I suppose Zelensky must continue to make pleas to the US, but Trump's position has been clear from the start of his 2nd reign. He supports Putin. Rubio is totally compromised. The comments on Ukraine I last heard were: "It’s not our war and wouldn't even have happened if you [Trump] had been president. " He has the Trump script down pat, so we can dispense with the notion that he's the serious adult in the room. This has been a historic US betrayal of a purported ally. Ukraine, on the other hand, has demonstrated what a fight for sovereignty against an aggressor looks like.
Because you know tons about Ukraine and Russia your article gives me hope that there will be better days ahead. I have fought to control my rage over our idiocy in Iran while leaving the admirable people of Ukraine to fight (and innovate) unsupported. I wish they knew how many of us would gladly support them, and will if we can get the Grifter in Chief to do as we wish. In the end, if they succeed, battle hardened Ukraine will be number one on everyone's new best friend list. Too bad we squandered what could have been a brilliant relationship. Yes, elections do have consequences. Sadly ours are all on the negative side.
"A notable exception, of course, is Putin, who asserted only last week that “this situation” (a delicate euphemism for the war) is “nearing its conclusion” and then explained that his claim was based on “an analysis of what is happening on the battlefield”: “Our troops are advancing in every direction. Everyone can see it, every blessed day .”The Institute for the Study of War suggests, on the basis of leaked documents from the Russian Ministry of Defense, that his optimism likely stems from “a false perception of the Russian military’s successes in Ukraine based on heavily exaggerated maps from the Russian high military command.” It’s Potemkin villages all over again."
Gee, sound familiar? This article could be talking about the "war" with Iran. Lil' Peter Kegsbreath is certainly blowing smoke up the orange one's ass (not a Kodak moment I ever need again). This is why the tRUMPster thinks that he is winning. No one has the cajoles to tell him the truth or he will turn his "evil" eye upon them and they will whither like an ant under glass. I, for one, am happy that Ukraine is doing well. It appears the Zelensky does indeed hold the cards while tRUMP is still playing go fish.
Thanks for the informative article, Cathy. Did not know about the ominous six-month closing window on drone superiority. Hoping Ukraine makes serious gains soon. As to Trump's position on Ukraine, I've got to assume he's waiting to see which side gains the upper hand so that he can squeeze in to the picture claiming total responsibility for the winner's triumph. Maybe give the Nobel Committee another chance to recognize his diplomatic genius.
Putin’s dream is going to die with him, but that may take some time. The opening paragraph of this article is being a little tongue in cheek mentioning that Russia always wins. Alexander Nevsky won against the Scandinavians, but paid tribute to the Golden Horde. Potemkin won a backward unstable backwater in which the victory display needed to be faked. The Crimean war was hardly what could be called a great success. The Japanese defeated Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Germany defeated Russia in the Great War. Let’s say Russia sometimes wins. Where Russia does win is in creating a myth of imperial greatness as much for consumption at home as anything else. The success in creating this feeling of superiority clearly depends on ignorance. One of the unforgettable images of the current moment is Tucker shopping in an ordinary Russian supermarket. I think the ordinary non cosmopolitan Russians would be quite surprised at all that abundance. I also am virtually certain that the cult of MAGA Russophiles would be horrified if they could see the reality of life in white, Christian, Russia. I don’t want to denigrate all of Russian culture for which I have great admiration, nor do I wish to exaggerate the greatness of Ukraine, which has very deep issues, but for now decency requires hope that Ukraine not lose this brutal conflict.
"And Bloomberg reports that Russian finance officials are telling Putin the war has become economically unsustainable."
Just as America's war with Iran is economically unsustainable. But Trump, like his boss Putin, lives in such a lie-infused world of his own making that he can no longer distinguish reality from fantasy -- exactly the way Hitler thought the Ardennes offensive would win the war even as Germany was near collapse.
Fascists always trade in lies, and always double down with their infernal schemes.
The Trump regime switched sides. Trump and his traitorous cult support Russia, and it is impossible to give aid to Ukraine until enough members of Congress vote to do so. In short, the U.S. isn’t a factor since Ukraine and putative allies don’t trust it.
Trump is no longer paying attention, since his role model Putin is stuck in a quagmire — just like the U.S. in its disastrous war of aggression against Iran.
Thanks to Cathy and to all of you. The people of Ukraine are fighting for their country and their lives. They lived under Russian rule, suffered and don’t want to go back. They have shown us what their bravery can do. Sadly, we now own the American decline which is Trump’s victory.
You may be reluctant to say it, but you know the truth. Trump and his party are on the side of authoritarianism, and want to end democracy, which is the natural enemy of authoritarianism, here, and anywhere in the world. They want Putin to win. They may be reluctant to say so; they may say something nice about Ukraine if they feel there is too much of a backlash building in the United States, when they haven’t completely made elections irrelevant yet, but it is obvious to anyone intelligent who is paying close attention and willing to admit the truth, they are on team authoritarianism, and they desperately want Putin to win.
Yes they are on the authoritarian team, but are they oblivious to the ultimate outcome. In the authoritarian world there can be only one dominant power. Do they want a world of ceaseless war?
luckily, zelensky seems to be pretty good at making strategic friendships.
if the king blackens our name and diminishes our standing by stabbing ukraine in the back some more, he'll help zelensky gain a more useful network of allies than we'll then have.
who knows, it might be soothing to have the world go on without us for a bit while we get our heads together. they'll welcome us back when we've done it, but as an equal among many. the humility will be good for us.
This monk supports these two groups in the fight against evil. Please let the folks here know what other groups this community supports in defiance of the “traitors”.
I have, since this war began, been a reader of Daily Kos. They have had daily coverage of this war since it began, with many different contributors posting updates and analysis of the war. Thanks to them, I have always believed that Ukraine would ultimately win. Their pieces, or links, on what life is like in the Russian military alone are enough to see why Russia is NOT winning. Now we add in the destruction of oil processing units, pipelines, factories manufacturing all sorts of things that aid the war effort? Ukraine is just waiting for Russia's leadership to realize just how truly screwed they are.
Trump will not acknowledge Ukraine's success because it contradicts his view of the world. He believes that large nations should control the world and all others should accept their position in that world. Any Ukrainian defeat of Russia undercuts that view. I'm surprised he has not been sending military aid to Putin.
But don't forget - Trump is afraid of losing face by being too closely associated with a loser. If he sees Russia losing, he will distance himself from Putin to avoid sharing in the stench of losing.
Our turncoat behavior towards Ukraine is one of the more unexpectedly infuriating aspects of living through this administration as an American. The pro Putin faction of the US public it’s literally just the Trump family and all of the influencers that were getting money through Victor Orban. There is no real constituency for the backstabbing behavior coming from the administration on this issue. It’s so deeply disgusting.
I suppose Zelensky must continue to make pleas to the US, but Trump's position has been clear from the start of his 2nd reign. He supports Putin. Rubio is totally compromised. The comments on Ukraine I last heard were: "It’s not our war and wouldn't even have happened if you [Trump] had been president. " He has the Trump script down pat, so we can dispense with the notion that he's the serious adult in the room. This has been a historic US betrayal of a purported ally. Ukraine, on the other hand, has demonstrated what a fight for sovereignty against an aggressor looks like.
Because you know tons about Ukraine and Russia your article gives me hope that there will be better days ahead. I have fought to control my rage over our idiocy in Iran while leaving the admirable people of Ukraine to fight (and innovate) unsupported. I wish they knew how many of us would gladly support them, and will if we can get the Grifter in Chief to do as we wish. In the end, if they succeed, battle hardened Ukraine will be number one on everyone's new best friend list. Too bad we squandered what could have been a brilliant relationship. Yes, elections do have consequences. Sadly ours are all on the negative side.
"A notable exception, of course, is Putin, who asserted only last week that “this situation” (a delicate euphemism for the war) is “nearing its conclusion” and then explained that his claim was based on “an analysis of what is happening on the battlefield”: “Our troops are advancing in every direction. Everyone can see it, every blessed day .”The Institute for the Study of War suggests, on the basis of leaked documents from the Russian Ministry of Defense, that his optimism likely stems from “a false perception of the Russian military’s successes in Ukraine based on heavily exaggerated maps from the Russian high military command.” It’s Potemkin villages all over again."
Gee, sound familiar? This article could be talking about the "war" with Iran. Lil' Peter Kegsbreath is certainly blowing smoke up the orange one's ass (not a Kodak moment I ever need again). This is why the tRUMPster thinks that he is winning. No one has the cajoles to tell him the truth or he will turn his "evil" eye upon them and they will whither like an ant under glass. I, for one, am happy that Ukraine is doing well. It appears the Zelensky does indeed hold the cards while tRUMP is still playing go fish.
Thanks for the informative article, Cathy. Did not know about the ominous six-month closing window on drone superiority. Hoping Ukraine makes serious gains soon. As to Trump's position on Ukraine, I've got to assume he's waiting to see which side gains the upper hand so that he can squeeze in to the picture claiming total responsibility for the winner's triumph. Maybe give the Nobel Committee another chance to recognize his diplomatic genius.
Yeah, that sounds right. An interesting turnaround for Trump, who for years has had his head so far up Putin's arse he can see Vladivostok.
Putin’s dream is going to die with him, but that may take some time. The opening paragraph of this article is being a little tongue in cheek mentioning that Russia always wins. Alexander Nevsky won against the Scandinavians, but paid tribute to the Golden Horde. Potemkin won a backward unstable backwater in which the victory display needed to be faked. The Crimean war was hardly what could be called a great success. The Japanese defeated Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Germany defeated Russia in the Great War. Let’s say Russia sometimes wins. Where Russia does win is in creating a myth of imperial greatness as much for consumption at home as anything else. The success in creating this feeling of superiority clearly depends on ignorance. One of the unforgettable images of the current moment is Tucker shopping in an ordinary Russian supermarket. I think the ordinary non cosmopolitan Russians would be quite surprised at all that abundance. I also am virtually certain that the cult of MAGA Russophiles would be horrified if they could see the reality of life in white, Christian, Russia. I don’t want to denigrate all of Russian culture for which I have great admiration, nor do I wish to exaggerate the greatness of Ukraine, which has very deep issues, but for now decency requires hope that Ukraine not lose this brutal conflict.
Here's the Foreign Affairs article archived, in case people can't open the original site:
https://archive.ph/VSsjL
And this:
"And Bloomberg reports that Russian finance officials are telling Putin the war has become economically unsustainable."
Just as America's war with Iran is economically unsustainable. But Trump, like his boss Putin, lives in such a lie-infused world of his own making that he can no longer distinguish reality from fantasy -- exactly the way Hitler thought the Ardennes offensive would win the war even as Germany was near collapse.
Fascists always trade in lies, and always double down with their infernal schemes.
The Trump regime switched sides. Trump and his traitorous cult support Russia, and it is impossible to give aid to Ukraine until enough members of Congress vote to do so. In short, the U.S. isn’t a factor since Ukraine and putative allies don’t trust it.
Trump is no longer paying attention, since his role model Putin is stuck in a quagmire — just like the U.S. in its disastrous war of aggression against Iran.
Thanks to Cathy and to all of you. The people of Ukraine are fighting for their country and their lives. They lived under Russian rule, suffered and don’t want to go back. They have shown us what their bravery can do. Sadly, we now own the American decline which is Trump’s victory.
You may be reluctant to say it, but you know the truth. Trump and his party are on the side of authoritarianism, and want to end democracy, which is the natural enemy of authoritarianism, here, and anywhere in the world. They want Putin to win. They may be reluctant to say so; they may say something nice about Ukraine if they feel there is too much of a backlash building in the United States, when they haven’t completely made elections irrelevant yet, but it is obvious to anyone intelligent who is paying close attention and willing to admit the truth, they are on team authoritarianism, and they desperately want Putin to win.
Yes they are on the authoritarian team, but are they oblivious to the ultimate outcome. In the authoritarian world there can be only one dominant power. Do they want a world of ceaseless war?
well we can't beat Iran, what makes you think they can beat Ukraine?
luckily, zelensky seems to be pretty good at making strategic friendships.
if the king blackens our name and diminishes our standing by stabbing ukraine in the back some more, he'll help zelensky gain a more useful network of allies than we'll then have.
who knows, it might be soothing to have the world go on without us for a bit while we get our heads together. they'll welcome us back when we've done it, but as an equal among many. the humility will be good for us.
Thank you kindly, Cathy, for the great info.
Razom…Together…
United24
This monk supports these two groups in the fight against evil. Please let the folks here know what other groups this community supports in defiance of the “traitors”.
Slava Ukraini! 🙏
I have, since this war began, been a reader of Daily Kos. They have had daily coverage of this war since it began, with many different contributors posting updates and analysis of the war. Thanks to them, I have always believed that Ukraine would ultimately win. Their pieces, or links, on what life is like in the Russian military alone are enough to see why Russia is NOT winning. Now we add in the destruction of oil processing units, pipelines, factories manufacturing all sorts of things that aid the war effort? Ukraine is just waiting for Russia's leadership to realize just how truly screwed they are.
Trump will not acknowledge Ukraine's success because it contradicts his view of the world. He believes that large nations should control the world and all others should accept their position in that world. Any Ukrainian defeat of Russia undercuts that view. I'm surprised he has not been sending military aid to Putin.
But don't forget - Trump is afraid of losing face by being too closely associated with a loser. If he sees Russia losing, he will distance himself from Putin to avoid sharing in the stench of losing.
Our turncoat behavior towards Ukraine is one of the more unexpectedly infuriating aspects of living through this administration as an American. The pro Putin faction of the US public it’s literally just the Trump family and all of the influencers that were getting money through Victor Orban. There is no real constituency for the backstabbing behavior coming from the administration on this issue. It’s so deeply disgusting.
Trump isn’t an unreliable ally of Ukraine. The Trump regime switched sides and backs Russia.