https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr0gkn1qlzo
Hegseth said it was "unrealistic" to think Ukraine could win back its sovereign territory occupied by Russia, as was its demand for Nato membership, adding it was up to European and not US troops to keep the peace.
Critics, including some Republicans in Washington, castigated the speech, saying it gave away all of Ukraine's leverage ahead of any negotiations. It was, they argued, a US capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It's certainly an innovative approach to a negotiation to make very major concessions even before they have started," said former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who co-chairs the European Council on Foreign Relation, a think tank.
The US secretary of state's position contained no trace of laying out limits for Ukraine in the way the defence secretary had done. Then, also in the German city, Vice-President JD Vance said the US could use "military tools of leverage" to compel Russia to do a deal, appearing to contradict Hegseth who had said no US troops would be deployed to Ukraine.
I've said this over and over. From the moment Russia took Donetsk, there has been no way out from the conflict.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, you can't let Ukraine be conquered. On the other hand, Russia really, really, really doesn't like to lose so if NATO gives Ukraine the ability to win, we might see nukes getting used.
So what do you do? From a strictly practical perspective
1) Russia gets Donetks and gets to announce to the world that it achieved its war efforts.
2) NATO signs a defence agreement with Ukraine that it will provide it with any armaments its needs and allow its soldiers to volunteer for the Ukrainian army if necessary
3) Canada signs a deal with the EU to supply it with all the natural gas it has so that all the pipelines from Russia are shut down and Russia is essentially cut off from Europe.
Almost all Ukrainians speak Russian.
DeleteMost Eastern Ukrainians DON'T speak Ukrainian.
So besides being anti-Putin, are Ukrainians really Ukrainians?
Is that an actual nationality today?
1 NATO don't want to give Putin a victory
ReplyDelete2. NATO doesn't want Ukraine to join them
3. Canada, like English labour, don't want to export gas, only to import from enemies or friends of enemies
1) The only way out of this is give something for Russia to claim victory over. The cost of not letting them is either nukes or a coup and massive violent instability within Russia. So NATO might have no choice.
Delete2) NATO doesn't want Ukraine because while the Warsaw Pact countries were never formally part of Russia, Ukraine was for centuries and they see it as a part of their territory. NATO forces in Poland and the Baltics is upsetting enough to them but NATO in Ukraine would be intolerable so instead a formal alliance without Ukraine actually joining.
3) Canada is run by idiots
That's why Trump's mineral deal might be the least bad option. Either be part of Russia or America - it's a good deal for zelensky, he thinks he can pull off a victory on his own terms.
DeleteAnd it could be why he's threatening to exclude Zelensky from the talks about his own country's future. Now Zelensky is in a sweet spot for Trump - all America access to anything it wants in Ukraine and the US can point out to Russia that it's defending the country out of self-interest, not anti-Russian animosity.
DeleteSo Trump is a bully extorting someone who is being hurt by another instead of simply offering help?
DeleteYes
DeleteWhich is the lesser of the 2 evils?
What is your question? Do you mean is Trump worse than Putin?
DeleteNo
DeleteIs it worse for Ukraine to be part of the Soviet union again, or to be exploited and protected by trumpamerica?
I think DT and Europe are scared that Trump will broke a deal that will end the war and leave 90% of Ukraine belonging to Ukraine.
DeleteI can't speak for DT, but Europe are afraid that Putin will be emboldened to embark on further land grabbing. Whereas Reagan forced a Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan,
DeleteThis time Putin wants something to keep as a prize.
Europe want to further degrade the russian military 🎖️🪖
Agree with KA
Delete