Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion

[tomaldinho1]

That is a novel take, for sure.

 

[Sweet Square]

The US will commit to a “free, sovereign and secure” Ukraine and a “lasting peace” as part of a minerals deal that now appears imminent, according to a recent draft text seen by BloombergUS will agree a “durable partnership” between Washington and Kyiv, texts showsUS will signal intent to invest in UkraineUS will also say those who “acted adversely” to Ukraine in the war should not “benefit from its reconstruction”Ukraine’s Deputy PM Olha Stefanishyna says the minerals deal is in the “final stages”Person familiar says a new draft has almost been agreed and is awaiting a reply from the USText still not final and subject to change

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ng-in-on-deal-over-nation-s-mineral-resources

 

[The Firestarter]

 

[VorZakone]

Mediazona updated their data. They estimate 165,000 Russians killed and have confirmed 95,000 so far.

To date, our verified count of Russian military losses stands at 95,323. And today we are making the full list available to the public for the first time.

Alongside our individual data collection, we are also conducting an investigation with Meduza to estimate the overall number of losses. By the end of 2024, we assess that Russian casualties have exceeded 165,000.

https://en.zona.media/article/2025/02/24/losses

 

[Pickle85]

My grasp of geopolitics is...basic, let's say, so happy to be told I'm a moron (well, not happy, but willing!) but there seems something so grotesque (and Trumpian) about hinging the promise of aid on a quid pro quo arrangement with minerals.

 

[Balljy]

My grasp of geopolitics is...basic, let's say, so happy to be told I'm a moron (well, not happy, but willing!) but there seems something so grotesque (and Trumpian) about hinging the promise of aid on a quid pro quo arrangement with minerals.

You're right, but it's probably not that different from the huge loans they'll be repaying in the lend-lease arrangement with Biden.

 

[Spark]

My grasp of geopolitics is...basic, let's say, so happy to be told I'm a moron (well, not happy, but willing!) but there seems something so grotesque (and Trumpian) about hinging the promise of aid on a quid pro quo arrangement with minerals.

He's bringing back "The American System" of economics. Probably really badly.

 

[Sweet Square]

My grasp of geopolitics is...basic, let's say, so happy to be told I'm a moron (well, not happy, but willing!) but there seems something so grotesque (and Trumpian) about hinging the promise of aid on a quid pro quo arrangement with minerals.

Trump is more shamelessly open about it but it’s not much different than the UK plan -

Britain’s main economic aid project in Ukraine runs from 2022-25 and is called the Good Governance Fund. One of its aims is to ensure that “Ukraine adopts and implements economic reforms that create a more inclusive economy, enhancing trade opportunities with the UK”.

A recent project update from the Foreign Office is explicit about the goals. It states these should see “the invasion not only as a crisis, but also as an opportunity”.

It notes: “Ironically, despite the horrific circumstances in which interventions are being delivered, the operating context has provided a unique opportunity to really demonstrate to the GoU [government of Ukraine] and the Ukrainian population the importance and effectiveness of targeted technical assistance interventions designed to deliver reforms that generate tangible benefits”.

These reforms are also variously described in the UK project documents as “better integration with Euro-Atlantic markets” and “aligning it [Ukraine] more closely with Western markets”

https://www.declassifieduk.org/uk-sees-privatisation-opportunities-in-ukraine-war/

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[Pickle85]

Thanks folks, that's interesting. And a little disheartening, but I can see I was being very naive.

 

[VorZakone]

 

[Redplane]

At the surface - Zelensky s offer to stand aside if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO seems like a smart play if the intent is to expose Trump's true intentions. On the flip side - even if they join NATO - if they were to unleash Russian and American disinformation and election interference on the country they ll likely install a Putin puppet.

I really hope the Ukrainians - hopefully with European assistance - wont make any deal that doesn't button up the country s defenses against Russian influence.

 

[maniak]

Tiniest little amount? The ability of one state to hold all the progress of all the others up makes sense to you?

Yes, otherwise, it's just an organization where the strong treat the others as vassals.

 

[maniak]

On certain issues, it isn’t right that a tiny nation (which in theory can be easily swayed by a Russia, China or US) can dictate and paralyse the entire process.

The smaller EU nations benefit from funding and security, as well as things like freedom of movement (which allows those from a poorer country to go to a richer one). Plenty of reasons and benefits to remain in the EU even if they lose their right to veto all major decisions.

And who decides what those issues are? Nations have different priorities.