Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #12

[keek]

They were trying to help themselves to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. These are not altruists.

Obvious beyond obvious. Bet 'm' put THAT bug in t's ear, he'd have no clue on his own.'raw earth' and all.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal with US: Zelenskyy - The Tribune

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is ready to sign a minerals agreement with the United States, describing it as the first step toward security guarantees.

www.tribuneindia.com

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Looks like Zelenskyy is going ahead with the US mineral deal. Is anyone going to try and stop him from doing this? JMO.

 

[Stella123]

Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal with US: Zelenskyy - The Tribune

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is ready to sign a minerals agreement with the United States, describing it as the first step toward security guarantees.

www.tribuneindia.com

If Zelensky still wants to sign it, without safeguard guarantees from the US, then it must be worth something to Ukraine. Rebuilding infrastructure perhaps.

 

[Stella123]

Looks like Zelenskyy is going ahead with the US mineral deal. Is anyone going to try and stop him from doing this? JMO.

Trump?

 

[JennieM]

‘Trump is abandoning Ukraine and wants a weaker EU’: Dominique de Villepin on Europe’s moment of truth

As Donald Trump alienates America’s oldest allies at alarming speed, European leaders are scrambling to adjust to the new, chaotic world order. But De Villepin believes there is also an opportunity for Europe to unite behind liberal democracy and fill the vacuum left behind by the Trump administration. He is convinced that there is an urgent need for European independence in defence, national security and technology.

[…]

Trump’s foreign policy is unpredictable, but he appears now to side with Russia over Ukraine. Even as Macron was at the White House attempting to salvage transatlantic ties, the US voted with Russia against a UN resolution condemning Vladimir Putin’s war. North Korea and Belarus were among only a handful of other nations that followed the US.

“We now have three illiberal superpowers: Russia, China and the US,” De Villepin says. “America can no longer be considered an ally of Europe.” But he warns that the US will not prosper in this disordered, survival-of-the-fittest world it is creating, “because they will be completely isolated”.

‘Trump is abandoning Ukraine and wants a weaker EU’: Dominique de Villepin on Europe’s moment of truth

The former French PM says the US is no longer an ally of Europe – but has joined Russia and China as an ‘illiberal superpower’

www.theguardian.com

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Trump?

Why would he do that?

 

[Stella123]

Why would he do that?

You mean why would he stop Zelensky signing now? Well maybe because of all the negative publicity and various US politicans saying it was no longer on the table JMO MOO

However Starmer has been talking to Trump.

 

[JennieM]

'Europe has woken up' - Leaders react after summit

More reaction from other European leaders now, firstly from Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

He has posted on X to say "Europe has woken up", alongside a photograph of the leaders at the summit earlier today.

Tusk says those present "all speak with one voice about helping Ukraine, the need for close transatlantic cooperation and strengthening the eastern border".

Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has given her reaction too, and says "the one thing we absolutely cannot afford is a peace [in Ukraine] that does not last".

She continues: "We must be very careful when assessing what is being proposed, particularly in response to this key question: could this peace be violated? Because, unfortunately, we have seen this happen in the past."

And there have been words on X too from outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who mentions that being "transatlantic allies" in Nato remains "the key for security" in the US, Canada and Europe.

He says the alliance has been strengthened in recent years "with new members and defence spending" and that is "the path we will continue to follow in the future as well".

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, also on X, reiterates that Europe "must take a greater role in ensuring safety for our continent" and adds that "good transatlantic relations are also indispensable".

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

 

[Stella123]

If this minerals deal is actually beneficial to both the US and Ukraine (even without safeguarding aspects for Ukraine via US presence in Ukraine) then I am guessing these "talks" with EU leaders and phone calls with Trump are to try and keep the negotiations going with Putin (via Trump) for the "truce" that the EU is trying to achieve.

ie Starmer is trying to get everyone to work together in different ways.

 

[SouthAussie]

If Zelensky still wants to sign it, without safeguard guarantees from the US, then it must be worth something to Ukraine. Rebuilding infrastructure perhaps.

What Zelenskyy said to the BBC ... (published 14 mins ago)


Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is still "ready to sign" a US-Ukraine minerals deal after leaving the White House without it being agreed.

Ukraine's president said in response to a question from the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that, despite a fractious meeting with US President Donald Trump last week, he is still willing to have a "constructive dialogue" with the US, adding: "I just want the Ukrainian position to be heard."

"We want our partners to remember who the aggressor is in this war," he told reporters.

But he refused to be drawn into talking about about conceding territory to Putin - an option Trump officials have touted as part of a peace deal - or expressing regret in how he had handled the meeting with Trump.

Zelensky: Ukraine still 'ready' to sign minerals deal with Trump

Ukraine's president tells reporters that despite a fractious White House meeting, he is prepared for the deal to go ahead.

www.bbc.com

 

[MrsWatson]

The lesson is to not be rude and demanding with the people who are trying to help you. JMO.

Trump is hardly polite; he has publicly mocked a disabled reporter and called people demeaning "nicknames" on his social media. He walked in front of QEII; he was without doubt told protocol and chose to ignore it. He is demonstrably rude, over and over. I watched the press conference live and Zelenskyy was not the one being rude. I saw it with my own eyes.

But that's MOO. Agree to disagree.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

You mean why would he stop Zelensky signing now? Well maybe because of all the negative publicity and various US politicans saying it was no longer on the table JMO MOO

However Starmer has been talking to Trump.

I guess it's possible. Maybe if Zelenskyy would put his personal feelings aside and for the sake of his people apologize to President Trump and the American people, things could go forward smoothly. JMO.

 

[Stella123]

The person most likely to scupper any deals at the moment IMO, is Mr Musk, who continues to post anti Europe and anti Ukraine posts all over Twitter. JMO MOO

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Trump is hardly polite; he has publicly mocked a disabled reporter and called people demeaning "nicknames" on his social media. He walked in front of QEII; he was without doubt told protocol and chose to ignore it. He is demonstrably rude, over and over. I watched the press conference live and Zelenskyy was not the one being rude. I saw it with my own eyes.

But that's MOO. Agree to disagree.

I like having a tough President. JMO.

 

[Stella123]

I guess it's possible. Maybe if Zelenskyy would put his personal feelings aside and for the sake of his people apologize to President Trump and the American people, things could go forward smoothly. JMO.

Shouldn't it be a mutual apology?

 

[Donswife48]

He is a very classy guy. History will sort out the heroes from the villains. Trump and Putin will not be heroes.

My opinion, he Zelensky is a pushy man, choosing to fly and beg for money, weapons and security than spending time in his country helping his military. He is not a hero, the true heros are the Ukraine men and their people that stay day after day and survive the best they can. Trump ruffled many feathers when he choose to talk about peace. Before that, no one brought up the subject, just content with status quo. A person has to be tough enough to make changes, instead of doing the same failed solutions. People are offended, good, because Trump has now gotten people talking and doing things that should have been done 3 years ago. No one has even attempted to discuss peace with Russia and Ukraine, possibly they are scared, or possibly they like war. Either way, Trump is my idea of a no nonsense leader that will get things done. JMO, MOO

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Shouldn't it be a mutual apology?

Nope. Zelenskyy was in the Oval Office and should have never started it. JMO.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

My opinion, he Zelensky is a pushy man, choosing to fly and beg for money, weapons and security than spending time in his country helping his military. He is not a hero, the true heros are the Ukraine men and their people that stay day after day and survive the best they can. Trump ruffled many feathers when he choose to talk about peace. Before that, no one brought up the subject, just content with status quo. A person has to be tough enough to make changes, instead of doing the same failed solutions. People are offended, good, because Trump has now gotten people talking and doing things that should have been done 3 years ago. No one has even attempted to discuss peace with Russia and Ukraine, possibly their scared, or possibly they like war. Either way, Trump is my idea of a no nonsense leader that will get things done. JMO, MOO

Yep. I think that the Europeans were content with sitting back and watching Ukraine fight a stalemate war of attrition. Until now. JMO.

 

[JennieM]

I guess it's possible. Maybe if Zelenskyy would put his personal feelings aside and for the sake of his people apologize to President Trump and the American people, things could go forward smoothly. JMO.

‘He defended our honour’: Ukraine reacts to Zelenskyy’s clash with Trump

‘He defended our honour’: Ukraine reacts to Zelenskyy’s clash with Trump

Back home there was widespread support for Ukraine’s president, but also dismay at his car-crash encounter in the Oval Office

www.theguardian.com

'Trump and Vance were so rude': Ukrainians react to disastrous White House meeting​

Ukrainians back Zelensky after disastrous Oval Office encounter

The more the country is attacked, the more unity there is, people in Kyiv tell the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ukrainians Rally Around Zelensky as Trump and Putin Denigrate Him​

Ukrainians Rally Around Zelensky as Trump and Putin Denigrate Him

After Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” and began talks with Russia, even some of Zelensky’s harshest domestic critics have begun defending him.

time.com

Protesters target JD Vance in Vermont after clash with Zelensky​

Protesters target JD Vance in Vermont after clash with Zelensky

They held up pro-Ukraine signs on the route that the vice-president and his family were expected to take to go skiing.

www.bbc.co.uk

Pro-Ukraine protests erupt across US after Trump and Vance ‘ambush’ Zelenskyy

Pro-Ukraine protests erupt across US after Trump and Vance ‘ambush’ Zelenskyy

Demonstrators surge in Vermont, New York City and Boston after Oval Office debacle with US president and vice-president

www.theguardian.com