Political impacts of Ukraine war

[Brad Sallows]

The west as a collective has not done enough to help Ukraine, however it's the current US administration that has said that russia can keep the land it is occupying.

There isn't such a thing as "enough". Sometimes countries don't get a damn thing.

 

[KevinB]

The US president is the most pliable leader in the west. All someone has to do is frame the issue to look like he'll be a hero if he doesn't oppose it. The worry, as noted by others, is Hungary. Maybe also Turkey. But everyone has a price.

Turkey has thrown in with Ukraine. They are building them a lot of kill Russian stuff and have been fairly vocal of the last year about it.
Once Turkey saw that what a giant turd the S-400 was and what NATO system could do to it, they gave up trying to straddle the fence.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Once Turkey saw that what a giant turd the S-400 was and what NATO system could do to it, they gave up trying to straddle the fence.

"You sold me queer giraffes."

 

[CBH99]

The US president is the most pliable leader in the west. All someone has to do is frame the issue to look like he'll be a hero if he doesn't oppose it. The worry, as noted by others, is Hungary. Maybe also Turkey. But everyone has a price.

How is Hungary or Turkey 'make it or break it' players in the Russia vs Ukraibe war?

 

[McG]

Canada has stated its position that Ukraine must be involved in the process to make decisions on Ukraine’s future.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1955705710383096055

This is the statement Canada needed to make.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Canada has stated its position that Ukraine must be involved in the process to make decisions on Ukraine’s future.
This is the statement Canada needed to make.

Gee, great. Unfortunately, borders CAN be changed by force if no-one helps insufficiently strong defenders enough. It's all just twaddle until he gets Canada into a coalition - which might not include the US - willing to spend the money and make the sacrifices to apply meaningful military and economic pressure. It reminds me of the statements governments provide to news agencies on the embarrassing stories of the day - "The government of X is committed to <insert high-minded ideals bereft of evidence of useful action here>".

Canada is neck deep in debt and deficits. Other than being a fiscal moderate, maybe even conservative, on general management of money, Carney is pretty much a conventional contemporary Canadian Liberal on social programs, climate change, etc; and deficit spending to pay for all of the aforementioned. His party blew away what little pre-2015 fiscal freedom of manoeuvre we had, and he's in support of most of the causes of that. Is he planning anything on a time scale less than the one used to measure elections, I wonder.

The tut-tutting international community is moving more slowly on meaningful support of Ukraine than they are on routing around Trump's international trade damage. Just a stream of Serious Statements.

 

[KevinB]

How is Hungary or Turkey 'make it or break it' players in the Russia vs Ukraibe war?

For NATO admission all parties need to agree on new membership.

 

[HavokFour]

More signs Alaska is just going to be the self-gratification of 2 massive egos and accomplish absolutely nothing else. It'll be fun to see if Trump takes this bait and try to spin it, after wanting everyone (NATO) to spend more on defense.

Russia wants to link cut in NATO troops to talks about Ukraine, says Poland

Russia wants to include the topic of a reduction of NATO troops presence in any conversations about the future of Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[GK .Dundas]

More signs Alaska is just going to be the self-gratification of 2 massive egos and accomplish absolutely nothing else. I'll be fun to see if Trump takes this bait and try to spin it, after wanting everyone (NATO) to spend more on defense.

Russia wants to link cut in NATO troops to talks about Ukraine, says Poland

Russia wants to include the topic of a reduction of NATO troops presence in any conversations about the future of Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

I will consider this conference a magnificent success if the United States still has a fiftieth state and that state is Alaska.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Gee, great. Unfortunately, borders CAN be changed by force if no-one helps insufficiently strong defenders enough. It's all just twaddle until he gets Canada into a coalition - which might not include the US - willing to spend the money and make the sacrifices to apply meaningful military and economic pressure. It reminds me of the statements governments provide to news agencies on the embarrassing stories of the day - "The government of X is committed to <insert high-minded ideals bereft of evidence of useful action here>".

Canada is neck deep in debt and deficits. Other than being a fiscal moderate, maybe even conservative, on general management of money, Carney is pretty much a conventional contemporary Canadian Liberal on social programs, climate change, etc; and deficit spending to pay for all of the aforementioned. His party blew away what little pre-2015 fiscal freedom of manoeuvre we had, and he's in support of most of the causes of that. Is he planning anything on a time scale less than the one used to measure elections, I wonder.

The tut-tutting international community is moving more slowly on meaningful support of Ukraine than they are on routing around Trump's international trade damage. Just a stream of Serious Statements.

Not sure how the phases, ‘maybe even a fiscal conservative’ and ‘Canadian liberal on…deficit spending’ can be squared.

 

[HavokFour]

I will consider this conference a magnificent success if the United States still has a fiftieth state and that state is Alaska.

So you've heard the murmurs that Trump might be offering Russia a real foothold in Alaska to probably launch further shenanigans all over the rest of the North American continent.

The proposal package reportedly involves granting Russia access to Alaska's natural resources and lifting certain U.S. sanctions on Russia's aviation sector, which has struggled under the weight of international sanctions.

Trump may offer Putin minerals access in exchange for peace, Telegraph reports

U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to offer Russian President Vladimir Putin access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine and natural resources in Alaska in an effort to secure a ceasefire, The Telegraph reported on Aug. 13.

kyivindependent.com

 

[PrairieFella]

Not sure how the phases, ‘maybe even a fiscal conservative’ and ‘Canadian liberal on…deficit spending’ can be squared.

Also, remember not to look behind the curtain and see what archconservatives have done to American finances in the past several months.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Not sure how the phases, ‘maybe even a fiscal conservative’ and ‘Canadian liberal on…deficit spending’ can be squared.

General management of what is in hand, without necessarily acquiring it responsibly.

 

[brihard]

The Trump/Putin summit just ended. They both made a brief statement at the end and took no questions. The one real takeaway is no deal has been reached yet, and no ceasefire. Trump said he’ll be calling NATO, Zelensky et al soon, and both said they’ll be talking again and looking to move forward. Trump painted a fairly cautious picture of having made progress, but it’s one major and several other smaller points remaining unresolved.

So yeah. No resolution achieved today. Trump seemed tired and not particularly happy- much more low key than usual.

 

[MrWhyt]

No resolution achieved today.

trump once more failed to end the war that he once claimed he could end in 24 hours?! I'm shocked, shocked, etc...

 

[Blackadder1916]

The Trump/Putin summit just ended. They both made a brief statement at the end and took no questions. The one real takeaway is no deal has been reached yet, and no ceasefire. Trump said he’ll be calling NATO, Zelensky et al soon, and both said they’ll be talking again and looking to move forward. Trump painted a fairly cautious picture of having made progress, but it’s one major and several other smaller points remaining unresolved.

So yeah. No resolution achieved today. Trump seemed tired and not particularly happy- much more low key than usual.

But the war criminal Putin seemed almost giddy. He got his smiling face being warmly welcomed by Trump who then ushered him into the presidential limo. Guess that Vlad not wanting to use lube for this encounter may account for Trump's appearance of discomfort.

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/nx-s1-5502460/trump-putin-alaska-summit-ukraine

 

[lenaitch]

These guys look mildly happy about the whole thing... then again, a good cuppa and a fag go a long way too


View attachment 95160

The Trump/Putin summit just ended. They both made a brief statement at the end and took no questions. The one real takeaway is no deal has been reached yet, and no ceasefire. Trump said he’ll be calling NATO, Zelensky et al soon, and both said they’ll be talking again and looking to move forward. Trump painted a fairly cautious picture of having made progress, but it’s one major and several other smaller points remaining unresolved.

So yeah. No resolution achieved today. Trump seemed tired and not particularly happy- much more low key than usual.

Pretty tough to swallow (pun intended?) for the greatest negotiator in all of human history.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The Trump/Putin summit just ended. They both made a brief statement at the end and took no questions. The one real takeaway is no deal has been reached yet, and no ceasefire. Trump said he’ll be calling NATO, Zelensky et al soon, and both said they’ll be talking again and looking to move forward. Trump painted a fairly cautious picture of having made progress, but it’s one major and several other smaller points remaining unresolved.

So yeah. No resolution achieved today. Trump seemed tired and not particularly happy- much more low key than usual.

But he still gets the Nobel Peace Prize, right?

Trump told Norwegian minister he wants Nobel Prize, newspaper says​

Trump told Norwegian minister he wants Nobel Prize, newspaper says

When U.S. President Donald Trump called Norway's finance minister last month to discuss tariffs, he also told him he wanted the Nobel Peace Prize, Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Maybe I am just paranoid (but am I paranoid enough?), but I suspect that, even though we didn't see them, to foster amity , Trump let the Russians bring their own film crew and all. Then, he parades Putin right in front of some F-35's loaded with TS gear, none of which (other than the engine intakes) appears to be covered. Western journalist are probably not even paying attention, as it is background noise to them, but the Russian medias - some of which must be spies in disguise - are probably going "Bazinga! Get me lots of high-def close up pics".

 

[Czech_pivo]

Maybe I am just paranoid (but am I paranoid enough?), but I suspect that, even though we didn't see them, to foster amity , Trump let the Russians bring their own film crew and all. Then, he parades Putin right in front of some F-35's loaded with TS gear, none of which (other than the engine intakes) appears to be covered. Western journalist are probably not even paying attention, as it is background noise to them, but the Russian medias - some of which must be spies in disguise - are probably going "Bazinga! Get me lots of high-def close up pics".

I don’t see any good coming from any of this for Ukraine, for the Baltics, for Poland, for Moldova.
If the Ukrainians feel that they are being sold out, I can see them resorting to some desperate actions that could have some long reaching consequences.
I wonder if they, Poland, the UK, the Baltics would even consider regime change in Belarus just to throw Putin off and destabilize his forward, western flank in order to buy time.