War in Ukraine

A Russian spy jet has been buzzing U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the Pacific Ocean near Japan for about a week. Just Putin's way of reminding Donald Trump that he knows Trump is a coward and that Putin owns him.

US F-35, F-18 intercept Russian spy jet flying too close to navy’s nuclear carrier

 

Zelenskyy rejects suggestion that U.S. military aid to Ukraine be re-classified as a loan, to be repaid with interest. Just another case of Trump living in his own world, fact-free and ignorantly bliss, trying to extort money from a country in an existential fight for survival with barbarians.

Zelensky: Ukraine will not recognize old US military aid as loans

 

then they need topush forward to push off the launch points for those glide bombs. russia can't ahve much in the way of SAMS left and doubt they have many manpads. with more f-16's and others arriving, force the issue or take control fo the skies over the battlefield. quit sitting back and shootign down missiles

 

Ukrainian forces strike drone launch site in Russia, Putin prepares for war with NATO - Friday brief

Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine gains expanded access to intelligence, stockpiles, and air defense licenses

Partner countries have promised to provide Ukraine with new aid, including licenses for the production of air defense systems.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine will gain expanded access to intelligence data, relevant technologies, and satellites available to European partners.

"We have further agreed with some leaders on our access to their ammunition stockpiles. We have agreed on licenses for the production of air defense systems," he added.

The President clarified that Ukraine will also work on obtaining licenses for the production of certain types of artillery.

 

Russia economy in meltdown as oil giant's profits plummet in headache for Kremlin

Russia's second largest oil producer, Lukoil, has reported a significant drop in profits as the country grapples with an intensifying economic crisis.

The lethal mix of soaring inflation and high interest rates is taking a heavy toll on Russian businesses and consumers. The Central Bank has been compelled to maintain its key interest rate at a recent record high of 21% in an effort to reduce inflation from 10.10%. Numerous companies with significant exposure to bank loans are finding it difficult to repay their debts as they strive to remain solvent.
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Lukoil cited asset impairment losses and increased deferred taxes as reasons for its stunning 26.5% decline in net profit for 2024. The firm reported a net profit of 848.5 billion rubles ($10.1 billion) last year, a decrease from 1.1 trillion rubles ($13.7 billion) in 2023.

Russian wheat exports are projected to drop to 47 million tonnes in 2025, down from 59 million tonnes the previous year, as per ship broking house Howe Robinson Partners.

 

Is the EU extorting Ukraine with this loan ?

https://apnews.com/article/eu-ukrai...er-war-leyen-c34f6d182d7d9f5e9a30436374c41674


EU pledges to loan Ukraine up to $39 billion to help rebuild its economy and power grid

 

Poster did not read his article or would not have compared the EU loan to the felon's pathetic extortion attempt. The EU is using the interest from the frozen Russian assets to offset the loan to rebuild Ukraine, thus making Russia pay.

 

They may be waiting until they have a critical mass of trained fighter pilots and operational aircraft before going full-bore on Russia through the skies.

 

The difference is that Trump has decided to reclassify DONATIONS made during the Biden years as loans to be repaid during the Trump years. Europe is being upfront and honest about classifying their provisions as loans that will eventually need to be re-paid.

Has anyone ever given you a gift and later asked you to consider it a loan and set up a schedule to re-pay it? How would you react to that?

 

How about you answer the question if you’re going to jump in the conversation?

 

Actually. Fair point. I incorrectly understood it as the assets were paying the interest only and not the return of principal. I was wrong. Good for the euros for securitizing close to 40b.

 

The U.S. did the same with at least $20B. Whether the Russian assets ever goes toward the principal is another matter. I suspect these are the sort of “loans” that never get paid back anyway. But it looks good on paper.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2744

 

Putin not happy Ukraine not doing as trump tells them

Donald Trump savaged by Russia in rare attack as trouble looms between nations

Russian media launched a scathing critique of Donald Trump, branding him as a "leader not leading and boss not bossing" amid faltering ceasefire negotiations.

However, the publication criticized the US President for rejecting Russia's proposal that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky resign immediately to pave the way for new elections preceding any ceasefire agreement. Trump openly conveyed his irritation, stating he felt both "angry" and "p***** off" by the demand.
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Yet, Russian propaganda channels lambasted the president for not exerting greater pressure on Ukraine. BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg relayed the outlet's sentiment: "Right now, the leader is not leading, the boss is not bossing.

"The Trump administration is demonstrating a strange passivity, a strange inconsistency and a strange inability to fulfil the obligations it took upon itself," the outlet reported. As per Mr. Rosenberg, Russia has been dropping hints that are far from subtle about its other methods to end the war.