He’d sacrifice his political career, his envisaged legacy in Ukrainians’ eyes, and part of his country’s economic sovereignty, but he’d avert a much worse scenario than if he rejected this deal.
I am not convinced. His alternative is to play for time hoping that Trump's political position in the US will weaken as is likely and the neo-con/democratic war party will be more vocal. His second alternative is to play US against UE and throw his lot with the old colonialist school of London. The third alternative is to capitulate to Russia and confess to Western dirty games in exchange for immunity.
The plan ever always only was for the Americans to intervene openly and directly. However lopsided, the "resource deal" does just that, because we gotta protect our "investment".
Since Zelenskii won't be paying those "loans" personally, why should he care? And if Ukraine loses even its nominal sovereignty, so what?
Zelensky and his inner core dragged Ukraine into a self-destructive war and I have no intention to excuse the U.S. from responsibility here. The Ukraine population and the UAF has to come to their senses and take action. RADA (Ukraine Parliament) has to exercise some judgment here as well. The situation is at a point where they have no choice but make a deal with Russia. Two more years like these and they will lose another 5 or 10 million of their population to emigration and even Odessa. They will become a landlocked, deindustrialized nation enslaved by USA/EU/NATO or fully occupied by Russia.
Why would this very substantial force in Ukraine tolerate a Zelensky leadership for the last three years, especially recently as the military and political situation is tending toward the hopeless for Ukraine?
Life under totalitarian rule calls for taking a step back occasionally for the opportunity for taking two forward the next day. Self-destructing your own population is not really an acceptable alternative. I thought from the very beginning of this conflict that the unique ethnic composition of Ukraine, the Baltic States and Russia as well will play substantially into the conflict. They all struggle with the heritage Soviet society left for them. I have seen reports that the Russian army had a high percentage of Ukraine ethnic officers at the start of this war. That might have changed by now. I wrote from day one this war can have only two possible outcomes: 1, A Russian victory (whatever the Russians will accept as a victory). 2, A nuclear war. Since Zelensky in not allowed the “gambling with nuclear war” anymore as it was declared “disrespectful” toward America, his range of opportunities were limited greatly. However, the prime responsibility is on the shoulders of U.S./NATO coalition.
Believe it or not senators actually do things! And this war is McCain’s baby! Lindsey Graham and Ron Johnson successfully manipulated Trump in his first term and it looks like they are still able to manipulate him.
It pains me to this say because I despise McStain…but this war has been great for America. Keep in mind McStain wanted us at war with Russia in 2008 when we were importing huge amounts of oil and about to import huge amounts of LNG. Honestly, had we supplied Georgia in 2008 it could have ended America…but thanks to fracking and Biden’s leadership on NATO we are energy dominant and we can easily afford to help Ukraine. America dodged a huge bullet when Obama beat Hillary and then defeated McStain.
We are energy dominant thanks to Putin’s asinine invasion. Putin turbocharged the global LNG market which America and Qatar and Australia dominate and work somewhat together. Putin has lost, America hasn’t necessarily “won” but NATO is stronger and so America is stronger than we’ve been than at any point since the 1990s. America’s low point was 2008 as we were overextended in the Bush Wars and the economy was imploding while we imported huge amounts of energy.
I am not convinced. His alternative is to play for time hoping that Trump's political position in the US will weaken as is likely and the neo-con/democratic war party will be more vocal. His second alternative is to play US against UE and throw his lot with the old colonialist school of London. The third alternative is to capitulate to Russia and confess to Western dirty games in exchange for immunity.
The plan ever always only was for the Americans to intervene openly and directly. However lopsided, the "resource deal" does just that, because we gotta protect our "investment".
Since Zelenskii won't be paying those "loans" personally, why should he care? And if Ukraine loses even its nominal sovereignty, so what?
Zelensky and his inner core dragged Ukraine into a self-destructive war and I have no intention to excuse the U.S. from responsibility here. The Ukraine population and the UAF has to come to their senses and take action. RADA (Ukraine Parliament) has to exercise some judgment here as well. The situation is at a point where they have no choice but make a deal with Russia. Two more years like these and they will lose another 5 or 10 million of their population to emigration and even Odessa. They will become a landlocked, deindustrialized nation enslaved by USA/EU/NATO or fully occupied by Russia.
Perhaps that's the goal. The EU needs cheap labour most of all.
That might be a major component of the problem.
I would not mind to see some documentation on this army. If you are right on this one a lot of things need to be reevaluated.
Why would this very substantial force in Ukraine tolerate a Zelensky leadership for the last three years, especially recently as the military and political situation is tending toward the hopeless for Ukraine?
Life under totalitarian rule calls for taking a step back occasionally for the opportunity for taking two forward the next day. Self-destructing your own population is not really an acceptable alternative. I thought from the very beginning of this conflict that the unique ethnic composition of Ukraine, the Baltic States and Russia as well will play substantially into the conflict. They all struggle with the heritage Soviet society left for them. I have seen reports that the Russian army had a high percentage of Ukraine ethnic officers at the start of this war. That might have changed by now. I wrote from day one this war can have only two possible outcomes: 1, A Russian victory (whatever the Russians will accept as a victory). 2, A nuclear war. Since Zelensky in not allowed the “gambling with nuclear war” anymore as it was declared “disrespectful” toward America, his range of opportunities were limited greatly. However, the prime responsibility is on the shoulders of U.S./NATO coalition.
The one thing that every successful insurgency has in common is a young population. Ukraine has a median age over 40, and that from before the war.
Believe it or not senators actually do things! And this war is McCain’s baby! Lindsey Graham and Ron Johnson successfully manipulated Trump in his first term and it looks like they are still able to manipulate him.
It pains me to this say because I despise McStain…but this war has been great for America. Keep in mind McStain wanted us at war with Russia in 2008 when we were importing huge amounts of oil and about to import huge amounts of LNG. Honestly, had we supplied Georgia in 2008 it could have ended America…but thanks to fracking and Biden’s leadership on NATO we are energy dominant and we can easily afford to help Ukraine. America dodged a huge bullet when Obama beat Hillary and then defeated McStain.
We are energy dominant thanks to Putin’s asinine invasion. Putin turbocharged the global LNG market which America and Qatar and Australia dominate and work somewhat together. Putin has lost, America hasn’t necessarily “won” but NATO is stronger and so America is stronger than we’ve been than at any point since the 1990s. America’s low point was 2008 as we were overextended in the Bush Wars and the economy was imploding while we imported huge amounts of energy.