Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (4 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Russia continues to mass assets within range of Ukraine - though the official explanations are that they are for various exercises. United States intelligence has noted that Russian operatives in Ukraine could launch 'false flag' operations as a predicate to invasion. The West has pressed for negotiations and on Friday in Geneva, the US Sec. State Blinken will meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Certainly the Russian movements evidence some plan - but what is it? Some analysts believe that Putin's grand scheme involves securing Western commitments that NATO would never expand beyond its current composition. Whether that means action in Ukraine or merely the movement of pieces on the chess board remains to be seen.

VIENNA — No one expected much progress from this past week’s diplomatic marathon to defuse the security crisis Russia has ignited in Eastern Europe by surrounding Ukraine on three sides with 100,000 troops and then, by the White House’s accounting, sending in saboteurs to create a pretext for invasion.

But as the Biden administration and NATO conduct tabletop simulations about how the next few months could unfold, they are increasingly wary of another set of options for President Vladimir V. Putin, steps that are more far-reaching than simply rolling his troops and armor over Ukraine’s border.

Mr. Putin wants to extend Russia’s sphere of influence to Eastern Europe and secure written commitments that NATO will never again enlarge. If he is frustrated in reaching that goal, some of his aides suggested on the sidelines of the negotiations last week, then he would pursue Russia’s security interests with results that would be felt acutely in Europe and the United States.

There were hints, never quite spelled out, that nuclear weapons could be shifted to places — perhaps not far from the United States coastline — that would reduce warning times after a launch to as little as five minutes, potentially igniting a confrontation with echoes of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion

If the West fails to meet its security demands, Moscow could take measures like placing nuclear missiles close to the U.S. coastline, Russian officials have hinted.

www.nytimes.com

Blinken Will Meet With Russia as U.S. Pushes for More Diplomacy

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will meet with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia in Geneva on Friday as the United States warns that Russia could soon attack Ukraine.

www.nytimes.com

How to think about war in Ukraine

Start with the Ukrainians

snyder.substack.com

 

[Incumbent]

And we are watching the Republican Party flipping from Ukraine and Europe, to the Neo-Axis of Evil. This is a nightmare.

It absolutely is.

 

[efil4]

 

[Optimus Prime]

so after reading the posts here and a few articles I finally watched a few of the clips

holy Jesus, how is that even remotely acceptable?! That was beyond embarrassing, beyond humiliating

Sad thing? MAGAworld loved every bit of it. This is exactly what they voted for and wanted. No embarrassment there

Remember when Obama and Biden was in office Trump said the world was laughing at USA?

They weren't, but they laughed at Trump

They aren't laughing now, now they are forking shocked and pissed and we'll see what it leads to

Make note of the date Feb 28th 2025......kids may one day read about it in history class

 

[efil4]

Zelensky mutters "sukha" as Vance begins his berating LOL

 

[efil4]

Now the narrative starts to shift - Remember Putin stating Zelensky wasnt the "President", then WH started amplifying calls for "elections" in Ukraine?

Keeping all that in mind, here is Graham post meeting.

 

[Lapaz]

Where can we send donations to Europe?

 

[efil4]

Where can we send donations to Europe?

i would send direct to Ukraine.

 

[efil4]

 

[brandon]

fork every bit of all of this.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Swalwell basically calls Rubio a "suka" in response to Rubio's cowardice:

Reagan is rolling in his grave!

 

[Optimus Prime]

This is going to be great television,” Donald Trump remarked at the end. Sure. And as they slipped into the icy depths, the captain of the Titanic probably assured his passengers that this would make a great movie some day.

Trump on Friday presided over one of the greatest diplomatic disasters in modern history. Tempers flared, voices were raised and protocol was shredded in the once-hallowed Oval Office. As Trump got into a shouting match with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a horrified Europe watched the post-second world war order crumble before its eyes.

Never has a US president bullied and berated an adversary,still less an ally, in such a public way. Of course the reality TV star and wrestling fan turned US president had it all play out on television for the benefit of his populist support base – and a certain bare-chested chum in the Kremlin…….

There was a hint of trouble to come when Zelenskyy arrived at the West Wing wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt – not a suit – and Trump greeted him with a handshake and sarcasm: “Wow, look, you’re all dressed up!”

Inside the Oval Office, which has seen much but never anything quite like this, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the invitation. At first all was sweetness and light as they fielded questions from reporters.

There was a minor wrinkle over how much Europe support has given Ukraine, which ended with smiles, a playful but pointed tap on Zelenskyy, and ominous words from Trump: “Don’t argue with me.”

But the last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting devolved into acrimony and chaos. Zelenskyy found himself ambushed by Trump and his serpentine vice-president, JD Vance. He was expected to sit back and take a beating from Nurse Ratched and Miss Trunchbull. He refused.

Exuding preternatural obnoxiousness, Vance said Joe Biden’s approach had failed and that diplomacy was the way forward. Noting Russia’s betrayals of trust in the past, Zelenskyy challenged: “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”

Vance, who once declared he didn’t care what happened in Ukraine, was riled. Finger jabbing, he lectured Zelenskyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media ... You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

Uh-oh. The politicians and journalists in the room could surely tell this was going off the rails. At one point the Ukrainian ambassador would put her head in her hands. She was all of us.………

Diplomacy dies on live TV as Trump and Vance gang up to bully Ukraine leader

US president said his horrific blow-up would make ‘great television’ – the White House has never seen anything like it

www.theguardian.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[Eeyore]

Exclusive: Hegseth orders Cyber Command to stand down on Russia planning

The secretary of Defense has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, sources tell Recorded Future News.

therecord.media

How much more proof do we need that Putin has taken America without firing a shot?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Sad thing? MAGAworld loved every bit of it. This is exactly what they voted for and wanted. No embarrassment there

Seen in the twitter comments of tweets saying what a total shirt show this was

 

[MT15]

Seen in the twitter comments of tweets saying what a total shirt show this was

Probably bots, trolls or Russians.

 

[DaveXA]

Probably bots, trolls or Russians.

Or MAGAts

 

[MT15]

As someone in the comments said - I hate being on the same side as John Bolton. He’s right, though.

 

[MT15]

From Cheney: