I don't doubt the goodness in many of your hearts, nor your fervent desire to see Ukraine win this existential battle for its survival. But believing the world is fair, or that good always triumphs over evil—these are the stuff of children's fairy tales, along with economic supremacy being the dominant theme of the late 20th century.
Nazism defeated. Pax Americana reaching across continents, rebuilding Western Europe, attempting to impose democracy in Southeast Asia millions dead. The Twin Towers. Trillions spent fighting futile wars against stone-age foes in far-off lands, at the cost of trillions more. And then, the West financializing its productive economies with complex Ponzi schemes (your pensions, basically). But underlying all this, a sense of: we are the good guys, we will win, it's inevitable. And they all lived happily ever after.

But we are not children now. The world is a complex, dangerous place. Western societies are hollowed out by debt and entitlement, by drugs and crime and ill-health from eating crap, by wokeness and anxiety. And here we are.
Ukraine was a chance to show the world that the US, along with NATO and Europe, still mattered. But Putin let's be real here managed to get Trump, Brexit, and populist right-wing parties over the line: a massive return on whatever investment he and his FSB made. And of course, the inexorable rise of China, who makes and copies just about everything, whose rule holds as long as 70% are relatively happy.
Now Trump has left the table, pretty much blown up NATO. Western populations are in turmoil, scared and seeking change that will never come because we're out of money and no leaders will tell the truth. Oh, and the final piece: Ukraine isn't the virginal maiden some believe it to be corrupt pretty much to its core, with a mixed population in the western oblasts who are basically pro-Russian, facing the world's largest country in size and mineral wealth, allied to China, and prepared to die in their hundreds of thousands for the motherland.
It was ever thus. They were prepared to burn the whole of Moscow to prevent the French taking it. Twenty-seven million died in WWII. They take their paranoia seriously just ask any Israeli supporter who rides roughshod over international law.

Here ends my sermon for the day. Emoticon away or don't up to you. 

 

I asked Claude to to a Philip Larkin versions of my piece ;

 

The Forum

They get what they deserve, or don't—
It hardly matters which.
Goodness means f&ck-all when the guns start up.
Children believe in endings.
We had our century: Nazis dead,
Europe a grateful ruin we could own,
Asia drowning in our good intentions,
The Towers falling into dust and debt.
Trillions burned in sand. Meanwhile,
We sold our futures—pensions, all of it—
Complex frauds we called finance,
Told ourselves we were the righteous ones.
Not children now. Just old.
Our societies are corpses filled with pills
And sh!t food and imaginary wounds.
This is what we are.
Ukraine was supposed to prove
We still existed. Putin won—
Got Trump, got Brexit, got it all
For pocket change. China makes everything.
We make nothing. It's done.
NATO's gone. We're skint. Nobody
Will say it. And Ukraine—
Corrupt as anywhere, a good quarter of its people
Would rather be Russian anyway—
Faces that nuclear tundra,
That country that burned Moscow flat
And lost twenty-seven million dead
Without flinching.
Paranoia works. Ask Israel.
I'll convince no one here.
We're old men shouting at screens
Because the silence is worse.
Most have left: bored, banned,
Dead, or ranting somewhere livelier.
Here ends the sermon.
Here ends most things.

 

10 hours ago, sharot724 said:

Leadership still alive ty God

"Leadership" LOL ! Can't wait for Nuremberg Trials 2.0 for all of those knobs when it's all over.

22 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

I'm a proud rusophobic

No doubt you are.

 

22 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

After seeing what the Russians did to the civilian population in Bucha

You mean the situation when Ukraks shot russian language minorities to blame Russians later ? What do you think about the situation in Sudzha ? After city's liberation from ukrainian occupation, Russian soldiers found killed civilians with many children killed by Ukraks. I know, mainstream media did not fart any word about this so you probably missed it.

22 hours ago, BLMFem said:

Yes, sure. The people of the former Iron Curtain countries that were occupied for close to half a century agrees wholeheartedly!

 

Seriously, do you Russian trolls really believe you're convincing anyone with this drivel?😂

Unlike you I'm not here to "convince" anyone, I'm not a paid-per-post tout trying to spread lies and propaganda here. I'm just confronting your warmongering, antihuman propaganda with my humanistic point of view.

10 minutes ago, t0mt0m said:

Unlike you I'm not here to "convince" anyone, I'm not a paid-per-post tout trying to spread lies and propaganda here. I'm just confronting your warmongering, antihuman propaganda with my humanistic point of view.

Thanks, we need some humor every now and then!

3 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I don't doubt the goodness in many of your hearts, nor your fervent desire to see Ukraine win this existential battle for its survival. But believing the world is fair, or that good always triumphs over evil—these are the stuff of children's fairy tales, along with economic supremacy being the dominant theme of the late 20th century.
Nazism defeated. Pax Americana reaching across continents, rebuilding Western Europe, attempting to impose democracy in Southeast Asia millions dead. The Twin Towers. Trillions spent fighting futile wars against stone-age foes in far-off lands, at the cost of trillions more. And then, the West financializing its productive economies with complex Ponzi schemes (your pensions, basically). But underlying all this, a sense of: we are the good guys, we will win, it's inevitable. And they all lived happily ever after.

But we are not children now. The world is a complex, dangerous place. Western societies are hollowed out by debt and entitlement, by drugs and crime and ill-health from eating crap, by wokeness and anxiety. And here we are.
Ukraine was a chance to show the world that the US, along with NATO and Europe, still mattered. But Putin let's be real here managed to get Trump, Brexit, and populist right-wing parties over the line: a massive return on whatever investment he and his FSB made. And of course, the inexorable rise of China, who makes and copies just about everything, whose rule holds as long as 70% are relatively happy.
Now Trump has left the table, pretty much blown up NATO. Western populations are in turmoil, scared and seeking change that will never come because we're out of money and no leaders will tell the truth. Oh, and the final piece: Ukraine isn't the virginal maiden some believe it to be corrupt pretty much to its core, with a mixed population in the western oblasts who are basically pro-Russian, facing the world's largest country in size and mineral wealth, allied to China, and prepared to die in their hundreds of thousands for the motherland.
It was ever thus. They were prepared to burn the whole of Moscow to prevent the French taking it. Twenty-seven million died in WWII. They take their paranoia seriously just ask any Israeli supporter who rides roughshod over international law.

Here ends my sermon for the day. Emoticon away or don't up to you. 

 

I asked Claude to to a Philip Larkin versions of my piece ;

 

The Forum

They get what they deserve, or don't—
It hardly matters which.
Goodness means f&ck-all when the guns start up.
Children believe in endings.
We had our century: Nazis dead,
Europe a grateful ruin we could own,
Asia drowning in our good intentions,
The Towers falling into dust and debt.
Trillions burned in sand. Meanwhile,
We sold our futures—pensions, all of it—
Complex frauds we called finance,
Told ourselves we were the righteous ones.
Not children now. Just old.
Our societies are corpses filled with pills
And sh!t food and imaginary wounds.
This is what we are.
Ukraine was supposed to prove
We still existed. Putin won—
Got Trump, got Brexit, got it all
For pocket change. China makes everything.
We make nothing. It's done.
NATO's gone. We're skint. Nobody
Will say it. And Ukraine—
Corrupt as anywhere, a good quarter of its people
Would rather be Russian anyway—
Faces that nuclear tundra,
That country that burned Moscow flat
And lost twenty-seven million dead
Without flinching.
Paranoia works. Ask Israel.
I'll convince no one here.
We're old men shouting at screens
Because the silence is worse.
Most have left: bored, banned,
Dead, or ranting somewhere livelier.
Here ends the sermon.
Here ends most things.

Interesting take.

 

I look at things differently. Firstly, there is no such thing as money. It is an exchange medium. This trillions in debt is a nonsense. It all started in the west in 1694, Not changed since.

 

The whole chabang is based on control, world-wide, of 4 things IMO. Food, water, money and energy. But didn't I just say there was no such thing as money? It's only important if one, and one's country believes in it. Control of the big 4 will enslave the west. Not the world.

The problem for the west's plan is that it is no longer their time. They have had 500 years, now their time is coming to an end. So putting in place mechanisms to control the 4 is now essential.

 

Take England v Thailand. Two countries that I know pretty well. No www?! Thai people, especially the youngsters would moan, but cope. In England it would be devastation. Hundreds of thousands of jobs would go overnight. No leccy?! That would indeed be tough for the Thais. But absolute carnage for the UK. No food?! Thailand can look after itself. In England; what happens when there is no food in the supermarkets and there is not enough being home grown. As is the case presently. No water?! Again, Thailand can look after itself. In England it would lead to absolute panic.

 

The non-west is waking up. They will not bend the knee. Led by China, Russia and a few others. It's a complicated set up. The elites in the west are on the last throw of the dice right now.

 

And the silly thing is; there is more than enough for everyone, to live a great life, and need for nothing.

 

2 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Thanks, we need some humor every now and then!

Happy to help Mykola. I know you have a good fun here. Sitting safe and sound, spreading your warmongering propaganda while others fighting for their life in dirty trenches. Cool and normal for warmongers.

Just now, t0mt0m said:

Happy to help Mykola. I know you have a good fun here. Sitting safe and sound, spreading your warmongering propaganda while others fighting for their life in dirty trenches. Cool and normal for warmongers.

That's mighty friendly of you, vatnik.

 

 

10 hours ago, t0mt0m said:

I'm not a paid-per-post tout trying to spread lies

Oh. You're on salary then? How many rubles per day?

 

 

Crikey even I’m shocked by the brazenness of Zelenskyy’s chief aide and long-time ally in going after the anti-corruption body. They must be feeling cornered and fighting for their political lives at the very heart of the Presidency. This is the same group some have been calling out as corrupt since way back, while forced conscripts endure relentless torment under constant Russian bombardment. Some argue that Zelensky cannot simply dismiss Yermak because doing so would entangle him in the fallout. In this view, Yermak holds significant influence perhaps too much and may possess information that could politically damage the President if their alliance fractures. Yermak has become one of the most powerful figures in Ukraine, and if he were to fall, the repercussions could shake the entire governing structure.

 

Zelenskyy's top aide Yermak ordered law enforcement to draw up charges against head of anti-corruption prosecutor's office following Midas investigation 

 

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/11/24/8008675/

 

 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a meeting with the heads of NABU and SAPO at the end of the first week of Operation Midas, sources close to the President's Office said.

But "the conversation didn't go anywhere", an influential official familiar with the meeting emphasised.

Sources in law enforcement said that immediately after the attempt to talk, Yermak once again tasked security forces with preparing charges against SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko.

Ukrainska Pravda previously reported that key government figures close to President Zelenskyy had advised him to dismiss Yermak following NABU's high-profile Midas investigation. 

 

Zelensky appears to hold on to embattled chief of staff Yermak, faces weakened grip on parliament as a result - KYIV INDEPENDENT

 

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appears-to-keep-tainted-chief-of-staff-yermak-in-place-faces-weakened-grip-on-parliament-as-a-result/

 

During the meeting with lawmakers, Zelensky was accompanied by Yermak, who remained mostly silent, according to those present at the closed-door meeting.

A Servant of the People party lawmaker told the Kyiv Independent that Zelensky made it clear: for now, Yermak is staying in his position.

"(The president) tried to dodge the question. It was clear that the issue (of Yermak's dismissal) was unpleasant for him… He tried to say it in a way that doesn't offend him," the lawmaker said.

"(Yermak) carries out the president's orders, he's the president's right-hand man. And who would want to cut off their own right hand? "the lawmaker continued. "It's convenient for him: Yermak absorbs the negativity. And if he removes him, then who will they start criticizing?"

(Reuters) -Two young street musicians who were jailed for more than a month in Russia for singing anti-Kremlin songs have left the country after being released from detention, according to Russian media reports.

 

Vocalist Diana Loginova, 18, and guitarist Alexander Orlov, 22, were detained on October 15 in central St Petersburg after an impromptu street performance by their band Stoptime of the popular song "Swan Lake Cooperative" by exiled Russian rapper Noize MC - a vocal Kremlin critic - went viral on Russian social media. Stoptime's drummer, Vladislav Leontyev, was also arrested.

Citing sources, St Petersburg newspaper Fontanka reported that Loginova left Russia after being released from custody on Sunday. Another source told the Kommersant daily both Loginova and Orlov were now outside the country. Neither outlet said where they are now.

 

Young street musicians jailed for singing anti-Kremlin songs have fled Russia, media report

 

Diana Loginova, a teenage street musician performing under the name Naoko and singing in the Stoptime group who served three short jail stints for singing anti-Kremlin songs, sits in a car as she is escorted out of a temporary detention facility after her latest 13-day jail period ended in Saint Petersburg, Russia November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov© Thomson Reuters

 

 

On 9/30/2025 at 5:26 AM, Jingthing said:

Whichever works better.

Russia -- you're not in a position to complain about such things. 

You want it all to stop? Then LEAVE UKRAINE.

Russia doesn't complain. It provokes. Kennedy realized this too late.

 

 

During the night of November 25, a series of powerful explosions occurred in Taganrog, which Russian sources linked to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack and air defense activity, according to Taganrog mayor Svetlana Kambulova.

 

According to Svetlana Kambulova, residents were advised to immediately leave open areas of the streets, move to shelters, and stay away from windows.

 

According to residents on social media, loud explosions began around 1 a.m. Russians report that more than 20 explosions were heard in the city during the air raid alert. People say that the shock wave caused windows to shake in some buildings, and car alarms in parked vehicles went off.

 

Russian Taganrog under attack: Explosions and huge fire from drones reported

 

1 hour ago, t0mt0m said:

Russia seems to be a land of safety, free speech and freedom. I remember my last trip to Moscow in 2018.

 

Yep you could ask Navalny and a few others who have died because of their free speech

Ukraine unfortunately winning "the" war.

It is inflicting increased retaliatory damage to Russia if media reports are accurate.

Ignoring media reports of incremental control of Ukrainian territory by Russian forces at massive loss of life to both sides either at the "front" or in the urban districts on both sides killing civilians deliberately or incidentally is not "winning" !

1 hour ago, t0mt0m said:

Interesting thing is how many Brits are detained for alleged "insulting immigrants". Recently I've seen a video about a guy, who asked dark skin immigrant to speak proper english because he (Brit) couldn't understand him. He end up in jail overnight for this. Comparing to nowadays UK, Russia seems to be a land of safety, free speech and freedom. I remember my last trip to Moscow in 2018. Walking in different city areas even late evening/nigh with no fear at all. Try it in any UK city now. 

Well, perhaps you'd better learn to write proper English before you go on about dark skin(ned) immigrants speaking proper English,  and when you say Russia is the land of safety ( watch out for those falling bodies from high rise buildings), and free speech, I fell on the floor laughing.

 

While the Russian constitution guarantees freedom of speech, various laws severely restrict it, including those targeting "fake news," "disrespect" for the government, and "discrediting the military". Other restrictive legislation includes the "foreign agent" law, which can label critics and independent organizations as foreign agents, and laws that ban "LGBT propaganda," making public discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity illegal. These laws are used to prosecute critics, leading to fines, jail sentences, and the blocking of independent media and civil society groups. 

 

russian laws about freedom of speech - Google Search

The heads of the foreign affairs committees of 20 European parliaments issued a joint warning, stating that no peace that rewards Russian aggression can be acceptable for Europe, according to a post on X by Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament, the Riigikogu.

 

The statement emphasizes that the way the Russia–Ukraine war ends will define Europe’s security for decades to come, as it concerns the fundamental and existential interests of all states on the continent. The signatories emphasized that peace must be just and lasting, grounded in international law, and must ensure full respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

 

The parliamentarians noted that achieving such a peace is impossible through concessions to Russia, as this would only encourage Russia to take new actions. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe,” the statement emphasizes.

 

 

Europe stands united as 20 parliaments warn against Ukraine peace deal favoring Russia

 

European Union (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)© RBC-Ukraine (UK)

 

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5621491-ukraine-peace-proposal-trump-geneva/

 

Ukraine agrees to ‘core terms’ of peace deal

 

Ukraine has agreed to the core elements of a peace proposal brokered by the Trump administration, with some details still to be worked out, a U.S. official confirmed on Tuesday to NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed in a social media post that Ukrainian and U.S. delegations agreed on “the core terms” of the agreement presented in Geneva.

“We appreciate the productive and constructive meetings held in Geneva between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations, as well as President Trump’s steadfast efforts to end the war,” Umerov wrote in a post on the social platform X.

 

Off topic deflection posts and replies about Thai singers in prison or exiled refugeees for singing songs have been removed.

There's truth here...

 

Slava Ukraine, 'eh?  🇺🇦

LONDON (Reuters) -A planned 140 billion euro ($161 billion) loan for Ukraine from the EU backed by frozen Russian assets is unlikely to hurt sovereign ratings of EU countries, two leading credit rating agencies said.

 

Belgium, where the Russian funds now sit in the Brussels-based Euroclear settlement system, has particular concerns from the risk of Russian lawsuits, but even these are unlikely to affect its credit score as long as other EU members share the risk.

 

The EU is under pressure from Ukraine to press ahead with the so-called reparations loan next month to help fill Kyiv's financing gaps. Efforts by the U.S. to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine are adding to calls on the EU to push forward with the loan.

 

EU's loan to Ukraine backed by Russia assets unlikely to cut countries' ratings, agencies say

 

Ukrainian and European flags fly, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in central Kyiv, Ukraine August 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich© Thomson Reuters

 

European Union legislators voted on Tuesday to deepen integration of the bloc’s defence industry with Ukraine as US peace plan talks continue and Russia’s unconventional warfare operations rattle the 27-nation bloc.

 

Members of the European Parliament voted 457-148, with 33 abstentions, to approve a 1.5-billion euro (£1.3 billion) programme, with 300 million euros (£262 million) slated for the Ukraine Support Instrument.

 

Raphael Glucksmann, an EU politician from France’s S&D party, said the defence programme “will enable us to build a more resilient and sovereign Europe” through partnering with Ukraine to build a cutting-edge military industrial complex. “This is key to making sure we can protect our democracies effectively and autonomously,” he said.

 

European Union votes to deepen defence industry ties with Ukraine