this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Europe that it cannot withstand Russia without Ukraine’s military, calling Ukraine’s victory vital to stopping Kremlin expansion.

Speaking to Polish media, Zelenskyy stressed that Russia’s larger, more brutal army would target other European nations if Ukraine falls.

He criticized Western allies for underestimating Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions, urging them to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.

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[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 184 points 1 week ago (4 children)

He's right.

Ukraine grows a LOT of grain. It's going to be a big problem when they stop providing Europe and the world.

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 64 points 1 week ago (1 children)

On a more cynical note: Ukraine grows a lot of Russian obituaries, which the EU doesn't have to, should they try to invade the Baltics once they are successful in Ukraine.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 69 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I'm not certain why your point was downvoted (maybe the wording confused people)... but folks may grumble about paying extra taxes to financially support the Ukrainian army but that does not even compare to the rage governments would face if they started sending volunteer or drafted troops to fight the frontline.

It's incredibly cynical of course - but if Ukraine is willing to fight and die for European freedom for the low low cost of just some money its insane to reject their offer.

Russia will not stop at Ukraine. They may stop at the Polish border, but the Baltic states are absolutely within Putin's gaze.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (2 children)

if Ukraine is willing to fight and die for European freedom for the low low cost of just some money its insane to reject their offer.

Insane. It pisses me off no end that we haven't given them the tools to not just defend their freedom, but to win. Fuck your fear of escalation. There are North Korean soldiers fighting a war of aggression in Europe.

Like how much more are we going to take?

[–] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

all of it. Europe bought the lie of peace dividends, outsourced their defense to America, and elected weapons grade morons and co-conspirators like Burlesconi, Merkel and Orban, who opened the door for Putin to put Europe in a comprimising position once he decided to s tart shooting.

And now America wants out.

Europe's either going to have to prepare for war. or accept that Russia is going to get to do what it wants, and continue to ratfuck European politics with shit like Orban, Fico, and whatever the fuck BRUV is.

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[–] M33@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Based on prices increase for the last two years « because it’s from Ukraine »… either we are being fooled by big corps or Ukraine do produces 80% goods and food for Europe

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Well, if you're from the EU, that would make sense. In America, we grow a lot of grain here in Canada and the US.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Eu is mostly self sufficient on base foods:

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/efscm-assessment-autumn-2023_en.pdf

If you look at fig. 4 on page 5, almost every meat source is above 100%, and fig 5 show most plant foods vary between 60-130%.

In the 70's the ECC which EU was called back then, turned European agriculture around from huge deficits to huge surpluses. To ensure self sufficiency in case of international destabilization. This resulted in enormous stockpiles, leading to a more balanced policy, which we seem to have achieved.

In short EU is NOT dependent on food from Ukraine, but others are.
We do import soy and maize, but have a surplus on grains.

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[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago (19 children)

I think we should help Ukraine, but Russia would get their clock cleaned by European NATO (even without US).

[–] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 59 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Regardless, I’d rather we not test that theory. It doesn’t matter which side wins, we all would lose.

[–] atro_city@fedia.io 11 points 1 week ago

As long as the nuke is dropped on my head, I don't care.

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[–] seven_phone@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Putin has said as much, it is why he constantly reminds everyone of his nuclear arsenal and apparent willingness to end the world over small matters.

[–] skvlp@lemm.ee 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Small dick energy on Putins part.

[–] IAmLamp@fedia.io 10 points 1 week ago

Astroturfing orcs downvoting

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[–] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (6 children)

and Europe would take catastrophic casualties in doing so.
America is an ocean away, and doesn't have to worry about war on their soil.

Europe on the other hand, can you honestly say that society is ready for events like Bucha on their soil? a Russian brigade breaks through the line, gets bogged down,isnt able to advance any further, so decides to loot , rape and mass murder the population before retreating?

Bucha and Mariupol is why the entire NATO strategy changed. it used to be that the baltics would effectively be surrendered temporarily while the European backbone mobilized, France Germany Poland etc. But thats no longer an option because intelligence knows that the Russian Soldiery, for lack of a better term, act like savage ghouls. and will put innocent men women and children to the sword for no reason other than spite.

and failing that, they will bomb a city to dust like they did to Mariupol, Bakhmut, and so many others

One thing Russia has infintely more experience than Europe, its people are used to the realities of war, Martial law, no rights, Resource scarcity, No protesting. they just behave like lemmings now. Its sad, but its an advantage.

European populations would be calling for an armistice and selling out countries on the periphery as soon as it started because they dont want to go to war.

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[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 36 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We built NATO for this while goddamn reason, Kyiv just wasn’t available as a signatory at that time. It is now. Use the opportunity, before the USA is able to thwart it due to our current Foothold situation

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

ukraine has the second largest military in europe. if trump pulls the us out of nato, it may suddenly become an issue.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Not really. Europe's army is "small" because we have not been drafted.

Populations:

  • Europe: 450 million
  • Russia: 150 million
  • Ukraine: 35 million

Defending countries will draft most of their people, while the attackers draft far less. Countries that are not at war will simply not draft and will have a natural army size. (Which protects the country until people get drafted and trained)

There's no reason to compare apples and pears here.

[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Europe's population is ~744m.

EU's population is ~450m. Not Europe's.

However you'd also have to account for the population of all NATO countries, minus potentially the US, were it to come to a conflict against its members.

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[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago (14 children)

Zelensky is correct, Putin is identical to, take your pick, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini, Franco and Tojo.

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[–] perestroika@lemm.ee 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Eastern Europe: "we know already, and they (pointing westwards) are starting to get it".

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The ones that really don't get it are former Warsaw pact areas like Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia. Who actively SUPPORT Russia!

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[–] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Well, Trump is obviously not going to help anyone but himself. But that doesn't mean Europe is doomed. Plenty of nuclear weapons in Europe. If anything, everyone's doomed.

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