1881

Was Libya something Obama thought was a possession to do with as he pleased? Did Russia take that as a warning?

1882

Once again, whether Ukraine could join NATO was something completely under Russia’s control.

As long as it kept the Donbass simmering, Ukraine would never join.

Putin took a gamble he could take Ukraine whole rather quickly.

He failed spectacularly and now has exposed his weaknesses.

1883

Sounds to me like Putin wants talks and is looking for global equality rather than dominance by new spheres like CCP.

Get the talks going.

1884

And now they get to lose it because they can’t hold it. I don’t understand what the point is here. They were illegally occupying Ukraine.

1885

Ukraine cannot drive Russia out of their lands.

They’ve made great progress, but Russia is not as beaten as you think they are.

1886

This is the American equivalent of ■■■■■■■ Ecuador standing up against us in a standup fight. Not winning immediately is a bad look. A stalemate is a catastrophically bad look. Losing territory to the Ukranians is a all time historically bad look.

They don’t get to lose the war and keep their fake independent states. It’s always oh you can’t tempt Putin l, what does letting him suffer zero consequences for the war accomplish except to embolden him?

1887

Putin’s new tactic: make Ukraine freeze and now this:

Hmm…wondering what western audience he’s going after?

1888

Crimea is not something he took this war. He had it.

And Ukraine will not be able to take it back.

So it won’t be something they get to claim back easily

1889

That is the point Putin wishes he could go back to. Remember when Biden was asked how he would respond to a Russian invasion of Ukraine and said it depended on what kind of invasion? If he had just sent Russian troops and weapons into the Donbas region to fortify the Russian separatists he could likely have held much of what he wanted and with just a few more sanctions.
And we would t be sending more nuclear weapons to Europe.

1890

You literally thought Obama was “weak” for not standing up to Putin over Crimea. What changed bro?

1891

Its abundantly clear. Putin is telegraphing the message that he wants the GOP House to cut aid because they are tacitly allies in their fight on corrupt Western values.

1892

Honestly I agree with this point. If he had just put military in to the Donbas he could have got away with it. Strategically- nibbling is fine. Large bites and certainly trying to eat the whole enchilada? Nope.

1893

Lol please don’t be naive.

That isn’t what Putin wants.

1894

Crimea is a different animal.

That issue will have to be settled separately.

It’s the four occupied territories that have to be focused on. Ukraine needs to retake them in their entirety as soon as possible.

The war will conclude by diplomacy. But the Ukrainians need to maximize their negotiating position.

1895

Russia never had the right to dictate who joined NATO.

Hell had they actually got their ■■■■ together, they could have joined NATO at some point and we wouldn’t be in this mess.

1896

No we would still be sending nuclear weapons to Europe.

These upgrades had been in the works for years.

We are just getting them there in December now as opposed to spring.

1897

My one note from Putin’s speech is he absolutely still considers the Near Abroad “his yard”.

Hence his claims that he’s not the one traipsing in other people’s yards.

And that he considers the former Soviet satellites (i.e. the Baltics) as “his”.

2 Likes
1898

True.

…

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told the outlet the “modernization of US B61 nuclear weapons has been underway for years and plans to safely and responsibly swap out older weapons for the upgraded B61-12 versions is part of a long-planned and scheduled modernization effort.”

1899

C’mon man … It’s not about NATO.

1 Like
1900

And we still have WAY fewer of these types of weapons than Russia has.