War with Russia

[Pinno718]

This really needs to be emphasised. Trump is enabling the destruction of civilian lives, democrats and republicans need to be shouting this off the rooftops.

Interesting Times Radio interview ^ (Frontline and the Trump report) where it is explained that there are many people who have long served as partners of NATO who haven't been purged, the sharing of intel, the Republicans who would have remembered the Reagan anti communist era, the noise about being on the right side of history etc - it's very detailed and shed's light on a complex web. Worth the watch.

 

[Psamathe]

Ukraine has resumed hitting Russian refineries. That may be rash—upsetting Mr Trump may drive the wedge deeper with America, on which Ukraine relies for 95% of its Patriot interceptors. Ukraine could instead increase attacks on other Russian targets, including data centres and distribution hubs. And the White House has suggested that Mr Trump’s energy truce covers only refineries—of which Ukraine has just one. Mr Zelensky could appeal to Republicans in Congress about this injustice. Above all, he must keep a cool head. [The Economist]

To me it demonstrates how unsuited to such issues Trũmp and his sidekicks are to taddressing these problems. |That Trũmp thinks ceasefires happen when he announces one without getting agreement from those involved in the war, without telling those involved in the war and without telling anybody the terms and basis of the ceasefire. And then one party follows and other doesn't so "just takes the battering" and when they say "enough" and resume fighting Trümp throws a tsantrum. What parallelUniverse is Trǔmp living in?

This really needs to be emphasised. Trump is enabling the destruction of civilian lives, democrats and republicans need to be shouting this off the rooftops.

I'd have hoped if negotiating a ceasefire first "stop attacking" would be innocent civillians and civillian infrastructure. But as you say, Trümp does not seem to appreciate that so many are getting killed and severely injured, it just doesn't seem relevant to his moral stance..

 

[briantrumpet]

To me it demonstrates how unsuited to such issues Trũmp and his sidekicks are to taddressing these problems. |That Trũmp thinks ceasefires happen when he announces one without getting agreement from those involved in the war, without telling those involved in the war and without telling anybody the terms and basis of the ceasefire. And then one party follows and other doesn't so "just takes the battering" and when they say "enough" and resume fighting Trümp throws a tsantrum. What parallelUniverse is Trǔmp living in?

I'd have hoped if negotiating a ceasefire first "stop attacking" would be innocent civillians and civillian infrastructure. But as you say, Trümp does not seem to appreciate that so many are getting killed and severely injured, it just doesn't seem relevant to his moral stance..

Incidentally, CNN is reporting that Ukraine has no Patriot Interceptors left in any case. Trump was supposedly going to license Ukraine to produce them, but has reneged on that. I think the absolute best that Ukraine can hope out of the US is *not* positively aiding Russia, but even that seems unlikely, given Trump is trying to woo Putin to get in on the oil and real estate action.

 

[briantrumpet]

A transcribed interview with Trump. As dictated by Putin, more or less. And as reinterpreted by a brain going to mush consumed by greed for money through oil and real estate. I think that covers the Trump algorithm pretty comprehensively.

https://skywriter.blue/@chriso-wiki.bsky.social/3mxy4l2plfg2c

 

[Pinno718]

Some better news:

• Ukraine destroys 4 SU 35 bombers (worth $300m) and damages 2 others
• Drone strikes on Balakovo metallurgic plant, a facility that produces over a trillion tons of steel annually
• Russian losses total: 1559230
• Ukraine hits Sper bank data centre (this will have a huge impact). There is not enough cash in the system for people to withdraw back up in the absence of digital transaction ability. Sper bank has a monopoly in many financial sectors.
• Ukrainian special unit destroys drone operating training centre [KP]
• Massive fire at industrial plant in Russia's Rostov's Oblast spreads to 9009 msq. Details are vague to what this plant does and there is no claim that it was a Ukrainian drone. [KP]
• Massive explosion (again) at the Rostov-on-don oil loading terminal. Although Ukraine has struck this terminal a few times in the last few weeks, it seems as this explosion occurred out with Ukrainian assistance. No air defence noises suggest interna; frailties as the culprit.
• Ukraine takes out a Russian Mi-38 helicopter.
• Operation Vivaldi's 'fourth season' claims a further 101 sq km in the Lyman area.

 

[briantrumpet]

• Operation Vivaldi's 'fourth season' claims a further 101 sq km in the Lyman area.

The 'land war' still seems to be at a standstill, in effect, despite Russia's best efforts, which is why they are throwing so much more at terrorising Kyiv itself with missiles, trying to break the Ukrainian resolve that way.

 

[Pinno718]

Incidentally, CNN is reporting that Ukraine has no Patriot Interceptors left in any case.

This has been the case for a while. In fact, it has a lot do with the US and US allies in the middle east are desperately low on interceptor missiles.
From a sheer transactional perspective, the US industrial military complex benefits from the sale of Patriot interceptors to the EU partner countries. The missiles are purchased under the PERL initiative and then given to Ukraine. Many countries in Europe have stockpiles of interceptor missiles but the stockpiles are not actually that comprehensive and countries in the Balkans and Poland are preparing for Russian aggression.
Russia struck 2 ships - one off the coast of Bulgaria and one off the coast of Romania which is viewed as a test of NATO/European resolve and reaction as it is in NTO territorial water. . 11 sailors missing. Unfortunately, partner countries are less inclined to give up Patriot missiles in the light of Russian threats and actions. This is further exacerbated by a huge backlog of orders and production. They would probably be more inclined to provide more Patriot missiles than they already have if they know their stock would be replenished but as the timeline is unknown, there is reluctance.

 

[Pinno718]

The 'land war' still seems to be at a standstill, in effect, despite Russia's best efforts, which is why they are throwing so much more at terrorising Kyiv itself with missiles, trying to break the Ukrainian resolve that way.

No, it's not a standstill. Ukraine has claimed back hundreds of square kilometers. Perhaps you should pop in to this thread a bit more often
Whilst I will concede that there is very little news about this and not that much shouting from Ukraine but the Ukrainian gain news is out there.

 

[Ian H]

The video I posted above explains the views of those inside the CIA who have been long term servants and collaborators with NATO and cross nation sharing.

Realistically & practically, Zelensky has to deal with Trump for now.

 

[briantrumpet]

No, it's not a standstill. Ukraine has claimed back hundreds of square kilometers. Perhaps you should pop in to this thread a bit more often
Whilst I will concede that there is very little news about this and not that much shouting from Ukraine but the Ukrainian gain news is out there.

What's that in percentage terms?

 

[briantrumpet]

https://ukrainetoday.org/ukraine-re...erritory-russia-gained-in-2026-zelensky-says/

Russian forces have captured approximately 890 square kilometers (344 square miles) of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of 2026, while Ukraine’s Defense Forces have recaptured around 800 square kilometers (309 square miles), President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

 

[Psamathe]

Realistically & practically, Zelensky has to deal with Trump for now.

Maybe the challenge is how to best deal with Trümp. Being playing the sycophant might work for 10 mins but it never takes long for Trũmp to switch to backing your enemies. With Trümp in effect telling Ukraine to surrender and hand large areas of their country over to Putin, maybe playing the subservient looking to some all powerful master just hasn't worked and maybe taking the Carney approach and showing strength is the way to achieve anything.

 

[Pinno718]

To me it demonstrates how unsuited to such issues Trũmp and his sidekicks are to taddressing these problems. |That Trũmp thinks ceasefires happen when he announces one without getting agreement from those involved in the war, without telling those involved in the war and without telling anybody the terms and basis of the ceasefire.

It all makes sense in the light of Witkoff/Kushner attempts at 2 oil contracts worth $20bn and $22bn with Putin (Re.: meeting in Miami. Please watch the video). They are not interested in peace deals unless it favours them. Zelensky's coupled with the military and the people of Ukraine's resolve is a huge impediment to transactional opportunities. It is as simple as that.
Trumps actions as we know, are entirely transactional. The suspension of Starlink/Starshield was a warning shot to Zelensky - you do or else, this is what we ca do.
Trump is not in office to govern. People need to wake up to this fact because domestic and global welfare is of no concern to him or his camp.
I am sorry but making the relative statements regarding what should be done or how this could be done differently or how other people would have resolved x,y and z is entirely spurious.
The optics is popularity and the entire objective is financial gain. Simple.
The Optics are currently failing (23% popularity on 1 poll) but the transactional ambitions are I think being ramped up in a desperate last minute push before the mid terms.

I am personally very concerned that Trump will do his utmost to disrupt the elections and following, will not honour the result. How America reacts remains to be seen.

 

[Ian H]

Maybe the challenge is how to best deal with Trümp. Being playing the sycophant might work for 10 mins but it never takes long for Trũmp to switch to backing your enemies. With Trümp in effect telling Ukraine to surrender and hand large areas of their country over to Putin, maybe playing the subservient looking to some all powerful master just hasn't worked and maybe taking the Carney approach and showing strength is the way to achieve anything.

I wouldn't presume to tell Zelensky how he should deal with Trump.

 

[Pinno718]

What's that in percentage terms?

It is immaterial. It only has significance in that the SMO was only supposed to last 3 days. Putin and the propaganda have actually lied about this. The Russian military sent sorties into areas that have been claimed back simply to plant Russian flags! (and died in the process).
It is a litmus test - Russia is failing to gain territory in this the 5th year of a 3 day operation. It's massively symbolic - the huge Russian bear, the huge Russian military humbled by a much smaller state and in the light of this, Putin has to convince his inner circle that this war is winnable or else, what is the point? If they cannot win this conflict, Russia falls.
Putin has no other card to play. The whole economy is rigged up for war. The economic recovery will take decades, the infrastructure recovery longer (it was always underfunded - see sewerage fountains in St Petersburg and elsewhere). Russia is crumbling under the weight of this conflict make no mistake: The reason the conflict still continues is North Korean, Iranian and Chinese backing, over 2000 tons of gold bullion reserve, despite selling large amounts and of course, Putin desperation. He is going to try to win at all costs with no care for Russia but for his own survival - literally. Unless he wants to flee to some former Soviet Republic for the rest of his life in ignominy and probably looking over his shoulder for the rest of his days as there will be powerful people who will feel betrayed after his neck.
I am sure the seizing of Oligarch moneys and assets is all part of the paranoia that these individuals have the potential to hold him responsible for the mess they are in (they have and have suffered or fallen out of high windows as a result) and by removing them, there's reduced threat to his existence.