You say Putin does not fear Trump and yet he never began a takeover of territory under the first Trump administration and yet he did under the 2 previous administrations and then the one that followed. Also now within a month of Trump taking back over he is willing to negotiate peace talks.Putin fears Trump so much that Trump is afraid to say anything even remotely bad about Putin. Yep, fear of Trump is why Trump blames Ukraine for starting the war. You guys know for a fact that "bombing starts in 5 minutes" Reagan would never, ever, have sunk to that level.
We invest in cyber offensive capability. We largely don't carry them out, but if Russia were to go far in their offensive we know where the holes are to strike back. We have announced that we are stopping that. In other words over the next couple of months we will lose all are attack avenues as Russia learns where the current holes are and patches them and we aren't looking for new ones.
That is how afraid Putin is of Trump, we are stopping our ability to strike at Russia should we need to.
US to halt offensive cyber operations against Russia: Reports
The U.S paused cyber operations against Russia amid Ukraine diplomacy, sparking concerns over national security.san.com
Trump Zelensky today.....
- Thread starter dr.jb
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Negotiate means giving something up, give and take. I've still not heard what Russia is giving up. Once that happens we can find out if it is a negotiation or a dictation.
Does negotiation usually mean give and take on both sides? While true we have only seen that Russia is willing to provide the US with a large quantity of aluminum I believe and we have not seen any real terms from either side just largely speculation.
Wait, we are putting tariffs on aluminum imports but we want it from Russia? Are we going to tariff it?
Why would Putin fear Trump when Trump gives him whatever he wants?
Not sure why you feel the need to defend Trump being loyal to Putin. Putting party before country?
Trump has claimed Ukraine started the war (lie)
Trump voted against UN condemning Russia's invasion
Trump said he trusts Putin to honor any deal that is made
Trump said Zelenskyy is a dictator
Trump opened peace talks with Putin without Zelenskyy present
Russian propaganda spewed directly from the White House. So Trump gave Putin a megaphone for the misinformation.
Maybe you should expand your sources for news.
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We'll never dissolve the Russia-China alliance. They both have a common enemy - us.
Continuing down this path of appeasing Putin will guarantee we fight a third world war when they realize the US isn't willing to stand up to them.
As my many ex-wives used to say, I know I can change him.
I don't get why people think a western democracy and a dictator would have more in common than two dictators? It's never going to be a good fit with Russia. I mean we were allied with Stalin at one point, but once the common enemy went away so did that alliance.
But so-called Christians who don't condemn Russia for invading Ukraine, a sovereign nation, is OK?
Russian Orthodox churches were not closed before the invasion.
This seems pretty ahistorical. China and Russia both saw us as an enemy during the Cold War and their relations for most of the Cold War were very fraught.
As a general rule, whenever we sanction Russia, Russian/ Chinese economic ties grow stronger.
So you are advocating what? Regime change? Let's go to war? Keep funding Ukraine for as long as it takes?
I see a lot of criticism of what Trump is doing, but a lot of silence on a solution.
I guess just let them keep on killing each other.
I don't think Europe is in any danger of being invaded by China.
Ukraine doesn't have to surrender any of their minerals. Given the right weaponry and economic pressure on Russia, they can kick Russia out of Ukraine.
It's all a matter of will, and right now, we're not showing much will.
COH and Palm need to sit down and figure out if it’s all about Ego Man or not.
Their relations were fraught during most of the Cold War?
Not my impression, but if you've got examples over the last 80 years, I'd love to see them.
I do think Putin fears Trump.
Which is why I don't understand Trump's refusal to - at the very least - acknowledge Russia's fault for the invasion.
Trump thinks the only way to get Putin to the table is to avoid any criticism of him and I think he's making a big mistake, giving Putin the impression that Trump is on his 'side'. IMO, this only weakens Trump's position.
I am not a fan of his methods all the time either. But he does seem to get the outcomes that I do favor.
It's not just avoiding criticism. He openly compliments him. And why should someone's word who violates every agreement they sign be taken at face value? Then again Trump is renegotiating his own USMCA that he insisted on because he didn't like NAFTA.
I respect Putin and I think he is a very serious adversary. For one reason and one reason only; their nuclear arsenal. Otherwise, Russia would be heading toward failed state status.
And I say that as someone who believes that the United States and NATO are responsible for starting this war. But the reality is that the cards are in our favor, yet we are acting like a mouse against a lion. I would characterize our relations with Israel as the same. The strong power acting as the weak. It's bizarre to me.
History is soon forgotten. Once an affected generation dies off, the same mistakes are made. It's been 80 years since the end of WWII, so rinse and repeat.
Spheres of influence are real and used as justification for aggression. If we don't help to stop the initial aggressive steps, we will inevitably be drawn into it.
It should be shocking to everyone that Russia is willing to have, so far, sacrificed almost a million casualties for a relatively small sliver of land, and that a mad man in is charge, but so many want to put Putin and Zelenskyy on the same moral level.
It's like we're right back to 1938.
Well, I hope it all works out eventually for the good. I have my doubts, but I'll be glad to be proved wrong.
Although I don't agree with the belief, many do say the NATO, Europe and Ukraine initiated the war by even entertaining the thought of admitting Ukraine in NATO.
Will not justify not condemning Russian's invasion.
He may or may not have a point. Putin may not honor any deals. There have been no deals made so far so you don't know that he won't.
Many people have said that Zelensky has eliminated opposition media. He has eliminated opposing parties. Has not had elections. He has suspended the Ukrainean constitution.
So he wanted to hear what one side wanted first. What if he had gone to Zelensky first would he be a Zelensky sympathizer? May be thought it might be easier to get Zelensky to the table than to get Putin.
I'm advocating something like a ceasefire that would involve both militaries vacating the contested areas, including Crimea, creating a DMZ. Give Russia a port in Sevastopol as a sweetener.
Trump doesn't have to call for regime change or place blame on anyone for that.
Once the fighting stops and militaries are separated, then real negotiations can begin. I'm pretty certain Ukraine would agree to that, but would Putin?
And PS, there is killing going on all over the world. Much of it against Christians in Africa, for example.
We've let killing around the world go on for a long, long time and haven't lifted a finger to stop it.
This is a very good point. Although our interests basically aren't impacted. But it's just about the killing right, not American interests!
Were any of those supposd differences caused by the US? Seems most were disagreements about the tenants of Marxism and who were the true Communists.
Sino-Soviet split - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Like I said I don't agree with Trump does things. But does seem to work out for the US. The Zelensky meeting has gotten us from bankrolling the war to getting Europe to step up so as far as I am concerned that is a win already. It also means that they seem to be ready to start pushing for peace now since they do not have our purse strings controlled anymore so that seems like a win. There is nothing that says that if Russia does not do what is required to bring about a resolution suitable to both parties that we can not get back into supporting Ukraine.
I don't think the lack of US funding will stop the war at all. I think Europe will step up their support.
I don't think either side seems desperate for a peace agreement, at the moment.
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Can you please explain to me how it helps when your main backer is capitulating prior to negotiations even starting? We are looking at restarting direct flights, ceasing sanctions, and expanding economic relations with Russia before the Ukraine-Russia talks even begin? That's some strange negotiation style. Normally you want your dog to be in a strong position before you negotiate.
It is not a secret that Trump is not a fan of Zelensky. The infamous phone call and obviously Zelensky supporting Democrats in PA. But I think right now Trump is wanting a ceasefire and get the 2 sides to the table. Can't do anything until they start talking.
I actually think Ukraine is in a world of hurt. I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert on this conflict, but Ukraine does not have enough men. Putin appears to have a fair less limited supply and he doesn't care about casualty counts. Ukraine is getting slowly ground down. Western tech is probably what keeps them in the fight. But even if Kiev was due to fall in 6 months, what I don't understand is the complete and total capitulation by us before negotiations even begin. We are treating our dog like a worthless flea. Normally you arm them to the tooth and publicly back them before you start negotiating.
What does the U.S. being the driver of differences matter?
Fact is you act like being a geopolitical adversary of the U.S. is a bond between the two that can’t be broken. That’s not true and at various times we’ve had a much closer relationship with one or both of the parties than they had with each other.
Ukraine isn't the first to suspend elections in time of war. Apparently it is the first time it is an issue.... wonder why
Ukraine is the country that was invaded. Why wouldn't we sympathize with their situation?
Oh right...because Trump has dictator envy
As I just stated I don't always understand Trump's methods but he seems to get what he wants in the end. You don't know what we or Ukraine will have to give up to acquire peace. It all just speculation at this time. Democrats all claim that the Zelensky meeting gave Putin and Russia more power. Well what does it do when you have Democrats out claiming that Trump is a Putin puppet?
You've hit the mark as far as their personal relationship. Trump's pissed he didn't get cooperation from Z on obvious Biden graft in Ukraine and then Z cozies up to Dems before the election (sort of understandable if he though Kamala was going to win).
I think Trump is letting his personal animosity toward Z to influence this way too much and him talking about it only encourages Putin.
To be honest, to me, this is turning, or has turned, into a real shit show and I think US reputation is going to suffer for a long time. As I said, I hope things work out for the best, and would love to be proved wrong.
I always appreciate your insight on military affairs. I know you get back channeled far more than you can share but what you are able to is always appreciated
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