Posted by: Outraged | Feb 2 2023 13:37 utc | 268
Agreed, great post from @rk, the point about the insignificance of the supposed protagonists in Ukrainian politics is well made. What comes out of Kiev is likely nothing more than media-centric improvisation around a core narrative that is the dictate of their foreign sponsors.
Posted by: John Schmeeckle | Feb 2 2023 13:59 utc | 273
True that Kolomoysky was forced out when he was no longer useful but If US/IMF had had any real objection to his embezzling of those funds at the time they would’ve iced him in a flash. In hindsight, I interpret that money as a transfer of operating capital to their, at the time, local factotum for the implementation the latest phase of their long term plan to depopulate and dismember Ukraine.
Ukraine’s fascist paramilitary groupings and the IMF are tools of US foreign policy, their agreement on matters of substance is to be expected, though they will pretend to disagree if it is in their interest to do so =)

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 2 2023 16:06 utc | 304

I see trolls are out trying to twist Putin’s words at today’s Stalingrad ceremonies. To set everyone straight, here’s his short speech:

Vladimir Putin: Dear veterans, Friends!
Today we celebrate one of the most important and fateful dates in the history of our country and the whole world. Exactly 80 years ago, here, on the land of Stalingrad, on the banks of the great Russian river Volga, the hated, cruel enemy was stopped and irrevocably reversed, and the long, arduous, fierce battle for Stalingrad ended.
This battle was not just a battle for the city – the very existence of a tortured but not conquered country was at stake, the outcome of not only the Great Patriotic War, but the entire Second World War was determined, and everyone felt and realized this both in the trenches and in the rear. We, as it has happened many times in our history, rallied in a decisive battle and won.
The Battle of Stalingrad rightfully went down in history as a radical turning point in the Great Patriotic War. Together with the defeat of the largest group of the Wehrmacht and its satellites, the will of the entire Hitlerite coalition was defeated-European vassals and henchmen of Nazi Germany-and there were many of them at Stalingrad, practically representatives of all European countries of the conquered Europe – began to feverishly look for ways to escape, how to evade responsibility, and blame all the blame on the former ones their owners. What the Soviet people knew from the beginning became clear to everyone: the Nazis ‘ plans to destroy our country, all their ideas of world domination, are doomed to failure.
200 days near Stalingrad, on the streets of the legendary city turned into ruins, two armies fought to the death, and the victory was won by the one that was strong in spirit. The fierce resistance of our soldiers and commanders, sometimes beyond the limits of human capabilities, could only be understood and explained by their loyalty to the Motherland, a firm, absolute belief that the truth is on our side. Readiness for the sake of the Fatherland, for the sake of truth, to go to the end, to do the impossible was and is in the blood, in the character of our multinational people – it was she who overthrew Nazism.
Stalingrad has forever become a symbol of the invincibility of our people, the very strength of life. This city, its environs, and villages throughout the country were restored literally from scratch, because by February 1943 there was practically not a single tree or a single whole building left here.
The exceptional steadfastness and dedication of the defenders and residents of Stalingrad, both then and now, amaze to the depths of the soul, evoke a feeling of the most sincere gratitude and respect. Our moral duty-first of all to the victorious soldiers – is to cherish and fully preserve the memory of this feat, pass it on to the next generations, and not allow anyone to belittle or distort the role of the Battle of Stalingrad in the victory over Nazism and in the liberation of the whole world from this monstrous evil.
Now, unfortunately, we see that the ideology of Nazism – already in its modern guise, modern manifestation-once again creates direct threats to the security of our country, and we are again and again forced to repel the aggression of the collective West.
Incredibly, incredibly, but the fact is: we are again threatened by German Leopard tanks with crosses on board, and they are again going to fight with Russia on the land of Ukraine by the hands of Hitler’s followers, the hands of Bandera.
We know that despite the efforts-official, corrupt in nature – of propaganda by Western elites who are unfriendly to us, we have many friends all over the world, including on the American continent, in North America, and in Europe.
But those who drag European countries, including Germany, into a new war with Russia, and even more irresponsibly declare this as a fait accompli, those who expect to win over Russia on the battlefield, apparently do not understand that a modern war with Russia will be completely different for them. We do not send our tanks to their borders, but we have something to respond to, and the use of armored vehicles will not end there. Everyone should understand this.
For those who threaten us, the simple truth is probably incomprehensible: all our people, all of us, grew up and absorbed the traditions of our people with our mother’s milk – generations of victors who created our country with their labor, sweat and blood and passed it on to us as an inheritance.
The steadfastness of the defenders of Stalingrad is the most important moral guideline for the Russian army, for all of us, and our soldiers and officers are loyal to it. Continuity of generations, values, traditions – all this is what distinguishes Russia, makes us strong and confident in ourselves, in our rightness and in our victory.
I sincerely congratulate all present here in this Hall, all today’s defenders of the Motherland, all citizens of Russia, our compatriots abroad on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad.
Happy holiday to you, happy celebration of the triumph of life and justice.

I would say his implication is NATO is a follower of Bandera and all that means, and IMO Russians will agree that NATO is Nazi.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 16:15 utc | 306

Happy Groundhog day LoL
“Unbelievable, but true – we are once again threatened with German Leopard tanks, with crosses on their hull. And once again seeking to battle Russia in Ukraine with the help of Hitler’s followers, the Banderites,” Putin said.

Posted by: Comandante | Feb 2 2023 16:24 utc | 308

Here’s a photo of the Stalingrad memorial taken today. It’s interesting that China has replicas of the two most important statues related to the Great Patriotic War, as you see here.
For those interested, here’s the link to the Stalingrad Museum.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 16:27 utc | 310

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 2 2023 13:41 utc | 269
I acknowledge that Bentley’s mannerisms don’t always inspire confidence, but as far as I can tell he actually lives in Donbas and provides reasonably objective descriptions of what he sees going on around him.
I wouldn’t write him off so easily.

Posted by: farm ecologist | Feb 2 2023 16:29 utc | 312

The war grinds on. Basically, all the gains made by country 404 In the failed offensive have been negated. Operation “lock pick” is in its final phase. The ‘motti plan’ has succeeded beyond all expectations!
In other news, the USSA military places the expectation of country 404 ability’s to recapture Crimea as one in ten billion. The USSN is upset at the final unobtanium loss of the ready-made abandoned stripped and intact nuke-proof cold war built U-boat pens.
In the interim on the eastern front masses of country 404 are surrendering in droves. The rats of Kyov are all scurrying to safety O/S. DiKtator “z”‘s one-party state of terror is rapidly approaching its final judgment for war crimes in Donetz city 2024.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
The 2% sellers of doubt. After tossing the last kitchen sink. Have now resorted to throwing used underwear.

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Feb 2 2023 16:34 utc | 314

@ karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 16:15 utc | 305
thanks karlof1.. much appreciated…

Posted by: james | Feb 2 2023 16:42 utc | 316

bevin | Feb 2 2023 15:05 utc | 284
“The UK and France had miscalculated-as had the Poles- that Germany would never be able to reach a non aggression pact with the Soviet Union, would never attempt to, so it would not attack Poland, once the western allies pledged their support for the Poles.”
The British and French aligned with Hitler in 1938 to deprive him of Czechoslovakia, by pretended to believe that he only wanted Sudetenland, when this was intended to be a casus belli for war with the Czechs. The counterpart to this was accelerated rearmament to provide appeasement with a stick as well as a carrot. The guarantee to Poland (and other central European states) was the sign of a new determination to use war, after the rest of the Czech lands were annexed in March 1939. The trouble with supporting the Poles was that only the Red Army could do this and the Polish fascists would never agree to the looted portions of western Belarus and western Ukraine having Russian troops in them.
The British and French expected a despairing German offensive in the west and a slow grind to Berlin beginning around 1942 once rearmament matured (the Anglo-French were already overtaking the German war economy in 1939) Time wasn’t on Hitler’s side.

Posted by: Squeeth | Feb 2 2023 16:47 utc | 318

@ karlof1 305
Many thanks for the full transcript. RT has highlighted important quotes….

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hit out at the looming deliveries of Western-made tanks to Ukraine, warning that Moscow’s response to the threat will span far beyond armored vehicles. The Russian leader made the comments during a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of victory at the Battle of Stalingrad.
“Unbelievable, but true – we are once again threatened with German Leopard tanks, with crosses on their hull. And once again seeking to battle Russia in Ukraine with the help of Hitler’s followers, the Banderites,” Putin said.
“Those seeking to defeat Russia on the battlefield apparently do not realize that a modern war with Russia would be entirely different for them. We’re not sending our tanks to their borders. Yet we have something to respond with, and it would not be limited to armor use only, everyone must realize that,” he added.

Memo to Stollenberg, transcript of Putin’s greetings attached.
+ + + + + +
Today, Ursula V L is doubling down on failed sanctions, preparing a 10th package for the SMO anniversary date. She believes:
that the price cap on Russian oil costs Moscow approximately 160 million euro every day
Pity the poor lady. She is unaware the RF state’s budget 2021-2014 is based on oil at USD$45/bl
RT 2 Feb, 2023 12:09 Home Business News
“EU struggles to agree price cap on Russian oil products”

Poland and the Baltic states say the proposed level is too generous to Moscow[.]
Last week, the EC proposed that the bloc apply a price cap of $100 a barrel on premium Russian oil products such as diesel, and a limit of $45 a barrel on discounted products such as fuel oil. The measures are expected to come into effect on February 5 after gaining the approval of all 27 EU member states.[.]

+ + + + + +
Did you miss this beauty?
It’s the Silly Season:
in the midst of an escalating war, NATO’s boss, Jens Stollenberg, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Or should that be termed “Nobel P*%%s Prize.”

{a} Norwegian MP from the populist Progress Party Christian Tybring-Gjedde has admitted that he was the one who proposed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for the award.
Justifying his choice, Tybring-Gjedde claimed that Stoltenberg “managed to bring NATO together at a very important and demanding time, which is perhaps the biggest crisis since the Second World War.” He also lauded Stoltenberg for “acting diplomatically” in defending Swedish and Finnish membership, while at the same time “showing an understanding” of Turkey’s objections.
In an interview with Norwegian media, Tybring-Gjedde said he saw no paradox in nominating a leader of a military alliance for a peace prize, stressing that Alfred Nobel, the founder of the prize, maintained that “actively seeking peace” was the main criteria. This despite the fact that members of NATO are actively fanning the flames of the Ukraine conflict by donating arms and providing military training to Kiev.
Source: Sputniknews

We are screwed. Royally.

Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 2 2023 16:55 utc | 320

Volgograd (Stalingrad) monuments decorated with illumination for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Feb 2 2023 17:12 utc | 322

@ rk | Feb 2 2023 16:55 utc | 318
Jeebus wept. Bipolar or regularly trolling via alternate flipping of Jekyl & Hyde faux persona’s ? Cannot be an imposter as it is routine …
@ Likklemore | Feb 2 2023 16:55 utc | 319
Why not ? The Drone King got one straight up. 🙁
@ Opport Knocks | Feb 2 2023 17:13 utc | 322
LOL 🙂

Posted by: Outraged | Feb 2 2023 17:24 utc | 324

Blinken is receiving some “pressure” to offer a diplomatic resolution, if only for public (little people) consumption.
So he is making a perfunctory, dismissive suggestion of an offer as if to suggest that he is negotiating from a position of strength – dictating terms, in effect – and to be able to state that they remain open to such resolution. Again is a case of: Whatever they say is the opposite of what they mean. Clearly Blinken (et al) would be greatly disappointed to any kind of resolution which does not greatly weaken Russia – appearance of defeat of Russia. Then he tries to back up this posture by threatening to send more “sophisticated” military hardware.
Clearly the US behaves like lunatic – threatening Russia and China simultaneously. Seems Xi is not taking it seriously, so far. When your boss tells you to do stupid things, one does it will great fervor (or quits). Interesting that Biden is not really a factor in the discussion. This is because his boss(es) do not serve the US – quite the opposite. There must be a “hegemon” to serve the interests of those who call the shots – or as least conspire to.

Posted by: jared | Feb 2 2023 17:34 utc | 326

Here’s the opening exchange from Lavrov’s interview:

Question: The first question is probably not a professional one at all, but a human one. At the same time, it concerns millions, if not billions of people. When will it all end?
Sergey Lavrov: I can’t say that this is the only way I live. Because diplomats, military personnel, those guys who solve the most important tasks of ensuring our independence, the interests of our culture, people who want to be part of Russian culture, probably do not think when it will end.
They are driven by the desire to do their work clearly and quickly, minimizing losses. And the more actively we support them morally and politically, the more effectively we explain what is happening from the point of view of geopolitical games, the sooner the world will realize that it is necessary to finish it. We are witnessing not even attempts, but a persistent persistent line of the West, led by the United States, to never finish all this. Until they consider that any threats to their hegemony have been eliminated.
At this stage, we are acting in the same way as our Western colleagues promised: there must be victory on the battlefield. This is their formula. It was they who refused to negotiate, forced the Kiev regime to withdraw from the negotiation process, and at the very moment when, at the end of March 2022, it was possible to end it by political means.

In a Newsweek item provided me by Peter AU1 at my VK space, the authors admit that 87% of humanity is against the Outlaw US Empire, although they continue to vomit the main Establishment Narrative. The point is that 87% are against the Empire’s hegemony, so is the Empire going to make war on the entire world to keep its position? It certainly seems like it’s trying but its efforts are self-defeating. So, it will end when the Empire’s vanquished, it’s ability to project its hegemony blunted and buried. That’s when it will end.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 17:39 utc | 328

@220 Tom
You are right in that it is quite the read. I listened to it on audible so thankfully didn’t have to have my eyes glaze over reading the painstakingly-crafted lists of armaments fielded by the belligerents. Although I do wish I had the book on hand so I can better reference it. From what I remember, the total adjusted amount of goods valued in dollars and adjusted for inflation, that was given to the Soviet Union, soared above $1 trillion. I was shocked listening to that figure, as I had heard and read that the number was far lower and, of course, repeated ad nauseum by Bolsheviks and Stalinphiles that Lend-lease’s effect was overally negligible vis-a-vis Soviet success.
I don’t want to do it, but below are some excerpted quotes from wiki’s page on Lend-lease that drive the point home that Soviet messaging has always obscured the actual situation at the time and only later is it revealed, through the opening of Soviet Archives, etc., what the Soviets wished to obscure from the west.

Joseph Stalin, during the Tehran Conference during 1943, acknowledged publicly the importance of American efforts during a dinner at the conference: “Without American machines the United Nations could never have won the war.”[46][47]
In a confidential interview with the wartime correspondent Konstantin Simonov, the Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov is quoted as saying:
Today [1963] some say the Allies didn’t really help us … But listen, one cannot deny that the Americans shipped over to us material without which we could not have equipped our armies held in reserve or been able to continue the war.[48]
(A more sympathetic voice to the notion that the Soviets would have won regardless) David Glantz, the American military historian known for his books on the Eastern front, concludes:
Although Soviet accounts have routinely belittled the significance of Lend-Lease in the sustainment of the Soviet war effort, the overall importance of the assistance cannot be understated. Lend-Lease aid did not arrive in sufficient quantities to make the difference between defeat and victory in 1941–1942; that achievement must be attributed solely to the Soviet people and to the iron nerve of Stalin, Zhukov, Shaposhnikov, Vasilevsky, and their subordinates. As the war continued, however, the United States and Great Britain provided many of the implements of war and strategic raw materials necessary for Soviet victory. Without Lend-Lease food, clothing, and raw materials (especially metals), the Soviet economy would have been even more heavily burdened by the war effort. Perhaps most directly, without Lend-Lease trucks, rail engines, and railroad cars, every Soviet offensive would have stalled at an earlier stage, outrunning its logistical tail in a matter of days. In turn, this would have allowed the German commanders to escape at least some encirclements, while forcing the Red Army to prepare and conduct many more deliberate penetration attacks in order to advance the same distance. Left to their own devices, Stalin and his commanders might have taken twelve to eighteen months longer to finish off the Wehrmacht; the ultimate result would probably have been the same, except that Soviet soldiers could have waded at France’s Atlantic beaches.[49]

I suppose I would concede that the truth probably lies somewhere between the notion that the Soviets defeated the Germans single-handedly and, on the other side, that the west used the instrument of the Soviets to smash the Wehrmacht.
But even if we call it a draw and agree to disagree, there is still the lingering question as to why Germany was targetted instead of the Soviets. bevin attempts to dissuade me from this question above, but, again, he just beats around the bush and can’t answer it. He even says that the aristocracy in Britain and some populist voices in America, namely Ford and Lindberg, were antisemitic, but this doesn’t do anything to help the case and alleviate the questioning. The anti-war voices in both England and America almost won: they had the sensible position in that what Germany was espousing, especially in its stance towards communism, was correct. BUT THEY LOST!!!
Why did they lose? How did they lose? Germany under Hitler was a very rational global actor and anyone could see that the Versailles Treaty was unfairly leveled against Germany.
We have to wonder to ourselves why the Allies picked Germany first. The answer to this question is difficult to discern but holds the key when understanding our contemporary situation.
It is typical bad faith from Bolsheviks to stop this line of questioning and obfuscate the historical facts that clearly show that the Bolsheviks outdid the Germans in terms of atrocity 2:1, that the Allies hid what the Soviets did to the Poles or did not mention it at all or instead laid the blame at Germany’s feet.
Stalin was a Fox and he walked the tightrope, that is for sure. McMeekin’s Thesis that Stalin was the driving force before and during the War, and not Hitler, seems to me a clear and irrefutable statement. FDR was clearly a pawn in Stalin’s game.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 2 2023 17:53 utc | 330

@ David Levin | Feb 2 2023 17:59 utc | 331
Just in case …
The Forward Edge of the Battle Area(FEBA). IE the frontline. Alternately The Forward Line of Own Troops(FLOT). There are other analogous military acronyms/terms.

Posted by: Outraged | Feb 2 2023 18:08 utc | 332

The entire West is infested with these:
“If you do not recognize that it was then [refusal to implement Minsk] that the seeds of the crisis were sown, then you must be a politician who refuses to see the truth.”
And not just politicians but the entire Western media clearly “refuses to see the truth.”

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 18:15 utc | 334

Moving along through the interview we get to this segment where Lavrov explains what he thinks is at the root of the crisis:

But here, too, perhaps, it is necessary to show a Marxist approach and look for deeper reasons for what is happening now. I would advise, at a minimum, to turn to the era of Barack Obama’s rule and read (this is not difficult, everything is available) his statement about American exceptionalism. Then you can read similar statements by former US President Donald Trump that America is an exceptional nation, there is no other such nation in the world. That they have a huge responsibility. And US President Joe Biden repeatedly promoted this idea, then his staff formalized it. For example, US Secretary of State E. Blinken said that the Americans are obliged to exercise their leadership, their exceptional ability to lead, because if it is not them, then there will be chaos in the world. Very “modest”. In 2021, as soon as he took office as US National Security Advisor John Sullivan, he wrote a whole article where he talked about exclusivity and directly stated (I think it’s a terrible thing) that exclusivity means that they cannot allow an emphasis on ethnic and historical identity, but they must spread a new free democracy everywhere. This means only one thing – everyone else is denied the right to remember their history. The Americans (as they “melted down” all those who “came” to America in their time through the “melting pot”), also want to “melt down” all the others, so that everyone is essentially American.
Question: And the Aborigines were also “melted down”.
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, but they were “melted down” so that there was nothing left. Look at what’s happening in the U.S. right now. What a split in this society. And as it is now, the ruling authorities are trying to suppress it, using (this is their terminology) quite “authoritarian tools”.
The reasons should be sought there. I am convinced that this exclusivity, the absolute conviction in our own infallibility and superiority is the main reason why we are now confronting those countries that, through the Kiev regime, are waging a hybrid, and not so much a hybrid war, against us.
Recently, there were big disputes about the parallels that were voiced in the speeches of the Ukrainian leadership. He also said that as in 1812, and in 1941, those who wanted to subjugate the world, starting with Europe, at that time gathered most of the continent for war with Russia. I don’t see much difference. Moreover, during the Great Patriotic War, the Second World War, Nazi ideology was used against us. Why do people refuse to see the Nazi ideology that now underlies the Kiev regime? All the statements that are made by his “fans” and “puppet masters” do not see the possibility of regarding them as anything other than an attempt to finally resolve the Russian issue. Russia must be strategically defeated. And so that it doesn’t get up for a long time. President of the European Commission W. von der Leyen said that the result of the war should be the defeat of Russia and such that it could not restore its economy for decades. Is this not racism, not Nazism, not an attempt to resolve the Russian question? Yes, not yet in the gas chambers. So far, there are many decent people in Germany who will not allow the revival of fascism. But there are also those who would not mind at all.
Therefore, we are at the epicenter of a geopolitical battle. There’s no need to doubt that. Those who solve practical problems on the front line are doing the most important thing – they are heroes. The feats that they perform, in the name of the future of mankind, allowing to prevent the creation of conditions for complete hegemony of the United States, which are declared in their doctrinal documents [the quest for full spectrum domination].

My interpretation I’ve written several times over the years: What we’ve seen since WW2 is the emergence of the USA’s form of Fascism that includes genocidal attacks on those in the way as the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, and the rest of that 87% are today. We might look at it from the standpoint of an old Western movie where the wagons are circled to defend the settlers from being attacked by those seeking to defend themselves from the settler’s onslaught, their genocide.
Oh and I’ve posted the translation here.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 18:37 utc | 336

If you had bothered to read what I wrote, that citation was made by the author’s of the Newsweek item Peter AU1 provided.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 18:56 utc | 338

If you had bothered to read what I wrote, that citation was made by the author’s of the Newsweek item Peter AU1 provided.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 18:56 utc | 338

Yes, and I addressed the flaws of the argument, not any person(s) repeating it.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 2 2023 19:09 utc | 340

Lavrov is great, helluva guy. Thanks for posting details on his latest talks

Posted by: nathan in WA US | Feb 2 2023 19:13 utc | 342

This question is often asked by barflies. IMO, it’s as complete an answer as one will get:

Question: Article 5 of the Washington Treaty states that an attack on one NATO member means an attack on all of them. The CSTO has a similar 4th article: “In the event of aggression (an armed attack threatening the security, stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty) against any of the Participating States, all other Participating States, at the request of this participating State, will immediately provide it with the necessary assistance, including military…”. Isn’t that the case right now?
Sergey Lavrov: It says: at the request of the participating State. We didn’t contact anyone. We proceed from the fact that we have everything necessary to solve the tasks of a special military operation, to end the war started by the West through the Ukrainian regime even after the coup.
We see how NATO is fighting against us. Some talk, spells, that they “only arm” – funny. According to experts, it is impossible for Ukrainians to work on weapons that have already been partially transferred, and especially on those that have been announced, even after completing some one-, two -, or three-month courses. There are systems that cannot be trained in the foreseeable future. If they are supplied, then, most likely, this will be done in conjunction with combat crews. Apparently, they will be sent on “leave” from the army and sent as mercenaries, issuing the appropriate certificate. Russia will solve all the issues itself. We didn’t apply. I will not give an analysis of why this was not done. We don’t need it.
During the day, the CSTO responded to the request of the President of Kazakhstan K.-Zh.Tokayev in January 2022 to help stabilize the situation during the period of an externally inspired surge in violence, attempts to seize state buildings. When Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to look for ways to stabilize the situation in the Caucasus, the CSTO is also ready to help.
After the outbreak of violence in September 2022, when about 300 people were killed on both sides, we received a request from Yerevan. The Secretary General of the Organization went to the border with experts and brought a plan for the deployment of the CSTO mission in the part of Armenia bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan. This plan was prepared quite a long time ago, but the Armenian side did not rush us.
At the summit in Yerevan, the text of the relevant decision was finalized, but the Armenian colleagues said that they need it only if it categorically condemns the actions of Azerbaijan. Not everyone was ready to do it. Not only because they wanted to protect someone or not support them. The history of the Karabakh war goes back decades. Armenia has occupied seven districts around Azerbaijan for many years. Russia offered numerous options. Even the previous Armenian leadership did not take them very positively, wanting to keep territories that it had never claimed. Desperate to resolve the issues by political means, Azerbaijan returned the lands that belonged to it.
Now Armenia, Azerbaijan and the European Union have signed a document on their readiness to conclude a peace treaty under the conditions outlined in the Alma Ata Declaration of December 1991. Now it is difficult for us to decide on further steps. This document states: the borders between the newly independent states will run along the administrative borders of the Union republics of the Soviet Union, including the Armenian and Azerbaijani ones. The latter included the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region.
The situation is multi-layered. I consider it an important achievement that the CSTO has prepared a plan for the deployment of a peacekeeping operation in a difficult situation. This offer is still “on the table”. If the Armenian allies and friends are still interested in it, it can be deployed within one or two days.
Question: Do we potentially still have the opportunity to ask our CSTO allies for help in the event of an escalation of aggression against Russia?
Sergey Lavrov: It says that any party has the right to do so. I have already answered why Russia does not use it. It doesn’t necessarily happen in the future. We do not see the need for a special military operation in terms of the equipment of our Armed Forces and how they work in the space of a special military operation.
At the initiative of Kazakhstan, the CSTO is currently developing its peacekeeping potential. One of the Deputy Secretaries-General is also responsible for peacekeeping, there is an Agreement on CSTO peacekeeping activities (2007).
For our part, we are working on amendments to this agreement, because it says that the CSTO peacekeeping forces are deployed in accordance with the agreement and with the approval of the UN Security Council. We consider this requirement to be excessive, since the request of the legitimate government of the state is quite sufficient for the deployment of CSTO peacekeepers. As it was in January 2022 during the riots in Kazakhstan. Such clarifications to the CSTO’s peacekeeping legal framework will increase its effectiveness.
We see the need for allied support in foreign policy coordination. It is not always and not on every issue that all CSTO member states vote equally when an issue affecting the fundamental interests of a particular member is put on the agenda. We discussed this at the CSTO Council of Heads of State and Foreign Ministers in Yerevan. Foreign policy coordination is becoming increasingly important.

Russia doesn’t see the need for CSTO help in fighting NATO. Prior to this passage developments in Moldova and Georgia are discussed, Moldova being the most critical. Here’s the key sentence from Lavrov:
“Moldova is currently being considered for this [anti-Russia as with Ukraine] role.”
This problem is why IMO Russia must liberate the vast majority of Ukraine so Moldovans can be presented with a genuine choice of either Russian, Yugoslavian, or Moldovan affinity. But Moldova will never be allowed to join NATO.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 19:34 utc | 344

I apologise if someone uses this name, I am posting for the first time. There is these two words used together, ‘cookie’ and ‘Nuland’. What is the allusion? Does cookie mean ‘mad’? Or is nuland tasty as cookie? nuland has a dog named cookie? nuland loves cookies? Will some kind barfly kindly enlighten me?

Posted by: Lurker | Feb 2 2023 19:55 utc | 346

Imminent UA semi collapse might be happening on the Bakhmut – > Kremennaya line. UA left Belohorivka near Seversk and loose rumorus of slow retreat from Bakhmut.
Earlier orchestra took Nikolaevka in Soledar which triggered a retreat from UA in Belohorivka, meaning that the space in between (Seversk) might have weaker defense than thought. And leaving Belohorivka means UA cannot support their Kremennaya offensive flank.
https://t.me/gzvonews/4498

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 2 2023 20:01 utc | 348

Lurker | Feb 2 2023 19:55 utc | 346
“I apologise if someone uses this name, I am posting for the first time. There is these two words used together, ‘cookie’ and ‘Nuland’. What is the allusion? Does cookie mean ‘mad’? Or is nuland tasty as cookie?…”
Definitely not that one. Have you seen a picture of her? Yikes.

Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Feb 2 2023 20:06 utc | 350

We now know Lavrov’s preferred brand of whiskey:
Question: Have you already managed to try Russian whiskey in the order of import substitution?
Sergey Lavrov: They gave it to me. If I’m not mistaken, the whiskey variety is called “Praskoveyskoe”. In the priority place I have a bottle with the inscription “Kyrgyz whiskey”.
I suggest we stock the bar and all enjoy a few shots!

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 2 2023 20:16 utc | 352

Lurker@346

For her part, Nuland passed out cookies to anti-Yanukovych demonstrators at the Maidan square, reminded Ukrainian business leaders that the US had invested $5 billion in their “European aspirations,” declared “fuck the EU” for its less aggressive approach, and discussed with US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt who the new leaders of Ukraine should be.

Victoria Nuland is famous for her role in orchestrating the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine, and for her telephone call(s) with the US ambassador, which were overheard, recorded and published by the Russians. The above passage has been taken from:
https://truthout.org/articles/the-ukraine-mess-that-nuland-made/

Posted by: grunzt | Feb 2 2023 20:40 utc | 354

@ 5 commandante; My choice is “The Pink Fairies”, just to get their goat

Posted by: Red | Feb 3 2023 0:25 utc | 356

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 2 2023 15:37 utc | 293
Their constitution also calls for “the protection of the gene pool of the Ukrainian nation”
If the constitution of Nazi Germany called for the slaughter of the disabled, that doesn’t mean they weren’t wrong to do so.

Posted by: Colin | Feb 3 2023 14:37 utc | 358

Thank you Karlofi1, Flying Dutchman, Grunzt and David Levin. The dough boys made me laugh. I like to imbibe the knowledge. I will use Lurker1 in future.

Posted by: Lurker1 | Feb 3 2023 17:53 utc | 360