Forum menu
400 Russian soldiers surrender in Vovchansk, near Kharkiv. The northern offensive by Russia is floundering.
I know that we have to keep trying, but a peace summit with Russia (not attending) on the other side of the table seems like shouting at the sky.
Russia will be invited when they demonstrate a willingness to abide by international principles and the UN Charter.
The Ukrainian President's Office emphasized that the purpose of the summit was to facilitate "fair peace ... based on the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law," highlighting Ukraine's effort to garner support from the international community in ending the war on terms that do not violate international law by compromising Ukraine’s territory integrity or sovereignty. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated on June 16 at the summit that "Russia should not be at the [negotiating] table now" and that there will only be peace in Ukraine " when Russia agrees to international principles and the UN Charter."
...see also https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-update-85-putins-peace-deal
Seems that the terrorism/genocide is stepping up a gear.
I really am coming towards the view that the rest of the world needs to physically step up and just flatten all Russian military infrastructure across Ukraine and Russia and end this war.
https://twitter.com/AndriyKostinUa/status/1803045963432411508?t=l1I0QDwvgXZL7qfay5yzXw&s=19
We won't though. To big a risk Puttin will escalate.
Aye, that's a breach of the Law of Armed Conflict & Geneva Conventions, the ****ing butchers that they are don't care for such semantics though.
<hr />
Seems that the terrorism/genocide is stepping up a gear.
Can only hope the Republican Trumpers see this and think again about voting for the orange prick.
Can only hope the Republican Trumpers see this and think again about voting for the orange prick.
It's really weird, the American's moral fear of the 'red under the bed' but Putin is somehow acceptable, heroic even. (I know he's not actually a Communist in the true sense of the word).
There are reports that Ukraine is starting to successfully push Russia back in Kharkiv oblast.
I know he’s not actually a Communist in the true sense of the word)
Or in any sense of the word. He appeals to a certain type of yank who believes that in the apocalypse they would end up on top due to their natural masculinity and skill with a six shooter.
Its a variation of the veil of ignorance thought experiment as the republicans know they would be born on top.
Putin is somehow acceptable, heroic even
Because, put simply he 'owns the libs'
*sigh*
Culture wars make fools of us all.
It’s really weird, the American’s moral fear of the ‘red under the bed’ but Putin is somehow acceptable, heroic even
Donald Trump admires President Putin and feels that he has a score to settle with President Zelenskyy. Trump's congressional followers do what Trump says, or he won't endorse their ticket at the next election, and we only hear what the politicians project, rather than the electorate
The fact that Trump endorsed nominees don't always win the Primary vote is lost on his congressional followers, e.g. Katie Arrington in 2022, despite him often picking either incumbents or the current favourite and endorsing them only days before the vote, e.g. Sam Brown in 2024 (successfully).
The voting population is a different kettle of fish. They don't follow Trump's endorsements (more he follows their likely choice) and they've become disillusioned with the decades of ‘red under the bed’, which started after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and led to US projection of power everywhere in the world with few positive results to show for it, which Trump has learnt from.
The electorate sees people "invading" over US borders while their government concentrates on military alliances and borders around Ukraine. Where the electorate goes the MAGA politicians follow, with a few choice populist messages to stoke the fires.
matt_outandabout
Full Member
Seems that the terrorism/genocide is stepping up a gear.I really am coming towards the view that the rest of the world needs to physically step up and just flatten all Russian military infrastructure across Ukraine and Russia and end this war.
https://twitter.com/AndriyKostinUa/status/1803045963432411508?t=l1I0QDwvgXZL7qfay5yzXw&s=19/blockquote >
Christ. Absolute barbarians.I agree, enough of this making Ukraine fight with one arm tied behind it's back.
If Russia wins this, many countries, including us/ America will end up having to spill blood because Putin wasn't stopped now.
"Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and led to US projection of power everywhere in the world with few positive results to show for it, which Trump has learnt from."
I think that's a bit of an under-baked assessment of how US projection of power has panned out since WW1. Whether you agree with its motivations and methods, it's not controversial to say that the position of the US as a super power in military and economic terms, is in large part a direct result of its projection of power. Yes, there have been unsuccessful wars for them, but at the same time they are still the primary beneficiaries from the postwar settlement. This position has by and large been successfully defended. I don't think the orange manbaby has the capacity to learn from history, he just uses his arrogance and ignorance to stir division.
Switzerland gets pushed back into the waiting zone. Other active priorities.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/patriot-missiles-will-be-delivered-to-switzerland-later/81132082?utm_source=multiple&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=news_en&utm_content=o&utm_term=wpblock_highlighted-compact-news-carousel
I think that’s a bit of an under-baked assessment of how US projection of power has panned out since WW1
Deliberately so but I accept the criticism. I'm trying strike a balance between going off-topic and explaining my point. I'll look for a more accurate summary to link to without derailing the thread 🙂
Have you seen the video of Bibi moaning about the USA withholding weapons and munitions?
In response the US administration has cancelled meetings with senior Israelis.
I’m trying strike a balance between going off-topic and explaining my point.
There are a few ideas in these summaries that will give people an idea of what the US electorate sees...
Book summary: "House of war: The Pentagon and the disastrous rise of American power" by J Carroll (2007) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?&title=House%20of%20war%3A%20The%20Pentagon%20and%20the%20disastrous%20rise%20of%20American%20power&publication_year=2006&author=Carroll%2CJ
Letter by Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History, Boston University https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/americas/2009-09-01/limits-power-projection
This, and supply to the Azov Brigade, are signs that the gloves are slowly coming off
The US has now clarified use of their systems to strike Russia; originally it was to defend Kharkiv and is now for the defence of anywhere in Ukraine. "Additionally, they can use air defense systems supplied by the United States to take Russian planes out of the sky, even if those Russian planes are in Russian airspace, if they’re about to fire into Ukrainian airspace,” https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-missiles-de0597baa92a722779769efdff580732
The electorate sees people “invading” over US borders while their government concentrates on military alliances and borders around Ukraine. Where the electorate goes the MAGA politicians follow, with a few choice populist messages to stoke the fires.
It's worth 5 minutes to listen as Donald Trump joins the "All-In Podcast" with David Sacks and gives his version of world events, with a few mangled timelines. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/06/20/watch_full_donald_trump_interview_on_all-in_podcast.html (Ukraine 20:30 to 25:10)
A few quotes for those who might not want to listen:
US is giving "probably, we're at least, $100bn more" into Ukraine than Europe (stats show that Europe donates more than the US https://www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/ )
The invasion of Ukraine happened because the price of oil was high "and he (Putin) had all this money to prosecute the war" and had Donald Trump been in power "Ukraine would have never happened, the Israeli attack would have never happened and inflation would have never happened" (oil prices rose after covid, which coincided with the change of US President. Trump's final numbers https://www.factcheck.org/2021/10/trumps-final-numbers/ )
"If Ukraine goes into NATO then it's a real problem for Russia, I've heard that for a long time, and I think that's really why this war started" (a mangled timeline "From 2010 to 2014, Ukraine pursued a non-alignment policy, which it terminated in response to Russia’s aggression. In June 2017, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted legislation reinstating membership in NATO as a strategic foreign and security policy objective. In 2019, a corresponding amendment to Ukraine's Constitution entered into force." NATO website)
He forgets that Russia had invaded Crimea and the Donbas regions in 2014, two years before his election as President
all sorts of stuff still going on. most interesting recent article was learning about "sea baby" naval drone and how theyve been taking the ships out. thryve changed tactics, it was kamikaze drones, now they are able to lay stealth mines at the entrances to the harbours....thats how they damaged the recent russian ships
Have there been any recent updates on the dam collapse?
Dam collapse? In Ukraine or in russia?
Interesting three way standoff with North Korea, russia, South Korea and Ukraine re weapons supplies. North Korea having supplied russia already.
Then russia threatening (again) to target US for supplying equipment that landed as debris on a Crimean beach.
Have there been any recent updates on the dam collapse?
Is this a new story? It coincides with the anniversary of the Nova Kakhovka dam (6th June) and the ongoing Rapidan Dam collapse in the US
Interesting three way standoff with North Korea, russia, South Korea and Ukraine re weapons supplies. North Korea having supplied russia already.
There's an interesting dynamic with China/NKorea/Russia as well. China is potentially losing influence with NKorea to Russia. NKorea and China are historically not great friends and Russia could supply more advanced missile tech to NKorea in exchange for the weapons it needs
Then russia threatening (again) to target US for supplying equipment that landed as debris on a Crimean beach.
Russia attempting to derail US weapons to Ukraine/gradual expansion of their use in Russia. The supply to Ukraine's front lines hasn't hit full speed yet and Ukraine is already talking about cutting logistics to Crimea via the Kerch bridge
lastest reports are it was a russian AA missle that caused the injuries / deaths on the Crimean beach.
Suits both sides naratives to blame the other. Also read a US observer drone has been shot down, which contradicts the whole ' russian kit is shit' narrative that is being pushed by our media
Christ, that children's hospital being hit by Russia.
Kids sat outside on IV's, bald due to cancer treatment whilst their hospital is in ruins behind them.
Sickening.
Putin got a nice big hug from enabler Modi too.
USA have called for an investigation on the hospital attack into it being a war crime .
Poor kids
UNSC Presidency this month, Russia then Sierra Leone, then Slovenia, Switzerland, UK for November, USA for December.
Ties in nicely with Orban and Hungary in the EU Presidency position until December 2024. I'm waiting to hear what is possible right wing / BRICS/ agenda in Europe might be.
Modi and putin hugging, that was pretty unexpected.
Nato Conference in Washington and Poland offering aircraft again. These jets are a long time coming. If only the russian aircraft launching missiles could be taken out...
The two hospitals in Kyiv. Just how grim does it have to get.
on the silicone curtain podcast it was mentioned that behind the scenes Jake Sullivan has been slowing down the deployment of the F16’s - unfortunately I can’t find the reference mentioned in the podcast 🙁
Re F16:
The transfer has to be authorised by the US regardless of which third-party country owns them
Danish and Dutch F16 were given the green light in 2023, contingent on Ukraine's pilots being fully trained. Romanian-trained pilots should have finished training last week, US-trained pilots will soon be qualified as well.
There are other problems in Ukraine, explained here https://www.kyivpost.com/analysis/35264
On the face of it JS isn't to blame
https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1811085407486091410?t=eNasJFhe0jlEAXHZtVb4aQ&s=19
If true, it's started. Actually started.
Agreed, they're not a 'magic bullet' by any stretch.
However, they do plug one of the most glaring and difficult to work around holes in Ukraine's capabilities and they will certainly make a big difference if used wisely.
Just a shame they couldn't have been in operation 12 months ago to support the Ukrainian summer offensive.
Welcome, but I think some expectations need to be managed as to the size of the difference they will make.
+1
However, they do plug one of the most glaring and difficult to work around holes in Ukraine’s capabilities
Since 2014, Ukraine has lost around 70 Su27 and Mig29 fighters, 25 Su24 bombers and 24 Su25 close support aircraft. Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria have donated 56 MiG29 and 14 Su25 aircraft. Numerically F16 will fill a hole, but they have to be used within US rules whereas the Ukrainian aircraft could be used at will. (Loss numbers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_losses_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War )
The Russians haven't managed air superiority over Ukraine despite their larger, more modern air force with fewer total losses. Ukraine estimated in 2023 that they needed 200 more aircraft to match Russia
Russia has docked their first naval ship in their new Black Sea base in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
This has the effect of causing EU accession problems for Georgia who, like Moldova, don't control their international borders.
It also raises the problem for Ukraine of attacking the Russian Navy in Georgian territorial waters and it effectively stops international efforts to reboot a project to build a deep water port in Georgia
Those F16s will have an absolute massive target painted on them. Its been talked about for so long Russia must have welcome party planned. i fear as soon as they land that airfield is going to need to be on its A game to defend against missles and drones
i fear as soon as they land that airfield is going to need to be on its A game to defend against missles and drones
Matches the announcement by Biden at the Nato conference that more Patriot batteries are on teh way... i think I read... Lviv. Convenient as its just over the Polish border from Rzeszów-Jasionka.
And Modi, what the hell was he thinking in a potential order for Russian military kit. It's not exactly shone on the battlefield as quality items....
And Modi, what the hell was he thinking in a potential order for Russian military kit. It’s not exactly shone on the battlefield as quality items….
India has been buying Russian arms for years and they also use Russian nuclear reactors. Spares have been increasingly difficult to buy since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Relations with Russia also provide a useful counterweight to China's friendship with ****stan. India has had border disputes with either China or ****stan as recently as 2022
India is buying more "western" weapons and in 2023 put $8.5bn into Indian domestic weapons manufacturing with the launch of INDUS-X https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3434923/launch-of-the-india-us-defense-acceleration-ecosystem-indus-x/
Even if India made the decision to exclusively buy western and Indian, it's estimated that they'd need Russian spares for another couple of decades to maintain what they believe is a necessary military capability