@billdare
Finding the funny in the world increasingly difficult. Don’t bother following me unless you’re particularly interested in Ukraine (which everyone should be). And do follow Phillips Obrien - brilliant on global politics especially Russia/Ukraine/USA
The key take-away is that Europe should not share intelligence with USA as it will go to Putin. Sadly many Europeans cling to the chimera that Americans can be trusted, and even protect us.
The Swasticar! #cdnpoli #peipoli
Theres someone in London with stickers saying “Swazsticar” going round sticking it on Teslas. 😂
Yes.
Point taken about ‘the’ Ukraine - something I’m very aware of and is no doubt left from an earlier draft where I’d written ‘the Ukrainians’ or something.
Perhaps you assume he’s negotiating for the Ukraine or the west generally. If you assume he’s on Russia’s side then he’s doing very well. Genius, in fact, because most in the west don’t even realise it.
If any of you had been informed that the situation would be what it is today after three years of full-scale war, you would have viewed it as a significant russian failure and a Ukrainian victory
How low can the US go?
Dear Europe,
Trump completely melts under pushback.
So push back.
Hi All, Just sent out a free update to the weekend one. In the last 24 hours the Trump administration has aligned even more closely with Putin. Turns out Putin was not responsible for the war--the USA and NATO were. Also did Merz declare independence for Europe? open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Hi All, just sent out my weekend update (free as always). The only way to understand the USA and its interactions with Russia, Ukraine and Europe is to accept that the US is now a mafia state. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Washington.
Thank you for standing with #Ukraine!
📹:@OstapYarysh
Meanwhile in Russia: state TV experts discussed Trump's strategy towards Ukraine and the rest of Europe, and rejoiced about media coverage that depicts the American president as Putin's poodle.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbt...
Hi All, sent out a few things yesterday (all free). First a piece about how the USA is now aligned with dictatorship over democracy. No point in denying reality. Also Paul Krugman and I have a wide ranging video chat, covering war, Ukraine, US politics and even economics.
There’s a corrupt bargain in the offing. Chunks of E Europe for Taiwan S China Sea and Panama & more
Some will reluctantly accept it because it appears to avoid war. But it actually cements war itself at the heart of our international system. All the suffering & lessons of the 20th C forgotten
🇺🇸 CNN poll shows just 8% of Americans view Russia positively—on par with those who think the moon landing was fake. 61% see Russia as an enemy, and only 4% as a partner. Only 9% like Putin, with the same percentage believing the Earth is flat. 52% support Ukraine using U.S. weapons in Russia.
Trump - “President Zelensky is down to 4% approval rating”
First of all, it's a lie. Secondly, what about putin’s real approval rating? The fact that he hijacked power for 26 years and counting? Any word, Dummy Don?
Starmer going to Trump asking for guarantees for Ukraine is like asking a fox to help protect the chickens. The very fact Starmer is going means he doesn’t get it yet.
Europe has *never* had a coherent plan. Or even an incoherent one. Just a meaningless mantra ‘for as long as it takes’. It’s coming hoke to roost.
In other words it must be available for invasion.
Important piece here on why calls for elections in Ukraine help Putin.
Essential reading for my fellow Labour MPs. I have a suspicion we'll be reading about the last few days in the history books.
A morsel of hopeful news in the worst news week of my lifetime. (And I’m old.)
Don’t be too hopeful. He and Musk will make sure a Maga succeeds him.
Trump (and therefor America) is now not just abandoning Europe but is an enemy of Europe. He wants Europeans to suffer for being anti-Trump. He wants to serve us right. Will Europe wake up to that, or is it too unthinkable?
Just sent out this piece. Equating Trump to Neville Chamberlain is unfair on Chamberlain (and Daladier). Trump is actively trying to help and support Putin--that was not the case with appeasement. The policy failed, but it was different. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Sadly we have to accept that America has switched sides and is now an enemy. But Maga will gently heat us up like the proverbial frogs before we realise it’s too late.
Not sure Europe has woken up to this. America has switched sides. It’s siding with autocracy and is becoming the enemy.
Proof that Trump believes in empires. No NATO means no sovereignty.
