this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2025
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[–] WhatYouNeed 18 points 3 days ago

Troops along the Ukrainian/Belarus border.

Not involved in fighting but frees up Ukrainian units.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 days ago (1 children)

On Sunday, Trump said that he expected Zelensky to be involved in the talks. He also said he would allow European nations to buy US weapons for Ukraine.

Ah yes of course.

[–] Squizzy 4 points 3 days ago

While their aid was incredible, purchasing of weapons was always a part of it.

[–] MrNesser 34 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Can't wait to have NATO troops on the Russian border

[–] Maalus 22 points 4 days ago (2 children)

We already have that in multiple places

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

That's why he can't wait!

[–] MrNesser 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

We don't have any on a powder keg of a border like Ukraine and Russia

[–] Maalus 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah we do, it's called the Suwałki Gap. Any other country can become a target now that US doesn't give a fuck.

[–] MrNesser 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thanks never knew about the gap. Probably one of the most strategic places in europe

[–] Maalus 3 points 3 days ago

Used to be for sure, but lost its importance when Finland joined. Also if things go the way they are going now, Russia will lose Kaliningrad in a decade or two.

[–] Valmond 21 points 4 days ago

That and a correctly armed Ukrainian army & airforce.

Let 2025 be the year of change.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

It'll probably happen not far away from now.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 days ago

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "ready and willing" to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine to help guarantee its security as part of a peace deal.

The UK prime minister said securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was "essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future".

Before attending an emergency summit with European leaders in Paris on Monday, Sir Keir said the UK was prepared to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by "putting our own troops on the ground if necessary".

"I do not say that lightly," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm's way."

The prime minister added: "But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine's security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country."

The end of Russia's war with Ukraine "when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again", Sir Keir said.

UK troops could be deployed alongside soldiers from other European nations alongside the border between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territory.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC the government sees the war in Ukraine as "the frontline for Europe and the frontline for Britain".

He said the UK is "prepared to play its part in securing the long-term future for Ukraine, for Europe and for Britain's national security".

Sir Keir's announcement comes after the former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, told the BBC the UK military was "so run down" it could not lead any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said sending troops to Ukraine would come at a "considerable cost" and require an increase in funding for the military.

"Frankly, we haven't got the numbers and we haven't got the equipment to put a large force onto the ground for an extended period of time at the present moment," he said.

The PM has previously only hinted that British troops could be involved in safeguarding Ukraine after a ceasefire.

He is due to visit President Donald Trump in Washington later this month and said a "US security guarantee is essential for a lasting peace, because only the US can deter Putin from attacking again".

Sir Keir is meeting with other European leaders in response to concerns the US is moving forward with Russia on peace talks that will lock out the continent.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, US officials say.

On Saturday the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said European leaders would be consulted only and not take part in any talks between the US and Russia.

A senior Ukrainian government source told the BBC on Sunday that Kyiv has not been invited to talks between the US and Russia.

Trump earlier this week announced he had had a lengthy conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that negotiations to stop the "ridiculous war" in Ukraine would begin "immediately".

Trump then "informed" Zelensky of his plan.

On Sunday, Trump said that he expected Zelensky to be involved in the talks. He also said he would allow European nations to buy US weapons for Ukraine.

Asked by the BBC about his timetable for an end to fighting, Trump said only that "we're working to get it done" and laid the blame for the war on the previous administration's Ukraine policies.

Writing in the Telegraph, Sir Keir said "peace cannot come at any cost" and "Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations, because anything less would accept Putin's position that Ukraine is not a real nation".

He added: "We cannot have another situation like Afghanistan, where the US negotiated directly with the Taliban and cut out the Afghan government" - in reference to a deal negotiated in Trump's first administration, which was later enacted by the Biden administration.

"I feel sure that President Trump will want to avoid this too," said Sir Keir

The UK currently spends around 2.3% of GDP on defence and has committed to increase defence spending to a 2.5% share of the economy, without giving a timeframe for this.

Trump has called for Nato members to spend 5% of GDP on defence, while Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has suggested allies should spend more than 3%.

Lord Dannatt - who was head of the Army from 2006 to 2009 - told the BBC a rise to 2.5% would be "nowhere near enough" and would only "fill the potholes" left by current underspending.

He estimated up to 30,000 UK troops would be needed on rotation for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, which would likely require mobilising reservists.

Streeting told the BBC he would not speculate on the number of troops the mission would require, adding it was for the prime minister, defence secretary and foreign secretary to decide.

"But what I would say is the prime minister doesn't talk about deploying British service men and women lightly," he said.

The meeting in Paris called by French President Emmanuel Macron will see Sir Keir joined by leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and Rutte.

[–] FlyingSquid 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Sure. While kissing Trump's ass at the same time.

[–] Valmond -5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Politicians more or less have to kiss the orange turds ass, which I find enjoyable in itself beside all other considerations.

Edit: hey I'm not saying he's doing right, it was just a showethought.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They don't. If they organize and show the limits to the US, the limits apply quite quickly.

Best example is OPEC. The US was invading Oil and Gas rich countries, when they demanded to get fair value from extracting and exporting their own resources. Once they banded together and showed the US their finger, the US was quickly put in place. It took the US decades before getting to the point of driving enough wedges to invade OPEC members again and to start ramping up its own production to increase resilience.

If the EU, Canada, Mexico and China agree to do world trade without the US, we will be able to watch it crumble away quickly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Seriously. The world should unite to punish the US every year a fascist is in office.

Fascists and libertarians want to bring back isolationism, so let them and their useful idiots see what it's really like.

[–] werefreeatlast 3 points 3 days ago

I believed what you're trying to say is thank you?

What can I say except !You're welcome!...

[–] Iheartcheese 4 points 4 days ago (3 children)

How long before we start threatening England?

[–] FlyingSquid 16 points 4 days ago (3 children)

As a born-and-raised American who recently got UK citizenship, I would like to say: you filthy Yankee colonials try it and we'll show you what we did to the bloody Bosh at the Battle of the Somme, what what!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Squid, you're welcome here in the UK, but ... er ... don't do that.

Flashbacks of the time I, a northerner, tried to do a "Landan" accent that time I visited London. In retrospect I'm lucky all I got was a "what are you doing?"

[–] FlyingSquid 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I mean the whole point was me being an ignorant American...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Ah. I see. Being stupid on purpose, in parody or otherwise, sometimes doesn't go over all that well either.

I have made that mistake before, and will probably make it again at some point.

[–] FlyingSquid 1 points 3 days ago

A large number of standup comedians and sitcoms would suggest otherwise.

[–] MrNesser 6 points 4 days ago

It's nice that you tried

[–] Valmond 3 points 4 days ago

Time to reign in that troublesome colony of yours!

[–] Olap 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The long game, get England back for 1812!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I'm pretty sure you've already started.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Seeds of Trumps plan starting to germinate.

[–] mombutt_long_and_low 2 points 4 days ago

Anybody else think at first “why is Richard Gere in Ukraine?”

[–] Olap 2 points 4 days ago

Ways for floundering statesmen to get a ratings bump: go to war. Why does this always give a boost to incumbents?

Scholz and Macron both ready too? Le grand armée marches again! Germany with an election this year, and they are less keen on troops for obvious reasons. Macron will support, seen his ratings?

But none will go in whilst it is still hot. Meaning Putin doesn't care, he's likely to get Crimea and Donbas out of this, and be ready to re-arm for Moldova. Too little too late for this war from the European leaders, and it took fucking Trump to get them to not even agree anything yet!