“They tried to overturn an election and subvert the Constitution… now let them serenade you with some of the greatest hits of yesteryear!”
"No law enforcement patrons, please: these boys tend to get a bit frisky when they know a cop is around!’
In practice Canada would start off as a conquered territory, with negotiations with Vichy Canadians coming later. I and others will work hard to oppose a US regime that would entertain such policies.
So Trump tried to force Zelinsky to sign a deal to cede half of Ukraine’s mineral rights to the US. What a fucking bastard.
So if that’s Trump’s starting point for bargaining a peace treaty between Ukraine and Russia, I think Zelinsky should counter with some hard asks from his side.
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Guaranteed admission to NATO now, not some future point.
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Return of all Ukraine’s territory taken in this offensive. Including Crimea.
That’s what half of Ukraine’s Montreal rights requires. A return of all illegally taken territory and a guarantee of future security.
Set the negotiating starting point equivalently far the other way. Then negotiate to something like return of most of Ukraine’s territory, but Russia keeps Crimea, and a NATO membership, in exchange for a quarter of the mineral rights for 3 years (duration of the war).
“Law enforcement personnel not invited unless you are a member of the choir.”
Are they going to allow the ones that have been re-arrested since pardoning to participate?
“The Cacophonous Squeals of the Sprung Gravy SEALs”
Pass.
Thanks, though 
Yeah, there were too many of those, weren’t there?
And @Gyrate - I hadn’t known that the Orange Whip is so huge on the internet–you can get T-shirts!
Not only the extortion, but the added bastard-move of saying that giving up their mineral rights is NOT for protection, but to pay for PAST aid.
What dimwit-Donald doesn’t know is that Ukraine already paid for past aid. They paid by giving up their nukes.
In the mid-90s they gave up their nuclear arsenal in exchange for protection from (realistically, though not named explicitly) Russian aggression.
So they’ve already paid. They don’t owe anything in return. (Not to mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of ‘aid to Ukraine’ = US jobs and US income, from making what gets sent there.)
Maybe he could grant the US long term mineral rights in all the Russian held territories, with the understanding that they’d have to have them back first.
I’m sure you’re well aware that Donald would NEVER ask Vlad to give back any of his stolen territories.
I know it wouldn’t actually work, it was just a thought as an amusing way for Zelenski to turn Trumps demand back at him.
That would be sweet… but unlikely.
Trump Golf Tracker. Currently at 26.5% of the time spent golfing.
“That doesn’t count. I wasn’t there. We promised to protect them, we didn’t say it would be free. That’s too long ago to count.”
It’s all part of negotiation. Trump makes hugely unrealistic offer, counter with something equally extreme. Trump changes but it’s still unrealistic, counter with a different offer that is nominally a concession, but still a no go."
Work Trump to something that is realistic.
Another idea: Trump floated Zelinsky stepping down as President of Ukraine. Zelinsky should counter, “For the good of Ukraine I would be willing to step down… when Putin steps down as President of Russia.”
At least show the farce for what it is before making concessions.
NO! Russia must unconditionally withdraw all forces back home, surrender all offensive weaponry, renounce all claims to Ukrainian territory (including Crimea), and turn Putin over to The Hague to face war crimes charges, That is the mimimum that human justice requires.
Works for me!
In a just world, I fully agree. However, we don’t live in a just world.
If Ukraine was stomping Russia in Russian soil, and Russia was the one in need of relief, they could dictate terms. But Ukraine is dependent on Western allies, particularly the US, to carry out their defense. And Trump has signaled an intention to stop support. Thus, Putin will come out a winner in some form. It’s disgusting and infuriating that my country is being party to this, instead of giving unequivocal and unlimited support to Ukraine. There’s been too much hesitancy, and now an outright placator.
Unless the rest of Europe wants to tell Trump to GFY and kick in everything Ukraine needs to decisively win the war, I’m afraid Ukraine is going to be lucky to retain any independence.
Stipulated. But occasionally it becomes necessary for us to insist that we make it a just world. As I have insisted above.