Thanks again, Ms Francis. I share your passion for Ukraine and your unending call for our support and the EU’s. Sadly American media have stopped reporting on U. I think that has an impact on public opinion and upon Congress’ ever more tepid support. What can I/we do to get Am. media outlets to again bring the plight of Ukraine to public awareness? Please help. You would be a guest host on MSNBC or CNN. Jim Ballard
In all of this, we seem to be missing a key point......one which could truly be a game changer and knock down Putin's cockiness by more than a notch or two.
The "Democratic Coalition" must be induced (and the U.S. take the lead) to start releasing chunks of the $350 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets to fill the gap needed to keep the war going till the end of this decade. Ukraine has been moving quickly to produce a range of its military needs domestically and is likely to meet most of its basic requirements - including ammo - within 3 years. The cost of purchasing from domestic producers will be far less than acquiring supplies from abroad and timeliness will not be an issue.
Furthermore, its control of the skies over Ukraine with the F-16s and (possibly) Grippen starting in the spring of 2024 will greatly reduce Russian offensive and defensive operations on Ukrainian territory. How does Russia hope to protect the Kerch Bridge if a single F-16 from hundreds of miles away could take it out? And what about all the new Abrams and Leopard tanks that are vastly superior to Russian tanks, but very much less vulnerable to Russian attacks from the air? The Abrams can shrug off most of the drones and land-based shelling while hitting targets at twice the distance of Russian tanks.
And how will the Russians contend with the forces now in Kherson moving slowly but steadily towards the Azov Sea and within 20-30 kilometers of the major links between Crimea and Russian forces in Ukraine?
Even the new mobilization plans have produced good results as Ukraine now has included a requirement that troops be placed into specialties that correspond to their pre-war skills and expertise.
All that Ukraine needs now is time and enough outside support to keep going for the next 2-3 years. If it were assured that it would get all the support it needs from the funds now frozen, Putin would be the first to realize that Russia has lost the war and his best option is a negotiated, face-saving settlement.
By tightening the sanctions further to close loopholes, seeking out and freezing the assets of all those who are supporting the war, and making it increasingly difficult for Russia to penetrate Ukraine's air defenses, Russia will have lost the war.
As a Ukrainian I stand with Zelenskyy and the People of UKR who have kept their pride & resolve to NEVER stop defending their country. Your info, Diane, invaluable & gives us a better picture of what is going on as far as EU support etc. It's good to hear you report that Europe has picked up the funding & support for UKR - I hope UK makes a bigger move since they are part of the initial agreement to defend UKR if attacked (giving up their nuc's).
As you implied in your article, support for Ukraine seems to depend to some degree on the media's role in generating the American people's support for Ukraine. More recently the media has been focusing on the troubles in Israel. I wonder if the media will refocus its attention on Ukraine as Israel mops up what's left of Hamas.
"Fortunately the Pentagon and State Department announced another $175-million worth of military aid would go to Ukraine from another federal “wallet”... Apparently, there’s $6 billion more available."
So Biden is sending only 3% of what he can from a rather ample kitty. For the Dems to suggest that the Republicans are holding up aid to Ukraine is brinkmanship politics at its best/worst.
Yes, thankfully Europe is now exceeding the US is military aid to Ukraine plus Ukraine is now making its own to a very significant degree.
Very Nice Article. Problem with parties playing politics. Years back under the President Reagan Republicans the idea of not funding Ukraine against Russia would be unthinkable. Today things are very different in the wrong direction. If US stops funding and Ukraine falls then Russia would see the west as weak and attack a NATO country. And if Trump would win the Presidency again you think Ukraine would win or Trump handing Russia Ukraine and end the war not caring about democracy. Political leaders need to get their act together before it becomes to late. Russia also with Iran and Iran helping Russia . Best for the west to fund Ukraine and push Russia back.
Everything always hangs by a thread, as Damon Runyon tells us that when the legendary Nicely-Nicely Jones whispered to his handler that he was finished, that anonymous worthy saved the day by announcing to the judges that his champion just mentioned he needed another plate of short-ribs, thus precipitating his opponent's collapse, and so may be with Russia as we hear in these recent headlines: Russian oil revenues crisis; Disaster for Russia as OPEC Forces More Cuts as Oil Prices Fall; Russian Economy Faces Property Crisis; Russian oil industry Starts to Break Down; Russian Ruble Collapses.....Posts Net Losses of 1.7 trillion rubles. As Wellington said the victory at Waterloo in 1815 was "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life." At the climax of the Battle of Britain on 9/15/ 1940 Churchill asked about reserves, Air Vice Marshall Park answered: "There are none." As the wags say: 'the situation is desperate but not serious.' Compared with the USA and other Nato powers, Russia is a midget by a factor of about 30:1. My final quote for Canadian readers is from the French revolutionary titan Danton: Il nous faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace." Maybe Trump will slip on a banana peel or fall off his wallet.
Excellent reporting, as usual, and thank you. Maybe the EU and the US need to allocate funds that have been seized and simply give them to the Ukrainians. The physical damage Putin has inflicted on the Ukrainians is beyond comprehension. The displaced Ukrainians are causing financial and other problems in Europe and around the world; Putin needs to pay for his crimes against humanity and now. How many people have died because of Putin in this war alone and on both sides? God help us if Trump ever makes it back into the White House.
The situation with Trumplandia in the US is central to all of this. But the mass media is less of a problem than putrid belief systems that a shyster and EQ genius like Trump has fully owned. What kind of a Christian church makes money its main tenet of faith? And is pastored by individuals whose main act of faith is collecting that money so that they can fly private jets and screw anything that moves, often together with their wives? Meanwhile, Trump has taken down the dignity of the presidency, the international authority of the United States, and the basic institutions of this country, including the Constitution and the Supreme Court. What are American voters waiting for?
Thanks again, Ms Francis. I share your passion for Ukraine and your unending call for our support and the EU’s. Sadly American media have stopped reporting on U. I think that has an impact on public opinion and upon Congress’ ever more tepid support. What can I/we do to get Am. media outlets to again bring the plight of Ukraine to public awareness? Please help. You would be a guest host on MSNBC or CNN. Jim Ballard
In all of this, we seem to be missing a key point......one which could truly be a game changer and knock down Putin's cockiness by more than a notch or two.
The "Democratic Coalition" must be induced (and the U.S. take the lead) to start releasing chunks of the $350 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets to fill the gap needed to keep the war going till the end of this decade. Ukraine has been moving quickly to produce a range of its military needs domestically and is likely to meet most of its basic requirements - including ammo - within 3 years. The cost of purchasing from domestic producers will be far less than acquiring supplies from abroad and timeliness will not be an issue.
Furthermore, its control of the skies over Ukraine with the F-16s and (possibly) Grippen starting in the spring of 2024 will greatly reduce Russian offensive and defensive operations on Ukrainian territory. How does Russia hope to protect the Kerch Bridge if a single F-16 from hundreds of miles away could take it out? And what about all the new Abrams and Leopard tanks that are vastly superior to Russian tanks, but very much less vulnerable to Russian attacks from the air? The Abrams can shrug off most of the drones and land-based shelling while hitting targets at twice the distance of Russian tanks.
And how will the Russians contend with the forces now in Kherson moving slowly but steadily towards the Azov Sea and within 20-30 kilometers of the major links between Crimea and Russian forces in Ukraine?
Even the new mobilization plans have produced good results as Ukraine now has included a requirement that troops be placed into specialties that correspond to their pre-war skills and expertise.
All that Ukraine needs now is time and enough outside support to keep going for the next 2-3 years. If it were assured that it would get all the support it needs from the funds now frozen, Putin would be the first to realize that Russia has lost the war and his best option is a negotiated, face-saving settlement.
By tightening the sanctions further to close loopholes, seeking out and freezing the assets of all those who are supporting the war, and making it increasingly difficult for Russia to penetrate Ukraine's air defenses, Russia will have lost the war.
As a Ukrainian I stand with Zelenskyy and the People of UKR who have kept their pride & resolve to NEVER stop defending their country. Your info, Diane, invaluable & gives us a better picture of what is going on as far as EU support etc. It's good to hear you report that Europe has picked up the funding & support for UKR - I hope UK makes a bigger move since they are part of the initial agreement to defend UKR if attacked (giving up their nuc's).
As you implied in your article, support for Ukraine seems to depend to some degree on the media's role in generating the American people's support for Ukraine. More recently the media has been focusing on the troubles in Israel. I wonder if the media will refocus its attention on Ukraine as Israel mops up what's left of Hamas.
Excellent as always
"Fortunately the Pentagon and State Department announced another $175-million worth of military aid would go to Ukraine from another federal “wallet”... Apparently, there’s $6 billion more available."
So Biden is sending only 3% of what he can from a rather ample kitty. For the Dems to suggest that the Republicans are holding up aid to Ukraine is brinkmanship politics at its best/worst.
Yes, thankfully Europe is now exceeding the US is military aid to Ukraine plus Ukraine is now making its own to a very significant degree.
Very Nice Article. Problem with parties playing politics. Years back under the President Reagan Republicans the idea of not funding Ukraine against Russia would be unthinkable. Today things are very different in the wrong direction. If US stops funding and Ukraine falls then Russia would see the west as weak and attack a NATO country. And if Trump would win the Presidency again you think Ukraine would win or Trump handing Russia Ukraine and end the war not caring about democracy. Political leaders need to get their act together before it becomes to late. Russia also with Iran and Iran helping Russia . Best for the west to fund Ukraine and push Russia back.
Everything always hangs by a thread, as Damon Runyon tells us that when the legendary Nicely-Nicely Jones whispered to his handler that he was finished, that anonymous worthy saved the day by announcing to the judges that his champion just mentioned he needed another plate of short-ribs, thus precipitating his opponent's collapse, and so may be with Russia as we hear in these recent headlines: Russian oil revenues crisis; Disaster for Russia as OPEC Forces More Cuts as Oil Prices Fall; Russian Economy Faces Property Crisis; Russian oil industry Starts to Break Down; Russian Ruble Collapses.....Posts Net Losses of 1.7 trillion rubles. As Wellington said the victory at Waterloo in 1815 was "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life." At the climax of the Battle of Britain on 9/15/ 1940 Churchill asked about reserves, Air Vice Marshall Park answered: "There are none." As the wags say: 'the situation is desperate but not serious.' Compared with the USA and other Nato powers, Russia is a midget by a factor of about 30:1. My final quote for Canadian readers is from the French revolutionary titan Danton: Il nous faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace." Maybe Trump will slip on a banana peel or fall off his wallet.
Excellent reporting, as usual, and thank you. Maybe the EU and the US need to allocate funds that have been seized and simply give them to the Ukrainians. The physical damage Putin has inflicted on the Ukrainians is beyond comprehension. The displaced Ukrainians are causing financial and other problems in Europe and around the world; Putin needs to pay for his crimes against humanity and now. How many people have died because of Putin in this war alone and on both sides? God help us if Trump ever makes it back into the White House.
Excellent article Diane.
Orban/Hungary will meet in
"closed door" session with House Republicans about
Ukraine funding this week.
He is being wined and dined
by the Heritage Foundation,
authors of the infamous
Project 2025, which is available for free on the
internet. This is Trump's
playbook for his next admin,
or dictatorship.😉
The situation with Trumplandia in the US is central to all of this. But the mass media is less of a problem than putrid belief systems that a shyster and EQ genius like Trump has fully owned. What kind of a Christian church makes money its main tenet of faith? And is pastored by individuals whose main act of faith is collecting that money so that they can fly private jets and screw anything that moves, often together with their wives? Meanwhile, Trump has taken down the dignity of the presidency, the international authority of the United States, and the basic institutions of this country, including the Constitution and the Supreme Court. What are American voters waiting for?