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Racist Allied Underestimation Of Russia’s Abilities Led To Its Win
Yesterday I had linked the New York Times whitewashing of President Biden's (proxy) war against Russia:
Today's long-read from the NYT is some weird whitewashing and fake history. Anyone who, during the last three years, has read more than the propaganda from the New York Times already knew each and every of these points:
Alex Cristoforou also remarks on it:
Cont. reading: Racist Allied Underestimation Of Russia’s Abilities Led To Its Win
Russigate’s Role In Trump-Putin Relations
Only when one reads multiple accounts on an issue one will find the morsels which reveal underlying issues and motives.
Of current interests are the psychological factors in the negotiations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. That is why I read pieces like this:
Trump on Putin: ‘I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word’ – Politico, Mar 30 2025
President Donald Trump said Sunday he basically trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the right thing as he attempts to hash out a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said of Putin: “I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. You’re talking about Putin. I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve always gotten along well.”
Trump’s words seemed to be a softening of his language earlier Sunday.
Saying he was “pissed off,” Trump had been critical of Putin in an interview with Kristen Welker of NBC. “If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said.
Previously I had read an ABCnews take that was a bit more extensive:
President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at his apparent frustration with the lack of progress toward a peace deal in Ukraine, telling NBC News he was "very angry" at Putin after the Russian leader again criticized Zelenskyy and called for his removal in favor of a transitional government.
Trump added that he would consider applying new sanctions on Russia's lucrative oil exports and on any nations purchasing its oil. China and India are among the most significant customers for Russian oil products.
The president later told reporters on Air Force One that his administration was making significant progress toward ending the war. Asked about his relationship with Putin, Trump responded, "I don't think he's going to go back on his word."
"I've known him for a long time," Trump said. "We've always gotten along well despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax."
Trump had previously allured to the Russiagate hoax when talking about Putin. He seems to see Putin as a victim of the scam just like he himself was a victim of it. I believe this to be, at least in Trump's eyes, an issue that bonds the two men together. It is what makes a deal possible. It is important – so I wonder why Politico would leave it out.
The AP report of the Air Force One gaggle also has no mention of it:
On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump reiterated his annoyance toward Putin but somewhat softened his tone.
“I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word,” he said. “I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve always gotten along well.”
Asked when he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump said there was a “psychological deadline.”
“If I think they’re tapping us along, I will not be happy about it,” he said.
When reports disagree on what was said or happened it is always good to back to the source. Forbes has put up a full video of Sunday's Air Force One gaggle. Here is my transcript of the relevant part (starting at 6:38 min):
Q: Would you say your relationship with Vladimir Putin is at its lowest point right now?
A: No, I don't think so. I don't think he going back on his word. You are talking about Putin. I don't think he is going back on his word. I have known him for a long time. We have always gotten along well. Despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax created by Clinton and Schiff and all these lunatics. And that really was a dangerous point. That was a very dangerous thing they did to this country. It was a pure, unadulterated scam, hoax. No, but I think he will be okay. Be if he isn't …
I was disappointed in a certain way in some of the things he said over the last day or two having to do with Zelenski. Because he considers Zelenski not credible. He is supposed to make a deal with him whether you like him or don't like him. So I wasn't happy with that. But I think he is gonna be good. …
It is not only that Trump sees himself and Putin as victims of the Russiagate story. He does regard it as having been dangerous. To make (false) claims about political interference by another nuclear power needlessly could have led, and still could lead, to more serious altercations.
I find it interesting that Trump is thinking in these terms. He knows and fears what a real clash with Russia could lead to.
Why won't the media relay that?
Palestine Open Thread 2025-067
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Ukraine Open Thread 2025-066
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The MoA Week In Review – OT 2025-065
Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama:
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Other issues:
Cont. reading: The MoA Week In Review – OT 2025-065
Some Media Still Claim A Putin-Trump Alliance Even As There Is None
President Putin of Russia recently gave a speech to the 6th International Arctic Forum. It was a big picture talk touching many issues. Putin also mentioned U.S. attempts to acquire, by whatever means, Greenland.
It is not astonishing that several 'western' media picked up on this. But what is astonishing is how the headlines divert from each other. It is like two different speeches were held, listened to and reported on.
On one side there are claims that Putin is somewhat endorsing or supporting Donald Trump's attempts to steal Greenland from Denmark:
Other outlets present a very different view:
Reading Putin's speech I find little in support of the claims the first group of headlines are making.
There is no endorsement stealing Greenland in it – none. Just a minder that this is not the first time a U.S. president tries to get Greenland. This while warning of potential reactions:
Meanwhile, the role and importance of the Arctic for Russia and for the entire world are obviously growing. Regrettably, the geopolitical competition and fighting for positions in this region are also escalating.
Suffice it to say about the plans of the United States to annex Greenland, as everyone is aware. But you know, it can surprise someone only at first glance. It is a profound mistake to treat it as some preposterous talk by the new US administration. Nothing of the sort.
In fact, the United States had such plans as far back as 1860s. As early as that, the US administration was considering possible annexation of Greenland and Iceland
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In short, the United States has serious plans regarding Greenland. These plans have long historical roots, as I have just mentioned, and it is obvious that the United States will continue to consistently advance its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.
Russia, Putin says, will have to react to this:
Cont. reading: Some Media Still Claim A Putin-Trump Alliance Even As There Is None
Palestine Open Thread 2025-064
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Ukraine Open Thread 2025-063
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Open (Neither Ukraine Nor Palestine) Thread 2025-062
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Trump’s Rewritten ‘Deal’ With Ukraine Is Imposed Indentured Servitude
The Trump administration wants to press Ukraine into infinite indentured servitude for payments and weapons previously delivered by the Biden administration with no conditions attached to them.
Hedge fund mogul and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has (re-)written the 'mineral deal':
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday Ukraine may sign an economic deal next week …
"We have passed along a completed document for the economic partnership (that) is currently being reviewed by Ukrainians, and we hope to go to full discussions and perhaps even get signatures next week," Bessent said.
Trump said on Monday he expects a U.S.-Ukraine revenue-sharing agreement on Ukrainian critical minerals to be signed soon.
The (former) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski acknowledged the arrival of the agreement (machine translation):
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the United States offered Ukraine a new version of the agreement on minerals . During the press conference , he stressed that the issue of Ukrainian nuclear power plants is not in it.
"This is a big full deal for the American side, from the steps that were taken earlier. A framework agreement, you remember, and after the framework agreement, the full agreement is developed. Now the American side has offered our side a big deal at once, their vision," Zelensky said.
The deal, see below, is anything but an 'offer'.
Zelenski should have signed the earlier 'framework agreement'. It would have allowed to later stall on the implementation. Now he will be pressed to sign on to the details.
The new 'big deal at once' is a 'horror' for Ukraine (machine translation):
A new version of the agreement on minerals between Ukraine and the United States, in which, as reported by ZN.UA, now the American side wants control not only over the extraction of rare earth metals, but all the minerals of Ukraine and the infrastructure associated with their extraction, provides for unlimited US control over Ukrainian resursans and with the right of veto of the Americans on their extraction by Ukraine. At the same time, the United States does not offer any security guarantees, and such a monopoly should be a "payment" for the already provided US assistance to Ukraine, said Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a People's Deputy of Ukraine.
"I received this document from our officials yesterday.This is not the final document. And I hope the Ukrainian side will demand and achieve significant changes to it. But the text that I saw is straight horror. All 18 sections … this is no longer a framework memorandum of intent (which was before the scandalous meeting in the Oval Office). This is a very big and very clear deal. And it is not in our direction," he wrote in his Telegram.
The legal text has 60(!) pages. Its main points, according to Zheleznyak, are these (machine translation):
Cont. reading: Trump’s Rewritten ‘Deal’ With Ukraine Is Imposed Indentured Servitude
NATO Sec.-Gen. Flip-Flops On Normalization With Russia
On March 15 I mocked NATO Secretary General Rutte for his flip-flop over Ukraine's accession to NATO.
Here is another flip flop of his:
NATO Chief Says Russia Relations Should Be Restored Post War – Bloomberg, Mar 14 2025
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said relations with Russia should eventually be normalized once the fighting ends in Ukraine, while stressing the need to keep pressure on Moscow to ensure progress in ceasefire negotiations.
“It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the US, step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia,” Rutte said in an interview on Bloomberg TV Friday.
Just twelve days later …
'This is not the time to go it alone,' NATO's Rutte tells U.S. and Europe – Reuters, Mar 26, 2025
While welcoming Trump's push for peace in Ukraine, Rutte said there would be no normalisation of relations with Russia once the war had ended.
"This will take decades because there is a total lack of confidence. The threat is still there," he told reporters.
Could we please have other people but fools ruling over us?
Was This ‘Leak’ Accidental Or Is It Pro-War Psyops?
There are several curious aspects of this 'leak' of internal communication of high ranking members of the Trump administration:
Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, the magazine reported in a story posted online Monday. The National Security Council said the text chain “appears to be authentic.”
…
The material in the text chain “contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,” editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported.
The Atlantic is the worst magazine in America. Its editor in chief, ..
.. Jeffrey Goldberg, dropped out of an Ivy League University to volunteer to be an IDF prison guard during the first Palestinian Intifada. In his memoirs, Goldberg revealed that he helped cover up serious prisoner abuse.
Goldberg is a neo-conservative who has yet to see a U.S. instigated war he dislikes. To trust his reporting is dangerous.
Here is how he tells the story:
Cont. reading: Was This ‘Leak’ Accidental Or Is It Pro-War Psyops?
English Outsider: Russia-U.S. Talks – A Change In The Picture
by English Outsider
lifted from comments
An interview with [former British diplomat] Ian Proud changes the picture.
I had thought, as did most, that the Russians had given up on the West and were just stolidly ploughing on with their 2022 objectives. Proud asserts that this is not the case and that the Russians are genuinely interested in rapprochement with the United States.
Whether Trump himself can offer that is still perhaps an open question. He faces flat opposition from the Europeans, who still wish the war to continue. The head of the BND said recently that it would be in Europe’s interest if the war lasted another five years and we see from the reactions of various European politicians that the only "peace settlement" they could support would be one that was not consistent with the Russian war aims. For some of them RF delenda est is the only end to this war that would leave them happy.
More importantly, Trump faces significant internal opposition. His attempts at administrative reform are bitterly contested. His ideological stance and that of his supporters is a throwback to earlier days of moderate American conservatism and is quite at odds with the stance that prevailed in the Biden era – it takes little insight to see there's trouble brewing there. His view of the war in Ukraine is also at odds with the view hitherto prevailing in the American political establishment. And the midterms are looming, elections that he must do well in if he is to keep a fractious Congress with him as he attempts to push through those administrative reforms.
The last thing Trump wants, as he seeks to push through his programme in the maelstrom that is American domestic politics, is the reproach that he "lost Ukraine". That the West was always engaged in an unwinnable war there, and that Trump is now recognising that reality, will be obscured by accusations that he is a "Russian patsy" or an "appeaser". We're already seeing that accusation openly levelled against him by the Europeans and by his own domestic opposition.
Cont. reading: English Outsider: Russia-U.S. Talks – A Change In The Picture
Palestine Open Thread 2025-061
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Ukraine Open Thread 2025-060
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The MoA Week In Review – OT 2025-059
Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama:
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Other issues:
Cont. reading: The MoA Week In Review – OT 2025-059
How Zelenski Is Trying To Sabotage Trump’s Negotiations With Russia
Ukraine's (former) President Zelenski is trying to impede further talks between the U.S. and Russia. For this purpose he is avoiding to implement a temporary ceasefire an energy related targets as agreed on between President Trump and President Putin.
Zelenski does not like that deal. He continues to talk of a future ceasefire of all attacks on general infrastructure that may or may not happen in future while his army continues to attack Russian energy installations.
The Russian readout of the 150 minute phone call between the presidents includes this reference to an 'energy ceasefire':
During the conversation, Donald Trump put forward a proposal for the parties to mutually refrain from strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Vladimir Putin responded favourably to the proposal and immediately gave the relevant order to the Russian troops.
The U.S. readout is less clear on the issue. It says:
This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts. The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.
General infrastructure is a much wider field than energy infrastructure as it involves roads, bridges, public buildings etc. The much shorter U.S. readout is also not at all clear when the energy ceasefire should start even as Russia said that it already had started.
Trump then had a call with President Zelenski. The White House readout from that call says:
The two leaders also agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy. Technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire.
This is way more compatible with the Russian view. The temporary ceasefire is about energy infrastructure. It is already ongoing. Further talks are only about expanding it.
This also consistent with the history of previous negotiations and agreements about a moratorium of attacks against energy infrastructure as documented here.
Steven Witkoff, Trump's negotiator in talks with Putin, also confirmed that the temporary ceasefire is about 'energy infrastructure' during an interview with Tucker Carlson (@55min).
Zelenski did not seem to agree with that view when he talked about his phone call with Trump (machine translation):
Cont. reading: How Zelenski Is Trying To Sabotage Trump’s Negotiations With Russia
Palestine Open Thread 2025-058
News & views related to the war in Palestine …
Ukraine Open Thread 2025-057
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Open (Neither Ukraine Nor Palestine) Thread 2025-056
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