Kyiv:UAF begin offensive ops in specific areas.

Durandal · Feb 4, 2025

Jack Hays said: ↑

The US-Ukraine alliance will have a firm foundation.
Ukraine welcomes Trump offer to trade its minerals for military support

By Isabelle Khurshudyan
and
Ellen Francis
KYIV — As Ukrainian officials considered how to sway a skeptical President Donald Trump to continue supporting their country, one strategy was to appeal to Trump’s businesslike approach and offer him a deal — say, rare earth minerals — to get something in return.

Now Trump says he’s interested.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said the United States wants Ukrainian rare earth minerals — such as lithium, uranium and titanium — in exchange for the security assistance that Ukraine depends on for its defense against Russia’s invasion.

“We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things,” Trump said.

With continued U.S. support for Ukraine in doubt since Trump’s election, officials in Kyiv regarded Trump’s interest in Ukraine’s rare earth commodities as a positive development that could get him invested in the country’s future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first suggested providing the United States with the materials during his meeting with Trump ahead of the November election.

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said Tuesday that Zelensky’s administration is “ready to sign documents about joint agreements” and that “having a strategic U.S. interest in Ukraine is a key component to our security in the future.”. . . .
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Perhaps Z state TV trashing Trump and Melania so much has backfired also? In hindsight, that probably wasn't the wisest thing for them to do.

Durandal · Feb 4, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

The total battlefield losses on the Ukraine side are horrific ..
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Not as horrific as on the other side. But if Trump wants to help Ukraine save lives, he will want to offer them better military capabilities in greater quantities than his predecessor was.

zoom_copter66 · Feb 4, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

Perhaps Z state TV trashing Trump and Melania so much has backfired also? In hindsight, that probably wasn't the wisest thing for them to do.
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Nope....afaic, when it comes to politics. If you're going to throw $hit and insult Presidents or Prime Ministers of other states and countries, do it behind closed doors face to face and away from cameras and prying eyes and ears. Once you go public and on air live, that opens up a whole can of worms.

In Trumps case there's a fragile ego...and a mile long vindictive streak. Thread wisely...LOL.

Durandal · Feb 4, 2025

Trump has a battlefield loss estimate for @Giftedone . ~700,000 dead Ukrainians and ~800,000 dead orcs. That's from the press conference with Bibi this evening.

Giftedone · Feb 4, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

Not as horrific as on the other side. But if Trump wants to help Ukraine save lives, he will want to offer them better military capabilities in greater quantities than his predecessor was.
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1) 5 times as horrific on the yuki side a conservative number .. and your claim about Trump a random made up falsehood.
2) but even if your made up unsupported nonsense was true .. it matters not . as Russia has plenty of fighters left to sacrifice .. Ukraine on the other hand .. regardless of the casualty ratio .. is running out of fresh meat of any value.

3) What part of "running out of fresh meat" .. have you not understood
4) How is it that you do not understand the fresh meat problem ? .. and that even if Russian Casualties were higher .. Ukraine has lost the war of attrition ?
5) Do you know what attrition is Durandal ? and how come after 3 years of war .. you have not sought understanding of the term ?

Giftedone · Feb 4, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

Trump has a battlefield loss estimate for @Giftedone . ~700,000 dead Ukrainians and ~800,000 dead orcs. That's from the press conference with Bibi this evening.
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and why on earth would we think Trump Blubber has any basis in reality.. The Pentagon number is 600,000 casualties ~ 200,000 dead orcs. ..

What part of one of these two figures is right off the fruit farm .. did you not understand .. given I have given you the pentagon number numerous times .. how is it possible ??

Durandal · Feb 4, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

and why on earth would we think Trump Blubber has any basis in reality.. The Pentagon number is 600,000 casualties ~ 200,000 dead orcs. ..

What part of one of these two figures is right off the fruit farm .. did you not understand .. given I have given you the pentagon number numerous times .. how is it possible ??
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LOL! You think it's only 200,000 orcs schwacked so far? I doubt that you seriously believe that, just as you know that the Pentagon has not made such a claim, at least recently. I don't know when the orcs passed the 200,000 mark, but it would have been a long while back.

zoom_copter66 · Feb 4, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

and why on earth would we think Trump Blubber has any basis in reality.. The Pentagon number is 600,000 casualties ~ 200,000 dead orcs. ..

What part of one of these two figures is right off the fruit farm .. did you not understand .. given I have given you the pentagon number numerous times .. how is it possible ??
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Yes...200 000 Orcs KIA in 6 months....30 000 + per month.

January 2025 was deadliest so far with just over 45000....gifter.

zoom_copter66 · Feb 4, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

1) 5 times as horrific on the yuki side a conservative number .. and your claim about Trump a random made up falsehood.
2) but even if your made up unsupported nonsense was true .. it matters not . as Russia has plenty of fighters left to sacrifice .. Ukraine on the other hand .. regardless of the casualty ratio .. is running out of fresh meat of any value.

3) What part of "running out of fresh meat" .. have you not understood
4) How is it that you do not understand the fresh meat problem ? .. and that even if Russian Casualties were higher .. Ukraine has lost the war of attrition ?
5) Do you know what attrition is Durandal ? and how come after 3 years of war .. you have not sought understanding of the term ?
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RuZzians are now using horses to ride into the $hitstorm in Donbas....gifty. The orcs on crutches are all dead I guess....LOL.

Durandal · Feb 4, 2025

Update from Ukraine | Russian Economy Collapses gradually as the Russian Losses rise on Frontline

Those who fail to understand basic economic principles will refuse to believe it, of course.

Giftedone · Feb 5, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

LOL! You think it's only 200,000 orcs schwacked so far? I doubt that you seriously believe that, just as you know that the Pentagon has not made such a claim, at least recently. I don't know when the orcs passed the 200,000 mark, but it would have been a long while back.
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This has nothing to do with what I believe .. I am telling you the Pentagon number .. which makes absolutely no sense in relation to your 800K Dead number.

Obviously --- one of these 2 numbers is straight out of the Turnip Farm

zoom_copter66 said: ↑

Yes...200 000 Orcs KIA in 6 months....30 000 + per month.

January 2025 was deadliest so far with just over 45000....gifter.
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Do you know what the turnip farm is Zoomie ? not even the Ukraine MOD is claiming 800K Dead .. their number is closer to 300K Russians Dead .. which we should take as a big exaggeration given the source and the Fog of war .. but, even if we go with that number .. Your number~ 800K dead is fictitious nonsense Zoomer .. straight out of the funny farm that anyone can see . how is it you can't ?

The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

This grabbed my attention this morning for nothing else than it's comic value...so do you remember the complete f*ck-up by the Russian air assault brigades at Hostomel at the start of the war; the op was basically to take control of the airport, to land the main assault force and then for everyone push merrily into Kiev...which didn't happen......and resulted in significant losses for 31st AA Brigade etc with a shed load of equipment lost which was re-purposed by the defending Ukrainian militia units until the regulars managed to get into combat.....

Anyway, this from Moskovsky Komsomolets this morning....

More than 200 helicopters took part in the operation to land Russian troops at the Gostomel airfield near Kiev in February 2022. This was stated by the former head of the army aviation department (2003-2005), honored military pilot Lieutenant General Anatoly Surtsukov on the air of the program "Na voine kak voine" on the Soloviev Live TV channel.

According to the general, the helicopter crews completed all the tasks of the landing operation. All transport and combat helicopters returned to the airfields without losses. Unfortunately, two attack helicopters were lost. But the crews completed their tasks, said Anatoly Surtsukov.

This was the only major landing operation during the SVO. The paratroopers held the Gostomel airfield until the command decided, within the framework of the Istanbul agreements and as a "gesture of goodwill," to withdraw troops from Kyiv.
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https://www.mk.ru/politics/2025/01/...noy-operacii-v-gostomele-zimoy-2022-goda.html

....Solovyov making a hero out of a Surtsukov which is a bit strange but obviously in Russia time and memory work differently to the rest of the world and bend abject failures into acts of benevolent humanity.....but anyway......also weird is that him and Gerasimov have not always played nicely together in the past especially about the crappy equipment they were being given by Shoigu. This from 2013 which is oddly prophetic from the point from his point of view and indeed generally as to what's happening with all the crappy Russian equipment....

Surtsukov said, “We say: new equipment has reached the troops. But you must remember that this is Soviet equipment. There is no impetus toward the future. And our potential ‘partner’ already has mockups and flying models that have carried out dozens of flight tests with enormous prospects for the future,” adding “We will again be obliged either to try to catch a rapidly departing train or else we will not even see the signals as this train disappears over the horizon. In the context of the equipment of the future, we will play the part of natives with spears”
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The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

Those who fail to understand basic economic principles will refuse to believe it, of course.
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very slowly but surely the wheels are falling off.....

And as always those sanction that are designed to just make life that little bit more difficult continue to be a pain in the arse...

Difficulties with obtaining safety certificates required for sales on the Russian market may result in the seizure of not only imported equipment that is currently on sale, but also already purchased equipment, primarily electronic equipment. This is precisely what follows from the position of Rosaccreditation, which issues such certificates: several importing companies were denied these documents in December of last year. The agency sends people to the manufacturer for the original document, which is not always possible in the era of sanctions.

— It looks like the market is being reformatted for a large importer and a limited list of brands that successfully work with Russia, — a company that imports, sells and services industrial refrigeration equipment comments on the situation. — It is clear that if we are talking about large batches from friendly countries, then certification can still be done without problems. But if we take, say, a German or Italian refrigerator, which is brought to Russia for special connoisseurs through two intermediate countries and no less a number of legal entities-intermediaries — everything immediately becomes more complicated. And more expensive. Perhaps some enthusiastic importers simply “burn out” and leave the market.
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exactly what sanctions are designed to do.....

https://www.mk.ru/economics/2025/02...li-u-rossiyan-izymat-importnuyu-tekhniku.html

The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

Those who fail to understand basic economic principles will refuse to believe it, of course.
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the falling state of the economy continues to cause issues in the news in Russia.....again from Moskovsky Komsomolets this morning....

What will happen to inflation in 2025: which goods and services will rise in price the most
Experts have suggested that price growth will again exceed government expectations

Inflation in 2025 promises to be a serious test for both the country's economy and ordinary Russians. Last year, inflation did not reach double digits, but in January it confidently crossed the 10% mark. Everything around us is getting more expensive without stopping: vegetables, utilities, medicine, transport... And more often than not, everything at the same time. In such conditions, it will be difficult not only to bring down inflation, as the monetary authorities promise, but even to stabilize it. How to cope with the financial burden and what preventive measures should consumers take? Experts told MK about this: Igor Nikolaev, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Alexey Zubets, Director of the Center for Social Economics Research, and Alexey Krichevsky, author of the Economism project.

Achievement or failure?

— Inflation by the end of 2024 was 9.52%. How do you assess this result: an achievement, given that many predicted double-digit inflation, or a failure, recalling the forecasts from a year ago, which turned out to be exceeded by half?

Zubets: — 2024 can be called a year of trials for the economy, especially in the context of inflation. The final figure of 9.52% was not a surprise for experts, but it is disappointing. We did avoid double-digit inflation, but it is hard to call it a success. After all, we all remember the forecasts from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Central Bank at the beginning of last year — they said that we would reach the target level of around 4–5%. The reality turned out to be much harsher. The main problem, in my opinion, is the rise in prices in the food sector, which entails overall inflation. Food inflation, especially in the fruit and vegetable segment, has significantly exceeded 10%. For example, the cost of cucumbers and tomatoes has increased several times, which has hit the low-income segments of the population especially hard. This indicates a lack of control over pricing in certain sectors of the economy. In this sense, 9.52% can be considered a failure in management and forecasting.

Nikolaev: — The final 9.52% inflation is a failure of both forecasting and budget planning. If we recall the expectations with which we started 2024, the planned figure was at the level of 4–4.5%. The reality turned out to be twice as bad. However, it is important to emphasize that the problem is not only in the deviation from the forecast, but also in the fact that we ended the year with accelerating inflation. In December, price growth gained significant momentum, which creates additional risks for 2025. Comparison with previous years shows that double-digit inflation was avoided due to certain factors. Firstly, the Central Bank actively tightened monetary policy, raising the key rate. Secondly, the government introduced measures to contain prices for socially significant goods. However, these measures had a limited effect and did not help solve the problem in the long term.

Krichevsky: - I would not talk about failure or achievement - this is simply the result of predictable processes. Back in early 2024, it was obvious that the declared 4-5% inflation was unattainable. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, food prices have increased significantly, especially for potatoes, cabbage and seasonal vegetables. The increase in cost in these categories was 40-50%. Secondly, the devaluation of the ruble and the increase in import costs also contributed to the growth of prices.The current result reflects the real state of the economy. The desire to keep inflation below 10% looked more like an attempt by the authorities to minimize reputational losses. However, this approach does not solve the problem at its core - we entered 2025 with high inflation, and it is unlikely to slow down in the near future.

.................

Zubets: - Particular attention should be paid to housing and communal services and food. These categories can become key factors influencing the overall increase in prices. And they will have a significant impact on the socio-economic situation of the country in 2025. In general, it can be said that in order to forecast inflation, it is necessary to take into account many factors, from agricultural products and export development to changes in prices for transport and utilities.

Krichevsky: — First of all, we need to analyze changes in prices for everyday goods. For example, breakfast, consisting of three eggs, a piece of bread, some cheese and tea, has increased in price by 20% in a year. Public transport fares have increased by 10%, and this figure is subject to regular indexation. This gives reason to assume that this year, everyday food costs will increase more significantly than transportation costs. An important topic is the export of agricultural products. Manufacturers are interested in selling abroad, since this can be more profitable. However, the FAS limits such opportunities. In addition, the rising cost of resources, such as water, affects marginality. Among the goods that can become significantly more expensive are cars. This is due to several factors: currency devaluation, the introduction or increase of recycling fees (for example, for the processing of old cars). Agricultural products are also expected to rise in price — within 30-40% year on year.
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and on top of all that due to poor germination of winter crops, reseeding over large areas will increase costs, which will lead to higher food prices......

https://www.mk.ru/economics/2025/02...ovary-i-uslugi-podorozhayut-silnee-vsego.html

The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

In short, today it is not so easy to improve your housing conditions. Market mortgage rates at the beginning of 2925 exceeded 28-29%, it is clear that there are few people willing to put such a financial yoke on their neck.

True, there is an opportunity to reduce this rate several times. But such an opportunity is more theoretical than practical. In order to get hold of a benefit, you need to fit into the very harsh conditions that credit organizations put forward.

We have already mentioned the preferential family mortgage at 6%. It remains and has even been extended until 2030. But families with children over 6 years of age do not automatically participate in it.

..............

It should be taken into account that the preferential 6% of the loan amount in absolute figures is also not very little. Mortgages are usually taken out by families with children and they buy housing "for life", with the aim of having enough space for everyone. These are expensive apartments and monthly payments are very large. In conditions of limited family budget income and high inflation, people often simply have nothing to pay with.
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The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

oh and on the age old bolloxs surrounding BRICS and the USD, well Russians at least understand the reality of the situation.....unfortunately it's the moronic bots on internet chat sites like this that still can't get their heads round it....

From the Kommersant which is the Government's newspaper....

“The main driver of internationalization should have been not the political course and institutional adjustments, but market mechanisms of demand and service of the real economy,” the work notes when describing the latest expansion of China’s “yuan” activity during the pandemic and the intensification of competition among the largest economies for economic growth.
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...this presumably being a dig at Putin who stands in front of the cameras making political comments without understanding the reality of what markets actually do.....and if that wasn't clear enough....

The intonation and actions of the Chinese authorities were noticeably different from the popular slogans in the Russian Federation about “getting rid of the dollar” – the “internationalization of the yuan” was more of a cautious long-term project to bring the role of the Chinese currency in line with the scale of the economy while maintaining neutral relations with trading partners, primarily the United States and Europe.
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...ultimately there is this dissonance between the Kremlin's messaging (that the Kremlin wants to be taken seriously and that Russia is a world economic power even though it isn't) and what China is actually doing and only in China's interest....

The authors mildly criticize a number of positions maintained by the PRC: for example, the structure of China’s foreign exchange reserves “due to the structure of its foreign trade” includes “currencies of states and groups of states that may be most inclined to impose sanctions against China,” and a weakening dollar may lead to significant losses for China that it cannot afford: “The United States and China are still each other’s largest partners.” On the other hand, the yuan “is under the influence of China’s regulator, which imposes a number of risks for enterprises that will trade with China and complicates its promotion on the global stage.” As a result, “significant internationalization of the yuan may take decades, not years,” and will require a reduction in capital controls and exchange rate liberalization, “which the PRC authorities are reluctant to resort to.” Most likely, “a reduction in the use of the dollar in the Chinese economy and its international transactions is unlikely to affect the hegemony of the dollar as a reserve currency in the near future,” the researchers admit.
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https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/7479276

Durandal · Feb 5, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

This has nothing to do with what I believe .. I am telling you the Pentagon number .. which makes absolutely no sense in relation to your 800K Dead number.

Obviously --- one of these 2 numbers is straight out of the Turnip Farm
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It's pretty obvious which number that is.

Durandal · Feb 5, 2025

The Scotsman said: ↑

very slowly but surely the wheels are falling off.....

And as always those sanction that are designed to just make life that little bit more difficult continue to be a pain in the arse...

exactly what sanctions are designed to do.....

https://www.mk.ru/economics/2025/02...li-u-rossiyan-izymat-importnuyu-tekhniku.html
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One day, when he is swinging from a pole and contemplating his past mistakes, Pootler will think to himself: It was the economy, durak!

The Scotsman · Feb 5, 2025

...........

"Each person has their own consumer basket of goods and services. And the assessment of the growth of the price of this basket, as a rule, differs from the assessment of inflation by Rosstat, which is made for a conventional average household," the bulletin says.

And the subjective assessment of inflation is almost always higher than the actual one. Thus, OOO "inFOM", commissioned by the regulator, monitors the current inflation estimated by the population every month, and in December of last year, Russians estimated annual inflation at 15.9%, while Rosstat estimated it at 9.52%.

The Central Bank notes that this feature creates interest in alternative estimates of price growth, especially during times of increased inflation.
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....so basically irrespective the price rises people actually have to contend with, the Kremlin will thankfully make it better and will tell you something completely different.....anyway it's all just trying to manage the message and tell people not to worry everything is okay....

Jack Hays · Feb 5, 2025

Something to keep an eye on.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 4, 2025
Feb 4, 2025 - ISW Press

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited the Kyivska Electrical Substation in Kyiv Oblast on February 4 to assess damage to the substation as Russian long-range strikes targeting energy infrastructure continue to threaten Ukraine's nuclear power plants (NPPs) and Ukraine's energy production capabilities. Grossi did not specify when Russian forces damaged the Kyviska Electrical Substation but emphasized that a direct strike on the substation or a power supply disruption could cause a nuclear accident.

zoom_copter66 · Feb 5, 2025

Jack Hays said: ↑

Something to keep an eye on.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 4, 2025
Feb 4, 2025 - ISW Press

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited the Kyivska Electrical Substation in Kyiv Oblast on February 4 to assess damage to the substation as Russian long-range strikes targeting energy infrastructure continue to threaten Ukraine's nuclear power plants (NPPs) and Ukraine's energy production capabilities. Grossi did not specify when Russian forces damaged the Kyviska Electrical Substation but emphasized that a direct strike on the substation or a power supply disruption could cause a nuclear accident.
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Baltics...Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia to totally disconnect from Soviet/RuZzian power grid on Feb 7/25....in line with European grid. Kremlin seems very upset.

The Scotsman · Feb 6, 2025

The Scotsman said: ↑

...oh dear......how sad.....never mind.....

View attachment 275042

https://iz.ru/1832801/sofiia-tokare...zhk-alye-parusa-chto-izvestno-i-kto-postradal
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I wish The Times would stop all this crap headlining their videos....anyway

Giftedone · Feb 6, 2025

Durandal said: ↑

It's pretty obvious which number that is.
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Finally a correct statement D ! .. only one ignorant of Trump and the Subject Matter would take a Trump number over the Pentagon .. What is the figure you reported from Kyiv MOD Durandal .... and "which one is not like the others" Pentagon - Trump- Kyiv MOD

Durandal · Feb 6, 2025

Giftedone said: ↑

Finally a correct statement D ! .. only one ignorant of Trump and the Subject Matter would take a Trump number over the Pentagon .. What is the figure you reported from Kyiv MOD Durandal .... and "which one is not like the others" Pentagon - Trump- Kyiv MOD
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You haven't even provided a link (that I've seen) to corroborate your latest Kremlin falsehood.

Durandal · Feb 6, 2025

The Scotsman said: ↑

I wish The Times would stop all this crap headlining their videos....anyway
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This one is Mossad-levels of covert and effective, wouldn't you say? The Ukrainians are proving themselves in so many ways in this conflict.

Unless it really was the Armenians behind it. Either way, it's brilliant work. All the more so if the fascists don't even know who to blame.

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