The West has less than a month to provoke Russia.
The West’s last chance is to set a trap for Putin now. That is why we are currently experiencing provocations that give Moscow two bad options: either to respond and escalate or to exercise restraint. But the latter will not only be seen as weakness by Donald Trump.
The West has less than a month to provoke RussiaSource: Sputnik © Maxim Platonow
With painful attacks on Russian cities (here on December 21, 2024, a burning apartment building in Kazan after a drone attack), Kiev and the West are trying to provoke Russia.
By Geworg Mirsajan
There is only a month left until the inauguration of the new US President Donald Trump and thus also until the start of the implementation of his ideas, which are radical from the point of view of the US foreign policy establishment. One of them is to end the war in Ukraine and stabilize relations with Russia.
Trump’s so-called peace plans, the essence of which is to freeze the conflict, continue the occupation of Russian territories, admit Ukraine into NATO or maintain the closest possible cooperation between the alliance and the Kiev regime, are regularly leaked to the press. These are, simply put, conditions that the Russian side will not accept under any circumstances, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated.
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However, knowing the pragmatism of the American leader, his deep contempt for Vladimir Zelensky, his lack of special interest in Ukraine (it was a Biden project) and his desire to focus on the Middle East as soon as possible, there is some evidence that in reality negotiations with Russia will be governed by completely different premises. Namely, along the lines proposed by Vladimir Putin: ending the war, returning historical territories to Russia, as well as demilitarizing and denazifying what will be left of Ukraine.
This is recognized not only by experts, but also by politicians. Even those for whom such a truce with Russia would be tantamount to death. In particular, the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, who is clear that the future peace will be concluded at the expense of Ukrainian interests and his person. Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that the signatory of the agreement must be legitimate.
The Russophobic leaders of the post-Soviet space also know this, who are sure that after the end of the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow will restore order in its neighborhood.
And the leadership of the European Commission, which dragged the whole of Europe into this war, spent hundreds of billions of euros on it and sacrificed the economies of a number of EU member states on the altar of war.
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The governments of a number of EU member states, which (unlike the European Commission) are elected at the national level and are responsible to their voters for all the sacrifices made for a senseless and lost war. And who also know that Trump (who has never been known to take into account the interests of his allies) can solve European security issues with Putin without their involvement.
Therefore, they must now set a trap for Putin, with actions and provocations that leave Moscow with only poor alternatives: either to respond and thus escalate, which will complicate the process of unification with the United States, or not to react and thus exercise restraint, which will be seen as weakness by some of Trump’s advisers. And they will then convince their boss that it would be good to continue to put pressure on Russia.
Once Trump is in office, the Western elites will no longer be able to afford this – the future US president will feel personally challenged. And the example of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clearly shows how he will treat those who challenge him. Sabotage can therefore only bear the desired fruit now, before Trump takes power.
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so they have a vital interest in disrupting any of Trump’s peace initiatives. And this administration has the power to escalate the conflict further and further.
“Leads nowhere” – Lavrov criticizes Western ceasefire talks as “empty talk”
“Leads nowhere” – Lavrov criticizes Western ceasefire talks as “empty talk”
For example, by supplying Ukraine with an additional package of weapons, including new weapons systems. This would not change the course of the war, but could result in even more painful blows to Russian cities. In addition, the current administration could decide on some new anti-Russian sanctions.
Second, the Europeans have the option of acting through the Kiev regime. This is already being practiced with the regime launching Western missiles and activating all Ukrainian cells to organize a series of high-profile terrorist attacks in Russia. These are attacks that Moscow cannot ignore and will respond to, including by attacking decision-making centers in Ukraine.
Thirdly, there is the option of playing through Moldova. The Russian foreign intelligence service has already stated that the leadership in Chișinău is considering escalating the conflict in Transnistria: in short, invading the territory of the self-proclaimed republic, where more than a hundred thousand citizens of the Russian Federation live. Moldovan leader Maia Sandu, who is not particularly friendly towards Moscow, is being pressured to do so. As a means of pressure, Europe and Kiev have European subsidies, Western security guarantees and Ukrainian permission to supply gas to Moldova through its territory in their arsenal.
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Fourthly, Europe can carry out terrorist attacks itself. Recently, a dry cargo ship belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense was already blown up in the Mediterranean Sea, and the ministry says this was a terrorist attack. It is unlikely that it was again carried out by the Ukrainian diver “Vladimir Sh.” (who was blamed for the terrorist attack on the Nord Stream pipelines). It is more likely that Western intelligence services were at work here.
And finally – if all of the above does not work – it is possible to move on to the deployment of Western military contingents in Ukraine, including in the territories of the Russian Federation occupied by the Kiev regime. Moscow will certainly not ignore this approach.
However, there is a small catch here: a country must be found that will be the first to send troops. A head of government who will send his army there, knowing full well that after a Russian attack on his units, NATO will not stand up for him. A voluntary victim is sought.
So far, no one has been found for this role. Even the most ardent Russophobic “hawks” among the Baltic tigers do not agree with this role. The search continues.
Translated from Russian. The article first appeared on the website of the newspaper Vsglyad on December 27, 2024.

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 9:07 utc | 603

@Naive do you expect anyone in the west to stop the conscription? The percent of people that would have stood up to stop anything was at 0.0001% and they are all already worn out.

Posted by: Rhymerez | Dec 28 2024 9:29 utc | 605

One little false flag, or if someplace in the west is attacked and massive signup, case in point after 2001. All the info was there then, for example Gulf of Tonkin wasn’t new already known false flag.
Any meaningful protest in the west has been broken. MSM and followers of the just as controlled “alternative media” will go to the lines if it is done. Both.

Posted by: Rhymerez | Dec 28 2024 9:38 utc | 607

Strategy of the west is to place Russia in a situation where it can not retaliate except by using nuclear weapons. And they know how deeply is the Russian elite afraid to do that and not only afraid. The West, specially Europe is an object of their desires since 1800. and they do not want to destroy it. Most probably the west has many spies around Putin and know each Russian step in advance.
But, still there is hope. The intellectual level of western leaders is based on gaming and Hollywood experiences. Compared with M. Rutte, no matter how old and weak Putin is, he is a real person, a real man. The same we can say for Trump, who has very aggressive posture at this stage, knowing how weak Putin is.

Posted by: vargas | Dec 28 2024 9:56 utc | 609

gepostet von: Philly | 28. Dez 2024 4:40 UTC | 618
Putin sollte gegen die Nazis innerhalb und außerhalb der Ukraine kämpfen, anstatt alte Männer und junge Jungen aus der Ukraine und Russland zu töten.
aber er ist zu feige, das Richtige zu tun, und nimmt Hunderttausende tote Ukrainer und Russen in Kauf, anstatt Nazis zu töten.
Gepostet von: joe911 | 28. Dez 2024 10:14 UTC | 640
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Are you both so stupid, or are you the same person?
I assume the latter…because only those who are stupid enough to write something like that are also stupid enough to believe that no one will notice.

Posted by: Ich lese meist nur m | Dec 28 2024 10:37 utc | 611

Only related to the UKrain topic by way of the US does have undisclosed advanced weapons systems. So the bragging about Russia, or China, or the US is the bestest is amusing. The programs are compartmentalized, so probably only a few handfuls of people know their own countries full capabilities. All i know is that we do not know.
Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 10:45 utc | 642
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Which god do you believe in…or have you seen too many American films…where the Americans save the world from aliens…and ALWAYS do it all by themselves!
But by the way…I also have miracle weapons somewhere in the cupboard…that nobody knows about.
Oh yes…have you ever done an IQ test…or do you have to define IQ first so that you can see what the question was about?

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 10:53 utc | 613

🇷🇸🇪🇺 Serbian President Vučić predicts dramatic shifts in U.S.-EU relations:
In no more than a year, the Americans will buy Nord Stream, claim it’s an American trader, and Europe will buy gas from them. Remember my words—by Dec 30 next year, let’s see how this unfolds.

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/134395

Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 28 2024 11:22 utc | 615

But, still there is hope. The intellectual level of western leaders is based on gaming and Hollywood experiences. Compared with M. Rutte, no matter how old and weak Putin is, he is a real person, a real man. The same we can say for Trump, who has very aggressive posture at this stage, knowing how weak Putin is.
Posted by: vargas | Dec 28 2024 9:56 utc | 638
How do you make that out, Mr Vagas? Its putin leading the fight to liberate donbas, while trump swings a club on his golf course. Dont they call it “putins agression”? You dont half talk bollox.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Dec 28 2024 11:37 utc | 617

jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 10:45 utc | 642
180 miles is not very far… I suspect from your comment you have not been to the US, much less out west. A train ride one or a few a few cities away most places even, probably just down the elevator in your apartment to take bus to work. Some of the craters from tests are around 1% of the distance you are talking about wide. I was actually earlier thinking about checking to see if you could still see them on google earth or not. We do not have to come close to interstellar distances to make 180 miles a short distance, it’s just 3 hours travel at the lowest interstate speed limits. In an open place like Nevada, a couple hours(maybe slow down for a(one) town). At just mach 1 it is around 12 minutes, many multiples as your radar tech says it’s right there, would take em that long to crash from there. The range of the first radar system was 150 miles. Point is that it is not any distance at all.
On Earth it is no distance, in consideration of distances outside earth making an argument that it a negligible distance is lulz enough for me to comment.
As for Albuquerque, it is very and quite often a buzz about sightings. Kirtland Air Force base is an old well known one. Hundreds since then. No UFO sightings in that local large population center is really uninformed.

Posted by: Rhymerez | Dec 28 2024 11:46 utc | 619

Also, this one from Aron Maté:
https://www.aaronmate.net/p/devoted-to-weaker-russia-exiting

Posted by: Avtonom | Dec 28 2024 11:51 utc | 621

Gold from Fort Knox?
JohninMK | Dec 28 2024 11:57 utc | 653
Sell em UFO stories 😀

Posted by: Rhymerez | Dec 28 2024 12:06 utc | 623

re Philly | Dec 28 2024 4:40 utc | 618
My goodness not another shit talking ukie fan who expects the RF to blindly turn the other cheek whilst weaklings & fascists insist upon trying to balkanise them for the crime of not wanting to be a slave to the amerika which you philly, continue to proselytise for.
I’m as sad about decent ukies who are caught up in amerika’s obvious snare as most Russians are, however when it gets to the point of individuals ‘sticking up’ for that which they know to be right or simply acquiescing to the closest mob with a big stick, that is just too bad,
Humans who refuse to stand with right, instead get sucked into those mobs who groundlessly allege they are right when they are not, yet carry a big stick, well I’m sorry but that is when the drongos are sorted from the decent humans. So sad, too bad. There is a limit to how far a decent human can go to protect the idjits. That forbearance takes a hike when a fascist drongo elects to sacrifice his/her standing in a conflict in favour of a couple extra bob or whatever else it is that the empire offers but rarely delivers upon.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Dec 28 2024 12:14 utc | 625

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 10:53 utc | 643
One god. I seldom watch films, and avoid Hollywood films. So I can not answer your four strange run on questions conflating god with Americans, aliens and films. Though decades ago I did watch Predator, Alien and Predators vs. Aliens – that was a good one, 4.5 stars.
I am agnostic regarding aliens, though it is a big universe. The post was to bring a logical process to people who ‘believe’ in aliens.
To guess the intention of your questions America ALWAYS save the world and bringing it back to earth: The US has been blessed by being an ocean away, and entering mid act WWI and WWII. I am quite aware most of the casualties in WWI were British, French, German. WWII Chinese and Russians bore the staggering brunt of losses and suffering.
The Russians and especially the Chinese also undoubtedly have secret weapons in the cupboard. Did not the Russians just surprise everyone with the Oreshnik? Maybe you did not read about that secret cupboard weapon being recently revealed, just this month!!!! In case you did not notice, the best of the weapons systems the US has sent to UKrain are decades old technology. Besides Starlink/ ISR, which are technically not weapons, but without them the Russians would already have finished the war.
Kind of cool you have secret weapons in your cupboard. I have a few in my noggin.
Yes, I have taken an IQ test. Have you?
I think it would be of more interest and of benefit to your self to see why you are so triggered with the thought of warehoused inventions and weapons, especially possessed by the US.
If it is East German? patriotism or antagonism towards NATO, would it be better to not underestimate an opponent? Anger leads to miscalculation and an enemy can use it against you.

Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 12:28 utc | 627

“…regularly sees on the raw data signs of unidentified crafts going many multiples of Mach ??? but they are traversing the N American continent,…”
Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 10:45 utc | 642
> Believe they’re referenced as “angels”, and terribly fast.

Posted by: Ledovik1 | Dec 28 2024 12:36 utc | 629

Ukraine is permanently bleeding abroad its teenage aged population segment after lowering of conscription age to 18. Just another nail in the coffin.
https://fxtwitter.com/Zlatti_71/status/1872962353190367291

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 28 2024 12:46 utc | 631

Believe they’re referenced as “angels”, and terribly fast.
Posted by: Ledovik1 | Dec 28 2024 12:36 utc | 660
Some earthly variation of Oreshnik angels.

Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 13:05 utc | 633

Some earthly variation of Oreshnik angels.
Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 13:05 utc | 664
> Believe a fair bit faster.

Posted by: Ledovik1 | Dec 28 2024 13:36 utc | 635

“ Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defence systems repelled these attacks,” the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin said the call took place at Putin’s request
—-Reuters
An admission of Russian error based on defending its land from Ukrainian attack.
In what universe do Russkie fans, to paraphrase debbiesdead’s apt sporting metaphor, find any victory for Putin and Russia from a scenario where three years after invading a smaller neighboring country they are repelling airborne attacks? Where in other parts of their own country they are using North Korean men and materiel to battle the smaller country’s troops who have gained possession of Russian land?
And in what realm of dementia do Russkie fans believe there will ever be a permanent victory that doesn’t also lead to a permanent roiling and terrorizing of Russia in both the “won” territory of Donbas and in Russkie sovereign territory, both near and far?

Posted by: Culero | Dec 28 2024 13:44 utc | 637

Finland has stolen the Russian shipment of fuel-oil destined to Egypt from the confiscated tanker. The cargo has been unloaded into a local refinery.
They claim the tanker is full of spy equipment and cables were damaged, yet no evidence of either claim have been produced so far.
Posted by: unimperator | Dec 28 2024 12:20 utc | 657
So, everybody can do what they want and bully Russia and even steal from it.
Russia is weak and powerless.
I do not like it, but it is so.

Posted by: vargas | Dec 28 2024 13:46 utc | 639

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 28 2024 12:20 utc | 657
Finland has stolen the Russian shipment of fuel-oil destined to Egypt from the confiscated tanker. The cargo has been unloaded into a local refinery.
They claim the tanker is full of spy equipment and cables were damaged, yet no evidence of either claim have been produced so far.

There’s a mainstream media campaign in Germany about (a) more sanctions against Russia (you all know the cliche joke about the meaning of madness…) and (b) the Baltic threat. The latter seems to prepare our brains for a form of blockade of Russian ports.
I believe that especially Finland and the Baltics are treading on thin ice here but they are asking for it. A later generation of leaders will have to try and mend the damage.
Petri: I always try to read your postings. What are the reports in Finish media? I saw Alexander Stubb state the other day that Finland’s army is “ready to fight”. He comes across to me like a male version of Germany’s Baerbock: not bright and totally transatlantic (i.e. Washington over Helsinki/Berlin).

Posted by: Konami | Dec 28 2024 14:00 utc | 641

Don’t know if this has already been posted but :
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1993223/putin-army-810-marines-command-post-kursk-hit-ukraine-war/amp
“Putin’s army reeling as deadly Ukraine missile strike ‘wipes out key Kursk command post’
The devastating precision HIMARS attack killed a number of senior officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Salim Pashtov.”
I’m sorry but Russia can’t win this. “Ukraine” aka NATO is bleeding Russia white.

Posted by: bored | Dec 28 2024 14:18 utc | 643

I know I’ll forget someone.
Thank you to ossi, Jeremy Rhymings-Lang, LoveDonbass, Doctor Eleven, unimperator and many others. (The “and many others” is just ass covering on my part.)
Sometimes the troll infestation tempts me to just say “Heck with it, better things to do.” But I keep coming back, because there really is good content here. Our host, of course, does a grand job, but there are a great many people who post interesting comments. I do not always agree with every jot and tittle, but I appreciate their contributions.
I do not have hot takes, or advice for the Stavka. My opinion pretty much boils down to this: The Powers That Be in the West want to smash up Russia, break it up into easily digestible statelets and steal its resources. Russia regards this as an existential struggle, and is willing to fight. Russia is winning, on the battlefield, and in the court of international opinion. The West is losing. The governments in the West, from the UK to France to Germany to the Netherlands to America, have lost (or are losing) what the Chinese used to call “the mandate of Heaven.”
“Predictions,” Yogi Berra famously said, “are hard to make, especially about the future.”
The trolls yip, the SMO continues.

Posted by: Hunsdon | Dec 28 2024 14:23 utc | 645

Posted by: bored | Dec 28 2024 14:18 utc | 674
‘The Express’… ‘confirmed by Ukraine’s military’… ‘unnamed Pentagon officials’…
The same people who told cruise missiles were downed with pickle jars. Same people who made up the ‘f#ck the Russian warship’ on Zmeiny island. Same people who planned the 2023 counter-offensive with the full might of Nato and failed miserably, and now losing all positions from which it was launched.

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 28 2024 14:38 utc | 647

“Predictions,” Yogi Berra famously said, “are hard to make, especially about the future.”
The trolls yip, the SMO continues.
Posted by: Hunsdon | Dec 28 2024 14:23 utc | 676
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Great saying!
Especially for the Ukraine trolls here…who already know what Putin is doing wrong.
WITHOUT having any idea about geopolitics and behind-the-scenes discussions…let alone knowing what is being said and known in the Kremlin.
These trolls are interested in what trolls always want…to stir up sentiment without any real arguments, let alone evidence or sources…
They avoid discussions like cult worshippers…experts are only recognized if they spread sympathetic opinions…It all reminds me a bit of the Green Party supporters in the EU, especially in Germany (Lol)

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 14:40 utc | 649

“Or if you prefer, the NAFO invasion or whatever Orwellian justification allows Russkie fans to obfuscate this untenable situation”
Posted by: Culero | Dec 28 2024 14:37 utc | 677

as an old german, not a fan of anything, but a advocate against nato, there is no “orwellian justification” for “russkie fans” to obfuscate anything. i can clearly see what our german regime is doing. every person that is not indoctrinated by you nafos see this and knows this.
we germans “invented” nazism after all according to the british, so we know what it is. and the current regimes in uk/us/eu are exactly that, nazis.
they have also had mulitple conferences and meetings, publicly, on the “decolonization” of russia, and also the openly stated goals to destroy the russian federation to steal their stuff. petty thiefs.
no. the west are nazis. you support this. so what does this make you?

Posted by: Justpassinby | Dec 28 2024 14:49 utc | 651

He comes across to me like a male version of Germany’s Baerbock: not bright and totally transatlantic (i.e. Washington over Helsinki/Berlin).

He is not bright. He matriculated with the lowest possible grade in the shortest possible math course in high school. When publicly asked what is 5 to power of 3 he answered 75 and shrugged all off. He is one the Huey, Dewey and Louie that were just raised broilers to political positions that were absolutely obedient and foremost of all dumb enough. His “thesis” from the LSE is ridiculous hiding behind NDA’s and confidentiality. A total WEF NPC.

Posted by: Catilina | Dec 28 2024 14:52 utc | 653

Completely new tones from Japan
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Ukraine has finally become a terrorist state, according to an article in the Japanese magazine Shūkan Gendai. The Kiev government is directly provoking Vladimir Putin by carrying out terrorist activities on Russian territory. Kiev has set itself the goal of preventing possible peace talks, says Toshihiko Shiobara, the author of the article.
Since Sylenski is well aware that if negotiations take place, this will NOT just be his political END! And Bandera’s immediate circle is also aware of this.
Shiobara points to a report in the US newspaper The New York Times, according to which the recent murder of General Kirillov, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Moscow, is the crowning achievement of the career of Valentin Naliwaitschenko, who has been head of the Ukrainian secret service SBU since 2014. And he is probably one of the first people who would have certain fears in the event of negotiations.
The author asks the following question:
“Is Zelensky deliberately staging numerous terrorist attacks to anger Putin and hinder progress in ending hostilities and peace talks on the Ukraine issue? It’s quite possible.”
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But as the title says…strange tones from Japan…which would probably collapse completely without Russian oil.

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 14:56 utc | 655

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 14:56 utc | 685
Yes, the simple reason no one in Ukraine or the west wants negotiations. Are all economical or personal protection.
The Banderists are criminals and will have to be extradited to Russia as part of conditions. They are on CIA or oligarch payroll.
The oligarchs, Zelensky and all upper level officials make a lot of money from western handouts.
The jews are cleansing the population to get the new Khazaria.
BlackRock wants to depopulate Ukraine to reduce future upkeep and mouths to feed.
Nato wants to occupy as much as possible to retain future attack avenues against Russia.
So it will just continue until all of the meatwall is consumed and mobilizatione effort/nation chokes on itself.

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 28 2024 15:07 utc | 657

Culero,
The area of the SMO is a Stalin created kluge devised for Soviet convenience.
Calling it otherwise is US propaganda

Posted by: paddy | Dec 28 2024 15:12 utc | 659

paddy
I will refrain from posting the same response for the fourth time.
The rationale is fine with me. It scarcely matters.
Why people do what they do can be explained in a kaleidoscope of different reasons.
But judgment of statesmen is based on results of their actions more than their reasoning, which is always arguable. Putin can derive no win from Ukraine, regardless of the reasons, wholly/partially or un-justified makes not a bit of difference to the pages of history.
Assuming there remains a historian to the tell the story. One thing is certain. Putin, aged 72 will not outlive the results of this untenable situation. One hopes the remainder of us, whether ukie fans, russkie fans or swaddling infants born this very day, will survive.

Posted by: Culero | Dec 28 2024 15:31 utc | 661

Posted by: bored | Dec 28 2024 14:18 utc | 674
Thanks for putting out the effort to put a smile on my face…

Posted by: donten | Dec 28 2024 15:41 utc | 663

Posted by: Larsbo | Dec 28 2024 15:06 utc | 687
nein, ich bleibe bei der bezeichnung nazi für die regime hier bei uns im wertewesten. es ist die selbe ideologie, nur mit ner anderen verpackung und ner schleife oben drauf.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Dec 28 2024 15:43 utc | 665

A timely dose of rock-hard reality from Ramzy Mardini:

For the sake of Ukraine’s people, the practical and moral course is to shift toward a policy of accommodation with Russia, abandoning unproductive attempts to negotiate from an unattainable position of strength. Neither escalation nor time is on Ukraine’s side. The new administration must understand the intransigence of this reality, recognize Russia’s security concerns, and seriously engage with its terms for ending its war on Ukraine.
The pill will surely be a bitter one to swallow now, but its bitterness will only grow with time.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/perils-escalation-russia-are-still-very-real-214177
Because Russia “produces artillery shells three times faster—and at a quarter of the cost—compared to American and European NATO members combined.” Because Russia has Oreshnik, and escalation dominance. The argument Mardini brings to The National Interest is so forceful, so factual, so focused. It almost gives me hope in the possibility of USraeli PTB entertaining sanity… nah, just a momentary hopelette there, on my part. Now I’m over it.
The whole “Western” media/corporate/political juggernaut has a zillion arguments for shaking the fist at Russia, while all Trump has is Tulsi, with a great big bull’s eye target on her back for having an ounce or two of sense. I just plain fail to visualize the scenario in which Tulsi wins this geopolitical arm-wrestling contest. Sorry.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Dec 28 2024 15:58 utc | 667

Because Russia “produces artillery shells three times faster—and at a quarter of the cost—compared to American and European NATO members combined.”
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Dec 28 2024 15:58 utc | 700

I totally agree with your sentiment. Will Tulsi have the stamina or will she end up like Liz’ lettuce, forced to resign under the sheer pressure?
While Mardini makes an excellent point, the speed and cost argument are only half the story. The West would need to go full 180 on domestic policies of the past 20 years: War-time production mode dictates full employment and no welfare for anybody able and fit. I doubt Western govs are capable of doing that without major backlash, and besides, all the machinery needed has been shipped off to China a long time ago; nowadays Made in China, because Germany is too kaput already.

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 28 2024 16:14 utc | 669

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 28 2024 16:14 utc | 702
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Not to mention the raw materials for tank and weapon production…
No steel for tanks, no TNT for grenades…
Google who in the Western bubble still produces TNT…in the USA there is not a single manufacturer, in Europe there is a backyard company in Poland…
In Russia, on the other hand, there are 32 companies with hundreds of tons.
In the West, including South Korea, only around 30 tons are produced per year.
Why is production in Switzerland at a standstill at the 2019 level despite demand…Why has not a single tank rolled off the production line in Germany in 2024? Only OLD ones have been refurbished.

Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 16:37 utc | 671

And the same people who told you that Russia was about to invade Ukraine when everyone here was babbling about “western propaganda”…
Posted by: 10^30 chess | Dec 28 2024 16:24 utc | 703
______
…also the same people who somehow neglected to say why Russia launched the SMO.

Posted by: malenkov | Dec 28 2024 16:43 utc | 673

Why has not a single tank rolled off the production line in Germany in 2024? Only OLD ones have been refurbished.
Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 16:37 utc | 704
Very sensible. Why would they make new ones when the whole design of a tank needs to be rethought. Anyway they are busy upgrading British tanks with German turrets. Who obviously don’t need a rethink 🙂

Posted by: JohninMK | Dec 28 2024 17:22 utc | 675

Posted by: malenkov | Dec 28 2024 16:41 utc | 705

Thanks. May I paraphrase a line from the X-Files TV series (“Terma”):

“The Senators are honorable men. They are all honorable… these honorable men.”

@ Ossi 704: Thanks for the additional data points. I do have some doubts on the reliability (much will be kept secret), but on the other hand, Western MSM would be showing happy factory workers proudly showing off their latest boom-boom produce in a marathon attempt to intimidate Russia and BRICS.

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 28 2024 17:33 utc | 677

Nervous German | Dec 28 2024 15:30 utc | 693
*** “There should be no Russian who goes to sleep without wondering if they’re going to get their throat slit in the middle of the night” —U.S. General Mark Milley, Dec 2023 ***
If there was a good President of Russia, General Milley ought never be able to either sleep or be awake without wondering if the next minute would bring the total obliteration of the USA.

Posted by: Cynic | Dec 28 2024 20:59 utc | 679

Posted by: jopalolive | Dec 28 2024 10:45 utc | 642
Yup, the weapon paradox; by using it for its intended purpose you immediately reduce its subsequent effect and impact. The risk the Russians face is that they can escalate and respond with evolutionary platforms in the SMO, but all those revealed become either known knowns, or known unknowns which, with dedicated ISR resources committed, can easily become the former. The US, on the other hand, has revealed few platforms that were not already known, largely supporting Ukraine with hand-me-downs or with ISR/EW capabilities that have inherent capabilities that allow them to evolve far faster than ‘hard’ weapon systems, or can be concealed in some way.
As for UFO sightings, many can be attributable, in the Cold War, to the Black programmes and I’m sure some enterprising USAF officer spiced them up with ‘evidence’ of alien activity. As for real UFO’s, anyone who knows anyone at the business end of flying, or radar control, is usually regaled, at some point in the conversation, with ‘weird shit’ stories. But the same is also true of submariners.
Posted by: ossi | Dec 28 2024 15:08 utc | 690
Painting a word on something does not give it the qualities the word conveys, as lots of car owners have embarrassingly found out.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Dec 28 2024 15:58 utc | 700
You do remember that in 22 days there is going to be a new administration, I certainly know the Russians do, so I doubt they will respond to any of the recent, or future, provocations, too seriously, lest it poison relations with the incoming team. 22 days v 1440, bit of a no-brainer, rather like Ukraine over Syria, or declaring WWIII or not declaring it.

Posted by: Milites | Dec 28 2024 21:31 utc | 681

ossi 686
“But as the title says…strange tones from Japan”
For Ukraine the only audience that matters is the west, Europe and the U.S.
For them the global south are just grass-skirted savages. Ukraine are well-trained westerners already.
This is a mistake that Russia is not making. They calibrate all their words and actions with a view to the global south.
The U.S. imperialists also look on the global south as grass-skirted savages, for them
“What’s good for me is good
There’s only self and void”
But as country after country move to the side of Russia, including major nations like Japan, they will realise too late the error of their disrespect of the entire world.
But even then they will be unable to change their habit and mindset of supremacist contempt.

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Dec 28 2024 22:12 utc | 683

Symmetry inside the mind of an enslaved dog:
Russia takes a slice of Ukraine;
Our response: KILL
USA annexes Canada, Greenland, Mexico and Panama;
Our response: LLIK

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Dec 28 2024 23:18 utc | 685

“The idea of the BRICS was formulated by Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, Jim O’Neill, in a 2001 study entitled “Building Better Global Economic BRICs”
https://www.ipea.gov.br/forumbrics/en/learn-about-brics.html
People thinking BRICs is anything but that, are hard core smoking hopium. They say it in their about, a Goldman Sachs, global banker creation.
Go look at the NDB(the IMF bank of brics) and see how much they are tied to it.
https://www.ndb.int/?s=IMF
If you think it is anything but an extension of the existing global finance control system, you are watching youtube, and not actually looking at what they write.

Posted by: Rhymerez | Dec 29 2024 0:38 utc | 687

@Nobody special 126
Quote -“The Ukrainian people are Russia’s primary enemy. In order to de-militarize Ukr”
No, it is the English pirates race which are the prime enemy of Russia.
Russia’s real enemy which plots all wars, is england on which russia should concentrate rather than fritting away energy at secondary and tertiary targets who had no say in starting abd running the ukraine war

Posted by: Sam | Dec 29 2024 1:23 utc | 689