The drones attack on Moscow must have been coordinated with Washington DC for the purpose of showing Moscow what is to come if they don't allow the hollow and cheating attempt at a ceasefire..
IMHO this looks really bad. Russia has lost many men in this existential struggle for them and has no trust in the west due to previous experiences. Trump destroying Putin’s trust in him will not bode well for Trump and his MAGA supporters. Is he not listening to Tulsi Gabbard? Does he have no knowledge of the history of the propaganda against Putin? Is his ego really so large (as his detractors claim) that he cannot admit America defeat in this proxy war and end it? Ugh, this is so frustrating; I was hoping for a taming of the deep state and military industrial complex but it seems that is not in the cards.
Meanwhile, as gesture of peace, Ukraine launched more than 300 drones on Moscow in the early hours of the morning, striking apartment buildings, a parking lot outside a grocery store, &c. Three are reported killed in this largest such attack in the SMO/war/conflict.
As well, drones struck Odessa, hitting a toys warehouse.
Trump wanted a quick and clean break from the Ukraine fiasco. Instead, he's in danger of taking ownership of it. How on Earth would anyone expect the Russians to trust a guy who changes his mind more often than Biden changes his diapers? As for the ceasefire, a commenter on Moon of Alabama got it right: the West is negotiating with itself. The Russians will ignore it, take the PR "loss" and carry on until their SMO aims are achieved.
You beat me to that word that I was thinking while otherwise occupied: Ownership. Just as Trump has take ownership over all Israeli actions, Rubio having publicly stated that the US has been waging a proxy war against Russia, Trump today took complete ownership of the war on Russia. Bad move, IMO.
Trump actually has two powerful cards to play that could end this very quickly in Ukraine (and Israel): halting of all military and financial aid unless the fighting stops.
The value of the cards he has to play (and you of course are right he has some) is contingent on a clear understanding of his desires and goals in the ME and in Europe. That in turn would inform a strategic approach. Does he know what he wants and have realistic ideas on how to get there? I don't know at this point.
Exactly. I also think perhaps Trump knows this ceasefire will be rejected by the Russians, but to confuse and/or mollify his Atlanticist enemies, he has taken this more circuitous route to peace through Riyadh, rather than directly to Moscow…just a hunch!
“So, hopefully, [Putin will] also agree. And I really think that would be 75 percent of the way. The rest is getting it documented. You know, negotiating land positions, etc,” Trump stated.
Should Russia not agree to the ceasefire, “we just keep going on,” the US president said, warning that “lots of people” would be killed. Russian and US officials are expected to hold a meeting “today and tomorrow” to negotiate, he said.
I don't see how Putin would agree to this, Mark. Especially after the attack on Moscow. They have no reason to trust Kiev or the West and they now have momentum. No pun intended, but let's see what they have lined up next in the pipeline.
The drones attack on Moscow must have been coordinated with Washington DC for the purpose of showing Moscow what is to come if they don't allow the hollow and cheating attempt at a ceasefire..
A reasonable supposition.
If Russia agrees to the 30 day ceasefire does that seal the deal on the Ukraine mineral rights ($500B) deal? Asking for a friend.
IMHO this looks really bad. Russia has lost many men in this existential struggle for them and has no trust in the west due to previous experiences. Trump destroying Putin’s trust in him will not bode well for Trump and his MAGA supporters. Is he not listening to Tulsi Gabbard? Does he have no knowledge of the history of the propaganda against Putin? Is his ego really so large (as his detractors claim) that he cannot admit America defeat in this proxy war and end it? Ugh, this is so frustrating; I was hoping for a taming of the deep state and military industrial complex but it seems that is not in the cards.
Meanwhile, as gesture of peace, Ukraine launched more than 300 drones on Moscow in the early hours of the morning, striking apartment buildings, a parking lot outside a grocery store, &c. Three are reported killed in this largest such attack in the SMO/war/conflict.
As well, drones struck Odessa, hitting a toys warehouse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gFJuo4nfSA
THis tells me intelligence sharing has already resumed.
Trump wanted a quick and clean break from the Ukraine fiasco. Instead, he's in danger of taking ownership of it. How on Earth would anyone expect the Russians to trust a guy who changes his mind more often than Biden changes his diapers? As for the ceasefire, a commenter on Moon of Alabama got it right: the West is negotiating with itself. The Russians will ignore it, take the PR "loss" and carry on until their SMO aims are achieved.
You beat me to that word that I was thinking while otherwise occupied: Ownership. Just as Trump has take ownership over all Israeli actions, Rubio having publicly stated that the US has been waging a proxy war against Russia, Trump today took complete ownership of the war on Russia. Bad move, IMO.
Not just a bad move, but a stupid move. To use his own words, he has no cards.
Trump actually has two powerful cards to play that could end this very quickly in Ukraine (and Israel): halting of all military and financial aid unless the fighting stops.
Isn't there a "card" left to play relative to new national security agreements? ICBM's, NATO withdrawal to 1990, spheres of influence possibilities?
The value of the cards he has to play (and you of course are right he has some) is contingent on a clear understanding of his desires and goals in the ME and in Europe. That in turn would inform a strategic approach. Does he know what he wants and have realistic ideas on how to get there? I don't know at this point.
Exactly. I also think perhaps Trump knows this ceasefire will be rejected by the Russians, but to confuse and/or mollify his Atlanticist enemies, he has taken this more circuitous route to peace through Riyadh, rather than directly to Moscow…just a hunch!
“So, hopefully, [Putin will] also agree. And I really think that would be 75 percent of the way. The rest is getting it documented. You know, negotiating land positions, etc,” Trump stated.
Should Russia not agree to the ceasefire, “we just keep going on,” the US president said, warning that “lots of people” would be killed. Russian and US officials are expected to hold a meeting “today and tomorrow” to negotiate, he said.
I don't see how Putin would agree to this, Mark. Especially after the attack on Moscow. They have no reason to trust Kiev or the West and they now have momentum. No pun intended, but let's see what they have lined up next in the pipeline.
Pipeline. I like it. Well played on recent actions Steg.