In a democracy you can vote any way you like. You could even vote to end democracy, if that is your choice.
Autocracies care little about your choice of neutrality.
You might not be aware that Russia has a history of imperialism and that Putin is seeking to expand Russia's borders. He has attacked Georgia and Ukraine, which are not part of NATO.
For some reason, he has not attacked Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as Stalin did in 1940. These neutral countries were on their own 80 years ago. Now they are part of NATO. I wonder if that has made the difference.
But you still have a voice, for now. You are free to speak your mind.
So you support Russia...because it "waged a systematic international campaign of media manipulation and disinformation to justify its aggression against Ukraine and destabilize neighboring countries and the EU. These efforts target Ukraine and its citizens, as well as European political parties, civil society, and democratic institutions, with a focus on election interference and vulnerable groups."
By the way, the restrictions also apply to RIA Novosti, Izvestia, Rossiya 1, Channel One, NTV, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
It's important to stop lies that convince people like, I don't know, you. It's amazing how many facts you have to ignore to get to where you are.
It's actually worse than you think. The founder of Telegram that you use as a source was arrested in August because Telegram facilitated trafficking, money launderers and extremists such as white supremacists and terrorists such as ISIS. Not only did he not stop any activity, he refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
So I guess your argument is that Russians have more freedoms than people in the EU? I mean, you're certainly able to post anything that is unsupported by facts, but if Russians oppose the war or even call it a war they're arrested.
Maybe that's the kind of life you're hoping for in Hungary.
I'm on x, vkontakte, ok.ru Russian and American platforms. Whoever persecutes my people is my enemy anywhere in the world. Ukraine is, out of 120,000 Hungarians - maybe 50-80,000 left since 2022. The Ukrainians who break into their houses and move in to replace them say to those who stayed at home - this is Ukraine! Well, bark in Hungarian, dog! The deputy mayor of our sister settlement who lives there - I know from him firsthand! Where was the Yankee empire in 1956? They only incited against the Soviets - until British intelligence took the T-55 tank out of Budapest. My father fell for the lying Yankee gang and was in prison for 4 years + 10 years of police supervision. I grew up during this time! My question is, why do the Yankees have 800 bases all over the world? just not as a vigilant guardian of peace? What are you doing in Hungary - 5 American bases? Who the hell invited them here, because I didn't. So my country is a target and it is occupied stealthily with American soldiers.
I have a relative living in Russia in Moscow since 2010 and a friend in Ufa. Since 1999. They are not spreading the propaganda that the colonialist Westerner raised on woke culture believes. You can't convince me, because from 1526 to 1920 my country was a colony! First the Turks, financed by the French, then the Habsburgs - for 150 and 300 years. yet my country was divided in Trianon and you know the Soviet Union ruined this! 1500 - 4 million inhabitants, 88% of whom were Hungarians. 1720 - 3.5 million inhabitants, 37% of whom were Hungarians. We stood by Hitler and Mussolini because we got 88% of our brothers who were stranded outside the borders back. English intelligence leaked to the Germans that we wanted to surrender because it would reduce the pressure on the Western Front in 1944, this is where my country lost its independence until 1990. There was no minimum limit for the NATO referendum, 39% of the population voted yes and only 52% yes. The same was true for the EU referendum. I don't know exactly, but the communist criminal, through his Judeo-Bolshevik wife, and the prime minister who became a result of stolen wealth, lied to the people all the way through. Hungarian companies either ceased to exist or were hired by other Western companies. I was with one of these companies for 12 years, writing drawings on CNC plasma cutters for the materials to be cut, transferring them from the AutoCAD system to the ESAB software. We manufactured airport scissor lifts for containers for the German Trepel Airport GmbH. When the communist system was still in place, I couldn't study what I wanted because of my father. Every high school and gymnasium rejected my application. I wanted to be a Hungarian language and literature - history teacher, but the 1957 decree of the Minister of Education prevented me from doing so.
"So I guess your argument is that Russians have more freedoms than people in the EU? I mean, you're certainly able to post anything that is unsupported by facts, but if Russians oppose the war or even call it a war they're arrested."
Well, that's logical, isn't it? If he supports or is indifferent to the war then obviously war-related censorship doesn't affect him. But he WOULD care about western governments actively censoring him to a much greater extent.
Thx for the input. You wrote: «Trump’s pick for special representative to Ukraine said, “Large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong.”» But on other days it is ok? Pah, then it is just to agree on the day of the Lords birth. The Orthodox dóesnt have our calendar.
With Trump/Dumpf/Mumpf it's like with everything else he does: one day it's OK to be that way, another not... depends on weather and star constellations...
This is the second Christmas since Ukraine switched from celebrating the holiday on January 7th (Julian calendar) to December 25th (Gregorian calendar), a cultural move that aligns them more closely to Europe.
There are many politicians that find it difficult to mix words with logic.
"Syrians ask Ukrainians to not give up so they can also be free of Russians - but, why should anybody in ‘the West’, or in Ukraine care about such sentiments between ‘Syrian Jihadists’…?"
That mirrors an article at Haaretz that opens -
"Syria hopes for "strategic partnerships" with Ukraine, its new foreign minister told his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday, as Kyiv moves to build ties with the new Islamist rulers in Damascus amid waning Russian influence."
Perhaps related to Tom's report on how Ukrainian assistance with drones contributed to the unexpectedly rapid collapse of Assad's forces...
After Israel's 'incursion' into Syria and its attacks on any major weapon systems remaining in Syria (and its continuing demolitions of 'terrorist infrastructure - AKA villages - in Southern Lebanon along with its 'truce enforcing' attacks on 'terrorists' in Southern Lebanon) Syria may well be looking to a country with the latest and best experience in drone warfare...
Iran may not be the only threat leading the IDF to request additional funding to enable it to construct underground facilities to protect its assets from aerial/missile attacks (again from Haaretz).
On that note, it was ironic to see in an article on Netanyahu's recent operation that after surgery he was moved to a 'fortified bunker under Hadassah hospital in Tel Aviv. One might almost be led to believe that Israel has constructed underground facilities under other hospitals and facilities as well. Including as rumored a hospital(s) in Gaza...
In Ukraine for sure there is not Ukrainian government, not sure if Syrian new goverment is not affiliated with ruzz nazy terrorist regime. It's very disturbing when those criminals in charge can pass any classified drone tech outside of NATO countries.
Tom seems to be quite sure that the coalition in Syria has no use for Putin and Russia.
Of course if Israel keeps hammering 'weapons facilities' and digging in in Syrian territory the new Syrian government may decide that the 'West' is not their friend and look then to Russia/China/of another benefactor.
There is though the counter to your concern that Netanyahu has refused to support Ukraine while having courted Putin himself which would make for a rather odd relationship should the Syrians look to gain Russian support. Armenia can attest to the value of treaties with Russia when Putin decides Russia's interests lie elsewhere.
"Latvia sent 612 vehicles confiscated from drunk drivers to Ukraine. They were valued at €2.25 million. The prime minister said, “100% of Latvian society supports Ukraine – even those who drive drunk.”🫢
"Transnistria hasn’t paid its bills" - Transnistria is Russia ally and breakaway reagion from Modova, so Russia cannot accuse Transnistria for not paying bills.
Transnistria has free gas from Russia and Russia says that gas has to be paid by Moldova, so they accuse Moldova has not paid the bills. But an international court decided already Moldova is not supposed to pay that bill.
Transnistria government is kind of mafia - crime government (like all similar breakaway regions supported by Russia). Much of their economy is based on free gas and cheap energy, e.g. cryptocurrency mining. So, that would hurt them much.
Moldova can buy energy from Romania (EU), but it would cause higher prices in this poor country, so it would hurt them, too. My guess is, Moldova gov. thinks damage in Transnistria would be much higher. And I hope Ukraine has consulted the step with Moldovan gov., because there is a risk of pro-Russian parties may gain upper hand in Moldova.
I thank you for the history of your family’s experiences. Like most Americans I have trouble tracing back more than 150 years, and knowing as much as you do would be precious to me. My one thought is only this: after almost a thousand years of European disasters the place has been given the chance to live in peace through mutual respect, support, prosperity, and it is not the time to allow Russian imperial dreams to allow a return to the bad old days.
my enemy not russia
I'm sure you'd be quite content with them ruling your country again.
In 1990 I voted for my neutral country. Not EU, not NATO.
In a democracy you can vote any way you like. You could even vote to end democracy, if that is your choice.
Autocracies care little about your choice of neutrality.
You might not be aware that Russia has a history of imperialism and that Putin is seeking to expand Russia's borders. He has attacked Georgia and Ukraine, which are not part of NATO.
For some reason, he has not attacked Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as Stalin did in 1940. These neutral countries were on their own 80 years ago. Now they are part of NATO. I wonder if that has made the difference.
But you still have a voice, for now. You are free to speak your mind.
https://internetfigyelo.com/az-orosz-polgaroknak-nagyobb-a-szabadsaguk-a-telegramon-az-eu-polgarainal/
So you support Russia...because it "waged a systematic international campaign of media manipulation and disinformation to justify its aggression against Ukraine and destabilize neighboring countries and the EU. These efforts target Ukraine and its citizens, as well as European political parties, civil society, and democratic institutions, with a focus on election interference and vulnerable groups."
By the way, the restrictions also apply to RIA Novosti, Izvestia, Rossiya 1, Channel One, NTV, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
https://kyivindependent.com/telegram-blocks-russian-state-owned-media-channels-in-eu/
It's important to stop lies that convince people like, I don't know, you. It's amazing how many facts you have to ignore to get to where you are.
It's actually worse than you think. The founder of Telegram that you use as a source was arrested in August because Telegram facilitated trafficking, money launderers and extremists such as white supremacists and terrorists such as ISIS. Not only did he not stop any activity, he refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/23/tech/telegram-ceo-durov-arrest-user-data-changes/index.html
So I guess your argument is that Russians have more freedoms than people in the EU? I mean, you're certainly able to post anything that is unsupported by facts, but if Russians oppose the war or even call it a war they're arrested.
Maybe that's the kind of life you're hoping for in Hungary.
I'm on x, vkontakte, ok.ru Russian and American platforms. Whoever persecutes my people is my enemy anywhere in the world. Ukraine is, out of 120,000 Hungarians - maybe 50-80,000 left since 2022. The Ukrainians who break into their houses and move in to replace them say to those who stayed at home - this is Ukraine! Well, bark in Hungarian, dog! The deputy mayor of our sister settlement who lives there - I know from him firsthand! Where was the Yankee empire in 1956? They only incited against the Soviets - until British intelligence took the T-55 tank out of Budapest. My father fell for the lying Yankee gang and was in prison for 4 years + 10 years of police supervision. I grew up during this time! My question is, why do the Yankees have 800 bases all over the world? just not as a vigilant guardian of peace? What are you doing in Hungary - 5 American bases? Who the hell invited them here, because I didn't. So my country is a target and it is occupied stealthily with American soldiers.
I have a relative living in Russia in Moscow since 2010 and a friend in Ufa. Since 1999. They are not spreading the propaganda that the colonialist Westerner raised on woke culture believes. You can't convince me, because from 1526 to 1920 my country was a colony! First the Turks, financed by the French, then the Habsburgs - for 150 and 300 years. yet my country was divided in Trianon and you know the Soviet Union ruined this! 1500 - 4 million inhabitants, 88% of whom were Hungarians. 1720 - 3.5 million inhabitants, 37% of whom were Hungarians. We stood by Hitler and Mussolini because we got 88% of our brothers who were stranded outside the borders back. English intelligence leaked to the Germans that we wanted to surrender because it would reduce the pressure on the Western Front in 1944, this is where my country lost its independence until 1990. There was no minimum limit for the NATO referendum, 39% of the population voted yes and only 52% yes. The same was true for the EU referendum. I don't know exactly, but the communist criminal, through his Judeo-Bolshevik wife, and the prime minister who became a result of stolen wealth, lied to the people all the way through. Hungarian companies either ceased to exist or were hired by other Western companies. I was with one of these companies for 12 years, writing drawings on CNC plasma cutters for the materials to be cut, transferring them from the AutoCAD system to the ESAB software. We manufactured airport scissor lifts for containers for the German Trepel Airport GmbH. When the communist system was still in place, I couldn't study what I wanted because of my father. Every high school and gymnasium rejected my application. I wanted to be a Hungarian language and literature - history teacher, but the 1957 decree of the Minister of Education prevented me from doing so.
"So I guess your argument is that Russians have more freedoms than people in the EU? I mean, you're certainly able to post anything that is unsupported by facts, but if Russians oppose the war or even call it a war they're arrested."
Well, that's logical, isn't it? If he supports or is indifferent to the war then obviously war-related censorship doesn't affect him. But he WOULD care about western governments actively censoring him to a much greater extent.
Nato allows you to not be under the Russian boot.
Thx for the input. You wrote: «Trump’s pick for special representative to Ukraine said, “Large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong.”» But on other days it is ok? Pah, then it is just to agree on the day of the Lords birth. The Orthodox dóesnt have our calendar.
With Trump/Dumpf/Mumpf it's like with everything else he does: one day it's OK to be that way, another not... depends on weather and star constellations...
This is the second Christmas since Ukraine switched from celebrating the holiday on January 7th (Julian calendar) to December 25th (Gregorian calendar), a cultural move that aligns them more closely to Europe.
There are many politicians that find it difficult to mix words with logic.
And the Pope is silent on the subject. Time for a new one.
З наступаючим новим роком вас Том і Дон, дякую за вашу працю.
"Syrians ask Ukrainians to not give up so they can also be free of Russians - but, why should anybody in ‘the West’, or in Ukraine care about such sentiments between ‘Syrian Jihadists’…?"
That mirrors an article at Haaretz that opens -
"Syria hopes for "strategic partnerships" with Ukraine, its new foreign minister told his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday, as Kyiv moves to build ties with the new Islamist rulers in Damascus amid waning Russian influence."
Perhaps related to Tom's report on how Ukrainian assistance with drones contributed to the unexpectedly rapid collapse of Assad's forces...
After Israel's 'incursion' into Syria and its attacks on any major weapon systems remaining in Syria (and its continuing demolitions of 'terrorist infrastructure - AKA villages - in Southern Lebanon along with its 'truce enforcing' attacks on 'terrorists' in Southern Lebanon) Syria may well be looking to a country with the latest and best experience in drone warfare...
Iran may not be the only threat leading the IDF to request additional funding to enable it to construct underground facilities to protect its assets from aerial/missile attacks (again from Haaretz).
On that note, it was ironic to see in an article on Netanyahu's recent operation that after surgery he was moved to a 'fortified bunker under Hadassah hospital in Tel Aviv. One might almost be led to believe that Israel has constructed underground facilities under other hospitals and facilities as well. Including as rumored a hospital(s) in Gaza...
In Ukraine for sure there is not Ukrainian government, not sure if Syrian new goverment is not affiliated with ruzz nazy terrorist regime. It's very disturbing when those criminals in charge can pass any classified drone tech outside of NATO countries.
Tom seems to be quite sure that the coalition in Syria has no use for Putin and Russia.
Of course if Israel keeps hammering 'weapons facilities' and digging in in Syrian territory the new Syrian government may decide that the 'West' is not their friend and look then to Russia/China/of another benefactor.
There is though the counter to your concern that Netanyahu has refused to support Ukraine while having courted Putin himself which would make for a rather odd relationship should the Syrians look to gain Russian support. Armenia can attest to the value of treaties with Russia when Putin decides Russia's interests lie elsewhere.
I wonder what Budenov thinks of the Ukrainian General Staff...or is it best to keep quiet?
The way Budanov gives interviews he is aware that he needs to keep his mouth shut.
He looks actually like a person that got promoted fast for the right actions taken.
He is a part of that system, thus he can't think differently
It's a dangerous new world. Hot off the presses...
Mi8 downed by a marine drone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXqLWQhy9V0
A world first, I suppose?
Yup. I understand they damaged another copter but it got back to base.
That's the dawn of a new era, I guess
Thank you
Thanks Don and Tom
Frohes Neues Jahr, Tom!
"Latvia sent 612 vehicles confiscated from drunk drivers to Ukraine. They were valued at €2.25 million. The prime minister said, “100% of Latvian society supports Ukraine – even those who drive drunk.”🫢
Hat der PM wirklich das gesagt? Herrrrrrlich 😂
Thanks again Don andTom.
https://mind.ua/en/news/20283373-journalist-butusov-told-about-the-catastrophic-situation-in-the-155th-brigade-anna-de-kyiv-which-wa
Each day becomes harder to be hopeful
Quite an astonishing report.
I am wondering, are the general staff in Ukraine serious about winning this damned war?
This amount of mismanagement beggars belief.
It seems that the 155th is being cut out in pieces in order to strengthen other formations:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/01/01/ukraines-newest-leopard-2-brigade-began-disintegrating-before-it-reached-the-front-line/
"Transnistria hasn’t paid its bills" - Transnistria is Russia ally and breakaway reagion from Modova, so Russia cannot accuse Transnistria for not paying bills.
Transnistria has free gas from Russia and Russia says that gas has to be paid by Moldova, so they accuse Moldova has not paid the bills. But an international court decided already Moldova is not supposed to pay that bill.
Transnistria government is kind of mafia - crime government (like all similar breakaway regions supported by Russia). Much of their economy is based on free gas and cheap energy, e.g. cryptocurrency mining. So, that would hurt them much.
Moldova can buy energy from Romania (EU), but it would cause higher prices in this poor country, so it would hurt them, too. My guess is, Moldova gov. thinks damage in Transnistria would be much higher. And I hope Ukraine has consulted the step with Moldovan gov., because there is a risk of pro-Russian parties may gain upper hand in Moldova.
E.g. see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8ymx50kz8o
I wonder, would such a non-renewal of the transit gas contract hurt the Transnistria regime enough to surrender to Moldova?
I thank you for the history of your family’s experiences. Like most Americans I have trouble tracing back more than 150 years, and knowing as much as you do would be precious to me. My one thought is only this: after almost a thousand years of European disasters the place has been given the chance to live in peace through mutual respect, support, prosperity, and it is not the time to allow Russian imperial dreams to allow a return to the bad old days.
> The Czech Foreign Minister said they secured enemy independence from Russia
Should be “energy independence”.