We seem to be descending into an alliance of pure Oligarchy, with despots controlling it from above.
French media saying it like it is, calling Trump Moscow’s man, and saying Trump and Putin are an alliance of predators.
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lol
poutine
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Definitely a tastier translation than what “Putin” actually sounds like in French.
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Pardon my French, I asked Claude to translate this for me:
I’ll translate the text from this French magazine cover into English:
The magazine is “Le Point” dated February 27, 2025, issue #2744, priced at 6.90€.
Main headline: “The Man from Moscow”
Subheadline: “Putin and Trump, the alliance of predators”Additional text below: “Macron’s game, Europe’s options, the shadow of China. Our reports, the analysis of Francis Fukuyama, the American journal of Olivier Guez…”
Smaller headlines at top:
- “Bruno Retailleau: Investigation into the ‘Vendéens clan’ of Place Beauvau”
- “Saving the Louvre: The battle of Laurence des Cars”
- "Special real estate: Taking advantage of the rebound"
All aid to Ukraine is suspended until “President Trump determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.”
Trump purportedly also requested a public apology from Zelenskyy before talks could resume.
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He really wants that Nobel Peace Prize, but has no clue how to do it.
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What’s stopping congress from securing a conviction for Trump? He can’t run again so if he’s gone, he’s gone.
He pardoned about 1000 people who might literally kill them if they step out of line. They are cowards I guess.
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Too many of them have their lips permanently attached to his butt?
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It would be bad enough if this was just a suspension of future aid commitments but this aid has previously been approved including materials in transit. Thus there are US weapons sitting in Poland that Ukraine can now not access. This extortion could be the most unconscionable thing Trump has done to date: it seems to have been a result of his dislike for Zelenskyy.
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I didn’t know that. What does the process of suspension look like? What are the grounds for suspension?
I have a feeling they’ll find a way there. Illegal arms trading is such a robust business practice these days that some opportunist will figure that one out.
That reminds me I gotta watch Lord of War again
I would hope that someone has enough empathy and courage to ignore the arms blockade. Trump can kiss his Nobel Peace prize goodbye. I just hope Time magazine makes Zelenskyy its 2025 Man of the Year.
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Article 7 (Suspension Clause) can be used (link below). Its a serious move though and that was on the table because some decisions require unanimous approval of EU states.
But it seems the EU has worked around this by borrowing for defense via the central banks (only requires a majority vote of the finance ministers) and allowed EU countries to breach the budget deficit rules for defense spending (also only requires a majority of EU countries voting in favour).
So about €700M over 5 years.
European defense company share prices are going gangbusters now.
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Seems that everything this admin has done has been to inflict maximum damage on maximum people.
It’s one thing (with which I greatly disagree) to cut off all foreign assistance for food, disaster relief, health crises. It’s another to cut them off immediately but then lie and say they’re continuing then let them continue to flounder without resources or guidance until you later tell them they really are cut off.
That’s maximum harm, hurting people as immediately as possible and not even telling them they’re cut off, but stringing them along further so they don’t make alternate plans for their safety and more people die.
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One of my all-favourites, Neil Young 
, is planning a fall concert in Ukraine. Good luck with that Neil!
Hope he decides to include Vancouver in this tour as he cancelled his Vancouver stop last summer. Would love to see him at least one more time in concert.
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