Trump is in talks with Russia to end the war

[quintessentone]

What concessions do you think he will get? 

Im holding out hope they get some territory back but after Friday Russia is in a complete position of strength, they know that Trump was about to bail, and the EU isn't ready to step up to the plate with all of its members. 

REALITY

The members are giving F-16s with complete aid packages just to name only one type of military aid, plus training just as a start.

We all know what measures he has already asked for, whether or not those change, well, we will have to wait to see what transpires when those F-16s are in the air.

[putnam6]

The members are giving F-16s with complete aid packages just to name only one type of military aid, plus training just as a start.

We all know what measures he has already asked for, whether or not those change, well, we will have to wait to see what transpires when those F-16s are in the air.

I meant concessions from Putin, FWIW

Everything is on pause I think this includes F-16s, even shipments from Belgium are being delayed till late 2025 regardless it's not likely to turn the tide of the war.

Im not sure what's left on the table they might just get a fraction of the 65 or so F-16s promise



 

Given the comprehensive nature of the aid pause, it’s reasonable to infer that ongoing U.S. contributions to the F-16 program—such as training, maintenance, and approval for further transfers—are likely affected. For instance, the BBC notes that without U.S. support, maintaining U.S.-supplied equipment like F-16s could become challenging, as it requires engineers and spares that the U.S. facilitates. European allies could theoretically compensate with increased funding, but they still need U.S. approval for transfers, which could be stalled under the pause. Posts on X from late February and early March 2025 reflect sentiment that the U.S. might restrict F-16-related support, though these are not conclusive.
However, the F-16s already delivered to Ukraine (e.g., the initial batch in August 2024) are not directly "paused" since they are physically in Ukraine’s possession and operated by Ukrainian forces. The pause would more likely impact future deliveries, training, and sustainment rather than retracting existing jets. Without an explicit statement from the Trump administration specifying F-16s, this remains an educated assumption based on the aid pause’s scope.

[quintessentone]

[Image: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/...ipo=images]

I meant concessions from Putin, FWIW

Everything is on pause I think this includes F-16s, even shipments from Belgium are being delayed till late 2025 regardless it's not likely to turn the tide of the war.

Im not sure what's left on the table they might just get a fraction of the 65 or so F-16s promise



 

The F-16s are coming from members, not the U.S. and they are not disclosing the timeline of the shipments so Putin won't be prepared for it.

[putnam6]

The F-16s are coming from members, not the U.S. and they are not disclosing the timeline of the shipments so Putin won't be prepared for it.

Not sure how many Ukraine received in the first batch, but it doesn't sound like the rest are anywhere close to being shipped everything I see so far says late 2025, unless you have other sources.

Not to mention other countries can't sell American F-16s without tacit approval from the US, it remains to be seen if the Trump administration will give even that approval.

Common logic suggests Ukraine will have to look to other EU options in the near term


https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/02/ukra...e-dilemma/

Article Summary: Belgium’s promised delivery of 30 F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine has been delayed until at least late 2025 due to setbacks in F-35 production.
-With Belgium receiving only one F-35 so far instead of the expected fleet, it cannot yet part with its aging F-16s.
 
Key Point #1 – Additionally, Ukraine faces a shortage of trained pilots, raising concerns about the effectiveness of adding more aircraft. Spare parts for Belgium’s aging F-16s are scarce, further complicating the transfer.
Key Point #2 – As a result, Ukraine is increasingly focusing on integrating U.S. weapons onto its existing MiG-29s and Su-27s, offering a more immediate and viable combat solution.

 
Belgian F-16 Fighters for Ukraine Delayed Due to F-35 Late DeliveriesOn February 20, Belgium Air Force Chief of Staff General Frederik Vansina gave an interview to the Belgian daily Le Soir, informing that the 30 Belgique F-16s that were promised to Ukraine have now been delayed until at least the end of 2025.
“We now hope to start delivering the first aircraft [to Kyiv] by the end of this year,” Vansina said.
The reason given is that the inability of Brussels to part with the F-16s is a domino-like effect from the serial delays in the production schedule for the F-35A aircraft.

 
“The presence of combat aircraft makes no sense if there’s a shortage of pilots.”
Former NATO-nation pilots who spoke with 19FortyFive agreed that “more aircraft are nice to have, but not if they are sitting around collecting dust.” 
They also note that maintenance issues still exist even if the aircraft are not flown regularly. These problems develop and can add significant expense to keeping them in operation.
One of the pilots who briefed the issue of F-16s for Ukraine last year explained that “the [F-16] aircraft is extremely capable and it can perform all number of missions. But in order for a pilot to be proficient in its operation creates a serious training burden that many nations find difficult to bear.”
This training issue raises part of the argument that a less complicated aircraft like the Swedish JAS-39C/D version of the Gripen is more straightforward to train pilots for and better answers the basic mission requirements that Ukraine currently needs.
“The Gripen is a quartet, but the F-16 is a symphony,” explained one European defense analyst based in London – using the analogy to explain the difference in the two aircraft. “The symphony contains of course every kind of instrument you can imagine, but how often do you need to use some of them in order to perform very basic compositions of music.” 

[quintessentone]

Not sure how many Ukraine received in the first batch, but it doesn't sound like the rest are anywhere close to being shipped everything I see so far says late 2025, unless you have other sources.

Not to mention other countries can't sell American F-16s without tacit approval from the US, it remains to be seen if the Trump administration will give even that approval.

Common logic suggests Ukraine will have to look to other EU options in the near term


https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/02/ukra...e-dilemma/

Belgium wasn't mentioned as a member country where the fighters will be coming from, just saying. The U.S. wasn't mentioned at all, so it appears the U.S. has no say in the matter.

Edit to add:

France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. The United Kingdom, which is no longer an EU member but is working on restoring closer ties with the 27-nation bloc and belongs to NATO, also has nuclear weapons.
 
In the wake of Trump’s push for Europe to carry the defense burden, German election winner Friedrich Merz recently called for a discussion on “nuclear sharing” with France.
 
EU leaders are set to address the issue during a special summit in Brussels on Thursday, focusing on support for Ukraine and European defense. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer won’t be attending the summit. The only non-EU guest is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

https://financialpost.com/pmn/macron-to-...e-strategy

More to come after Thursday's special summit in Brussels.

[putnam6]

Belgium wasn't mentioned as a member country where the fighters will be coming from, just saying. The U.S. wasn't mentioned at all, so it appears the U.S. has no say in the matter.

From my earlier quote... Google Can Europe transfer F-16s without American consent

Hell, they had to wait for Biden to approve the first shipments...

Im rarely 100% SURE,

but so far all evidence points to they can't acquire F-16s without US approval. If have something to the contrary include a link

European allies could theoretically compensate with increased funding, but they still need U.S. approval for transfers, which could be stalled under the pause

https://turdef.com/article/transfer-of-f...s-approval
It is not possible to transfer F-16 fighter jets by user countries to Ukraine without permission from the United States.

[quintessentone]

From my earlier quote... Google Can Europe transfer F-16s without American consent

Hell, they had to wait for Biden to approve the first shipments...

Im rarely 100% SURE,

but so far all evidence points to they can't acquire F-16s without US approval. If have something to the contrary include a link

If they can plan to "share" nuclear weapons isn't it reasonable to assume they can do whatever they want?

https://financialpost.com/pmn/macron-to-...e-strategy

https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospa...ne-in-2025

Still no mention of the U.S. having any say in the matter.

Edit to add:

https://defence-blog.com/canada-sends-f-...o-ukraine/

I would not be surprised if Ukrainian fighter pilots haven't already started F16 flight simulator training or soon will.

AND!

Let's not forget that the Turkish Army is chomping at the bit to fight in this war...ready and able.

Isn't it time Trump and Putin started talking serious long term peace measures?

[putnam6]

If they can plan to "share" nuclear weapons isn't it reasonable to assume they can do whatever they want?

https://financialpost.com/pmn/macron-to-...e-strategy

https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospa...ne-in-2025

Still no mention of the U.S. having any say in the matter.

Edit to add:

https://defence-blog.com/canada-sends-f-...o-ukraine/

I would not be surprised if Ukrainian fighter pilots haven't already started F16 flight simulator training or soon will.

AND!

Let's not forget that the Turkish Army is chomping at the bit to fight in this war...ready and able.

Isn't it time Trump and Putin started talking serious long term peace measures?

Simulators and talks about nuclear protection do not equal continued procurement of F-16s in numbers that will make a difference

Well aware the first shipments were approved and will likely go through, but if they can't get continual support, parts, and pilots they will become problematic. Thats all by design BTW. Hell one country had a couple of old F-16 airframes and they had to get approval from the Biden administration.

But that was a different administration and at that time we were looking at a drawn-out war ahead now we are moving toward peace talks. 

On top of if the EU's want their F-35s they might have to do as OMB wants for the near term and that remains to be seen

[putnam6]

case in point...

 
OSINTdefender

@sentdefender

CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated earlier today that the United States has paused intelligence support to Ukraine, following last week’s heated-exchange in the Oval Office between U.S. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. A senior U.S. defense official stated that the military has already begun to cut back on Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) flights near Ukraine, while telling allies to not share U.S. shared-intelligence with Ukraine, which is likely to effect both offensive and defensive operations by the Ukrainian military, including the air-defense of Kyiv and other cities. A Ukrainian official has denied that intelligence support has been cut, stating that they are still receiving U.S. intelligence.

 

WarMonitor

@WarMonitor

The German Ministry Of Defence- Germany has reached its limit in supplying Ukraine with additional weapons from its current stockpiles.

[putnam6]

Hope they "win" but Im so glad the US isn't part of this anymore

Just more pain for Ukraine, its going to get brutal before it gets better


Wall Street Mav

@WallStreetMav


BREAKING: Zelensky has changed his mind again and announced that he would not negotiate with Russia. Zelensky does not want to discuss anything with Russians and make any concessions. He wants to continue the war.