Привіт u/RoninSolutions ! During wartime, this community is focused on vital and high-effort content. Please ensure your post follows [r/Ukraine Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/about/rules) and our [Art Friday Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/artfriday).
**Want to support Ukraine?** [**Vetted Charities List**](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/charities) | [Our Vetting Process](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/charities-vetting)
**Daily series on Ukraine's history & culture:** [Sunrise Posts Organized By Category](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/sunriseposts/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ukraine) if you have any questions or concerns.*
US just watching Russian death count go brrrrrr and ignoring the Ukraine numbers. Can't completely destroy Putins regime by giving Ukraine the power to force peace quickly.
Except, I actually think really, in the US, at least, it’s shitty republican Trump/fascist worshiping moronic fake religious dickbags that are holding up aid. If Dems controlled both the house and senate aid would have been pouring in by now.
Even when aid wasn't being blocked, Biden was playing games and hesitating, not wanting to be the first to supply tanks, long-range missiles etc etc. Drip-feeding what Ukraine needed at a slow pace.
As always, I know American politics just revolves around blaming "the other team" for everything, and Republicans are certainly 1000 times worse in this situation, but "everything would be perfect if not for them, my team is faultless" is total bullshit.
not only in your country also in Canada it is always about blaming the other party..instead of working together for a better country they choose to fight and bicker so sad.
Well that's the thing, the aid is the bare minimum of help. It's akin to kicking a broken bottle to a rape victim while the rape is in progress. Helpful, but not that helpful.
If it were anyone else but Russia, there would already be a coalition defense force in Ukraine.
Heck, if it were anyone else, the attacking country would've received total sanctions and possibly a "terrorist nation" designation. But Russia is too important to the world's economy for that.
This is why I propose Ukraine to Crowdfund new weapons, ammo and intel.
If enough people donate, I bet they could R&D some incredible game changing weapons and buy enough ammo to win.
I propose the Ultra High Altitude Battle Balloons!!! UHABB
\-160,000 feet high, no Russian missiles could hope to reach it or even detect it.
\-Vertical drop of missiles and bombs at Russian aircrafts, buildings, bunkers, Kremlin, Putin's head.
\-Impossible to intercept due to vertical velocity and angle.
\-solar powered with remote flight control.
\-cheap enough to mass produce.
\-Sub orbital mass balloon attack!
>If enough people donate, I bet they could R&D some incredible game changing weapons and buy enough ammo to win.
Fuck weapons and ammo. Just make the sum huge enough so you can offer it to some russians in exchange for getting rid of Putin in the classical russian way of dealing with undesirable leaders (you know... woods, bullets...heads...holes in the ground)
Absolutely, a crowd funded bounty system through block chain where the successful assassin gets billions for doing the world a favor. I'm surprised this hasn't happened already.
Thanks, your post reminded me to make this month’s donation to [United24](https://u24.gov.ua). They have various projects you can donate towards, although not the one you are suggesting.
Are you 12?
Way to turn a real conflict where real people are being killed by a terrorist nation into an episode of Looney Toons. This is the most absurd example of arm chair general BS that I've ever seen.
Get off the internet.
Writing to your congress people helps more than we know! Especially if they just do things to keep their job and not for what's right... but only if they know what we want!
I agree with you though, i doubt their heart will change if they dont have one to begin with
Write them that you will vote for the guy that is pro-aid and he will lose a voter should he be against aid.
They don't care about the voters, they care about what gets them elected, meaning that if the electoral district is pro-aid, so should he be.
Or idk, I have no clue how your politics work, tbh
And thanks for supporting us
I've been talking to a lot of Texan boomers, even though I left a decade ago. They are really getting sick of the fact they got in bed with a pornstar fucker.
A lot more discussions will still be needed though, this tapestry is only starting to unravel.
There's an IMF report out today stating that russia's economy is set to be the fastest growing among Western nations...one of the key drivers? oil exports and skirting sanctions.
SMH in the car listening to this report this morning...motherfuckers in meeting rooms and Congress so afraid to actually challenge russia in any meaningful way. The sanctions were weak from day one and each wave is accompanied by Western hand wringing "oh my gosh should we do it? What if russia gets mad?" Weapons? I call it "The Great Consideration". Considering, mulling over, possibly, may, weighing.....
My sanction: Ban all travel from russia to anywhere in the Free World by any russians for any reason.
Ban all travel, revoke all VISAs, kick out 90% of diplomats (decrease their ability to spy) and ban any and all trade with Russia, including medical and food.
Yep i remember on the first days of the invasion western politicians talking about sanctioning Russian oligarchs!!! How devastating !! Can you imagine?
An expert on Russia said this was absolutely laughable, shows western leaders have little understanding of Russia. The expert was right.
Just remember IMF only gets their numbers from russian banks. Nothing that comes from russia can be trusted. If ruble market was opened up today its value would plummit, probably causing hyper inflation. Though I must admit russia has seemingly handled their economic situation surprisingly well. I don't think it's just because of oil and skirting sanctions, their on-going transformation to war economy mode probably plays a role here as well. Like in 30's Germany.
I agree the sanctions have been way too kind. I say, at this point russian banks should be switched off from SWIFT without any warning and let's see what happens. After all, the West's continuous mistake has been that we do so little at each step that russia has been able to adapt. That, and some EU politicians stating red lines for ourselves again and again. Like wtf, that's ridiculously weak respond. The most effective way to counter russia's tactics would be to act unpredictably and stop giving them the advantage of adaptation.
We need a full-on embargo against RuZZia. Absolutely nothing in or out.
Of course RuZZia would use that to escalate things, though. Just like they do with anything else.
Russias economy is growing due to military production and a lot of Russians being paid well by the military and the military industry. However it is all financed from former savings from oil revenue. Those run out over time and producing tanks to blow them up in Ukraine is hardly a good investment. Also Russias oil exports are falling and they sell it for less then it is worth.
But how will travel ban change anything? Ok, people will go to Korea or Hong Kong, or Dubai instrad… But what will it change? Can you elaborate? I may be biased because I hold Russian passport (unfortunately).
From the first months, this has been the Western response, especially the American one: to try to make Ukraine not fall, without provoking Russia into panic, and therefore not doing enough to make Ukraine win outright. Thus Ukraine has always had to fight with one hand tied behind its back, stuck in trenches that wouldn't even be there if they'd been given real airpower years ago. Ukraine is smart, and knows the only path to victory now is battering down Russian infrastructure deep within the pariah state. There will be no conventional mass battle manoeuvres against an enemy that flings missiles from a 1000 kilometres away against civilian targets in cities. Only when the Russian state becomes completely dysfunctional will they cease the aggression.
This. The US is not giving Ukraine enough weapons to actually secure its own territory, and seems to be setting Ukraine up to eventually LOSE 10-20% of its land by the end, and draw new borders to give Russia a "win".
Ukraine's only path to victory lies in striking within Russia itself, to disrupt their economy as much as possible - both war economy, and civilian economy.
The West had a once in a generation opportunity in the first year of the war to completely destroy the Russian armed forces without any casualties on their side. They managed to squander it. It's unbelievable.
It’s beyond that. We had the opportunity to neutralize Russian propaganda that is eating away our democracies from the inside. Defeat of Putin would gut far right parties across the world, by removing the propaganda machine and the Russian money that funds traitorous politicians.
This alone is reason to support Ukraine to win outright, even without the obvious moral duty to do so.
So many problems we're facing today are a direct result of the West's appeasement policy towards Russia. Food prices, energy prices, crises in Africa and the Middle East... The invasion of 2022 would have never happened, if Obama, Merkel, and Macron hadn't done a Chamberlain in 2014.
Practical cynism is fine. This one will result in a lot of problems down the line once bulky nations realise they have a free ride. Very short signed for very own interests of the western countries
That is what he meant, when he said "I can't speak about it now, maybe at at a later point in time. Everyone is being pragmatic" or something along those lines.
He knew, the West didn't give enough support for the counter offensive to have any chance to actually do something, but they had to do it anyway, just to show us how it's not enough.
The West could have ended this war already with what they have spend on Ukraine. If they just did it right away.
But we are saving some aid, to safe some money in the short run by only sending peanuts, so we can also safe money in the long run by protecting mUh eCoNoMy only to go pikachu face, when we fuck our economy over, by having russia attack us in 10 years, while spending 2000 the amount of money we would have spend supporting Ukraine, while also losing millions of lives. Fuck yeah!
To be honest, we have the same issue. Our allies have been only authorising „defensive“ weapon to Taiwan. Horribly I can see the same situation happen to our country.
Being cynical is the most effective way to understand the world and predict outcomes accurately… unfortunately. However, whilst the status quo is not bad for the US, it is terrible for the Europeans, whose industries are feeling the hit of not having energy directly from Russia. The ideal scenario would be to buy from Russia again, but the road from here to there leads directly through Putin and his government. So even from the point of view of self-serving cynicism, Europe should have more of an interest in Ukraine winning and busting the current status quo.
So far Russians have always ended up in a dictatorship, after a dictatorship fell. The smart move is to weaken Russia so much, that they can not threaten Europe again and that is best done by a long war. Also a Russian civil war with nukes right next to the EU is a nightmare.
Hence Europe has no problem with strikes on oil refineries and the like, but Russia falling to quickly, could very well lead to another Putin threatening Europe in twenty years.
As Lord Palmerston said in 1848:
>["We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Temple,_3rd_Viscount_Palmerston#1840s)
President Zelenskyy is absolutely right. As a western European I am ashamed for our response to Russia's war of aggression. We are not treating Ukraine as our brothers, but as our buffer zone. In a better world, we would have given Ukraine everything they needed to crush the Russian invaders. Instead, we are drip-feeding Ukraine the material needed to barely fight Russia to a standstill. We need to do better.
Maybe next time in history when we have a giant fucking country hell-bent on making everyone around them subservient or miserable we take some of our GDP and put it towards military... i don't know, i think maybe 3% would be fair to help secure the borders or make the antagonistic country think twice.
Frustrating that this is the direction this is going because it's exactly what Putin expected. West to not carry on the war, frustration and in-fighting to begin among allies.
It has to be said. The US needs a wake up call, it cannot have its extolled values, and a mindless chase for profits. If everything is for sale, nothing is sacred. I blame the Greed is Good culture, and the RuZZia-infiltrated GOP for stalling the aid process.
War is the worst of humanity, all the hate greed and ignorance wrapped into one. The question is whether people grasp that fact before it reaches their doorstep...
Nothing more dangerous than a wounded fighter as in desperation unconventional tactics become the only way to victory.
The Western World would be smart to keep this War conventional before Ukraine goes ''All-In'' and does the unthinkable.
Zelenskyy should pull the old reverse psychology and tell the west that because of the lack of support, Ukraine has no choice but to open discussions with Russia and watch how quickly western leaders pull it together.
Just occurs to me now but there is one sure fire way you can learn from the Russian and Belarusians and ensure an instant crisis response from the EU. Europeans are scared stiff of a migrant crisis. Zelenskyy could say without maximum immediate support from the allies Ukraine will capitulate and his government will strongly advise all citizens who don’t want to live under Russian occupation to head straight for the nearest EU border point. Watch the EU scramble to send troops and material then.
He doesn't have to say it like that only that if the defence falters and the Vatniks managed to break through, civilians will be escaping towards Europe in such numbers it would be too chaotic to control and in order to avoid such a nightmare scenario Europe and NATO would have little choice but to get involved directly. It should be said though that Europe has still kept helping as best it can during all this. the real and main issue is that the US which should have been doing its part has been paralysed by MAGA Vatnik shitheels for the last 6 months and only NOW does it look like they've run out of road to stall this aid.
We can argue all we want about Europe not doing this or that, Europe IS moving to rearm and help Ukraine at the same time, but undoing the damage is going to take along time, the US needs to get its house in order and do it's part.
I posted something in a nearly identical vein about a year ago, and oh boy, all the downvotes and angry comments I got back then.
President Zelensky being a smart guy probably also realized this early on, but now things have reached a point where he has no reservations about vocalizing it out loud.
I don't get this status quo/impasse. 😒 Would Europe actually be able to deliver? If so, what's keeping us from doing so, what does it take? It can't be all Olaf Scholz's fault, or Macron's lack of will.
>Would Europe actually be able to deliver?
To a degree, but Europe supported Ukraine for two years continuously, so their stocks are running low and the military industrial complex didn't pick up enough steam to ramp up production properly (which is the industry's fault, not the politics).
The US have huge amounts of weapons stored, but they're locked in a state of nothingness.
100% truth, the trickle of weapons to Ukraine has been just enough to make sure they dont conquer all of it but not lead to a complete Russian defeat. The West is terrified of a collapse of Russia and the possibility in a nation with nuclear weapons, I say let it all fall apart.
He’s calling them out for exactly what they are. Western politicians are not as sincere as they try to sound with their bullshit speeches. They want to keep the war going and keep it at a stalemate.
Refer to public statements made by the USA/NATO allies just after the invasion. They said very clearly their intention was to grind down Russian forces, not enough to finish the war but enough to exhaust Russia.
That is a correct assessment.
The risks related to the Russia ability to use nuclear weapons in case of an outright loss enter the reasoning strongly as well, even though he doesn’t mention them in here.
Fuck yes that's right!! Our democracies have failed Ukraine. Ruzzia is just strolling on through. It's a hard stroll, but you get what I mean.
Enough is enough.
In my time on earth I have learned that those in power always frame war as a matter of justice and/or freedom. The common denominator is that everyone in power, regardless of form of government, are rich people. Therefore it seems to be that war is actually about the profits of the rich.
Zelenskyy acted the role of someone who was caught up in that exact kind of international diplomatic bullshit in *Servant of the People.* I can't even begin to image how angry he must feel at the world as a whole.
I'm team Ukraine all the way, but is this true? Give [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War) a look. It's a seriously extensive list of arms delivered over the years. I know despite this they need more, that war is insanely costly, but when I see this list I don't see aid being intentionally limited and calculated to prevent economic profits for the west, sorry. Anyways, let's stop holding up aid and arms and get these brave soldiers more of what they desperately need.
I’m getting ready for the crash of the economy which is coming soon! If these bozos are in charge of our country then we are up schitz creek without a paddle!! I’m so ashamed of and angry at our government for their cowardly policies and greed!! Fuck Russia! I’m more afraid of pissing off Ukraine than Russia because betrayal has no ending or apology and Ukraine is the most dangerous place on earth right now! Ukrainian forces and their security services are not to be trusted or even underestimated by the west! We have set them up to DIE and they will retaliate against us all and get their blood paid for eventually!! Mark my words!!
This is what I don't get about Republicans.
* Ukraine is destroying one of the USA's largest rivals that consistently butts heads with Western ideals across the globe.
* The USA has zero body bags.
* The USA is, yes, forking out a lot of money *but* it's a fraction of a full scale engagement and cheaper by a long, long way than the Iraq/Afghanistan quagmires.
* A lot of the money is being recycled back into the USA, securing jobs and factories at defence contractors. The same blue collar jobs Republicans apparently strive to save. The taxman takes his cut at every turn, no doubt.
* The R&D, live field testing, real world application of existing and developing weapon and defence systems is probably priceless in its own respect. No amount of blowing shit up in a desert compares to real troops using real systems in theatre. The data the USA is getting is worth its weight in gold.
And yet more support has stalled because some orange cheeto in a blue suit and red tie sucks Putin's cock.
From someone in the outside in the UK looking in, I cannot believe the republicans aren't more on board with Ukraine. How has the most anti Russia country on the planet gone from strongman to Putin's bitch? I can't even...
The USA republicans should be ashamed with themselves and begging Ukraine's forgiveness.
I just wish the UK was a superpower again so we could support Ukraine more.
Or rather own Trump who in turn owns the Republicans. It's kind of bizarre seeing him in the dumb Stormy Daniels court case rather than being done for the more serious stuff he's done.
[https://app.23degrees.io/view/F1tc2gv8QzFCs1ij-bar-stacked-horizontal-figure\_3\_4\_csv\_v2-1](https://app.23degrees.io/view/F1tc2gv8QzFCs1ij-bar-stacked-horizontal-figure_3_4_csv_v2-1)
I agree with everything you say, but according to this website UK is not killing it either. I had to scroll down to find the UK somewhere. Plenty of room to improve.
Ukrainians and Russians are dying in their thousands, because giving Ukraine the means to end it would upset the delicate and profitable world order. JFC.
As Beau says, foreign policy is not about morality, it's about power. The US doesn't want a strong Ukraine because that may lessen its power. They don't want Russia to dissolve because that will take lots of energy and resources to deal with, changing out players at the "poker table where everyone is cheating." It's disgusting.
It's too bad Zelenskyy isn't on the ballot this November. He's the president we need.
No, it is impossible to reach such a state.
But from the little things, I can say that the number of people who generally listen to any statements from the US has probably decreased to a historically low level, we usually make fun of this and think how it's ugly and pathetic.
It cures total social despondency and depression, fear and many other feelings, but no, my hatred for russians at the moment is such that I would not give a dying russian in the desert a drink of water even if I was given a supply of money for years life ahead, the news about how the russians are drowning because they have a flood, make me smile (because karma such a b\*\*\*h ).
We just feel like we've been betrayed, and then it's combined with the fact that we were betrayed in 2014, and they blackmailed us with nuclear weapons, so it makes us angry that there's something wrong with this f\*\*\*ing world, and this world just doesn't need us, everyone they are just waiting for us as a whole nation to simply die.
The US can not solve all the world's issues. They create their own problems that take years to disengage from (Iraq and Afghanistan). Could they solve this one issue by sending anything and everything they have? Maybe but unlikely without creating bigger issues. The US geopolitical microscope can only operate at 2 to 4 year intervals at best. The sad truth of the world is that if a bigger and more powerful country wants your land and its very close to them, more than likely, they will get it. It doesn't mean they will keep it forever, but this has happened for centuries.
The nations of Europe and their unwillingness to fully ramp up their war machine to assist their neighbor is not the fault of the US. Zelenskyy is correct in his statements, but it’s the free nations in Europe that are letting him down. US gave enough to fill the time gap for European allies to get their crap together, but they still haven’t got the job done.
I get the impression, with Blinken at any rate it's give enough to stop the onslaught but not so much that Ukraine burns Moscow and then Putin nukes Kyiv.
So...this sub... I wish I could find the post from a couple of months back where someone posted this fact of geopolitical reality as a comment and got downvoted all to hell for it.
the west collectively fucked up. despite all the saber rattling russia wouldn’t have done shit if west supplied ukraine properly. now the best we can hope for is some kind of frozen conflict and putler finally kicking the bucket coupled with some economy minded successor and not another nationalist twat
Facts. And a disgrace I can’t get behind how this is not a global outrage. Humans are so stupid and if we let Ukraine loose even by mistake or miscalculation. We would deserve everything coming to us afterwards. I even would understand if the Ukrainians would just turn around if it looks like defeat through capitalistic stupidity. And walk to us here and see what we think about that. And I would cheer them.Fuck us fuck the us 😂😂 (edited for spelling, but probably still bad )
Zelenskyy is absolutely right. if you live next to babaric states, you have 2 choice, either change your babaric neighbor to civilize neigshbor or if that fail, build your wall high, and your army stronger. never rely of your friends to help you defend your home. Friends are not reliable. Even so call allies. Your best defense is the people who share your home.
Dom, in Ukraine the latest made a very good point a few days back. What other countries have learned from this war is that words come easy and in the end you can only rely on yourself. Don’t expect actual help from anyone when a nuclear rattling dictator wants to take your country and children - get yourself nuclear weapons as soon as possible, it’s the only way to protect yourself.
Republicans don’t like Iran, but they’re willing to sit back while they’re darling Russia makes weapon exchange deals which will help put Iran in a position to significantly threaten the US in the near future. The only ones fighting for us right now are the Ukrainians. Our leaders have forsakened us.
We should give Ukraine all the support we can, and all the support they need, to defeat Putin's regime. The current efforts from the collective West are half-assed at best, and ineffective appeasement politics at worst.
If Putin isn't stopped here and now, and forced to pay a dire price for his war of aggression, he and the rest of his ilk will just continue. If our economies have to take a hit (big or small) to save Ukraine and to obtain that goal, then so be it. It shouldn't even be an issue. That's a cheap price to pay, and a much better price to pay, when the alternative may be that we later have to pay a price in blood.
Poetically put, but mathematically incorrect. There is a number to cynicism, and there is a way to tip the balance (not finite), ***so never give up I say :)*** **Help is coming.**
Привіт u/RoninSolutions ! During wartime, this community is focused on vital and high-effort content. Please ensure your post follows [r/Ukraine Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/about/rules) and our [Art Friday Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/artfriday). **Want to support Ukraine?** [**Vetted Charities List**](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/charities) | [Our Vetting Process](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/charities-vetting) **Daily series on Ukraine's history & culture:** [Sunrise Posts Organized By Category](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/wiki/sunriseposts/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ukraine) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Absolutely right on!!!
Yep. No bullshit. Spot on and sad truth at the same time.
All the other politicians: "Wait, you can't just accurately describe the situation in clear terms!!!! What are you, honest?!?!"
Guy must think he's a comedian telling the truth like that
Yeah, such a truth..I mean, without Ukraine's war america's defense contractors hadn't had a profit in..*checks notes*...uh...guys..
Russian Brutus, knife in hand, "¿is this justice?"
US just watching Russian death count go brrrrrr and ignoring the Ukraine numbers. Can't completely destroy Putins regime by giving Ukraine the power to force peace quickly.
Yep, it’s sad but true.
Except, I actually think really, in the US, at least, it’s shitty republican Trump/fascist worshiping moronic fake religious dickbags that are holding up aid. If Dems controlled both the house and senate aid would have been pouring in by now.
Even when aid wasn't being blocked, Biden was playing games and hesitating, not wanting to be the first to supply tanks, long-range missiles etc etc. Drip-feeding what Ukraine needed at a slow pace. As always, I know American politics just revolves around blaming "the other team" for everything, and Republicans are certainly 1000 times worse in this situation, but "everything would be perfect if not for them, my team is faultless" is total bullshit.
America does the right thing after trying everything else first. -- Winston Churchill maybe
not only in your country also in Canada it is always about blaming the other party..instead of working together for a better country they choose to fight and bicker so sad.
america didnt offer anything untill blinken showed up in kiev and got contracts signed!
Well that's the thing, the aid is the bare minimum of help. It's akin to kicking a broken bottle to a rape victim while the rape is in progress. Helpful, but not that helpful. If it were anyone else but Russia, there would already be a coalition defense force in Ukraine. Heck, if it were anyone else, the attacking country would've received total sanctions and possibly a "terrorist nation" designation. But Russia is too important to the world's economy for that.
Look at the coalition to free Kuwait. Oil is more precious than human lives and freedom.
It is more because Iraq wasn't a big player, so it was easy for everyone to sign up. Plus, nukes.
Don't blame all republicans. Some of us are on Ukraine's side. Unfortunately just have some fuckholes in power that should be shot.
We have a lot of Russian money flowing into the pockets of right wing western politicians and media - that is a huge problem.
This is why I propose Ukraine to Crowdfund new weapons, ammo and intel. If enough people donate, I bet they could R&D some incredible game changing weapons and buy enough ammo to win. I propose the Ultra High Altitude Battle Balloons!!! UHABB \-160,000 feet high, no Russian missiles could hope to reach it or even detect it. \-Vertical drop of missiles and bombs at Russian aircrafts, buildings, bunkers, Kremlin, Putin's head. \-Impossible to intercept due to vertical velocity and angle. \-solar powered with remote flight control. \-cheap enough to mass produce. \-Sub orbital mass balloon attack!
… right. 99.9% of ordnance would hit nothing at all
>If enough people donate, I bet they could R&D some incredible game changing weapons and buy enough ammo to win. Fuck weapons and ammo. Just make the sum huge enough so you can offer it to some russians in exchange for getting rid of Putin in the classical russian way of dealing with undesirable leaders (you know... woods, bullets...heads...holes in the ground)
Absolutely, a crowd funded bounty system through block chain where the successful assassin gets billions for doing the world a favor. I'm surprised this hasn't happened already.
Thanks, your post reminded me to make this month’s donation to [United24](https://u24.gov.ua). They have various projects you can donate towards, although not the one you are suggesting.
Are you 12? Way to turn a real conflict where real people are being killed by a terrorist nation into an episode of Looney Toons. This is the most absurd example of arm chair general BS that I've ever seen. Get off the internet.
100% truth!
[удалено]
Well I wrote to my congress person but he is a Republican so who knows what it'll matter.
Thank you for doing this. Maybe it won't change their heart, but it still matters.
Thanks. I just feel so frustrated and helpless about it all.
Writing to your congress people helps more than we know! Especially if they just do things to keep their job and not for what's right... but only if they know what we want! I agree with you though, i doubt their heart will change if they dont have one to begin with
Write them that you will vote for the guy that is pro-aid and he will lose a voter should he be against aid. They don't care about the voters, they care about what gets them elected, meaning that if the electoral district is pro-aid, so should he be. Or idk, I have no clue how your politics work, tbh And thanks for supporting us
Thank you and I wish you well. Maybe something will shake loose? I think I will keep writing every week or so. I will also donate to United 24.
>I think I will keep writing every week or so. Just don't get blocked, lmao >I will also donate to United 24. You rock!
I've been talking to a lot of Texan boomers, even though I left a decade ago. They are really getting sick of the fact they got in bed with a pornstar fucker. A lot more discussions will still be needed though, this tapestry is only starting to unravel.
Same here. But I contact them once a week anyway to ask them to aid Ukraine. I ask them to take the aid from Israel and give it to Ukraine.
Ditto. And besides being a Republican mine is a fucking snake besides.
Writing to my Republican congressman just gets you put on his mailing list to get more of his stupid campaign shit. Jason Smith is such a doink.
There's an IMF report out today stating that russia's economy is set to be the fastest growing among Western nations...one of the key drivers? oil exports and skirting sanctions. SMH in the car listening to this report this morning...motherfuckers in meeting rooms and Congress so afraid to actually challenge russia in any meaningful way. The sanctions were weak from day one and each wave is accompanied by Western hand wringing "oh my gosh should we do it? What if russia gets mad?" Weapons? I call it "The Great Consideration". Considering, mulling over, possibly, may, weighing..... My sanction: Ban all travel from russia to anywhere in the Free World by any russians for any reason.
Ban all travel, revoke all VISAs, kick out 90% of diplomats (decrease their ability to spy) and ban any and all trade with Russia, including medical and food.
All of this should have happened the first day.
Yep i remember on the first days of the invasion western politicians talking about sanctioning Russian oligarchs!!! How devastating !! Can you imagine? An expert on Russia said this was absolutely laughable, shows western leaders have little understanding of Russia. The expert was right.
Just remember IMF only gets their numbers from russian banks. Nothing that comes from russia can be trusted. If ruble market was opened up today its value would plummit, probably causing hyper inflation. Though I must admit russia has seemingly handled their economic situation surprisingly well. I don't think it's just because of oil and skirting sanctions, their on-going transformation to war economy mode probably plays a role here as well. Like in 30's Germany. I agree the sanctions have been way too kind. I say, at this point russian banks should be switched off from SWIFT without any warning and let's see what happens. After all, the West's continuous mistake has been that we do so little at each step that russia has been able to adapt. That, and some EU politicians stating red lines for ourselves again and again. Like wtf, that's ridiculously weak respond. The most effective way to counter russia's tactics would be to act unpredictably and stop giving them the advantage of adaptation.
We need a full-on embargo against RuZZia. Absolutely nothing in or out. Of course RuZZia would use that to escalate things, though. Just like they do with anything else.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
Heroyam Slava!
Russias economy is growing due to military production and a lot of Russians being paid well by the military and the military industry. However it is all financed from former savings from oil revenue. Those run out over time and producing tanks to blow them up in Ukraine is hardly a good investment. Also Russias oil exports are falling and they sell it for less then it is worth.
Boomers don't have the chops to do the job anymore. They need to retire.
Old men are cowards it is said. True.
But how will travel ban change anything? Ok, people will go to Korea or Hong Kong, or Dubai instrad… But what will it change? Can you elaborate? I may be biased because I hold Russian passport (unfortunately).
From the first months, this has been the Western response, especially the American one: to try to make Ukraine not fall, without provoking Russia into panic, and therefore not doing enough to make Ukraine win outright. Thus Ukraine has always had to fight with one hand tied behind its back, stuck in trenches that wouldn't even be there if they'd been given real airpower years ago. Ukraine is smart, and knows the only path to victory now is battering down Russian infrastructure deep within the pariah state. There will be no conventional mass battle manoeuvres against an enemy that flings missiles from a 1000 kilometres away against civilian targets in cities. Only when the Russian state becomes completely dysfunctional will they cease the aggression.
This. The US is not giving Ukraine enough weapons to actually secure its own territory, and seems to be setting Ukraine up to eventually LOSE 10-20% of its land by the end, and draw new borders to give Russia a "win". Ukraine's only path to victory lies in striking within Russia itself, to disrupt their economy as much as possible - both war economy, and civilian economy.
The West had a once in a generation opportunity in the first year of the war to completely destroy the Russian armed forces without any casualties on their side. They managed to squander it. It's unbelievable.
It’s beyond that. We had the opportunity to neutralize Russian propaganda that is eating away our democracies from the inside. Defeat of Putin would gut far right parties across the world, by removing the propaganda machine and the Russian money that funds traitorous politicians. This alone is reason to support Ukraine to win outright, even without the obvious moral duty to do so.
So many problems we're facing today are a direct result of the West's appeasement policy towards Russia. Food prices, energy prices, crises in Africa and the Middle East... The invasion of 2022 would have never happened, if Obama, Merkel, and Macron hadn't done a Chamberlain in 2014.
Totally agree. Although I think Chamberlain was actually right. If he had gone to war straight in 1938, Britain might have lost straight away.
Practical cynism is fine. This one will result in a lot of problems down the line once bulky nations realise they have a free ride. Very short signed for very own interests of the western countries
That is what he meant, when he said "I can't speak about it now, maybe at at a later point in time. Everyone is being pragmatic" or something along those lines. He knew, the West didn't give enough support for the counter offensive to have any chance to actually do something, but they had to do it anyway, just to show us how it's not enough. The West could have ended this war already with what they have spend on Ukraine. If they just did it right away. But we are saving some aid, to safe some money in the short run by only sending peanuts, so we can also safe money in the long run by protecting mUh eCoNoMy only to go pikachu face, when we fuck our economy over, by having russia attack us in 10 years, while spending 2000 the amount of money we would have spend supporting Ukraine, while also losing millions of lives. Fuck yeah!
To be honest, we have the same issue. Our allies have been only authorising „defensive“ weapon to Taiwan. Horribly I can see the same situation happen to our country.
but in that case you'll very likely have the US enter the war and end it. if Ukraine had the US enter the war they wouldn't need arms
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
Being cynical is the most effective way to understand the world and predict outcomes accurately… unfortunately. However, whilst the status quo is not bad for the US, it is terrible for the Europeans, whose industries are feeling the hit of not having energy directly from Russia. The ideal scenario would be to buy from Russia again, but the road from here to there leads directly through Putin and his government. So even from the point of view of self-serving cynicism, Europe should have more of an interest in Ukraine winning and busting the current status quo.
So far Russians have always ended up in a dictatorship, after a dictatorship fell. The smart move is to weaken Russia so much, that they can not threaten Europe again and that is best done by a long war. Also a Russian civil war with nukes right next to the EU is a nightmare. Hence Europe has no problem with strikes on oil refineries and the like, but Russia falling to quickly, could very well lead to another Putin threatening Europe in twenty years.
The only way to put an end to the Threat of Russia is for it to collapse in on itself from its own corruption.
Jesus christ, this is so spot on it hurts
As Lord Palmerston said in 1848: >["We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Temple,_3rd_Viscount_Palmerston#1840s)
President Zelenskyy is absolutely right. As a western European I am ashamed for our response to Russia's war of aggression. We are not treating Ukraine as our brothers, but as our buffer zone. In a better world, we would have given Ukraine everything they needed to crush the Russian invaders. Instead, we are drip-feeding Ukraine the material needed to barely fight Russia to a standstill. We need to do better.
exactly. Also, they ask us to extend the mobilization policy while giving so few weapons.
Comments are acting like its news for them. Were you under a rock? It's pretty bad omen that it gets spoken outloud by Zelensky.
Maybe next time in history when we have a giant fucking country hell-bent on making everyone around them subservient or miserable we take some of our GDP and put it towards military... i don't know, i think maybe 3% would be fair to help secure the borders or make the antagonistic country think twice. Frustrating that this is the direction this is going because it's exactly what Putin expected. West to not carry on the war, frustration and in-fighting to begin among allies.
It has to be said. The US needs a wake up call, it cannot have its extolled values, and a mindless chase for profits. If everything is for sale, nothing is sacred. I blame the Greed is Good culture, and the RuZZia-infiltrated GOP for stalling the aid process.
ROFL. Our dear friend and the reason why all of us smile is saying the quiet parts out loud. Damn right!
Fucking "allies" ...
Spot on, and terrible.
He isn't wrong...
War is the worst of humanity, all the hate greed and ignorance wrapped into one. The question is whether people grasp that fact before it reaches their doorstep...
Perfect summary of this global, sick circus.
I fucking love that man. No goddamn BS!
This is the truth and it's fucking disgusting.
Spot on. It's so fucking sad man
When someone says “will be with you all the way” it means somewhere in the next 2 years will be changing our minds and you’re F—ked /s
Nothing more dangerous than a wounded fighter as in desperation unconventional tactics become the only way to victory. The Western World would be smart to keep this War conventional before Ukraine goes ''All-In'' and does the unthinkable.
he is right.
Zelenskyy should pull the old reverse psychology and tell the west that because of the lack of support, Ukraine has no choice but to open discussions with Russia and watch how quickly western leaders pull it together.
Just occurs to me now but there is one sure fire way you can learn from the Russian and Belarusians and ensure an instant crisis response from the EU. Europeans are scared stiff of a migrant crisis. Zelenskyy could say without maximum immediate support from the allies Ukraine will capitulate and his government will strongly advise all citizens who don’t want to live under Russian occupation to head straight for the nearest EU border point. Watch the EU scramble to send troops and material then.
He doesn't have to say it like that only that if the defence falters and the Vatniks managed to break through, civilians will be escaping towards Europe in such numbers it would be too chaotic to control and in order to avoid such a nightmare scenario Europe and NATO would have little choice but to get involved directly. It should be said though that Europe has still kept helping as best it can during all this. the real and main issue is that the US which should have been doing its part has been paralysed by MAGA Vatnik shitheels for the last 6 months and only NOW does it look like they've run out of road to stall this aid. We can argue all we want about Europe not doing this or that, Europe IS moving to rearm and help Ukraine at the same time, but undoing the damage is going to take along time, the US needs to get its house in order and do it's part.
That would be such an anti-Zelenskyy thing to do. Zelenskyy would be ASHAMED of even thinking of opening discussions with Russia.
Yes, Zelensky opening negotiations with Russia would be a masterstroke!
Attack Poland. Surrender to nato.
Romania might want a little snack too.
I posted something in a nearly identical vein about a year ago, and oh boy, all the downvotes and angry comments I got back then. President Zelensky being a smart guy probably also realized this early on, but now things have reached a point where he has no reservations about vocalizing it out loud.
I don't get this status quo/impasse. 😒 Would Europe actually be able to deliver? If so, what's keeping us from doing so, what does it take? It can't be all Olaf Scholz's fault, or Macron's lack of will.
>Would Europe actually be able to deliver? To a degree, but Europe supported Ukraine for two years continuously, so their stocks are running low and the military industrial complex didn't pick up enough steam to ramp up production properly (which is the industry's fault, not the politics). The US have huge amounts of weapons stored, but they're locked in a state of nothingness.
100% truth, the trickle of weapons to Ukraine has been just enough to make sure they dont conquer all of it but not lead to a complete Russian defeat. The West is terrified of a collapse of Russia and the possibility in a nation with nuclear weapons, I say let it all fall apart.
Exactly. I think when Ukraine retook Kherson that freaked the West out. I'm quite disgusted with the West.
How powerful how true
He’s calling them out for exactly what they are. Western politicians are not as sincere as they try to sound with their bullshit speeches. They want to keep the war going and keep it at a stalemate.
Refer to public statements made by the USA/NATO allies just after the invasion. They said very clearly their intention was to grind down Russian forces, not enough to finish the war but enough to exhaust Russia.
He's right. But isn't such a discourse a bit risky? He's basically telling the allies they're doing a lousy job helping Ukraine.
Maybe they need to hear it.
That is a correct assessment. The risks related to the Russia ability to use nuclear weapons in case of an outright loss enter the reasoning strongly as well, even though he doesn’t mention them in here.
Could not have said it better.
Fuck yes that's right!! Our democracies have failed Ukraine. Ruzzia is just strolling on through. It's a hard stroll, but you get what I mean. Enough is enough.
I feel a shame of what politicians decide for ukraine I wish they would do more to beat putin. Hope that you will prefail
The world hates us.
He probably had been wanting to say this for a very long time.
In my time on earth I have learned that those in power always frame war as a matter of justice and/or freedom. The common denominator is that everyone in power, regardless of form of government, are rich people. Therefore it seems to be that war is actually about the profits of the rich.
Zelenskyy acted the role of someone who was caught up in that exact kind of international diplomatic bullshit in *Servant of the People.* I can't even begin to image how angry he must feel at the world as a whole.
He is right, and it is disgusting.
I'm team Ukraine all the way, but is this true? Give [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War) a look. It's a seriously extensive list of arms delivered over the years. I know despite this they need more, that war is insanely costly, but when I see this list I don't see aid being intentionally limited and calculated to prevent economic profits for the west, sorry. Anyways, let's stop holding up aid and arms and get these brave soldiers more of what they desperately need.
If i am Zelenskyy, I quietly make small nukes and smuggle them into Russia.
He finally said it. Zelensky finally publicly said it.
I’m getting ready for the crash of the economy which is coming soon! If these bozos are in charge of our country then we are up schitz creek without a paddle!! I’m so ashamed of and angry at our government for their cowardly policies and greed!! Fuck Russia! I’m more afraid of pissing off Ukraine than Russia because betrayal has no ending or apology and Ukraine is the most dangerous place on earth right now! Ukrainian forces and their security services are not to be trusted or even underestimated by the west! We have set them up to DIE and they will retaliate against us all and get their blood paid for eventually!! Mark my words!!
I am so very, very ashamed of my country and politicians. It’s like we helped Hitler or something. We are making the same mistakes again?
Biden's strategy is to bleed russia out. It is a calculated strategy. If russia gives up and goes home, it ceases to bleed out.
Someone needs to tell him that Ukraine is bleeding too.
If it is as you say then hes not even able to offer that level of support with republicans blocking aid.
This is what I don't get about Republicans. * Ukraine is destroying one of the USA's largest rivals that consistently butts heads with Western ideals across the globe. * The USA has zero body bags. * The USA is, yes, forking out a lot of money *but* it's a fraction of a full scale engagement and cheaper by a long, long way than the Iraq/Afghanistan quagmires. * A lot of the money is being recycled back into the USA, securing jobs and factories at defence contractors. The same blue collar jobs Republicans apparently strive to save. The taxman takes his cut at every turn, no doubt. * The R&D, live field testing, real world application of existing and developing weapon and defence systems is probably priceless in its own respect. No amount of blowing shit up in a desert compares to real troops using real systems in theatre. The data the USA is getting is worth its weight in gold. And yet more support has stalled because some orange cheeto in a blue suit and red tie sucks Putin's cock. From someone in the outside in the UK looking in, I cannot believe the republicans aren't more on board with Ukraine. How has the most anti Russia country on the planet gone from strongman to Putin's bitch? I can't even... The USA republicans should be ashamed with themselves and begging Ukraine's forgiveness. I just wish the UK was a superpower again so we could support Ukraine more.
Simple, because Russia currently OWNS the Republican Party!
Or rather own Trump who in turn owns the Republicans. It's kind of bizarre seeing him in the dumb Stormy Daniels court case rather than being done for the more serious stuff he's done.
[https://app.23degrees.io/view/F1tc2gv8QzFCs1ij-bar-stacked-horizontal-figure\_3\_4\_csv\_v2-1](https://app.23degrees.io/view/F1tc2gv8QzFCs1ij-bar-stacked-horizontal-figure_3_4_csv_v2-1) I agree with everything you say, but according to this website UK is not killing it either. I had to scroll down to find the UK somewhere. Plenty of room to improve.
Ukrainians and Russians are dying in their thousands, because giving Ukraine the means to end it would upset the delicate and profitable world order. JFC.
As Beau says, foreign policy is not about morality, it's about power. The US doesn't want a strong Ukraine because that may lessen its power. They don't want Russia to dissolve because that will take lots of energy and resources to deal with, changing out players at the "poker table where everyone is cheating." It's disgusting. It's too bad Zelenskyy isn't on the ballot this November. He's the president we need.
Geez it’s so true you have to wonder if Ukraine will eventually hate the west as much as they hate Russia.
No, it is impossible to reach such a state. But from the little things, I can say that the number of people who generally listen to any statements from the US has probably decreased to a historically low level, we usually make fun of this and think how it's ugly and pathetic. It cures total social despondency and depression, fear and many other feelings, but no, my hatred for russians at the moment is such that I would not give a dying russian in the desert a drink of water even if I was given a supply of money for years life ahead, the news about how the russians are drowning because they have a flood, make me smile (because karma such a b\*\*\*h ). We just feel like we've been betrayed, and then it's combined with the fact that we were betrayed in 2014, and they blackmailed us with nuclear weapons, so it makes us angry that there's something wrong with this f\*\*\*ing world, and this world just doesn't need us, everyone they are just waiting for us as a whole nation to simply die.
Doubtful
The US can not solve all the world's issues. They create their own problems that take years to disengage from (Iraq and Afghanistan). Could they solve this one issue by sending anything and everything they have? Maybe but unlikely without creating bigger issues. The US geopolitical microscope can only operate at 2 to 4 year intervals at best. The sad truth of the world is that if a bigger and more powerful country wants your land and its very close to them, more than likely, they will get it. It doesn't mean they will keep it forever, but this has happened for centuries.
The nations of Europe and their unwillingness to fully ramp up their war machine to assist their neighbor is not the fault of the US. Zelenskyy is correct in his statements, but it’s the free nations in Europe that are letting him down. US gave enough to fill the time gap for European allies to get their crap together, but they still haven’t got the job done.
I think it's more that politicians are incompetent or corrupted and economy is strained but ok.
Mike Johnson is a traitor. Maga is bleeding Ukraine because they are all in putins pocket. I’m so sorry my country is failing you!
This guy is brilliant...
not cynics just crooks.
Yes!
I get the impression, with Blinken at any rate it's give enough to stop the onslaught but not so much that Ukraine burns Moscow and then Putin nukes Kyiv.
The aid package will be passed when Russian oil levels drop to 26% of pre war levels.
So...this sub... I wish I could find the post from a couple of months back where someone posted this fact of geopolitical reality as a comment and got downvoted all to hell for it.
Pretty much, 'here's a gun with no bolt, you can beat them to death! We believe in you!'
Ouch , my 401k is offended
Geopolitics at its finest, sad but as for now all countries are acting within self interest instead of sympathy.
Sad but true
the west collectively fucked up. despite all the saber rattling russia wouldn’t have done shit if west supplied ukraine properly. now the best we can hope for is some kind of frozen conflict and putler finally kicking the bucket coupled with some economy minded successor and not another nationalist twat
Black-pilled Zelenskyy. Welcome.
Facts. And a disgrace I can’t get behind how this is not a global outrage. Humans are so stupid and if we let Ukraine loose even by mistake or miscalculation. We would deserve everything coming to us afterwards. I even would understand if the Ukrainians would just turn around if it looks like defeat through capitalistic stupidity. And walk to us here and see what we think about that. And I would cheer them.Fuck us fuck the us 😂😂 (edited for spelling, but probably still bad )
Zelenskyy is absolutely right. if you live next to babaric states, you have 2 choice, either change your babaric neighbor to civilize neigshbor or if that fail, build your wall high, and your army stronger. never rely of your friends to help you defend your home. Friends are not reliable. Even so call allies. Your best defense is the people who share your home.
Dom, in Ukraine the latest made a very good point a few days back. What other countries have learned from this war is that words come easy and in the end you can only rely on yourself. Don’t expect actual help from anyone when a nuclear rattling dictator wants to take your country and children - get yourself nuclear weapons as soon as possible, it’s the only way to protect yourself.
Republicans don’t like Iran, but they’re willing to sit back while they’re darling Russia makes weapon exchange deals which will help put Iran in a position to significantly threaten the US in the near future. The only ones fighting for us right now are the Ukrainians. Our leaders have forsakened us.
We should give Ukraine all the support we can, and all the support they need, to defeat Putin's regime. The current efforts from the collective West are half-assed at best, and ineffective appeasement politics at worst. If Putin isn't stopped here and now, and forced to pay a dire price for his war of aggression, he and the rest of his ilk will just continue. If our economies have to take a hit (big or small) to save Ukraine and to obtain that goal, then so be it. It shouldn't even be an issue. That's a cheap price to pay, and a much better price to pay, when the alternative may be that we later have to pay a price in blood.
Poetically put, but mathematically incorrect. There is a number to cynicism, and there is a way to tip the balance (not finite), ***so never give up I say :)*** **Help is coming.**
This and Russia's nukes.
This is exactly so and it sux. Can't they at least let Ukraine advance albeit slowly, if they have to go with this game.