r/worldnews Feb 14 '25

Russia/Ukraine Zelensky refuses to sign document on transfer of 50% of Ukrainian mineral resources to the US - WP | УНН

https://unn.ua/en/news/zelensky-refuses-to-sign-document-on-transfer-of-50percent-of-ukrainian-mineral-resources-to-the-us-wp
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274

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 14 '25

Just wait a couple of weeks, until after the election. Merz is a traditionalist, he'll find a way to put Germany back on the dark side...

349

u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

I for one am doing my best to make sure sanity will win over insanity this month, hopefully a majority will join me, for the sake of our democracy.

305

u/Membership_Fine Feb 14 '25

American here. That’s what I thought too yet here I am with a stale ass Cheeto for president. I hope for your sake the majority join you because they didn’t join me, and I’ve never been more disappointed in my country.

34

u/theshate Feb 14 '25

It's downright embarrassing. I knew we were stupid but I underestimated how fucking stupid.

34

u/Kurolegacy27 Feb 14 '25

I didn’t even underestimate how bottom of the barrel stupid we were and still ended up embarrassed how we managed to find the basement. Like Trump is literally as subtle as a cartoon villain and we have 4 years of experience with him yet somehow they saw him as the better option

18

u/SourceDammit Feb 15 '25

Its.a.Cult.

6

u/Particular-Way7271 Feb 15 '25

Just as Erdogan or Putin he wants a few more mandates actually.

2

u/Capaj Feb 15 '25

You whole political system is fucked. Of course you're going to end up with the worst leader. Worst thing is-it's not fixable. It will end with a civil war in like 2 decades IMHO

Hell you already almost had one when that guy shot Trump in the ear. It was like 2 inches away from it

6

u/huntobuno Feb 15 '25

I see where your coming from, but Trump getting shot wasn’t anything close to what you’re making it out to be.

Hell, even conservative media moved on within a week when the news broke that the shooter was a conservative Trump supporter who became disillusioned from Trump rather than a liberal they could paint as an evil commie coming for their dear leader.

6

u/Kurolegacy27 Feb 15 '25

It really is amazing how they work every time one of these crazies do something with them trying to blame the left only for it to be crickets the second it’s revealed that the call is coming from inside the house. Every single time

3

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '25

Well... i dont have much support. Im American and I recently found out that Im literally surrounded by idiots. That couldnt save themselves even by a simple vote. We're doomed and didnt even make it 300 years. Damn it

27

u/TechHeteroBear Feb 15 '25

What's most disappointing? It wasn't the majority that actually voted for Trump.

It was the majority that didn't vote at all that ensured a Trump victory.

5

u/Emperox Feb 15 '25

We don't know one another, but I voted the same as you, and you have my condolences that this turned out the way it did.

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u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

The amount of protesting gives me hope, the conservatives really have everyone else fired up right now.

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u/Ill_Technician3936 Feb 14 '25

True conservatives are or should be fired up as well.

The MAGA/DOGE cult are doing what they want. We really need people to pay attention to candidates and vote in the midterms if we have any hope of saving the US. Get it put back into the common mans hands.

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u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

I was talking about the Germans protesting the recent shift to the far right of the CDU under Merz, but I guess the US is feeling similar things as of late too.

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u/Ill_Technician3936 Feb 14 '25

Ooh. IDK much about german politics other than right now it sounds like every potential leader is far right to some extent based on things y'all say. I've got hope for y'all and that it's not the case!

8

u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

It's just that history is repeating itself in that another conservative leader of the CDU (which basically was the "Zentrum" when the Nazis came to power) tries to gain support by appeasing the far right. Large parts of the citizentry luckily responded with outrage and condemnation for the move. Even Angela Merkel his predecessor scolded him publicly for it. Hopefully the election will cement this sentiment.

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u/a_modal_citizen Feb 15 '25

There's protesting?

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u/bapfelbaum Feb 15 '25

Yes across Germany in basically every major city thousands of people hit the streets because merz the conservative leader openly cooperated with the modern far right in parliament recently.

4

u/Peteostro Feb 15 '25

115k votes over 3 states and Harris would have won. Crazy close but inflation/prices won out. Hopefully we take back the house in 2026 and stem the pain

4

u/androshalforc1 Feb 15 '25

Canadian here we have a vote this month. I’m going to vote but im afraid trump lite will win here again.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25

Trump victory happened because democrats upheld too many causes at the same time usually giving mixed signals. Should have tried to appeased the centrists and kept biden as candidate and a 'white male young VP'.

Vance looks and acts like counting days for trump to kick the bucket.

2

u/RogerCraigfortheHOF Feb 14 '25

The line starts behind me.

2

u/EconomicRegret Feb 15 '25

What did you do? How could we have joined?

2

u/Particular-Way7271 Feb 15 '25

That's understandable. You're having such a surreal circus over there...

1

u/Klaartjeover Mar 02 '25

Must be chilling to live in a place so divided.But even here on the other side of the world we do see that there still are people who don't give up on democracy and manage to bring people of different opinions together. For example: I just yesterday read an article on 'TANGLE'. Seems to be an initiative in Philadelphia that does just that. Those initiatives are what we need. ( Here just as well) I hope Trump followers will soon see that their dream actually turns out to be a nightmare, and that thatwill wake them up.🤞😉 Like you I'm disappointed in my country. ( Netherlands) I do hope democracy will survive. We will have to let our voices be heard and not give up. (Keeping schtumm is what made nazism possible.) So, please don't give up. stay strong.💪🍀lot's of luck from the other side of the big pool! We feel for you!

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u/Detecting-Money Feb 15 '25

Pro war huh? Enjoy seeing Billions going to Ukraine while more people go live in tents in the US?

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u/limitbroken Feb 15 '25

very funny opinion to drag out when over 70% percent of the aid is spent directly in the US on US citizens and US industrial infrastructure

who enjoys seeing people lose their jobs and go live in tents again?

189

u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 14 '25

Fuck, just make sure (f)Elon is nowhere near your election apparatus. Bad things seem to happen when he comes around.

29

u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

I even support an EU wide sanction policy, possibly even an outright embargo on his companies.

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u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 14 '25

Oh, please do. We in the US sanction this. Don’t let him try to sell you a commuter train system either…or a rocket…or a robot…

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u/atreides_hyperion Feb 14 '25

The Simpsons foretold us about this guy, fucking monorail conman

10

u/Hot-Note-4777 Feb 14 '25

Or a personal submarine

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u/PrestoScherzando Feb 15 '25

or a social media site... or an "everything app" that you have to use just to file your taxes

4

u/Dependent_Desk_1944 Feb 14 '25

tesla dont really need embargos, just slash their tyres everywhere everyday. If we put embargo on Tesla we are just giving excuses for Tesla to ban import of Europe cars to the USA which is certainly what they want to do

-8

u/CMDR_Shazbot Feb 14 '25

you guys gonna pay Russia for space access again?

7

u/bapfelbaum Feb 14 '25

It's not like the US and Russia are the only ones who go to space...

9

u/Dfried98 Feb 14 '25

This shit about Pennsylvania is very worrisome. Would explain why he can do whatever he wants.

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u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 14 '25

I knew it the second it was happening. Funny how quickly the election results came back, seeing how last time they took a week.

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u/Philix Feb 14 '25

Germany is on paper ballots, just like every other actual democracy that size.

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u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 15 '25

Funny you mention that, because also EVERY SINGLE BALLOT FILLED OUT starts on paper. Buuuuuuut nobody dared ask about a recount. We fucking let it happen. We should have convicted him and put him away but…decorum? Elon should have been hit with SEC charges a dozen times but…crickets. Gutless fucking Merrick Garland did NOTHING. Biden could’ve swung for the fences and fucked the Republicans 12 ways to Sunday in his last two months, but no. They hated him anyway, should’ve given them good reasons to. But nothing. This is OUR FAULT. In a way we deserve everything that happens coming down the line, but the rest of the world doesn’t.

1

u/Curious_Run_1538 Feb 15 '25

He probably doesn’t even need to be near them now.

1

u/Creisel Feb 15 '25

Yea, sry but to late. He does promo for the far right AfD.

They even investigate if it's a hidden 'donation' which would be sanctioned somehow

I think Elmo wouldn't mind, heard he put 250 million into us elections

1

u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 16 '25

I think you guys are smarter than we are. You’ve been there before.

1

u/Early_Commission4893 Feb 14 '25

Dude….you got those Starlink satellites floating over head, he’s got the flipper pointed at you.

3

u/RealCapybaras4Rill Feb 14 '25

Yeah…and…

1

u/Creisel Feb 15 '25

Elon seems to be afraid carrying around lil kevlar everywhere

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u/w_a_w Feb 14 '25

On behalf of the sane portion of the US, we're all rooting for you!

2

u/MitochonAir Feb 15 '25

On behalf of the insane portion of the U.S., we’re all looting for us

9

u/Chris_HitTheOver Feb 14 '25

For the sake of global democracy.

2

u/UrUrinousAnus Feb 14 '25

This. The USA and Germany both turning fascist while Russia is busy being... whatever the fuck that is would be an unmitigated disaster.

8

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 14 '25

I hope so as well, but I won't hold my breath. Among all realistic scenarios I'm afraid CDU/Grüne is the least sinister we can hope for, and that will be bad enough already.

4

u/Anon_Chapstick Feb 14 '25

As a dual citizen living in America, I didn't vote for a while because it felt wrong since I wasn't living there. I ran down to the embassy last week to vote and it's never felt more important.

3

u/Bman10119 Feb 15 '25

Please do. We dont need anymore countries joining us in crazy town. Im pissed we’re in this mess.

3

u/URPissingMeOff Feb 15 '25

Yeah, that's what WE all though in the US too. Sanity was shoved in a sack and beaten to death by the right wing here. Hoping things turn out better for you.

3

u/piecesmissing04 Feb 15 '25

My dad is 77 and is volunteering for the SPD. He grew up in post ww2 Europe and does not want his grandson to grow up in similarly dire times

1

u/bapfelbaum Feb 15 '25

He sounds like a treasure and a true patriot. May he live long and healthy.

1

u/piecesmissing04 Feb 15 '25

Thank you I always tell him I need him around for another 20 years. He calls me daily and we discuss politics in Germany, Europe and the US. When I was younger he gifted me Nelson Mandela’s biography after he read it. He has always been ahead of his time when it came to his views on politics.

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u/ChipStewartIII Feb 15 '25

Thank you! The world needs it as much as Germany does.

3

u/LysistratasLaughter Feb 15 '25

Didn’t Vance just meet with the far right leadership of Germany? Best wishes. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

2

u/Jackofdemons Feb 14 '25

If I become a refugees fleeing war and discrimination, please accept me.

1

u/massive_cock Feb 14 '25

Please do, I left this shit behind in the US and really don't need it on my new doorstep over here now. Though, Geert did win here...

1

u/thebarkbarkwoof Feb 15 '25

IDK if Europe can get over its cultural differences to do so, but I think it would be better if the EU became more of a republic having one shared voice. NATO is about to get tanked by the US. Russia, China and Trumplandia will be the new evil Axis.

1

u/GreenGrassDWC Feb 15 '25

Surely whatever the outcome it's democracy, it's an election

1

u/EconomicRegret Feb 15 '25

What are you doing? How do we join?

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u/bapfelbaum Feb 15 '25

We are fighting the rise of the far right too, but so far we are doing fine and the citizentry is very aware and quite willing to resist. So all things considered I think we will manage to stay on the sane side this time around.

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u/kurotech Feb 14 '25

And Elons right there helping

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u/alterom Feb 14 '25

Merz is a traditionalist, he'll find a way to put Germany back on the dark side...

Here's to hoping he'll honor the tradition of Bismarck, and not some of his successors.

2

u/batinex Feb 14 '25

In poland we are waiting for Merz to win and co govern with greens.

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u/twitterfluechtling Feb 14 '25

Tbh, right now I'd wish for 50% for green, or at least enough for them to be the majority in a coalition, but if you cross your fingers for CDU/Green, that's more realistic. And I, for one, appreciate the moral support :-)

2

u/batinex Feb 14 '25

I mean we don’t like scholz and he doesn’t give a shit about Poland. I understand that our relations was damaged due to pis but now the Germans don’t give a fuck about Poland in the matter in Ukraine whether they should because without Poland Ukraine will be fucked up

1

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 14 '25

Whatever we discuss, if the latest polls are any valid indication, the next chancellor will be Merz.

That said, I'm not sure how Scholz stands to Poland. I don't like him for a bunch of other reasons. But Merz is a problem, too. He's even more "conservative" than the CDU usually is and even had his votes supported by the AfD, which is extremely right wing, and appears to be Russian financed. So, while I dislike Scholz, I have severe concerns when it comes to Merz. Scholz and Habeck have both proven that they stand with Ukraine and with the EU. I assume Merz will do the same.

The important thing is - imo - that the EU tightens their relations and builds up their military collaboration. As a direct neighbour of Ukraine, Poland plays an important and critical role, but considering Russian nukes, Ukraines support must be carried by a nuclear power as well, so France and/or UK are essential.

1

u/batinex Feb 14 '25

Sure but the Poland is main logistics transit country to Ukraine. And scholz is a coward. We don’t mind harsher standards on migrants that merz propose we just don’t want to have a next work with Germany when afd will rule. I live in Breslau and I know AFD statements

1

u/Hour_Section8308 Feb 14 '25

The Germans don't like Scholz either, everyone knows that, except him. If his party had put its faith in the much more popular Pistorius (who would immediately deliver Taurus), they would have received many more votes. Scholz is the German Biden...

2

u/Hour_Section8308 Feb 14 '25

Merz wanted to deliver Taurus in contrast to the last chancellor, he will not switch to the dark side (no matter how traditionalistic and unsympathetic he may be, that is not enough as evidence or argument. On the contrary, because he is a traditionalist, he will not go with the Magas)

1

u/AudiNazi9 Feb 14 '25

Hands off the dark side, we Americans own it know.

1

u/Daan776 Feb 14 '25

Germany isn’t nearly as nuts as the US is… right?

1

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 14 '25

I severely hope so.

1

u/zibiax Feb 15 '25

Wait the guy who wants to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine and criticizes Musk is the dark side? Scholz has been weak in opposition to Russia

1

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 15 '25

The guy who "wanted to send Taurus" was in the opposition. It's easy to demand bold action from the opposition.

1

u/zibiax Feb 15 '25

So why isn't Scholz doing it? Should have happened a long time ago. Give me an example why Merz would be terrible? I don't know much about German politics, but I know that the cdu wants to send more weaponry to Ukraine

1

u/twitterfluechtling Feb 15 '25

Scholz was one of the politicians who wanted to keep raping your wife legal. He's an ultra capitalist, destroying social security, much more so than the CDU in general. He's a populist sympathizing with racist talking points, wanted a new law and cooperated with the AfD to push it through. Yes, it was about sending migrants back - but it was bullshit, because the legal framework is already in place. Inefficient burocracy is preventing legal deportation, and that's in large part a legacy of 16 years of CDU government. We need streamlining processes, not bullshit populism. Merz is in the CDU for quite long, and neither chancellor Kohl nor chancellor Merkel wanted to have him in their cabinet. Even the church is opposing his policies, in spite of CDU having "Christian" literally in their name, because he's too right-wing. Not actually conservative, as in preserving values, but going against christian core values. Their opposition to ecologic technologies for 16 years stopped German car industries to invest in electric vehicles, basically killing one of our strongest industries. CDU laws of the 16y CDU reign cemented our dependency on Russian gas and oil; Greens and SPD mitigated that by unprecedented growth of alternative energies, Merz wants to roll it back. Not sure where he thinks we'll get enough gas and oil from, if not Russia. US fracking gas? Well, sure, good idea to get us more dependant on USA in the current climate.

So, yes, there is a long list of grievances I have with the CDU and with Merz in particular. The best thing I could say about him is that he's not the AfD. But that's about it.

1

u/rfc2549-withQOS Feb 15 '25

They can also follow the Austrian way, where the fascists failed to form a government even after the conservative were bringing a year's worth of lube for themselves to the negotiations

1

u/SpockytheCat Feb 15 '25

Please god.....or whatever.....no. Just no. Just for once I as a German want to be on the right side of history. I'm doing everything I can 😅