Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #13

[sunshineray]

MAR 5, 2025

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/politics/us-pause-intelligence-support-ukraine?Date=20250305&Profile=cnn&utm_content=1741182349&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads

A top Russian lawmaker, Andrei Kartapolov, in recent days called for the US to stop providing Ukraine with intelligence, underscoring the boon Trump may have already offered Moscow on the battlefield.

“It would be much more important if the Americans stopped giving them with intelligence information, then this would allow us to achieve results more quickly,” Kartapolov said.

One US military official said that the US is now offering fewer surveillance flights to the Ukrainians, as well as less satellite coverage – both of which are essential to Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities against Russian missile attacks.

For some US officials, the decision to limit intelligence sharing with Ukraine not only helps Russia — it is tantamount to a betrayal of Ukraine. The CIA has worked closely with Ukrainian special operations forces since 2014, when Russia first took action to seize control of Ukraine, supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine and annexing Crimea.

In the early days of the 2022 conflict, prominent Republicans — including now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio — complained that the Biden administration wasn’t sharing intelligence with the Ukrainian military quickly enough.

So it comes out Russia's mouth and is quickly enacted by the US government to the benefit of the Russian military, who then, while purporting to want peace, fires more missiles on civilian targets. Sounds like a treasonous act of colluding with the Russians against NATO to me. MO

 

[RichardKimble]

Eire has offered to help

Non lethal ? Or military equipment

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

So it comes out Russia's mouth and is quickly enacted by the US government to the benefit of the Russian military, who then, while purporting to want peace, fires more missiles on civilian targets. Sounds like a treasonous act of colluding with the Russians against NATO to me. MO

Clearly Putin wants peace. A surefire sign that a country is pursuing a peaceful resolution is when that country launches missiles at another. JMO

 

[Simply Southern]

I think it's bad form to quote and reply to myself but it needs to be said that, IMO, this is precisely what Putin wants. A weakened and isolated US.

The US is not isolated. Rather than relying solely on our European allies, the US has spent years developing strong relationships, allies with others. Countries that have strong military capabilities.

European countries have involved into an isolated island. They bicker among themselves, and publicly announced their military weaknesses and failure to invest in defense. They've not developed strong relationships with non European countries.

The United States is a world leader. The United States has the most nuclear weapons. The United States has the most powerful army on Earth.

Most countries value a relationship with the United States. Zelensky did not.

List of states with nuclear weapons - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Moo

 

[Sundog]

Zelensky is nothing but a fundraiser and salesman. He is very good at both. If he were actually running the war, he wouldn’t be free to zip around The EU, US, and other parts of the world for his little money raising sign up tour meet ‘n greets.

At each one, it’s: Thank you His majesty King Phillippe , or Thank you Prime Minister Gahrstore, or Thank you President Macron, or Thank you Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who “retains unwavering support for Ukraine”, or Thank you Prime Minister Dick Schoof, or Thank you Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , “we stand with you”, or Thank you Chancellor Olav Scholz “we must never confuse aggressor and victim” or thank You Union Chief Ursula Von Der Leyden “you’re never alone”, or Thank you Prime Minister Donald Trusk, or Thank you Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, or Thank you Prime Minister Anthony Abanese, or Thank you Union Chief Antonio Costa for telling us that “you will never be alone” and that “you will keep working for us for a just and lasting peace”, and thanks for “proudly supporting the brave people of Ukraine” or Trudeau’s “we will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace”. Everybody falls in line. Impossible not to virtue signals with everybody else.

It’s all great talk and smiles and hand shakes and slaps on the back. But none of them are right now ready to do anything that they weren't already doing before. As they leave they must be scratching their heads: “did something just change?”

Because Zelensky is wanting you to get your troops over there, now. He wants Crimea back, now. He wants the Russians pushed out, now. He wants the border guarded, now - and forever. Oh, and thanks.

In each meeting, Zelensky cleverly also always thanks them for something they did not say or agree to give him, though it’ll be hard to say you didn’t later: they did not commit to put boots on the ground now, fight Russia now, get Crimea back now, get Donbas back now, and provide lifetime military security for Ukraine at the border, starting, now.

Quite a salesman. Good with the hugs, the hand shakes, the thank you, thank you, thank you’s. Lots of photo ops, saying the right thing, camera’s, dignitaries, next stop. And on and on the man dressed as a ninja turtle goes, collecting endorsements and congratulations and pats on the back - even if he gets no immediate commitment from anybody to do anything other then what they have been doing. Imo Zelensky wants to keep the war going. He’s only a big shot and can wear his uniform when there’s a war on. When it’s over, he’ll go back to being a stand up comic

The leaders don’t carefully parse his statement though or seek clarification on his exact words, because they’re too busy virtue signaling and fitting in. But in effect Zelensky has just thanked them for agreeing to achieve a just and lasting peace for his Ukraine, forever. For those of you in the UK and EU that have military age family members and friends, is that going to be okay?

The Presidents and Premiers and Prime Ministers and Majesties must all leave those meetings shaking their heads, going: “what did I just agree to?” Yes, ‘ol Z is pretty crafty.

Is everybody from every one of those countries above wiling to fight to recover Crimea and Donbas and provide a just and lasting peace for a country like Ukraine (that is not theirs, and not in NATO ) against Russia? This of course would be a world war, NATO vs Russia. Everybody still good with that? Cuz that’s what you just agreed too.

All jmo

So well said.

 

[Sillybilly]

The U.S. isn't abandoning Europe, not even close. The U.S. is calling to end the butchery in Ukraine.

Those who call for continued bloodshed, death, and destruction are baffling to me.

<rsbm>

How was the US calling for an end to the butchery? The Oval Office meeting seemed to be all about acquisition of mineral rights with no security assurances that would prevent bloodshed, etc..

 

[keek]

His coffers have been restored this week with BILLIONS driven by European Nations.

He continues it's overwhelming thanks to his European allies. Clearly he has shown that he does not need the financial support of the US government. We are insignificant.
Moo

Wish that was true, I'd hope you would really want that to be true as well. People are dieing in the dictator's weaponizing winter to kill men, woman of all ages and children. Babies. Miracles like immediate electricity, heating fuel and homes to use them in just don't happen overnight. It's a hardship in USA when we lose power in winter, but we are in homes and know that the utility companies are working on it, matter of hours, days and sometimes close to a month, depending on issue. Oh how I wish that was for the suffering human beings in Ukraine.

 

[LibraStarr]

Mr Trump needs to accept some responsibility for this - civilians being "pounded" by Russian attacks". Instead he is just blaming the war. He has played right into Putin's hands. Perhaps he will now see that Zelensky was right and Putin can't be trusted.

Banking sanctions aren't going to stop Putin - he's on a roll and wants to win the war.

"Donald Trump says Russia is “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield, as he threatened new banking sanctions against Moscow in order to end the fighting.

In his most direct challenge to Russia since he became President for the second time, Mr Trump said: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached.”

In a direct order to Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, he added: “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”

Earlier this week, Mr Trump suspended all military aid to Ukraine. He then went on to suspend the intelligence sharing channels between the US and Ukraine."

Trump threatens Putin with sanctions if he does not stop ‘pounding’ Ukraine

Donald Trump has threatened Vladimir Putin with new sanctions if Russia does not stop “pounding” Ukraine.

www.telegraph.co.uk

So after telling us how much he trusts Putin, how Putin will make a deal, how only he can bring peace to Ukraine—Trump is now throwing a tantrum because… Putin isn’t listening to him? It really feels like Trump expected Putin to play by some unwritten rules they probably agreed on behind closed doors. But surprise! Dictators don’t keep promises.

It’s wild to watch people still believe Trump can magically end this war when he clearly has no control over Putin at all. If anything, this just proves that any “peace deal” Trump tries to force would be worthless—because Putin will do whatever he wants anyway.

IMO

 

[Stella123]

World leaders should be uniting to help. Not playing silly US versus Europe games. At least Trump is talking about sanctions on Russia now but it's not enough. He is only "considering" and the sanctions mentioned won't have much effect. The best thing he could do is "unpause" aid and intelligence to Ukraine right now.

 

[sunshineray]

I remember back in the 1950s thru 1980s many HS graduates immediately entered the military. It was a rite of passage in my family. It built character, strength, determination, discipline and a sense of self-worth. It helped build Future Leaders. It also provided a pathway for a 4-year college education and financial success.

I'm just in AWW of this leader. He is definitely developed a plan for success and future security for his country.
Moo

That's what countries HAVE to do when their sovereignty is at stake, endangered from a NATO-member empowering a dictator like Putin. It sadly can't be a choice anymore, it must be a necessity to learn how to kill in defense. Unfortunately other peaceful NATO countries may follow suit with that "rite of passage", derailing many live's other hopes, dreams and plans. JMO

 

[Simply Southern]

Putin isn’t listening to him?

Neither did Zelensky.

 

[Simply Southern]

World leaders should be uniting to help. Not playing silly US versus Europe games. At least Trump is talking about sanctions on Russia now but it's not enough. He is only "considering" and the sanctions mentioned won't have much effect. The best thing he could do is "unpause" aid and intelligence to Ukraine right now.

Zelensky was repeatedly told US financial support would stop, unless he was willing to work towards peace negotiation. After his stunt, in the Oval office on Friday. Trump gave him FOUR days to come to his senses before shutting off aid. Is Trump affording the same opportunity for Russia to rethink their decision? Yeap

Aid will not be restored . That ship sailed Friday. Trump will not back down, and the majority of US citizens support his decision. Zelensky is hard-headed. He doesn't listen, clearly does not respect the United States nor the support we have provided to him. Continues his overwhelming thanks to his European allies and rarely mentions support from the United States. He clearly has shown over the past week, he does not need our support. He's been giving billions by European country. He doesn't need our aid. Europe is providing much more than the United States did.

Moo...

 

[JennieM]

Trump could tighten oil sanctions, CBS reports

Donald Trump's warning to Russia that he is "strongly considering" sanctions to push for a peace deal could see a tightening of oil sanctions, BBC's US partner CBS reports.

Though Trump is yet to release more details on what the possible sanctions on Russia would involve, CBS reports that sanctions on Chinese banks that do business with Russia could come into effect. They add this could be as punishment for supplying dual-use items that Russia has been using on the battlefield.

According to CBS, sanctions on all Russian banks could also be on the table - depending on how hard Trump wants to hit Russia.

Or, he could select something much lighter. These options above would be the most harsh actions he could impose, the BBC's US partner adds.

Trump's threat unlikely to bother Putin unduly​

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Compared to the colossal blow that Ukraine has just sustained in losing – even if only temporarily – its military and intelligence assistance from the US, President Trump’s verbal threat of sanctions and tariffs on Russia is something of a pinprick.

Russia is already under the heaviest Western sanctions in its history.

It has been able to get around them to a large extent by selling discounted oil to India and China, while importing many of the goods it previously got from the West through countries like Kazakhstan.

China is reported to be helping to sustain Russia's war effort with large volumes of dual-use technology, which it denies.

The Trump administration cannot have failed to notice the chorus of criticism that all the pressure for a peace deal is being piled on just Ukraine, not Russia.

So it is possible this is an attempt to present itself as being more even-handed. The problem is, we simply do not know what was discussed and what was agreed in that "lengthy and highly productive" 90-minute phone call that Donald Trump suddenly announced he’d held last month with the Russian President.

So far, Vladimir Putin has played a clever hand, sitting back and doubtless enjoying watching the transatlantic alliance come apart at the seams.

Compared to that gain, the threat of US tariffs is unlikely to bother him unduly.

Wave of Russian strikes kill at least 20 and injures dozens, officials say

Ukraine's President Zelensky urges more sanctions against Russia as he says the strikes show the Kremlin's goals "are unchanged".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[LibraStarr]

Neither did Zelensky.

Zelenskyy’s job is to protect Ukraine, not cave to Trump’s ego or accept a deal that gives Putin everything he wants. If refusing to be bullied into a bad agreement means he’s not listening, then I agree with you.

 

[JennieM]

'I'm finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine' - Trump​

We're hearing now from Donald Trump, who is asked during his update on the US economy, if he still believes that Putin is committed to peace.

Trump says that he does, adding: "I think we're doing very well with Russia. But right now they're bombing the hell out of Ukraine."

He also says that he is "finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine".

He adds that to get a final peace deal, that it may be "easier to deal with Russia, which is odd, as they have all the cards".

He looks ahead to next week's meeting in Saudi Arabia, adding that he is trying to help Ukraine but says they "have to get on the ball, to get the job done".

Wave of Russian strikes kill at least 20 and injures dozens, officials say

Ukraine's President Zelensky urges more sanctions against Russia as he says the strikes show the Kremlin's goals "are unchanged".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

Message from Oval Office that things will 'get back on track'
​

We're hearing now from an official in the Oval Office who says the president has been "crystal clear" to both sides that the fighting needs to stop and that both need to come to the table.

He adds that both leaders have said "only" President Trump could do this.

He points to an initial engagement with Russia, and the proposed minerals deal with Ukraine which he thinks will "get back on track".

Trump adds that he thinks they will "get it settled and stopped".

Wave of Russian strikes kill at least 20 and injures dozens, officials say

Ukraine's President Zelensky urges more sanctions against Russia as he says the strikes show the Kremlin's goals "are unchanged".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I agree. We experienced the same thing with our previous administration. It was very hard watching his decline in health. Now we have a strong leader, yeah he's got a fierce bark and bites deep. A manly man, won't see him crying over words from another, but one that stands his ground for his people. He's going to protect our nation. Moo ...

True. He just stamps his feet and throws his toys out the pram instead. JMO

 

[JennieM]

Ukraine is 'taking tremendous punishment', says Trump​

​

Trump says he thinks that Putin is doing what "anyone else would do" and that he wants to get this war settled and ended.

The president says the conflict is now "hitting him harder than it has been".

He adds that Ukraine is taking tremendous punishment, but Trump seems uncertain on whether he believes Ukraine wants to settle - he adds: "I think they do" but that he "doesn't quite get it".

Trump quizzed on military assistance pause​

​

Asked why the US will not provide Ukraine with air defences in light of his decision to pause military assistance, Trump responds that he doesn't know whether Ukraine "want to settle”

"If they don't want to settle, we're out of there," he says - adding that he's trying "to stop death"

Referring to the European meetings across the last week, the president warns this could end up as "World War Three" if it's not settled.

Wave of Russian strikes kill at least 20 and injures dozens, officials say

Ukraine's President Zelensky urges more sanctions against Russia as he says the strikes show the Kremlin's goals "are unchanged".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Stella123]

Zelensky was repeatedly told US financial support would stop, unless he was willing to work towards peace negotiation. After his stunt, in the Oval office on Friday. Trump gave him FOUR days to come to his senses before shutting off aid. Is Trump affording the same opportunity for Russia to rethink their decision? Yeap

Aid will not be paused. That ship sailed Friday. Trump will not back down, and the majority of US citizens support his decision. Zelensky is hard-headed. He doesn't listen, clearly does not respect the United States nor the support we have provided to him. Continues his overwhelming thanks to his European allies and rarely mentions support from the United States. He clearly has shown over the past week, he does not need our support. He's been giving billions by European country. He doesn't need our aid. Europe is providing much more than the United States did.

Moo...

Most of this is simply not true. People keep repeating to you and linking to you, things to contradict what you're saying. So you think Ukrainian civilians deserve to be bombarded by Russia because Trump witheld aid and intelligence because he was annoyed? JMO.

 

[UK Girl]

His coffers have been restored this week with BILLIONS given by European Nations.

He continues his overwhelming thanks to his European allies. Clearly he has shown that he does not need the financial support of the US government. We are insignificant.
Moo

Why the aggression towards us Europeans helping him?