US president says he had ‘lengthy and productive phone call’ with Russian president and will begin by calling Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders ‘unrealistic’ and ‘illusory’ goal, US defence secretary says.
Continuing his speech, US defence secretary Peter Hegseth calls for “realistic assessment of the battlefield.”
"We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective."
"Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering."
I think that, as with any war, there's never a solution that's going to please everyone.
Ending the war, by itself, is a good thing. That the US is getting mineral rights as part of the resolution is a great thing (at least for the billionaires) and that economic incentive will work to prevent any new outbreak of hostilities.
as with any war, there's never a solution that's going to please everyone.
I hear Hitler was particularly displeased with the way WWII ended. Pleasing everyone ain't the goal here Skippy.
Ending the war, by itself, is a good thing.
If either side thought that, there wouldn't be a war. Obviously there are "bad things" associated with ending the war that are considered worse than continuing it.
Do you think that if the Ukraine military and government surrendered completely today that it would mean peace? Not a chance. Russia would be oppressive and an uprising would begin the moment formal hostilities ended - as would be right and proper.
Russia does not have the manpower - in training or just raw numbers - to effectively occupy and quell rebellion in Ukraine. The result would be a bloody quagmire for at least a decade, and it would arguably be worse than the current formal hostilities.
If the war ends with unlawful territorial loss, then we all are in big trouble because it opens doors for more land grab. Not that Russia or US mind it, though.
I think it went very well how Germany was beaten and split up after WW2. It turned out very well. Even most Germans think it went kinda well. Sure, everything was destroyed and many ppl died, but that's what you get for supporting a dictator and attack surrounding nations.