Diplomatic ability!

[Leicesterbaggie]

What a nerve the Russians have to suggest that Zelenskyy is lacking in diplomatic ability. This coming from a country that relies on lies, violence and brutality, not just against their enemies but their own people. If he wants peace, the biggest lie of all, why does he continues to ruthlessly bomb Ukraine.

The world is in a mess when we have two megalomaniacs in charge of two of the wolds most powerful nations. Trump and Putin get on well because they are two of a kind, thugs and bullies. The world needs to rid itself of this pair of vermin.

[baggiematt]

I have to say, credit where it?s due to Starmer. I wasn?t his biggest fan but on this issue, he?s been clear, decisive and at the front.

Generally despise this new American regime but it?s clear USA is out for itself now. Europe has to be strong and aligned.

Sadly I think a wider war is looming and will only be avoided by European strength and investment.

[Q165]

Quite a bit has been said about this and maybe it’s right maybe it’s wrong but does Putin have anything/something on Trump that might be influencing his decision making/taking?

[Omegstrat6]

If only... Not just these two either. Xi Jinping may not be arguably as bad as Putin but I'd view authoritarian China as a threat along with North Korea.

Plenty of authoritarian regimes across the world whether Venezuela or many countries in Africa, the Middle East or Central Asia but some democracies too can elect worrying leaders. Aside from the Orange One, Netanyahu and Modi come to mind.

Hopefully, the worm will turn at home against Trump as more Americans realise that so much of the MAGA rhetoric is actually just lies or exaggeration and that his electoral promises on domestic issues are failing but this will take time. In the interim, European leaders seem to have at last got the wake up call regarding defence and a more united front. Just hope it is enough to stop Putin's continuation of the war.

If a more united European front can be created in terms of defence, Trump will undoubtedly herald this as a victory for his MAGA strategy in saving US dollars spent on NATO. There will be a lot of justification for such a claim and his supporters will lap that up but it is what he does then that really counts.

Trump wants to go down well in the history books but if he pulls out of NATO or decides that he is not going to provide the military "backstop" against further Russian aggression in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe that Starmer and other European leaders want, then this desertion of America's traditional allies in favour of Putin will not play well.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Quite a bit has been said about this and maybe it’s right maybe it’s wrong but does Putin have anything/something on Trump that might be influencing his decision making/taking?

I do not think so as Trump would just lie and deny anything that he is accused of. You have only got to consider what he has already lied about which have proved to be falsehoods. That man has no integrity whatsoever so it would not matter what he was accused of, he would just deny it, as would and does Putin.

[Albionic68]

Quite a bit has been said about this and maybe it?s right maybe it?s wrong but does Putin have anything/something on Trump that might be influencing his decision making/taking?

From what I've read online there is a direct correlation between the upturn in Trump's business fortunes and the fortunes Russian oligarchs invested in American real estate when they were seeking a means of laundering money out of Russia. One hell of a lot of money. I'm not pointing the finger at anyone in particular of course as I'm sure both instances could be purely coincidental.

[baggiematt]

We can?t forget why Trump was initially impeached. For withholding military aid from Ukraine in order to leverage Ukraine to investigate Biden?s son and to promote a conspiracy theory that Ukraine was behind interference in the 2016 election, which turned out was actually Russia.

Corruption in plain sight.

[Titchfieldbaggie]

Quite a bit has been said about this and maybe it?s right maybe it?s wrong but does Putin have anything/something on Trump that might be influencing his decision making/taking?

The only logical explanation is enrichment. I hope some serious journo's are following the money

[westcountryvillain]

100% right, money, ego and power are behind all of Trump's rhetoric, the sheer brassneck of him to label Zelensky a dictator when he(Trump) is talking directly with Putin. Then again Americans "don't do irony", he wants to get his hands on Ukraine's natural resources as soon as possible and needs a peace deal for that.

[Omegstrat6]

Any mineral deal with Ukraine should, in theory, mean US citizens on Ukrainian soil at some point but that in itself will certainly not ensure that other concessions to Putin will not be made nor prevent later incursions. Weirdo Vance may say it will but I don't believe he is delusional on this, simply lying.

It is true that if such a deal over valuable minerals is made, the US as a whole will benefit (which Trump will triumphantly sell to the MAGA crowd) but you can also know with near certainty that Trump, Musk and others will also have their grubby little hands in there to gain personally. The Trump Gaza video has already shown his delight at potentially exploiting the war there for his own ends so Ukraine will be just another such opportunity. Nothing short of naked war profiteering.

Before we in the UK get too high up on our moral high horse regarding corruption of the likes of Trump, Putin, Oligarchies and despots, a read of Oliver Bullough's 2022 book, "Butler to the world", demonstrates just how much the rich and powerful in this country enabled such individuals to hide their various thieved fortunes here whilst (of course) benefiting from this themselves. Lord Agnew, minister in charge for counter-fraud actually resigned and stepped away from the House because he could neither see how he could effectively stop such practices continuing nor defend the UK's track record on the matter.

Still, it would be nice to think that the seized fortunes of Putin's crony oligarchs will at least now be used to fund the defence of Ukraine-if Starmer can get this through parliament.