Neither thing has anything to do with democracy. You claimed there are no more democracies. Please explain how Switzerland and Iceland are not democracies.

Then what will we do when they come for us next?

Even if you assume the whole world is trying to invade you (which is not true) you can defend yourself even without a government spending billions on war designed to murder other people.

Would the 700bn used, right now, in some better causes be worth it, if in somewhat near future we’ll have our minorities in concentration camps, killed or expelled? Our social systems torn to shreds, poverty and income differences rising? The authoritarian/oligarch rule we’d get then would spend that 700bn in many multiples in warfare, but also similar amounts extra for police and other oppressive powers to silence any and all opposition.

You are describing the scenario you don't want to happen. Our social system is torn to shred already, poverty and income differences are rising and billions are going to oppressive powers such as the military

Flying squid you are picking up two irrelevant countries as switzerland and iceland because you know all the others to be corrupted as fuck. Democracy is being eroded worldwide in the same way: government are getting unlimited power and control over people and a bunch of rulers own all mass media.

Your words:

If you think democracy is a good thing you should realize that there’s none anymore

Either there is democracy in the world or there is not. Which is it?

I know a way to increase the support even more than that:

Donate to u24.gov.ua

And we want to keep living, so we need to be prepared.

I keep hoping the Palestinians will get their hands on one for the same reason.

This is the best thing about a Donald Trump presidency: sometimes good things happen by accident, and it's definitely a good thing for the EU to be depending less on the US.

Is your point that Russia should be allowed to steam roll through Ukraine? Europe shouldn't help their allies and neighbors defend themselves? Standing up to bullies is worse than being a bully?

Genuinely curious if you even have a point to make at all. I hope I'm just interpreting you wrong.

It's the same investment fund. I assume that's the main reason for it's existence. Donald Trump and his MAGA baffoons are driving America in the ground faster than a plane during his administration. They need to be ready and they will fight unlike many cowards here.

Numbers are growing in the U.S. but the time needed is also fighting the time that his administration devours media sources and telecommunication systems. Surveillance today is near insurmountable, but not yet

Eh, America would ally itself with Russia anyways. Might as well invest into weakening the Eastern front first.

Some of it is definitely bots, but don't discount the human factor either. Russia had an entire branch of the military dedicated to trolling the Internet at least as far back as 2015. Something tells me that hasn't gotten smaller since then. No doubt they work in tandem with bots as well, constantly editing their output, maybe even making posts from the same accounts.

The fediverse may be small compared to the behemoths, but I don't think we're so small as to be ignored.

They also need to cut the US out of any involvement in Ukraine

We (EU) should have unleashed our defense industry 3 years ago. Hopefully, the US MIC received the message, their profits are going to sink unless the orange turd starts to provide military aid to fucking Russia.

I already have him flagged as a troll, so you can just ignore him.

So since adjusting by PPP Russia has spent over a trillion in USD on the war, that makes Russia the aggressor?

considering the meeting that just took place in Saudi Arabia, I fear that is entirely possible.

All of Europe? All EU leaders? Just the EU president, who has a mostly ceremonial role?

I'm being nitpicky, no state is anyone's friend and no superpower (or wannabe) comes even half as close as a state to being on your side.

It seems a move that’s not only intended to help Ukraine repel Russia, but end defense dependence on the US, on the premise that the partner no longer is reliable.

Which is a good thing IMO. From this side of the large pond the USA looks more and more like a bully on par with Russia and China.

East of UA is fucked for decades but Russia is fucked too. Both countries burnt through quite a lot of their arsenal from Soviet times and struggle to keep their troops supplied. UA has it easier because the European countries help with weapons, munitions and other equipment.

Unfortunately Russia can sustain the current attrition rate by another 5-10 years before the situation becomes truly unbearable for them. My fear is that by then the UA might have collapsed.

The best case scenario is that Putin dies shortly and his successor ends this stupid war.

You have to spend money on weapons in order to have the privilege of sitting peacefully with those weapons rather than dying on your enemies.