Current Affairs 2025

[Stephen]

Two pair of trousers, I’m not that posh.

[towny44]

I do hope that President Zelensky thinks to ask Trump which coastal States he is prepared to concede to Russia to avoid further conflict, when Putin decides to invade the USA. If he persists in his idea of appeasement.

[Stephen]

What the hell has it got to do with Trump deciding who joins NATO or not. Surely that’s down to NATO.
I get fed up with Trump sticking his oar in and telling other countries what they should and shouldn’t do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cev28rvzlv1t

I hope Zelensky sticks to his guns about not concealing any land to Russia. Russia are the invading aggressor into his country, why should he concede anything. It’s time the rest of Europe showed some balls and helped kicked Putins a*se out.

[david63]

What the hell has it got to do with Trump deciding who joins NATO or not. Surely that’s down to NATO

As the US is a member of NATO and along with several other countries has a veto on any decisions taken - a lot

[Stephen]

But wouldn’t that would mean a unanimous decision from all of NATO not just one member, or is Trump now running NATO.

[david63]

But wouldn’t that would mean a unanimous decision from all of NATO not just one member, or is Trump now running NATO.

No - the countries that have a veto (and the UK is one) will override any unanimous vote by the other nations

[Stephen]

And they call that democracy.

[barney]

You can’t have insignificant nations calling the tune.
That will be the ultimate downfall of Nato
He who pays the piper calls the tune.

[david63]

Can somebody explain how you can end the war in Ukraine without a ceasefire? Apparently Trump believes it is possible!

[barney]

A ceasefire means a temporary halt.
The discussion is about total cessation.

[Stephen]

Looking at all the video clips of yesterday’s talks, all I could gather from it was a lot of fancy words being bandied about with no mention of Ukraine giving up land. Trump and his side kick prat Vance seemed more interested in the fact that Zalensky had upped his clothing image.

If it all comes to anything I will be very surprised.

I thought the come back from Zalensky to Vance about his suit was good

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz93ve1p952t

[barney]

The only reason that it could fail is because Putin has no intention in agreeing anything.
He doesn’t recognise Zelensky as a legitimate President and he doesn’t recognise Ukraine as a legitimate country.

[Ray B]

One of the papers reporting that Putin rejected the security deal US is planning for Ukraine . Sounds about rite for him.

[barney]

Credit to Trump for trying to do something, when Europe has literally shrugged its shoulders, but an agreement to suit both countries is virtually impossible.
The only way this can end is if either side capitulate.

[towny44]

Credit to Trump for trying to do something, when Europe has literally shrugged its shoulders, but an agreement to suit both countries is virtually impossible.
The only way this can end is if either side capitulate.

He gets no credit from me, he is only spouting what Putin is seeking, and he certainly would not be prepared to concede any territory if he was in Zelenskys position, so why should he expect Ukraine to give up their land.
I just hope the Nobel peace prize committee can see him for the Bozo he is.

[barney]

People’s logical hatred of Trump clouds their vision on this subject.
He’s trying to get some sort of resolution.
It probably won’t suit many but it’s worth a try to stop the death and destruction.
There is literally nothing in it for America.
It’s a European issue that Europe hasn’t done anywhere near enough to try and resolve it.
This is the last chance saloon for Europe.
No agreement and I think Trump will do a full blown Pontius Pilate and wash his hands of the whole thing.
Then it will fall on you, your children and possibly your grandchildren to finance it or walk away and let Ukraine fall.
Harsh reality.

[towny44]

People’s logical hatred of Trump clouds their vision on this subject.
He’s trying to get some sort of resolution.
It probably won’t suit many but it’s worth a try to stop the death and destruction.
There is literally nothing in it for America.
It’s a European issue that Europe hasn’t done anywhere near enough to try and resolve it.
This is the last chance saloon for Europe.
No agreement and I think Trump will do a full blown Pontius Pilate and wash his hands of the whole thing.
Then it will fall on you, your children and possibly your grandchildren to finance it or walk away and let Ukraine fall.
Harsh reality.

There is no peaceful resolution to this unless Putin is forced into a complete withdrawal. Anything else and Putin will be back to finish Ukraine off, then he will feel secure in starting on the rest of east Europe, until he gets to the channel, and if the Maga republicans are still in power, then Nato can expect no help from the US.

[barney]

Therein lies the problem John.
There’s no way of forcing Russia out.
Sanctions don’t work. They just dig in.
The people are used to hardship that us westerners would never endure.
All out war with the west?
Maybe you would support that.
Most wouldn’t.
So some compromise is the best solution.
Trump is trying to get that over the line.
Putin is probably taking the pee and the entire thing is futile, but he’s giving it a go.

[towny44]

Therein lies the problem John.
There’s no way of forcing Russia out.
Sanctions don’t work. They just dig in.
The people are used to hardship that us westerners would never endure.
All out war with the west?
Maybe you would support that.
Most wouldn’t.
So some compromise is the best solution.
Trump is trying to get that over the line.
Putin is probably taking the pee and the entire thing is futile, but he’s giving it a go.

That is appeasement Barney, it didn't work with Hitler and it's not going to work with Putin.

[david63]

The Ukraine war could be stopped almost overnight if China and India stopped buying oil from Russia - Russia would be bankrupt in a matter of days. So why does Trump (the great peacemaker) organise oil for those two countries from elsewhere, at the price that they are paying Russia? At the end of the day it would probably be cheaper to subsidise the cost of oil than supply arms.

The biggest problem is that Putin holds all the cards and Zelensky has none - what can Zelensky trade in any cessation deal for the occupied land?

[david63]

Looks as if Rachel from accounts has got her sums wrong, yet again - inflation up to 3.8%.

Anyone taking bets that she will be gone before the end of the year?

[barney]

Therein lies the problem John.
There’s no way of forcing Russia out.
Sanctions don’t work. They just dig in.
The people are used to hardship that us westerners would never endure.
All out war with the west?
Maybe you would support that.
Most wouldn’t.
So some compromise is the best solution.
Trump is trying to get that over the line.
Putin is probably taking the pee and the entire thing is futile, but he’s giving it a go.

That is appeasement Barney, it didn't work with Hitler and it's not going to work with Putin.

So, your suggestion is WW3 ?

[towny44]

Therein lies the problem John.
There’s no way of forcing Russia out.
Sanctions don’t work. They just dig in.
The people are used to hardship that us westerners would never endure.
All out war with the west?
Maybe you would support that.
Most wouldn’t.
So some compromise is the best solution.
Trump is trying to get that over the line.
Putin is probably taking the pee and the entire thing is futile, but he’s giving it a go.

That is appeasement Barney, it didn't work with Hitler and it's not going to work with Putin.

So, your suggestion is WW3 ?

My suggestion is that NATO should call his bluff.

[barney]

That is appeasement Barney, it didn't work with Hitler and it's not going to work with Putin.

So, your suggestion is WW3 ?

My suggestion is that NATO should call his bluff.

You do know that Ukraine is not a NATO member, don’t you?
There is no way in a million years.

[towny44]

So, your suggestion is WW3 ?

My suggestion is that NATO should call his bluff.

You do know that Ukraine is not a NATO member, don’t you?
There is no way in a million years.

You do realise that NATO accepted most other ex soviet east European nations dont you? Trumps
desire to agree to Putins demand that Ukraine should never be allowed to join NATO is what worries me more.