The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

In the short term Trump's America might gain something "valuable" out of it.

In the long term America will suffer due to Trump's action, because Trump has no idea about the concept of soft power. Whatever soft power and appeal America had in the past, Trump is destroying it with a vengeance. This creates a vacuum of power, which other players like China then will try to fill.

 

[Essence Lumin]

I don't like Pence but I respect him for not going along with some of the crazier MAGA nonsense. They hate him now because of it. I bet they think he's a closet liberal even though he's more conservative than most of them in an old fashioned sense.

Pence sucked Trump's dick in the shadows for four years in the hope Trump would die or something. He gets no respect from me.

 

[Free]

Having Pence show a backbone now. It's just a bit way too late.

 

[Khamon]

Having Pence show a backbone now. It's just a bit way too late.

The same is true for McConnell. I'm glad that he's lived long enough to see what his machinations have wrought. I hope the horror haunts him constantly and prevents sleep and causes hives and all manner of painful existence for the rest of his life.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump forces Americans to ask: are we the baddies now?

In siding with Putin over Zelensky, president has broken with the moral basis underpinning American foreign policy

www.thetimes.com

Evernote Link

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Not sure the he's a particularly reliable source but it would explain a lot.

Donald Trump Was Recruited by the KGB Under Codename 'Krasnov' Claims Former Soviet Spy Chief

A former senior KGB chief claims Trump was recruited by them in 1987 due to his role as a prominent US businessman

bylinetimes.com

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Not sure the he's a particularly reliable source but it would explain a lot.

Donald Trump Was Recruited by the KGB Under Codename 'Krasnov' Claims Former Soviet Spy Chief

A former senior KGB chief claims Trump was recruited by them in 1987 due to his role as a prominent US businessman

bylinetimes.com

That source "What papers don't say" is definitely sketchy. ....but I do think we have a lot of evidence that Trump is influenced by Putin to an extent that would horrify many of his supporters. I know there were serious investigations into this that are probably entirely squashed now.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Trump mansplaining why the war is all Zelensky's fault, and him alone. And of course in Trump's world Russia didn't start the attack, or so.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

I wonder what district number Panem will assign them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/21/us-ukraine-near-minerals-deal/

https://archive.ph/4tFRt

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump mansplaining why the war is all Zelensky's fault, and him alone. And of course in Trump's world Russia didn't start the attack, or so.

The lies are the point

The Ukraine war has never been entirely military, or even territorial. It is epistemic.

iandunt.substack.com

They try to destroy truth because truth is the greatest threat to their rule. As long as truth exists, they can be scrutinised and held wanting. Once it is vanquished, they define reality and there is no basis upon which they can be held to account.

They say Zelenskyy is a dictator, that free speech is in danger in Europe, that the EU is turning its back on democracy.

If we maintain our capacity for truth, we realise that they are turning the world on its head. Remember. Don’t forget. Don’t become confused. It is Putin who is the dictator. It is Putin who assassinates journalists. It is Vance's own administration that punishes reporters depending on their style guide, or threatens them with jail when they break critical stories. It is Trump who tried to overthrow a US election result.

In the next few months, you will feel reality start to crumble around you. Figures like Trump will lead the charge. Their little advocates, operating under a degree of reputational cover in respectable conservative magazines, will do their best to help. Otherwise decent-minded politicians will inadvertently assist them by failing to speak the truth with conviction. And on a bad day it will feel like the whole notion of objective truth is fading away. And with it, the ability to scrutinise and challenge power.

It'll be up to each and every one of us to stick to the truth, now more than ever. It was Orwell, obviously, who said it best: "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."

Two plus two makes four. Russia invaded Ukraine. This is as true today as it was a year ago. They will only win when they can get inside your skull and convince you otherwise.

Ukraine represents truth. Russia represents lies. Every time we speak the truth, we support the war effort. Every time we reject lies, we help defeat the enemy.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Indy Auntie (@indyauntie.bsky.social)

"During the meeting, Ukraine was told it faced imminent shutoff of the Starlink service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss closed negotiations." Astonishing betrayal of an ally...

bsky.app

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Trump's next dick move: the USA have declined to co-sponsor a UN resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemning Russian aggression.

It's the first time since the Ukraine war started that the US refused to label Russia as the aggressor.

US refuses to co-sponsor UN resolution in support of Ukraine, Reuters reports

The United States has declined to co-sponsor a UN resolution supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemning Russian aggression.

www.pravda.com.ua

Trump's administration blackmailing Ukraine, threatening to cut them off Starlink if they don't enter a mineral agreement.

US threatens to cut Ukraine off from Starlink if it rejects mineral agreement – Reuters

US negotiators have been considering the possibility of disconnecting Ukraine from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system if Ukraine does not agree to their terms on the mineral agreement .

www.pravda.com.ua

 

[Noodles]

That source "What papers don't say" is definitely sketchy. ....but I do think we have a lot of evidence that Trump is influenced by Putin to an extent that would horrify many of his supporters. I know there were serious investigations into this that are probably entirely squashed now.

Yeah, anyone paying attention has been fully aware of this since 2016.

 

[Chin Rey]

Yes, Trump's words and actions are truly despicable but does it really matter at this point? It's clear he's not going to do anything to help Ukraine but it doesn't seem to be much he can do to harm them either. Except for unilaterally ending the sanctions against Russia - that is actually a bit worrying.

The real question is whether Europe will increase their aid to compensate for the loss of US support. At the moment it seems they will. EU is preparing a 700 billion Euros package to strenghten the defense of Europe. Not all of it is aid to Ukraine but a considerable part of it is and this does not include the contributions from non-EU countries. If this happens, Trump can scream and shout as much as he likes, he simply won't be relevant any more.

To put the 700 billion plan into perspective, according to IFW's Ukraine Support Tracker over the last three years USA has provided Ukraine with 114.2 billion Euros and Europe 132.3 billion Euros and other countries about 20 billion Euros of aid. In addition there is 115.1 billion Euros of aid from European countries that hasn't been allocated yet.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Guardian (@theguardian.com)

‘It’s blackmail’: Ukrainians react to Trump demand for $500bn share of minerals https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/its-blackmail-ukrainians-react-to-trump-demand-for-500bn-share-of-minerals?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu

bsky.app

 

[Free]

The Guardian (@theguardian.com)

‘It’s blackmail’: Ukrainians react to Trump demand for $500bn share of minerals https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/its-blackmail-ukrainians-react-to-trump-demand-for-500bn-share-of-minerals?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu

bsky.app

Of course it's blackmail. How else does Trump do business these days? Or more likely, ever?

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Yes, Trump's words and actions are truly despicable but does it really matter at this point? It's clear he's not going to do anything to help Ukraine but it doesn't seem to be much he can do to harm them either. Except for unilaterally ending the sanctions against Russia - that is actually a bit worrying.

Of course it matters, because King Donald I. is us giving a first glance in the derangement he's going to bestow upon us all very soon, America and the rest of the world. It also shows what will happen to people that put their trust in Trump - you will be cheated. I mean Zelensky talked to Trump before he was inaugurated, and was quite hopeful. So Trump has betrayed Zelensky, which probably was his plan for the whole time anyway.

It also destroys whatever soft power and sympathy America had still left in the world. In the past many people were often upset about America, but the different administrations at least tried to maintain a somewhat nice facade. And when different administrations came to power, there was never a big gap or too sudden change like how things were being handled.

Trump is different. Trump is an idiot, he's disruptive, he's chaos, and he destroyed the rests of the facade that America (so government) might be the good guys, instead bringing the ugly face of American imperialism back into broad daylight. Trump's America is a wounded and intanfile crybaby - "the whole world is robbing me off of my wealth!", it is a bully and totally unreliable. Best of all it is abandoning the human rights and constitution it was so proud of in the past for something else - Trump's word being the new law very soon just like Louis XIV. was in France.

And one thing is clear: when this type of change becomes evident, it means also very bad news for the own people. The ICE running havoc amongst immigrants will probably in future hindsight only look like a fresh summer's breeze compared to what still is going to happen.

Welcome to the new 3rd Reich - the American edition. Whatever he's got in store for the American people, it will become clearer day by day and it will not be pretty.

Welcome to 2025, the year of Project 2025. Trump is the new Nero, and he wants to see Washington, D.C., burn.

 

[Chin Rey]

Of course it matters, because King Donald I. is us giving a first glance in the derangement he's going to bestow upon us all very soon

Oh yes, but I was talking specifically about the war in Ukraine. The Ukranians aren't going to stop fighting just because Trump tells them to. If anything, it'll only strengthen their and their supporters' resolve.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Both President Macron and Keir Starmer will be visiting the US this week to try to persuade Trump not to betray Ukraine and NATO. The Times looks at the challenges ahead for Starmer.

Can Keir Starmer strike a deal with Trump? It’s a balancing act

To stop America selling out Ukraine — or slapping tariffs on Britain — insiders say the PM will have to make him feel like a winner

www.thetimes.com

Evernote Link

And The Guardian's view.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Both President Macron and Keir Starmer will be visiting the US this week to try to persuade Trump not to betray Ukraine and NATO. The Times looks at the challenges ahead for Starmer.

Can Keir Starmer strike a deal with Trump? It’s a balancing act

To stop America selling out Ukraine — or slapping tariffs on Britain — insiders say the PM will have to make him feel like a winner

www.thetimes.com

Evernote Link

And The Guardian's view.

It's like no one understands Trump's pathology and the pathology of 70 million Americans.