Diplomatic ability!

[WBA123]

While I commend the countries who are backing Ukraine I do take issue with them being so polite to Trump. He is a scum bag and a bully and what bullies hate is being confronted. The leaders of all these countries should be honest and tell him what they really think of him. I do not think that they have anything to lose as the US have now withdrawn military backing for Ukraine.

Putin welcomes this move. Of course he does. It will not be long before the hammer and cycle flag is flying from the White House. Trump is not only an obnoxious human being but a traitor to boot. Where are the assassins when you need them?

I think it makes sense to keep Trump on side for as long as possible. They are such a powerful country, we need them as an ally so it wouldn't make any sense to burn bridges. We've got 4 long years to wait until Trump (hopefully) is out of office and (again, hopefully) a much saner person is in charge.

[Leicesterbaggie]

I think it makes sense to keep Trump on side for as long as possible. They are such a powerful country, we need them as an ally so it wouldn't make any sense to burn bridges. We've got 4 long years to wait until Trump (hopefully) is out of office and (again, hopefully) a much saner person is in charge.

Do you think that he will last four years? I would not be surprised if he falls out with Musk and Vance, all three with huge egos which does not augur well. Also, I would not be surprised if someone does not have a pop at him again. It happened to both JFK and his brother who, to mind, were no where near as hated by so many as Trump is.

[Leicesterbaggie]

I think it makes sense to keep Trump on side for as long as possible. They are such a powerful country, we need them as an ally so it wouldn't make any sense to burn bridges. We've got 4 long years to wait until Trump (hopefully) is out of office and (again, hopefully) a much saner person is in charge.

Mistake! Posted twice.

[WBA123]

Do you think that he will last four years? I would not be surprised if he falls out with Musk and Vance, all three with huge egos which does not augur well. Also, I would not be surprised if someone does not have a pop at him again. It happened to both JFK and his brother who, to mind, were no where near as hated by so many as Trump is.

4 years should be the maximum amount of time he has left, in theory. But if the US market crashes and he proves to be very unpopular who knows, we really are in unchartered territory here with the US now publicly berating their allies and cosying up to Putin. The world order is being rearranged in front of our eyes.

The worst case scenario is in 4 years he tries to plod on for another term, or that absolute muppet of a vice president is elected. Either way, I can already tell you they will scream foul play if they lose, and create another constitutional crisis in the States.

[greyhound]

I thought that The Stasi was dissolved in 1990!!

So did that Grandmother in Manchester a few weeks ago

[Albionic68]

4 years should be the maximum amount of time he has left, in theory..........

Just a pity carotenemia isn't fatal really 😉 .

[wbaliquidator]

The documentary Active Measures found on Amazon and others details the Russian involvement in Trumps first election. No doubt in my mind he is a Russian asset. They make a very compelling argument following the money trail. Money laundering and dodgy property deals via Hungary. In fact, the guy sitting next to Lavrov at the USA Russia meeting was the guy who purchased a series of properties off Trump for highly inflated prices!

Have to admit Putin and the Kremlin have played the long game since the fall of USSR. They have been beavering away infiltrating our democratic system. Their sleeper agents have all now been activated. Orban of Hungary, Robert Fico of Slovakia shamelessly support Putin and veto all EU aid to Ukraine where possible.

But the real ace in the hole is their men in the Whitehouse Trump Vance, Musk and Gabbart.
We in the Uk have also been targeted Boris?s mate Lebedev son of a KGB agent given a peerage overruling his own party advisers, and the security services. They even partitioned the Queen in a last hope to stop him.
Mr Farage ? lots of dirt on him
Labour PM also influenced by Russian money.

[Omegstrat6]

Well, looks like the minerals deal is back on. Tbh, Zelensky has nowhere else to go and, if signed, there will be a collective sigh of relief in Ukraine and across Europe.

For all the talk of European defences being ramped up, years of post Cold War cuts mean that no European country currently has the necessary manpower or equipment to seriously countenance any kind of prolonged engagement with Russia and we all know this. Just hope that the wake up call is needed and re-armaments continue asap as Putin (and to a lesser extent China) remain a threat.

Of course, such a deal will enable Trump to gloat to his braying supporters who will fawn over their "strong" President who deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing about peace. The reality, of course, is that he also saw an opportunity with an ally on all but it's knees and chose to exploit them rather than stand by them in the face of Russian aggression.

Of course, Trump, Vance and other Republicans deserve the vitriol

[On Balance]

Well, looks like the minerals deal is back on. Tbh, Zelensky has nowhere else to go and, if signed, there will be a collective sigh of relief in Ukraine and across Europe.

For all the talk of European defences being ramped up, years of post Cold War cuts mean that no European country currently has the necessary manpower or equipment to seriously countenance any kind of prolonged engagement with Russia and we all know this. Just hope that the wake up call is needed and re-armaments continue asap as Putin (and to a lesser extent China) remain a threat.

Of course, such a deal will enable Trump to gloat to his braying supporters who will fawn over their "strong" President who deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing about peace. The reality, of course, is that he also saw an opportunity with an ally on all but it's knees and chose to exploit them rather than stand by them in the face of Russian aggression.

Of course, Trump, Vance and other Republicans deserve the vitriol

All very true Omeg.

Peace in Europe, but for how long?

[Omegstrat6]

Contd!
they have received (special mention to Roger Cook of Australia for succinctly calling Vance a "knob" &#128512 but realpolitik and pragmatism are also needed as the goal of a deal to try and ensure the end of the war is more important than individual feelings. Starmer, I am sure, privately shares such sentiments about Trump but has the political/diplomatic nouse not to share such sentiments publicly. To his credit, he has tried to negotiate a tricky middle course between vocal support for Zelensky and stroking Trump's ego in order to keep a deal alive as a means towards peace.

As for Putin, doubtless he will walk off with the territories he has already taken and -despite horrendous losses-proclaim his own victory which may only embolden his ambitions elsewhere in Europe hence the need for Western Europe to rearm and unify asap as any US support under Trump looks scant at best.

Despite the claims of his MAGA supporters, I don't think Trump will be remembered terribly well in the history books if this deal is reached (particularly if he continues to refuse any military backstop) as it smacks too much of exploiting a weakened ally but I still hope it goes through for everyone's sake, especially Ukraine. It is likely the only way to bring about an end to the war. Sadly, right is not necessarily might and "needs must".