this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2024
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Ukraine

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[–] [email protected] 87 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I feel so bad for Ukraine more than Americans. The vast majority either voted for him or at least not against him. But the Ukrainians? Them developing nukes seems to be the only way out of this

[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They had nukes. They got rid of them in exchange for assurances from Russia that they would leave them alone.

It's obviously more complicated than that, but that's essentially what it boils down to.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I think you got that wrong enough it warrants a correction...

They gave them up for assurances that Russia and the USA would protect them if they were attacked.

Edit: that's why the USA is giving them weapons, they're honoring the deal, or at least trying to, not 100% sure on specifics, I'm sure it was vague on what protecting them would entail.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

So did you.

US agreed to bring it before the UNSC, not to protect them. Russia has veto powers.

'93 Budapest memorandum off the top of my head if anyone wants to look it up and bring the quote forward.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

wiki says

Seek immediate Security Council action to provide assistance to the signatory if they "should become a victim of an act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggression in which nuclear weapons are used".

what assistance would that not be if not protecting them in some way or another?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Strongly worded tweets?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

FWIW, my partner is Ukrainian and I asked what's the general mood in the Ukrainian circles. Apparently the unpredictability of Trump is seen as a potential positive. There was quite a lot of disillusionment about the fact that Harris would have continued with the Biden's approach focused on soft politics and weapons given drop by drop.

In fact, the general public was quite unhappy with the cautious american support. If some of the weapons were given much earlier and all at once, the war could now be going very differently.

I don't know if this is now building a narrative that doesn't make you lose hope or if it's the reality. For sure the vibe was for Harris before the elections, but it was definitely as clear cut (due to the above).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

American guy here and I feel similarly. Things are going to get bad for anyone not toeing the party line here soon, but the grunts in the mud just got the worst possible news and that has to be demoralizing.

They housed plenty of nukes for the USSR but can’t build their own (yet).Even if they did it becomes a MAD standoff between them, Moscow and a Moscow friendly USA, which is fucking mind blowing after so many years of the Cold War. I think they’d be better off looking to the EU for jets and artillery to hold the line, I really fear that we’ll start to ship armor to the conscript side not the volunteers.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If they want nukes, they better get it done before January. Otherwise I can see the future where Zelenskyy is tried in a russian kangaroo court of "Possession of WMDs".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Even then, nukes from where? If we give them any then we will absolutely retain control failsafe codes and the orange administration could just not let the warheads arm.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

This is referring to earlier reports that I've read that says Ukraine is supposedly attempting to build their own nuke. The USA or any nuclear country would never give a nuke to Ukraine, that would be an undeniable escalation and Putin can then justify using giving nukes to... say Belarus. Then any nukes launched by Ukraine against Russia is treated as a US attack on Russian soil, then Belarus would launch against the US. The whole point of no US troops on ground is so that US and Russia is not directly at war. US nuke gifted to Ukraine is even worse than US troops on ground, as that just WW3. In contrast, nukes built by Ukrainians themselves with zero western involvement cannot be blamed on the US (although I don't doubt Putin would try to pin the blame on "The West"). Ukraine would have to complete the nuke before trump takes office.

[–] gravitas_deficiency 38 points 4 days ago

Because Trump is talking to Putin, not Zelensky. And the plan is “Ukraine loses”.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I saw this as the supposed plan:

per WSJ: It may propose delaying Ukraine's NATO membership for 20 years, establishing a 1,200 km demilitarized zone along the current front line, and leaving 20% of occupied Ukrainian territory under Russian control—while the U.S. would continue arms support under these conditions.

The problem is, this isn't an acceptable plan according to Russia. Russia has insisted that:

  1. Ukraine retreats from all of the oblasts that are currently partially occupied by Russia (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson) as well as giving up claims to Crimea, and Russia takes ownership of everything without a fight
  2. Ukraine's army is demobilized and Ukraine is demilitarized
  3. Ukraine is banned from joining any international organization, not just NATO (so no EU for instance)
  4. Ukraine receives no more military aid fro the west.

Trump is going to find out that you can't unilaterally declare peace.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 4 days ago

I'm guessing it's somewhere along the lines of "give Putin what he wants and be grateful". It also wouldn't surprise me if Zelensky isn't exiled or missing sometime next year. I hate it but I've lost all faith.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Trumps plan to end the war? He's going to tell Ukraine to surrender, or the USA will nuke them.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)

there is no way that would make it look like nukes are going to ukraine and not to russia, so this will trigger launch of russian nukes. congratulations??

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Yes. You are correct. This is called sympathetic or preemptive launch and is included in nuclear policy/strategy.

Essentially if you launch something towards the US or especially Russia and people don't believe it's not a nuke they then have to decide if they launch towards the launcher or their closest rival/enemy and those launches trigger other launches.

Most nukes are in known places in hardened bunkers or silos or better at sea in a long haul ICBM sub. If you don't use them you lose them because they're 100% gunna get destroyed if you don't.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I'm fairly sure he's got Putin in his contacts. He can just call him first and say, "Trust me bro, I got this."

(Not that I think Trump will nuke Ukraine, nor do I believe for a second that our military will allow that to happen.)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Every president has the Russian president in his contacts. It's the big red phone in the Whitehouse.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yes but does every president have them in their phone with hearts next to their name? I don't think so.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Don't forget the thumbnails of dick pics

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

that'd be just as stupid as calling for airstrikes on telegram or discord. i mean, russians do it, but it's still stupid

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago

Where do you get the idea that Trump is in any way smart?

We know from his former professors that he was dumb as shit then, and the dementia is clearly progressing quickly, we've seen it actively get worse right in front of us the last few months.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago

Depends on which body of water they launch from.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The plan is “fuck you”.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I can't help but feel we're fucking cooked and Europe is next

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago

There is concepts of a plan

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago

Putin certainly is.