M.K.

[Michael MacKay @mhmck]

Russia invaded Ukraine. The first country to surrender was the United States.

[Chief Rabbi Bleich @Ukrainerabbi]

This is very shameful for me and should be for all Americans. A President selling out an entire country to advance his political ambitions. Ukrainian civilians are being attacked and killed every day. Trump can try and stop it. Instead he is doing business. Blood Money. Shame.

[Yuliia Pavytska @JPavytska]

Have you all seen Trump’s announcement of his SUPER PUTIN DEAL? Russia promises to immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the market, including the US, followed by another 500,000 tonnes in November. Then come promises of EVEN BIGGER volumes. Because the deal has to be HUGE. At least in the post.

OFAC, of course, wasted no time issuing a temporary waiver until April 7 to accommodate the president’s latest “GENIUS” deal.

Except the BIG DEAL is not actually that big. More of a stage prop. Very Trump.

Let’s do the maths. Actual numbers. TERRIBLE, I know.

300,000 tonnes is roughly 2.2 million barrels of diesel.
500,000 tonnes is roughly 3.7 million barrels.
In September, Russia managed to export just 0.1 million barrels. Basically none, as there is export ban.

So Putin has already “sold” Trump a volume 22 TIMES larger than Russia’s entire September exports. Making promises is, of course, easier than rebuilding refineries after Ukrainian strikes. MUCH EASIER. SOME SAY THE EASIEST.

Meanwhile, Russia’s diesel export ban remains in force until October 31: the fuel is needed domestically, and Ukrainian drones have significantly reduced Russia’s ability to produce it. A VERY SUCCESSFUL phone call with Trump is unlikely to have fixed those problems.

Now for another comparison. Russia’s average monthly diesel exports last year were 18.3 million barrels. The promised deliveries amount to just 12% and 20% of that volume, respectively.

So we have a promise that Russia still needs to find a way to fulfil, given the state of its refineries. And even if delivered, it looks considerably less impressive than the presidential CAPS LOCK. Not quite THE GREATEST DEAL IN HISTORY.

The political logic is clear. The war with Iran and high fuel prices are a bad backdrop for the elections. One would hope politically FATAL, at this point. The administration desperately needs a story about how the president is about to FIX EVERYTHING. Preferably IMMEDIATELY. Preferably without explaining how we got here in the first place.

So perhaps the main product of this deal is not even diesel. It is another attempt to calm the market with a BIG, BEAUTIFUL ANNOUNCEMENT. Let’s see how much credibility these announcements still have.

Russia, of course, will sell this as a HUGE VICTORY. And why wouldn’t it? Promise diesel you still need to find somewhere, get a sanctions waiver UPFRONT. Plus another opportunity to tell the world that it simply CANNOT MANAGE WITHOUT RUSSIA.

But what worries me most is that this spectacle could weaken our European partners’ resolve. Trump’s latest “breakthrough” must not become an excuse to ease sanctions pressure on Russia — precisely when that pressure needs to INCREASE.

Of course, this decision will benefit Russia by generating additional revenues. We’ll be watching how much of its export capacity Russia actually manages to restore. One thing is CLEAR: Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries need to INTENSIFY.

[Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz @bundeskanzler]

Німеччина і в складні часи залишається надійним партнером на вашому боці.

[Vivid.🇮🇱 @VividProwess]

Bill Maher on the “genocide” lie in Gaza.

There is NO genocide.

This MUST go viral.

[M.K. @KozyrevMichael]

Word!

[Tat Atfender 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇫🇷🇺🇸🌻 @TatAtfender]

“No American should care about Putin’s “aspirations!” He’s a war criminal and my aspirations for him are for him to rot in a prison cell”
Senator Mark Kelly

[Caolan @CaolanReports]

Putin just tried to assassinate Zelenskyy in Moldova and Trump thinks he still wants to make a ‘deal’

[Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump]

Every major Western country condemned the attack, except the United States. Shameful.

[Anonymous @YourAnonCentral]

Meanwhile in Moscow...

[Saint Javelin @saintjavelin]

🇸🇪 🫡 The Swedish government has approved another, the 21st, package of military aid for Ukraine, with a total value exceeding €1.2 billion.

[New York Post @nypost]

Vladimir Putin violates Trump’s temporary winter truce, killing 5 Ukrainians in overnight airstrikes https://t.co/3JddH9cq4H

[Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump]

Tucker Carlson has publicly railed against removing Maduro, claiming it was a “global homo” plot. Then yesterday he showed up at Trump’s meeting with oil executives to discuss Venezuela’s oil. Total fraud

[Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump]

Sen. Mitch McConnell on Greenland:

“Threats and intimidation by U.S. officials over American ownership of Greenland are as unseemly as they are counterproductive. And the use of force to seize the sovereign democratic territory of one of America’s most loyal and capable allies would be an especially catastrophic act of strategic self-harm to America and its global influence.”

[Gandalv @Microinteracti1]

Finally, the United States is waking up 🚨

Representative Ted Lieu just drew a crystal clear red line, and it matters more than most people seem to realize.

“If any military member, from the generals on down, participates in using force against Greenland without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.”

That is not rhetoric. That is the law. And he is putting everyone on notice.

This is how a constitutional system is supposed to work. Civilian control. Congressional authority. No freelance militarism because a president feels impulsive or humiliated or bored. Orders that violate the Constitution are not orders. They are illegal commands, and obedience is not a defense.

What I like here is the timing. This is not said after the damage is done. It is a preemptive warning. A flare shot into the sky saying: think very carefully before you cross this line.

For years, too many people in Washington treated norms as vibes and laws as suggestions. This is a reminder that the system still has teeth if people are willing to use them. And that responsibility does not magically disappear when you put on a uniform.

More of this please. Clear boundaries. Plain language. Zero ambiguity. That is how you stop bad ideas before they turn into irreversible disasters.

[WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧 @WarMonitor3]

Who wants to see this next?

[Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump]

According to the NYT, Trump got angry with his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, during an Oval Office visit.

“So you call Zelensky embattled and courageous?” he snapped.

“Sir, he is,” Kellogg replied. “It’s an existential fight on Ukrainian soil for his nation’s survival. When was the last time an American president faced that? It was Abraham Lincoln.”

Trump later told advisers, “He’s an idiot.”

[Caolan @CaolanReports]

Kyiv is the only capital on earth where New Year arrives in silence.

While the world celebrates with fireworks, Ukrainians have to listen for drones.

Wherever you are in the world, think of Ukraine and remember who caused this

[Santari Khri @TiMneTutNeTich]

Роберт Де Ниро поздравил украинцев с праздниками. Я присоединюсь к этим поздравлениям!

Героям Слава! 🇺🇦🌻🍀

[Чичваркин Евгений @chich_8]

@vzglyad Всем, кто имеет отношение к современном театру в Мариуполе может не сейчас, позже, под старость, будут приходить каждую ночь маленькие украинские дети, садиться на кровать и всю ночь пристально смотреть, ножками болтать, напевать что-то. Пока вы из окна не выйдете сами нахуй.

[Dominik Hasek @hasek_dominik]

Well said👍👍👍 Trump hates Zelensky because the 🇺🇦 president promotes and defends democratic principles and the law. The US president,on the other hand,hates democracy, admires dictators and does not follow the law, when he thinks he can get away with it