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Posted
41 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

And a big chunk of that is due to Russia interfering in their elections and getting Putin’s buddies elected. 2013/2014 started to put a damper on Russian interference and would lead to the start of true Ukrainian independence from Russian-leaning politicians, which is why Russia invaded in 2014.  They saw their influence waning and the possibility of the West getting legitimate access to Ukrainian resources.

And wouldn't you guess who was involved with the corrupt politicians pushing Putin's influence??

 

PAUL MOTHERFUCKING MANAFORT, our sitting presidents first campaign manager!

Going Crazy Will Ferrell GIF

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Posted
Just now, Captainant said:

Guatemala would disagree on the whole "America doesn't support dictators", for starters

Yeah, I quickly started to quietly reflect on that after posting. I suppose I could go back and edit it to something like, "America doesn't support European dictators," but the best choice should've been not to post any of my own commentary and just let the image speak for itself. 

Well, I've learned my lesson.

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Posted
3 hours ago, Captainant said:

back on topic, apologies to anyone senstive:

https://www.euronews.com/2025/02/19/zelenskyys-approval-rating-grows-to-57-debunking-trumps-4-support-claim

President and authorities deemed legitimate

The latest KIIS poll, showing Zelenskyy's approval rating at 57%, was conducted even before Trump had his first phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, which paved the way for the US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia. 

Moreover, Zelenskyy support improved from 52% in December 2024 to 57% in early February.

Commenting on the latest ratings, KIIS Deputy Director Anton Hrushetskyi said Zelenskyy retains a fairly high level of trust in society and, even more so, retains legitimacy. 

"If some international partners and allies are worried about the legitimacy of the President in the context of possible peace negotiations and consider it appropriate to insist on elections, then from the point of view of Ukrainian citizens themselves, there are no problems with this," Hrushetskyi said.

"The current president and the authorities are quite legitimate to conduct complex negotiations, and elections should be held after the war ends and at least Ukraine receives reliable security guarantees," he added.

Ukraine was scheduled to hold a presidential election in March or April 2024, concluding Zelenskyy's first five-year term. The vote was postponed as the country's constitution does not permit elections under martial law, which was declared on 24 February 2022, the day when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The Kremlin repeatedly sought to use the delay to portray Zelenskyy as "illegitimate," a claim rejected by Kyiv as a distortion of the constitution.

Is this the origin of TFG's 5% approval rating came from?  He saw an article that said his support gained 5% points and he thought that meant a 5% approval rating?

Posted

Happy the Free World is backing Ukraine sovereignty, even if our nation can't muster that feat

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrnjrjrr5o

Sir Keir called Zelensky on Wednesday evening and told him it was "perfectly reasonable" for Ukraine to "suspend elections during wartime as the UK did during World War Two", Downing Street said.

Trump had earlier criticised Zelensky, saying he had done a "terrible job" and claiming "he refuses to have elections" in Ukraine.

Russia's Ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has told the BBC he believes Zelensky should hold elections and again rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops being allowed in Ukraine in the event of any peace deal.

Zelensky's five-year term was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended since martial law was declared after Russia's invasion.

In the phone call with the Ukrainian president, Sir Keir "stressed the need for everyone to work together", a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"The prime minister reiterated his support for the US-led efforts to get a lasting peace in Ukraine that deterred Russia from any future aggression," they added.

Following the phone call, Zelensky said they had discussed "upcoming plans and opportunities", adding: "UK's support matters indeed, and we will never forget the respect the British people have shown for Ukraine and our citizens."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also defended the Ukrainian leader, writing on X that Zelensky was "the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin's illegal invasion".

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Posted
12 hours ago, MillerEP said:

Incredibly Sad day. Europe is our only hope now. I'm at a loss.

For those of us who are history nerds, the door is being opened up for Europe to go back to being the leaders of the free world, at least in the western hemisphere.  And unlike in the past when it was usually one country, there is now a mostly unified Europe (UK may not be in the EU but they will side with the EU) and not only that but Finland and Sweden have firmly joined up with Europe militarily.  European armaments companies got a huge boost as well.  We’ve never seen a Europe that is overall this unified about something. 

Zeihan is probably writing a book about it as we speak.

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

That 100% looks like an album cover for a metal band that is regionally popular in, say, Minnesota.

UP Michigan band "Occupied Babel" album The Explosive Service of Pigs

It's all in there already and it's Death Metal, with members of Scandinavian decent. 

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Posted
5 minutes ago, BurntEyes said:

UP Michigan band "Occupied Babel" album The Explosive Service of Pigs

It's all in there already and it's Death Metal, with members of Scandinavian decent. 

They're not very good, but they're very loud.

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Posted
1 hour ago, BurntEyes said:

UP Michigan band "Occupied Babel" album The Explosive Service of Pigs

It's all in there already and it's Death Metal, with members of Scandinavian decent. 

Lead Sing Joe Stump previously in Tower of Babel.

maxresdefault.thumb.jpg.03b48e03e745fbe59d39546b8ed66592.jpg

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Posted
1 hour ago, Chad Fuck said:


US arms manufacturers must be screaming at tfg right now. He’s making sure Europe turns away from them, costing us billions. True fafo land.

I was arguing with a coworker this past week. I basically was asking why Europe would buy American weapons if we're telling them to go fuck themselves.

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Posted
22 minutes ago, Chopper said:

why they mad?

 

Unfortunately, the president believes he does not need the consent of the governed. He (thinks he) decides the law for all agencies under him, including the armed forces.

Gonna be interesting to see how things go if all parties stay on their current course and heading

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Posted
2 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:


US arms manufacturers must be screaming at tfg right now. He’s making sure Europe turns away from them, costing us billions. True fafo land.

 

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Posted
I was arguing with a coworker this past week. I basically was asking why Europe would buy American weapons if we're telling them to go fuck themselves.

The short answer is because they work and we can build more faster than they can. But those are both things the Euros can work up to.
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Posted
3 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

For those of us who are history nerds, the door is being opened up for Europe to go back to being the leaders of the free world, at least in the western hemisphere.

Maybe, but first they're going to have to become the leaders of Europe.  Which is an activity that I fully support, in addition to my personal desire to see the US continue to aid Ukraine despite whatever the current administration is attempting to do.    

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Posted

AP: A news conference between Zelenskyy and Trump’s Ukraine envoy is canceled amid growing tensions

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A news conference that was planned to follow talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy was canceled Thursday as political tensions deepened between the two countries over how to end the almost three-year war with Russia.

The event was originally supposed to include comments to the media by Zelenskyy and retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, but it was changed at the last minute to a simple photo opportunity where the two posed for journalists. They did not deliver statements or field questions as expected. The change was requested by the U.S. side, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nikiforov said.

Kellogg’s trip to Kyiv coincided with recent feuding between Trump and Zelenskyy that has bruised their personal relations and cast further doubt on the future of U.S. support for Ukraine’s war effort.

Dozens of journalists gathered at Ukraine’s presidential office in Kyiv after being invited to take photos and observe a news conference with Zelenskyy and Kellogg. As the meeting began, photographers and video journalists were allowed into a room where the two men shook hands before sitting across from each other at a table.

Journalists were then informed that there would be no news conference with remarks by the leaders or questions from reporters. Nikiforov gave no reason for the sudden change except to say that it was in accordance with U.S. wishes.

The U.S. delegation made no immediate comment. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about why the news conference was called off.

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Posted (edited)

https://www.threads.net/@tsua_23/post/DGR8kxFiu-T?xmt=AQGzadzQfvP9_p3fTX1qj5ojYuBzyL2Ga9drDVWv-Nv04w

The "Lebedev Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering" is on fire in Moscow.
Russian media are writing about the risk of explosion of balloons on the territory of the university.The university is an element of the Russian defense industry.
Update:
According to eyewitnesses, although several fire crews are still working on the scene, "little remains" of the building.

 

https://www.threads.net/@segifella/post/DGTgciNIZ-E?xmt=AQGzCCao807azmYy6-AUsWAIHz604zV7nl0Snw7VwFWvYw

Pro Ukrainian channel reports that the AFU counterattacked and advanced into Lysivka!
Pokrovsky direction

Edited by MillerEP
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Posted
13 minutes ago, MillerEP said:

https://www.threads.net/@tsua_23/post/DGR8kxFiu-T?xmt=AQGzadzQfvP9_p3fTX1qj5ojYuBzyL2Ga9drDVWv-Nv04w

The "Lebedev Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering" is on fire in Moscow.
Russian media are writing about the risk of explosion of balloons on the territory of the university.The university is an element of the Russian defense industry.
Update:
According to eyewitnesses, although several fire crews are still working on the scene, "little remains" of the building.

 

https://www.threads.net/@segifella/post/DGTgciNIZ-E?xmt=AQGzCCao807azmYy6-AUsWAIHz604zV7nl0Snw7VwFWvYw

Pro Ukrainian channel reports that the AFU counterattacked and advanced into Lysivka!
Pokrovsky direction

I'm sure this is just a "lost in translation" thing, but do you or any other posters know what the bolded means?

Posted
17 hours ago, MillerEP said:

Incredibly Sad day. Europe is our only hope now. I'm at a loss.

You have been so awesome on this thread about pushing information. I've appreciated your contributions so much. I feel like we're in a hospital room surrounding a patient we love who is about to be taken off life support and we all wish there was something productive we could do. 

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Posted
42 minutes ago, bolverk said:

I'm sure this is just a "lost in translation" thing, but do you or any other posters know what the bolded means?

I'm guessing they have found some sort of explosive devices around campus that resemble balloons.  I was never very good at finding the hidden meaning in poetry though so it really could mean anything.

Posted

https://www.threads.net/@_nickmelnick/post/DGPBoP4I-ax?xmt=AQGzCCao807azmYy6-AUsWAIHz604zV7nl0Snw7VwFWvYw

️Just now, Ukrainian drones attacked the «Syzran» oil refinery in the Samara region.
🔥Local residents heard at least three explosions. A fire has now broken out at the facility.

 

https://www.threads.net/@natalkakyiv/post/DGTlSocRdXq?xmt=AQGzMPlJwEBb68p4jGNiCLtVW3cqoPn1Lm8MDWcXE3reKQ

When Russians tell you their plans - believe them.Russia is going into negotiations with the US fully aware that Ukraine wouldn't agree to Russia’s unjust demands.So the plan is to wait for President Zelensky to reject whatever cockamamie peace deal the “dynamic duo” will come up with and then ask the US for 3 things:1) To stop financial and military aid to Ukraine.2) To turn off Starlink for the AFU.3) To stop sharing images from American satellites with Ukraine.

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Parliament said:

Because Congress has a bipartisan majority that for a fleeting moment, acts like grownups.  (I’m as surprised as you.)

3 hours ago, Parliament said:

How did the MIC lose their grasp on our politicians like this?  Sad

1 hour ago, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

first positive thing i've seen in weeks.

It could very well be the military industrial complex making itself heard, but there are plenty who genuinely hate Putin and Russia.  My dad (retired oil and gas, does some analysis on exploration these days) also believes some major O&G are making noise about the possibility of sanctions being dropped and Russian oil and gas flooding the market and hurting American production and profits.  They are not happy with the prospect of Russian flooding certain areas either (Europe won’t go running back to Russia, but there are some markets where Russia would dump a lot well below the current prices).

Edited by atomheartbevo
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Posted
2 hours ago, SL Xpress said:

You have been so awesome on this thread about pushing information. I've appreciated your contributions so much. I feel like we're in a hospital room surrounding a patient we love who is about to be taken off life support and we all wish there was something productive we could do. 

I wouldn’t count them out yet.  Russian manufacturing still can’t supply their own troops in large numbers, so we see them driving around on motorcycles, golf carts, and Scooby doo vans.  Ukraine keeps hitting facilities that in the long run will make it hard for the Russian economy. They still haven’t come close to driving Ukraine out of Kursk, even with their dwindling North Korean soldiers.

I’m half expecting to wake up one day and see the Kremlin in flames from a drone strike.

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Posted
20 hours ago, bolverk said:

Yeah, I quickly started to quietly reflect on that after posting. I suppose I could go back and edit it to something like, "America doesn't support European dictators," but the best choice should've been not to post any of my own commentary and just let the image speak for itself. 

Well, I've learned my lesson.

Not only does America support dictators, but I'd argue in some instances it's been in our best interest. You've already done a mea culpa, so I'm not trying to pile on. I'd also argue that America has never supported a dictator with the means available to them that Russia has, even with their military hobbled by their actions in Ukraine. 

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Posted

Trump Gave Europe Three Weeks to Sign Off on Ukraine 'Surrender': MEP

President Donald Trump gave Europe three weeks to sign off on terms for Ukraine's "surrender" to Russia, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) claimed.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment by email.

...

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Finland's Mika Aaltola of the European People's Party claimed that the U.S. "has given us three weeks to agree on terms for Ukraine's surrender," referring to a proposed peace deal aimed at ending the war.

"If we don't, the United States will withdraw from Europe," Aaltola added.

He didn't provide evidence for his claims.

NBC News, citing U.S. officials, reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Ukrainian officials in a closed-door meeting that Washington may significantly reduce its troop presence in Europe. The report is based on sources with knowledge of private discussions between the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government.

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Posted
17 minutes ago, Captainant said:

Trump Gave Europe Three Weeks to Sign Off on Ukraine 'Surrender': MEP

President Donald Trump gave Europe three weeks to sign off on terms for Ukraine's "surrender" to Russia, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) claimed.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment by email.

...

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Finland's Mika Aaltola of the European People's Party claimed that the U.S. "has given us three weeks to agree on terms for Ukraine's surrender," referring to a proposed peace deal aimed at ending the war.

"If we don't, the United States will withdraw from Europe," Aaltola added.

He didn't provide evidence for his claims.

NBC News, citing U.S. officials, reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Ukrainian officials in a closed-door meeting that Washington may significantly reduce its troop presence in Europe. The report is based on sources with knowledge of private discussions between the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government.

Time for nuclear Europe.

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Posted

https://www.threads.net/@_nickmelnick/post/DGT8dJHo91F?xmt=AQGzcB5xwd7l7XOFevuR3sLZjpc-Yu4ZiXplOUpZUWMFkA

🐝Ukrainian kamikaze drones eliminate four Russian occupiers on ATVs.Pay attention to the attack tactics of the second drone. It simply waits for Russian vehicles to appear near the road, trying to conserve battery power.

https://www.threads.net/@globalobserverx/post/DGT_sEyyOIe?xmt=AQGzcB5xwd7l7XOFevuR3sLZjpc-Yu4ZiXplOUpZUWMFkA

A fire at a plastic manufacturing plant in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, is rapidly intensifying.

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Posted (edited)

So is this thread just for videos of Russians getting killed? The discussion and velocity of posts went to zero as America has increasingly played the role of backstabbing ally to Ukraine.

 

This is pretty important news, arguably more impactful than opening a new front or liquidating 10,000 norks

 

It seems like this is all a reaction to Zelensky refusing to sign his nation's mineral wealth over to trump. Same sort of extortion attempt we've seen from trump aimed at Zelensky as before.

Edited by Captainant
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Posted

Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine and upends US foreign policy

Quote

Support from the US, Taiwan’s biggest backer, is considered crucial for the island’s survival. While the US officially refuses to say if it would militarily defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, former president Joe Biden said repeatedly that under his leadership they probably would. The US sells Taiwan billions of dollars in weapons under legal obligations to provide it with defensive means and uses its military and foreign policy to support the peaceful “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait.

But Trump is now questioning the worth of the US’s support and floated the idea of charging Taiwan for protection. He’s accused Taiwan of “stealing” the US’s semiconductor business, and railed against trading partners – including Taiwan – having surpluses against the US. He has threatened or imposed steep and sweeping tariffs.

 

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Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, bolverk said:

I'm sure this is just a "lost in translation" thing, but do you or any other posters know what the bolded means?

Something I found on the ...

A huge fire has broken out at a Moscow building just six miles from the Kremlin.

Loud explosions have been heard amid the blaze at the Lebedev Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering this evening, likely from exploding helium cylinders. The institute reportedly has links to Russia’s defence sector.

The range of the research activities includes: laser technology, dark matter structure, nanostructures, superconductivity, cosmic rays, and gamma-astronomy. 

Quote

 

6 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

It could very well be the military industrial complex making itself heard, but there are plenty who genuinely hate Putin and Russia.  My dad (retired oil and gas, does some analysis on exploration these days) also believes some major O&G are making noise about the possibility of sanctions being dropped and Russian oil and gas flooding the market and hurting American production and profits.  They are not happy with the prospect of Russian flooding certain areas either (Europe won’t go running back to Russia, but there are some markets where Russia would dump a lot well below the current prices).

Russia has comparable oil production capacity to the US, and their gas production has been limited by markets. The gas pipelines to Europe are No Mas, and their LNG capacity was been slow in coming. The Sakhalin Island JV no longer has Exxon & Shell as owner-operators so not sure what the status is. I don't know how much Russian production has been curtailed, but that amount was getting ready to increase noticeably in Feb & March.

Russia was committed well over $50 Billion (US) in LNG Infrastructure to make their Yamal and Arctic LNG year round facilities.  These facilities are massive projects, with a total  capacity of ~ 20 million metric tons/yr, or ~ 30% of existing US LNG capacity. These facilities have come online and are were scheduled to come on line since Russia invaded Ukraine, and sanctions on LNG are not clear, with ownership and held by French, Japanese, & Chinese companies.

Unlike oil, these LNG plants (arctic v. Gulf Coast) are basically a.) customers first (long term contracts), and b.) facilities second, type ventures. Said another way, those owners are expecting these volumes. Their logistic chain includes Floating storage and production facilities and a fleet oc Ice Breaker-LNG tankers and shuttle tankers to facilitate year round production.

One key point. I would think Russia has a lot of gas production "behind pipe", as in the wells are already drilled and just not producing and/or producing the oil and reinjecting the gas. Now they have world class LNG export capacity.  The US has new LNG facilities coming on line, but I would think most of the produceable gas is already being produced and a significant portion of the gas will need to be drilled.

LNG is a great fit for Trump's desire to balance imports and exports, and the US cozying up to Russia and relaxing sanctions is a big oops! in that equation.

Some Russian LNG porn:

Yamal LNG Project

image.thumb.png.1f95dd3093ced3ddd7f4b9cf6f2124ca.png

image.png.6bca45f112912cc208b1a608becc0153.png 

Arctic LNG "gravity based platforms"

image.thumb.png.61932d7f745e0793098a53b26fcb8215.png

Saam FSU (Floating Storage/Production Unit)

image.thumb.png.a0134191ba18af841f9a15366d7477ba.png

North Light, 1 of 6 LNG Ice Breakers, that will shuttle LNG to regular tankers once they clear the arctic. 

image.thumb.png.6f7903d3f44c8e1a806659cf3040d381.png

10 hours ago, Chopper said:

why they mad?

 

Damn, that was quick. I just sent my vitriol laced email to Chip Roy, R. Texas, this morning.  Rep. Fitzpatrick is from Pennsylvania, home of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant that President Zelensky visited. They make the 155 mm howitzer shells, along with plants Texas & Iowa.

12 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:


US arms manufacturers must be screaming at tfg right now. He’s making sure Europe turns away from them, costing us billions. True fafo land.

100%. And rightfully so.

For the US defense industry, this was the best of all possible worlds; insatiable demand, politically correct and extremely popular war effort, no US boots on the ground, and a live fire proving ground for how well US weapons perform, including all the 40 year old shit.

If the Donald continues his idiocy, that all will come to a screeching halt. No more consumables to feed the Ukraine war effort, and a serious dent in US arms sales to NATO and other aligned countries.

Edited by PTINS
new info
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