# 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:** 53
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1042 "2025-06-17T17:06:14Z")
> [@](#): > > What? Do you want a fair fight? šŸ¤” The entire point of strategy in warfare is to make a fight as unfair as possible. The point of my post was not to denigrate the Ukrainians for using smart tactics but to expand on the question of how a old late model F-16 was able to shoot down a much newer more modern fighter. Well, that and to explain why AWACS style aircraft as such a huge force multiplier on the battlefield. Given the choice between having the best fighters or the best AWACS I will pick the AWACS the majority of the time. Oh, how did you both quote and selectively highlight only a portion of my post? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1043 "2025-06-17T17:10:16Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > The entire point of strategy in warfare is to make a fight as unfair as possible. Yes. Thatā€™s why I put a clown face at the end. šŸ¤” In the immortal words of Mork from Ork, ā€˜Humour! Ah! Ah!ā€™ > [@Calder](#): > > Oh, how did you both quote and selectively highlight only a portion of my post? Highlight the text you want to quote. Click the ā€˜Quoteā€™. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1044 "2025-06-18T01:04:44Z")
An _Atlantic_ article has pointed out an interesting thing: Although Trump being in power is, by and large, a good thing for Putin, it has posed a weird inconvenience for Putin, which is that he now canā€™t afford to rail against the United States and instead has to awkwardly say good or neutral things about America and Trump, in order to stay in Trumpā€™s good graces, even as American-made weaponry continues to hammer Russian forces. > **[Putin Isnā€™t Actually Enjoying This](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/06/putin-isnt-actually-enjoying-this/683183/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-promo)** > > Trump is turning out to be a liability for the Kremlin. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1045 "2025-06-18T18:50:35Z")
Many people, myself included, have asserted that trump is simply a paid Putin stooge through and through. And has been for 20 years. if Putin indeed now needs to stay on the nice side of trump that suggests either we were wrong all along (Narrator: _Inconceivable!_), or the stooge has the bit in his teeth. Or wonā€™t stay bought. Or one of those other metaphors about being a double-crossing scalawag. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1046 "2025-06-18T19:43:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > a double-crossing scalawag I think ā€˜rapscallionā€™ has a harsher tone. šŸ˜‰ ---
**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:** [June 18, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1047 "2025-06-18T19:59:33Z")
I left out mountebank. šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø. I _always_ do that. Dā€™oh! ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1048 "2025-06-18T20:15:41Z")
Iā€™m fond of poltroon myself. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1049 "2025-06-18T20:25:20Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Iā€™m fond of poltroon myself. Itā€™s my favorite Oliver Stone movie. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1050 "2025-06-18T22:55:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Many people, myself included, have asserted that trump is simply a paid Putin stooge through and through. And has been for 20 years. > > if Putin indeed now needs to stay on the nice side of trump that suggests either we were wrong all along (Narrator: _Inconceivable!_), or the stooge has the bit in his teeth. Or wonā€™t stay bought. Or one of those other metaphors about being a double-crossing scalawag. Let me suggest an alternate explanation. Trump is only useful to Putin as a stooge as long as Trump still has power and influence in US politics. If Putin is too obvious in his distain and disrespect for Trump than even those with Trump Derangement Syndrome will have trouble following Trump after watching Trump tough guy image take such a fatal hit. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1051 "2025-06-18T23:36:19Z")
In the United States? In the states all Trump has to do is bring the racism and lie about economics and his supporters will be there for him. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1052 "2025-06-18T23:43:45Z")
Trump is useful, but heā€™s also dangerous and unpredictable. Proper use of him requires a certain level of care. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1053 "2025-06-19T00:58:14Z")
This. Heā€™s not a stooge so much as a useful idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1054 "2025-06-19T02:48:09Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Many people, myself included, have asserted that trump is simply a paid Putin stooge through and through. And has been for 20 years. Given Trump seems hellbent on bending over backwards for Russia and destroying the United States as we know it, I donā€™t think any of us can be blamed for wondering if he was a paid stooge for Russia. While I wonā€™t discount the idea the Russianā€™s have something on Trump, I think itā€™s most likely heā€™s just a useful idiot. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > if Putin indeed now needs to stay on the nice side of trump that suggests either we were wrong all along (Narrator: _Inconceivable!_), or the stooge has the bit in his teeth. Or wonā€™t stay bought. Or one of those other metaphors about being a double-crossing scalawag. The Trump organization has received various financial considerations from Russians for quite a while now which might be why heā€™s shown so much favor to them. Then again Trump family members have made a lot of dough from Chinese interest as well. Putin has to be careful what he says about Trump because he knows the man is capricious and volatile. If Trump is humiliated by Putin who knows what kind of help he might provide Ukraine? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1055 "2025-06-19T03:00:13Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > If Trump is humiliated by Putin who knows what kind of help he might provide Ukraine? Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please! šŸ™šŸ™šŸ™ ---
**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:** [June 19, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1056 "2025-06-19T03:55:48Z")
Another 6,000 North Koreans being sent to Russia, Kursk region. > **[Kim Jong Un is sending another 6,000 people to Kursk, after an estimated...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/kim-jong-un-sending-another-084111113.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueWFob28uY29tLz9ndWNjb3VudGVyPTE&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANk3g5YsA3F-cm_d1QQD3G6CDnSh_FHcXmyTfJvVQGa6oC4c9eHm6GWj5WmguwB15OgiDqa10Kn6RC2odwac2Tv4uHQQ2A1cDKhTh5_w0YQklVYnF9KE7_UmVDmD-OHc3UejLs3fZTufZ7sLq0bhHsdZFI9Jxs2rv77ihzuEY10B)** > > The new arrangement, aimed at rebuilding Kursk, is another avenue for North Korea to gain valuable experience and economic resources from Russia. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1057 "2025-06-19T10:13:50Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Iā€™m fond of poltroon myself As ever, the Irish have a good word: > **[Gombeen man](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gombeen_man)** > > "Gombeen man" is a Hiberno-English term used in Ireland for a shady, small-time "wheeler-dealer" businessman who is always looking to make a quick and shady profit, often at someone else's expense or, in the case of politicians, through the acceptance or demanding of bribes. Its origin is the Irish language word "gaimbĆ­n", meaning monetary interest or usury. > The despised image of the gombeen as an usurious predator on the poor was immortalized in the poem "The Gombeen Man" by Irish poet Joseph C... ---
**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:** [June 27, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1058 "2025-06-27T12:32:11Z")
> **[ā€˜Basically impossible to get them backā€™: Russiaā€™s mass abduction of Ukrainian...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/27/russia-ukrainian-children-abduction-war-crime)** > > As territories shift and divide families, desperate parents are travelling to Russia to find their children, many of whom have been moved into military camps or orphanages In addition to the main body of news, please take note of the articleā€™s closing. > [@](#): > > _The Trump administration in the US terminated Congressionally authorised funding for Yaleā€™s Conflict Observatory in February. It has instructed all research and data to be tranferred to Ukrainian organisations and Europol, the EUā€™s agency for law enforcement. The Yale research group is expected to close as a result on July 1._ War crime? What war crime? _(walks away whistling)_ ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1059 "2025-07-03T14:06:04Z")
Another one bites the dust: > **[Deputy commander of Russian navy killed in strike near Ukraine frontline](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/03/deputy-commander-of-russian-navy-mikhail-gudkov-killed-in-strike-near-ukraine-frontline)** > > Maj Gen Mikhail Gudkov personally promoted by Putin and had previously led one of Russiaā€™s most notorious brigades In the meantime, Putin will give trump new instructions on the phone today (the link is to a newsfeed, I hope it keeps stable): > **[Trump confirms Putin call to take place today ā€“ Europe live](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jul/03/europe-heatwave-live-news-latest-updates-crete-wildfire?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-686687cb8f0877cd81d6524d#block-686687cb8f0877cd81d6524d)** > > Call comes as US president is also due to speak to Ukraineā€™s Zelenskyy this week ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1060 "2025-07-03T22:36:18Z")
Before providing new instructions he has to first thank Trump for freezing a number of items of military aid to Ukraine and unfreezing certain restrictions on Russian banks this week. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1061 "2025-07-04T14:13:07Z")
> **[Transneft Vice President Andrey Badalov dies after falling from window](https://en.apa.az/cis-countries/transneft-vice-president-andrey-badalov-dies-after-falling-from-window-472117)** > > Transneft Vice President Andrey Badalov dies after falling from window Maybe they should install screens or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=54)