Denys Davydov relayed an opinion expressed by Ukrainian language blogger Sergei Sternenko. I had not heard of him, so I searched on стерненко сергей. I’m sharing for several reasons.
1) He has closed captions in English. You can follow him easily.
2) His Ukrainian is very clear. I understand half of what he is saying without the captions.
3) He appears calm, balanced and reasonable. He is even somewhat nice to Donald Trump.
4) He is collecting money for anti-shaheed drones. I gave.
5) At over two million, he has more followers than anybody else of whom I know. The numbers are:
Sergei Sternenko – 2.07 m
Denys Davydov – 890 k
Reporting from Ukraine – 670 k
The Russian Dude – 262k
Professor Gerdes – 158k
And just for a brutal comparison, friend-of-Putin Col. MacGregor, on YouTube for decades, posting now through Yemek Zamanim, has 182k
Sternenko’s post today forwards three theories as to why Trump might have withheld weapons from Ukraine. First is that he just doesn’t like us, or prefers Russia. Second is chaos and mixed messages within the White House – Hegseth, Kellogg, Gabbard and Trump are not on the same page. Third is that Trump needs, or wants, to be pushed into doing whatever he does.
I have put forth the third position myself upon occasion. Trump owes Ukraine nothing. Ukraine’s supporters have been hostile to him since the beginning of time. Many in MAGA see Ukraine as a sinkhole of graft and corruption, a not altogether off-base point of view. Therefore, Trump has to assume the posture of being forced by Russia’s atrocities to do the right thing. Sternenko favors this latter position, and so do I. Perhaps most significantly, it is the most optimistic of the three.
At any rate, I recommend that you readers add Sternenko to your list of bloggers to survey in the search of ranges of opinion.
one more and simpler explanation. . .
Trump is doing his thing, negotiating from power position: refusing, procrastinating, delaying, wearing the opponent's patience down.
Because: He has nothing to lose, only gain by using TIME. Opponents find TIME precious.
Reason: Trump probably does see something attractive within Ukraine(specialty minerals, ore) but has other more pressing demands. Trump wants a REAL deal, not just a half-off sale. Trump feels the USA has put way to much into Ukraine; wants a REAL deal because of this, too.
Example: I look at many on line auctions but will not buy unless there are few bidders and the price is not run up by morons who could find the price on the internet and pay 80 to 90% of NEW price. I buy ONLY REAL deals-- 20 to 30% of NEW price. They are Hard to find.
Hi Graham. This is the correct YouTube link on Sternenko.
https://youtu.be/1yKfa03Sa-4?si=RPJJZicniNHNnKlA
Your link referenced me to an older podcast.