Russian official position expressed by Lavrov just after the meeting in Saudi Arabia is that they will never agree to any troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, no matter under which flag they serve and even that they are not protected by Article 5
It is obvious that Trump, cornered by this question decided to lie, there is no way Putin agreed to this. Why should he when Trump gives him everything he wants anyway
Macron and others in Europe who agreed to send their troops to Ukraine decided to agree because they will not be sending anybody at the end, they are showing Trump, that they are ready to send troops but only after a ceasefire, so ball is now at Trump's court, he has to make Putin agree. And he can't, because Putin wants to have talks while the war goes on, he wants to make Trump and USA accomplicies to his crimes
Europe won’t trust a thing Putin supposedly says based on DT’s interpretation or say so.Putin and Trump inveterate liars and the EU knows better than to trust either one. I don’t think a deal can be made with this group. Russia may need to be pushed to its proverbial knees. Would be interesting to see if DT felt so happy about Putin in that circumstance. Trump wants those minerals and money from the produce of the breadbasket of Europe. Will be interesting to see how far he goes to secure that.
Felt much heartened knowing that the song “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Mis had been performed for Trump. He is too stupid to realize it is a song of revolution. One of my favorites.
Delay doesn't really work in Russia's favor; while they are certainly hurting Ukraine, it's only by continuously throwing their economy and military into a wood chipper.
what i really liked from the presser was the way marcon overode trump as regards to the financial details of the war, he correctedly pointed out that europe had sent more funding to ukraine than the us, he caught trump by the hand to empesise that europe sent the funding to ukraine deyning trumps statment that the funding was only lent, faair play to marcon a 5 star performence
I disagree quite strongly that Macron played his cards well. I'm not being critical, as the choices are all so fraught.
We probably are in full agreement that the announced U.S.-RU economic partnership is ominous. A "peace" deal is looking like a fast track to RU rearmament and another invasion. UKraine is going to require major weaponry as a deterrent.
Macron working out details of EU peacekeeping forces is accelerating negotiations and not providing anything like strong security guarantees. Macron's position should be, "We'll talk about our contributions to forces after the U.S. lays out its security commitments for UKraine."
Today Trump announced clearly what the U.S. will contribute in the future to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression: nothing whatsoever.
Macron has been duped, IMO. He shouldn't be enabling the current process.
He appeared on FOX News a couple nights ago. Brett Bair asked Macron, "Do you believe we could have peace in Ukraine in a matter of weeks?"
Macron: "I hope so."
Bad answer. He implicitly agrees that the peace process is legitimate at this time. In fact thus far it has been a sham to betray UKraine and Europe.
The correct answer, "Brett, we cannot speak of peace until the guarantees are proposed to ensure the peace in the years ahead."
Thanks for that great commentary. We are passing through a time of such unreality at present. In most of the West, people are just refusing to see what is in front of them, hoping that the world they have always known will just magically reappear somehow. Even leaders who know better are to one extent or another immobilized hoping that just the perfect mix of flattery and blandishment combined with just the right enticements might keep Trump from overturning the alliances that have brought eighty years of peace. This week Macron and Starmer are doing their best and everyone is holding their breath. Because Trump is entirely irrational, it seems to them worth trying anything. But crucial time is passing quickly and soon the die will be cast. It’s as if every western power is transfixed, unable to act or look away as if passing a horrible road accident. What will be the event that provides the shock to the system that will cause us all to come to life and act with purpose.
In the first month. Pledging to annex Canada and changing sides in the Ukraine war didn’t do it. If we continue to make no choice and decide no action, then the choice will be made for us. It will be to simply accept whatever trump, musk and Putin have in store for us.
I think the goal of these talks is to limit the concessions he makes to Putin in advance, especially sanction relief. Nobody trusts his word, but they have to play nice to keep him from openly defying them. Coming to the White House and giving nice pressers boosts his ego and he likes the attention. But his ultimate loyalty is not with Ukraine.
Russian official position expressed by Lavrov just after the meeting in Saudi Arabia is that they will never agree to any troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, no matter under which flag they serve and even that they are not protected by Article 5
It is obvious that Trump, cornered by this question decided to lie, there is no way Putin agreed to this. Why should he when Trump gives him everything he wants anyway
Macron and others in Europe who agreed to send their troops to Ukraine decided to agree because they will not be sending anybody at the end, they are showing Trump, that they are ready to send troops but only after a ceasefire, so ball is now at Trump's court, he has to make Putin agree. And he can't, because Putin wants to have talks while the war goes on, he wants to make Trump and USA accomplicies to his crimes
I see your point. Putin will not want even tripwire NATO presence in Ukraine.
I doubt such a presence is nearly sufficient to deter Russian aggression.
It's going to take much, much more. Putin will accept such a presence and rebuild for war.
Ukraine needs an air force, for starters. Much, much more missile defense.
Wait. Wut? Trump lied?
Be still my heart!
Europe won’t trust a thing Putin supposedly says based on DT’s interpretation or say so.Putin and Trump inveterate liars and the EU knows better than to trust either one. I don’t think a deal can be made with this group. Russia may need to be pushed to its proverbial knees. Would be interesting to see if DT felt so happy about Putin in that circumstance. Trump wants those minerals and money from the produce of the breadbasket of Europe. Will be interesting to see how far he goes to secure that.
Felt much heartened knowing that the song “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Mis had been performed for Trump. He is too stupid to realize it is a song of revolution. One of my favorites.
Understand, our job is to delay, delay, delay. and divide, divide, divide.
Delay doesn't really work in Russia's favor; while they are certainly hurting Ukraine, it's only by continuously throwing their economy and military into a wood chipper.
Delay, divide and mock - Trump isn’t strong and Elon isn’t powerful
what i really liked from the presser was the way marcon overode trump as regards to the financial details of the war, he correctedly pointed out that europe had sent more funding to ukraine than the us, he caught trump by the hand to empesise that europe sent the funding to ukraine deyning trumps statment that the funding was only lent, faair play to marcon a 5 star performence
I disagree quite strongly that Macron played his cards well. I'm not being critical, as the choices are all so fraught.
We probably are in full agreement that the announced U.S.-RU economic partnership is ominous. A "peace" deal is looking like a fast track to RU rearmament and another invasion. UKraine is going to require major weaponry as a deterrent.
Macron working out details of EU peacekeeping forces is accelerating negotiations and not providing anything like strong security guarantees. Macron's position should be, "We'll talk about our contributions to forces after the U.S. lays out its security commitments for UKraine."
Today Trump announced clearly what the U.S. will contribute in the future to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression: nothing whatsoever.
Macron has been duped, IMO. He shouldn't be enabling the current process.
He appeared on FOX News a couple nights ago. Brett Bair asked Macron, "Do you believe we could have peace in Ukraine in a matter of weeks?"
Macron: "I hope so."
Bad answer. He implicitly agrees that the peace process is legitimate at this time. In fact thus far it has been a sham to betray UKraine and Europe.
The correct answer, "Brett, we cannot speak of peace until the guarantees are proposed to ensure the peace in the years ahead."
Thanks for that great commentary. We are passing through a time of such unreality at present. In most of the West, people are just refusing to see what is in front of them, hoping that the world they have always known will just magically reappear somehow. Even leaders who know better are to one extent or another immobilized hoping that just the perfect mix of flattery and blandishment combined with just the right enticements might keep Trump from overturning the alliances that have brought eighty years of peace. This week Macron and Starmer are doing their best and everyone is holding their breath. Because Trump is entirely irrational, it seems to them worth trying anything. But crucial time is passing quickly and soon the die will be cast. It’s as if every western power is transfixed, unable to act or look away as if passing a horrible road accident. What will be the event that provides the shock to the system that will cause us all to come to life and act with purpose.
In the first month. Pledging to annex Canada and changing sides in the Ukraine war didn’t do it. If we continue to make no choice and decide no action, then the choice will be made for us. It will be to simply accept whatever trump, musk and Putin have in store for us.
Keep them running in circles. So many sidebars happen while the idiots are running in circles.
I think the goal of these talks is to limit the concessions he makes to Putin in advance, especially sanction relief. Nobody trusts his word, but they have to play nice to keep him from openly defying them. Coming to the White House and giving nice pressers boosts his ego and he likes the attention. But his ultimate loyalty is not with Ukraine.
Peacekeepers are usually useless but at least some communication began. That is important.