Current Affairs Ukraine

[Yarrgh]

Medvedev is a gob (what kopites are before I get another warning for bad language). But that is reporting what he said in July last year according to the article.

I'm going a bit conspiracy theorist on this but after Putin's interview by Tucker, the death of Navalny and the swing to a Russian advantage in the war, we will be seeing a lot more of this type of article.

Then again, Russia has enough bs spouters to fill several newspapers worth of stories that makes them look like idiots.

 

[Drico]

It'd definitely be a gamble but a calculated one. I'm sure that many analysts will have it that a Russian/Putin victory would the worst possible outcome for the world/democracy. And let's be clear, that is what is on the table here.

A gamble that only the Europeans would be taking. Time for the Republicans to stump up or get off the pot.

Anyway, there is no point worrying about how we fund Ukrainian reconstruction (it will largely be a European endeavour anyway, if it ever happens). When Trump wins, there won't be a Ukraine to rebuild.

 

[tantavisiteler]

Time for the Republicans to stump up or get off the pot.

U hoping for Trump's return mate?

 

[Drico]

U hoping for Trump's return mate?

Incredible how scepticism at American foreign policy - being effectively dictated, right now, by MAGA Republicans - leads somebody to assume one might be a Trumpist.

My whole argument is that Trumpist US interests - and more moderate Americans working within the reality that the Republicans will stymie progressive US interventions - are heaping all of the risk in taking on Putin conveniently onto European shoulders. And then profiting from that in the process.

Europe already assumes the bulk of the risk. It's existential for many European countries. What we don't need to do is be patsies for duplicitious Americans in the process.

If we are going to risk Russian blowback, we need to do that together. If we truly want to save Ukraine, allow them into NATO. But we hear plenty of reasons why that can't happen (incuding some very good ones). Then we see the risk being pushed onto the Europeans in a pious, self-serving, and very profitable way by some in the US. In other words, Europe needs to do more for Ukraine - but let's not be the Americans' useful idiots.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

'China has a lot more to lose': U.S. considering sanctioning Chinese firms aiding Russia's war

The U.S. is considering slapping sanctions on Chinese companies it believes are helping Russia fuel its war in Ukraine, members of Congress told CNBC.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Incredible how scepticism at American foreign policy - being effectively dictated, right now, by MAGA Republicans - leads somebody to assume one might be a Trumpist.

My whole argument is that Trumpist US interests - and more moderate Americans working within the reality that the Republicans will stymie progressive US interventions - are heaping all of the risk in taking on Putin conveniently onto European shoulders. And then profiting from that in the process.

Europe already assumes the bulk of the risk. It's existential for many European countries. What we don't need to do is be patsies for duplicitious Americans in the process.

If we are going to risk Russian blowback, we need to do that together. If we truly want to save Ukraine, allow them into NATO. But we hear plenty of reasons why that can't happen (incuding some very good ones). Then we see the risk being pushed onto the Europeans in a pious, self-serving, and very profitable way by some in the US. In other words, Europe needs to do more for Ukraine - but let's not be the Americans' useful idiots.

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed have you?

 

[Drico]

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed have you?

I'm in perfectly fine form, thanks. It's a perfectly well thought out response to the crazy idea that Europe should shoot itself in the head by expropriating frozen Russian assets while the US - with little to no skin in that game - cheers them on. You don't have to be an economics graduate like me living in Europe to see how that might go terribly wrong for Europe.

To be fair to many in the US, this idea is also supported by very ambitious, political opportunists in Europe too - all in the name of career-building. The Americans don't have a monopoly on short-term naked self interest.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

I'm in perfectly fine form, thanks. It's a perfectly well thought out response to the crazy idea that Europe should shoot itself in the head by expropriating frozen Russian assets while the US - with little to no skin in that game - cheers them on. You don't have to be an economics graduate like me living in Europe to see how that might go terribly wrong for Europe.

To be fair to many in the US, this idea is also supported by very ambitious, political opportunists in Europe too - all in the name of career-building. The Americans don't have a monopoly on short-term naked self interest.

Germany agonises over Merkel’s legacy: did she hand too much power to Putin?

The war in Ukraine has prompted criticism of former chancellor’s decisions on Nord Stream pipeline and Russia

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

I'm in perfectly fine form, thanks. It's a perfectly well thought out response to the crazy idea that Europe should shoot itself in the head by expropriating frozen Russian assets while the US - with little to no skin in that game - cheers them on. You don't have to be an economics graduate like me living in Europe to see how that might go terribly wrong for Europe.

To be fair to many in the US, this idea is also supported by very ambitious, political opportunists in Europe too - all in the name of career-building. The Americans don't have a monopoly on short-term naked self interest.

Sorry Comrade you are spewing hate that's all. Your type will have Trump in the White House in no time. Then you will be right.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

On a positive note.

MSN

 

[tsubaki]

Incredible how scepticism at American foreign policy - being effectively dictated, right now, by MAGA Republicans - leads somebody to assume one might be a Trumpist.

My whole argument is that Trumpist US interests - and more moderate Americans working within the reality that the Republicans will stymie progressive US interventions - are heaping all of the risk in taking on Putin conveniently onto European shoulders. And then profiting from that in the process.

Europe already assumes the bulk of the risk. It's existential for many European countries. What we don't need to do is be patsies for duplicitious Americans in the process.

If we are going to risk Russian blowback, we need to do that together. If we truly want to save Ukraine, allow them into NATO. But we hear plenty of reasons why that can't happen (incuding some very good ones). Then we see the risk being pushed onto the Europeans in a pious, self-serving, and very profitable way by some in the US. In other words, Europe needs to do more for Ukraine - but let's not be the Americans' useful idiots.

Europe needs to rearm, and restore indigenous defence production at least to the level of matching production for Ukraine plus building stockpiles sufficient for a major conflict. We (UK and EU together) have to be in a position of strategic independence by next January.

 

[Yarrgh]

Sorry Comrade you are spewing hate that's all. Your type will have Trump in the White House in no time. Then you will be right.

But he's not. @Drico I believe is German, or German based, and has painted a fairly representative German standpoint.

The EU has only so far mooted spending the interest on frozen Russian assets. If they start spending those assets then who would trust their money in European financial institutions? My own suspicion is that they will be used as part of any bargaining when Russia wants re-aqccess into international financial markets and paying for rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure to permit it.

As for being a Trumpist. Well that's for the USA to shoot itself in the foot over. Europe needs to prepare for the worst and be ready for January 2025 as @tsubaki wrote as the USA might be saying do sivydanya if Trump gets in.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

But he's not. @Drico I believe is German, or German based, and has painted a fairly representative German standpoint.

The EU has only so far mooted spending the interest on frozen Russian assets. If they start spending those assets then who would trust their money in European financial institutions? My own suspicion is that they will be used as part of any bargaining when Russia wants re-aqccess into international financial markets and paying for rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure to permit it.

As for being a Trumpist. Well that's for the USA to shoot itself in the foot over. Europe needs to prepare for the worst and be ready for January 2025 as @tsubaki wrote as the USA might be saying do sivydanya if Trump gets in.

If you reread all his comments you can make your own judgement. Everything suggested was anti American. It's like Biden has done nout to help Ukraine. He can believe what he wants but this kind of narrative needs to stay in the political threads.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

But he's not. @Drico I believe is German, or German based, and has painted a fairly representative German standpoint.

The EU has only so far mooted spending the interest on frozen Russian assets. If they start spending those assets then who would trust their money in European financial institutions? My own suspicion is that they will be used as part of any bargaining when Russia wants re-aqccess into international financial markets and paying for rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure to permit it.

As for being a Trumpist. Well that's for the USA to shoot itself in the foot over. Europe needs to prepare for the worst and be ready for January 2025 as @tsubaki wrote as the USA might be saying do sivydanya if Trump gets in.

There is an argument that such a move as seizing assets could be formally or informally agreed that in future any states illegally invading a sovereign nation could face the same. It wouldn't go down well with autocratic or imperialist nations.

 

[Drico]

But he's not. @Drico I believe is German, or German based, and has painted a fairly representative German standpoint.

The EU has only so far mooted spending the interest on frozen Russian assets. If they start spending those assets then who would trust their money in European financial institutions? My own suspicion is that they will be used as part of any bargaining when Russia wants re-aqccess into international financial markets and paying for rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure to permit it.

As for being a Trumpist. Well that's for the USA to shoot itself in the foot over. Europe needs to prepare for the worst and be ready for January 2025 as @tsubaki wrote as the USA might be saying do sivydanya if Trump gets in.

Thank you for that.