For Those Who Might Be Wondering Why We Might Be In Ukraine

[ll74]

Just stating a fact, your commentary isn't needed.

I don't truly give a shit if you ignore reality.

The way to build up your military is by fucking over your citizens. This isn't something to strive for. Russia is an autocratic dictatorship. Ukraine is a democracy.

 

[ChloeTzang]

That's not it at all, half their population has left the country probably never to return. In the East there's little to return to. If the Ukrainians want to fight to the last man, that's up to them but the American people aren't going to help them destroy themselves in horrendous detail. This is a European problem. The European Union together has four times the population of Russia, superior technology, and manufacturing capability. If the outcome in Ukraine is important to Europe let them raise an army of sufficient size to fight the Russians and expel them from Ukraine. Americans are pretty much done with our 80 years of defending Europe and borrowing the money to do so and handing the bill to our grand children. Especially when many on the continent don't appreciate it and screw us every chance they get.

The problem is, the Ukrainians have no real choice but to win, and beat Putin. He's not coming to occupy Ukraine. He's coming to take it over and exterminate Ukrainians. Bang bang you're dead Nazi genocide exterminate. If Ukraine gives in, they are, literally, dead. It's already happening in the occupied territories with filtration camps, anyone in the Ukrainian military taken away and executed, administrators and teachers killed, Ukrainian books all destroyed, their history eradicated. You seem to fail to realize that Putin is intent on destroying them. There is no chance of peace. A peace, to Putin, is merely an opportunity to requip and have another go. Zelensky knows this. Ukrainians know this. And the Russian military is at worst, a year away from collapsing. Zelensky is correct that the only way a ceasefire will work is if there are substantial boots n the ground to guarantee it - and Putin has categorically turned this down. Ergo, no ceasefire, and Trump and Vance have been played. Nope, Ukraine has no option, and obviously, they WILL keep fighting and they will, in the end, bring Putin and the Russian military down.

And all Trump need to do was sell a few billion dollars worth of old weapons to Ukraine. Instead, him and Vance will go down as useful idiots, played by Putin for fools and instrumental in bringing about the USA's retreat into isolationism and a world of chaos.

It's the Fourth Turning come to life. History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes, and Trump and Vance have moved us one step closer to a war with China with their weak-assed pusillanimity. A war in which the EU will remain neutral.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia is outpacing NATO in arms production.

Not where it counts. NORK and Iran are what keep Russia in the game with artillery ammo, and they'll run down to the point they can't do it fr much longer. Ukraine artillery is 5x more accurate than Russian. Russia is running out of artillery barrels - they're stripping them of stored guns to replace wear and tear. Russian artillery cres are increasingloy poorly trained. Russia is losing ground on tanks and there are no longer any good ones left in storage. Each requires more and more work to bring back into service and they're eliminated as fast as they go into action. Russian logistics is disintegrating. Donkeys and horses anyone? Their manpower in Ukraine is declining and they will be able to mobilize a 100k less mobiks this year than last. They're on the downward slide part of the manpower graph. Their glide bombs are no longer effective. Their Navy is gone. Their airforce is increasingly useless and ineffective. They can't build enough IFV's to save their lives. Their SAM coverage is getting whittled down. Their oil industry is being destroyed. Their factories and depots are being hit.

Ukraine? Four million drones. 9000 cruise missiles. 240 x 155mm guns this year. Thats not counting anything anyone else sends. Ammo production increasing rapidly. 400 c Lynx IFV's to be built and delivered this year. More Leopards trickling in. CV90 deliveries starting. Likely more Mirage 2000's. More Patrias from Finland and the Baltic States. And lots more, plus more troops going thu the training pipeline.

And the Ukrainian defence industry is working at 35% of capacity. All the extra EU funding now being announced thanks to Trump will now enable that capacity to be taken up. Do not ever forget that the Ukraine was the industrial heartland of the old USSR.

 

[DeluxAuto]

Reichguide wailing about the Russian hoax since 2015 is now fully supporting Russia.

Raise your hand if you're surprised.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

I have to admit, there are a few more Ukrainian lives left to kill and some cities and towns that haven't been flattened so feel free to soldier on from the safety of your front room. The outcome of the war was apparent from the beginning. There was never any hope of Ukraine prevailing over the world's largest nuclear arsenal with four times the population and superior manufacturing resources. In your delusional state you might want to take a look at a map and understand the Ukrainians have not moved the Russians off of the terrain they initially invaded and have actually lost additional strategic ground to Russian forces.

PS: My original prediction is right on.

Again, Ukraine is still fighting, Russia occupies less than 20% of Ukraine. Ukraine now occupies Russian territory. I agree in a war of attrition Russia does have a vast advantage. But in a war of economy, Russia is now on the brink.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

That's not it at all, half their population has left the country probably never to return. In the East there's little to return to. If the Ukrainians want to fight to the last man, that's up to them but the American people aren't going to help them destroy themselves in horrendous detail. This is a European problem. The European Union together has four times the population of Russia, superior technology, and manufacturing capability. If the outcome in Ukraine is important to Europe let them raise an army of sufficient size to fight the Russians and expel them from Ukraine. Americans are pretty much done with our 80 years of defending Europe and borrowing the money to do so and handing the bill to our grand children. Especially when many on the continent don't appreciate it and screw us every chance they get.

Awesome how you talk Russian propaganda. Almost as if you work for Putin.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

Just stating a fact, your commentary isn't needed.

You're stating what now? A fact? Fuck, you wouldn't know a fact if it kicked you in the ass.

 

[Politruk]

It's the Fourth Turning come to life. History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes, and Trump and Vance have moved us one step closer to a war with China with their weak-assed pusillanimity. A war in which the EU will remain neutral.

The U.S. and China are too economically dependent on each other to go to war.

 

[Lazaran]

You seem to fail to realize

Chloe “Chicongo” Tzang FAILED to realize what would happen when THEY VOTED FOR President Musk (and DonOld), DESPITE all the decent, intelligent individuals who were warning that this is EXACTLY what would happen.



JFC

SAD!!!

Also.

We. Told. Them. So.

 

[Politruk]

Do not ever forget that the Ukraine was the industrial heartland of the old USSR.

I thought its main function was to be an agrarian breadbasket, most of the land in Russia not being optimally suitable for that role.

 

[icanhelp1]

Not where it counts. NORK and Iran are what keep Russia in the game with artillery ammo, and they'll run down to the point they can't do it fr much longer. Ukraine artillery is 5x more accurate than Russian. Russia is running out of artillery barrels - they're stripping them of stored guns to replace wear and tear. Russian artillery cres are increasingloy poorly trained. Russia is losing ground on tanks and there are no longer any good ones left in storage. Each requires more and more work to bring back into service and they're eliminated as fast as they go into action. Russian logistics is disintegrating. Donkeys and horses anyone? Their manpower in Ukraine is declining and they will be able to mobilize a 100k less mobiks this year than last. They're on the downward slide part of the manpower graph. Their glide bombs are no longer effective. Their Navy is gone. Their airforce is increasingly useless and ineffective. They can't build enough IFV's to save their lives. Their SAM coverage is getting whittled down. Their oil industry is being destroyed. Their factories and depots are being hit.

Ukraine? Four million drones. 9000 cruise missiles. 240 x 155mm guns this year. Thats not counting anything anyone else sends. Ammo production increasing rapidly. 400 c Lynx IFV's to be built and delivered this year. More Leopards trickling in. CV90 deliveries starting. Likely more Mirage 2000's. More Patrias from Finland and the Baltic States. And lots more, plus more troops going thu the training pipeline.

And the Ukrainian defence industry is working at 35% of capacity. All the extra EU funding now being announced thanks to Trump will now enable that capacity to be taken up. Do not ever forget that the Ukraine was the industrial heartland of the old USSR.

I've found a few opinion articles from CEPA which I found interesting. Manufacturing DATA is skewed at best, but I must admit DATA seems to be giving Ukraine an outside chance at taking it to the Russians. Americans want Ukraine to succeed.

If the information I'm reading is somewhat accurate and there's sound DATA that gives Ukraine a slight edge I believe US funding for Ukraine will continue. If what I'm reading and what your posting is accurate Putin will be caught between a rock and a hard place.

I believe a peace agreement is the way forward. What happened the other day was cringeworthy. Ukrainians are a brave lot.

Trump and Zelensky need to set aside their pigheadedness and continue on with this rare mineral mining agreement. One thing that won't happen as certain as I'm sitting here is Trump will not agree to a security agreement. That will have to fall on the Europeans.

Maybe Putin's own people will take him out.

Hopefully you're right.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

Americans want Ukraine to succeed.

Really? Did you post your outrage at Trump and Vance's little temper tantrum....? Well did you???

Trump and Zelensky need to set aside their pigheadedness and continue on with this rare mineral mining agreement.

Zelensky??? It was Trump being the pig dumbass. You're nothing but a Trump cocksucker....

I do believe Trump wants the European part of NATO to handle Ukraine's security agreements unless Russia escalates to an article 5.

Trump won't show for an article 5. He's basically said that out loud a dozen times. You voted for this fuckhead. Just like the measles death in Texas, you own a part of the deaths of Ukrainians. God will kick your ass to hell....and I'll cheer it on.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Alexander The Great and the British had problems in Afghanistan too, but few read history. I have never been a fan of the Russians but I do read history. The are not like us, or the rest of Europe. They do not look at life like the rest of the civilized world does. Ask the Germans, they know. Ask them how many Russians they had to kill before they themselves found themselves utterly defeated at Stalingrad. Ask the French if they want to get into a land war on the Russian steppes. The fact is the human costs of such travesties are incomprehensible in the modern age. There is no doubt the Russians must be deterred with peaceful coexistence is the only viable answer. We have to find a way to pull Russia away from China and into the European economic sphere.

History is a guide, yes, but technology changes the paradigm.
The USA introduced drone technology against Afghanistan to good results.
Ukraine has developed (or possibly, American technology has advance development) of drone technology to the point where it has both offensive and defensive capabilities that are an order of magnitude more lethal than, say, ten years ago.

 

[ChloeTzang]

UK to provide Ukraine with £2.26 billion for defense materials​

The funds will be used to finance the purchase of defense products in accordance with the needs of the Ukrainian side, as well as to strengthen defense capabilities and weapons production in Ukraine.

So basically, funding to increase production by Ukrainian defence companies which have unused capacity....and Ukrainian companies are producing some very good stuff now - all of it proven in battle.

It should be noted that in addition to this agreement, in early February 2025, the UK government allocated a new military aid package for Ukraine worth £150 million.
This defense assistance package will include tanks (T72's), artillery, air-to-air missiles, and other types of weapons, as well as contracts for the maintenance of previously supplied equipment to the Armed Forces.

Militarnyi previously reported that the United Kingdom signed contracts with two companies to manufacture artillery barrels for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously announced the delivery of 150 artillery barrels to Ukraine in the coming weeks. This is the first time in 20 years that weapons have been manufactured in the UK. Those replacement artillery barrels are pretty important too - impressive that the UK can gear up and produce them so quickly, and after a 20 year gap too....

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/uk-to-provide-ukraine-with-2-26-billion-for-defense-materials/

 

[ChloeTzang]

The Czech volunteer initiative Dárek pro Putina (A Gift for Putin) has successfully raised funds to purchase a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence.

“We did it! The Czechs are sending a Black Hawk helicopter to Ukraine. We managed to secure a cheaper, newer machine that Ukraine urgently needs. Let’s finish what we started together and send Chestmir to fight against the dark Empire,”

The campaign raised a total of over 72 million CZK (€2.87 million), surpassing the CZK 70 million (€2.8 million) goal. The funds will be used to acquire a Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopter from the United States, equipped with upgraded T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines, offering 25% more power than the base model. The DIU already operates two Black Hawks, the first of which was spotted in service in February 2023.

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/czech-volunteers-raise-funds-black-hawk-and-more-aid-for-ukraine/

 

[ChloeTzang]

Zelensky’s top guy — Andrii Yermak — says it’s time to arrange a meeting between Zelensky and Xi.

You know what that means? When America abandons its friends, as it very publicly has, China steps in. Trump didn’t just weaken NATO — he opened the door for China to become the new global power broker.

At this point, you have to look at this and ask, what, actually, does Trump think he's doing? By blowing off Zelensky and Ukraine, he's opened up a world of opporunity for China. With Taiwan. With SE Asia. With Ukraine and Europe. If Xi and China play the mah-jong tiles right, China is going to come out of this a winner - and if they chose, China could certainly provide security guarantees.....and Xi would win the Nobel prize.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896003450397212855

 

[ChloeTzang]

 

[ChloeTzang]

Denys Prokopenko is Commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, and commanded the defense of Mariupol. He speaks, by and large, for the sentiments of the Ukrainian military....

 

[ChloeTzang]

Ukraine retakes Toretsk weeks after Russia’s “victory”​

Ukrainian forces are successfully counterattacking along critical sections of the front line, contradicting President Trump’s recent claims about Ukraine’s position, Forbes reports.

A Russian military blogger inadvertently confirmed Ukrainian progress when posting a video showing Ukrainian troops in central Toretsk while claiming they were only at the city’s edge. Estonian analyst WarTranslated reported: “Fighting continues in the city center, and the enemy is losing control. There are reports of complete encirclement of Russian occupiers in several areas.” This battlefield reality provides context for President Zelenskyy’s confidence during what Axe describes as a “disastrous” Oval Office press conference with Trump and Vice President Vance, who accused the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude for past US aid.

It seems that as the tide turns and Ukraine increasingly gains the initiative and takes control of the battlespace, Trump and Vance are desperate to achieve a victory for Putin. In doing so, they have very publicly allied themselves with Putin, attempted economic extortion on Ukraine, and reneged on the agreement the USA signed to guarantee Ukraine's borders, as well as stabbing the EU in the back by walking away and leaving the EU holding the can. I thought Biden could fuck things up, but Trump has set a new standard here.

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/03/02/forbes-ukraine-retakes-toretsk-weeks-after-russias-victory/

 

[ChloeTzang]

​

Petro Kuzyk, a battalion commander of the National Guard​

I think I need more ammunition because there will be no peace agreements. The pre-election promises of the American president were just populism. In reality, realizing the inability to influence Moscow, they decided to shift the blame for the disruption of the peace process, in a rather primitive way, onto Ukraine, while at the same time trying to blackmail (Zelensky) in a very rude way. You can have different attitudes towards Zelensky, but at the meeting he was the president of a warring Ukraine and they insulted the Ukrainians. As for the (U.S. potentially cutting off military aid), this will be a problem, but I think it can also be solved.Although, of course, there is little good in all this.

Bart, special forces sniper, Pokrovsk direction​

I am in f**king shock. Me and all my guys support Zelensky, I would do the same if I were him, I am very disappointed in Trump and the United States. I can't even find the words to express my disappointment, let him openly express his support for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and impose some sanctions on us or whatever he wants. F**k him, and JD Vance and (Elon) Musk. And in my opinion, (Russian forces in Pokrovsk area) are running out of steam, because they keep getting their asses kicked here.

'Mamai,' infantryman, eastern Ukraine​

I don't know much about politics. However, I have enough knowledge to understand what Trump and his team are trying to say with this behavior. Now in the United States, President Zelensky is portrayed as a warmonger. It's as if Ukraine started this war, as if we are fighting because there is nothing else for us to do, as if we don't want peace... But in fact, everyone knows Putin started the war, it is Russian troops who attack Ukrainian cities every day, and not the other way around. Ukrainians want peace, because it is in our country that war is going on, our people are dying. We are grateful to the people of the United States and other countries for their support, and we are ready to share our resources for the sake of peace, but we must have some serious guarantees that Putin will not attack again. Once upon a time, we took our allies at their word and gave up nuclear weapons — and what did it lead to? In my opinion, President Zelensky behaved with dignity, despite all the circumstances of this meeting. I support him, although I understand that the United State's refusal to help will lead to a serious deterioration in the situation on the front. But I sincerely hope this will not happen and that the United States will remain an ally of Ukraine.

Myroslav Hai, officer Ukrainian army​

Everything is very, very crazy and just keeps getting crazier. It was very strange — I don't remember ever seeing something like this before when diplomats or presidents have met. I've never seen it in Russia, never in Ukraine, and never in the history of the United States. It looked not like presidents talking, but just guys on the street. Zelensky showed too much emotion. If you're speaking in this situation with people who have helped you with weapons and money, then you must be cooler with them — but what he said was true. Maybe President Trump doesn't understand, but we are very thankful to the American people, and to Great Britain, France, Poland, everyone who has helped us. But if the whole world stopped supporting us tomorrow, we won't stop our struggle — we'll still try to save our families, our children, our wives, our houses, our country, our independence, and our nation. Help us save our independence, democracy, and stop Russian aggression. Putin is the new Adolf Hitler of the 21st century. Trump is right that a Third World War is very close now. And if we don't stop Putin in Ukraine, a Third World War will be a certainty.

Vadym, Ukrainian soldier fighting near Pokrovsk​

Trump is a pragmatist. He has no empathy, doesn’t understand what’s happening, and doesn’t even want to. To him, both sides — us and Russia— are morally equal in their actions. He reduces everything to money, but I can’t help but recall the saying that true strength lies not in money, but in truth. And the truth is on our side. Trump, as a businessman, is simply suggesting trading our regions for peace. That’s quite a concept. Imagine if France had told the thirteen colonies to give up part of their territories to the British for the sake of peace because they had weak bargaining power. It looks like an old dictator helping his old friend get what he wants. I think in a few days, emotions will settle, and they’ll try to spin this differently. But just imagine Franklin Roosevelt negotiating with Hitler. I believe Trump is America’s shame — a country that always declares its commitment to freedom. A country that itself became a nation through a struggle against imperialism. Honestly, Trump can go to hell. Better to stand alone than with allies like these, who help you and then exploit it. You fight for survival, and they barter aid for resources.

'Architect,' drone operator​

My opinion is that those “negotiations” are just information noise and hype for the media, not really worth paying attention to. And the important thing is that all people of the democratic world will pay dearly for their infantility, not wanting to get out of the warm bath of a comfortable life and take responsibility for their countries. Ukrainians are already paying dearly. The same will happen to Europe and the United States. By electing irresponsible populists who promise to solve all our problems in a day, we are simply postponing and deepening them. But these are politicians, they are eager for power and got what they want. Voters are responsible for everything, after all, both presidents were elected in legal elections. We still have many such adventures ahead of us. But we must fight, regardless of the ignoramuses in power.

‘Forto,’ infantryman in Azov battalion​

I don’t understand how Zelensky held back from slapping him. Glory to Ukraine!

https://kyivindependent.com/wrong-a...dent-waltz-reacts-to-trump-zelensky-standoff/

 

[ChloeTzang]

Latest from the British Defence Intelligence.

• After 3 years of conflict, Russia’s Aerospace Forces, despite technological and numerical advantage, have failed to gain air superiority over Ukraine. Russia has resorted to using their tactical level aviation - such as SU-34 aircraft - as airborne artillery.

• Russia’s consistent use of One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Systems (OWA UAS) has likely allowed Russia the space and time to recuperate its Long Range Aviation fleet, and their associated Air Launched Cruise Missile and Air Launched Ballistic Missile stocks. While Russia retains the ability to use these assets, the ultimate effect is that the Air Defence picture for Ukraine is increasingly busy, complex and challenging. With this combination of systems the Russians have consistently targeted Ukrainian critical national infrastructure and air bases.
• Ukraine has successfully used UAS against military targets and infrastructure in Russia with increased regularity, including multiple recent strikes on Russian oil refineries. In September 2024 Ukraine also struck four Russian strategic ammunition depots, including Toropets (see imagery), hundreds of kilometres from Ukraine. The total tonnage of ammunition destroyed across the sites represents the largest loss of Russian, and North Korean supplied, ammunition during the war.
• Such Ukrainian successes highlight Russia’s continued inability to protect strategic military sites from attack, as well as indicating the challenge confronting Russia to protect its infrastructure balanced against protecting its operations at the front line.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Ukraine’s Top Military Leadership: We Are Starting to Win, Russia Is Starting to Lose​

When you read through the below, you can start to understand Zelensky's pushback on Trump and Vance. Ukraine has a far more accurate assessment of the reality on the ground than Trump or Vance, who are essentially aligned with, and parrotting, the Kremlin's propaganda. This really does lend credence to Trump and Vance, for whatever reasons, doing their best to force a ceasefire and "peace agreement" on Ukraine that will guarantee Russia's ability to requip, rearm and renew the invasion at a later date. Their refusal to provide a "security guarantee" lends further credence to their actively supporting Putin and Russia, as do their attempts to portray Ukraine as losing. Ukraine is well advised to just walk way from their bullshit as long as EU support is locked in, which it is.

In reality, Ukraine has fought Russia to a standstill, they are now seizing the initiative, Russia's strength is declining and will decline further over 2025, while the Ukrainian defence industry, backed by EU funding, is growing fast. An interesting stat: "About 85% of all Russian casualties and vehicle kills on the battlefield are scored by Ukrainian drones.." And 96% Ukrainian drones are made in Ukraine, with production set to double, if not triple, over 2025, undoubtedly leading to large increases in Russian casualties while their overall manpower declines - and Ukraine's grows, because Ukraine is nowhere near fully mobilized. Russia NEEDS a ceasefire. Trump and Vance are doung their best to give them one, on disadvantageous terms for Ukraine, cementing in a Russian victory.

When you read through the below, and understand the real situation, based on Ukraine's own assessment, you can see why Zelensky walked away from Trump and Vance in disgust. You can also see why Zelensky and the military are confident that Ukraine can keep on fighting. American support was critical to this point, but with the growth in the Ukrainian and European military industrial capabilities, it's not critical now to Ukraine continuing to fight on. Ukraine's drone manufactiring and warfare capabilities are an unexpected development that has changed the equation substantially, and in Ukraine's favor. The Ukrainian military has expanded fast, they have had issues with training and with their organizational and logistical structures as well as with corruption and incompetent sernior officers, but these are recognized and being addressed - maybe too slowly, but when you expand the way the ZSU has, there are a LOT of challenges to be faced - but the ZSU is facing them. Maybe not as fast as some would wish, but it's coming,

Not to get over confident, but losing American support at this point is, as Zelensky has said, unfortunate, but not the calamity that Trump and Vance make it out to be. They don't have any real leverage here, and the latest noises about Zelensky meeting Xi indicate Trump has overplayed his hand. That, and he's lost the EU as reliable allies.

Below is directly quoted from the article

Ukraine’s national military leadership, headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, projected confidence and even cautious notes of optimism about the future direction of their country’s fight against Russia’s invasion, contradicting recent White House claims their country faces imminent defeat by Moscow. Zelensky and members of the Ukrainian senior national security team made the comments at the conference “Ukraine. Year 2025” in the capital, Kyiv. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s national military intelligence agency, HUR, said that his group’s collection assets in and outside Russia had strong evidence that Russian arms production during 2025 has flatlined and is likely to contract, because of parts and labor shortages.

Russian arms factories probably will manage manufacturing growth in glide bombs and drones, but the overall trend of Kremlin capacity to deliver weapons to its military is downward, Budanov said. Russia’s government plans in 2025 to induct into military service 100,000 men less than in 2024, Budanov said. Russian combat units already are chronically short of soldiers and the cut will worsen the Kremlin’s ability to deliver troop replacements to the front, he said. Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraine’s national security service, the SBU, said that Russia’s energy industry is losing capacity and that, since spring 2024, Russia ceased exporting gasoline in a bid to suppress price rises at the pump. Falling Russian energy production capacity due to equipment shortages caused by Western sanctions, and dozens of strikes by long-range Ukrainian drones targeting Russian oil refineries and fuel storage sites, cost the Russian economy $11 billion in lost income, and the losses are likely to accelerate, Malyuk said.

Budanov said Russian shell production was only able to produce about half of all Russian army needs. North Korean deliveries are filling that gap, but Pyonyang’s ammunition reserves are limited, he said. Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s national foreign intelligence service the SVR, said that Russian forces were nearing exhaustion due to heavy losses, particularly in men and battlefield heavy weapons like tanks and artillery. “Russia needs a ceasefire to respite in order to restore the economy, accumulate supplies, and prepare the army,” Ivashchenko said. “Difficult times and new challenges await us ahead. But we have a combat-ready army that will continue the fight,” Syrsky said. “The enemy’s objective is unchanged – the capture of all of Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s transition from a marginal producer to, probably, the world’s most prolific drone manufacturing nation, was held up by officials as a key success. Defense Minister Ruslan Umerov said 96% of all drones fielded by the Ukrainian military are domestically manufactured. Syrsky said during 2024, Ukrainian drone producers delivered more than 1.3 million robot aircraft to the armed forces. About 85% of all Russian casualties and vehicle kills on the battlefield are scored by Ukrainian drones, Malyuk said. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that in 2024, Ukrainian production of small arms ammunition, mortar rounds, shells, and artillery rockets had increased six-fold. Volumes will increase and domestic war manufacturing will help give Ukraine victory over Russia, he said.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters at the end of the presentation, Zelensky said that media claims about Ukraine’s alleged near-total dependence on American assistance were inaccurate, and that, in fact, Ukraine’s war effort is roughly equally supported by the national economy, allied countries, and the US. The American contribution is significant but by no means dominant, Zelensky said. “This war [so far has cost] $320 billion. $120 billion - Ukraine, $100 billion – Europe and other partners, $100 billion - the USA. Not $500, not $300, and not $700,” he said. US officials, led by Zelensky’s American counterpart, Donald J. Trump, in past weeks had claimed American support to Ukraine was effectively Kyiv’s only means of sustaining warfighting capacity and that as much as one-third of the entire US defense budget had been sent to and lost in Ukraine. The figure most recently claimed by Trump was $350 billion. Independent fact-checks, among them, fact-checks by Kyiv Post, have generally confirmed the numbers advanced by Zelensky, and found no credible support for the figures put forward by Trump.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/47737

 

[ChloeTzang]

An image is worth a thousand words.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Trump is an asshole, and Zelensky doesn't roll over for anyone, let alone a bombastic bully who overestimates the strength of his hand

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia is outpacing NATO in arms production.

Read my last post. Well, I think it was the last - #4961...It's a sitrep from Ukraine