All Things Russia & Ukraine

[Kismet]

Did Biden and Putin already cut a deal? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/di ... np1taskbar

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/al ... np1taskbar

Think this will be end of the “goodwill” the US accrued as a result of WWII?

Blinken and Lavrov meet in Geneva tomorrow. I suspect we will know more then although it would be a bad look to have US/Russia agree to something without the involvement/approval of NATO and to a lesser degree Ukraine.

Blinken remarks in Berlin today after talks with Germans
https://www.c-span.org/video/?514007-10 ... &playEvent

Joint news conference with German Foreign Minister
https://www.c-span.org/video/?514007-1/ ... d-response

[old salt]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-allows ... _lead_pos7

U.S. Allows Baltic NATO Members to Send Arms to Ukraine

Decision will enable shipments of U.S.-made antitank and air-defense weapons to Ukrainian military

The Biden administration notified Congress that it intends to provide Ukraine with five Mi-17 transport helicopters, U.S. officials said.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. has given approval for three Baltic NATO members to send American-made weapons to Ukraine, U.S. officials said.

The decision will enable Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to send Javelin antitank weapons and Stinger air-defense systems for Ukraine’s forces.

The Biden administration has also notified Congress that it intends to provide Ukraine with five Mi-17 transport helicopters, U.S. officials said. The Russian-made helicopters had been intended for Afghanistan’s military and were being repaired in Ukraine.

“The United States and its allies and partners are standing together to expedite security assistance to Ukraine,” said a State Department spokesman, who declined to discuss details of the shipments from the Baltic states.

“We are in close touch with our Ukrainian partners and our NATO Allies on this and are utilizing all available security cooperation tools to help Ukraine bolster its defenses in the face of growing Russian aggression,” the spokesman added.

The approval to send the arms comes amid mounting fears that Russian forces are poised to attack Ukraine. In addition to massing forces east of Ukraine, the Russian military has moved forces into Belarus and is also sending additional amphibious ships to the Black Sea to beef up its military capability near Crimea.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. Russia has rebuffed the Biden administration’s appeal to de-escalate and the two sides remain far apart.

Other North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations have been sending arms to Ukraine. Britain’s defense minister said Monday that his government is sending antitank weapons to Ukraine along with a small number of British troops to train the Ukrainian military in how to use them. For days, British C-17 cargo planes have been flying the arms to Ukraine.

The U.S. has several mechanisms for providing assistance to Ukraine. The president has authority to send weapons and nonlethal assistance out of the Defense Department’s existing stocks. President Biden recently approved an additional $200 million in such assistance using such authority, which U.S. officials said includes Javelins.

The U.S. could also permit allies such as the Baltic States to provide U.S.-origin equipment. That step requires State Department approval under export-control regulations.

The U.S. also can deliver equipment to Ukraine after classifying it as an “excess defense article” that is no longer needed. The five Mi-17 helicopters are being provided to Ukraine under that program after months of discussion within the U.S. government.

The Stinger is a surface-to-air missile that can be carried by a soldier and fired at planes and helicopters. The Trump administration provided the first Javelins to Ukraine. That weapon has an infrared seeker and is capable of striking enemy tanks from above, where its armor is thinnest.

[old salt]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

[seacoaster]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

[MDlaxfan76]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

Can't help but sense that Salty's in favor of NATO failure and dissolution.
Blame it on the "Euroburghers" and Democrat POTUS...

[youthathletics]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

[seacoaster]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Of course, you have no idea why Putin has massed forces on the Ukrainian border in such numbers now. So it only makes you wonder why.

Care to expand on your theory? Obama's fault?

[youthathletics]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Of course, you have no idea why Putin has massed forces on the Ukrainian border in such numbers now. So it only makes you wonder why.

Care to expand on your theory? Obama's fault?

Not sure.....but you seemed convinced Trump got us here, and in the same breath have preached he and Putin were boys...pick a lane.

[seacoaster]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Of course, you have no idea why Putin has massed forces on the Ukrainian border in such numbers now. So it only makes you wonder why.

Care to expand on your theory? Obama's fault?

Not sure.....but you seemed convinced Trump got us here, and in the same breath have preached he and Putin were boys...pick a lane.

I am in the same lane as I ever was (although, as usual with you, I have no idea what you mean by saying I "have preached he and Putin were boys;" what on earth does that mean and when did I say it?).

Trump deliberately weakened NATO; for f*ck's sake, it was essentially a campaign promise to remove us from the post WW2 order as much as possible and to make the Europeans pay whatever he believed was their fair share. He is the first President since WW2, to my knowledge, to make the ardent case for the notion that American interests are not served by being in Europe in force, and the first American President in my lifetime to glow with overt admiration for political leaders who were not the product of a democratic electoral system and who were considered strongmen in their countries. His leadership helped clear the way for Putin to impose Russian power on Ukraine.

[Typical Lax Dad]

[a fan]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Because he's playing checkers, and the rest of the rich EU leaders are playing chess.

Let's say Putin takes Ukraine. Now what? What does he gain, outside of headaches, and blown money on military and trying to keep the Ukrainian people..that he's now responsible for.....happy.

Does anyone here have the slightest clue how Ukraine is doing, economically?

Putin...you have my blessing, if you're this stupid. Good luck with this pointless d*ck measuring game of yours.

[PizzaSnake]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Waited until he cut cut a deal with Xi.

[jhu72]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Because he's playing checkers, and the rest of the rich EU leaders are playing chess.

Let's say Putin takes Ukraine. Now what? What does he gain, outside of headaches, and blown money on military and trying to keep the Ukrainian people..that he's now responsible for.....happy.

Does anyone here have the slightest clue how Ukraine is doing, economically?

Putin...you have my blessing, if you're this stupid. Good luck with this pointless d*ck measuring game of yours.

+1

... Biden is doing just fine handling the Ukraine situation. Putin has big internal problems when it comes to handling Ukraine. Sanctions exacerbate those problems.

[youthathletics]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

The irony is that Putin waited for the right time...makes you wonder why?

Because he's playing checkers, and the rest of the rich EU leaders are playing chess.

Let's say Putin takes Ukraine. Now what? What does he gain, outside of headaches, and blown money on military and trying to keep the Ukrainian people..that he's now responsible for.....happy.

Does anyone here have the slightest clue how Ukraine is doing, economically?

Putin...you have my blessing, if you're this stupid. Good luck with this pointless d*ck measuring game of yours.

+1

... Biden is doing just fine handling the Ukraine situation. Putin has big internal problems when it comes to handling Ukraine. Sanctions exacerbate those problems.

I do not disagree....if it turns into little russia, so be it. I still have a sneaking suspicion that Ukraine is the bargaining chip brought to the table, with Putin having an ulterior motive. I went out on a limb a few weeks ago and suggested he may indeed want to open the NATO talk back up; does he see finally see the bleeding occurring in his own country? The military front, shows a muscle flex that they are still strong and (visibly)competent. And b/c most everything coming out of ukraine goes to russia anyway...why not just make it mine, so the NATO strategy bridges that gap.

[old salt]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

Can't help but sense that Salty's in favor of NATO failure and dissolution.
Blame it on the "Euroburghers" and Democrat POTUS...

I'd expect such a petty, vapid, vindictive, stupid response from you. This is personal for me. I'm invested.
I spent the most significant portion of my working career as part of NATO & shared in the pride we felt in winning the Cold War.
I feel NATO still has a place. We can't afford to lose it. We need a strong NATO as an ally, better able to defend Europe on their own, able & willing to join us as we pivot to contain China. That's why the fecklessness of the EUroburgers & Biden's stumbles trouble me.

Trump's gladhanding of Putin was face saving cover for Putin while, Trump strengthened NATO more than any post Cold War President has.
Ukraine is much better able to defend itself now & NATO's E flank is much better defended now than 5 years ago.
You predictably whine about Trump & ignore all the good work that Pompeo, Mattis, Esper, McMaster, O'brien & the Generals did to strengthen Ukraine & NATO.

Nothing would make me happier than to see Putin take an off ramp & back down.
If that happens, Biden, Blinken & NATO deserve great credit. It will mean our diplomacy succeeded & reestablish the US as leader of the western alliance & free world. After Afghanistan, the US & NATO desperately need a "win".

I fear the more likely outcome will be the annexation of the area in E Ukraine already under control of the Russian separatists & the coastal corridor which connects to Crimea, giving Russia control of the entire shoreline of the Sea of Azov. Biden's words appear to greenlight such a move.

[FannOLax]

Trump's gladhanding of Putin was face saving cover for Putin while, Trump strengthened NATO more than any post Cold War President has.

Huh? Please elaborate on the strengthening of NATO. Thank you.

[old salt]

Trump's gladhanding of Putin was face saving cover for Putin while, Trump strengthened NATO more than any post Cold War President has.

Huh? Please elaborate on the strengthening of NATO. Thank you.

Increased training, operations, & rotating deployments to the Baltic states, Poland, Romania & Bulgaria.
Continuous NATO Baltic policing deployments. Increased exercises in NATO's E members, near Russia's border in Norway, increased NATO naval deployments in the Black Sea/E Med, North Atlantic & GIUK gap. Cross decking fight crews, flight ops, & aircraft by US carriers with French & British carriers. Homeporting 2 more USN destroyers in Spain. Increased defense spending by NATO nations & updating weapons systems.

[PizzaSnake]

Biden's clarification on his press conf "minor incursion" remark -- If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukranian border, that is an invasion = green light to send in the little green men.

I've never seen DW so opinionated about the US. Normally totally objective, host Brent Goff is exasperated with Biden over his comments the past 2 days & his staff's futile cleanup duty. He opened The Day by saying that Europe's & the world's reaction to Biden being inaugurated a year ago today has gone from a sense of relief to "good grief".

Putin is not just threatening Ukraine. He's accomplishing his goal of dividing NATO, demonstrating it's ineffectiveness & prompting it's unravelling.

And the four years of the Trump administration's -- and Trump's -- gladhanding Putin have been instrumental in getting us here. Isn't this essentially what Fiona Hill has been saying: that a strong, coordinated response from NATO is necessary or it will mean the end of any meaningful North Atlantic treat order? We'll see what comes from the talks with Lavrov today.

Can't help but sense that Salty's in favor of NATO failure and dissolution.
Blame it on the "Euroburghers" and Democrat POTUS...

I'd expect such a petty, vapid, vindictive, stupid response from you. This is personal for me. I'm invested.
I spent the most significant portion of my working career as part of NATO & shared in the pride we felt in winning the Cold War.
I feel NATO still has a place. We can't afford to lose it. We need a strong NATO as an ally, better able to defend Europe on their own, able & willing to join us as we pivot to contain China. That's why the fecklessness of the EUroburgers & Biden's stumbles trouble me.

Trump's gladhanding of Putin was face saving cover for Putin while, Trump strengthened NATO more than any post Cold War President has.
Ukraine is much better able to defend itself now & NATO's E flank is much better defended now than 5 years ago.
You predictably whine about Trump & ignore all the good work that Pompeo, Mattis, Esper, McMaster, O'brien & the Generals did to strengthen Ukraine & NATO.

Nothing would make me happier than to see Putin take an off ramp & back down.
If that happens, Biden, Blinken & NATO deserve great credit. It will mean our diplomacy succeeded & reestablish the US as leader of the wesren alliance & free world. After Afghanistan, the US & NATO desperately need a "win".

I fear the more likely outcome will be the annexation of the area in E Ukraine already under control of the Russian separatists & the coastal corridor which connects to Crimea, giving Russia control of the entire shoreline of the Sea of Azov. Biden's words appear to greenlight such a move.

“ That's why the fecklessness of the EUroburgers”

EU has always been freeriders. For the immediate post-WWII period that served the purposes of the newly emergent US as an international power (it was a regional power prior to WWI).

However, after decades of the expense of being the “big swinging d$ck”, heavy weighs the crown. The current dominant voting bloc (baby boomers), who enjoyed the fruits of other’s sacrifices, have soured on any international role.

EU nations, tired of the stupidity of US foreign policy over the past twenty years, feel free to question the previously unassailable position of moral superiority of the US.

So, the idea that we “need” the EU and NATO to “help” the US contain China presumes a whole lot of things that appear not to be true: that the EU and NATO share our worldview and are willing to shoulder our burden.

[PizzaSnake]

Duplicate.

[old salt]

“ That's why the fecklessness of the EUroburghers”

EU has always been freeriders. For the immediate post-WWII period that served the purposes of the newly emergent US as an international power (it was a regional power prior to WWI).

However, after decades of the expense of being the “big swinging d$ck”, heavy weighs the crown. The current dominant voting bloc (baby boomers), who enjoyed the fruits of other’s sacrifices, have soured on any international role.

EU nations, tired of the stupidity of US foreign policy over the past twenty years, feel free to question the previously unassailable position of moral superiority of the US.

So, the idea that we “need” the EU and NATO to “help” the US contain China presumes a whole lot of things that appear not to be true: that the EU and NATO share our worldview and are willing to shoulder our burden.

All true. We can't count on NATO or the EU to join us in containing China. The best we can hope for is piecemeal support by individual NATO/EU ally nations, as circumstances dictate. It would help if they would shoulder more of the burden of their own defense against a revanchist Russia, so we can shift more forces to the Pacific.