Also yes to neutrality (because it's not like NATO would've had the guts to accept them it seems), but I like the idea thrown around of a formal treaty between Ukraine and others where if they're attacked they have to respond/guarantee Ukraine's safety. Versus the verbal "we've got you, don't worry, give back your nukes", then stuff goes down, and then they're on their own because the US & others don't want to antagonize Putin/Russia. Since the EU is taking them & discussing militarization that could work under that umbrella. Considering Finland & Sweden are looking at NATO now & other Eastern block countries are too (didn't Kosovo ask for a permanent US base (not even NATO, but US)?)
They already made this military decision last week. They already started to consolidate their forces to bolster Donetsk. Leave it to Russia to spin their failure to take Kyiv as a good faith peace offering.
They are definitely coming out weaker whenever this ends... The Russian Air Force Is Losing Its Best Jets Over Ukraine (msn.com)
No offense but think the world got it wrong, too. Cnn live "US general says there "could be" an intel gap that caused the US to overestimate Russia's capabilities From CNN's Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of US European Command, said there “could be” an intelligence gap in the US’ intelligence gathering that caused the US to overestimate Russia’s capability and underestimate Ukraine’s defensive capability in the current Ukraine crisis. Wolters made the comments during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday. When Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, asked if there was an intelligence gap that caused the US to overestimate Russia and underestimate Ukraine, Wolters said “there could be.” “There could be and as we’ve always done in the past, when this crisis is over with, we will accomplish a comprehensive after-action review in all domains and in all departments and find out where our weak areas were and make sure we can find ways to improve, and this could be one of those areas,” Wolters said."
Cnn live "Ukraine invited to join meeting of NATO foreign ministers next week From CNN's James Frater in Brussels Ukraine and a number of non-NATO countries have been invited to attend part of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers next week, according to a statement from the military alliance headquartered in Brussels. NATO said “the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Sweden and Ukraine, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs” will attend one session of the meeting on April 7. ..... Foreign ministers from the 30 NATO countries will convene for the second time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The session follows last week’s high-level meeting of NATO leaders for an extraordinary summit on the crisis."
Don't go in person, & if you do, wear a hazmat suit & don't drink anything "Turkey's foreign minister hails Tuesday's Russia-Ukraine talks as the "most meaningful progress" yet From CNN's Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul Turkey’s foreign minister said “consensus and common understanding” was reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations on some issues during talks in Istanbul on Tuesday. “The most meaningful progress in negotiations has been made today,” Mevlüt Cavusoglu said of the talks brokered by Turkey. He hailed the progress made in particular on the “top priority of achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible to pave the way for a permanent political solution.” Cavusoglu said the “trickier” issues are now to be discussed at higher levels, with a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers to “make final adjustments to the common approach.” Following that, a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is on the agenda, he said."
I would lean towards that being one motive other than other countries had the same views. I think the Russians overestimated themselves so whatever reports, etc, on their capabilities were likely bloated & outright lies. However I absolutely am glad to see defensive spending increased for defending against hypersonics, etc. I don't like having gaps & other countries including NK have those. Don't know about a weapons race again but defensive items should be updated.
From the former State Department operative who warned the Bush administration, in vain, that WMD would not be found in Iraq ... Thread by @RealScottRitter on Thread Reader App
Scott Ritter, the convicted pedophile? Remind me again why he was found not credible at the time by both sides.
Does anyone else find it weird that a guy going by Duggers dad is posting something written by a pedophile? Is that you Jim Bob?
Sleazy though it may be, Ritter's personal behavior is completely irrelevant insofar as his credibility as an arms inspector is concerned. By the way, I think Ritter's analysis in the link was way off base. Ukraine's ground forces numbered less than 200,000 prior to the invasion not the 600,000 that Ritter used in the tweet.
It's easier to come to an agreement if both sides can claim a victory. I think reparations should need to be paid.
