Seems like Budanov's wife got poisoned. If they can't get the military leaders they get their families. Sickening tactic.

The Netherlands' new leader whose manifesto calls for a halt in weapons supplies to Ukraine suffered a major setback on Wednesday evening as he tries to form a government coalition.

His PVV Freedom Party shocked everyone by clinching 37 seats – far beyond what polls had predicted. His preferred coalition is with the BBB farmers party (seven seats), the all-new pro-reform New Social Party (20 seats) and the current ruling party, the center-right VVD (24 seats).

The VVD has already ruled out participation, saying it would "support a center-right coalition" from the opposition benches. The BBB and the NSC were seen as more amenable.

But the NSC and its popular leader Pieter Omtzigt said Wednesday it did not see a way of working with the PVV unless it clarified the more extreme parts of its manifesto.

"All in all, the NSC faction does not now see any basis to start talks with the PVV about a majority or a minority government," said a letter from Omtzigt to the "scout" charged with overseeing the negotiations.

The PVV manifesto "contains views which in our judgement go against the constitution... here we draw a hard line," said the letter.

The manifesto calls for a ban on mosques, headscarves and the Koran, as well as a referendum on a "Nexit" – the Netherlands leaving the European Union.

What does this mean for Ukraine?

It looks positive overall – Wilders can't stop aid to Ukraine until a government is formed and there's a chance it could be something he has to compromise on in order to move forward.

EXPLAINED: The Huge Blow for Geert Wilders and His Anti-Ukraine Aid Stance

According to the Greek media, the negotiations are at the final stage.

Washington will acquire a total of:

• 50 thousand shells of 105 mm caliber;
• 20 thousand shells of 155 mm caliber;
• 5 thousand shells of 203 mm caliber.

The total price negotiated by the Greek side is $47 million, according to the article.

U.S. Convinces Greece on Shell Supply for Ukraine - Militarnyi

According to the map, obtained by POLITICO, Pennsylvania has received $2.364 billion in investments to build munitions and tactical vehicles for Ukraine, the most of any state. Meanwhile, Arizona is a close second with $2.259 billion. Texas and Arkansas received $1.449 billion and $1.478 billion, respectively, while Florida got $1.011 billion.

In total, the states have enjoyed more than $27 billion in investments from arming Ukraine, according to the graphic, the existence of which was first reported by Reuters.

Biden Admin Circulates Map Showing States That Benefit From Ukraine Aid - POLITICO

Here is the best-kept secret about U.S. military aid to Ukraine: Most of the money is being spent here in the United States. That's right: Funds that lawmakers approve to arm Ukraine are not going directly to Ukraine but being used stateside to build new weapons or to replace weapons sent to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. Of the $68 billion in military and related assistance Congress has approved since Russia invaded Ukraine, almost 90 percent is going to Americans, one analysis found.

Our aid to Ukraine is not only forcing the Pentagon to rapidly increase the United States' ability to produce weapons; it's also modernizing the U.S. military. As retired Army Maj. Gen. John G. Ferrari, now a colleague at the American Enterprise Institute, recently pointed out, we are giving Ukraine weapons systems that are often decades old and then replacing our stockpiles with more advanced versions.

Poland sent 250 older Soviet and German tanks to Ukraine and signed a $4.75 billion deal in April 2022 to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams replacement tanks that will be produced at the Lima, Ohio, factory.

Efforts to arm and equip Ukraine have also dramatically boosted sales of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. This benefits workers at production facilities in Palmdale, Calif.; East Hartford, Conn.; Middletown, Iowa; and Fort Worth, as well as in other U.S. cities that produce parts for the jets. Finland, which finalized a $9.4 billion deal to purchase 64 F-35s, has said the new planes will allow it to donate its old F/A-18 Hornet fighters to Ukraine. Norway, which has donated old F-16 fighters to Ukraine, is purchasing 52 F-35s as well as spending $293 million to arm them with 580 StormBreaker Small Diameter Bombs made in Tucson, Ariz.,. Denmark and the Netherlands are donating 61 F-16s to Ukraine and replacing them with additional F-35s.

Opinion | Ukraine Aid’s Best-Kept Secret: Most of the Money Stays in the U.S.A. - The Washington Post

What the heck happened with the Netherlands. When I grew up there it was basically 4 parties, CDA, PVDA, VVD, D66. It all started fragmenting after I left in 2002. But I never expected Geert Wilders to get this popular.

I doubt the government, if they even can get to a coalition, will last long. Hopefully the damage will be limited and of short duration. Yet for now there is little hope of much help from The Netherlands in the Ukraine and Gaza wars if he does manage to form a coalition.

Once The Netherlands were progressive and even used here in Canada as an example on how to integrate immigrants into a multi cultural society. How things have changed :( #Blame immigrants for everything. (Although while the government was more progressive in the past, the Netherlands were plenty racist as well when I grew up. I guess the difference is, it's now out in the open in politics)

The Western/European superiority complex, eurocentrism, is at the root of all this and a direct result of how history has been (re)written to favor the enlightenment and the industrial revolution, while brushing colonialism, slavery and fascism under the rug.
https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/european-superiority-complex-is-now-a-malignant-tumour-12782420

Tbh and this might cause some debate but Europe has always been pretty damn racist, Imo. It's so easy to rile Europeans up against immigrants of all kinds or Muslims, UK doesn't even like itself, let alone people from other countries, Lol. Europe has the tendency to act morally superior to America but really, we're often just as bad.

Worrying to see a rise in far right in Europe and it's so easily done.

Also, not sure how the shitshow of UK hasn't put a stop to any other countries considering an EU breakup, Lol.

The dream of some Republicans in America.

So, a many child policy like, well, Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union (which pretty much copied the policy in 1944 from the Nazis)? And considering other cultures barbarians like... Nazi Germany did?

So much for denazification of Ukraine...

That being said, I don't expect that the list of recipients of the Order of Parental Glory (Russia's modern equivalent of the Soviet Mother Heroine and Order of Maternernal Glory medals) will grow much longer...