Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Wednesday, March 19, 2025

A "no" is not a "yes" when it is a "maybe," a "probably not," or an "only if." This is the painfully predictable lesson the Trump administration's first real foray into wartime diplomacy with the Kremlin has dealt. They've been hopelessly bluffed. They asked for a 30-day, frontline-wide ceasefire, without conditions. On Tuesday, they got " after a theatrical week-long wait and hundreds more lives lost " a relatively small prisoner swap, hockey matches, more talks, and " per the Kremlin readout " a month-long mutual pause on attacks against "energy infrastructure." This last phrase is where an easily avoidable technical minefield begins. Per US President Donald Trump's post and that of his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, the agreement concerned "energy and infrastructure." These are two entirely different sets of ideas.

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Trump felt he could either persuade, coax, or outsmart Putin. He has yet to do any of that. He has palpably lost in their first direct diplomatic face-off. For millions of Ukrainians his next choice defines their lives. Does he lose interest, apply pressure, or again provide concessions? It is a dizzying prospect.

His adversary is focused not on improved relations with Russia's decades-long adversary, the United States, or with its current president, Donald Trump, but instead on victory in its most existential conflict since the Nazis.

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Russia attacks Ukraine hours after partial ceasefire agreed in Putin-Trump call

www.theguardian.com

#1 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 08:52 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Putin Trolls Trump with Power Station Strike After Ceasefire'

www.thedailybeast.com

#2 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 09:12 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

It would be kind of funny if it weren't so tragic.

Trump getting played is, well, expected. The cost of his incompetence paid by the Ukrainian people is unacceptable.

#3 | Posted by qcp at 2025-03-19 09:26 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

'He's humiliating Trump': Putin critic buries president for phone call flop

www.rawstory.com

How embarrassing.

#4 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 09:29 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

We had a four year sample of Trump's behavior to know that he can't find his rear end with both hands.

But here he is back, anyway.

It's like a Greek play where the gods are against us.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2025-03-19 09:29 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Greek Play with a soap opera voice-over when they change the actors:

The part of Cassandra is being played by Hillary Clinton.
The part of Cassandra is now being played by Kamala Harris.

#6 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-19 09:30 AM | Reply

By the way, 57 minutes after... Putin promised not to attack energy infrastructure, they attacked energy infrastructure in Ukraine," said Browder. "And so Putin can't be believed. His promises can't be trusted. And to put it quite simply, he's humiliating Trump in front of the whole world."

#7 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 09:32 AM | Reply

per the Kremlin readout " a month-long mutual pause on attacks against "energy infrastructure." This last phrase is where an easily avoidable technical minefield begins. Per US President Donald Trump's post and that of his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, the agreement concerned "energy and infrastructure." These are two entirely different sets of ideas.

Protecting Russia's oil was always Trump's goal here. It's an easy target for Ukraine and gave them decent leverage against Putin. So Russia promises to stop attacking Ukraine's energy, which is of limited harm to Ukraine now anyway since winter is now over, and Ukraine is prevented (upon threat of Trump sabotaging Ukraine's defenses again) from damaging the main revenue source Russia has left.

#8 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-19 09:33 AM | Reply

US suspends some efforts to counter Russian sabotage as Trump moves closer to Putin

www.reuters.com

Krasnov Fats is a godsend to Russia.

#9 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 10:32 AM | Reply

Harris to Trump: Putin would eat you for lunch'

thehill.com

She called it.

#10 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-19 11:40 AM | Reply

He's outclassed by a pile of dog shit.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-03-19 11:41 AM | Reply

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