News from Ukraine

The good news' is we are building military alliance with some European nations.

We are already at war with Russia but not in the conventional sense. They are behind quite a lot of the information systems' attacks. Northern Korea, who support the Russians, are also behind a lot of them. I can easily believe that we will be at war with Russia within the next 12 months to 5 years and unless something happens to the regime in the USA, we will get little or no support.

winterwhite

I've been worrying about the status of these Patriot missiles.

Have I missed some statement from NATO about the numbers and the cost and accepting the cost? I'd be happier if the US were paying their fair share of the cost, otherwise Trump can turn round and say that he's just been selling weapons to Europe, nothing to do with him how they're used.

Are they to be launched from the US or be sent first to some base in Europe?

I have no sense of what experts think will happen in Russia when Putin dies, wh cld be within 5 years.

I may have missed something here, but I had gathered that these patriot missiles although supplied by the US with Trump's approval are to be paid for not by NATO but by the EU and I assume as do you that Trump's intention is exactly that he later will be able to broker peace with Russia, claiming he had no idea what the missiles were to be used for.

If it should happen to suit Trump he will make a deal with Putin, letting him keep the Crimea and the other parts of Ukraine he has invaded, and probably the entire country.

I trust that Turkey can see that if the Crimea remains Russian then Sebastavol will fall to Russia once they have their hands on Odessa.

What a depressing thought

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you!

winterwhite I think it is what Zelenskii has been calling for since the start of the war.

Yes, most have already agreed to do this and quite right too. This may now mean an additional levy presumably! Indeed it cld be said that having secured an increase Trump is now ensuring that it’s used to pay him.

I hope these Patriots are exactly what Ukraine wants most.

As for paying, in the short term member nations will have to increase NATO contributions because much of the technology is US manufactured. In the longer term European
manufacturers will develop their own military technology, with the advent of drones that has already started.

Thank you, David 49. I didn't know that re the stationing of the Patriots. Do you think Trump will be demanding payment in advance - and how many are agreed in the deal? Seems to me that this could stretch the Nato coffers.

Presumably nothing will happen till after the 90 days, roughly early October.

We hear almost nothing about the Ukraine here just now so thanks for keeping me informed everyone. We hear a fair bit about Israel and Palestine and recently China because our PM has just visited there. Oh, and Trump from time to time,mainly when he tries to destroy our economy.

winterwhite

I've been worrying about the status of these Patriot missiles.

Have I missed some statement from NATO about the numbers and the cost and accepting the cost? I'd be happier if the US were paying their fair share of the cost, otherwise Trump can turn round and say that he's just been selling weapons to Europe, nothing to do with him how they're used.

Are they to be launched from the US or be sent first to some base in Europe?

I have no sense of what experts think will happen in Russia when Putin dies, wh cld be within 5 years.

Patriots are based close to the cities to be defended and are used to counter “ballistic” or other large missiles they are very expensive and cannot be used against smaller “drones”.

The Russians are sending hundreds of smaller drones to confuse and overwhelm defenses plus a few larger ballistic missiles that do a lot of damage if not detected.

Thanks, Maremia, have signed up for this, tho don’t expect it to answer our questions about Trump.

There is a daily publication, available through email, called 'The Kyiv Independent', which keeps me up to date with their version of what's going on. Not always great news, of course.
Their resiliance is remarkable.

I've been worrying about the status of these Patriot missiles.

Have I missed some statement from NATO about the numbers and the cost and accepting the cost? I'd be happier if the US were paying their fair share of the cost, otherwise Trump can turn round and say that he's just been selling weapons to Europe, nothing to do with him how they're used.

Are they to be launched from the US or be sent first to some base in Europe?

I have no sense of what experts think will happen in Russia when Putin dies, wh cld be within 5 years.

Putin is being very belligerent in Ukraine, we are going to have to wait until the 50 days are up to find out what happens, I’m not going to place any bets either way.
Maybe Putin will negotiate seriously, the sanctions will affect China notably, very hard to predict.

The trouble with President Trump is that he changes his mind with the wind, and we simply can’t rely on him.

Europe really must decide that it has to plough its own furrow on this one. If USA “grows up” and begins to make well thought through adult decisions, then we may have an ally that we can rely on but until then…….

POTUS has given President Putin 50 days to end the war or there will be punitive sanctions against Russia and third party countries, i.e. China and India along with any other countries who are shown as being supportive towards Russia.