He's not infallible.

Of course not, but his track record is excellent, and this is not the political novice of 2017. This is the wise and experienced Donald Trump of 2025. President Trump seems to be playing several moves ahead of his critics and opponents and it is quite remarkable how often he turns out to be right.

I'll cast my lot with him, thank you.

I agree the man has game.
Watched him in his two hrs staff meeting today and watched his prideful face when his staff was speaking.
We are so lucky to have him fighting for us. I think about all he is getting done then flip over and see what the other side is doing and its really sad that they haven't the first clue what is going on or why they lost to him. They just keep spewing the same old bs like its going to somehow land different on the people. It does land on the few fucked up that follow that bs but it won’t win them anything come election time.
We the people are sick and tired of the same fucked up crap they are slinging. They cannot even come up with anything new. Its oh lets impeach Trump again.
You see a few dems coming around but not many and again just think of how much good could be accomplished if they would work at all with him instead of against him.

The minerals are mostly in the eastern part of Ukraine, which is now part of Russia.

This deal really is meaningless, but it's a "feel good" moment. We should have just walked away and let Europe deal with Ukraine. That would send a stronger message to NATO.
***

Kremlin Reacts To Minerals Deal Signing: 'Trump Has Broken The Zelensky Regime'

The Kremlin has said that what the newly signed minerals deal between Ukraine and Washington does is effectively force Kiev to pay for all future military aid.

"Trump has broken the Kyiv regime to the point where they will have to pay for U.S. aid with mineral resources," Medvedev, a former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, stated on Telegram.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko sign the deal. US Department of the Treasury/Reuters

"Now they will have to pay for military supplies with the national wealth of a disappearing country," he said of the Ukrainians.

As of yet, the full contents of the newly inked deal, finalized and signed late in the day Wednesday, have not been revealed, but it gives the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and its natural resources like oil and gas, and will fund investment in Ukraine's reconstruction.

But the Zelensky government was able to get something crucial dropped at the last minute. As CNN details, "Compared to earlier drafts, the final agreement is reportedly less lopsided in favor of the US and is not as far-reaching. It stipulates that future American military assistance to Ukraine will count as part of the US investment into the fund, rather than calling for reimbursement for past assistance."

President Trump's initial reaction after the signing was seen in the following:

Speaking Wednesday in a call with NewsNation, Trump said he made the deal to “protect” Washington’s contribution to the Ukrainian war effort. “We made a deal today where we get, you know, much more in theory, than the $350 billion but I wanted to be protected,” Trump said.

“I didn’t want to be out there and look foolish,” he continued, voicing the administration's longtime complaints that Zelensky only asks for "more and more" - and yet is still losing the war.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire process is still basically stalled, as neither side has backed off of their demands and conditions. President Zelensky has recently reiterated that he can't even legally give up Crimea.

However, Trump presidential special envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg has told Fox News that Ukraine is ready to make territorial concessions, but wouldn't see any ceded territory as a permanent situion.

"Not de jure forever, but de facto, because the Russians actually occupy that and they've agreed to that. They know that if they have a ceasefire in place, which means you sit on the ground that you currently hold, that's what they're willing to go to," the envoy said. "You have your line set, and they're willing to go there," Kellogg emphasized.

But it's clear the Kremlin sees this as an issue of sovereignty and permanence, given President Putin has described the four annexed territories and Crimea as "ours forever".

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...oken-zelensky-regime

I put my faith in President Trump. Anyone here who doesn't take a wait-and-see approach, and who behaves as if they know better than this man who is supposed to be in prison right now but instead is once again the most powerful man in the world, that's your problem alone.

Yes, I'm certain that you and some web article writer knows how to get things done so much more efficiently than Donald Trump.

For ten years, people have been saying the man is wrong. What a proud moment it must be for you to join that club.

Ditto

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
The minerals are mostly in the eastern part of Ukraine, which is now part of Russia.

This deal really is meaningless, but it's a "feel good" moment. We should have just walked away and let Europe deal with Ukraine. That would send a stronger message to NATO.

zerohedge? ZEROHEDGE? On a more serious note, I'll go with Trump.

quote:

the full contents of the newly inked deal, finalized and signed late in the day Wednesday, have not been revealed

A minor detail from the article.

Trump vs Zelensky- My money's on Trump any day.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: braillediver,

Following the minerals deal, munitions and arms shipments to Ukraine will resume. The difference is this is a sale. Ukraine will pay.

https://www.scrippsnews.com/wo...lowing-minerals-deal

US Approves $310M Training & Sustainment For Ukraine's F-16s After Minerals Deal Signed

Authored by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,
https://news.antiwar.com/2025/...-for-ukraines-f-16s/

The State Department has approved a potential $310.5 million arms sale to Ukraine for training and sustainment of the country’s fleet of US-made F-16 fighter jets, signaling that the Trump administration is preparing to provide long-term military support.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the sale will include aircraft modifications, upgrades, personnel training, maintenance, sustainment support, and other types of equipment.

Several of the US’s European allies have provided Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, and the US, under the Biden administration, was involved in training Ukrainian pilots. A report from The War Zone just revealed that the US has been providing Ukraine with decommissioned, non-operational F-16 fighter jets.

A US Air Force spokesman told The War Zone that the Air Force has "supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts."

"These F-16s were retired from active US use and are not flyable. Importantly, they lack critical components such as an engine or radar and could not be reconstituted for operational use," the statement said.

The approval of the F-16 training and sustainment deal came a few days after the Trump administration moved forward with its very first arms sale for Ukraine by notifying Congress of its plans to approve the export of unspecified "defense articles" worth $50 million or more.

That first sale is being moved forward as a direct commercial sale (DCS), a deal where the State Department gives a private company permission to sell weapons directly to a foreign government. The F-16 training and sustainment deal is a Foreign Military Sale (FMS), which involves the US government in the sale.

The US-Ukraine minerals deal signed last week also signals that the US is planning to provide long-term military support.

Under the agreement, future US military aid will count as a contribution to a joint US-Ukraine investment fund. Critics have said this ensures the US is even more intertwined in Ukraine's fate.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...minerals-deal-signed

I'll just leave this here...



https://x.com/RealAlexJones/st.../1921566762601967620


ETA - Ahh, Russian Disinformation...

https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/...cy-spread-by-russia/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nhracecraft,

^^^^^ There’s no scandal. Just shit propagated by the conspiracy crowd. Alex Jones.

“Bag of white powder” looked like a wadded up Kleenex to me

The way francie tried to remove/hide it a couple times did look suspicious.

Let's move on, please.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsDioOe-SPo

Once again, Zelensky is buzzing around like an annoying gnat or fly... he's more a hindrance than a help to peace:

Ukraine's President Zelensky is actually in Istanbul, where he's set to meet with President Erdogan, and has boasted that "I am here" and that Putin is not. Zelensky has even called the Russian delegation, largely composed of junior officials, "phony".

President Trump meanwhile, while attending meetings in Qatar, was asked by a reporter why the American leader is not himself present in Turkey for the talks:

"Why would he go if I’m not going?"

"I wasn’t planning to go and I didn’t think he would if I didn’t."

"But we have people there. Marco's doing a fantastic job, Marco's there..."

It remains that Putin has little reason or incentive to go, with war analysts widely recognizing that he remains in the driver's seat militarily, and with Ukrainian forces against the ropes.

Zelensky has until now offered no major concessions, and issues like permanent control over Crimea and the four eastern territories remain sticking points for Moscow. Thus there are unlikely to be any major breakthroughs in Istanbul, but the fact that the two sides are even at the table is a big accomplishment.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...es-istanbul-20-talks

President Trump stated previously that he would impose more sanctions on Russia if they do not agree to a cease fire. The threats keep being made, but nothing ever happens. It seems to me that it would be far better not to make any threats at all, then to make empty threats with no follow through.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/0...ump-peace-talks.html

Trump, Putin to Talk to End 'Bloodbath' in Ukraine

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/...-in-ukraine-n2657214

President Donald Trump announced he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week to put an end to what he called the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. Growing impatient with the never-ending war, Trump positioned himself as the only leader capable of brokering peace. The president emphasized the staggering loss of life and vowed to stop the senseless conflict.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump announced that he would speak with Putin at 10 am on Monday, following the first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul since the early aftermath of the 2022 invasion. This comes after Putin opted out of attending peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.

“The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade,” Trump wrote. “I will then be speaking to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and then, with President Zelenskyy, various members of NATO. Hopefully, it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end. God bless us all!!!”

After wrapping up his four-day trip to the Middle East this week, Trump told reporters that he would soon call Putin in hopes of solving the conflict.

“He and I will meet, and I think we'll solve it or maybe not,” Trump said. “At least we'll know. And if we don't solve it, it'll be very interesting.”

While Moscow has not officially responded to news of the planned conversation between Trump and Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Saturday that Russia remains open to a possible meeting between the Russian president and Ukrainian President Zelensky— but only if meaningful progress is made in peace negotiations.

The Kremlin also stated that a peace agreement would require Ukraine to declare itself neutral, giving up any plans to join NATO. Additionally, Ukraine would need to agree not to host foreign troops or weapons on its soil and formally recognize Russian control over Crimea and the four disputed regions.

As part of his push to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said he’s prepared to put economic pressure on Moscow, promising to drive down oil prices and impose new sanctions if Russia refuses to come to the table soon. Trump said he has a strong relationship with Putin and believes they can reach a deal, adding that he’s ready to meet directly with Putin himself, expressing frustration with relying on others to handle the talks.

The leaders of the UK, Italy, France and Germany will be speaking with Trump before his call with Putin. This is an effort to make sure everyone is on the same page. Put another way, they will attempt to stiffen Trump's spine before his call with Putin.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news...-call-as-ukraine-hit