People in Britain who think they are governed by fools should take a closer look at the Russian and US presidents. Vladimir Putin is systematically ruining his country. His war of choice in Ukraine is an economic, financial, geopolitical and human calamity for Russia that worsens by the day. For his own murky reasons, Donald Trump, another national menace, offered him a lifeline last week. Yet Putin spurned it. These two fools deserve each other.

On the table in Moscow was a “peace” deal that, broadly speaking, rewarded Russia’s aggression by handing over large chunks of Ukrainian land, compromised Kyiv’s independence and weakened its defences against any future attack. The Trump deal, if forced through, would have split the US and Europe; ruptured Nato, perhaps fatally; reprieved Russia’s pariah economy; and probably toppled Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.

These are key Russian war aims. But Putin, suffering from neo-imperial fantasies and legacy issues, said “no”. He reckons he can get it all, and more, by fighting on. He has persuaded the idiot Trump that Russia’s victory is inevitable – and that scheming Europeans are the real warmongers. Yet his premise is fundamentally flawed. Hard facts confound him. Almost four years on, he’s still trapped in Donbas mud and ice. And at home, things fall apart.

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 69 points 8 months ago

Fuck the US deal. Handing large parts of Ukraine to the russia. Fuck tRump.

  • source
  • [–] 49 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    We just need to keep up the pressure, and to do that America needs to either shut the fuck up and keep out of it, or come back into the fold

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • load more comments (2 replies)
    [–] 40 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    the war has “dramatically improved” the incomes of 20% of Russians, it is hugely socially divisive. “For the bulk of Russians, real incomes have fallen by 16% to 42%,”

    Like most wars, this is why they tend to go on so long - because those that are making the most money from the war, reinvest some of it to keep the war going as long as possible. After all, they aren't paying the price in money or blood, they just collect the spoils.

    Putin’s readiness to risk the lives and wellbeing of ordinary Russians is only too evident, symbolised by the cynical signing-up fees and death benefits paid to infantry volunteers from poor rural areas – whose average frontline life expectancy is 12 days.

    This is what will eventually end the war - they will simply run out of draftees, or the people will finally get sick of sacrificing their sons to advance corruption, and revolt, although that could be tough with any fighting-age men off getting slaughtered less than two weeks after joining. We may see something crazy like a Mother's Rebellion, with a million mothers marching on the Kremlin and taking it over. It would be pretty tough to get Russian soldiers to fire on their own mothers.

  • source
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 18 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

    It would be pretty tough to get Russian soldiers to fire on their own mothers.

    I wouldn't hold my breath. Those who would refuse to fire would get shot. Now they may not try very hard to aim well, but still.

  • source
  • parent
  • load more comments (3 replies)
    [–] 37 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Been waiting for Russia to collapse since 2014ish

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 21 points 8 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 17 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

    Couldn't care less if they all fall. The only good thing about the US is they speak the same language as me.

    Also Scarlett Johansson

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 7 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    We will still speak the same language and Scarlett Johansson would still exist presumably if the US collapses. Hell depending on how it collapses it may even result in more good things popping out of it's former territories, kinda like how S.T.A.L.K.E.R. wouldn't exist without the collapse of the Soviet Union.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • load more comments (1 reply)
  • [–] 31 points 8 months ago

    Pretty solid and good read. Also love the last paragraph.

  • source
  • [–] 31 points 8 months ago

    I hope Putin is discovered while fleeing, and promptly suffers the divine plight of kings...

    Really, all dictators should end up this way.

  • source
  • [–] 26 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    People in Britain who think they are governed by fools should take a closer look at the Russian and US presidents.

    That bigger fools exist doesn't stop your fools from screwing up too.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 22 points 8 months ago

    Fucking good. I’m tired of the petty North Atlantic and Arctic sabotage missions. Ukraine can keep hitting oil refineries and eventually they won’t be able to afford to buy foreign fuel.

  • source
  • [–] 19 points 8 months ago (6 children)
    load more comments (6 replies)
    [–] 18 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    You know that's hilarious after another post from the same news paper says that we are now aligned with Putin's plan for the future.

    So yes we are killing them but I'm reality we are helping them and killing ourselves. Yay.

    Fuck maga fuck the pedos of the GOP for being traitors to the US. They should be hanged. Billionaires should also be hanged.

    But oh well, one last thing the US is coming for the dual citizenship in the US. People are gonna have less opportunity to leave once the shit falls off the fan.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 12 points 8 months ago

    Don’t worry everyone if Russias economy collapses our American economy will help them out, nothing bad will ever come out of this…

  • source
  • [–] 11 points 8 months ago

    Ukraine: are we a joke to you?

  • source
  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago

    Sucks to suck, Vlad.

  • source
  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    they still have potentially 70million men, they arnt running out of that.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • load more comments
    view more: next ›