Russia has invaded Ukraine

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Just been on the BBC 1PM news that, due to the cold weather, Centrica say that the UK now only has a weeks worth of gas left in storage.

Chris O'Shea, their Chief Executive, said:



Is he blaming Brexit here? No mention of the current arrangements in obtaining gas from Russia having any impact, which must surely come into play.

Russia and our Net Zero fantasy policy are to blame.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Russia and our Net Zero fantasy policy are to blame.

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.

[thenry]

US troops will not be used to secure the peace in Ukraine following any ceasefire deal with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump's new defence secretary has declared, as he signalled a dramatic shift in American foreign and defence policy away from Europe.

Pete Hegseth also said it is "unrealistic" to think Ukraine can return to its pre-2014 borders and he ruled out NATO membership as way to guarantee Kyiv's security.

https://news.sky.com/story/us-troops...llies-13307774

yeehaw!

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.

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…

[1andrew1]

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?

Ukraine latest: Trump invites Putin to US after 90-minute call about 'ending war'

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump say they spoke for an hour and a half, and will visit each other's countries, as they work to end the Ukraine war. Watch a White House briefing live below.

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

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

Weimar+ Statement by Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the European External Action Service and the European Commission

12 of February 2025 - Paris

We are ready to enhance our support for Ukraine. We commit to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's war of aggression.

We share the goal to keep supporting Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached. A peace that guarantees the interest of Ukraine and our own.

We are looking forward to discussing the way ahead together with our American allies. Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength. Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations. Ukraine should be provided with strong security guarantees. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine is a necessary condition for a strong transatlantic security.

We recall that the security of the European continent is our common responsibility. We are therefore working together to strengthen our collective defense capabilities.

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.

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

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

President Trump on Wednesday would not say whether he considers Ukraine to be an “equal member” of efforts to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv, as his administration pushes for negotiations between Russia and the neighboring country it invaded in 2022.

“It’s an interesting question,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if he viewed Ukraine as an equal member of the process.

“I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace. I said that was not a good war to go into, and I think they have to make peace. That’s what I think.”

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Hugh

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

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

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.

[thenry]

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

[Itshim]

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

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Hugh

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

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