Member Info for WiseAfterTheFact

I know this keeps veering into the 'political', which seems to make some people uncomfortable even though the fate of FXPO and our investments in it is now entirely in the hands of a handful of politicians... @OSG, you keep conflating Putin/Trump talks with progress on Ukraine peace talks. Other than how to carve up its mineral resources, Ukraine is probably at most a side show, a bargaining chip in a much bigger game.

Absolutely no news. There are any number of known Covid-like (and other) viruses lurking in any number of species around the world that could at any time cross the species barrier into humans.

Finding it difficult to see any positive way through here now, given Trump's attitude. Either, Trump forces Zelensky into a shoddy deal that will result in Z being shortly removed and the country given over to pro-Russian vassals that will destabilise and strip the country bare OR: Zelensky refuses Trump's mafiosi tactics, and the war grinds on, resulting in Ukraine's eventual loss. The only things that can add other options are a/ Trump changing his mind (seems extremely unlikely) or b/ the EU steps up to the plate, offers massive security guarantee at huge cost (maybe sightly less unlikely, but certainly not on the horizon at the moment, and will take months even if agreed quickly in principle).

Hope I'm proved wrong, of course...

@Fresian - so the US "suppressing corruption", when Trump has suspended the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, thus legalising US corporations bribing foreign officials?

@OSG - The only thing I find shocking about this is that Trump doesn't even realise that what he is demanding to put in place here is effectively a massive Mafia-style protection racket.

@Achilles - if poor nervous wreck @Badland is a "keyboard warrior" I just want to know who the h3ll he thinks he's fighting...??

@bav1975 - I assume you mean driving on the M1 headed NORTH... :)

@Fog - well, we saw what your proposed course of tyrant appeasement led to in 1938, but I'm sure it's easy for you to ignore that. Rather than caving in to Putin, any countries that value democracy and the rule of the law need to install a credible deterrent in Ukraine as soon as possible. Rather than behaving like some disgusting vulture, looking forward to picking over the bones of Ukraine for its mineral resources, Trump needs to start acting like a real leader of the free world and the most militarily capable country, and providing that guarantee with the threat of devastating force.

@Fog (and other 'appeasers of tyrants', if you're going to get personally insulting about it): I don't think Ukraine is, at least in the short term, going to get back lost territory. And I think Zelensky knows that very well, though of course he'd be a fool and possibly suicidal to admit that publicly right now. The more important thing is to have cast-iron security guarantees of any cease fire, precisely what Trump is refusing to offer against his friend and mentor, Putin. As with Russia's occupation of eastern Germany, it might take 40 years to get the land back. But it will happen eventually.

@OSG - I hear what you're saying: FXPO will defend itself. Of course, though it's very odd there's been no announcement.

One thing to add to your analysis: Putin has signed and violated 192 international treaties, MoUs, agreements etc. Anyone that believes he will honour (another) one with Ukraine - without there being massive and terminal consequences for him if he doesn't - is (like Trump) a fool.

@Fog - you're mouthing Putin's propaganda. Zelensky doesn't WANT to keep on fighting - he didn't start the war, but he has no choice but to defend his country. There's only one person who should be forced to stop the monstrous waste of life. The scary thing is that Trump's weakness is simply inviting Putin to test the resolve of NATO.

@Fogg - yes, in that respect, Trump is exactly parroting Putin's playbook. Nothwthstanding this absurd legal case/nationalisation, I think all FXPO shareholder's should view with horror the prospect of Trump succeeding and ousting Zelensky right now. Will surely result in installation of a Russian vassal regime, and perpetual instability.

@OSG - you think it's a good thing they've taken the wind out of Zelensky's sails, whilst simultaneously super-charging Putin's position?

Waltz seems to indicate that Zelensky is holding out against pressure from the US to sign Ukraine's minerals away - hence nothing doing on peace talks.

Worries about Trump's policies in tariffs (and hence inflation) and the unfolding diplomatic disaster in Ukraine he's creating are dragging markets down. Likely not going to improve in the short term.

@Alex - yes, ominous, though not unexpected. The Zelensky-Kellogg talks can only be less productive than those in Riyadh, given the hostility Trump has created.

@Krok - What, like "Ukraine shouldn't have started the war"??

I guess they've seen the writing on the wall as far as a supposed 'peace deal' is concerned, and want this in state hands before the US corporations come demanding their dues, happily freed from the constraints of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which Trump has suspended.

Explanation? This is just a fabrication to drop the price?

Even by your dismal standards, that's a pretty poor effort, @POWER. Not even one ruble's worth.