If Russia invades Ukraine (more)...

[Which Tyler]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... atest-news

[H2]Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections'[/H2]

We have more detail on Donald Trump's Truth Social post:


Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" after the Ukrainian leader earlier on Wednesday accused Trump of being trapped in a "disinformation bubble."


[H2]Zelenskyy 'better move fast' or he won't have a country left - Trump[/H2]

In a Truth Social post Donald Trump wrote Ukraine's Zelenskyy "better move fast" or he won't have a country left. Trump added that Zelenskyy had "done a terrible job" and called him a dictator "without elections".

With friends like these...

[Puja]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... atest-news

[H2]Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections'[/H2]

We have more detail on Donald Trump's Truth Social post:


Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" after the Ukrainian leader earlier on Wednesday accused Trump of being trapped in a "disinformation bubble."


[H2]Zelenskyy 'better move fast' or he won't have a country left - Trump[/H2]

In a Truth Social post Donald Trump wrote Ukraine's Zelenskyy "better move fast" or he won't have a country left. Trump added that Zelenskyy had "done a terrible job" and called him a dictator "without elections".

With friends like these...

It's because he dared to answer back, even if only mildly.

At this point, is there any merit to paying attention to the US-Russia "peace talks"? The US won't give any more money or equipment to Ukraine regardless, so there's not really much pressure that they can put on Ukraine. Given that, what weight do the terms of a Putin-Trump deal carry?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

And, of course, "would you actually trust the word of either Trump or Putin"

Negotiations carried out with only 1 of the sides involved isn't a negotiation, it' a grandstanding,

[Son of Mathonwy]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... atest-news

[H2]Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections'[/H2]

We have more detail on Donald Trump's Truth Social post:


Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" after the Ukrainian leader earlier on Wednesday accused Trump of being trapped in a "disinformation bubble."


[H2]Zelenskyy 'better move fast' or he won't have a country left - Trump[/H2]

In a Truth Social post Donald Trump wrote Ukraine's Zelenskyy "better move fast" or he won't have a country left. Trump added that Zelenskyy had "done a terrible job" and called him a dictator "without elections".

With friends like these...

It's because he dared to answer back, even if only mildly.

At this point, is there any merit to paying attention to the US-Russia "peace talks"? The US won't give any more money or equipment to Ukraine regardless, so there's not really much pressure that they can put on Ukraine. Given that, what weight do the terms of a Putin-Trump deal carry?

Puja

Since we're well through the looking-glass now I guess Trump could stop sanctions against Russia, then threaten Ukraine with them? Tariffs on Ukraine? If Zelenskyy's a dictator who shouldn't have started the war with Russia then that makes sense. In MAGA-land.

It's amazing how people who oppose Trump's friends seem to be living in demolition sites.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'd like to know how far our stock of weapons has been depleted since the start of the Ukraine war and how much (if any) our rate of production has increased.

[Banquo]

I'd like to know how far our stock of weapons has been depleted since the start of the Ukraine war and how much (if any) our rate of production has increased.

I'd guess a lot and not at all given the state of public finances and how asleep we and the rest of europe have been at the wheel on defence.

[Sandydragon]

I'd like to know how far our stock of weapons has been depleted since the start of the Ukraine war and how much (if any) our rate of production has increased.

I'd guess a lot and not at all given the state of public finances and how asleep we and the rest of europe have been at the wheel on defence.

Probably a fair assessment. Clearly we need an Euro defence pact, perhaps with Canada, since the US now has other priorities.

[Sandydragon]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... atest-news

[H2]Trump calls Zelenskyy a 'dictator without elections'[/H2]

We have more detail on Donald Trump's Truth Social post:


Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" after the Ukrainian leader earlier on Wednesday accused Trump of being trapped in a "disinformation bubble."


[H2]Zelenskyy 'better move fast' or he won't have a country left - Trump[/H2]

In a Truth Social post Donald Trump wrote Ukraine's Zelenskyy "better move fast" or he won't have a country left. Trump added that Zelenskyy had "done a terrible job" and called him a dictator "without elections".

With friends like these...

It's because he dared to answer back, even if only mildly.

At this point, is there any merit to paying attention to the US-Russia "peace talks"? The US won't give any more money or equipment to Ukraine regardless, so there's not really much pressure that they can put on Ukraine. Given that, what weight do the terms of a Putin-Trump deal carry?

Puja

From a Ukrainian perspective, based on current reporting:
Lose land lost to Russia,
Might lose entire Oblasts (so more land)
No guarantee of any real protection,
Elections will continue until an acceptable candidate is chosen,
Lose natural resources to pay America back.
Monitoring force that will have next to no capability to stop anything and night be biased (if Putin gets his way)

Not hugely enticing. Is it better to surrender now and delay the inevitable for a couple of years or just keep fighting and hope the Europeans can stand up?

[paddy no 11]

Pretty grim position for Ukraine

[Puja]

Can only imagine they'll choose to fight on in that situation. Europe will still be keen to support and, even though Ukraine is nowhere near the same force without the USA backing them, they can fight a defensive war that'll be absolutely horrendous for Russia to deal with, and hope the international situation changes given time.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'd like to know how far our stock of weapons has been depleted since the start of the Ukraine war and how much (if any) our rate of production has increased.

I'd guess a lot and not at all given the state of public finances and how asleep we and the rest of europe have been at the wheel on defence.

Probably a fair assessment. Clearly we need an Euro defence pact, perhaps with Canada, since the US now has other priorities.

I hope that - even if no more funding became available - at the very least there was some reallocation of resources so that weapons given to Ukraine in large amounts (eg anti-tank weapons in the early days) have been prioritized and produced or procured at an accelerated rate.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Can only imagine they'll choose to fight on in that situation. Europe will still be keen to support and, even though Ukraine is nowhere near the same force without the USA backing them, they can fight a defensive war that'll be absolutely horrendous for Russia to deal with, and hope the international situation changes given time.

Puja

With Russian and US guarantees of future security being utterly worthless they'll fight on for as long as there are able.

[Sandydragon]

Can only imagine they'll choose to fight on in that situation. Europe will still be keen to support and, even though Ukraine is nowhere near the same force without the USA backing them, they can fight a defensive war that'll be absolutely horrendous for Russia to deal with, and hope the international situation changes given time.

Puja

Russias economy is going down the toilet. The problem will probably be that if trumps deal isn’t accepted, he will probably look to unlock most of the sanctions in place which will be even more unhelpful for Ukraine.

[Puja]

Can only imagine they'll choose to fight on in that situation. Europe will still be keen to support and, even though Ukraine is nowhere near the same force without the USA backing them, they can fight a defensive war that'll be absolutely horrendous for Russia to deal with, and hope the international situation changes given time.

Puja

Russias economy is going down the toilet. The problem will probably be that if trumps deal isn’t accepted, he will probably look to unlock most of the sanctions in place which will be even more unhelpful for Ukraine.

Yeah, that's the major return that Russia will be wanting from their investment - all sanctions lifted to boost the economy and interference with any kind of European assistance (given that a chunk of the technology our militaries rely upon assume a bare minimum of American compliance, let alone active obstruction).

Mind, the Chinese might not be as keen to assist Russia (either directly or through allowing them access to N.Korea) as they were - they were interested there being an opposing power bloc to the US and not having Russia get utterly crushed, but they're not particularly keen on Russia in general (given the amount of shared borders) and I'm not sure they'll want Russia winning.

Interesting that Russian (external) propaganda deriding the Ukranians as Nazis appears to have faded into nothing over the last couple of years. Back when it was the Azul regiment in Mariupol, Russia's mouthpieces were very keen to portray it as "weeding out Nazis" and "fascist thugs", but we don't seem to get those lines anymore for some reason...

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Worth a listen. Sir Alex Younger, head of MI6 between 2014 and 2020, on News Night.

https://x.com/nicholadrummond/status/18 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

[Son of Mathonwy]

Worth a listen. Sir Alex Younger, head of MI6 between 2014 and 2020, on News Night.

https://x.com/nicholadrummond/status/18 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Shame Trump isn't getting any advice like that. Not that he would listen.

[Which Tyler]

For those of us without twitter, is it this?

[Mellsblue]

Well done, Starmer.

[Banquo]

Well done, Starmer.

and again with overnight announcements...

[Which Tyler]

https://londonist.com/london/things-to- ... sy-5-march
'Stop Putin, Stop Trump' Demo Happening At The US Embassy On Wednesday
Anyone catch that Trump-Zelenskyy thing on Friday?

Oh right, all of us then. In the wake of the White House's attempts to humiliate a working war hero — and in opposition to any carve-up "peace deal" between Putin and Trump which excludes Ukraine — an emergency 'Stop Trump, Stop Putin' protest is being held outside the US Embassy in London's Nine Elms this Wednesday.

The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign invites Londoners to turn up at the US Embassy* between 5.30pm-7pm on Wednesday 5 March and show their solidarity with Ukraine. Speakers on the evening include Jen Stout, journalist and author of Night Train to Odesa; Kenneth Gibson MSP SNP; and Ukrainian groups including Vlada from United Action.

"It's time for the governments and peoples of Scotland, the UK and Europe to wake up and take a stand! Let's come together to make our voices heard and demand the stepping up our support for Ukraine," says the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign.

'Stop Trump, Stop Putin' demo, US Embassy, Nine Elms, 5.30pm-7pm, 5 March.

[Which Tyler]

Edging towards the worst case scenario

Donald Trump has now banned UK from sharing any US military intelligence with Ukraine
Donald Trump, the US President, has already temporarily halted American military aid to Ukraine, a decision which sparked fears the country could soon run out of weapons

[Son of Mathonwy]

Edging towards the worst case scenario

Donald Trump has now banned UK from sharing any US military intelligence with Ukraine
Donald Trump, the US President, has already temporarily halted American military aid to Ukraine, a decision which sparked fears the country could soon run out of weapons

Wonder if he's giving Intel to the Russians yet. No doubt he already has, informally, to Putin.

I guess a question is, is he willing to go as far as positively aiding the Russians? I guess US sanctions will go before that but anything is possible for a man who we might as well assume is a Russian agent.

How far will the Republicans go along with his siding with Russia? Do they have a complete set of vertebrae amongst the lot of them?

Europe will detatch from a USA that is working against them. Glorious news for Putin.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Trump wants to steal Ukraine's power stations.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/ ... ant-for-us

[Which Tyler]

Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack
...
"You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles," he told reporters at the White House, also blaming former US President Joe Biden for the conflict.



Guess his boss had a chat again just before speaking to the press

ETA:

Trump said he had a "great" phone call with Putin last month, and the Russian president sent him a portrait as a gift a week later.