o_d [he/him]

Bloody fighting between depleted militaries will continue to barely move the frozen front lines. Russian missile and drone raids will still pummel Ukrainian cities and terrorize their citizens. Gutsy, covert Ukrainian strikes will hit deep behind the Russian border.

Most unbiased pro-west journalist.

But a new, and likely final, chapter in the nearly three-year conflict began today with a confluence of clear signals from the United States that it will no longer back Kyiv’s goals in the war, all but ensuring that Ukraine will not regain its sovereign territory or achieve its most sought-after security guarantees.

Ukraine lost its sovereignty long before Russia launched its SMO. Security guarantees were made with Minsk, Minsk II, and could have been made again through negotiations early on. It wasn’t Russia who violated these agreements or refused to negotiate.

Ukrainians have warily watched Donald Trump reclaim power, knowing his longtime deference toward Russian President Vladimir Putin

Liberal cope.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared, in an appearance at NATO headquarters, that achieving Ukraine’s main objective in the war—to restore its borders as they were before 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea—was “unrealistic.” “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering,” Hegseth said in Brussels.

He’s right. I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Hegseth, but it goes to show how incredibly hawkish the Biden admin was.

Trump aides have said the president sees an opportunity to end a conflict and try to stabilize relations with Moscow. To that end, a prisoner swap was brokered yesterday that returned teacher Marc Fogel to the U.S. after he’d spent three years at a Russian labor camp.

Who is Marc Fogel? Is he a strictly political prisoner?

Fogel was detained in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after flying in from New York with less than an ounce (28.35gm) of cannabis, which his family said was medically prescribed for his chronic back pain.

Russia, which has stringent drug laws, accused him of keeping the cannabis “carefully disguised” in his luggage.

A Moscow court later convicted Fogel of “large-scale drug smuggling” and handed him a 14-year hard labour sentence. He was sent to Rybinsk penal colony four hours away from Moscow to serve his time. Penal colonies are notorious for harsh living conditions and brutality.

The US State Department classified Fogel as “wrongfully detained”.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/12/who-is-marc-fogel-the-us-teacher-released-by-russia

Not that I agree with drug criminalization or the decision to sentence him to hard labour, but an ounce is not a small amount of cannabis. This is really a case of fuck around and find out. The hypocrisy of the land of the “war on drugs” calling him “wrongfully accused” would be hilarious if this whole situation wasn’t sad.

An invitation to the United States—and potentially the White House—would be rightly perceived as Trump welcoming Putin back to the democratic world’s good graces even after an unjustified invasion of a sovereign neighbor.

Their unjustified invasion, our bringing freedom and democracy.

Yesterday, the Senate confirmed former Representative Tulsi Gabbard as Trump’s new director of national intelligence. Gabbard has received scrutiny for her previous comments about Russia and has been accused by Democrats of adopting Kremlin talking points, including when she suggested, shortly after the war started, that Moscow had been provoked into invading Ukraine.

Just like the Hegseth take above, she’s correct. Liberals will continue to eat shit over admitting they’re wrong.

He then took a few questions, including one about whether he viewed Ukraine as “an equal member of this peace process.”

Trump paused.

“That’s an interesting question,” he finally said. “I think they have to make peace.”

He did not answer further.

Remember when Ukraine’s democratically elected government was overthrown in a fascist coup backed by the CIA and US state department? I think it’s fair to say that Ukraine(ians) haven’t been an equal member in any of the decisions that have been made since.

Overall, this was a fun read. I love that these crypto-facists can’t help but out themselves when it comes to the bringing about of a peaceful resolution to a war that they whole heartedly support. I hope that you choke to death on your tears Jonathan Lemire.

Indeed. I really didn’t expect to see this. At least not this soon. Hopefully this will lead to further integration with Asia, but I still have my doubts. These spineless ghouls are likely one Trump threat away from completely backing down.

I’m all for deepening trade ties with China and the global south, but this piece seems to be advocating for abusing the declaration of a national emergency in order to steamroll any opposition to building pipelines that have the potential to cause environmental harm. I’m not even against pipelines. I recognize that we’re not getting completely off oil any time soon and that pipelines on average cause less harm than other methods of transport. I do wonder if the Indiginous communities might be less opposed to pipeline construction if some form of profit sharing was offered to them. Perhaps in addition to helping them to build up their communities. The fact that many of them don’t even have running water is inexcusable. You know who knows a thing or two about poverty alleviation and might be able to help with this? 🤔