Tim Mak would do well to stop regurgitating standard Western propaganda about Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s government is NOT democratically elected. The last such government was overthrown in a US-led coup. Russia is fighting a defensive was, not a war of aggression, as anyones with a decent sense of history knows. Zelensky is merely a US/EU stooge.
The conflict on the ground is a US proxy war to weaken Russia in which Ukrainians are merely cannon fodder.
Maybe you should really learn something about what’s been going on in Ukraine instead of simply regurgitating western propaganda Ukraine propaganda.
Ukraine has been and is to this day is a criminal neo Nazi state. Since 2014 its existence has been for one purpose and one purpose only, to damage Russia at the behest of western warmongers and criminals.
But you like many others have no interest in the truth of this disgusting proxy war. No matter though, Ukraine is finished and regardless of western propaganda and false narrative, the truth will out them shortly.
PS Ukraine is a very, very long way from being a legitimate democracy.
I look forward to watching the truth dawn on people such as yourself, but be ready for a very rude awakening.
Ukraine and its supporters truly are on the wrong side of history.
So you are saying some murderous regime who bombs kindergartens (saw with my own eyes in Yirpin) is on the right side of history? I mean, was the US on the right side of history when it was dropping napalm in children in Vietnam?
And since you are so informed: what's your opinion of Strelkovs deposition about the Donbas?
What's your take on Strelkov's bit about the Donbas? And yes, all the less than 2% votes for far right parties in the last election where a Jew was made president clearly shows Ukraine is a Nazi state. Also: what do you think about the SS tattoo on the neck of one of the founders of Wagner?
So still repeating the same no Nazis in Ukraine because Zelensky is a Jew and the only 2%vote bullshit do you get paid to parrot that shit? Or are you really that stupid?
Get a grip Henrique. Murderous regime? What about the 18,000 civilians murdered by Zelensky and a hundred or so people burned alive in Odessa, between 2014-2020 and the murder goes on, with Zelensky still shelling Donetsk daily, specifically aiming at and killing civilians and emergency service workers. You have no argument to put forth
Even if I were paid, it wouldn't change the fact that Ukraine had had multiple elections since 2014 and Russia has annexed multiple Ukrainian provinces. Facts are inconvenient that way.
Russian speaking areas were taken which were always Russian. Ukies persecuted Russian speakers and not just a little. Then there is that NAZI problem. Ukie land canceled all future elections skippy
All such elections were controlled by the US for the US, which is the reason it overthrew the Yanukovych government, which represented Ukrainians. You don’t know all your facts.
If you ever find any evidence for the US rigging post-2014 elections do let us know. The US does not actually simply reach into allied countries and choose their leadership. Where it does influence them it has to do so with open financial intervention (Clinton to Russia), hamfisted blackmail (Trump to Ukraine), or impotent yelling (Biden to Israel). Your notion of an all-powerful US is utterly mythical.
Why, just look at the boast by Victoria Nuland about the US’s spending $5 billion to subvert ukraine’s government. You clearly do not know what is going on and are embarrassing yourself.
That's not evidence of rigging elections. Rigging elections requires falsifying or throwing out votes en masse and is extraordinarily difficult. Dictators often struggle to rig elections in their home country and when they do they leave a paper trail a mile long.
At its absolute most uncharitable, the US expended 5 billion dollars on propaganda and influence operations (programs that Russia also spends billions on). There's still no evidence whatsoever - zip, nada, zilch - that the US has done any such actual election rigging. You're free to show us some if you ever come up with any.
What was the evidence the election was "controlled by the US"? The US can't control a warlord in the middle of the desert living in the Stone Age but when it suits the narrative it's all the CIA controlling everything.
Neither do you. But Russia probably will impose harsh peace terms as the Western, civilized nations grow fatigued. Putin will execute all opposed to this.
As for America interfering/controlling elections in Ukraine? America openly brags about the coup back in 2014 which cost the American state department $5 billion as orchestrated by hiring the svovoda neo Nazi party. Just ask Newland
Thank you for this fun fact that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Greg was dead wrong when he claimed that no Ukrainian governments have been democratically elected since 2014.
I invite you once again to provide any evidence whatsoever that the United States rigged any post-2014 elections against the will of the Ukrainian people.
As evidenced by? So the US can't prevent a goat herder from crashing a jet in NYC but magically they control all these elections. When it suits you the CIA is made of Einsteins, when it doesn't it is all the way incompetent deep state. If you weren't flip flopping all the time we would engage you in serious discussion even ignoring the cheap name calling to try to divert attention from your lack of sober argumentation.
The Constitution prevents elections during war + logistically impossible with so many citizens living in other countries, under occupation, fighting in trenches etc.
Russia started back around 2011 and annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia has been fighting and killing Ukrainians ever since. And the reality is that if we let Russia exterminate Ukraine, the next target will be Poland again, and the US will have to enter the fight with our soldiers on the ground.
Your response is so inaccurate and ignorant i don’t know where to start. How do explain consistent Western lies to Russia about not expanding NATO and the US’s overthrow of the Yanukovych government in 2014. THAT is what led Russia to take control of the Crimea. By the way, there was no invasion: Russian troops were already there at the invitation of Yanukovych.
Yes sure as opposed to you who thinks Zelensky (a Jew) is a Nazi.
Good one. Don't they have a library in your old folks home?
But now that you mention reading: which books would YOU recommend then to explain this particular conflict. I am sure you read many and you are not going to chicken out now.
I suggest you refrain from personal attacks, as they are devoid of actual facts. Countries have been applying to NATO because of the constant aggression from Putin and Russia. NATO has NEVER attacked Russia nor Putin, and the Yanukovych government was installed as a front for Putin. So the alleged "independent" troops attacking the eastern front of Ukraine were clearly supplied by Russia and Putin. And the Yanukovych government was VOTED out, not OVERTHROWN by the US or NATO.
However, arguing with such ignorance really is pointless. You and many others like you have some hard lessons in reality coming your way. The truth of the matter is being played out on the ground.
Thank you, Comrade felton. And thanks for helping to further convince the 10 fascist right-wing-autocratic-extremists that agree with you to-date. Let's keep purposely forgetting all of the russian-caused conflicts and wars this century (by which I mean caused by putin), and the attempt to bring back the ussr, cuz they were great to have around just to have an evil enemy to progress. (written in sarcasm-font)
How typical of the apologist: ignorance and ad hominem. The Ukrainians have no say in the matter. They are being sacrificed to serve US expansionism. Zelensky has no legitimacy and exists only as a stooge of the US. He’s little different from Ngo Dinh Diem, the former US puppet in South Vietnam.
Have you ever met a Ukrainian? Ever been there? Ever broke bread with one of them? If not, let's do it like this: I pay you a ticket business class to Warsaw plus a private car to Kyiv and you report in the ground and interview Ukrainians. If a single one agrees with you I pay you 10,000 dollars, if none agrees with you you pay me 1,000 dollars. Deal?
Ukraine became the cesspool when US money and biolabs were started in Russia’s backyard. Sounds a bit like Cuba and the Missiles of October. Then throw in NATO. Reminds me of the General’s line while sitting at the table with Jack Ryan. Just follow the money!
And since when you give two shits about anyone serving American interests. And where was your concern when Trump gave them hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance. Was it right then but now it's wrong? And since you want to go historical: the corruption of Continental Army soldiers selling their French rifles was ok, right?
Do they have a different opinion? It's hard to tell because those are currently banned, and the average Ukrainian is being dragged off the street into conscription.
Well if you seem so concerned about banning opinions I am sure you are also against Putin arresting so many reporters and even people holding blank sheets of paper? Or is your bullshit about different opinions only valid for Ukraine?
Which cracking down is that? Ive been there during the war and didn't experience this. In which city in Ukraine did you experience that? Was it in Kyiv? Or which city that you went to? Because you seem very opinionated so I am sure you went there and saw with your own eyes, right?
"Ive been there during the war and didn't experience this."
There are figures in the Ukrainian media who advocate for an immediate negotiated settlement to the conflict? I'm very interested in learning about these people. Please do tell.
Every country which has had conscription has had draft dodgers. If you want to get some opinions nominally free from Zelensky's long arm talk to Ukrainians in your country, draft dodgers or not.
"If you want to get some opinions nominally free from Zelensky's long arm talk to Ukrainians in your country, draft dodgers or not."
Those people have no skin in the game, so I could care less what they think. Unless they've bought a plane ticket and are signing up to fight, any ethnic Ukrainian living abroad who cheers the war on is a chickenhawk piece of shit.
You're simply playing a game where none of the Ukrainians inside Ukraine can be trusted to speak, and none of the Ukrainians outside Ukraine can be trusted to speak, so you'll just believe whatever you want instead. Find old men or mothers with young children that it would be idiotic to send to the front, then.
Ok so let's see: Ukrainians abroad are bad, can't trust them. Ukrainians in Ukraine: nah, repressed by Zelensky. If the Ukrainians die by the dozens in Maidan square (skin in the game) to topple a piece of shit president with golden toilets: "manipulated by the CIA". Basically no Ukrainian will ever be good enough for you. But them Russians, ah those kindergarten bombers are trustable, speak their mind freely and unopposed and are such nice guys. Never mind that they invaded Georgia, Transnistria, destroyed Syrian cities, poison their own citizens (any mention about that skin in the game), support Hamas, bombed a Dutch plane, and the list goes on and on. But the real problem is the Ukrainian kid who wants to dodge the draft, not the Russian criminal who wants to join the army.
No they are not. I know because I was in Kyiv recently and discussed it all wherever I went. What about your opinion? Did you learn it on the ground too or did Tucker told you what to think?
I have been going there for ten years and employ people there, Bozo. This ain't my first carnival. Now go find Ukraine on the map. No it's not in Mexico.
I can find Ukraine on the map quite easily. And you brushed by the Guardian article. If everyone is so gungho to fight, why is bribery such a terrible problem that Zelensky had to fire every regional recruitment head, and why do average people have to be dragged off the streets?
"... to weaken Russia ..." which is more make believe by the faction of THE CULT OF LIES, as any conflict sharpens the sword of those fighting it. THE DICK SWINGING CLOWN has bitten off more than he can chew ... as of today. ALL EVIDENCE points towards something much much BIGGER ... beyond our minds comprehension. Bickering about inches of war front Changes or formats of war correspondence are merely drops in THE OCEAN OF LIES BEING SPREAD BY THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN!
Tim Mak is a hero for his current work on Ukraine, and linking it to Taiwan, despite the troll's posts. He is also a remarkable book author--see "Misfire Inside the Downfall of the NRA", which was prescient in raising the issues brought forward by the NY State Attorney's General Office which has just successfully obtained a very satisfactory judgement after a multi-year investigation and trial. Go Tim. Pulitzer stuff.
Obviously, were he not considered a useful propagandist by the government in Kiev, Mak would not be permitted to "report" from there or anywhere else under its control. Were he suspected of anything like "balanced reporting", he'd be out like a shot, or simply shot. John Pilger was a real independent journalist. Mak is neither independant nor real. It's likely he's financed by Soros and/or employed by a Western intelligence agency.
This is the second "Substack Reads" I've received by email and the second I've found to "reek" of mainstream propaganda. Many readers like me have turned to Substack seeking an alternative to just such a thing. I won't receive any more of it, as I'll now cancel my subscription to "Substack Reads" and go back to reading real independant journalism on Substack.
You mean independEnt? IndependAnt is not a word. You also spelt Kyiv wrong. And since you are oh so concerned about propagandists: can you name one single Russian reporter covering from Russia that is against the regime? And would you say being financed by Soros is not ok but what about financed by Putin, who bombs kindergartens and his own people (excuse for 2nd Chechen war): would you say it is ok for a reported to be financed by Putin? No need to answer by the way, we know you can't.
Of course no mention of the elephant in the room: what is the realistic victory/win condition for Ukraine? They had plenty of funding and infrastructural support for last summer's counteroffensive, which got nowhere. They spent over a year training those troops, many of whom are now dead or severely wounded. Even if we could send them a similar package, which is in doubt in itself, who would fight with it? The most gung ho Ukrainians already enlisted and are either dead, wounded, or barely holding the front together currently. So any offensive forces would have to come from conscripts, and there might not be enough of them to spare to set aside to train for a counteroffensive. And on the equipment side, NATO productions is anywhere from flat to slightly up. So the idea of some giant weapons package in 2025 is a fantasy.
Meanwhile, even according to pro-Ukraine sources, just about every major armament that Russia needs is going up in production. Russia outproduces all of NATO in artillery, and that doesn't even count their procurement or Iranian and North Korean weapons. And on the manpower front, again according to even pro-UA sources, Russia's military is significantly larger than it was in 2022. Their enlistment is going strong because of the high salary they offer.
So what is the endgame? Just grind Ukraine into dust and hope that it attrits Russia enough where they can't feasibly threaten NATO? In that case stop pretending like you give a shit about Ukraine.
Your endgame query is chilling. And I think they knew Russia was no threat to NATO. Seems to me like they hoped Russia would be the next regime change. Maybe split it up in many pieces with a west-friendly oligarch in each new "nation". They don't care about Ukraine or "democracy."
The whole point of the NATO policy in Ukraine is the same as anything NATO does. Lord Ismay, the first Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said the purpose of the Alliance was to keep the Americans in Europe, the Russians out, and the Germans down. The war in Ukraine does all 3.
No it was not. The f16s are coming from the Netherlands (who lost many citizens thanks to the downed jet in Donbas), Poland, and other countries that aren't afraid of sticking to what they know is right. And yes, all of 31 Abrams while many are rusting waiting to be destroyed AT A PRICE HIGHER THAN GIVING THEM AWAY I.e. the "we don't have money" excuse is total shit too. Remember Massoud and remember 911.
So far a single Abrams was lost due to mechanical failure. Doesn't need to be a genius to understand its impact or HIMARS for that matter. F16: shove them, and shove them real deep. Other countries will give them. Also, remember the Ukrainians who went to support the US in Afghanistan. What a mistake that was. Budapest Memorandum. Yes, sure. "Leader of the free world", yes sure.
"So far a single Abrams was lost due to mechanical failure. "
The Abrams have barely been used in combat, so that's not a ringing endorsement. Probably because the US is begging not to have the bad PR of their supposedly invincible tank being taken out by a cheap drone (which recently happened outside of Avdiivka).
"F16: shove them, and shove them real deep"
How many airfields exist in Ukraine that are suitable for F-16 takeoff?
Strange the interview didn’t even touch on the elephant in the room. A well-documented genocide currently being perpetrated on Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Oh. Right. I see. So his location would preempt him from even mentioning another situation in which a powerful belligerent is attacking a civilian population as we speak. Got it.
Tim & his team are being highlighted for their reporting from Ukraine 🤔⁉️ He also didn't talk about abortion in the USA, Trump being prosecuted for plotting/supporting an insurrection, Finland taking part in NATO exercises as a new member, cutbacks in services in the UK, Aotearoa-New Zealand rolling back Indigenous health reforms, etc. etc. etc. BECAUSE HE IS REPORTING FROM/ABOUT UKRAINE ( & occasionally Taiwan as it has similar worries re China)
Ukie propagandist. Like the world is not already flooded with them. At least he gets to witness the fall and destruction of Ukraine and maybe open his eyes to just how this war was really caused.
Tim is a stealth advocate for his own personal positions. He has tried to add some “street cred” by joining the army, which is quite fashionable for the political left now.
Here is a Tim quote straight from substack, its indicative of his idea of competence.
Tim:
The great thing about being a journalist is you don’t personally have to be smart or knowledgeable about anything. You just have to ask people the right questions and then rely on other really smart people—lean on their smarts and their intelligence. It’s one of the great things about journalism.
And so, you know, it’s just been a natural extension of that idea to reach out to people like Ryan McBeth, who’s been a really smart person on military hardware and technical capabilities in warfare. Or Alexander Vindman, who’s super-knowledgeable about what’s happening at a political and bureaucratic level, both in the United States and in Ukraine.
Of course. Assange and Snowden's biggest enemies also support the War in Ukraine. Biden could free the former and bring home the latter tomorrow if he wanted to.
I'm not a die hard Trump supporter, so what's your point? Trump should have pardoned both on day 1, but put a bunch of neocons around him who constantly talked him out of it. That on him and his terrible hiring decisions. And he wanted to pardon them on the way out but McConnell threatened him with a removal vote in the Senate if he did. Again, still his fault.
Not at all. The people who told Trump not to do it, like McConnell and Lindsay Graham, all support the war and further US funding. Do you have any knowledge of GOP politics, because if you think the entire party is opposed to funding Ukraine you don't know what you're talking about. Even Trump is in this camp partly. Obama refused to send actual weapons to Ukraine even after Maidan, but Trump did.
Zionist like Trump? Abraham according to. Are you saying Trump is shit too? He also gave hundreds of millions of military aid to Ukraine. Let's see you on the record saying Trump is shit, Greg:
Irrelevant. You need to understand WHY Russia felt the need to enter Ukraine. essentially, Zelensky asked for it by allowing himself to be used by the US to threaten Russian sovereignty. This goes back to 1991. Try to keep up and not tell half a story.
If we needed it, 2 years ago it was clear who was on the right (as in "correct") side and who is in the wrong. So if those fighting for their lives against a cruel conquering army makes some changes to declare their righteousness, I and many others will support them in any way we can; spelling Kyiv the way Ukrainians want is a super small thing to show our respect.
No, it's Orwellian year Zero bullshit that I will not play along with. It's no different that "undocumented" immigrants. No, they're illegals and it's Kiev.
For your knowledge it was spelt Kyiv in their own language for several more centuries than the US even exists. But please don't let me prevent you from interrupting you from embarrassing yourself further. Also, I presume in your opinion conquering cities like Mariupol and changing its name is NOT Orwellian, right? And do you also think Poland caused Germany to invade like Puti ln said? If you say no we know who the Orwellian here is, if you say yes then we know it's not like you have any problems with changing history, it's just that you don't want that to happen only to the history that suits you.
Ukrainian has always been a bastard dialect of Russian, so much so that Zelensky didn't even bother learning it until recently. You might as well try to sell me on the "We Wuz Kings" history that the Hotep movement sells.
I have long since cast off the shackles of the government propaganda training I received as a child. Missiles in Cuba, evil Russia; didn't tell us the reason we had to Practice hiding from nuclear fallout by hiding under our desks, how absurd it all was, was because US had installed missiles in Turkey aimed at Russia and Russia called that bluff.
They rely on these current generations that have been public school indoctrinated. Dont think Theywon't draft!! They want this bad.
Tim Mak would do well to stop regurgitating standard Western propaganda about Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s government is NOT democratically elected. The last such government was overthrown in a US-led coup. Russia is fighting a defensive was, not a war of aggression, as anyones with a decent sense of history knows. Zelensky is merely a US/EU stooge.
The conflict on the ground is a US proxy war to weaken Russia in which Ukrainians are merely cannon fodder.
Ukraine has had multiple elections since 2014 and Russia has outright annexed several provinces of Ukraine. Defensive my ass.
Maybe you should really learn something about what’s been going on in Ukraine instead of simply regurgitating western propaganda Ukraine propaganda.
Ukraine has been and is to this day is a criminal neo Nazi state. Since 2014 its existence has been for one purpose and one purpose only, to damage Russia at the behest of western warmongers and criminals.
But you like many others have no interest in the truth of this disgusting proxy war. No matter though, Ukraine is finished and regardless of western propaganda and false narrative, the truth will out them shortly.
PS Ukraine is a very, very long way from being a legitimate democracy.
I look forward to watching the truth dawn on people such as yourself, but be ready for a very rude awakening.
Ukraine and its supporters truly are on the wrong side of history.
So you are saying some murderous regime who bombs kindergartens (saw with my own eyes in Yirpin) is on the right side of history? I mean, was the US on the right side of history when it was dropping napalm in children in Vietnam?
And since you are so informed: what's your opinion of Strelkovs deposition about the Donbas?
Strelkov? Full of shit, not the case at all, why bother. As for bombing kindergartens? More Bucha bullshit!
What's your take on Strelkov's bit about the Donbas? And yes, all the less than 2% votes for far right parties in the last election where a Jew was made president clearly shows Ukraine is a Nazi state. Also: what do you think about the SS tattoo on the neck of one of the founders of Wagner?
So still repeating the same no Nazis in Ukraine because Zelensky is a Jew and the only 2%vote bullshit do you get paid to parrot that shit? Or are you really that stupid?
We have nazis in the US also. But Ukraine needs to have 0%? That would be great, as it would be great in the US also.
Best Nazi is a dead Nazi.
Bear in mind no difference between that and the Ashkenazi ideologues and Zionism same bird just the other wing
Get a grip Henrique. Murderous regime? What about the 18,000 civilians murdered by Zelensky and a hundred or so people burned alive in Odessa, between 2014-2020 and the murder goes on, with Zelensky still shelling Donetsk daily, specifically aiming at and killing civilians and emergency service workers. You have no argument to put forth
What are you–a paid disinformant?
Even if I were paid, it wouldn't change the fact that Ukraine had had multiple elections since 2014 and Russia has annexed multiple Ukrainian provinces. Facts are inconvenient that way.
Russian speaking areas were taken which were always Russian. Ukies persecuted Russian speakers and not just a little. Then there is that NAZI problem. Ukie land canceled all future elections skippy
Zelensky is both a native Russian speaker and a Jew. Justifying a war of annexation for linguistic reasons is utterly idiotic.
I don’t suppose you care that the US puppets that replaced Yanukovych were neo-Nazis. So much for your understanding of Ukrainian democracy.
All such elections were controlled by the US for the US, which is the reason it overthrew the Yanukovych government, which represented Ukrainians. You don’t know all your facts.
If you ever find any evidence for the US rigging post-2014 elections do let us know. The US does not actually simply reach into allied countries and choose their leadership. Where it does influence them it has to do so with open financial intervention (Clinton to Russia), hamfisted blackmail (Trump to Ukraine), or impotent yelling (Biden to Israel). Your notion of an all-powerful US is utterly mythical.
Why, just look at the boast by Victoria Nuland about the US’s spending $5 billion to subvert ukraine’s government. You clearly do not know what is going on and are embarrassing yourself.
That's not evidence of rigging elections. Rigging elections requires falsifying or throwing out votes en masse and is extraordinarily difficult. Dictators often struggle to rig elections in their home country and when they do they leave a paper trail a mile long.
At its absolute most uncharitable, the US expended 5 billion dollars on propaganda and influence operations (programs that Russia also spends billions on). There's still no evidence whatsoever - zip, nada, zilch - that the US has done any such actual election rigging. You're free to show us some if you ever come up with any.
So delusional.
What's delusional is believing things without evidence. Surely you can show us some.
What was the evidence the election was "controlled by the US"? The US can't control a warlord in the middle of the desert living in the Stone Age but when it suits the narrative it's all the CIA controlling everything.
Neither do you. But Russia probably will impose harsh peace terms as the Western, civilized nations grow fatigued. Putin will execute all opposed to this.
There have been no “Russian annexations”
But that is the favoured gaslight term used by the western propaganda.
End of argument, what happened to your free and fair elections in Ukraine in 2024?
Oh, that’s right the little fascist dictator canceled them !
Ukraine, land of the free, as we are told by Zelensky and the MSNM and the idiot supporters of the corrupt Ukrainian dictatorship.
Pathetic!
History is showing the truth. Soon zelensky and the west will have run out of the rope they’re hanging themselves with.
As for America interfering/controlling elections in Ukraine? America openly brags about the coup back in 2014 which cost the American state department $5 billion as orchestrated by hiring the svovoda neo Nazi party. Just ask Newland
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957.amp
(BBC)
You have it wrong. This is not the Ukraine we are taking about but the Rothchild et al. Ukraine is used. You are used.
They suspended elections. You did not get the notice?
Thank you for this fun fact that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Greg was dead wrong when he claimed that no Ukrainian governments have been democratically elected since 2014.
I am dead right, you idiot. Elections are not free if they are controlled by a foreign government.
I invite you once again to provide any evidence whatsoever that the United States rigged any post-2014 elections against the will of the Ukrainian people.
As evidenced by? So the US can't prevent a goat herder from crashing a jet in NYC but magically they control all these elections. When it suits you the CIA is made of Einsteins, when it doesn't it is all the way incompetent deep state. If you weren't flip flopping all the time we would engage you in serious discussion even ignoring the cheap name calling to try to divert attention from your lack of sober argumentation.
The Constitution prevents elections during war + logistically impossible with so many citizens living in other countries, under occupation, fighting in trenches etc.
Russia started back around 2011 and annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia has been fighting and killing Ukrainians ever since. And the reality is that if we let Russia exterminate Ukraine, the next target will be Poland again, and the US will have to enter the fight with our soldiers on the ground.
Your response is so inaccurate and ignorant i don’t know where to start. How do explain consistent Western lies to Russia about not expanding NATO and the US’s overthrow of the Yanukovych government in 2014. THAT is what led Russia to take control of the Crimea. By the way, there was no invasion: Russian troops were already there at the invitation of Yanukovych.
Stop recycling disinformation.
You didn't watch the interview with Gorbachev to the German tv specifically mentioning the NATO expansionism wasn't ever an issue, right?
You don't read much
Yes sure as opposed to you who thinks Zelensky (a Jew) is a Nazi.
Good one. Don't they have a library in your old folks home?
But now that you mention reading: which books would YOU recommend then to explain this particular conflict. I am sure you read many and you are not going to chicken out now.
I suggest you refrain from personal attacks, as they are devoid of actual facts. Countries have been applying to NATO because of the constant aggression from Putin and Russia. NATO has NEVER attacked Russia nor Putin, and the Yanukovych government was installed as a front for Putin. So the alleged "independent" troops attacking the eastern front of Ukraine were clearly supplied by Russia and Putin. And the Yanukovych government was VOTED out, not OVERTHROWN by the US or NATO.
I suppose you never heard Zionist bitch Victoria Nuland BOAST that the US spent V$5 billion to get rid of Yanukovych.
Your ignorance knows no limits.
However, arguing with such ignorance really is pointless. You and many others like you have some hard lessons in reality coming your way. The truth of the matter is being played out on the ground.
So are you a Russian troll? Just asking.
Wrong!!
But Russia invaded Ukraine. Forgive me for stating the obvious.
Thank you, Comrade felton. And thanks for helping to further convince the 10 fascist right-wing-autocratic-extremists that agree with you to-date. Let's keep purposely forgetting all of the russian-caused conflicts and wars this century (by which I mean caused by putin), and the attempt to bring back the ussr, cuz they were great to have around just to have an evil enemy to progress. (written in sarcasm-font)
Caused by Rothchilds CIA.
Clarification to the last sentence: "an evil enemy AGAINST progress".
My but your conceit and ignorance of history are simply breathtaking.
Did you tell the Ukrainians that? Because they seem to have a different opinion. I mean, do you even know where Ukraine is?
How typical of the apologist: ignorance and ad hominem. The Ukrainians have no say in the matter. They are being sacrificed to serve US expansionism. Zelensky has no legitimacy and exists only as a stooge of the US. He’s little different from Ngo Dinh Diem, the former US puppet in South Vietnam.
i am Ukrainian, and here’s my reply to you: 🇷🇺🚢🖕
Have you ever met a Ukrainian? Ever been there? Ever broke bread with one of them? If not, let's do it like this: I pay you a ticket business class to Warsaw plus a private car to Kyiv and you report in the ground and interview Ukrainians. If a single one agrees with you I pay you 10,000 dollars, if none agrees with you you pay me 1,000 dollars. Deal?
Ukraine became the cesspool when US money and biolabs were started in Russia’s backyard. Sounds a bit like Cuba and the Missiles of October. Then throw in NATO. Reminds me of the General’s line while sitting at the table with Jack Ryan. Just follow the money!
What's your opinion of the hundreds of millions of military aid Trump gave to Ukraine?
Before the conversations of Poroshenko and Joe were released? Oh, that’s funny! Get a clue!
And since when you give two shits about anyone serving American interests. And where was your concern when Trump gave them hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance. Was it right then but now it's wrong? And since you want to go historical: the corruption of Continental Army soldiers selling their French rifles was ok, right?
Do they have a different opinion? It's hard to tell because those are currently banned, and the average Ukrainian is being dragged off the street into conscription.
Well if you seem so concerned about banning opinions I am sure you are also against Putin arresting so many reporters and even people holding blank sheets of paper? Or is your bullshit about different opinions only valid for Ukraine?
Sure I'm against banning freedom of expression by any country. Are you as consistent, and deplore the cracking down of expression in Ukraine?
Which cracking down is that? Ive been there during the war and didn't experience this. In which city in Ukraine did you experience that? Was it in Kyiv? Or which city that you went to? Because you seem very opinionated so I am sure you went there and saw with your own eyes, right?
"Ive been there during the war and didn't experience this."
There are figures in the Ukrainian media who advocate for an immediate negotiated settlement to the conflict? I'm very interested in learning about these people. Please do tell.
Every country which has had conscription has had draft dodgers. If you want to get some opinions nominally free from Zelensky's long arm talk to Ukrainians in your country, draft dodgers or not.
"If you want to get some opinions nominally free from Zelensky's long arm talk to Ukrainians in your country, draft dodgers or not."
Those people have no skin in the game, so I could care less what they think. Unless they've bought a plane ticket and are signing up to fight, any ethnic Ukrainian living abroad who cheers the war on is a chickenhawk piece of shit.
You're simply playing a game where none of the Ukrainians inside Ukraine can be trusted to speak, and none of the Ukrainians outside Ukraine can be trusted to speak, so you'll just believe whatever you want instead. Find old men or mothers with young children that it would be idiotic to send to the front, then.
Ok so let's see: Ukrainians abroad are bad, can't trust them. Ukrainians in Ukraine: nah, repressed by Zelensky. If the Ukrainians die by the dozens in Maidan square (skin in the game) to topple a piece of shit president with golden toilets: "manipulated by the CIA". Basically no Ukrainian will ever be good enough for you. But them Russians, ah those kindergarten bombers are trustable, speak their mind freely and unopposed and are such nice guys. Never mind that they invaded Georgia, Transnistria, destroyed Syrian cities, poison their own citizens (any mention about that skin in the game), support Hamas, bombed a Dutch plane, and the list goes on and on. But the real problem is the Ukrainian kid who wants to dodge the draft, not the Russian criminal who wants to join the army.
Go fgg yourself and your double standard.
No they are not. I know because I was in Kyiv recently and discussed it all wherever I went. What about your opinion? Did you learn it on the ground too or did Tucker told you what to think?
I don't think I've ever heard Tucker talk about Ukrainian conscription. The Guardian, among many others, has written extensively about what lengths millions of Ukrainian men have gone to to avoid fighting: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/15/bribes-and-hiding-at-home-the-ukrainian-men-trying-to-avoid-conscription. And there are countless videos on social media showing Ukrainian military police dragging men into vans to send them to the front.
"I know because I was in Kyiv recently and discussed it all wherever I went."
Walter Duranty also was impressed by how popular Stalin was, and how amazing everything was going in the Soviet Union.
I have been going there for ten years and employ people there, Bozo. This ain't my first carnival. Now go find Ukraine on the map. No it's not in Mexico.
I can find Ukraine on the map quite easily. And you brushed by the Guardian article. If everyone is so gungho to fight, why is bribery such a terrible problem that Zelensky had to fire every regional recruitment head, and why do average people have to be dragged off the streets?
Go enlist if your so worried about corrupt nazis
You mistakenly think we care about what ukies think. If only they had critical thinking capacities they would have not asked for NATO membership.
"... to weaken Russia ..." which is more make believe by the faction of THE CULT OF LIES, as any conflict sharpens the sword of those fighting it. THE DICK SWINGING CLOWN has bitten off more than he can chew ... as of today. ALL EVIDENCE points towards something much much BIGGER ... beyond our minds comprehension. Bickering about inches of war front Changes or formats of war correspondence are merely drops in THE OCEAN OF LIES BEING SPREAD BY THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN!
Got that one hundred percent right. And Mak goes to Alexander Vindman for advice? Bloody hell.
The best part was Vindman, the “super knowledge”part. Vindman the traitor! That boy couldn’t find his way out of a burning paper bag.
The best part was Vindman, the “super knowledge”part. Vindman the traitor! That boy couldn’t find his way out of a burning paper bag.
Yes!
Mr Putin is that you? What a load of Russian propaganda you peddle without a scintilla of actual factual evidence. Bye bye...
Tim Mak is a hero for his current work on Ukraine, and linking it to Taiwan, despite the troll's posts. He is also a remarkable book author--see "Misfire Inside the Downfall of the NRA", which was prescient in raising the issues brought forward by the NY State Attorney's General Office which has just successfully obtained a very satisfactory judgement after a multi-year investigation and trial. Go Tim. Pulitzer stuff.
How does misrepresentation make Mak a hero?
Misrepresentation of what exactly? I am sure you can give many examples instead of just barking.
I agree. With company like Walter Duranty, Tim is in line for a Pulitzer.
But Tuker Carlson not calling Putins BS about Poland starting ww2 is good journalism, right?
He also posited in another occasion that Alaska is Russian and should be given back to Russia. I suppose you also agree with that?
The fact Poland took part in Czech doesn't make Hitler right either. It's not a subtle point really.
Obviously, were he not considered a useful propagandist by the government in Kiev, Mak would not be permitted to "report" from there or anywhere else under its control. Were he suspected of anything like "balanced reporting", he'd be out like a shot, or simply shot. John Pilger was a real independent journalist. Mak is neither independant nor real. It's likely he's financed by Soros and/or employed by a Western intelligence agency.
This is the second "Substack Reads" I've received by email and the second I've found to "reek" of mainstream propaganda. Many readers like me have turned to Substack seeking an alternative to just such a thing. I won't receive any more of it, as I'll now cancel my subscription to "Substack Reads" and go back to reading real independant journalism on Substack.
You mean independEnt? IndependAnt is not a word. You also spelt Kyiv wrong. And since you are oh so concerned about propagandists: can you name one single Russian reporter covering from Russia that is against the regime? And would you say being financed by Soros is not ok but what about financed by Putin, who bombs kindergartens and his own people (excuse for 2nd Chechen war): would you say it is ok for a reported to be financed by Putin? No need to answer by the way, we know you can't.
Outstanding response.
Of course no mention of the elephant in the room: what is the realistic victory/win condition for Ukraine? They had plenty of funding and infrastructural support for last summer's counteroffensive, which got nowhere. They spent over a year training those troops, many of whom are now dead or severely wounded. Even if we could send them a similar package, which is in doubt in itself, who would fight with it? The most gung ho Ukrainians already enlisted and are either dead, wounded, or barely holding the front together currently. So any offensive forces would have to come from conscripts, and there might not be enough of them to spare to set aside to train for a counteroffensive. And on the equipment side, NATO productions is anywhere from flat to slightly up. So the idea of some giant weapons package in 2025 is a fantasy.
Meanwhile, even according to pro-Ukraine sources, just about every major armament that Russia needs is going up in production. Russia outproduces all of NATO in artillery, and that doesn't even count their procurement or Iranian and North Korean weapons. And on the manpower front, again according to even pro-UA sources, Russia's military is significantly larger than it was in 2022. Their enlistment is going strong because of the high salary they offer.
So what is the endgame? Just grind Ukraine into dust and hope that it attrits Russia enough where they can't feasibly threaten NATO? In that case stop pretending like you give a shit about Ukraine.
Your endgame query is chilling. And I think they knew Russia was no threat to NATO. Seems to me like they hoped Russia would be the next regime change. Maybe split it up in many pieces with a west-friendly oligarch in each new "nation". They don't care about Ukraine or "democracy."
The whole point of the NATO policy in Ukraine is the same as anything NATO does. Lord Ismay, the first Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said the purpose of the Alliance was to keep the Americans in Europe, the Russians out, and the Germans down. The war in Ukraine does all 3.
Plenty! All those 31 abrams and F16s! Some help!
Is that all that was given? Or are you being dishonest?
No it was not. The f16s are coming from the Netherlands (who lost many citizens thanks to the downed jet in Donbas), Poland, and other countries that aren't afraid of sticking to what they know is right. And yes, all of 31 Abrams while many are rusting waiting to be destroyed AT A PRICE HIGHER THAN GIVING THEM AWAY I.e. the "we don't have money" excuse is total shit too. Remember Massoud and remember 911.
So if the US plopped 100 Abrams on the eastern border of Ukraine what would happen? Does Ukraine have the infrastructure to maintain them?
And where will those F16's be taking off from? They cant just roll them onto a highway like they do with their old Soviet jets,.
So far a single Abrams was lost due to mechanical failure. Doesn't need to be a genius to understand its impact or HIMARS for that matter. F16: shove them, and shove them real deep. Other countries will give them. Also, remember the Ukrainians who went to support the US in Afghanistan. What a mistake that was. Budapest Memorandum. Yes, sure. "Leader of the free world", yes sure.
"So far a single Abrams was lost due to mechanical failure. "
The Abrams have barely been used in combat, so that's not a ringing endorsement. Probably because the US is begging not to have the bad PR of their supposedly invincible tank being taken out by a cheap drone (which recently happened outside of Avdiivka).
"F16: shove them, and shove them real deep"
How many airfields exist in Ukraine that are suitable for F-16 takeoff?
Strange the interview didn’t even touch on the elephant in the room. A well-documented genocide currently being perpetrated on Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Maybe because, Tim Mak is in Ukraine?
Oh. Right. I see. So his location would preempt him from even mentioning another situation in which a powerful belligerent is attacking a civilian population as we speak. Got it.
Tim & his team are being highlighted for their reporting from Ukraine 🤔⁉️ He also didn't talk about abortion in the USA, Trump being prosecuted for plotting/supporting an insurrection, Finland taking part in NATO exercises as a new member, cutbacks in services in the UK, Aotearoa-New Zealand rolling back Indigenous health reforms, etc. etc. etc. BECAUSE HE IS REPORTING FROM/ABOUT UKRAINE ( & occasionally Taiwan as it has similar worries re China)
And nothing about the price of tea in China. Are you kidding? Ugh.
Yep Tim Mak, just another western propagandist pretending to be a journalist.
I’m sorry- you lost me at Alexander Vindman.
Ukie propagandist. Like the world is not already flooded with them. At least he gets to witness the fall and destruction of Ukraine and maybe open his eyes to just how this war was really caused.
Judith Miller still thinks she did nothing wrong with her Iraq reporting. Tim won't have any regrets.
Tim is a stealth advocate for his own personal positions. He has tried to add some “street cred” by joining the army, which is quite fashionable for the political left now.
Here is a Tim quote straight from substack, its indicative of his idea of competence.
Tim:
The great thing about being a journalist is you don’t personally have to be smart or knowledgeable about anything. You just have to ask people the right questions and then rely on other really smart people—lean on their smarts and their intelligence. It’s one of the great things about journalism.
And so, you know, it’s just been a natural extension of that idea to reach out to people like Ryan McBeth, who’s been a really smart person on military hardware and technical capabilities in warfare. Or Alexander Vindman, who’s super-knowledgeable about what’s happening at a political and bureaucratic level, both in the United States and in Ukraine.
Be safe, be careful. The SBU targets journalists who speak the truth. God protect you.
Also, don't forget to tell us about Snowden and Assange. I am sure you are in favor of their unconditional release, right?
Of course. Assange and Snowden's biggest enemies also support the War in Ukraine. Biden could free the former and bring home the latter tomorrow if he wanted to.
And Trump didn't pardon Snowden because? Oops. There goes your "theory".
I'm not a die hard Trump supporter, so what's your point? Trump should have pardoned both on day 1, but put a bunch of neocons around him who constantly talked him out of it. That on him and his terrible hiring decisions. And he wanted to pardon them on the way out but McConnell threatened him with a removal vote in the Senate if he did. Again, still his fault.
If even you acknowledge that then you automatically contradicted yourself with "Snowdens biggest enemies also support the war". Case closed.
Not at all. The people who told Trump not to do it, like McConnell and Lindsay Graham, all support the war and further US funding. Do you have any knowledge of GOP politics, because if you think the entire party is opposed to funding Ukraine you don't know what you're talking about. Even Trump is in this camp partly. Obama refused to send actual weapons to Ukraine even after Maidan, but Trump did.
I certainly am.
Of course. They are noble people, not zionist shits.
Zionist like Trump? Abraham according to. Are you saying Trump is shit too? He also gave hundreds of millions of military aid to Ukraine. Let's see you on the record saying Trump is shit, Greg:
Yes, "coach red pill" was bathing in truth, Marlboro reds and viagra.
Whao. An independent propagandist. How novel smh.
Irrelevant. You need to understand WHY Russia felt the need to enter Ukraine. essentially, Zelensky asked for it by allowing himself to be used by the US to threaten Russian sovereignty. This goes back to 1991. Try to keep up and not tell half a story.
In 1991 residents of Crimea voted to be part of Ukraine. Do you want to talk about that part of 1991 too?
Seems like there's a typo. You spelt Kyiv wrongly. Please correct.
Kiev. I'm not going to pretend that it wasn't spelled that way by everyone until 2 years ago.
If we needed it, 2 years ago it was clear who was on the right (as in "correct") side and who is in the wrong. So if those fighting for their lives against a cruel conquering army makes some changes to declare their righteousness, I and many others will support them in any way we can; spelling Kyiv the way Ukrainians want is a super small thing to show our respect.
No, it's Orwellian year Zero bullshit that I will not play along with. It's no different that "undocumented" immigrants. No, they're illegals and it's Kiev.
Kiev is the Russian spelling; Kyiv is Ukrainian. That’s all.
For your knowledge it was spelt Kyiv in their own language for several more centuries than the US even exists. But please don't let me prevent you from interrupting you from embarrassing yourself further. Also, I presume in your opinion conquering cities like Mariupol and changing its name is NOT Orwellian, right? And do you also think Poland caused Germany to invade like Puti ln said? If you say no we know who the Orwellian here is, if you say yes then we know it's not like you have any problems with changing history, it's just that you don't want that to happen only to the history that suits you.
Ukrainian has always been a bastard dialect of Russian, so much so that Zelensky didn't even bother learning it until recently. You might as well try to sell me on the "We Wuz Kings" history that the Hotep movement sells.
Not sure you know but Ukraine existed before Russia?
Ukrainian language PREDATES Russian.
In fact some of Moscow first residents were Ukrainians.
Your claim is ludicrous.
Your ignorance is astounding.
Outstanding.
I have long since cast off the shackles of the government propaganda training I received as a child. Missiles in Cuba, evil Russia; didn't tell us the reason we had to Practice hiding from nuclear fallout by hiding under our desks, how absurd it all was, was because US had installed missiles in Turkey aimed at Russia and Russia called that bluff.
They rely on these current generations that have been public school indoctrinated. Dont think Theywon't draft!! They want this bad.
Would you say "poisoning its own citizens" or "conducting terrorist attacks to create support for war" is evil?
KYIV not KIEV