pmp10

Dispatch. Very good for a barely interactive cartoon, but a very uneven experience. The whole package is carried by a handful of amazingly written and well-animated character moments.

By most accounts Ukraine is rarely forcing soldiers into the actual frontline trenches. Majority of AWOLs and shirkers won't turn violent if not forced to. How long they can keep up this approach is another matter.

Tried Clair Obsur to check if the masses actually voted GOTY to something good for once. To my surprise it turns out you can mature a JRPG and do a reasonably good job of it too. I would have called that a paradox before playing the game.

Trump is trying to order them about on how to spend their money so obviously they will resist. Not that they have any intention to fill the void that US might leave behind.

I wonder where he is getting that from. By most accounts the Sapsan program has been bombed at least two years back in development. And so far 'Flamingo' looks to be a scam worthy to rival any Nigerian prince.

It's exactly about the timing as zapad is just about to start in Belarus. After the strikes on UK/EU affiliated sites in Kiev they have now moved to intimidating NATO and Poland. We will see if the west dares to respond in kind.

On the eve on invasion there were already some European troops in Ukraine handling training. Unsurprisingly they were evacuated with priority. I doubt Ukraine will trust any guarantees that don't include a trip-wire force, or at least enough foreign troops that could be tied-up in every strategic target that Russia is about to hit.

Before the upcoming Trump/Putin meeting various rumors are flying as to potential cease-fire terms. Unsurprisingly permanent peace is not likely, but diplomatically there are first signs of optimism in a long time. We will soon see if this is serious or only a elaborate blame-game.

Not even Israel can censor away a hit by a 1,500 kg warhead. Far more likely it was simply shot down.

They launched at Israel their latest and greatest - Khorramshahr-4. There are no reports of it hitting anything, but then a single missile could have been a message to other gulf states.

There is always (admittedly a little conspiratorial) possibility that far from being rogue, Israel is doing exactly what it was asked to do. The wider west could have already made the decision to start bombing but hopes Israel can win by itself or at least goad Iran into escalation serving as an excuse. Granted, it does seems a little too clever for Trump.

There is no reliable way for us to judge that. Iran wasn't offered any face-savers yet, but then the operation was planned for weeks.

That's just US pretending multipolar order isn't real. Their ability to restrain Israel is clearly nil at this point.

NATO troops will still station there, Ukraine will continue to be westernized. If it is ever allowed to join EU it will be covered by defense treaty anyway. Russia has no reason to accept this, not unless US is offering something much bigger then sanction relief. I wonder how certain is eastern Europe of future US presence.

Zelensky dosen't need to give up on Crimea just as Putin won't officially drop claims to Kherson. I assume it's the US recognition that's being offered in this case.

So Russia effectively admits strategic defeat, allows Ukraine to join EU, ignores NATO troops stationed there and even allows US control of Zaporizhzhia's NPP. All because Ukraine admits it won't join NATO and US accepts that Crimea is in Russian control? Bribing Russians with what they already have. A classic of diplomacy.

Trump seems to still be pushing that mineral deal so it seems unlikely. Unless he can get a political 'win' somewhere else.

Wait until you've worked under enterprise architect hired that way.

There is also the carrot of sanctions lifting. I'm just not sure how much peace it can buy.

There is still room to add before we reach Iran-level of sanctions. But it's purely for show at this stage, mitigation strategies are already developed and in place.

I wonder if that's the level commitment EU has in mind. Somehow I doubt Putin will lose sleep over it.

The thing is Ukraine is never getting official security guarantees. It's still not clear if they refuse to believe that or think it a very high value negotiating point.

Sure but people were generally pardoned for specific crimes. Even Trump stuck to that. I think the only other person to get 'any crimes included' package was Nixon.

If Biden can pardon for everything and anything for a decade I wonder what Trump will do with the precedent. 6th January gang will likely be only the start.

That's not likely to last. I bet Bibi will show up in Berlin or Warsaw before too long.