Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
I think he/it epitomizes the word abuse.
We can get into a discussion about “cuts “ to low income if you wish.
My wife was a community nurse and every day she saw the way these “low income “ folks lived
First do you get state sponsored visits from nurse?
Second the houses were full of every electronics you could imagine and fast food trash everywhere
And speedy and you get bumped meanwhile 🍈posts President Trump giving the American people the finger🤔$$$
“I think that no matter the state of Russia’s military or economy, Putin will find a way to keep on fighting.”
That is certainly a possibility (just print rubles, and crack down domestically with a police State).
It would be consistent with some of his long term personality proclivities, and with Dugin’s philosophy.
But as he does so, more of his capability to take on the West is consumed, and Europe gradually ramps up its buildup and preparations.
If/when the Big Beautiful Bill passes, the US buildup will be off to the races.
The correlation of forces shifts in favor of the West.
angry?
NOW - Trump on Ukraine: "This is not my war."
pic.twitter.com/fPcPM6Te4U— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 19, 2025
The most important sentence from President Trump about yesterday's phone call between President Putin and him is this:
Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War. The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.
The most important sentence by President Putin about yesterday's phone call is this:
Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us.
Russia will not fall for ending the war without having achieved its main goal.
Western media, here the NY Times, continue to play dumb (archived) about what the Russia's main goal is:
[Putin] repeated his mantra that a peace deal needs to “remove the root causes of this crisis,” referring to Russia’s pursuit of wide-ranging influence over Ukraine.
David Ignatius, a CIA spokesperson at the Washington Post, makes a similar (archived) nonsensical claim:
He still wants victory, which he described once again after Monday’s call with the phrase “eliminate the root causes of the crisis.” That’s code for his conviction that Ukraine cannot be a European country, as it wants, but must remain under Russian hegemony.
Russia as well as Ukraine are European countries. Russia has no interest in having 'hegemony' or 'wide-ranking influence' over Ukraine. Its interest is the defense of the Russian Federation. It had to prevent Ukraine from becoming a U.S. (NATO) spear tip aimed at its heart.
A different NY Times piece about the Russian northern defenses build up after Finland joined NATO is far more correct when it states (archived):
From Moscow’s perspective, the Russians need to bolster their defenses to protect themselves from NATO expansion, which has always been a sore subject. The Baltic nations were the first members of the former Soviet Union to join NATO, bringing large stretches of Russia’s border up against NATO’s. The prospect of Ukraine, an even bigger former Soviet republic, following suit was so threatening to Moscow that it became one of the causes of the most devastating land war in generations.
It is NATO expansion, not Ukraine the country, that is the root cause of the war. It is NATO expansion that has to be eliminated.
The U.S. and its European allies are still in denial of that. To ignore that the U.S. has, for over 30 years, been driving the NATO expansion that led to the war, allows Trump to play a 'mediator' in war in which the U.S. is a dominant participant.
It is stupid for western media to accept Trump's claim (archived) of such a role:
Cont. reading: Ukraine Negotiations Still Hover Around Its Root Cause
FORTE10 will be in the air for a long time today from Sigonella with several crew changes. https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae5421
FORTE10 flight today is a Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk. No crew.
One pilot and one or in some cases two sensor operators in a remote station.
Pilot and crew are on the ground, not in the drone. Drone is uncrewed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_RQ-4_Global_Hawk
Russia sinks or swims, on its oil revenues. Europe is now talking about lowering the price cap on Russian oil for it’s next sanctions package, and cracking down on Russia’s shadow fleet - most of which pass through European waters in the Baltic Sea and Danish Straits.
OilPrice.com reports:
“The European Union will propose to G7 finance ministers to lower the price cap on Russian crude from the current $60 per barrel to $50, European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said...
...many analysts argue the price cap has become less effective because Russia now largely reroutes its exports through a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers that evade maritime oversight...
...Russia’s shadow fleet consists of approximately 500 (some estimate 700), mostly poorly insured and aging tankers that ship crude to countries such as India and China, in defiance of Western sanctions. These tankers, estimated to carry as much as 85% of Russia’s oil exports—which bring in a third of Russia’s export revenues—typically have opaque ownership structures and lack top-tier insurance or safety certification. Most belong to anonymous or newly formed shell companies based in jurisdictions such as Dubai, further complicating accountability.
The majority of shadow tankers sail across the Baltic Sea, a route considered critical for Russia’s energy exports. The shadow fleet uses various tactics to avoid detection, including ship-to-ship transfers in international waters, spoofed location data, and fake ship identification numbers. Some estimates suggest that approximately three shadow tankers carrying Russian crude pass through European waters each day, including the Danish straits and the Channel. Some experts estimate the shadow fleet may now include as many as 700 tankers.
However, Lithuanian National Security Advisor Kęstutis Budrys has highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the law on interdiction in international waters, warning that trying to stop the shadow fleet could risk an all-out military confrontation with Russia. Last week, a Russian fighter jet briefly entered Estonia’s airspace, in what some experts suspect was a reprisal for the Estonian military escorting a tanker named Jaguar out of the country’s economic waters. The Estonian navy acted quickly, believing the ship posed a threat to nearby underwater cables, and checked its status and registration. The Russian jet entered Estonian airspace without permission...
...”In the last four or five months of last year, we saw a roughly 10% decline in the amount of oil leaving from Russia,” Finnish Border Guard’s Head of Maritime Safety Mikko Hirvi told Reuters...
...A recent study found that limiting Russia’s shadow fleet may be more effective than simply lowering the oil price cap...
...In April report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Russia’s shadow fleet is shrinking. According to the report, shadow tankers transported 65% of Russian crude exports in April, down from 81% in January. Russia’s fossil fuel export revenues declined 6% month-on-month to EUR 585 million per day in April, while export volumes rose marginally by 1%.”
Russia sinks or swims, on its oil revenues. Europe is now talking about lowering the price cap on Russian oil for it’s next sanctions package, and cracking down on Russia’s shadow fleet - most of which pass through European waters in the Baltic Sea and Danish Straits.
OilPrice.com reports:
“The European Union will propose to G7 finance ministers to lower the price cap on Russian crude from the current $60 per barrel to $50, European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said...
...many analysts argue the price cap has become less effective because Russia now largely reroutes its exports through a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers that evade maritime oversight...
...Russia’s shadow fleet consists of approximately 500 (some estimate 700), mostly poorly insured and aging tankers that ship crude to countries such as India and China, in defiance of Western sanctions. These tankers, estimated to carry as much as 85% of Russia’s oil exports—which bring in a third of Russia’s export revenues—typically have opaque ownership structures and lack top-tier insurance or safety certification. Most belong to anonymous or newly formed shell companies based in jurisdictions such as Dubai, further complicating accountability.
The majority of shadow tankers sail across the Baltic Sea, a route considered critical for Russia’s energy exports. The shadow fleet uses various tactics to avoid detection, including ship-to-ship transfers in international waters, spoofed location data, and fake ship identification numbers. Some estimates suggest that approximately three shadow tankers carrying Russian crude pass through European waters each day, including the Danish straits and the Channel. Some experts estimate the shadow fleet may now include as many as 700 tankers.
However, Lithuanian National Security Advisor Kęstutis Budrys has highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the law on interdiction in international waters, warning that trying to stop the shadow fleet could risk an all-out military confrontation with Russia. Last week, a Russian fighter jet briefly entered Estonia’s airspace, in what some experts suspect was a reprisal for the Estonian military escorting a tanker named Jaguar out of the country’s economic waters. The Estonian navy acted quickly, believing the ship posed a threat to nearby underwater cables, and checked its status and registration. The Russian jet entered Estonian airspace without permission...
...”In the last four or five months of last year, we saw a roughly 10% decline in the amount of oil leaving from Russia,” Finnish Border Guard’s Head of Maritime Safety Mikko Hirvi told Reuters...
...A recent study found that limiting Russia’s shadow fleet may be more effective than simply lowering the oil price cap...
...In April report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Russia’s shadow fleet is shrinking. According to the report, shadow tankers transported 65% of Russian crude exports in April, down from 81% in January. Russia’s fossil fuel export revenues declined 6% month-on-month to EUR 585 million per day in April, while export volumes rose marginally by 1%.”
Yes, in a remote station.
This conversation has effectively taken place and lasted more than two hours. I would like to emphasise that it was both substantive and quite candid. Overall, I believe it was a very productive exchange.
First and foremost, I expressed my gratitude to the President of the United States for the support provided by the United States in facilitating the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at potentially reaching a peace agreement and resuming the talks which, as we know, were thwarted by the Ukrainian side in 2022.
The President of the United States shared his position on the cessation of hostilities and the prospects for a ceasefire. For my part, I noted that Russia also supports a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis as well. What we need now is to identify the most effective ways towards achieving peace.
We agreed with the President of the United States that Russia would propose and is ready to engage with the Ukrainian side on drafting a memorandum regarding a potential future peace agreement. This would include outlining a range of provisions, such as the principles for settlement, the timeframe for a possible peace deal, and other matters, including a potential temporary ceasefire, should the necessary agreements be reached.
Contacts among participants of the Istanbul meeting and talks have resumed, which gives reason to believe that we are on the right track overall.
I would like to reiterate that the conversation was highly constructive, and I assess it positively. The key issue, of course, is now for the Russian side and the Ukrainian side to show their firm commitment to peace and to forge a compromise that would be acceptable to all parties.
Notably, Russia’s position is clear. Eliminating the root causes of this crisis is what matters most to us.
Should any clarifications be necessary, Press Secretary [Dmitry] Peskov and my aide, Mr Ushakov, will provide further details
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
The complete transcript.
—
[ Simplest Kill Zone Tactic! Russian Offensive Ends in Dirt And Panic! ]
Today [ May 20 ], there are a lot of interesting updates from the Pokrovsk direction. Here, the southern fields of Pokrovsk have become the stage for one of the most critical battles in the region, now defended by Ukraine’s elite SKALA battalion.
As Russian forces attempt to break out of the fields, they are met by Ukraine’s layered defenses, where veteran drone brigades coordinate with artillery to repel the assaults with precision.
The goal of the Russian forces in this area is to reach the border of the Dnipro region. This would serve as an information victory, compensating for a lack of progress. Militarily, this would allow Russians to stabilize their western pincer and stretch Ukrainian lines further, securing their logistics network in the process.
The main Russian advantage in this area is Ukraine’s manpower shortage. This limits Ukraine’s ability to fully contest the settlements and tree lines, where Russians can press their numerical superiority. However, once Russian troops leave these covered areas and attempt to push into the open fields, their advances falter under intense Ukrainian artillery and drone fire.
The Russian attacks are further compromised by a lack of trench networks in the open fields, as the Ukrainians did not build a lot of them in the first place.
With Ukrainians not planning to hold every tree line due to their manpower shortage, Russian assault groups trying to gain ground are struggling to find large Ukrainian trenches and dugouts to shelter in. This keeps Russian soldiers out of cover for extended periods of time, making any attack a risky endeavor.
Despite a lack of sufficient manpower to cover every tree line, the Ukrainians have an abundance of drones to detect the Russian assault groups. The Czech artillery initiative provides Ukrainians with millions of artillery shells, which allow them to conduct large artillery barrages on detected Russian positions and movements.
On top of that, the Ukrainian anti-tank ditches and razor wire fortifications have created chokepoints that are easy to monitor for movement of Russian soldiers.
The recent redeployment of the elite Skala Assault Regiment reinforces Ukrainian defenses in the area. While Skala’s assault battalions are being rotated out to rest and recuperate after intense combat in the Pokrovsk sector, their experienced drone and artillery detachments remain active.
These units remain active, detecting, disrupting, and decimating Russian assaults, allowing Ukraine to hold ground with fewer troops, while preserving its main assault forces and wreaking havoc on Russian forces.
Geolocated combat footage from the area reveals a pair of Russian soldiers trying to cover themselves in a sparse tree line and play dead, to avoid being struck by the Ukrainian drones. However, the Ukrainians detected everything that moved, and as a result, both Russian soldiers were eliminated.
The Ukrainians are therefore forcing every surviving Russian soldier to be on a constant run in hopes of finding a trench or dugout to save their lives, as stopping would lead to their immediate elimination. To avoid being struck, Russian soldiers are using motorcycles to reach the Ukrainian positions, since they are more difficult for drones to track and strike. However, the Russian motorcycle assault units had their way blocked by anti-tank ditches prepared by the Ukrainians.
This gives ample time for the Ukrainian drone operators to carefully target and eliminate the Russian forces that are being funneled into a kill-zone. Notably, one Russian motorcyclist attempted to jump over an anti-tank ditch with his motorbike, however, he misjudged the width of the ditch, and fell short, immediately being hit by a drone-dropped grenade. This careful utilization of open terrain, observation of predictable attack routes, and field fortifications allows the Ukrainians to compensate for their manpower shortage.
Overall, the Ukrainians maintain an effective defense to the south of Pokrovsk, fending off against numerically superior Russian units and forcing them into brutal grinding assaults, with no cover to shield them. With the SKALA regiment’s veteran drone and artillery units reinforcing the defense, Russian soldiers seem to stand no chance at all.
The intensification of Russian attacks across the whole of the Pokrovsk direction is most prominent here, as they desperately need to widen their western pincer to continue their effort to take Pokrovsk into a pocket, as they seek to avoid a repeat of the grueling and costly urban battle raging in Toretsk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-x7iNJ6T7Q
At least 6 recent Russian ICBMs (3 Yars, 3+ Sarmat) have malfunctioned or were auto destructed.
https://x.com/ChuckPfarrer/status/1924929454893125943
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1925154453935521799
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