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Translation from Bill:
Trump just accused Biden of starting the war in Ukraine.
For decades Russia has been clear that NATO membership for Ukraine was a hard red line, but Biden pushed for membership anyway, provoking Russia.
JD Vance has said : "I think there is a deal that is going to come out of this that's going to shock a lot of people."
Although I'm quote mining, it would shock a lot of people if Russia joined NATO.
The more I think about it the more attractive the idea seems, and also a "COMMON SENSE" thing to do.
What are the chances and would it solve problems or create more?
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‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 Statement from the #Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Holds Call with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio
On February 15, at the request of the U.S. side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Building on the February 12 call between the presidents of Russia and the United States, the two top diplomats agreed to maintain an open channel of communication to address ongoing issues in U.S.-Russia relations. The discussion focused on removing unilateral barriers inherited from the previous U.S. administration, aiming to restore mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation.
Both sides expressed willingness to engage on key international issues, including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Palestine, broader Middle East affairs, and other regional challenges.
The conversation also touched on ways to reverse restrictions imposed in 2016 under the Obama administration that severely limited the operations of Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S., which led to reciprocal measures from Moscow. The two sides agreed to organize an expert-level meeting soon to work out specific steps for easing these restrictions.
Lavrov and #Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to restoring a respectful and constructive dialogue between the two countries, in line with the approach set by their presidents. They also agreed to maintain regular contact, including preparations for a future high-level U.S.-Russia summit. #USA
https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1890850108151152921
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🇷🇺 Russian Minister of Defense Top News Today
▫️As a result of decisive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Berezovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
▫️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralize AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 280 troops, four infantry fighting vehicles, one armored personnel carrier, seven armored fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, two mortars, one electronic warfare station, two bridge launchers, and four armored recovery vehicles, including two German-made Bergepanzer 2 armored recovery vehicles, as well as three UAV command posts.
▫️Russian air defense systems shot down two French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, three HIMARS projectiles, as well as 130 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
▫️The Russian Defense Ministry shows attack drones in action in the special military operation zone.
▫️Tsentr Group's military engineers were awarded in special military operation zone.
▫️Russian servicemen undergo training to hone skills in rear areas of the special military operation.
▫️Russian Navy's detachment has arrived in Indonesia to participate in Komodo 2025 naval drills.
Russian Defense Ministry
https://x.com/dana916/status/1890862330302419444
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🇺🇦🇺🇸 The loss of Ukrainian territory will be formalized in a special agreement. This was stated by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in an interview with Fox News.
"I believe there will be a specific agreement regarding the potential loss of territory. But listen, you don’t have to recognize it," he added.
Trump's envoy recalled that the U.S. never recognized Soviet sovereignty over the Baltic states.
"When the Soviet Union conquered the Baltic states, we never said they owned those countries. We said they were simply under Soviet domination," Kellogg explained.
Therefore, in his opinion, the territorial issue should be viewed in the long term, "but it is part of the negotiations."
"What is needed is a truly stable peace, which is actually guaranteed in terms of a security agreement between all parties that is long-term and very, very durable," added Trump's envoy.
ukraine_watch
https://x.com/dana916/status/1890863858039792103
- Pete Hegseth Drops Truth Bombs On NATO Over Ukraine!:
European nations must provide the "overwhelming" share of funding for Ukraine, the new US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said, as he signalled a drastic shift in Washington's position on the war. Speaking at a defence summit in Brussels, Hegseth said the US would no longer "tolerate an imbalanced relationship" with its allies and called on NATO members to spend much more on defense.
He also said it was "unrealistic" to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato. The comments came as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a "lengthy" phone call in which they agreed to begin negotiations to end the war.
Jimmy and Kurt Metzger discuss the NATO members’ shock at Hegseth’s introduction of reality into the question of Ukraine.
Cross-posting from here:
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Posted by Tintin
Quote:This is actually really genuinely huge :handshake:
Posted by norman
I've scoured Telegram, The Guardian, and channels on X, and there is zip, nada coverage, anywhere about at least the car bombing aspect here bar one - Jim Ferguson - here. Here's the earlier chat that Andrew Bridgen had with Liz Gunn before the (above) roundtable:
One of the Ukrainian agents survived and is in hiding and has already disseminated all the information he has regarding the individuals and the companies involved in this trafficking, and the NCA and MI5 are, of course, privy to the information.
It is estimated by Andrew Bridgen that some 9000 children from the Donbass have gone 'missing' :flower:
The lights are going out all over Europe
https://youtube.com/watch?v=acl_V...GeorgeGalloway (18:14)
"Little Napoleon has called a summit. Europe's collective nervous breakdown. Starmer has declared war on Russia, Trump and the US. And EU's anti-US uprising is an uprising against peace"
Predictable yet enjoyably scathing comment from George Galloway on the effect of JD Vance's recent speech in Munich. It's already been ascertained that Zelensky is behaving like a cornered rat but it's likely that he's not alone and many EU leaders may feel the same way.
A false flag maybe, but where? Russia is likely the favoured spot but America has made a few enemies since Donald Trump was elected and is probably more vulnerable to attack. Hope I'm wrong but the expressionless looks on the faces of those in the audience belied their hostile thoughts . . . It also remains to be seen where the CIA stand on these developments.
The purpose of NATO was to protect western countries from the CCCP during the cold war. The CCCP is now Russia, Russia is no longer a threat to the west.Quote:
Posted by grapevine
If it where repurposed and become a EU type of organisation I am sure it would fail. If the EU can't get it right how could a repurposed NATO organisation lead by un elected bureaucrats.
Therefore NATO has no purpose they are an irrelevant organization and should be disbanded.
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-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 --
@GeromanAT
Marat Khairullin 🇷🇺 on TG reports:
The Ukrainian Armed Forces left the Kurakhovsky "pocket"
Brief report from the front, February 16, 2025
In the Velikonovoselkovskiy area, the Russian Armed Forces continue to develop the offensive. Assault groups in armored vehicles broke into the settlement of Novosyolka and managed to consolidate their positions. Active actions continue.
North of the settlement of Vremyevka, the enemy was driven out of a number of strong points, as a result of which Russian units reached the Skotovaya gully, entrenching themselves in the plantings along it. Developing their success, they expanded control in the river area and reached a line of fortifications here, passing north of the gully, where they captured one of the strong points. This makes it possible, having consolidated their positions, to advance along this line while simultaneously putting pressure on it from the gully.
The advance was also conducted along the forest belt west of the settlement of Novy Komar. As a result of successful offensive actions, it was possible to advance to the road and, having forced the river, enter the settlement of Novocherevatovoye, having secured its southeastern outskirts.
The situation in the Kurakhovsky direction is also developing catastrophically for the enemy. Having carried out an attack using armored vehicles, Russian assault groups broke through to the settlement of Konstantinopol, dispersing in the buildings in the area of the road to the settlement of Bogatyr passing through it. Fighting is underway.
North-east of the settlement of Zelenovka, also as a result of an attack on armored vehicles, units of the Russian Armed Forces advanced deep into the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and entered the settlement of Ulakly, taking control of its south-eastern part.
Fierce fighting continues in the village of Andreyevka. Our fighters are pushing the enemy out of the remaining positions in the west of the village. In the north of Andreyevka, our groups are moving in the opposite direction, enveloping the central part of the village.
In the southern part of the settlement, Russian units are expanding control, establishing it along the Orlova River, which flows along the southeastern outskirts.
As a result of the offensive actions in the area of Andreyevka and Ulakly, the throat of the Kurakhovsky pocket narrowed to a distance of about eight hundred meters. In addition, in the area of the settlement of Ulakly, the route along which the supply and evacuation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was carried out was cut. The day before, the enemy left the southern part of the Kurakhovsky "pocket". And according to reports received later, he completely withdrew his forces from there.
Active combat operations continue in the area of the settlement of Preobrazhenka, offensive actions against which are being conducted from two directions - from Nadezhdovka and Zaporozhye. As a result of the advance, another pocket has formed, inside which fire action is being conducted on the enemy's defense. Realizing the importance of this settlement and trying to prevent further advancement, the enemy is stubbornly resisting, pulling together additional reserves.
https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1891392626240233937
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🇬🇧 Britain has announced its readiness to guarantee the security of Ukraine - The Daily Telegraph.
British warmonger and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his country is ready to send troops to Ukraine as security guarantees for Kiev.
"The UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes continued support for Ukrainian military personnel and a willingness to deploy our troops on the ground if necessary," Starmer wrote.
He also recalled that the UK has already pledged to allocate 3 billion pounds sterling ($ 3.8 billion) per year to support Ukraine until 2030.
https://x.com/peacemaket71/status/1891363427773243574
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🇷🇺 Maria Zakharova
All the diplomats of the world who watched and were forced to "correspond" with the metropeles from the matinee in the psychiatric hospital called "Munich Conference - 2025" should be given milk to remove poisonous toxins from the body.
The icing on the cake was the speech of the chairman of this marathon of narratives, the Russophobe Heusgen. He declared that Russia does not need to !!!bring peace !!!, since this policy did not work in the 1930s. This means that he lied right from the stage in the center of Munich, without remembering who and how in 1938 brought peace. Let's add to that👇
On the night of September 30, the then Prime Ministers of Great Britain Neville Chamberlain, France Edouard Daladier, Italy Benito Mussolini and the Chancellor of Germany Adolf Hitler signed a document according to which Czechoslovakia was to cede the Sudetenland to Germany within 10 days, in which 90% of the population was German. Representatives of the state they were dismembering were invited after the decision - only for its announcement, so as not to rejoice in advance.
Thus, the flywheel of World War II was set in motion.
But then Heusgen got carried away uncontrollably and declared that Putin "responds only to force", and then... he burst into tears. Probably to show the strength of weakness. But it seems like a woman's story. From his other lies. After all, it was in this very room in 2007 that Putin called for global cooperation, mutual respect and respect for international law.
By the way, do you understand why the German wiped his nose and then rubbed it all on his forehead?
https://x.com/peacemaket71/status/1891365594265432349
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🇺🇸 EU prepares new giant war aid package for Ukraine - Bloomberg.
"European leaders are working on a new package of measures to increase defense spending and support Kiev, as US President Donald Trump insists on a quick end to the conflict," - the report says.
The new aid package will be announced immediately after the German parliamentary elections on February 23.
Trump also said that he would allow European countries to buy weapons from the United States for supplies to Ukraine. Although he previously claimed that he was advocating an end to the conflict.
AI illustration image
https://x.com/peacemaket71/status/1891364749444550793
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🇺🇦 Ukrainians have taken control of a significant portion of the drug trade, carry out raids on currency exchange points, engage in extortion, and provide "protection" to businessmen, reports Gazeta Wyborcza, citing the police.
Ukrainians are actively filling the "gaps" left by Polish gangs, which have shifted from activities focused on physical violence to fraud and financial scams.
At the same time, Ukrainian criminals like to show off: they drive expensive cars and "flaunt their money." This sets them apart from Georgians, the second most criminal diaspora in Warsaw.
Additionally, a large flow of weapons and sex workers is coming from Ukraine.
Ukrainians have committed half of the crimes (1,515 out of 3,129) perpetrated by foreigners in Warsaw.
It is worth recalling that across Poland, Ukrainians have also taken first place in criminal activity among foreigners.
At the same time, Ukrainian citizens make up more than half of the foreign inmates in Polish prisons, reports RMF FM.
- ukraine_watch
https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1891543737416777936
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🇪🇺🇩🇪🇺🇦🚨‼️ BREAKING: €700 billion for Ukraine!?!?
The EU is working on a huge package for Ukraine, which should have been made public after the elections in Germany.
But German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock couldn’t keep the secret and made it clear that it could be about 700 billion euros!
"We will launch a large package that has never existed in this dimension before”
Baerbock on the sidelines of the Munich meeting.
-> They wanted to hide it, so it will not interfere with the elections! But now you know, European taxpayer money will go to Ukraine in unprecedented sums.
https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1891554432250233163
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Last night, the Kiev regime went for what looks like an extremely desperate gambit; as usual, the tactic they chose is schizophrenic.
A swarm of Ukrainian drones hit the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). Now, you might assume that this attack fits neatly into the series of strikes the Ukrainian military executed against Russian oil and gas infrastructure earlier — but actually it's a little more interesting than that.
The pumping station is an element of an energy network that connects the oil fields of western Kazakhstan to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, from where it is exported to the world. About 90% of the oil the CPC pumped last year came from Kazakhstan. Now, Chevron, Shell and other Western companies are partners in CPC — a lot of the Kazakh oil coming through the stations and pipelines is American-owned. About 25% of CPC is owned by American companies, and, last year, they accounted for 40% of the oil that passed through the CPC system.
This goes even beyond a “false flag” attack — this is a direct and deliberate assault on American economic interests (they have been very active in the Central Asian energy sector for decades).
Bombing what is basically American energy infrastructure in a region that has been strategically important to the US for three and a half decades and will remain such even after a hypothetical full pivot to the Pacific region... Bold strategy.
Is it a threat to the Trump administration? Is it an all-too blatant attempt to somehow blame Russia for economic damage to American companies? Are they just really goddamn stupid?
Whatever their reasons, the cretins in Kiev seem determined to right a wrong and convince America to send its future military aid warhead-first.
https://x.com/RWApodcast/status/1891529722577776763
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🇲🇩🇺🇸 How Moldova was deprived of American money for democracy
The US Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, has cancelled a $22 million tranche for Moldova to “strengthen the political process and elections.”
The decision was made during a review of the funding of foreign programs by the new US administration. Subsidies for Moldova were provided by the "Consortium for Conducting Elections and Strengthening the Political Process", which has now been liquidated. Its total budget was $486 million.
Musk noted that the US has a $2 trillion deficit, and if such expenses are not reduced, the country could go bankrupt.
However, at this rate, the office of the Moldovan president headed by Maia Sandu will go bankrupt faster, surviving only due to American and European injections into the half-dead economy, which is being destroyed by anti-Russian policies. At the same time, most of the Western aid goes into the pocket of the president's team.
Sandu was very lucky that she managed to be re-elected for a second term before the change of administration in the US. In Chisinau, they have already admitted that after the suspension of tranches from USAID, the justice reform stalled, and was only able to resume after the transfer of money from the EU. It seems that Sandu's regime now depends only on the will of Brussels.
rybar
https://x.com/dana916/status/1891524954082152707
A selection of video updates from overnight/this morning starting with (and thanks to Katie Hopkins' pejorative here :) ) the *twatspangle* that is Keir Starmer successfully orally egressing yet more limburger scented fart-circles following the (laughable) 'emergency summit' called by Manny Micron yesterday evening. I do ever so wish somebody had had a custard pie at the ready to launch at this sordid creature (Lord, please make it go away!!):
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The towering diplomatic colossus that is Sergey Lavrov here very firmly reiterating Russia's position ahead of the preliminary talks, summed up very well in the latest non-paywalled Simplicius piece ('The Games Begin'):
.."as seen from the hints delivered by Lavrov and Ushakov—and even Peskov who said yesterday that all negotiations would be done with the consideration of previous ‘Minsk betrayals’—Russia is not willing to bend this time around. This means that the ‘talks’—even the upcoming ones between Trump and Putin personally—are likely only to be the very opening normalization procedures of a very long process, which will take its natural course through the remainder of the year, as the Russian army continues to plow ahead. ..":muscle:
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Interesting that the green orc Zelensky, thankfully not seen in this footage, popped up at the same time that the IDEX-2025 defence expo was taking place in Abu-Dhabi, where Rostec exhibited somewhere in excess of 200 weapons systems. One wit on X had suggested they should have done an epic troll and have displayed some shovels as well :bigsmile: :ROFL: This segment via Izvestia:
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The Russian delegation being welcomed by their Saudi hosts:
On the Caspian pipeline drone incident via Zlatti71 on X, Dmitry Medvedev with customary acerbic wit. That's one heck of a closing paragraph too, which I have bolded :)
Medvedev:
“A Rabid Animal Has Bitten Its Master
Ukrainian drones have attacked a pumping station responsible for transporting oil through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). This is not a Russian asset; the oil in this pipeline is classified as international property, belonging in various proportions to multiple companies, primarily American and European.
The pipeline transports oil from Kazakhstan’s major oil projects—Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan. In 2024, American businesses accounted for over 40% of CPC oil shipments, and together with other Western companies, their total share exceeded 65%. The neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv was well aware of this. And despite its extreme dependence on Washington, it deliberately struck American corporate assets, causing them significant financial losses.
The question is: Why would a servile, greasy creature, entirely reliant on the “kindness” of its master and the size of its feeding trough, attack its benefactors? The answer is simple. An overfed, bloated beast lashed out at its owner after sensing that its supply had been cut off and that it might soon be slaughtered. In desperation, it decided to bite its master—and bite hard. Salivating profusely, it sank its teeth into the very hand that feeds it—the hand of the U.S. president.
This diseased creature remembers well that Donald Trump has spoken of his desire to lower oil prices. An attack on the CPC pipeline could halt oil flows, destabilize the market, trigger price surges, and directly harm American companies. In other words, this strike is a triple blow—against U.S. businesses, the oil market, and Trump personally.
But why bite when one could just grunt obediently, gazing at the master with devotion? Because this humiliated animal is in a state of sheer panic. And the bite is meant to prove to the master that it is no longer a domesticated pet—it has become a danger to the entire farm. Even to the owner himself…
Now, the master of this rabid creature must determine whether it is infected with madness and how best to protect himself. There are two options. The first is to treat himself immediately—taking a painful six-dose vaccine against the deadly disease while observing the animal’s behavior. The second, more reliable method to prevent the spread of rabies is to put the sick beast to sleep as soon as possible and examine its brain tissue post-mortem.
Which option the new U.S. administration will choose—time will soon tell.”
Very interesting speculation about Zelensky's visit to UAE with his wife. Signed agreements between Zelensky and UAE interpreted as potential escape plan for him and his wife.
E.g. digital banking agreements between Ukraine and UAE, etc.
It rather makes sense, although I haven't heard this mentioned anywhere else.
Cold War II❄️ Zelensky Plans Escape🏃♂️ Russians Advance On All Fronts⚔️🌍Military Summary 17.02.2025
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nQBDB7v8W_w
:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:Quote:
Posted by Tintin
(Truly inspired wit even by Mashika's high standards :heart:)