BREAKING: Russian units broke into Pokrovsk

[SomeStupidName]

So this is fake AI news?

Hmmm....

Not fake but AI generated I think. I had read something a couple years back that it going to become the normal practice.

From google AI itself it looks like it used in concert with humans but things will slip through that always happens.
"Yes, some top companies are indeed starting to use AI-generated articles. While not replacing human writers entirely, AI is being leveraged to assist in various stages of content creation, from ideation and outlining to drafting and even generating entire articles. This is particularly true in areas like summarizing news articles, creating product descriptions, and generating marketing content."

[putnam6]

Both Uncle Sam and Aunt Ursula have sent billions in financial (cash) aid, and they have received military and humanitarian aid too...

Open-minded posters know all three types of aid can easily be embezzled, thus the completely legitimate and valid concerns 

https://english.nv.ua/nation/eu-freezes-...32854.html

[Oldcarpy2]

Both Uncle Sam and Aunt Ursula have sent billions in financial (cash) aid, and they have received military and humanitarian aid too...

Open-minded posters know all three types of aid can easily be embezzled, thus the completely legitimate and valid concerns 

https://english.nv.ua/nation/eu-freezes-...32854.html

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...591411.png]

That's 2023, but Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland are providing more aid per GDP than the US?

Wonder why they might be so concerned?

Bottom line, Putin plays Trump and continues to attack civilians in daily and nightly war crimes and MAGA folk binge hate on Zelensky.

[putnam6]

That's 2023, but Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland are providing more aid per GDP than the US?

Wonder why they might be so concerned?

Bottom line, Putin plays Trump and continues to attack civilians in daily and nightly war crimes and MAGA folk binge hate on Zelensky.

The date is irrelevant...

The graphic is to illustrate that many countries sent cash into the sticky fingers and pockets of Ukraine, and many ATS posters were concerned with how much money was being sent.

With Ukraine ranking 122nd worst out of 147 countries still in 2025,

and the EU holding out its aid package

 the attempted gaslighting is bright enough to illustrate it was and continues to be a legitimate concern. 

https://factsinstitute.com/ranking/most-...the-world/

[Oldcarpy2]

[Image: https://media0.giphy.com/media/1qjZV8pML.../giphy.gif]
[Image: https://media0.giphy.com/media/Sbfr2UJuD.../giphy.gif]

The date is irrelevant...

The graphic is to illustrate that many countries sent cash into the sticky fingers and pockets of Ukraine, and many ATS posters were concerned with how much money was being sent.

With Ukraine ranking 122nd worst out of 147 countries still in 2025,

and the EU holding out its aid package

 the attempted gaslighting is bright enough to illustrate it was and continues to be a legitimate concern. 

https://factsinstitute.com/ranking/most-...the-world/

The US seems to be ranked 27th according to perceived corruption in your source?

Can we get back to the actual topic?

[putnam6]

The US seems to be ranked 27th according to perceived corruption in your source?

Can we get back to the actual topic?

Uncle Sam's corruption rating isn't in question here.

Unless Wiltshire is going to lend financial and military aid to the US

and/or unless one considers being in the top 27 least corrupt countries compared to the 122nd least corrupt,25 spots from the bottom

Besides, I've been railing on the American government's corruption big time; it's kind of the point.

It's stupid AF to lend billions to any country with corruption and graft issues...

Especially for a war whose outcome was so damn predictable.

Back on topic, Ukraine is still losing, and the EU is FINALLY concerned about where their financial support is going 



 Interesting timing that this was announced as Trump is in the region

[Oldcarpy2]

Putnam6 wrote:


"Uncle Sam's corruption rating isn't in question here."

Yes it is, according to your own source.

Anything to say about Trump's announcement today on reducing his deadline for a Russian ceasefire?

Like, in real time?

[sahgwa]

I saw that Trump is demanding ceasefire in 10 to 12 days now.
Question is, what is the leverage? 
I thought we were already supposed to cut off funding. and we didn't did we? 
That's on Kiev. We have no leverage with Russia besides sanctions. 
Hmm

[RickyD]

Putnam6 wrote:


"Uncle Sam's corruption rating isn't in question here."

Yes it is, according to your own source.

Anything to say about Trump's announcement today on reducing his deadline for a Russian ceasefire?

Like, in real time?

It won't happen and Trump will have egg on his face for bluffing again. Russia's main trade partners will tell the US to screw off and it weakens our position with everyone else. All these moves seem like desperate plays while Russia has no reason to stop without getting what they want accomplished...and every day that goes by the lines are moving faster and faster towards a full collapse.

[putnam6]

Putnam6 wrote:


"Uncle Sam's corruption rating isn't in question here."

Yes it is, according to your own source.

Anything to say about Trump's announcement today on reducing his deadline for a Russian ceasefire?

Like, in real time?

It's so obtuse in here, it feels like Geometry class

Makes no sense...

How is "questioning" a country that gave them over 100 billion in financial, military, and humanitarian aid, juxtaposed to Ukraine's corruption rating germane in a thread about Russian units breaking into Pokrovsk?

Especially when the original comment was fairly straightforward and the premise is accepted as factual, Ukraine is corrupt AF 
 

The European Union is withholding approximately €1.5 billion of a €4.5 billion aid tranche under the Ukraine Facility program due to Ukraine's failure to implement three out of sixteen required reforms, particularly in anti-corruption justice, decentralization, and judicial appointments to the High Anti-Corruption Court. A recent anti-corruption scandal involving the Ukrainian Parliament's decision to strip the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies—the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)—also contributed to the EU's decision. These agencies were investigating top officials in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, and the move to undermine them sparked protests and accusations of cronyism, prompting the EU to cut the aid as a rebuke for governance issues. The withheld funds could be restored if Ukraine meets the specified reform benchmarks within 12 months.
 
Corruption in Ukraine
Ukraine has long struggled with systemic corruption, rooted in its post-Soviet transition and exacerbated by political instability and weak institutions. According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Ukraine scored 35 out of 100, ranking 105th out of 180 countries, indicating significant perceived public sector corruption. The country has made progress since the 2014 Maidan Uprising, which ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, a figure associated with kleptocracy and ties to organized crime. Key reforms include the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), which have led to high-profile investigations and convictions, such as the case of Roman Nasirov, former head of the State Fiscal Service, who allegedly accepted a €21 million bribe.
Despite these efforts, corruption remains a pervasive issue. A 2024 survey by Info Sapiens for the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) found that 91.4% of Ukrainians perceive corruption as widespread, though only 18.7% reported personal experience with it, a significant drop from 70.7% in 2015. High-profile scandals, such as the 2023 dismissal of regional military enlistment officials for bribery and the detention of officials for embezzling $40 million in arms procurement funds, highlight ongoing challenges. Sectors like customs, the military, and public procurement are seen as particularly corrupt. The war with Russia has increased scrutiny, as international aid—over €50 billion in 2024 from NATO allies alone—heightens the risk of misappropriation. Reforms like the ProZorro e-procurement system have saved billions and increased transparency, but political interference and weak enforcement persist.
Corruption in the United States
The United States is perceived as significantly less corrupt than Ukraine. In the 2024 CPI, the U.S. scored 69 out of 100, ranking 29th globally, a slight decline from previous years. Corruption in the U.S. is less systemic and more episodic, often involving high-profile cases of political or corporate malfeasance rather than pervasive bureaucratic bribery. Notable examples include campaign finance violations, lobbying scandals, or instances of insider trading by public officials, though these are less frequent and more rigorously prosecuted than in Ukraine. The U.S. benefits from a robust legal framework, independent judiciary, and active civil society, which help curb corruption. However, concerns exist about "legal corruption," such as the influence of money in politics through Super PACs and lobbying, which can skew policy in favor of wealthy interests.
The U.S. justice system is generally effective, with agencies like the Department of Justice and the FBI actively pursuing corruption cases. For example, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is used to address bribery by U.S. companies abroad, and businesses often consult the CPI to assess risks in foreign markets like Ukraine. Public perception of corruption is lower than in Ukraine, with fewer Americans reporting direct experiences of bribery in everyday life. However, public trust in government has declined, with polls indicating growing skepticism about political integrity, partly due to polarized media narratives.
Comparison

• CPI Scores and Rankings: Ukraine’s 2024 CPI score of 35 and 105th ranking reflect a higher perceived corruption level than the U.S.’s score of 69 and 29th ranking. This gap underscores Ukraine’s systemic issues versus the U.S.’s more contained, high-profile cases.
  
• Nature of Corruption: In Ukraine, corruption is deeply embedded, affecting daily life (e.g., bribes in healthcare, education, and law enforcement) and high-level governance (e.g., oligarch influence, public procurement fraud). In the U.S., corruption is less overt, often manifesting as legalized influence (e.g., lobbying) or isolated scandals rather than widespread petty bribery.
  
• Institutional Response: Ukraine has developed anti-corruption institutions like NABU and SAPO, but their effectiveness is hampered by political interference and recent setbacks, such as the 2025 parliamentary move to undermine their independence. The U.S. has stronger, more independent institutions, though they face challenges from political polarization and resource constraints.
  
• Public Perception vs. Experience: Ukrainians perceive corruption as rampant (91.4%), but actual experiences have decreased significantly. In the U.S., perception of corruption is lower, but public trust in government is declining due to high-profile scandals and political influence.
  
• Impact of Context: Ukraine’s ongoing war and reliance on foreign aid amplify corruption risks and scrutiny, while the U.S.’s stable governance and economic strength allow for more effective checks. However, the U.S.’s global financial hubs can enable transnational corruption, a factor not fully captured by the CPI.
  

Conclusion
Ukraine faces a more severe and systemic corruption problem than the U.S., driven by historical, political, and economic factors, though it has made notable progress since 2014. The U.S., while not immune to corruption, benefits from stronger institutions and a less pervasive culture of bribery, though issues like political influence and transnational corruption pose challenges. Ukraine’s path to EU accession hinges on further anti-corruption reforms, while the U.S. must address subtler forms of influence to maintain its standing

As for Trump's response...

Sounds like a US President sick and tired of the death and destruction in a useless European regional war. A war that will likely be settled with territorial losses larger than if they had tried to negotiate before Boris got involved in April 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/...sanctions/

the Russian stock market dropped 1.5 percent, losing more than $1.4 billion in value in the hour that followed Trump’s announcement as jitters grew over the apparently shortened sanctions deadline.
The sanctions are not without political risk for Trump, Kimmage said, especially because they can be viewed as at odds with the president’s “America First” worldview.
Secondary sanctions are hugely threatening to Russia, which is dependent on income from oil and gas sales. The sanctions could also spark inflation in the United States or even threaten its relationship with countries such as India, which Kimmage said “has a pretty strong relationships with Russia and buys a lot of gas and oil from Russia 
 
Trump has struck a more sympathetic tone toward the Ukrainian people over the past few weeks, while showcasing frustration with Putin.
 
When he announced his 50-day deadline two weeks ago, Trump noted the bravery of Ukrainian civilians who have stayed in their home cities, despite the threat of Russian missile attacks.
“It’s incredible. They remain even knowing a missile could hit their apartment and bring it down on them,” Trump said. “Say what you want about Ukraine. When the war started, they had no chance. They fought with tremendous courage, and they continue to fight with tremendous courage.”
 
Putin continues to obstruct a peace agreement in a brutal conflict, he said then.
 
“Five thousand Russian and Ukrainian kids a week are dying. And that’s not mentioning the people that are dying also in towns where he’s lobbing missiles,” Trump said Monday. “[Putin has] got to make a deal. Too many people are dying.”