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johnycomelately's avatar

Freezing current lines particularly without Odesa will be seen as a failure by the Russian public.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

I'd say you have a strong point there, which is probably one reason why Putin isn't in a hurry. Right now we're essentially at the point of agreeing to keep talking. Trump wants to rush this, but that's not Russia's interest.

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Antipodes's avatar

what I don't see in these discussions is what to do with Zelensky.

Is he the root cause they discuss?

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Geoff's avatar

Interesting times indeed.

Tell me Mark, just how does Russia negotiate a new world security regime without directly addressing the rogue perpetrator cum elephant in the room - the CIA.

Putin, when asked who blew up Nord Stream by Tucker Carlson, named the CIA outright. He knows his enemy. Trump also knows the CIA is no friend or servant of his.

Once you have colluded or connived at best, or orchestrated or organized at worst, the murder of your own President, the only way is down - unfortunately taking the rest of the world with them!

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Mark Wauck's avatar

One of the deepest and most important threads of info going back to the Kremlin from their DC embassy is without a doubt regular analysis of developments in the US Intel Community--assessments of agency heads like Ratcliffe and Gabbard, evaluation of the impact their reform and reorganization measures will have on relations between the US and the rest of the world. You can bet that volumes have probably been written re the whole USAID thing. They will want to assess how deep the reforms will go and how they will affect ops like Nordstream in the future--will they end, be scaled back, will regime change ops end, etc.

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SMH's avatar

As you said Mark, nothing is cast in stone, but after the dreadful mess of the Biden administration this is a giant breath of fresh air. Real leadership instead of a seemingly endless parade of incompetence, duplicity and deception is a welcome change! If Trump pulls this off, all I can say is WOW.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Just heard LJ talking about why Kellogg wasn't part of the negotiating team. Says it was probably a Russian veto because Kellogg's daughter has been active in Ukraine.

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TomA's avatar

Putin got the US Government (Trump) to the negotiating table. That is a huge win for Russia. And that means a global public forum for presenting the Russian case for a new European Security Agreement. And in particular, making the point that NATO is gradually building missile bases in the Baltic States, Poland, and Romania that can launch nuclear armed missiles at Moscow with a 5 minute flight time to detonation. Hair trigger response time means that accidental nuclear Armageddon is nearly assured. Therefore, it's not about the lithium in Ukraine. And none of this is 5D chess or rocket science. There is a deal to be made, and everyone on the planet wins.

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ML's avatar

Hegseth gets to the Rutte of the problem, announcing in Brussells: “There will be no NATO membership or NATO security guarantees for Ukraine, neither now nor ever.” Article at MoA.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/02/trump-tells-ukrainian-war-party-that-the-game-is-up.html#more

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Hegseth's speech was quite interesting--especially because we know that it had to have been approved by Trump. Every single point he made was a movement in the direction of Moscow's demands. Any caveats were actually setting the table for future concessions.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Well, this counts as real progress after the pathetic posturing of Biden and the Euroweenies. I still think Putin will continue destroying the Ukie armed forces for some time to come, though.

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BFH's avatar

Putin will continue destroying the Ukie forces.... Hope shines eternal.

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

Euroweenies. LOL.

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Mr.Mac's avatar

Thank goodness a serious attempt will be made to stop the killing on both sides . There is no doubt "the team" seems to have be carefully assembled by Trump and leaving out , for the moment , those with somewhat dubious backgrounds .

Ned you got this spot on " rejoice - oh ye of little faith " because one way or the other this will happen.

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Manul's avatar

The warmongers will fight these negotiations tooth and nail. We’ll be told Trump is a Putin lover etc. Won’t matter. There will be a settlement soon, which is good news for all those dying and bad news for MIC profits and the Z regime.

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Steghorn21's avatar

He telephoned Putin. Is he even allowed to do that? :)

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

Eric Ciaramello was unavailable thank goodness.

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Marie's avatar

LOL My Senator Jeanne Shaheen absolutely forbids it!!😊

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Manul's avatar

Trump has learned to embrace his inner Putin lover. LOL!

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Joe's avatar

I see little to no possibility that Putin would settle Ukraine without Iran considerations and perhaps a written settlement agreement there too. And at this point I surmise China would probably be an equal participant.

Trump will have great difficulty moving on Iran with Ukraine requiring money and weapons; as well China probably feels the same about Taiwan. The three are very close and would be fools to settle independently.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Good point. Putin is a strategist; any deal he agrees to will be holistic, not just based on the Ukraine situation.

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Joe's avatar

Well I don't want to say Trump won't get an agreement, however,

I will say Trump won't get an agreement

not any time soon without complete capitulation on the terms Putin already set forth.

Recent Historical Context is important 2014 2015 2 022

A. Minsk I Minsk II

B. Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych democratically elected Ukraine president forced out of office by Nuland and EU

C. French president François Hollande and German chancellor Angela Merkel both of which are said to have undermined Minsk with Merkel reporting in 2022

“The 2014 Minsk agreement was an attempt to give Ukraine time,” Merkel told the weekly Die Zeit. “It also used this time to become stronger, as you can see today.”

- China Global Times offering the East Perspective

Real intention behind Minsk agreements further destroys credibility of the West

By Global Times

Published: Dec 12, 2022

" Merkel's confession about the Minsk agreements also showed that some Western countries, particularly the US, do not honor contractual obligations at all. They can go back on their words so easily.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Very true. The arrogance of Merkel was breath-taking. That's why the Russians will never trust us for the foreseeable future. A deal will be done once Russia has achieved its aims, and it will be a "Here's where you sign" kind of transaction.

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Texas Khaan's avatar

I wonder what Sebaceous Dorka is thinking about this?

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Steghorn21's avatar

I wonder where Fatty Nuland and the Vindman chumps are?

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

Outside looking in.

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MikeinFL's avatar

https://x.com/AXChristoforou/status/1889726806267175109

Alex notes no mention of Special K (Kellogg) in the attached.

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NedZeppelin's avatar

Oh ye of little faith, rejoice.

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