Mike1158 Posted February 16 Posted February 16 13 minutes ago, Roman Alymov said: Another "Putin's narative" story becoming MSM topic https://thehill.com/opinion/5146149-zelensky-war-ego/ The mad king of Kyiv: Why Zelensky can’t afford to end the war by John Mac Ghlionn, opinion contributor - 02/15/25 3:00 PM ET Not long ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was a comedian in Ukraine. He made his living playing a fictional president on television. Then, by a twist of fate, he became the real thing. And before he had time to adjust to the role, history threw him onto the world’s stage, catapulting him from a middling entertainer into an international symbol of resistance. Overnight, the media transformed him into the embodiment of courage, the Churchill of Kyiv, the man who refused to flee, the warrior standing against tyranny. But what if this narrative is entirely false? What if Zelensky, rather than being the hero in this story, is actually the man who won’t allow the war to end — not for the good of his people, but because peace would mean his own downfall? A good leader prioritizes the survival of his nation. He knows when to fight, and more importantly, he knows when to negotiate. Zelensky, however, has made it clear that his power depends on war, and war alone. It is no coincidence that as Ukraine’s battlefield prospects worsen, as soldiers defect, as forced conscription spirals into something resembling kidnapping, Zelensky has once again extended martial law. No elections. No peace talks. No escape. Because if the war ends, so does his presidency. And this, more than anything, explains why the war must go on. The mainstream media — particularly in the West — does not allow for nuance. The world must be simple: Putin is the villain, Zelensky is the hero. That is the framework. That is the script. Anything outside of this binary is “pro-Russian propaganda.” Yet reality is not a comic book; it’s not a Marvel movie. Zelensky is not some saintly soldier defending democracy. In fact, Ukraine barely resembles a democracy at all. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Zelensky had banned several opposition parties, banned certain media outlets and postponed elections with the justification that wartime voting is “impossible.” Impossible for whom? For the soldiers in the trenches, or for the civilians now living under indefinite martial law? Ukraine is in a desperate position. The country’s losses are catastrophic. Manpower is running thin, which is why Zelensky has resorted to hunting men down in the streets. There are countless reports of Ukrainian men being dragged from cafes and nightclubs and thrown into vans like criminals. Martial law means there is no way out. You cannot leave the country. You cannot refuse. This is not the mark of a confident government. This is the behavior of a desperate regime trying to hold itself together by force. And yet the war must continue. It is the only thing keeping Zelensky in power. If he were to call elections, he would likely lose. Support for him is falling. The longer this drags on, the more obvious it becomes that Ukraine cannot win — not in any meaningful sense. This is not 2022. The optimism of those early months, when the world believed Ukraine might push Russia back, is gone. Even the U.S., Ukraine’s biggest backer, is slowly dialing down support, with Washington insiders admitting that a total Ukrainian victory is no longer the goal. The Zelensky saga is not new. History is filled with leaders who refused to let go, clinging to power even as their nations crumbled around them. There was Napoleon Bonaparte, who, after leading France to disaster in Russia, could have accepted the inevitable. Instead, he chose more war, dragging his exhausted nation into further bloodshed before his final exile. More recently, Saddam Hussein held onto his dictatorship long after Iraq had been battered by sanctions and strife, ruling over a devastated country rather than relinquishing control. Muammar Gaddafi could have sought asylum and spared Libya from a bloody collapse, but his ego demanded he fight to the bitter end, ultimately leaving him to be dragged down the street and executed. Robert Mugabe plundered Zimbabwe while his people starved, stretching his rule for decades until even his own party could no longer tolerate the wreckage. Zelensky joins a long line of leaders who prioritize their own well-being over the well-being of their nations. This represents a pathological form of selfishness, where self-preservation comes at any cost, even if it means thousands more women and children will die. And they will. Ukraine is being fed into a meat grinder. Yet, perversely, the illusion must be maintained. And the media, ever compliant, helps sell the fiction — the indomitable Zelensky, the unbreakable Ukraine, the noble fight for democracy. It is a clean, simple story, easy to digest, and easy to justify. Another weapons shipment. Another aid package. Another extension of a catastrophic conflict that should have ended long ago. But objective reality does not care for emotionally charged narratives. It is cold. It is brutal. And the hard truth is this: Ukraine is losing, and Zelensky is making sure it keeps losing. A rational leader would see the writing on the wall, confront the inevitable, and make the painful but necessary choice to negotiate — to salvage what remains rather than reduce the nation to nothing but ashes. But Zelensky has chosen a different path, one so often walked by men drunk on power and blind to consequence. And for that, Ukraine will bleed — until there is no blood left to spill.. "A rational leader would see the writing on the wall, confront the inevitable, and make the painful but necessary choice to negotiate — to salvage what remains rather than reduce the nation to nothing but ashes". So, why have Putin and his 'ista's continued rather than folding? You KNOW the PRC are waiting in the wings to pick up what is left when the dust settles.
Roman Alymov Posted February 16 Posted February 16 9 minutes ago, Mike1158 said: So, why have Putin and his 'ista's continued rather than folding? May be you have not noticed, but i have repeatedly said here "collective Putin" is begging for negotiations with West for surrender terms they would, as they hope, be able to "sell" to Russians as victory. Luckily for us Russians West political class is too incompetent and arrogant for that. 12 minutes ago, Mike1158 said: You KNOW the PRC are waiting in the wings to pick up what is left when the dust settles. I'm sorry but it is Western legends. The fact is our dominant problem is not some hypothetical Chinese invasion, but very real problems with migrants from Central Asia.
Roman Alymov Posted February 16 Posted February 16 FPVs vs. pro-Ukr logistics, Kharkov region https://t.me/boris_rozhin/154822
JWB Posted February 17 Posted February 17 4 hours ago, Roman Alymov said: Luckily for us Russians West political class is too incompetent and arrogant for that. For what ? to steal a piece of Russia? I see nothing that "western" political class wants with Russia.
Stuart Galbraith Posted February 17 Posted February 17 As Reagan once said, 'what the hell is it they got that anyone would want?'
mkenny Posted February 17 Posted February 17 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said: As Reagan once said, 'what the hell is it they got that anyone would want?' Same thing Ukraine, Greenland and Canada has........... Edited February 17 by mkenny
Stuart Galbraith Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Ukraine has grain and rare earth elements. Greenland has rubies and rare earth elements. Canada has maple syrup.
Roman Alymov Posted February 17 Posted February 17 5 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said: Ukraine has grain and rare earth elements. Actually, it is wrong. "Ukraine" do have some (limited) DEPOSITS of rare earth minerals, but this deposits are not of industrial scale (even resource-hungry USSR have not developed infrastructure for mining of this minerals in comfortable conditions of Soviet Ukraine, but created ome in hellish climate of Northern Siberia). If US is in need of rare earth materials, they could more cheaply create own industry to produce them, on own territory and with own deposits. The same with grain, there is no shortage of grain on word market (Russian farmers are loosing money because of OVERPRODUCTION of grain). In case of Ukraine, the problem is multiplied with falling quality of soils following decades of abuse after USSR collapse, since locsl corrupt officisls were turning blind eye on both international agrocompanies and local oligarchs abuse of soil.....
Roman Alymov Posted February 17 Posted February 17 11 hours ago, JWB said: For what ? to steal a piece of Russia? I see nothing that "western" political class wants with Russia. Colony across 11 time zomes and 150mln population, with advanced industry etc., conbeniently controlled by local comprador elite is nice to have.
Roman Alymov Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Pro-Ukrainians mistook pro-Rus drone form friendly one and were having a smoke next to minivan untill the very last moment. https://t.me/anna_news/76351 Note minivan is not only of civilian model, but got Poland license plate
Roman Alymov Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Hunt for future M1 Abrams driver, three minivans involved to catch one "volunteer" https://t.me/boris_rozhin/154876
Stuart Galbraith Posted February 17 Posted February 17 How many vans does it take to catch a Donkey driver?
Roman Alymov Posted February 17 Posted February 17 13 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said: How many vans does it take to catch a Donkey driver? None, as currently future donkey drivers are coming voluntarily (but, true, it is question of time they will be hunted Ukr-style, as it was predicted by my late friend Murz). But this time still not come....
JWB Posted February 17 Posted February 17 2 hours ago, Roman Alymov said: Colony across 11 time zomes and 150mln population, with advanced industry etc., conbeniently controlled by local comprador elite is nice to have. Not profitable. Canada and Mexico are better options. So is Africa.
Stuart Galbraith Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Even with Global warming and all the Vodka, its still so damn cold.
Roman Alymov Posted February 18 Posted February 18 15 hours ago, JWB said: Not profitable. Canada and Mexico are better options. So is Africa. Canada and Mexico do not have comprador elites (at least to the level of Russian one) and because of that can't self-govern with zero expences attached, only generating profits.
Roman Alymov Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Meanwhile public love of UkrArmy recruitment officials is making its way into young generation: reportedly it is amateur performance in Kiev school https://t.me/rusengineer/6555
Roman Alymov Posted February 18 Posted February 18 FiberFPV vs. pro-Ukr logistics, Sumy region. As usual, unmarked civilian-type minivan used as troops transporter https://t.me/boris_rozhin/154975
Roman Alymov Posted February 18 Posted February 18 More tanker war news The hull shows signs of external impact: two explosions rocked a tanker in the port of the Italian city of Savona
TrustMe Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Some civilians will believe the Ukrainian sea mine theory 😁
Roman Alymov Posted February 18 Posted February 18 FiberFPV vs. well-covered tank, West from Bakhmut https://t.me/creamy_caprice/8430
JWB Posted February 18 Posted February 18 8 hours ago, Roman Alymov said: ....... zero expences ........... Does not exist anywhere.
JWB Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Peskov on June 18, 2023: Ukraine has neither the will nor the desire nor the ability to declare a sovereign position - it has no sovereignty. Peskov on February 18, 2025: Russian Federation considers Ukraine's accession to the EU as Kyiv's sovereign right, as it is not a military alliance. https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1891843273230057495
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