Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Russia and our Net Zero fantasy policy are to blame.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Not those and not Brexit either. If the government wants more gas storage capacity, it needs to ensure that it is financially worthwhile for Centrica/other companies to provide it or provide it itself.

Centrica has a duty to provide returns to its shareholders, energy security is the responsibility of the government.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

yeehaw! :angel:

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Trump being Trump.

Unfortunately this plan doesn’t account for the feelings of Poland and the Baltics, who know they’re on the front line next, especially with Trump’s America clearly unwilling to engage seriously with the question of European security. He can propose a plan but he can’t force Ukraine or Poland, the Baltics or any other European country to back it, especially if other European countries begin to doubt Trump is good for whatever promises he might make.

He might just manage to galvanise some serious and committed support for Ukraine within Europe.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

So Russia keeps what they have illegally invaded, Ukraine don’t get to join NATO, and Ukraine then get to wait for the third invasion - seems equitable…

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Maybe there's a Moscow real estate deal to be had whilst Trump's out there? Will there be a big enough bus he can throw Zelensky under?

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-r...atest-12541713

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/n...weimar-2700212

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

They’ve got to, really. Hegseth has to be fair been quite explicit about the US’s forthcoming Pacific tilt. Even if it wasn’t presently kicking off in Ukraine, Europe has to wake up and take control of its own security. The irony is that in the post WW2 order, Europe not being fully responsible for its own security was the actual idea. American presence was meant to prevent European nations from re-arming to world-threatening levels in the name of self defence, thereby heading off another world war. Now Trump is complaining that America has been paying for European security as if he has no idea that that was the whole point. He probably does have no idea.

Anyway, if there is serious intent behind that statement (and you can bet there is on the part of the Poles if nobody else) it is going to make Trump’s chances of a quick win in Ukraine impossible to achieve. Ukraine won’t agree to 2014 borders, much less 2025 ones, and will feel no obligation to so so if Europe arms it to keep fighting.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Agreed re your US forces in Europe - also, we were meant to be the speed-bump* to the Sov forces on their drive Westward, giving Uncle Sam time to fly over the 101st Airborne et al; it was enlightened self-interest on their part, not charity…

Amusingly (unless you were TA), "speed bumps" were also our nickname for the Territorial Army, who, in the event of "The Big One" kicking off, would be used to slow down the Sovs as they tried to progress through the Fulda Gap, so as not to lose too many of the Regulars (well, until they met the buried "Instant Sunshine" mines..).

*speed-bump - slowing Ivan’s progress until Uncle Sam shipped over reinforcements

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...-negotiations/

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Putin almost certainly has stuff on Trump, as does Mossad. He is just following orders ...

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

So far today:

Poland’s defence minister gets up to stress that Nato has agreed a plan to strengthen its rapid reaction force
Estonia’s foreign minister tells the BBC there will be no solution in Ukraine without Europe
The EU’s foreign policy & security lead (Kama Kallas, coincidentally Estonia’s former prime minister) criticises Trump for giving concessions to Putin before talks have even begun.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4g97971rwnt

As I said, Trump can blow as hard as he wants, but the Poles and the Balts will not put up with any outcome that leaves Russia emboldened to think it can continue to restore its Soviet empire. They are pushing very, very hard at Nato and within the EU and I suspect their aim is to head off any attempt to by Trump to force Ukraine to the table by threatening to cut off aid.

Notwithstanding any of the above, Trump is a bent businessman and Putin and the Mossad most likely do have dirt on him. It is nevertheless possible that Trump thinks he can dodge that bullet by saying the right things even if he doesn’t actually have the power to will them into being. There was an interesting moment in his press conference yesterday where he suddenly seemed to need to protest that he is for Ukraine in all of this. But when all’s said and done, who knows. He’s old, in cognitive decline and nursing an easily bruised ego. Anyone who thinks he’s actually running the show here might be interested in a bridge I’m selling.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Which bridge? The poles and balts along with NATO should move to America. Trumps got a bridge to sell them over there.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

If he pulls the USA out its all over the eu will do nothing but huff and puff

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

He seems to have forgotten Ukraine did not "go into this war". It merely defended itself. Perhaps he was addressing Putin?