Yeah uh about that … let’s brainstorm …what if Zelensky is taken hostage on his next visit to the White House?

Or what if his plane flying him back suddenly dissappears?

Falling out a window only happens because of weird Russian glass, yes?

“The great peacemaker” needs big wars so that he can eventually “make” a peace…

You’re right, but what you’re not quite mentioning is that most of these defeats came from Russia instigating the conflict (even well before the communist revolution). Ie. it performed small invasions in various Baltic states, sweden and finland in the Napoleonic eras and was a general nuisance at the borders.

Russias long time battle strategy of using its populace as cannon fodder, and seeing individuals as worthless workers for the state, is also the reason why it never amounts to actually realizing the huge threat outsiders think it is.

In potential they can amass every citizen in the working force for their military complex.
But if those same citizens are bereft of anything that inspires them the fighting spirit dwindles and force must be used to push them to fight which isn’t a great thing for morale.

It showed in the Russian defeat against Napoleon, Napoleon took his inspired armies deep inside Russia, and all the Russians had as a strategy was just torch every town, city and granary in Napoleon’s path, untill he got stuck in the freezing winter without supplies nor local inhabitants to aid his conquest. The same thing it did with its own people during the communist revolution, it torched villages and killed livestock of any single Russians against the regime change. World War 2 also saw this tactic being used, and in Ukraine we’re seeing it again.

So the thing is, be it under the Tsar, the communist regime, or under Putins hybrid oligarchic communism, the cannon fodder doctrine never left the Russian way of thinking.

And this, in essence, also is why Russia is considered the antithesis and “the enemy” to the West’s view of individualism.

Seeing how the European members are one financial bloc it would be appropriate to count them as one and average their spending, then it would probably go past the 2% easily (I don’t have nor know how to use the relevant data, so correct me if I am wrong).

But this is not useful for Trump’s reasoning to want to leave NATO so he will not do that and count everyone separately, be it EU or other members.

He needs the excuse, and seeing how the EU is thwarting his and Putins plans for Ukraine, I can see Trump will come with an ultimatum this or next year to actually leave/dismantle NATO.

I am convinced that the only thing keeping Trump from leaving NATO right now is the income the Military Industry is receiving from this.

I fully agree.

Granted, many members were below the agreed upon spending of 2%

And he somewhat correctly complained about that…

Though some were above 2% already and Trump had nothing but silence for it…

But now that members drastically increased spending (not just because of him but also due to the Putin factor) Trump suddenly demands 5% across the board … already Poland is over that (because of Putin, not Trump) and Germany approaching it …

Trump knows/is told most members can not raise to 5% …and will use their non compliance to his orders as an excuse to torpedo NATO.

But I am sure when a few others do pass 5% he’ll go to 8% just to spite things and make sure Putin is appeased with his instilled chaos.

Ofcourse they had …

The way Trump was speaking of using the military on US soil months ago tells you it was thorougly discussed between him and his inner circle.

He will never acknowlege fault from his side so he’ll need to find more and more enemies and institutions to attack and blame in an endless cycle…

Don’t be surprised if at some point he’ll demand previous presidents be arrested and interrogated for destroying the US economy and standing…

I mostly agree, but I think the list needs Germany’s excellent Leopard (2) tanks, the modern APC variants and all their industry.

Europe also has a lot of good marine yards that can make Navy vessels and submarines.

And it can drum up drone production in a rapid tempo where needed.

What’s more, European Steel and metallurgy are out of the door of higher grade than the US, Russia and Chinese productions. This is a boon to produce heavy armor quickly.

So when push comes to shove Europe can no doubt ramp up a unified military industry rapidly, no need for it to take a decade, and keep finances in house. Another factor that works against the Trump economy if he thoughtlessly pulls the plug on NATO

…

;-)

Ofcourse all political deals are -finalized- behind closed doors, but the whole world, including Zelensky knew he was expected to be there for protection for his country, not to be attacked by bullies still trying to blame him for a war he did not start…

It is strange how you keep blaming Zelensky for being verbally attacked by Trump, someone who is supposed to be an ally, how is that Zelensky’s fault? Trump invited a LEADER of a foreign country, supposedly an ally, and starts disrespecting and berating his honored guest immediately …

Think about it, Trump visiting Israel and Netanyahu and 2 of his staff begin insulting Trump, strongly suggesting the president of the USA kiss their shoes on camera for whatever reason…

Zelensky and Ukraine are fighting for their right to exist, they are not the cause for the casualties as you keep inferring. Only one person is responsible for the bloodshed and that is Putin. And only two people can almost instantly stop the bloodshed, Putin with an immediate withdrawal, and Trump by 500% supporting Ukraine. Zelensky can not do this, not even if he literally kisses Trump’s feet on camera, it serves only to demean him in front of his soldiers back in Ukraine. And it is very good he has a backbone.

One thing you, and Trump seem to ignore, is that if Zelensky now fully surrendered Ukraine to Putin the bloodshed will continue, Putin will kill all Ukrainian soldiers, burn villages that withstood his plans, demolish internal industry and markets, brainwash the children and wipe the history, every product is to be shipped to Russia and Ukraine is left to starve in its ruins…

So the enemy needs to hear it spoken loudly that the US fully protects an ally and backs it, this should not be a matter of secrecy. And the world expects it to be spoken out loud.

The moment a question of protection/security needs to be whispered about something is not right…

And somehow, clearly, there was no sign anymore of Trump offering protection in out in the open.

(Yet he can do it for Israël, with his hellfire threat on Gaza, and Netanyahu did not need to grovel, nor get bullied)

And sure the deal was probably laid out before that, but perhaps we did not see/hear Trump do an “I altered the deal…” as he has done before. Who knows what crumpled up note Zelensky received as he stepped from his ride, perhaps it even said there will not be a 2nd meeting.

But the minerals were the payment and not the important part, and the payment could be done behind closed doors.

… A small example on why the main objective shouldn 't be hidden:

Loudly and publicly proclaiming “I paid $500!” then walking off makes no sense, everyone hearing you say that will ask “for what”.

The deal is not important, nor are the minerals, Zelensky was there for security guarantees and they should not be hidden, what kind of nonsense is that. Why shouldn’t anyone hear of security guarantees?

Trump should have shaken Zelensky’s hands, in public LOUDLY proclaiming full and lasting protection and NATO membership or NATO boots on the ground. Make explicitly sure everyone knows Trump and the US supports and backs an ally that is invaded by a centuries old enemy.

And THEN do a deal for minerals behind the curtains, THAT is the way to do it.

Yes indeed, there was no reason for Russia to invade Ukraine … yet Putin did it, three times now, and keeps demanding Ukraine gives up nukes, weaponry, and lately any form of standing army…

And everyone is convinced he’ll be back to destroy Ukraine within 5 years if hes not tapped on the nose firmly now.

And when he has Ukraine he’ll feel free to start kicking Europe in the soft spots.

This is the end of a once great america, no matter Trump’s promise…

All trust is gone for years, perhaps decades to come.

The petrol dollar that gave the US it’s hegemony by stepping away from gold reserves into the dollar as backing financial system will be dismantled.

It already was on shaky grounds with the US printing infinite money without guarantees to pay off a huge debt beyond the petro dollar’s shield, but now all trust in the US is gone and the shift to another monetary system will start.

BRICS will take off and Trump can not stop it (not even counting him being under russian influence to let it happen). Europe will pay oil in euros for a while.

In a decade we might see rise of a global traders currency based on a true, set value.

I fully agree. But to add to it:

Vance had no rights to be there, the only reason he was is so they both could gang up on Zelensky in front of the cameras and bully him, Trump probably felt he was unable to do it alone.

Sell yes, meaning Ukraine gets something in return…

But Trump goes “ok give us the minerals, bye”.

What kind of deal is that, Ukraine gets nothing, that’s not even a proper business transaction…

Thats plain saying give me your money or the guy with the gun takes it from you.

In a real deal the least Zelensky/Ukraine expects to get in return is full and lasting protection against Putin walzing in and taking Ukraine anyway.

In his WW3 rant Trump also seems to forget Zelensky/Ukraine is already at war (though putin is the one calling it a 3 day police action), and the only one gambling for WW3 is Trump by whining about demanding minerals for nothing in return.

Ofcourse it’s full on clear by now Trump expects Putin to walz in anyway, destroy Ukraine and pay Trump personally a 1% finders fee for the minerals.

On paper the judicial branch can uphold checks and balances … and should … but if no one executes it things are moot…

On paper Trump IS an insurrectionist and should never have been allowed to delay his criminal cases and should be locked up now for treason… but here we are, no one dared to properly stop him.

The courts can deny the legality of Trump’s orders all they want, if they don’t bring a force to reel him or others in things will proceed according to King Trump’s will… Besides, Trump decreed only he and and an AG can declare what is law now, so …yeah…

Look at one of the institutions (forgot which it was) that Musk planted himself in … a police/security force was keeping legally appointed people out of the building while said police should have forced Musk out for illegally interfering with government offices.

It will never matter if they eventually do arrest a “Peter from accounting” who gave Musk passwords to some computer somewhere but let Trump and Musk themselves do whatever they want.

On paper, by repeatedly trashing the constitution Trump should already have been stopped in 2025 alone, but everyone seems intent on just riding it out and is already afraid to personally get in Trump’s crosshairs.

On paper the military is bound by oath to protect the constitution, but Trump quickly replaces anyone there who as much as frowns at his executive orders…

Yeah he’ll withdraw troops and NATO support no matter how things go in Europe …

He’ll need more armyboots at home defending his regime … also needs to recoup costs due to losing out on tax income and tariff lies. Then there is this thing where he wants to give Putin this favor of dismantling NATO.

So, his demand was 2% in 2017 … and countries are exceeding that, Poland is already spending more than even the US, and Germany is climbing, so he upped it to 5% to get the excuse of the US backing out.

Even if they meet 5%, in a few years he’ll up it further.

Ofcourse for now he’ll assume the NATO members still feel bound to keep supplying intelligence information and buy American weaponry, even if NATO falls apart.

He needs Russia to win…

Because Putin demands it of him to force it that way.

I suspect Trump hopes Putin will give him 20% anyway

Yes, it’s mostly Putins goal, he knows the US will be too busy internally/incompetent to mean anything on a world stage so Russia takes the lead.

Musk is a firm believer of being part of the destruction of the world and desires to be on the forefront of reshaping it… For him it’s all good 'till the restructuring begins.

So the path to world war has been firmly set in motion:

Trump fully destroys the US’ international influence by dismantling the NATO and UN memberships, closing bases on foreign soil and discarding its external intelligence machine.

Ukraine will not want to be conquered and can make its own nukes, will be a huge pain for Russia.

Russia will attempt to take back eastern Europe, first through (political)chaos then by force, like it has done times and times again in the past.

Iran will see the US kneeling before Russia and openly attacks Israel with all it has, the US will try to call on the Arab states to intervene, but it would be in the name of Israel which… yeah is a bit awkward…

India and Japan will declare neutrality, Japan closes itself off from the world as in the olden days, and India has a few worms to pick with Pakistan…

Afrika is a tribal bloodbath on it’s own and no party in this.

China will feel legitimized in taking Taiwan and perhaps all of Korea, which destroys the Wests supply of silicon. Causing a tipping point into all out war over the whole globe…