He's very brave to open his tour in Ukraine. I really admire him, one of my favorite artists.Ok, Neil Young on Ukrainian ground.
This many be our only way; the America that cares.
Neil Young Plots Free Ukraine Gig Ahead of European Tour
Neil Young will truly be "Rockin' in the Free World," announcing plans for a free Ukraine gig ahead of his European tour.www.billboard.com
All imo
I don’t think anyone can trust him 100% but I think we need to keep trying. What are the other options? Funding the war is not sustainable forever for any country.
Those contractors are likely to be in the middle of Ukraine and out of the way of the Russians and Trump has made it clear hes not interested in protecting Ukrainians. How many would there even be?
I am going to be honest. Before they were elected most Labour Mp's did not like Trump. They certainly do not like Musk and I doubt they do Vance. We expected hell and tbh and hes confirmed our worst nightmares. He has thrown an ally under the bus for Putin. Kinda hard to get past that where trust is concerned especially with national secrets.
Was there another agreement? I've not heard nor seen. The US has been adamant security would need to be provided by another source.
Mr Starmer shot back that it would be a "huge mistake" to cut ties with America. He said: "On the dependency on the US, I don't agree with him. The US and the UK have the closest relationships of defence and security are completely intertwined."
He is the Pm you would expect him to say that. The other Ministers are not in the same position
nos.nl
"Just hours after the Oval Office meeting, for example, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he did not know "if we can ever do business with Zelensky again".Trump and his allies dig in on opposition to Zelensky
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
In a recent post to his social media platfotm Truth Social, US President Donald Trump has - again - accused Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky of standing in the way of potential peace negotiations.
"America will not put up with it for much longer," Trump wrote. "This guy [Zelensky] doesn't want there to be peace as long as he has America's backing."
Following the Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and Trump's team on Friday, several of the US president's political allies have suggested that they no longer see Zelensky as a viable US partner moving forward.
Just hours after the Oval Office meeting, for example, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he did not know "if we can ever do business with Zelensky again".
"He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with," Graham added. "Or he needs to change."
Administration officials have, so far, provided little detail into what - if anything - Zelensky can do to redeem himself in the eyes of the White House.
Later today, Trump will reportedly meet with senior administration officials such as national security advisor Mike Waltz to discuss potential next steps on Ukraine.
The White House has so far not responded to various requests for comment from the BBC.
Earlier in the day, Waltz told Fox News that he believes the "American people's patience is not unlimited. Their wallets are not unlimited, and our stockpiles and munitions are not unlimited.
"So the time to talk is now."
Zelensky ready to work under Trump's 'strong leadership' after 'regrettable' showdown
The Ukrainian president says last week's fiery Oval Office meeting "did not go the way it was supposed to", adding Kyiv is ready to sign a minerals deal.www.bbc.co.uk
Always thinking like the KGB he is, it is a mindset, how he rolls, say. No peace for him, just the big piece of Ukraine and any other land he can get. He murders people who think, act and say differently, for years and years.a dutch news platform did an interview with a former russian diplomat. he worked for the russian foreign ministry for 20 years and he was the only diplomat to publicly cut ties with putin after the invasian of ukraine.
it’s quite a long text but i think it’s an interesting perspective, so i pasted an english translation below
Russische ex-diplomaat: Europa maakt geen indruk, spreek met Poetin in gangstertaal
Europa komt uit de startblokken, met de ene topontmoeting na de andere. Vol plannen van Europese leiders. "Poetin is echt niet onder de indruk van blaffende honden."
Russian ex-diplomat: Europe fails to impress, speak to Putin in gangster language
Russian defected UN diplomat Boris Bondarev has a hard head about European plans for Ukraine. From the beginning it has been "mainly words, words and words," he says in conversation with Nieuwsuur. "What is missing are deeds."
At the security summit in London on Sunday, European leaders came up with plans for security and peace in Ukraine. With France, the U.K. will also initiate a peace plan, an alternative to a deal between the U.S. and Russia.
But that, according to Bondarev, does not impress the Kremlin at all. The plans are not concrete enough. Europe remains too dependent on America, he believes. According to him, it only shows that Europe is not prepared for anything. "We are entering the fourth year of war and Europe has no vision. Europe has no plan. Europe has no strategy."
Bondarev, who worked for the Russian Foreign Ministry for 20 years, was the only Russian diplomat to publicly break with Moscow when Russia invaded Ukraine. As long as Vladimir Putin is in power, Kyiv has no serious negotiating partner, he says. "Every negotiator is an extension of Putin and his imperialist plans."
False bravery
The increase in defense budgets announced by several countries is having no effect now, according to former diplomat Bondarev. "It takes a while to build industrial facilities to produce weapons. Then it takes 10, 15 years before your armed forces have more weapons. But the war is henceforth."
All is not enough, Bondarev believes. He sharply criticizes the West. "Not enough arms supplies to Ukraine. Not enough aid. Not enough pressure on Russia. Not enough, not enough, not enough," he says. Fear of Russia underlies this, he believes. "Europe is afraid to do anything completely. Just like Donald Trump. Despite his false courage, he too is afraid of Russia."
Thereby - says the former diplomat - the Americans have little to offer Russia. "Trade with the U.S. has been quite insignificant compared to trade with Europe or with China. China gives Russia what it needs. Putin will never sacrifice that."
Sauer agrees somewhat with the ex-diplomat. "NATO chief Mark Rutte says he is in close contact with Trump. That he talks to him almost daily. That he is sure Trump wants peace. But all we see is the opposite: all we see is that Trump wants to do business with Russia."
When you talk to a gangster, who only understands the language of force, you have to speak the same language.
If it turns out that Trump does not want to go along with European plans for Ukraine, Sauer says Europe will really have to step up to the plate. That's entirely possible, too, he says. "Money enough. There is 250 billion in Russian frozen assets in a Belgian account. That can go to Ukraine's defense industry, one of the best right now. We think we are not powerful enough, but Europe is really a giant bloc."
Therefore, Europe should also stop fixating on American support, Bondarev believes. "Russia is at war with Europe." He cites cyber attacks, sabotage of underwater cables, interference in elections and bribing European politicians as examples. "European leaders say: Putin is at war with us, but we are not at war with Putin. That sounds schizophrenic."
The basic rule of diplomacy, which Europe does not understand, according to the former diplomat, is: "If you talk to a gangster, who only understands the language of force, you have to speak the same language. European leaders think: negotiate, negotiate and negotiate and be polite. But Putin won't stop until he understands that his next move may be his last. That's when Europe declares nuclear war on him."
Sauer also thinks Putin has no intention of stopping the war at all. "In Putin's experience, things are moving in the right direction. He has a long breath. Even though he is destroying the Russian economy and driving a whole generation of young people to their deaths. Putin will just keep doing that."
Bondarev outlines the current situation one more time, using a Russian fable. "An elephant moves through the city and a small dog barks at him. The latter says to other dogs: look, I am brave, I am barking at the huge elephant. But the elephant didn't even notice the dog. Just like Putin," says Bondarev. "You can bark at him, he will smile and at the same time he will continue bombing Ukraine."
White House directs officials to draft proposal to lift US sanctions on Russia
Sources say work on so-called ‘options paper’ comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine war
White House directs officials to draft proposal to lift US sanctions on Russia
Sources say work on so-called ‘options paper’ comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine warwww.theguardian.com
www.bbc.co.uk
These are (to themselves) tough guys, they don't need "help". Only weaklings need help. That's why they despise Zelenskyy - he asks for help and then suggests they might be attacked by Russia. That's when they exploded in rage, IMO, a suggestion that the USA was weaker than Russia.
Wow, great article. Reminds me of reading Patton, his philosophy was... Just keep moving forward, never stop, never slow down.a dutch news platform did an interview with a former russian diplomat. he worked for the russian foreign ministry for 20 years and he was the only diplomat to publicly cut ties with putin after the invasian of ukraine.
it’s quite a long text but i think it’s an interesting perspective, so i pasted an english translation below
Russische ex-diplomaat: Europa maakt geen indruk, spreek met Poetin in gangstertaal
Europa komt uit de startblokken, met de ene topontmoeting na de andere. Vol plannen van Europese leiders. "Poetin is echt niet onder de indruk van blaffende honden."
Russian ex-diplomat: Europe fails to impress, speak to Putin in gangster language
Russian defected UN diplomat Boris Bondarev has a hard head about European plans for Ukraine. From the beginning it has been "mainly words, words and words," he says in conversation with Nieuwsuur. "What is missing are deeds."
At the security summit in London on Sunday, European leaders came up with plans for security and peace in Ukraine. With France, the U.K. will also initiate a peace plan, an alternative to a deal between the U.S. and Russia.
But that, according to Bondarev, does not impress the Kremlin at all. The plans are not concrete enough. Europe remains too dependent on America, he believes. According to him, it only shows that Europe is not prepared for anything. "We are entering the fourth year of war and Europe has no vision. Europe has no plan. Europe has no strategy."
Bondarev, who worked for the Russian Foreign Ministry for 20 years, was the only Russian diplomat to publicly break with Moscow when Russia invaded Ukraine. As long as Vladimir Putin is in power, Kyiv has no serious negotiating partner, he says. "Every negotiator is an extension of Putin and his imperialist plans."
False bravery
The increase in defense budgets announced by several countries is having no effect now, according to former diplomat Bondarev. "It takes a while to build industrial facilities to produce weapons. Then it takes 10, 15 years before your armed forces have more weapons. But the war is henceforth."
All is not enough, Bondarev believes. He sharply criticizes the West. "Not enough arms supplies to Ukraine. Not enough aid. Not enough pressure on Russia. Not enough, not enough, not enough," he says. Fear of Russia underlies this, he believes. "Europe is afraid to do anything completely. Just like Donald Trump. Despite his false courage, he too is afraid of Russia."
Thereby - says the former diplomat - the Americans have little to offer Russia. "Trade with the U.S. has been quite insignificant compared to trade with Europe or with China. China gives Russia what it needs. Putin will never sacrifice that."
Sauer agrees somewhat with the ex-diplomat. "NATO chief Mark Rutte says he is in close contact with Trump. That he talks to him almost daily. That he is sure Trump wants peace. But all we see is the opposite: all we see is that Trump wants to do business with Russia."
When you talk to a gangster, who only understands the language of force, you have to speak the same language.
If it turns out that Trump does not want to go along with European plans for Ukraine, Sauer says Europe will really have to step up to the plate. That's entirely possible, too, he says. "Money enough. There is 250 billion in Russian frozen assets in a Belgian account. That can go to Ukraine's defense industry, one of the best right now. We think we are not powerful enough, but Europe is really a giant bloc."
Therefore, Europe should also stop fixating on American support, Bondarev believes. "Russia is at war with Europe." He cites cyber attacks, sabotage of underwater cables, interference in elections and bribing European politicians as examples. "European leaders say: Putin is at war with us, but we are not at war with Putin. That sounds schizophrenic."
The basic rule of diplomacy, which Europe does not understand, according to the former diplomat, is: "If you talk to a gangster, who only understands the language of force, you have to speak the same language. European leaders think: negotiate, negotiate and negotiate and be polite. But Putin won't stop until he understands that his next move may be his last. That's when Europe declares nuclear war on him."
Sauer also thinks Putin has no intention of stopping the war at all. "In Putin's experience, things are moving in the right direction. He has a long breath. Even though he is destroying the Russian economy and driving a whole generation of young people to their deaths. Putin will just keep doing that."
Bondarev outlines the current situation one more time, using a Russian fable. "An elephant moves through the city and a small dog barks at him. The latter says to other dogs: look, I am brave, I am barking at the huge elephant. But the elephant didn't even notice the dog. Just like Putin," says Bondarev. "You can bark at him, he will smile and at the same time he will continue bombing Ukraine."
