In Ukraine it is already the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s genocidal re-invasion. Here, in the US, it is still the anniversary of D-1.
One note, there is, once again, video of Russians executing captured Ukrainian Soldiers. I’ve seen the video, you do NOT need to go and watch it!
Russia is the cancer of the world, yet it’s treated like a mild flu.
3 years since the full-scale war against the existence of Ukrainian identity, let alone the Ukrainian state.
This war cannot have some rapid peace agreement, because its reasons are not rational.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The russian military launched a record number of drones against Ukraine overnight—267❗️ UAVs, according to the Air Force.
Ukrainian forces shot down 138 of the drones. 119 disappeared from radars. 3bof the drones flew toward Belarus, and 1 returned to russia.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Earlier today President Zelenskyy baited a trap for Trump and Putin.
Zelenskyy offers to step down in exchange for peace and Ukraine’s Nato membership
https://www.ft.com/content/19d4bef2-51db-4f9a-b9d3-f8dd56468e90
— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) February 23, 2025 at 10:27 AM
From The Financial Times:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said for the first time that he is willing to step down as Ukraine’s president if the move secured Nato membership or lasting peace for his country.
“If it brings peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I’m ready. I can exchange it for Nato [membership],” Zelenskyy told reporters at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday. “If such conditions exist [I will step down] immediately.”
“I am focusing on security today and not in 20 years’ time . . . I won’t be in power for decades,” Zelenskyy said ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine on Monday.
The startling offer to step down, while improbable given the dim prospects of Nato accession, is a sign of the extreme pressure on the Ukrainian leader as the US hurries to hatch a peace deal with Moscow.
The Trump administration has made several concessions to Russia, including agreeing to normalise relations after bilateral talks in Saudi Arabia last week, while excluding Nato membership for Ukraine.
Trump described Zelenskyy last week as a “dictator” while blaming Kyiv, rather than Moscow, for starting the war.
Russia launched its biggest drone strike against Ukraine on Sunday, firing 267 drones against multiple targets across the country.
Ukrainian officials say Washington is also trying to strong-arm Zelenskyy into signing a deal that would award the US large amounts of the proceeds from extracting Ukrainian mineral deposits.
US officials presented Kyiv last week with a plan to channel up to $500bn in proceeds from resource extraction into a fund that would be 100 per cent owned by the US. Trump has described the plan as repayment for previous US military aid.
Zelenskyy pushed back against the Trump administration’s demands.
“I know we had $100bn [of assistance from the US] but I’m not going to acknowledge $500bn, no matter what anyone says,” Zelenskyy said. “I’m not going to sign something that ten generations of Ukrainians will be paying for.”
Now we wait and see if the trap is sprung.
This is what truly adult communication looks like: “I don’t plan to stay in power for decades. But we won’t let Putin stay in power over Ukrainian territories either. Honestly, it’s important what Ukrainians think of me.”
His expressions say it all too.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Here’s the full video of President Zelenskyy’s press conference at the Forum Ukraine 2025:
I’ll post the full video of the forum after the jump.
President Zelenskyy has also refused to sign Trump’s deal.
⚡️Zelensky won’t sign natural resource deal that ‘will be paid by 10 generations of Ukrainians.’
Zelensky said that he will not recognize the $500 billion request since it vastly outweighs the $100 billion the U.S. has sent in aid to Ukraine.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back at the U.S.’ demand for a $500 billion fund to be financed with Ukrainian natural resource revenue, saying that the U.S.’s aid grants are not debts, during the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv on Feb. 23.
Negotiations on a deal to entrench U.S. interests in Ukraine’s reserves are ongoing, with the latest draft presented by the White House demanding $500 billion of Ukraine’s natural resources, including critical minerals, to recuperate American aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky said that he will not recognize such a large sum since it vastly outweighs the $100 billion the U.S. has sent to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden.
The president added that the aid given to Ukraine cannot be counted as debts since they are grants and stressed that security guarantees need to be included in the deal. So far no such guarantees have been put in place, he said.
“I am not signing something that will be paid by 10 generations of Ukrainians,” Zelensky said, adding that he wants a dialogue with Trump.
The initial White House proposal sought a 50% interest in Ukraine’s natural resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as critical infrastructure and ports. Zelensky said Ukraine is not ready to “split 50/50 without knowing what’s ahead.”
The Ukrainian leader also pointed out that the U.S. proposed to return future aid with an interest of 1:2. “For every U.S. dollar, Ukraine must return two. In simple terms, this is 100% of the loan,” he said.
The exact details of the current proposal have been kept secret but the administration of President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on Kyiv to sign. Ukraine has had a back and forth with its American counterparts for nearly two weeks and Kyiv will start working to conclude an agreement with the U.S. on Feb. 24, said Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraine’s parliament.
The value and volume of Ukraine’s critical minerals are unknown with the figure hotly debated among experts as assessments are based on old Soviet-era figures. However, $350 billion worth of natural resources are located in the Russian-occupied territories, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said at the forum.
The bottom line is that Ukraine is willing to work with America and strives to be a reliable trade partner. There’s no issue with Ukraine having economic deals that benefit both sides – it’s fair for Americans to make money in this situation. The deal should be fair, that’s it
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I wrote about this two days ago when I learned about it. Now you have confirmation that my insight was on the spot:
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
That’s not happening either.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s remarks while presenting awards to Ukrainian Soldiers earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
This Year, We Must Do Absolutely Everything to Achieve a Real Peace with Security Guarantees for Our State – The President While Presenting Awards and Apartment Certificates to the Warriors and the Families of Fallen Heroes
23 February 2025 – 16:53
On the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with defenders and families of the fallen warriors.
The Head of State presented the “Golden Stars” of the Hero of Ukraine, the “Cross of Military Merit” distinctions, other state awards, battle flags, and “For Courage and Bravery” insignias to military units. Volodymyr Zelensky also handed over 13 apartment certificates to the Heroes of Ukraine and the families of the fallen Heroes.
“We must do absolutely everything possible and impossible to achieve a real peace with security guarantees for our state, with guarantees of dignity and respect for all our children, for everyone who lives and has lived in Ukraine. And with great respect for all those who gave their lives,” the President said.
The Head of State thanked all Ukrainian warriors and their families for keeping Ukraine alive. The participants honored the memory of the fallen defenders with a minute of silence.
The President awarded the families of the fallen Heroes of Ukraine with the Orders of the Golden Star. The highest state award was conferred to:
Lieutenant Oleksandr Borshuliak. The group under his command repeatedly provided safe passages through minefields and engineering obstacles, which enabled capturing the enemy positions and taking the Russian occupiers prisoner. In July 2023, the unit came under fire, but despite this, Oleksandr Borshuliak continued to carry out his mission. Thanks to this, our warriors were able to take up more favorable positions for further advancement.
Sergeant Bohdan Hrymashevych. Despite being under constant artillery fire, he successfully pushed the enemy out of their positions and advanced 2 km. He captured nine Russian invaders. During an enemy counterattack, he held the line and remained in position until the end, continuing to destroy the invaders with a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher.
Junior Sergeant Oleh Ruban. In March 2023, under constant artillery fire, he led his group to a combat position without losses and effectively organized the defense. Oleh Ruban timely detected a concealed attack and organized a counteroffensive, but was killed during the battle by a sniper’s bullet.
Junior Sergeant Vladyslav Bombela. Since 2022, he had been carrying out combat missions as part of a special forces group. He downed two Russian Su-34 aircraft and, during the defense of Avdiivka, eliminated several dozen invaders. He also provided assistance to wounded brothers-in-arms and organized their evacuation. Since April of the previous year, he had been performing combat tasks near Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. Vladyslav Bombela was killed on July 11 as a result of an airstrike.
Soldier Andrii Demchyk. Last May, during the construction of fortifications at the position, two Ukrainian warriors were severely wounded by an ammunition drop. He provided them with assistance and organized their evacuation. Afterward, Russian invaders struck with an FPV drone, which flew into a hole of an unfinished bunker where three Ukrainian defenders remained. Andrii Demchyk lunged at the drone and covered it with his body.
The President also awarded the “Golden Star” of the Hero of Ukraine to the warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service, and the Security Service of Ukraine. The following warriors were honored with this title:
Junior Lieutenant Tengiz Berdzenishvili. In April 2023, while leading a special forces group and a mortar crew, he repelled an assault on positions near Avdiivka and, under extremely challenging conditions, ensured their defense. Under his command, the units successfully destroyed, among other things, rocket launchers and tanks near Krasnohorivka and Robotyne.
Junior Sergeant Fedir Kiselar. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, he defended the Sumy region. He participated in the liberation of Trostyanets. In September 2023, he initiated the creation of a UAS unit for remote mining and the destruction of engineering structures. Under his command, for the first time, TМ-62 mines were used to remotely mine a 7 km stretch of the Bakhmut – Kostyantynivka road. Last May, during the evacuation of an injured brother-in-arms, he sustained severe mine-explosive injuries, resulting in the amputation of his leg.
Soldier Oleksandr Fedorovskyi (National Guard of Ukraine). He personally eliminated about 40 Russian occupiers in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Last April, together with his unit commander, he prevented a breach of positions and, risking his life, destroyed an enemy assault group.
Retired Senior Soldier Ivan Kryvalchuk (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine). He led a group carrying out combat tasks at a position where continuous battles were taking place. He helped evacuate wounded brothers-in-arms from a critical fire point. He destroyed several enemy combat groups and captured an enemy radio. This facilitated the orientation and successful completion of the evacuation. During this battle, he sustained severe injuries.
Captain Karen Shakhbazian (Security Service of Ukraine). He conducted aerial reconnaissance in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. In difficult combat conditions, the UAV crew destroyed and damaged several surface-to-air missile systems, anti-aircraft missile and gun systems, a self-propelled artillery unit, and an automated jamming station.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Crosses of Military Merit to six defenders. The recipients were:
Major Robert Brovdi. Commander of the 414th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems. He pioneered the use of octocopters for mining operations. During combat missions, his units destroyed and damaged several thousand ground targets and drones. In January of this year alone, they carried out over 16,000 combat sorties and hit over 4,500 targets.
Junior Sergeant Kyrylo Voina. Over the course of one month, he made 60 crossings of the Dnipro River in the Kherson direction. Near the village of Krynky, on a boat damaged by shelling, he evacuated eight wounded warriors from the left bank to the right. Last April, he saved the lives of three wounded fighters while maneuvering a boat under fire from Russian occupiers. He suffered a mine blast injury but continued to carry out his mission.
Senior Lieutenant Ivan Kozin. He led an IFV column that breached several rows of minefields on the territory of the Russian Federation and destroyed two armored vehicles. This created conditions for the main forces of the battalion to advance. He organized the encirclement of an enemy garrison, which was successfully stormed by his company: two mortar teams were destroyed, 15 Russian soldiers were killed, and another 10 were taken prisoner.
Soldier Denys Reshetnikov. In the Donetsk direction in February 2024, he eliminated five occupiers, recaptured a lost position, and took a Russian soldier prisoner. In March, with a shot from a Javelin, he stopped the advance of a column. In July, near Krasnohorivka, together with two brothers-in-arms, he repelled an assault for five hours, destroying four occupiers and wounding three others. During the battle, Denys Reshetnikov was wounded.
Major Vitalii Kovalchuk (National Guard of Ukraine). He planned approximately 20 operations to repel enemy assaults and 14 counteroffensive operations on enemy positions. He facilitated the evacuation of 10 families from areas under shelling. He planned actions that enabled the Guardsmen to destroy about 15 enemy tanks, 15 armored vehicles, five trucks, and nearly a platoon of infantry.
The President awarded battle flags to the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade, and the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade, as well as the insignias “For Courage and Bravery” to the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade “Black Forest,” the 2nd Separate Halytska Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 27th Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, and the 17th Border Guard Detachment named after Colonel Oleksandr Zhukovsky of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Here is the full video of the 2025 Forum Ukraine:
Georgia:
“Glory to Georgia 🇬🇪, Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦” — Day 88 of continuous protests.
Rustaveli is blocked.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Day 88. “Until the end! Strength is in unity! The end of winter is coming, the people’s spring is arriving! We won’t stop – schedule new elections!”
By sanctioning those responsible, you help us avoid costs that can be avoided in this struggle. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The poster – Glory to Georgia, Slava Ukraini ✊🏻
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Protesters have also gathered in Zugdidi.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 88📸 Salome Partsvania
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The small town of Chkhorotsku continues to protest despite the cold weather.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 88📷Oto Shengelia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
JUST IN: A convict released by self-proclaimed President Kavelashvili’s amnesty (among 613 persons) just killed a 23-year-old and casually left the country to Turkey.
Thank God the police are too busy fining and torturing peaceful protesters.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 6:38 AM
One killed, two more wounded in separate incidents today. Non-protest-related attacks and even killings are almost a daily occurrence now. The “peace and stability” of the Georgian Dream regime. #terrorinGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Those who attacked demonstrators with knife and baseball bat a few days ago have been released from administrative detention.
Meanwhile, journalist Mzia Amaglobeli remains in criminal detention for slapping a police officer and faces 4 to 7 years in prison.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Germany:
⚡️CDU wins German election, Friedrich Merz raises NATO concerns.
Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to return to power, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerging as the second-largest party, according to Feb. 23 exit polls.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to return to power, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerging as the second-largest party, according to exit polls.
The snap election was driven by concerns over immigration, economic issues, and the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency.
Cheers erupted at CDU headquarters on the evening of Feb. 23 as exit polls confirmed the opposition party’s victory, according to CNN. Outside the building, a small group of demonstrators protested against CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s stance on immigration. Declaring victory, Merz addressed supporters in central Berlin, saying, “Let’s get the party started,” signaling his intent to begin coalition talks swiftly.
With 28.8% of the vote, according to exit polls, Merz is expected to become Germany’s next chancellor. A staunch conservative who has never held government office, he will lead Europe’s largest economy. The AfD secured 20.2%, an unprecedented result for the far-right party, which has long been considered extremist.
Merz expressed doubts about NATO’s future following recent comments from the Trump administration. “I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump’s remarks last week… it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe,” he told German broadcaster ARD. He also questioned whether NATO would remain intact by the June summit and stressed the urgency of building an independent European defense strategy.
Known for his hardline stance on Russia, Merz has supported sending medium-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, a move the outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has firmly opposed.
On Feb. 21, Merz criticized Trump’s recent statements on Ukraine, calling them “shocking” and aligned with Russian narratives. “This is the Russian narrative; this is how Putin has presented it for years, and I’m frankly shocked that Donald Trump has now apparently embraced it himself,” Merz added.
Remarkable assessment by an incoming German chancellor. “for me it is an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that we achieve independence from the US, step by step.” www.dw.com/en/german-el…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Soviet legacy is a real thing. Even in the Westernmost West.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Apparently, it’s the retired Germans we should be grateful to.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
So Europe is running out of time to get its stuff together. I do not want to imagine the next election results. Didn’t know situation was so dire among young Germans. And it’s not just AfD.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Everyone be praying for the health of elderly Germans and the miracle of undoing the propaganda.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Following his election victory, Friedrich Merz once again said that Germany has so far not supported #Ukraine enough in its defence against Russia, in my interpretation therefore indicating that he might increase Germany’s military assistance in particular.
— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua.org) February 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Sweden:
🇸🇪Swedish government has procured air defense systems worth 1.2 billion kronor (112$ mln) to be donated to Ukraine.
This concerns the Robot 70 and Tridon Mk2 systems, which will be procured through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. (Tridon Mk2 on a video).
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The US:
Witkoff: “The war didn’t need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians. There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. That didn’t need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) February 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
This is a lie. It is factually untrue. I was the Senior Civilian Advisor (Cultural Advisor) to the Commander of US Army Europe at the time of the initial invasion in 2014. I wrote the strategic assessment of Putin’s objectives & motivations prior to the initial invasion. There were no serious discussion in 2014, nor in 2021 or early 2022. Nor were there even serious discussions in 2008. You know how I know? Because I was the Senior Civilian Advisor to the Brigade Combat Team Commander who had the 13th Shavnabada Battalion of the Georgian Army assigned to him in OIF 2008. We had to facilitate them getting home to Georgia when Russia invaded them. I’ve recounted the story here many times of how they asked & pleaded for us to come help them. As they had come & helped us in Iraq. We weren’t coming because Bush 43 & his aides lied to them just like he lied to the Ukrainians about NATO membership if they joined the coalition of the willing. I get that Trump & his senior natsec appointees, as well as his owner Musk & his flunkies & minions are now all in on pushing Russian agitprop, but as someone who was directly involved at senior levels with some of these events, I can honestly say that this is NOT true!
🧵 This UN resolution vote on Ukraine is worth paying attention to. A brief thread on the Trump administration’s bullying under way in the background. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Every year the US has backed a UN General Assembly vote noting the principles of the UN Charter & Russia’s violation of those in Ukraine. Now the US is threatening to vote against that & is pushing a new resolution in the Security Council. But it gets worse than that.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The new US sponsored resolution – which unsurprisingly enjoys Russian support – is three sentences. It does not identify Russia as the aggressor nor does it note the UN Charter’s prohibtion on acquiring territory by force. “It looks like something the Russians drafted,” one diplomat told me.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
That’s not all. The US is demanding that Ukraine withdraw its own UNGA resolution and putting considerable pressure on Kyiv to that end. It hopes the UNSC res will derail the UNGA one. US wanted to adopt it Monday morning; China, which holds UNSC presidency, delayed vote to Tuesday, as I understand.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
US vote could be blocked if 7/15 states on council (see image below) vote against or abstain. It is unclear whether those numbers can be met. Denmark, Greece, Slovenia likely to oppose. Others might be persuaded, like Panama. But not clear whether threshold will be met. That takes us to option two.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The other route to blocking this would be a veto by France or the UK. Both have proposed amendments which would kill the text for the Russians. US might take note. But both countries’ leaders are in Washington this coming week & veto would be explosive. I am told France more “solid” than UK on this.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
US is playing hardball on the issue. It has issued bellicose démarches to a wide range of states, including allies, which, I am told, are full of reference to Trump, highly aggressive & threatening—”like something one would have expected from the Nazis or Soviets in the 1930s”, one person told me.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Poland (also the US):
From The Kyiv Post:
After insulting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week by calling him a “dictator,” US President Donald Trump broke proper decorum with another allied European leader, according to a post on X. According to Jürgen Nauditt, a German business leader and managing director of the Franchisor international education company: “Poland’s President Duda waited for Trump for an hour and a half but spoke to him for only 11 minutes.” On Saturday, Trump was scheduled to meet with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda in Maryland at 7:00 p.m. However, Trump arrived 90 minutes late at 8:30 p.m. and only spent 11 minutes with his Warsaw counterpart when a full hour had been scheduled. Nauditt summed up what he thought was the new White House’s disrespect for allies across the Atlantic: “The behavior of Trump and his team towards Europe is insulting – why are more and more European politicians making pilgrimages to this mafia boss to get breadcrumbs?” Russian leader Vladimir Putin notoriously has treated world leaders similarly, including Pope Francis, according to multiple sources over the years.Trump and Duda met on the sidelines during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, D.C. Trump’s meeting with Duda was cut short after Trump departed the White House late and then went to speak to the crowd, according to a report on the Notes From Poland website.
The EU:
President of the European Council António Costa announced on X the convening of an emergency summit on March 6 regarding the long-term security of Ukraine and Europe. EU leaders will discuss strengthening European defense and the possibility of deploying military contingents on Ukrainian territory.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Back to Ukraine.
⚡️Defense Minister: Ukraine has alternatives to Starlink system.
Ukraine is making decisions about the use of the technology, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said at the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv on Feb. 23.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The Kyiv Independent has the details.
Ukraine has alternatives for the Starlink internet system widely used by front-line units and is making decisions about the use of the technology, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said at the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv on Feb. 23.
Tensions have been growing in recent months between Ukraine and Starlink’s owner, billionaire Elon Musk, over his ties to Russia and comments about Ukraine. Recently, Reuters reported that the U.S. threatened to block Starlink access in Ukraine unless Kyiv signs a deal on its natural resources although this was denied by Musk.
Later in the conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that no threats to cut off Starlinks had been so far made, but that it was a possibility.
Starlink internet terminals have played a crucial role in securing communications in the war in Ukraine, with most battlefield positions equipped with their own terminal. Last year, Ukraine said that approximately 42,000 terminals were in operation across the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.
Umerov did not specify what the alternatives were or go into details about the discussions. Last month, the Digital Transformation Ministry told the Kyiv Independent that Starlinks were still a critical part of communication on the frontline and that a new order was underway.
The U.S. has the ability to remotely cut off Starlink connections and has previously turned off Starlinks belonging to Russian forces in the military ‘gray zone’, akin to no man’s land, Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov told reporters at the forum. No Starlinks belonging to Ukrainians have been turned off so far, he said.
Umerov also noted that when it comes to U.S. provision for air defense missiles, “the situation is controlled.”
Continued U.S. support to Ukraine is critical and Ukraine has a “very low chance of survival” without U.S. weapons, President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News on Feb. 15.
Concerns have arisen among soldiers that the White House will stop weapon deliveries as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration prepares negotiations with Moscow.
Russian ‘turtle’ tank stopped by a pothole.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 12:52 PM
A Russian column of AFVs of 4 tanks, 4 BMPs destroyed by 3rd Assault Brigade. t.me/ab3army/5283
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The head of Ukraine’s Security Service, Malyuk, said 102 enemy agent networks were exposed in 3 years. Russian intelligence planned to assassinate intel chief Budanov on Easter before Putin’s inauguration and also target Malyuk. He called it a failure of Russia’s FSB.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Kyiv:
Situation in Kyiv right now.
A massive wave of Russian drones is attacking the city.
— Kyiv Post (@kyivpost.com) February 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Overnight, Putin’s forces launched a massive drone attack on Kyiv. Fires broke out in several districts.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
— Kyiv Post (@kyivpost.com) February 23, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Kryvyi Rih:
St. Stephen’s church in Kryvyi Rih, russia, who likes to portray itself as the great defender of Christian values, bombed it last night.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
A russian night strike on civilian infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih caused a fire that firefighters extinguished.
Rescuers saved a woman and a man, but the man later died in the hospital. 3 other people were also injured.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Odesa:
🇺🇦Odesa, Kherson. Asked to share thoughts about Trump’s threats and Putin’s ambitions.
“They can go to hell,” was the universal reply. “Not afraid. We’ll fight. And we’ll win.”
3 years of horror. And women dance, under drone and missile attacks.
No one conquers Ukraine. Ever.
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Wasn’t expecting Hava Negilah.
Zhytomyr Oblast:
The crew of a Mi-8 helicopter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shoots down a Russian kamikaze drone in the sky over the Zhytomyr region this morning
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Selydove, Pokrovsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast:
Ukrainian drone operators hit a fortified Russian equipment parking lot in a concrete shelter using an FPV drone with fiber optics in Selydove! The strike took out two APCs (BMP-1s) and a truck.
Full video: t.me/wartranslated— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Donetsk Oblast:
Ukrainian fighters from the 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade released footage of a failed Russian assault at sunrise in Donetsk. Two columns, 10 armored vehicles, tried to breach Ukrainian defenses, but something went off-script.
Full video: t.me/wartranslated— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Tula Oblast, Russia:
It is reported that last night Ukrainian drones attacked an oil depot in the Uzlovsky district of Tula Oblast.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material from Georgia.
A horse in Georgia, tied with a short leash so he can’t even have a rest, alone outside in brutal cold.
You might think this has nothing to do with politics, but I am willing to bet I know what his owner’s political preferences are.
He was rescued.
📷 Ana Khosriashvili
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Open thread!
John S.
I’m sure Jake Tapper made sure to push back on Witkoff and correct the record. 🙄
Eos
(Copied from another thread; it would appear to be relevant here.)
Another German election update: the denominator remains 86 — but barely, as the latest projection puts the BSW at an uncomfortable 4.972%.
Accordingly, a black-red coalition remains feasible, with the Union (28.6%) and SPD (16.4%) adding up to 45.
And yes, under other circumstances, it would probably be less than ideal to see 14% of the electorate disenfranchised (between the BSW, the FDP, and the rest), but the alternative (both capitalized and not) would be worse.
(Specifically, the BSW entering the Bundestag would mean that the only viable coalition would be black-red-green — a recipe unlikely to produce anything appetizing. One more failed government later, and the next election would be catastrophic.)
different-church-lady
Zelenskyy won’t sell out his country.
Unlike what we’ve got going on here.
YY_Sima Qian
Trump saw the PRC’s “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy of ’19 – ’21 & decided that it is worthy of emulation, & indeed dialing to 11.
Jay
As always, thank you Adam.
TONYG
The “logic” used by Trump and his minions in blaming Ukraine for the Russian invasion of Ukraine is almost identical — word for word — to statements by “the left” over the past three years. Chris Hedges and Noam Chomsky are notable examples of this. Despicable.
John S.
@TONYG:
I don’t usually follow the ravings of lunatics. What is their “logic” exactly? Why are you punching yourself?
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Gin & Tonic
@Eos: This post may need some more explication for those of us not as versed in German politics.
John S.
@Gin & Tonic:
Thanks again for that awesome write up on Adam’s thread yesterday.
Mr. Bemused Senior
Leader of the free world: Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [not original with me of course].
It’s a miracle he arose. Let us hope for more such miracles.
As ever, thank you, Adam.
Jeffro
thank you Adam! these clips are just unreal
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Until Merz puts money where his mouth is, I have no faith. Give Ukraine the Taurus missiles & I will be happy. Sir Bill Browder is again banging on about the frozen Russian assets. Good! Confiscate the lot before the Monster of Mar A Lago gives it away to his BFF the Murder Goblin.
Where is Kadyrov?
Zelensky, who just offered to resign in return for NATO membership, now has a 60% approval rating.
All indicators are pointing to Russia running out of money. Even their gold reserves are falling. The longer the War In Ukraine continues, the closer Russia comes to crumbling from the inside out. I do realise that this will cause a huge political/financial crisis for the entire globe, not to say enormous suffering for the Russian people, but I no longer care. Realpolitik is proving to be an utter sham.
Slava Ukraine! 🌻
Thank you Adam. Even when your updates have me silently screaming, they are still invaluable.
Jay
@TONYG:
Nope, it is 100% ruZZian propaganda, word for word.
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
Nobody won a majority, so the Government needs to be a coalition, but with the end numbers not all in yet, the make up of that coalition could change if there is as much as a 5% change in the minority parties vote results.
Basically, for now, it’s up in the air, maybe.
Gin & Tonic
@John S.: You’re welcome. The people you’re encountering in the PNW are fourth and fifth wave. The previous waves didn’t get out there, generally, although some out there (including some of my friends) are children and grandchildren of third-wave migrants.
A thing I meant to add yesterday is that the old Reaganite anti-Bolsheviks should have gotten the message about their electoral unimportance when JD Vance was elected Senator from Ohio despite spitting in their eye.
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
Thank you from me as well.
Canada got a significant wave from the end of WWI and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as well. Mostly from the border regions of Ukraine/Poland and Ukraine/Hungary.
CCL
Thanks Adam.
no body no name
@Jay:
Can we please stop the snark. It’s cathartic I understand. But this sort of stuff does spill over into actual life and people don’t realize they do this and then wonder why people look at liberals as if they have three heads. It’s got to be cut off at the source before we can begin to change minds.
Have any of you looked like what we sound like? It’s horrid. I’ve voted Democratic all my life but part of that is our politicians do not sound like we do. But I’m always distinctly aware of what we sound like and shit I wouldn’t vote for us if my life depended on it. We suck.
Maybe we need a constructing message project started here so we don’t bleed it into the meat space and not know it. Because it’s fucking bad. And we are oblivious to it.
Gin & Tonic
@no body no name: What was snarky about Jay’s comment? It is factually correct – the “reasoning” of Trump and his camp is identical to russian propaganda. Watch some russian TV or follow some Telegram channels and it’s as clear as day.
pieceofpeace
Thank you, Adam, again and again(to cover the times I’m too rushed to comment).
Gin & Tonic
@Jay: It took several years after the end of WWI before Canada allowed them in. Don’t forget that during WWI, the previous generation of Ukrainian immigrants were sent to internment camps.
John S.
@Gin & Tonic:
Right here in my small neighborhood of about 30 houses, we have a Ukrainian family that lives across the street from a Russian family. Needless to say, things get interesting.
Jay
@no body no name:
It’s not snark. Larov (ruZZian FM) and Peskov (Press Secretary) said it on ruZZian Media, 2 days later Felon Husk retweeted it, 5 days later, Dolt 47 said it in a speech.
Word for f’unking word.
Adam L Silverman
@Mr. Bemused Senior: @Jeffro: You’re welcome.
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
It took a few years for Ukrainians to make it out of Ukraine, alive, to a place where they could leave for Canada. When they got to Canada, all they had to do was quarantine at Gros Isle for 6 months, like everybody else.
Grandad on my Mom’s side was an “Austro-Hungarian” refugee.
During WWI Canada “filtrated” detainees. Germans and Austro-Hungarians were detained, Poles. some Ukrainians, some Czechs, Slovak’s, etc were not sent to the camps.
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@CCL: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@pieceofpeace: You’re welcome too.
Adam L Silverman
@TONYG: @Jay: @no body no name: There has been significant effort by the Russians for well over a decade to leverage social media, as well as other resources to influence both the right and the left in order to get them to both internalize and then retransmit Russian agitprop. The efforts on the center, for lack of a better term, is simply to demoralize and demobilize them.
The PRC also runs their own version of this. For instance, the husband of one of Code Pink’s leaders is an active asset of the Ministry of State Security in terms of spreading their agitprop to influence the US left.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: Yes, there has been signs since the escalation of the Sino-US Great Power Competition that the MSS has been learning from the Russians in terms of running influence operations, albeit w/ greater caution.
Is the FBI doing anything about these networks of PRC influence, oppose spending their resources ruining the lives of Chinese academics over small errors in federal grants applications & driving them back to the PRC?
Eos
To clarify the German election question: it’s all about the fractions.
The numerator represents the party’s (or potential coalition’s) share of the total electorate. According to the final projections, those numbers would be:
CDU/CSU 28.5%; AfD 20.8%; SPD 16.4%; Die Grünen 11.6% Die Linke 8.8%; BSW 4.972%; FDP 4.3%; Others 4.6%
The denominator, however, will not be 100 — thanks to the 5% threshold, neither the BSW nor the FDP nor the others* will have won seats in the Bundestag, so the denominator will be a smidgen over 86.
* (The SSW, representing the Danish and Frisian communities in South Schleswig, will retain its one seat, which isn’t subject to the 5% rule.)
And what it comes down to is: the combined Union/SPD result of 45/86 will produce a majority, and a two-party majority at that, and a two-party majority comprising parties who already spent most of the Merkel era yoked together in coalition.
Basically: could have been worse.
HeiSokoly
@YY_Sima Qian: The FBI is now run by Kremlin propagandists Kash Patel and as of today, Dan Bongino as his number two:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/kash-patel-fbi-trump-tucker-carlson-russia-ukraine-putin/
YY_Sima Qian
The tone might seem alarmist, but the decay of US military power throughout & post-GWOT has been pretty obvious to close observers, & this is far beyond Trump & MAGA (though they will make it that much worse). I am excerpting the concluding 2 paragraphs here.
YY_Sima Qian
@HeiSokoly: I was wondering what the FBI under Wray was doing? He proclaimed that the CPC regime posed an “all of society threat” requiring an “all of society” response to defend against it. Yet, its “China Initiative” ruined far more lives of ethnically Chinese academics over minor paperwork infractions (which typically result in slaps on wrists when the “offender” is not ethnically Chinese) than PRC spies or influence peddlers prosecuted.
Under Kash Patel, it’s going to be open season on Chinese Americans & Chinese nationals in the US, even though Patel himself apparently owns share in the parent company of Shein.
Jay
One of the things you gotta love about “Merica,
A presidential candidate, (Nixon), the Chennault’s, the Diem Dictatorship conspire against US Law, engage in treason, to sink the Paris Accords, kill another 200,000+ “Mercans, over 2 million south Asians,
but the actor who went to North Vietnam and expressed sympathy,
Is the Evil One.
LMFAO.
Traveller
It is more than a little possible that both Jay Re Russian propaganda and TONYG are equally correct in their assessments. Honorable people can honorably disagree…even strongly, but here, I don’t even see a disagreement.
But the real reason I am writing this evening is because Jay has been much more positive on the future of Ukraine than I if there is a total abandonment by the US of Ukraine.
It does seem that Europe is stepping up as I hoped but feared they would not…and as Jay has consistently maintained, Ukraine is not, unlike Mr Trump, in a surrendering mood.
I felt that Mr Trump had at his disposal too many ways to pressure and leverage against Ukraine…for Ukraine to survive. May Jay continue to be right, and may I please continue to be wrong. Best Wishes, Traveller
Jay
@Traveller:
I read a bunch of reports on the state of the ruZZian military, ruZZian conscripts, ruZZian contract soldiers, ruZZian Command Chain, the ruZZian MIR, the ruZZian economy, ruZZian internal intrigues, but I don’t post there here, because I don’t want anybody to sympathise for the ruZZian’s and the hell they have chosen willingly.
One example, is a ruZZian prisoner, who’s “meat cube” of 30 men were wiped out, he was the only prisoner. Until he was taken prisoner, he never saw a Ukrainian, just drones.
Traveller
@Jay: Yes, there are a number of similar stories….but the Russian population’s ability to withstand pain continues to worry me…if WWII is any example, this could go on for another million or so causalities. (which I think Ukraine can inflict if the logistics of armaments continues…from wherever).
The Russians that I have sympathy for are the Russiam protestors at the start of this damned war…we could watch them being arrested in mass or singly for simply holding up a blank sheet of white paper.
These brave human beings are in a Gulag somewhere…now that’s bravery, that’s courage.
On a more positive note …I previously mentioned that with sustained and meaningful opposition to Mr Trump’s (insane) plans for Gaza, they are seemingly being now slowly memory holed.
We need Starmer and Macron to be polite, but firm & forceful with Mr trump this week in Washington. I wish us all well in this, our crazy time. Traveller
YY_Sima Qian
@Eos: Merz not mincing words:
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: OTOH:
YY_Sima Qian
OT: More fallout from the MSC (gift link below):
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Traveller
@YY_Sima Qian:
@YY_Sima Qian:
Thanks, YY_Sima Qian, always an interesting read from you. The United States no longer being allowed to be called the leader of the Free World…is distressing to me (most especially because it is true). Best Wishes, Traaveller
YY_Sima Qian
@Traveller: Elon Musk publicly supporting the reactionary right in Europe, this is far worse than anything Trump did in his 1st term, & Merz is right that it is on par w/ Putin’s interference & influence campaigns, only more blatant.
lowtechcyclist
Then your count is off by one. If February 24, 2022 is Day 1, then February 24, 2025 is Day 1097. Two 365-day years plus one 366-day year later is 1096 days later. 1 + 1096 =1097.
sab
I dread when Adam’s threads get beyond the regular twelve or so commenters who have actual Ukrainian ties and that one Chinese guy who knows so much.
This long thread has been unusually informative for such a long thread.
Gloria DryGarden
@sab: I have come to think of this as the foreign policy and international relations thread. The stakes are high, and now things are changing fast as the USA loses its soft power, trust, respect, and whatever else we offered of value. It’s riveting. ( in a horror movie kind of way)
I learn so much from the experts and international perspectives here.
I learned by the way, that YY is Chinese American. Thanks to Adam, and Jay, and Gin &Tonic, and YY, and to all who come here to discuss and try to understand these difficult matters.
Gloria DryGarden
@YY_Sima Qian: so glad Germany is calling it out right up front. And working to create alliances to keep each other safe in other parts of the world. If someone’s revenge vendetta only takes out one country, and the rest of the world stabilizes and isn’t taken down with us, that’s something.
I’m not being sarcastic or callous here, rather, realistic.
it hurts
sab
@Gloria DryGarden: I know he is Chinese American.
If I called him the Wuhan guy ( that’s how I think about him in my head) most jackals would have no idea who I am talking about.
I have Chinese American relatives, and they are all torn between two very strong but different cultures. I find it interesting to watch but I wouldn’t want to be them.
Gin & Tonic
@Jay: Canada did not distinguish between “Austro-Hungarians” from Austria and those from the eastern end of the A-H Empire, such as Halychyna (Galicia), so ethnic Ukrainians were “Austrians” to them and were in fact interned. Do not whitewash this, please.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gloria DryGarden: I will admit that being born in the PRC, spending my teenage years and my 20s in the U.S., being a U.S. citizen, but living back in the PRC for nearly 20 yrs. & raising a family here, makes for conflicted, blurred & confused identities.
I do like to present the neutral (in so far as I can manage) & the Chinese perspectives here, as they are sorely missing. However, I am not sure why people here keep thinking of me as Chinese when I have repeatedly stated that I am Chinese American. How else could I have voted for Obama, Clinton, Biden & Harris?
To avoid a repeat of the mutual recriminations of the past 24 hrs, I will refrain from making extrapolations & assumptions about what that suggests about the subconscious of American of all stripes wrt to American of East Asian descent.
Nettoyeur
@Jay: Er about 50K Anericans died in
@Jay: I was alive in the 1960s, so I know that 50K or so Americans died in Vietnam. No need to exagerate.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gloria DryGarden: All countries are flaws, just as all of their leaders are flawed. Merz ran on an anti-immigrant platform to forestall bleeding right wing votes to the AfD. Merz is also inviting Bibi to visit Germany, despite the ICC having charged Bibi for leading a genocidal war against the Gazans & Germany being a signatory to the Rome Statute. Of course, Israeli reactionaries are calling it a trap to facilitate Bibi’s arrest.
The German laws against Anti-Semitism are you is so misapplied that prominent Jewish scholars & artists have been sanctioned for vocally calling Israel to account for its criminal conduct in the prosecution of its war of vengeance in Gaza.
IMHO, looking for a new “leader of the free world” to lead this world out of the current era of ethno-nationalist multipolarity is a categorical & conceptual error.
sab
@YY_Sima Qian: My apologies for calling you Chinese when I know you are Chinese- American. I will try to do better.
TONYG
@John S.: Well, I follow the logic of lunatics when those lunatics are somewhat influential. Maybe that is punching myself. Their “logic” — since February of 2022 — is basically that Ukraine forced Russia to launch their “Special Military Operation” because Ukraine had been contemplating joining NATO in response to Russian threats (and in response to earlier Russian invasions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine). Basically parroting, like Trump, Putin’s “rationale”. I guess I expected better from “the left” because I agree with them on some domestic issues. My mistake.
TONYG
@Jay: Yes.
YY_Sima Qian
@sab: No worries. Chinese in China think of me as American, & Americans in America think of me as Chinese. Only Americans in China & Chinese/Chinese Americans in American think of me as Chinese American.
My Chinese wife gets pissed when I clarify that I am Chinese American, & therefore much of my values & outlooks are Americanized. She insists that I am Chinese & should just assimilate to the Chinese culture in China, since I am raising a family in China, after all. Just like Americans insisted that I (& other immigrants) should assimilate into the dominant American mainstream.
As you said so well about your Chinese American relatives, it is a precarious existence.
Gin & Tonic
@YY_Sima Qian: My son heard similar from his friends when he lived in Kyiv: “In America you’re Ukrainian; here you’re an American.”
Gloria DryGarden
@YY_Sima Qian: I beg you to explain/ clarify this:
I wish I had your level of comprehension, but I’m like a first grader. Not sure what you’re getting at.
Im sorry for the blurred and conflicted identity situation. You’re really both, although I bet you have to choose sometimes between two ways of looking at things; I imagine that’s hard. Being both and sharing your thoughts and perspectives here, is an incredible wealth for us. I hadn’t realized it might be troubling.
Many Americans have not lived abroad, not thought in two languages, not been immersed in a new culture, then returned to see things with new eyes. I think immigrants, and their descendants, ex-pats, and former exchange students, as well as folks who’ve worked abroad through ngos, or corporate, or diplomacy and military work, will have varying degrees of immersion and multicultural awareness. I’m moved by your description of your wife wanting you to assimilate. It’s something to celebrate, and value, that you have access to both perspectives.
It’s sweet of you to skip the mutual recriminations; it wasn’t fun for everybody. Neutral communication, assuming others are doing their best, being curious.. these are skills. Sadly not everyone has them yet.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gin & Tonic: The reality of being cross-/bi-cultural.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jay: The stories of how they got out, and came across, must be astounding. I know two people who escaped from Hungary, during a war I never learned about. Their escape/ departure stories are hair-raising.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gloria DryGarden: “Leader of free world” was always euphemism for Liberal Hegemony, whereby the US as the leader of the Western “free world” maintained a “liberal/rules based international order” that systemically advantaged the US & the larger West, sustained the privileged positions they retained from centuries of imperialism & colonialism (including slavery!), where the IMF & WTO rules only applied to those outside of the West. It was not a just or equitable order, which is why so few countries outside of the West mourn its passing. The PRC was the one non-Western power that turned the order & the rules that defined on their heads, playing them to its selfish advantage, helped by much of the West getting high on their own supply (of neoliberalism).
Nevertheless, some kind of order is better than chaos & anarchy, & by the historical standards of hegemons the US had been relatively enlightened to its allies & close partners (Kissinger’s quip notwithstanding), which is why so much of the world face the new reality of ethno-nationalist multipolarity w/ trepidation. However, finding another “leader of the free world” to replace the US is merely trying to revive the fantasy that is no more & never really was.
(Kissinger quipped that “being the US’ enemy can be dangerous, but being the US’ ally can be deadly”.)
Traveller
@sab: This has been a good thread. Much pleasure in reading everyone. Be Good…Work beckons…lol
MountainBoy
Thanks to you Adam and all of the commenters here.
As Gloria mentioned above, “I have come to think of this as the foreign policy and international relations thread.”
I read it every night-or morning.