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Ukraine shoots down its first drone with a laser! 🙂 meanwhile Russia deploys donkeys
Amazing or depressing, in the U.N. resolution urging Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine, Serbia and Somalia voted for and the USA against along with North Korea.
It does say it all when USA goes against former allies as UK and France, and instead sides with Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, Hungary ..
Trump has 4 more years to burn bridges. Where will the USA / European relationship be at that stage?
It's interesting to read that Putin is offering Trump trade in rare earths etc too .. probably the ones on stolen Ukrainian territory too.
Depressing. And troubling.
America is no longer even pretending to be interested in freedom or democracy.
I have said it before, Trump needs to feel some heat and to know that his forces are not welcome here and on UK "territories" if he is not clearly allied and aligned with us. Give notice that US forces need to leave Diego Garcia, Lakenheath etc, and crucially, get likeminded allies to do the same. I actually don't think it would come to that, but he needs a strong line to be taken with him.
Amazing or depressing, in the U.N. resolution urging Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine, Serbia and Somalia voted for and the USA against along with North Korea.
I would love Starmer to drop that into the White House press conference when he meets Trump, maybe with a follow up "you're either with the forces of freedom and democracy or you're against us".
Put the little shit on the spot in front of a US and international audience and make him justify that to his Republican voters.
America is no longer even pretending to be interested in freedom or democracy.
The point with a UN General Assembly (GA) vote is that carries world opinion. Two resolutions on Ukraine were carried by the GA; one from Europe and one from the US that was modified by the GA to support Ukraine. The US is now visibly out of step with the world and not just Europe
The UN Security Council only has 15 members and votes on Ukraine can be vetoed by Russia in any event so, although legally binding, are pointless.
I would love Starmer to drop that into the White House press conference when he meets Trump, maybe with a follow up "you're either with the forces of freedom and democracy or you're against us".
It's diplomatic grist to the Ukrainian mill in future meetings with President Trump, starting Thursday with PM Starmer. That you're either with us or against us is a George W line and I'd expect Starmer to be more sophisticated 🙂
I'd expect Starmer to be more sophisticated
Considering who Starmer is up against, I'm not sure sophistication is the best option.
US has presented a new minerals agreement to Ukraine. It's expected to be agreed by Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers. Significant for me is this,
Under the revised terms, the fund will receive 50% of revenues from Ukraine’s resource-related infrastructure, including ports. Joint ownership will be determined based on actual financial contributions, and while management will be shared, the U.S. will have decision-making authority under its own laws. https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-kyiv-washington-reach-agreement-on-minerals-deal/
That could include Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa and Crimea, which has facilities for titanium dioxide production, and many other areas currently under Russian occupation where minerals are either mined or processed.
It isn't a guarantee of security but Russia might think very carefully about joint Ukraine-US-managed/owned properties, assuming that Russia is excluded from the deal
The connected article is worth reading as well https://kyivindependent.com/explainer-did-trump-lie-about-350-billion-aid-to-ukraine-and-does-kyiv-have-to-repay-it/
That stinks. Ukraine will cede sovereignty to the US to save it from Russia?
Or possibly the Ukrainians have managed to use the US greed to outmaneuver Putin. The war and indiscriminate bombings won't happen with US companies stealing lithium for Musk.
On the face of it, this does seem cynical and shameful. A rapacious US, mugging Ukraine in it's darkest hour.
But and it's a big but... If the US is offering a real security guarantee in return, then just maybe it's worth it for Ukraine. If the US are genuinely prepared to square up to future Russian aggression against Ukraine then it might have legs.
Even if they are only doing it to protect the mineral rights with Ukrainian sovereignty as a side benefit. Anything less than that though would stink and would amount to the sort of imperial asset stripping that would make the Spanish conquistadors blush.
Maybe this is close the peace plan Ukraine touted around last year and the orange gibbon was trying to get even more.
That stinks. Ukraine will cede sovereignty to the US to save it from Russia?
it’s a protection racket worthy of any small time Mafia outfit.
Ill bet that if Zelenskyy sign up that tbe terms are very different to what trump.claimed they would be
Looks to me like Trump and Putin are dividing up Ukraine's resources between them and they've presented Ukraine with a fait accompli. I wish I worked in an industry where I had the facility to scrap contracts with US companies - as far as I'm concerned Trump could do with the same sanctions we've applied to Russian oligarchs at this point.
Looks to me like Trump and Putin are dividing up Ukraine's resources between them and they've presented Ukraine with a fait accompli. I wish I worked in an industry where I had the facility to scrap contracts with US companies - as far as I'm concerned Trump could do with the same sanctions we've applied to Russian oligarchs at this point.
That's my big concern as well - yes, Trump has made a deal with Ukraine but what has he also agreed with Putin? Only a fool or a desperate nation would trust him (though I agree what he tells his supporters is in the deal is likely to not be the same as what is actually in the deal)
But and it's a big but... If the US is offering a real security guarantee in return, then just maybe it's worth it for Ukraine.
Seems they are not. I was uncharacteristically naive optimistic about Trump last night. It's a mugging, plain and simple 😕
Yep, on reflection, it's a typical "offer you cannot refuse" from the pound shop godfather and his fellow cartel associate in the kremlin. No mention of Russian reparations or of European participation.
The mineral deal will be promoted by the idiots as Trump getting a great deal - but the reality is, at what cost to the USA?
The deal was initially proposed by Zelensky, and Trump in his lack of wisdom, decided to try and get more. And probably done so, but at the cost of the USAs reputation .. already European countries are looking away from the USA regarding defence capabilities. I have no doubt in the long-term Trump has lost the USA much much more money.
In WW2, before the USA entered the war we paid them for arms with gold or US dollars. When fighting for your life you sometimes have to do things you don't want to do. We paid the final payment for war debt to the USA in 2006.
If Ukraine can keep the USA on board by tying them in financially then it sounds like the right thing to do.
I was about to say what Murray said, they do have form for this.
Also on a WW2 theme, I hope Churchill is proved right, again. "America can always be relied upon to do the right thing. But only after they have exhausted every other possibility"
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I'm sure most on here know the answer, would love to see someone ask Trump. When was the only time since it's inception that Article 5 of the NATO treaty was invoked, and which nation was it in aid of?
We paid the final payment for war debt to the USA in 2006
I'm a bit fuzzy on this, but I seem to recall the length of time taken to repay wasn't just on account of how much was owed. Someone might be able to clarify or dismiss that without much thread drift?
From Wikipedia:
Congress had not authorized the gift of supplies delivered after the cutoff date, so the U.S. charged for them, usually at a 90% discount. Large quantities of undelivered goods were in Britain or in transit when Lend-Lease was ended on September 2, 1945, following the surrender of Japan. Britain wished to retain some of this equipment in the immediate post-war period. In 1946, the post-war Anglo-American loan further indebted Britain to the United States. Lend-Lease items retained were sold to Britain at 10% of nominal value, giving an initial loan value of £1.075 billion for the Lend-Lease portion of the post-war loans. Payment was to be stretched out over 50 annual payments, starting in 1951 and with five years of deferred payments, at 2% interest.[84] During the war, the US lent Britain 88 million ounces (2.5 million kilograms) of silver. In 1946, Britain switched its coinage from silver to cupronickel as the price of silver had risen by 250% during the war due to its market scarcity, while the price of nickel matched the stamped coinage value; this recovered 20m ounces of silver per year for five years as the old coinage was progressively retired, generating a £30m net financial surplus after the US silver loan had been repaid.[85]
The final payment of $83.3 million (£42.5 million), due on December 31, 2006 (repayment having been deferred in the allowed five years and during a sixth year not allowed), was made by Britain on December 29, 2006 (the last working day of the year). After this final payment, Ed Balls, Britain's Economic Secretary to the Treasury, formally issued thanks to the U.S. for its wartime support.[86]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease#Repayment
When was the only time since it's inception that Article 5 of the NATO treaty was invoked, and which nation was it in aid of?
I can't see Denmark responding so favourably next time !!
If Ukraine can keep the USA on board by tying them in financially then it sounds like the right thing to do.
I'd agree.
President Zelensky had to get ahead of other countries and time isn't on his side. Russia and Australia are both offering the US a buy-in on their mineral reserves.
We'll have to wait to see the details, but much of Ukraine's minerals subject to this deal have yet to be exploited. Mining and production doesn't happen overnight so in some ways it kick-starts an industry that Ukraine doesn't have yet and is unlikely to have in the foreseeable future.
The deal excludes resources that already contribute to Ukraine's state budget, meaning it will not cover operations by Naftogaz and Ukrnafta, the country's largest oil and gas producers. https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-kyiv-washington-reach-agreement-on-minerals-deal/
If this works out as President Zelensky no doubt envisages then it isn't ideal but could be an overall positive deal.
Trump now seems to be offering military support (if the deal is signed)? We don't know the details yet, Zelynsky's traveling to Washington on Friday - so we'll probably know then.
Anyone else got a hunch that Trump will try and tweak the deal one last time as Zelenskys pen is hovering over the agreement?
Russia has made a similar offer from territories it doesn't own but has captured....
Totally feasible trump could play them both against each other and get a better deal... but who would he actually sign up with. That will be crucial. And will he honour that commitment?
Ukraine liberates another small settlement in the Pokrovsk salient. Is the tide turning?
BBC News site indicating that there are no security guarantees in the deal at present.
If there's nothing in place before he travels to Washington, is there any point Zelensky going?
As Trump has absolutely no qualms about tearing up international agreements, I hope as soon as Trump is removed from power that is what Ukraine does.
BBC News site indicating that there are no security guarantees in the deal at present.
If there's nothing in place before he travels to Washington, is there any point Zelensky going?
It's thought of as a political agreement like the Budapest memoranda, which Ukraine originally understood was binding. Bits can be tacked on either at the time of first signing or later as additions and amendments.
President Zelenskyy isn't under any illusions about political agreements, saying in 2022 "If they do not happen again or their results do not guarantee security for our country, Ukraine will have every right to believe that the Budapest Memorandum is not working and all the package decisions of 1994 are in doubt." https://kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-full-speech-at-munich-security-conference/
Eventually it'll be more like a comprehensive legal contract, but he can walk away if it doesn't develop as he thinks that it should, until it becomes binding
President Trump's theory is that "We will be on the land and that way there is going to be automatic security because nobody is going to be messing around with our people when we are there" and he is "not going to make security guarantees beyond... very much". "We're going to have Europe do that, because it's in... you know, we're talking about Europe is their next door neighbour"
There's a reasonable series of summaries here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cvg1402yyvet
At times things can only make sense afterwards. A demonstration that there was in fact an intelligent plan all along that you simply couldn't see.
Unfortunately with Trump there is zero chance it's that in play - he, or Musk, has assembled a group of useful idiots to rob the USA of pretty much everything at the cost of USA citizens and former USA allies.
So depressing to watch this play out so badly day after day. I think it's time for me to just avoid the news for the next 4 yrs and keep my fingers crossed.
Talking of Europe supporting Ukraine... A friend sent me this link this morning:
https://english.nv.ua/business/sweden-funds-two-gas-turbines-for-ukraine-expected-soon-50493411.html
Each of these turbines should provide power for 185,000 people and are part of a 500 MSEK package Sweden is providing to Ukraine. Not loaning, giving. We've also agreed a bilateral agreement on defence.
Europe _is_ doing its part and not blatantly looking to rape the country in return.
Europe _is_ doing its part and not blatantly looking to rape the country in return.
It's also providing a real-time fact checking service. Here's President Macron in action
During their joint Oval Office appearance on Monday, Macron interrupted Trump when the latter said that Europe was being paid back 60% of the aid it contributed to Kyiv over the last three years of war.
Touching Trump's arm to interject, Macron said, "No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort: it was through, like the U.S., loans, guarantees, grants," Macron said. "And we provided real money, to be clear."
After Macron's comments, Trump smiled and replied, "If you believe that, it's okay with me." https://abcnews.go.com/International/macron-warns-trump-careful-ukraine-fact-checks-white/story?id=119157061
So Europe provides the security and the US reaps the rewards? Is that the deal?
I hope that behind the scenes Europe and Ukraine are putting together some sort of deal so that Ukraine doesn't have to prostitute itself and take whatever deal Trump is trying.
If the deal is as poor as I suspect, then the rest of the world needs to make it clear that is not good enough for the Ukraine and puts at risk the rest of Europe and the free world.
It feels like Ukraine's current willingness with the rare earth deal, is to try and force US to security guarantees or at least to make the peace deal more favourable to Ukraine than Putin. It's hard to see the deal working without a good peace deal (as transparently transactional as the are behaving). Despite Team Orange making noises that Europe will supply the security, they will have to be a part of it.
On Starmer's visit today, I feel ominous about the timing of the Tate brother's release, and the fact that some kind of hideous right wing homecoming/media circus is going to clash with Starmer's visit, and how much of it may have been orchestrated that way? There may be no link at all, but I also wouldn't put it past the current US administration as a way of showing their disagreement and providing some discomfort alongside the Ukraine/trade talks with Starmer...
I feel ominous about the timing of the Tate brother's release, and the fact that some kind of hideous right wing homecoming/media circus is going to clash with Starmer's visit
They'll be in Trump's cabinet next week. Still at least if all the shit is in one place it's easier to keep an eye on.
So Europe provides the security and the US reaps the rewards? Is that the deal?
It isn't that clear cut yet, but Europe had 10 years of invasion to get its act together and didn't. It's acknowledged that the US "backstop" is needed and that's going to cost
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine again unless the US provides a security guarantee, as he prepares to meet Donald Trump for crucial talks in Washington.
The prime minister will push a reluctant Trump to provide a US backstop to a British and French-led peacekeeping force in the country.
Starmer, who will meet the US president at the White House on Thursday, is prepared to commit British troops but believes that US promises are vital to “deter Putin from coming again”. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-26/ukraine-needs-us-security-guarantees-to-deter-putin-starmer-to-warn-trump
Once the US gets mine construction under way then the "backstop" is implied, but that won't happen until Russia leaves Ukraine. We'll see what PM Starmer comes away with. There isn't a guarantee that a new US administration will think differently in four years, e.g. the Doha Agreement.
I hope that the lessons from the Doha Agreement on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan are remembered by all concerned. I'm pretty sure that President Zelensky understands them and is prepared to frame his conditions accordingly https://kyivindependent.com/in-negotiations-with-russia-trump-is-repeating-his-complete-disaster-peace-deal-with-taliban/