Hungary and Slovakia opt out of Ukraine support.

 EU PLEDGES TO SUPPORT UKRAINE

U.S. DECISION MAY BE DECIDED FRIDAY

Yesterday the EU voted to continue to support Ukraine in the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Two EU members voted to no longer support Ukraine. Both Viktor Orban and Robert Fico voiced their decision by proclaiming the war is essentially over and further support will not change the outcome. They have both voiced opposition to the war for some time.

While the war is not over, in the last few days Russia has essentially surrounded and cut off support to Pokrovsk, a major defense city in the Donbas region. Russia has also made major advances in other areas of the conflict line and they will soon be past most of Ukraine's major defensive networks. 

Of course, the big meeting in Alaska between Russia and U.S. will be critical for the direction of this conflict. The war will not be over in the near term, but the groundwork for an end could be started. It is anticipated that Trump is ready to exit this affair, but it is not clear if the Senate will approve of any change in direction concerning Ukraine.  The Senate is floating bills to give Ukraine over $50 billion in more aid. The reality is that the U.S. stockpiles of war materials are critically low and cannot be replaced for possibly years.

As for Russia, it can be assumed they will continue to advance until all sides, Ukraine, the EU and the U.S. are willing to insure a long term end to the conflict. A ceasefire or a frozen conflict, that will fester until the next round of hostilities, will not be acceptable.

There is a possibility that Russia and the U.S. will agree to some sort of truce between the two countries without actually ending this war. This would allow more cooperation in other areas. It could also set the stage for a resumption of some of the nuclear arms treaties that were ended by Trump in his first administration. Trump was poorly advised to end this treaty and pursue a joint treaty with Russia and China, that could have been pursued without ending the existing treaty. Russia unilaterally stood by the treaty until recently when it declared they would no longer adhere to it.

There is much anticipation for some resolution on Friday, it is likely many will be disappointed. This conflict has been underway in some way since 2008 and when Bush 2 announced NATO expansion into Ukraine and Georgia. Both NATO and Russia began preparing for this showdown since that time. Russia considers this expansion an existential threat to their security and the west also considers a loss a blow to their credibility and pride. 

Sooner or later this will all end, the question is, will it be by some peaceful recognition of everyone's security and sovereignty or will it be mutual nuclear annihilation.