OV9

IanF wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2025 11:30 am Love Macron correcting the orange chump

The way he patronisingly patted him on the arm, like "no dear, you're confused again"

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025 ... ce-officer

https://archive.ph/AfqZl

Sundayjumper wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2025 11:46 am

IanF wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2025 11:30 am Love Macron correcting the orange chump

The way he patronisingly patted him on the arm, like "no dear, you're confused again"

Looks like the Ukraine minerals deal terms with the US has been agreed. And earlier today Putin said he'd also be willing to give/sell minerals in the Donbas area to the USA. If it looks like shit, smells like shit...
On the other hand I presume they're much closer to a ceasefire.

Ukraine had the offer of an EU minerals deal with much more favourable terms but I presume Zelensky didn't have much confidence in the EU maintaining peace.

Presumably the deal is Russia won’t invade the areas where the US is mining, and the US won’t interfere in the bits Russia is invading.

Any “peace” or “ceasefire” will be fleeting.

As I understand it, the minerals deal on the table now is a shared wealth fund rather than just handing over the keys to some holes in the ground.

Which, as a strategy, looks a bit like Dragon's Den contestants offering a *larger* than asked for share. It gives the big guy the incentive to look after your shit.

A mantra I have always lived by - "In times of uncertainty, align your interests with those of powerful cunts", or in this case, align their interests with yours.

As an aside, I thought the Russian offer of minerals was *hugely* encouraging. It means the game is still active.

If the Trump/Putin deal was already a fait de complet there would have been no need for Putin to say anything publicly.

In a really simplistic way, isn’t this Russia saying they don’t trust Europe but do trust America ?

Didn’t Europe try a similar deal a while back, setting up dealings in Ukraine but it wasn’t agreed to ?

I know it’s not correct as it should be Nato but Trump really doesn’t think it’s a fair split as the US is big enough to go it alone, as it seems to be doing.

Dave!

V8Granite wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2025 9:02 am the US is big enough to go it alone, as it seems to be doing.

It really depends what the US is going alone. It certainly has the muscle to act as enforcer for a global protection racket. However, once upon a time, they were going for a kind of global moral leadership and cooperative and sustainable economic development. And the US isn't big enough for either of those things on its own.

It seems to be that Trump is annoyed at the drip feeding of arms when he thinks it prolonged the conflict.
He doesn’t like the percentages involved from the countries involved in helping Ukraine.
He had a way to he thinks end the co flick early and recoup some costs.

I’ll be working with my colleague again this next month so will be interesting at what his Ukranian families take on it is.

End war = good
End war so quick = suspicious
Putin happy = what’s been missed, will we have to bring gas masks to work

Dave!

The press conference between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance... Utterly embarrassing.

Russian asset.

Aye, it was hard to watch.

At least he appears to have told them to get fucked over the minerals extortion they were planning.

Trump is not used to be told to (metaphorically) shut the fuck up, is he?

Please put Zelenskyy and Trump in a room alone again. Do it every day.

Trump and Vance accusing him of raising his voice, while they'd spent the previous minute and half raising their voices and talking over him, not letting him even try to answer the question was hilarious. I thought Zelenskyy was going to say "Mr President, you're the one who tried to blackmail me into messing with hunter biden" at one point

They're so out of their depth it's amazing - if South Korea offered to arm up Ukraine, Trump and Vance would have literally nothing to bargain with, because they clearly aren't remotely adept at, say, conversation beyond attempts at right wing gotchas.

Once Ukraine settles down, they're going to get eaten alive on the international stage, I reckon. Likely publicly. Zelenskyys just fronted up to them and he needs them FFS.

Give us your dinner money and say thank you if you want us to help you.

Asking someone to respect you and say Thankyou while shouting at them, and not letting them calmly answer the questions.

I guess mr putin wasn’t very happy with how the last couple of meetings have been perceived and asked him to make sure Zelenskyy didn’t get off so lightly.

Disgusting creatures.

It's literally mob boss mentality - "it'd be a shame if something happened to your country".

And I don't mean, sophisticated, properly organised crime mob boss - I mean like Fat Tony from the Simpsons, but more incompetent and significantly thicker.

Just watched it, what in the absolute fuckery was that. I actually feel depressed following that.

Just watched it. What an utterly reprehensible pair of cunts Vance and Trump are. Stating the obvious I know.

He did very well to not just get up and walk out- if it gets to a point where he could do without them then I think he would have

I really hope the mineral deal comes off, ends the war, and they ban all USA companies from operating in Ukraine- still give them the stuff, but all the mining and shipping is handled by Ukraine at extortionate rates

speedingfine wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 7:57 pm Just watched it. What an utterly reprehensible pair of cunts Vance and Trump are. Stating the obvious I know.

You think he can’t get more infantile or cuntish, and then….