U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#841

Post by zippothrowaway » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:21 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #822

gershy wrote: post #626

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what to think. Ukraine can't militarily defeat russia or reclaim its lost territory, and as long as it continues to try to do so, there will be war and the world will be less stable. But if a line is not drawn against russia, I think we have every reason to believe putin will continue to conquer more land over time. Russia is the source of instability, but it can't be defeated or reasoned with. What to d…

> I think we have every reason to believe putin will continue to conquer more land over time. What makes you think that? Historically, Ukraine has been conquered by various countries in the region (Russia, Poland, Lithuania) because of its strategic location. Clearly, western europe doesn’t think that’s true judging by their defense spending.

> What makes you think that?

Becasue Putin has openly talked about how Latvia and Moldova, for example, are part of Russia.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#842

Post by rstuart4133 » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:29 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #243

It seems like Ukraine is insisting on a “security guarantee.” Can someone explain how the U.S. providing a security guarantee wouldn’t increase the risk of american boots on the ground in Ukraine?

Trump is insisting on Ukraine paying for donations already freely given for the war (ie, they were gifts from the USA). They proposed they be paid for with mineral rights, and give nothing back in return. The minerals they asking for are worth far more then the USA's donations top date. Ukraine's initial reaction was a flat "no".

Then the Ukraine changed their minds and said, well actually you can have the mineral rights for free - because we desperately want this war to end. So you can have them if you give us a security guarantee that prevents Russia from overrunning the place. Otherwise we must continue to fight for our homeland.

Trump has responded "no", because he's only interested in peace.

I guess it makes about as much sense as anything else he's done.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#843

Post by DangitBobby » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:30 AM UTC

hnburnsy wrote: post #765

DangitBobby wrote: post #748

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Timely! > March 3 (Reuters) - The United States is drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as President Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and stop the war in Ukraine, a U.S. official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters. > The White House has asked the State and Treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be eased for U.S. officials to discuss wi…

Nice find! Would have to evaluate what the quid pro quo is, to determine if Trump is acting as a paid asset.

I think this exact situation is why the original comment was asking up front what it would take to believe Trump was a Russian asset.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#844

Post by DerekL » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:30 AM UTC

chgs wrote: post #101

4ndrewl wrote: post #92

Zelensky's Ukraine stood and fought against Russia for 3 years. Trump's USA surrendered in 6 weeks.

Reagan is spinning in his grave.

I don't think he would care. He was opposed to the USSR because he wanted to halt the spread of communism and socialism.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#845

Post by rayiner » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:43 AM UTC

zippothrowaway wrote: post #841

rayiner wrote: post #822

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think we have every reason to believe putin will continue to conquer more land over time. What makes you think that? Historically, Ukraine has been conquered by various countries in the region (Russia, Poland, Lithuania) because of its strategic location. Clearly, western europe doesn’t think that’s true judging by their defense spending.

> What makes you think that? Becasue Putin has openly talked about how Latvia and Moldova, for example, are part of Russia.

But there’s geographical limits to expansion based on that principle, right? It wouldn’t affect any place that directly affects America?

Say India decided to relitigate the Islamic conquest of the subcontinent and take over Bangladesh. Say India keeps going into Pakistan. Does the U.S. get involved? Why should America care?

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#846

Post by mopsi » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:52 AM UTC

codedokode wrote: post #703

motorest wrote: post #662

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm not sure what to think. Ukraine can't militarily defeat russia or reclaim its lost territory, (...) Are you sure about that? I mean, didn't Afghanistan forced Russia to retreat in defeat and leave the country? > and as long as it continues to try to do so, there will be war and the world will be less stable. All the more reason to help Ukraine finish the job and force Russia to leave. Ultimately, worst case sce…

> sending it's soldiers with crutches riding donkeys What would you use to transport items through the forest for example?

The need to transport items through forests comes from the new unjammable wire-guided drones. Anything on roads within 5+ kilometers of the frontline is easily spotted and destroyed.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#847

Post by bamboozled » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:54 AM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #647

bamboozled wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not going to be surprised to read he plans on sending weapons to Russia in the near future. I’m also not going to be surprised when the cult cheers it on as well. Russia has done a great job, good for them I guess?

His cult justifies and allows him to do anything he wants. He could go on TV tomorrow and announce that the US and Russia are merging into one country, and his followers will get right to work spinning how this is actually good, and it's really a 5D chess move, and a genius tactic, and how smart this is for the USA. They (and he) are all incapable of admitting anything he does is wrong.

This is why I don't really buy the argument that they have "kompromat" on him, even if they did, it wouldn't matter?

What could he possible have done that would deter his followers at this point.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#848

Post by bamboozled » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 2:56 AM UTC

nprateem wrote: post #229

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do people think it is so far fetched that Trump is a Russian asset given his behavior in his last term (trying to blackmail Zelenskyy on an official call) and his credit problems in the past (no banks would lend to him given his failure to pay back any loan, with the exception of an obscure channel through a German bank)? Perhaps Trump is just in debt to Putin and this is payback, he was intentionally crass to Ze…

It's the only explanation that makes any sense. But it wouldn't be a financial debt more likely some humiliating kompromat. That's Trump's biggest fear. And Putin probably has plenty from Trump's visits there.

What could they have on him that would matter? Honestly?

I don't really buy this kompromat argument, even if it was some horrific sex tape it would just be "fake" or "fake news".

I think it's likely just the flattery and importance they give him, the strongman image he desires and he likes the way Russia is a dictatorship. I just think he likes their system.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#849

Post by DennisP » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 3:11 AM UTC

arandomusername wrote: post #830

ponector wrote: post #826

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Staffed and decently equipped: Russia’s outlook for 2025 Equipped with golf carts, motorcycles and donkeys? Staffed with wounded men. There been many cases when russians force people on crutches advance into meat wave assault. Kidnaping people from streets - that is a Russian narrative as well. Forced mobilization - sure that happens at war. When police arrests someone - do you call it kidnap as well?

Do you consider iiss to be an unreliable source? How are Russians gaining territory with gold carts, motorcycles and donkeys? How are those wounded men overwhelming the Ukrainian side? Forcefully taking someone and sending them to the frontline, I consider that kidnapping yes. I believe forced mobilization to be immoral. Can you please provide some reliable source that shows Ukraine having more manpower than Russia?

They are not overwhelming the Ukrainian side. They are making very slow, grinding advances, and taking massive casualties in the process. Between five and ten times as many as the Ukrainian casualties, because this has turned into a war that heavily favors defense.

Re: U.S. pauses all military aid to Ukraine

#850

Post by hollerith » Wed, Mar 05, 2025, 3:18 AM UTC

_DeadFred_ wrote: post #523

rayiner wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is nobody being open about that? Because I suspect the appetite for that is low. Germany is about closer to Russia than we are—how many Germans are willing to go die in Ukraine?

How this works is pretty common knowledge. The world has been using peacekeepers for quite a while. But you know that and you know you are just concern trolling.

Have peacekeepers ever been used though to deter a great power?