Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Kaleredar]

Taiwan. China would be more than happy for Europe and US be too busy in European continent while they go forth with their stated goal of conquering Taiwan. I wouldn't be surprised if China was urging Russia behind the door to start some "low tension conflict" or "hybrid operation" within NATO country to erode the believability of the alliance and cause infighting and strife while they go forth with their own expansionist plans.

I don’t know that Russia could muster up anything that would keep the combined forces of the EU and (depending on Trump’s mood that day I suppose) the US sufficiently occupied for them to completely ignore Taiwan.

[Iphie]

I don’t know that Russia could muster up anything that would keep the combined forces of the EU and (depending on Trump’s mood that day I suppose) the US sufficiently occupied for them to completely ignore Taiwan.

Well...we know of one thing that would get the attention needed, but if that would happen China would spontaneously abandon their ambition and help curbstomp russia into submission.

[Deus Mortis]

In the ever changing mood swings of Trump.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Release...-military-aid/
Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on Ukraine Military Aid

At President Trump's direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops. Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.

[alach]

I think I predicted something like this last year, after all, war is good for business.
Nevertheless, good news to wake up to. As someone else pointed out, even a overweight, flatulent, faux-gold plated, sputtering clock is right twice a day.

********

So just in case there was still any questions about putin's motives, he said some very alarming things at BRICS this week. Alarming if you like peace, liberty, security, democracy, and so on. Not alarming is your heroes are Chairman Mao and the Kims.

MOSCOW, July 6 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told BRICS leaders on Sunday that the era of liberal globalisation was obsolete and that the future belonged to swiftly growing emerging markets which should enhance the use of their national currencies for trade.
Putin spoke via video link to the summit in Rio de Janeiro due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court which alleges he is responsible for war crimes in Ukraine. Moscow says the warrant is unfounded and pointless.
"Everything indicates that the model of liberal globalisation is becoming obsolete," Putin said in televised remarks. "The centre of business activity is shifting towards the emerging markets."

Daily reminder. He will not be content with Ukraine. His goal is destroy liberal governments - in ways other than just brute force.

[PhaelixWW]

Daily reminder. He will not be content with Ukraine. His goal is destroy liberal governments - in ways other than just brute force.

File this under "Random Soviet Threats to Destroy Decadent Western Capitalism" and call it a day. It's a tired, old playbook. Some of the terms may have changed, but the concept is the same.

[alach]

File this under "Random Soviet Threats to Destroy Decadent Western Capitalism" and call it a day. It's a tired, old playbook. Some of the terms may have changed, but the concept is the same.

Yeah, you're right. I came off a little too YUPPIE there and didn't intend to.

******

A recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in May-June 2025 reveals a growing pessimism among Ukrainians regarding their country’s future. Nearly 47% of respondents now believe that in ten years, Ukraine is more likely to be a ruined nation experiencing significant population decline rather than a prosperous member of the European Union. This marks a sharp increase in pessimism compared to December 2024, when 57% of Ukrainians expected prosperity within the EU, and an even more dramatic shift from October 2022, when 88% were optimistic about Ukraine’s future, and only 5% feared destruction and mass emigration.

The data, highlighted in an article by Ukrainska Pravda citing KIIS executive director Anton Hrushetskyi, shows a steady decline in positive expectations since 2022, although 43% of respondents still hold hope for a prosperous Ukraine in a decade. The surge in negative sentiment is largely attributed to the dashed hopes surrounding US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, whose promises to end the war had initially given Ukrainians reason for optimism. Following Trump’s friendly exchanges with Vladimir Putin and a public dispute with President Zelensky, expectations for American intervention to end the conflict diminished considerably.

Despite this growing pessimism, sociologists emphasize that Ukrainians remain firmly opposed to territorial concessions or any peace terms resembling surrender. Hrushetskyi noted that although morale has suffered following changes in US policy and rhetoric towards Russia, the vast majority of Ukrainians still reject ending the war on unfavorable terms. Moreover, recent data suggests a slight strengthening in national unity, with around 60% of respondents believing Ukraine is moving towards cohesion rather than division.

Overall, while the mood among Ukrainians has grown more cautious and less optimistic over the past three years, the sense of solidarity and determination to resist unfavorable compromises remains strong amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty.

[PhaelixWW]

Yeah, you're right. I came off a little too YUPPIE there and didn't intend to.

I mean, you're not wrong about Putin.

It's just not exactly a new development.

Just always keep in mind that Putin is mostly an extension of the old Soviet mindset. Except that modern Russia exhibits a far smaller degree of global influence than the old USSR did.

Which is, of course, why Putin wants so badly to reform the Soviet Union.

[alach]

I remember the russians vehemently dying it was them when this happened.
There was data, and charts, and explanations on the soviet BUK and much discussion while everyone with half a brain knew russia was again full of shit and lying through there teeth. After 10 years, heres some closure.

Top European court rules Russia violated international law in Ukraine

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled Russia violated international law in Ukraine and was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg delivered rulings against Russia on Wednesday, stating Moscow has violated international law in Ukraine, marking the first time an international court has found the Kremlin responsible for human rights abuses since its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022.

The court also ruled Russia was behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the first time an international court has found Moscow responsible for the 2014 tragedy that claimed 298 lives.

The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17.

The judges have ruled on a total of four cases, brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia, ranging from the MH17 crash to the murder, torture, rape, destruction of civilian infrastructure and kidnapping of Ukrainian children after Moscow's full-scale invasion of 2022.

Daily reminder, russia was full of liars and criminals before the full scale invasion of Ukraine.

[Corvus]

Trump seems to have realised pootie treats him as Trump treats everyone else and is now saying he will send very sophisticated weaponry, including long ranged weaponry, to help Ukraine.

Though no doubt various people in his administration will try and stop it until Trump forgets about it or gets his next bribe or dementia moment.

[alach]

So, from what I gather from trumps inane rambling that most would wonder if he is mentally adept, the States will sell military equipment to NATO, who in turn will deliver to Ukraine, and Europe and NATO want the very best.

[Wilian]

The way it's reported in Finland is that starting immediatly, US will start shipping weapons into Ukraine, in tune of billions of dollars ofworth rather than trickling them like EU/US have done thus far, bought and paid for by NATO collectively. RuZZia will be hit with 100% tariffs and all countries trading oil with ruZZia will be struck with 50% tariffs after 50 days if Putin doesn't bend for peace deal.

Assuming (and hoping) this actually happens, this is the sort of thing that should've happened on day 1, not 3 years into the war. Then again it's Trump so I wouldn't wonder if he gets one call from his daddy Putin who butters him up a bit and whole deal is off.

[alach]

Yeah if this is true it's great.
On one side, trump's words mean nothing, on the other, he is greedy and wants to make a deal. So we will see.

[Wilian]

Yeah if this is true it's great.
On one side, trump's words mean nothing, on the other, he is greedy and wants to make a deal. So we will see.

Well US is selling weapons to NATO and US will not partake in the collective payment so I reckon this is the kind of deal Trump just might keep so fingers crossed. But it is Trump.

It's reported that deliveries will be quick and Ukraine will, amongst other things receive multiple Patriot-batteries just within days.

[Fugus]

Believe it when it happens. Given the history I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes though only for the gear to “accidentally” end up in Russia instead and paid for by NATO.

Would love to see Trump actually do the right thing for once. But given how he idolized Putin in the past and his worship of strongman types and joy of hurting those who aren’t strong enough to stop it, I can definitely see this going sideways..

[Elder Millennial]

Well US is selling weapons to NATO

This statement is a combination of Trump and MAGA world fundamentally not understanding what "NATO" is, combined with the constant desire in the MAGA world to set the US apart from NATO.

"NATO" is not buying the weapons. NATO doesn't have the structures or mechanism or A BUDGET for that matter to buy weapons...FROM ITSELF...as the US is a member.

Obviously what's happening is that non-US NATO members and the European Union are paying for the weapon deliveries...tallying the costs of it towards their 5% spending commitments.

The one thing I can guarantee...and it will annoy the ever living shit out of me...is that any weapons deliveries that Ukraine's REAL ALLIES will be paying for Trump and his MAGA cult will be citing as "US aid to Ukraine" so the 300 billion number that they are throwing around (it was about 100 billion AT BEST) will be like 500 billion by the end of the year.

Assuming Trump would stick to these commitments and Hegseth doesn't magically divert shipments to Israel or ICE or some fucking thing.

[Veggie50]

This statement is a combination of Trump and MAGA world fundamentally not understanding what "NATO" is, combined with the constant desire in the MAGA world to set the US apart from NATO.

"NATO" is not buying the weapons. NATO doesn't have the structures or mechanism or A BUDGET for that matter to buy weapons...FROM ITSELF...as the US is a member.

Obviously what's happening is that non-US NATO members and the European Union are paying for the weapon deliveries...tallying the costs of it towards their 5% spending commitments.

The one thing I can guarantee...and it will annoy the ever living shit out of me...is that any weapons deliveries that Ukraine's REAL ALLIES will be paying for Trump and his MAGA cult will be citing as "US aid to Ukraine" so the 300 billion number that they are throwing around (it was about 100 billion AT BEST) will be like 500 billion by the end of the year.

Assuming Trump would stick to these commitments and Hegseth doesn't magically divert shipments to Israel or ICE or some fucking thing.

The optics are great gor Trump, EU will end up paying him huge sums, i’m reasonably confident he’ll stick to this.

On the topic of him touting this as aid… well as a European, I say let him, we don’t care.

[Kaleredar]

The optics are great gor Trump, EU will end up paying him huge sums, i’m reasonably confident he’ll stick to this.

On the topic of him touting this as aid… well as a European, I say let him, we don’t care.

Frankly, what’s important is that Ukraine gets the aide they need. If trump only did it for selfish reasons… fine. Though I will absolutely reserve applauding any such action from him until there’s some form of long-term plan in place, and even then… Trump is the absolute poster child of changing his damn mind whenever he pleases, and Ukraine has been no exception.

So I’ll save my punctuated congratulations until each shipment is in the hands of the Ukrainians, where Trump can no longer decide he wants it back.

[Gorsameth]

Its all sounds great because the last person to talk to Trump was Rutte, he can do a complete 180 the next a pro-russian person talks to him.
The wonder of electing a fucking mental child.

[alach]

Some more information about the plan, starting with CNN.

The good news for Kyiv is familiar. Trump has permitted NATO’s other members to buy American arms – a wide range of them, it seems. Included are the urgently needed Patriot interceptor missiles, and the batteries that fire them. Trump even suggested there were 17 hanging around to “spare” in one NATO nation.
Whatever the precise reality of the arms package NATO eventually affords, it is exactly what Trump suggested at the weekend and exactly what Ukraine needs. The nightly barrage of Russian ballistic missiles can only be stopped by US Patriot missiles, and only the White House can authorize their supply. Ukraine was short of these, and other sophisticated American weapons that may not have been referenced by name and may be included in the deal. This is short-term, vital relief.

But the sting for Ukraine comes in what was not announced: Immediate secondary sanctions against customers of Russian energy, which could significantly empty Moscow’s coffers. The scope of sanctions proposed by a bill in the US Senate – potentially 500% on all trade with those who buy Russian hydrocarbons – would have been devastating.

Next headline says it all,
WP sources: Trump considers sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine
A drunkard was heard saying;
Russia does not care about Trump's "theatrical" ultimatum and

"The world shuddered, awaiting the consequences. Militant Europe was disappointed. Russia was indifferent," he wrote.

And finally,

The most controversial part of Trump’s announcement remains the 50-day deadline. Critics argue that such a timeline gives Putin a clear window of impunity. It is widely feared that in that time, Russia will intensify military offensives, solidify territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, and rebuild stockpiles—all without the threat of immediate consequences. Some analysts predict that Putin will wait until day 48 or 49 to signal interest in talks, thereby extending the window even further and exploiting diplomatic ambiguity.

That concern seems supported by the financial markets. Following Trump’s announcement, the Russian IRUS stock index jumped 2.73%, rising from 2,642.02 to 2,714.14 RUB. A sharp spike was recorded shortly after 17:00 local time—precisely when Trump’s statements became public. Investors, it seems, interpreted the announcement as a signal that no new sanctions would hit Russia in the near term, giving businesses time to maneuver and prepare.

[fwc577]

Welcome to day 1,237 of the 14-day special operation in Ukraine, comrades. America has given us 50 more days to finish two week operation. But what is the fat, American Клоун going to actually do? Chicken out? KEK.