Zelenskyy lashes out at Trump over suggestion Ukraine started war, should hold elections again

[GtHawk]

The possibility that the Chicoms are using the Russians as sacrificial lambs and a distraction to weaken the west and their armaments has crossed my mind many times. That Russian has remained , just strengthens that theorem .   And on the back side, Xi might have a place at the table for Putin once the sacrifice is complete, and the wheels are greased to allow the Chinese inact their Pac agression  plan.

Russia isn’t the only one that wants former territories back, China does too, and yes China is in a great position, for them, while Europe and America use up their stockpiles and print money to for the war they are sitting back stockpiling and spending their cash to buy up real estate in Africa and wherever else they can to make those countries dependent on them.

[verga]

Negotiations are fluid, even as we speak.  I think it is good strategy for Hegseth to withhold comment, when he knows the results might change on a dime.  In the snake pit of the MSM, one mispeak is treated like a scandal.

Years ago I was part of a negotiating team for a machine shop union I worked at. Every day the members would ask me what was being said. i had to tell them everything is on the table until we vote. They would whine like liberals.

[libertybele]

Russia isn’t the only one that wants former territories back, China does too, and yes China is in a great position, for them, while Europe and America use up their stockpiles and print money to for the war they are sitting back stockpiling and spending their cash to buy up real estate in Africa and wherever else they can to make those countries dependent on them.

China has always been a concern in this conflict. We'll see what plays out. 

[mountaineer]

Ukraine President Zelensky says the billions of dollars that were given to him by the U.S. was a grant, not a debt owed to the United States.  “I don't even recognize $100 billion. We agreed with Biden that it was a grant, not a debt.”

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1893696094003196227

[mountaineer]

Zelensky balks at mineral deal if it’s repayment for Biden-era US aid: ‘A grant is not a debt’
President Trump has been demanding such a pact, but Ukraine has been

Story at NY Post: https://nypost.com/2025/02/23/world-news/zelensky-balks-at-mineral-deal-if-its-repayment-for-biden-era-us-aid-a-grant-is-not-a-debt/

[verga]

Ukraine President Zelensky says the billions of dollars that were given to him by the U.S. was a grant, not a debt owed to the United States.  “I don't even recognize $100 billion. We agreed with Biden that it was a grant, not a debt.”

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1893696094003196227

Sure because then it might come out of your pocket you POS.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Don't poke at an angry cat.  FAFO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn0r88RJFD4

[GtHawk]

Zelensky balks at mineral deal if it’s repayment for Biden-era US aid: ‘A grant is not a debt’
President Trump has been demanding such a pact, but Ukraine has been

Story at NY Post: https://nypost.com/2025/02/23/world-news/zelensky-balks-at-mineral-deal-if-its-repayment-for-biden-era-us-aid-a-grant-is-not-a-debt/

First of all Biden was non compos mentis when you got him to give Ukraine all that money somI don’t feel obligated to honor anything he said, second we we have laws in America against taking advantage of a senior citizen, especially one with Alzheimers.

[Timber Rattler]

First of all Biden was non compos mentis when you got him to give Ukraine all that money somI don’t feel obligated to honor anything he said, second we we have laws in America against taking advantage of a senior citizen, especially one with Alzheimers.

Uh, Congress appropriated that money.

[Kamaji]

First of all Biden was non compos mentis when you got him to give Ukraine all that money somI don’t feel obligated to honor anything he said, second we we have laws in America against taking advantage of a senior citizen, especially one with Alzheimers.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Ukraine President Zelensky says the billions of dollars that were given to him by the U.S. was a grant, not a debt owed to the United States.  “I don't even recognize $100 billion. We agreed with Biden that it was a grant, not a debt.”

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1893696094003196227

getting something and giving nothing in return is a gift, not a grant.

[DB]

getting something and giving nothing in return is a gift, not a grant.

I don't recall anyone sending weapons and cash to Ukraine claiming it was a loan. And it is in our interests to stop Russia from building a new Soviet Union.

[DefiantMassRINO]

America is not the only nation on the European continent ... wait, America is not in Europe.

Why can't the Europeans take care of their own damned continent?

Why does America always have to save Europe from itself?

[DB]

America is not the only nation on the European continent ... wait, America is not in Europe.

Why can't the Europeans take care of their own damned continent?

Why does America always have to save Europe from itself?

Because we created NATO to contain Russia, a long time adversary. Because we were part of the agreement for Ukraine to surrender its nuclear weapons with the guarantee of its sovereignty being secured from Russian aggression. That's why.

[massadvj]

Because we created NATO to contain Russia, a long time adversary. Because we were part of the agreement for Ukraine to surrender its nuclear weapons with the guarantee of its sovereignty being secured from Russian aggression. That's why.

Ukraine is not in NATO. We should not have been part of the nuclear surrender. It was a European matter, and it should have been resolved by the Europeans. If the Europeans want to have a big economy that rivals that of the USA, then they had better figure out how to defend it, rather than expanding it at our expense.

There is no treaty guaranteeing Ukranian sovereignty, so any such arrangement is subject to the whims of the sitting POTUS. Thank God we have one now who understands the true price of war, even as the previous administration promoted bloodshed for its money-laundering operation..

Given the history and demographics of Ukraine, Russia has a far more compelling case for having at least parts of it in its sphere of influence than the Europeans have.

Ultimately, this war will be settled under terms that were available three years ago, and the country will be in ruins. That outcome cannot be prevented with more war. Trump sees that even if the neocons and global socialists do not.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Because we created NATO to contain Russia, a long time adversary.

If Europe is comfortable with being a trading partner with Russia ---- why are we still paying the lion's share for Europe's military defense against it?

----- Why the hell does the US still need to be Western Europe's financial and military lackey?

[DefiantMassRINO]

How about European NATO members 'donate' arms and 'purchase' replacement munitions from American companies?

Ukraine gets the arms it needs at Europe's expense, not America's.

[Canuck Conservative]

Why can't the Europeans take care of their own damned continent?

Why does America always have to save Europe from itself?

Because most of the countries in Europe are small, but they're threatened by a nuclear superpower led by a malicious dictator that wants to conquer the whole continent ... something that, if it happened, would then threaten America's interests.

Obviously, it makes more sense to pay a little prevention now, then pay for full-scale war later ... that's why.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Europe should take the lead, and the US back them up.  It's their damned Continent and they need to start taking fiscal responsibility for their own collective defense.

Danes get free college as they live under the safety of America's nuclear umbrella while Americans indebt themselves to attend college.  If they have money for free university, they have money to throw some materiel Ukraine's way.

I want Ukraine to prevail.  Anything less is a victory for Putin, and will only encourge him to continue his quest to build USSR/Warsaw Pact v2.0.

Ukraine won't win a decisive victory until they establish air supremacy.  Biden's refusal to allow former NATO Warsaw Pact members to transfer Russian-made jet fighters to Ukraine sabotaged the Ukrainian cause.

The stoopid Krauts were going to make their economy highly dependent on Putin's natural gas.  NATO should have demanded Germany change course or kick them out.  You can't have an effective alliance if its members are dependent upon the enemy.

[Free Vulcan]

Z is going to have to come to terms that if he wants NATO membership, he's probably going to have to give up some more territory to Russia and do the minerals deal with us.

He won't like that and will probably continue to throw his tantrums, but that's the hard realpolitik.

[massadvj]

Because most of the countries in Europe are small, but they're threatened by a nuclear superpower led by a malicious dictator that wants to conquer the whole continent ... something that, if it happened, would then threaten America's interests.

Obviously, it makes more sense to pay a little prevention now, then pay for full-scale war later ... that's why.

That's like saying the USA cannot help because we have states like Rhode Island. The European Union is not small, unless you consider a GDP of $30 trillion small.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Because most of the countries in Europe are small, but they're threatened by a nuclear superpower led by a malicious dictator that wants to conquer the whole continent ... something that, if it happened, would then threaten America's interests.

Obviously, it makes more sense to pay a little prevention now, then pay for full-scale war later ... that's why.

That's a fabrication.
The EU is certainly not small, and Europe GDP is about the same as the US and has a much, much greater GDP than does Russia.
Both the UK and France have nuclear capability as well.

The ONLY reason is that Europe refuses to defend itself by spending the necessary military expenditures, and relies upon the US to spend its money instead.

[mountaineer]

The ONLY reason is that Europe refuses to defend itself by spending the necessary military expenditures, and relies upon the US to spend its money instead.

The bottom line is the bottom line.

[libertybele]

America is not the only nation on the European continent ... wait, America is not in Europe.

Why can't the Europeans take care of their own damned continent?

Why does America always have to save Europe from itself?

It's time to cut the cord with Ukraine - no more.  Let Z throw all the hissy fits he wants.  It accomplishes nothing.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Ukraine is not in NATO. We should not have been part of the nuclear surrender. It was a European matter, and it should have been resolved by the Europeans. If the Europeans want to have a big economy that rivals that of the USA, then they had better figure out how to defend it, rather than expanding it at our expense.

There is no treaty guaranteeing Ukranian sovereignty, so any such arrangement is subject to the whims of the sitting POTUS. Thank God we have one now who understands the true price of war, even as the previous administration promoted bloodshed for its money-laundering operation..

Given the history and demographics of Ukraine, Russia has a far more compelling case for having at least parts of it in its sphere of influence than the Europeans have.

Ultimately, this war will be settled under terms that were available three years ago, and the country will be in ruins. That outcome cannot be prevented with more war. Trump sees that even if the neocons and global socialists do not.

QFT