The sooner people realize that the old world order has collapsed—and that Trump's America appears more aligned with Russia than opposed to it, while NATO faces increasing internal strain—the sooner we can begin to navigate this new and uncertain global landscape. Recognizing the reality of great power politics is part of that necessary adjustment.

 

Ukraine faces a painful choice: continue fighting and risk further destruction, or accept a difficult peace and try to salvage what remains of its sovereignty. In either case, it must reconsider who its true allies are and what the future of the nation-state looks like in a post-war context.It's a harsh truth, but in this geopolitical calculus, morality and ethics are often sidelined by raw power dynamics.

 

At this stage, it's like backing Boudica against the Romans—it may have been a noble cause in the context of the times, but it turned out to be a foolish one nevertheless.

White House debates lifting sanctions on Russian energy assets, Nord Stream

The debate pits Steve Witkoff against State Department and U.S. energy export proponents.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/23/white-house-debating-lifting-sanctions-on-russian-energy-assets-00306486

 

Lifting the sanctions currently in place on one of Russia’s main pipelines connecting its natural gas fields to western Europe would be a sharp reversal in the U.S. policy first put in place during President Donald Trump’s first term. President Joe Biden waived those sanctions early in his term, but reimposed them after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Restarting Nord Stream 2 could provide a financial windfall to Moscow, but only if the EU agreed to accept buying Russian gas via the pipeline again — a prospect that seems unlikely given the EU’s campaign to wean itself off Russian energy imports. But lifting the sanctions would amount to a diplomatic coup for Russia and a major concession from Trump.

3 hours ago, Mavideol said:

wonder if some of your family members would have been shot down by Russians if you would still speak/feel the same way, but I could be wrong

Putin understands this problem very well. Too many people in Ukraine are unhappy that Vladimir's denazification sometimes leads to human casualties among their relatives. That's why Putin suggested to Trump to make Ukraine a territory controlled by the UN. In order to denazify Ukraine not directly but through the UN proxy.

it appears the meeting in London was rescheduled as the Americans didn't show up, they were prepared to ambush Zelensky but he was smart enough to see it coming and decided not to make the trip, that Witkoff a Russian guy working at the WH had it all set up but he got what he deserved, nothing. Zelensky just made a clear statement "His response to the latest US idea was straightforward. “There is nothing to talk about – it is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people.”

 

Having previously been trapped in the Oval Office and eviscerated by Donald Trump and JD Vance, he has avoided an enfilade from a crack team of American diplomats in the London kill zone by not turning up at all.

 

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, who was already in London, was left to peer through the privet

 

The only surprise here is that Vance, who's echoing his president's "threat" has not blamed Ukraine specifically for the failure of the American peace initiative. That will come.

JD Vance’s bluster over peace in Ukraine shows why Zelensky swerved an American ambush in London

https://au.news.yahoo.com/why-zelensky-swerved-american-ambush-085533602.html

 

14 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Putin understands this problem very well. Too many people in Ukraine are unhappy that Vladimir's denazification sometimes leads to human casualties among their relatives. That's why Putin suggested to Trump to make Ukraine a territory controlled by the UN. In order to denazify Ukraine not directly but through the UN proxy.

 

Are those Nazis in the room with you right now? Surely you realize that’s just a propaganda canard used to sell the "Special Military Operation" to the Russian public.

16 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Putin understands this problem very well. Too many people in Ukraine are unhappy that Vladimir's denazification sometimes leads to human casualties among their relatives. That's why Putin suggested to Trump to make Ukraine a territory controlled by the UN. In order to denazify Ukraine not directly but through the UN proxy.

Russia would be much better served denazifying itself. Start with Putin. 

1 minute ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

 

Are those Nazis in the room with you right now? Surely you realize that’s just a propaganda canard used to sell the "Special Military Operation" to the Russian public.

Of course but it's really pathetic how many westerners have been thoroughly brainwashed by Kremlin propaganda. Russia doesn't make good cars but damn they are master at propaganda! 

some of Trump's previous cabinet members have been criticizing him on his stance with the Ukraine war, we also know that so far Trump has made a lot of concessions to Russia, thus acknowledging Trump's preference for the Russia side even he says the contrary as he keeps claiming that he has no favorite side, we know he does, his favorite side is not Russia but is Vlad Putin

 

“Well, of course he’s got favorites and his favorite is not Russia, his favorite is Vladimir Putin whom he thinks is his friend,” said Bolton

 

“If they’re both happy, they both signed an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done.”

John Bolton Scorches Trump's Russia-Ukraine Claim Using 1 Simple Name-Drop

https://au.news.yahoo.com/john-bolton-scorches-trumps-russia-063252639.html

8 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

some of Trump's previous cabinet members have been criticizing him on his stance with the Ukraine war, we also know that so far Trump has made a lot of concessions to Russia, thus acknowledging Trump's preference for the Russia side even he says the contrary as he keeps claiming that he has no favorite side, we know he does, his favorite side is not Russia but is Vlad Putin

 

“Well, of course he’s got favorites and his favorite is not Russia, his favorite is Vladimir Putin whom he thinks is his friend,” said Bolton

 

“If they’re both happy, they both signed an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done.”

John Bolton Scorches Trump's Russia-Ukraine Claim Using 1 Simple Name-Drop

https://au.news.yahoo.com/john-bolton-scorches-trumps-russia-063252639.html

 

Trump appears to be steering toward the creation of a kleptocratic, oligarchical U.S. state—and Project 2025 is a central element in that vision. Its goal is to consolidate executive power, dismantle key federal institutions, and ensure that a loyal elite remains in control regardless of election outcomes. He sees Putin's Russia as an enviable template to emulste.

The strategy depends on empowering a circle of enriched allies and loyalists, who will have a vested interest in maintaining the system. For them, failure isn’t just political—it could mean becoming targets in a future democratic reckoning. John Bolton was a neo-con warhawk that's turned into rent-a-gob for hire.

he can't accept anybody not agreeing with him, his ego is so big it doesn't fit into the WH, he can't understand that Ukraine people have a say so, they have a constitution and they don't want to be a Putin pariahs, therefore Trump picks the weakest link and goes on a rant after the country's leader, why he doesn't go on a rant after Putin, after all that's Putin who started the invasion, that's Putin who has been killing innocents kids, Trump suffers from short time memory loss and the he's a senile old man making mistake after mistake with his daily flip flops, back during his first term Pompeo was the secretary of state and made a clear statement about Crimea

Zelensky just reminded them
Zelensky shared a screenshot of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s 2018 Crimea Declaration which rejected Russia’s occupation of the peninsula.

 

Any move to recognize Russia’s control of Crimea would reverse a decade of US policy and could upset the widely held post-World War Two consensus that international borders should not be changed by force.

 

Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea

https://au.news.yahoo.com/rubio-skip-ukraine-talks-zelensky-042641287.html

 

14 hours ago, sharot724 said:

Total surrender. Both sides knew this was going to end this way.

Trump's ultimatum to Putin and Zelensky

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/23/europe/rubio-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-talks-intl-hnk/index.html

You are right - this looks like an ultimatum to Putin.
But recently we saw that even extremely cautious China behaved very brazenly in response to Trump's trade ultimatum.
Besides, our friends in Iran and Democratic Korea are not afraid at all.
Therefore, it is not at all a fact that Russia will surrender. Z guys are waiting for America to help denazify Ukraine in accordance with Putin's proposals.

8 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

In the article, it quotes Jeremy Shapiro of the ECFR, who was skeptical about the EU’s ability to remain united:

 

    “If the Americans walk away, it is just not going to be possible for the Europeans to be unified on Ukraine. The Americans have been the source of unity on Ukraine.”

 

So if you take out Fico and Orbán, whose positions have always been clear, you're left wondering: who will be the next to fold? My money’s on Meloni. Why?

First, over a year ago, she was pranked by Russian comedians into admitting that Europe was suffering from Ukraine fatigue — and now that fatigue is showing everywhere, in spades.

Second, Trump wants this over, and Meloni appears to have one of the best relationships with him among European leaders.

Third, European governments are financially tapped out, their armies are diminished, and their armories are relatively empty given the scale of rearmament now facing them.

It’s a perfect storm — and it won’t end well for Ukraine.

Trump's actions have turned all that around. There is much more European unity now than there was 2 months ago, if trump says a the whole world will say b now and you're simply wrong on your third assessment.

2 hours ago, zmisha said:

You are right - this looks like an ultimatum to Putin.
But recently we saw that even extremely cautious China behaved very brazenly in response to Trump's trade ultimatum.
Besides, our friends in Iran and Democratic Korea are not afraid at all.
Therefore, it is not at all a fact that Russia will surrender. Z guys are waiting for America to help denazify Ukraine in accordance with Putin's proposals.

 

Are you a troll? You keep calling the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" "Democratic Korea", clearly in an attempt to inflame. Only one of the Koreas proactices democracy in the generally accepted sense, and I am pretty sure you are not referring to the Republic of Korea.  If you are to repeatedly express admiration for this country as well as your extremist Islamic friends, have the common decency to use the accepted names.

 

This seems to be an attempt to break the forum rules.

 

 

1 minute ago, MicroB said:

 

Are you a troll? You keep calling the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" "Democratic Korea", clearly in an attempt to inflame. Only one of the Koreas proactices democracy in the generally accepted sense, and I am pretty sure you are not referring to the Republic of Korea.  If you are to repeatedly express admiration for this country as well as your extremist Islamic friends, have the common decency to use the accepted names.

 

This seems to be an attempt to break the forum rules.

 

 

 

The DPRK is the correct designation for what is commonly referred to as 'North Korea.' Whether one accepts the legitimacy of that name is another matter entirely. I was under the impression that forum rules required the correct terminology when referring to countries and their people.

Trump posted on Truth Social, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"

"How threatened do you think Vladimir Putin is by those words?" asked CNN's John Berman.

"By 'Vladimir, stop'? I don't think he's threatened at all," said senior political commentator Ana Navarro, "I feel like that's going to be some sort of meme or or T-shirt slogan.''

'Laughable': Republican adviser says Putin 'not threatened' by 'mild' Trump attack

 Trump fans on here call those of us who oppose Trump: Trump haters, lefties, crazies, whatever,  but actually hate is far too inadequate a word to describe many people's feelings for Trump.

It's contempt, utter disgust for a man who's too mealy mouthed and cowardly to call a spade a spade, ' bad timing' indeed. Putin's just killed innocent civilians, women and children among them and Trump says, 'bad timing'.

A complete coward, craven in his servile, obsequious fawning of Putin, desperate not to offend him.

And then the nonsense lies saying Zelenskyy started the war and he, Trump, can end it in one day, etc.

I despise and loathe the man, hold him in utter contempt. 

So please Maga fans, until you see the inevitable light, please refer to us as the Trump despisers.

47 minutes ago, bannork said:

A complete coward, craven in his servile, obsequious fawning of Putin, desperate not to offend him.

When a politician addresses another politician publicly, he is not really addressing him but his people. As a result, Russian people consider Donald almost a friend of Russia. And if he is a friend, how can Putin now aim new missiles at Washington or New York? The people will not understand because they consider Donald a friend. This is a problem for Putin, who is too dependent on people's opinions due to the extremely fragile political system built as a result of defeat in the Cold War. As a result, the number of drone attacks on Russian territory is growing, and Putin cannot respond to this by creating threats to US territory. This is Trump's achievement.

11 hours ago, frank83628 said:

How convenient, I shot 2 Ukrainians, I can't post a Pic either. AN's very own Walter Mitty

 

Lol

 

 

 

The investment the Russians made in Trump over decades is probably the best return of investment ever in any context bar none. To own a US President to the Soviets would be off the scale of impossible. But here we are - on Russian state media he is regarded as a friend.

 

Trump: Russia not taking over Ukraine is a concession - POLITICO

https://thehill.com/policy/international/5265907-trump-russia-ukraine-peace/

 

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Norway’s prime minister, Trump was asked what concessions Russia has “offered up thus far to get to the point where you’re closer to peace.”

“Stopping the war, stopping from taking the whole country, pretty big concession,” Trump responded.

 

13 hours ago, zmisha said:

When a politician addresses another politician publicly, he is not really addressing him but his people. As a result, Russian people consider Donald almost a friend of Russia. And if he is a friend, how can Putin now aim new missiles at Washington or New York? The people will not understand because they consider Donald a friend. This is a problem for Putin, who is too dependent on people's opinions due to the extremely fragile political system built as a result of defeat in the Cold War. As a result, the number of drone attacks on Russian territory is growing, and Putin cannot respond to this by creating threats to US territory. This is Trump's achievement.

If it then can be ensured that the people of Russia then become the important targets. Then and only then will regime change take place. Hence let this go to the next level hopefully soon!

The Taurus KEPD-350 is capable to travel at speed of up to 1,170 kilometers (727 miles) per hour and can reach targets as far  as 500 kilometers away.

23 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

But here we are - on Russian state media he is regarded as a friend.

Who exactly? And here suddenly interesting details about the most influential people in the Russian media come to light:
 

Vladimir Solovyov.
He was once a poor unknown student. During the collapse of the USSR, he was suddenly noticed by an American billionaire and taken under his wing. Solovyov lived in the USA for several years and returned from there as a fabulously rich and influential person.
 

Margarita Simonyan.
For many years she studied in the USA, as she herself admitted, the art of overthrowing power and changing the regime in Russia. She went through several special programs in the USA before returning to Russia.
 

We can go on and on, but as Margarita Simonyan said, there is not a single major media editor in Russia who has not gone through a number of special programs in the USA. Therefore, it is not at all a coincidence that all these people praise the US president.

How did this happen? These are direct consequences of the defeat in the Cold War.

25 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

If it then can be ensured that the people of Russia then become the important targets. Then and only then will regime change take place. Hence let this go to the next level hopefully soon!

The Taurus KEPD-350 is capable to travel at speed of up to 1,170 kilometers (727 miles) per hour and can reach targets as far  as 500 kilometers away.

Even Biden never seriously considered regime change as an option — and in any case, the five million-strong security apparatus, the Siloviki, would never allow it. What’s far more likely is that Ukraine, abandoned by most of its allies and largely unfunded, simply collapses. The country is already on life support — if the money stops flowing, salaries go unpaid, pensions dry up, and a whole range of other systems begin to fail. Add to that an armed and angry segment of the population, and you have the perfect storm. That's  Putin's endpoint he is aiming for , a client state on his borders and Trump for the most part is happy with that.

 

https://www.newsweek.com/who-are-siloviki-russias-elite-security-faction-1775796

3 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Who exactly? And here suddenly interesting details about the most influential people in the Russian media come to light:
 

Vladimir Solovyov.
He was once a poor unknown student. During the collapse of the USSR, he was suddenly noticed by an American billionaire and taken under his wing. Solovyov lived in the USA for several years and returned from there as a fabulously rich and influential person.
 

Margarita Simonyan.
For many years she studied in the USA, as she herself admitted, the art of overthrowing power and changing the regime in Russia. She went through several special programs in the USA before returning to Russia.
 

We can go on and on, but as Margarita Simonyan said, there is not a single major media editor in Russia who has not gone through a number of special programs in the USA. Therefore, it is not at all a coincidence that all these people praise the US president.

How did this happen? These are direct consequences of the defeat in the Cold War.

I recently watched an interview with this woman on the street, grieving as a famly member was just killed and asked the cameraman this:

Why dose Ukraine bomb and murder Russian citizens when we have done nothing to them...

 

9 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Even Biden never seriously considered regime change as an option — and in any case, the five million-strong security apparatus, the Siloviki, would never allow it. What’s far more likely is that Ukraine, abandoned by most of its allies and largely unfunded, simply collapses. The country is already on life support — if the money stops flowing, salaries go unpaid, pensions dry up, and a whole range of other systems begin to fail. Add to that an armed and angry segment of the population, and you have the perfect storm. That's  Putin's endpoint he is aiming for , a client state on his borders and Trump for the most part is happy with that.

 

https://www.newsweek.com/who-are-siloviki-russias-elite-security-faction-1775796

I hope a way can be found as Vlad has nothing really at stake and untill he passes this has no ending. No realgain but a land grab and his need for power after such an embarrasing performance military wise. 

I do think that both the UK and EU must now be feeling real heat about now. TY Trump you did a real bang up job there.

Speaking from personal perspective, honestly if I was in either of thier positions I would totally crp my pants knowing I was next.

6 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

I recently watched an interview with this woman on the street, grieving as a famly member was just killed and asked the cameraman this:

Why dose Ukraine bomb and murder Russian citizens when we have done nothing to them...

 

This means that this woman will look for a solution to the problem and will be ready to endure for the problem to be solved.
Then after some time Putin will come out and explain to this woman that she is being shelled only because the Russian Foreign Ministry illegally recognizes the territory of the Ukrainian SSR as not part of the USSR (Russia in the UN and according to internal laws and the constitution is just a renamed USSR).
Today's Russian Foreign Ministry was created from scratch by Russia's enemy Kozyrev. Recently Putin went on the offensive and recognized Kozyrev as a foreign agent (that is, an American spy in essence). The next step will most likely be the purge of all those whom Kozyrev hired to work in the Russian Foreign Ministry - and this is 90 percent of the employees. And only after that the Russian Foreign Ministry will suddenly notice that Ukraine is the territory of the USSR, that is, it belongs to Russia - therefore no country in the world has the right to supply weapons there.

1 minute ago, zmisha said:

This means that this woman will look for a solution to the problem and will be ready to endure for the problem to be solved.
Then after some time Putin will come out and explain to this woman that she is being shelled only because the Russian Foreign Ministry illegally recognizes the territory of the Ukrainian SSR as not part of the USSR (Russia in the UN and according to internal laws and the constitution is just a renamed USSR).
Today's Russian Foreign Ministry was created from scratch by Russia's enemy Kozyrev. Recently Putin went on the offensive and recognized Kozyrev as a foreign agent (that is, an American spy in essence). The next step will most likely be the purge of all those whom Kozyrev hired to work in the Russian Foreign Ministry - and this is 90 percent of the employees. And only after that the Russian Foreign Ministry will suddenly notice that Ukraine is the territory of the USSR, that is, it belongs to Russia - therefore no country in the world has the right to supply weapons there.

Can you help to quantify the numbers of those who's prime task in Russia is ensuring his propaganda is effectivly getting to the people?

My source claims that the number surpasses the entire Military count.

19 hours ago, bannork said:

Trump posted on Truth Social, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"

"How threatened do you think Vladimir Putin is by those words?" asked CNN's John Berman.

"By 'Vladimir, stop'? I don't think he's threatened at all," said senior political commentator Ana Navarro, "I feel like that's going to be some sort of meme or or T-shirt slogan.''

'Laughable': Republican adviser says Putin 'not threatened' by 'mild' Trump attack

 Trump fans on here call those of us who oppose Trump: Trump haters, lefties, crazies, whatever,  but actually hate is far too inadequate a word to describe many people's feelings for Trump.

It's contempt, utter disgust for a man who's too mealy mouthed and cowardly to call a spade a spade, ' bad timing' indeed. Putin's just killed innocent civilians, women and children among them and Trump says, 'bad timing'.

A complete coward, craven in his servile, obsequious fawning of Putin, desperate not to offend him.

And then the nonsense lies saying Zelenskyy started the war and he, Trump, can end it in one day, etc.

I despise and loathe the man, hold him in utter contempt. 

So please Maga fans, until you see the inevitable light, please refer to us as the Trump despisers.

remember what he said during the Jan 6 riots.... 'If you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore' and that's what the Ukrainians are doing

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55640437

 

Lots more detail with commentary 

let's hope they are reporting the truth and the orange man got some sense into his brain

 

First of two Trump, Zelensky meetings in Rome was 'very productive', says US official

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/first-two-trump-zelensky-meetings-103207478.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdS5zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tL3NlYXJjaD9wPXRydW1wK3plbGVuc2t5K21lZXQraW4rcm9tZSZmcj15ZnAtdCZmcjI9cCUzQWZwJTJDbSUzQXNiJmVpPVVURi04JmZwPTE&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMBzoqYwmzI7UwqxYTKtkpJtHjc4dL9kn4srEQr9yMeNYqTBpdFQPkcrmbNYZ6B5uGr639Q-QBstuCy8DZXp-JyNKavmTIj1EZSJ-pHIYti8m1l2X66Bej6YHB0Z0HtMwVAyUiuHCS_ukhDWB-EGF1Dz5Q1_hqaMGMPc8btlwRgI

Trump, Zelenskyy meet privately ahead of pope's funeral

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-zelenskyy-meet-privately-ahead-092606442.html

Zelenskyy, Trump speak in Rome in first meeting since Oval Office bust-up

https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-speak-rome-first-meeting-since-oval-office-bust-up-ukraine-russia-putin-war/

Good news for the Z guys! Kursk oblast has been liberated completely now.
 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-hails-end-ukraines-kursk-incursion-with-expulsion-last-ukrainian-troops-2025-04-26/