Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 28, 2022
Ukraine – Smoke And Mirrors Around Poisonous Peace Talks

The disinformation department of the British MI6 secret service and its 'non-government-organization' Bellingcrap are offering another of their laughable 'chemical weapon' and 'poisoning' fairy tales:

Roman Abramovich and two Ukraine peace negotiators 'suffered a suspected POISONING that caused the skin to peel off their faces after attending talks this month' …

The Chelsea FC owner was reportedly poisoned just weeks ago after a meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv whilst he acted as a 'peacemaker' in the Russian war in Ukraine, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Following the meeting in Kyiv, Abramovich as well as two senior members of the Ukrainian team developed symptoms that included red eyes, painful streaming eyes as well as peeling skin on their faces and hands, sources told the newspaper.

Abramovich, who accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, also 'lost his sight for several hours' and was treated at a hospital in Turkey, a source told The Guardian.

Analysts at Bellingcat confirmed that three members of the delegation – including Abramovich – attending the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on 3 March experienced 'symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons'.

Abramovich, another Russian entrepreneur and Ukrainian MP Rustem Umerov had been taking part in the negotiations, with the talks lasting until about 10 pm, investigative news site Bellingcat said.

The three members of the delegation left the talks on 3 March to an apartment in Kyiv later that night.

Whilst there, they were all suffering from eye and skin inflammation and piercing pain in their eyes until the next morning. The three men had consumed only chocolate and water in the hours before the symptoms appeared.

A fourth member of the team who also consumed the same food and water did not experience symptoms.

The symptoms experienced by Abramovich and the two other negotiators subsided by the end of the following week.

The peace talks on Thursday, March 3, between Ukraine and Russia took place in Brest region of Belarus:

The tentative agreement [for humanitarian corridors], reached in Belarus, came as Russian forces continued to surround and attack Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and the second-biggest city of Kharkiv.

Pictures taken by Denys Kirieiev for AFP show four of the Ukrainian negotiators. The picture below is from the same series as the picture used by AlJazeerah which is marked as:

Negotiators shake hands prior to the talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Belarus's Brest region on March 3, 2022 [Maxim Guchek/AFP]


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Those four on the Ukrainian side seem to have been the only Ukrainian negotiators who were there.


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Rustem Umerov, pictured below, seems to be the third from the left in the upper picture:


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But Roman Abramovich, pictured below, is not in the March 3 peace talks picture:


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It therefore seem wrong what Bellingcat claims in the above piece. Abramovich did not attend the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on March 3.

It may well be though that after the peace talks in Belarus were held some of the Ukrainian delegation, including Rustem Umerov, had a meeting with Abramovich in Kiev.

Later it is said three of them went from there to an apartment in Kiev where they suffered some symptoms.

Bellingcrap is of course asserting, with zero evidence, that Russia was involved in that:

Sources told WSJ they blamed the suspected poisoning attack on hard-liners in Moscow who wanted to ruin talks to end the war. The victims meanwhile said they were not aware of who would have an interest in the attack.

Bellingcat investigator Christo Grozev, who was part of the team that concluded the Kremlin had poisoned Russian politician Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent in 2020, said he had seen the effects of the poisoning on Abramovich and the other negotiators.

'It was not intended to kill, it was just a warning,' Grozev said.

Who was the fourth member of the meeting who did not suffer symptoms? Would he not be the most suspect for poisoning of the others participants? Was he connected to Moscow hardliners?

Was it the peace negotiator who shortly thereafter suffered something much worse than curious poisoning symptoms. Something which is left out of the current reporting.

On Saturday March 5 the Kiev Independent reported:

According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation that met with Russia, was shot dead by the Security Service of Ukraine officers as they were trying to detain him. The man was allegedly Denys Kirieiev, a former deputy chairman of Oschadbank. The SBU had “strong evidence” he was leaking information to Russia.

Below is a picture of Denys Kireev. He is not in the picture of the Ukrainian delegation in the March 3 talks shown above.

Denys Kireev is however shown at the end of the table in a picture of the Ukrainian delegation for peace talks on February 28. Some other participants of the March 3 talks also took part in that meeting.


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A day after it was reported that Denys Kireev, the 'traitor', had been killed by the SBU, he was named a hero:

Clashing reports emerged Saturday surrounding the death of a Ukrainian identified by media as a member of the country’s negotiating team with Russia.

First, widespread reports in local media and social media throughout the day claimed Denis Kireev, who had been photographed taking part in negotiations in Belarus in recent days, had been killed by Ukrainian security forces during an attempt to arrest him.

Kireev, the reports asserted, had been suspected of treason.

A subsequent Facebook post by Ukraine’s defense ministry confirmed Kireev’s death, but asserted that he was an intelligence operative for Ukraine who died in the line of duty.

“During the performance of special tasks, three scouts were killed — employees of the Chief Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine,” the statement said, naming Kireev among those killed.

“They died, defending Ukraine, and their act brought us closer to victory,” it said. “Heroes don’t die! They live so long as we remember them!”

The discrepancies between the two conflicting accounts of his death could not be immediately accounted for.

There are indeed a lot of discrepancies within and in between all those reports that can not be accounted for.

That is likely because various Ukrainians, as well as their 'western' supporters, are lying about everything they can lie about. They do that because they usually get away with it. This time however the Ukrainian government was not yet coordinated well enough to keep those lies up:

Tim Franks @BBCTimFranks – 19:31 UTC · Mar 28, 2022

… Ihor Zhovkva – Deputy Head of President's Office – speaking to Newshour, @bbcworldservice.

He said he hadn't spoken to Abramovich or his people, but "the members of the Ukrainian delegation are fine; I was in contact with one of them, and they said the story was false."

Comments

@Roger @S Thanks for clarification re: Russian CB gold purchase

Posted by: ptb | Mar 28 2022 23:41 utc | 101

Thanks S @97. Of course, the real reason for the West’s refusal is it overturns their own sanctions. They asked for it bigtime!

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 28 2022 23:44 utc | 102

@ S | Mar 28 2022 23:35 utc | 97 with the call for not making a big deal of the shift away from the US dollar for international financial transactions.
I respect your contributions here but don’t understand this position. I agree that there is a lot of inflated press about how “hard” it will be for the G7 countries to pay for energy in Roubles. Like you wrote, just go through another country….for now.
Do you think this situation is going to resolve without the creation of an alternative “Reserve Currency”?
I don’t and that is why I and others are excited about the “cracks in the egg shell” movements.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 28 2022 23:47 utc | 103

@ psychohistorian 93
The USD died when the G7/EU and NATO agreed to add more sanctions to Russia and seize its foreign reserves, embassy bank accounts, IMF SDRs, cats, trees, kefir, anything Russian.
Most overlooked that Russia has been under sanctions since 2014, and over the 7 years having been preparing for more. Our trigger happy leaders did not think about consequences of their “Sanctions from Hell” In fact they telegraphed it.
Let’s recall. the Saudis have announced huge investments to build refineries in China. Think they will be accepting USD for oil? In 2020 Biden called Saudi Arabia a “Pariah State” and now they see the US seize US Treasuries as a form of financial warfare.
What about the sovereign debt? In the US, the 30T is understated. Who will now buy Uncle Sam’s Treasuries? China. Brazil, Saudis, India, Global south?
And the Fed is trapped. Oh, but the Fed can just print more. What of the EuroDollar heading home?
We are spectators to the unfolding of the new financial order.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 28 2022 23:56 utc | 104

Posted by: Virgile | Mar 28 2022 22:14 utc | 53
The Skripals have been told they are on the Maldive islands but in actual fact they are looking at the beaches of Diego Garcia.
Once you become habituated to lying there is never a reason to tell anyone the truth about anything.
Of course when reality finally punches you in the face and all your skin flays off, and your eyes water, and horns grow on your forehead, those consequences of Truth of Dare can only result from environmental contamination.

Posted by: Sushi | Mar 29 2022 0:06 utc | 105

karlof1 | Mar 28 2022 23:37 utc | 99
Yes I read that. Titanium or other base metals found on earth I don’t think will be viable simply due to transport costs vs working even very low grade deposits on earth. Helium 3 and the other elements not found on earth may well have a very high value. I guess even for helium 3, it will be two or more decades before commercial quantities start coming back.
Some of the long distance truckies get pretty spaced out after a week or so on pills, but that really would be space trucking.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 0:09 utc | 106

Sorry to interrupt. Did Sean Penn melt his awards down yet? I got the Will Smith story OK.

Posted by: dh | Mar 29 2022 0:13 utc | 107

Likklemore @104–
As Lavrov reviewed today, sanctions have long been a fact-of-life for Russia and USSR. From today’s interview with Serbian Media:
“Sanctions against Russia have never stopped. In Soviet times, we “lived” under the sanctions of the Coordinating Committee for Export Control (CoCom). According to them, the West in every possible way suppressed purchases, supplies of high-tech equipment. For years, there was a Jackson-Vanik tweak. In order for us to be able to join the World Trade Organization, in which the United States and other Western countries were interested, this amendment was canceled. Immediately, without any pauses and interruptions, a “replacement” was found – the Magnitsky Act, which continued the tradition of sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation. Until 2014, these sanctions were in force.”
Russia will be very happy to see the West isolated with its sanctions and having to come up with Rubles to buy the commodities it must have. I wonder if Russia will “throttle” their supply to the West or charge a premium; after all, the West have spiked the WTO’s rules via their sanctions regime just as they’ve violated all contract law.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 29 2022 0:17 utc | 108

dh | Mar 29 2022 0:13 utc | 107
Just a couple of actors diverting the peasants attention from the comedian who’s no longer funny.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 0:18 utc | 109

@psychohistorian #103:

@ S | Mar 28 2022 23:35 utc | 97 with the call for not making a big deal of the shift away from the US dollar for international financial transactions.

I didn’t say it’s not a big deal. It is a big deal! What I’m saying is that there is no need for overcomplicated, Rube Goldberg machine–like conversions from dollars to yuan to gold to rubles. It’s much simpler.

Like you wrote, just go through another country….for now.

You don’t have to go through another country. Here’s an example. German gas company Uniper pays German automaker Volkswagen 10 million euros—this transfer goes through German banks. In exchange, Russian branch of Volkswagen (which sells Volkswagen cars in Russia for rubles, so it has plenty of them) pays Russian branch of Uniper 1 billion rubles—this transfer goes through Russian banks. As you can see, there are no cross-border transfers of currency in this example. It’s just an OTC exchange of currency (over-the-counter, i.e., not involving a centralized currency exchange) between Uniper and Volkswagen. Russian branch of Uniper can now use this 1 billion rubles to pay Gazprom for gas. (Of course, a better way to do this is via a currency exchange, where all interested companies can place bids/offers.)

Do you think this situation is going to resolve without the creation of an alternative “Reserve Currency”?

The arrangement I have described is a precursor to the ruble becoming a reserve currency, which is why the West is so averse to the idea of paying in rubles.

Posted by: S | Mar 29 2022 0:25 utc | 110

@ Likklemore | Mar 28 2022 23:56 utc | 104 who asked

What of the EuroDollar heading home?

Good question.
Will there be just one more Reserve Currency or will the EU become its own?
Too soon to tell but if empire thought they could use such to game the overall coming global financial system they would make it happen in a heartbeat.
Is there going to be an alternative to the BIS is also a big question as are how/who manages/manipulates foreign exchange markets? The current system is rife with “opportunities” because of its non transparent batch/non-real time processing. Granted that making it faster does not exclude the chance for financial manipulation but it will depend on who the actors doing the back office processing…private actor interfaces or sovereign countries working together.
I would think that Russia and China are building as solid a foundation as they can for the new Reserve Currency

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 0:27 utc | 111

Peter AU1 @106–
Yeah, then there’s Highway Star! That remains great rock music!!

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 29 2022 0:28 utc | 112

“while the US and West and NATO are shooting to have Russia defeated and cancelled such that Russia will turn on the gas for Europe soon enough because the West can tell Russia to do so…..which seems more reasonable to you?”
Posted by: Boomheist | Mar 28 2022 20:48 utc | 18
I think you are forgetting that before Russia actually invaded Ukraine, the entire focus of the “sanctions” was to put a stop to Nordstream 2, thereby forcing the Germans to buy imaginary US gas.
When Russia recognized the breakaway republics, the US and Europe immediately announced the end of Nordstream 2.
Mission Accomplished!
And then the whole plan fell apart when Russia moved to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.
That was not in the script.
But neither is turning on Russian gas to Europe. Europe is a target of the US. Not as much as Russia, but still a target.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Mar 29 2022 0:28 utc | 113

Both Russia and China have been increasing their gold reserves over the last decade or so.
A comment I saw somewhere a week or so ago.
Trade will still be conducted in currencies but with gold transfers between central banks being used to even out trade deficits and surpluses.
My thought – gold is one commodity that banks can have physical possession of. They will still hold currencies to be used in trade, but every thing other than physical commodities are nothing more than promissory notes that can be reneged on.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 0:30 utc | 114

It sure looks like the subject of today’s feature story “Smoke and Mirrors…” is the result of a MI6 (Bellincrap is the giveaway here) PSYOP in reaction to the recent videos, images and civilian reports regarding torture and murder of Russian soldiers and Ukrainian civilians by nationalist/nazi elements.
Deflection and distraction (as typically seen in Syria) salted with the boogeyman of “chemical weapons/poison”.
We’ve seen this ad nauseum by now. Getting old but they still use it reflexively and therefore predictably, albeit seems quite rushed this time.

Posted by: Spinworthy | Mar 29 2022 0:32 utc | 115

@ S | Mar 29 2022 0:25 utc | 110 who wrote

The arrangement I have described is a precursor to the ruble becoming a reserve currency, which is why the West is so averse to the idea of paying in rubles.

I am sorry but I don’t think the lawyers or accountants would allow your alternative to ever see the light of day….any others out there with opinion about possibility of S approach to bypassing sanctions “easily”?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 0:36 utc | 116

@cirsium(64):
And the US used results from the Japanese Unit 731 in the Korean war too.
The Japanese Unit 731 was the first foreign biolab used by the US in history IMHO.

Posted by: Wolle | Mar 29 2022 0:45 utc | 117

@Virgile(53):
Maybe it’s not a Maledive beach! Maybe it’s Guantanamo Bay Naval Base beach! 😉

Posted by: Wolle | Mar 29 2022 0:54 utc | 118

Peter AU1 | Mar 28 2022 23:41 utc | 100
Sorry to appear obtuse
but You said 1 ounce = 5000 rubles…
31 grams = 1 troy ounce
1 gram = 5000 Rubles
1 troy ounce = 155,000 Rubles

Posted by: Doesitreallymatter | Mar 29 2022 0:55 utc | 119

This is awesome. The guy is just completely losing it. He’s becoming Zelensky. They need to sedate him and keep him in the White House living quarters.
Biden STANDS BY his comment that Putin ‘cannot remain in power’ but insists he was ‘expressing moral outrage not policy change’: Claims three Russia gaffes DIDN’T HAPPEN despite White House having to walk them back
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10661129/Biden-insists-expressing-moral-outrage-said-Putin-shouldnt-power.html

Biden was asked about the comments after he unveiled his 2023 budget at the White House on Monday afternoon.
‘Number one, I’m not walking anything back,’ he said.
‘The fact of the matter is, I was expressing the moral outrage I felt toward the way Putin is dealing … and the actions of this man, which is just brutality.’
Biden, 79, said he was not concerned that his comments would escalate tensions over the war in Ukraine.
‘This is just stating a simple fact, that this kind of behavior is totally unacceptable,’ he said.
But he faced a barrage of questions from reporters attempting to clarify his position and whether he had blundered.
He was asked whether he had misspoken repeatedly by at one stage sounding as if he was telling U.S. troops they were about to go to Ukraine, as if he was suggesting the U.S. might use chemical weapons, and as if he was calling for regime change.
‘None of the three occurred,’ he said.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 0:58 utc | 120

Interesting… Long interview transcribed.
“Events like this happen once a century”: Sergey Glazyev on the breakdown of epochs and changing ways of life
http://thesaker.is/events-like-this-happen-once-a-century-sergey-glazyev-on-the-breakdown-of-epochs-and-changing-ways-of-life/

“After failing to weaken China head-on through a trade war, the Americans shifted the main blow to Russia, which they see as a weak link in the global geopolitics and economy. The Anglo-Saxons are trying to implement their eternal Russophobic ideas to destroy our country, and at the same time to weaken China, because the strategic alliance of the Russian Federation and the PRC is too tough for the United States. They don’t have the economic or military power to destroy us together, not separately,” says Sergey Glazyev, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and former adviser to the Russian President. Glazyev spoke in an interview with BUSINESS Online about what opportunities are now opening up for the Russian economy, whether the Central Bank is pandering to the enemy and whether a new world currency will replace the dollar.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 1:02 utc | 121

S | Mar 29 2022 0:25 utc | 110
your example German gas company Uniper pays German automaker Volkswagen 10 million euros—this transfer goes through German banks. In exchange, Russian branch of Volkswagen (which sells Volkswagen cars in Russia for rubles, so it has plenty of them) pays Russian branch of Uniper 1 billion rubles—this transfer goes through Russian banks. As you can see, there are no cross-border transfers of currency in this example.
With no transfer of currency from German Volkswagon to Russian Volkswagon, Russia Volkswagon soon gets sucked dry. Money has to do the full circle as in using the German branch’s euros to refund the, Russia branch. But I believe Putin did state a method for those wanting purchase gas to obtain rubles.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 1:03 utc | 122

Doesitreallymatter | Mar 29 2022 0:55 utc | 119
that is a misunderstanding from the post which stated 1 gram of gold for 5000 rubles… see @ oldhippie | Mar 28 2022 21:31 utc | 36 on this.. it was what started the conversation..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:07 utc | 123

Doesitreallymatter | Mar 29 2022 0:55 utc | 119
Yep my typo. That ounce should have been gram. I think the figures will check out. 5000R per gram works out a little over US$1600 per ounce. Current market price a little over $1900

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 1:10 utc | 124

psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 0:36 utc | 116
While S makes it look easy by letting Uniper and Volkswagen do a cosy deal with each other reality makes things a lot different. Firstly the proposed deals need to happen consistently over a long period of time and be agreed to by the Russian government. It is just as capable of putting in place “anti-sanction regulations” as the US Treasury – especially for a Russian bank.
Secondly if I were Volkswagen and my rouble deposits were in demand I would have an auction rather than a cosy deal with just one party. Also my rouble deposits need to pay for all my Russian expenses so only the rouble profit is really available to play currency games. Again that profit is taxable so the Russian tax office might take an interest.
Third I get the impression that Russian exports are much larger then their imports so on balance more roubles will need to be found to pay for them by Western interests than can be generated by those interests from their activities inside Russia. It is that trade imbalance which led to Russia’s frozen foreign exchange account being so large. Given the likelihood of all commodity prices increasing further the exchange surplus can only increase. Even more reason for it to be denominated in gold or a currency Russia can actually use for the benefit of its citizens.
Finally much of the past benefit of Western trade with Russia has been creamed off by an army of parasites – bankers, accountants and lawyers in New York, London and Europe who have fed off the transactions via commissions and consultancy fees. This income is now likely to evaporate as such parties will not have a role to play. Intermediaries in New Delhi, Hong Kong and Dubai are now more likely to benefit.

Posted by: Cyberhorse | Mar 29 2022 1:10 utc | 125

@120 RSH
“None of the three occurred”
Respect! Ladies and gentlemen, *that* is how you do a denial. None of this depends-on-what-the-meaning-of-the-word-‘is’-is … LOL

Posted by: ptb | Mar 29 2022 1:11 utc | 126

@ karlofi 108
Thank you for expanding on my comment and for today’s interview with Mr. Lavrov. Such a diplomat.
And kudos for all your sharing.
We in the West are bereft and will be looking for life jackets.
= = = =
What of the EuroDollar heading home?
”
Good question.
Will there be just one more Reserve Currency or will the EU become its own?
Too soon to tell but if empire thought they could use such to game the overall coming global financial system they would make it happen in a heartbeat.

psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 0:27 utc | 111
PH. Russia and China represents the largest land mass on the planet. Together, with India, Africa, South America (did not vote for Russia sanctions) they comprise 87% of world population and that geopolitics now presents a restructuring world institutions – IMF, BIS, World Bank, WTO – not under the thumb of the US and G7. It’s time for the 13% to stop dictating to the 87%. Enough of the bullying.
And the new financial/trade structure is unfolding: BRICS, BRI Eurasia.
Who would have thought the US would lose OPEC?
OPEC warns EU against banning Russian oil imports
Major OPEC members like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have chosen to consolidate relations with Moscow as their ties with the west continue to weaken.
https://thecradle.co/Article/news/8325

Officials from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC) have issued a stark warning to the EU, saying that if the European alliance follows through with a proposed ban of oil imports from Russia, the markets will see massive price spikes beyond the surge already seen.
Since the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine last month, oil prices surged to their highest levels since 2008, a situation that was exacerbated by harsh economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.
The warning reportedly came during a meeting on 16 March between OPEC officials, including Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo and EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.
According to an OPEC source who spoke with Reuters, the group’s concerns were made abundantly clear to the EU. “They are very well informed,” the source said.
“OPEC presented their analysis of the oil market situation and informed us of their plans in terms of oil production,” an EU official said in response to the news.
Earlier this month, both Washington and London made attempts to pressure Saudi Arabia and the UAE into increasing their oil production levels in order to mitigate skyrocketing fuel prices.
However, both attempts failed with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi making it clear to the west that they intend to maintain the production quota agreed upon by OPEC+.
Russia is an ally of OPEC and co-chairs the OPEC+ group, which has cooperated on oil supplies to support oil markets since 2017.
In an additional show of defiance against the demands from the west, on 17 March Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan travelled to Moscow to cement Abu Dhabi’s energy cooperation ties with Moscow.[.]
The trip came just one day after the British prime minister failed to convince OPEC members to increase production.
As for Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has previously expressed its willingness to decrease investments in the US and has even floated the idea of selling oil to China, using the Chinese yuan instead of the US dollar.[.]

Shooting themselves in the head while aiming the weapon at Putin. !!!!
They forgot Putin co-chairs OPEC.
What’s that saying” The cat ate my homework.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 29 2022 1:22 utc | 127

@ Cyberhorse | Mar 29 2022 1:10 utc | 125 with the financial implications follow up…thanks
You wrote

Finally much of the past benefit of Western trade with Russia has been creamed off by an army of parasites – bankers, accountants and lawyers in New York, London and Europe who have fed off the transactions via commissions and consultancy fees. This income is now likely to evaporate as such parties will not have a role to play. Intermediaries in New Delhi, Hong Kong and Dubai are now more likely to benefit.

Not only will the parasites go away but it will become public knowledge how much the financial parasites were feeding off the system.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 1:23 utc | 128

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 28 2022 20:55 utc | 23
Exactly.
I saw an interview with a retired high ranking Russian military man,who is a member of the Russian State Duma.He said Russia will have to stay in Ukraine for 30-40 years to complete the De-nazification of Ukraine.
As part of any Peace deal,I believe Russia will demand Important positions in Ukrainian Government to complete this objective.

Posted by: Kim | Mar 29 2022 1:24 utc | 129

The truth keeps coming out…
The house of a neo-nazi leader discovered in Berdyansk, Ukraine:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/neo_nazi_ukraine_28_03:8

Posted by: Nate | Mar 29 2022 1:27 utc | 130

Posted by: ptb | Mar 29 2022 1:11 utc | 126
LOL Indeed. I think some British politician once said, “Never apologize, never explain.” It’s good advice. But not for Biden.
I just downloaded Mercouris’ latest on the Biden speech, but haven’t viewed it yet. Current viewing today’s Duran video. As someone mentioned above, yes, indeed, it appears that the neocons have gone all in. Glad I have lots of popcorn (before it disappears from markets.)

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 1:30 utc | 131

Whose nukes?
“ Wrong – Ukraine could not “give up their nukes because they did not own them in the first place – nukes are under DIRECT command of Moscow – then and now.
That “Ukraine gave up their Nukes” is a myth – created in the West.
Russia was forced to remove them by USA.”
https://twitter.com/GeromanAT/status/1508522737257664512?s=20&t=J7VJrsmYkPK2oXImhFXZjg
I also picked up Gorgeous George’s latest transformation from pussy cat to tiger, censored breaking broadcast today. He is gunning for the the Biden crime family and warning of the greatest danger since the 60’s.
George Galloway (@georgegalloway) Tweeted: MoatsTV: The President’s brain is missing Watch the full @moatsTV show at https://t.co/gDDaR9Lq3B | @GeorgeGalloway https://t.co/247fB0GHUR
https://twitter.com/georgegalloway/status/1508195432941379593?s=20&t=J7VJrsmYkPK2oXImhFXZjg
I fear we are at the cusp.
It is time for all who who value a multipolar world as the only way forward for life on Earth to act.
The polar temperature spikes are worrying as much as the pathetic dying empires demented Caesars and their drongo praetorians attempts at sending yanks into Ukraine or seriously considering missiling Putin and his cabinet in Russia itself!
At least nazis are losing.
Hope to see you all in the morning.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 29 2022 1:30 utc | 132

@ Kim | Mar 29 2022 1:24 utc | 129
hey kim.. sushi asked you a question on the previous thread regarding the trains.. here is the question again “Where did you source the UA rwy data?”
it is in regard to your post on the previous thread – Kim | Mar 28 2022 11:06 utc | 228
thanks..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:31 utc | 133

ft times saying “Russia no longer demanding Ukraine be ‘denazified’ in ceasefire talks” not sure if there is any truth to that…

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:33 utc | 134

EVA BARTLETT INTERVIEWS DONBAS WAR CORRESPONDENT ROMAN KOSAREV

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:36 utc | 135

Posted by: Kim | Mar 29 2022 1:24 utc | 129
Depends on what is meant by “staying in Ukraine”. I don’t see them occupying Ukraine that long. I do see them influencing Ukraine permanently.
In fact, I expect most of the troops will be out of Ukraine by the end of the year. Then there will be military bases set up in Ukraine for Russian strategic missiles. There will be a reoriented Ukrainian military, which of course will require Russian advisers for years. And the Ukrainian security services will be set up by the Russian services which will take a couple years. Russian advisers, military, security, legal and economic, will be all over the place for a very long time. But the bulk of the invading troops will be gone either by end of the year or some time into next year, except for some troops controlling certain sensitive areas like the nuclear plants, any remaining military assets, and other things.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 1:38 utc | 136

“The arrangement I have described is a precursor to the ruble becoming a reserve currency, which is why the West is so averse to the idea of paying in rubles.” —Posted by: S | Mar 29 2022 0:25 utc | 110
What would German gas company Uniper pay Volkswagen for — except defeat of U.S. et al sanctions? What you describe seems to me what the U.S. Treasury et al would consider money laundering.
In any event: Volkswagen temporarily suspends deliveries of cars already in Russia to dealerships, RIA says https://www.reuters.com/technology/volkswagen-temporarily-suspends-deliveries-cars-already-russia-dealerships-ria-2022-02-28/
& Volkswagen stops production of vehicles in Russia and suspends export https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2022/03/volkswagen-stops-production-of-vehicles-in-russia-and-suspends-e.html

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 1:42 utc | 137

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:33 utc | 134
There isn’t. Watch any Scott Ritter interview or read any of Andrei Martyanov’s posts about this. Russians WILL NOT stop the de-Nazification project. “Nazis with nukes” was one of the main reasons Russia tripped the invasion. Russians hate Nazis on a visceral level. Nazis cost most of the families in Russia to lose members in WWII, to the tune of 27-30 million people. They don’t forget. There is no doubt that Russia will pursue this until the neo-Nazis have zero influence in Ukraine. Some people think that’s not possible. But as I’ve said before, you don’t have to get rid of every random Nazi punk to do this, just get rid of any that have access to money, resources and influence, and make sure they can not be a part of the political process. All that is doable.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 1:45 utc | 138

thanks richard.. that is what i thought… got temporarily distracted by a western msm headline..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:46 utc | 139

Work arounds for frantic Ruble quest abound, but this one reels in the friendly Euros into the belligerent rest. EU nations are banding together to buy gas. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Friday that the European Union will purchase gas on its own and divide it between members, a new development for the 27-member bloc. This is an attempt to silence the three outliers that had the good sense god gave green apples to not go against Russia. Kind of a vote in lockstep incentive or be ostracized. The wealthier countries, that is Germany, will quite handedly outspend its way to the head of the trough
If the west is still confused, China and the Eurasian Economic Union – Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan – will reveal an independent international monetary and financial system. It will be based on a new international currency, calculated from an index of national currencies of the participating countries and international commodity prices. There really is no reason to doubt gold is going to be a big part of any multi polar world.
Only this is the beginning of something more. With this move, Putin basically shot King Dollar in the head. By that I mean USD and Euro for that matter have been exposed as defaulted upon by way of their Russian sanctions (or for that matter all of their many previous sanctions) primarily because Russia has something a world with no spare energy capacity desperately needs. What the world no longer needs is one currency backed by nothing, key stroked into existence and exclusively used to ride roughshod over an entire planet. Seriously, if I was wanting to wreck western economies, I would change very little what they already have done

Posted by: George | Mar 29 2022 1:49 utc | 140

I think Russia should ban the export of rubles by Volkswagen.

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 2:01 utc | 141

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 1:31 utc | 133
Hey,sorry didn’t see that question.
I stumbled upon railway data at this site.
https://t.me/rybar/29939

Posted by: Kim | Mar 29 2022 2:01 utc | 142

Interesting to note,Russia still paying Ukraine gas transit fees.
But,not so fast!!!
Kiev will not agree to receive payment for transit in rubles if Moscow sets such a condition, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.
“We will not switch to rubles. It’s impossible. It’s difficult. These are not bilateral agreements. First, the Europeans need to pay in rubles. It’s all connected. It’s impossible to pay in rubles here, and then pay and receive euros and dollars,” he explained.
And another interesting snippet on poll conducted.
❗️To the question about Russia’s goals, the answer “to ensure the security of Russia, achieve the disarmament of Ukraine and prevent the deployment of NATO bases on its territory” was given by 71% of respondents, according to FOM.
The option “to protect the population of the DPR and LPR” – 52%, “change the political course of Ukraine, remove nationalists from power” – 21% of respondents, 10% of respondents chose the position “eliminate the statehood of Ukraine, annex its territory to Russia”. 8% of survey participants did not answer the question.

Posted by: Kim | Mar 29 2022 2:14 utc | 143

@ Kim | Mar 29 2022 2:01 utc | 142
thanks kim!

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 2:37 utc | 144

O o …
Blinken Meets ‘Abraham Accords’ Partners in Negev as Israel Authorizes Five New Settlements There https://sputniknews.com/20220328/blinken-meets-abraham-accords-partners-in-negev-as-israel-authorizes-five-new-settlements-there-1094269581.html

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 2:52 utc | 145

Posted by: Hermius | Mar 28 2022 23:36 utc | 98
Abramovich
Is a long time friend V. Putin and was an adviser in the beginning of the Putin govt. He a trusted member of the enter circle that to day he is no longer a member of. He is is trusted by V. Putin.
Abramovich isn’t at this time sanctioned.

Posted by: jo6pac | Mar 29 2022 3:18 utc | 146

From Donbass Insider Telegram channel… This is interesting if true – sort of a jubilee.

People of Energodar! A Russian army leaflet says all financial debt is written off
The Russian forces control Melitopol, Berdyansk and other towns of Zaporozhye [central south]. Civilian life is returning there – people can go home, humanitarian aid is being regularly delivered, stores are open, pensions and welfare are being paid.
Consumer debt and any debt for utilities is being written off, moreover, the cost of utlities will shortly go down to standard prices in Russia.
People feel safe, they see that in practice the Russian army poses no danger to them. The Russian army is not an enemy of the Ukrainian people and strives to minimize any losses.
Stay up to date via following Telegram channels XX

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 3:23 utc | 147

@77
I think gas for gold is coming.
Euros or dollars whether in Europe/ US or in Russia can be effectively frozen.
So why would Russia need euros or dollars. Gold will be better. Luke Gromen talked about this as well.

Posted by: Strons | Mar 29 2022 3:28 utc | 148

As part of penalties targeting President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, the U.K., the EU, Canada, Australia and Switzerland have imposed sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel restrictions, on Abramovich

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2022/03/23/zelensky-asked-biden-to-not-sanction-billionaire-oligarch-abramovich-report-says/?sh=20673ff72753

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 3:34 utc | 149

As to the ruble question, I want to stress that NG is not bought by states, but by enterprises. And no company is obliged to exchange Euro or USD against rubles at their own central bank. They may set up a paying agent in Hongkong, Shanghai, or even Mumbai, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Would take exactly one step more, a few fees, no sanction officially broken, but effectively deactivated. G7 would have to sanction their own companies, and embargo themselves.

Posted by: aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 3:35 utc | 150

We have entered the long unfolding of multi-currency reserve world.
Federal Reserve Chairman said just weeks ago, “Possible to have more than one Reserve currency”
Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 28 2022 23:05 utc | 88

There are currently 8 official world reserve currencies acknowledged by the IMF and World Bank. In addition they now recognize gold at full market value.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency#Global_currency_reserves
The 10 year trend has seen to a declining share of US Dollar reserves, which fell below 60% for the first time in 2020. The trend is admittedly very slow, but look for it to accelerate quickly from here.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Mar 29 2022 3:39 utc | 151

The most recent video from Patrick Lancaster in Mariupol was interesting from the point of view of the economy.
A woman who had been a tram driver 40 years said the Ukraine government gave her a pension of only 1500 UAH per month (about US$50 if you could exchange UAH at the official rate, which I doubt you can).
Machine translation: “Our smart people went to Russia, they received 15,000 if you count in our money. And I didn’t go anywhere, and I got a Ukrainian pension of 1500, f***, From these f*** f***gts!”.

Posted by: Billb | Mar 29 2022 3:44 utc | 152

@ aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 3:35 utc | 150
i think this whole conversation is quite interesting, but i don’t understand how it can all work…
is it possible that in order for those interested in buying russian energy, they have to open a bank in russia? if this was the case – and i am only speculating – would this not put the power into russias hands as opposed to how it presently is in others hands? the fact russia is asking for rubles implies russia wants to have some type of power to exercise here… this partly explains to me why they want to do this… however some posters here imply all this can already happen via the 2 russian banks that haven’t been sanctioned…. however perhaps russia has another idea that it wants to dictate at this point and for the moment, europe, japan and etc – don’t want to play along… the choice seems to be – energy, or no energy… i wish someone could explain it… i think the fact that g7 would have to sanction and embargo their own companies makes sense, which is why they can’t continue if they want the russian energy!
this whole thing looks like a work around, but the only way it can work is if some of these poodles ignore the sanctions! i love this!

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 3:47 utc | 153

In 2014, French bank BNP Paribas agreed to pay an $8.9 billion fine, the largest ever, for violating US sanctions. Germany’s Commerzbank, France’s Credit Agricole and Swiss UBS have also been fined.[31] French President François Hollande said: “When the (European) Commission goes after Google or digital giants which do not pay the taxes they should in Europe, America takes offence. And yet, they quite shamelessly demand 8 billion from BNP or 5 billion from Deutsche Bank.”[32]

In 2015, Germany’s largest bank Deutsche Bank was fined $258 million for violating US sanctions against Iran, Libya and Syria.[33]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_sanctions_against_Iran#Sanctions_against_third_parties
Meng Wanzhou https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meng_Wanzhou
Just sayin’.

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 3:52 utc | 154

Listening to The Duran video today right now… Near the end Gonzalo Lira comes in and says the following (note: He lives in Kharkiv):
1) As a wild guess, only 15% of the city population remains in the city;
2) The city is completely surrounded
3) The Territorial forces, which he describes as “paramilitary thugs”, are increasing brutality;
4) There is a sense that the war is lost;
5) Local defense forces are abusing and robbing citizens who try to leave and shooting at their cars; they demand $200-500 (or Euros) per person per checkpoint and there are 1-3 checkpoints before getting to the Russian side; if you don’t pay, they strip search you and take anything of value.
6) The POW torture was done, according to multiple people, about 25KM southeast of Kharkiv, in a milk factory;
7) From his contacts in Russia, he thinks this is stiffening the Russian attitude, and it may result in a “shoot first, ask questions never” attitude of the Russian forces, which Mercouris agrees is possible;
8) He thinks the educated people in Ukraine have migrated to the west, where they will fit in, and never return to Ukraine.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 3:54 utc | 155

the weird thing about these usa sanctions is the usa is not the world policeman and they don’t write the laws for other countries…. all i can figure out is this is some form of blatant black mail and seems to work very effectively.. so what is the leverage for the usa to write laws outside their own country? is this called controlling the banking system or something like that?
in singapore, it is illegal to spit…. now, if singapore wanted to make it illegal in the whole world to spit – how would they do that? this is what apparently the usa is able to do here with there sanctions…

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 3:56 utc | 156

@ Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 3:54 utc | 155
fascinating.. thanks.. the idea of allowing the trains to keep running for people to evacuate is leaving only the crazies and old people left in place… not sure how russian forces process that moving forward without taking innocent lives..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 4:01 utc | 157

Speaking of Rube Goldberg Machines: US Senate Passes China Competition Bill, Progresses to Resolution With House Version https://sputniknews.com/20220328/us-senate-passes-china-competition-bill-progresses-to-resolution-with-house-version-1094275755.html

This legislation would seek to ease supply chain bottlenecks on items like semiconductors and bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States, authorizing $45 billion to improve US supply chains and prevent shortages of critical goods by ensuring more are made in the country.
The bill would also direct the Biden and subsequent administrations to submit a six-month review identifying areas of potential dialogue between the Chinese and US governments on ballistic, hypersonic, nuclear, space and cybers issues.
It similarly directs the US administration to develop a concrete plan to engage in arms control talks with China, and alternative plans to address arms control concerns should efforts to enter negotiations with Beijing fail.
To address China’s presence in the Arctic, the bill would call on states in the region to reach an agreement to maintain peace and stability in the Arctic region and counter China’s Polar Silk Road initiative, among others.

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 4:05 utc | 158

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 28 2022 23:18 utc | 92

Thanks for the link to Alastair Crooke’s excellent article on SCF
I posted on earlier thread:
The schadenfreude is quite delicious, with a savory flavor similar to what Scott Ritter served up a few days ago in a GrayZone interview with Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate. That was riveting.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LAhPNBUgg
I loved Crooke’s artful presentation: “…when these latter [non-compliant] states hear phrases such as the ‘Ukrainians, through their heroism, have won the right to enter our “club of values”’, they scent a whiff of debilitated ‘white’ Europe clutching at the life-rafts.”
It’s indeed encouraging to see there are still some realists at the Pentagram, who are changing the narrative and trumping the neocons at State for now (though of course their sober assessment on Reuters alone will never appear in main regime media). Perhaps Russia’s Kinzhal demonstration last week near Poland proved to be something of a kool-aid buzz-kill.
BTW, did you mean hypersonics? If not, what are ultrasonics, next-gen? God help us.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Mar 29 2022 4:18 utc | 159

Wow, thanks for the reminder Laurence, I had forgotten all about the kidnaping and ransom of Meng!
The patience China has had… makes me think of that saying about being wary of the wrath of a patient man.

Posted by: Rae | Mar 29 2022 4:35 utc | 160

@karlof1 | Mar 29 2022 0:17 utc | 108
“I wonder if Russia will “throttle” their supply to the West or charge a premium; after all, the West have spiked the WTO’s rules via their sanctions regime just as they’ve violated all contract law.”

ISTM they’re already charging a premium exchanging rubles for gold. Unless my math is off, 5,000 rubles per gram of gold would peg the ruble at roughly 75 rubles per dollar, much higher than the current exchange. Is that right?

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Mar 29 2022 4:38 utc | 161

@james | Mar 29 2022 3:47 utc | 153
In fact, the Russians simply want to be paid. They are shipping NG, and want money for. That easy. What they do not want, ist that their money is stolen, and “freezing” money (technically a debt owed by the central bank) is theft, with the lukewarm promise to maybe give it back some day – or not.
The point that foreign currency is a debt of the central bank towards the owner differs from money inside a nation which, as long as it holds value, is circulating money. Bills in forex such as USD or Euro (or rubles in the oocuupied or liberated territories of Ukraine) may be money too, as money is a customary thing, after the war in Germany there was a “cigarette currency” for some time, Lucky Strike were accepted as payment. But foreign currency stays at the central bank of the issuer, as an account of the owner.
The problem is that the commodity in question has not been shipped yet, and on the NG market, there is first payment, then shipment. And by freezing Russia owned forex, ECB and Fed have actually defaulted towards Russia. The funny thing is that they demonstrated that their currencies are risk or junk assets to any foreign partner who may get in crosshairs with them, and with US and NATO/EU quarreling with most of the rest of the worls this means a lot.
Back to the technique: Imagine Uniper wants to order 100 million m^3 of NG. In the contract, the price is written down, usually denoted indeed in a currency like USD or Euro, could also be in SDR etc. But the paying method is something else, and maybe negotiable. Sometimes there may even be commodity swaps as payment which was popular during the Cold War. And when Russia demands payment in rubles, this is in no way illegitimate or weird. The newspaper Kommersant stated that some Gazprom contracts may already have held such clauses.
Now, on NG market, there is payment first and shipment later up to the contracted quantity (take or pay). Can Uniper pay without explicitly violating sanctions? Of course. And they do not need no sanctioned Russian banks though that is still possible.
They could, for example, transfer the sum to a payent agent (some subsidiary or what) in Bangkok at an amount of 200 millon Euro (at 2k€/1000m^3) plus some transaction fees. The agent now has a balance of +200M€ and a bit more, and may easily order his bank to transfer the according amount in rubles to some Russian bank in Moscow. Note that Thailand is not under sanctions. That way, he has a Bath debit amounting the value of -200M€ in Baht, plus some fees, which are relatively peanuts, and his account is +-zero again, mission accomplished.
The only thing EU could do would be explicitly banning such transactions.

Posted by: aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 4:54 utc | 162

These sanctions were in a pop-up package ready to go. The sim is to stymie the Russian economy. Prior to 1914 Russia was the fastest growing economy in Europe and a real rival to Germany which saw a window before France and Russia would be invincible – France had recovered from 1870 defeat and paid Reparations in gold which had funded German development in the Gründerjahren
So Schlieffen Plan was implemented and weakened to take out France first.
US-UK seek to take down Russia and China in sequence and debilitate Germany.
So economic sanctions are simply the other channel alongside warfare big in Ukraine which was pitched as Afghanistan 1989 using Nazi Eastern Front faultlines rather like Pashtun Taliban to block progress

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Mar 29 2022 4:55 utc | 163

james and aquadraht
Work around is my thought also. UK/US will be unhappy. US moved some E warfare planes to Germany.
Defeating Russia is existential for US/UK survival as they have burned their bridges. Defeating US/UK is existential for Russia as it has no where to retreat. Yanks are talking up chemical weapons so I guess that’s their next big move. Nazi’s are nasty but I think their backers are worse.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 5:15 utc | 164

As to false flags, another that should be kept in mind is ‘Russia bombs the Ukraine gas transit lines’. US, UK, Nazi Ukraine- would I think be fully aboard.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 5:21 utc | 165

psychohistorian #116

” The arrangement I have described is a precursor to the ruble becoming a reserve currency, which is why the West is so averse to the idea of paying in rubles.”
I am sorry but I don’t think the lawyers or accountants would allow your alternative to ever see the light of day….any others out there with opinion about possibility of S approach to bypassing sanctions “easily”?

IMO the proposal by S could work because the freezing bleeding voters watching USA play wakamole with sanctions on Russia at their expense is not a vote winner in the EU. Every by-pass will work until barricaded or the barricades are burned down.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 29 2022 5:30 utc | 166

So it’s essentially WW III with the battlefield paradoxically confined, pro tem, within Ukraine. The parameters for escalation are clear.

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 5:33 utc | 167

@ aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 4:54 utc | 162 with the Thailand workaround suggestion
So why would Russia let Thailand stay as a favored nation if it provided a work around for the EU nation’s sanctions?
Isn’t the purpose of this exercise to eliminate the sanctions?
Russia did not make the Ukraine situation into a financial war sphere, lackeys of empire did. Now that the financial war sphere has been broached, Russia is being forced to create an alternative financial system to survive and China is agreeing to participate because it knows the financial war has broadened and they are the next target.
Part of me keeps thinking about the public statement at the beginning of the year by the world powers saying that they were not going to use nukes. Were they preparing to lead the public through a kabuki play out of a geo-political decision that has already been made behind the scenes….such as the one we are seeing emerge?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:34 utc | 168

@psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:34 utc | 168
Btw. Thailand just an example, could be India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hongkong etc. The Russians just demand payment in rubles. G7 are pathetic as if they would pay, in fact companies pay, and outside the currency areas which defaulted towards Russia there is ample space to do the transfers.
As long as payment is done, Russia will ship. And Russia repeatedly stated that they will never demand sanctions to be lifted, nor bow to any of them. Feel free to shoot yourself in the feet.

Posted by: aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 5:42 utc | 169

aquadraht | Mar 29 2022 4:54 utc | 162
Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 5:15 utc | 164
thank you both… i am still wrapping my head around this.. richard werner seems very bright on these kinds of topics.. here is an interview of his from 2 days ago.. he is basically saying russia is doing the same thing the usa did back in 1971… 4 minute interview on rt youtube channel..
Russia’s Hydrocarbon Rouble – Richard Werner on RT International
here is a michael hudson youtube discussion set for tomorrow – CNLive! S4E5 UKRAINE: The Economic Fallout – Richard D. Wolff & Michael Hudson

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 5:45 utc | 170

I find it interesting that the latest round of Ukraine peace talks are being held in Turkey and Erdogan will give a talk to the mediators.
Turkey is in a delicate position in our world by playing all sides while trying to be a bigger global contender. Why does Turkey have 38 bases in Northern Iraq as reported in The Cradle, is active in Syria, differs with Russia in Libya and now is reportedly supporting Ukraine in various ways.
As a big gambler, Turkey has a lot to lose if the balance it seems to have with Russia goes off kilter. I don’t expect much to come out of the talks but serious arm bending may be visible.
Where will Turkey end up in the new world?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:49 utc | 171

The FT article as reported in RT is saying that the concession is in regard to EU memberhip but apparently little else.
https://www.rt.com/russia/552866-moscow-ukraine-peace-talks/
“Moscow has apparently dropped several key demands in the painstaking Ukraine peace talks, the Financial Times newspaper reported Monday, citing “four people briefed on the discussions.”
According to the report, Moscow is now prepared to let Ukraine “join the European Union if it remains military non-aligned as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations” and drops its NATO aspirations.
“The draft ceasefire document does not contain any discussion of three of Russia’s initial core demands – ‘denazification’, ‘demilitarization’, and legal protection for the Russian language in Ukraine,” the newspaper asserted, adding that its sources spoke “under the condition of anonymity because the matter is not yet finalized.””
The word “several” is not elaborated on. There doesn’t seem to be any other major concession.

Posted by: Walt | Mar 29 2022 5:50 utc | 172

as an observer, it is hard for me to take the west seriously in any respect…. these sanctions have always been about isolating and controlling russia… it hasn’t worked.. this is the biggest gambit to date… anyone with 1/2 a brain can see how nothing like this was done towards the usa-uk when they invaded iraq… the level of bullshit and hypocrisy is astounding… and of course we have to ignore what the wests intentions towards russia have been since at least 2014 with the coup in ukraine, not to forget the support for nazis and the constant war on donbass.. we are supposed to remain ignorant of all this… it just can’t work as i see it.. the west is totally unhinged here… so, the concern for nuclear weapons is very real as i see it.. we are dealing with a madman – the west.. this is exactly opposite of how the western msm portrays it too!

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 5:53 utc | 173

The FT article (as reported in RT) just states that EU membership is being offered as a concession.
I wrote more but it disappeared. Was it because of the RT page link?

Posted by: Walt | Mar 29 2022 5:54 utc | 174

@ psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:49 utc | 171
if turkey was smart they would stay clear of the usa’s designs…. they are slow learners turkey… erdogan is much more adroit at playing the political game then i gave him credit for, but he ain’t that smart… he would be better working with russia at this point, but who knows how he will play things here.. it is better to be on good terms with your neighbours… turkey and russia are neighbours… turkey has basically been rejected by western europe as i see it… they would be smart to see it..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 5:57 utc | 175

here is how you generate bullshit in the western msm –
“…..Reuters reported, citing a US government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.” lol.. when i read shit like this i know it is a complete diversion and distraction.. i think the poster upstream who mentioned this poisoning bullshit as a distraction away from the nazis shooting russian pows is bang on… this is a complete bullshit distraction to keep all eyes looking elsewhere..

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 6:00 utc | 176

@ james | Mar 29 2022 5:45 utc | 170 with the link to the Richard Werner interview…thanks.
I am having trouble with his comparison to what the US did in 1971 because it misses the context of Reserve Currency status of the US dollar at that time and currently.
Russia is not projecting an extension of the petrodollar but is backing its money with gold.
I need more time to think about this but this is not the same as 1971, IMO

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 6:02 utc | 177

It appears that the United States is getting ready to release a “false flag” that will trigger USA and NATO involvement. Most probably that of a “chemical attack”. They will have to act within the next month, Ukraine is pretty much suppressed already.
https://metallicman.com/the-final-finishing-touches-and-conclusion-of-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/

Posted by: Rufus Arrr | Mar 29 2022 6:04 utc | 178

Scott Ritter’s latest interview.
https://twitter.com/SamGerrans/status/1508569070664306691?cxt=HHwWhsCygffkwe8pAAAA
1 hour and 48 minutes. The first half hour he is asked and goes over his experience. As Richard Hack has said. Overall the video including his past is excellent for giggling virgins who have no understanding of current Ukraine and US involvement. Good for friends or relo’s and for that matter too, concerned trolls that come and go. Once he gets into the current day nitty gritty, very interesting. One short section he speaks on Russia’s competence in Ukraine. The Russian attacking compared to defending ratio normally 3x or better attacking forces is standard ratio.
Civilian deaths – normally one combatant to one civilian, Ukraine one civilian to five combatants – Russia up to fourteen hundred or so KIA only because they are trying to save civilians – and whatever else the Ukrainians may be they can fight and nato has been teaching them for the last 7 or 8 years how to kill Russians. They are also commanded and led by nato via laps tablets ect. Will be similar to ISIS communications. Also 30 years of hate Russia US/UK propaganda.
As for Ukraine fighters look up MMA and before that cage fighting. Igor Vovchanchyn. Look up that name
Like the Japanese on home land, Ukraine would fight the US to a standstill, but Putin’s Russia – even with the nazi’s using human shields… A new page in the book ‘Art of War’. Nah thats wrong, a new book on the art of war.’

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 6:13 utc | 179

Posted by: james | Mar 29 2022 5:53 utc | 172
“it just can’t work as i see it.. the west is totally unhinged here… so, the concern for nuclear weapons is very real as i see it.. we are dealing with a madman – the west.. this is exactly opposite of how the western msm portrays it too!”
Exactly. Watch The Duran video from today, it’s very important. Mercouris and Christoforou go over the situation in detail and their predictions are dire, given the neocons who are incapable of turning this situation back. Absent someone getting rid of the people in the Biden administration who are pushing this – which is essentially impossible – we’re headed for ever more doubling down by them. As someone said above, and this is echoed by The Duran video, this is existential for both the neocons and Russia. So neither side can back down.
Phase 2 of operations (Live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTMAGEkeL4U&t=2s

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 6:24 utc | 180

psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:34 utc | 168 “Part of me keeps thinking about the public statement at the beginning of the year by the world powers saying that they were not going to use nukes. Were they preparing to lead the public through a kabuki play out of a geo-political decision that has already been made behind the scenes….”
I took it as standard US ‘democratic’ kiss and cuddle bullshit. Only the absolute knowledge that Russia will vaporize the US powers that be will prevent them loosing off nukes as their empire goes down.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 6:29 utc | 181

Posted by: Strons | Mar 29 2022 3:28 utc | 148
You could actually say Gas for Gold is already here,because Rubles for Gas will be used by Russian central Bank to purchase the Gold of Russian Gold producers.
Euro and USD will probably just be for Citizens going abroad and debt repayment for existing loans maybe.

Posted by: Kim | Mar 29 2022 6:44 utc | 182

psychohistorian | Mar 29 2022 5:49 utc | 171 “Where will Turkey end up in the new world?”
I think Turkey is already part of the multi-polar world. Erdo’s head choppers may get a trimming, but he is very much a player. I very much under estimated him before and as the tide changed.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 6:47 utc | 183

“Russian servicemen have carried out tremendous work to liberate the city, a significant part of the enemy’s manpower and armoured vehicles has been destroyed. At the moment, most of the city is under the control of the Russian armed forces”, Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. https://sputniknews.com/20220329/most-of-mariupol-is-under-control-of-russian-military-chechen-republic-head-kadyrov-says-1094278918.html
[Note same model truck as the two unburnt trucks in the BBC Borodyanka video.]

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 6:56 utc | 184

Oh well…you gotta laugh, it’s the old ‘Russian poisoners’ story again – or at least I would laugh if this whole farce wasn’t pushing us nearer and nearer to an extinction event nuclear war…
“Within the first 3 minutes of a nuclear conflict, 2600 ‘high alert’ nuclear weapons are launched. They hit targets in Russia, the US and Europe. They target cities, nuclear power stations, industrial areas, oil refineries, transport hubs. In the following hours up to a further 7600 nuclear weapons are launched.
By the end of the day 600 million people are dead. They are the lucky ones”…
https://richardhennerley.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/what-would-world-war-3-look-like/

Posted by: Richard | Mar 29 2022 7:05 utc | 185

Laurence | Mar 29 2022 6:56 utc | 183
A few videos of the Chechen special forces in Mariupol. Happy as pigs in shit. Like the dogs of war let off the chain. Very much a warrior culture.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 7:23 utc | 186

TurkStream (Turkish: TürkAkım or Türk Akımı, Russian: Турецкий поток; former name: Turkish Stream) is a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Turkey. It starts from Russkaya compressor station near Anapa in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, crossing the Black Sea to the receiving terminal at Kıyıköy.
The TurkStream project replaced the South Stream[q.v. on hover] project that was cancelled in 2014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TurkStream

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 7:26 utc | 187

Wallowing in mud is more than just temperature control https://phys.org/news/2011-05-wallowing-mud-temperature.html

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 7:39 utc | 188

Erdogan: Turkey Ready to Arrange Putin-Zelensky Meeting, Facilitate Russia-Ukraine Talks https://sputniknews.com/20220329/erdogan-turkey-ready-to-arrange-putin-zelensky-meeting-facilitate-russia-ukraine-talks-1094281729.html

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 7:57 utc | 189

Speaking of pigs and shit …

Nonetheless, Ukraine conflict aside, the real significance of the Israel-Arab diplomatic summit in the Negev Desert should be sought somewhere else. Prima facie, it is a diplomatic coup for Israel, as its efforts to integrate into the Arab family are making progress. What lends enchantment to the view is

https://www.indianpunchline.com/us-resets-the-containment-of-iran/

Posted by: Laurence | Mar 29 2022 8:21 utc | 190

Walt | Mar 29 2022 5:54 utc | 173
“I wrote more but it disappeared. Was it because of the RT page link?”
Almost certainly. RT and Sputnick have been “banned” (shut down) in many countries. Here in France they cannot be accessed normally. Either use a workaround or copy paste the interesting bits and set up as a “blockquote”.

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 29 2022 8:30 utc | 191

Laurence | Mar 29 2022 8:21 utc | 189 “Prima facie, it is a diplomatic coup for Israel, as its efforts to integrate into the Arab family are making progress. What lends enchantment to the view is’
Prima facie is the encryption key. sit back and watch.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 8:39 utc | 192

Laurence | Mar 29 2022 8:21 utc | 189
OT. Israel is making eyes at the leaders of several ME countries, but this excludes the shiite and probably relatively poorer masses. (ie Bahrein, Saudi are well known to reduce the height of dissidents with swords and other means at hand).
Israel is positioning itself for life after the vampire US is shown the light.
***
The wheat question is vital for the ruling class in Egypt, and as there will be a shortfall, Stolen Syrian Wheat/oil will gain in value. Which may be one reason for the recently “opening” towards Assad.

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 29 2022 8:41 utc | 193

@ Richard Steven Hack | Mar 29 2022 6:24 utc | 179
Great link, well worth watching, the most intelligent commentary I have heard so far.

Posted by: MarkU | Mar 29 2022 8:48 utc | 194

Richard | Mar 29 2022 7:05 utc | 184
Russian poisoners, Putin running around with his little bottles of exotic poisons that immediately trace back to to him. a simple story for the simple minded folk most o us are surrounded with.
I haven’t yet commented on the theme of b’s article so I guess I should.
Those Ukie headjobs with facial dermatitis have no doubt been putting their heads in unsanitary places.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 8:51 utc | 195

“Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland lashed out during a Channel 12 interview, “You (Israel) don’t want to become the last haven for dirty money that’s fuelling Putin’s wars.”
BHADRAKUMAR
Cooky clown nuland is not much different from the ukie comedian claiming his nazi’s fought their own nazi’s to save jews.
A different world, an eye opener for me- Russia/ turkey, Russia/Israel. All about frying bigger fish. Fry the yanks and Israel and Turkey are defanged.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 29 2022 9:11 utc | 196

first headline i see today, a woman claiming she was raped by Russian soldiers after they killed her husband. first thing i think of, the Kuwaiti incubators propaganda, testified to by a woman who turned out to be the daughter of a Kuwaiti ambassador.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 29 2022 9:31 utc | 197

Disappointed not to see you guys with a headline “BIDEN CALLS FOR OVERTHROW OF PUTIN AND INSTALLATION OF NAZI/ZIONIST/CAPITALIST PUPPET STATE”

Posted by: Mr Green Jeans | Mar 29 2022 9:40 utc | 198

when you have to depend on realists within the Pentagon, you know things are shaky.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 29 2022 9:54 utc | 199

Is that an policy of fixed convertibility (both buy & sell) or only a bid by central bank to buy gold?
It’s only a bid by the Central Bank to buy gold, and the price is only fixed until June 30, 2022.
Posted by: S | Mar 28 2022 22:50 utc | 76

Earlier Russia announced that “Unfriendly Countries” would have to buy gas in Rubles. I think there was also mentioned at one point that the transaction had to go through the State Bank.
They allow the penny to drop step by step …
Apparently the mechanism which is to be announced before the end of this month for paying in Rubles will involve selling physical gold to Russia at the bid price announced by the State Bank! There is no other way they will get enough Rubles to pay their gas bills, so they have to sell discounted gold to the State Bank.
In effect, the “Unfriendly Countries” are forced to buy gas with physical gold – yet the beauty of the mechanism forces them to officially recognise the value of the Ruble at 5000 Rubles/gram of gold.
No doubt the mechanism for the physical gold transfer to Russia will also be announced within the next day or so – probably they will have to open an account with the State Bank in physical gold, and keep it in credit, i.e. payment in advance before delivery, no gold no gas.
It will also affect gold prices (against non-rubles) … gold futures … etc
Interesting times.

Posted by: BM | Mar 29 2022 9:54 utc | 200