quote:

It is crazy that this guy is still alive. He ripped off the U.S. people, and killed off his own citizens, and equally crazy there are still folks in this country that still supports this insanity.
Swinging like Mussolini is too kind of a gesture.

It is crazy that this guy is still alive. But he won't hang. He won't be prosecuted.
If he was actually smart, he would call for elections. That might give him an out.
One day we will wake up to the news that he's had a tragic accident or he's been murdered... which in his case will probably be the same thing. In some ways, he's somewhat useful to the Russians so I don't think they have an incentive to take him out, at least not yet.
But he's walking a tightrope with the Ukrainians. I don't think he lives to enjoy the ill-gotten gains of his grift.

https://x.com/libsoftiktok/sta...nistration-day-23%2F

^^^ Stevie Wonder could have seen that coming.

I started this thread two years ago yesterday and there has been nothing on any of its pages which might sway me from my original comments in the least.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
^^^ Stevie Wonder could have seen that coming.

The first fact that is missing from the Tucker clip is that he was recently at a very luxurious, expensive ski resort for business (not skiing) in Europe, and all of the very wealthy spenders, some spending a million bucks for their vacations, were all Ukrainians, all of them.

Here is another clip in regards to weapons stolen for sale.

https://x.com/MyLordBebo/statu...nistration-day-23%2F

Posted by Fed161, page 68

quote:

…if you google Ukrainian vs Russian casualties …

Absolutely no disrespect or offense intended. But I'd believe a $20 bill from George Floyd before anything coming out of there. All those figures come from people with various axes to grind.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Posted by Fed161, page 68

quote:

…if you google Ukrainian vs Russian casualties …

Absolutely no disrespect or offense intended. But I'd believe a $20 bill from George Floyd before anything coming out of there. All those figures come from people with various axes to grind.

No offense taken at all. Casualty figures by both Russia and Ukraine are state secrets in both countries. So all of the estimates come from those who are not a party to the conflict. So it's anybodies guess what the actual figures are. If you look at the history of armed conflict, it's almost always the case that invading armies suffer more casualties than defending armies. The defenders are familiar with the terrain and have other advantages. Plus if you look at the history of the beginning of the invasion, Russia did not have the element of surprise. There 3 day "special military operation" was a complete failure. Multiple western intelligence agencies told Ukraine that the invasion was definitely happening. So they did prepare;

The Battle of Hostomel Airport: A Key Moment in Russia’s Defeat in Kyiv. https://www.cnas.org/publicati...ssias-defeat-in-kyiv

Once they failed to take the airport quickly so they could fly in reinforcements, it was just a matter of time before the Russians were expelled from the capital Kyiv. And they were. Plus they made a huge mistake. They actually thought they would be greeted as liberators (sound familiar). They weren't. Civilian resistance fighters contributed to expelling the Russians from large parts of Ukraine. An example.

Wedding planner Vitalii, who asked to be identified only by his first name, recruited 10 friends –including a farmer, a coffee shop owner and a firefighter– for a team of civilian resistance fighters. Most of them had never loaded a gun.

"So that was our team, different people, different in age and social status," Vitalii said.

Wedding planner Vitalii recruited 10 friends for a team of civilian resistance fighters.

They improvised a base near the Dnipro River and ran hit-and-run raids, including an attack on a small Russian boat. Vitalii claims the unit killed a major, a captain, two lieutenants, a senior sergeant and a soldier during the attack.

Let me end with some agreement with you. Long term things do look grim for Ukraine. Russia does not care how many casualties they have. This is from the NY Times - and I agree with it.

Ukraine Is Losing Fewer Soldiers Than Russia — but It’s Still Losing the War

Russia has lost about twice as many men to death and serious injury as Ukraine. But the trends favor the Kremlin.

Memo to the West
You've been Bamboozled!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
You cause is a lost one, President Zelenskyy. When all is said and done, at least a portion of your country will end up being annexed by Russia and though I am not a political expert or a military strategist, it seems to me that there is no way that the Ukraine can prevail in this war.

Ukraine regaining pre-2014 borders is 'unrealistic objective,' Hegseth says in first NATO visit

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told allies at NATO headquarters Wednesday that "returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective" as President Donald Trump is working to bring an end to the war.

Hegseth, speaking to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Belgium, also said "stark strategic realities prevent the United States from being primarily focused on the security of Europe" because the U.S. is focusing on "securing our own borders" and "deterring war with China in the Pacific."

"President Trump has been clear with the American people -- and with many of your leaders -- that stopping the fighting and reaching an enduring peace is a top priority," Hegseth said about Ukraine, noting that the war is approaching its third anniversary.

"He intends to end this war by diplomacy and bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the table. And the U.S. Department of Defense will help achieve this goal," Hegseth continued. "We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering."

In early 2014, Russia first invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula before annexing the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin then launched a larger military conflict with Ukraine in 2022, which remains ongoing.

"A durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again," Hegseth said Wednesday. "The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops."

"If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact," he continued. "To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine."

Trump, during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on "Special Report," said "tremendous progress" has been made over the last week when it comes to a Ukraine-Russia peace deal.

"They have tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth, in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things. I want to have our money secured because we're spending hundreds of billions of dollars," Trump said about Ukraine. "And, you know, they may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday."

"I told them that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion worth of rare earth. And they've essentially agreed to do that. So at least we don't feel stupid. Otherwise, we're stupid," Trump added. "I said to them, we have to, we have to get something. We can't continue to pay this money, you know.

In an interview this week with The Guardian, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no" and that "Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees."

Hegseth also said he is in Brussels today to "directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.

"The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland. We must -- and we are -- focusing on securing our own borders," he said. "We also face a peer competitor in China with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific."

"The U.S. is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognizing the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing tradeoffs to ensure deterrence does not fail," Hegseth added. "As the United States shifts its attention to these threats, European allies must lead from the front."

^^^^^^^^^^^^

quote:

"If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact," he continued. "To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine."

Now let's see how eager Britain, France, and Poland are to jump into the conflict. They have been spouting off for along time how troops should be sent into Ukraine. I bet we never here a word of that again.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
^^^^^^^^^^^^

quote:

"If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact," he continued. "To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine."

Now let's see how eager Britain, France, and Poland are to jump into the conflict. They have been spouting off for along time how troops should be sent into Ukraine. I bet we never here a word of that again.

Now that Trump has made it very clear that no more American treasure will be going there and most importantly NO American sons and daughters will ever be sent there to that meat grinder, this will be all these other countries:

I had been reading some comments in Russian military message boards about Bradleys, JDAMS, and even ATACMS ending up in Venezuela and Iran through Ukraine's illicit arms network.

As outraged as I am reading those headlines I take comfort in knowing Trump sold loser Zelensky out and not only does Zelensky now us $500,000,000,000 in minerals, Putin gets to keep the land he liberated and then some .

Bitter Zelensky dismisses U.S. peace plan for Ukraine ahead of meeting with JD Vance: Live updates

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...-russia-ukraine.html

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed suggestions Donald Trump has a peace plan for Ukraine just hours before meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Munich.

Speaking at a security conference in the German city, Zelensky said talks held so far with Trump are 'definitely not enough' to form a settlement with Russia after the U.S. President indicated earlier this week there was a 'good possibility' of ending the war.

Zelensky also reiterated he wants Ukraine to join NATO despite Trump declaring 'I don't see that happening,' following his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

It comes as Zelensky is expected to meet Vance and Marco Rubio in Munich later as Trump's top team seeks to press ahead with plans to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Wouldn’t be the worst thing for everyone involved if the Ukrainians disappeared that clown and replaced him with someone who isn’t a grandstanding nitwit. He’s done everything possible to enrich himself and prolong the conflict.

Little man, take a seat and let the grownups handle things.

https://x.com/ShadowofEzra/sta...nistration-day-27%2F

Trump envoy sparks fury as 'Europe is excluded' from Ukraine-Russia peace talks: Macron calls emergency summit

By ALYSSA GUZMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 14:14 EST, 15 February 2025 | UPDATED: 15:02 EST, 15 February 2025

President Donald Trump's envoy has sparked fury among European leaders after being told they would be excluded from the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, causing Emmanuel Macron to call for an emergency summit.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, 80, has encouraged Europe to join the conversation about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, but ultimately said they won't have a final say in the resolution.

'That is not going to happen,' he said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

'And to my European friends, I would say: get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals, ideas, ramp up [defense] spending.'

Kellogg defended the US' position to keep the meeting small, stating that last time the meeting included too many countries and no agreement was made.

However, many European leaders are worried about being excluded from the conversation over fears the decision will directly - and negatively - affect their countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron, 47, is holding an emergency summit in Paris on Sunday with European leaders to discuss the matter, Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there is 'no time to lose' and leaders need to meet immediately to discuss a plan.

'Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interest,' he said.

'This plan must be prepared now.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 47, who spoke at the conference, had warned European leaders that they would more than likely not get a spot at the negotiation table.

Zelensky also warned President Trump not to deal with Vladimir Putin 'behind our backs' when it comes to Ukraine's future.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said: 'I believe the time has come to create an armed forces of Europe. Money alone will not stop an enemy assault.

'It is not just about budgets, it is about people realizing they need to defend their own home.'

We need this so that 'decisions about Europe are made in Europe,' Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian leader was alluding to a phone conversation between Trump and Putin, after which the Republican president said the two would likely meet to negotiate a peace deal.

rump later assured Zelensky that he, too, would have a seat at the table to end the war that was sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

'Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,' Zelensky said.

'A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot.

'The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.'

Zelensky insisted that 'three years of full-scale war have proven that we already have the foundation for a united European military force.'

And noting the presence of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the audience, Zelensky explained that his idea 'wasn't about replacing the alliance.'

'This is about making Europe's contribution to our partnership equal to America's,' the Ukrainian leader said.

Kellogg is insistent the deal with make sure the ceasefire is permanent and that Ukraine will retain its sovereignty.

The envoy expects a deal to happen within weeks or months.

Zelensky Rejects Trump's Draft Deal To Take Half Ukraine's Mineral Reserves

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...nes-mineral-feserves

Financial Times is reporting Saturday that Ukraine has rejected the Trump administration's bid to take a 50% ownership stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals as compensation for continued US defense and budgetary aid.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with President Zelensky Wednesday to review a draft deal, but no details were given. Bessent reportedly handed Zelensky the written proposal to consider, but no other details were given.

It appears still early in the negotiations, however. "We are still talking," Zelensky said from Munich Saturday. “I have had different dialogues."

The thrust of Trump's complaint about Ukraine and plans to rectify the situation was seen in his earlier comments, saying, "We're telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earth (minerals). We want what we put up to go in terms of a guarantee. We want a guarantee. We're handing them money hand over fist."

"I want to have security of rare earth. We're putting in hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earth, and I want security of the rare earth (minerals). And they're willing to do it," he had explained.

Trump and top officials later articulated that the US wants a guarantee of $500 billion worth of Ukraine's estimated trillion dollars of rare earth wealth.

FT writes Ukraine's rejection of Bessent's proposal as follows:

Zelenskyy wants American and European security guarantees to be tied directly to any deal on the mineral reserves, according to four people familiar with the US-Ukraine negotiations. He is also keen for other countries, including EU states, to be involved in future natural resource exploitation.

But the deal proposed by Trump and delivered by Bessent only referenced the US getting Ukrainian resources in exchange for past military assistance, and did not contain any proposals for similar future assistance, according to a person familiar with the document.

If accurate, then this is indeed all about Trump recouping US losses, after months ago mocking Zelensky as the "world's greatest salesman" for his ability to procure billions in US taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile...

ZELENSKIY: UKRAINE'S MARTIAL LAW PREVENTS HOLDING ELECTIONS

The now rejected proposal reportedly laid out that Ukraine would transfer transfer partial control of its valuable mineral resources to Washington in place of making financial repayments.

Zelensky now sees himself as having a little leverage with the Trump administration, amid fears of a 'bad' peace deal with Russia...



The war-ravaged country is known for having one of the largest confirmed reserves of lithium, and also has semiconductor-grade neon gas that is critical for chip production - as well as beryllium, uranium, manganese, zirconium, apatite, iron ore.

If the US isn't putting boots into Ukraine (other than one up Zelenskyy's ass), then Europe as a whole has got a bit of problem to sort out.

"The UK military is "so run down" it could not lead any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, the former head of the Army has said." - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czep44jn9jyo