War in Ukraine

US disbands Biden-era kleptocratic program of stealing yachts of Russian billionaires who mostly hated Putin …

DOJ Issues Directive Ending Biden-Era Task Force Aimed At Seizing Assets Of Russian Oligarchs | ZeroHedge

 

Looks like Russia has provided some motivation for Germany to invest a little in its own self-defense. They are starting work on developing the Leopard 3 tank, which will have a 130mm main tank gun.

Germany Kicks Off Work On Leopard 3 Main Battle Tank

In the photo, the new 130mm round is on the left, and the old 120mm round is on the right in front of the center of the gun.

 

It would only be kleptocratic if the U.S. intended to keep the proceeds from these yachts. I thought you might be smart enough to understand that. The proceeds will be given to a far more deserving country than Russia; they will go to Ukraine, the innocent victim of Russia's imperialistic and homicidal land theft.

It's unlikely that the oligarchs universally and completely hated Putin. Putin allowed them to get wealthy. As a dictator, he could have easily taken over any oligarch's business and/or fortune with a swipe of the pen, and there is nothing that the oligarch could do about it.

 

That attitude would be suicidal for Putin--a dictator is always looking over his shoulder worried about who is coming after him. Plus, I have to believe that Putin values his legacy far more than that. He admires (and probably thinks he emulates) Peter the Great of Russian history, the first Russian emperor. In private, he knows that he has certainly failed by that standard.

 

Not surprising. When you think victory is a certainty, cruelty can be a useful tool to speed things along. The risk, of course, is in not winning, as we have seen many times in history. I would continue to caution management of expectations in terms of seeing any justice, though. War crimes trials are for losers, and the only way Russia loses (at least in the sense of facing international justice) is in the event of political collapse. Further, our government, Republican and Democrat, has a strong interest in seeing Russia not collapse. To different degrees, we all want to see Ukraine survive and Russia humbled … but not to the point of collapse. I am curious to see how this Administration plans to navigate that tightrope. I surely was not a fan of the last Administration’s methods. Regardless, I don’t think we will ever see the accountability the Ukrainian people deserve.

 

Europe in a video …

 

Ukrainian soldiers fighting North Koreans: ‘They shoot well, they move well, but they are used as cannon fodder’

Some more information on the Asiatic Russian units whose soldiers only understand the North Korean dialect.

 

another shadow fleet goes down. asymetrical warfare to make up for the cables getting cut? cut a cable, someone sinks a ship?

or is this what lack of maintenance and hard running results in catastrophic failures

Explosions Hit Russia Shadow Fleet Tanker Docked Near Putin's Home City
Russia's Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport, Rosmorrechflot, said "an explosion took place in the engine room" of the Koala vessel on Sunday morning, forcing the crew to evacuate.

Outlets, including Baza, which is linked to Russia's security services, and St. Petersburg's Fontanka said as many as three explosions struck the vessel's engine room. Baza said the explosions occurred as it prepared to set sail.

Independent Russian news outlet Important Stories said the ship, built in 2023, was heading to Egypt. The outlet said Greenpeace classifies Koala as part of Russia's shadow fleet.

The vessel, which according to the Kyiv Post was carrying 130,000 tons of fuel oil, was docked in Ust-Luga port, some 100 miles from the Russian president's home city St. Petersburg, when the explosions occurred.

 

And his vision of a Greater America looks to be blowing up in his face as well …

 

Like a wrecking ball …

 

so close to copying Israeli pager scheme. shopuld have bought a shrink wrap machine to make the look unopened

that struggling supply chain sure would seem to be ripe for such subterfuge

Russian drone operators reportedly received explosive headsets — plans dashed by packaging

These goggles reportedly contained a small amount of plastic explosive — about 10 to 15 grams — but its placement near the temple of the operator makes it quite deadly. Since they were set to detonate once the goggles had been activated, it almost certainly guarantees that a drone pilot might have been wearing them when the explosive charge detonated.

⚔️ Straight from the Israeli Playbook: Russia Intercepts Explosive-Laden AR Goggles Meant for Frontline TroopsRussian authorities have intercepted a shipment of FPV goggles rigged with explosives, allegedly intended to detonate upon first use.According to Russian war… pic.twitter.com/brmncNweZtFebruary 7, 2025

The booby-trapped items in question are FPV Skyzone Cobra goggles acquired from China by reportedly unwitting volunteers, and they were transported into the country via the Russian parcel service SDEK. The operation was thwarted because the Russian military noticed the packages were seemingly tampered with, showing signs of being opened. Upon closer inspection, it was noticed that the FPV goggles looked like they had been previously opened, which led to the discovery of the hidden explosives. Perhaps the cunning saboteurs should have invested in a shrinkwrap machine.

 

I'm surprised this thread is still going since Trump ended the war on his first day in office

 

so djt and Putin made a deal and now he has sent his minions to try and convince the EU it is a good deal. I wonder how many towers Putin agreed to finance in Istanbul and Qatar.

By law, isn't the conversation required to be memorialized? do you think he recorded this one as required by law? he didn't have much respect for those laws last time so I'm going to go with nope.

so the EU is going to be responsible for security guarantees? do they understand that if the EU is attacked / engaged in war then we are too?

I expect a minerals rights deal to placate djt for now. Z already threw him that bone to chew on

US officials bound for Europe for top-level talks on Ukraine

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Sunday that top administration officials will meet with European officials this week about how to end the war in Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia launched an all-out invasion.

Less than a day earlier, the New York Post reported that Trump had a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss steps toward a negotiated solution. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump declined to discuss his reported phone conversation with Putin.
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In a television interview, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the Russian economy is not doing well and that Trump “is prepared to tax, to tariff, to sanction” Moscow to get Putin to the negotiating table. Waltz also underscored that the Trump administration is looking to use this week’s engagements to begin talks on clawing back some of the United States’ assistance to Ukraine. He said European allies will also need to take a greater role in supporting Ukraine going forward.

“We need to recoup those costs and that is going to be a partnership with the Ukrainians in terms of their natural resources and their oil and gas and also buying ours,” Waltz said in an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. “Those conversations are going to happen this week. And I think an underlying principle here is that the Europeans have to own this conflict going forward. President Trump is going to end it. And then in terms of security guarantees, that is squarely going to be with the Europeans.’’


White House Failure to Document Heads of State Meetings Violates Records Law | National Security Archive

Zelensky Open to Trump's Rare-Mineral Partnership: 'Let's Do a Deal' - Newsweek

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Friday he was willing to accept President Donald Trump's deal for continued military aid in the war against Russia in exchange for access to Ukraine's rare earth materials.

"If we are talking about a deal, then let's do a deal, we are only for it," Zelensky told Reuters.

Why It Matters
Trump frequently criticized former President Joe Biden's spending on Ukraine during his presidential campaign. He memorably claimed that the Ukraine-Russia war would end "within 24 hours" once he was back in office. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's unmovable stance has left little room for negotiation.

Just two days after the inauguration, Trump called for an immediate end to the war, threatening to impose "high levels" of sanctions or tariffs on Russia if the fighting continues. No sanctions have been imposed.

 

Russia very much in the driver’s seat …

US Must Recognize 'New Realities' If Serious About Peace In Ukraine, Kremlin Tells Trump | ZeroHedge

 

Ukraine. The globalist libby money laundromat.

 

Skidmark out to bribe Ukraine again.... got him in trouble before.

 

. . . as they drive off a cliff. Putin can be Thelma, and you can be Louise.

 

Russia has gotten desperate enough to send wounded troops to North Korea for medical treatment. The end may not be so far off. It's bad enough for Russia that they are losing the war militarily, but having their economy collapse to the point that they would trust one of the most backward nations on earth to provide medical care for their wounded soldiers must be totally humiliating for Russia. Do you think they wash the rusty hacksaw between amputations?

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/11/...ers-north-korea-treatment-intl-hnk/index.html

 

asymetrical warfare, a cable for you, a tanker for me or Ukranian sabotage divers or drones working behind enemy lines?

'Limpet mines' suspected of blowing three holes in 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in Russian port

A tanker in a Russian port hit by three explosions is suspected to have been damaged by “limpet mines,” according to maritime expert.

Ambrey Intelligence said the incident which struck the Koala vessel comes after other ships with “a similar trading profile” have been damaged by explosions.
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If confirmed, their use would point to a sabotage operation targeting Vladimir Putin’s “shadow fleet” which is being used to try to bust sanctions on oil trade with Russia.

Ukraine has carried out a series of successful maritime sabotage operations against Russian ships.