Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123295891#Comment_123295891

Absolute nonsense. Ukraine has been given something like €240 billion in aid so far just to keep from going under. That is of course in addition to what it's spent itself.

There is no 'up' side to this war, it's absolutely shockingly terrible.

thatsdaft

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123295928#Comment_123295928

You are mixing up figures, about half of that was military aid over three+ years

Wouldn’t have had to spend that at all if

1. Ukraine retained its nukes
2. Russian assets are used to pay for it

instead of spending billions on **** American equipment that can be switched off by a crazy dictator who views his allies as enemies

best spend on drones, mines, artillery, missiles and nukes all of which can be made in Europe

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123295735#Comment_123295735

Yeah, its noticeable how the Europeans have suddenly been scared into getting the finger out on a number of levels since Trump returned. He'd been banging the same drum in his first incarnation but Ukraine has given him leverage. You'd hope that they can get up to speed on tech and intel rapidly, but I'd have my suspicions about competence and effectiveness when you consider how long they've been idling along in the slow lane compared to the US who have been war hawks for decades.

We all live in hope, and if there's a silver lining in this it's the EU doing a bit of growing up, hopefully without compromising on its core principles. Keeping the right wing loons out of power is the next challenge across the bloc.

BorneTobyWilde

Spinning lies as to strengthen your argument is one thing, believing your own lies is another. Not sure why Europe needs to reimburse US for bombing Yemen

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296387#Comment_123296387

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/houthis-emerge-from-red-sea-shipping-crisis-unscathed/

They are bombing Yemem (along with the UK) because Iranian backed Houthis are attacking Western shipping on a crucial shiiping route for World Trade.

Do you think said Houthi campaign is good or bad for EU trade?

The answer to that might help you with your own question

thatsdaft

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296422#Comment_123296422

Most of the trade through Red Sea belongs to China and Gulf states and even Russian dark fleet has more ships traversing this area than European shippers

Notice how Trump is not asking any of those lads to do anything

Or Egypt whom have a large military and navy and directly earn from suez transit, or even Israelis who being directly attacked

I also recommend you read up on Suez crisis, the US wanted Europe to not police this area

Dohnjoe

Black Sea ceasefire looks agreed

Again Putin getting too much out of this but at least progress towards some sort of relief for Ukraine from this nightmare.

junkyarddog

https://bsky.app/profile/wartranslated.bsky.social/post/3ll7lbak7dk2w

the U.S. will assist Russia's reintegration into global markets to enable the export of its agricultural products and fertilizers.

So Drumpf slaps tariffs on allies and trading partners,but will assist russian products!!

You really couldn't make this sh1t up!!

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296935#Comment_123296935

How is it relief for Ukraine???

Did I miss something??

aidanodr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296970#Comment_123296970

Here is the agreement translated from the Russian at:

http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76526

Kremlin: Main results of the meeting of expert groups of russia and the us March 25, 2025

1. In accordance with the agreement of the presidents of Russia and the US, the Russian and american sides agreed to ensure the implementation of the "Black Sea Initiative", which includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, non-use of force and prevention of the use of commercial vessels for military purposes while organizing appropriate control measures by inspecting such vessels.
2. The US will help restore access of Russian agricultural exports and fertilizers to the world market, reduce the cost of insurance of maritime transportation, as well as expand access to ports and payment systems for conducting such transactions.

Note:

Clauses 1 and 2 shall come into force after:

Lifting of sanctions restrictions from Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in ensuring operations on international trade in food (including fish products) and fertilizers, their connection to SWIFT, opening of the necessary correspondent accounts;

Lifting of restrictions on trade finance operations;

Lifting of sanctions restrictions from companies producing and exporting food (including fish products) and fertilizers, as well as lifting of restrictions on the work of insurance companies with cargoes of food (including fish products) and fertilizers;

Lifting restrictions on servicing ships in ports and sanctions on ships under the Russian flag involved in the trade in food (including fish products) and fertilizers;

Lifting restrictions on the supply of agricultural machinery to the Russian Federation, as well as other goods involved in the production of food (including fish products) and fertilizers.

1. Russia and the United States agreed to develop measures to implement the agreements between the presidents of the two countries on a ban on strikes on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine for a period of 30 days, starting from March 18, 2025, with the possibility of extension and withdrawal from the agreement in the event of non-compliance by one of the parties.
2. Russia and the United States welcome good offices from third countries aimed at supporting the implementation of agreements in the energy and maritime spheres.
3. Russia and the United States will continue to work to achieve a strong and lasting peace.
4. Russia and the United States welcome good offices from third countries aimed at supporting the implementation of agreements in the energy and maritime spheres.
5. Russia and the United States will continue to work to achieve a strong and lasting peace.

However, an interesting point from https://twitter.com/jakluge

Now this is interesting: The Kremlin demands specific sanctions to be lifted BEFORE anything comes into force. Russia demands that "Rosselkhozbank and other financial organizations" are reconnected to (Belgium-based) SWIFT. The US cannot do this without EU cooperation.

thatsdaft

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297036#Comment_123297036

Russia can’t attack shipping to Ukraine nor infrastructure in ports

Tho you can bet Putin will do just that in next week

Jizique

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296422#Comment_123296422

It just makes some products from China and Asia a bit more expensive, so fecking what if Primark t-shirts have to go via south Africa rather than suez

eoinbn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296970#Comment_123296970

In news just in - the US and Europe(or any western democracy) are no longer allies. It's not hard to understand.

aidanodr

I still have got no answer to this - The founding father pillars in the constitution are useless against Trump. There is no way to get at this incumbent trump gov. They have total control now. Short of a coup / revolution I cannot see any other way now?

If "we the people" come out in the millions consistently. Divinely inspired Trump etc WILL ignore this, what then?

thatsdaft

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297175#Comment_123297175

Belarus on Potomac

https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3ll6zurujas2m

Baba Yaga

i dont get this cease fire in the black sea…russia gains every thing…? i cant be reading that right…i mustve missed that memo that said the illegal aggressor gets its way anyway…

Dohnjoe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297036#Comment_123297036

I completely understand this point. Basically Ukraine doesn't have one enemy, it now has two, the White House has joined against them. Things have changed. The war has been brutally unfair against them, and it just became more unfair.

To mitigate that they must buy time for Europe to ramp up, to build alternative to US front line intel, to comms, to replacement chains of supplies. To improve national morale (which has been critical to everything they've done so far) Unfortunately that means moving with certain difficult deals. The Black Sea deal and the energy ceasefire (pending) are unfair, but they are least worst Ukraine will get under the current pro-Putin sycophants in the WH - and the alternative is vastly worse

fly_agaric

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297341#Comment_123297341

We have the US government openly and proudly siding with the worst of humanity (in minor things such as inviting the ilk of Conor McGregor to the White House to represent Ireland on our national day, all the way up to this romancing of Putin and Russia, and of course progressing the Trump-Netanyahu "plan" for Gaza & the Palestinians).

I can't remember anything like this before, and it would make one despair to be honest, maybe time to turn off the news & the internet.

Jinglejangle69

So Russia gets back the Black Sea and sanctions lifted.

All lining up for them to prolong the war with more advantages being gifted back to them.

Depressing times.

bear1

I can’t wait to see what trump will do to get the Europeans to agree to the swift.

The only thing that pops to mind is the tariffs carrot. Reconnect Russia and we will reduce the tariffs. Or something along those lines

JJayoo

The US is gonna rearm the new Wagner group in Africa, weapons will be sold to an African gov and then handed over

CelticRambler

Jeeeez - here we go again. There is no deal. There are two doddery aul' fellas and their henchmen telling all and sundry that they've settled the matter, but nothing has been signed, and chances are nothing will be signed until Ukraine/Europe are fully on board with a deal that works for the civilised world.

Polar101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297605#Comment_123297605

A) Work together to reach a compromise, or

B) Threaten Europe

I'm going with B)

mikewest

Followed by C. Fall flat on face yet again and say that everyone hates us but we will make them pay to cheers from a MAGA love in.

God, I hate being cynical and right at the same time.

AngeloArgue

Anyone else think the latest political soap opera out the US is all political theatre?

What if the Zelensky oval office putdown and Michael Waltz "leak" are all planned?

Are Europe and the US really rivals?

The EU seem to be doing exactly what the US wants

thatsdaft

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298743#Comment_123298743

Another Trump is 42D chess conspiracy theory which flies in face of daily evidence that what they have is a complete clownshow with a bizzare president that is cuckolded by Putin

Yes US wanted Europe to spend more on weapons, their weapons, but that’s not happening

Also the alliance is de facto but not dejure destroyed now, next time US starts a war in some faraway shithole or China attacks it best of luck getting anyone from this side helping military or economically especially with trade as the tariffs wont be forgotten, same goes for Canada and Mexico too now

Even if the next president is a democrat the amount of high level officials in last few weeks talking about generational damage to relationships in last few months is high

Like Brexit the fallout will continue for years and not to the benefit of US position in the world or their security at home especially as the intelligence gathering alliance seizes up abroad and Trump fires anyone with a braincell at home

You can see the change already in US military connected posters here, they as much as admitted they won’t defend and uphold the constitution as Trump continues to shred it on his path to dictatorship (he already has more powers than a king and no checks and balances)

tarvis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297605#Comment_123297605

The US is selling out Ukraine while rewarding the Invader and bringing it back from the cold.??

If the US has de facto ditched NATO then the US military bases are now redundant. No need to freeload on European land any longer.

bear1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123299268#Comment_123299268

it would beautiful to hear the Spanish and Italians to leave the naval bases.

It’ll never happen but it would be a thing of beauty

yagan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298743#Comment_123298743

Never ascribe to malice what can easily be explained by narcissistic vanity and incompetence.

It can feel like there must be a "plan", because the truth is just too chaotic to believe.

Dubh Geannain

It'd be nice to see them close that pincer but it hasn't been a regular feature of this war so far.