Author | Lightnews

Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 6h

The obvious companion piece to this article is the proclivity of American "libs"and legacy media to memory-hole Right wing violence ASAP (see also Right wing sex offenders).

Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 6h

The US is the world's largest oil and gas exporter, Trump sanctioning Rosneft and Lukoil is like Coca-Cola sanctioning Pepsi.

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 9h

Yip, by doing this (sanctioning Rosneft/Lukoil), Trump doesn't need to do that (sanction shadow tankers, secondary sanctions, support the Graham/Blumenthal senate sanctions bill, etc.,)

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 10h

'eff all is better than nothing, but are domestic US politics a factor here, especially if the sanctions provide the latest excuse to not progress the more substantive Graham/Blumenthal bill?

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 13h

Alternatively, the old system served more to legitimise than scrutinise whereas drivel like this can be happily ignored.

Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 1d

And sanctions the same day Russia did some old timey sabre rattling of the sort that shaped the volume, timing, type and usage of Biden aid for Ukraine and prompt serious discussions thereof. Instead, the US folk quoted in this story appear utterly oblivious to anything other than Trump's meetings.

Putin supervises nuclear readiness drills for Russian nuclear forces | CNN

Russia’s strategic nuclear forces carried out a readiness test supervised by the country’s President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.

edition.cnn.com

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 1d

I was wrong, the US is finally doing something. Not sure how material/how it'll affect Russian exports (and customers including the EU), but difficult to see how SLB (FKA Schlumberger) maintains it's Russian operations albeit these will presumably just be appropriated by Russia

Treasury Sanctions Major Russian Oil Companies, Calls on Moscow to Immediately Agree to Ceasefire

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing further sanctions as a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to...

home.treasury.gov

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 1d

2/2 master manipulator, the latest phone call and Budapest meeting as was, mostly served to bolster the existing US position on Ukraine, as excuses to continue doing nothing, while maintaining the impression, via a complicit media, of US support.

Hat tip to Michael Weiss for pointing out the hatred

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 1d

1/2 I reckon hot takes about Putin pulling Trump's strings lose sight of Trump, a vindictive PoS, who happily withholds emergency funding from Americans, hands $40bn lifelines to presidents he likes and 50% tariffs to those he doesn't, hating President Zelenskyy.

And for all Putin is the supposed

Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 2d

"Whatever lies behind Trump’s cupidity towards Putin, we should be long past caring why. The reality is settled fact. Putin has fewer cards in his hand than Trump supposes. One of those cards is Trump." My column. www.ft.com/content/7deb...

Putin’s mesmeric sway on Trump

Russia bets it can gain in US negotiations what it cannot win on the battlefield

www.ft.com

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 2d

Except Ukraine was never going to get Tomahawk missiles. instead Putin handed Trump an excuse to keep doing nothing.

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 2d

You can approach the peace talks as per the attached. Alternatively, they've already handed the US the latest excuse to not move forward with sanctions and - with Bulgaria now offering Putin an air corridor - dented European unity and international law.

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 2d

From the start of the invasion in 2022, Russia has been clear that it's goal in Ukraine is conquest and permanent domination, and the only peace the Kremlin is open to is one in which Ukraine surrenders its freedom.

Until Russia is forced to change that stance, peace talks require make believe.

Maria Popova @popovaprof.bsky.social · 2d

Both Lavrov and Peskov have now rejected any ceasefire deal or talks. The media needs to report this clearly and widely. Russia rejects peace. Front-page. Straightforward headlines.

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 2d

Its not a real heist if there's no glamourous insurance investigators.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 2d

Stolen Louvre treasures are uninsured, France says on.ft.com/4him7xU

Stolen Louvre treasures are uninsured, France says

Government confirms country will not be reimbursed for loss of jewels from Paris museum heist

on.ft.com

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 2d

After the climb down comes Americans talking about sanctions again. OFC Lindsay Graham is namechecked and ofc it's yet more wait and see. Here's Senate Majority Leader John Thune the day of the Putin phone call vs yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile its 295 days since the US last approved an aid package

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 2d

Trump's position before/in office is perfectly clear and consistent, no new aid for Ukraine, no new sanctions on Russia and pressure only applied to Ukraine. Except folk want new content, which the reality TV star/inventor of infrastructure week exploits by creating distracting melodrama.

Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

Was a brilliant, funny, fun (and fancy) comic to read. I hope you get to write some more.

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Reposted by Half-Brick McCurdy

Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 @reshetz.bsky.social · 3d

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

The climbdown continues - now sources are saying the meeting wasn't bad, just mistimed (these sources presumably didn't hear the shouting)

NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 3d

Politico: At the Trump-Zelensky meeting, U.S. officials warned Putin plans to keep fighting and aims to take all of Donbas. Zelensky refused to cede any territory not occupied. Trump closed with: “Let’s try to end it along the current lines.” Sources say the meeting wasn’t bad, just mistimed.

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Reposted by Half-Brick McCurdy

Iikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 3d

Growth spurt financed by the government is now over, and Russia's growth this year and the next will be roughly 1%, i.e. at Russia's long-term growth potential.

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

With EU confirming support for Ukraine (Merz actually phoned Zelensky Friday after the Trump meeting), the Whitehouse climbdown is set to continue, heck Witkof might get scapegoated. Expert commentary on where next for America and Ukraine (as if anything has actually changed) imminent.

Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com · 3d

“We see President Trump’s efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, all these efforts are welcome but we don’t see Russia wanting peace,” warned @kajakallas.bsky.social.

Europeans rush to Zelenskyy’s defence after tense Trump meeting
w/ @alicemhancock.bsky.social @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/48F4aaz

Europeans rush to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s defence after tense Donald Trump meeting

[FREE TO READ] EU seeks to secure deal on frozen Russian assets and more sanctions on Moscow to show support for Ukraine

on.ft.com

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

True. if you follow the Russian economy chat, I reckon the current approach (running up a deficit bribing folk to fight) is unsustainable. This doesn't mean a collapse, but could see another conscription (possibly underway) or BIG tax hikes i.e. large gestures making clear they're struggling

Warning: The Kremlin is Preparing to Mobilize Reservists on a Rolling Basis to Fight in Ukraine for the First Time

Russia may mobilize active reservists gradually to sustain its war in Ukraine but is unlikely to launch a large-scale call-up.

understandingwar.org

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

TY. I'm not sure the Whitehouse sees much beyond Russia big, Ukraine small = Ukraine STFU and take what Russia gives it. Hence apparent Whitehouse frustration with Ukraine fighting on with allied aid and popular US support e.g. it's noticeable this time Trump shouted at Zelensky behind closed doors.

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

The climbdown has already started. "Thought pieces" discussing Trump's new tone/volatility/mercurial nature to follow shortly.

NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 3d

Trump denies ever telling Zelensky to give up Donbas. “I never discussed that,” he said, adding the U.S. believes both sides should freeze the war along current front lines. “Everything else is too complicated. Stop now, go home, and stop killing people.”

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

2/2 softening of tone, with Lindsay Graham wheeled out to talk sanctions and savvy journalists/other content creators debating whether the US position has changed again (which it won't have).

Harvard poll: Americans overwhelmingly back arming Ukraine, sanctioning Russia - Euromaidan Press

Ukraine is as popular as NATO, while Zelenskyy ranks above Rubio and Hegseth in popularity. US voters back Trump’s Ukraine peace push, but doubt he can end the war.

euromaidanpress.com

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Half-Brick McCurdy @halfbrickmccurdy.bsky.social · 3d

1/2 That the Fox interview with Trump was recorded before the Zelensky meeting, but aired last night screams another organised mugging/orchestrated press campaign to put pressure on Ukraine. Instead, with support for Ukraine continuing to grow amongst GOP voters (including MAGA), there'll be another

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 4d

⚡️Updated: Trump suggested offering both Kyiv, Moscow security guarantees during White House meeting, Reuters reports.

'He's going to take something' — Trump says Putin has 'won' territory in Ukraine

"He's won certain property," Trump told Fox News, indicating that Putin would lay claim to Ukrainian lands as part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.

kyivindependent.com

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Reposted by Half-Brick McCurdy

Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 @reshetz.bsky.social · 4d

Russians started a human safari in Pokrovsk too. Videos are just civilians getting slaughtered under the surveillance of a drone. This will obviously not make it to headlines but please don’t let russians kill in silence

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