The fact that Trump government has alsoI don’t think so. Trump wants to end the war and re-establish good relations with Russia. He can’t force Ukraine to end the war, but he doesn’t need Ukraine’s approval to pursue improved relations with Russia.
I suspect after yesterday’s events he will tell the American people that he tried his best to achieve peace, but found Zelenskyy unreceptive to the idea, so will end America’s support for Ukraine until they are ready for serious talks.
Unless Zelenskyy immediately comes back to the table and indicates that he is willing to engage with the process constructively.
How long will Ukraine last without American military and financial support? Sure Europe could step into the breach, but psychologically and practically the loss of American support would be a huge blow for Ukraine, in my opinion, a fatal one.
So Trump can wait this one out in the knowledge that he’s handing Europe the mother of all hospital passes, and at some point, Zelenskyy will be forced to come back to the table.
In the meantime many Ukrainians are going to die, but Trump’s calculation may be that this is preferable to indefinitely extending the stalemate situation, because that would lead to far more deaths in the long run.
I fail to see what Zelenskyy achieved from the meeting yesterday. In fact, Trump’s problem was that he had a sizeable minority of his own supporters who were broadly pro Ukraine (the Lindsay Graham types), and they are now mostly in Trump’s camp. Total disaster imo.
I don’t think so. Trump wants to end the war and re-establish good relations with Russia. He can’t force Ukraine to end the war, but he doesn’t need Ukraine’s approval to pursue improved relations with Russia.
I suspect after yesterday’s events he will tell the American people that he tried his best to achieve peace, but found Zelenskyy unreceptive to the idea, so will end America’s support for Ukraine until they are ready for serious talks.
Unless Zelenskyy immediately comes back to the table and indicates that he is willing to engage with the process constructively.
How long will Ukraine last without American military and financial support? Sure Europe could step into the breach, but psychologically and practically the loss of American support would be a huge blow for Ukraine, in my opinion, a fatal one.
So Trump can wait this one out in the knowledge that he’s handing Europe the mother of all hospital passes, and at some point, Zelenskyy will be forced to come back to the table.
In the meantime many Ukrainians are going to die, but Trump’s calculation may be that this is preferable to indefinitely extending the stalemate situation, because that would lead to far more deaths in the long run.
I fail to see what Zelenskyy achieved from the meeting yesterday. In fact, Trump’s problem was that he had a sizeable minority of his own supporters who were broadly pro Ukraine (the Lindsay Graham types), and they are now mostly in Trump’s camp. Total disaster imo.
Nope. The US wouldn’t stand a chance at a European invasion.For those of you who are more knowledgeable on the geo political landscape than me potentially see a scenario where the US turn aggressive to the Uk and Europe and threaten us with military should we side completely with Ukraine?
A President can’t unilaterally start a war and even this mental congress wouldn’t rubber stamp it.Thanks I don’t fancy getting in any kind of military tussle with the yanks :)
Your post is predicated on Russia being able to maintain this rate of conflict indefinitely, which there is strong evidence to support that not being feasible. I don’t think I’m being unfair in saying that you have form for overestimating Russian military capability.I don’t think so. Trump wants to end the war and re-establish good relations with Russia. He can’t force Ukraine to end the war, but he doesn’t need Ukraine’s approval to pursue improved relations with Russia.
I suspect after yesterday’s events he will tell the American people that he tried his best to achieve peace, but found Zelenskyy unreceptive to the idea, so will end America’s support for Ukraine until they are ready for serious talks.
Unless Zelenskyy immediately comes back to the table and indicates that he is willing to engage with the process constructively.
How long will Ukraine last without American military and financial support? Sure Europe could step into the breach, but psychologically and practically the loss of American support would be a huge blow for Ukraine, in my opinion, a fatal one.
So Trump can wait this one out in the knowledge that he’s handing Europe the mother of all hospital passes, and at some point, Zelenskyy will be forced to come back to the table.
In the meantime many Ukrainians are going to die, but Trump’s calculation may be that this is preferable to indefinitely extending the stalemate situation, because that would lead to far more deaths in the long run.
I fail to see what Zelenskyy achieved from the meeting yesterday. In fact, Trump’s problem was that he had a sizeable minority of his own supporters who were broadly pro Ukraine (the Lindsay Graham types), and they are now mostly in Trump’s camp. Total disaster imo.
As usual you’ve managed to talk out of your arse. Bravo.I don’t think so. Trump wants to end the war and re-establish good relations with Russia. He can’t force Ukraine to end the war, but he doesn’t need Ukraine’s approval to pursue improved relations with Russia.
I suspect after yesterday’s events he will tell the American people that he tried his best to achieve peace, but found Zelenskyy unreceptive to the idea, so will end America’s support for Ukraine until they are ready for serious talks.
Unless Zelenskyy immediately comes back to the table and indicates that he is willing to engage with the process constructively.
How long will Ukraine last without American military and financial support? Sure Europe could step into the breach, but psychologically and practically the loss of American support would be a huge blow for Ukraine, in my opinion, a fatal one.
So Trump can wait this one out in the knowledge that he’s handing Europe the mother of all hospital passes, and at some point, Zelenskyy will be forced to come back to the table.
In the meantime many Ukrainians are going to die, but Trump’s calculation may be that this is preferable to indefinitely extending the stalemate situation, because that would lead to far more deaths in the long run.
I fail to see what Zelenskyy achieved from the meeting yesterday. In fact, Trump’s problem was that he had a sizeable minority of his own supporters who were broadly pro Ukraine (the Lindsay Graham types), and they are now mostly in Trump’s camp. Total disaster imo.
Yeah, I agree that clarity is a good thing and maybe this has been helpful for all sides to see where they stand.Your post is predicated on Russia being able to maintain this rate of conflict indefinitely, which there is strong evidence to support that not being feasible. I don’t think I’m being unfair in saying that you have form for overestimating Russian military capability.
As to what Zelensky achieved from yesterday, it’s obvious he asked for security guarantees as part of the rare earth deal and didn’t get them. This meant he wasn’t prepared to sign the deal, despite having ‘no cards’. What we witnessed in the Oval Office was the aftermath of that breakdown, which was unquestionably stage managed. So given that, in relation to Zelensky, I would say the following.
1. He had to try. Unconscionable if he hadn’t, especially after the week’s previous meetings between two of his allies and Trump appearing to go well. He will have identified a potential breakthrough, albeit unlikely. So, he absolutely had to try.
2. He was absolutely right not to sign a deal if it did not contain security guarantees. It would have been grossly negligent, even reckless of him if he had.
3. Once that had played out, and the scene changed to a public one, and there was an ambush, then he had a choice whether to suck it up, which would have removed his authority going forward, or push back, which he did. And in my view that was the only choice available to him in those circumstances.
So I don’t see what he could have done differently in the circumstances.
And I don’t agree it’s a total disaster. Yesterday at least provides clarity and will concentrate the minds of European leaders in a way that is necessary and would not have been the case if that scene had been less unseemly.
Europe simply has no excuses now for not stepping up. It is aware of the real threat that Russia poses and has the means to deal with it if the will is there. And it now knows it cannot rely on the US like it once could.
We’ll seeA pro Russian leader for Ukraine, likely the plan all along.
Europe has an enemy at the gateYeah, I agree that clarity is a good thing and maybe this has been helpful for all sides to see where they stand.
Maybe Europe can replace the financial and military support America was providing and the war can continue until Russia collapses, we shall see. I suspect not.
Afraid so, but I can’t see another solution apart from Europe rearming, us being worse off again, and a war.Putin and Trump will want a pro Russian leader in who is happy to have thousands of American miners there milking their minerals.
Make no mistake here, it’s classic American regime change politics in play again.
Yep I think so, but then aren’t we puppets to America. We don’t want a war going on again for years, all being even more worse off, surely.Putin will only let them bring in someone who is one of his puppets though so it's just going to strengthen Russia in the long term
You might be right. Inevitably there’s a huge amount of disinformation on all sides, but I’ve not formed the view I have in a vacuum. There are several very real indicators that suggest Russia is in a very poor place economically, demographically and militarily.Yeah, I agree that clarity is a good thing and maybe this has been helpful for all sides to see where they stand.
Maybe Europe can replace the financial and military support America was providing and the war can continue until Russia collapses, we shall see. I suspect not.
My point is that it’s also possible this goes really badly for Ukraine. My life goes on fairly unchanged if I’m wrong about something on the internet, but this is other people’s lives that are on the line, and not one or two, but tens of thousands.You might be right. Inevitably there’s a huge amount of disinformation on all sides, but I’ve not formed the view I have in a vacuum. There are several very real indicators that suggest Russia is in a very poor place economically, demographically and militarily.
Yes, I absolutely concede that’s a very real possibility.My point is that it’s also possible this goes really badly for Ukraine. My life goes on fairly unchanged if I’m wrong about something on the internet, but this is other people’s lives that are on the line, and not one or two, but tens of thousands.
This situation could be the making of Europe as a genuine world power.Europe has an enemy at the gate
Europe can sit in its living room and ignore it until eventually it will walk up the garden path and start banging on the door, or Europe can get its shit together, go out mob handed and give it a bloody nose
It's not only for European security interests to push the ruSSians back, in the long term, it's going to be financially more advantageous to do it immediately whilst the ruSSians are manpower weak
Boycott American goods. On an individual basis, just don’t buy American. Don’t wait or expect your government to to do it.It don't matter really does it end off the day America do "have the cards ",,,,,no fking way on earth even if you wanted to can you stand up to them ,,,end off
Cheers mateA President can’t unilaterally start a war and even this mental congress wouldn’t rubber stamp it.
Been saying this since the war started,Half a million battle hardened troops of Nato standards..hmmmWhat do you think happens to Ukraines army and technology if a russian puppet is installed? They are then forced to fight in russias next land grab which will most likely be Moldova. Which is why appeasement and a ceasefire for ceasefires sake is a huge risk to Europe.
Brexit hasn't anything to do with our relationship with Europe over defence...This situation could be the making of Europe as a genuine world power.
The UK has to bury the hatchet with the Brexit crap and go back and do everything we can to help our European neighbours and push back Putin and just as important, tell the present President of the USA to go forth and multiply and the same with the country he represents.
The alleged "special relationship" needs to end until Trump is out.