The article is short and concise; however, the video that accompanies this article, was and is so worth watching. O'Donnell does an OUTSTANDING job in presenting the information, and it is one video that I actually watched in its entirety.
"MSNBC Host Reveals 1 Trick World Leaders Keep Using To 'Humiliate' Trump In Public
MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell said on Thursday that world leaders seem to be picking up on a way to use body language to “humiliate” President Donald Trump in public.
Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron used what O’Donnell called the “humiliation touch,” placing a hand on Trump to interrupt him in the middle of a lie about aid to Ukraine.
“Three days later, Donald Trump walked into exactly the same humiliation trap in the Oval Office,” O’Donnell said. This time, it was British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who on Thursday managed to break Trump’s flow during a similar claim about Ukraine.
“Did you see that, that left hand?” O’Donnell said after rolling the footage. “That’s the interruption hand that the French president used. The British prime minister’s left hand goes toward Donald Trump.”
Starmer stopped short of actually touching Trump the way Macron did because “he’s British, so he’s not touchy-feely, he’s not gonna touch him, but he does interrupt him just like the French president did.”
Later in the segment, O’Donnell said the move may not have much effect on Trump himself.
“There is a kind of person whose humiliation reflex simply doesn’t work,” he allowed. “That might be what’s going on with Donald Trump.”
But others will recognize it.
“The world sees it as humiliating to Donald Trump,” O’Donnell said.
See his full explanation of the “humiliation touch” below: (this is where the video is)
Date: March 01, 2025 at 11:35:03 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
lol...i was just emotionally venting in sympathy of what volodymir had to endure...rumplike blustering...if i had been there, i would have laughed out loud at those posturing jokers though...
Horrifying behavior...I wonder if Putin was behind those chairs with a hand up each of their asses. WTF is wrong with them?
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 13:02:57 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
not only disrespectful, complete asses...why would any of our old allies trust us anymore? just another lardass bullshit session, with his everpresent whining, "what's in it for me?" hint for you turd boy...if you want respect you have to give it...
Medvedev cheers Trump for Zelensky’s ‘proper slap down’ in Oval Office by Julia Manchester - 02/28/25 3:12 PM ET
Top Russian official and former president Dmitry Medvedev celebrated what he called President Trump’s “proper slap down” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.
“The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office,” Medvedev, the deputy chair of Moscow’s security council and former prime minister of Russia, said in a post on the social platform X.
“[Trump] is right: The Kiev regime is ‘gambling with WWIII,’” the Russian leader added. Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP, File
The post comes after an explosive meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday during which Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader while Vice President Vance called the foreign leader “disrespectful.”
Tensions boiled over after Zelensky responded to Vance’s suggestion that a diplomatic solution be reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the three-year-old war. Zelensky pointed to Putin violently invading Ukrainian territory, reneging on ceasefires and refusing to participate in prisoner exchanges.
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to his conflict,” Vance said.
Zelensky then said the U.S. has not yet felt the impact of the war because of its physical distance from the conflict.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel because you’re in no position … to dictate what we’re going to feel,” Trump replied, raising his voice. “We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now, not in a very good position.”
The White House meeting was originally supposed to focus on an agreement for the U.S. to access critical minerals in Ukraine. Trump said the deal would help Ukraine’s economy, while helping the U.S. recoup money it has provided to Ukraine in fighting Russian forces.
Trump took to Truth Social after the meeting, saying Zelensky was not ready for peace and implied talks between him and his Ukrainian counterpart had been cut off. Zelensky was seen leaving the White House shortly after.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 12:05:27 From: the Hierophant, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
Seeing the exchange, obviously neither trumpeter nor vance know anything about how to engage in and participate in diplomacy. Talking down to, chiding, and raising voices is NOT part of that and it istrumpter and vance who are guilty of drawing the entire world closer to ww3 with this immature, unprofessional exchange.
Date: February 28, 2025 at 12:36:13 From:chaskuchar@stcharlesmo, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
if you saw the whole thing, there were questions asked of both trump and zelenskyy but trump would answer and not let zelenskyy until he finally butted in. i wish i recorded the whole thing. i was watching on aljazeers.
Date: February 28, 2025 at 12:46:03 From: Kat, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
Zelenskyy cash cow has left the building. He wanted Trump to explain on TV how the USA WOULD PROTECT his land. Zelenskyy wanted to return to the office but he was relentless & Trump & his administration wasn’t having any of it. Trump was ready to send peace keeping troops last night. It WILL take place. Zelenskyy wanted the war to continue! Trump & Vance did not invite him here to continue with WAR.
Date: March 02, 2025 at 23:47:14 From: Kat, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
Zelenskyy had agreed to sign the night before the meeting took place in front of the TV w/ Trump & Vance. now England and France are getting involved to agree to peace keeping force after England’s Prime Minister talked w/ Trump first. The USA WILL help when and where they can. Prime Minister of England declared their country’s bond w/ the USA IS closer alliance than any other country’s. ( for decades)!
Date: March 03, 2025 at 10:40:55 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
volodymyr was ready to sign...but rump had him escorted out of the WH before he could...rump and jd hijacked the meeting and agreement with their bellicose bs...rump is just welching on another deal cuz pootie wants him to...
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Date: March 01, 2025 at 10:12:54 From: akira, [DNS_Address] Subject: and how was this disrespectful?
ZELENSKYY: "Putin broke the ceasefire. What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about?"
VANCE: "I think it's disrespectful to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media"
Capitulation to Russia is misery. Ask the Ukrainian millions starved to death in the 30s, the East Germans, The Czechs, the Poles, the Buryiats.
Zelensky may have thought it was better to fight them now than spend the next 40 or 50 years in struggle for freedom.
This time, Ukraine trusted the USA & UK to protect them but who knew a Russian agent would get to be president?
Zelenky didn't want the war to continue, Putin attacked and could have stopped it at anytime, but he had already promised China the goods.
Why would anyone ever trust us again,?
*******
Why Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons — and what that means in an invasion by Russia
Three decades ago, the newly independent country of Ukraine was briefly the third-largest nuclear power in the world.
Thousands of nuclear arms had been left on Ukrainian soil by Moscow after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. But in the years that followed, Ukraine made the decision to completely denuclearize.
In exchange, the U.S., the U.K. and Russia would guarantee Ukraine's security in a 1994 agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum.
Now, that agreement is front and center again.
Mariana Budjeryn of Harvard University spoke with All Things Considered about the legacy of the Budapest Memorandum and its impact today.
Date: February 28, 2025 at 15:12:51 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Ukraine trusted the USA, UK & Russia to guarantee security
pootie recently brought soldiers from ukraine to moscow to honor them for torturing, raping and murdering women and children in ukraine...that's who he is...as was said many times today, you cannot make a deal with pootie because he will renege on it...rump thinks there is but there is never a win-win with pootie...he is a zero sum guy...if you lose, i win...and that's how he has always played the game...
Date: March 01, 2025 at 07:59:55 From: Redhart, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Ukraine trusted the USA, UK & Russia to guarantee security
Putin will turn on Trump, too..when he stops being a useful idiot.
Putin's already made statements about wanting Alaska back.
Trump is an idiot and sold all of us out. If we had gop congressmen with balls, they'd have the impeachment papers drawn up and frog marching this guy back out the door, and his little Doge too.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 18:15:34 From: mitra, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Ukraine trusted the USA, UK & Russia to guarantee security
And all pooties ....... are just like him.
I am so ashamed of my government.
They look like a bunch of ignorant s.o.b.s at the WH. In a respectable bar they would be shunned as too stupid for conversation.
Zelensky comported himself as a gentleman. Vance as the lying bigmouth lackey he has shown himself to be, and rump as a boorish Russian agent out of the closet, no more hiding.
Date: March 01, 2025 at 08:24:21 From: mitra, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Ukraine trusted the USA, UK & Russia to guarantee security
Then we have to consider:
rump has made the deal with pootie years ago -- everything rump destroys and the way he does it benefits an enemy and not the citizens of this country, (and xi holds the strings to pootie)
then a civil war would only weaken our position and resistance further when xi sends his mega-tanker ships of soldiers to "control" our population. As much as I disagree with the trumplicans I know, we would join against a foreign invader.
The generals and intelligence, the protectors of the Treasury and the Treasury itself appear to have capitulated, not to rump who is a clown, but appear to be transitioning to another economy based on another understanding of value.
What we knew is past. We are surrounded by the bones of the old order.
The 250 year plan called for Russia to go capitalist, return to Communism (Stalin/authoritarians co-opted communism) then attack the West on the way to world dominion. From my view they are meeting the milestones.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 13:59:52 From: Kat, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
USA UNDER OBIDEN SENT THIS STUPID MAN SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 10- trillion $$$$. Unacceptable for where it went! And they are still not winning the war. Trump didn’t start this war!!
Date: March 01, 2025 at 23:06:16 From: Kat, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
There are REAL PEOPLE DYING (thousands) Ukraine can’t win this war. Their leader WANTS TO CONTINUE THIS WAR. ITS STUPID ON HIS PART. IMO. BTW I MAKE UP MY OWN MIND ON THE FACTS.
Date: March 02, 2025 at 08:41:51 From: Redhart, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
lol...internet shouting in all caps doesn't make it any more credible.
Russia attacked Ukraine..not the other way around.
yes, the Ukrainians are defending their country. What would you expect them to do.
If Russia succeeds, they will move to Moldova, the Baltics and probably Poland. Ukraine isn't the only concern here. WWIII and Russia rampaging through Europe is. This is why it's important to help Ukraine stop Russia there.
Many Americans don't want to be on the Axis of evil side this time.
God bless Ukraine and the Ukrainians.
You're own mind...well, enough said.
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Date: March 01, 2025 at 08:47:02 From: shadow, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
OMG, Kat…. Your capacity for accepting rightwing lies as if they are facts is absolutely breathtaking…
All you are accomplishing with these words is proving to everyone here that you can’t think rationally and clearly…anyone suggesting anyone other than Putin as being responsible for the war on Ukraine is similarly afflicted…
And though I’m quite clear you couldn’t care less about me as a person, I am genuinely concerned for you… ;(
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Date: March 01, 2025 at 07:55:01 From: Redhart, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
what an incredibly dumb and misinformed statement, but you are consistent.
btw, all caps doesn't make it any less a lie.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 17:09:09 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
"Trump didn’t start this war!!"
that is the one true thing you said...although he had 4 years to prevent its escalation and did nothing other than kiss pootie's ass and tell him he was a great man and do what you want...
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 16:58:26 From: The Hierophant, [DNS_Address] Subject: maybe you might need some Prevagen
for that memory decline - go back 4 years ALL the news (except, of course, Russia's) showed that on 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine - not the other way around. Go ahead and google it or whatever search engine you use, and type in 'when did Russia invade Ukraine' and the answer will continuously show that it was Russia who invaded Ukraine.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 14:28:51 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
it is apparent you are getting your alternative facts from a russian news source...do us all and yourself a favor and educate yourself...
February 28, 2025 The Real Trump-Zelensky $500 Billion Minerals Deal Jack Rasmus
After weeks of on again off again, US mainstream media headlines today, February 26, 2025 announce that Trump and Ukraine’s president Zelensky—after weeks of ‘tit for tat’ mutual accusations–have reportedly reached a deal for Ukraine to pay the US from Ukraine’s minerals wealth.
The deal details remain opaque, however. It’s not clear if the amount to be repaid is still $500 billion. Nor is it clear whether the agreement will repay past US aid to Ukraine or be used to help rebuild Ukraine after the war’s end.
Furthermore, the mainstream media provides no details as to ‘who else benefits’ from the deal. Will the money go back into the US Treasury, into a Ukraine post war rebuilding…or to benefit private interests?
Typical of US mainstream media’s reporting of events is today’s Wall St. Journal headline announcing a pact was reached. The only details reported, however, is that Ukraine “would pay some proceeds from future mineral resource development into a fund” and that “existing oil and gas production would be exempt from the deal”. More revealing is the reference that “the size of the U.S.’s stake in the fund and joint ownership deals will be hashed out in future agreements.”
In short, it all looks like a PR compromise between Trump and Zelensky to lower the accusations and public feuding between them that had been rising in intensity in recent weeks. Both Trump and Zelensky make token concessions to make it appear as if a deal exists and leave the critical details unclear.
Both sides thus now kicked down the road, to be flushed out in detail only after war’s end. Most likely that end will occur sometime in the second half of 2025—at least with regard to US active participation in the war. For there are signs the US/NATO proxy war with Russia in Ukraine may soon end but the conflict morph into a Europe/NATO proxy war.
Zelensky’s Original Offer
The idea of money from Ukraine’s mineral wealth in exchange for US aid is a Zelensky proposal raised last fall when the Biden administration was still in power and it was clear the US Congress would not pass further legislation after its $61 billion aid package enacted early last summer. Raising the idea of minerals wealth in exchange for more aid last fall was thus a Zelensky effort to restart the flow of US funds to Ukraine.
Embedded in the running dispute in recent weeks by Trump and Zelensky over whether, how much and in what form Ukraine would share its mineral wealth with the US is their parallel running disagreement over how much aid the US has actually given Ukraine the past three years.
Trump has said the Biden administration gave Ukraine $350 billion with no strings attached, while Europe provided only $150 billion in the form of loans to be repaid. Thus Trump’s reference to the $500 billion is in effect a redefinition of Biden’s ‘no strings attached’ aid, converting Biden’s grant into a loan to be repaid, much like the Europeans’ terms of aid. Presumably the $500 billion would cover repayment of the $350 billion given Ukraine thus far by the US, with perhaps $150 billion more left over for rebuilding Ukraine post war.
Zelensky responded Ukraine only actually received $70 billion in US aid since 2022 and admitted he could not account for another $100 billion. He further emphasized US aid was a grant not a loan and Ukraine would not repay any of it. Zelensky thus clarifies he means minerals for more future weapons and funding from US not as repayment for past US aid. He also has clarified the form of wealth transfer will not assume a 50% US sharing nor US right to purchase 50% of the Ukraine assets to ensure 50% sharing. The mechanism—as well as the amount–is left to future details.
Also in dispute is what any of the wealth sharing funds would be used for. Trump has been unclear whether the sharing would reimburse US for past aid as well as to help rebuild Ukraine after a settlement. Zelensky’s position is all the sharing would be redirected back into rebuilding Ukraine.
In short, the agreement announced today amounts to minimal tokenism by both parties. Again suggesting it’s for media consumption to appear as if there’s a deal of substance and to provide a means for both Trump and Zelensky to lower the heat of mutual accusations and incriminations.
Trump’s Counter Offer
Trump has been saying all along that since Zelensky proposed the $500 billion figure in principle last fall he first raised the idea inviting negotiations. It was Zelensky’s number. Trump has explained he has only agreed to Zelensky’s number and countered with some details as to how the $500 billion might be repaid: specifically he proposed the US be given a 50% claim on all proceeds from the sale of all Ukraine minerals plus the US right to acquire Ukrainian minerals companies to ensure payment.
Embedded in their running dispute the past few weeks is differences over how much the US has actually given in aid to Ukraine since the war began in 2022. The Wall St. Journal article today—and the US mainstream media in general the past two weeks–largely agrees with Zelensky’s claim Ukraine received only “$70 billion in military aid.” However, that estimate conveniently ignores that the Biden administration passed legislation last summer that alone provided $61 billion in military aid, to which has been added a still undetermined further amount by the Biden administration in the weeks after the US November election. Moreover the $70 billion is an estimate for military aid not other forms of aid the US has provided the past three years.
The true amount of US aid to Ukraine—military as well as to pay the salaries of the Ukraine government the past three years—is undoubtedly closer to the $350 billion than the $70 billion. Zelensky himself has previously stated the cost of paying Ukraine government salaries and employee pensions is $8 billion a month. That total for three years is close to $300 billion. Much of US aid to Ukraine since February 2022 has therefore been to finance the Ukraine government, not just to provide military aid. In total it’s likely between $300 and $400 billion.
Apart from the uncertainty as to what actually is the dollar amount of the just announced deal, the agreement reported by the Wall St. Journal today includes no guarantee of US security for Ukraine. This precondition of US security in exchange for sharing Ukraine’s mineral wealth has consistently been a major sticking point in Trump-Zelensky negotiations all along. Zelensky’s position has been a guarantee of US security is always a quid pro quo for any wealth sharing.
In short, the agreement reported today is a PR deal primarily for public media consumption. Zelensky has made a token concession in principle of only “some proceeds” (not $500 billion) and that would not include revenues from “existing oil and gas production”. In return Trump has made a token concession of ‘some amount’ of mineral wealth sharing according to some arrangement, both of which are to be determined in some ‘future agreement’.
All the exchanges and announcements associated with the mineral wealth exchange for US support in some form is an exercise in ‘putting the cart before the horse’ as the saying goes. A deal on wealth sharing for whatever reason cannot predate a negotiated settlement to the war itself. It can only be a part of a settlement that is still fundamentally elusive. Especially if the US ends its proxy war with Russia and cuts a separate deal with Russia, and Europe picks up the tab of the cost of continuing the war and providing weapons to Ukraine
Who Benefits?
The US mainstream media’s narrative is the $500 billion (or whatever the eventual amount) is about funds to rebuild Ukraine after the war’s end. But is that an adequate explanation for ‘who benefits’ from the funds from the minerals production and sale? What is the deal really about? Who are the parties that will eventually benefit from whatever wealth sharing results?
What’s really behind the $500 billion minerals deal?
The Europeans clearly out negotiated Biden by providing Ukraine with $150 billion in loans not grants, to be repaid somehow at a later date. They are also sitting on $260 billion in Russian frozen assets in EU banks. And they just announced another $20 billion ‘bridge loan’ to Ukraine to enable it to continue the war into the summer. They’ve been suggesting, and it is obvious they plan, to use the $260 billion frozen assets to cover the cost of rebuilding Ukraine.
And this is the key point: the rebuilding will involve projects carried out by European companies and funded by European banks and investors, to be paid from the $260 billion. Thus the EU private sector will ultimately benefit the most from the rebuilding.
Biden left the US without such a solution by giving the money away to Ukraine with ‘no strings attached’. Thus Trump creating a $500 billion fund should be understood as analog to Europe’s $260 billion. While some of the $500 billion (or part thereof) will no doubt be to repay the US Treasury, is likely most will be allocated to compensate US companies, now deeply entrenched in Ukraine since 2015 for rebuilding projects conducted by US companies and financed by US banks. US companies’ exit costs and future losses may also be reimbursed from the funds
Any who doubt how deeply entrenched US business interests are today in Ukraine should just refer to the local business chambers of commerce throughout the major cities of Ukraine. They will find hundreds of subsidiaries of US corporations, let alone Ukraine businesses now indirectly owned by western banks and investors. The penetration of US capital into Ukraine has been going on for more than a decade, since 2014 when US neocon, Victoria Nuland, was made ‘economic czar’ for Ukraine by its parliament that year. A flood of US capital and companies followed. Trump’s $500 billion fund is destined to address their interests as well as assist & subsidize new US capital in the rebuilding of Ukraine.
In other words, all the debate and talk in Europe about what to do with Russia’s $260 billion frozen assets and the Trump $500 billion proposal to get Ukraine to share its mineral wealth is really about how the spoils of war get distributed and to whose interests—i.e. Europe’s, the USA’s and their respective business interests.
Moreover, Trump plans to extend the wealth transfer from those areas of Ukraine now part of Russia in the east. Zelensky’s Ukraine cannot ensure any wealth sharing from those regions lost to Russia. But Trump striking a deal with Russia for US companies to participate in the reconstruction in east Ukraine’s four provinces now part of Russia is a further phase of the deal to exploit the reconstruction of Ukraine. Less directly as well, any agreements with Russia over terms of trade with Russia in general. It’s not coincidental that Putin has publicly suggested the door would once again open to US capital investment in Russia after a deal.
There’s no doubt both Trump’s $500 billion and Europe’s $260 billion will eventually be part of any negotiated settlement to the war. Neither deal can be finalized until it is clear there is some final settlement, since how much dollars and Euros, in what form of investment, and for whose benefit cannot be decided until the war on the ground is over. And that’s yet to be determined although the endgame in military terms is drawing near.
However, military force is just an extension of political strategies and interests and the latter are still in flux. But a sure sign the political endgame is also approaching is when the economic interests behind the political forces begin to be discussed and clarified. And that’s what the minerals sharing deal is about, as well as the maneuvering of US and Europeans with regard to negotiations.
The wolves are beginning to devour the carcass and are snapping and growling at each other to determine who gets to eat first and how much.
By the minerals deal and by economic negotiations with Russia underway, the USA plans to eat its full share one way or another. The Europeans can have a bite as well, but must wait their turn. As the ‘alpha’ wolf, the US will take the biggest bite out of Ukraine and if Europe doesn’t like it they can go find another prey.
Jack Rasmus is author of ’The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump, Clarity Press, January 2020. He blogs at jackrasmus.com and hosts the weekly radio show, Alternative Visions on the Progressive Radio Network on Fridays at 2pm est. His twitter handle is @drjackrasmus.
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 14:02:18 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
ok kat...you sure know your stuff! lol...
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 13:11:41 From: ao, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
Sounds to me like if I came to your house, broke in and started raping and pillaging, you would welcome me with open arms. You would surrender.
Since, seemingly, that is exactly what you're condoning, what you are saying, if Putin invades the invaded are suppose to welcome him with open arms. Surrender.
Are you going to say that about Poland? Germany? What about when a Putin puppet is installed as a wannabe king in the USA? Will you say the same when I come to your house and take your's?
Seriously, Kat, if Ukraine is suppose to surrender why not the rest of us?
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Date: February 28, 2025 at 13:06:19 From: ryan, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: at least Ukraine will not submit to trump.
perhaps if putin was bombing our hospitals and schools and killing your friends and relatives you would feel different...it seems you have a cold heart...