Thank you for this—I’ve read it three times! This is heartening, indeed, and may even be trump-proof! Let us fervently hope that 🇺🇦’s limber innovations can bring down putin’s lumbering war machine. Soon.
I was at a boarding school in Kenya as a boy near a soda lake coloured pink by a stand of flamingos. The correct term appears to be a flamboyance. We look forward to seeing a flamboyance heading out to destroy Russian war utilities and that damned bridge. Bring it on.
I keep thinking that one of the underlying reasons why Putin cannot meet with Zelensky is that as soon as he does he has explicitly conceded that Ukraine is a sovereign country and the whole premise for his invasion was an obvious lie.
How would this play with the Russian people who Putin has convinced that Ukraine is NOT a sovereign country?
Begs another question: how in the HELL has Putin’s war chest made it this far. I keep reading it’s been running on fumes for relative ages. I know the answer is contingent on hundreds of factors but still -
It is running on fumes to run a deficit budget. He can't do that anymore. But there is still enough cash to stop a Ruble run.. Putin is not dumb. He is evil and does not understand economics. But understands paycheck to paycheck.
yikes. So sorry for commenting from my mobile phone. It freaking never works and I always mess up the spelling and what not. It is just wierd. Unless I have ten fingers to type my brain goes into a freeze.
Also, spellcheck is the bane of my existence. I sometimes think spellcheck is MAGA. I can literally type stuff out with 10 fingers and watch it convert to the exact opposite of what I just wrote.
I must remember everything you say. I know economics is at the bottom of Putin’s choices. Bravado from Putin and Trump must be ignored. This could all end sooner than we thought with Ukraine keeping its territory intact. I am so pleased at their technical ingenuity and their precision planning. They are clear on protecting people and maintaining territorial integrity. In addition I hope the recent exchange of letters between First Ladies will result in the return of Ukrainian children. And we would all be better off if Trump kept his nose out of things. His fanboy attitude to Putin is revolting.
Yesterday was a new low for Trump. He really is frightened of the Epstein files. Not only did he try to distract by talk of sending troops into various blue cities, or raiding John Bolton’s home, or firing critical people in the FBI and military, he also showed off a pic of Vlad and talked about inviting him to FIFA. A very bad look. But the way things are going with border checks of phones and threats against other nations over tariffs, I don’t think other nations will come here for the Olympics. I had hoped they would withdraw from FIFA too because we now ban citizens of so many countries from entering, but it may be too late to change that.
So often my image of Ukraine is born of news images of flattened towns and destroyed buildings. I have to remember that while those are tragic and devastating, they are in isolation. I’m not minimizing the destruction but just saying it is sometimes hard to imagine thriving weapons manufacturing facilities, up and running inside the country. I think the tenacious spirit of Ukraine has its genesis in Zelensky’s refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war and it continues to grow, as expressed by the Flamingo, as well as the various drones that have largely stopped Russia in its tracks.
I'm with you on the images vs reality in Ukraine, but I would also suggest a reversal of your statement regarding Zelensky: "...the tenacious spirit of Ukraine has its genesis in Zelensky’s refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war..." I go with "Zelensky's refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war has its genesis in the tenacious spirit of Ukraine." History will show them to be a remarkable people - that the rest of the world is just now getting to know.
You’re correct. He sparked what was already existent in the national psyche. I do give him big credit though, because had he fled it would have been a blow to that spirit which would have had to have been overcome.
The deal «The Concis, Aug 18th, 2025: Can Trump resist the temptation of Putin's "give me Donbas, you take the Nobel Prize" offer?» will not materialize because Putin will not give it and Ukraine will not take. Not to mention the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
Putin knows he can’t offer the Nobel for any exchange; but he also knows trump can’t understand the thought that his buddy Putin is dangling it as a deceitful temptation to nudge trump to help him out for a few more weeks or months. The logic Putin is trying to sell trump is “Peace could be had, to your credit, if they are just not resupplied with the weapons that they need to defend themselves, and would just accept our peace terms”. Putin would love to be able to convince trump to deny all Patriot missiles to Ukraine and demand that Ukraine stop smacking his refineries.
My worry is a Russian spy bribes a sellout Ukrainian and finds the location. Hope Ukraine has more than one factory and tight security clearance.
Poots is cooked. Slow roasted now or burnt toast later. When Poots dies, it will be a relief for the whole world. When Poots’ regime collapses I will cheer.
Yes. Too many details in the middle right now, but still not enough to get a closer look on it. We will get it soon from the Russian military bloggers.
The war will end with Europeans stepping in and becoming allied with Ukraine. Russia is essentially alone in this. Ukraine as part of Nato would end the war.
Thank you for this—I’ve read it three times! This is heartening, indeed, and may even be trump-proof! Let us fervently hope that 🇺🇦’s limber innovations can bring down putin’s lumbering war machine. Soon.
Thank you, Laura Yanne.
I was at a boarding school in Kenya as a boy near a soda lake coloured pink by a stand of flamingos. The correct term appears to be a flamboyance. We look forward to seeing a flamboyance heading out to destroy Russian war utilities and that damned bridge. Bring it on.
I keep thinking that one of the underlying reasons why Putin cannot meet with Zelensky is that as soon as he does he has explicitly conceded that Ukraine is a sovereign country and the whole premise for his invasion was an obvious lie.
How would this play with the Russian people who Putin has convinced that Ukraine is NOT a sovereign country?
Yes. For a propaganda state that is dangerous. extremely dangerous.
Thanks Shankar - that is the most positive thing I have read in a long time - everything is so gloomy
I know. Western media are masters in spreading doom and gloom.
This is a counter intuitive argument and an intelligent and important one. It is a very worthwhile piece to read. Thanks.
I found your piece illuminating. Thanks.
Thx Shankar.
I am glad that it helped analyze the development.
You wrote: «Putin isn't just fighting a war; he's racing against Ukraine's learning curve. And he's losing.» That I believe.
Hahaha I was hoping this would be the answer.
Begs another question: how in the HELL has Putin’s war chest made it this far. I keep reading it’s been running on fumes for relative ages. I know the answer is contingent on hundreds of factors but still -
Alright. That will be the topic tmrw. Done
Looking forward to it !!
It is running on fumes to run a deficit budget. He can't do that anymore. But there is still enough cash to stop a Ruble run.. Putin is not dumb. He is evil and does not understand economics. But understands paycheck to paycheck.
It’s spelled “ruble”, but could be pronounced “rubble”.
I like it. A rubble of rubles.
I know why but you deserve a detailed explanation.
Wow.
yikes. So sorry for commenting from my mobile phone. It freaking never works and I always mess up the spelling and what not. It is just wierd. Unless I have ten fingers to type my brain goes into a freeze.
Lol enjoy your day.
Also, spellcheck is the bane of my existence. I sometimes think spellcheck is MAGA. I can literally type stuff out with 10 fingers and watch it convert to the exact opposite of what I just wrote.
Nuts. I hate that. And still end up doing it.
You should try dictating in a deep south accent. No errors. But try to use a “northern“ accent? Messes up every time ha ha
I must remember everything you say. I know economics is at the bottom of Putin’s choices. Bravado from Putin and Trump must be ignored. This could all end sooner than we thought with Ukraine keeping its territory intact. I am so pleased at their technical ingenuity and their precision planning. They are clear on protecting people and maintaining territorial integrity. In addition I hope the recent exchange of letters between First Ladies will result in the return of Ukrainian children. And we would all be better off if Trump kept his nose out of things. His fanboy attitude to Putin is revolting.
Yesterday was a new low for Trump. He really is frightened of the Epstein files. Not only did he try to distract by talk of sending troops into various blue cities, or raiding John Bolton’s home, or firing critical people in the FBI and military, he also showed off a pic of Vlad and talked about inviting him to FIFA. A very bad look. But the way things are going with border checks of phones and threats against other nations over tariffs, I don’t think other nations will come here for the Olympics. I had hoped they would withdraw from FIFA too because we now ban citizens of so many countries from entering, but it may be too late to change that.
So often my image of Ukraine is born of news images of flattened towns and destroyed buildings. I have to remember that while those are tragic and devastating, they are in isolation. I’m not minimizing the destruction but just saying it is sometimes hard to imagine thriving weapons manufacturing facilities, up and running inside the country. I think the tenacious spirit of Ukraine has its genesis in Zelensky’s refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war and it continues to grow, as expressed by the Flamingo, as well as the various drones that have largely stopped Russia in its tracks.
I'm with you on the images vs reality in Ukraine, but I would also suggest a reversal of your statement regarding Zelensky: "...the tenacious spirit of Ukraine has its genesis in Zelensky’s refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war..." I go with "Zelensky's refusal to leave Kyiv in the first days of the war has its genesis in the tenacious spirit of Ukraine." History will show them to be a remarkable people - that the rest of the world is just now getting to know.
You’re correct. He sparked what was already existent in the national psyche. I do give him big credit though, because had he fled it would have been a blow to that spirit which would have had to have been overcome.
The deal «The Concis, Aug 18th, 2025: Can Trump resist the temptation of Putin's "give me Donbas, you take the Nobel Prize" offer?» will not materialize because Putin will not give it and Ukraine will not take. Not to mention the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
Putin knows he can’t offer the Nobel for any exchange; but he also knows trump can’t understand the thought that his buddy Putin is dangling it as a deceitful temptation to nudge trump to help him out for a few more weeks or months. The logic Putin is trying to sell trump is “Peace could be had, to your credit, if they are just not resupplied with the weapons that they need to defend themselves, and would just accept our peace terms”. Putin would love to be able to convince trump to deny all Patriot missiles to Ukraine and demand that Ukraine stop smacking his refineries.
Slava Ukraïni
Are the Ukrainian factories that produce these weapons sufficiently protected from destruction by the Russians?
probably they are in poland. highly likely, not sure.
My worry is a Russian spy bribes a sellout Ukrainian and finds the location. Hope Ukraine has more than one factory and tight security clearance.
Poots is cooked. Slow roasted now or burnt toast later. When Poots dies, it will be a relief for the whole world. When Poots’ regime collapses I will cheer.
This is very exciting and positive news to begin the day with! Thank you for bringing this to us! 💙🇺🇦💙
Blow the fuckin’ country to ashes.
i recon 40 a month is as many as ukraine can produce the flamingo, remember they are building a rocket around an engine
Yes. Too many details in the middle right now, but still not enough to get a closer look on it. We will get it soon from the Russian military bloggers.
The war will end with Europeans stepping in and becoming allied with Ukraine. Russia is essentially alone in this. Ukraine as part of Nato would end the war.