War with Russia

[briantrumpet]

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!
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.

Erm, I was merely responding to your post about how many square kilometres Ukraine had regained. In percentage terms, it's tiny, which was my point (even if it is symbolic). And in fact in 2026, the gains/losses more or less cancel out, as Zelenskyy confirms. So "at a standstill, in effect", isn't inaccurate, even if I wish it were otherwise.

 

[Pinno718]

Erm, I was merely responding to your post about how many square kilometres Ukraine had regained. In percentage terms, it's tiny, which was my point (even if it is symbolic). And in fact in 2026, the gains/losses more or less cancel out, as Zelenskyy confirms. So "at a standstill, in effect", isn't inaccurate, even if I wish it were otherwise.

Yes but there's something missing in your observation: see my post. I stated that it was immaterial.

 

[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.

Yes. We (and I) struggle with the concept of doing things without care or consequence*. We judge them by our yardstick of morality. It is a fatal error because we succumb to the distraction of smoke and noise.

*bar financial gain.

 

[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.

Oh, you have just made the realisation.
This has been clear for probably over 2 years.

 

[briantrumpet]

Yes but there's something missing in your observation: see my post. I stated that it was immaterial.

In which case, I have no idea why you've decided to pick up on my 'standstill' comment, which was accurate.

 

[Psamathe]

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.

I agree but I can see maybe the phrase attributed to Einstein is relevant? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

 

[briantrumpet]

Oh, you have just made the realisation.
This has been clear for probably over 2 years.

Just because I don't write down my every thought on Ukraine here, or do them in video format, doesn't mean I don't observe stuff.

 

[Pinno718]

In which case, I have no idea why you've decided to pick up on my 'standstill' comment, which was accurate.

Yes it was accurate.
However, you implied that it was insignificant.

 

[briantrumpet]

Yes it was accurate.
However, you implied that it was insignificant.

 

[Pinno718]

I agree but I can see maybe the phrase attributed to Einstein is relevant? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

How much of it is insanity and how much is financial or power ambition?
Trump lives in a bubble and is surrounded by sycophants therefore his actions become increasingly obscure the more he is removed from reality but the more perhaps, he is being manipulated by Putin, Satanyahu, the technocrats Russell Vought etc.

In the case of Ukraine, his actions can be interpreted as transactional. In the gulf, his actions and sentiments though on the face of it, about market manipulation and Israeli ambition, is sheer self inflicted optical pain as he acts on Israeli objective trying to juggle twin pressure.
His geographic antipathy - Greenland, Canada etc is a direct window into technocratic ambition, Project 2025, Peter Thiel et al, the push to diminish the state and accountability being the impediment.
If you look at his actions in the light of the above, it's not mad, it is insidious.
The rest, the stuff said at rallies, the stuff outwith optical planning, in front of the press s bonkers because he has to make up stuff on the spot.
A bull shitter is harder to pin down than a liar. A liar will be found out eventually, a bull shitter will simply bull shi*t his way out of any hole.

 

[Pinno718]

Just because I don't write down my every thought on Ukraine here, or do them in video format, doesn't mean I don't observe stuff.

You'll have to swipe at me with a bit more effort than that. I am quite aware of my failings but
forums have this innate propensity to generate a constant stream of sound bites that provide little depth and presents veneer that paints skewed perspective.

 

[Psamathe]

In the case of Ukraine, his actions can be interpreted as transactional.

I wonder if part of it comes back to vengance aback from Zelensky's refusal to investigate Hunter Biden when Trümp was trying to spread dirt against Joe Biden in the elections.

Form 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...ne-biden-election-help-hillary-clinton-claims

Trump spoke to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on 25 July, about two weeks before the complaint was filed. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump repeatedly pressured Zelenskiy to investigate Biden’s son, Hunter. In the July phone call, Trump urged Zelenskiy about eight times to work with Giuliani on the investigation, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. Other media outlets confirmed that Trump had pushed Zelenskiy to take action.

Whilst Trümp's brain is maybe not functioning well, he does seem to remember longterm grudges.

 

[secretsqirrel]

I wonder if part of it comes back to vengance aback from Zelensky's refusal to investigate Hunter Biden when Trümp was trying to spread dirt against Joe Biden in the elections.

Form 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...ne-biden-election-help-hillary-clinton-claims

Whilst Trümp's brain is maybe not functioning well, he does seem to remember longterm grudges.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that was exactly what is behind it. He is a proven nasty, vindictive old man and Zelensky won’t bend the knee. Putin and Xi have bigger real estate and rule with and iron fist, so they are role models in Trumps eyes.

From BBC today…
The US president said he is "not a big fan of Zelensky" and that he is "not a good guy for us to deal with.
"He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't," Trump said.
"As you know, Putin hates Zelensky, and Zelensky hates Putin," he added. "And when you have that kind of hatred, it's very hard to get something settled."
When asked about Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, Trump said it was "a disgrace".
"All he's doing is making the world oil price higher... There are a lot of targets that you can hit."

 

[Pinno718]

I wonder if part of it comes back to vengance aback from Zelensky's refusal to investigate Hunter Biden when Trümp was trying to spread dirt against Joe Biden in the elections.

Form 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...ne-biden-election-help-hillary-clinton-claims

Whilst Trümp's brain is maybe not functioning well, he does seem to remember longterm grudges.

I agree.

 

[Pinno718]

I wouldn’t be surprised if that was exactly what is behind it. He is a proven nasty, vindictive old man and Zelensky won’t bend the knee. Putin and Xi have bigger real estate and rule with and iron fist, so they are role models in Trumps eyes.

From BBC today…
The US president said he is "not a big fan of Zelensky" and that he is "not a good guy for us to deal with.
"He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't," Trump said.
"As you know, Putin hates Zelensky, and Zelensky hates Putin," he added. "And when you have that kind of hatred, it's very hard to get something settled."
When asked about Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries, Trump said it was "a disgrace".
"All he's doing is making the world oil price higher... There are a lot of targets that you can hit."

Think about it: Zelensky is in Miami negotiating with Witkoff and Kushner whilst simultaneously*, Trump is on the phone to Putin... Trump is trying to secure two oil deals worth $42bn but of course, Zelensky's refusal to agree any deal not in Ukraine's interest is one massive obstacle. Of course he's going to pin the blame on Zelensky.
The public optic: Zelensky is stubborn and doesn't want peace and must step aside, not fit for the job etc.
The private concern: Zelensky is preventing deals going through boys, we gottta put pressure on him. A deal he can't refuse.

*And there is no coincidence.