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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

This fight is for everything.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

That meeting sounds like a shotgun wedding between a shitshow and a clusterfuck.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Jesus watching the most hateful people claiming to be his followers

We do not need to pander to people who do not like what we stand for.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

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Open Thread:  Hey Lurkers!  (Holiday Post)

Open Threads

You are here: Home / Archives for Open Threads

Overnight Open Thread: The Dogs Were Good Again

by TaMara|  April 12, 202511:55 pm| 53 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Hello night owls and early risers!

If you’re not following WeRateDogs on one of their many platforms, well, why the heck not?! They bring joy daily.

Here are this week’s top 10 dogs:

Equal time for our feline crew:

Cutie long hair tabby in her pretty blue harness sitting on the patio

Willow, giving me attitude as I interrupt her precious outside time. She’s adapted well to the harness, and it has done the job of keeping her in the yard. Her outdoor time is still strictly monitored. Much to her annoyance.

This is an open thread, have at it…

Overnight Open Thread: The Dogs Were Good AgainPost + Comments (53)

War for Ukraine Day 1,143: What Capitulation Looks Like

by Adam L Silverman|  April 12, 202510:35 pm| 16 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

This is not a good look!

Absolutely shameful: Witkoff breaks Russian dictator Putin’s diplomatic isolation from the Free World. His handshake with the murderous Kremlin tyrant is like a symbol of Washington’s abdication of its position as leader of the West.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 4:45 AM

One of these people has at least thought about Ukraine for some time. The other doesn’t understand basic facts about his brief.

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 6:19 PM

The cost:

⚡️Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian F-16 pilot, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences, and Ivanov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian F-16 pilot, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

The Air Force praised Ivanov’s dedication and bravery in a statement on Telegram.

“Ukrainian pilots are working to the fullest extent of their human and technical capabilities, risking their lives every time they carry out a combat mission. Pavlo was one of them!” the post said.

An interdepartmental commission has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, according to the statement.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences on X, and said that the response will be “strong and precise.”

Ivanov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, according to the website of the president.

“For personal courage and heroism, demonstrated in the protection of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I decree to award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the “Golden Star” order to Ivanov Pavlo Ivanovych,” the official statement from Zelensky said.

F-16s are used in both offensive and defensive operations. The aircraft have been used for intercepting Russian missiles and drones during aerial strikes against Ukraine. They can also be deployed to launch missiles and bombs at Russian positions along the front line.

Ivanov’s death marks the second F-16 pilot loss for Ukraine since receiving these jets, following Oleksii Mes’s death last August.

There is no daily address today from President Zelenskyy. I don’t know if it’s because he’s celebrating Passover or traveling.

show full post on front page

Georgia:

“An enemy of one’s own nation will not go unpunished” — 136th day of non-stop protest in Tbilisi.

#GeorgiaProtests

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM

In response to the regime’s increasing Russian narratives of history, protest has been going on today since much earlier than routinely. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM

“Not only could this war have been avoided, but the Saakashvili regime started it,” stated Irakli Kobakhidze today about Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August 2008.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM

“Russia started the war in 2008” — protesters state in response to Georgian Dream members who, like the Russians, blame Georgia and the UNM government for Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008. Police try to prevent the blockage of Rustaveli.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM

1/ ‘Futilely sacrificed for someone’s PR stunt’ — that’s how the chairman of Georgian Dream’s investigative commission Tea Tsulukiani refers to a national hero Giorgi Antsukhelidze, who fought in the Russia–Georgia war and was tortured to death.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

2/ “To put it simply — why isn’t Giorgi Antsukhelidze home today? I have the right to ask that question. Who can forbid me from asking it? We are asking it — every child needs their parent at home, not futilely sacrificed for someone’s PR”, [..]

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

3/ said Tsulukiani to the public broadcaster, clarifying that she was referring to former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

4/ More context: Junior Sergeant Giorgi Antsukhelidze was captured by Russian forces during the August 2008 war and was missing until November. Later, a genetic test of 10 bodies recovered from occupied Tskhinvali confirmed he was one of them.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

5/ In January 2009, a video surfaced showing Antsukhelidze surrounded by occupiers, who kicked him in the head and back. Despite being forced to kiss the ground, the 23-year-old hero was not broken. He was eventually beaten to death by Ossetian separatists.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

6/ In recognition of his bravery, Antsukhelidze was posthumously awarded the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali in 2009, the “Medal for Devotion to the Homeland” by the Ministry of Defence in 2011, and granted National Hero status by President Mikheil Saakashvili in 2013.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

Estonia:

“Either this week or next, we will deliver 10,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition.” – said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur. He also added that Estonia will deliver 750,000 food packages for Ukrainian soldiers.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 10:47 AM

Back to Ukraine.

Russian forces are now packing the warheads of their ‘Shahed’ drones with these ball bearings to maximize casualties.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 11:08 AM

“Everything that reaches the front line – doesn’t come back.” – Fighters of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade continue to reduce the number of Russians.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM

Pokrovsk:

Lavrov said today that Russia cares more about people than territories. Meanwhile street burials are appearing in Pokrovsk – totally devastated just like other cities that Russia supposedly ‘cared’ about

Photos: libkos

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— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM

Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

Kharkiv Regional prosecutor’s office published a photo of the aftermath of today’s russian glide bomb attack on Kupiansk. At least 4 people got injured in this attack.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces struck a private residence in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, with a glide bomb on April 12, injuring four civilians and potentially trapping others beneath the rubble.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that the attack occurred around 6:20 p.m. local time during ongoing heavy shelling of the city.

The injured civilians include a 25-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man, and two women aged 52 and 73, according to Syniehubov’s statement on Telegram.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris.

Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine‘s northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks.

Kupiansk is located only 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the current front line. Divided by the Oskil River, Kupiansk lies at a critical junction between the Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast and the adjacent Kharkiv Oblast.

Slatyne, Kharkiv Oblast:

Slatine village, Kharkiv region, morning after the russian strike.

It’s hard to imagine what thoughts run through this man’s mind as he sits amidst the ruins of his home.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM

An unexploded russian FAB-500 aerial bomb was found in a field in Slatyne, Kharkiv Region. Specialists from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine identified the ordnance. It miraculously didn’t detonate but remained highly dangerous.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:49 AM

Kharkiv Oblast:

⚡️Russians preparing for assault in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military warns.

In an official statement, “Khortytsia” reported that Russian troops are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM

From They Kyiv Independent:

Russian forces are regrouping and preparing for renewed assault in the Kharkiv Oblast, according to Ukraine’s Operational-Strategic Group of Forces “Khortytsia.”

In an official statement from April 12, “Khortytsia” reported that although no offensive actions were carried out by Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction over the last day, Russians are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.

In the Kupiansk area, Ukrainian troops thwarted Russian assault attempts near Kindrashivka, Kamianka and Zahryzove. A mechanized assault involving five armored vehicles near Lozova and Nova Kruhliakivka was stopped.

Russian forces also launched attacks in the Lyman sector on the border of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, targeting areas around Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Olhivka, Ridkodub, Hlushchenkove, Novomykhailivka, Yampolivka, Torske and Nove. All Russian advances were repelled. Russian units also failed to gain ground in the Serebryansky forest.

In the Kramatorsk and Toretsk directions in Donetsk Oblast, assault actions of varying intensity took place near Predtechyne, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Druzhba, Dyliivka and Toretsk, with no loss of Ukrainian positions.

The Russian forces continued attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk direction, attacking toward Yelyzavetivka, Zvirove, Preobrazhenka, Kotliarivka, Oleksiivka, Pishchane, Udachne, Lysivka, Novosergiivka and Andriivka.

According to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian personnel losses have exceeded 140,000 troops (140,650), since the beginning of the war.

The Kyiv Independent couldn’t independently verify Syrskyi’s statement.

Kherson Oblast:

⚡️Russian drone attack kills 1, injures 2 in Kherson Oblast.

On April 12, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle in the Dniprovskiy district, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The drone dropped explosives on the car, fatally wounding a 27-year-old man.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM

Saratov, Russia:

Saratov airport in russia is on fire for some reason 👀🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Як зіпсувати настрій однією фразою…😒🙄 #песпатрон

♬ original sound – Hailey Fenty – hailey

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

How to ruin a mood with one phrase…😒🙄 #песпатрон

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,143: What Capitulation Looks LikePost + Comments (16)

Good News?

by Anne Laurie|  April 12, 20258:50 pm| 51 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Today’s declaration answers only the first of Judge Xinis’s required three questions: it updates the court on Abrego Garcia’s location and status but omits any mentions of steps, past or future, to retrieve him.

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— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) April 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM

Today’s declaration answers only the first of Judge Xinis’s required three questions: it updates the court on Abrego Garcia’s location and status but omits any mentions of steps, past or future, to retrieve him.

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— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) April 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM

By using the phrase “pursuant to the sovereign, domestic authority of El Salvador,” the Trump administration continues to insist that it has no direct control over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s captivity.

(But IMO it’s too early to conclude that the govt will never take any steps to return him.)

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— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) April 12, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Good News?Post + Comments (51)

The Fighting Oligarchy Tour (Open Thread)

by WaterGirl|  April 12, 20252:25 pm| 248 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Too bad LA is so far away from me here in Illinois!   Any of our LA peeps attending?

Los Angeles, I’ll be joining the Fighting Oligarchy tour tomorrow! Speaking and then playing the drums. Join us!

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— Maxwell Frost (@maxwellfrost.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Glad to see that Neil Young is part of this; that seems just right!  Joan Baez, too.

Open thread.

The Fighting Oligarchy Tour (Open Thread)Post + Comments (248)

Friday Saturday Morning Open Thread: Waiting for the Next Doc Dump

by Anne Laurie|  April 12, 20258:40 am| 320 Comments

This post is in: Grifters Gonna Grift, Open Threads, Republican Politics

This Politico piece makes the fighting within the Trump administration sound like something from the Clinton or Reagan administrations, when instead it’s a bunch of incompetents, grifters, & lunatics doing their own thing w the senile president not controlling them www.politico.com/news/2025/04…

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— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM

We're told FDA Commissioner Marty makary has now greenlighted a plan to address at least some of agency's steep layoffs: hire contractors to replace laid-off federal employees
"It's a waste," one laid-off FDA official said
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-rep…

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— Alexander Tin (@alexander-a-tin.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM

Something that may be worth saying is that with agencies floating contractors, Elon seeming less important, spending continuing to go up and the GOP senate plan..

The vought/elon "completely destroy state capacity" wing seems to be losing power quickly.

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 10:26 PM

Florida's economy is so fucking screwed rn

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM

The silly thing about all this is that there simply aren't that many "criminal illegal aliens." That's why these guys are upping the volume.

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— Cheryl Rofer (@cherylrofer.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM

It’s too late to keep out ideas from South Africa

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— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM

<del>Friday</del> Saturday Morning Open Thread: Waiting for the Next Doc DumpPost + Comments (320)

Overnight Open Thread: Cool EV Firetruck

by TaMara|  April 12, 202512:30 am| 26 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

And we’re back!

It’s your stay up too late/wake up too early thread.

Fun video out of New Zealand on one of their EV firetrucks. I’ll let Gavin take you through the specifics:

 

Bonus Trixie – I think I broke her:

Harlequin Great Dane snoozing while sitting on a couch

This is a wide-open thread

Overnight Open Thread: Cool EV FiretruckPost + Comments (26)

War for Ukraine Day 1,142: Never Going to Happen

by Adam L Silverman|  April 11, 202511:59 pm| 13 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

“Special” Envoy LTG (ret) Kellogg has had a stroke of genius. And by stroke of genius I mean absolutely stupid idea.

Many comments come to mind, but what stands out distinctively is how the British and French flags are placed far from the russian border. Bravery outsourced, as usual—locals suffering while others draw the maps.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Never “divide” and “Ukraine” in the same sentence.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM

From The Times:

President Trump’s envoy to Ukraine has said the country could be partitioned “almost like Berlin after World War Two” as part of a peace deal.

General Keith Kellogg, a leading figure in US efforts to end the three-year war, suggested that British and French troops could adopt zones of control in the west of the country as part of a “reassurance force”, with Russia’s army in the occupied east. Between them would be Ukrainian forces and a demilitarised zone.

Kellogg, 80, said the Anglo-French-led force west of the Dnipro river, which bisects Ukraine from north to south and runs through Kyiv, would “not be provocative at all” to Moscow. He said Ukraine was a big enough country to accommodate several armies seeking to enforce a ceasefire.

“You could almost make it look like what happened with Berlin after World War Two, when you had a Russian zone, a French zone, and a British zone, a US zone,” he said.

“You’re west of the [Dnipro], which is a major obstacle,” Kellogg said. He later clarified that America would not be providing any ground forces. He suggested that a demilitarised zone of 18 miles could be implemented along the existing lines of control in the east.

Implicit in the general’s plan of how to move from a ceasefire to an enduring peace settlement is US acknowledgment of Russia’s de facto control over the land they currently occupy.

More at the link.

Kellogg has already come out and walked this back.

Witkoff’s insanity: He told Trump that the fastest way to a deal is handing Russia full control over 4 Ukrainian regions—Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Trump ally Keith Kellogg pushed back, saying Ukraine will never agree to unilaterally surrender land

www.reuters.com/world/trump-…

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) April 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM

From Reuters:

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) – Less than 48 hours after dining with a negotiator sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Washington last week, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy leading talks with Moscow, sat down with President Donald Trump in the White House and delivered a clear message.

The fastest way to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, said Witkoff, was to support a strategy that would give Russia ownership of four eastern Ukrainian regions it attempted to annex illegally in 2022, two U.S. officials and five people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

It was a point Witkoff had made previously – and publicly in a podcast interview with conservative media personality Tucker Carlson last month – but one that Kyiv has repeatedly rejected and that some U.S. and European officials have dismissed as a maximalist Russian demand.

In the meeting with Trump, General Keith Kellogg, the president’s Ukraine envoy, pushed back against Witkoff, saying Ukraine, though willing to negotiate some terms related to disputed land, would never agree to unilaterally cede total ownership of the territories to Russia, said two of the sources.

The meeting ended without Trump making a decision to change the U.S. strategy. Witkoff traveled to Russia Friday to meet Putin.

Trump administration officials are increasingly at odds over how to break the deadlock between Ukraine and Russia, with Witkoff and Kellogg – who favors more direct support for Ukraine – disagreeing on the best course forward, according to the U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter and four Western diplomats who are in touch with administration officials.

Witkoff’s office, the National Security Council, the State Department, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

In a break with normal security procedures, Witkoff had invited Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian envoy who is under U.S. sanctions following Russia’s invasion, to his personal residence for dinner before the White House meeting.

That set off alarms inside the White House and the State Department, according to two people familiar with the situation. U.S. officials avoid hosting officials from Russia – which has sophisticated intelligence capabilities – to their homes.

The dinner was rescheduled and took place at the White House instead.

Witkoff, an old friend of Trump’s who has helped secure key diplomatic victories for the president, has garnered some support from the Republican Party’s Ukraine skeptics but his proposals have stoked outrage among other Republicans who believe the administration has turned too sharply toward Moscow.

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill were so concerned about Witkoff’s apparent pro-Russia stance in the Carlson interview that several called National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio afterward to complain, according to a person familiar with the calls.

More at the link.

This is never going to happen. Neither President Zelenskyy, nor anyone who is a viable successor to him, would agree to this. It would be political suicide. It would also condemn hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to Russian tyranny and all the genocidal punishment that will come with it.

The quickest way to end the war is to surrender, sure. But Ukraine has never needed, nor will it ever need, Witkoff for that. If surrender were ever on the table, we’d handle it ourselves, but it is not, and it seems Trump’s special envoy refuses to acknowledge that.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM

There’s another issue here. The US does not have anything close to a coherent policy, let alone strategy to achieve it.

An illustrated page from Alice in Wonderland. Alice is in the foreground left with her back to the reader. The Cheshire cat is on a tree branch above her and to the right. Below the Cheshire cat is the following text with Alice asking the Cheshire Cat "Would you tell me please, which way I should go from here?" The Cheshire Cat replies: "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to." To which Alice replies "I don't much care where --" The Cheshire cat then replies "Then it doesn't matter which way you go."

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

Today, I Visited the Dnipro Region, Kryvyi Rih – Address by the President

11 April 2025 – 18:53

Dear Ukrainians!

Today, I visited the Dnipro region, Kryvyi Rih. I honored the memory of those killed by a Russian ballistic missile strike – exactly one week ago. 19 people were killed by a Russian missile, including 9 children. I’m now in a shelter at the very school where three of those children studied – tragically, they were killed. That same day, there was also a Shahed drone attack, which claimed even more lives. Eternal memory to them all.

Today, from right here in Kryvyi Rih, I addressed the participants of the Ramstein meeting in Brussels. Our top priority is air defense: additional systems and missiles for them – to protect lives and our cities. We are counting on our partners’ decisions. The world has the necessary systems, and what’s needed is a political decision for them to work here in Ukraine – in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and many other cities and communities. We discussed this with the President of the United States, President Trump – Ukraine is not just asking, we are ready to purchase these additional systems. Only powerful weapons can truly be relied upon to protect life when you have a neighbor like Russia. So that Ukrainian children can study safely – simply in schools, not online but in person, in a normal way – like in America, like across Europe – and not in such underground classrooms, which may provide greater safety, but which should not be the norm anywhere, but simply in schools. Air defense is our first priority. I thank all our partners who are already helping.

There will also be substantial new funding for electronic warfare systems – that’s an additional 540 million hryvnias. I have instructed the Government to adopt a decision and enhance the protection. There is already a decision regarding additional funding for our frontline communities, for the communities along the border with Russia, for those that are constantly under strikes and shelling. Up to ten million hryvnias for each of these communities depending on the number of people living there. And this will not be a one-time payment – we plan to provide this kind of regular support to cover the priority needs of the communities, to help with shelters, transport, and other solutions for protecting people. Today, we talked with representatives of the communities of the Dnipro region – I want to thank all of them. I am grateful to everyone who stands with the people, who provides help and protection. I also visited our warriors who are recovering from their wounds. I am grateful to every doctor who saves our soldiers. I am grateful to everyone who remembers – every person matters, every person makes a difference, every person must do their part so that Ukraine preserves its strength. Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!

He also addressed the latest Ramstein format contact group:

Georgia:

This is how you carry the Georgian flag across the blocked Rustaveli avenue. ❤️✊

This is the 135th consecutive day of the #GeorgiaProtests

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 1:32 PM

1/ Russia has sentenced Gela Beglarishvili, a Georgian fighting against Russia in Ukraine, to 14 years in prison in absentia.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM

2/ His wife, Rusudan Ivaneishvili, a sniper also fighting against Russia, is also facing trial in absentia by Russian authorities.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM

3/ In April 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Beglarishvili and Ivaneishvili for their bravery.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM

1/ On April 10 The UK has sanctioned four more high-ranking Georgian officials for their role in allowing serious human rights violations in response to legitimate protests in Georgia since 2024.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM

2/ “Our sanctions show the UK will not accept such a blatant lack of accountability by those in charge, and will continue to consider all options available to us until Georgia reverses its current trajectory”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM

3/ “We stand with the people of Georgia and their constitutional right to fundamental freedoms and to pursue a European path” – Said Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM

4/ With today’s action, the UK is the first state to sanction Georgia’s General Prosecutor and the Head of the Special Investigatory Service for failing in their positions to properly investigate those responsible for serious violence.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM

The US:

The new mineral deal provides no security guarantees for Ukraine and requires Ukraine to repay all previously received aid.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/w…

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM

From The New York Times:

The new proposal, reviewed by The New York Times, reverts to Mr. Trump’s initial demand that Ukraine repay the United States for the billions it has received in military and financial aid since Russia’s invasion three years ago.

As in earlier proposals, Ukraine would have to contribute half its revenue from natural resource projects — including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as related infrastructure such as ports and pipelines — to a U.S.-controlled investment fund. Profits from the fund would be reinvested in Ukrainian natural resource projects, though the exact share of such profit remained unclear.

The new draft also echoes earlier versions by omitting any mention of security guarantees for Ukraine, a provision that Kyiv had long pressed for and managed to include in a draft last month — but one that Washington had long resisted.

The new proposal includes stricter terms than earlier drafts: Washington would claim all profit from the fund until Kyiv repaid at least the equivalent of the U.S. aid received during the war plus 4 percent annual interest.

The United States also would retain a “right of first offer” on new projects and the power to veto sales of Ukrainian resources to third countries. And in the first year of the agreement, Ukraine would be prohibited from offering any investment projects to third parties with better financial or economic terms than those offered to the United States.

The fund would be controlled by the International Development Finance Corporation, a U.S. government agency responsible for investing in companies and projects abroad. The agency would nominate three board members — while Ukraine would have only two — and would oversee each project where earnings from the fund are invested.

This is also not going to happen.

Estonia:

Video of the tanker KIWALA of the Russian shadow fleet.

After the detention, the vessel provided a flag certificate, but a representative of Djibouti said that the vessel is not listed in their register. There is also no information about the owner. www.postimees.ee/8228269/foto…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM

Gulf of Finland vibes right now

why that unflagged rust bucket tramp steamer was sailing thru Estonian EEZ instead of intl waters?

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— Aki Heikkinen (@akihheikkinen.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:30 AM

Lithuania:

Lithuania plans to allocate an additional €20 million for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine, announced the country’s Defense Minister, Dovilė Šakalienė.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM

Back to Ukraine.

🇬🇧🇺🇦 British Prince Harry arrived in Ukraine unannounced today, The Telegraph reports.
He visited the wounded soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are being treated in one of the Lviv hospitals.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM

Prince Harry made an unannounced visit to Ukraine, where he met with veterans recovering from injuries. During his visit, he went to the Superhumans Center in Lviv, a clinic providing care and rehabilitation for wounded soldiers and civilians.
apnews.com/article/prin…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM

🇬🇧🇺🇦 Prince Harry has been given Easter as a gift – the flour for it was milled from the harvest from demined Ukrainian fields.
He received such a gift from Economics Minister Yuliya Sviridenko during his visit to Ukraine.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM

The reason:

💙😍 Mortar man Andriy has been giving his favorite girl flowers from the front line for two years. More than 25 bouquets from Bakhmut, Chasovy Yar, Toretsk, Kordyumovka and Ivanovskoye. Each bouquet has its own story.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 12:15 PM

When the US suggests that EU will provide security guarantees, it reminds me of a post-Soviet joke:

Two businessmen meet. One says to the other:

— Do you need a railcar of sugar?
— Of course I do

And they part ways: one goes off to find the sugar, the other to find the money

— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM

Kryvyi Rih:

🇺🇦🕯 Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kryvyi Rih and paid tribute to the victims.
On April 4, a russian ballistic missile struck near houses and a playground, killing 19 people, 9 of whom were children.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM

Kharkiv:

The air raid alerts have gone back up while I’ve been drafting the post:

03:50 AM. Air raid alert in Kharkiv. Russian drones are approaching the city.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM

Explosion in Kharkiv ‼️ russian drones again

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM

Today, the russian army shelled a kindergarten and a medical facility.
The Izium, Bohodukhiv, and Kupiansk districts of the Kharkiv region came under fire. Four people were injured.

Russia keeps terrorizing Kharkiv every single day.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 7:53 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

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Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,142: Never Going to HappenPost + Comments (13)

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