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Shankar Narayan's avatar

Chancellor Merz just posted this: “We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine. This also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia”.

Alright then. The odds of Taurus delivery has gone up. But don’t expect it to show up tomorrow. It needs some work before busting Russian military positions. I just hope Merz orders to immediately ramp up Taurus missile production. This and more jets. That will do.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Are the long range missile capabilities for military targets only? Or can these weapons be used to inflict equal pain to Russian cities?

If so, Ukraine finally has a chance; they can play offense and bring the war to Moscow and St. Petersburg. I’d like to see how many of the Russian elite will continue to support Putin’s quagmire, when his two major cities are bombed into the ground.

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Shankar Narayan's avatar

Ukraine will never do that. They could have easily busted Russia's electric grid in border states if they wanted to. They had their drones for years now.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Fair enough, but they should be allowed to take out the Russian power grids; like we did it in Iraq. How else would you expect the Russian civilian population to get the memo, and seriously reconsider whether this war is worth the price they are paying? Or actually take steps to Act?

And the difference between Ukraine and Iraq? We invaded Iraq on a false premise, with nothing to personally lose. Ukraine was invaded by Russia, and is fighting for its independence and ultimate survival.

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Doug Hiller's avatar

Which is why every long range drone and missile they launch needs to be used against targets that will make another dent in Russia’s ability to continue the war. Sending weapons depots up as Roman candles, shutting down oil refineries, wiping out ordnance production factories and shahid assembly facilities. These targets all cripple Russia’s war fighting capability and ability to target Ukraine civilians. Wasting Russia’s materiel increases Putin’s cost to wage war while reducing his income with which to pay for it.

Attacking the Russian power grid would be a feel-good vengeance effort, with virtually no impact on Russia’s ability to fight, while consuming valuable ordnance that would be better spent on more high priority targets.

I actually think Putin would love it for Ukraine to attack the civilian power grid - it would give him another point about which to rally his population to support the war against “those nasty, uncivilized” Ukrainians.

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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Excellent points. Thank you…:)

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Delia Wozniak's avatar

Shankar, let’s be clear!

Trump is Putin’s asset!

Russian spies named Trump “Danila Krasnov!”

Understand that Trump’s occasional “bad-mouthing” of Putin is part of the game to keep the war going!

Similarly, Trump’s faking when he “talks” of Russian sanctions!

We must encourage Europe to defend itself!

Stop all wishful thinking about Trump as it will delay and obstruct our efforts to move Europe forward!

Please!

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ErrantReader's avatar

Exactly! Anything Krasnov says against Putin is just for show and are just hollow words.

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Delia Wozniak's avatar

Yes! It’s time to “pull back the curtain” and see who’s running Oz!”

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Robert Honeyman's avatar

Rafaeles are scarce, Mirages plentiful. Go with the Mirages, but in the many dozens. Once this nightmare is over, Ukraine can choose whatever airframe it wants, but until then, even Harriers may be useful.

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Shankar Narayan's avatar

yes. Most likely route.

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Doug Hiller's avatar

Harriers were very high maintenance and a very demanding training track that doesn’t have any current operating site to support the kind of spin-up required. Plus, there were serious operational limitations, like limits on ordnance capacity and zero anti-air capability. If the number of different airframes is kept down, the parts and logistic requirements are much less of a burden on the host country. If Ukraine eventually has a fleet of 200 fighters; they would be much better off if they are all F-16s and Mirages - as opposed to F-16s, SU-29s, Mirages, Rafaels, A-10s and anything else added in the mix just to increase the total count.

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Stephen ONeill's avatar

Yes, to all of that. With Trump out of the way the path forward is clear. What we need is more action from Europe and less talk. When Putin sees determination from Ukraine's allies in Europe he will finally understand that his "ace" card... Trump... is actually a "joker". So will the Russian oligarchs and Putin's days will be numbered.

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Richard Bedingfield's avatar

85 years ago, Britain knew they had to win the Battle of Britain in the skies or lose the war. So many young pilots died in that battle to the death, including family relatives, but they did not die in vain and we still celebrate their sacrifice and ultimate victory which changed the war completely.

The same criteria apply in Ukraine and there can be no excuse for any democratic country not to help them. Close the sky and Russia will have to retreat or crash their economy in the process of trying to hang on to stolen territories.

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Shankar Narayan's avatar

Yes. A very important history lesson. Thank you....

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SomeNYDude (he/him)'s avatar

I like the Danish model Wes O’Donnell pointed out. Purchase weapons from Ukraine for Ukraine to use. Maybe that needs to expand to shell production and modern fighters. Get to a wartime footing fast. 47 will flail. Make him act.

Europe knows Ukraine is holding the line against the Russian assault. Russia has stated they will go after all of Europe that belonged to the USSR.

And yes, US Senate talks big. Putin doesn’t give two shits. They need to act or shut up.

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Shankar Narayan's avatar

Europe has been investing in Ukraine's production. It can be ramped up. I need to check this, but there are ways for EU nations to use the 150 billion loan EU cleared for member states to boost their own production.

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SomeNYDude (he/him)'s avatar

The $150 billion defense fund is excellent news. I hope they can invest in their domestic production.

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Shankar Narayan's avatar

According to SPIEGEL, the German government is currently working on how to support the Ukrainian defence industry in the production of long-range weapons systems.

Although no details were disclosed in the article, this could mean, for example, that Germany plans to finance the production of long-range attack drones.

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SomeNYDude (he/him)'s avatar

Amazing news. The psychological and military impacts of Ukrainian drones on Moscow aviation bring the war back to Russian soil. Along with your other note by Chancellor Merz on no range limits on Western weapons, Ukraine can attack the military logistics continuing the war.

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Richard Burger's avatar

I'm thinking of a grateful dead cover of an old blues song "Monkey and the Engineer" Trump is the monkey driving the war policy train. Even if he impulsively imposes some sanctions it is critical that Europe focus on the fact that a monkey is driving. I fear people will relax and fall back into complacency. This monkey is malicious, not just incompetent. Welcome any positive spasms, but stay the independent course.

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Scott's avatar

Trump exclaiming that Putin is “Crazy” just feels like the playbook used to say, “He’s crazy, better do what he says, because he can’t be controlled!”. Also lets Trump off the hook for not being able to get his “friend” to stop (in his political theatre).

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Gundy Walton's avatar

I have no real comment other than to say you are 100% correct‼️ Good on Merz!!

The comments are all on track and well thought out.

I think if the Senate acts and Europe ramps up ASAP we should have a definitive turn of doom for Putin and signal of impending victory for Zelenskyy by the the 14th of June - just in time for Trump’s birthday. (In my dreams…) So there!

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James Aldridge's avatar

It's past time for the Senate to impose sanctions!

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Lonni Morrison 🇺🇸's avatar

Europe needs to step it up!!! Stop waiting for"him" to do ANYTHING! "He" is Putins puppet...has been for years!!! 🤬🤬🤬

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billy mccarthy's avatar

europe has to keep feeding the ukraine war machine, the need to ramp up to 100% is desperate, more planes and their logistic help, more long range hits on russia especially moscow

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Michiel Nijk's avatar

Ugh, that orange cocksucking coward.

I'm going to ignore that lying ignoramus from now on.

He is not going to stop US military support, and he is not going to impose sanctions.

He's is useless and irrelevant...

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Monika Prost's avatar

No, Trump is definitely not saying KEEP GOING to Putin - he united EU, hard to imagine that prior to his meeting with Zelensky, supplies aid and military equipment, etc.

And he plays with Putin.

Personally happy with development and EU is taking finally the charge!

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