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Anyway in other news Don got his 5 mins of truce for the news before Russia attacked that thing they said they wouldn’t.
That'll be overlooked because Russia apologised and said that they missed the "and" in an "immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure".
This whole ceasefire debacle is a play for time while media headlines shout "Russia and Ukraine conduct large prisoner exchange after Putin-Trump call" (Reuters)
That's factually accurate, but it overlooks the fact that Russia and Ukraine are constantly negotiating these exchanges (the last was in Feb) and they are negotiated in third-party countries, such as the UAE, and was probably nothing to do with that phone call
Russia hasn't met any of the conditions discussed between Presidents Trump and Zelensky and has actively pushed back to disadvantage Ukraine. This is a short-term gain for Russia while they regain the Kursk region.
The bonuses are that Ukraine is already asking for weapons supplies from the US (everything so far is Biden-era back orders) while Europe has more time to get its act together.
It's impossible to predict what the US will do next because nothing has moved towards peace, but their actions will set the tone and the "coalition of the willing" had better be prepared
The fact that James Cleverly was doing the rounds this morning sounding knowledgeable and statesmanlike about how Trumps approach was wrong and Putin was playing him shows you just how badly this could go for Ukraine.
Various reports (including some Russian) over the last few hours that Ukraine has crossed the border between Sumy and Belgorod towards the Russian town of Popovka. It sounds fairly small scale from the sporadic reporting so far, but so did the Kursk offensive initially. It will be interesting to see how far they take it and what their aims are.
The political version of Gareth from the Office, guy is a muppet. I say this from having met the throbber a few times professionally.
Unit just returned from Herrick and he's spinning Sandhurst dits; tone deaf.
James Cleverly
Russia hasn't met any of the conditions discussed between Presidents Trump and Zelensky and has actively pushed back to disadvantage Ukraine.
Double standard.
Russia meet the conditions? Ukraine/NATO/EU etc has no ground to offer terms. Instead they, Ukraine et al., should be the ones that take the terms. Negotiation? What to negotiate when Ukraine has nothing to create a deadlock?
Look at the middle east, when did the last time the losing sides manage to negotiate their way out? Look at the current situation in Gaza where the American has openly supported the "winning" side with approval of decimating the population, can the losing side negotiate?
Look at the war crime ...
"On 21 November 2024, following an investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense of Israel, alleging responsibility ..." (Wiki)
What did the ICC do instead? Well, they "arrested" (more like kidnap) the former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (BBC).
Unless there is a deadlock, no negotiation is needed.
This is a long war ...
It will be interesting to see how far they take it and what their aims are.
To prevent Russia redeploying troops to the East now that the Kursk incursion has been repelled.
Ukraine is actually making steady progress in the East and if they can force Russia to keep 40,000+ troops up in the North defending the border it greatly increases their chances of this continuing.
If the Russian fail to respond to the new Belgorod incursion and the Ukrainians end up advancing further than anticipated then I'm sure they'll say 'thanks very much' and roll with it but I don't think that's the primary motivation for this and we shouldn't see it as a failure if it doesn't end up pushing that far into Russia.
Hope this is ok. A friend of mine is delivering some humanitarian aid to Kiev this week. Driving down then getting the train back. The aid is supplied by Ukraine Aid but he's funding the travel himself. If anyone wants to chip in for petrol it will be gratefully received.
I received an urgent call for help this week from Aid Ukraine. Consequently I will be driving a Volvo filled with Humanitarian Aid to Kiev leaving tomorrow Wednesday 26th March.
How can friends help?
The Aid Ukraine charity provides the vehicle, insurance and a one way ferry ticket. I have to cover my travel expenses for the journey. Its 1,645 miles from Bristol to Kiev, that's about £300 in fuel. Additionally there will be accommodation and return train tickets and flights too.I've set up a Go Fund Me page for friends that want to contribute to the mission costs. Any surplus will be donated equally to Aid Ukraine and Rotary Club of Bristol Breakfast. Note that GoFundMe specifically exclude fund raising that supports war efforts, even humanitarian work like this. So the fund raiser is called "Road Trip Across Poland" and can be found here:
Re the ceasefire terms and conditions....
Black Sea shipping to restart and as a trade, russia is asking, sorry, demanding, reconnection to SWIFT amongst other sanctions being lifted.
Just... No!
Katja Kallas got it right a long time ago. russia takes something they didn't have, never backs down, demands the maximum to be appeased and ends up with most of what they stole from others.
What would Thatcher do?
Also, a complete fustercluck in the US re the Signal issue but most of that is for the "Individual 1" thread.
Ukraine is actually making steady progress in the East
There doesn't seem to be much if any reporting to back that statement up. Similar posts have appeared a few times over the last month or so and each time I've only found reference to Ukraine making small gains on tiny bits of the front line buried in masses of reports of grinding russian advances.
Actually there is Ukraine progress, particularly in the Toretsk and Pokrovsk areas. Russia has culminated in these two vital (for the Russians) areas. Russia is slowly being pushed back.
The black sea ceasefire just seems like a huge win for russia
A ceasefire in a place where Russia has already lost and has stopped trying to contest, meanwhile they get sanctions lifted (just for agriculture, honest 😉 ) and international banking, but can carry on attacking eastern ukraine and bombing the crap out of the rest of the country
The black sea ceasefire just seems like a huge win for russia
A ceasefire in a place where Russia has already lost and has stopped trying to contest, meanwhile they get sanctions lifted (just for agriculture, honest 😉 ) and international banking, but can carry on attacking eastern ukraine and bombing the crap out of the rest of the country
There isn't a ceasefire in place. There are unilateral declarations that aren't worth whatever they're written on, based on understandings of agreements that are then walked back on.
I said up there somewhere that Russia doesn't want a ceasefire^^, they just want as much of Ukraine with as few sanctions in place as is possible. Ukraine has other thoughts, which is where we are now.
President Putin declared a 30-day ceasefire on Ukraine's energy infrastructure beginning on 18th March, while the US agreement was energy AND infrastructure. DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy company hasn't recorded any strikes since but it's alleged by Ukraine that infrastructure, including energy, has been struck since the declaration
https://kyivindependent.com/putins-ceasefire-is-russia-still-bombing-ukraine-yes/
Everyone agreed that a Black Sea ceasefire should happen to "ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea". Ukraine wanted it to begin yesterday (25th) but Russia demanded a reduction of sanctions and would agree on a date after that https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/03/25/7504517/
It's pretty obvious that Russia and Ukraine have continued attacks on one another and that certain demands will have to involve European countries, e.g. access to SWIFT banking which is headquartered in Belgium
What you have is a series of announcements that can be made by the US, but which amount to little at the moment. At some point President Trump will either lose interest or his temper, so we'll wait to see what transpires
Meanwhile Ukraine will continue to reclaim its territory.
Kill List on channel 4 10pm tonight (Thursday)
Christo Grozev (Bellingcat) and others hunted by Russia.
Includes the spy ring found in Gt Yarmouth and recently convicted
How things have changed/deteriorated in the USA picking fights with former close allies and their now pro-Russia stance, it's not unbelievable to imagine/expect USA to give Russia all the military intel on Ukraine and see a very quick defeat.
Alot was made of Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but Putin achieved something better by getting USA more or less at this stage to have left it.
I suspect they will be mercenaries of somekind rather than officially sanctioned chinese soldiers!
Dilema for Trump, he doesnt like china, but loves putin...
I also doubt Bejing would be daft enough to allow it's troops to fight in Ukraine in the way North Korea does. There are many Chinese people living in Russia east of the Urals. I'm sure Russian recruiters wouldn't think twice about enticing them to join the Russian army for a wedge of cash. The same way they do with their own rural poor and ethnic minorities to avoid Muscovites sending their sons to the meat grinder. I don't blame Zelensky for using this to his advantage by playing on US Sinophobia, but I doubt it's evidence of official Chinese supply of manpower.
Some YouTube pundits suggesting the Russians next offensive is expected in the next couple of weeks
Once they’ve rounded up the donkeys 😉
At least 31 people killed with a ballistic missile and aimed at civilians by the terrorist state.
it does seem like Trump is happy to let Putin be as brutal as possible to force Ukraine to agree to hand over its natural resources to the USA
US Pastor Mark Burns, President Trump's "spiritual advisor", visited Ukraine last week having previously backed Trump's decisions. On 6th April he tweeted,
Yesterday, a Russian missile struck Kryvyi Rih, killing 16, including 6 children. A tragic loss of innocent lives. The world must condemn this brutality and stand with Ukraine against such terror. Faith is a choice, not a feeling!
The Kyiv Independent ran this article on the 10th
When U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine last month, the man described as his "spiritual advisor," Pastor Mark Burns, backed the decision.
This week, Burns is urging him to send Kyiv more tanks, fighter jets, and air defense.
"I now believe that supporting Ukraine is America first," he told the Kyiv Independent in an interview on April 9. https://kyivindependent.com/supporting-ukraine-is-america-first-trumps-spiritual-advisor-pastor-mark-burns/
He now needs to get through to Trump who thinks that Russia "made a mistake" when they struck a civilian area of Sumy with cluster munitions, killing 34 people.
It's interesting that he isn't talking about another example of President Trump's call for peace, as many in his inner circle do, but a call for arms
I'm not a Twitter-ist, but apparently Burns' TwitterX thread is gathering pace
It does appear that Trump is happy for Putin to be as brutal as he likes .. win/win for both Russia & USA to get all of Ukrainian resources.
And, here we go again.
Arm Ukraine further and Russia will escalate, with added Europe instigating war rather than peace talks spin
Merz, asked by German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday if he would supply Kyiv with Taurus missiles, said he would consider it if it were part of a wider package of support agreed with European allies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was clear from his comments that Merz would advocate a "tougher position" which "will inevitably lead only to a further escalation of the situation around Ukraine". https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-tough-line-merz-ukraine-risks-escalating-war-2025-04-14/
And more Trump blaming Zelensky for his role in starting all this
Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5q0mev07lo
Arm Ukraine further and Russia will escalate, with added Europe instigating war rather than peace talks spin
Looks like the Russian bots are targeting STW now too. I'm quite happy to pay more tax in order to support the supply of weapons to Ukraine. If Russia wins-- or more correctly, is appeased there, what's to say they won't keep trundling further west? Trump has already more or less proven that the Kremlin has him under control so the USA/NATO is really no longer a factor.
Russian bot?
If that's aimed at me my comment was irony, sarcasm, whichever.
If Russia wins-- or more correctly, is appeased there, what's to say they won't keep trundling further west? Trump has already more or less proven that the Kremlin has him under control so the USA/NATO is really no longer a factor
Has always been the reason to support Ukraine.
Makes me laugh when Trump and Co pretend that Russias expansion is just a European problem. Too many flat earthers haven't figured out how close Russia is to Alaska....
It's the other side of the map! Can't get any further away
Trump is clearly heavily pro-Russia. Ukraine whilst dependant on the continued USA military equipment Biden signed off, cannot realistically expect any more weapons whilst Trump is there (at best just the ones Biden agreed to) so just needs to drag the mineral deal negotiations on as long as possible in the hope Trump gets replaced or USA back channels promise to rip the deal up once Trumps term is up.
Trump etc are pure scumbags.
Trump is clearly heavily pro-Russia
anyone read this before, from 2021? I found it a couple of weeks back
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/29/trump-russia-asset-claims-former-kgb-spy-new-book
The ex-major recalled: “For the KGB, it was a charm offensive. They had collected a lot of information on his personality so they knew who he was personally. The feeling was that he was extremely vulnerable intellectually, and psychologically, and he was prone to flattery.
In other words, as thick as two short planks.
Variations have been around for years.
Google the Steele Dossier, the Mueller Dossier, etc.
President Zelensky is teaching the art of the deal
It's widely reported (from Bloomberg sources) that the hugely-inflated US $300bn bill is already down to $100bn and there's still a way to go on other aspects of the mineral agreement as well before it gets anywhere near a vote in Ukraine's Parliament
In the meantime Ukraine has made a $50bn US weapons order, paid for rather than aid, but its fulfillment isn't clear. Is this a "yes" or a "no"?
“I don't know. He's always looking to purchase missiles, you know. Listen, when you start a war, you've got to know that you can win the war, right? You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size, and then hope that people give you some missiles.” President Trump
Too many flat earthers haven't figured out how close Russia is to Alaska....
All the more reason to keep Russia trundling slowly West, surely? A whole continent and ocean away, plus it weakens the hated EU. Win win.
Other than parroting the Kremlin, how TF does the tangerine f***wit reckon Zelensky "started the war"?
Other than parroting the Kremlin, how TF does the tangerine f***wit reckon Zelensky "started the war"?
By wanting to join NATO and the EU. How dare a country want to decide its own future...
So Ukraine is set to sign a “minerals deal”. But just what do they get out of it? There’s some suggestion of keeping the US side, but seriously, there is no evidence of the US being on any other side than Russias :/
It's the same deal the US forefathers signed with the native Americans and renamed the Thanksgiving.
I am hoping Zelensky is playing a clever game of merely dragging things out longer in the hope of receiving all the aid available from USA - maybe that's why Rubio saying they will throw toys out of pram and stomp away crying..
Why would Ukraine give USA anything knowing where their bias lays?
So much for ending the war in 24 hours.
Trump will walk away and blame everyone (well, Ukraine) for not getting his Knob-L Peace Prize. I'm hoping that if Ukraine do sign an agreement on minerals they get more than just gang raped by Trump and Putin. I'm not confident though.
On the deal, President Zelensky said on Wednesday 16th that the basics weren't yet in place
There are good results from the Ukrainian Government team working with the American side on the economic partnership agreement. First Deputy Prime Minister Svyrydenko delivered a report today on this. The basic legal aspects are almost finalized, and further, if everything moves just as swiftly and constructively, the deal will yield economic results for both our countries: Ukraine and the United States. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/spravzhnij-nadijnij-mir-mozhe-buti-dosyagnutij-same-todi-kol-97257
I suspect that President Trump won't be signing a deal next Thursday. The official timeline was to finalise the wording by the 26th and then it'll have to go before Ukraine's Parliament.
Details are hard to come by, but the concept of security guarantees for Ukraine still isn't getting much coverage. One danger is that the US could just as easily make a mineral deal with Russia so it might have to be the best choice for Ukraine of not very good choices
Wouldn't put it past the Trump regime signing a deal with Russia for minerals in the occupied regions. What could the Ukrainians do then?
Wouldn't put it past the Trump regime signing a deal with Russia for minerals in the occupied regions. What could the Ukrainians do then?
Wouldn't put it past him either, but I'm not sure how that would play to his domestic audience. Outside the MAGA hardcore, stiffing a democracy to get minerals from an enemy state won't go down well with a lit of Americans.
Outside the MAGA hardcore, stiffing a democracy to get minerals from an enemy state won't go down well with a lit of Americans.
President Putin has attempted to push President Trump down the path of a deal with Russia with his late offer of an Easter ceasefire for today only.
Attacks continued on Ukraine until minutes before the start, no doubt in the hope that Ukraine would retaliate within the ceasefire window so that Russia could show Ukraine as a bad-faith actor.
The plan fell apart with the astute Ukrainian admin pointing out that the one-day ceasefire could just as easily become 30 days (which Russia does not want) and because the memo from the Kremlin was so late that Russian troops didn't get the ceasefire message and violated their own undertaking
President Trump appears to be opening up to Ukraine purchases
£310mn in F16 training and support yesterday
$30bn. during FY2025
Range of sanctions against Russia for consideration by Trump
F16s have been photographed being loaded onto Ukrainian air freighters.
F16s have been photographed being loaded onto Ukrainian air freighters
For spare parts or decoys, apparently.
Ukraine appear to have downed an SU-30 using a naval drone equipped with a SAM, somewhere in the Black Sea, a long way from Ukraine.
Russia is getting twitchy about the May 9th Victory Day parade in Moscow. They wanted a ceasefire for 8-10th, but Ukraine would only agree to a full 30 days
President Vucic, PM Modi and PM Fico have all decided to not attend now
I doubt that an attack will be made on the parade directly, but judging by the threats from Russia about Ukraine not existing on the 10th, something is in the wind
Just to add to the mix, President Trump has declared 8th May to be WW2 Victory Day in the US and a public holiday for the first time.
Deputy Chair Medvedev has called this announcement "pretentious nonsense"
All Zelensky has to do to disrupt the whole show is fly one drone across.... just one.
Putin's used the 'N' word again in his 25th year as a tyrant speech.
Ukraine appear to have downed an SU-30 using a naval drone equipped with a SAM, somewhere in the Black Sea, a long way from Ukraine.
Reportedly two SU-30 have fallen to Magura-7 marine drones equipped with Sidewinder missiles https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/05/4/7510536/
The downing of a Russian Mi8 helicopter in December was by a Magura-5 fitted with Soviet Vympel R73 missiles, which also damaged a second helicopter.
Sea drones are vulnerable to helicopter attack, but not so much now
Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov looks pleased in the photo 🙂
Really useful APN analysis of the changing US position and their dawning realisation that it's far more complex than they thought. As a result, It's looking a lot more favourable for Ukraine than it was just a few weeks ago. Despite Trump's innate affinity with Putin and dislike of Zelensky. Russian intransigence, skilful Ukrainian diplomacy, US public opinion, and a realisation that Ukraine still holds a decent hand of cards have all forced the US administration to be more supportive of Ukraine. Not guaranteed to stay that way of course, but a better position than it might have been!
Ukraine has stepped up attacks in Kursk, despite Russian claims that Ukraine's forces have been expelled, and seems to be attempting to isolate Russian units around Tetkino, which would underline that Ukraine occupies Russian soil during this Victory week (see May 6th report) https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates
Moscow's four airports have all been closed at times during Tuesday and today following drone attacks there. President Xi is due to arrive in Russia today for the May 9th Victory Parade https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drone-attack-disrupts-moscow-airports-xi-visits-2025-05-07/
The inevitable increase in Moscow's air defences will make drone targets that if successfully prosecuted will decrease pressure on Ukraine's frontline aircraft operations. Russian bloggers have suggested that 280 additional units have been deployed
Ukraine will have to be careful that its plans for this week don't spark an adverse reaction from President Trump, should he feel that Russia's three-day ceasefire is a valid offer. He's already said in typically cryptic fashion, "As you know, President Putin just announced a three-day ceasefire, which doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot, if you know where we started from"
Oil prices are taking a battering in a problem of Russia, Iraq and Kazakhstan's own making. They've been over-producing to increase revenue and won't compensate through lowering production. OPEC+ has authorised increased production for all of its members thus depressing oil prices from already low levels to their lowest levels since before the 2022 invasion.
We are down to cost of production pricing levels for some, i.e. no profit just cash flow
Really useful APN analysis of the changing US position and their dawning realisation that it's far more complex than they thought.
Everything is more complex than Trump can comprehend.
The Russians are in a bit of a flap as it gets closer to their victory day parade on 9th May. The internet is down around much of Moscow, ATMs are not working and as Timba mentioned above planes are grounded at airports all over Russia following Ukrainian drone attacks. Their security worries are going to increase exponentially as the parade approaches, whether Ukraine does anything or not. And, if the parade goes ahead they will be celebrating 'victory' whilst Ukrainian troops still occupy parts of Russia. However tightly their state media tries to control the narrative, none of this will go unnoticed by ordinary Russians.
How three day special military operation going?
And the total number of troops Kia is apparently very close to the 1million mark.
Before you go all " but in ww2 they lost that many in a month.... Etc "
Totally different. Invaded by a well equipped army , huge territory loses, major cities in danger of being occupied. No choice but to throw the kitchen sink at the Germans. No need to keep it quiet , common enemy with less family ties.
Not at all what is happening today.
I do wonder if they will keep the airport closed to avoid any friendly fire downing a jet . So if it's in the air , within say 50 miles of Moscow it's a legit target.
If I was a drone tech I would be developing drones using packet burst telemetry. So every day 15mins it switched on it's GPS for a fix , then immediately switch off and go dark , small course correction and fly on towards target. Then check at 2 mins out and only go live for the last 30 seconds. Think a swarm of drones launched from a hot air balloon ( altitude gets you range or , and bigger payload) would be lethal.
downing a jet
No need to even try IMHO. Moscow residents have nothing to fear but fear itself. Disruption could be the name of the game, especially as Moscow was lobbing missiles when heads of countries were visiting Kyiv. Seems reasonable to put a few drones over Moscow.
So if it's in the air , within say 50 miles of Moscow it's a legit target.
Yeah, I would be phoning in sick if I was a airline pilot heading into Moscow over the next few days. Chances of accidently doing the aircraft equivalent of falling out of a window seems rather high.
So every day 15mins it switched on it's GPS for a fix
GPS is receive only so switching it on wouldnt make any real difference for detection (I guess technically it would give a slightly higher electronic signature with additional chips being in play but going to be drowned out by my toaster a mile away).
I think GPS round Moscow is completely jammed now.
Looks like Vance is beginning to realise russia are the aggressor and the obstacle to peace.
Vance says Russia asking ‘too much’ in ceasefire talks with Ukraine
Trump says ‘it’s possible that’s right’ about the vice-president’s remarks amid frustrations with Russia
+1 TJ
There's a groundswell within the US expressing this from the electorate, through GOP Representatives, Senators and now the cabinet. Marco Rubio, as another example, has always been a Ukraine supporter.
There's one person who stills appears reticent...
Article about the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant https://thebulletin.org/2025/05/zaporizhzhia-hurdle-or-catalyst-for-a-peace-deal-in-ukraine/
My thoughts are that it's simpler to decommission it and leave the complication out.
Slight hijack.
Latest "proxy" fighter jet dog fight comparison.
India vs Pa-kistan over recent Kashmir terrorists attack.
The whole episode of "dog fight" only lasted about 1hr with around 125 fighter jets from each side.
Pa-kistan: J-10C ($40 million per jet) - All flew home.
India - losses are 3 French 4.5th-generation Rafales ($120 million per jet), Mirage 2000, Mig and 25 drones (drones info from other news).
Rafale Destroyed for the first time in any war.
Both French and US have acknowledge the down of Rafale.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/as-claims-about-****stan-shooting-down-rafale/
The Pa-kistani foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, told the National Assembly that the J-10C shot down five Indian fighter jets, three of which were Rafales. Pa-kistan has been unable to furnish evidence to back these claims, and the Indian side has not confirmed any losses.
Today's starter for 10.
Will putin pitch up?
The international criminal court arrest warrant in his name might make him a reluctant traveller. Although unfortunately I don't think Turkey is an ICC member.
Putin will be a no show l reckon.
The whole episode of "dog fight" only lasted about 1hr with around 125 fighter jets from each side.
No aircraft crossed any border, they launched long range missiles at each other, so calling it a 'dog fight' is a bit misleading. And for the record, most A2A engagements last seconds, maybe minutes at most. Without knowing the operational aspect - training, pilot error, aircraft function/capability etc etc calling this a 'proxy' or drawing any conclusion other than India lost some planes - all be very capable ones, is premature.
Of course Putin won't show up.
My money's on No as well. Like Trump, he's got to be calling the shots, and as this is currently being seen as Zelensky's initiative, Putin is unlikely to want to be seen as 'brought to the table' by the other side.
Hopefully I'm wrong.
No aircraft crossed any border, they launched long range missiles at each other, so calling it a 'dog fight' is a bit misleading.
+1
There isn't any evidence of ****stan's claims. The only images of "wreckage" circulating are aircraft drop tanks (that are designed to be errr, dropped) and a spent French missile.
We'll see what is evidenced in the future, meantime, there will be a lot of interested manufacturers digging into this
Hopefully I'm wrong.
I hope he doesn't show up. If he does, it will only be to agree to a peace deal he has no intention of keeping. He doesn't want peace, and the sooner his actions demonstrate that to Trump, the better,
Russia has denied shooting down the Malaysian airliner in 2014, killing 298 people, despite a final ruling by the UN on Monday https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-rejects-biased-un-ruling-downed-malaysian-airliner-2025-05-13/
Russia has misrepresented a 2022 order signed by President Zelensky as preventing negotiation for some time now.
Zelensky is batting Russia's objections back to them by agreeing to meet in person, which is designed to highlight that it's Russia dragging their feet.
The problem is that President Trump is deaf to any reasonable representation from Ukraine, so on that basis alone it's extremely doubtful that President Putin will turn up
No aircraft crossed any border, they launched long range missiles at each other, so calling it a 'dog fight' is a bit misleading.
+1
There isn't any evidence of ****stan's claims. The only images of "wreckage" circulating are aircraft drop tanks (that are designed to be errr, dropped) and a spent French missile.
We'll see what is evidenced in the future, meantime, there will be a lot of interested manufacturers digging into this
The given source has a rep for, at best, reporting factually to a "mixed" standard. Some of it is credible, some of it is bobbins/unproven and designed to drive traffic.
the DM is repostin the chinese news more or less verbatim, I havent found a good source for the rafale shoot down, has anyone else?