Ukraine Update for 2026

[Lance Payette]

I have warned my wife since the beginning of the war not to become caught up in the sort of wishful thinking we see here. There is a real danger that Russia will destroy Ukraine if the situation becomes sufficiently desperate. "Military Ukraine" against "military Russia" is a dangerous and ultimately losing game if Russia goes nuclear. I say this as someone who has supported Ukraine to the tune of thousands of dollars (or at least Revived Soldiers Ukraine, https://www.rsukraine.org). Now is the time for a serious push for peace, but we don't see it from the U.S. or EU. This is from Fabian Hoffman, an acknowledged missile industry expert: "Assessments that Russia’s nuclear warheads have turned into a paper tiger appear unwarranted and unwise ... Those who argue that Russia no longer maintains a functioning deterrent are extrapolating from limited information, and such claims are not justified." https://missilematters.substack.com/p/the-state-and-viability-of-russias. I have said before that I believe The Donald actually cares precisely nothing about Ukraine, and I've seen nothing lately to change my opinion; at best, the fate of Ukraine is very low on his list of priorities.

[Tom Graves]

I have warned my wife since the beginning of the war not to become caught up in the sort of wishful thinking we see here. There is a real danger that Russia will destroy Ukraine if the situation becomes sufficiently desperate. "Military Ukraine" against "military Russia" is a dangerous and ultimately losing game if Russia goes nuclear. I say this as someone who has supported Ukraine to the tune of thousands of dollars (or at least Revived Soldiers Ukraine, https://www.rsukraine.org). Now is the time for a serious push for peace, but we don't see it from the U.S. or EU. This is from Fabian Hoffman, an acknowledged missile industry expert: "Assessments that Russia’s nuclear warheads have turned into a paper tiger appear unwarranted and unwise ... Those who argue that Russia no longer maintains a functioning deterrent are extrapolating from limited information, and such claims are not justified." https://missilematters.substack.com/p/the-state-and-viability-of-russias. I have said before that I believe The Donald actually cares precisely nothing about Ukraine, and I've seen nothing lately to change my opinion; at best, the fate of Ukraine is very low on his list of priorities.

Dear Fancy Pants Rants,

Should Ukraine let Putin keep the 20,000 kidnapped children, too?

-- Tom

[Richard Smith]

Ukraine is deeply corrupt.  Thus Hunter Biden's long involvement.  They have a complex history including being staunch supporters of the Nazis with involvement in the Holocaust. This is a complex regional conflict.  It is not simply a good vs evil or David and Goliath war.  Everything is transitory.  This war may end soon or not but it will end.  Putin will eventually be history and a new generation of Russian leaders that were not involved in the Cold War will take over.  Hopefully they don't go too far in the way the rest of "Europe" to become a woke, socialist state but things will change.  Trump, Putin, or Zelensky?  Which has suspended election indefinitely?  I'm all for Ukraine winning the war but the silly sentiment is just a product of some type of TDS conflation of Russia and Trump that was conjured up during the Russia collusion era.

[Lance Payette]

Ukraine is deeply corrupt.  Thus Hunter Biden's long involvement.  They have a complex history including being staunch supporters of the Nazis with involvement in the Holocaust. This is a complex regional conflict.  It is not simply a good vs evil or David and Goliath war.  Everything is transitory.  This war may end soon or not but it will end.  Putin will eventually be history and a new generation of Russian leaders that were not involved in the Cold War will take over.  Hopefully they don't go too far in the way the rest of "Europe" to become a woke, socialist state but things will change.  Trump, Putin, or Zelensky?  Which has suspended election indefinitely?  I'm all for Ukraine winning the war but the silly sentiment is just a product of some type of TDS conflation of Russia and Trump that was conjured up during the Russia collusion era.

Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.

[Michael Capasse]

Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.

Trump will jump at the precious minerals if/when they become available.

[Richard Smith]

Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.

Trump made an effort to end it.  That is more than Biden did.  His only "plan" was to send more and more taxpayer money for "as long as it takes."  Incredible stupidity.  The war started and continued under Biden.  Obama sent blankets.  The double standard is amazing.  Trump is expected to solve this war in 24 hours.  When he doesn't, he is good buddies with Putin and a mental case.  I can only believe that type of thinking has to be the product of an extensive propaganda campaign.  Biden would literally have never ended this war.  He probably didn't even remember it was going on.   The establishment politicians have incentives to remain in a constant state of war.  That allows them to control the flow of billions to military contractors who then reward them.  A vicious cycle.  The war in Ukraine is one of many regional conflicts that will flare up from time to time.  It is deeply unfortunate but there is nothing Trump or anyone can do until it runs its course.  Giving billions to Ukraine and allowing Zelensky to maintain a dictatorship and line the pockets of his buddies doesn't move the ball. 

[Michael Capasse]

Trump is expected to solve this war in 24 hours.   

  ...because he said he could.
How many more days on the war he started in Iran?