Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #12

[Stunned]

Canada has had peacekeeping troops on the Ukraine border for years. They cannot enter Ukraine for two reasons: they are peacekeepers (as usual) and they are NATO. NATO cannot fight in Ukraine at this time.

Canada isn't asking the USA to do anything because the USA president loses the ability to form a coherent sentence in the presence of the Canadian Prime Minister. He resorts to confusions such as calling him a "governor", calls a sovereign country a "state", and his verbal babbling is restricted to words such as nasty, mean, thief, unfair, taking advantage and other personal slurs. He plays the role of a pathetic victim. He is incapable of responding to an idea or concept. Canada is wise to steer clear of a confused man like that.

Yes, as soon as the voice of Trump supporters echoes word for word the voice of Russia, then Trump's followers align with Russia.

"Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson described the Oval Office blowout as a "complete political and diplomatic failure" for Kyiv.

Zakharova said Russia's war aims remain unchanged, implying Moscow will insist on a demilitarized Ukraine barred from NATO, and on annexing Ukrainian territories it controls."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-zelenskyy-white-house-talks-reaction-1.7472368

Sadly the world and Canada can't count on the US for anything anymore. We apologize. IMO

 

[Stunned]

What does ones personal nationality have to do with excusing tacky behavior to a guest?

If Trump et al want nothing to do with Ukraine then say so.

Cancel the meeting and go on with your agenda.

It's Vance's hysteria, Trump losing control of the floor as host and the inaction of Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, that sunk their ship in global eyes.


All imo

IMO it was played out the way it was meant too.

 

[otto]

Sadly the world and Canada can't count on the US for anything anymore. We apologize. IMO

It is very sad, but it is what the USA wants. The country seems to believe that it does not need any allies, and is therefore lashing out at all of former friends of the USA. Canada has no choice but to seek new trade partners in other parts of the world. It will take time, but Canada will manage.

Ukraine is the gatekeeper protecting Europe from Russia. Canada is the gatekeeper protecting the USA from Russia. It seems short-sighted to go against gatekeepers for democracy, but perhaps that's no longer the political ideology of the USA. There is a car salesman (wearing jeans, t-shirt and ball cap) who appears to be running the government, so anything is possible.

 

[Stunned]

#47 is in this for the Peace Prize .a Zelinsky is there for peace. I go with peace every time.

 

[Stunned]

The US had no Diplomacy. So the the world needs to stop looking to us for leadership. Sad, but true. We lost all shred of diplomatic decency in the Ukrainian WH disaster. IMO

 

[JennieM]

Many Americans including myself, feel this is extremely disrespectful behavior. They even passed dress code regulations in our house of Congress.

I understand he wants to wear a military uniform, but he is not on the battlefield. He's meeting the President of the United States, representing his country, on the world stage and the only person in the room that dress down. He certainly didn't look like a president, more like a laborer. I would never show up to business meeting in casual attire. But again, it's all about what Zelenskyy wants and not others. It's all about himself.
Moo

More acceptable to you?

 

[JennieM]

Is your country going to send troops and additional money? Moo

Yes, it is.

 

[Stunned]

It is very sad, but it is what the USA wants. The country seems to believe that it does not need any allies, and is therefore lashing out at all of former friends of the USA. Canada has no choice but to seek new trade partners in other parts of the world. It will take time, but Canada will manage.

Ukraine is the gatekeeper protecting Europe from Russia. Canada is the gatekeeper protecting the USA from Russia. It seems short-sighted to go against gatekeepers for democracy, but perhaps that's no longer the political ideology of the USA. There is a car salesman (wearing jeans, t-shirt and ball cap) who appears to be running the government, so anything is possible.

He absolutely does not represent the US.IMO

 

[Vern]

23 out of 32 NATO countries now meet or exceed the 2% GDP defense spending target, not just the U.S. and Poland.

This isn’t money paid to NATO; it’s what each country invests in its own military. The idea that Poland would somehow be left footing the bill is just misinformation.

Also, NATO as an organization has a separate budget for operations, and the U.S. pays about 16% of that, not the majority. NATO wouldn’t just collapse financially if the U.S. left, it would be weakened, but European countries already outspend Russia on defense.

Imo

Source:NATO Official Site

It's also important to note that there is no standard formula that each country who forms NATO utilizes to calculate their GDP. Note that %GDP equivelates into % of funding per citizen of that nation. The grand totals of dollars contributed will, of course, be higher for higher populous nations and lower for lower population members.

The outlier to that "population" above is of course Germany. Germany, by post WW2 international agreement was limited to having a maximum of 100 000 military members despite it's large population. Since reunification with East Germany, they have been allowed an increase to 200 000. Context is important when discussing the contributors.

Likewise, on funding formulas to get at that particular % for a nation:

Some countries do not count the costs of:
- policing;
- their border services agencies;
- the costs to the taxpayers for free on-post military housing;
- the costs to the taxpayers for food allowances and housing allowances paid to members living off-post;
- their coast guards (if they have coasts)

Because many of us nations do not consider those things to be "Hard Military Contributions". The US does include those things. In Canada for example, we soldiers pay for our housing and meals from our paycheques whether we live on-post or off-post. We get none of that for free. Even when we are living in troops' quarters while on course or training, we pay R&Q (Rations and Quarters costs) from our own pay.

One day, perhaps NATO will come up with a standarized format of what should be included/excluded. Once that's done, then every nation will be better comparable as to what their actual % GDP output is.

Again, the size of a nation's military is directly relective of it's total population size and also reflects in casualty numbers. For example, NATO Article 5 (NATO Collective Defence of each other) was invoked in the aftermath of September 11th and in defence of the US. The only time its ever been invoked. Every single NATO nation responded and sent toops into Afghanistan. 37 non-NATO nations also responded (Australia, New Zealand, UAE and Ukraine amongst them). Approx 2/3rds of the casualties were US and 1/3 other nations of the coalition. Source with screenshot from source below:

As for NATO nations and their military size, they shake out akin to their populations as well. The US being the most populus nation and the largest NATO military.

1) US
2) Poland
3) Turkey
4) France
5) UK

Poland, of course, is the outlier here and has such a huge military precisely because ... well they border Russia. As does the USofA on it's north western flank. Russia is a dictatorial nation known not to honour international agreements and has proven itself to be quite able and likely to invade sovereign nations in aspiration of expanding their territory. Canada, also a sovereign nation and a democracy has also been threatened with annexation by a neighbour recently. The times, they are a changing.

IMO.

 

[PommyMommy]

UK Prime Minister Starmer holds a press conference following the summit – key statements

• The EU will not recognize agreements similar to the "Minsk" deals.
• The UK will provide Ukraine with an additional $2 billion for military purchases, including missiles for air defense systems.
• Britain has loaned Ukraine 5,000 air defense missiles.
• Starmer announced a new meeting with Trump to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.
• The UK will send a military contingent to Ukraine to ensure the implementation of the peace agreement.
• Russia cannot dictate the terms.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896255507800727836

Scholz: Russia's demand for Ukraine's demilitarization is unacceptable!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896260494232809821

Europe prepares for war? EU Commission chief von der Leyen calls to "urgently arm Europe"

All Europeans must invest in defense and boost military production.

Measures for the accelerated militarization of the continent will be discussed at the Brussels summit on March 6.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896263329414300026

 

[PommyMommy]

We will send troops to Ukraine to protect the implementation of the peace agreement — British PM Starmer

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896252268426699062

Zelensky once said three of his grandfather’s brothers were victims of the Holocaust who were executed by German occupiers.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896276781612851402

 

[PommyMommy]

Asked if Canada could offer troops to any peacekeeping force in Ukraine, Trudeau says: “Canada has looked at the ways it can best help and everything’s on the table…

Canada will be there and is open to doing what is necessary.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896280868311970112

A Russian drone has just hit a residential building full of people in Kharkiv. Rescue efforts are ongoing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896293373583229399

 

[Vern]

It is very sad, but it is what the USA wants. The country seems to believe that it does not need any allies, and is therefore lashing out at all of former friends of the USA. Canada has no choice but to seek new trade partners in other parts of the world. It will take time, but Canada will manage.

Ukraine is the gatekeeper protecting Europe from Russia. Canada is the gatekeeper protecting the USA from Russia. It seems short-sighted to go against gatekeepers for democracy, but perhaps that's no longer the political ideology of the USA. There is a car salesman (wearing jeans, t-shirt and ball cap) who appears to be running the government, so anything is possible.

We will manage. We lost 167 Canadians in Afghanistan and some in Iraq. War sucks. We know it. I've lived it.

Canada is already actively speaking with the EU ref trade, C.E.T.A., and entry.

We have been attending every EU summit, including the one happening today. We have a future (with no 'Governor') - it will just be different partnerships than it is now.

Freedom is not free. Those who serve will be there to protect it; it's what we swear to do. UBIQUE.

IMO.

 

[JennieM]

Still no suit for Zelensky as he visits the King at Sandringham​

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIA

Zelensky not wearing a suit to a meeting with the King was always going to attract commentary, but the symbolism of his trademark informal shirt shot up following the spat in the Oval Office on Friday.

Donald Trump – who had referred to himself as king, external on social media days earlier - appeared to have an issue with it, and one conservative US reporter present at the tempestuous meeting accused the Ukrainian president of “not respecting the dignity of this office”.

Looks like King Charles has no such problems with Zelensky’s attire.

Zelensky tells BBC Ukraine 'ready to sign' minerals deal with US

The Ukrainian president's comments to Laura Kuenssberg came after he failed to sign the deal at the White House on Friday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[sds71]

The summit in London was dedicated to Ukraine and our shared European future.We feel strong support for Ukraine, for our people – both soldiers and civilians, and our independence. Together, we are working in Europe to establish a solid foundation for cooperation with the United States in pursuit of true peace and guaranteed security.Europe’s unity is at an exceptionally high level, one that has not been seen in a long time.We are discussing with our partners security guarantees and the conditions for a just peace for Ukraine. A series of important meetings and decisions are being prepared for the near future.I am grateful to all our friends and partners for their efforts in bringing about a stable and guaranteed peace in Ukraine. Joint strength can protect our future.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896297506864242694

 

[Stunned]

It is very sad, but it is what the USA wants. The country seems to believe that it does not need any allies, and is therefore lashing out at all of former friends of the USA. Canada has no choice but to seek new trade partners in other parts of the world. It will take time, but Canada will manage.

Ukraine is the gatekeeper protecting Europe from Russia. Canada is the gatekeeper protecting the USA from Russia. It seems short-sighted to go against gatekeepers for democracy, but perhaps that's no longer the political ideology of the USA. There is a car salesman (wearing jeans, t-shirt and ball cap) who appears to be running the government, so anything is possible.

NOT the USA, what MAGA and Putin want.

 

[Vern]

Still no suit for Zelensky as he visits the King at Sandringham​

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIA

Zelensky not wearing a suit to a meeting with the King was always going to attract commentary, but the symbolism of his trademark informal shirt shot up following the spat in the Oval Office on Friday.

Donald Trump – who had referred to himself as king, external on social media days earlier - appeared to have an issue with it, and one conservative US reporter present at the tempestuous meeting accused the Ukrainian president of “not respecting the dignity of this office”.

Looks like King Charles has no such problems with Zelensky’s attire.

Zelensky tells BBC Ukraine 'ready to sign' minerals deal with US

The Ukrainian president's comments to Laura Kuenssberg came after he failed to sign the deal at the White House on Friday.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reminds me of Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of a nation at war, visiting the White House to meet with President Roosevelt in his fatigues aka 'siren suit'.

No outrage then.

 

[Vern]

NOT the USA, what MAGA and Putin want.

He is the President. He is speaking for US foreign policy. He is the official voice of America.

Whether we agree with him or not.

 

[PommyMommy]

Skadovsk is Ukraine. This man is risking his life—not by being at the top of unsecured ladder but by being an easy prey for a Russian “human safari” drone—to put up a poster asserting that the occupied territories across the Dnipro River are Ukrainian.

One may debate safety or even investment choices here if unfamiliar with the story of Kherson region. It is, like a major part of Ukraine, cut in two parts by the river. The river is now a frontline. On the other side… well, as the poster says, is Ukraine. Most people here have relatives there. (San Francisco, think Berkeley. Brooklyn, think Manhattan. You got the idea.)

The invaders might have dropped several aerial guided bombs on Kherson and suburbs and carried out non-stop artillery shelling and sent killer drones today but - like all invaders - they will be gone.

“I can be anywhere but my heart always returns home,” says the poster. The Dnipro River is just five minutes drive from here.

Photo, story by @ZarinaZabriskyMore in her dispatch on Euromaidan Press: https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/08/10/russian-drones-hunt-civilians-terrorize-kherson-with-human-safari/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896292209818767413

 

[ilovewings]

It is very sad, but it is what the USA wants. The country seems to believe that it does not need any allies, and is therefore lashing out at all of former friends of the USA. Canada has no choice but to seek new trade partners in other parts of the world. It will take time, but Canada will manage.

Ukraine is the gatekeeper protecting Europe from Russia. Canada is the gatekeeper protecting the USA from Russia. It seems short-sighted to go against gatekeepers for democracy, but perhaps that's no longer the political ideology of the USA. There is a car salesman (wearing jeans, t-shirt and ball cap) who appears to be running the government, so anything is possible.

very well stated: truth- sad---