NATO’s false promises are encouraging misplaced Ukrainian hopes

POLITICO ^ | July 18, 2024 | Christopher McCallion and Benjamin H. Friedman

[McGruff]

At the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, commemorating the alliance’s 75th anniversary, leaders offered Ukraine a fresh round of false hope in its war against Russia — which is worse than doing nothing.

Whether by military commitment or intensified support, the pretension that NATO could currently deliver a Ukrainian victory, or secure one later, encourages the country’s leaders to postpone reckoning with their dire circumstances. Moreover, it threatens to further imperil NATO members without a security payoff.

After the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in 2023, recognition that its forces cannot regain more of its territory has begun to sink in. Indeed, despite the flow of heavy Western aid, Kyiv may struggle to hold what it has — a circumstance that suggests it should start exploring negotiations with Moscow to end or even freeze the conflict via an armistice now, before the battlefield situation worsens and negotiating room shrinks.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Ukraine; War
KEYWORDS: benjaminhfriedman; bidenswar; christophermccallion; coveringforbiden; escalation; killkillkillforpeace; mic; politico; pollutico; ukraine; welfarewar; worldwariii; ww3

[McGruff]

You forgot.

17-mile-long Russian convoy reaches outskirts of Kyiv
Feb 28, 2022

They stopped because of ongoing peace negotiations. Which Ukraine renege on.

[Sirius Lee]

Glad you admit that these Yook threads are just so much navel gazing and science fiction.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

—> If Putin was a smart and Russia as capable as all these experts claim, then Russia would have won a few days after the invasion started.

There is the slight fact of the other 27 or 28 countries feeding the Ukes weapons, intelligence, financial support, training, etc.

[Jim Robinson]

It’s my understanding they’re looking for troops now.

[Harpotoo]

U understand quite correctly what I B saying;-)

[adorno]

It’s my understanding they’re looking for troops now.

Who? Russia? NO doubt, all sides are looking for troops. People die and they have to be replaced.

[icclearly]

Yet, Ukraine has been able to make a fight of it, and Russia is increasingly frustrated.

What an idiotic, delusional statement!

Anybody with more than one brain neuron firing knows that it ain't Ukraine fighting -- it's the best the West and NATO have to offer and for the last 10 years.

That should make you worry -- a lot.

If the mighty West/NATO can't beat a third-world country like the Ruskies, just what the heck can they do? Oh, I know, invade little bitty countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Vietnam. And exactly how did them invasions turn out?

Oh. I see.

[adorno]

Glad you admit that these Yook threads are just so much navel gazing and science fiction.

I'm not admitting to anything. I'm just stating an opinion. Everybody has an opinion and opinions are not about admitting anything. Science fiction? Opinions can become fact, if people act on them and make them become reality.

[adorno]

If the mighty West/NATO can't beat a third-world country like the Ruskies, just what the heck can they do?

You write that and then have the nerve to call me idiotic? Nothing more idiotic than everything you just posted.

The EU and NATO are not fighting the "Ruskies". Russia would not have even entered one inch of Ukraine if the EU/NATO and the U.S. were officially the ones fighting Russia.

If I'm the one with one brain cell, then you are the one with shit for brains.

[McGruff]

all sides are looking for troops. People die and they have to be replaced.

So we can put you down for supporting US troops fighting in Ukraine?

[Jim Robinson]

So where’s Ukraine gonna get replacements?

[adorno]

So we can put you down for supporting US troops fighting in Ukraine?

Not yet.

But, if Ukraine 'loses' now, we will be engaged in a much bigger war later. The lessons of WW2 are coming back to be learned all over again.

[adorno]

So where’s Ukraine gonna get replacements?

Supposedly, Ukraine lost all their troops in the first year of the war, according to the many reports which had them suffering massive losses from which they wouldn't be able to recover. So, who the heck is doing the fighting NOW???

And, remember that Ukraine is not doing the fighting alone. But, officially NATO and the U.S. are not there.

So, where's Russia getting there 'replacements'? They've lost close to 500,000 killed and injured. That's close to 2.5 times the number of troops that the U.s. Marines have, and about the same number of troops/grunts in the U.S. Army.

[Jim Robinson]

I don’t know, but i doubt Russia will be looking to NATO, the EU, or the USA for troops.

[adorno]

I don’t know, but i doubt Russia will be looking to NATO, the EU, or the USA for troops.

Obviously.

But, Ukraine's friends are the NATO countries and the U.S. especially. Russia has China and N. Korea and Iran, and I doubt those countries will send troops to die in Ukraine for Russia.

BTW, do you often engage in discussions with others as much as you have been with me? What's up?

[McGruff]

Donald Trump - I will prevent World War 3 from happening. You are very close to World War 3.

video 23 secs

https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1815036170348159168

[Jim Robinson]

Nothing. Just do not want any U.S. troops going to Ukraine. And no NATO troops either.

[Widget Jr]

Those 27 or 28 countries didn’t dump all of what Ukraine has now back when this started. Ukraine was largely on its own except for shipments of infantry weapons. Tanks, HIMARS and Patriots took several months, past the time the conventional wisdom was Russia should have won.

[Widget Jr]

Seriously, WHAT negotiations? Russia was saying give us what we want or else after invading. That’s like a home invader negotiating by saying don’t call the cops if you want to live. That stalling for time, not negotiating.

[Mariner]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Priorities

Realpolitik.

What America needs now more than ever.