The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Important shift in Kyiv: Zelensky told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Trump in which Ukraine gives up further territory, but that Russia could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken.

This would mean freezing the front line and handing over to Russia de facto control of its occupied territories.

Ukraine prepared to cede territory held by Russia

Zelensky’s softened position comes ahead of Friday’s Trump-Putin peace summit in Alaska

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Khamon]

Trump wants peace long enough to cop a Nobel; he knows, and cares not, what will happen in the long run. Putin's long run is to occupy and destroy the concept of Ukraine. It is all Russian territory for him to exploit. Zelensky knows these things, so does everyone else, anyone who says otherwise is lying through their teeth.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to Berlin today. He will attend a video call with Donald Trump together with chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Reason of the call is to prepare for the Trump-Putin meeting this Friday.

Ukraine: Wolodymyr Selenskyj reist für Videoschalte mit Donald Trump nach Berlin

Der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj ist in Berlin angekommen. Er wird gemeinsam mit Friedrich Merz an der Videoschalte mit US-Präsident Donald Trump im Kanzleramt teilnehmen.

www.spiegel.de

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

The Russian Army gained in one day 110 km² of Ukrainian area. This is the biggest one-day-gain in over a year.

“They are preparing for an offensive operation, we believe, in three directions. The main directions are Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka,” Zelensky said, emphasizing that Russia’s troop buildup is happening just before Trump and Putin sit down in Alaska on Friday.

“We believe that they will do everything to prepare for offensive actions after the 15th,” the Ukrainian president added. “We believe that they will be ready with these brigades by September.”

Lt. Col. Bohdan Krotevych, a former chief of staff of the 12th special forces of Ukraine’s elite Azov Brigade, gave a rare public warning to Zelensky about Ukraine’s dwindling defenses. “Mr President, I honestly don’t know what you’re being told, but I am informing you that the situation (near Pokrovsk) is, without exaggeration, a complete mess,” Krotevych wrote on X.

“The front line is virtually non-existent,” he said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/12/europe/russia-ukraine-donetsk-dobropillia-trump-putin-intl

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky held a joint press conference today in Berlin.

Merz expressed that he wishes that Trump is going to have success on Friday. But also mentioned five points, which both politicians do consider as requirements for a possible peace:

1. When negotiations about Ukraine do happen Ukraine must sit on the same table.
2. The negotiations need to happen in the right order. First there must be a cease fire.
3. If Ukraine should be willing to discuss territories, then the so called contact line through eastern Ukraine must be the starting point.
4. The negotiations need to contain robust safety guarantees for Ukraine.
5. The negotiations must be embedded in a joint trans atlantic strategy.

Zelensky also expressed his concern that Putin might be bluffing.

Friedrich Merz: Diese fünf Forderungen geben die Europäer Donald Trump mit auf den Weg

Friedrich Merz und europäische Partner haben sich mit Donald Trump vor dem Alaska-Gipfel ausgetauscht. Sie wollen, dass der US-Präsident bei dem Gespräch mit Putin »Erfolg hat« – unter bestimmten Bedingungen.

www.spiegel.de

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

I think "bluffing" is a polite term for what Putin is doing.

 

[Khamon]

I think "bluffing" is a polite term for what Putin is doing.

It's a polite term for Trump using our natural resources to purchase a Nobel Peace prize as well. I wonder how many shell companies the Trump Organization will utilize to "hide" the fact that they're being paid to build the Russian milit mining bases in Alaska? We may see Alaska apply to be the eleventh province before we see Canada apply to be, realistically, the fifty-first through sixtieth states.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

It's a polite term for Trump using our natural resources to purchase a Nobel Peace prize as well. I wonder how many shell companies the Trump Organization will utilize to "hide" the fact that they're being paid to build the Russian milit mining bases in Alaska? We may see Alaska apply to be the eleventh province before we see Canada apply to be, realistically, the fifty-first through sixtieth states.

It's a polite term for Trump using our natural resources to purchase a Nobel Peace prize as well. I wonder how many shell companies the Trump Organization will utilize to "hide" the fact that they're being paid to build the Russian milit mining bases in Alaska? We may see Alaska apply to be the eleventh province before we see Canada apply to be, realistically, the fifty-first through sixtieth states.

There's no realistic process whereby Alaska (or any other US state) can unilaterally seceed from the United States, is there? At the very least I think it would require a constitutional amendment. Otherwise it's like the Hotel California.

 

[Kalel]

There's no realistic process whereby Alaska (or any other US state) can unilaterally seceed from the United States, is there? At the very least I think it would require a constitutional amendment. Otherwise it's like the Hotel California.

Constitutional amendment, US Congress and atleast 38 out of 50 other states would have to agree.. Caifornia has shown actual interest in attempting this and has been acquiring signatures to vote on it in the near future... texas and several other states have talked about it as well but haven't really made an effort as far as i know.

 

[Khamon]

I would have agreed with Kalel a year ago. But it's all go in this lawless arena. Knowing they'll not be able secede from either empire, once the Russians are established, the Alaskans may make an early appeal to world governments to recognize and support their sovereignty as an independent state. It won't be any less legal than the dictatorial powers being imposed upon them. They're pretty tough; most of the terrain is non-navigable by equipment; and the Alaskans still have their guns thank you NRA.

 

[Free]

That seems like a lot.

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,068,040 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

(Note: That number is an estimate, and is not how many are dead - it represents dead and injured.)

 

[Innula Zenovka]

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I've read before that many translators feel the need to "correct" lots of Trump's mangled speech because otherwise it sounds like a horrible translation.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

So Trump welcomed Putin in Anchorage, Russia - pardon Alaska. It's just that Trump himself misaligned it before that meeting...

Anyway what a national shame and disgrace for America. Under Biden the official stance was we do support the ICC and its arrest warrant. Now it is cuddling time with Putin on American soil instead, rolling out the red carpet for him.

And Putin and Trump seemed to be quite happy about the meeting, but whatever was discussed in detail was left shrouded in mystery from both sides.

Only one thing is clear: the next round of these talks is going to happen in Moscow.

Reporters shouted questions to the presidents, but neither Putin nor - very untypical - Trump answered any.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/15/trump-putin-alaska-meeting-summit-news-updates

 

[Isabeau]

Trump rolled out the red carpet for Putin who, in turn, humiliated him

Putin humiliated Trump and failed to agreed a ceasefire. Now the US president has to sell that to his allies, explains World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Yrump might just be dumb enough to go to Moscow.

 

[Isabeau]

Kamala Harris:

Adam Schwarz (@adamjschwarz.bsky.social)

“Putin would eat you for lunch.” Today, exactly that happened.

bsky.app

 

[detrius]

Trump wants peace long enough to cop a Nobel; he knows, and cares not, what will happen in the long run. Putin's long run is to occupy and destroy the concept of Ukraine. It is all Russian territory for him to exploit. Zelensky knows these things, so does everyone else, anyone who says otherwise is lying through their teeth.

I was wondering why Trump is so obsessed with the Nobel Peace Prize - but then I remembered that it's a gold medal, so of course he wants it.

Maybe they should just let him have Henry Kissinger's medal so he can pretend it's his own.

Or just put some gold wrapper around a chocolate coin and tell him it's an improved Nobel Peace Prize or something like that. If we're lucky, he'll choke on it.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Trump dropped his demand for an immediate cease fire, instead he favors now a comprehensive deal instead. Trump imposed no consequences on Russia during the summit in Alaska.

Zelensky will arrive coming Monday in Washington, D.C., for a personal session getting bullyed by Trump.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/us/politics/trump-putin-summit-ukrainians.html

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump Got To See Daddy Yesterday! Daddy Putin Was In Alaska! Daddy!

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

evanhurst.substack.com

Trump's interview with Sean Hannity reveals how Putin played him by shamelessly flattering him and playing to all his insecurities.

ETA Such a subservient expression and posture -- completely unlike his normal swagger and bullying