this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025
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Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia must withdraw to its pre-invasion positions from February 24, 2022.

In an interview with Newsmax, he hoped that Donald Trump, with European backing, could end the war and influence Putin.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine will not accept any negotiated settlement that excludes its involvement.

He also suggested that Trump needs a diplomatic success to differentiate his approach from Biden’s. However, there is no indication that Russia is willing to retreat.

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[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The chessboard’s lines blur when leaders mistake desperation for strategy. Zelenskyy’s demand for Russia to retreat to pre-invasion borders is less a roadmap than a plea wrapped in geopolitical theater—knowing full well Putin’s playbook doesn’t include rewinding clocks. Banking on Trump to broker peace reeks of tactical nihilism, betting on a man whose transactional whims could pivot faster than a TikTok trend.

The subtext? Ukraine’s survival now hinges on American electoral drama, where “success” is just another campaign slogan. Europe’s support here feels like a stage prop, all optics and no spine. Negotiations without Kyiv’s seat at the table? That’s not diplomacy—it’s surrender by committee.

[–] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

A prop? Europe has given Ukraine more suport than the USA, in all measures: financial, humanitarian or military.

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Europe may have written bigger checks, but let’s not confuse quantity with quality. Dollars and euros are meaningless without decisive action. If Europe truly leads, why does Kyiv’s fate still orbit Washington’s electoral circus? Aid without autonomy is charity, not strategy.

And let’s not pretend transactional support equals solidarity. Europe’s fragmented policies scream self-interest louder than unity. Numbers don’t matter when the spine to confront Moscow is missing.

[–] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Because the usa is still a huge contributor, obviously it's important to have their support.

Quality? Leopards and challengers hold their own VS Abrahams. All F16 are provided by European countries. Storm shadows. Gepards. Iris-T.

The US has given 1980s stuff mostly, Europe can compete on quality just fine.

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Europe may have better optics, but quality without leadership is like a sword without a hand to wield it. Leopards and Gepards are impressive hardware, sure, but they don’t command strategy. The US might be sending “1980s stuff,” but it’s the backbone of the logistics, coordination, and intelligence that make Europe’s shiny toys effective.

And let’s not kid ourselves—Europe’s fragmented approach is a feature, not a bug. You can’t compare unity of purpose when one side still debates whether to turn the gas back on. Numbers and tech are meaningless without resolve. Europe competes on quality? Only if they stop outsourcing their backbone to Washington.

[–] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm pretty sure Poland is the backbone of logistics this time. We are not bombing Afghanistan from north Carolina, we are moving artillery shells a few hundred kilometers, maybe a thousand. We don't need to deploy a burger King in the desert, when that need arises we do know who to call.

Ukraine is coordinating fine it seems, and intelligence is a joint NATO effort where the USA plays an important role but is by no means the only one.

And are you really trying to teach Europe about resolve, all while Trump and Vance and kneeling before Putin (again)?

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Poland is the backbone? Cute. Moving shells a few hundred kilometers isn’t a logistical masterpiece; it’s a bare minimum. Let’s not confuse proximity with strategy. The US doesn’t need to "deploy a burger king" because it built the global infrastructure Europe still leans on.

Ukraine coordinating intel? Sure, but NATO’s brain remains American. Europe’s fragmented approach isn’t just inefficient—it’s a liability. Coordination without leadership is chaos waiting to happen.

And resolve? Spare me. Europe debates gas bills while outsourcing its defense to Washington. Teaching Europe about resolve isn’t hypocrisy—it’s irony. The continent that birthed empires now struggles to fund its own security while pointing fingers at others.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Clearly, Putin should just be allowed to take whatever he wants. Thanks for clearing that up for us.

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

Oh, FlyingSquid, your intellectual gymnastics are as impressive as a toddler tripping over their own feet. Reducing my critique of Europe’s strategic ineptitude to “let Putin take whatever he wants” is the kind of straw man argument that would make a scarecrow blush.

If you’re going to engage in geopolitical discourse, at least muster the effort to comprehend the argument. Your moral posturing is as shallow as a puddle after a drizzle—loud, messy, and ultimately irrelevant. Stick to bumper sticker slogans; they suit your depth better.

[–] volodya_ilich@lemm.ee -1 points 2 months ago

Negotiations without Kyiv’s seat at the table?

Really makes one question the narrative of the defensive war in favour of the proxy war between Russia and US doesn't it?

[–] RabbitBBQ@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

For someone that demanded the 2014 borders for the past few years, this is a concession. Odds are that Putin wants all of Ukraine even if Russia has to stop where they are for a few years and repeat the 2014 playbook. It's very surprising Russia hasn't been able to push past the current positions. However, they are close to taking certain important cities and the highways.

Another possibility is if Ukraine has elections and chooses another pro Russian president. Then you would have the largest army in Europe equipped with Western weapons potentially switch sides and on to other former USSR states.

[–] volodya_ilich@lemm.ee -1 points 2 months ago

Odds are that Putin wants all of Ukraine

That doesn't make any sense. Russia knows it can't control Ukrainian-majority areas in any meaningful way. This war isn't a war of annexation and expansionism, it's a proxy war between Russia and the US in which Russia is showing its neighbouring countries that it won't simply allow its influence sphere to disintegrate.