forces and identify enemy positions.
“DELTA is an ecosystem of different military products. We actually call it ‘Google for military’ because after a single login, you have access to different modules in the system. Google helps to organize your workspace, DELTA helps to organize your ‘war’ space.”~Lieutenant Colonel Yelyzaveta Boiko, Ukrainian Army, Capability Lead for the Centre of Innovations and Defence Technologies Development of the Digital Branch of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence
After the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the services that DELTA provided for Ukrainian frontline combatants grew tremendously. The new functionality is based on the feedback from the fields. Thanks to these inputs, DELTAÂ’s developers are able to release new functionality frequently because their primary goal is to provide their fellow service members everything they need to efficiently target the enemy and protect their own lives, as well as the lives of their families. https://www.act.nato.int/article/delta-system-cwix/
What ever happens in the future the Kremlin will not allow any Ukraine to survive this is the Russian thinking for centuries we had this already with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth vs Russian tzar empire, Ukraine became the country where both wanted control over that will never change if we do not step up.
“Long Neptune” Has Reached Range of 1000 kmUkraine’s defense industry has increased the range of the Neptune cruise missile. The missile is capable of striking at a distance of 1000 kilometers. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi. “Long Neptune” has already been tested and successfully used in combat with precise strikes.
“Today we also had reports on our missile program. We have significant results. A new Ukrainian missile, an accurate strike. The range is a thousand kilometers. I thank our Ukrainian developers, manufacturers and military,” Zelenskyi said. Ukrainian cruise missiles of the Neptune complex have long been used by the Defense Forces to strike important targets. https://mil.in.ua/en/news/long-neptune-has-reached-range-of-1000-km/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=long-neptune-has-reached-range-of-1000-km
The fire at the refinery in Tuapse, Russia, is still burning because of this missile :D.
A Serious Blow to RussiaThe meeting between US Special Representative Steve Witkof (https://www.unian.net/world/marko-rubio-zayavil-chto-peregovory-s-rf-proshli-polozhitelno-12945561.html)f and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was not very successful, because immediately after the conversation America resorted to some “methods” to put pressure on the Russian President. This opinion was expressed by diplomat Volodymyr Omelyan on air at “Espreso” (https://espreso.tv/viyna-z-rosiyeyu-vizit-spetspredstavnika-ssha-vitkoffa-do-rosii-ne-buv-uspishniy-diplomat-omelyan).
“US Special Representative Steve Witkoff waited for a conversation with Putin in Moscow for more than 8 hours. He waited for Putin to drink vodka with Lukashenko and then set aside time to talk to him. Then they met. I think that these three-hour negotiations were not very successful. Because by a strange coincidence, a few hours later they forgot to renew the license for Russian banks to trade energy resources. This is a serious blow to the Russian financial system and energy industry. There were also reports that Ukraine will receive long-range guided air bombs. Therefore, if they really wanted to, the US has a very large toolbox to put pressure on the Russian Federation,” the expert emphasized.
According to Omelyan, RussiaÂ’s position is now heavily influenced by China, which continues to supply the country with the necessary equipment to continue the war in Ukraine.
“Putin knows very well that with current oil prices, which are close to the critical level for the Russian Federation, he will be put in a losing situation. Logically, he should have bargained and raised the rates to the sky, and then accepted Trump’s proposal. It is difficult for me to predict how he will act further. In this situation, much still depends on China,” the diplomat added. https://ukrainetoday.org/a-serious-blow-to-russia-diplomat-assesses-putins-meeting-with-trumps-special-representative/
Jimbuna
03-15-25, 11:21 AM
March 20, European military leaders to discuss peacekeepers for Ukraine - Starmer
Military leaders from a number of countries are planning to meet in the UK on March 20 to discuss support for Ukraine's future security.
This was announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a press conference following an online dialogue with the leaders of the "coalition of the willing," Censor.NET reports citing the League.
According to Starmer, representatives of the countries will develop "practical plans" on how the military can support Ukraine's security in the future.
"We will accelerate military support, increase sanctions on Russia's revenues, and continue to explore all legal avenues to make Russia pay for the damage it has done to Ukraine," he said.
Starmer was asked how effective a peacekeeping force could be if deployed to Ukraine. The prime minister did not give a direct answer, but only noted that this would be discussed at a meeting on March 20.
He said that the UK would "play a leading role" by providing troops and aircraft, while other countries could provide other capabilities. But before that, a peace agreement must be reached.
Starmer also emphasized that any plan for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine requires cooperation with the United States.
"The position on the United States has not changed. I have made it clear that this needs to be done jointly with the United States... We are talking to the United States every day... If we want to achieve a lasting peace, we will have to take security measures," the Prime Minister said.
Earlier it was reported that Starmer would call on allies to make concrete commitments to support Ukraine at the meeting of the "coalition of the willing". Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541342
Zelenskyy appoints members of Ukraine’s negotiating team for peace talks with partners - decree
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has determined the composition of Ukraine's negotiating team for peace talks.
This is stated in the presidential decree No. 14/2025-rp of March 2025, Censor.NET reports.
"To establish a delegation of Ukraine to interact with Ukraine's international partners in order to ensure the negotiation process to achieve a just peace:
YERMAK Andrii Borysovych - Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Head of the delegation;
SYBIGA Andrii Ivanovych - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, member of the delegation;
UMIEROV Rustem Enverovych - Minister of Defense of Ukraine, member of the delegation;
PALISA Pavlo Serhiiovych - Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, member of the delegation," the order reads.
According to the document, the head of the delegation is allowed to:
make changes to the composition of the delegation of Ukraine in agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
to engage, in accordance with the established procedure, employees of state bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations, scientific advisers and experts to ensure the work of the Ukrainian delegation.
It should be noted that this delegation represented Ukraine in the negotiations with the United States in Saudi Arabia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541345
Jimbuna
03-15-25, 11:55 AM
Russia must demonstrate that it is ready to support ceasefire in Ukraine, - von der Leyen
Following a virtual meeting of world leaders organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed her support for the ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
She wrote about this in the social network X, Censor.NET reports.
"We reaffirm our support for Ukraine's ceasefire agreement. It is now up to Russia to demonstrate that it is ready to support a ceasefire that will lead to a just and lasting peace," she emphasized.
Von der Leyen noted that "in the meantime, we will support the strengthening of Ukraine and its armed forces in line with our 'porcupine strategy'.
"Finally, we will intensify Europe's defense efforts under the Rearming Europe program by increasing defense spending," she added.
Von der Leyen also expressed her gratitude to the British Prime Minister "for organizing today's meeting of leaders".
Earlier it was reported about a virtual meeting of world leaders to discuss support for Ukraine on Saturday, March 15, organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
For reference.
"The Porcupine Strategy envisages the creation of a powerful defense capability that makes it as difficult and costly as possible for an aggressor to invade. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541347
Ukraine does not recognize occupied territories as Russian. This is exactly what Russia needs, - Zelenskyy
Ukraine will not agree to recognize the temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia.
This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a briefing today, Censor.NET reports.
He noted that this position is unchanged.
"Our position is that we do not recognize the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian. In any case. I say this right away, that this is a sensitive issue. I understand that this is exactly what the Russians need. We will strike where Ukrainians are stubborn," the President emphasized.
The Head of State said that during the meeting in Jeddah, the United States had received Ukraine's position on this issue.
He also emphasized the importance of explaining the details of the situation, which are difficult to convey in words.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine showed a map and explained to its partners why it was impossible for "life in the city to be divided" when one part remained under Ukrainian control and the other under occupation.
"Even if they know about it, they don't know the details. Then people understand how to return life, not just on paper. Therefore, there can be no frozen conflict, no frozen conflict in cities and villages," Zelenskyy added, emphasizing the need to end the war and regain control of all territories.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that there were no directives from the President of Ukraine to negotiate territorial concessions. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541358
Exocet25fr
03-15-25, 01:51 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVFbbVyLiPQ
Jimbuna
03-15-25, 01:55 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crQG623GuEg
Exocet25fr
03-15-25, 02:09 PM
French LCI media: Kursk is finished for the Ukrainians....?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENuR2IQenks
Have received conflicting information about the Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk - One report says that tens of thousands are surrounded. While other information says it ain't so-Not true.
I do believe it's not true.
Markus
Soldiers fighting in the region say a staged withdrawal has been under way for two weeks, and while many soldiers have faced a dangerous and challenging route to withdraw, they do not believe there is a mass encirclement of troops. “After seven months, we simply withdrew. There was no encirclement,”
Jimbuna
03-16-25, 07:31 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9qhm6cdE2U
Jimbuna
03-16-25, 07:39 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnWgbsgX9jM
Have they ever given it any thoughts on what will happen to the soldiers and the civilians in Ukraine, if Russia wins the war ?
There are people who says it's time to end the war, so thousands of life can be saved. However I don't think they have given it any thoughts about the aftermath what gonna happen with Ukraine and its citizens
This is why they are fighting for their survival.
Markus
Skybird
03-16-25, 10:30 AM
A devastating American betrayal. It's getting worse and worse.
[Frankfurter Rundschau] Europe is left out – is the US planning a comeback for Putin's pipeline?
The US is apparently interested in European gas and oil pipelines. Talks with Russia are said to be underway. A new dependency is looming.
The rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is just as unpredictable as Trump's apparent turning away from the West. Although Trump had announced his intention to ease sanctions against Russia, and deals on Arctic cooperation were also within the realm of possibility, the Trump administration then tightened important sanctions against Russia and also considered higher tariffs. At the same time, negotiations on energy infrastructure within Europe are said to be underway.
Since 2022, efforts have been underway throughout Europe to break away from Russian energy supplies. Dependent countries like Austria had also sought ways and means to, for example, cut off natural gas supplies and thus inflict maximum damage on the war chest of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. However, now, almost two months after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, negotiations between the US and Russia are said to be taking place over Europe's heads.
Research by CORRECTIV and Istories has revealed several ways in which the US and Russia could make Europe dependent on Russian energy again. For several months, emissaries from the US and Germany have reportedly been establishing contacts between Russia and the US. Documents from the insolvency proceedings of Nord Stream 2 AG in Switzerland indicate negotiations. The company is reportedly in "intensive contact with the financial investors" there, the company reportedly stated before a Swiss cantonal court.
According to CORRECTIV information, it is also possible that US companies could take over the German holdings in the Russian Rosneft Group. This would then give them a majority stake in the important Schwedt refinery, which has been supplying oil via the so-called Druzhba pipeline for many years. This route runs from Russia to Central Europe. Talks between US and Russian representatives are said to already be underway, and the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy are also involved.
For Europe, these negotiations could prove to be a trap. The scenario: On the one hand, the US weakens Germany's auto industry through higher tariffs, while Russian oil and gas flow through US pipelines. "Two sides are clapping their hands: the Russians and the Americans. One sells raw materials, the other transports them. Both get paid for it, and the Europeans pay the price," CORRECTIV quoted a source close to the negotiations as saying. The decision could be made as early as this week.
However, some things remain unclear. Even if the US invests in the Nord Stream 2 and Druzhba pipelines, this will not initially change the EU's policy of disengagement from Russia. The countries would still not buy gas from Russia. The US would therefore have to exert pressure beforehand to ensure that Europe at least partially abandons its stance or eases sanctions.
However, the Druzhba pipeline has been experiencing problems for some time. Just on March 11, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that oil deliveries through the pipeline had been halted due to the war in Ukraine. A Ukrainian drone had hit parts of the pipeline on Russian territory. The pipeline is particularly important for Hungary because the country imports a large portion of its crude oil through it.
"Due to the drone attack, crude oil deliveries through the Druzhba oil pipeline have been suspended," the Kyiv Independent news portal quoted Szijjártó as saying. Hungary was one of the countries that received a reprieve from the EU to separate itself from Russian energy imports. However, the Hungarian government maintains a pro-Kremlin stance in many matters and has threatened blackmail and possible blockages in key EU votes in the past.
Szijjártó also called on Ukraine to refrain from attacks on energy infrastructure that Hungary supports. "Hungary's energy supply is a matter of sovereignty."
In 2022, the Druzhba pipeline was still delivering 750,000 to 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Its total capacity was said to be up to 1.4 million barrels per day. As recently as 2022, Euronews described it as the "core" of the Central European energy sector, which had built and sustained an entire ecosystem of diverse companies and thus also jobs. At the same time, however, the pipeline had made many countries dependent on Russian energy imports.
For several weeks, there have been increasing signs that such negotiations between the US and Russia could take place. The crucial Nord Stream 2 pipeline was also the subject of rumors. This pipeline was never certified by Germany, so it cannot deliver gas.
---------------
As dirty a "deal" as it gets.
No worry here, Denmark is self-sufficient with natural gas-After they have repaired and open the Thyra field. Denmark can now produce enough to themselves and even sell some of it.
Markus
Catfish
03-16-25, 12:55 PM
A devastating American betrayal. It's getting worse and worse.
The US is apparently interested in European gas and oil pipelines. Talks with Russia are said to be underway. A new dependency is looming.
As dirty a "deal" as it gets.
First Ukraine, then all Europe.
In that light, Habeck's "green" plans to get independent from foreign blackmailing and unreliable energy suddenly does not look so bad.
:shucks:
French President: Stop buying American weapons and start buying Europeans instead.
Markus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFmL3_Tr1_A
Skybird
03-17-25, 03:54 AM
First Ukraine, then all Europe.
In that light, Habeck's "green" plans to get independent from foreign blackmailing and unreliable energy suddenly does not look so bad.
:shucks:Except that he betrayed the Germans over the nuclear powerplants and forced the shutting down of conventional powerplants. The greens do not want a shift of energy supplies, but an artificial scarcity of energy. They ideologize that is "noblesse verte".
Note: it sonly the sutpoid germans. Everbyody els eis bulding or wnats to bui.,d powerplants, both nuclear and conventional, and everybody projects a steep rise, not a decline, of energy needs in the forseeable future.
Skybird
03-17-25, 05:25 AM
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q198zyppqo
Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Russia's Kursk region have described scenes "like a horror movie" as they retreated from the front lines.
The BBC has received extensive accounts from Ukrainian troops, who recount a "catastrophic" withdrawal in the face of heavy fire, and columns of military equipment destroyed and constant attacks from swarms of Russian drones.
The soldiers, who spoke over social media, were given aliases to protect their identity. Some gave accounts of a "collapse" as Ukraine lost Sudzha, the largest town it held.
Eichhörnchen
03-17-25, 06:29 AM
Have they ever given it any thoughts on what will happen to the soldiers and the civilians in Ukraine, if Russia wins the war ?
There are people who says it's time to end the war, so thousands of life can be saved. However I don't think they have given it any thoughts about the aftermath what gonna happen with Ukraine and its citizens
This is why they are fighting for their survival.
Markus
How do the Russkies think they're going to keep such an enormous hostile population subdued? Surely they're going to be daily faced with an insurgency the likes of which "nobody's ever seen before". They just won't have the manpower
How do the Russkies think they're going to keep such an enormous hostile population subdued? Surely they're going to be daily faced with an insurgency the likes of which "nobody's ever seen before". They just won't have the manpower
You can start with reading about how Russia treated the civilians in the area who have been liberated. It's not exactly some fairytales for kids these stories.
Markus
Skybird
03-17-25, 11:11 AM
Brute force works wonders. Ask Stalin.
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:12 PM
NATO fighters flew three times in week to intercept Russian planes over Baltic States
Last week, NATO fighter jets serving as the Alliance's air police in the Baltic States took to the air three times to detect and escort Russian aircraft that violated flight rules.
According to Censor.NET, citing LRT, this was stated by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.
It is noted that on March 10, Alliance fighters took to the air to identify an An-72 transport aircraft flying in international airspace.
On March 12, they escorted two Russian Su-27 fighters, two Tu-22 supersonic bombers, and one Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft.
On the same day, NATO aircraft flew to identify two Tu-22s and two Su-27s, and an Il-18 passenger jet was also identified.
The Russian planes were flying with their radar responders turned off, without flight plans, and often did not maintain radio communication with the Regional Air Traffic Control Center, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said.
The Alliance's air policing mission in the Baltic States is carried out from Lithuania and Estonia. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541664
Russians plan to take more than 4.5 thousand children for "rehabilitation" from occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia – NRC
Russia continues to massively abduct Ukrainian children under the guise of "rehabilitation," where they undergo propaganda, military training, and sometimes do not even return home.
This was reported by the National Resistance Center (NRC), Censor.NET reports.
"Collaborators are already announcing plans for the summer - more than 4,500 children are planned to be taken out of the maintenance area of Zaporizhzhia region alone," the statement said.
It is also noted that in 2024, the occupiers took about 40 thousand children to the so-called "re-education camps".
"This is a gross violation of international law and a direct attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity. The Center of National Resistance emphasizes that the occupiers use children in their assimilation policy - their return home should be a priority," the NRC added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541642
Catfish
03-17-25, 12:16 PM
How do the Russkies think they're going to keep such an enormous hostile population subdued? Surely they're going to be daily faced with an insurgency the likes of which "nobody's ever seen before". They just won't have the manpower
You can start with reading about how Russia treated the civilians in the area who have been liberated. It's not exactly some fairytales for kids these stories.
Markus
From children abduction to this .. Putin has also said he will treat all ukrainian soldiers as traitors = shoot them.
We cannot let him win, and we cannot let Russia/Putin get away with this.
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:17 PM
EU leaders plan to call on Russia to demonstrate readiness to end war – media
At the summit on March 20-21, EU leaders plan to adopt a statement calling on Russia to demonstrate real political will to end the war in Ukraine.
This was reported by the Czech news agency ČTK, which has a draft of the summit's final document, Censor.NET reports.
The draft states that the EU will reaffirm its support for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law."
In addition, EU leaders will welcome the agreements between Ukraine and the United States reached during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11, including a proposal for a ceasefire, humanitarian efforts, and intelligence sharing and security assistance.
"The European Council calls on Russia to demonstrate a genuine political will to end the war," the draft document says. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541645
EU leaders plan to call on Russia to demonstrate readiness to end war – media
At the summit on March 20-21, EU leaders plan to adopt a statement calling on Russia to demonstrate real political will to end the war in Ukraine.
This was reported by the Czech news agency ČTK, which has a draft of the summit's final document, Censor.NET reports.
The draft states that the EU will reaffirm its support for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law."
In addition, EU leaders will welcome the agreements between Ukraine and the United States reached during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11, including a proposal for a ceasefire, humanitarian efforts, and intelligence sharing and security assistance.
"The European Council calls on Russia to demonstrate a genuine political will to end the war," the draft document says. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541645
Canadian PM Carney invites Zelenskyy to G7 Summit on June 15-17, 2025 in Alberta
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received an official invitation to the Group of Seven (G7) summit to be held in Canada this June.
This was reported by a representative of the Canadian government to AFP, Censor.NET reports.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended the invitation during a telephone conversation with Zelenskyy the day before.
"President Zelenskyy has been invited to the G7 meeting in Alberta in June," the Canadian government spokesperson said.
As noted, this year Canada holds the presidency of the Group of Seven and will host the summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17. The key topics of the meeting are expected to be global security, support for Ukraine and overcoming global economic challenges. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541638
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZWa-Ajbvk
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:20 PM
US has officially announced termination of its participation in International Center for Investigation of Russian Crimes against Ukraine - EU
The European Union has confirmed that the United States will withdraw from the international group investigating Russia's crimes in the war against Ukraine, the United States has officially notified Eurojust of its withdrawal.
According to Censor.NET, citing Yevropeiska Pravda, the relevant statement of Eurojust is cited by Sky News.
Thus, it is noted that the United States has officially announced the termination of its participation in the International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA).
"The ICPA, hosted by Eurojust, continues its work in support of national investigations of the crime of aggression related to the war in Ukraine," Eurojust added.
Earlier, the New York Times reported that the United States was withdrawing from the International Center for the Investigation of Russian Crimes against Ukraine. This is evidence that Trump refuses to bring Putin to justice. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541650
Catfish
03-17-25, 12:32 PM
US has officially announced termination of its participation in International Center for Investigation of Russian Crimes against Ukraine - EU
^ I have the feeling I am suddenly living in the evil branch of a parallel universe :nope:
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:37 PM
^ I have the feeling I am suddenly living in the evil branch of a parallel universe :nope:
I doubt your alone :)
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:42 PM
61% of Americans support Ukraine in war and believe Trump sympathises with Russia - poll.
The majority of American voters say that in the Russian-Ukrainian war, their sympathies are more on the side of Ukraine than Russia. At the same time, almost half believe that President Donald Trump is sympathetic and supportive of Russia.
This is evidenced by a poll by NBC News, Censor.NET reports.
For example, an NBC News poll shows that 49% of registered voters believe that Trump sympathises with Russia in its war against Ukraine, while only 2% support Russia and 61% support Ukraine.
Another 35% said they did not sympathise with either side of the war, and 2% said they were not sure.
When asked which side they thought Trump's sympathies were on, 49% said Russia, 40% said Trump was not sympathetic to either side of the war, and 8% chose Ukraine. Another 3% said they were not sure.
Those whose personal sympathies are more closely tied to Ukraine are more likely to be democrats (88% of them chose Ukraine), independents (59%) and people with higher levels of education and income.
But majorities across several key demographic segments-gender, age, and race-supported Ukraine being invaded by Russia in 2022. Spanish-speaking voters were almost evenly split between Ukraine and "neither side."
The main split is along political lines: Republicans and conservative voters are more likely to say that their sympathies do not lie with either side of the country. Among Republicans, 57% say they do not support either party.
Regarding voters' assessment of Trump's position on Ukraine and Russia, a majority of Democrats, independents, women living in suburbs, and voters of all ages (except 50-64) believe that Trump is more sympathetic to Russia.
Among Republicans, 70% believe that Trump is not sympathetic to any country. Another 14% say Trump is more sympathetic to Russia, and 13% say he is more sympathetic to Ukraine.
Assessment of Zelensky and Putin
In addition, a total of 41 per cent of Americans said they had a positive attitude towards Ukraine, while 28 per cent said they had a negative attitude. By comparison, only 6% of respondents have a positive attitude towards Russia, while 68% have a negative attitude.
A similar trend is observed in attitudes towards the leaders of Ukraine and Russia: 46% of US citizens have a positive attitude towards Volodymyr Zelenskyy and 32% have a negative attitude, while 3% have a positive attitude towards Putin and 84% have a negative attitude.
While Democratic voters' views of Zelenskyy and Ukraine as a whole have remained similar over the past year and a half, Republicans' views have become less favourable. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541643
Hungary blocks start of negotiations with Ukraine on EU accession - Sikorski
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Hungary is blocking the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Onet.
"As the presidency, we feel a special responsibility for this (the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU - Ed.) We, of course, would like to open one, possibly two negotiation clusters, but unfortunately, the decision is being blocked by our old friend and once ally, Hungary," he said.
Sikorski said that there was a lively discussion at the Council meeting that the decision to start negotiations should depend "not on bilateral issues, but on the fulfillment of criteria."
"I have to ritually appeal to the Polish opposition, which maintains close ideological contacts with the government and the party of Viktor Orban, and ask them to do something good for Poland and Europe, namely to convince their ideological brothers to unblock these issues," the Polish Foreign Minister emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541648
Commander Wallace
03-17-25, 12:44 PM
US has officially announced termination of its participation in International Center for Investigation of Russian Crimes against Ukraine - EU
This is just wrong on so many levels. I just can't believe any of this. :nope:
Raf1394
03-17-25, 12:46 PM
I'm really curious what will happen after this war.
The war will end, its just a matter of time.
Will Putin stay calm and kinda isolate himself from world stage? Don't forget that Putin lost some credit and even had internal struggle in Russia, because of the war. (protests, Wagner mutiny ect...)
Or will Russia launch a new offensive in a few years. When things cool down.
focusing on other potential targets (who aren't part of NATO or the EU)
For example Moldavia. Transnistria region. There is still no real border between Russia and Moldavia. So i don't know.
Putin attacking Finland, or the Baltic states, like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania is bull****. He would never attack a NATO or EU country directly.
Jimbuna
03-17-25, 12:46 PM
This is just wrong on so many levels. I just can't believe any of this. :nope:
You ande me both my friend, you and me both.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vnsUtP-GI
This is just wrong on so many levels. I just can't believe any of this. :nope:You wonder how many stabs Zelenskyy does have to endure in the back till that Orange turncoat quells his butthurt.
New Canadian prime minister invites Zelenskyy to attend G7 summit in June :har:Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June, Le Journal de Quebec reported on March 17, citing a Canadian Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Canada, which holds the G7 presidency this year, will host the summit on June 15-17 in Kananaskis County, located in the western province of Alberta. Carney had a phone call with Zelenskyy on March 16 and invited him to the summit, according to the media outlet. https://kyivindependent.com/new-canadian-pm-invites-zelensky-to-attend-g7-summit-in-june/
This is just wrong on so many levels. I just can't believe any of this. :nope:
^ I have the feeling I am suddenly living in the evil branch of a parallel universe :nope:
You wonder how many stabs Zelenskyy does have to endure in the back till that Orange turncoat quells his butthurt.
How many times do we have to tell you, before you get it into your thick skulls, We see this as a regional issue, and we really really don't want anything to do with it.
How many times do we have to tell you, before you get it into your thick skulls, We see this as a regional issue, and we really really don't want anything to do with it.
Then I have a very simple question:
Why did you take part in their training and in weapon and ammo supply-Which has been going on since 2014/15 ?
Edit
This part is taken from a longer Danish article-The first part is about Trump and Putins phone-meeting.
"US special envoy Steve Witkoff was asked on ABC whether the US would accept a peace deal that would allow Russia to keep occupied Ukrainian territory.
- We have to ask ourselves if that is in our national interest. Is that realistic? Should we expel every Russian from every piece of Ukrainian soil?
- We can talk about what is right and wrong, but we also have to talk about the facts."
End edit
Markus
Commander Wallace
03-17-25, 02:53 PM
How many times do we have to tell you, before you get it into your thick skulls, We see this as a regional issue, and we really really don't want anything to do with it.
Try getting this through your thick Skull. If this has nothing to do with us ( the U.S ) they why are we involved in the first place ? Let Ukraine and it's allies decide for themselves what they want. We have no business deciding anything for Ukraine, least of all since we helped disarm them after the fall of the former Soviet Union. Look up the Budapest Memorandum.
Try this on for size. Do you really believe that Putin will stop at the Ukraine ? He wants to reclaim all of at least Eastern Europe. Sooner or later, the U.S will have to decide what side it is on. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum)The U.S in the early part of WW2 wrongly believed that Hitler was also a regional problem. As we all know now, it wasn't.
Those that refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. You may as well reconcile yourself now to the fact that sooner or later, we the U.S will end up squaring off against Russia. It's a question of when and where.
The rhetoric is getting a little harsh-Let us all take a deep breath and count to ten before posting an answer.
Just my 10 cent of opinion
Markus
Skybird
03-17-25, 03:27 PM
How many times do we have to tell you, before you get it into your thick skulls, We see this as a regional issue, and we really really don't want anything to do with it.
Then why do you try to blackmail Ukraine into giving you de facto control over much of its ressource deposits, why are you "negotiating" with Putin over lands and over nuclear powerplants, and why do you try to buy up the remains of Norht Stream 2 and bring Europe into dependency from russian gas again that to transport you then will control, and cash fees over?
You want to have anything to do with it, and the reason for this as profane as it is omnipresent in all of history: MONEY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJZk0YlBgRE&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
Skybird
03-17-25, 04:03 PM
Trump needs a quick success to fulfill his promise that he is the man to end the war quick and soon, "in 24 hours". On his race to the first of many peace Nobels, he is already delayed, and that is something his temper will not take well. Its just a question of time before he starts playing mean and dirty on Zelensky again. He does not really care for what becomes of Ukraine, he only wants to support his own facade, and, if possible, snatch some gold coins while doing so. Trump first. Gold second. Ukraine last.
Catfish
03-17-25, 04:09 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJZk0YlBgRE&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
^ If only Trump knew that. Ahem.
Some thoughts on this ceasefire deal.
Putin have put up some demands before saying yes. My thoughts are after both parties have agreed on a 30 days ceasefire.
Both side will rearrange their troops and material. Who wouldn't if the chances are there.
I think as soon the 30 days ceasefire is over-Russia will with newly fresh soldiers and weapons conduct a massive assault on most of the frontline.
I don't think Ukraine has the manpower or weapons to do the same-They can conduct massive Drone and missile attacks on Russian military and industrial complex though.
Markus
I truly understand Ukraines demands for peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HguqlvAhzU&ab_channel=UkraineMatters
Markus
Commander Wallace
03-18-25, 08:45 AM
How many times do we have to tell you, before you get it into your thick skulls, We see this as a regional issue, and we really really don't want anything to do with it.
I wanted to offer a counterpoint to your post. I can easily understand your position and perhaps those of my fellow Americans. No one wants to keep pumping money into what is perceived as a losing effort. Trump and Company have moved swiftly to root out tax payer waste, fraud and outright abuse. They have moved quickly to right the Economy and remove dangerous invaders. These are all good things in my book. These are the things that the vast majority of American's voted for. We never voted to hurt our friends and certainly don't want to hurt them
However, with regards to Ukraine, our approach in my opinion, is all wrong. The U.S in 1994 in conjunction with England guaranteed the security of the Ukraine. France signed a separate but similar agreement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum
Both the U.S and England realize the folly of their trusting Russia and entering into this agreement. However, while the U.S wants to pull the rug out from under Ukraine, The U.K has remained steadfast by living up to it's Security Agreement. The U.K like the U.S has it's many Issues. However, unlike the U.S, the U.K knows how to honor it's agreements. If the U.S didn't want to be responsible for Ukraine, it never should have entered into any agreements making the U.S responsible. It's that simple.
Perhaps I'm naive but I firmly believe that you are only as good as your word. If you say you're going to do something and shake hands in agreement, then your word is your bond. I would bet you're a man of your word as well. If your friends know you are not a man of your word, in this case, the U.S, why would they ever trust you again ??
Putin wants to reclaim all of the former Soviet Union including Poland and part of Germany. He has said this. Europe understands the threat posed by Putin and Russia, apparently better than we do. Is Putin any different than Hitler was ? We have a chance to stand with our NATO allies and take the lead and say, not on my watch. All relationships are based on trust and respect. In the case of Europe. the long standing relationships we have had with Germany, England and other European Countries have been based on these aspects and also shared Values. Self Determination and Freedom are and remain some of those core Values.
If the U.S has issues with financing NATO and commerce imbalance, then it should sit down with it's friends and NATO members and work it out. Friends resolve their differences all the time. Should this be any different ?
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 10:35 AM
^ Very well put sir :yep:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Hj7ejjRsg
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 10:38 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGuRLiUkrOc
There are talks and phone calls, but no formal negotiations. Moreover, it is customary for negotiations to begin, once hostilities have ceased. This is not the case. What exactly are negotiations about? What is the agenda, what is the expected outcome? What should a peace settlement look like, and who are the parties? What we are seeing now has little to do with negotiation. Trump throws a stone into the pond and watches the waves go. The Americans were cowardly. They didn't want trouble and said, ‘let's find another way to solve this.’ But it is not just Biden who is losing, it is the United States that is losing. And Trump wants to camouflage that. I think he started these ‘negotiations’ on Ukraine to avoid being seen as the president of a losing country. He is trying to prop up Putin so that it looks like he himself is on the winning side. That is what makes his behaviour so pathetic.
The US never said it wanted Ukraine to win the war. The point was that neither side should lose the war. But that is not how wars are fought. You don't start a war not to lose, you start it to win. Even if you get involved in a war, you have to want to win. A win-win situation is impossible. There is no middle ground. That coalition should have been formed on the first day of the war. But nothing was done. Every European aid package to Ukraine was accompanied in the West by a torrent of propaganda: we should not spend so much money on the war. It is not our war. That sound resounded in the US, but also in Europe. Every time sanctions are discussed, there are politicians who argue that there should be a peaceful solution. People like Orbán, who become louder and louder as they hope for a reward from Putin or from Trump.
Russia and Ukraine are the only ones involved. The rest are bystanders. Clowns, playing with lives. People are dying every day, because you have promised to stand by them until this war can be ended on terms they deem acceptable. Russia is not interested in concessions. Russia is interested in Ukraine. And Putin wants peace on his terms. Gaining territory is not even the most important thing. It is about influence. He wants the US and Europe to recognise Russia's sphere of influence and admit that Russia is stronger. He wants it to be recognised that he can do what he wants in the former Soviet region, in Eastern Europe and perhaps also in Western Europe. But Putin will demand more and more, because food makes you hungry. Crimea, for example, has long been Russian, according to Putin. As soon as you give in, he will demand something else. Something that does not yet belong to him.
Clearly, Trump is suffering from delusions. After all, how can he credibly confront China anymore? How are you going to show resolve, courage and strength if you cannot even tame Russia, which is much weaker than China? Perhaps Trump thinks that by appeasing Russia, he is proving to China that he doesn't care about anything, but he forgets that the Chinese think in generations, they have the patience of a monk in his cave knowing that in the end, enlightenment is a given.
Life moves on and interests change over time, that memorandum was mainly to keep Nuclear weapons from a possible unstable Government. And both the U.S. & Russia signed on as Guarantor's along with the U.K.
Not looking to rehash the history of the area, suffice to say there are no nuclear weapons involved now, and we, (the U.S.) are tired of being the worlds policeman and getting kicked in the teeth for our efforts.
the Same goes with NATO. The EU is (or should be) strong enough to stand on it's own two feet. It's time for the U.S. to move on and get our own house in order.
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 10:55 AM
Vance and Rubio arrive at White House to watch Trump and Putin talk - CNN
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been at the White House since the morning when Donald Trump and dictator Putin were scheduled to speak.
This is reported by CNN, Censor.NET reports.
"The conversation was supposed to take place between nine and eleven in the morning (from 15 to 17:00 Kyiv time - Ed.)," the media outlet writes.
No other details are currently available.
The White House said that the conversation between Trump and Putin had already begun. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541861
"We know what it means to be occupied," Macron says that France vows to continue supporting Ukraine and strengthening its army
French President Emmanuel Macron assured that his country would continue to support Ukraine in countering Russia's full-scale aggression.
He said this while speaking at the air base in Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur, BFMTV reports, Censor.NET informs.
"We will continue to support Ukraine in the face of an aggressive war, because we know what it means to be occupied," the French president said.
Macron also announced his intention to strengthen the country's military potential. The politician noted that the world is becoming more and more dangerous, and therefore France must respond to the challenges.
"We will increase and accelerate the order of Rafale fighter jets," the French president said, adding that the French army is "the most effective on the continent." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541866
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 11:02 AM
Trump is serious about talking to Putin and wants to make peace - White House
On the evening of March 18, US President Donald Trump will hold talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The head of the White House is serious.
This was stated by White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields, Censor.NET reports.
He was asked whether Putin would play "hardball" with Trump during today's phone call.
According to Fields, Putin respects Trump because he "understands who he is dealing with."
According to him, the US president and the Russian dictator "have a very good working relationship in which both people respect each other."
The White House deputy press secretary added that Putin "realized" that he would not be able to "play the same games with Trump" as with George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.
"He (Trump - ed.) gave Ukrainians Javelins when President Obama gave them pillows and blankets. President Trump is serious, and in the end, he wants to achieve peace," Fields emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541839
Bundestag approves constitutional amendments unlocking €3 billion in military aid for Ukraine
Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, has approved a bill to amend the Basic Law to ease debt restrictions. This should attract billions of euros of investment in defense and infrastructure, as well as unlock 3 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.
The draft law on amendments to the Basic Law was adopted by the votes of the CDU/CSU, SPD, and the Greens.
Thus, the draft law received 513 votes out of the required 489 (two-thirds) votes of all members of the German parliament.
The right-wing radicals from Alternative for Germany, both left-wing parties - the Left and the Sarah Wagenknecht Bloc - and one democratic party - the Free Democrats - voted against, a total of 207 lawmakers.
In total, 720 parliamentarians cast their votes.
The document was submitted for consideration by the parliamentary groups of the Social Democratic Party and the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions.
In the future, defense and some security policy expenditures exceeding 1% of nominal GDP will be exempt from the debt rule.
This clause gives the green light to unblock €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
In addition, a special fund of 500 billion euros is to be created for additional investments in infrastructure and additional investments to achieve climate neutrality by 2045.
In addition, local authorities will be given the opportunity for additional borrowing when preparing the budgets of the federal states.
The bill has already been approved by the Bundestag Budget Committee on March 16. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541864
Zelenskyy arrives in Finland: meeting with President Stubb is scheduled
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on an official visit to Finland on Tuesday, March 18.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to local media.
Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Finnish President Alexander Stubb tomorrow, March 19. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541853
Commander Wallace
03-18-25, 11:48 AM
Life moves on and interests change over time, that memorandum was mainly to keep Nuclear weapons from a possible unstable Government. And both the U.S. & Russia signed on as Guarantor's along with the U.K.
Not looking to rehash the history of the area, suffice to say there are no nuclear weapons involved now, and we, (the U.S.) are tired of being the worlds policeman and getting kicked in the teeth for our efforts.
the Same goes with NATO. The EU is (or should be) strong enough to stand on it's own two feet. It's time for the U.S. to move on and get our own house in order.
@ Jim. Thank you Sir. :yep:
The intent is Irrelevant. The U.S signed on as a Guarantor's of Ukraine's security and sovereignty. The U.S should live up to it's agreements. I agree that we shouldn't be the world's policeman. Btw, who said the Ukraine was an unstable Government ?
Otto Harkaman
03-18-25, 12:03 PM
Principles are fine but we are dealing with an unhinged individual with a nuclear arsenal unlike thank goodness Hitler. Trump is not Putin's friend, probably loathes him but he has to be able to communicate with him. All sides aren't fully what they seem. This situation is so serious its complexity is virtually indescribable, like pulling pieces from a puzzle trying not to set off a bomb.
les green01
03-18-25, 12:08 PM
@ Jim. Thank you Sir. :yep:
The intent is Irrelevant. The U.S signed on as a Guarantor's of Ukraine's security and sovereignty. The U.S should live up to it's agreements. I agree that we shouldn't be the world's policeman. Btw, who said the Ukraine was an unstable Government ?
all the world has to do is look at history and seen how the feds treated the natives and words to them but yes a man gives his word and a handshake should keep it and honor it so i don't believe we should abandon ukraine
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 12:10 PM
@ Jim. Thank you Sir. :yep:
The intent is Irrelevant. The U.S signed on as a Guarantor's of Ukraine's security and sovereignty. The U.S should live up to it's agreements. I agree that we shouldn't be the world's policeman. Btw, who said the Ukraine was an unstable Government ?
I suspect the aftermath will lead many western countries to have doubts regarding the US as a trustworthy ally.
Commander Wallace
03-18-25, 12:11 PM
Principles are fine but we are dealing with an unhinged individual with a nuclear arsenal unlike thank goodness Hitler. Trump is not Putin's friend, probably loathes him but he has to be able to communicate with him. All sides aren't fully what they seem. This situation is so serious its complexity is virtually indescribable, like pulling pieces from a puzzle trying not to set off a bomb.
It's very true this is a complex Issue. However, the U.S also possesses a Nuclear arsenal that can lay waste to Russia many times over. However, The fallout from a Nuclear exchange would destroy much of the planet. I think Putin feels that Trump is very unpredictable. I think Trump and Putin loathe each other and I don't think any kind of a deal with Putin is possible.
I suspect the aftermath will lead many western countries to have doubts regarding the US as a trustworthy ally.
It's sad to say but I think you're right. I really can't blame them for feeling that way, either.
all the world has to do is look at history and seen how the feds treated the natives and words to them but yes a man gives his word and a handshake should keep it and honor it so i don't believe we should abandon ukraine
I'm very much in agreement, les.
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 12:17 PM
Trump talks on the phone with Putin: it lasted about hour and half
On Tuesday, March 18, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin are having a telephone conversation.
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Reuters.
"U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin began telephone talks on Tuesday, which Washington hopes will convince Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine and move toward a final end to the three-year conflict," the report said.
A White House official said that Trump and Putin began talking on the phone at 10:00 a.m. ET, and the talks are ongoing.
"The conversation is going well and is still ongoing," Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, wrote in a post on the social network X.
The White House later reported that Putin and Trump had been talking for over an hour.
Trump will address the press with comments immediately after the conversation with Putin.
Updated
According to NBC News and Sky News, U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. It lasted about an hour and a half. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541855
EU will never recognize Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories - Mathernova
The European Union will never recognize Russia's illegal annexation and occupation of Ukraine's territories.
This was stated by the EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova on the social network X, Censor.NET reports.
"Russia is trying to redraw the borders by force. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected by international law and are not subject to negotiation," she said.
Mathernova emphasized that the European Union does not and will never recognize Russia's illegal annexation and occupation of Ukrainian territories.
"Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine," the EU Ambassador added.
As a reminder, according to a Forsa poll, 54% of German citizens support the idea of territorial concessions to Ukraine for the sake of peace, while 36% oppose it. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541876
Russia is preparing for future confrontations with European countries – von der Leyen
Russia is preparing for future military conflicts with democratic countries in Europe.
This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during a speech at the Royal Danish Military Academy in Copenhagen, Censor.NET reports.
According to her, Russia is preparing for confrontation while the United States is refocusing its attention on the Indo-Pacific region.
She emphasized that Russia has "significantly expanded" its military-industrial production capacity.
"These investments are fueling its war of aggression in Ukraine while preparing it for future confrontation with European democracies," she said.
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the gravity of the situation and noted that Europe needs to remain vigilant against Russia's growing military ambitions. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3541874
JUST IN: Key Takeaways from the Putin-Trump Call (according to Kremlin):
Putin supported Trump's proposal for a mutual 30-day halt in Russian and Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure and has instructed the military accordingly.
Putin responded constructively to Trump's initiative on ensuring the security of shipping in the Black Sea.
Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine during the conversation with Trump.
Russia will hand over 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.
Russia and the U.S. will establish expert groups to work on a settlement in Ukraine.
Additional Statements from the Kremlin:
Putin told Trump that “the key condition for preventing escalation of the Ukrainian conflict must be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.”
The Kremlin emphasized that “any settlement in Ukraine must address the root causes of the crisis and take into account Russia's legitimate security interests.”
Putin expressed readiness to work jointly on a sustainable resolution for Ukraine.
A prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine will take place on Wednesday, based on a 175-for-175 formula, Putin informed Trump.
https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1902050588558250124
So not the whole front what Ukraine proposed, Putin is playing the long game.
Kremlin sources say the call with Trump went “very well.”
Translation: They played him like a banjo.
https://i.ibb.co/tThm1v8W/O4fsake.jpg (https://ibb.co/9kv8d1sC)
Jimbuna
03-18-25, 01:27 PM
I was hoping more to agree on than disagree.
Skybird
03-18-25, 04:19 PM
In this phone call, Putin has prepared the thinking field and then sown the desired fruits of thought. Now he just has to wait until Trump blossoms and sprouts the sown fruit.
Then Putin will harvest.
At the cost of Ukraine.
And to Trump's delight. Useful idiot.
The intent is Irrelevant. The U.S signed on as a Guarantor's of Ukraine's security and sovereignty. The U.S should live up to it's agreements. I agree that we shouldn't be the world's policeman. Btw, who said the Ukraine was an unstable Government ? you don't read very well I said possible, and was speaking of the thoughts at the time of the end of the cold war and Ukraine gaining independence. Yugoslavia was descending into civil war, the caucuses were a mess, and at the time there was a feeling that Ukraine could fall into chaos and nobody wanted wanted operable nuclear weapons in the area under control of unknown entity.
And while you all think the U.S. promised a "Security Guarantee" to Ukraine, it in fact did not, the wording was changed to "Security Assurance". And while that sounds like a distinction without a difference, in the land of Foreign Policy it's not.
U.S. State Department lawyers made a distinction between "security guarantee" and "security assurance", referring to the security guarantees that were desired by Ukraine in exchange for non-proliferation. "Security guarantee" would have implied the use of military force in assisting its non-nuclear parties attacked by an aggressor (such as Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for NATO members) while "security assurance" would simply specify the non-violation of these parties' territorial integrity. In the end, a statement was read into the negotiation record that the (according to the U.S. lawyers) lesser sense of the English word "assurance" would be the sole implied translation for all appearances of both terms in all three language versions of the statement
Skybird
03-19-25, 07:18 AM
International media seem to agree that Putin gave his American Mini-me just enough so that he has something to hold in his hand and wave with at home. Its pretty much unsubstantial, in the night there already were attacks on energy infrastructure again.
From a Ukrainian perspective I would rate first comments from the US practically as a hidden threat.
Europpe miust be alamred as well, for Europe's attitude on supporting Ukraine colldies heads-on with what the Big Don wants.
There is also a widenign sense of alertness in NATO over the so-called US kill switch for its F-35 it sold to unsuspecting customers.
On a side-note, Germany and Norweay have signed a treaty over buoilding a new joint venture sub amrine, the type 212 CD (CD=common design). IOt wil, eb signifi8cantl ybiuger than the 212A, but prive the same or even lower reflection silhouette agaunst active poginging while maintaing at least the same silence level as the 212A which is feared for its almost total soundlessness. The 212CD also is said to be undetectable by MAD sensors. - Now, this is the way to go. European coperaiton prjects, but with not as many particiapnts as possibe, but only 2, maximum 3 partners, that way you can hopefully reduce wear-and-tear in planning phase when too many demands and ideas from too many sides collide and endlessly delay th eproject therefore, also pushign the costs upwards this way. However, jiust two partners are not guarantee as wlel, as the difficult French-German cooperation attempts also illustrate. I would also avoid walking into the same trap with the French defense industry as we did with the American indiustry - becoming too dependent on the French and their still absurdly strong imperial self-awareness. And certainly no Paris kill-switch, please! :)
Skybird
03-19-25, 10:59 AM
Putin just called Trump's bluff, and completely outmanouvered him - effortlessly.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/18/europe/analysis-putin-trump-phone-call-ukraine-intl-latam/index.html
Is Trump aware of this ?
If so, what would his answer be ?
Markus
Putin thinks he has won this war in Ukraine and the war against the world delusional, on the other side there is a same delusional leader who thinks he is "The Peacemaker" both will not accomplish anything on the backs of many horrible deads. There will be no peace that is based on submission, no Cossack will accept that they did not for centuries after millions of deads.
Skybird
03-19-25, 12:01 PM
Obviously he is not, otherwise he probably wouldn't have run his mouth so full. After all, he let Putin show him up. Once again.
Obviously he is not, otherwise he probably wouldn't have run his mouth so full. After all, he let Putin show him up. Once again.Putin:Krasnov, you're not in a very good position right now. You don't have the cards right now. Even if you did, you're far too stupid to use them.
In other words, the Joke is on Trump.
Markus
Jimbuna
03-19-25, 12:34 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63OMEmwZKZI
Jimbuna
03-19-25, 12:43 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPm4synOv-M
EU to exclude US, UK and Turkey from €150bn rearmament fundArms companies from the US, UK and Turkey will be excluded from a new €150bn EU defence funding push unless their home countries sign defence and security pacts with Brussels. The planned fund for capitals to spend on weapons would only be open to EU defence companies and those from third countries that have signed defence agreements with the bloc, according to a European Commission proposal put forward on Wednesday...The policy is a victory for France and other countries that have demanded a “Buy European” approach to the continent’s defence investment push, amid fears over the long-term dependability of the US as a defence partner and supplier triggered by President Donald Trump. At least 65 per cent of the cost of the products would need to be spent in the EU, Norway and Ukraine. The remainder could be spent on products from third countries that have signed a security pact.
https://www.ft.com/content/eb9e0ddc-8606-46f5-8758-a1b8beae14f1
What is backfire doing? :D
Jimbuna
03-19-25, 01:55 PM
Delegations from Ukraine and United States will discuss technical issues of ceasefire in coming days in Saudi Arabia – Zelenskyy
The teams of Ukraine and the United States are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue "coordinating steps towards peace."
This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a conversation with Donald Trump on March 19, Censor.NET reports.
Zelensky said he supported the cessation of strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure, and "Ukraine has confirmed that we are ready to implement it."
"We have instructed our teams to resolve technical issues related to the implementation and expansion of the partial ceasefire. The Ukrainian and American groups are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue coordinating steps towards peace," he said.
The President added that advisors and representatives of Ukraine and the United States at the next meetings "can agree on all the necessary aspects of moving towards lasting peace and security guarantees."
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump provided details of a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that took place on March 19.
During the conversation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and establish a lasting peace. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542120
We believe that, together with United States and under Trump’s leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year – Zelenskyy
During the conversation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and establish a lasting peace.
The head of state announced this on social media, Censor.NET reports.
"I had a positive, very informative and frank conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump. I thanked him for the good and productive start of the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on 11 March - this meeting of the teams significantly helped in moving towards the end of the war.
"We agreed that Ukraine and the United States must continue to work together to achieve a real end to the war and establish a lasting peace. We believe that together with America, with President Trump and under American leadership, we can achieve a lasting peace this year," Zelenskyy said.
Trump also shared details of his conversation with Putin and the key issues they discussed.
"One of the first steps toward a complete end to the war would be halting strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine has confirmed its readiness to implement it. Our teams discussed this step in Jeddah.
The American side has also proposed an unconditional ceasefire along the front line, and Ukraine has accepted this proposal as well. We will continue working to make this happen. We believe that such steps are essential to creating the conditions necessary for preparing a comprehensive peace agreement during the ceasefire," Zelenskyy said.
"I also provided an update on the situation on the battlefield and the consequences of Russian strikes. We talked about the situation in the Kursk region, touched upon the release of prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian children who were captured by Russian troops. We also discussed the state of Ukraine's air defence and the possibility of strengthening it to protect lives.
We have instructed our teams to address technical issues related to the implementation and expansion of the partial ceasefire. The Ukrainian and American teams are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue coordinating steps towards peace. We have instructed our advisors and representatives to carry out this work as soon as possible. We noted the positive work of our advisers and representatives - Rubio, Waltz, Kellogg, Yermak, Sybiha, Umerov and Palisa. At the next meetings, the teams can agree on all the necessary aspects of moving towards lasting peace and security guarantees.
I thanked President Trump and the American people for their support. I stressed that Ukrainians want peace, which is why Ukraine accepted the unconditional ceasefire proposal. I stressed the importance of President Trump's concept of peace through strength. We agreed to maintain constant contact, including at the highest level and through our teams," the Ukrainian president added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542114
Jimbuna
03-19-25, 02:01 PM
Trump intends to end war in Ukraine "once and for all" - White House
US President Donald Trump seeks to end Russia's war against Ukraine "once and for all."
This was stated by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a briefing, Censor.NET reports.
According to her, the US President and Russian dictator Putin agreed in yesterday's conversation that the war in Ukraine should end in a "long-term peace."
"President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. Both leaders agreed that this conflict must end in a lasting peace, and they also emphasized the need to improve bilateral relations between the United States and Russia," Leavitt said.
"President Trump discussed with President Zelenskyy this morning about bringing Ukraine and Russia to a common ground. And President Trump said several times, the valuable lives and money that Ukraine and Russia are spending on this war would be better spent on other things. This terrible conflict would never have started if President Trump had been president at the time. He wants to end the conflict once and for all," she emphasized.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump provided details of a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that took place on March 19. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542112
Poland plans to deploy anti-personnel mines on the border with Russia and Belarus
Poland plans to deploy anti-personnel mines on the border with Russia and Belarus as part of the Eastern Shield program.
This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland Pawel Bejda, Censor.NET reports with reference to Liga.
Poland initiated the process of withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines.
"We have no choice. The situation on the border is difficult. I'm talking about the Polish-Belarusian and Polish-Russian border," Bejda said. He added that this will be one of the elements of the Eastern Shield.
"I want to say that we have a concern that borders on certainty that Belarus is following Russia," said the Polish deputy defense minister. The official believes that self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will agree to anything Russian dictator Vladimir Putin tells him.
"Pay attention to the direction from which Ukraine was attacked. From the side of Belarus. We do not have anti-personnel mines, but we have the capabilities to produce them," he emphasized.
The Deputy Defense Minister clarified that Poland can produce several hundred thousand anti-personnel mines or even a million. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542103
Waltz to hold talks with representatives of Ukraine and Russia on ceasefire today
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that he plans to talk to representatives of Russia and Ukraine today, March 19, to bring the parties closer to a possible ceasefire.
According to Censor.NET, this was reported by Sky News.
Addressing journalists near the White House, Waltz said that the purpose of his talks was to find ways to establish peace.
"Shuttle diplomacy is difficult, it is tough. But we are going back and forth at every level driving both sides toward a ceasefire and driving both sides toward the end of this war," he emphasized.
Waltz also revealed some details of Donald Trump's "historic" phone conversation with Vladimir Putin.
The national security adviser responded to the assumption that the Russian leader made Trump wait before starting the conversation: "Donald Trump does not sit and wait for an hour for any head of state."
Earlier it was reported that Waltz had a conversation with Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov on March 19 about possible steps to end the war in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542101
The White House has just shared a summary of the conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Here are the main points:
Zelenskyy and Trump agreed to seek ‘a partial energy infrastructure ceasefire’.
According to Trump, making the US the owner of Ukrainian power plants is a good idea. According to the US president, this provides ‘the best protection’.
Zelenskyy called for additional air defences, particularly US Patriot missile systems. Trump said he would look for available systems, ‘particularly in Europe’.
In the coming days, Ukrainian and US delegations will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ‘technical issues’.
An interesting article on Zelenskyy's dilemma
Flemming Splidsboel points out that Zelensky and the Ukrainians currently have no other realistic alternative to being dependent on the Americans.
- The EU has not yet scraped together anything that the Ukrainians can cling to, he says, adding:
- They have to go with the American plan. That means praising Trump, thanking the Americans for the commitment they are putting into the process - regardless of the fact that the Ukrainians are certainly nervous about where this might end
https://ekstrabladet-dk.translate.goog/nyheder/Udland/ekspert-han-kan-ikke-goere-andet/10563957?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Edit
Here's an another great article from the same Danish newspaper
One day Trump will probably realize that Putin is making a fool of him. But luckily for Trump, he can sell the MAGA mob at home anything as a victory. So that's what he will do. He will declare that unfortunately he has not been able to make peace, but that it is the fault of the stupid Ukrainians and Europeans.
Then he will thank Putin for constructive cooperation, lift sanctions against Russia and suspend all arms aid to Ukraine.
https://ekstrabladet-dk.translate.goog/nyheder/lederen/et-ydmyget-fjols/10563734?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp
End edit
Markus
Skybird
03-19-25, 05:49 PM
The Donals must never rerlaise he was a useful idiot to Putin becasue he has always the tools of power to simply blackmail Ukraine into obedience and submission. That way he will enforce something that he will dare to call a peace deal but that in fact is an unconditional surrender - not just to Russia, but to America as well.
The now attmept by Trump to get control of the Ukrioanian power supply and eapsoecilaly the nclear powerplants must be seen in thsi oiught, too. It means to control Ukraine, to control any attempt by Ukraine to regain nuclear weapoins by making them itself, and by becoming able to control energy supply to the rest of Europe, by owning the nuclear powerplants in Ukraine and by buying North Stream 2 and turning Europe somehow into an addict of Russian gas once again.
A drug dealer is not so much against the addicts being dependent on drugs. He only wants them to be dependent on HIS drugs, not that of the competition. He does not take Europe serious anyway, wants to divide it between America and Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HueJZDlxaQc
Cybermat47
03-20-25, 02:37 AM
The USA’s Trump administration has continued its pro-Kremlin policies by erasing evidence of Russian war crimes against Ukraine. Researchers at Yale University were compiling information about Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children to Russian homes; such an act is defined as genocide by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to which Russia is a signatory.
The information, which it was hoped could be used to find the abducted children and return them to their families, was seized and deleted by the Trump administration.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/trump-ukraine-children-russia-war-kidnapping-evidence-b2717730.html
Why is Trump crawling up Putin's arse?? :k_confused:
Jimbuna
03-20-25, 08:27 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7JEp-2kNEU
Jimbuna
03-20-25, 08:34 AM
Ushakov: Russia-US talks on Ukraine to be held on March 24 in Riyadh
The talks between Russia and the United States will be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Monday, March 24.
According to Censor.NET, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov told the Russian media about this.
He said that Senator Grigory Karasin and FSB Director Advisor Sergei Beseda will lead the Russian delegation at the consultations of expert groups with the United States on Ukraine in Riyadh.
According to Ushakov, the American team of negotiators with Russia on Ukraine has been formed, but the names are to be announced by the American side.
Ushakov also said that he communicates with Trump's adviser Michael Waltz on a regular basis, calling such communication "very useful for both sides."
Ushakov expects the upcoming consultations with the United States in Riyadh to be "productive."
https://censor.net/en/news/3542266/us-russia-talks-in-riyadh-ushakov-names-date
80% of Ukrainians oppose withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from four regions at Putin’s request - poll
80% of Ukrainians oppose the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions at Russia's request.
This is evidenced by the results of a sociological survey conducted by the Razumkov Centre's sociological service from 28 February to 6 March 2025, Censor.NET reports.
As noted, only 8% of respondents supported the idea of a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these regions, while 5% agreed to the status of these territories as part of Russia being enshrined in international treaties. However, 82% of respondents categorically opposed such a condition.
Also, only 7% supported the lifting of all Western sanctions against Russia, while 78% of respondents disagreed. More than 22% of respondents are ready to support Ukraine's neutral, non-aligned, non-nuclear status to end the war, but 56% oppose it.
The survey was conducted in different regions of Ukraine, including the territories controlled by the Government of Ukraine. A total of 2018 respondents were interviewed, and the theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542247
CIA denies Trump and Putin’s statements about Ukrainian Armed Forces being "encircled" in Kursk region - Reuters
Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have lost some ground in recent days, but are not surrounded by Russian troops, contrary to recent statements by Donald Trump and dictator Putin.
Reuters writes about this, citing EU and US officials familiar with their governments' intelligence assessments, Censor.NET reports.
Thus, the US intelligence services, in particular the CIA, shared this assessment with the White House last week, but Trump continues to claim that Ukrainian troops are surrounded in the Kursk region.
"The U.S. and European intelligence assessments show that Ukrainian troops have faced intense pressure from Russian forces but they are not completely surrounded," said the publication's interlocutors.
Experts describe dictator Putin's statement of 13 March that Ukrainian troops in Kursk region are cut off and will eventually have to "surrender or die" as disinformation. This is to show that Russia is offering concessions and saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, giving Putin leverage in ceasefire negotiations.
Trump's statements on the encirclement of the AFU in the Kursk Oblast
On 14 March 2025, Donald Trump said that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by Russians" and are "in a bad situation".
Later, President Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were not surrounded in the Kursk region. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542241
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfrJg3CY-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTlz90QVCW0&ab_channel=UkraineMatters
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS4FWKoIIc0&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
He ask the right question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPw_HkMgYI0&ab_channel=AndersPuckNielsen
Markus
Buddahaid
03-20-25, 06:43 PM
Why is Trump crawling up Putin's arse?? :k_confused:
So it can be divided up like Poland was.
Jimbuna
03-21-25, 12:09 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDdYL0yMK1M
Jimbuna
03-21-25, 12:21 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItbD5LkWBuQ
Exocet25fr
03-21-25, 01:16 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqfjuY2FxqQ
Jimbuna
03-21-25, 01:35 PM
NATO won’t be same without U.S. – Trump
American leader Donald Trump said that without the United States, the North Atlantic Alliance "will not be the same" as before.
He told journalists about this at a briefing at the White House on March 21, Suspilne reports, Censor.NET informs.
Trump was asked whether his administration plans to relinquish the position of Supreme Allied Commander (a post traditionally held by a U.S. officer – ed.) in NATO. The President responded that without the United States, the Alliance "would not be the same" as before.
According to him, after his demand, other NATO member states increased their defense spending.
"Because of what I did, hundreds of billions of dollars flowed into NATO from countries that simply weren’t paying. They were delinquent — they didn’t pay their bills. So NATO is probably strong now, but they have to treat us fairly. Because look — without us, NATO is not the same. Without us, it’s just not the same," the American leader said.
Earlier, the media reported that the largest European countries are developing plans to gradually take on more responsibility for the defense of the continent instead of the United States. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542553
Pavel: We urge Ukraine’s NATO membership remain on table
The Czech Republic supports Ukraine's accession to the European Union and calls on its allies not to exclude the question of its membership in NATO as the most reliable guarantee of security.
The Czech Republic supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and urges its allies not to rule out NATO membership as the most reliable security guarantee.
This was stated by Czech President Petr Pavel during a press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Censor.NET reports.
"Regarding membership in the European Union, I want to emphasize that we clearly see Ukraine as part of the European family. And I am here to support you on your way to the EU both bilaterally and in Brussels," Pawel said.
He also called on Ukraine's allies not to give up on the idea of Ukraine joining NATO.
"We also call on all our allies and partners to keep the issue of Ukraine's membership in NATO on the table. It is undoubtedly the strongest and at the same time the cheapest guarantee of future peace," the Czech leader emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542526
Jimbuna
03-21-25, 01:39 PM
Ukraine immediately supported US proposal for unconditional ceasefire – Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine immediately supported the US proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, as it did not require additional meetings at the technical level.
The head of state said this during a press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel, Censor.NET reports.
He noted that Ukraine is not against discussing any format of unconditional ceasefire.
"The first step could be — and that’s why this technical meeting was held — a ceasefire in the airspace, or the conditions that President Trump discussed. He told me about his conversation with Putin — specifically about refraining from missile strikes and other long-range attacks on energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure. There’s a question regarding ‘other civilian infrastructure’ — what exactly does that include, and how many sites are we talking about? That’s why I believe our side, our technical team, will be ready with a list of civilian sites, sites not to be targeted, as we see them," Zelenskyy explained.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine expects the meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia to result in a complete ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine's delegation would include Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
As a reminder, the day before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump agreed to continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and establish a lasting peace. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542510
Czech Republic is ready to participate in Coalition of Willing – Pavel
The Czech Republic is ready to be part of the negotiations on the presence of an allied military contingent in Ukraine.
This was stated by Czech President Petr Pavel, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
Yesterday, there was a meeting of defense ministers in London. Its primary goal was to discuss the modalities of a potential presence in Ukraine. The Czech Republic is ready to take part in these negotiations. If a final decision is made to establish such a force, I truly believe the Czech Republic will be part of it," the Czech president said.
Pavel emphasized that he sees the "coalition of the willing" as a group of countries willing to act, not just talk, and expects concrete results from it. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542520
Ukraine must be under massive pressure at the frontline, since they say yes to the peace proposal from Trump. The tune was different a year ago.
Markus
Where did you get this information? Ukraine terms for peace are the same as last year and year before.
Skybird
03-21-25, 04:21 PM
Ukraine immediately supported US proposal for unconditional ceasefire – Zelenskyy
In fact, the proposal to have no air attacks on energy served more the Russian interests than the ukrainian interest, since winter is over and the fear that Ukraine would not make it over the winter has not materialised, because this winter apparently was unusually mild for that region; and Russia came under a certain pressure from Ukrainian drone attacks on its oil infrastructure. This proposal serves Russia more than Ukraine.
There are also conflicting reports on what the actual agreement (broken by both sides by now), really included: was the precise wording "energy infrastructure" or "energy and infrastructure"? The firts implies no attacks on energy-related infrastructure, the seodn implies no attack on energy sector and traffic and communication infrastructure of any sort.
Anyway, Trumps stands there with empt yhands and trousers down. Putin called his bluff while sugarcoating the fact in different words, but he let Trump bite his teeth out (if Trump even tried to bite, which I doubt). Its obvious that Donny has no plan. Zero plan. Absolutely no realistic plan. And certainly no plan to force Putin for anything.
Where did you get this information? Ukraine terms for peace are the same as last year and year before.
I based it on this sentence
"Ukraine immediately supported US proposal for unconditional ceasefire – Zelenskyy
For me it read no condition have been made by the Ukrainians
Markus
Cybermat47
03-21-25, 05:29 PM
I based it on this sentence
"Ukraine immediately supported US proposal for unconditional ceasefire – Zelenskyy
For me it read no condition have been made by the Ukrainians
Markus
Well, a ceasefire isn’t a surrender. It could buy time for Ukraine to reinforce its positions, train with new equipment, repair infrastructure, etc.
And, because it’s unconditional, they don’t have to concede anything to Putin.
In fact, quite a few Russian warmongers are furious about the ceasefire IIRC.
What is said by politicians is not the same what is done in the diplomatic channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXeyRTwuuVA
During my second visit, Putin gave me a beautiful portrait of President Trump to give to him. It was such a gracious moment. He also told me that when Trump was shot last year, he had gone to his local church to pray with a priest. Not because Trump might become president, but because of their friendship. He prayed for his friend.According to Witkoff, Trump was 'moved' by the gift and Putin's story. Same Orange lackey talking Russian with:That the residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories 'speak Russian', and that there have been referendums in which the vast majority of residents have chosen to be ruled by the Russians.All Russian NewSpeak! Do not eat this political clickbait! It is all for the narcistic 15 minutes Bühne.
German customs have expropriated and reflagged the oil tanker Eventin, including 40 million euros worth of crude oil. This was reported by German weekly Der Spiegel on Friday morning. The Eventin has been anchored outside Rügen in the Baltic Sea since mid-January, after the German coastguard assessed that the ship was in poor condition and in danger of leaking. On board is 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, loaded at the Russian port of Ust-Luga and destined for Egypt. The EU classified the ship in February as part of the Russian shadow fleet, tankers that covertly export Russian oil under false flags to circumvent the Western embargo on it. The expropriation is an unusually aggressive move. According to Der Spiegel, Berlin wants to send a clear signal to Moscow: Germany will not tolerate Russian oil crossing the Baltic Sea illegally. German authorities are now looking at how to pump over the oil and what to do with the ship. At last, Germany grows some Eier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I9cqqxFiNU
Jimbuna
03-22-25, 08:51 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sDa2q-I3U
The Music Didn't Last Long: Putin Backs Out of Truce Deal with Trump Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced that Russia is ready to resume strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid — as if they ever stopped.
The trigger? A classic “Reichstag fire” move:
Russia allegedly bombed its own gas facility in Sudzha yesterday to blame Ukraine for the incident. https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1903443092742799635
Jimbuna
03-22-25, 09:09 AM
Putin is not risking anything in negotiations. Russia’s position in world is personal for him - CNN
U.S. President Donald Trump says that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wants peace. Ukraine and its European allies are skeptical of this statement, as the Kremlin has repeatedly assured of its readiness for peace, but has refused to sign the relevant agreements each time.
According to Censor.NET, CNN writes about this.
The publication notes that Putin's plans are much more ambitious. He openly states that Ukraine has no right to exist as an independent state. Putin also wants to return to the NATO borders that existed during the Cold War. However, his main goal is to create a new world order in which Russia will play a key role.
Russia does not want to be just one of the players on the world stage
After the chaos of the 1990s, when the Russian economy was in decline and dependent on Western financial aid, Putin came to power. Thanks to rising oil prices, Russia has become richer and its voice has become more powerful. It was even admitted to the G8 club of the world's largest economies. However, this was not enough.
"Putin was happy to throw all that away for the sake of his citizens for higher geopolitical goals," Christine Berzina, managing director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told CNN.
Russia has been expelled from the G8, sanctioned and isolated on the international stage for its aggression against Ukraine. Berzina added:
"It has never been enough for Russia to be eighth in the G7. This is not in line with Russia's perception of its exceptionalism. It is the largest country in the world, rich in resources, so how can it be just one of the players?"
Trump wants the war to end quickly, even if it means Ukraine losing part of its territory. At the same time, Putin is taking no chances in the negotiations. Trump claimed that "Russia holds all the cards" in the war with Ukraine, although the fighting has been stalemated for the past two years. Russia has made some territorial gains, but the price is huge losses.
"Putin invaded Ukraine thinking it would be an easy, quick operation. Three years later, he controls 20% of Ukraine, but at a terrible cost... The Russians are essentially losing. But Ukrainians are losing faster," said Russian analyst Mark Galeotti.
In his opinion, for Putin, the ceasefire is an opportunity to gain short-term benefits without giving up his strategic goals.
Strategic goals of the Russian dictator
Putin and his entourage openly state that despite talk of peace, their goals remain the same. This includes eliminating Ukraine' s sovereignty, changing its government, and limiting NATO's influence in Eastern Europe.
The reason for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was Putin's desire to establish a pro-Russian regime in Kyiv and prevent Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. Despite his failures on the battlefield, he has not given up on this goal.
"The easiest way for Russia to achieve what it wants in another country is not through military means, but through interference and the electoral process," Berzina said.
That's why the Kremlin doubts Zelenskyy's legitimacy and insists on elections, trying to use the process for its own purposes.
Putin also wants Ukraine to remain a "neutral" state and not join NATO. However, his promises of peace are not credible among Ukraine's European allies.
This is not a war with Ukraine, it is a war with the West
By agreeing to the talks, the Kremlin hopes to "get something out" of Trump, but does not expect a global change in relations with the West, says Russian journalist and security expert Andrey Soldatov. He adds that the Russian leadership sees this war not only as a conflict with Ukraine, but as a confrontation with the West in general.
"For the Kremlin, it's not a war with Ukraine, it's a war with the West, and many people in Moscow don't believe that a lasting agreement with the United States is possible," Soldatov told CNN.
The Kremlin continues to believe that the West seeks to destroy and conquer Russia. This is not just propaganda - it is a belief ingrained in the minds of Putin and his entourage.
In addition, Putin tries to justify his actions by using historical myths, such as that Ukraine is not a separate state but part of "historical Russia."
The religious aspect also plays an important role. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, openly supports the war, and Putin is seeking to revive the idea of "Orthodox unity" under Moscow's leadership.
Russia wants to be at all important negotiating tables
Putin seeks to restore Russia's status as a great power and weaken the influence of the United States in the world. To do this, he is creating a coalition with the West's adversaries - China, Iran and other countries.
"Russia wants to be at all the important tables... It wants to play a major role in a bloc that is defined by its willingness to destabilize," said Monica White, associate professor at the University of Nottingham.
According to CNN, Putin is convinced that Russia should participate in determining the world order. And perhaps he has a like-minded person in Washington. Trump believes that the most powerful countries in the world have the right to act at their own discretion, even if it means redistributing territories.
"From Trump's point of view, Ukraine is a vassal state that must accept the agreement between the US and Russia," Galeotti concludes. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542642
Jimbuna
03-22-25, 09:14 AM
Zakharova accused Ukraine of allegedly shelling Russian energy facilities: Moscow reserves right to respond
The Russian side has accused Ukraine of allegedly "complete non-negotiability and lack of desire for peace" and assured that the Ukrainian military is allegedly striking at Russian energy.
This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Censor.NET reports citing Russian media.
"Moscow reserves the right to respond, including a symmetrical response, if Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities continue," Zakharova said.
As a reminder, since the evening of March 20, Russians have attacked Ukraine with more than 200 attack drones. A massive strike was carried out in Odesa. Civilian infrastructure and commercial facilities came under enemy fire, and three teenagers were wounded.
Also at night, the enemy attacked Zaporizhzhia district with anti-aircraft guns. Six people were injured in the attack, including a 4-year-old boy.
As reported, in the evening of March 21, Russian invaders attacked Zaporizhzhia. An entire family was killed in the attack. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542639
Europe is working on strategy in case of US withdrawal from NATO - Financial Times
The United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Nordic countries are developing a strategy to gradually take on more responsibility for European defense instead of the United States.
The Financial Times was reported by four informed European officials, Censor.NET reports with reference to Yevropeiska Pravda.
The newspaper writes that it is also about the proposal of the administration of US President Donald Trump to transfer these responsibilities to European states over the next five to ten years.
The discussions are an attempt to avoid chaos in the event of a unilateral US withdrawal from NATO, which has become a subject of concern due to Trump's repeated threats to weaken or withdraw from the transatlantic alliance that has protected Europe for almost eight decades, the newspaper noted.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Nordic countries are among the states involved in these informal but structured discussions, according to the four people briefed on the matter.
Their goal is to develop a plan to transfer the financial and military burden to European capitals and present it to the United States before the annual NATO leaders' summit in The Hague in June.
It is noted that the proposal will include firm commitments to increase European defense spending and military capabilities in order to convince Trump to agree to a gradual transfer of power, which would allow the United States to focus more on Asia.
In addition to its nuclear deterrent, which protects Europe with several European air forces armed with U.S. nuclear weapons, the United States provides military capabilities not available to continental allies, operates air, naval, and military bases, and maintains 80,000 troops in Europe.
Officials estimate that it would take five to 10 years of increased spending to reach a level that would replace most U.S. military capabilities (with the exception of nuclear deterrence).
"Increased spending is the only possible strategy: sharing the burden and reducing dependence on the United States. We have begun these negotiations, but the task is so large that many feel overwhelmed," said one official.
Although U.S. diplomats have assured their European counterparts that Trump remains committed to NATO membership and its fifth article on collective defense, many European capitals fear that the White House could quickly reduce troop or equipment deployments or reduce participation in joint NATO tasks.
"You have to negotiate with the Americans, and it's not clear that they will be willing to do that. Can you even trust them to stick to it?" said another official.
The interlocutors also pointed to the ongoing and regular discussions between France and the United Kingdom on the creation of a "coalition of the resolute" as an indicator of the direction of travel.
When asked what a European backbone in NATO means and whether it is possible, one of the officials replied: "We see it happening. We see it happening right now: The UK and France are taking the lead [on reassurance forces for Ukraine] without the Americans." Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542638
Skybird
03-22-25, 10:29 AM
[Der Tagesspiegel] In the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, the two also discussed Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Trump had advocated for the US to take over these facilities, but Zelensky later stated that they had only discussed one of four: Zaporizhia.
The White House had argued regarding the takeover as follows: "American ownership of these facilities would be the best protection for this infrastructure and support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure." This was because, they argued, Russia would not attack a country in which America has economic interests. But what could really be behind the US president's idea? The New York Times investigated the matter.
The newspaper reports that the US nuclear company Westinghouse had signed a contract with the Ukrainian state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom shortly before the war in Ukraine. This contract involved the construction of five reactors. After the war began, the number was increased to nine, and the companies agreed to further cooperate on the construction of smaller plants in Ukraine.
Nuclear power plants are so important to Ukraine because they largely secure the energy supply in times of war. Russia has repeatedly attacked the energy infrastructure, but not the nuclear power plants.
The New York Times further writes that Westinghouse has a particular interest in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – the one that Trump and Zelenskyy reportedly discussed. Because before the war, the nuclear power plant used fuel and technology from the US company.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now occupied by Russia, and there are apparently concerns that Western technology or the knowledge behind it could fall into Russian hands. Olga Kosharna, a Ukrainian nuclear security expert, told the newspaper.
Whether Trump's proposal would even be feasible is questionable. Ukrainian law prohibits the privatization of nuclear power plants. Changing these laws, writes the New York Times, would be politically sensitive.
Jimbuna
03-22-25, 10:52 AM
Netherlands to contribute EUR 65 million to Energy Support Fund for Ukraine
The Netherlands will make a contribution to the Energy Support Fund of Ukraine in the amount of 65 million euros, which will be used for the repair campaign.
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Ministry of Energy.
As noted, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Roman Andarak discussed with the Special Representative of the Government of the Netherlands, Erika Scholten, the issue of further support for the Ukrainian energy sector. During the online meeting, he thanked the Netherlands for the recent decision to make a contribution to the Energy Support Fund of Ukraine in the amount of 65 million euros.
"This is a significant support for us, and it will be an important contribution to the repair campaign that is already underway in preparation for the next heating season. With these funds, we will be able to partially cover our immediate needs. Stable energy supply is a prerequisite for the functioning of the economy, critical infrastructure, social and other spheres of life in Ukraine. We are sincerely grateful for this assistance," the Deputy Minister said.
In turn, Scholten emphasized that energy will remain one of the main priorities for her country in providing further support to Ukraine.
It is noted that the interlocutors also discussed the needs of the Ukrainian fuel and energy sector for equipment, in particular for the gas production industry, which has recently been subject to regular Russian attacks. The parties agreed to explore further the possibilities of cooperation in this area.
The Ministry of Energy also reminded that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has received 211 shipments of energy equipment from the Netherlands weighing almost 3,000 tons, including transformers, generators, a mobile gas power plant, cable, overhead line fittings and other equipment necessary for repair and restoration work. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542664
Rubio calls CNN gossip tabloid over story about his disappointment with Witkoff
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized a CNN article that said he was "disappointed" with the role of U.S. Special Counsel Steve Witkoff in the Trump administration.
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Rubio's post on the social network X.
He called the publication "an anti-Trump gossip tabloid that uses unreliable stories to generate clicks and tries to stir up trouble."
"Witkoff is one of the people I work closest with on our team. These people are pathetic," Rubio added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542653
Jimbuna
03-22-25, 11:02 AM
Putin knows flattery works on Trump and uses impressive arsenal, - former Swedish PM Bildt
Carl Bildt, Co-Chairman of the European Council on Foreign Relations and former Prime Minister of Sweden, responded to an interview with Tucker Carlson, Special Envoy of US President Steve Witkoff.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Mr. Bildt.
The former Swedish Prime Minister emphasized that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin uses flattery in his communication with US President Donald Trump.
"Putin knows that flattery works, especially on someone like Donald Trump. And he uses an impressive arsenal," he said.
The co-chairman of the European Council attached to the post a fragment of an interview in which Vitkoff says that Putin commissioned a portrait of Trump from a leading Russian artist and asked him to give it to the US president. In addition, Putin claims that after the assassination attempt on Trump during the election campaign, he went to church and his priest and prayed for Trump as his friend. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542634
US, Ukraine to meet in Riyadh day before talks with Russia - media
The next round of talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia will take place tomorrow, while a meeting of the teams from Washington and Moscow is scheduled for Monday, March 24.
According to Censor.NET, citing ZN.ua, CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs reported this on social media platform X.
It is noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Volz will not participate in this series of talks.
"If progress is made with the Russian team in Riyadh, the U.S. technical team may meet again with the Ukrainian team later on Monday as the Trump administration continues its shuttle diplomacy," Jacobs said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542633
[Der Tagesspiegel] In the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, the two also discussed Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Trump had advocated for the US to take over these facilities, but Zelensky later stated that they had only discussed one of four: Zaporizhia.
The White House had argued regarding the takeover as follows: "American ownership of these facilities would be the best protection for this infrastructure and support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure." This was because, they argued, Russia would not attack a country in which America has economic interests. But what could really be behind the US president's idea? The New York Times investigated the matter.
The newspaper reports that the US nuclear company Westinghouse had signed a contract with the Ukrainian state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom shortly before the war in Ukraine. This contract involved the construction of five reactors. After the war began, the number was increased to nine, and the companies agreed to further cooperate on the construction of smaller plants in Ukraine.
Nuclear power plants are so important to Ukraine because they largely secure the energy supply in times of war. Russia has repeatedly attacked the energy infrastructure, but not the nuclear power plants.
The New York Times further writes that Westinghouse has a particular interest in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – the one that Trump and Zelenskyy reportedly discussed. Because before the war, the nuclear power plant used fuel and technology from the US company.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now occupied by Russia, and there are apparently concerns that Western technology or the knowledge behind it could fall into Russian hands. Olga Kosharna, a Ukrainian nuclear security expert, told the newspaper.
Whether Trump's proposal would even be feasible is questionable. Ukrainian law prohibits the privatization of nuclear power plants. Changing these laws, writes the New York Times, would be politically sensitive.There are already American investments in Odesa, including in the port doesn't seem to have protected anything.
Skybird
03-22-25, 04:32 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sDa2q-I3U
As I said since long. Even after the war maybe have ended on day, Ukraine is facing devastating problems. Its survivability is in question due to demographic reasons that already existed before the war. The heavier weight of Russia both in production and in population size will decide this.
No way to get around the numbers.
So it looks like Russia have a much better chance to overcome the war than Ukraine.
Or do they-All the factories are making weapons and ammo to the Russian army an adjustment back to producing civilian products isn't that easy or is it ?
Ukraine, Well the Danish government have promised Zelenskyy that Denmark would pay for the rebuild of certain city near the black sea(Can't remember the name of this town)
Markus
Catfish
03-22-25, 05:47 PM
Has Donald Trump been outfoxed by Putin and Zelensky?
"Time and time again, the recent approach to mediation from Trump’s team has favoured Russia.
Trump and his team have, in public statements, appeared to have echoed numerous Kremlin talking points and made concession after concession, including ruling out Ukraine’s membership of Nato or its hope of regaining territory occupied by Russian troops.
It even – bizarrely – prompted the US to recently vote against its closest friends and allies in the United Nations general assembly, choosing instead to vote alongside Russia, North Korea and Belarus against a resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity."
https://theconversation.com/has-donald-trump-been-outfoxed-by-putin-and-zelensky-252767
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48YqJbvnN4&ab_channel=Military%26History
Markus
Skybird
03-22-25, 06:58 PM
I think the Trumponian policy on Ukraine is a late neurological symptom from long Covid. :D Where typically a human brain functions on basis of neuotransmitters, Trumps brain gets processed by spike proteins eating it up.
Skybird
03-23-25, 06:36 AM
There can be no doubt anymore that the Kremlin not only wages war in Ukraine but also has triumphantly conquered Washington and the White House.
Europe must face the reality that it has an enemy not only to its East, but also to its West. If witkoff cnsa babble this drivel about Ukraine, he or useful idiots like him can also talk such drivel about Europe. And it has consequences.
Also, useful communication with such a regime of clueless retards is practically useless. Whatever noise leaves their mouths - it means nothing, and is not trustworthy. I think its time to start cutting back diplomatic "relations".
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62zm4eqvp7o
I also think its time to start getting out American troops on European soils, including Germany. In case of a war with Russia I do not rule out that these troops would be used not in defence of Europe, but in supressing national reactions inside their hosting nations, sevricing Russian war goals, like American diplomacy already does in Ukraine. In other words: I have started to see them as a threat and a potential enemy. They gotta go home. The sooner, the better. We already are weak at our front with the Russians. We cant have the Americans threatening our rear and inside centre, serving as a fifth column for Moscow.
--------------
Independent media start to report that Germany too moves to cancel its F-35 contracts. So far I find it hard to judge whether this is just rumour, manipulation, or truth. I'm all for cancelling it swince the conceot of "nukleare Teilhabe" in my eyes is no more a reliable basis, thus we do not need aircraft licensed to carry US nuclear bombs . This was th eonyl argument I acceoted years ago when deicding for the F-35 oiver a European new design, since then time was running out for Germany to replace its aging carriers.
It really is a sad situation that has gone out of control, I never thought I'd see the day the US sides with Russia, so sad! :oops::oops:
Skybird
03-23-25, 07:05 AM
It really is a sad situation that has gone out of control, I never thought I'd see the day the US sides with Russia, so sad! :oops::oops:
^ I too did not expect that I would ever feel so distrustful of the US that I would begin to think of it as "potentially hostile".
This lost trust will never be regained for the rest of my life. From now on, I'll always be on my guard against the USA. I draw the consequences of America's changed behaviour and decisions. Even more so since this drama runs since 9 years now.
We need to widen the consequences from the military field into that of civil infrastructure as well. Big IT firms. Software. HighTech consumer products. Energy. Dollar. We must decouple, and it will be a very diffoicult and costly task with losses for all sides. All these fields are what is called America's soft powers. They are as merciless and opressive as their military power. But different to the military arena, economics are where Europe can stand up to America. If Washington does not manage to divide the Europeans again.
Jimbuna
03-23-25, 08:03 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPGWIsBs4ks
Jimbuna
03-23-25, 08:07 AM
Efforts to contain Russia’s war against Ukraine ’somewhat under control’ - Trump
US President Donald Trump has said that he has managed to achieve some control over the escalation of Russia's war against Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, with reference to European Pravda, Trump said this in an interview with Clay Travis, founder of the Outkick sports website, on board the presidential plane.
Trump once again noted his good relationship with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
"So, I know him very well. It's amazing that we haven't gotten into any serious skirmishes over the 'Russia, Russia, Russia' hoax," he said.
Trump also emphasized that Putin "didn't invade anywhere when I was president." He noted that Russian military actions in Georgia and Crimea took place during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, respectively, and the invasion of Ukraine took place during the term of President Joe Biden.
"I don't think there is anyone in the world who will stop (Putin) except me, and I think I can stop him," he said.
The US president added that he had "very rational discussions" with the Russian dictator.
"And I just want people to stop being killed. They're losing 2,500 young people every week, and they're Russians, and they're Ukrainians," Trump said, noting that he had managed to achieve some control over the escalation of the war. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542741
White House wants to reach ceasefire deal by April 20, won’t agree to limit aid to Ukraine - Bloomberg
Despite Moscow's demands, the White House has not yet agreed to any restrictions on the supply of military aid to Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, Bloomberg reports this with reference to anonymous sources familiar with the planning.
According to the publication, the White House is seeking to conclude a ceasefire agreement by April 20, which falls on Easter this year, but admits that the deadline may be shifted given the wide gaps between the positions of the two sides.
"Russia has put forward maximalist demands for any deal, including a halt to arms shipments to Ukraine, a position that Kyiv and its allies have rejected. According to the sources, the White House, which briefly suspended vital weapons shipments earlier this month to put pressure on Ukraine, has not agreed to any restrictions so far," the report said.
"We are working toward a ceasefire and a lasting peace," White House spokesman Brian Hughes said.
"We will not disclose the terms of the discussions or timelines to the media," he added.
Earlier, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that the US, Ukraine, and Russia are supposedly close to discussing a permanent ceasefire.
As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump agreed to continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and establish a lasting peace. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542731
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9tmoi8fu5o
This sums it up, dumb vs bosses of negotiations!
Jimbuna
03-23-25, 11:09 AM
^ Quite damning! :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YVSBMkfExA
Jimbuna
03-23-25, 12:22 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzshCIjoFu0
Jimbuna
03-23-25, 12:27 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfVbu0gBPnA
Catfish
03-23-25, 07:21 PM
Trump has handed Ukraine and Europe to Putin on a silver platter.
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20250214/281719800299846
That news article is rather old Catfish, 14th Feb, so probably doesn't apply now. :hmmm:
Catfish
03-23-25, 11:48 PM
True, but I have seldom seen such a good summary of supposed US interests in regard to the new world order, where independent countries are suddenly up for grabs, to be taken by the strongest disregarding treaties and international organisations.
And I fear this has not changed in the last weeks.
Where is the voice of the Democrats in all this? I would have thought they'd be fighting back vehemently!! :hmmm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85xSeg8BUFQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzshCIjoFu0
I watched that all the way through Jim, very enlightening but scary!! :timeout:
So what do you think about England joining the EU again? My thought is go for it, a united Europe is needed right now. :hmmm:
Certainly looks like the US siding with Russia, what a waste of the last 80 years, goodbye democracy!! :doh:
Jimbuna
03-24-25, 06:38 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYpMFO56Mpc
Jimbuna
03-24-25, 07:19 AM
Witkoff’s statements about "referendums" are shameful. Trump should remove him from office - Merezhko
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff should be removed from office. His statements about "referendums" in the occupied territories are "shameful and shocking".
According to Censor.NET, citing Radio Liberty, this was stated by Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, MP of the "Servant of the People" party.
"Let's call a spade a spade, these are just shameful, shocking statements. I don't understand what we are talking about - ignorance, naivety, unprofessionalism? After all, we are talking about a representative of the president, who should be professionally versed in this issue and know some basic things, that is, obvious things. And he doesn't know this. He's just repeating Russian propaganda. And my question is, who is he? Is he Trump's messenger, or is he Putin's messenger? I don't have an answer to this question. How can I explain it? I think that the worst thing in this situation, the most dangerous thing, is that Mr Witkoff says in this interview that ‘I represent Trump's interests, I express his point of view’. And this is very dangerous," the MP stressed.
Merezhko believes that Trump should disavow these statements as contrary to US policy. And Witkoff himself should be recalled from the post of special envoy.
"President Trump should disavow these statements because they are contrary to US policy in the first place. The United States has always had a clear, unequivocal policy on this issue of non-recognition of Russia's attempted annexation and occupation of Ukraine. And here comes a person who claims to be the president's envoy and makes such shocking statements. Of course, we cannot dictate to our American friends who should represent them, but this person should be removed from this delegation, he should not be a representative of the president. Because he is either completely unprofessional or simply repeats Putin's narratives," the MP added.
Merezhko hopes that Trump does not share the views expressed by Special Envoy Witkoff. He says there are people in the current administration who do not support such rhetoric.
Witkoff's statements about "referendums"
Earlier, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that the biggest issue in this war is "the so-called four regions: Donbas, Crimea, Luhansk and two more. These territories are Russian-speaking, and referendums were held there, where the majority of people voted in favour of being under Russian rule."
Witkoff later clarified his statement about the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine and the "referendums" held there. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542869
Peskov on today’s talks in Riyadh: Black Sea Initiative is being discussed. Trump proposed it, Putin agreed
At today's talks between the American and Russian delegations in Riyadh, the Black Sea Initiative and related aspects are being discussed.
This was announced by the spokesman of the Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov, Censor.NET reports.
"The point is to ensure the safety of navigation. The proposal came from Trump, Putin agreed," he said.
He did not provide any more details. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542858
Trump suggests arms deals with Ukraine in exchange for resources - WSJ
Donald Trump has made it clear that the United States may expand arms supplies to Ukraine in exchange for access to its natural resources.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, Censor.NET informs.
As noted, however, much of the most valuable deposits of rare earth metals and other strategic resources are located in areas occupied by Russia or near the front line.
"As a result, access to Ukraine's valuable natural resources will depend, at least in part, on the battle for eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are making slow but steady progress," the WSJ notes.
Experts doubt the prospects of this approach. Wolf-Christian Paes, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, notes that without a lasting peace, development of the fields is unlikely.
In addition, George Ingall, an analyst at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, adds that rare earths mining is expensive, and the known Ukrainian deposits are much smaller than the US ones. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542849
Where is the voice of the Democrats in all this? I would have thought they'd be fighting back vehemently!! :hmmm:
They're still in shock over loosing the last election and are busy infighting over who to blame for the loss.
Plus the Trump Administration has hit the ground running and the DNC hasn't been able to do anything to slow him down, by the time they come up with a response or a strategy, Trump has changed things up and/or moved on.
Jimbuna
03-24-25, 12:42 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGe6CUHooIA
Jimbuna
03-24-25, 12:48 PM
Trump: US is now talking about issue of territories and ownership of Ukrainian power plants
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has agreed with Ukraine on an agreement on rare earth resources.
He said this during a meeting with the government, Censor.NET reports.
Trump said he expects to sign an agreement with Ukraine on minerals in the near future.
"We have agreed with Ukraine on an agreement on rare earth minerals. We will sign it soon. Now we are talking about the territory," the American president said.
Also, according to Trump, the United States is discussing with Ukraine the possibility of American firms acquiring Ukrainian power plants, Reuters reports.
Earlier it was reported that Donald Trump's administration wants to change the terms of the minerals agreement with Ukraine. Washington wants to tighten economic requirements.
Earlier, during a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump proposed to transfer Ukrainian nuclear power plants to American management.
Washington is ready to take over the management of Ukrainian nuclear power plants to end Russia's war against Ukraine, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542986
Zelenskyy: I hope Trump will realize Putin’s weakness
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hopes that Donald Trump will realize the real weakness of Vladimir Putin and the danger of a Russian victory.
He said this in an interview with TIME magazine, Censor.NET reports.
According to him, Russia's victory will be a defeat for the United States and its current leaders.
According to Zelenskyy, Trump and his team cannot afford such a defeat, as they seek to consolidate their role in history as strong leaders capable of achieving a decent end to the war.
"That's why I don't believe in these apocalyptic scenarios. Honestly, I don't believe in them," Zelenskyy summarized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3542944
Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified a campaign to prevent the emergence of an independent veterans-based civil society in Russia, likely out of fear that veteran groups could threaten the stability of his regime upon their return from Ukraine. The Kremlin seeks to silence voices capable of meaningfully objecting to the continuation of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine or questioning Russian government decisions.
Putin is likely trying to avoid a modern analogue to the veterans-based civil society born from the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Kremlin likely fears political instability, such as what followed the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1988-1989. It is falsely framing its current initiatives to co-opt veteran life as preventative measures against the reemergence of “Afghan syndrome” - a popular Russian term used to describe the aftermath of the Soviet government’s failure to reintegrate psychologically traumatized Soviet veterans into Russian society upon their return from Afghanistan
The Kremlin’s decision to launch this campaign indicates that Putin fears the risks and challenges associated with reintegrating over 700,000 veterans into Russian society and thus remains unlikely to demobilize fully or rapidly – even in the event of a negotiated settlement to its war in Ukraine. The United States and Ukraine’s allies must consider the Kremlin’s fear of emerging veteran civil society groups and demobilization when assessing Russia’s negotiating position and the requirements for an enduring peace in Ukraine and Europe. https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/putin-unlikely-demobilize-event-ceasefire-because-he-afraid-his-veterans
Raf1394
03-24-25, 02:00 PM
Interesting development.
Sometimes i feel, when Putin loses the support of the high Russian military brass. He is in bad papers.
But the Russian generals like to shoe lick Putin...
The military always have the real power.
In Russia, it is different in Russia you have a triangle of power (Stalin origin):
Politic, elite inner circle.
FSB.
Military.
In the centre sits Putin and a troika (former politburo) this setup by Stalin so that every leg could not gain more power because he let all 3 fight each other and spy on each other. We have seen it with Prigozhin, the military supported him by doing nothing that had a high cost, the military leadership is purged and the politruk (political instructor) is again part of the army.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISL7FYF9cYc&ab_channel=TheMilitaryShow
Markus
I would that's for sure.
I have friends who are very critical towards Zelenskyy and/or Ukraine in such a way you wonder if they are supporting Putin and/or Russia.
This made me think-Are those friends being monitored by the Danish authorities, like the PET(Similar to FBI)?
No evidence just a thought-
and
If I was in charge of the country I would initiate a monitoring of these people.
Markus
Trump suggests arms deals with Ukraine in exchange for resources - WSJ
Donald Trump has made it clear that the United States may expand arms supplies to Ukraine in exchange for access to its natural resources.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, Censor.NET informs.
As noted, however, much of the most valuable deposits of rare earth metals and other strategic resources are located in areas occupied by Russia or near the front line.
"As a result, access to Ukraine's valuable natural resources will depend, at least in part, on the battle for eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are making slow but steady progress," the WSJ notes.
Experts doubt the prospects of this approach. Wolf-Christian Paes, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, notes that without a lasting peace, development of the fields is unlikely.
In addition, George Ingall, an analyst at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, adds that rare earths mining is expensive, and the known Ukrainian deposits are much smaller than the US ones. Source:https://censor.net/en/n3542849I wondered when this would come up!! Still, I agree with this one. :yep:
I think in Trumps case it's - what's in it for me!
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