Ukraine Invasion: Part 58

[MagicFox]

We’re all still here for Thread 58. Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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You do wonder what Putin has on him

That he's made Washington safe in 4 days was ludicrous. Why is he talking about any domestic stuff? He has no manners.

Trump simply spews out whatever turd rises to the top of the cesspool he uses for a mind.

I cannot bear to watch, so will just hang out here.

To all intents and purposes it seems to have gone as well as it could. They’re now in private discussion and then meeting with the Europeans. Then a scheduled press conference.

Do you know what time the presser is expected? Guardian doesn't seem to have it.
I'm on tenterhooks.

So glad he was able to remind everyone that he deserves the peace prize. He may not stop this one, but by God he has stopped countless others. Hint, hint.
No proof, but it's said he cold called Stoltenberg in Norway on some pretence and lobbied him for his prize.
Trump ‘cold-called Norwegian government to ask about Nobel Peace Prize’

Previously Sky News had it billed for about 9pm UK time I think.

Although Trump is saying now that it’s been a very successful day so far. I have a feeling the meeting with the Europeans which I think might be televised.

DH just pointed out that Zelenskyy's acting career has been good preparation for all the sincere and convincing arse-licking. 😂

Ursula is all right but I bloody miss Angela Merkel.
And her jackets.

Sounds like Zelensky is open to it, along with security conditions. How sad.
Does a referendum need to take place in Ukraine? Not only difficult in war time but also very expensive.
Future problem for Europe will be refugees.

It certainly sounds like that's the way it's going to go.

I wonder if he is sounding as if he is going for it because he knows damn well Putin won't agree

Forgot to add, that's why his mouth is the shape it is.

My understanding is no referendum is needed because they would accept the territory is lost for now but it wouldn’t be formally recognised as ceded.

Trump seems to have been on the phone twice to Putin. I can’t help feeling like some extremely messy ‘agreement’ is in the offing. There definitely feels like momentum that there wasn’t before.

What do we make of Zelenskyy cancelling his interview this evening with Fox News?

Smart. Fox and News don't belong in the same sentence.

Seems it may have been cancelled as talks are to continue “in a different format”(from BBC).

Oval Office

Trump said Putin's keen to do a deal. I'd want to know, why now?
If Putin thinks he's winning, why would he want to stop?
What if Ukraine gives in to Putin's wishes, only to find later he was running out of funds and another year would have broken him?

written promise not to invade again if Kyiv surrenders Donbas

Just like Hitler gave Chamberlain once he was given the Sudetenland?

I'm thinking what Macron's thinking.

The only bright spot I can see in this mess is if Ukraine doesn’t give up the fortress belt of the Donbas in any so called ‘land swap’ and is given Article 5 guarantees that are actually cast iron and include the USA. That’s basically NATO membership without the badge, and would be the only effective deterrent stopping Putin coming back for another bite of the cherry once he’s rebuilt his war machine.