Amen! Destruction of the bridge is absolutely necessary militarily and politically. It is a necessary and long overdue blow - visible, decisive, punishing, damning, irrecoverable.
Giving in to blackmailing is not a path that leads to peace; it's a path that leads to being subjected to even bigger demands.
A reasonable path forward might consist in Zelenskyy coordinating the rejection with the most powerful nations of Europe, so that it's not just Ukraine rejecting the deal, but Ukraine and much of Europe together explaining quite clearly why accepting that "deal" would be extreme stupidity.
This is like reading a war/spythriller.I hate that its real life but well done .I understand even more now what's going on.This will make alot of things even more interesting.
Trump knows he is on the back foot so look out everyone else.He lashes out and an embarrassed Trump is very dangerous.
Mark my words. The Trump administration will begin actively assisting Russia on the battlefield before the end of May. Probably before the end of April. These bullying butchers will stop at nothing - NOTHING - to prove that they are controlling the end-game here. They will FORCE Ukraine into submission.
I have subscribed to Shankar today - I like the substance and the style. I earnestly hope and am pretty confident that details of where the war stands are accurate and not biased towards Ukraine. If Russia is winning in Kursk or elsewhere I'd like to hear that. Thx
I don't think that Trumpism can be explained by Soviet brainwashing, somehow they seem to have invented comparable evil all on their own.
Western Europe has a serious problem too, having for so many decades outsourced so much of its strategic thinking to the US that the capacity of our governments for strategic thinking and for taking corresponding actions has atrophied. Starting to think strategically independently of the US is scary! It's so much easier to simply make some good speeches and hope that things are somehow not so bad and can be waited out.
Finland, Poland, the Baltic states —and of course Ukraine— are much more clear-eyed.
I was suggesting that Eastern European countries have never had democracy. They have no such institutions or traditions. Authoritarianism is all they have ever known. So it's no surprise to have an immigrant from Transylvania support Trump, Putin or Bibi.
Trump has to be given some credit for speaking the truth out loud about EU dependence on US military. And Obama/Biden fully deserve criticism for their version of Putin enablement.
Trump also deserves credit for removing all restrictions on Ukraine’s campaign of bombing targets deep inside Russia. The Russian lines are clearly buckling, and Ukraine is opening a huge front in Belgorod.
Putin is also desperate. Perhaps Trump is offering a small carrot- perhaps an opportunity for Putin to save face, or perhaps enough time to organize his exile? This is a possibility.
US relationship is not over. The US is critical to Ukraine's survival and the only country that can guarantee their freedom. Turning this into an artillery shell war without US intelligence, air defenses, and sophisticated rockets is overly simplistic old man Europe propaganda to what purpose? I am interested to know what happens when the sanctions end in July. Can EU alone extend them? Trump is an Ass 💯, but the US has 3 branches of government. Those branches created a pipeline of support that will send more weapons to Ukraine this year than last.
I hope Europe sees it is the only hope. Thank you as always for the detailed, cogent discussion.
Grind the ground. Turn it into a production war and win.
Also, Europe can respond by finally giving Ukraine whatever it takes to finally permanently destroy the Kerch bridge.
Amen! Destruction of the bridge is absolutely necessary militarily and politically. It is a necessary and long overdue blow - visible, decisive, punishing, damning, irrecoverable.
Giving in to blackmailing is not a path that leads to peace; it's a path that leads to being subjected to even bigger demands.
A reasonable path forward might consist in Zelenskyy coordinating the rejection with the most powerful nations of Europe, so that it's not just Ukraine rejecting the deal, but Ukraine and much of Europe together explaining quite clearly why accepting that "deal" would be extreme stupidity.
Yesterday I hung my European Union Flag. I hope they get the message. Thank you Shankar
a perfect take on what is required for europe, but there is too much disagreement in the camp
Excellent analysis.
Fuck Drumpf.
🖕🖕🖕🤬🤬🤬💪💪💪🪓🪓🪓
This is like reading a war/spythriller.I hate that its real life but well done .I understand even more now what's going on.This will make alot of things even more interesting.
Trump knows he is on the back foot so look out everyone else.He lashes out and an embarrassed Trump is very dangerous.
Mark my words. The Trump administration will begin actively assisting Russia on the battlefield before the end of May. Probably before the end of April. These bullying butchers will stop at nothing - NOTHING - to prove that they are controlling the end-game here. They will FORCE Ukraine into submission.
It makes me absolutely sick.
Trump deserves credit for being a Russian mole and having fooled Americans to believe that he is a stable genius.
America: you may wanna have a peak where you stand internationally on average IQ scores.
This analysis is absolutely on target! Hopefully EU and NATO countries will follow this prescription. The US relationship is OVER.
Yes! Shankar!
The first priority is getting Ukraine 🇺🇦 the artillery shells they need NOW! Yes! Gather them up from anywhere and everyone!
Next, I hope Europe already knows that Trump is a Putin lackey!
Trump’s Putin Puppet!
Trump’s so-called “need for deal” is nothing but a thin veil for Putin’s need “to call time out!”
Putin needs time to rebuild his lagging forces!
Last, Europe’s our last hope to save Ukraine!
Europe is our last hope restrain Putin’s criminal regime which thirsts for revenge and empire!
I have subscribed to Shankar today - I like the substance and the style. I earnestly hope and am pretty confident that details of where the war stands are accurate and not biased towards Ukraine. If Russia is winning in Kursk or elsewhere I'd like to hear that. Thx
It must be difficult to cleanse a mind of Soviet brainwashing. Clearly a symptom of Eastern European authoritarianism in effect to this day.
I don't think that Trumpism can be explained by Soviet brainwashing, somehow they seem to have invented comparable evil all on their own.
Western Europe has a serious problem too, having for so many decades outsourced so much of its strategic thinking to the US that the capacity of our governments for strategic thinking and for taking corresponding actions has atrophied. Starting to think strategically independently of the US is scary! It's so much easier to simply make some good speeches and hope that things are somehow not so bad and can be waited out.
Finland, Poland, the Baltic states —and of course Ukraine— are much more clear-eyed.
I was suggesting that Eastern European countries have never had democracy. They have no such institutions or traditions. Authoritarianism is all they have ever known. So it's no surprise to have an immigrant from Transylvania support Trump, Putin or Bibi.
I personally think that Trump knows what he is doing.
Also, Ukraine is just one of disaster of 8 years of Democratic leadership.
Give him some time, so far doing quite good with little screeches, but to be expected.
Trump has to be given some credit for speaking the truth out loud about EU dependence on US military. And Obama/Biden fully deserve criticism for their version of Putin enablement.
Trump also deserves credit for removing all restrictions on Ukraine’s campaign of bombing targets deep inside Russia. The Russian lines are clearly buckling, and Ukraine is opening a huge front in Belgorod.
Putin is also desperate. Perhaps Trump is offering a small carrot- perhaps an opportunity for Putin to save face, or perhaps enough time to organize his exile? This is a possibility.
US relationship is not over. The US is critical to Ukraine's survival and the only country that can guarantee their freedom. Turning this into an artillery shell war without US intelligence, air defenses, and sophisticated rockets is overly simplistic old man Europe propaganda to what purpose? I am interested to know what happens when the sanctions end in July. Can EU alone extend them? Trump is an Ass 💯, but the US has 3 branches of government. Those branches created a pipeline of support that will send more weapons to Ukraine this year than last.
All 3 branches are Trump stumps now. Not a tree standing. America First means just that.
Old man Europe knows that Russia has been around a lot longer than the United States and have dealt with them before.