Thanks for your help expert analysis. I am fed up to the teeth with this stupid man (Trump) destroying the world. We knew Trump was always going to be the spanner in the works. He destroys everything he touches. And he can’t stop fanboying all over Putin. The world needs to exclude him as best they are able from all international dealings. He will always be toxic to any arrangement. His tariffs are going to go up in flames if other countries wait while they take their toll on American consumers. Then the rest of the world may be less under his thumb (on his tiny hands).
I am furious that he doesn’t care how many lives are lost while he plays his ill-informed stupid games. When someone says they are the only one who can arrange a deal, they need to be cut off at the knees.
He thought he is way too smart and totally underestimated who he is dealing with and what their motivations are. Art of deal. LOL. I can only think of Atlantic city casinos. But I still don't see this as a bad outcome at all. It will become bad if Europe messes it up from here. Time to watch them even more closely.
I am just sickened. America is responsible for the hell hole we are in, but Ukraine should not be shafted because we have an incompetent, malevolent dictator who knows nothing of chess or cards for that matter.
In the long term, I think this is a better outcome. Now the likelihood of the collapse of the Russian Empire is way higher and that needs to come to pass for the world to move on. The worry of course is that the US will again try to come to the rescue of Russia as it did in 1917, 1930s/1940s and 1990s rather than let it collapse. However, the US might well not be in a position to do that when the time comes this time.
A Trump "sidelined" is a Trump neutered. The best kind of Trump. By now the rational world should have moved past the incoherent sputterings from Washington to realistically deal with the main issue of defeating Putin. Anything less than an obvious defeat of Russia will leave the door open for more aggression. The West should ignore the nonsense about the continued existence of a Soviet Union. That is complete fabrication...something Russia is adept at creating and exploiting with the gullible. European leaders and Ukraine should concentrate on the sanctions and building up their defenses and keep Trump and Putin at a considerable distance. Putin still believes Europe is weak and any attempt by him to directly threaten a NATO country (as in the Baltics) must be met with determination and force. It is the only thing he understands.
It doesn't matter what name is given to the coalition of the willing nor does it matter how many countries join in. What does matter is that nobody lets Trump take control and it should be made very clear that any fighter aircraft trying to defend the shadow fleet will be removed if they do not follow international aviation rules and that even the USA will be sanctioned if they try to undermine any sanctions on Russia or banking. This is clearly an existential situation for the survival of the EU and Ukraine and the credibility of NATO itself. Definitely not the time to hesitate.
Thanks for that link Shankar. My older daughter went to Vilnius University for a term when she was learning to speak Russian at Guildford university of Surrey. She stayed with a Russian speaking family and loved the place. However, she has not spoken the language since as she went into business accountancy instead.
You forgot Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azarbaijan,Tajikistan and let's not forget Finland, which, while not part of the USSR, was a Russian client state for a very long time. Ditto Afghanistan, for a shorter period. And as for the military industrial complex, President Eisenhower warned us about its influence back in the 1950s. Just imagine, a complex of huge companies dedicated not so much to actual defense and deterrence as arms sales to whomever will pay for those arms, for whatever reason. Some time ago I asked the manager of my very modest retirement investment account to divest it of the likes of Northrup Grummond and Lockheed Martin, where they were tucked away inside some mutual funds before I realized they were there. He tried to talk me out of it because they were so, so reliably profitable. He is no longer my investment counselor. Would that it was as easy to get rid of a president.
Unfortunately, all this is baked in to Trump’s agenda. Anyone with half a brain would have suspected Trump would fold faster than a Texas Hold’em player with 2-7 offsuit as cup hands.
On the bright side, Japan just made a deal allowing Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR) to access its advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from satellites operated by iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space).
This is a game changer, and the first time Japan has shared classified geospatial data with another country, as it is willing to play a more active role in global security; as though any country has a choice right now.
That said, Trump is incredibly vindictive and extremely impulsive. He isn’t just causing chaos for our national security and global alliances. Trump’s foreign policy initiatives are as reckless as his tariff policies, and as the markets are showing; capital is leaving the US at alarming rates.
Not to mention, interest rates and yields are climbing at unprecedented levels (30 year Treasury is above 5%). This is mostly due to several factors, including concerns about continued inflationary pressures and the possibility of ballooning U.S. debt. And all this spells doom for our national security.
Lastly, I feel as though this is deliberate attempt to undermine and destroy the economy; when there’s blood in the street, the guys with lots of cash make out like bandits.
That said, the alternative is worse, since it means we’re dealing with complete morons, who collectively, couldn’t find the ocean, if they were standing on the beach. Good times…:)
Trump offering Putin Crimea & other land mass of Ukraine out of the gate was just ridiculous. No one negotiates deals by giving the aggressor what they want & more. The only thing Putin needs to be told is get out of Ukraine by a deadline date & if he refuses expect hell to rain down on him.
"he" did exactly what Putin and his people told him to do. "He" said exactly what Putin and his people told him to say. I feel this was the plan all along. And "he" can't help himself...he will "interfere" somehow to undermine Zelenskyy to Putins advantage. 🤬🤬🤬
This I am not very sure. If that were to be the case, Putin would have gotten sanctions relief by now. Some form. I think it is just Trump thinking he is smarter than every one in the room and his team standing around saying yesssss sir. They are clueless.
Trump’s mysterious but supposedly “excellent ‘Trump-Putin’ call” was probably to sort out his property deals in Russia. Oh! …and to get a new set of instructions from his handlers.
It must be a real balancing act for DT—keeping VP happy while trying to appear that he is helping end the war, all the time still daydreaming about a Trump Tower in Moscow. Thanks for your thoughtful assessment.
Thanks for your help expert analysis. I am fed up to the teeth with this stupid man (Trump) destroying the world. We knew Trump was always going to be the spanner in the works. He destroys everything he touches. And he can’t stop fanboying all over Putin. The world needs to exclude him as best they are able from all international dealings. He will always be toxic to any arrangement. His tariffs are going to go up in flames if other countries wait while they take their toll on American consumers. Then the rest of the world may be less under his thumb (on his tiny hands).
I am furious that he doesn’t care how many lives are lost while he plays his ill-informed stupid games. When someone says they are the only one who can arrange a deal, they need to be cut off at the knees.
He thought he is way too smart and totally underestimated who he is dealing with and what their motivations are. Art of deal. LOL. I can only think of Atlantic city casinos. But I still don't see this as a bad outcome at all. It will become bad if Europe messes it up from here. Time to watch them even more closely.
I am just sickened. America is responsible for the hell hole we are in, but Ukraine should not be shafted because we have an incompetent, malevolent dictator who knows nothing of chess or cards for that matter.
In the long term, I think this is a better outcome. Now the likelihood of the collapse of the Russian Empire is way higher and that needs to come to pass for the world to move on. The worry of course is that the US will again try to come to the rescue of Russia as it did in 1917, 1930s/1940s and 1990s rather than let it collapse. However, the US might well not be in a position to do that when the time comes this time.
I do agree.
A Trump "sidelined" is a Trump neutered. The best kind of Trump. By now the rational world should have moved past the incoherent sputterings from Washington to realistically deal with the main issue of defeating Putin. Anything less than an obvious defeat of Russia will leave the door open for more aggression. The West should ignore the nonsense about the continued existence of a Soviet Union. That is complete fabrication...something Russia is adept at creating and exploiting with the gullible. European leaders and Ukraine should concentrate on the sanctions and building up their defenses and keep Trump and Putin at a considerable distance. Putin still believes Europe is weak and any attempt by him to directly threaten a NATO country (as in the Baltics) must be met with determination and force. It is the only thing he understands.
Totally, brutally, agree. No Trump is the best Trump.
It doesn't matter what name is given to the coalition of the willing nor does it matter how many countries join in. What does matter is that nobody lets Trump take control and it should be made very clear that any fighter aircraft trying to defend the shadow fleet will be removed if they do not follow international aviation rules and that even the USA will be sanctioned if they try to undermine any sanctions on Russia or banking. This is clearly an existential situation for the survival of the EU and Ukraine and the credibility of NATO itself. Definitely not the time to hesitate.
I have some real good news to share with you: https://substack.com/@concis21/note/c-119319156
Thanks for that link Shankar. My older daughter went to Vilnius University for a term when she was learning to speak Russian at Guildford university of Surrey. She stayed with a Russian speaking family and loved the place. However, she has not spoken the language since as she went into business accountancy instead.
Great analysis, Shankar!
Thanks for putting it all on the line!
Keep sanctions on PUTIN!
Buy American weapons AND EUROPEAN WEAPONS!
Give Ukraine the opportunity to defend European Democracy!
Sink Putin!
Yes. It is tricky., not impossible.
You forgot Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azarbaijan,Tajikistan and let's not forget Finland, which, while not part of the USSR, was a Russian client state for a very long time. Ditto Afghanistan, for a shorter period. And as for the military industrial complex, President Eisenhower warned us about its influence back in the 1950s. Just imagine, a complex of huge companies dedicated not so much to actual defense and deterrence as arms sales to whomever will pay for those arms, for whatever reason. Some time ago I asked the manager of my very modest retirement investment account to divest it of the likes of Northrup Grummond and Lockheed Martin, where they were tucked away inside some mutual funds before I realized they were there. He tried to talk me out of it because they were so, so reliably profitable. He is no longer my investment counselor. Would that it was as easy to get rid of a president.
yes, their brain will go all way until it sees the berlin wall.
I truly wonder if sanctions relief would save Putin's economy.
He could buy stuff to enhance his military production. Fine. But the goodies he needs cost money, which he has in short supply.
And sanctions relief will hardly kick start the civilian economy, because, like you said, that's been cannibalized by the military part.
Am I missing something here?
I can imagine Putin wants his frozen billions back, but that's not on the table, far as I know...
It won't save. But it will buy him time and now is not the time to give him that.
Unfortunately, all this is baked in to Trump’s agenda. Anyone with half a brain would have suspected Trump would fold faster than a Texas Hold’em player with 2-7 offsuit as cup hands.
On the bright side, Japan just made a deal allowing Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR) to access its advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from satellites operated by iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space).
This is a game changer, and the first time Japan has shared classified geospatial data with another country, as it is willing to play a more active role in global security; as though any country has a choice right now.
That said, Trump is incredibly vindictive and extremely impulsive. He isn’t just causing chaos for our national security and global alliances. Trump’s foreign policy initiatives are as reckless as his tariff policies, and as the markets are showing; capital is leaving the US at alarming rates.
Not to mention, interest rates and yields are climbing at unprecedented levels (30 year Treasury is above 5%). This is mostly due to several factors, including concerns about continued inflationary pressures and the possibility of ballooning U.S. debt. And all this spells doom for our national security.
Lastly, I feel as though this is deliberate attempt to undermine and destroy the economy; when there’s blood in the street, the guys with lots of cash make out like bandits.
That said, the alternative is worse, since it means we’re dealing with complete morons, who collectively, couldn’t find the ocean, if they were standing on the beach. Good times…:)
Yes. There’s a lot happening quietly on the satellite front. I’d rather not write about it—better to let them keep moving in the shadows.
It’s not exactly a state secret. I’ve read about it, and I don’t have a security clearance…:)
Trump offering Putin Crimea & other land mass of Ukraine out of the gate was just ridiculous. No one negotiates deals by giving the aggressor what they want & more. The only thing Putin needs to be told is get out of Ukraine by a deadline date & if he refuses expect hell to rain down on him.
He did the same with Gaza, after he talked about turning it into a luxury resort, Netanyahu started implementing the plan.
Europe MUST charge forward....take the reins!!!!
"he" did exactly what Putin and his people told him to do. "He" said exactly what Putin and his people told him to say. I feel this was the plan all along. And "he" can't help himself...he will "interfere" somehow to undermine Zelenskyy to Putins advantage. 🤬🤬🤬
This I am not very sure. If that were to be the case, Putin would have gotten sanctions relief by now. Some form. I think it is just Trump thinking he is smarter than every one in the room and his team standing around saying yesssss sir. They are clueless.
Trump’s mysterious but supposedly “excellent ‘Trump-Putin’ call” was probably to sort out his property deals in Russia. Oh! …and to get a new set of instructions from his handlers.
trump is a massivee POS
Thankyou for this, I was wondering about this. It appears Trump is beginning to face his Waterloo from a diplomatic perspective.
It must be a real balancing act for DT—keeping VP happy while trying to appear that he is helping end the war, all the time still daydreaming about a Trump Tower in Moscow. Thanks for your thoughtful assessment.
“It told him to dig in”
This…and this again…
Thanks, Shankar, for the real on real, and on a daily basis
Appreciate you, truly.
Some moments don’t need analysis—they just need to be named. “It told him to dig in” was exactly that. Glad it landed.