Ukraine - Zelenski Begs Russia To Renew Deals He Had Botched
The actor who has been playing the President of Ukraine for a while is getting cold feet. Winter is coming and the energy networks of Ukraine are near to the point of total breakdown.
There could have been agreements in place to prevent that. But the Ukrainian side had botched those deals. Now Zelenski is begging to renew them.
In late 2022 the Russian military launched a bombing campaign against electricity switching stations in Ukraine. A lot of transformers got blown up. The Ukrainian military responded by concentrating its air defenses near electricity stations. That was exactly the effect the Russian's had asked for. The air defense installations, not the electricity stations, had been their real target.
After splitting from the Soviet Union, Ukraine had had the best air defenses money could buy. During the fall and winter of 2022 most of it had been destroyed. The Russian campaign against electricity stations came to a halt.
In 2023/24 the Ukrainian military started its own campaign against infrastructure in Russia. Several refineries were hit by drones and went up into flames. Gasoline production in Russia was falling significantly and export of gasoline had to be stopped for a while.
The Russians retaliated by renewing their campaign against Ukraine's electricity network. But this time the targets were not just switching stations but the generation facility themselves. The non-nuclear electricity production in Ukraine got decimated.
In its daily briefings the Russian Ministry of Defense called the attacks on Ukrainian electricity stations a direct retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian proper. For example:
This morning, in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to damage objects of Russian power infrastructure and economy, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike by long-range precision weaponry at objects of the Ukrainian military-industrial infrastructure and AFU aviation bases.
With their generation capacity in danger and under the threat of blackouts the Ukrainian government got to its senses - at least for a while. Secret negotiations were arranged in Doha, Qatar, to stop the infrastructure attacks on both sides.
In August 2024, shortly after the Ukrainian army had launched an incursion into the Kursk oblast of Russia, the Washington Post reported:
Ukraine and Russia were set to send delegations to Doha this month to negotiate a landmark agreement halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure on both sides, diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions said, in what would have amounted to a partial cease-fire and offered a reprieve for both countries.But the indirect talks, with the Qataris serving as mediators and meeting separately with the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, were derailed by Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region last week, according to the officials.
...
For more than a year, Russia has pounded Ukraine’s power grid with a barrage of cruise missiles and drone strikes, causing irreparable damage to power stations and rolling blackouts across the country. Meanwhile, Ukraine has struck Russia’s oil facilities with long-range drone attacks that have set ablaze refineries, depots and reservoirs, reducing Moscow’s oil refining by an estimated 15 percent and raising gas prices around the world.
...
A diplomat briefed on the talks said Russian officials postponed their meeting with Qatari officials after Ukraine’s incursion into western Russia. Moscow’s delegation described it as “an escalation,” the diplomat said, adding that Kyiv did not warn Doha about its cross-border offensive.
Ukraine had to pay a heavy price for the Kursk incursion. The elite troops it had sent failed to reach their target, a nuclear power station near Kursk, and soon got decimated. The attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continued with full force.
Three month later, with the Kursk incursion as well as its electricity network near to total failure, the Ukrainian government is again changing course. It is begging to renew the deals it had botched.
As the Financial Times reports (archived):
Russia putting an end to aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy targets and cargo ships could pave the way for negotiations to end the war, the Ukrainian president has said.Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv on Monday that “when it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on these points would be a signal that Russia may be ready to end the war”.
...
If Moscow and Kyiv agreed to end strikes on their respective energy infrastructures, it would be a significant step towards de-escalating the conflict, Zelenskyy said in reference to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Well - he could have had that deal three month ago. Now it will be more difficult to achieve it. A total retreat of Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region will be the minimum prerequisite Russia will ask for to renew the talks.
Zelenski also wants to renew the Black Sea agreement.
The August Washington Post report reminded of that:
Ukrainian and Russian officials haven’t met face to face for talks since the first months of the war, when delegations from both sides convened for secret talks in Istanbul. Those negotiations eventually fell apart. Later, the two sides agreed to a grain deal that led to Russia temporarily lifting a naval blockade, allowing Ukraine to transfer grain through the Black Sea. That, too, collapsed months later when Russia pulled out of the deal.
The Black Sea deal included a western promise to not hinder Russian exports through the Black Sea. That hindrance however continued as insurance for freighters continued to be denied. Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet also continued. Russia pulled out of the deal and reestablished its rather leaky blockade of Ukrainian ports.
During the last half year Ukraine had started to rebuild its supply line through the Black Sea. Dozens of ships with dry cargo arrived in Odessa and other Ukrainian Black Sea ports. The Russians soon assumed, correctly, that those ships were transporting weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian military. Iskander missiles were sent to destroy the loads as soon as the ships arrived. Over the last months some 20+ dry good freighters were hit, damaged or sunk. Secondary explosions after the strikes confirmed that explosive freight had been involved.
The Russian naval blockade has been renewed - not by intercepting ships on their way to Ukraine but by hitting them while they unload.
During the war Russia had offered Zelenski at least two small deals which were largely in favor of Ukraine. The Black Sea grain deal failed because Ukraine and its 'partners' failed to do fulfill their part of the arrangement. The infrastructure peace deal failed because Ukraine decided to attack towards Kursk.
Now Zelenski is begging to renew both deals.
That may well be possible. But Russia will surely ask for a very steep price.
Posted by b on October 23, 2024 at 7:03 UTC | Permalink
next page »'Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv on Monday that “when it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on these points would be a signal that Russia may be ready to end the war”.'
I am in awe of the skill and chutzpah with which manipulative people can turn things around. It constantly awes and amazes me.
Posted by: Tim | Oct 23 2024 7:48 utc | 2
I think that the Kremlin crowd would immediately accept any Ukrainian proposal.
Putin wants to appear "humane" for his "western partners". also, there are Russian oligarchs who has interest in keeping Ukro energy network working.
We already see that the Ukrainian energy network is not on the brink of the collapse at all. We see on many videos that restaurants still work normally in Ukraine.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
Why should Russia accept a deal? Apply maximum pressure on Ukraine to force a surrender is a sound policy. After the West's support to Israel's behavior in Gaza the chance of a global condemnation of Russia is 0%.
Posted by: Poul | Oct 23 2024 8:04 utc | 4
Incomprehensible level of gall & delusion by coke snorting Z. Will all be over soon enough. RF response:
"No soup, for YOU!"
Great piece b! When I’m sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner in about a month, I can lean on great overviews like this, which connects the dots, to debunk the bullshit arguments of people whose opinions are formed by a daily diet of disinformation peddled by the corporate media. They won’t believe it, but they can’t claim later they weren’t told (try as the might to deny even that).
Posted by: KMRIA | Oct 23 2024 8:10 utc | 6
Basically, Zhelenski is screaming for help from the people whom he has made his enemies. Remember that he won his only election on a platform of making peace with Russia.
Russia has absolutely no reason to help Zhelenski. He has absolutely nothing to offer Russia. Nor has he any means of persuading Russia that anything which he says is true.
And lastly, he is screaming for help from the people whom he has promised to defeat on the battlefield using imaginary weapons and falsified statistics.
A banana republic where no bananas grow.
Posted by: MFB | Oct 23 2024 8:12 utc | 7
Ukraine wanted to play a game of chicken with Russia with western help
Posted by: Shrimp | Oct 23 2024 7:21 utc | 1
To be fair "Ukraine wanted" is probably incorrect...Ukraine has been a puppet state ever since its democratically elected government was destabilized and subsequently toppled by the Maidan putsch.....eg Zelensky was elected on the basis of implementing UNSCR 2202 (rather than wiping his arse with it on behalf of NATO powers)...the people of Ukraine have never CHOSEN to go to war with Russia..that was something gifted to them by policy makers in Washington and Brussels.
Posted by: Billy2Hats | Oct 23 2024 8:20 utc | 8
Russia does not have the will to win the war easily, the railways and motorway arteries that connect the West with Ukronazistan work at full capacity, trains loaded with containers filled with weapons constantly supply the Ukronazi army, the same thing pervi truck on the road.
I wonder how the soldiers on both sides don't turn their weapons against the politicians who manage this massacre.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 8:25 utc | 9
@ Poul | Oct 23 2024 8:04 utc | 4
Indubitably. Cheers
@ vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
You're cute, in your own inimitable way (Not cuddly). Overarching persistence vs futility. What was the entry for 'Earth' in the Encyclopedia Galactica ? Er, no, the far cheaper & accessible 'Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy'(Upated): "Mostly Harmless".
@ MFB | Oct 23 2024 8:12 utc | 7
'Cause his masters abandoned him & 'The BorderLands' to their inevitable fate, starting early this year. Alas, just hasn't been reading the raging bonfires/smoke signals. The Ramstein shindig was his last chance & that was a total bust.
Z, you bad boy. "Whatcha gonna do, when they come for you? Bad boy, bad boy. Whatcha gonna do, when they come for you?"
@ A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 8:25 utc | 9
Z & ya'll, two delusional peas in a pod. Poor NAFO copium. No piece rates per post, soon enough. :(
After the West's support to Israel's behavior in Gaza the chance of a global condemnation of Russia is 0%.
Posted by: Poul | Oct 23 2024 8:04 utc | 4
That is right. Russia has this chance, but Putin does not understand that.
This is a total war.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:52 utc | 12
Outraget.11
you're just a useless fan,
the reality is clearly visible for everyone to see
Russia and America are like sea robbers, during the day they argue, at night they go stealing together, gas and oil supplied on a constant basis to the West which supplies men with weapons and war technology which kills Russian soldiers and civilians,
but woe betide depriving the oligarchs of both sides of the lavish profits deriving from this war.
are the Russian people happy? Are the families of the tens of thousands of dead Russian soldiers happy?
are you happy?
good for you,
I would have closed all relations with the West, from embassies to supplies, an enemy must be treated as an enemy.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 9:00 utc | 13
Concern trolling @#13
While the Oilygarchs in the U$$A are massively profiting from their control over the WarDefense Industry, the same is not true in Russia, where that industry primarily belongs to the state and no profit motive is involved...simply high levels of productivity and efficiency.
FYI: The largest single shareholders in the world's #1 WarDefense Industry is Lockheed-Martin, responsible for those 2,000 pound bombs which the Evil Ones are dropping on Gaza women, children and elders on a daily basis...as well as those F-35's which are the core of the Izzy Airfarce. So who are the primary shareholders in Lockheed-Martin? London Bank$ters, of course...to be precise CITY of London private banksters.
Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 23 2024 9:21 utc | 14
I think that the Kremlin crowd would immediately accept any Ukrainian proposal.
Putin wants to appear "humane" for his "western partners". also, there are Russian oligarchs who has interest in keeping Ukro energy network working.
We already see that the Ukrainian energy network is not on the brink of the collapse at all. We see on many videos that restaurants still work normally in Ukraine.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
No, the "Kremlin crowd" won't. Neither will Putin.
This time, they will insist on direct talks. Not through some intermediaries - which Ukraine will be hard pressed to find anyway, given its tendency to spit into the faces of said intermediaries.
Ukraine is still not willing to conduct direct talks, as that would mean that the Ukrainians involved in those talks will be personally associated with the talks - and the results.
And then there is the question who in Ukraine can conduct such talks. Under which authority. Ukraine no longer has a duly elected president. And its Rada is also rapidly nearing end of life.
As for the restaurants. Anecdotal evidence is not evidence that the energy grid is operating normally. Some restaurants being operational in some big city does not mean the grid works in all regions, or in the country side. Or around the clock.
Winter has not set fully set in. Ukraine heats mostly using electricity. When it starts freezing outside is when we'll see if the energy grid is still operational.
Posted by: Martina | Oct 23 2024 9:22 utc | 15
Russia must not make any deal whatsoever with NATO to re-invigorate its proxy, because that is precisely what all of that is: a life-support for the NATO appendage. The effort to eliminate the energy capabilities of the Anglo-American vassal must continue relenlessly. The best hope for the Ukrainian citizenry comes through peace and that requires the defeat of NATO and its proxy.
As for any Black Sea deal that will allow further seaborn military supplies that will kill more Russian soldiers and civilians, well, that doesn't remotely require any consideration. It would be borderline treasonous and it's obvious that the Russian government won't countenance it.
Posted by: Constantine | Oct 23 2024 9:32 utc | 16
Russia should just continue bombing all infrastructure and ships in port in Ukraine for the next 10 years. No reason to stop just because a Jew says something.
Posted by: gT | Oct 23 2024 9:32 utc | 17
Zelensky is a puppet of the US Neocons.
Other things are happening in the world that the US Neocons would like us not to notice. This is a cheap headline to distract Russian attention from Iran.
The last Ukrainian hasn't died yet, so Zelensky's puppet masters don't want peace. They just want to distract.
Support for the USUKIS genocide is non-existent. At the worst case scenario, revolutions and assassinations across the world are imminent. At the minimum , resignations and articles by senior politicians in protest at the genocide are inevitable.
Putin is not going to allow a heavily compromised West indulge in face-saving negotiations about Ukraine when USUKIS is in the dog house. Moldovan shenanigans don't demonstrate that USUKIS want peace, so there will be no peace.
So long as Putin's finger is hovering over the button to retaliate on Tel Aviv, it won't be hovering over the button to destroy Kiev.
Posted by: Giyane | Oct 23 2024 9:43 utc | 18
Niet ... means ... Niet.
Remember the three goals of the SMO.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Oct 23 2024 9:45 utc | 19
Don't bother talking to vargas: he is pretending to be naive or stupid with the intent to disrupt -- it's a smarter and more subtle form than the usual NAFO ululating or the more classical SB=1917 style concern trolling. Vargas is not our local forum idiot, he is PRINO (pro-Russian in name only) par excellence.
Russia has this chance, but Putin does not understand that. This is a total war.Thank god we have the little wolf (that's "vargas" in English) to tell Putin and us how it is.Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:52 utc | 12
Regarding Ukraine: as usual, there are different kinds of noises from the West. On the one hand, one US faction wants to bury Ukraine unceremoniously and dump it onto EU (this has been clearly announced). It makes a lot of sense: the war got positive results for the Empire: EU vassals weakened, exploited and alienated from Russia and ROW in general; many dead Russians (including Ukrainians which are just proto-Russians); NATO extended and everyone's obliged to buy more from US MIC. The war itself is clearly lost, so high time to bail out.
On the other hand, there is a faction that wants to build up military potential -- I believe that these circles think that a conventional (only!) war in Europe is not only useful but in fact necessary for US hegemony to survive a little longer. Unfortunately, there are many willing supporters in EUrope. IMO, war in Europe is possible again even though they need to invest even more into brainwashing: people are not eager to kill Russians or get killed by them -- but this is something that propaganda can solve.
This week, Commander Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic) has been opened: a NATO maritime headquarter in Rostock -- that's East Germany and officials are bending over backwards to pretend this does not violate the 4+2 treaty (it does, of course).
Posted by: Konami | Oct 23 2024 9:50 utc | 20
Russia should just continue bombing all infrastructure and ships in port in Ukraine for the next 10 years. No reason to stop just because a Jew says something.
Posted by: gT | Oct 23 2024 9:32 utc | 17
Who cares about the identification of the mouthpiece? If a Russian Christian or a WASP made the suggestions, should Russia consider them?
And to be clear, the idea about the aforementioned deals almost certainly came from the Anglo-American masters of Ukraine.
Posted by: Constantine | Oct 23 2024 9:50 utc | 21
I was reading yesterday about people bombing a TCC high-ops in his car in Odessa ... People there can't stand the extremists commissars anymore.
I was also reading about an AFU "field officer" complaining about "the TCC send us only pro-Russians Russian speaking folks that are not the most enthusiastic about following the orders" ...
What will the Banderists do ? Sending moaaar Odessan "katsaps" and burning in their car or burn Hellensky and negotiate with the Russian instead ?
Posted by: Savonarole | Oct 23 2024 9:53 utc | 22
@ vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:52 utc | 12
This is a total war.
Ooh, shivers. Getting chilled vibes of that scrawny club-footed 'Noballs At-all' fellow at the podium screeching:
"Wollt Ihr Den Totalen Krieg? Totalen Krieg! Totalen Krieg!,"in the local school gym, as the Master race's victories kept comin' ever closer & closer to Marlene Dietrichs former apartment in Berlin. Not sure, yet don't recall it turning out well for him and his Übermenschen buddies, vargas. History a'rhymin' again ?
@ A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 9:00 utc | 13
You are profoundly mistaken, am not useless, am not! And most certainly not a plastic bladed oscillating rotating electrically motivated generator of a directional continuous vortex of air employed as a cooling device. Oh, am very happy.
Nothing pleases me more at breakfast time than the latest tally of 'The BanderaLands' Nazi's, neo-nazi's, OUN-B scum, foreign & sheep-dipped soulless mercs, along with empires willing tech specialists/mid-ranking advisors/liaison & actual directing officers comin' up KIA/WIA/MIA, on thier way to 'Stepan Bandera ValhallaLand™'. Sorry for their surviving kith & kin though irregardless.
Damned shame about the shanghaied/impressed Ukie conscripts with a life expectancy of ~4hrs on day one in the trenches. But them's the breaks if ya passively submit to your Nazi coup'n overlords regime, effectives amounting to only ~5% of the population.
Sorry, um, what were you babbling about again ? Oh, right, you were imaginin' you're the grand Poobah in charge, commanding armies in the field. Okay, dokey then ... bye. Multi generation descendant of proud card carrying members of the Partito Nazionale Fascista, by any chance ?
@Constantine | Oct 23 2024 9:50 utc | 21
Yes, yes, protect the Tribe yet again, yawn.
Posted by: gT | Oct 23 2024 9:55 utc | 24
De facto dictator Zizi must be painfully aware that any deals he does with Russia will be the same as signing his own death warrant. Azov Battalion already warned him.
The one thing he's likely to be the hardest for is a life sentence in a Russian prison. That would be his best chance of surviving to a ripe old age, at least until MI6 or the CIA finally discovers the satellite coordinates of the remote Siberian gulag holding him.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Oct 23 2024 9:55 utc | 25
Pubblicato da: aristodemos | 23 ott 2024 9:21 utc | 14
if you want to talk about trolls, well you fully represent them.
can you deny that Russia supplies oil, gas, uranium and everything else the American and European industries need for their industries and armaments industries?
can you deny that despite being at war with the ucronazis, transit in oil and gas pipelines continues to pass freely towards clearly hostile states such as the Baltic countries, Poland and Germany?
then France, Spain and Italy?
can you deny that all NATO countries, very rare exceptions, provide logistical support, technical support, men and weapons to the Ukronazis to kill Russian civilians and soldiers?
can you deny that Russia does business and agreements with the Americans?
can you deny that rich Russians have villas and apartments and boats on the French Riviera and on the Mediterranean coasts that they continue to visit?
If you don't see all these anomalies, well get some good glasses and remove the slices of salami covering your eyes.
I abhor fascism even though I'm not left-wing but I don't let myself be fooled by the theatrics.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 10:02 utc | 26
The Ukrainian experience should serve as a stark warning to any nation that foolishly places its trust in the Anglosphere. Just like Czechoslovakia in 1938, and Poland in 1939, relying on the West for assistance brings only military loss and incalculable tragedy to your nation. There is a reason why it’s called “Perfidious Albion”.
While I won’t shed a tear for the defeated Banderites, I empathize with all those nations who’ve been betrayed time and again by the West. Hey you lunatic Balts - get some sense and get out of NATO. Same advice for all other nations. Aside from the fact that the West literally cannot help you due to its de-industrialization, they don’t WANT to help you. All the West wants to do is to steal your stuff and to enslave your people.
Hell, the Western Oligarchs here in the USA are working damn hard to enslave Americans. Good Luck 🙏
Posted by: OldFart | Oct 23 2024 10:03 utc | 27
Pubblicato da: Outraged | 23 ott 2024 9:53 utc | 23
I am sitting comfortably in an armchair and enjoying this splendid Mediterranean climate,
I have no relatives either in Ukraine or Russia, someone in the USA, one or two,
I don't love the Nazi-fascists, I don't love the Americans, I don't love the Chinese or the Jews since they don't love us, I hope that the Russians defeat NATO and the Americans, my country is militarily subjected to them, 113 bases,
but we cannot deny that the Russians leave open railways where hundreds of containers filled with weapons enter Ukraine like hundreds of trucks.
if this is normal for you, well, that's your business,
but I strongly doubt the behavior of the Russians, clearly I am talking about the leaders.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 10:25 utc | 29
vargas is now the Bobby Orr of MOA (Bobby Orr won the Norris trophy for best defenseman 8 consecutive seasons.) now that he was won, "The Most Retarded Post I Have Read Today" for this idiocy below:
"I think that the Kremlin crowd would immediately accept any Ukrainian proposal.
Putin wants to appear "humane" for his "western partners". also, there are Russian oligarchs who has interest in keeping Ukro energy network working.
We already see that the Ukrainian energy network is not on the brink of the collapse at all. We see on many videos that restaurants still work normally in Ukraine."
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
b, lays it out like it is.
All eyes on Kazan.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Oct 23 2024 10:27 utc | 31
"America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests." - Henry Kissinger
Posted by: Sioban | Oct 23 2024 10:29 utc | 32
In response to
"
This article, in my view, is of no use to anyone seeking accurate, up-to-date information. It’s just another alt-news outlet regurgitating U.S./U.K./Ukrainian propaganda. It’s not real news—just political spin and disinformation.
They’ve been doing this for Ukraine non-stop since 2013, and I tuned it out around the same time. Unless Zelensky is announcing "I resign" or "We unconditionally surrender," everything else is just noise.
Posted by: William | Oct 23 2024 10:24 utc | 29
"
A bit harsh there on our host mate. Z trying to bring forward old offers is not disinformation though I agree with you that his only choice now are the surrender words.
And you are missing the context of this proxy war in relation to the bigger civilization war going on which you won't read a hint of anywhere but in alt-news sites like this.....be more respectful of our host.
I hope my pain meds kick in soon so I can go back to sleep.....sigh...this round is on me fellow barflies, bottoms up!
Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 23 2024 10:44 utc | 33
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
I think that the Kremlin crowd would immediately accept any Ukrainian proposal.
Putin wants to appear "humane" for his "western partners". also, there are Russian oligarchs who has interest in keeping Ukro energy network working.We already see that the Ukrainian energy network is not on the brink of the collapse at all. We see on many videos that restaurants still work normally in Ukraine.
Hey idiot;
why has "...the Kremlin crowd..." NOT immediatly accept the swiss conference OR at least accept the last zelensky peace plan ????
Posted by: ghiwen | Oct 23 2024 10:51 utc | 34
@vargas
There are these things called “generators” that run on gas and provide electricity.
Having lived in Latin America I can tell you that rolling blackouts and power grid failures don’t stop life from going on.
However you cannot run large scale industrial enterprise on a generator for very long that way.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Oct 23 2024 10:56 utc | 35
@ OldFart | Oct 23 2024 10:03 utc | 27
Got it in one. Cheers
@ William
Dearest Willie ...
Re being blunt & not seeing the point, perchance lurking more, posting less, being a tad more courteous/respectful to your generous host, may possibly improve your critical thinking caps effectiveness, along with comprehending the value of myriad content, data analysis, rationally & objectively, in context, regardless of source ? Or not.
@ ghiwen | Oct 23 2024 10:51 utc | 36
Consistently needlessly abusive. Why ?
@ psychohistorian | Oct 23 2024 10:44 utc | 35
Hear ya. Massive migraines, zero sleep, due insomnia. Gonna drop at some point. Cheers
Whatever the deal is, it should be very favorable to Russia and more importantly get their part first.
UA and the west have zero credit when it comes to honoring their word.
Russia is too kind and keeps giving them chances which they invariably abuse.
Posted by: ed Bernays | Oct 23 2024 11:01 utc | 37
Whatever the deal is, it should be very favorable to Russia and more importantly get their part first.
UA and the west have zero credit when it comes to honoring their word.
Russia is too kind and keeps giving them chances which they invariably abuse.Posted by: ed Bernays | Oct 23 2024 11:01 utc | 39
does it even matter if russia gets "their part first"?
look at the 2+4 treaty and the recently opened "commander task force baltic" hq in rostock.
in clear violation and with pathetic excuses from our german regime.
even if russia gets their part first (as one could argue with the mentioned treaty), down the line the west will negate on any consensus or treaty reached and simply break it and lie again as they always do.
non-agreement capable was the term that perfectly describes the "west" and their values.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Oct 23 2024 11:17 utc | 38
Just finished watching Mercouris and Alex's video on the BRICS summit. It looks like an alternative to SWIFT using central bank digital currencies is going to be announced. This will castrate the Western Banks and their sanctions.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Oct 23 2024 11:18 utc | 39
Has there been a single "deal" (treaty, agreement, undertaking) where Kiev has actually fully complied with the terms of agreement? Given that Russia needs to be seen as 'agreement capable', as at least potentially willing to negotiate, there will inevitably be some public chat, but I get the feeling that Putin might actually agree something, which would be silly and dangerous for obvious reasons. 15% degradation of an energy export sector is significant. Does Russia lack the capacity to stop Ukraine rearming? Why? By now, road and rail transport in Western Ukraine should be totally disrupted. Why is Putin pulling his punches? I doubt it contributes to his international popularity or that it sends any messages that might encourage Kiev's capitulation.
Posted by: Tom Paine | Oct 23 2024 11:28 utc | 40
No deal with Kievian entity, except unconditional surrender. In this war, there must be a winner and a loser, not these sissy half measures Putin likes way too much.
Remember : Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me.
How many times Russia got fooled ?
Posted by: America is defeated | Oct 23 2024 11:31 utc | 41
@Justpassinby
Well it seems like we both know they can't be trusted.
Still it doesn't mean they can't try again without being naive.
If the deal is for instance - Russia will not target energy facilities if all the troops withdraw from Kursk FIRST- that is not a deal they can walk back on.
Posted by: ed Bernays | Oct 23 2024 11:41 utc | 42
Good article.
I believe there must be lots of talk in Kazan these days about how to find the best mediation to respond with a Russian angle. Erdogan, Xi and Modi will all be involved in the Istanbul 2.0.
However, this will be a peace designed to last. Therefore, I see NATO puttting up staunch resitance and trying to throw pitfalls everywhere. Watch out Russia, or it get back to how it has been in a mere months.
Posted by: Norwegian Pawn | Oct 23 2024 11:47 utc | 43
Pubblicato da: Tom Paine | 23 ott 2024 11:28 utc | 42
completely agree,
the Ukronazis and Anglo-Americans have never, in their history, respected a treaty, with the exception of gas and oil transit through Ukraine,
trying to ingratiate yourself with them is a useless exercise,
continuing to keep open railways and roads connecting Europe to Ukronazistan has something perverse.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 11:49 utc | 44
Doesn’t really matter what Zelensky or Ukraine want anymore. NATO/UK/US will continue for years to come to attempt to turn the Black Sea into a NATO Lake.
As for energy infrastructure, West could care a less about freezing Ukraine, anything to slow down, hinder or stop Russian exports is the name of the game and no agreement with Ukraine & Russia will stop that for years yet.
It would be wise if Russia kept its eye on the ball. The 2021 EU Comprehensive Security Agreement. Only way to get that is to bleed Ukraine endlessly, affecting Poland and all the Black Sea nation states that affect the EU as a whole.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 23 2024 11:56 utc | 45
I am feeling the time is very close for the Jewish comedian to do the Ashraf-Ghani.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Oct 23 2024 12:01 utc | 46
He might also do a Saddam Hussein or Ngo Dinh Diem.
Might also try to become a Juan Guaido figure, problem there is that he is hated by too many groups to just go philandering around Miami Beach.
Posted by: Roland | Oct 23 2024 12:04 utc | 47
No deals, at least until after the US elections...........make the Nazis pay and pay dearly.....make Odessa into a sea cemetery of third world cargo ships transporting US ammo to the fascist Kieve government.......give no quarter and continue the attacks on all power stations...........
Secondly destroy all the rail bridges, take down the entire rail supply net, and destroy all the fuel tank farms.......no fuel, no supply movement, no war.
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Oct 23 2024 12:23 utc | 48
"...we cannot deny that the Russians leave open railways where hundreds of containers filled with weapons enter Ukraine like hundreds of trucks.
if this is normal for you, well, that's your business,
but I strongly doubt the behavior of the Russians, clearly I am talking about the leaders."
@A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 10:25 utc | 30
I think Russia calculates that by tuning the conflict so the west may still see some modest room for maneuver they will bleed the west more.
I dont have enough overview of what Russia has to weigh in but I am sure they are attempting to optimise their moves.
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Oct 23 2024 12:37 utc | 49
Thank you, Bernhard, for today’s analysis. While reading it and others, I’ve found it most rewarding to keep in mind not only the larger context of the conflict in Ukraine but, much more importantly, the context of Putin’s consistent words and work toward world multipolarity. Viewed in that world context, I cannot believe the Ukraine conflict will end soon without a US retrenchment from its philosophy of full spectrum dominance over the entire world. There is some hope that spiraling debt and the change in focus to domestic issues promised by Trump will support that retrenchment, but that hope presumes not only the outcome of US elections but also that those powers opposed to retrenchment will go quietly into the night afterward.
This is why, in my mind, the BRICS meeting and their subsequent actions are so important. Despite the US media’s efforts to associate the recent and robust short-term rise in the yield of their benchmark 10-year Treasury Note, and consequent fall in the market value of those notes, with a presumed Trump win in 13 days, it is quite possible that big Western money interests are also quite focused on the outcome of the BRICS meeting.
Posted by: Ciaran | Oct 23 2024 12:48 utc | 50
Example upgrades to protect live MLRS ammunition. MLRS launch vehicles often have a characteristic appearance so installed armour / camouflage is undoubtedly worthwhile, given the downsides.
This is what the standard field upgrade of the TOS-1A "Solntsepek" looks like.As you can see, the launch container is completely "sheathed" with additional armor plates installed at a certain distance to better cushion the blast wave from FPV drone strikes.
For the front part of the container, the armor plates are statically attached to the hull, protecting the equipment when the container is lowered. Let me remind you that on another Solntsepek, additional protection was installed directly on the front part of the container and opened before the salvo.
@binary_glasses
https://t.me/binary_glasses/2055
🔹On the modernization of the TOS-1A "Solntsepёk"In field conditions, our craftsmen improve the equipment by installing additional means of protection. In this case, we are talking about the heavy flamethrower system "Solntsepёk".
Along the entire perimeter of the "Solntsepёk" there is dynamic protection, on top of which armor plates are installed. On the launch container, protective gratings (the so-called barbecue) are installed over the entire area of the package (including the front). Thus, before the launch, the gratings open, a salvo is carried out, and then close again to avoid the slightest chance of a conventional FPV drone getting into thermobaric shells.
For greater protection of the equipment, the soldiers provided another trick: the upper and side rows of the launch container guides remain empty or are filled with some inert material. Thus, there is no chance of penetrating and detonating the ammunition with cumulative shells.
Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 23 2024 12:53 utc | 51
Posted by: ed Bernays | Oct 23 2024 11:41 utc | 44
after seeing the west push the kursk incursion in our media as "putins downfall" etcpp and how "ukraine" with the help of nato armaments is now inside the big invincible russia (or was it a gas station? i never know with msm and our idiot politicians in germany), having that "win" for them beeing taken away just so that some ukrainian civilians have enough electricity and heat during the winter seems like a non-starter.
they would probably (or highly likely, to use their own terms) simply use some legalese and invade in another part of russia while demanding that russia stops the targeting of energy infrastructure, while blabbering how technically they are keeping their part of the deal.
honeslty, i dont see any honest deals beeing made with our current corrupt, sorry i meant lobbyfied, regimes in the west. neither eu, nor uk, nor the us. they are all dishonest to their bones. they dont want to give russia any win. i honestly am just waiting for "ukraine" to strike kazan while the brics summit is held, just so that they can portray russia as impotent.
theres hate and nothing else left as european values.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Oct 23 2024 12:56 utc | 52
Thanks a lot b, brilliant resumé, pieces coming together. So, it's more or less about Boris Johnson again. Ze should be advised against ever listening to the UK.
I do wonder however why Russia continues to price its gas so low.
Posted by: Avtonom | Oct 23 2024 13:07 utc | 53
I agree with the notion that European/Western leadership is not to be trusted. At the same time, Russia has learned and gotten wiser, so keeping (at least symbolically) an open door abd a gentlemen tone in rhetoric seems prudent as far as presenting the electorate in the West with more benign impression.
This conflict spans accross all modes of action whether military, diplomatic or economic.
I cannot avoid the impression that Western leaders always appear more embittered, desperate and free of compromises than anyone in the emerged multipolar senere.
Posted by: NorwegianPawn | Oct 23 2024 13:10 utc | 54
UK is sending "advisors" to Harris' campaign. Who is who's vassal again then? A UK firm is ripping off the US based Qualcom.
What does the City know that others don't?
Posted by: Catilina | Oct 23 2024 13:12 utc | 55
@ Tim #2
Bankova/Ze are all rhetoric but they expect action (stopping the successful offensive) from Moscow. This is not a serious offer. It is just PR and PR is the only thing the current Kiev administration had any success with. Now that Kiev team has become irrelevant in my view. Why would Russia lose its time with them?
Posted by: Richard L | Oct 23 2024 13:17 utc | 56
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 10:02 utc | 26
Putin made it clear in the beginning that Russia would be implementing a Special Military Operation, not a "total" War.
Further he specified the objectives - to all parties, including the grubby Puppet Master.
Business between each other during the execution of the SMO, proxy war? Normal stuff given that every party has to have an eye, however blind that eye may be, in what happens after the action.
Russia has near-infinite resources, the U.S. has a printing press and a Narrative press. Both know where reverse gear since both got out of Afghanistan.
The only difference this time is the blood is being spilled on Russia's border and the U.S. is broke.
Posted by: kupkee | Oct 23 2024 13:23 utc | 57
We see on many videos that restaurants still work normally in Ukraine.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 8:02 utc | 3
Of course, we do. They have genorators out back to keep the restaurants going....and....to convince people outside ukraine of what you refer to....i.e. everything is normal. Its a hollywood operation.....
Posted by: HERMIUS | Oct 23 2024 13:31 utc | 58
Posted by: Jergus Lapin | Oct 23 2024 12:22 utc | 50
What it is, is extremely stupid. Chinese and Russian citizen contributions to FOSS projects are massive. The people removed aren't even necessarily in Russia, but of Russian ethnicity. It's a typical move by low cognition idjits who understand the value of nothing incapable of understanding where this may lead.
Given American malfeasance in the tech sector, why should any Americans be allowed to maintain any FOSS project? It's clear that America has no shame and will happily subvert all norms and rules and treaties in order to gain what it thinks is an advantage. These people are so fucking old school stupid I find it hard to believe. Did they just stumble in from 1950?
America's imperial administattos are screing themselves, through genocide support, through the insipid attempt to stop Chinese chip development, through action after action that will ultimately end up seriously counterproductive. The Chinese will leapfrog the West in chips, the global south will stop using SWIFT, Linux branches in Russia and China will start to be dominant. It's completely insane, it's not strategy, it's reactive dipshittery.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Oct 23 2024 13:34 utc | 59
I don't see Kremlin accepting anything less than:
1. Ironclad declaration from Ukraine, in constitutional format of a non-NATO/non-EU status.
2. Political leadership that is willing to reconcile this with a long-term peaceful future.
3. Genuine reconcilliation and respect for all minorities including recognition of languages and cultures.
4. Territorial concessions
Whether or not sanctions relief and release of Russian assets betong to this is hard to say, because that would depend more on the West. I could see Ukraine (eventually) and in some fashion agreeing to points 1-4.
Posted by: NorwegianPawn | Oct 23 2024 13:40 utc | 60
Pubblicato da: petergrfstrm | 23 ott 2024 12:37 utc | 52
Pubblicato da: kupkee | 23 ott 2024 13:23 utc /60
Putin said the Russian casualty rate is 1 in 5.
And if we consider the latest figures of Ukronazi losses at 1,800,000 it leads us to consider Russian losses at something like 360,000 dead and wounded.
There's something that doesn't add up.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 13:41 utc | 61
Ukraine - Zelenski Begs Russia To Renew Deals He Had Botched
Because Ukraine is in big, big, big trouble. They have been trapped by the West and now have $, Euro, debt they can't possibly pay back.
Russia is their only saviour by taking it all. In doing so will cancel those $, Euro, debts as they will no longer apply. As the Ukraine that took on those debts would no longer exist.
Russia and China have a Super-Platinum Credit Card. Can issue money without first raising it via tax. That’s what puts the “fiat” in fiat currency.
If you imagine Russia does all its spending on its Super-Platinum credit card, then you’ll have the structure about right.
It has no spending limit, the card repays itself, which means it can settle the credit card bill and any interest charges with the exact same credit card.
The cashback deal is truly spectacular. For everybody else, this is called taxation, and, besides death, it is the only certainty in life.When Putin spends at the shop, he gets a percentage of the spending back and another percentage back when the shop pays its staff. After that, when the staff buy beer at the pub, the Putin takes another chunk back. And so on, until the initial Outin spending turns entirely into cashback.
When Putin spends 100, he will always get 100 back in cashback eventually.
With this super deal in place, the only time Putin will have a balance on the credit card is if people haven’t spent everything they’ve earned. In other words, a balance on Putin's credit card is caused by people’s savings.
What he calls “the national debt” is just the balance on the credit card, and the change in the balance on the card is “the deficit.” The cause of the balance, on the other hand, has not changed: people are saving instead of spending.
Putin can spend as much as he wants anywhere that accepts the card. Putin never has to fund his spending. Putin never worries about the balance because he doesn't have to pay it off, it doesn’t affect his credit limit, and he knows he will get cashback to cover it anyway when people get around to spending their savings.
So what's the catch ?
With great power comes great responsibility.
Although Putin can never run out of money on his super-platinum credit card, he can run out of real things to buy. He must make sure he uses the money wisely in a manner that encourages the production of real stuff. That way, there will be more for him to buy in the future.
If nobody is tending his garden, he can hire somebody without a job to tend it for him. It doesn’t cost him anything - he has a super-platinum card - but it gives someone the means to support their family.
He might want to trim back the cashback percentage a little. It doesn’t cost him anything. As long as the tax rate is positive, He get all his money back eventually, but it does put money in people’s pockets and allows them to keep paying the mortgage or rent and, perhaps, buy more real stuff for their families.
He might pay for the upkeep of universities and training colleges. It doesn’t cost him anything - the colleges already exist - and keeping them up gives people without work jobs. He might also fund students to go there. It doesn’t cost him anything, and those students will be able to use their greater skills in the future to generate more real output for Putin to buy.
He might decide to create a high-speed rail link across the country. Again, it doesn’t cost him anything - he has a super-platinum card - and engineers short of work like nothing better than a big project to get their teeth into. The infrastructure would last a century or more, providing great benefits to all (as well as not insignificant accolades to those who built it).
He could encourage the use of more machines to produce real things more cheaply with less labour. That might sound a bit like Star Trek, but without progress along those lines, we’ll end up over-consuming the planet.
He might be bold and provide a job offer to everybody so they can always contribute to society and live free from poverty. Ending unemployment and poverty once and for all is surely a worthy goal, particularly when you can do it with the mere wave of his credit card.
Now think of what type of credit card Zelenski now has. He can't settle the credit card bill and any interest charges with the exact same credit card. He now has to find a Euro and $ credit card and the only ones are available are at extortionate rates. Now he has to find $'s and Euro's which he can't create. He can only create hryvnia.
He is now in the same state as Eurozone countries and the Global South. A basic credit card that can never be paid off. Now has to raise funds before he can spend as fiat has been torn from his grasp.
The clown is in big, big, big trouble.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Oct 23 2024 13:52 utc | 62
Fake talks while US/NATO prepare another attack? Why would they fall for that again?
Posted by: Goldhoarder | Oct 23 2024 14:02 utc | 63
There's something that doesn't add up.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Oct 23 2024 13:41 utc | 64
Perhaps you've heard that one death is a tragedy but thousands dead is a statistic.
No party in this "war" wants to give their enemy factual information.
Russian casualties and deaths can be inferred by not measured directly by outsiders.
So, put 1 of your hands in the freezer and the other hand in a pot of boiling water. On average you should feel OK.
Posted by: kupkee | Oct 23 2024 14:06 utc | 64
It was plain to see that Russia has shown restraint (especially in light of the IDF's display). It was easy to follow that Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure only followed Ukrainian attacks on interior Russian infrastructure or the Crimean causeway.
Posted by: Scottindallas | Oct 23 2024 14:09 utc | 66
Tobias [email protected] down all the bridges.....excuse me while I laugh my fucking head off. Fighting a SMO where commerce takes precedence over ending the "game", commerce over dead bodies, how many dead, who fucking cares, there is money to be made.
Some fools bleat on about Russia having no Oligarchs which is true,they have grifters high up in the MOD.....if you were a soldier, who'd you want on your side , your boss steeling food from your mouth, bullets from your gun, or some rich Oligarch on the other side of the world......cue: Gonzalo Lira's laugh.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Oct 23 2024 14:14 utc | 67
The credit rating agencies might downgrade Putin's super platinum credit card ?
He'll just laugh at them. Like he laughs at the IMF. They don't apply to him or China or any country that is fully sovereign. That has a super platinum credit card that can settle the credit card bill and any interest charges with the EXACT same credit card.
It's monetary silencing propaganda. That only applies to now Zekenski, the Eurozone and the Global south. Anybody else who doesn't own one of these super platinum credit cards. Anyone who isn't fully sovereign.
HERE:
https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=61035
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Oct 23 2024 14:14 utc | 68
What will happen to all the debt/"loans" given Kiev from the West when a lasting peace ensues?
It is difficult to imagine the country feeling beholden to this burden and especially if Russia takes on this task (as they have indicated), while the West abandons with utter bitterness, like in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and so on...
Posted by: Norwegian Pawn | Oct 23 2024 14:15 utc | 69
@ Posted by: Tim | Oct 23 2024 7:48 utc | 2
“I am in awe of the skill and chutzpah with which manipulative people can turn things around. It constantly awes and amazes me.”
Well that is their their chosen profession Tim.
They are the self selected nepotistic wordsmiths.
Of the PR world. The Propogandists. The High Academia nurtured boys and girls of Empire.
They are the real wizards of chutzpah.
Shelensky is just a puppet that speaks the lines and acts the emotions - whilst otherwise being happy with his heaps of cocaine and partying and wonga. He plays the role and says the words that he doesn’t know the meanings of.
The writers of these words are so intellectual they are dumb! They don’t understand how easily they stand out as incongruous, coming from an actor whose native language is not only, not lardydaa English , it’s not even basic English. Never mind Shakespearean! 🤡
So having a formulation such as
“would be a signal that Russia may be ready to end the war..”
Is such tongue twisting, word play, that is highly beloved by the toff English classes who use it to mock their masses through such wordplay.
It happens in courts too - see it currently at the Skripal ‘inquiry’ coverup. The easy bonhomie of judge and lawyers.
Bozo the clown PM who managed his coke snorting petty dictator Z is another classic example.
So are the whole miltary, civil service and media upper echelons - after all they all went to the same schools and know each others families and go to the same glitzy balls.
They are the ones running this proxy Russiaphobia preparing for decades to take the Crimea for their ziofascist lords and divide up the spoils of a balkanised Russia - finally after many centuries of trying.
Failed again. So it’s just gnashing and wailing and nearly mouthed words to save some face and escape full retribution for their Crimes. They’d never give an inch if the Russians were asking for the same latitude.
The Russians always come to collect their debts as Bismarck observed. The petty robbery by the EU clowns of Russian moneys and interests will all be having to be paid for. As will the deaths of their peoples again. Last time it was nearly 50 years of Western European occupation.
This time it wil be different but The Debt will be collected. Chutzpah or not will not stop that.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Oct 23 2024 14:21 utc | 71
A.Cag......@1002
I will never deny that the Collective Wa$te is highly dependent on trade with the R.U. Are you gonna deny that?
Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 23 2024 14:41 utc | 72
@ Posted by: Norwegian Pawn | Oct 23 2024 14:15 utc | 72
“What will happen to all the debt/"loans" given Kiev from the West when a lasting peace ensues?”
I expect the Owners of the Loans and the usureous ‘interest’ charges will come to the New Law Based World Courts demanding their ‘pound of flesh’ according to the ‘agreement’ they made with their installed clown king! Who will have been long forgotten.
They will expect their ‘contract’ to be respected as being just mere commercial honest brokers in the shit show of to the last Ukranian and it’s resources ever so humbly and honestly lent against as security.
Fucking clowns 🤡 they will be laughed out of that polycentric law based world order with their dodgy iou written by the evil 👿, 🤡 lawyers from the Old hegemonic ‘Law Courts’ they set up and owned for centuries to ‘legitimise’ their conquests and slavery.
Many contracts will have been sold on to gullible ‘investors’ and ‘debt collectors’ as previous examples show. They too will be ignored and be useless bits of paper - like old bank notes from banks that don’t exist anymore.
So the towers of Citibank, Blackrock, Barclays, HSBC, Coutts and every Federal Reserve. bank and National Banks will shake and fall like the dinosaurs did when the world shook.
Get some popcorn and watch.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Oct 23 2024 14:58 utc | 73
Norwegian Pawn@1415
For those Ukraine dialect Russian speakers who do not wish to become part of the R.U.; it is not illogical to assume that after the current Maidan coup regime in Kiev becomes mere history; a Novo Ukrainia will be established by Ukrainians who realize that they would be better off befriending Russia in such manner as their Belarusian neighbor...independent politically but closely allied with Mama Bear.
The far West of Ukraine, the true borderlands and the heart of the Pale of Settlement historically; a status will develop which will entail NO regular military forces, with their borders guaranteed by the R.U. Uniate formerly Orthodox people will need to share their lands with Polish re-immigrants...along with refugees from New Palestine who are incapable from living with those people whose lands they have stolen and whose people they have abused. The new agglomeration in current Banderistan would demographically contain Galicians, Poles and Khazarians...in roughly equal numbers. Mama Bear would retain the right to bitch-slap those who seek to upset the demographic balance and seize all power for themselves. It is not wholly unlikely that Warsaw, to ultimately be governed by the wildly popular gentleman who took a fire-extinguisher to the Menorahh...would become a co-guarantor with the R.U....always vigilant that the descendants of Polish refugees would maintain their slice of the pie.
NovoGalicia would become a refuge for ethnics who have previously proven that they cannot readily get along with others. So long as they kept to their own villages and cities and did not attempt to squeeze the other two entities...an official truce would be maintained. It would be a tough situation for many, but economic assistance might calm the waters while assuaging hurt feelings.
Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 23 2024 15:11 utc | 74
Norwegian Pawn@1415
Oops. Got off the main track of your statement. The NovoUkrainia government would abrogate any and all treaties and commercial agreements made by the puppet regime in Kiev which has long been dominated and controlled by nefarious international players.
Mama Bear, along with the bulk of the Brics nations would heartily approve. The Bank$ter dominated Collective Wa$te would fume and fuss...to no avail.
Posted by: aristodemos | Oct 23 2024 15:15 utc | 75
Posted by: Tim | Oct 23 2024 7:48 utc | 2
#######
He's a degenerate drug addict and actor, why would we be surprised that Zekensky can say ridiculous things with a straight face?
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 23 2024 15:27 utc | 76
Posted by: Jergus Lapin | Oct 23 2024 12:22 utc | 50
########
The greatest thing the West can do for Russia (and soon China) is isolate and exclude them. These are two great civilizations that will thrive without the taint of degeneracy.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 23 2024 15:32 utc | 77
No deal. Bomb them harder. Unconditional surrender. Nothing else.
Posted by: g wiltek | Oct 23 2024 15:33 utc | 78
thanks b...
ukraine is a puppet on a string and unfortunately for them, the one pulling the strings doesn't give a shit..
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 15:34 utc | 79
I think there is a law in Ukraine that forbids negotiating with Russia.
So how are they going to negotiate?
PS
I see people are angry at me because of my simple questions.
They shouldn't be at all.
The questions are meant to make people think and also to break the narrative "Putin is a god". Too many Russian soldiers died because of his bad decisions.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:36 utc | 80
@A.cagliostro raised a legit issue about why Russia seemingly always tends to strike too lightly in the eyes of the impatient.
But it has been raised multiple times. Paul Craig Roberts has been going on about it for years calling out Putin for not doing what he ought to.
But all players in this game have an official and an unofficial side.
In the west where greed is an important ingredience, there are gains to be made by not consistently being on one side.
The extent of that double play in my view would decrease if Russia wasnt willing to compromise.
And Russia may have sought an optimum way all things considered.
If they did what the impatient obeservers suggest we would have experienced how the conditions of the game developed.
Since Russias enemies are devious it isnt obvious that their response would have benefitted Russia.
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Oct 23 2024 15:38 utc | 81
Over the last month, I have come to appreciate the domestic pressure that Putin is under.
He had sky-high approval for a time, but after Kursk, people asked, "How could this happen?"
I don't blame VVP. I think it is on the military but he cannot publicly throw them under the bus as they are a key power center in Russian society.
Putin cannot forgive Kursk even if he wants to. In the meantime, he will have to continue with the boring exercise of winning.
Never forget the NovoRussian oblasts that voted to join Russia ARE Constitutionally Russia now and that Ukrainians must be removed from sovereign Russian territory without exception. This war is not over until all of that land and its people are secured, which, I believe, will necessitate collapsing the Ukrainian military completely (getting closer every day).
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 23 2024 15:42 utc | 82
https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/27480
Forwarded from WarGonzo⚡️Moscow bids farewell to Goodwin⚡️
Today in Moscow, a funeral was held for our team's friend Dmitry Lysakovsky, call sign "Goodwin", who was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage by the Russian President.
Dmitry received his call sign back in 2014, when he was one of the first to bring humanitarian aid to the Donbass militia: the Gazelle he rode in was then nicknamed the "minibus of good", and he himself was called "Goodwin".
He was 45 years old, and by education he specialized in jurisprudence and finance. But in difficult times for the country, he decided to devote his life to the Motherland. "Goodwin" began to create manuals for UAV control long before the SVO, and at the end of last year he seriously decided to organize a female UAV squad: and the girls were able to prove themselves very well in the battles on the Donetsk front. Many specialists who are now working in various areas have passed through his school, and they are grateful to "Goodwin" for the fact that he forever "made them fall in love with the sky".
@wargonzo
Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 23 2024 15:42 utc | 83
If I were Putin - I wouldn't renew or agree to another deal on energy infrastructure - or to allow Ukrainian grain in/out via the Black sea - by not agreeing to this, and by keeping up pressure on Kiev - this will eventually bring Zelensky around the negotiating table - to end the conflict on Russian terms - simply put Zelensky and the West, cannot be trusted to uphold any deals - as history has shown with Russia in mind.
If Putin falls for this trap - it could lead to another sneaky attack on Russia - keeping the pressure on Kiev, will eventually force the now dictator's hand - and the hand of the West - unless of course, the the West allows Zelensky to use the likes of Storm-Shadow missiles, to attack Russian infrastructure such as nuclear power stations in Russia - which would greatly escalate the conflict.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Oct 23 2024 15:44 utc | 84
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:36 utc | 81
#########
Simple questions = concern trolling.
I hope you're paid well.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 23 2024 15:44 utc | 85
@ Sun Of Alabama | Oct 23 2024 13:52 utc | 63
well i think zelensky is not going to last long, so there is that.. who does the west get to replace him?? and it will be the west that gets rid of him too...
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 15:47 utc | 86
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:36 utc | 81
No one is angry at you, you simy make un proved statements.
Are you shure that what you think would be better decisions would have caused less deaths and/or less damage for RF?
The answer is a big NO.
Posted by: Mario | Oct 23 2024 15:47 utc | 87
Any/every concession[s] Russia has made has/will prolong the war, the death, the suffering. The DC/London/"Brussels" will only truthfully negotiate when it has no other option available.
The sad truth is, the only way this war ends is when Ukraine is on it's knees with an unconditional surrender documents and pen in hand anything else is a cease fire to rearm.
Posted by: S Brennan | Oct 23 2024 15:54 utc | 88
I hope you're paid well.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Oct 23 2024 15:44 utc | 86
I am not a troll, believe or not.
This is just my private way of political influencing.
I know that I could make money of my propagandist skills but I hate that.
I do not like when some idea becomes divine.
Like the idea that Putin is a god, and Russia is omnipotent.
I support MoA and I am grateful to all people writing here.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:55 utc | 89
@ vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:55 utc | 90
no one says that ''Putin is a god, and Russia is omnipotent''. in fact, it is usually a detractor that will say something like that.. so bear that in mind.. your political influence is essentially non existent, so there is that too, lol..
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 15:59 utc | 90
Not-So-Brief report from the front, October 23, 2024
Marat Khairullin Substack
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 16:02 utc | 91
It is clear that the Kremlin, faced with the Ukrainian Gambit (2008-, 2014-), preferred to sacrifice thousands of Russians rather than to inconvenience the Master
Any rational and truly patriotic player would have said to Antony: - Look, Antony, if you bother me in Ukraine, I bother you in "our (your) colonial project" (Vladimir Jabotinsky) founded by the British Empire (1914-) and some violent and fanatic Ukrainians and Poles
Washington would have sat down to negotiate. But the Kremlin did not react even when a Russian plane was shot down because of the Zionist regime. If the Russian army had shot down or helped to shoot down ten planes of the idiot force, the Ukrainian Gambit would have followed a very different course.
Posted by: Simon | Oct 23 2024 16:09 utc | 92
@Vargas - you're critical of Putin, that's fine. There are plenty of good reasons to question some of his decisions.
But you ought to stay objective. What if he acted like Netanyahu - committing war crimes, deliberately targeting civilians, slaughtering children? Would that really help Russia in the long run?
Also, no matter how heavily you bomb a country, the locals can always hang on longer than you think. The human spirit is strong. The US learned that lesson (or forgot it) in Vietnam. Recently, Russia has done more damage to Ukraines economy by seizing coal mines and other industrial enterprises in the Donbass. That hurts the parasitic oligarchs who can put pressure on the West to make a deal.
By not going full Netanyahu, Russia retains some goodwill from reasonable actors like Modi, Xi, Lula, and others who aren't boot-licking empire sycophants.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Oct 23 2024 16:11 utc | 93
@ Simon | Oct 23 2024 16:09 utc | 93
hey simon.. we see it differently... "Washington would have sat down to negotiate." you really think the west ''negotiates''?
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 16:16 utc | 94
Like the idea that Putin is a god, and Russia is omnipotent.
Posted by: vargas | Oct 23 2024 15:55 utc | 90
Nope. Were all just self aware chemical scum living on a rocky planet orbiting a common star of no particular signifigance ... none of us are gods and certainly not omnipotent.
Posted by: HB_Norica | Oct 23 2024 16:17 utc | 95
James 92,
With a lot of these reports, not just the one you cite, the granularity obscures the big picture. I wish mappers would adopt a color-code convention that visually indicated time/rate/progress/stagnation along the line. I know to them, DC/London"Brussel" war in Ukrainia [to dismember Russia] is the only subject of great importance but...not so for every observer.
Posted by: S Brennan | Oct 23 2024 16:17 utc | 96
@83
"He had sky-high approval for a time, but after Kursk, people asked, "How could this happen?"
But has Kursk really had that much fallout among Russians?
I don't believe so. Sure, Kursk was embarrassing to the Kremlin and Russian military, but nothing more. From the beginning, it was clear Ukraine's advances into Kursk had no strategic significance on how the war would continue to unfold. Three months later, this perception has been confirmed as correct.
Posted by: GW | Oct 23 2024 16:20 utc | 97
Medinsky-Zelensky Semaphore
https://johnhelmer.net/medinsky-zelensky-semaphore-kremlin-orders-delay-in-new-electric-war-attacks/
"Kremlin orders delay in new electric-war attacks."
Posted by: John Gilberts | Oct 23 2024 16:21 utc | 98
@ S Brennan | Oct 23 2024 16:17 utc | 97
i agree... i generally can't use the maps..
Posted by: james | Oct 23 2024 16:22 utc | 99
Posted by: Jergus Lapin | Oct 23 2024 12:22 utc | 48
Thanks for that bit of information!
My cautious guess is that the Linux Foundation got a "sternly worded letter" from you-know-who.
The commit message says that they can come back when they provide documentation.
By that, they probably mean "proof of not working for the evil Putin regime".
Other contributors don't seem happy at all about the lack of transparency as can be seen by the replies to the commit.
Pretty shameful behaviour - especially because there is not (yet?) the slightest bit of information coming from Greg, Linus or other senior Linuxers.
Posted by: Verdant | Oct 23 2024 16:23 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Ukraine wanted to play a game of chicken with Russia with western help, and now it's drawing the short end of the straw Zelensky and co keep talking about how unfair it all is and how little the west is doing for them.
Posted by: Shrimp | Oct 23 2024 7:21 utc | 1