02Pilot
PowerDork
3/6/25 11:34 a.m.
All of the cuts to direct support are clearly being done to twist Zelensky's arm and get him on board with Trump's peace effort. As I noted long before Trump was reelected, the biggest hurdle to any sort of peace talks was always going to be Ukraine's insistence on maximalist aims. These were always a fantasy, no matter what was being said publicly by Ukraine's supporters, unless the objective was simply to keep Russia fighting in the hopes that it would eventually cause Putin's domestic base of support to crack. Zelensky seems to have gotten the message.
Once talks start, whichever side is seen by the Trump administration as being intransigent will inevitably be subject to similar treatment. If Ukraine is playing ball and the Russians aren't, expect lots of new aid to Ukraine to be mooted and, if the Russians don't come back to the table, sent.
Some related info, on the subject of other crap Russia is doing. The US has recently made a very aggressive statement toward Hamas, and of course the Houthi's base their actions on what is happening there (Yeman has taken some serious hits from Israel and the US of couse).
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US sanctions on Houthi officials for coordinating with Russia demonstrate how Russia facilitates Iranian-backed groups’ terrorism in the Middle East. The United States designated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization and sanctioned eight Houthi officials for facilitating attacks on international shipping and for recruiting Yemenis to fight for Russia in Ukraine.[1] Houthi officials threatened unspecified military actions in response to US sanctions.[2] Russia has both provided intelligence for attacks on international shipping and attempted to recruit Yemenis to fight in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Western reporting.[3] The US Treasury stated that Russia and China colluded with the Houthis to ensure that the Houthis would not attack Russian and Chinese-flagged vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.[4] The Kremlin reportedly provided targeting intelligence to the Houthis to support attacks on US and international vessels. This activity, which includes the provision of intelligence to the Houthis that could improve the Houthis’ ability to damage US or international vessels and kill US Navy sailors or third country merchant mariners, demonstrates how Russia seeks to undermine US interests in the Middle East. Russia, given its role supporting Iranian-backed Houthi campaigns in the Middle East, would not help secure US interests in the Middle East as a mediator between the United States and Iran.[5]
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Also, there is, as noted previously, still some possibilities of attacks on Iran by Israel / US. No huge changes here, but I though this was a cool shot of a recent US / Israeli training exercise. F-35's, an F-15 (looks like a Strike Eagle) and a B-52 which is likely older then most people you know (!)
pheller
UltimaDork
3/6/25 1:29 p.m.
I'm curious - what are people's opinions on a good or ideal outcome vs a realistic outcome in this conflict?
Here's mine:
Ideal Outcome - Russia retreats, giving back Ukraine all of its territory including Crimea, pays reparations to Ukraine, which also gets NATO membership and help from the west in rebuilding. Summary: Russia loses badly and Putin loses power for his failure. Obviously a pipedream, but I feel like this is how modern unjust invasions should go.
Realistic Outcome - Russia gets to retain some amount of control over eastern Ukraine, USA gets minerals, Ukraine gets helps rebuilding, but not NATO guarantees. Putin claims victory and uses this as his legacy as one of Russia's greatest leaders.
In reply to aircooled :
Hey, that's one of my B-52s, looks like we need to get some paint on that thing. What are those black squiggly lines on the rear elevator wings?
