Ukraine Invasion: Part 55

[MagicFox]

We're on 55. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦 That last one went quickly!

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The AFCOs are staffed by officers and SNCOs but a lot of the admin (not to mention the medicals) is done by Crapita. Getting records from one's GP takes weeks to, there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing as consent forms get sent and invoices get returned.

In the long run, it's better for both of us for Europe to be more self sufficient for defense than to trust the US to defend you.

We have to consider the possibility of having two active conflicts at the same time. If China invades Taiwan in 2028, Russia might see that as a fine time to invade the Baltic countries or Poland via Belarus. It's doubtful that the US could deal with both at the same time unless Europe did most of the fighting in Europe.

Agree with all of that..for info there was an announcement about a month back that the UK system was changing..

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-to-cut-red-tape-and-deliver-quicker-and-easier-recruitment-service#:~:text=Armed%20Forces%20Minister%20Luke%20Pollard,Army%2C%20and%20Royal%20Air%20Force.

However buried in the text:

”Developed in partnership with Serco,”…..so the insistence on outsourcing (to mates??🤐) continues.

” How can you have people doing recruiting who aren't serving in the military and probably have never served? ”

The politicians will claim that it means you are not wasting valuable service personnel in admin roles (thereby giving the impression all the recruiting staff have gone back to active’ish duty), the cynic would say it allows a reduction in the number of service personnel and probably shifts the recruiting bill onto a subtly different budget.

Cynical, Moi????

Here any Army doctor does a physical exam and testing, and takes your medical history. If they find out later that you've lied about it you can be disqualified from service.

The problem from Europe’s perspective is that the trust has gone. Built up over decades. I totally accept that we could and should have been doing far more in terms of defence spending, you’ve heard us all advocate, and vote, about this. But that still doesn’t explain the bully boy tactics to Ukraine, withdrawing intel and defence etc, appeasing Russia.

Canada, Europe, Australia and Mexico are all rightly pissed off; China is tough talking about war, and the world feels even more volatile. I swear that if that orange moron gets anywhere near a Nobel peace prize I will be protesting very very vocally!

But more than that, because of Trump’s antics, people beyond Canada are boycotting US goods and services. It’s very bloody tempting to do the same (beyond my Diet Coke habit!) but worryingly if the US economy tanks, the repercussions are felt across the globe, and would further erode spending on defence.

Trump needs to act quickly to stop all this, he’s just released a tweet telling Ukraine and Russia to get to the negotiating table now before it’s too late, and threatened further sanctions against Russia, but he needs to do far more.

At least some acknowledgement of the horrendous attacks ongoing.

A further point that I think is worth reflecting is that the UK’s decision to support the US after 911 was not popular here, massive protests and it did irrevocable damage to the Labour Party for years, and contributed to 14 years of Tory idiots in charge. Who decimated our public services. The fallout from that has meant that spending in defence has not been popular with voters, and so it’s often been overlooked; as has the UK’s contribution to that war from the US - both in terms of the billions spent, and the lives lost.

I would 100% agree with this, the Middle Eastern wars went down terribly here but we still stood up because we were allies. Next time America asks for help I honestly don’t think they’ll get it from Europe.

Did you see the clip of trump yesterday saying he wouldn't defend a nato nation not paying enough (again) - this time he ended it with "would they come to our aid if we asked? I don't think so"

It was so outrageous I didn't post it at the time

Here it is: bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3ljqfhl75bt2z

Except that the only time Article 5 has been triggered we fucking well did come to their aid.

This sound like it's going to be a big improvement, but it won't launch until 2027. Why would it take two years to stand this up?

Everyone in US Army recruiting is active duty or a civilian employee:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Recruiting_Command

It's a three or four year rotation, then you go back to your normal branch assignment. Officers and NCOs are mostly from combat arms units.

Poland are going to give military training to every adult male and is seeking to raise defence spending to 4%.

I know. They don't want to be the next Ukraine. It's a brilliant response, and they're wisely sourcing off the shelf hardware from other countries rather than trying to build it all themselves.

This is a rational response to the threat.

I don't think Europe is turning on America but this American administration. I think its quite obvious that at least half of Americans are embarrassed but the way the USA is threating it's allies.

Members of a spy ring based in Great Yarmouth have just been convicted.

They planned attacks on the Bellingcat folks and on Ukrainian soldiers training in Germany, to involve kidnapping, or getting into the soldiers' phones to track them and their nice German hardware once back in Ukraine.

They had some particularly bonkers plans for shit-stirring through a variety of astroturfing and false-flag operations.

How spy ring did Russia's dirty work from the UK
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c627685p21eo
a hare-brained scheme to initiate a staged protest at the Kazakh Embassy featuring blood dropped from drones, an astroturf human rights campaign involving Just Stop Oil, a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, advertising on London buses and unrealised deepfake pornographic video of the Kazakh president's son. Russia would then help nervous Kazakh security services "uncover" the "activists" responsible.

Whilst I don’t think we “should” be turning on America more broadly I wouldn’t be shocked to see the sentiment drift that way.

I agree but what Jelly is saying is that this has highlighted that we can't trust or rely on America because commitments and alliances can change so dramatically if an unreliable person is elected to president. It hasn't happened before but this has shown it can and we should prepare accordingly.

I also think the horse has bolted for a robust article 5 involving the US

I wish the US would remember that in fact the UK has supported them a number of times.

Ukraine, apparently, even sent troops to Afghanistan in support of the US - led invasion. There were deaths among the troops sent, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participants_in_Operation_Enduring_Freedom#Ukraine

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

French Mirage 2000 fighters, delivered to Ukraine a month ago, repelled a Russian attack for the first time last night, the Air Force reported.
American F-16s were also involved in the operation

❗️Ukraine and the USA have resumed work: we hope a meaningful meeting will take place next week, — Zelenskyy

Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, and economic confrontation with Russia—we are simply stronger, — Polish Prime Minister Tusk.
"Europe must enter into an arms race with the Russian Federation and win it,” he added.

Ukraine is negotiating with Italy on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s initiative to extend NATO Article 5 to Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said.

The United States is ready to impose tough sanctions on Russia, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said.
Washington will not hesitate to sanction Russian energy if it helps achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine.
He stated that under President Trump, sanctions would be applied “clearly and aggressively” for maximum effect.

Russian losses in 2025 amount to about 91 thousand soldiers, said Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi

Zelenskyy will visit South Africa next month to discuss efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Istanbul Accords are not a fair basis for peace, says US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
“If you look at the Istanbul Accords, it was 30 days after the [full-scale] invasion. And the demands were very tough on a weakened Ukraine… I agree with Steve [Witkoff] that this is a starting point. I don’t believe it’s a fair basis. And I think we have to develop something completely new. You can start from that position [that is acceptable to the Russians], but that’s what the negotiating teams have to work on,” Kellogg said.

The enemy is actively using small group tactics, and military are actively tracking and destroying them—the work of the Vidarr Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade.

Ukraine and China have signed an agreement to expand the list of Ukrainian agricultural exports to China, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine announced.
“The launch of Ukrainian agricultural exports to the Chinese market is a strategic step to strengthen the economy and expand the geography of supplies.
China is one of the world’s largest importers of agricultural products, and the opening of new opportunities for Ukrainian producers will not only increase foreign exchange earnings but also establish Ukraine as a reliable supplier of high-quality agricultural products on the international market,” said Minister Vitaliy Koval.

On February 14, a Russian strike drone damaged the protective structure over the destroyed power unit of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. Only today, March 7, was the decay of the “sarcophagus” finally stopped, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Grinchuk reported.
She noted that the radiation situation at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant remains unchanged but is being continuously monitored. Units of the State Emergency Service will remain on duty at the site to oversee radiation and thermal imaging levels.
“Now our task is to conduct a thorough analysis of the damage to the NSC Arch and restore its functionality,” Grinchuk added.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights, further to this morning

⚡️ Russia reportedly breaks through (kyivindependent.com/russia-reportedly-attempting-a-breakthrough-south-of-sudzha-in-kursk-oblast/) in Kursk Oblast; Ukraine hasn't confirmed.
Russian forces have made a breakthrough south of the Ukrainian-held town of Sudzha, potentially threatening to cut off some of the Ukrainian positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Agentstvo and Ukrainska Pravda reported on March 7.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. The spokesperson of the Ukrainian group of forces in Kursk Oblast declined to comment.

⚡️Ukrainian troops' logistics in Kursk Oblast destroyed (kyivindependent.com/logistics-is-gone-russia-breaches-ukrainian-positions-in-kursk-oblast-sources-confirm/), they face risk of encirclement, sources say.
A Ukrainian soldier fighting in Kursk Oblast described the situation in the Russian region as "critical," warning that Ukrainian troops in the region face the threat of encirclement. He added that Ukrainian soldiers based in the region would like to withdraw.

⚡️ Zelensky to meet Saudi Crown prince (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-to-meet-saudi-crown-prince-on-march-10/) on March 10.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on March 10 and meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before talks with U.S. partners.

⚡️ Maxar Technologies reportedly restricts (kyivindependent.com/maxar-technologies-reportedly-restricts-ukraines-access-to-satellite-imagery/) Ukraine's access to satellite imagery.
The alleged move follows the U.S. decision to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a shift confirmed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe on March 5.

⚡️ US Chamber of Commerce in Russia readies proposals on sanctions relief. (kyivindependent.com/amcham-russia-to-urge-us-to-ease-sanctions-on-aviation-banking-investments/)
The recommendations focus on lifting restrictions on the aviation and banking industries, investments, and luxury goods shipments.

⚡️Trump says he considers (kyivindependent.com/trump-considering-large-scale-banking-sanctions-tariffs-on-russia-until-peace-deal-reached/) sanctioning Russia because it's 'pounding' Ukrainian troops.

⚡️ US 'not going to defend' NATO members missing defense spending goals, Trump says. (kyivindependent.com/us-not-going-to-defend-nato-members-missing-spending-goals-trump-says/)
"If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

⚡️ Ukraine receives $970 million (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-receives-970-million-from-uk-under-g7-loan-covered-by-russian-assets/) from UK under G7 loan covered by Russian assets.

⚡️Von der Leyen seeks to give Ukraine access (kyivindependent.com/eu-proposes-to-give-ukraine-access-to-single-market-as-part-of-peace-deal-telegraph-reports/) to EU single market as part of peace deal, Telegraph reports.

⚡️ EU members pledge $16 billion (kyivindependent.com/eu-members-pledge-16-billion-in-additional-support-for-ukraine-costa-says/) in support for Ukraine, Costa says.
"Today, we have also tasked the Council to work urgently on further initiatives to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defense needs," European Council President Antonio Costa said.

⚡️ Zelensky's approval rating jumps to 68% (kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-approval-rating-jumps-after-trump-clash-poll-shows/) after Trump clash, poll shows.
The most significant jump came after the Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting, which ended in a public dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

⚡️ Germany should reduce reliance (kyivindependent.com/germany-should-lessen-reliance-on-us-weapons-amid-shifting-politics-airbus-defense-chief-says/) on US arms amid geopolitical shifts, Airbus Defense and Space CEO says.
"If we continue to buy off-the-shelf products from the United States with this higher defense spending, we are cementing our dependence on others," said the CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, Michael Schollhorn.

⚡️ Ukraine wasn't officially asked by US to make territorial concessions (kyivindependent.com/us-partners-made-no-official-proposals-on-ukraines-territorial-concessions-foreign-ministry-says/), Foreign Ministry says.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukraine is considering a withdrawal from Russia’s Kursk region — Politico
“Ukrainian troops are under fierce attack from a Russian counteroffensive that’s building up steam, and commanders will soon have to make a tough choice whether to continue the struggle or withdraw.”

Ex-officials fear Trump could hand US secrets to Russia.
www.kyivpost.com/post/48388

Overnight, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting energy and gas infrastructure.
Energy Minister Halushchenko warned that the situation in the power system remains unstable.
There are victims in several cities.

Budapest said it would have a “national consultation” on whether its people think Ukraine should join the EU, but previous polls showed that results tend not to be very representative.
www.kyivpost.com/post/48464

Trump’s new directive aims to LIMIT Musk’s role to an advisory capacity.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/48433

Is Russia walking into a nightmare? Ryan McBeth breaks down Ukraine’s battlefields, shifting peace talks, and the looming insurgency that could haunt Moscow for years. Plus, how the war’s outcome could shake up the US arms industry.
www.kyivpost.com/videos/48483

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇷🇺 Russia Told the U.S. That “Territorial Gains” Must Be Recognized in Any Peace Deal, Says Russian Ambassador to the UK.
“These territories have been incorporated into the Russian constitution, and we will continue to insist that all Ukrainian government forces withdraw from them,” the ambassador stated.

🇵🇱 Poland Wants All Men to Undergo Military Training in Case of War – PM Donald Tusk
Poland aims to build a 500,000-strong army, including reservists, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The government is expected to provide more details on this plan in the coming months, with the goal of finalizing it by the end of the year.
Tusk emphasized that the country’s military reserve must be “comparable and adequate to potential threats.” He also reiterated that Poland plans to increase defense spending to 5% of its GDP.

Trump Frustrated with Russia Over Its Strikes on Ukraine – Axios
Axios, citing a White House official, reports that Trump has become increasingly irritated with Moscow’s actions in recent days.
The U.S. president is unhappy that Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine precisely at the moment when he is pushing for a ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Responds to Trump’s Sanctions Threat
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, reacted to Donald Trump’s threat to impose new sanctions, stating that previous sanctions have not stopped Moscow from “achieving its goals” in Ukraine.

🇺🇸 Trump wants to tie the mineral extraction deal to Ukraine’s commitment to a swift ceasefire, Bloomberg reports, citing sources.
Washington has reportedly signaled that Trump is willing to finalize the deal—put on hold after his dispute with Zelensky—if the Ukrainian president agrees to a “real pathway toward a ceasefire and negotiations with Moscow.”
◾️ Previously, CBS News reported that Trump was pushing for a “bigger, better deal” with Ukraine on rare-earth minerals. Sources noted that the current version of the agreement is not final, and some of its terms may be adjusted.

Russia has launched 3,045 air targets at Ukraine since the start of negotiations with the United States. It is targeting energy infrastructure and housing.
Is this sufficient proof of Russia's peaceful intentions for Trump or not?

Thats a very generous way of looking at what is happening......

Trump, from a European perspective, seems deranged.. trusts Putin, is not supporting Ukraine, blames Zelenskyy for the war.

Even after last nights attacks, Trump couldn't bring himself to criticise Putin... even suggesting Russia is easier to deal with.

Its becoming increasingly likely, that Trump is in the pocket of the Russians and you've elected a Russian sympathizer into the WH, with a republican party too scared to stand up to him.

Trump isn't going to change his tune on NATO, he has his instruction/ or belief and will follow this...

Even on defence, in the 70s and 80s when defence spending was 5 or 6% of GDP, Europe couldn't have withstood a Soviet invasion, sure Russia is smaller but even so, the US brings a single army and command structure, the Europeans were informed the US would be at the helm of any conflict with Soviets.
We aren't geared up for it and wont be for many years, meaning we would have to rely on Nuclear weapons... even if it were only the French ones, if the US can stop Trident being used...

How well would that work out for "America First?"

Agree with all this, and the original post was so patronising

Of course he's threatening to get what he wants. And how we should all be submissive to him and be grateful if he likes us again. The attitude of many on here mirrors that arrogance

And for Russia it's about territory, for western Russia (previously known as the US) it's about resources

Again, although I feel sorry for those who didn't vote for him, I will enjoy their decline, both financially and democratically