It’s been a long and trying day. So I’m going to deal with the big news above the fold and then just crank through the basics. I’m sure everyone’s seen it, but if not, here is the video of Trump’s tantrum and Vance’s sniveling toadying in the oval office:
Before we get into the meat of this, Trump looks horrid. Also, you’ll notice at the end that Vance felt the need to pat Trump’s left shoulder as if to reassure him. Trump is well known for not liking to be touched. Vance, for obvious and whispered reasons, has daddy issues.
What we saw today was intended to look like an ambush and a betrayal, but it was really Trump having a temper tantrum because he knew he wasn’t going to get his way and he knows he can’t intimidate President Zelenskyy into doing what he wants. In 2016, Josh Marshall wrote a column about the two things Trump is known for in the business world, which I’ve quoted from/referenced here before. He described these two things as: “one is simple bullying as a business tactic, another is cheating people out of money they’re owed and then making the ‘deal’ stick by grinding the counter-parties down with the promise of endless litigation.” Marshall then goes on to provide a description sent to him by a NY real estate developer.
There is a personality type with a New York developer, one Donald learned from Fred when he carried his dad’s briefcase to acquisition meetings out in the boroughs and it goes like this:
Donald contracts for a service or good, or the acquisition of a piece of land for $1 million.
He then does not pay you
You ask Donald for your million dollars
Donald yells at you, basely, abusively, wholly out of character to the rich gentleman you broke bread with and made the deal with. He tells you that no, YOU owe him $200,000. Gives you no reason but screams how can you be such a son of a bitch to rip him off, how he’s going to sue you, expose you as a cheat, etc.
You’re off your pins, defensive. How could this be the guy who was so nice when he picked up the check at Per Se?
So, you compromise, because human nature avoids conflict, right? This is what he’s gaming you for because once you compromised, you’ve lost. You’ve inferred his premise that you have some complicity in the matter otherwise why would you compromise? You are on the defensive and will never get it back.
You offer $750,000 as a settlement, angry buy want it over and done with. He then sues you. Why, because you’ve already committed yourself to the loss. You volunteered to surrender your position and what will stop you from keeping going?
I’ve seen many a New Yorker settle things like this with Trump people for 5-10 cents on the dollar and then happy, even eager to keep doing business with them. Why? Because he got in their heads with this aggressively counterintuitive behavior.
As we saw it didn’t really work with President Zelenskyy. He didn’t cower, he didn’t wine, he didn’t try to quickly apologize. Rather he let Marjorie Taylor Green’s boy toy have it with both barrels, refused the deal, which he was always going to have to do, & ultimately left. If you’ve seen Fox News’s & similar outlets’ attempts to spin this as Trump behaving the way American president’s should, but never do or demonstrating this is what America First means, it’s because they know that the video looks bad for both Trump & Vance. They looked horrid for Rubio. They look even worse for the US. Not that Trump, Vance, or Rubio have any idea what they are, but doing a version of the Melian Dialogue 1) only gets you so far & 2) was an important example of how Athens was losing everything: the war, its reputation, goodwill, its soft power.
As I wrote in one of the war updates at the end of last week, Zelenskyy had baited a trap for Trump. He offered to resign if it meant getting continued US support, security guarantees, and NATO membership for Ukraine. He very publicly put the needs of Ukraine & the Ukrainians above himself. Contrast that with the images from today: Trump whining & bullying. Vance’s cringe demands that President Zelenskyy needed to be nicer to/apologize to Trump. Rubio looking like Anubis had ridden a chariot through his body & taken his soul to the afterworld. All the while President Zelenskyy looks like: “I’ve had to survive Putin’s/Russia’s genocidal re-invasion of Ukraine, Russian assassination attempts on my/my wife’s life, three years of a full on war of survival, the Biden admin slow walking everything, & now I’ve got to deal with this guy?” Honestly, the look on his face was “what is this disgusting shit on my shoes?”
Some have said it was a mistake to make the visit because it was a trap. It was a trap, but he still had to make the visit. In doing so, he used Trump’s attempt at force/bullying against him. Trump lost his shit publicly. Vance toadyingly back him up as the good little lickspittle. President Zelenskyy gave Trump & Vance space to be Trump & Vance. They filled that space & there can no longer be any doubt in the EU, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, & anywhere else exactly what the US is with Trump as president.* President Zelenskyy allowed Trump to take his own mask off live from the oval office. He exposed that Trump can bellow & bleat all he wants, but he can’t make Zelenskyy acquiesce to his demands. President Zelenskyy has fully exposed Trump & shown the way for other leaders in how to deal with him. Now we wait to see what the new strategic reality that will emerge from this looks like.
Clay Bennett nails it.
— Nadine Smith (@nadinesmith.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
That’s literally all Ukrainians now
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
That’s Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the US.
Zelenskyy after… that disaster
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This really says it all:
Merz, Baerbock, Tusk, Macron, Ursula von der Leyen (Präsidentin der Europäischen Kommission der EU) und António Costa (Präsident des Europäischen Rats der EU) haben nach meinem Wissen bisher Solidarität mit der Ukraine bekundet.
Für Trump ausgesprochen hat sich: Russland.
— Gunnar Hamann (@ostprog.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Here’s the translation:
Merz, Baerbock, Tusk, Macron, Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission of the EU) and António Costa (President of the European Council of the EU) have, to my knowledge, expressed solidarity with Ukraine. The following have spoken out in favor of Trump: Russia.
If you’re Germany, Poland, Taiwan, South Korea, or Japan right now, you should probably assume the U.S. is an unreliable ally and try to get your own nuclear deterrent.
— Matthew Gertz (@mattgertz.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
* I know that it really looks more and more like Musk is running things and Trump is just acting as head of state doing the ceremonial stuff. This was reinforced after the cabinet meeting where it was visually clear that Musk is really in charge & Trump is playing head of state/ceremonial duties. After this AM’s NY Times’ expose on DOGE, other’s have picked up the reporting that Stephen Miller is really running the show, working w/Musk, & Trump does figurehead stuff. I think someone is trying to kneecap Miller by getting the NY Times to report that Miller has a new more powerful figure to suck up to & try to manipulate to achieve Miller’s white nationalist revanchism. That’s a discussion for another time.
President Zelenskyy went right back into the fire and did his scheduled interview on Fox News. Here’s the video:
Georgia:
⭕️The 5th President of #Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, reacts to the Trump-Zelenskyy talks.
#Ukraine #US
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Georgia continues to protest against the Russian actions of Georgian Dream.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 93— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Day 93 for new, free elections and the release of the regime prisoners. “Until the end!” “No justice, no peace!” people chant, among others. They express solidarity with the regions affected by the snowfall, neglected by the regime, and thank the volunteers. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
It’s the 44th day of Temur Katamadze’s hunger strike. An ethnic Georgian activist of Turkish citizenship, abused by the police chiefs such as the Batumi Police Head Irakli Dgebuadze and threatened to be extradited to Turkey, he vowed to keep the strike until death if needed.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:48 AM
🚨 The ECHR has issued an interim measure prohibiting Georgia from extraditing exiled Azerbaijani journalist and editor Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan. In light of this important court decision, Afgan Sadigov has ended his 161-day hunger strike.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The US:
It’s time to say it plainly. America’s leadership has switched sides in the war. The American people have not, and they should speak up.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
It’s time to say it plainly. America’s leadership has switched sides in the war. The American people have not, and they should speak up.
In the past several weeks, the U.S. leadership has demonstrated explicit hostility towards Ukraine and aligned its rhetoric and policy with Russia.
The animosity culminated today when U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting in the Oval Office.
After a hostile meeting, Zelensky left the White House. Trump reportedly ordered the Ukrainian delegation out.
Let this sink in. The president of a battered Ukraine, an ally of the U.S., became the first world leader in history to be kicked out of the White House. Not a dictator, not a disgraced politician — the president of Ukraine, a country suffering from the worst invasion in the 21st century. The country that the U.S. administration swore to bring peace to.
In an ugly exchange, the president and vice president joined forces to admonish Zelensky for “not being grateful” enough for the help Ukraine was getting.
To that, Zelensky reminded them that he had thanked the American people multiple times, including earlier that day. But it appears that gratitude to the American people isn’t what Trump and Vance were looking for — they wanted him to grovel and prostrate himself in front of Trump. Kiss the ring.
For sure, Zelensky could have done a better job composing himself and restraining his reactions, but it’s fair to say that he was put in a situation he couldn’t win. If he let Trump and Vance — and apparently, it takes two of them to win a verbal argument against one non-native English speaker — continue their line of attack on Ukraine, unchecked, he would be seen as weak both at home and abroad. Weakness is something a country at war can’t afford to project.
Trump didn’t get into the same kind of arguments with other world leaders who publicly disagreed with him during recent meetings. He smiled and shrugged when French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer corrected him and Vance on their provocative and false statements about Europe.
Will Trump and Vance hit Vladimir Putin with the same attitude they showed towards Zelensky and scold the Russian leader for attacking Ukraine? By now, we’ve seen enough to know for sure that they won’t. If any ring-kissing happens in their meeting with Putin, the ring will be Russian.
During the heated exchange in the Oval Office, Trump even complained that Zelensky has “hatred” for Putin — the man who ordered an invasion of his country, killing thousands of civilians — saying it would be “tough” for him to “make a deal with that kind of hate.”
After the meeting, Trump claimed that Zelensky didn’t want peace. That’s a dangerous lie.
Let’s be clear. There is only one force in the world that can bring peace unilaterally, at any moment: Russia. Putin can order his troops to leave Ukraine and end the war any minute he wants. But Putin doesn’t want peace, he wants Ukraine.
Zelensky, and Ukraine, want a fair peace — one that would bring security to the embattled country and pay honor to the enormous price that it paid, losing the best of its people in a bloody fight against the invader.
What happened in the Oval Office is unprecedented, but it’s not entirely a surprise. Throughout the weeks leading up to it, Trump has demonstrated hostility towards Zelensky and Ukraine, while embracing Russia.
We’ve seen it in the things he has said and done. At every turn, there were people that stayed optimistic and tried to interpret it in a way that isn’t so bad for Ukraine — saying it’s part of a strategy, or that it’s different from what goes on behind the scenes. It appears it’s much simpler than that.
Today, Trump said that he is both “for Ukraine and Russia” in the talks. Then, he kicked Ukraine’s delegation out of the White House. There is only one simple way to understand what happened:
Donald Trump is for Russia.
The president of the United States picked Russia’s side in the war it started against its democratic neighbor — whose only fault was that it wanted to stay a democracy. Trump is choosing to side with a murderous tyrant over a democratically elected leader.
Trump and his government are now making sure Ukraine will lose this war. They are also choking their other allies in the process. But most importantly, they are betraying the interests of America, and making it weaker.
The tragedy is that Trump is doing it all in the name of millions of Americans who completely disagree with that and are disgusted with Trump’s line.
The Kyiv Independent’s emails have been overflowing with words of support, embarrassment, disgust, and apologies from our American readers who support Ukraine and disagree with Trump’s actions.
But the U.S. remains a democracy, whether its leadership cherishes it or not — and in a democracy, the people’s voices can and must be heard.
If you disagree with America’s current trajectory, with the idea that emboldening tyrants is the path to sustainable peace and prosperity, you have the power to make a difference: Call and email your representatives. Demand support for Ukraine. Organize and go to pro-Ukraine rallies. Write, post, speak, advocate. Donate to Ukrainian causes. Disagree. You are America — make your voice heard.
Americans should stand up and send their political leadership a clear message: We don’t support what you’re doing, so stop doing it in our name. We don’t want an alliance with Russia, and we don’t want a betrayal of Ukraine. And frankly, we are embarrassed.
Speak up now, before it’s too late.
America’s president may have chosen his side of history. The American people are still free to choose theirs.
What a disingenuous line this was from Vance today: “you guys are going around…forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems” meduza.io/en/feature/2…
1. Yes, that’s how total wars work
2. This admin—like last one—ASKED Ukraine to expand conscription
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If you were wondering why NO ONE gives corporals (E3s) with less than six month’s total time in a war zone, regardless of MOS, any form of responsibility, Vance is the answer.
Have now seen the full Oval Office video.
I think it is significant that the meeting was going quite well until JD Vance torpedoed it and suggested Zelenskyy had disrespected Trump. Unfortunately, Trump being so easy to manipulate, can work both ways.
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyalex.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
If you think Trump and Vance look unhinged now, imagine how they’d handle a scenario where the US stands on the edge of a debt default
— Alexander Clarkson (@aphclarkson.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In other words, the Trump administration has failed to deliver on its promise to stop the war in one day. If anything, after this meeting, we are further from peace than we were during Biden. Art of The Deal
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This is fcking insane! At this very moment, my hometown of Kharkiv is being devastated by a massive russian drone attack!
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
From The Washington Post:
The Trump administration is considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine in response to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks in the Oval Office on Friday and his perceived intransigence in the peace process, a senior administration official told The Washington Post.
The decision, if made, would apply to billions of dollars of radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles awaiting shipment to Ukraine through the presidential drawdown authority, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic.
The consideration of withholding arms for Ukraine as it fends off a full-scale invasion from Russia underscores the dramatic plunge in relations between the erstwhile allies after the contentious Oval Office exchange between Zelensky, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The official pushed back on the notion that Trump and Vance’s confrontation with Zelensky was premeditated and noted that efforts were made to strike a more positive tone in planning ahead of the meeting as indicated by Trump’s dropping of his accusation that Zelensky is a “dictator.”
Of course it was premeditated.
Just like this is coordinated:
What an amazing coincidence that all of Trump’s toadies tweeted out praise that used the exact same language.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I cannot express just how very, very, very, very bad this is:
An admin throwing away all its leverage. “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, according to three people familiar with the matter.” therecord.media/hegseth-orde…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
From The Record:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Hegseth gave the instruction to Cyber Command chief Gen. Timothy Haugh, who then informed the organization’s outgoing director of operations, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage, of the new guidance, according to these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.
The order does not apply to the National Security Agency, which Haugh also leads, or its signals intelligence work targeting Russia, the sources said.
While the full scope of Hegseth’s directive to the command remains unclear, it is more evidence of the White House’s efforts to normalize ties with Moscow after the U.S. and international allies worked to isolate the Kremlin over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has made a series of false statements and demands that align him with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including blaming Ukraine for the war and calling the country’s leader a dictator.
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Washington on Friday to sign a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. However, the deal did not happen following an Oval Office shouting match between the two leaders.
The exact duration of Hegseth’s order is unknown, though the command has been told the guidance will last for the foreseeable future, according to sources.
Heritage, who is expected to retire soon, knows all of the command’s mission packages and whether they are in a planning or execution stage. He would be responsible for contacting the relevant entities and telling them to hold off. That task likely extends to the 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), the outfit responsible for planning and conducting digital operations across U.S. European Command.
The sources said Cyber Command itself has begun compiling a “risk assessment” for Hegseth, a report that acknowledges the organization received his order, lists what ongoing actions or missions were halted as a result of the decision and details what potential threats still emanate from Russia.
The implications of Hegesth’s guidance on the command’s personnel is uncertain. If it applies to its digital warriors focused on Russia, the decision would only affect hundreds of people, including members of the roughly 2,000 strong Cyber National Mission Force and the Cyber Mission Force. That is collectively made up of 5,800 personnel taken from the armed services and divided into teams that conduct offensive and defensive operations in cyberspace. It is believed a quarter of the offensive units are focused on Russia.
However, if the guidance extends to areas like intelligence and analysis or capabilities development, the number of those impacted by the edict grows significantly. The command boasts around 2,000 to 3,000 employees, not counting service components and NSA personnel working there. The organizations share a campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Hegseth’s instruction comes at a time when Cyber Command is struggling to staff up to target Mexican drug cartels, eight of which the administration formally labeled as terrorist groups. Trump officials have advocated for military action against cartel figures and infrastructure to stem the flow of drugs across the border.
A command spokesperson deferred a request for comment to the Pentagon.
In a statement, a senior Defense official said, “Due to operational security concerns, we do not comment nor discuss cyber intelligence, plans, or operations. There is no greater priority to Secretary Hegseth than the safety of the Warfighter in all operations, to include the cyber domain.”
More at the link.
France:
⚡️ ‘There is an aggressor, which is Russia,’ says Macron after Zelensky-Trump clash.
“There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron said after President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump’s clash at the White House.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Russia is the aggressor in its war against Ukraine following a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 28.
“There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine,” Macron told reporters in Portugal.
He emphasized that supporting Ukraine and sanctioning Russia was the right decision three years ago and remains so today.
“We must thank all those who helped, and we must respect those who have been fighting since the beginning,” he added.
Macron’s trip to Portugal followed a visit to Washington, where he sought to convince Trump to commit to post-war security guarantees for Ukraine.
The French president has reportedly failed to receive any clear commitments from Trump, with an undisclosed EU official describing the trip as a “waste of time” in comments for Politico.
The issue of security guarantees has been linked to the potential deployment of a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Poland:
Dear Volodymyr Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.
— Donald Tusk (@donald-tusk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responds, something we hopefully see a lot more of that from other European leaders. It’s never been clearer than in this moment that Trump is Putin’s ally, not Europe’s.
— Eliot Higgins (@eliothiggins.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Germany:
“Germany’s federal election was subject to “clear” and “successful” manipulation by Russia and other foreign actors, the head of the Bundestag’s intelligence committee has warned,” www.ft.com/content/35f4…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The other foreign actors would be the US via Musk and Vance and Israel.
Norway:
Norwegian Kongsberg is establishing a joint venture in Ukraine for the mass production of NASAMS missiles based on Ukrainian technologies. Production is set to launch in the coming months, enabling faster air defense supplies without import delays and strengthening Ukraine’s defense industry.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The EU:
Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.
Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy.We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu) February 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Back to Ukraine.
In February, 🇺🇦 witnessed a sharp increase in RU drone attacks- reflecting the growing RU production capacity
Feb 28: 208 drones
Feb 27 166
Feb 26 177
Feb 25: 213
Feb 24: 185
Feb 23: 267
Feb 22: 162
Feb 21: 160The interception rates remain high but the attacks threaten to exhaust the defenses…
— Mattia Nelles (@mattian.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Kharkiv:
Last night, russian forces attacked the suburbs of Kharkiv with 20 kamikaze drones, their target was critical infrastructure, including a thermal power plant. Reportedly, 17 drones were downed.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 5:51 AM
❗️ Russian Shahed drone struck a medical facility, causing a fire at the impact site, the mayor of Kharkiv reported!
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
One of the hospitals in Kharkiv after tonight’s russian drone strike
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Two explosions reported in Kharkiv!
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Both drone strikes targeted residential areas of the city
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Kharkiv is still under russian drone attack
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Five drone strikes have already been reported in Kharkiv, most of them in the central part of the city
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Kharkiv, after tonight’s russian drone attack on the city
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Selidove, Donetsk Oblast:
Russian ammunition storage destroyed in Selidove, Donetsk region tonight.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The Lyman front:
Russian occupiers’ attempt at a mechanized assault on the Lyman front was thwarted as the 66th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a BMP-3.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Sumy Oblast:
In Sumy near Novenke, Russians attack the border with infantry, no vehicles. Novenke could lead to Yunakivka, a key logistics hub for Kursk. Ukraine’s forces repel them, eliminating enemies. No breakthrough, fighting ongoing, says RNBO’s Kovalenko.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Toretsk, Donetsk front:
Toretsk, Donetsk front. A day in the life of a mortar crew and soldiers of the GUR Ukraine Legion. Ukrainian fighters effectively struck Russian positions, destroying the enemy. Battles for the city continue as defenders hold back the occupiers.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Avdiivka:
Avdiivka, ruined by Russian nazis. Footage from a Russian channel. The nazis got what they wanted. Destruction spreads across the land like a disease, like leprosy, wherever the Russian foot steps.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Nova Kakhovka, the left bank of the Dnipro, Kherson Oblast:
Fresh footage from Kakhovka HPP and Nova Kakhovka in occupied left-bank Kherson region shows the area’s state. Ukrainian troops note civilian life persists despite fighting. Compared to Berylslav, damage is less, but the situation remains tough.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Bryansk Oblast, Russia:
AASM HAMMER strike on the Russian FSB base in the Bryansk region of Russia. t.me/GeneralStaff…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Yesterday, Ukraine’s Air Force struck an FSB outpost in Bila Berezka, Bryansk region. Destroyed radio stations, signal amplifiers, satellite antennas, command post. 12 FSB officers killed. Russia’s coordination disrupted. – Ukraine’s General Staff
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 28, 2025 at 10:10 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Today the Hachiko team completed its 100th sterilization in the Donetsk region of Ukraine — on the frontline in towns that Russia is bombing every day. They are heroes taking care of these innocent animals trapped in this war. Your donations made this possible—Thank You! 🙏 👉 hachikofoundation.org
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Open thread!
Open Thread (and reminder about the Saturday zoom)
Baud
Thank you for all you do, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Baud: Thank you for the kind words. You are most welcome.
PsiFighter37
Today truly feels like we are going to be entering a dangerous new epoch for human history, and we have an absolute moron at the wheel. I told my wife, it feels like the wheels are truly about to start coming off for this country. I cannot even fathom what it is going to look like at the end of this year, much less on January 20, 2029, if things keep going on at this rate.
Ben Cisco
Thank you, Adam. This has been a tough day.
Adam L Silverman
@Baud: Also, put on pants!
Mr. Bemused Senior
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Adam. I wrote before, it’s a miracle Zelenskyy arose. It gives me hope to see today’s event.
Adam L Silverman
@Ben Cisco: You’re welcome.
zhena gogolia
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Adam L Silverman
@Mr. Bemused Senior: You’re most welcome.
Andrya
Adam- as always, heartfelt thanks for doing this.
A question came up in the comments to Cole’s thread earlier today- where can Americans donate money to go to Ukrainian weapons, rather than humanitarian stuff. I posted that I believed that you had endorsed United 24, which allows the donor to select “defense” for their donation. Is my recollection correct? Thanks again!
Wapiti
Thank you Adam. Today was a rough day.
Ksmiami
Incinerate the GOP. Into ash.
Darkrose
Thank you, Adam for your dedicated work. Today was a shameful day for the United States.
John S.
Thanks, Adam. I enjoyed that version of the Melian Dialogue.
As Cole pointed out earlier, when you combine today’s events with Hegseth moving to cease treating Russia as a cybersecurity threat and Trump selling citizenship to Russian oligarchs, it paints a fairly obvious (and disturbing) picture.
Through the map and off the looking glass?
SpaceUnit
I’m too fucking depressed to troll tonight. Sorry.
Maybe next week.
tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat)
Thank you, Adam.
My husband was listening to the interview and it made my stomach twist in knots. We can talk about how we have come to this. What scares me is how do we get out of this? We cannot trust the courts, Congress is captured by sycophant Republicans, and in the meantime, Trump, Musk and cronies are breaking everything in sight and trying to take control of elections.
ETA: fixed grammar issue
PJ
Now seems like a good time for massive nationwide marches in support of Ukraine to show the Ukrainians that, while the President and Republicans are against them, the American people are still with them.
SpaceUnit
@PJ:
I like that idea.
Jackie
@Adam L Silverman:
Thank you, Adam, for actually making me laugh aloud for the first time this heartbreaking day of the realization of what’s happening within our country.
kwAwk
I apologize if this has been said before, but the most obvious clue that this was a set up was the Trump lackey who chided Zelenski for not wearing a suit. Nobody has ever chided Elon Musk for not wearing a suit.
This is all part of Trump’s narcissistic personality disorder. He has make himself look like a victim so his supporters will feel sorry for him and run to his defense.
bbleh
… there can no longer be any doubt in the EU, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, & anywhere else exactly what the US is with Trump as president.
[massive sigh] And not just “with Trump as president,” alas. What government in its right mind would trust the US EVER after this? Sure Trump’s term will end, or he’ll die, but the people who put him in office are still there. Who’s to say the US won’t revert to this behavior two terms hence? Or three?
What Trump did today was demonstrate to the world, on live TV! that the US is not to be trusted. (And I do NOT say this at ALL gladly.)
What a sh!t-show.
@PJ: fwiw we’ve had more than one such march in Philly already, and the big multicolor-LED tower has been lit up in the colors of Ukraine for several nights.
different-church-lady
Zelenskyy knows perfectly well doing any “deal” with Trump means selling out his country, and probably getting torched anyway.
YY_Sima Qian
Thank you Adam.
I think the sorry spectacle at the WH served the Trump gang’s pro-Russian purposes. The reactionary Wurlitzer is already spinning it as evidence of an “ungrateful” Ukraine, & thus unworthy of American largesse, & it will be effective w/ the 30% of Americans (45% of active voters who are MAGA, because they for a cult now.
OTOH, the spectacle also seems to have reinvigorated Zelenskyy, & reinvigorated European support for Ukraine. The Trump gang was never going to support Ukraine in any meaningful way.
different-church-lady
@bbleh: There’s no doubt in the U.S. what the U.S. now is. It’s only a question of whether you’re thrilled or horrified.
different-church-lady
@YY_Sima Qian: This was all etched in stone on Nov. 6.
different-church-lady
@Wapiti: The fuckers won’t burn.
p.a.
The original “Stab in the Back” meme was a lie used to horrible effect by German militarists, conservatives, and the emerging Nazi movement BUT as an expression it resonates easily, and since the American public as a whole seems unable to assimilate any political ideas too in depth to fit on a bumper sticker, and since in this case it’s the fucking truth, it can be a good meme to open the weekend with. And using a Nazi lie to truthfully attack modern day Nazis is just (chef’s kiss icon.)
YY_Sima Qian
On the DOD unilateral disarmament (can the NSA be far behind?) in cyberwarfare vs. Russia, the Trump team seems to really want to pull the “Reverse Kissinger” maneuver. All that will accomplish is to leave Putin in the position of having better relations w/ the world’s 2 superpowers that they have w/ each other, while breaking the Transatlantic alliance & 5-Eyes, & likely fatally undermine the U.S.’ network of alliances & partnerships in the Asia Pacific, too. (I am sure Trump will get along swimmingly w/ Modi.)
p.a.
Also too, Kurds to Ukrainians, “welcome to the club.”
Eolirin
@bbleh: If we behave really well for several decades, maybe we’ll be able to be trusted again.
But we have to get to a place where we can even do that. That’s gonna be a heavy lift.
lamh47
Thanks for the roundup.
I’ve missed most of the international news this past 10 days and so I def count on your roundups (especially today)
Jay
Thank you, Adam. Sick to my stomach today.
And angry.
trollhattan
Getting big “Hey Khmer Rouge, you have some legit points about louche city dwellers, and yet you are not being treated fairly” vibes from Trump today.
Be sure to bring the wife.
Bill Arnold
@p.a.:
Trump’s favorite campaign joke – when he recited The Snake, he was telling the truth about himself.
“Oh shut up, silly woman,” said the reptile with a grin. “You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in.”
YY_Sima Qian
Yeah, the more cynical of Realists often quote that line from the Melian Dialogue to reinforce their arguments for their worldview, but Adam is right that historically it was a sign of imperial hubris presaging imperial decline. For Athens it led to the consolidation of the balancing coalition w/ Sparta, Persia, Corinth & Thebes at the core, as well as abandonment by some of its allies. When Sparta adopted similar imperial hubris after winning the Peloponnesian War, it led to the formation of a similar balancing coalition of centered around Corinth & Thebes (Sparta’s former allies). Eventually Sparta too would decline due to exhaustion & sclerosis, ending in disastrous defeat.
Adam L Silverman
@Andrya: @Wapiti: @Darkrose: @John S.: @tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat): You are all most welcome.
Almost80
Thank you. I feel better. I was so devastated by that display by those in charge of the country where I have lived I couldn’t even think .
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
hrprogressive
The whole “stand down” thing smells like a precursor to Russia doing something ridiculously dangerous and/or devastating.
Like, idk. How in Call of Duty MW2, they just basically invaded the USA?
Or maybe they nuke Ukraine. Or us. Or.
I would love to see a separate thought or thread on that, because if you were going to give Russia the keys to your own kingdom, or tell them “go ahead and wipe us out if you want” – would what reportedly happened look like anything any different?
It seriously seems like “the biggest and best military in the history of mankind” just laid down their arms, either “figuratively” by looking the other way at Russia’s criminal behavior…or worse.
You’ve never told me I was “wrong” before.
Now would be a great time if ya got one.
SC54HI
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@YY_Sima Qian: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@lamh47: You’re welcome.
dc
I just donated to United 24 u24.gov.ua
The Asshole says Zelenskyy has no cards, we have to give Ukraine our cards directly. I chose “defense” for my donation.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Almost80: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re most welcome.
Paul W.
I knew this one would be a must read, thank you Adam and always a good sign when you see Josh Marshall quotes!
Adam L Silverman
@hrprogressive: I definitely think we’ve got internal subversion by a hostile non-state actor – Musk – who is beholden to both Putin and Xi because of his business dealings at Tesla.
Adam L Silverman
@Paul W.: Thank you. You are most welcome.
waspuppet
Thank you Adam. As for the Musk/Trump administration “throwing away all its leverage,” that’s because they don’t want leverage over Russia.
Adam L Silverman
@waspuppet: You’re welcome.
Jay
https://www.politico.eu/article/slovak-crowd-fund-ammunition-ukraine-robert-fico/
snip
Over 550,000 155mm artillery shells have been bought and delivered so far.
hitchhiker
@YY_Sima Qian:
That was already the story, and it was always going to be the story no matter what Zelensky said or did. There was never going to be a world in which Zelensky sucked up enough to make the thug happy, so he did the only thing a person with self-respect could do.
He went right into his fucking living room and told him he was crazy if he thought surrender was a good idea. I often think of Zelensky just after his election when he was hoping for a white house visit and those arms congress had already appropriated for his defense.
Instead he got the thug trying to shake him down, because it turned out that with the thug in charge, the USA is just another corrupt nation. It must have been such a goddamn disappointment.
The mighty wurlitzer is not responsive to facts on the ground; it helps me to remember that. There’s nothing any of us can do or say to make it recognize reality.
That doesn’t mean we can’t. That’s what Zelensky demonstrated today.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
I will note that today the Atlanta Fed is projecting the US economy to decline by -1.5%. I am convinced the entire point of that tantrum was to distract from that and a lame attempt to get a rally round the flag reaction from the public.
Lyrebird
Thank you from this quarter as well Adam! A horrible day, though fwiw I completely agree that Pres Z had to come do this meeting.
He (V.Z.) knows and has known what type of “deal”-maker the fascist fart cloud is for a good while now, but it is so sad and horrifying. I agree with the Kyiv Independent entirely today, that a president disrespected the USA today, and it weren’t Pres Z.
I can hardly imagine what you felt on seeing the big invite for more cyber attacks from RU go out.
Adam L Silverman
@Lyrebird: You’re welcome.
dimmsdale
Thank you, Adam. I have never been more grateful for the little community that resides here in your dispatches. Slava Ukraini!
Mr. Bemused Senior
Not horrible. I think this was the best outcome possible. President Zelenskyy showed, on live TV, just where things stand. I (optimist that I am) believe this was a good day.
[ETA] there’s plenty of trouble ahead. But, as I wrote above, this gives me hope.
wjca
Easier, and far safer, to simply launch cyber attacks on the American utility infrastructure (why is that stuff still connected to the Internet??) and the American financial systems.
No need to attack American military or government systems. Musk has that well in hand already.
J. Arthur Crank
Related: Yesterday I thought DeSantis was the most pathetic political barnacle dangling off Trump’s enormous behind. Today Lindsey Graham stepped up his game and is now the most pathetic political barnacle dangling from Trump’s big behind. Given the enormous girth of said behind, it seems there is plenty of room there.
Adam L Silverman
@dimmsdale: You’re welcome.
pajaro
We switched sides today. It’s insane. There are so many ways we benefitted from being the leader of the post World War II order. Trump betrayed everything we said we were and every ideal generations of people have attempted to live up to. Of course, it’s completely shameful–bullying a guest, lying, hubris and self-pity in equal measure. What an unbelievable mixture of stupidity, venality and evil a plurality of our voters put in charge of our country.
We can’t recover from this; even if we somehow vote these miserable creatures out, the rest of the world understands that in another election cycle or two, they can just come back. Notwithstanding that, we’ve got to try and push back, each in our own way.
Dan B
I’m wondering if Russia could access the US’ nuclear command. Is it a coincidence that Trump got the boxes if top secret files that had been removed from MaL the same day Hegseth shut down the cyber command?
And this is an eye opening and riveting post on a day when it’s sorely needed. Get rested.
Dan B
It was impressive to witness the entire free world stand in favor of Ukraine. Has this finally built a fire that will get Europe to ramp up support?
YY_Sima Qian
Reaction from Chinese social media:
Even Chinese nationalists normally Putin leaning (because Putin is perceived to be confrontational w/ the U.S.) tend to appreciate w/ fight & determination. One of the consensus born of the “Century of Humiliation” for Chinese across the political spectrum is 弱国无外交, or “there is no diplomacy for the weak”. Unfortunately, the pervasive superficial perception among Chinese (not that most care) coming out of the ‘14 – ‘15 Russian invasion of Ukraine was a Ukraine that was haplessly weak & correct, & thus not worthy of sympathy.
Ukraine’s heroic stand early in the re-invasion subverted a lot of expectations in China. Zelenskyy standing up to MAGA bullying has generated even more sympathy, & it matters a lot that Zelenskyy was standing up to a bullying US, which most Chinese (of all political persuasions) can identify w/.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: Why is Musk beholden to Putin? Tesla doesn’t do much business there.
wjca
If the Slovaks can do it, WE can do it!
bookworm1398
When Trump was elected, I figured he would cut US arms shipments to Ukraine. But I didn’t imagine he would stop defending against cyber attacks, like WTF? It’s just ridiculous
Lyrebird
@Mr. Bemused Senior:
I am inclined to agree with this as well. Since we have such a parade of shamelessness going on at the top levels of government, I am a bit short on hope this evening, but I believe that someone showing such integrity as Zelensky did can make a difference. Showed the craven creepiness of the other side.
Jay
@Dan B:
In theory, no. There is a chain of command, one time codes, humans in the loop.
With ruZZia in control of the chain of command, all bets are off.
No need for a hack, just one phone call from Moscow to the White Supremacy House.
Adam L Silverman
@YY_Sima Qian: Russian oligarch ownership interest in X. Multiple, repeated contacts between Musk and Putin that the Wall Street Journal reported on back in OCT 2024.
Jay
@Dan B:
The EU and other allies have contributed more support to Ukraine, financial and hardware, than the US.
Poland alone sent 375 of their most modern tanks.
The US sent 31 obsolete Abrams. All have been pulled from front line service because they can’t cut it.
Australia has sent 49 upgraded and modernized Abrams to Ukraine.
The US has 3600 Abrams in storage.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: Ah, got it. Thanks.
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Thank you Adam. (no response necessary, I generally only read the posts and not the comments)
karen gail
Thanks Adam; a voice of reason in an insane world.
I read somewhere that the US was shipping old stock to Ukraine and placing orders for new stock from defense contractors; so in reality all government was doing was getting rid of old and keeping all the money promised for Ukraine defense in hands of US.
The US” arms dealers to the world, more than willing to sell war and weapons while getting rich.
Adam L Silverman
@YY_Sima Qian: And Musk tried to keep those contacts secret.
Adam L Silverman
@AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team: @karen gail: You’re both welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@karen gail: Yep, almost everything in terms of US material was benefiting the US economy.
Steve Crickmore
Adam, I wonder if you have read Adam Ulam, the Kremlinologist’s very long book, Expansion And Coexistence: The History Of Soviet Foreign Policy, 1917-1967 ? I’m sure you are acquainted with it, as it is considered a historical tome. I studied it, read every single eloquent page, and attended Ulam’s lucid lectures on it, and am more and more convinced that is also Vladimir Putin’s long term strategy and playbook, that the two expanison and coexistence, go hand in hand for him, as well. Trump self-evidently seems to recognize only Putin’s co-existence pull and not his more driving impulse for Russian expanison of its borders and power. Can’t anyone reach Trump? It must be so frustrating. Just wondered about your thoughts on the book’s twin themes and relevance?
Westyny
Thanks, Adam. Your clear-sighted analysis and humor reminds me that, while Trump won’t change, ever; the world is increasingly seeing him for what he is. It means we’re isolated as a rogue state, but the “free-world” will soldier on.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
The destruction of Melia led Euripides to write The Trojan Women one of the most anti-war plays ever. The Athenians did not appreciate Euripides’ efforts to hold them accountable for their own bad acts, and promptly banished him from Athens. Then they proceeded to lose the war. Karma baby!
The next meeting of the G7 is being held in Canada. The number of Canadians demanding that the Monster of Mar a Lago be banned from entering the country is rapidly rising.
Thank you Adam. Heated as this place can sometimes get, it’s like an oasis of common sense compared to the rest of the discourse.
ColoradoGuy
Thank you so much, Adam. The complete neutralization (or capture) of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and other intel agencies is something I’d never thought I’d see.
Mar-a-Lago really is Mar-a-Russo now.
la caterina
Late to this thread, but I wanted to say thank you Adam for these 1,100 posts. It was indeed an awful day today. I marvel at your perseverance posting every day about this awful war.
There’s little I can do except to donate the price of a couple of first aid kits to White Stork. It helps to take some kind of action, even of it’s small.
Jay
@la caterina:
Each one, saves a life or two, or more.
wjca
Which will happen first? Putin being feted in the Oval Office during a state visit to the US? Or Trump being feted in the Kremlin during a state visit to Russia?
I’m guessing that Putin’s paranoia is sufficient to make the later marginally more likely.
way2blue
@Andrya: I sent United24 $100 today—to go towards armored EMT vehicles for evacuating injured fighters from the front.
way2blue
I’ve been wondering today if encouraging media outlets to post photos & stories of everyday Russian life might deliver a message to everyday Americans. That. This is what Trump wants for you. The bleakness, lack of infrastructure & public services, rampant alcoholism. For many, I suspect, ‘Russia’ is just the name of a place over the horizon. And they have no sense of how dysfunctional that country is—away from St Petersburg & Moscow.
sab
Trump pretended to be a media star on The Apprentice. Heavily edited production, so basically BS, otherwise kown as fiction?
It kind of gobsmacks me that Ukraine figured that out but we in Trump’s country are still pondering.
CatFacts
Thank you, Adam.
sab
Zelenskyy was a real (not manufactured) media star in his own country long before he was a president, balancing between Russian and Ukrainian programming.
The utter hubris of the Trump twerps thinking they could outsmart this media exrienced man just stuns me.
Total fucking idiots. And these nitwits are our face to the world.
Kayla Rudbek
@way2blue: yeah, I grew up with Heinlein’s essay about visiting Soviet Russia and The Women’s Decameron by a Soviet dissident. And then when I picked up knitting again as an adult, I learned that Orenberg lace was nearly lost because the Tsarina ordered the inventor of the technique to be blinded so that no one but the Tsarina could wear an Orenburg lace shawl. As the end of the story goes, “fortunately, the knitter had a daughter.” The only way I’m interested in seeing Russia is in the invading army or through a bombsight.
JoyceH
@way2blue:
Has anyone else had a problem with this? I just tried to donate $100 as well, and made two attempts and got ‘something went wrong, declined’. My card is fine, it worked at the vet just a few hours ago, and my credit limit is way up there. I entered the card number and all the stuff carefully. So… huh. I’m bummed, I want to send Ukraine some money, and urge everyone to I know to do the same thing, but I’d like the donation link to work.
dc
@JoyceH: I had to try more than once, maybe it was my browser. I donated to the “defense” option.
Steve Crickmore
The Timothy Synder substack video, his first one in recognition of the sea change that occurred today was very powerful and eloquent tonight. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/28/2307015/-Timothy-Snyder-s-eloquent-take-on-today-s-fiasco?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
JoyceH
@dc: I was trying from my phone. Later I’ll try tablet or laptop, because I REALLY want to buy Ukraine some weapons!
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: As if one needed any evidence that the Trump gang is a pack of fools:
BrotherCrab
Zelenskyy has character. Trump has Vance.
rikyrah
Been waiting for this post. Thank you.
That ambush in the White House was disgusting😠😠
YY_Sima Qian
The new normal:
J.
Thank you for your reporting, Adam.
Ken B
@karen gail: It’s worse than that. We were mostly shipping munitions that were reaching their expiration date and needed to be disposed of (and replaced) anyway.
Elie
I haven’t commented often but read and hang out to stay informed. Deep gratitude to Adam AND every one here who posts and comments in good faith May the gods help us stay strong.
Miss Bianca
@dc: I did the same.
BTW, my bank decided that this contribution was “suspicious activity”. So I wrote back, “It is not suspicious activity, I am contributing to Ukraine’s defense since my country is apparently giving up on it. Get used to it.”
Miss Bianca
@JoyceH:
See
belowabove. I had the same thing happen to me. Managed to get around it finally.Gloria DryGarden
@Elie: May the gods help us