Ukraine Invasion: Part 54

[MagicFox]

We're on 54. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
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It's all just so unprofessional. Where is the diplomacy? Where are the grown ups?

Fair enough. How very weird of them to care!

Awful as today was, I wonder if it changes the reality of the Trump administration's relationships with Ukraine and Russia?

Or whether we're just getting to see what was going on anyway?

It feels a bit like one of those threads in Relationships where the poor OP finally walks in on their DH with the affair partner, after months of being gaslit and strung along and accused of being the one with the problem.

Better to know than not to know. At least one can now make decisions based on reality.

Or what @Hillsmakeyoustrong said more eloquently.

Not that it will make much difference but I've just cancelled Netflix and will cancel other US-based subscriptions citing Trump. Wonder if others will be doing the same.

Back from work-relayed travel not entirely unrelated to 'this'.

It remains clear that The Enemy mean what they say. Meanwhile the Russians slowly push on, little by little, without a 'deal' from them on any table.

@DucklingSwimmingInstructress there's a whole thread on boycotting US products and services. It's a few days old now. The little people have their 'cards' as well - their consumer cards - but would it have to be a boycott on an organised, mass scale...

The polling shows that most Republicans don’t share Trump’s views on Ukraine. That’s going to have an effect at some point.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/most-trump-supporters-also-back-ukraine-polling-russia-war-87ab141a?st=EJgLec&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Cancelling things American:

I have been discussing how businesses face the TrumpWorld dynamics, uncertainty, vindictiveness and tariffs. The general consensus was 'progressively disengage', That means let current contracts run, but don't go looking to renew them. Seek replacement suppliers and markets. Get over America.

Of course it is challenging and probably effectively impossible when it comes to payment systems, operating systems and so on.

What can/should an individual do?

If you have relatives/friends in TrumpWorld (I have and sadly 2/3 of the relatives there - father's side - have got MAGA Brain Rot) let the ones anchored in reality and the hope for a better world know the view from the outside and that they have a say of sorts in the mid terms. You are rooting for them.

And progressively disengage from products and services that are American. However, take care about cutting off your nose to spite your face. We probably all have different tolerances and just look at the operating system your phone or computer is running for a start. Don't slink away, give notice / feedback why you quit. 'You are based in a pariah state that is making the world unsafe' and so on.

I've had it on many threads. It happens if I start writing a post but then don't post it, it jumps straight to the text box every time the thread is loaded on the same device

Russians have bombed a crowded hospital in Kharkiv. Fuckers.

I think the question of my US trip this summer has been decisively answered

The text of your post is stored somewhere, and if you go back to the thread, it assumes you want to continue editing it. Close the tab and open a new one to avoid the issue.

If only because they can't look him in the eye. Trump and Vance are such utter cretins.

What would they have made of Churchill's siren suits?

Oh god.

Is this Putin showing how much he values and wants Peace.

Couple of arrogant fuckers him and Trump.

As promised earlier. They correctly put most of the blame on Vance for the melt down.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/putin-wins-the-trump-zelensky-oval-office-spectacle-e23e9b21?st=yJtvPJ&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-28-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump held a contentious meeting at the White House on February 28.
• Russia continues to showcase its deepening relations with American adversaries despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's effort to posture Russia's receptiveness to negotiations with the United States.
• Russia continues to range itself with adversaries of the United States, underscoring the importance of strengthening and supporting US allies and partners, including Ukraine.
• Ukrainian officials are increasing cooperation with South Korea amid deepening Russia-North Korea ties and recent reports of a new wave of North Korean troop deployments to Kursk Oblast.
• Ukrainian forces conducted strikes against near-rear Russian military assets in occupied Ukraine.
• The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on February 28 that the United States approved current MFA North American Department Director Alexander Darchiev's appointment as Russia's Ambassador to the United States.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka and in western Zaporizhia.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked Crimea occupation head Sergey Aksyonov with establishing a "Kadry" ("Human Resources") national project to integrate Russian veterans into the Russian economy, likely in support of the Kremlin's efforts to prevent the emergence of subversive veteran civil societies.

Is this as bad as it seems?

If you think Zelenskyy must be wrought with the weight of war time leader all the time and it is known Trump is incredibly sensitive and almost demands flattery to my mind The seeds for a bad meeting were already there. I think we have all and meetings where a few ill chosen words lead to be a row.

There weren't diplomats in the meeting but surely now diplomats from the EU, US, and Ukraine will be talking quickly to reduce damage from the meeting. It was a bad meeting but I don't think it was a defining one (perhaps just very embaressing).

in would think you would need to leave it a few days to see the diplomatic attempts to heal repatiiships. Things may be different with a mercurial Trump.

I’m so proud of Zelenskyy for refusing to apologise to Trump during his Fox News interview.

DSR networks emergency episode has come to the conclusion that this meeting was absolutely intended to end up as it did and that it’s all but a declaration of war against the US’ former allies, particularly given they are already waging economic warfare against Europe.

I absolutely think it was defining.

One rule for some another rule for a special people.
Palestine has been in this state for newly a 100 years. If it happena to other nations then why cherry pick. Bo one cares about Palestine's right to exist as it has for hundreds of years but as ukraine is european they are more worthy.

Personally it is a political war game a game of chess and isn't black and white. These are all steps leading to WW3 and the players are playing their rolew wnd acting their part.

Vance makes my skin crawl. He is an absolute arsehole

Read the room. This is not the place, there is a full board committed to the conflict in the Middle East.