Under this thread I will try to post Richardson's letters. They put the day's news in historical perspective. I realize that a fly has a longer attention span than the vast majority of people visiting this forum but for the few who do, and on the chance that some who don't will decide to try to read more than a dozen words, here goes.
April 29, 2022
Heather Cox Richardson
Apr 30
The “Ghost of Kyiv,” an ace pilot who heartened the Ukrainian resistance by shooting down a number of Russian aircraft on the first day of Russia’s invasion, was real after all. According to The Times of London, he was Major Stepan Tarabalka, 29 years old, and was killed in action on March 13.
That extraordinary Ukrainian resistance, reinforced as we now know it was by U.S. intelligence and the unified support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other allies and partners, thwarted Russian president Vladimir Putin’s plans for a quick annexation of Ukrainian land. Continuing pressure, combined with Putin’s refusal to stop his attack, means that Russia has thrown away decades of economic development and its global standing.
Today, Russia avoided defaulting on its debt by making a last-minute payment in dollars from reserves outside Russia, a move forced on it by economic sanctions. This will speed the draining of the country’s financial resources. The country has been able to continue to function and to fund its military in part because of about $800 million a day in revenue it pulls in from selling oil and gas to Europe.
It appears this is about to change. On Wednesday, Germany dropped its opposition to a European Union ban on oil and gas imports, enabling the 27 nations in the European Union to hammer out an agreement that adopts a phased end to shipments of Russian oil and gas. E.U. ambassadors expect to sign the agreement next week. “More important than the oil embargo is the signal that Europe is united and taking back the initiative,” Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, told New York Times reporters Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Thomas Gibbons-Neff.
Meanwhile, the House passed legislation to update the March 1941 Lend-Lease Act, passed to enable the U.S. to loan or lease military supplies to any country whose defense the president believed was vital to the defense of the United States. The original law enabled the U.S. to send supplies to Britain’s defense without joining the war directly. Yesterday’s update allows the government to skip some rules and move weapons more quickly. It will increase pressure on Putin by demonstrating that the U.S. is going to continue supporting Ukraine.
The Senate passed the measure by a voice vote, and there was overwhelming bipartisan support for it in the House, with only 10 Representatives, all Republicans, voting against it. Those ten included Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and others who also voted against last week’s House resolution “expressing support for Moldova’s democracy, independence, and territorial integrity” in the face of Russian threats.
Today, Ukrainian defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko tweeted: “What America is doing now in terms of sending weapons to Ukraine is a masterpiece of logistics. In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.”
President Joe Biden yesterday asked Congress for $33 billion for Ukraine—on top of the $13.6 billion authorized so far—to last until September 30, the end of the fiscal year. In his letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting the funds, Biden noted that the administration expects NATO allies and E.U. partners jointly to be sending even greater sums to the support of Ukraine but said Russian aggression would “require a substantial additional investment on our part.”
Biden added, “What I want to make clear to the Congress and the American people is this: the cost of failing to stand up to violent aggression in Europe has always been higher than the cost of standing firm against such attacks. That is as it always has been, and as it always will be.” He was referring to the misguided attempt to appease Adolf Hitler by accepting Germany’s 1938 annexation of the Sudetenland rather than resisting. Appeasing dictators never stops them; it simply emboldens them to increase their demands. And by the time the European war broke out in 1939, Hitler had significantly strengthened Germany’s forces.
Other countries are also continuing their support for Ukraine. About 8000 troops from the British army are deploying to eastern Europe over the summer to join in exercises with NATO troops and those from the Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes Finland and Sweden. Those two countries are currently not members of NATO but are considering joining because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland and Russia share a border of more than 800 miles. Yesterday, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that, should they ask to join, they “will be warmly welcomed and I expect the process to go quickly.”
Spain this week shipped to Ukraine hundreds of tons of heavy transport vehicles and ammunition. An unconfirmed report says that Ukrainian soldiers opening the shipment found Spanish sausages among the grenade launchers with a card from the queen that read: “I wish you victory! With love, Leti[z]ia.”
Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,” and weakening Russia’s ability to meddle in the affairs of other countries.
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Notes:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/russia-ukraine-war-ghost-of-kyiv-fighter-pilot-killed-identity-revealed/66GSTG55BT76XDIOXM6JMJSGSE/
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-intel-helped-ukraine-protect-air-defenses-shoot-russian-plane-carry-rcna26015
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-economy-0e1fbdeccb8ea167cda783bd2400e486
https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-keeps-russian-oil-gas-flowing-despite-tightening-sanctions-11649255803
https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-drops-opposition-to-russian-oil-embargo-11651155915
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/29/world/[WORD TOO LONG]
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1095236237/biden-ukraine-33-billion-aid
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/28/uk-to-send-8000-soldiers-to-eastern-europe-on-expanded-exercises
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3522/text
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/28/letter-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives-on-fiscal-year-2022-emergency-supplemental-funding/
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-sweden-could-join-nato-quickly-stoltenberg-says-2022-04-28/
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-immigration-zelenskyy-biden-311d1ef91f320ff262cd99a3e5454f8a
Twitter avatar for @visegrad24Visegrád 24 @visegrad24
Ukraine just received a massive shipment of weapons from Spain. The Ukrainians found Spanish sausages among the boxes with grenade launchers and a postcard saying: “I wish you victory! With love, Leticia”. It took them a moment to understand that it was from the Queen of Spain.
Image
April 29th 2022
5,066 Retweets26,388 Likes
https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022141
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/04/lend-lease-bill-could-help-ukraine-negotiate-peace-russia/366327/
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/04/21/spain-military-material-ukraine/
Twitter avatar for @IAPonomarenkoIllia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko
What America is doing now in terms of sending weapons to Ukraine is a masterpiece of logistics. In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.
April 29th 2022
4,305 Retweets33,871 Likes
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@phranny saidThat was great.....10 Thumbs up.
Under this thread I will try to post Richardson's letters. They put the day's news in historical perspective. I realize that a fly has a longer attention span than the vast majority of people visiting this forum but for the few who do, and on the chance that some who don't will decide to try to read more than a dozen words, here goes.
April 29, 2022
Heather Cox Richardso ...[text shortened]... . In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.
April 29th 2022
4,305 Retweets33,871 Likes
I'm sure they will also need a Marshall Plan, too.
Fantastic post
@phranny said"Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,”"
Under this thread I will try to post Richardson's letters. They put the day's news in historical perspective. I realize that a fly has a longer attention span than the vast majority of people visiting this forum but for the few who do, and on the chance that some who don't will decide to try to read more than a dozen words, here goes.
April 29, 2022
Heather Cox Richardso ...[text shortened]... . In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.
April 29th 2022
4,305 Retweets33,871 Likes
This absurd fantasy is almost certain to result in a continuation of the war with all the suffering it is causing to the Ukrainian People and an increase in the death toll on both sides.
The West should be pushing both sides to a realistic, negotiated settlement rather than chest thumping about how Russia should be punished.
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- 27 Sep 06
- Moves
- 251103
@no1marauder saidTough decision................Without weapons,
"Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,”"
This absurd fantasy is almost certain to result in a continuation of the war with all the suffering it is causing to the Ukrainian People and an increase in the death toll on both sides.
The West should be pushing both sides to a realistic, negotiated settlement rather than chest thumping about how Russia should be punished.
Ukraine would be overrun by now..........
Less deaths, certainly, Putin's tyranny, most assuredly.
@no1marauder saidChamberlain tried appeasement, too. How'd that work out?
"Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,”"
This absurd fantasy is almost certain to result in a continuation of the war with all the suffering it is causing to the Ukrainian People and an increase in the death toll on both sides.
The West should be pushing both sides to a realistic, negotiated settlement rather than chest thumping about how Russia should be punished.
@phranny saidKeep 'em coming, Phranny.
Under this thread I will try to post Richardson's letters. They put the day's news in historical perspective. I realize that a fly has a longer attention span than the vast majority of people visiting this forum but for the few who do, and on the chance that some who don't will decide to try to read more than a dozen words, here goes.
April 29, 2022
Heather Cox Richardso ...[text shortened]... . In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.
April 29th 2022
4,305 Retweets33,871 Likes
Always a treasure.
@suzianne saidThe everybody the West perceives as an enemy is = to Hitler shtick gets a bit boring after a while.
Chamberlain tried appeasement, too. How'd that work out?
IF you want the West to go to war with Russia over the Ukraine say so. if not, merely providing them weapons is highly unlikely to change the ultimate outcome if a negotiated peace can't be worked out.
@no1marauder saidThe appeasement you suggest was tried in the 1930's by Britain's Prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, with Hitler. It was a spectacular failure. Putin plans to gobble up Europe.
"Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,”"
This absurd fantasy is almost certain to result in a continuation of the war with all the suffering it is causing to the Ukrainian People and an increase in the death toll on both sides.
The West should be pushing both sides to a realistic, negotiated settlement rather than chest thumping about how Russia should be punished.
@phranny saidThat is a paranoid fantasy and policy based on it is likely to get a lot of people unnecessarily killed.
The appeasement you suggest was tried in the 1930's by Britain's Prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, with Hitler. It was a spectacular failure. Putin plans to gobble up Europe.
See my response to Suzianne; do you want war with Russia or not?
@no1marauder saidI originally posted that Ukraine should surrender like Crimea did, because that was a pretty much bloodless event against a nation Ukraine can't realistically win against. I got intense backlash for it.
"Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,”"
This absurd fantasy is almost certain to result in a continuation of the war with all the suffering it is causing to the Ukrainian People and an increase in the death toll on both sides.
The West should be pushing both sides to a realistic, negotiated settlement rather than chest thumping about how Russia should be punished.
The human experience is more than just pure logic. Pride and honor is also part of being human. As long as the Ukrainians themselves feel there's a higher purpose than simply rolling over and accepting defeat, I guess we have to accept that.
If someone as strong as Mike Tyson harasses my wife, logic be damned, I'm defending my wife even if I get my ass kicked. So too with the Ukrainians and their homeland.
@vivify saidYou've created a false choice of either complete surrender or prolonged war for the Ukraine. In truth, Russia has repeatedly and publicly signaled that it would accept peace terms that fell far short of Ukranian surrender.
I originally posted that Ukraine should surrender like Crimea did, because that was a pretty much bloodless event against a nation Ukraine can't realistically win against. I got intense backlash for it.
The human experience is more than just pure logic. Pride and honor is also part of being human. As long as the Ukrainians themselves feel there's a higher purpose than ...[text shortened]... , I'm defending my wife even if I get my ass kicked. So too with the Ukrainians and their homeland.
The West should be actively pushing both sides towards a peace deal rather than taking steps virtually certain to prolong the war to the Ukraine's ultimate detriment.
@no1marauder saidThe Ukrainians are fully aware of Russia's terms that include relinquishing three areas of country, as well as giving up the right to decide what alliances to join. They have chosen to fight this, as Russia's terms equate to surrender in their minds.
You've created a false choice of either complete surrender or prolonged war for the Ukraine. In truth, Russia has repeatedly and publicly signaled that it would accept peace terms that fell far short of Ukranian surrender.
The West should be actively pushing both sides towards a peace deal rather than taking steps virtually certain to prolong the war to the Ukraine's ultimate detriment.
More importantly, Zelensky doesn't trust Russia:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/17/politics/zelensky-russia-war-tapper-interview-cnntv/index.html
"Because I don't trust the Russian military and Russian leadership".
And honestly, Zelensky has no reason to trust them.
It's a moral issue for Ukrainians. They're going to continue fighting with or without the West's help. We may as well just accept that they've chosen to uphold their national pride and dignity by fighting till the end.
@no1marauder saidAren't you the same guy who claimed the IRA "surrendered" because it allowed the UK to keep part of the island?
You've created a false choice of either complete surrender or prolonged war for the Ukraine. In truth, Russia has repeatedly and publicly signaled that it would accept peace terms that fell far short of Ukranian surrender.
The West should be actively pushing both sides towards a peace deal rather than taking steps virtually certain to prolong the war to the Ukraine's ultimate detriment.