Trump is in talks with Russia to end the war

[putnam6]

It's going to be very interested to see if Putin actually tries to bully or manipulate Trump.

I don't think it would work, but it will be telling to see what kind of respect there is for each other.

After there's peace, I want DOGE to audit the Ukranian aid!

I have zero expectations for the talks ... for now just glad they are happening 

We aren't getting back those Ukrainian funds any time soon, which could be why Trump is insisting on mineral rights to help pay it back.

[quintessentone]

A 'treaty' was never the plan.

Both parties want an absolute win... or people wouldn't be dying.

Fortunately both adversaries are responsive to money...

After that, it's up to "the" bank.

Really, I got the impression Ukrainian freedom fighters and the people are fighting for their culture/country. If it's all about the money why didn't Putin simply make a really good offer/deal? Wasn't Putin worth $600 Billion before the start of the invasion?

[putnam6]

Sounds as if the EU and the UK aren't all on the same page 


https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukrain...41aa1ce161

BRUSSELS (AP) — Increasingly alarmed that U.S. security priorities lie elsewhere, a group of European countries has been quietly working on a plan to send troops into Ukraine to help enforce any future peace settlement with Russia.
Britain and France are at the forefront of the effort, though details remain scarce. The countries involved in the discussions are reluctant to tip their hand and give Russian President Vladimir Putin an edge should he agree to negotiate an end to the war he launched three years ago.
What is clear is that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs a guarantee that his country’s security will be assured until peace takes hold. The best protection would be the NATO membership that Ukraine has long been promised, but the U.S. has taken that option off the table.

 
A robust security force rather than peacekeepersThe makeup and role of the force will be dictated by the kind of peace deal that’s reached. If Russia and Ukraine can agree terms as the negotiations progress, it’s plausible that fewer security precautions and a smaller force would be needed.
But experts and officials warn that, as things stand, the Europeans must deploy a robust and sizeable contingent, rather than a team of peacekeepers like United Nations “blue helmets.”
“It has to be a real force (so) that the Russians know that if they ever tested it that they would get crushed. And you can be sure that Russia will test it,” Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, said last month at a European Policy Centre think tank event.
“They violate every single agreement. So if we send a force in there, they’ve got to have airpower, large land forces, drones, counter-drones, air and missile defense. All of that,” he said. “If they go in there with a bunch of blue helmets and rifles, they will get crushed.”

Europe Divided Over Sending Troops to Ukraine

 
Clash Report

@clashreport
Europe Divided Over Sending Troops to Ukraine At a Paris meeting, European leaders debated deploying troops to Ukraine amid Trump’s peace talks with Russia.  
France: Macron proposed a “reassurance force” behind a future ceasefire line, avoiding direct frontline engagement.  
UK: PM Starmer declared Britain is “ready and willing” to send troops if needed.  
Poland: PM Tusk ruled out sending troops but pledged continued logistical and military aid.  
Spain: FM Albares rejected the idea, calling peace “far away” due to Putin.

[Kurokage]

It's a shame Trump doesn't seem to want to know what the actual Ukrainians want here? I don't know, maybe he could try talking to them and inviting them to the peace talks???

[quintessentone]

"A nuclear warhead's "life expectancy" is considered quite long, with estimates suggesting that the primary components, particularly plutonium pits, can remain stable for decades, potentially up to 85 years or more, according to recent studies, meaning they may not need replacement as frequently as previously thought; however, regular maintenance and component replacements are still necessary to ensure functionality."

Russia is not known for maintaining stuff very well, or at all.

Corruption in it's military is endemic.

Mind you, I wouldn't want to find out the hard way if their nukes work....

I don't doubt it. But all Russia has to do is to blast that Chernobyl disabled nuclear plant to smitherines. Any way, that was a different discussion.

If Trump makes a rare minerals deal with Zelensky and sets up U.S. mining interests in East Ukraine, get ready for TSTHTF.

[sahgwa]

Is that Ukraine's view too? I am sure the European nations know better than you/U.S.A. whether or not Russia is a threat.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRbFPM36QUA&t=141s]

A bunch of hollow words from people that whine when the US is too involved and then whine when the US wants to pull out and have European nations pay more for their own defence.  This is whining over 2 to 3% spending of their GDPs to defend their own 'democratic' Europe? In a Europe that is ruled by a completely undemocratic EU?  Seemingly angry that Trump is looking for peace deals rather than sticking to bellicose rhetoric? Very sad summit.

[quintessentone]

A bunch of hollow words from people that whine when the US is too involved and then whine when the US wants to pull out and have European nations pay more for their own defence.  This is whining over 2 to 3% spending of their GDPs to defend their own 'democratic' Europe? In a Europe that is ruled by a completely undemocratic EU?  Seemingly angry that Trump is looking for peace deals rather than sticking to bellicose rhetoric? Very sad summit.

Trump is not looking for a peace deal, if he was he'd include Ukraine in the talks. Trump is indeed looking to make a deal and that would be for the rare minerals in the middle of the battlefield there. I really think he does not care whether he gets it from Putin's Russia or Ukraine. It's all about the money, American manufacturing/business and America First. Fine do America First but good luck with that because deals include two parties to agree and make concessions.

Meanwhile in China, while Trump focuses on Putin's demands:

https://itif.org/publications/2025/01/09...ng-to-win/

[sahgwa]

Trump is not looking for a peace deal, if he was he'd include Ukraine in the talks. Trump is indeed looking to make a deal and that would be for the rare minerals in the middle of the battlefield there. I really think he does not care whether he gets it from Putin's Russia or Ukraine. It's all about the money, American manufacturing/business and America First. Fine do America First but good luck with that because deals include two parties to agree and make concessions.

Oh they are talking for peace, this is just a side deal which would be Trump showing his constituents 'hey I am getting your tax investment back, or trying to' and making NATO members pay more. 
 Zelenskyy and Vance did not discuss the details of the U.S. document during their meeting Friday at the Munich conference, the senior official said. 
That meeting was "very good" and "substantive," with Vance making it clear his and Trump’s main goal was to achieve a durable, lasting peace, the senior official said. Zelenskyy told Vance that real peace requires Ukraine to be in a "strong position" when starting negotiations, stressing that the U.S. negotiators should come to Ukraine, and that the U.S., Ukraine and Europe must be at the negotiating table for talks with Russia.

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ukra...index.html

[quintessentone]

Oh they are talking for peace, this is just a side deal which would be Trump showing his constituents 'hey I am getting your tax investment back, or trying to' and making NATO members pay more. 
 Zelenskyy and Vance did not discuss the details of the U.S. document during their meeting Friday at the Munich conference, the senior official said. 
That meeting was "very good" and "substantive," with Vance making it clear his and Trump’s main goal was to achieve a durable, lasting peace, the senior official said. Zelenskyy told Vance that real peace requires Ukraine to be in a "strong position" when starting negotiations, stressing that the U.S. negotiators should come to Ukraine, and that the U.S., Ukraine and Europe must be at the negotiating table for talks with Russia.

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ukra...index.html

Putin will not make any concessions, we all know that.

[Oldcarpy2]

Putin wants Ukraine to no longer be a Sovereign Country and have no military.

Don't think Ukrainians will be good with that.