# 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:** 55
**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:** [August 9, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1082 "2025-08-09T22:47:18Z")
Don’t mix up applications to the EU w applications to NATO. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1083 "2025-08-09T22:50:09Z")
There’s nothing preventing individual NATO members from signing agreements with Ukraine and deploying troops there. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2025, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1084 "2025-08-10T06:32:11Z")
Indeed, but “divide and rule” is one of Putin’s strategic objectives. Nor is he likely to consider himself any more bound to any agreement over Ukraine now than he has to previous agreements. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1085 "2025-08-15T22:57:03Z")
Joint Press conference with Putin and Trump now – not sure what is happening because I can’t stand listening to either one. Will wait for summary. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1086 "2025-08-15T23:49:19Z")
The summary is that there was no announcement other than Trump will call Zelenskyy and NATO. Otherwise the entire presentations by both Putin and Trump were just exercises in word salad. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1087 "2025-08-16T01:01:34Z")
Self-serving word salad. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1088 "2025-08-16T01:09:53Z")
I.e., par for the course. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2025, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1089 "2025-08-16T05:43:10Z")
And we all know what T’s golf scorecards are worth. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1090 "2025-08-16T21:48:44Z")
Prof. Phillips O’Brien, University of St Andrews, this morning: [People seem to be missing the big story](https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/putin-makes-no-concessions-but-trump) > [@](#): > > Cast your mind back to between one and two weeks ago, which was the trigger moment for yesterday’s Trump-Putin Summit in Anchorage Alaska. If that seems like a long-time ago in an entirely different world—it is because it was. The discussion at that point was about the very harsh sanctions that Trump was imminently going to put on Russia. . . . > > Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in a very friendly summit, pledged to work together closely now and in the future, talked about getting back to business—and put all the onus on Ukraine . . . NPR this afternoon: [Zelenskyy to meet with Trump on Monday](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5503711/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-to-meet-with-trump-on-monday) > [@](#): > > Trump suggests he favors Vladimir Putin’s approach to dealing with the war in Ukraine. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1091 "2025-08-16T22:20:28Z")
At the risk of beating a dead horse, the continued inaction of Europe on the matter is still the other, more silent, half of the problem. It’s been nearly 4 years now since the invasion began and European aid to Ukraine (military - the kind that would actual make a difference) - has been in such small amounts it’s only essential to let Ukraine barely survive, or essentially nothing but tokenism. Trump is justifiably getting much outrage his way, but there’s no excuse for Europe. It’s been nearly 4 years. The argument of insufficient money doesn’t work. The argument of insufficient time doesn’t work. What is clear is that much of western Europe isn’t bothered enough by what Russia is doing to Ukraine to send truly transformational amounts of arms to Ukraine - not just a few Mirages here and Storm Shadows there. This is all the more glaring considering that what Ukraine needs the most of, right now, isn’t even particularly high-end or complex weaponry. There is no way Europe doesn’t or didn’t have the combined resources to send Ukraine tens of millions of simple quadcopter drones or whatnot, etc. Again - **nearly 4 years by now.** ---
**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:** [August 16, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1092 "2025-08-16T22:35:56Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Trump is justifiably getting much outrage his way, but there’s no excuse for Europe. It’s been nearly 4 years. The argument of insufficient money doesn’t work. The argument of insufficient time doesn’t work. I feel like Europe as a whole dropped the ball way back in 2014 by not treating Russia as the serious threat it was. Europe really needs to take the lead on this since this is happening in their own backyard and the United States is no longer a reliable ally. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1093 "2025-08-17T00:25:34Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Europe really needs to take the lead on this since this is happening in their own backyard and the United States is no longer a reliable ally. I agree. However, European nations have mostly been doing a lot, escially the ones nearer Ukraine.. I just went to ChatGPT and put in this question: How does the percent of GDP in aid to Ukraine vary internationally in 2024? If believable, estimates for many European nations are multiples of that of the U.S. The Baltics run about four times higher than the U.S. It says " **Aggregate EU-level contributions** hover around **0.7 % of GDP** over the 2022–2024 period. That would compare to about 0.5 percent for the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1094 "2025-08-17T12:23:21Z")
Here’s another sense, besides funding, that Europe is taking the lead: [European leaders to join Trump-Zelensky meeting, presenting united front](https://wapo.st/45BJdtN) > [@](#): > > NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President [Ursula von der Leyen](https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1957015978383999422), French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz](https://x.com/bundeskanzler/status/1957028968416084054), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President [Alexander Stubb](https://x.com/TPKanslia/status/1957021152754241688) confirmed Sunday that they will join Zelensky. Trump will not like being outnumbered. I wonder who the Secret Service, as ordered by DJT, will allow in the room. \ ---
**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:** [August 17, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1095 "2025-08-17T14:07:34Z")
Ukraine doesn’t have the ability to launch a major counter offensive. That puts Ukraine at a major disadvantage in negotiations with Russia. It’s hard to demand that Russia gives up captured territory. Russia knows Ukraine can’t seize it by force. It’s a terrible situation but what else can Ukraine do? Their troops are spread perilously thin defending territory. Ukraine’s supplies from the US have been reduced. Russia is still slowly taking territory and destroying cities. It’s at a high cost in Russian soldiers but that is classic Soviet strategy. Ukraine has to decide if it’s viable to continue fighting. Knowing their recruitments are down and Washington could cut them off at any time. > **[Ukraine Technically Has a Huge Army, But Why is There Still a “Manpower...](https://ukrainetoday.org/ukraine-technically-has-a-huge-army-but-why-is-there-still-a-manpower-shortage/)** > > The Curious Case Of Freedom HONOR PHILLIPS MAY 22, 2025 Yes, Ukraine has a manpower problem. But it’s not as simple as a lack of uniformed bodies. It’s more a deficiency in able, well trained and w… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1096 "2025-08-17T14:20:19Z")
For Ukraine, it’s “continue fighting” or no more Ukraine. Putin’s not going to stop because of some bullshit agreement (many of which he’s already broken). ---
**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:** [August 17, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1097 "2025-08-17T14:26:21Z")
Yep. Putin stops when Putin’s dead. Anything else, and any other lesser goal the West might adopt, is simply acquiescing to the defeat of Ukraine, be it fast or slow. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1098 "2025-08-17T14:34:12Z")
Things that were great about the 1980s: the music, the new technology, and Russian leaders who died after only a few weeks in power ---
**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:** [August 17, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1099 "2025-08-17T21:58:53Z")
The BBC analysis of the current situation is well done. What Putin says he still wants is substantial. It does seem that he’s cut back on demands that Ukraine reduce the size of its military. I am very surprised that Russia agreed that security guarantees could be put in place. I realize all of this could change in the next few days or weeks. Russia’s demands frequently shift with Putin’s moods. I’d love to be a fly on the wall during Mondays White House meeting. I think it’s going to get heated. > **[Putin agreed to 'robust' security guarantees for Ukraine, says US envoy](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm4ln2ekg1o)** > > Steve Witkoff said Russia agreed in Alaska that the US and Europe could provide Ukraine with a Nato-style guarantee. I added bolding to the most relevant paragraph. > **[What handing Donbas to Putin would mean for Ukraine](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgv1pdkll8o)** > > Donald Trump is reportedly planning to urge Ukraine to surrender the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as part of negotiations over an end to the war. > [@](#): > > As Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to travel to Washington on Monday to meet Trump, there is likely no “swap” element to the US president’s thinking. > > Instead, he is reportedly planning to press Zelensky to surrender the entirety of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in return for Russia freezing the rest of the front line – a proposal put forward by Putin in Alaska. > > **Luhansk is already almost entirely under Russian control. But Ukraine is estimated to have held onto about 30% of Donetsk, including several key cities and fortifications, at a cost of tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives.** > > Both regions – known together as Donbas – are rich in minerals and industry. To surrender them to Russia now would be a “tragedy”, said the Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak ---
**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:** [August 18, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1100 "2025-08-18T00:18:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I am very surprised that Russia agreed that security guarantees could be put in place. Guarantees underwritten by trump are as nothing. Putin wants Ukraine entire and will succeed or die trying. His (or trump’s) sig on a treaty means nothing more than his shit on some TP. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/1101 "2025-08-18T00:34:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Ukraine doesn’t have the ability to launch a major counter offensive. When did they lose it? Because they’ve launched a lot of major counteroffensives. Remember when they destroyed a third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, a few months ago? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=56)