Ukraine again

[JBR]

A very interesting comment by a reader of a popular newspaper article regarding the suggestions of a means of stopping the Russia-Ukraine war.  No names, of course.

"Putin is ready to sign a peace deal? He keeps all the land he stole, land rich in rare earth minerals, and he forces Ukraine to stay out of NATO. Sounds like a good deal - for Russia.
I have a counter proposal. Russia pulls out of Ukraine completely. Along the way, Russian troops apologise to everyone they meet and beg forgiveness for their crimes. Russia pays Ukraine reparations to cover the cost of all damages and all of Ukraines costs in defending themselves. Russia publicly acknowledges Ukraine as an independent nation free to decide its own future. That'll do for starters."

I completely agree.

[klondike]

Oddly Ukraine does seem to have about 10% of the world's lithium with one huge deposit in the Donbas. I'm guessing that shelling the entire area to rubble and killing all the folks living there regardless of what language they speak would make it a whole lot simpler to mine.

The other big deposit coincidentally lies in the direction the Russian army is trying to head (but with little and very costly success). Clearly unrelated of course as they are just protecting themselves from NATO and the Russian speakers they are shelling the shit out of in the Donbas from Ukrainian Nazis.

[JBR]

The other big deposit coincidentally lies in the direction the Russian army is trying to head (but with little and very costly success). Clearly unrelated of course as they are just protecting themselves from NATO and the Russian speakers they are shelling the shit out of in the Donbas from Ukrainian Nazis.

Russia protecting themselves from NATO?
By invading a non-NATO country which agreed not to join NATO if they were simply left alone?
Perhaps I have misunderstood.

[klondike]

I merely quoted Russia's claims. You may consider them to be BS. I certainly consider them to be BS but those are the reasons Russia claim forced the invasion.

[Ashy]

Apparently Zelensky has said on American TV that he would make peace along the existing front lines, which would mean ceding 25% of Ukraine. Russia is currently occupying southern and eastern areas where most of the people are Russian. A two state solution.

[klondike]

He said he would agree to a ceasefire along the existing lines so that negotions could begin. Putin won't agree and Ukraine won't concede that territory either. This war will continue until one side or the other cannot continue.

[Ashy]

Thanks for the clarification. Why should Putin not agree though? He might. 

[klondike]

The ceasefire along current front line offer and negotiations isn't new. Ukraine agreed to that at least a year ago. It keeps getting aired again by Trump to make it look like he is doing something. He still wants his Nobel Peace Prize but stands zero chance of getting one.

Putin thinks he can terrorise the Ukrainians enough to win. He is sending ballistic missiles, glide bombs and jet drones into Ukrainian apartment blocks, schools, hospitals, historic building, power stations etc. on daily basis.

They have apparently paid for 1000 patriot interceptors but Trump is holding those back. Partly because US stocks are very low after his adventure in Iran and partly to help his mate Putin because he is also forbidding transfer of any from any European countries stocks.

They can intercept a high percentage of the original petrol engine drones with their own interceptor drones but now that Musk has slowed down the military version of Starlink called Star shield they pay for they can't successfully bring down the new jet powered drones.

None of this makes headlines but you can find out all about it through Google. Take care over sources though as the Russians put a different spin on it all.