I put out a tweet last night suggesting that whatever might happen in the meeting between Putin and Trump, the outcome would be half-baked Alaska.
It is now clear that my prediction was right.
It is very obvious from Trump's own behaviour after the so-called discussions that this meeting did not deliver what he wanted.
There has been no achievement that he can talk about that will distract attention from the Epstein files, achieving which goal was the only obvious reason why this meeting took place.
The result was a PR success for Putin, who appears to retain his power over Trump, the source of which is uncertain, but which appears to exist.
Trump did, as a result, cede some power to Putin. He will hate that.
He did nothing for Ukraine. Europe will hate him for that.
And everyone, even the MAGA, will realise that the man who once claimed that he could solve this war in 24 hours was always, and as ever, bullshitting, for which no alternative word is available.
So much, then, for the strong, decisive and effective leadership that authoritarians can provide. Trump should be used as evidence that those who brag, bully and abuse on their way to power are not the answer to any known problem.
The young people of the UK might want to take note.
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Re your penultimate paragraph: you could add Boris Johnson to the list! That assumes anyone remembers him.
While I dislike the likes of Farage and Boris Johnson, their popularity ran alongside a certain level of charisma and awareness of how to push people’s buttons. Trump was the same.
However, much as Johnson looked to be flailing badly by the end of his tenure, Trump has become a paranoid figure with increasing signs of dementia and frailty. Even if MAGA could miss the narcissism and dishonesty through lack of attention, at some point that weakness has to tell.
The war inflicted on Ukraine by Russia can only be solved with Europeans working with Ukraine. Ref the photo shoot/PR meet: there was never any possibility of Trump delivering anything. The USA as a nation will start to break up due to the actions of an increasingly senile rapist and felon President (plus his acolytes). The sooner Europe breaks away from the USA, the better. Was with a power electronics company yesterday (I have a project running with them – not military btw) – their military business is ramping up. Europe needs to stand up for itself – against Russia, the USA and China – all are deeply unpleasant states. One way of “standing up” is via a credible (European) military – & for far too long Europe has had a free ride in that area. Collective procurement and common platforms – would reduce costs whilst delivering what Europe needs. (oddly had a discussion on that with the power electronics co’ )
Ukraine is a victim of history and international politics. And history is hard to negotiate with. It is here and yet absent at the same time. And in Ukraine, history is also more recent, and that is a big factor. It lingers.
Ukraine is not ‘european’ and never can be in my opinion in my lifetime and other lifetimes too.
It can’t be european since Europe never dealt with Russia sufficiently well. This was because Europe ceded its power to do anything about it to the global bully, the United States, especially when the Soviet era died.
And so Russia – instead of help – got punished by the West and had its nose rubbed in it just for good measure. What exists now with Putin is revenge. Ukraine is part of that revenge even though that is not its choice. But Ukraine- with no real recent link to europe – how else could it be?
I know Mike that you have a Ukrainian family with you? Your generosity is admirable and noted, as is your proximity to suffering.
But tell me this? How can Ukrainians entrust themselves to a declining, bullshit entity called ‘Europe’? An entity that has been deluding itself for so long? That kidded itself that the Yanks own hatred of socialism would protect them and more importantly, save them money in defence spending. Ha! An entity that any old Soviet or communist will tell you is corrupted by values that are simply not values. That is so unprincipled. That is just about money and has actually propped up and facilitated that which attacks Ukraine even as I write.
Putin is a bastard. But everyone knows he is one. Europe – with its growth of fascism, love of Neo-liberalism, not investing in anything, the ECB staffed by members of the ex-private banking profession – is a bastard too – a less obvious one – but no less a bastard. I promise you.
What a choice for the Ukranians eh? My advice. Give in. Go with Putin for now, he will not live forever. Because otherwise you will continue to die for what will be a big fat nothing. You may have fewer bombed buildings under Europe but you will still have huge inequality and fascism as you are fed to the global rich, wholesale.
We have to disagree on this one.
But will there be an uncomfortable territorial truce at some time? Yes, I think so. But it won’t last. There is going to be conflict here for a long time, I fear.
PSR:
yes – had a discussion on the failings of the EU the other day in Germany with the owner of a German co’. He thinks it needs to be closed and summat else developed. Closing is easy – but what to put in its place? ECB? yup agree – nasty bunch – but also a half finished project.
Ukrainians? different from me – just like the Greeks (lots of Greek friends – would never ever do business in Greece & mu friends .. agree), the Spanish, the Italians and even the French. Like doing business with the Germans (bit like the Japanese – a bit). Ukranians bring summat to the party and I welcome that. I have worked with most nationalities @ a professional level – they bring new perspectives – the result is always “more interesting”. But perhaps given my background – I would say that.
Also keep in mind: Putin’s “SMO” was based on an assumption: that Ukranians that spoke Russian were really Russian & would thus welcome “mother Russia”. I have staying with us now another Ukranian mother & child – but they speak Russian – but are absolutely Ukranian. The equivalent is Welsh people who are welsh but don’t speak the language. Right – got to go – small person is demanding Asterix & Cleopatra – in French – go figure as they say.
Why are we all so reflective tonight?
Not that I am complaining?
Agreed Mike
and we don’t need Cold War levels of spending. in the long term, to have a credible defence force. We need them in the right numbers in the right place with the right weapons. As you say that means working with Europe.
Soft power in the form of aid and trade is also important, which is why I opposed Starmer’s cuts to the aid budget to pay for defence increases.
We need the co-operation of the whole world to confront climate change- or as much as we can. Trump’s foreign policy is alienating much of Africa, Asia and Latin America. We need to make it clear where we stand.
I believe it’s worse than that, in that this exercise in smoke and mirrors by Trump, correctly as you say to try to divert our attention from his involvement with Epstein, has actually damaged the Ukrainian cause. I believe on his way back to Washington on Air Force One he said to the assembled press corps that it was now up to Zelensky. Exactly what does this mean? Is he going to abandon Ukraine altogether? With this liar you just never know, but anything is possible.
I am certain he has harmed Ukraine.
But he never cared for Ukraine.
Or anyone else come to that.
My posts to BlueSky this morning. They say it all so I shan’t add more.
1/3. For seven months Trump has strung every gullible idiot along with this shite and nonsense: sanctions, tough sanction, severe santions, blame Ukraine, don’t blame Ukraine, blame Europe, don’t blame Europe, and then, finally, last week, ‘everybody’s to blame, maybe even Russia – except me.
2/3 Then Epstein rears his ugly head. Distraction needed. Meet with Putin. A “summit”. Steve “Witless” back and forth – four times – nothing on the table, nothing to sign, no concessions from Putin – despite what “Witless” briefs. Diplomacy? What a fucking joke. Children could do better. The US …
3/3 – shafted. But Euro leaders still cling to the hope Trump will deliver. HE WON’T. He got what he wanted: Putin – ‘the 2020 election was rigged’; ‘there would’ve been no war if you’d been President’. That’s it. Victory for Trump. Fuck Ukraine. Get that into your heads people – for Ukraine’s sake.
As I am inclined to say, much to agree with.
Mr Horrocks:
“But Euro leaders still cling to the hope Trump will deliver”. I disagree.
Taking the example of Rutter (Nato Sec Gen) sure he sucks up to Trump (long discussion with some Dutch chaps on this). The options are: a) tell Trump to his face he is a moron etc, b)butter the idiot up.
The “a” option will result in toys being thrown etc etc. The b option at least keeps the show on the road. Europe still needs some of the stuff the USA has & antagonsing Trump will make a difficult situation worse. Obvs, telling him to his face he is a moron/clown/imbecile is a) pleasurable and b) might trigger a stroke – but for reasons given is probably counter productive. EU leaders are many things, fools they ain’t (I exclude our own dear leader who whilst not in the same class as Trump – is nevertheless a moron). Otherwise, agree with much of what you said.
Mike. I don’t think what you’re saying is exclusive of what I’m saying. I agree they ‘butter Trump up’ – which is sick making to the rest of us, and probably many of them as well (and particularly Zelensky), but as a realist I understand why. So, I agree that your ‘option a’ is not an option at all. At least, not at the moment.
That said, I still think that there are some – perhaps most Euro leaders – who believe Trump will somehow end the war in Ukraine, as he claimed he would on many occasions. So my point was, I don’t think he ever will. And, to be frank, I don’t think he ever intended to.
Indeed, at one point, the point when he cut off aid (both military and economic), my view would be he did that to aid Putin. But then various people most have pointed out to him that as most of that military aid allowed the US to replace largely obsolete “stuff” (like the older model Bradleys and Strykers), plus military production boosts GDP – which he desperately needs given the knock the economy is going to take from tariffs – he reversed course, allowing arms to continue to flow but not enough to actually make a difference for Ukraine.
What we’ve seen over the past few days, however, is the mask of defiance of Putin – threats, threats and more threats, always with shifting deadlines – which had actually convinced some quite intelligent people that Trump meant business – evaporate completely. He’s now shown to be the Putin shill that he established himself to be after the infamous Helsinki meeting during his first term. And we can, once again, be absolutely confident that Putin has some hold over Trump that we don’t know about, but that I suspect has much more to do with what Steele set out in the supposedly discredited “dossier” back in 2016, than it does anything else. In short, kompromat and a love of authoritarianism equal to Putin. Hence a very reliable, “comrade Krasnov”.
Thanks
Persuasive
And, much to agree with in your conclusion.
Mr Horrocks – agree 100%. (particularly the Steele stuff – but there is probably some Epstein stuff as well).
On a related note: Ukraine lady staying with us – was in Kharkiv recently (last week) noted that many men are armed to the teeth & the mood is not to cede anything to Russia – although in our view (hers and mine) let the Russians have Donbass – as she noted those that wanted to live in Ukraine have left – most of the population left thus might support Russia. The problem is that the territory of Ukraine – its extent – is written into the constitution. Zelensky has no power to change that – only – I guess, the people in perhaps a referendum. & how does one hold a referendum whilst the fighting continues?
Sorry to sound somewhat biblical but the young people of this country need to be wary of false Gods. They have their pick of those at the moment.
Amen! 😛
You may want to re-iterate this to the old of this country who show more support for Reform by percentage of their demographic than the young. There’s differences in who’s polling you believe but generally they all say the same, Reform is more popular with the old than the young.
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49978-how-britain-voted-in-the-2024-general-election
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/voting-intention
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379439/uk-election-polls-by-age/
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls/how-britain-voted-in-the-2024-election
If any other president, let alone Joe Biden, said this week that he was going to Russia to meet Putin (Trump said it twice), or that he knew a lot about grass, discussions would be taking place at the highest levels (maybe they are) about their competence and mental state. So to have him leading the efforts to end this war and negotiate a just peace on the West and Ukraine’s behalf is too awful to contemplate.
Agreed.
The sings of decline are clear to see.
In previous administrations it was feasible to remove an individual and know there were other competent people to take the position. The Constitution makes it difficult but Nixon was replaced.
But with this President, the top positions are held by incompetent sycophants who only hold their place because of their obsequiousness. Not by their talent or experience. Thus he has to be kept in power.
A catastrophe, in other words.
Two incisive, in-depth articles from great journalists on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
From Chris Hedges: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/listen-to-this-article-they-lied
From Jonathan Cook: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-ukraine-us-invasion-paved-how
I agree, both are worth reading.
I have done so.
Mr Hedges might do well to … get to know Ukrainians – both “ethnic Russians” and Ukranian speakers.:
“The war will only be solved through negotiations that allow ethnic Russians in Ukraine to have autonomy and Moscow’s protection”……the ones I have spoken to don’t want “autonomy & Moscows protection” (wizz bag there goes another bomb = Moscow’s protection) – they see themselves as Ukranians who happen to speak…….Russian. Their grandparents might have been Russian – they do not see themselves as such. Hedges is also putting out lies:
“How is it that inflation rates in Europe and the United States are higher than in Russia despite these attacks on the Russian economy? ” – inflation in Russia? 15%? 20%? – Europe? 4%? 5%?
It is also very out of date – 2022.
In the case of Cook – he should stick to the middle east.
“….the ones I have spoken to don’t want “autonomy & Moscows protection”
Lugansk and Donetsk both voted for their autonomy away from Ukraine in 2014:
from Consortium News: https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/21/putin-recognizes-donbass-independence-as-violence-soars/
Also, independent Canadian journalist Eva Bartlett went to the Donbass area and spoke to Ukrainians there: https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2022/08/10/what-ive-seen-of-ukraines-war-crimes-against-civilians-in-the-donbass-over-the-years/
Here is a timeline of events in Ukraine, again from Consortium News: https://consortiumnews.com/2023/06/30/ukraine-timeline-tells-the-story/
You can challenge these authors – including Chris Hedges and Jonathan Cook – by commenting on the articles or contacting them on X (formerly Twitter); I believe they all have accounts on that platform.
Much of what you posted is frankly – tripe.
Unlike the writers, I know plenty of Ukrainians & I know Ukrainians involved in the so-called 2014 “coup” against Yanukovitch – they were people on the ground @ Maidan. As for it being a US-inspired coup – they would laugh in the face of anybody suggesting such a thing. A
s for all the horrible things done most of it is from 2022: let’s try this: Bucha – Ukrainians tortured and murdered, Ukrainain PoWs ditto, the hunting (for sport) by Russian drones in Kherson (no shortage of videos), & on & on it goes – but from your postings it is in fact the nasty Ukrainians doing lots of nasty things. War is horrible, & I wish that this one would end. But one thing & one thing only is clear, Putin started this war – 100% – both in 2014 and 2022 & it is he, not Zelensky who is wanted for war crimes. Oddly none of the articles/links mentioned that seemingly forgotten fact – or let’s try this: KLM airliner shot down by – Russian “air defense”……….want me to go on.
& why did Putin start the war? loads of Ukrainians have relations in Russia – & thus it is not hard to do a “compare & contrast” & on that basis – Russia was increasingly looking like a shit hole – which is always has been & – given “current management” – always will.