Ukraine

[teamsaint]

It seemed to me a long time ago that the most likely outcome was something like a military impasse/ stalemate, and that sooner or later, once this became the case , that negotiation, however unpalatable it might be, was the only way forward.Of course outright victory, whatever that looks like, was possible for either side. But that is broadly where they are now.

Some people might look at the explanatory essay in the middle of 1984 and conclude that we are not so very far away from Orwell’s imaginings.

[Nick Armstrong]

After yesterday's disgusting spectacle, Europe can be under no illusions that America is now a failed state and can no longer to be relied on. The European Powers must now gradually detach themselves from the US military and intelligence complex and forge ahead alone, something that should have been done years ago.

Afraid we now have to look upon the US as a hostile nation and every country in Europe must urgently be put on to a war economy.

It will be intriguing to see whether - and if so, how - the UK gets out of the State Visit which has been offered to Putin’s orange lap-dog.

Perhaps HMK will put his well-shod foot down - His Majesty might not want the resulting images going down in the history books…

[eighthobstruction]

It will be intriguing to see whether - and if so, how - the UK gets out of the State Visit which has been offered to Putin’s orange lap-dog.

Perhaps HMK will put his well-shod foot down - His Majesty might not want the resulting images going down in the history books…

....I saw a bit of data today that said - in terms of GNP, USA is actually 17th in the table of $ to Ukraine....(and here is another data flow which says referencing GDP that they are 12th https://www.ussc.edu.au/by-the-numbe...ukraine-by-gdp)

....the approx 2% that UK gives to Defence Spending apparently includes a large amount devoted to Service Pensions....

[vinteuil]

It will be intriguing to see whether - and if so, how - the UK gets out of the State Visit which has been offered to Putin’s orange lap-dog.

Perhaps HMK will put his well-shod foot down - His Majesty might not want the resulting images going down in the history books…

.... excellent cartoon in The Times

- the royal coach proceeding down the Mall, with one horse saying to another ' "Can I bring my friends?" was the last straw!'
- in the carriage a thunder-faced Charles & Camilla opposite Trump and Putin




.

[Nick Armstrong]

.... excellent cartoon in The Times

- the royal coach proceeding down the Mall, with one horse saying to another ' "Can I bring my friends?" was the last straw!'
- in the carriage a thunder-faced Charles & Camilla opposite Trump and Putin




.

Visual artists of various kinds are having a field day…

[Nick Armstrong]

It will be intriguing to see whether - and if so, how - the UK gets out of the State Visit which has been offered to Putin’s orange lap-dog.

Perhaps HMK will put his well-shod foot down - His Majesty might not want the resulting images going down in the history books…

Just received:

https://stoptrump.org.uk/petition-cancel/

[vinteuil]

I'm not the only person who finds JD Vance extremely sinister -

"JD Vance is already on the campaign trail for the 2028 elections. If he won, he could be in office for two terms. That means Europe must not merely brace for, but act on, the threat of 12 years of anti-democratic, mafia-style malice, racketeering and downright treachery from a White House now dominated by extremists of spectacular ignorance"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/jd-vance-volodymyr-zelenskyy

.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vance-trump-europe-putin-ukraine-b2707181.html

.

[Ian Thumwood]

Petition had increased by 8k overnight and was around 60k in the space of a week. 75k target.

I think that Trump will have a massive detrimental effect on US's global influence and China will be the beneficiary. This is the beginning of the end for America and Trump has done sufficient damage to the presidency that it will not recover.

I agree that America now needs to be seen as a hostile nation and would like to US diplomats expelled from UK. The UK belongs with Europe

[Petrushka]

Petition had increased by 8k overnight and was around 60k in the space of a week. 75k target.

I think that Trump will have a massive detrimental effect on US's global influence and China will be the beneficiary. This is the beginning of the end for America and Trump has done sufficient damage to the presidency that it will not recover.

I agree that America now needs to be seen as a hostile nation and would like to US diplomats expelled from UK. The UK belongs with Europe

I'm not sure that it's in our national interest for the UK to unilaterally expel US diplomats. What I do think is in our interest is to cease intelligence sharing. Who knows whose desk it will end up on? The whole of our and Europe's military and defence systems are massively intertwined with America's. This has to be gradually disentangled with some urgency. We do not want to be in a situation where the US can shut them down or refuse parts etc. All of this should have happened long ago but here we are.

[Serial_Apologist]

Petition had increased by 8k overnight and was around 60k in the space of a week. 75k target.

I think that Trump will have a massive detrimental effect on US's global influence and China will be the beneficiary. This is the beginning of the end for America and Trump has done sufficient damage to the presidency that it will not recover.

I agree that America now needs to be seen as a hostile nation and would like to US diplomats expelled from UK. The UK belongs with Europe

Hmm not so sure about that, Ian. Trump can only be President for 2 years, second time around, if I've got my American constitution right. Americans seem to have very short historical memories - perhaps not surprising given their history being short - so while this has the disadvantage of their not having enough lessons by our norms to draw from, it does appear to mean that the American voting public has a singular capacity, compared with ours, for changing its collective mind 180 degrees in the opposite direction in the twinkling of an eye.

[Jazzrook]

The ‘reporter’ who asked Zelensky why he doesn’t wear a suit:

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/pro-trump-reporter-brian-glenn-berates-zelensky-over-his-clothing-in-oval-office-do-you-own-a-suit/

JR

[Dave2002]

Hmm not so sure about that, Ian. Trump can only be President for 2 years, second time around, if I've got my American constitution right. Americans seem to have very short historical memories - perhaps not surprising given their history being short - so while this has the disadvantage of their not having enough lessons by our norms to draw from, it does appear to mean that the American voting public has a singular capacity, compared with ours, for changing its collective mind 180 degrees in the opposite direction in the twinkling of an eye.

I think you have got the American constitution wrong there - the President gets 4 years whatever, unless he or she dies in office. ** So about 3 years 10 months to go.

** However the President has the option to resign - according to the 25th Amendment. Nixon was the first and only President to have done so.

[Petrushka]

I think you have got the American constitution wrong there - the President gets 4 years whatever, unless he or she dies in office. ** So about 3 years 10 months to go.

** However the President has the option to resign - according to the 25th Amendment. Nixon was the first and only President to have done so.

Depends upon how much of a fig Trump and Vance give for the Constitution. My guess would be: 'not much'.

[oddoneout]

The ‘reporter’ who asked Zelensky why he doesn’t wear a suit:

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/pro-trump-reporter-brian-glenn-berates-zelensky-over-his-clothing-in-oval-office-do-you-own-a-suit/

JR

Perhaps he'd heard the Trump welcome to Zelensky on the subject ("Look, he's all dressed up")and thought it would be a good move to follow it up? The irony is that what he was wearing was more formal(black rather than khaki) than his attire to meet King Charles 2 years ago...

[teamsaint]

Petition had increased by 8k overnight and was around 60k in the space of a week. 75k target.

I think that Trump will have a massive detrimental effect on US's global influence and China will be the beneficiary. This is the beginning of the end for America and Trump has done sufficient damage to the presidency that it will not recover.

I agree that America now needs to be seen as a hostile nation and would like to US diplomats expelled from UK. The UK belongs with Europe

European commentators tend to have a very poor record on predicting trends in US politics, esp looking at the bigger picture , EG possible breakup of the union . They also have a tendency to underestimate the strength of the constitutional checks and balances.Just as an example, the start of campaigning for the mid terms is just months away.
That said, the US is is certainly looking at a long term decline in its global power and influence. They know this well enough, and its actions, and even those of Trump, might usefully be interpreted through this lens. But they are going to have a lot of clout for a good while to come, and Europe isn’t so very different, given, among many other things, the demographic cliff that is not very far away on this side of the Atlantic, and with which we seem to be dealing extraordinarily badly.