Continuation of AR housing thread

[TheNuthatch]

Continuation of the Angela from housing thread. For those who want to moan about the government and share thoughts and articles.

Us has cut off intelligence sharing with the Ukraine. Apparently they are still sharing with third parties who can forward the information to the Ukraine but it does feel like things are getting frostier.

Thanks Upstartled.
That's shit. I wonder if the UK has been ordered by US to do the same?

That is worrying. I hope Starmer and co haven't fucked up on all this. The pushing for security was their gambit, the whole 'boots and planes' nonsense and photo ops.

Now they want to go back. It reminds me of a work pitch where you realise you've stuffed up and ask to go back. Z had a doc to sign right there.

Hopefully it'll be signed soon, otherwise there's a big problem.

It will be signed.

The worrying thing is the sabre rattling from Xi. And I think this is why Trump is so keen to cosy up to Putin.

I just read the news updates on the deal and it sounds a bit more positive.

Haven't contemplated Xi yet, another issue.

Stronger language (finally) from Macron this evening.

'I want to believe that the US will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case'
He also spoke about expanding the French nuclear umbrella, echoing Merz.

I've been really impressed by Macron this week.

I've just been catching up on the day.
China's comments about being ready for any type of war! 😮I read somewhere that China are upping their defence spending by 7% this year too. Trump also made a big deal about the Taiwan chip company beginning manufacturing in the US a few days ago.

Interesting piece re: pay rises

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/1bn-cuts-hospitals-schools-pay-rises-doctors-teachers-3567839?srsltid=AfmBOorj78OvIv_b3pkoT9POF2vZaJEnLOnkvxba2XOJlHmD5dMfZ1wu

But I thought putin and xi were friends? Why would turnip want to cosy up to xi pal?

I think cutting the intelligence sharing with people who will be deeply invested in this on the US side will revolt them I think trump may start to loose the military there.

Divide and conquer.

He doesn’t want them to be pals.

Funnily enough he’s alienating his own allies as well, but as they say you cannot make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

Listening to impact of cutting intel.

What on Earth were Starmer and co thinking pushing on security when they had no leverage.

They inserted themselves into this and can't cover the gaps that have resulted due to that.

Perhaps the UK and France insisting on security guarantees was intended to actually create leverage? Assuming that when push came to shove, the US would have to say that it would back it's allies. The US knows that our military (in it's current form) cannot function without them, so would concede that we would need US help to deploy troops.
If that's the the case, it has spectacularly backfired. It would also explain Macron's change of tone.

Each day that passes between the original signing date and the new one is due to Starmer and co inserting themselves.

One thing that might finally connect for them is how much the US is relied upon for intelligence and military kit.

EU spending will go up which US voters want anyway.

But they can't fill the intel / kit gap. Later on maybe for the latter after spending more.

I'm not convinced that the US will reinstate military aid or intelligence now, even when/if Ukraine sign the minerals deal.
What a mess.

@twistyizzy
Thanks for the link. It's good to see that they've got their priorities right. Add that to the cuts coming up in the spring statement!
Reeves looks to be forcing other secs of state to break their manifesto commitments so that she can keep hers.

I'm not sure either @TheNuthatch

Z would have been better off to sign when offered

Russia has responded to Macron's speech, I'm not keen on these up the ante speeches. I think we need movement in the opposite direction. They just provoke insecurity and risk of escalation.

Well the prep work is clearly being done in advance of the spring - I was going to call it the announcement but surely by now it must have upgraded to a statement? - and the column inches are awash with how all of these cuts, especially benefit cuts, will actually benefit the population!

Of course, these policies under the Tories would be called austerity and they would be charged with killing off the vulnerable. I'm staggered by the hypocrisy but there you go - apparently there's no u-turn so severe that the true believers can't keep up but, I think there's a level of delusion at play if they think that voters who loaned them a vote because they were the 'kind' party will play the game.

I have no idea what on earth will happen next with the US and the Ukraine and what we are actually meant to be doing now. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Spot on.
I cant wait to see the excuses given by the MN labour massive when they cut benefits.

I just, even as someone who has kind of traversed, somewhat predictably as I've aged, from slightly left to slightly right, feel the sting of betrayal when the left has volte-faced from paternalistic do-gooder to the modern equivalent of Tebitt telling people to get on their bike.

If this is it it looks like EU meeting is focussed on financial part

The plan includes:
• Allowing countries to increase national deficit levels to give room for more defence spending
• €150bn (£125bn) in loans for defence investment to benefit the defence of the EU as a whole - for example, air and missile defence, anti-drone systems, and military mobility. This is to help pool demand, and joint procurement would reduce costs
• Allowing countries to redirect funds earmarked for cohesion policy programmes (i.e. policies aimed at levelling the differences between more and less advantaged regions) to defence spending

It won't apply to U.K., and I can't see how it helps Z rn.

He's there not in US though signing.

Agree on Labour and benefit cuts.

Thanks Eastern. I'm not sure why Zelensky is saying he will sign and yet, doesn't sign? Each time I think Trump has bottomed out of threats, there's another thing taken away leaving those fighting in Ukraine in a more perilous state.

If he is going to sign, why not now? If he isn't going to sign, why not say so?

Didn't a French minister say yesterday that Macron and Starmer would accompany Z to the Whitehouse next week to sign the deal?

It's maddening, he's said it so many times.

He's likely listening to Starmer and co do their domestic planes and troops speeches and expecting more.

It's not likely. After today hopefully he'll understand politicians are not being honest. You see on here some who believe Europe is about to step in.

Reading this shows what could be happening on expectations, apols for big chunk o text.

--
'He’ll be seeking cast-iron guarantees of military support and perhaps enhanced intelligence sharing to plug the gaps left by Washington’s decision to halt aid.
But much to his disappointment, Mr Zelensky will only receive warm words of assurance and some vague promises around security guarantees.
EU leaders have decided it’s too soon, and “premature”, to discuss troop deployments.
Instead, they’ll explain that the bloc best sees Ukraine being defended by itself with the help of weapons deliveries and training from its Western allies.
“Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraine’s own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component,” a leaked draft of a statement to be signed off by EU leaders, seen by the Telegraph, says.
“This applies before, during and after negotiations to end the war.”

@TheNuthatch they've offered but since said it's not agreed.

Signing could still go ahead but the delay is damaging to Z.