"Meanwhile, the emissary whom Putin dispatched to Russo-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, harked back to the great northern war of 1700-21, telling the Ukrainian delegation: “We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?”"
Unbelievable! The unbridled hubris of this Russian cleptocracy is, if anything, the only thing today's Russia has in common with Imperial or even Soviet Russia. They will find this out soon enough!
Ukraine needs some way of forcing the near million men of military age who emigrated before they could be called up, to return and join the forces defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion. Unless extreme pressure is placed upon them they are likely to remain in the safety of their current location. Britain and other European countries should remind these men that they are needed in Ukraine and force them to return to their homeland.
The concept of a homeland holds no inherent value; it derives its meaning from the people who live there. At the heart of human dignity lies the individual's right to choose whether or not to defend their homeland. If Europe wishes to act responsibly in this context, it should focus on urging Ukraine to end the inhumane practice of imprisoning those who wish to leave but are unable to do so. A state does not own its citizens—it exists to serve them, not to claim them.
The best case for Ukraine lies in the hands of US voters' sending a message to Putin in 2026 by regaining control over Congress and rejecting all MAGA candidates. The US also faces a long war of attrition over MAGA, Trump, Dominionism (religious nationalism), and ignorance. As goes Ukraine, so goes America.
Timothy, thank you as always for your posts. Question: in addition to the "three military essentials needed from the US" -- has Starlink satellite system in Ukraine become a "military essential"? This worries me, because this privately owned company was part of the negotiating discussion for the minerals deal.
A very thought provoking article. Don't expect the American public to long remember the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people. They are to busy eating their hotdogs and hamburgers. Americans have a very short memory when it comes to history. Just my humble opinion.
Another reckless, mindless tirade by the zero-credibility TGA. The very concept of blaming Trump for anything in this war is specious beyond belief. Conspicuous in its absence is any citation of any vested interest that the USA has in Ukraine. This is Europe's war in Europe's back yard.
Russia took Crimea and the Donbas when Obama was President - and Obama did absolutely nothing. Russia even shot down a civilian airliner and Obama, et al, yawned. Europe did nothing because they were too dependent on Russian energy.
It was Trump I who provided defensive weapons that Obama had refused and which Biden later blocked. Trump promoted American energy, reducing oil prices and costing Putin scores of billions. It was Trump who crushed Russian mercenaries in Syria. It was Trump who re-armed NATO by strong-arming allies to meet their commitments. Trump exposed the secret pipeline deal Merkel had made with Putin. And Putin was quiescent while Trump was President.
Biden crippled American energy, restoring high prices and those scores of billions in hard currency. It was Biden who openly begged Putin for oil, worsening dependence on Russian energy. It was Biden who openly stated that there would be no reaction to a "minor incursion" into Ukraine. Biden is the second most culpable for this war, behind only Putin.
Trump is merely recognizing the reality that Obama, Biden, and the EU have wrought. No one is going to undo what Putin started when Obama was in office and no one - other than Trump - confronted since.
"Meanwhile, the emissary whom Putin dispatched to Russo-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, harked back to the great northern war of 1700-21, telling the Ukrainian delegation: “We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?”"
Unbelievable! The unbridled hubris of this Russian cleptocracy is, if anything, the only thing today's Russia has in common with Imperial or even Soviet Russia. They will find this out soon enough!
Ukraine needs some way of forcing the near million men of military age who emigrated before they could be called up, to return and join the forces defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion. Unless extreme pressure is placed upon them they are likely to remain in the safety of their current location. Britain and other European countries should remind these men that they are needed in Ukraine and force them to return to their homeland.
The concept of a homeland holds no inherent value; it derives its meaning from the people who live there. At the heart of human dignity lies the individual's right to choose whether or not to defend their homeland. If Europe wishes to act responsibly in this context, it should focus on urging Ukraine to end the inhumane practice of imprisoning those who wish to leave but are unable to do so. A state does not own its citizens—it exists to serve them, not to claim them.
The best case for Ukraine lies in the hands of US voters' sending a message to Putin in 2026 by regaining control over Congress and rejecting all MAGA candidates. The US also faces a long war of attrition over MAGA, Trump, Dominionism (religious nationalism), and ignorance. As goes Ukraine, so goes America.
Timothy, thank you as always for your posts. Question: in addition to the "three military essentials needed from the US" -- has Starlink satellite system in Ukraine become a "military essential"? This worries me, because this privately owned company was part of the negotiating discussion for the minerals deal.
A very thought provoking article. Don't expect the American public to long remember the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people. They are to busy eating their hotdogs and hamburgers. Americans have a very short memory when it comes to history. Just my humble opinion.
Loved reading this version as well as the Guardian original.
has timbo ever cried this hard for a palestinian
Another reckless, mindless tirade by the zero-credibility TGA. The very concept of blaming Trump for anything in this war is specious beyond belief. Conspicuous in its absence is any citation of any vested interest that the USA has in Ukraine. This is Europe's war in Europe's back yard.
Russia took Crimea and the Donbas when Obama was President - and Obama did absolutely nothing. Russia even shot down a civilian airliner and Obama, et al, yawned. Europe did nothing because they were too dependent on Russian energy.
It was Trump I who provided defensive weapons that Obama had refused and which Biden later blocked. Trump promoted American energy, reducing oil prices and costing Putin scores of billions. It was Trump who crushed Russian mercenaries in Syria. It was Trump who re-armed NATO by strong-arming allies to meet their commitments. Trump exposed the secret pipeline deal Merkel had made with Putin. And Putin was quiescent while Trump was President.
Biden crippled American energy, restoring high prices and those scores of billions in hard currency. It was Biden who openly begged Putin for oil, worsening dependence on Russian energy. It was Biden who openly stated that there would be no reaction to a "minor incursion" into Ukraine. Biden is the second most culpable for this war, behind only Putin.
Trump is merely recognizing the reality that Obama, Biden, and the EU have wrought. No one is going to undo what Putin started when Obama was in office and no one - other than Trump - confronted since.