Trump and Putin will impose a settlement on Zelensky because he will have no choice but to accept. The UK and EU will huff and puff but won't do anything because Trump will threaten them with economic pain. Trump and Putin will then have driven a massive great wedge between Europe, Ukraine and UK. We can then assume that Russian sanctions will be lifted (guess who'll be back in the London money laundry business and property empire) and first in line for a drop of the black nectar will be Germany, desperate to reduce energy costs to its people and businesses, quickly followed by everyone else. It really couldn't work out any better for Trump and Putin who will have kneecapped NATO and bought most of Western Europe under their (in)direct economic and military control. The Empire(s) Rule OK.
Declan, i think it would behoove you to do a bit more background research and reading on Russian politics.
The “putin is far right strongman” thing is something that has been pushed in our societies and media for so long, but it’s not an accurate portrayal. He is no angel, guilty of international crimes and all of that, but he most certainly does not represent what constitutes the far right in Russia. He is rather considered quite moderate, and the actual record of his policy shows a concerted effort over his rule to attempt to build bridges first. Even our version of events around the oligarchy in russia is not backed up by any serious, knowledgable assessment of the factual record.
All that said, the general thrust of this is on the money.
I am definitely going to dive even deeper into Russian politics because admittedly I'm no expert. You are not the first person that has mentioned this to me recently so now I'm curious
I would also suggest you visit the country and if you haven’t seen it after the cold war (or even 15 years ago), I would suggest you speak to people who do. What the country has gone through in terms of development is second maybe to China and Southeast Asia. A great number of cities are unrecognisable (for the better) and I guarantee you that your jaw would drop to the floor if you visited e.g. Moscow right now. My hunch is the reason travel is made so difficult as the BS picture the Western media has painted is plain and clear for everyone to see, once you land.
I had to leave a lot of baggage behind after I did. I know nothing about the place really, but at least I know that now. I grew up in the tail end of the cold war, was old enough to realise what the fall of the wall meant etc - and by god did I have a fucking encyclopaedia of bullshit about Russia, soviet states etc in my head. It seeped in from every angle. Movies, news, headlines, school history lessons etc etc.
Once again even the Georgia incident was again US instigated, the 2014 Russian entry into Crimea was upon written request from the Independent Republic of Crimea and the process and action was totally permitted under the UN Charter.
The 2022 entry into the Ukraine was again US led NATO provoked, and carried out only after the Russians had exhausted all possible diplomatic means without a favourable Ukrainian response.
On each occasions Russian actions were a very valid response to an action carried out by somebody else who failed physics at school, and the understanding that, to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Kenan and Cohen are a great start on the subject. The ex ambassador Jack Matlock(?) from the US is interesting, and i think Scott Ritter, despite alleged past misdeeds, is a good analyst of it as well.
The invasion of Ukraine is clearly contra international law. Now, some make the case that he had exhausted all avenues, and he was certainly patient in many respects, but preemptive invasions do contravene international law as it stands.
I’ve yet to read a case for his actions that convinces me otherwise, but i’m open to the possibility, always.
You should be a lot more concerned about the illegality of the Zelensky presidency, and that of the Ukranian Rada, whose terms of office have expired by several months, without an election, for which the Ukrainian Constitution makes No Provision.
To add insult to injury, the US, Overthrowing the legitimate Ukrainian government in 2014 was an illegal act.
Then there was the matter if the training and arming of the Ukrainian army, to what nefarious end, given that up till the point of the US orchestrated Coup in the Ukraine, they had had no need to expand their military given that none of their neighbours posed any threat whatsoever.
US led NATO didn't contravene their agreement Not to expand NATO one inch further East, they did it Fifteen times.
Not to mention the array of weapons control agreements that the US either reneged on or cancelled, and then of course Obama kicked Russia out of the G8, another nefarious US act, and the list goes on, and on, which according to your insanely irrational comment, Russia was just supposed to accept.
This is a highly irrational statement, given that the US/ NATO had contravened prior agreements not to expand NATO, overthrown the legitimate Ukrainian government through a Coup in 2014, and had installed bio labs, created CIA operational bases close to the Russian border, in the Ukraine and commited a plethora of other nefarious acts.
Was Russia expected to just sit on their hands and let the US/NATO through their proxy, the Ukraine, just run roughshod over Russia and International treaties, and not lift a finger???
How Fucking Insane a rationale, especially given that Putin had been warning the US/ NATO since 2008 and the first expansion of NATO and Contravention of an agreement with the Russians.
How is it that illigal actions by the West are acceptable but defence against these illegal acts, by the Russians, is Not???
KC, where do I deny any of that? And i’ll thank you for not making ad hominem attacks based on half a paragraph of writing. My comment was about someone’s perception of Putin. I was not talking about the whole situation, and I am well aware of much of Nato’s provocation and the warnings of Kennan, Matlock and others at the time - ie, in the 90s, when Clinton and co signed the expansion act. It is not a hollywood movie sir, where there are only good and bad actors. It is entirely possible that there has been bad faith and actions by both sides of your divide.
Nation States certainly have a history of behaving deplorably.
If you want to have a serious discussion, then be my guest. If you want to behave like an infantile troll and start insulting me, then that is the stance if someone who is not so sure in their argument. I even left the door of possibility explicitly open at the end of my paragraph, an invitation for thoughtfully presented argument, and you walked in like a bad house guest and put your muddy Rick James shoes all over my couch.
So, i’ll bid you adieu, good luck, well wishes and rue another opportunity to build bridges and alliances, ruined by your bad faith, modern day internet hyperbole and personality attacks simply due to a minor difference of opinion. Well done sir!
thank you for clarifying this! "this was never about defending Ukraine’s sovereignty or standing up to Russian aggression. It was about weakening Russia without spilling a single drop of Western blood. For Europe and the US, this war has been an amazing chance for a proxy conflict—" hadn't quite realised. That is it. And further, that "The United States, ever the opportunist, will move in to exploit Ukraine’s resources, stripping the country bare under the guise of ‘reconstruction.’ Meanwhile, Ukraine will be left with a gargantuan mountain of debt and a shattered population, forced to pay for a war it never wanted and couldn’t win. ...This is the grim reality of Western imperialism: a cycle of destruction and exploitation, dressed up in the language of freedom and democracy."
I wonder then what the initial response to Putin’s invasion should have been. Just let him take Kyiv and Ukraine? If not and the West is going to defend Ukraine, to what extent and for how long? If we’re saying it was all a NATO plot to weaken Russia, then it’s a trap Putin walked right into, but somehow it doesn’t feel like that’s what happened. I honestly don’t know what to think and am asking real questions here (not rhetorical).
The danger is in taking at face value, what the European mis-leaders say.
Yes they will fight to the last Ukrainian, and then will sacrrifice European people too. If you look closely countries like Sweden Norway and Finland - the frontline countries - are business putting in place war plans that include national forced labour of all citizens 18-72 in militarized jobs, national laws to commander civilian vehicles, and to store military equipment, materials and vehicles in private buildings.
What happens when your home garage is the storage of military weapons or vehicles. Well in modern warfare, that means it gets vaporised. Along with your home, you and your family.
Fighting to the last Ukranian is a limited hang-out, not the full story.
I really disagree with the whole premise of your article. To say that the war in Ukraine is cynically being used by the western European NATO members simply as a means to destabilise Russia is nonsense. No one in the west invited this and everyone would rather it was over. Its very clear that Putin will not stop if not stopped in Ukraine. The next project could likely be an attempt to regain the baltic states to link back to the enclave of Kaliningrad or Transnistria/ Moldova and then it really will be the enemy at the gates, for us. His 'Eurasian project' is real in my opinion. Ukraine is a sovereign nation that deserves to remain so and Putin needs to be put back in his box or a wider future conflict is a distinct possibility. Just my tuppence.
You have no idea what you are talking about. You appear to be repeating the kind of nonsense passing for journalism that comes from mainstream press.
Rather than put in your "tuppence" why not actually do some reading and research on history and the deeply layered context surrounding current geo political events.
The idea that this is down to personalities and that Putin is scheming to take over Europe etc is utter drivel.
I have done my research and I certainly don't rely on the "mainstream press" whatever that is, that's why I am able to comment. It appears to be you that is misguided my friend. Makes me wonder what you are reading. Just an opinion.
Ukraine was once known as Europe’s Breadbasket. Along with its buried treasures in the form of rare earth, it possesses equal riches on its surface. These fertile areas are like young women to the Agricultural Jeffrey Epsteins such as Monsanto and Cargill.
I see control of farmland by Western corporations as a far greater and more nefarious risk to humanity than the more direct threats of the Russian State.
Of course Putin seems to be neck and neck with the West on surveillance and digital currency, so perhaps the other points are moot.
My question, where is all of this supposed Russian surveillance taking place?
Secondly, just like money itself, digital currency is Not the evil, but how it is used and controlled and by whom, and their intentions, is where the evil lies.
Your point about digital currency is exactly right. The problem is the intertwining of the currency with surveillance. As the head of the European Bank is on record as saying: “Digital currency is not about finance, or about convenience. It is about control.” There’s no reason that digital currency could not be anonymous as cash, and leave freedom to the people. But that ignores the dawning reality that people ache to be surveilled, yearn to be controlled.
Westerners maybe willing to be slaves to their fears, but this certainly isn't the case in places like Russia.
There is not a President on this planet who has, over the past century and half, done more to elevate and build trust with his people, the way Putin has, and he's not about to destroy that relationship with his people.
Trump and Putin will impose a settlement on Zelensky because he will have no choice but to accept. The UK and EU will huff and puff but won't do anything because Trump will threaten them with economic pain. Trump and Putin will then have driven a massive great wedge between Europe, Ukraine and UK. We can then assume that Russian sanctions will be lifted (guess who'll be back in the London money laundry business and property empire) and first in line for a drop of the black nectar will be Germany, desperate to reduce energy costs to its people and businesses, quickly followed by everyone else. It really couldn't work out any better for Trump and Putin who will have kneecapped NATO and bought most of Western Europe under their (in)direct economic and military control. The Empire(s) Rule OK.
Declan, i think it would behoove you to do a bit more background research and reading on Russian politics.
The “putin is far right strongman” thing is something that has been pushed in our societies and media for so long, but it’s not an accurate portrayal. He is no angel, guilty of international crimes and all of that, but he most certainly does not represent what constitutes the far right in Russia. He is rather considered quite moderate, and the actual record of his policy shows a concerted effort over his rule to attempt to build bridges first. Even our version of events around the oligarchy in russia is not backed up by any serious, knowledgable assessment of the factual record.
All that said, the general thrust of this is on the money.
I am definitely going to dive even deeper into Russian politics because admittedly I'm no expert. You are not the first person that has mentioned this to me recently so now I'm curious
I would also suggest you visit the country and if you haven’t seen it after the cold war (or even 15 years ago), I would suggest you speak to people who do. What the country has gone through in terms of development is second maybe to China and Southeast Asia. A great number of cities are unrecognisable (for the better) and I guarantee you that your jaw would drop to the floor if you visited e.g. Moscow right now. My hunch is the reason travel is made so difficult as the BS picture the Western media has painted is plain and clear for everyone to see, once you land.
I’ve long desired to. It’s just not that feasible currently. I do follow some journalists who live there etc.
I had to leave a lot of baggage behind after I did. I know nothing about the place really, but at least I know that now. I grew up in the tail end of the cold war, was old enough to realise what the fall of the wall meant etc - and by god did I have a fucking encyclopaedia of bullshit about Russia, soviet states etc in my head. It seeped in from every angle. Movies, news, headlines, school history lessons etc etc.
Whilst I agree with most of your comment, I'm going to challenge you on the segment relating to Putin's supposed "international crimes".
What are these supposedly?
Once again even the Georgia incident was again US instigated, the 2014 Russian entry into Crimea was upon written request from the Independent Republic of Crimea and the process and action was totally permitted under the UN Charter.
The 2022 entry into the Ukraine was again US led NATO provoked, and carried out only after the Russians had exhausted all possible diplomatic means without a favourable Ukrainian response.
On each occasions Russian actions were a very valid response to an action carried out by somebody else who failed physics at school, and the understanding that, to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Kenan and Cohen are a great start on the subject. The ex ambassador Jack Matlock(?) from the US is interesting, and i think Scott Ritter, despite alleged past misdeeds, is a good analyst of it as well.
The invasion of Ukraine is clearly contra international law. Now, some make the case that he had exhausted all avenues, and he was certainly patient in many respects, but preemptive invasions do contravene international law as it stands.
I’ve yet to read a case for his actions that convinces me otherwise, but i’m open to the possibility, always.
You should be a lot more concerned about the illegality of the Zelensky presidency, and that of the Ukranian Rada, whose terms of office have expired by several months, without an election, for which the Ukrainian Constitution makes No Provision.
Again, who said I am not? That is your assumption. I made no comment either way. Another well dones KC.
Again, be well, happy and good luck.
To add insult to injury, the US, Overthrowing the legitimate Ukrainian government in 2014 was an illegal act.
Then there was the matter if the training and arming of the Ukrainian army, to what nefarious end, given that up till the point of the US orchestrated Coup in the Ukraine, they had had no need to expand their military given that none of their neighbours posed any threat whatsoever.
US led NATO didn't contravene their agreement Not to expand NATO one inch further East, they did it Fifteen times.
Not to mention the array of weapons control agreements that the US either reneged on or cancelled, and then of course Obama kicked Russia out of the G8, another nefarious US act, and the list goes on, and on, which according to your insanely irrational comment, Russia was just supposed to accept.
This is a highly irrational statement, given that the US/ NATO had contravened prior agreements not to expand NATO, overthrown the legitimate Ukrainian government through a Coup in 2014, and had installed bio labs, created CIA operational bases close to the Russian border, in the Ukraine and commited a plethora of other nefarious acts.
Was Russia expected to just sit on their hands and let the US/NATO through their proxy, the Ukraine, just run roughshod over Russia and International treaties, and not lift a finger???
How Fucking Insane a rationale, especially given that Putin had been warning the US/ NATO since 2008 and the first expansion of NATO and Contravention of an agreement with the Russians.
How is it that illigal actions by the West are acceptable but defence against these illegal acts, by the Russians, is Not???
Stop being a Daft Fool!!!
KC, where do I deny any of that? And i’ll thank you for not making ad hominem attacks based on half a paragraph of writing. My comment was about someone’s perception of Putin. I was not talking about the whole situation, and I am well aware of much of Nato’s provocation and the warnings of Kennan, Matlock and others at the time - ie, in the 90s, when Clinton and co signed the expansion act. It is not a hollywood movie sir, where there are only good and bad actors. It is entirely possible that there has been bad faith and actions by both sides of your divide.
Nation States certainly have a history of behaving deplorably.
If you want to have a serious discussion, then be my guest. If you want to behave like an infantile troll and start insulting me, then that is the stance if someone who is not so sure in their argument. I even left the door of possibility explicitly open at the end of my paragraph, an invitation for thoughtfully presented argument, and you walked in like a bad house guest and put your muddy Rick James shoes all over my couch.
So, i’ll bid you adieu, good luck, well wishes and rue another opportunity to build bridges and alliances, ruined by your bad faith, modern day internet hyperbole and personality attacks simply due to a minor difference of opinion. Well done sir!
This is not only an indictment of Britain, but of the feeble minded Ukrainians who have allowed this to be done to them, and haven't rebelled.
thank you for clarifying this! "this was never about defending Ukraine’s sovereignty or standing up to Russian aggression. It was about weakening Russia without spilling a single drop of Western blood. For Europe and the US, this war has been an amazing chance for a proxy conflict—" hadn't quite realised. That is it. And further, that "The United States, ever the opportunist, will move in to exploit Ukraine’s resources, stripping the country bare under the guise of ‘reconstruction.’ Meanwhile, Ukraine will be left with a gargantuan mountain of debt and a shattered population, forced to pay for a war it never wanted and couldn’t win. ...This is the grim reality of Western imperialism: a cycle of destruction and exploitation, dressed up in the language of freedom and democracy."
Spot On!!!
This is classic, they want this
I wonder then what the initial response to Putin’s invasion should have been. Just let him take Kyiv and Ukraine? If not and the West is going to defend Ukraine, to what extent and for how long? If we’re saying it was all a NATO plot to weaken Russia, then it’s a trap Putin walked right into, but somehow it doesn’t feel like that’s what happened. I honestly don’t know what to think and am asking real questions here (not rhetorical).
The danger is in taking at face value, what the European mis-leaders say.
Yes they will fight to the last Ukrainian, and then will sacrrifice European people too. If you look closely countries like Sweden Norway and Finland - the frontline countries - are business putting in place war plans that include national forced labour of all citizens 18-72 in militarized jobs, national laws to commander civilian vehicles, and to store military equipment, materials and vehicles in private buildings.
What happens when your home garage is the storage of military weapons or vehicles. Well in modern warfare, that means it gets vaporised. Along with your home, you and your family.
Fighting to the last Ukranian is a limited hang-out, not the full story.
I really disagree with the whole premise of your article. To say that the war in Ukraine is cynically being used by the western European NATO members simply as a means to destabilise Russia is nonsense. No one in the west invited this and everyone would rather it was over. Its very clear that Putin will not stop if not stopped in Ukraine. The next project could likely be an attempt to regain the baltic states to link back to the enclave of Kaliningrad or Transnistria/ Moldova and then it really will be the enemy at the gates, for us. His 'Eurasian project' is real in my opinion. Ukraine is a sovereign nation that deserves to remain so and Putin needs to be put back in his box or a wider future conflict is a distinct possibility. Just my tuppence.
You have no idea what you are talking about. You appear to be repeating the kind of nonsense passing for journalism that comes from mainstream press.
Rather than put in your "tuppence" why not actually do some reading and research on history and the deeply layered context surrounding current geo political events.
The idea that this is down to personalities and that Putin is scheming to take over Europe etc is utter drivel.
I have done my research and I certainly don't rely on the "mainstream press" whatever that is, that's why I am able to comment. It appears to be you that is misguided my friend. Makes me wonder what you are reading. Just an opinion.
You don't know what you are talking about.
I disagree with you. Read or listen to Putin's speeches and interviews. That is all you need to do to understand his intent. Its very simple.
🙄
As you have been reading Alexander Dugin you will know what I am talking about.
Ukraine was once known as Europe’s Breadbasket. Along with its buried treasures in the form of rare earth, it possesses equal riches on its surface. These fertile areas are like young women to the Agricultural Jeffrey Epsteins such as Monsanto and Cargill.
I see control of farmland by Western corporations as a far greater and more nefarious risk to humanity than the more direct threats of the Russian State.
Of course Putin seems to be neck and neck with the West on surveillance and digital currency, so perhaps the other points are moot.
My question, where is all of this supposed Russian surveillance taking place?
Secondly, just like money itself, digital currency is Not the evil, but how it is used and controlled and by whom, and their intentions, is where the evil lies.
Your point about digital currency is exactly right. The problem is the intertwining of the currency with surveillance. As the head of the European Bank is on record as saying: “Digital currency is not about finance, or about convenience. It is about control.” There’s no reason that digital currency could not be anonymous as cash, and leave freedom to the people. But that ignores the dawning reality that people ache to be surveilled, yearn to be controlled.
I hope you’re right. And BRICS will be extremely interesting and important.
Westerners maybe willing to be slaves to their fears, but this certainly isn't the case in places like Russia.
There is not a President on this planet who has, over the past century and half, done more to elevate and build trust with his people, the way Putin has, and he's not about to destroy that relationship with his people.