Mr Trump Accuses Ukrainians of Not Being Grateful Enough.

It will take some time but as we now know that America is no longer the friend and ally of Europe we will be pivoting away from the USA.

He is so narcissistic and horrendous! Who does he think he is for making such horrendous demands from Zelensky. We all know Trump doesn’t like him, because he doesn’t comply to everything he says.
It’s all about the minerals underground for electric cars.
Nothing ever to do with the good of the people of Ukraine.
Only what he gets out of any deal.
Stand your ground Mr Zelensky! You know what is right for your people and country

I have read that Putin has something compromising on Trump from Trump's visits to Moscow before he became president. I don't know either way but it does look as if Trump is predisposed to follow Putin's wishes a lot more often than not.
Maybe others will know more about this than I do.

Actually, I don`t think Russias war with Ukraine, I think and wish the media would remind EVERYONE it was and is Russias INVASION of Ukraine...

Aveline

Yalta was a poor run down place last time we saw it. The dead hand of communism seemed to have stifled any pretentions to street cleaning or building maintenance. Miserable people too. No smiles.

That’s what you get with Communism isn’t it? No incentive for people to do their jobs well.

keeping quiet I'm not surprised.

This is a little snippet of Phillips O'brien talking about the "deal" today on LBC. He's a professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrews- with an interest in war.

x.com/LBC/status/1992934817994879390?t=e_R22_r4XSEeAUpv1a05Yg&s=19

And here is a piece to read by him:
phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/the-long-con-comes-to-an-end

I think you can visit most places in Russia and find the same, Aveline.

I've noticed that Trump calls this “Ukraine’s war with Russia.” It’s not, of course, it's Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Russia (ussr) deemed Crimea as part if Ukraine in 1954.

So it was “given” voluntarily by USSR to Ukraine.

Yalta was a poor run down place last time we saw it. The dead hand of communism seemed to have stifled any pretentions to street cleaning or building maintenance. Miserable people too. No smiles.

I guess I'm being practical MaizieD. You can go back in history and find all kinds of things.
Both Russia and Ukraine need sea access: there are a majority of Russians in Crimea (although not by overwhelming numbers, there are also Crimean Tatars - they have their own language, but for everyday use use Russian, not Ukrainian)

You can be absolutely sure Russia will never let go of the Crimea, but: thus far, no further?

What I meant ronib is that if Russia keeps pushing west, then Europe is on it's own to deal with it. Trump's USA will not help.

It is arguable that Russia has rights to the Crimea historically...

It certainly is arguable, wyllow but how far back do we have to go? It was part of the Ottoman empire for far longer than Russia had it. Should Turkey lay claim to it?

There's a historical analysis by the i here

inf.news/en/history/6130906076b2ddac50e5db21f3a82fa0.html

👍🏽

Thanks Wyllow3

And I also listened to TRIP (last night) whitewavemark .
It was good to hear it looked at point by point.
Thought I'd post a link to it:

The Rest Is Politics on Global Player - share-lbc.globalplayer.com/podcasts/episodes/7DrvShh/

Maremia

The question is there, in the shadows, does Putin have Kompromat over Trump?

Yes.
I'm sure he does!

And Trump’s natural way is to go along with whoever he thinks is the strongest - and to trample everyone else.

None of what we are witnessing from Russia - incursions into other sovereign territory - is being carried out for no reason. Russian is gathering information, testing resolve and planning.

All it needs to do is build its military up to a sufficient state that can challenge NATO - and note the USA distancing itself from this institution in the peace plan.

I’ve just posted on the other thread.

This morning I’ve been listening to TRIP who is going through the “peace plan” line by line.

If Europe accept this then we are in for a very dangerous future indeed.

Ukraine is correct when it says that this is tantamount to another 1938 Chamberlain appeasement.

I would give Russia less than 1 year before it goes into the Balkans.

What I am trying to work out is the fact that not caring but naked self interest is more efficient in the long run? Perhaps am rambling….

If it does then IMO it's time Europe stopped caring about America ronib.

But does Europe care about America? Does caring help anyone very much?

Trump doesn't care about Europe. Nor does Vance.

Trump seems to forget that Russia has a border with various European countries who will be very worried about their own futures if Putin is seen to be rewarded for invading Ukraine.

Witzend

IMO Trump admires Putin - he’s the sort of dictator he himself would love to be.
(I do sometimes wonder whether he’s a reincarnation of Henry VIII….)

I agree, reminds me of when he became pals with Kim Jong Un a few years ago.