People in Britain who think they are governed by fools should take a closer look at the Russian and US presidents. Vladimir Putin is systematically ruining his country. His war of choice in Ukraine is an economic, financial, geopolitical and human calamity for Russia that worsens by the day. For his own murky reasons, Donald Trump, another national menace, offered him a lifeline last week. Yet Putin spurned it. These two fools deserve each other.

On the table in Moscow was a “peace” deal that, broadly speaking, rewarded Russia’s aggression by handing over large chunks of Ukrainian land, compromised Kyiv’s independence and weakened its defences against any future attack. The Trump deal, if forced through, would have split the US and Europe; ruptured Nato, perhaps fatally; reprieved Russia’s pariah economy; and probably toppled Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.

These are key Russian war aims. But Putin, suffering from neo-imperial fantasies and legacy issues, said “no”. He reckons he can get it all, and more, by fighting on. He has persuaded the idiot Trump that Russia’s victory is inevitable – and that scheming Europeans are the real warmongers. Yet his premise is fundamentally flawed. Hard facts confound him. Almost four years on, he’s still trapped in Donbas mud and ice. And at home, things fall apart.

  • Cypher@lemmy.world
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    22 hours ago

    They don’t need to push Russia out so long as Russia is losing far more men and equipment. This is a war of attrition and despite being far larger Russia is losing.

    Fighting age men and equipment are finite resources.

    They might gain ground now but Russia will be unable to hold it, assuming that the EU and US continue to back Ukraine.

    • Fizz@lemmy.nz
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      11 hours ago

      No this is the wrong takeaway. Russia is losing more than Ukraine on a day by day basis. But Ukraine is losing the attrition war.

    • Mihies@programming.dev
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      22 hours ago

      OK, you are speaking like the Ukraine has infinite resources and tactically loosing ground just to deplete Russia. I’m sure that they have the plan to loose strategically important cities just for that.

      US continue to back Ukraine? Please, do a reality check. While EU is only backing Ukraine halfheartedly and not even the entire EU.

      • drhodl@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        Yeah, but NO-ONE is backing ruzzia, Boris. Everyone hates you. You just have a few hangers on like India, China and NK who are only there to profit at your expense. These are the best friends money can buy, hey Boris? Ukraine, on the other hand, has many friends who are budgeting to support ruzzia for as long as it takes.

        I’d say that ruzzia is going down a toilet, but there aren’t many of those in the motherland, hey Boris? Still, ruzzia will look good in a latrine pit LOL.

        • doben@lemmy.wtf
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          15 hours ago

          This is dumb. It’s dependant on the mother tongue how and if a definitive article is being used with Ukraine. In German for example, you say “die Ukraine”, and a natural translation into colloquial English results in the use of “the Ukraine”. This doesn’t mean to be a Sergei.

            • doben@lemmy.wtf
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              19 minutes ago

              Wikipedia on the Name of Ukriane

              We don’t necessarily disagree, but proclaiming disregard for Ukrainian souvereignty based on the use of a definitive article in an international forum is bad faith conduct. It’s specifically an English thing and a Ukrainian/Russian thing. There are languages that are using the definitve article based on how their languages work and these kind of usages will sometimes transfer into English.

              This, again, does not mean what you trying to do, discrediting another user’s opinions or arguments based on an improper use of a foreign language. That is the opposite of civil behaviour.

              As a german, I had to actively learn to not use “the” in combination with “Ukraine”. It happened because of a confrontation with clever individuals like you, but that really can be done politely hinting at the proper use in the English language and not by shaming the other person.

              (reup, edited out the meany words, lol)

            • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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              8 hours ago

              “The” before a place name is an odd choice, isn’t it? There are really very few places (in English) that have it. “The Hague” being probably the best known. There’s one locally here called “The Dalles”.

              Odd that it’s so common in Spanish but not English.

              • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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                7 hours ago

                The Gambia is another one.

                I don’t know, I see Ukraine vs the Ukraine in a similar light as Democrat Party vs Democratic Party. Yes, it’s possible that it’s an innocent mistake, but looking at everything else the person is saying, it’s usually pretty clear when they have an ulterior motive.

              • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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                12 hours ago

                If we were speaking German and he wasn’t spouting Russian propaganda I might feel bad about it. But we aren’t and he is.

                And repeatedly insulting me for it isn’t helping your case. So kindly, go fuck yourself.

                • doben@lemmy.wtf
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                  9 hours ago

                  Oh my, so you first accuse someone of spouting propaganda and insult them at the same time, because you don’t like their perspective, all based off of the grammatically wrong use of an article and when you’re being confronted with your shitty behaviour you play victim, because said behaviour is ousted as being dumb and the kind of people acting like that, which includes you, are being called out as the idiots that they are.

                  Bohooo, poor little ignorant victim you are.

                  How about you accept, that you behaved like an asshole and throw out an excuse ­- that would be more impressive. But looks like you don’t have the character strength.

                  An alternative would be to actually provide some kind of arguments as to why the accused’s arguments or opinions are wrong, instead of straight up denouncing them - that would also be more impressive. But looks like you don’t have the intellectual strength.

                  Get fucked, loser.

                  • drhodl@lemmy.world
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                    6 hours ago

                    Boohoo, litle ruzzian troll. Keep up your shrill screeching, so we all know who to ignore LOL.

                    Oh and btw, Sergei! How do you feel about the midget Pootin raising the cost of vodka in January, by 30% ? That will be so wonderful for your liver, and Pootang can keep affording to bomb women and children.

              • Miaou@jlai.lu
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                12 hours ago

                tbh this entire comment thread is trying to frame any discussion as being pro Russian. At least the pointless grammar bike shedding lets us know whom to block

      • Cypher@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        The US is still sending weapons. Check that reality.

        Of course Ukraine doesn’t have infinite resources but they are spending theirs much more wisely.

        Russia is already a pathetic shadow of its former self and its only downhill from here. Broke bitches thinking they’ll own Europe hah.

        • Mihies@programming.dev
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          22 hours ago

          The US is still sending weapons. Check that reality.

          US is selling weapons to European/NATO countries and even that is limited. On the other hand US is appeasing and siding with Putin wherever they can which speaks more than those profit from selling weapons.

          Of course Ukraine doesn’t have infinite resources but they are spending theirs much more wisely.

          Sure they do and at the same time they don’t have enough of those. What is the endgame here? Hoping that Russia collapses somehow before they conquer whatever they are set to?

          • drhodl@lemmy.world
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            6 hours ago

            Hey Sergei, shouldn’t you be digging a fresh latrine pit for Babushka? The old one is full, and the mighty Midget Pootang, needs it to recruit more of you trolls from :)

      • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
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        20 hours ago

        In English you say ‘losing’, not ‘loosing’. Hope that helps.