"Trump isn't fighting for peace in Ukraine, he's managing Russia's victory"

[Jrose]

Comment | "Trump isn’t fighting for peace in Ukraine, he’s managing Russia’s victory - and Europe is worried
No higher delegation of European leaders has ever assembled for a mission of such extraordinary importance - talks with an American president who now wholly represents the interests of Russia.

"Donald Trump has represented Russia’s strategic interests against Ukraine, Europe, and arguably his own country, consistently since his inauguration this year.
He will be speaking the Kremlin’s mind when he meets Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval office. And he will be rehearsing Putin’s talking points when he meets the assembled European leaders later."

(By The Independent’s world affairs editor, Sam Kiley)

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/trump-zelensky-meeting-ukraine-putin-europe-peace-b2809436.html

Allies of democracy vs. aiders and bettors of dictatorships will be clearly displayed at the DC meeting between DJT's team and Zelensky's team today.

[Botany]

1. Trump and Witkoff's "Land Swaps for Peace" are just telling Ukraine they have to surrender 25% of its

lands, people, and its strategic minerals to reward Putin and Russia’s violent aggression. Exactly
how much of France did Germany get to keep after WW II?

Land Swaps for Peace just means Ukraine has to surrender to Putin.

[House of Roberts]

2. Land swaps for peace means no Nobel Peace Prize.

You can't call it peace when you bribe a dictator to stop waging war.

[Botany]

3. Putin gave his troops Viagra so they could use rape as a weapon on the citizens of Ukraine and

they slaughtered tens of thousands people too. I think that takes the Nobel Peace Prize off
the table.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_violence_in_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

In a just world Putin should be arrested, shipped to Ukraine, given a public trial, and taken to
out and shot.

[Hornedfrog2000]

9. That is too good for him

He should get the gadafi treatment. Let the people have their way.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. Not necessarily in that order. n/t

[Attilatheblond]

4. Desperate Putin can't win on his own, wants Felon and the US to be part of his arsenal

Is the GOP really OK with that?

[FakeNoose]

7. What about the stories of Russian soldiers quitting and defecting to Ukraine?

I haven't heard much recently, but they were all over the news a couple years ago. Also there were stories of Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukraine so they could sit out the war as POWs.

There have been stories of young Russian men trying to dodge the draft, or otherwise refusing to fight. We need to play up that angle because it could be a factor against Putin. When American families (including parents and grandparents) started protesting the Vietnam War, that's all it took. Suddenly Nixon had to do something quickly because he was already losing his base.

[Hornedfrog2000]

10. You sure that was real?

I did not hear of this.

[FakeNoose]

12. Uh, yeah...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Russia_Legion

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2416/

Back in 2022 and 2023 practically all we heard about were the Russians defecting or leaving the army because they didn't support the war in Ukraine.

[kentuck]

5. Does anyone still doubt that he is not a Russian asset...

"Putin says..", he says.

[karynnj]

6. One take - Russia is now winning the Cold war

Far from a hoax, Russia used our own freedom of speech and democracy to make the US an authoritarian country, led by a man who has the same interests as Putin.

The US was for a long time the strongest country in the world,both militarily and economically. Russia has a relatively small economy based mostly on oil and militarily has not defeated the much weaker Ukraine. Unless something changes, they may have destroyed our strength from within.

In some ways, it suggests the actual goal of Doge/Trump was to destroy our research strength, our universities' excellence and made lives harder for most Americans. The ugly bill moves us closer to the economics of a third world nation. Maybe the destruction was intentional.

Remember back to when the USSR collapsed and many countries formerly behind the iron curtain were free to look to the west? We were really the sole superpower. It looks like Russia has gained an edge even with an inferior economy and military using what was always seen as our greatest asset - our democracy.

[Hornedfrog2000]

11. They already have destroyed us

A lot of our power came from us having, and gaining leverage, or having strategic geographic military positioning. Trump did Russias work by;

-Pulling our military bases out of countries
-Ending trade deals that guaranteed the use of our dollar while china swoops in.
-And finally the goal is to destroy the dollar fully so the USA no longer controls the world currency.

When people finally lose all faith in our markets and the dollar is when china ends us via cashing in our debt. The government will restrict people pulling out money from the bank, restrict other currencies/gold, etc. Once the market starts crashing, it will snowball.nPeople in the 20s were jumping out of windows when the stock market crashed. That will pale in comparison, and we will have no trade deals to dig us out. It will just be us, alone. Then the orange asshole will strike to retain power.

[Emile]

8. He is in debt to Putin.

[FakeNoose]

13. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding

Chump assumed that Pootie GAVE him the money, because everyone gives him money. Why not Pootie?

Whereas Pootie thought it was a business deal. He LENT money to Chump with the understanding that he'd be PAID BACK.

Whoops!

[mdbl]

14. Of course. Trump is a traitor to democracy

No surprise there! What is surprising is all the morons in the US House and Senate that allow it to continue.

[Skittles]

15. yup

disgusting

[Torchlight]

16. Putin and trump have unified the western nations against them

to a degree not seen since the late 30s. Ironic in that their intent is the opposite.

[bigtree]

18. k&r

[Seeking Serenity]

19. We need a Democrat back in power tout suite to kick-start this war back into gear

This is not the American way.

[Dem4life1970]

20. He is a Putin puppet...

...can't bring himself to admit it. He still whines about "Russia, Russia, Russia" then turns around and does the bidding of Russia. AS IF Russia is a serious power anymore. Biden was not afraid of Putin, neither was Obama. But Trump is a scared little boy whenever he faces Putin, and it shows. We saw it in Alaska (and Helsinki) with our own eyes.