Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Flarelaine]

pootie has announced a three day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of ww2.

In other words he is scared that his annual parade would be interrupted by air raid sirens for Ukrainian drones.

Better yet, all his functional T-34s are in Ukraine and actually needed there.

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He announced it, is that how it works? The attacker decides when there is a pause?

Yes. That is actually how it works. Abuse stops when the abuser thinks it is time to stop.

[Mekh]

pootie has announced a three day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of ww2.

In other words he is scared that his annual parade would be interrupted by air raid sirens for Ukrainian drones.

He needs his few working tanks to drive up and down red square, so they can't be at the front.

[Mayhem]

Yes. That is actually how it works. Abuse stops when the abuser thinks it is time to stop.

That's not an end to the war, that's a pause announced by the abuser, why should the abused adhere to that?

[Iphie]

Yes. That is actually how it works. Abuse stops when the abuser thinks it is time to stop.

In this case the abused also has to agree to not shoot at free targets, but generally yeah, you're right.

[Specialka]

That's not an end to the war, that's a pause announced by the abuser, why should the abused adhere to that?

Because the abused is the underdog.

[Edge-]

Because the abused is the underdog.

...and? Vietnam was the underdog too. They sent the US packing.

[Specialka]

...and? Vietnam was the underdog too. They sent the US packing.

Because the american opinion did not want this war. Not the case here, it is worse, the russians do not care.

[Azadina]

Because the american opinion did not want this war. Not the case here, it is worse, the russians do not care.

Cool, then shoot them until they do.

[Edge-]

Because the american opinion did not want this war. Not the case here, it is worse, the russians do not care.

Ok but my point I was trying to get at was the Vietnamese people cared a lot.

Just like the Ukrainian people care a lot. And when you look at the videos of the Russian soldiers, they don't seem to care so much and mostly want to go home. Sounds like a lot of American soldiers in Vietnam.

[Kaleredar]

Because the abused is the underdog.

The “abused” is best served by not giving their abuser time to recuperate them to abuse them with renewed strength.

[Edge-]

The “abused” is best served by not giving their abuser time to recuperate them to abuse them with renewed strength.

I'm sure if the abused just surrenders to the abuser that the abuser will end the abuse, right? Especially based on their clear history of ending the abuse and being a trustworthy and reliable partner and all that jazz.

[Mayhem]

Because the abused is the underdog.

Uhu, and when was that ever not the case?

[Gorsameth]

Ok but my point I was trying to get at was the Vietnamese people cared a lot.

Just like the Ukrainian people care a lot. And when you look at the videos of the Russian soldiers, they don't seem to care so much and mostly want to go home. Sounds like a lot of American soldiers in Vietnam.

Do you think America would have lost the Vietnam war if they could have continued it indefinitely without popular opinion forcing them to come home?

Because 'caring' doesn't win wars.

[Edge-]

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/...n-finds-a88904

Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was tortured during the year she spent in Russian detention, and her body was returned to Ukraine with several organs missing, according to a joint investigation published on Tuesday.

Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in the summer of 2023 while reporting on black site prisons in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. She died under unclear circumstances while being held at a Russian prison in September 2024. Her remains were returned in February 2025 as part of an exchange of bodies between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian forensic experts confirmed the remains were a 99.9% DNA match with her parents, according to a collaborative investigation led by Forbidden Stories, an international network of journalists.

“There were numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment on the body,” the exiled Russian news outlet IStories quoted Yuriy Belousov, head of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office war crimes unit, as saying.

Another day, another Russian war crime and horrific display of cruelty and inhumanity.

[Deus Mortis]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kremlin-s...103033795.html
Ukraine says it’s ready to sign a key rare-minerals deal sought by the US

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement that would give the U.S. access to its valuable rare minerals in the hopes of ensuring continued American support for Kyiv in its grinding war with Russia, senior Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.

Ukraine's economy minister and deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, flew to Washington on Wednesday to help finalize the deal, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an appearance on Ukrainian television. Although the main part of the agreement had been settled, there were still hurdles to overcome, said a senior Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

For Ukraine, the agreement is seen as key to ensuring its access to future U.S. military aid.

“Truly, this is a strategic deal for the creation of an investment partner fund,” Shmyhal said. "This is truly an equal and good international deal on joint investment in the development and restoration of Ukraine between the governments of the United States and Ukraine.”

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in February that he wanted access to Ukraine’s rare earth materials as a condition for continued U.S. support in the war, describing it as reimbursement for the billions of dollars in aid the U.S. has given to Kyiv. But talks stalled after a tense Oval Office meeting of U.S. and Ukrainian leaders, and reaching an agreement since then has proven difficult and strained relations between Washington and Kyiv.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday during a Cabinet meeting at the White House that the Trump administration was ready to sign off on a deal, but that there was still work to do.

“The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes," Bessent said when asked about reports that Ukraine was ready to agree to the pact. "We’re sure that they will reconsider that. And we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are.”

He didn't elaborate as to the late changes he said Ukraine made.

The U.S. is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests, including some non-minerals such as oil and natural gas. Among them are Ukraine's deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment and weapons. Ukraine also has lithium, graphite and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.

After Kyiv felt the initial U.S. draft of the deal disproportionately favored American interests, it introduced new provisions aimed at addressing those concerns.

According to Shmyhal, the latest version would establish an equal partnership between the two countries and last for 10 years. Financial contributions to a joint fund would be made in cash, and only new U.S. military aid would count toward the American share. Assistance provided before the agreement was signed would not be counted. Unlike an earlier draft, the deal would not conflict with Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership — a key provision for Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Cabinet was expected to approve the agreement’s text before it could be signed in Washington. The deal would then need to be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament before it could take effect.

[postman1782]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kremlin-s...103033795.html
Ukraine says it’s ready to sign a key rare-minerals deal sought by the US

I hope not, because that isn't a guarantee to keep helping them.

[Xath]

I hope not, because that isn't a guarantee to keep helping them.

What I'm hearing about the deal is basically most of the stuff covered by it is in currently Russian occupied lands and if the US doesn't hold up it's end then Ukraine just ignores the deal and continues as is.

[alach]

I doubt it will really do anything. It will set up a fund to help with Ukraine's reconstruction, something that the EU has done a couple years ago.
I guess maybe the US will get some rare minerals in the future. Maybe.

"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said in a U.S. Treasury Department press release.

The deal will not allow any "state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine" to profit from Ukraine's reconstruction, Bessent said.

Shortly before the deal was signed, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the Ukrainian government had approved the agreement.

"Thanks to this agreement, we will be able to attract significant resources for reconstruction, start economic growth, and receive the latest technologies from partners and a strategic investor in the United States," Shmyhal said.

I imagine trump and his ilk will probably be long gone before there will be any results of this, but hey, it was a good photo-op.

[PhaelixWW]

I imagine trump and his ilk will probably be long gone before there will be any results of this, but hey, it was a good photo-op.

Maybe he'll get his own "Mission Accomplished" banner.

[Deus Mortis]

https://defence-blog.com/trump-admin...le-to-ukraine/
Trump administration approves first arms sale to Ukraine

President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly approved its first weapons sale to Ukraine since the start of his second term, with plans to authorize direct commercial exports valued at $50 million or more.

The move was first reported by Kyiv Post, citing diplomatic sources, and later confirmed through congressional records.

According to the report, the U.S. administration formally notified Congress on April 30 of its intention to allow the sale of military goods to Ukraine under the Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) program. This mechanism permits U.S. defense companies to negotiate arms exports directly with foreign governments, pending approval from the State Department.

Kyiv Post said the proposed sale would include military-designated goods, technical data, and related defense services. The approval was made under the Arms Export Control Act, which mandates notification to Congress for defense sales exceeding certain thresholds.

Additional confirmation came from European Pravda, which cited documentation available on the official U.S. Congress website. A record listed an entry dated April 29, cataloged as EC-859, referencing a memo from the State Department’s legal office to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The memo notifies Congress of “a proposed license for the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Ukraine for an amount of $50 million or more,” in compliance with U.S. export control laws.

This transaction represents the first defense-related export authorization to Ukraine under President Trump’s current administration.

While details of the specific equipment or systems involved have not been disclosed, the timing suggests a shift toward greater military support amid ongoing regional instability.

Positive sign, saw a lot of articles stating the deal was just 50million, but saw other commenters saying that the law requires the approval if it goes over 50million. We might never find out how much this deal is actually worth but I hope it is in the high billions.