Peter Kropotkin
@peterkropotkin.bsky.social
Professional dilettante; Interests include religion, philosophy, science/tech/AI, politics, social criticism, art, etc . RT =/= endorsement
I wonder who it possibly could be. Who could have done it? Big mystery.
a cartoon of a cat drinking a drink with a straw
ALT: a cartoon of a cat drinking a drink with a straw
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:39 PM
I wonder who it possibly could be. Who could have done it? Big mystery.
I mean to state that Ukraine achieved its goal of being an independent state. Hazards and challenges notwithstanding.
November 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I mean to state that Ukraine achieved its goal of being an independent state. Hazards and challenges notwithstanding.
Just? No. But a victory nonetheless.
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Just? No. But a victory nonetheless.
Ukraine will deserve better than what any deal will allow, but it will be good enough. And that "good enough" is ultimately priceless. They won. They're free.
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Ukraine will deserve better than what any deal will allow, but it will be good enough. And that "good enough" is ultimately priceless. They won. They're free.
I recall Finnish President Staub mentioning how he talked to Ukrainians how their own experiences with Russia after Winter War could provide perspective. Ukraine will be partioned, and likely "militarily neutral". But it will be free and part of the transatlantic community.
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I recall Finnish President Staub mentioning how he talked to Ukrainians how their own experiences with Russia after Winter War could provide perspective. Ukraine will be partioned, and likely "militarily neutral". But it will be free and part of the transatlantic community.
Regardless, Ukraine will never agree to any agreement that allows de jure recognition. Especially Europe.
November 27, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Regardless, Ukraine will never agree to any agreement that allows de jure recognition. Especially Europe.
All this shows is that Putin will continue to double down on his maximalism and attempts to put pressure on Ukraine will reinforce it.
November 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
All this shows is that Putin will continue to double down on his maximalism and attempts to put pressure on Ukraine will reinforce it.
As a side, I also think it's increasingly clear that Europe and Ukraine need to start their own formats for diplomacy. It doesn't matter if talks don't go anywhere.
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
As a side, I also think it's increasingly clear that Europe and Ukraine need to start their own formats for diplomacy. It doesn't matter if talks don't go anywhere.
Now we're on track for a joint US-Ukraine proposal which will be pitched to the Kremlin, which they will reject. Talks will collapse, and we'll be back here again in 3-6 months.
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Now we're on track for a joint US-Ukraine proposal which will be pitched to the Kremlin, which they will reject. Talks will collapse, and we'll be back here again in 3-6 months.
I really wonder if Vance thought this gambit would work. It seems he was the 'mastermind' behind the ultimatum scheme: accept the proposal by 11/27 or see support cut off. Was never going to work, and it very quickly imploded. It was all a half-baked bluff.
November 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I really wonder if Vance thought this gambit would work. It seems he was the 'mastermind' behind the ultimatum scheme: accept the proposal by 11/27 or see support cut off. Was never going to work, and it very quickly imploded. It was all a half-baked bluff.
But some people really and truly are that delusional. One doesn't have to be even a cynical person to see how fraudulent and performative this has been.
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM
But some people really and truly are that delusional. One doesn't have to be even a cynical person to see how fraudulent and performative this has been.
Many probably know and understand it deep down, which makes it worse.
November 23, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Many probably know and understand it deep down, which makes it worse.
Rather than acknowledge it, they ignore or deny it, because it thus the foundation for their approach to Russia collapses. They're revanchist, revisonist, and want to undo the outcome of the Cold War when the Soviet and Warsaw space was under their thumb.
November 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Rather than acknowledge it, they ignore or deny it, because it thus the foundation for their approach to Russia collapses. They're revanchist, revisonist, and want to undo the outcome of the Cold War when the Soviet and Warsaw space was under their thumb.
For that reason, they will never agree to any arrangement that protects them from subversion and pressure from integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions. They want it defenseless.
November 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
For that reason, they will never agree to any arrangement that protects them from subversion and pressure from integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions. They want it defenseless.
Too many simply and utter refuse to acknowledge that the barrier towards peace, compromise, and a durable settlement ultimately is rooted in the fact that Putinist Russia doesn't believe in the legitimacy of Ukraine's pro-Western regime and political orientation.
November 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Too many simply and utter refuse to acknowledge that the barrier towards peace, compromise, and a durable settlement ultimately is rooted in the fact that Putinist Russia doesn't believe in the legitimacy of Ukraine's pro-Western regime and political orientation.
As a side, I've become increasingly contemptuous of people who take these talks seriously. There are plenty of people advocating peace who are, while well meaning, are certainly intelligent and erudite enough to know better, but are letting wishful thinking guide them to make poor judgement.
November 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
As a side, I've become increasingly contemptuous of people who take these talks seriously. There are plenty of people advocating peace who are, while well meaning, are certainly intelligent and erudite enough to know better, but are letting wishful thinking guide them to make poor judgement.
Trump is too mercurial and impatient to be reliable. And he's increasingly desperate to find a way out, in no small part because Ukraine is a block in his goal to normalize relations with Russia, which is part of a strategy to try and counter China (yes, it's stupid and won't work).
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Trump is too mercurial and impatient to be reliable. And he's increasingly desperate to find a way out, in no small part because Ukraine is a block in his goal to normalize relations with Russia, which is part of a strategy to try and counter China (yes, it's stupid and won't work).
Of course, I do think that Europe's (inclusive of Ukraine) political strategy of managing DC (Trump) is not sustainable, and they need to accelerate their efforts to wean off US intelligent and military support, fast.
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Of course, I do think that Europe's (inclusive of Ukraine) political strategy of managing DC (Trump) is not sustainable, and they need to accelerate their efforts to wean off US intelligent and military support, fast.
The good news is that it appears that, after much fears and alarm, there is and won't be an ultimatum in which Ukraine is forced to accept bad terms for face loss of US support.
November 23, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The good news is that it appears that, after much fears and alarm, there is and won't be an ultimatum in which Ukraine is forced to accept bad terms for face loss of US support.
Yes. It's just another round of dead cat diplomacy. Europe and Ukraine will modify and amend the proposal. The trilateral framework will be offered to Russia. Russia will reject it and offer amendments none of the three can accept. Talks collapse. We're back again here in 3-6 months.
November 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Yes. It's just another round of dead cat diplomacy. Europe and Ukraine will modify and amend the proposal. The trilateral framework will be offered to Russia. Russia will reject it and offer amendments none of the three can accept. Talks collapse. We're back again here in 3-6 months.
Ze may not be a perfect man. He's flawed. Me makes bad decisions. He enables cronyism and corruption. Amongst other things.
But this is also true of the Ukrainian president.
He's a good man. A patriot. A brilliant diplomat. And he will not compromise his country's interests. Ever. He'd rather die.
But this is also true of the Ukrainian president.
He's a good man. A patriot. A brilliant diplomat. And he will not compromise his country's interests. Ever. He'd rather die.
November 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Ze may not be a perfect man. He's flawed. Me makes bad decisions. He enables cronyism and corruption. Amongst other things.
But this is also true of the Ukrainian president.
He's a good man. A patriot. A brilliant diplomat. And he will not compromise his country's interests. Ever. He'd rather die.
But this is also true of the Ukrainian president.
He's a good man. A patriot. A brilliant diplomat. And he will not compromise his country's interests. Ever. He'd rather die.
Yes, US should do more to add pressure, but only on the Russian war machine and effort. Not because it will lead to negotiations. That's not going to happen as long as Putin breathes.
November 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Yes, US should do more to add pressure, but only on the Russian war machine and effort. Not because it will lead to negotiations. That's not going to happen as long as Putin breathes.
To be fair, I'm not sure there's anything NATO can do to get *Putin* to agree to a compromise. While he can't achieve his maximalist war aims, a sense of historic mission and sunk cost make it impossible for him to ask for less than what he can't get.
November 19, 2025 at 9:57 PM
To be fair, I'm not sure there's anything NATO can do to get *Putin* to agree to a compromise. While he can't achieve his maximalist war aims, a sense of historic mission and sunk cost make it impossible for him to ask for less than what he can't get.
So with further updates, there's a lot of counter-reporting. It seems this is just something done independently by Witkoff Dmitriev. Doesn't appear to be backed by Moscow or DC line.
November 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
So with further updates, there's a lot of counter-reporting. It seems this is just something done independently by Witkoff Dmitriev. Doesn't appear to be backed by Moscow or DC line.