This moment of truth could even arrive earlier than expected and thus force Putin to compromise or escalate before he’s fully made up his mind either way.
If Zelensky continues to be undo-operative with Trump then US should cease all assistance with Ukraine, inform Putin of that decision then leave it to Zelensky and NATO to work out with Putin.
Oil is to a significant extent fungible, so taking a big chunk of Russian oil exports off the market is going to flow through quickly to prices at the pump in the United States.
Much Russian crude is ‘washed’ through India and Türkiye before being exported to Europe as gasoline and aviation fuel, etc., so look for shortages and price hikes there too.
Doubt it will happen, but with Trump you never know.
Do you understand that Trump sees himself as a mafia boss yet? "Do what I say, or you'll make me do this very bad thing to you," and "Nice economy you got there; be a shame if something happened to it," and so on. Putin & Company seem to be well aware of this, using measured responses to rhetoric calculated to make them try to jump to Trump's blustering tune.
The US Empire simply doesn't have the leverage it once did over countries like Russia, China, and Iran. Trump's acting as if he has more of that than Nixon did, but it just ain't so. I don't know if he realizes that, but it's pretty clear Putin and Xi do.
It seems to me the moment of the truth has arrived when Trump will have to learn he is not God. The roller coaster game might be effective against Zelensky as he is completely exposed to the West. On the other hand Russia was able to build up the military, reoriented the economy toward Asia, enrolled China and North Korea as allies, changed the geopolitical structure of the planet and kept the country moving without major breakdowns. Trump’s “psychological deadline” pressure might work out well in an American high school environment where half the kids are on psychiatric drugs but Russia will play along, will not back down or will not compromise its basic interests.
A Man has to know his limit. If you want to shoot, shoot, don't talk. In Tao Te Ching, chapter 36, Laozi said that the intentions and methods of national (diplomatic and geopolitical) policies should not be revealed. If Trump were smart, he would talk nonsense to distract everybody from his real goals. If he were wise, he would simply talk less and leave it to the spokesperson. Even Xi has learned to talk less over the years.
Trump's psychological deadline is even more artificial than the so called artificial border that separates Canada and Russia but nonetheless demarcates 2 sovereign countries.
Trump's psychological deadline is all in his head. The war ends when Putin achieves his definitely defined goals and not until then.
Russia knows what constitutes an intellectual threat to it as does the U.S. The U.S. has purposely set out to put in place a Nazi backed puppet regime that would either bring about regime change in Russia or give Russia an Afghanistan on its borders. Both are conditions the U.S.would never accept for itself.
Putin has to stop withering and finish the job. He's got to treat Trump like the enemy he is. Trump wants war. Trump only cares about himself.
If Trump puts the squeeze on Russian oil he will cause inflation in the U.S. and eventually he will have to back off as a result of pressure from U.S. consumers.
Trump's foreign policy strategy is chaotic and that means he will fail as long as Putin sticks it out with his goals.
Trump is stuck with a losing game in Ukraine. Either the "More War" camp will punish him or the "No War" camp will punish him. Hegseths virtual declaration of war against China yesterday will alienate the "no war" camp. The "more war" camp will cheer making it a temptation for Trump to play tough in Ukraine, but how much leverage do we really have with sanctions. Gasoline prices in my little town are already up 40 cents/gallon in the last 3 weeks. Russia has already invested many deaths and much effort into a war on their borders that will leave Russia undefendable if they lose.
The heart of Trumps populist support is in the "no war" camp. Its the never Trumpers, "National Review" GOP that beat the war drums.
Exactly who are the parties draining Comex of physical gold ? What form of warfare is this ?
Also, keep in mind, Trump is weak, stupid and easily manipulated. He tends to agree with whatever the last person who talked to him on a given subject said. In this case, the Finnish PM.
Finland's PM went to play a day's golf to Trump shortly after he and Estonia came up with the brilliant idea of closing down the Gulf of Finland for Russia. He knows well that this would be equal to a declaration of War so he was looking for a sucker to fight this war for him. My guess is that Trump wined and dined him and sent him home without a commitment.
If Zelensky continues to be undo-operative with Trump then US should cease all assistance with Ukraine, inform Putin of that decision then leave it to Zelensky and NATO to work out with Putin.
But without US support the belicose Nato vassals are nothing but an irritant incapable of sustaining the green goblin & the Banderites.
Oil is to a significant extent fungible, so taking a big chunk of Russian oil exports off the market is going to flow through quickly to prices at the pump in the United States.
Much Russian crude is ‘washed’ through India and Türkiye before being exported to Europe as gasoline and aviation fuel, etc., so look for shortages and price hikes there too.
Doubt it will happen, but with Trump you never know.
Do you understand that Trump sees himself as a mafia boss yet? "Do what I say, or you'll make me do this very bad thing to you," and "Nice economy you got there; be a shame if something happened to it," and so on. Putin & Company seem to be well aware of this, using measured responses to rhetoric calculated to make them try to jump to Trump's blustering tune.
The US Empire simply doesn't have the leverage it once did over countries like Russia, China, and Iran. Trump's acting as if he has more of that than Nixon did, but it just ain't so. I don't know if he realizes that, but it's pretty clear Putin and Xi do.
It seems to me the moment of the truth has arrived when Trump will have to learn he is not God. The roller coaster game might be effective against Zelensky as he is completely exposed to the West. On the other hand Russia was able to build up the military, reoriented the economy toward Asia, enrolled China and North Korea as allies, changed the geopolitical structure of the planet and kept the country moving without major breakdowns. Trump’s “psychological deadline” pressure might work out well in an American high school environment where half the kids are on psychiatric drugs but Russia will play along, will not back down or will not compromise its basic interests.
My guess is that Russians will proceed as cautiously as before - after all, Trump is following the dictum of: Speak loudly and carry a small stick.
A Man has to know his limit. If you want to shoot, shoot, don't talk. In Tao Te Ching, chapter 36, Laozi said that the intentions and methods of national (diplomatic and geopolitical) policies should not be revealed. If Trump were smart, he would talk nonsense to distract everybody from his real goals. If he were wise, he would simply talk less and leave it to the spokesperson. Even Xi has learned to talk less over the years.
Trump's psychological deadline is even more artificial than the so called artificial border that separates Canada and Russia but nonetheless demarcates 2 sovereign countries.
Trump's psychological deadline is all in his head. The war ends when Putin achieves his definitely defined goals and not until then.
Russia knows what constitutes an intellectual threat to it as does the U.S. The U.S. has purposely set out to put in place a Nazi backed puppet regime that would either bring about regime change in Russia or give Russia an Afghanistan on its borders. Both are conditions the U.S.would never accept for itself.
Putin has to stop withering and finish the job. He's got to treat Trump like the enemy he is. Trump wants war. Trump only cares about himself.
If Trump puts the squeeze on Russian oil he will cause inflation in the U.S. and eventually he will have to back off as a result of pressure from U.S. consumers.
Trump's foreign policy strategy is chaotic and that means he will fail as long as Putin sticks it out with his goals.
Trump is stuck with a losing game in Ukraine. Either the "More War" camp will punish him or the "No War" camp will punish him. Hegseths virtual declaration of war against China yesterday will alienate the "no war" camp. The "more war" camp will cheer making it a temptation for Trump to play tough in Ukraine, but how much leverage do we really have with sanctions. Gasoline prices in my little town are already up 40 cents/gallon in the last 3 weeks. Russia has already invested many deaths and much effort into a war on their borders that will leave Russia undefendable if they lose.
The heart of Trumps populist support is in the "no war" camp. Its the never Trumpers, "National Review" GOP that beat the war drums.
Exactly who are the parties draining Comex of physical gold ? What form of warfare is this ?
TL;DR Trump is itching to get started on the War On Iran.
Also, keep in mind, Trump is weak, stupid and easily manipulated. He tends to agree with whatever the last person who talked to him on a given subject said. In this case, the Finnish PM.
Finland's PM went to play a day's golf to Trump shortly after he and Estonia came up with the brilliant idea of closing down the Gulf of Finland for Russia. He knows well that this would be equal to a declaration of War so he was looking for a sucker to fight this war for him. My guess is that Trump wined and dined him and sent him home without a commitment.