War in Ukraine

what would be the first indicators that policy on the ground is changing?

quit sharing intel so less long range precision strikes?? what is the canary in the coal mine that should get one's attention?

 

That would be a good one, yes. The President could deny that without advising Congress, and many of our weapons would be useless to Ukraine without our direct assistance with intelligence and planning. Of course, that can be turned on just as fast as it’s turned off, and it would probably take weeks to see any meaningful effects.

 

Is Hillary Clinton admitting that the Machiavellians in Washington wanted to draw Russia into an Afghanostan-like quagmire in Ukraine? The face of evil imo:

 

I'd like to see some links for the military measures and aid to Ukraine that we have increased since Trump took office.

 

Much more likely: Zelensky doesn't want elections because he is running behind other candidates

 

I don’t blame you for wanting to see it and knowing precisely what more permissive measures have been on offer in the last few weeks, but that is the most I will say on that. I would ask you to note that when I first stated that in deliberately vague terms @CaptUSMCNole did not interject with a “That’s not what I’ve heard” or the like. If that, too, is not good enough, then I understand, and we will just have to settle for the fact that military measures have not been restricted since President Trump took office. But if you would care to argue otherwise on that point, then I would ask you to be the one who provides the links.

I do find it encouraging, though, that you think the idea of more permissive measures under Trump has some significance that might undermine the idea (which most of us truly don’t want) that we have switched sides.

 

Top secret stuff that nobody knows about. Got it. I'll stick to my belief that we (at least at the top) are now on Russia's side in this conflict, based on what Trump and other top administration officials are saying and doing. Links are everywhere. Easy enough for you to find them if you want.

 

Which country do you think will be the next fruit in Russia's breakfast meal?

 

A baltic breakfast burrito....or perhaps some Moldova toast

 

No need to be like that. I was being earnest. I understand links are everywhere about the President’s words. And well deserved in my opinion. I don’t find the words any less infuriating than your good self. I was referring to links that indicate we are starting to choke off military assistance (and I don’t just mean the material kind) to Ukraine. There’s nothing out there. And for good reason. I think you’ll find leaks aplenty the moment that starts to happen.

 

Concur. Sec. Hegseth imploring NATO to up their annual defense spend to 5% of GDP, blessing the idea of European NATO troops stationed in Ukraine as peacekeepers seems to have more practical value than refrain in calling Zelenskyy a despot.

 

I'm seriously asking you to please stop making military recommendations. None of the things you suggest in this post would have made a difference in achieving the end goal you stated of "Crushing the Russians causing their country to fall apart."

A couple more armored brigades might have made a difference in the defense of Pokrovsk over the summer in slowing the RGF advance but it would not have provide the AFU with enough end strength to conduct a large scale counter offensive along the main FLOT/FLET in the East. Additional F-16's would not make a significant difference while the battlefield is littered with Russian Air Defense units that can shoot down F-16's and intercept their air to surface munitions. It's not like the AFU is executing SEED missions left and right so it would also not have increase maneuverability for them.

 

Fair enough. Sorry I was being overly flippant. But I do think things are changing and I will be very surprised if we increase our support of Ukraine under Trump. I think we will abandon them.

 

In all honesty, the moment it starts to happen or 6 - 8 weeks after it starts in our warehouses...I would guess that we wouldn't hear about it until well after the decisions had been made.

 

If this is part of some strategy, again why are we already announcing Russia doesn’t have to give up land and Ukraine won’t get NATO membership, before negotiations even begin? What kind of strategy is that?

 

Macron, what a real leader looks like

Macron informs Zelenskyy about new agreements regarding Ukraine

Zelenskyy also spoke about his conversation with the President of France.

"Emmanuel informed me about his new contacts and new agreements with partners. It is very important to prepare reliable security guarantees. This is a joint effort by partners, and we highly appreciate the activity of each leader," the head of state noted.

Meeting of European leaders in Paris

On February 17, French President Emmanuel Macron gathered leaders of several European countries in Paris for an "emergency summit" to discuss European security issues. One of the main reasons for the meeting was the policy of newly elected US President Donald Trump.

One of the key topics of the Paris summit was further support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

 

Trump just threw his "legacy", or what was left of it, in the toilet. He will have the same reputation as Neville Chamberlain in the history books, maybe worse. Neville surrendered freedom and democracy to Hitler before Germany invaded Poland. Trump is trying to surrender freedom and democracy to Putin three years AFTER Russia invaded Ukraine. He literally has no excuse for his foolishness. Negotiating a surrender of Ukraine is something that only TRUMP, and the Trump Administration, WOULD do. He's not saving Ukraine--he's condemning it. Zelenskyy has done a far better job of leading his country, and the world, than Trump could ever do. Russia owns Trump lock, stock, and barrel. The history books will relate the story of Zelenskyy as the inspirational (and possibly ill-fated) hero, and Trump as the foolish coward and Russian stooge.

Trump really should think twice about his "big, beautiful ocean" defense from Russian weapons. It's not 1938 anymore, Neville. The ocean is nowhere near as big as it used to be, from a weapons capability perspective.

Not sure why Trump is overly fixated on the money that the U.S. sent to Ukraine. Since the first few months of the war, we haven't sent any--we have only been donating weapons, ammo and training.

 

If it was earnest negotiating strategy I would say the architect should be immediately fired and not trusted to negotiate more than a fruit purchase at the local farmers market. However, I firmly believe there are more sinister motives to their words.

 

I think he prefers to be called "Lee Harvey".

 

Nothing I haven’t already postulated: if you think the negotiations are going to ultimately fail (I certainly do) and you’re only real goal is to get Putin to the table for pro forma reasons, then what difference does it make what you imply is on the table?