# Russia invades Ukraine -- The regional situation **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349 "2023-12-30T18:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/942 "2025-03-14T01:29:03Z")
Moderating: After discussion in the mod loop and perhaps quite tardily, we feel this thread is a better fit for P&E now than MPSIMS. Bear in mind that in P&E, it’s a good idea to provide cites for what you assert. Also remember that diverting a conversation to a different discussion is hijacking, and we will moderate strictly for that. Please keep the discussion on point, cited and respectful. If it continues to go as it has gone in MPSIMS, it won’t pass muster in P&E. @Kedikat, you were thread-banned previously for spreading misinformation about Russia. We are keeping a close eye on this thread because you seem to be going down the same path in this one. It’s one thing to advance a perspective. It’s another to deliberately mislead and spread misinformation. If your assertions are not well sourced and your arguments become a diversion from the main topic of discussion in this thread, you will be more than thread-banned. You will either be topic-banned or fully banned from the SDMB. Please keep this in mind as you make your arguments in this thread and others. No warnings issued at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/943 "2025-03-15T16:31:20Z")
Ending this type of program seems like either ignorant “cost-cutting” or deliberate cruelty. Of course, I’m no expert in international politics, so perhaps appearing to placate Russia and abandon Ukrainian children has some other purpose. > **[Trump Admin Nixed Contract Helping Kidnapped Ukrainian Children](https://newrepublic.com/article/192790/trump-kidnapped-ukrainian-kids-nixed-contract)** > > The fate of abducted Ukrainian children is a white-hot issue for peace negotiations—and it looks like the State Department may have just undercut the cause. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/944 "2025-03-31T10:47:58Z")
The invasion of Ukraine continues to push Europe to invest more heavily in their various military forces. Germany apparently tried using soft power to change Russia, and that didn’t work. > **[Germany decides to leave history in the past and prepare for war](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjyjlkewr2o)** > > Russian aggression and US isolationism push a once hesitant Germany to invest heavily in defence. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/945 "2025-03-31T11:57:06Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Germany apparently tried using soft power to change Russia, and that didn’t work. Well, Germany wasn’t alone in this. Macron also tried the same angle. He just figured out that it was a dead end marginally faster than the rest of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/946 "2025-04-02T10:20:27Z")
Trump: “Europe needs to pay for its own defense!” Also Trump: “But you’d better buy your weapons from us!” Basically Rubio and the State Department warning the EU that US weapon manufacturers must be allowed access to business in their countries. [https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/947 "2025-04-02T15:37:46Z")
It’s gangsters all the way down. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/948 "2025-04-02T17:31:22Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Basically Rubio and the State Department warning the EU that US weapon manufacturers must be allowed access to business in their countries. There might be a _n_% tariff, though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/949 "2025-04-02T23:58:41Z")
One can certainly hope. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/950 "2025-04-03T00:16:28Z")
Putin now calling up 160,000 more men for war in Ukraine. Excellent news for furthering Russia’s demographic decline, IF Ukraine and its allies can mince them properly. > **[Putin calls up 160,000 men to Russian army in latest conscription drive, at...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/europe/putin-russia-spring-conscription-ukraine-intl/index.html)** > > One of the largest rounds of conscription to Russia’s military for several years is underway, as President Vladimir Putin pushes ahead with an expansion of the country’s military at a crucial moment in the war in Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/951 "2025-04-04T12:50:52Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > There might be a _n_% tariff, though Imposed and **paid for** by European states? 🧐 ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/952 "2025-04-18T09:20:48Z")
I wish Ukraine was not signing this predatory minerals deal with the White House regime. Whatever the final agreement turns out to be, there is 0.0% chance that Trump’s people are going to hold up their end of it. Instead, it’s high time for Europe to transfer to Kyiv the $300 billion in seized Russian assets. > **[Russia-Ukraine war live: Rubio threatens to walk away from peace talks as...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/apr/18/russia-ukraine-war-peace-talks-us-marco-rubio-zelenskyy-trump?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-680209228f08bcf9ff484096#block-680209228f08bcf9ff484096)** > > ‘We’re not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end,’ US secretary of state says ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/953 "2025-04-19T01:59:04Z")
It is a horrible deal. Not even a deal, just blackmail. They should not sign it. I have some suspicion it is just a big obvious poison pill that the US hopes they will not sign, as an excuse to walk away from support of Ukraine. The Russian money should not be seized. It will greatly lessen trust in certain financial systems. Money may exit those systems quickly, with bad effect. But they should keep sitting on it until events / decisions of some great meaning occur. Then decide. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/954 "2025-04-19T02:03:21Z")
EU officials and some EU countries are using this conflict to leverage some major economic policy changes. Some that are law in constitutions and such. I feel it is just more disgusting use of Ukraine as proxy. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/955 "2025-04-19T09:21:53Z")
There is quite a lot of economic law and policy that is a condition of EU membership. They’ve all had to adapt in order to become members, as Ukraine wishes to do - Ukraine isn’t being singled out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/956 "2025-04-19T13:31:55Z")
> [@Kedikat](#): > > But they should keep sitting on it until events / decisions of some great meaning occur. Then decide. Like maybe when Russia marches back out of Ukraine, including Crimea, and rebuilds everything they destroyed there? That’s probably the first decision of meaning great enough to warrant anything except continued seizure. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/957 "2025-04-19T15:44:48Z")
I mean that the current members are trying to change their rules to what a few of the current members desire. To be able to run big deficits, issue Euro bonds for instance. With the need to build up the military as excuse. Not using Ukraine itself as an excuse in order to allow it in or keep it out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/958 "2025-04-19T15:55:08Z")
> [@Kedikat](#): > > It is a horrible deal. Not even a deal, just blackmail. They should not sign it. I’m pretty sure that Zelinskyy already knows that, and is just saying “no” as slowly as possible, in the hopes that meanwhile, Trump is distracted enough by some squirrel to allow some more aid to come through. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/959 "2025-05-05T15:57:02Z")
Interesting analysis of the Mineral Rights deal. There are some good points. There’s no restitution requirement for the prior military aid. Ukraine can still pursue EU membership. The bad: The US security requirements aren’t guaranteed. It’s not a great deal. But it’s better than what Trump originally purposed in Feb. > **[Seven takeaways from Ukraine minerals deal](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg456mzn8o)** > > What this will and won't change for US assistance to Ukraine, three years into the war. > [@](#): > > Trump has previously demanded that Ukraine pay back the $350bn (£264bn) of aid that he claims has been provided by the US during the war - a condition that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected. > > But Washington appears to have made a concession. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the agreement did not dictate that his country pay back any supposed “debt” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/960 "2025-05-06T02:44:41Z")
I thought US aid to Ukraine, at most, topped at around $130 billion or so? Where is Trump digging the $350 billion figure from, other than his sigmoid colon? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/961 "2025-05-06T13:08:11Z")
Boy, the US DoD is just humming along like a well-oiled machine! This is such a dumb error, and yet so unsurprising given that they’re so anxious to follow His will. > **[Trump admin scrambles as $2.2M Hegseth flub catches White House off-guard:...](https://www.rawstory.com/hegseth-trump-defense/)** > > An order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office grounded 11 flights loaded with heavy artillery headed to Ukraine.The problem? Nobody in the Pentagon, the State Department, Ukraine — or even the White House — knew anything about it.According to... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=49)