Trump admits NATO is the cause for the war.
http://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1894810235195265263

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Well, Trump may be right about that, but I have the impression that it was not NATO per se but the CIA and various other representatives of the US that fuelled the Maidan Uprising into a revolution and triggered the intervention of Russia.

Trump seems to be in denial of any responsibility, whatever the subject. It’s always somebody else’s fault : Biden, Zelensky, Mexico, Panama, Canada, the UN, WHO, Europe and now NATO … He seems to have forgotten something :

America First !

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Well he didn't actually say it was caused by NATO. Just that NATO was a factor.

And why was it a factor? Because of Putin's paranoia about NATO being on his doorstep. Of course, since Finland's now joined the alliance, NATO is indeed on his doorstep. ie his strategy was a complete failure.

AC seems to have a real problem understanding the difference between the various factors that led to animosity and the event that actually started the war. I've given up trying to explain it to him.

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I think we need to wait to see the final text on the 'Rare Earths Treaty'. But we've gone from Zelensky and Ukraine saying it'll never happen to them now being anxious to sign up. Art of the Deal.

This is a highly significant event. It means that the US now has a stake in the security and peaceful development of Ukraine and is a signal to Putin that he can't entertain ideas of coming back for a second attempt at expanding his empire in a few year's time.

That Trump got this done before substantive discussions on the ceasefire are held is important. It shows that he's aiming at a final resolution to the border disputes between the Ukraine and the Rus empire.

Art of the deal.

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There's a pattern developing here. Trump makes a suggestion. All the 'right' people pronounce that he's insane and it'll never happen. And then it happens. Panama, rare earths, Greenland, European nations increasing defence spending, Gaza ceasefire. But the funny thing is the 'right' people will never learn.

Hi mhaze,
"Well he didn't actually say it was caused by NATO. Just that NATO was a factor."
Trump: "NATO you can forget about, I that's probably the reason the whole thing started"
- I don't think he could've been much more clearer.

"Of course, since Finland's now joined the alliance, NATO is indeed on his doorstep. ie his strategy was a complete failure."
- Well Finland made a huge mistake, now they have to spend billions on defense when they enjoyed neutral status and were never at threat by Russia.

Russia has responded by taking additional measures putting extra military on the border and Finland now has to do the same.
Its just military hawks boosting NATO weapons sales and ripping the Finnish citizens off when there was peace and no problem to begin with.

"AC seems to have a real problem understanding the difference between the various factors that led to animosity and the event that actually started the war."
- No it seems you are flailing around in a big pile of crap trying to minimise the mess and trying to get out. Do you know what fifth columns are? Don't worry, I know how your mind works. Just put your fingers in your ears and scream "I'm not listening" Lol

"...signal to Putin that he can't entertain ideas of coming back for a second attempt at expanding his empire in a few year's time."
- No it just means the war will continue with more loss of Ukrainian lives and territory and a peace deal isn't likely, why because Putin doesn't want to have to fight the war a second time.

The rare earths deal isn't that significant, and any security guarantees would be minimal.
They don't have the specific rare earths U.S. needs (Antimony, Gallium and Germanium) that China has banned export of that is essential to America's push to maintain technological supremacy. It may as well be a coal deal (but also does include oil and gas), and at least 30% of Ukraine's rare earths lie on Russian controlled territory.
- And Russia and China have plenty.

It's kind of like Muslim immigration, give it time and you're guaranteed to lose out, like England, not to mention China has magnitudes more STEM graduates than America.
Or the G7 and BRICS.

Also the deal doesn't mean much while the war is ongoing.

Trump’s Ukraine Mineral Ultimatum: How China Cut Off the US Military’s LIFELINE w/ Ben Norton
http://youtu.be/12hbqZe-yaA

And we wont even get into Chinese open source AI 'DeepSeek' that put the wind up the higher-priced American platforms...

'Sputnik moment' Chinese DeepSeek wipes off $1 trillion from US tech giants in a day
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/deepseek-nvidia-stocks-us-stock-market-donald-trump-ai-sputnik-moment/articleshow/117616324.cms

Trump doesn't need a cabinet or chosen experts like Elon Musk.

All he has to do is read the copious, day in day out, comments of the expert posters here.