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I don't subscribe to WAPO so I don't know what their "journalists" are saying. However, Trump seems to be bungling the Ukraine peace talks so far. Maybe it is the art of the deal.
 
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If you lose Lindsey and his ilk, you're not in a good spot. I didn't see the whole exchange, but my understanding is it's bad form to have the diplomats put a bow on things, then show up and essentially demand more from your benefactor, in front of the media no less. It's Zelensky's country and if he wants to keep fighting Russia, his call.

 
Zelenskyy is on Fox News right now. It sounds like the biggest key for him is getting a guarantee from the U.S. and Europe for security forces to maintain peace if they negotiate a cease fire. “Security guarantees”. He stops short of asking to join NATO.

What he really wants, IMO, is for the U.S. and Europe to continue to help him win the war. He’s not ready to make any concessions to achieve a peace deal.

Zelenskyy: “I want (Trump) to be on our side. Two parties together against Russia”.

They’re at an impasse. Trump wants to be in the middle, brokering a peace deal with both warring nations. Zelenskyy wants the world to punish Russia for invading his country.

I think Zelenskyy may be forced out of power soon. His hardline stance is meant to gain the support of Ukrainians domestically, but it’s likely to achieve the opposite.

As for the incident earlier today…never have a meeting of the heads of state until there’s a done deal ready for signatures. Diplomacy 101.

Also, a language and cultural barrier contributed to the spat. Neither side completely understood each other.
 
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What he really wants, IMO, is for the U.S. and Europe to continue to help him win the war. He’s not ready to make any concessions to achieve a peace deal.

What concessions will Ukraine have to make for a peace deal?

Regardless of the deal, Putin had to be thrilled that the relationship between the US and Europe is at its lowest point that I can remember.

 
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I don't subscribe to WAPO so I don't know what their "journalists" are saying. However, Trump seems to be bungling the Ukraine peace talks so far. Maybe it is the art of the deal.
The Art of the Deal was fiction, written by a Ghost writer that has made that clear.
 
What concessions will Ukraine have to make for a peace deal?

Regardless of the deal, Putin had to be thrilled that the relationship between the US and Europe is at its lowest point that I can remember.


They will not be able to restore the borders that existed before the first invasion in 2014.

Putin is under tremendous pressure at home. He’s not thrilled with anything right now.
 
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....

As for the incident earlier today…never have a meeting of the heads of state until there’s a done deal ready for signatures. Diplomacy 101.

Also, a language and cultural barrier contributed to the spat. Neither side completely understood each other.
I'm thinking/guessing the US thought they had a deal that was ready for signing. Does Trump think he was double-crossed?
 
I'm thinking/guessing the US thought they had a deal that was ready for signing. Does Trump think he was double-crossed?

I’m not sure what was in the mineral rights deal, so it’s hard to say. I do know that Trump saw the deal as a condition for continued U.S. support.

The main thing is Trump is not convinced that Zelenskyy is interested in a peace deal, but rather wants to keep fighting the war on his own terms with American money.

Also, as we know Trump is very thin skinned and he felt personally disrespected by Zelenskyy’s combative attitude. TIFWIW
 
As another poster on this forum posted in the past 2 weeks, the Russians starved to death 30-40 million Ukranians in the 1930's. The Ukrainians hate the Russians. Russia invaded Ukraine and has killed and raped their way to 20% of the country and devastated the rest. Trump's negotiation skills suck if he doesn't understand. Meanwhile Laura inghram is saying the Ukrainians should surrender as I write this. Lots of synophants in the media, even at Fox News.

Why is a security guarantee so bad? What is Trump going to do when Russia invades Finland? Apparently nothing.
 
As another poster on this forum posted in the past 2 weeks, the Russians starved to death 30-40 million Ukranians in the 1930's. The Ukrainians hate the Russians. Russia invaded Ukraine and has killed and raped their way to 20% of the country and devastated the rest. Trump's negotiation skills suck if he doesn't understand. Meanwhile Laura inghram is saying the Ukrainians should surrender as I write this. Lots of synophants in the media, even at Fox News.

Why is a security guarantee so bad? What is Trump going to do when Russia invades Finland? Apparently nothing.

Trump said today that he understands why Zelenskyy hates Putin. However, peace isn't possible if those hatreds are driving the discussion. If the U.S. is to broker a deal, it has to be based on the realities on the ground.

People are willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives to punish Putin, mostly because of politics. Armchair warriors. I wonder what their position would be if U.S. forces were deployed to Ukraine, including their own sons and daughters. I vaguely remember the American anti-war movement. Where did those people go?

This new McCarthyism that creeps into the debate isn't useful in any way. It's propaganda meant to demonize and discredit those who have opinions that people don't like. That's how powerful people in the U.S. gained support for Ukraine from many Americans....by erroneously tying American politicians that they hate to Russia / Putin. But as Deep Throat said, "follow the money". Ulterior motives galore.
 
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Here's apparently what's going on in the administration in the aftermath.

 
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As another poster on this forum posted in the past 2 weeks, the Russians starved to death 30-40 million Ukranians in the 1930's. The Ukrainians hate the Russians. Russia invaded Ukraine and has killed and raped their way to 20% of the country and devastated the rest. Trump's negotiation skills suck if he doesn't understand. Meanwhile Laura inghram is saying the Ukrainians should surrender as I write this. Lots of synophants in the media, even at Fox News.

Why is a security guarantee so bad? What is Trump going to do when Russia invades Finland? Apparently nothing.
If the US is not economically tied to Ukraine (rare metals, etc.) why would we offer any security guarantee? They aren't in NATO and the issue that irritated Putin in the first place was US meddling in Ukraine and then the idea of them joining NATO when Brandon Admin started is what moved Putin to take more.
 
As another poster on this forum posted in the past 2 weeks, the Russians starved to death 30-40 million Ukranians in the 1930's. The Ukrainians hate the Russians. Russia invaded Ukraine and has killed and raped their way to 20% of the country and devastated the rest. Trump's negotiation skills suck if he doesn't understand. Meanwhile Laura inghram is saying the Ukrainians should surrender as I write this. Lots of synophants in the media, even at Fox News.

Why is a security guarantee so bad? What is Trump going to do when Russia invades Finland? Apparently nothing.
I think Trump believed the mineral deal was a de facto security guarantee, apparently based on the premise that if the US had a major interest in Ukraine through economic presence/ties. Russia would be dissuaded in the future from violating whatever cease fire and eventual peace that could be negotiated. I think Doug was correct that Trump wants to stand in between the two sides and broker an end to the war. Zelensky seems to want Trump to serve his desire to continue the war until he wins it.
 
Trump said today that he understands why Zelenskyy hates Putin. However, peace isn't possible if those hatreds are driving the discussion. If the U.S. is to broker a deal, it has to be based on the realities on the ground.

People are willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives to punish Putin, mostly because of politics. Armchair warriors. I wonder what their position would be if U.S. forces were deployed to Ukraine, including their own sons and daughters.

This new McCarthyism that creeps into the debate isn't useful in any way. It's propaganda meant to demonize and discredit those who have opinions that people don't like.
Your perjorative about the Ukrainians is weird. The Ukranians were invaded, murdered, and raped. Russia has no right to do this. But it is McCarthyism to say otherwise?

What it really means is it is open season for dictators in China and Russia to conquer, murder and rape. No one wants to be a McCarthy and oppose it.

Is there any foreign country you would want the US to give a security guarentee to? Really a difficult subject as no one wants to be the World's policemen.
 
I think Trump believed the mineral deal was a de facto security guarantee, apparently based on the premise that if the US had a major interest in Ukraine through economic presence/ties. Russia would be dissuaded in the future from violating whatever cease fire and eventual peace that could be negotiated. I think Doug was correct that Trump wants to stand in between the two sides and broker an end to the war. Zelensky seems to want Trump to serve his desire to continue the war until he wins it.
Then get some __alls and call it a security guarentee. After what Russia did to Ukraine, seems like an understandable desire on their part.
 
Your perjorative about the Ukrainians is weird. The Ukranians were invaded, murdered, and raped. Russia has no right to do this. But it is McCarthyism to say otherwise?

No, its McCarthyism to claim that people who want an end to the war are on Putin's side.
 
Putin saw an opportunity to invade AGAIN and took it, without our weapons systems propping up one of two Dictators fighting each other it would be over.
 
No, its McCarthyism to claim that people who want an end to the war are on Putin's side.
McCarthyism was a period in the 1950's where everything was anti Soviet Union. I think Putin desperately wants to end the war but only after he wins at the negotiating table. Trump just wants it over. I would be worried if I were Ukraine.
 
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I don't subscribe to WAPO so I don't know what their "journalists" are saying. However, Trump seems to be bungling the Ukraine peace talks so far. Maybe it is the art of the deal.
The Art of the Deal was fiction, written by a Ghost writer that has made that clear.
If the US is not economically tied to Ukraine (rare metals, etc.) why would we offer any security guarantee? They aren't in NATO and the issue that irritated Putin in the first place was US meddling in Ukraine and then the idea of them joining NATO when Brandon Admin started is what moved Putin to take more.
 
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