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):
President Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin and the key issues discussed. One of the first steps towards a complete end to the war may be to stop attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it.
Two days later the Ukrainian army destroyed the gas metering station of the Druzba pipeline in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border. (It of course accused the Russians who have no interest in destructing valuable infrastructure within their country).
The Russian side commented on it (machine translation):
The issue of the Suja GIS attack raised the issue of a moratorium on strikes on the energy sector, which Putin and Zelensky agreed to.Kremlin spokesman Peskov said today that Putin's order on a moratorium on strikes on the Ukrainian energy sector continues to operate. At the same time, according to him, the relevant agreements between Trump and Putin concerned only energy projects, and not the entire infrastructure.
"Despite the actions of Kiev (the Russian Federation accuses Ukraine of strikes on the Russian energy infrastructure - Ed.), the order of the supreme commander-in-chief is valid, and the Russian army currently refrains from attacking the energy infrastructure of Ukraine in accordance with the agreement that was reached between the United States and Russia," the Kremlin spokesman said.
On the eve of Zelensky said that a partial truce, which is currently being discussed, includes a moratorium not only on attacks on energy, but also on other civilian infrastructure. At the same time, as we can see, Moscow says that Putin's agreements with Trump concern only the cessation of strikes on the energy sector.
During an interview of John Mearsheimer Daniel Davis played the relevant clip of Zelenski's daily address to the Ukrainian public in which he talks about a ceasefire on general 'civil' infrastructure, how his people are now putting together lists of such installations, and how this will all have to be discussed in future rounds.
There is no acknowledgement of an existing ceasefire on energy infrastructure.
Russia is currently still sticking to the agreed about temporary ceasefire with regards to energy infrastructure. Zelenski has not acknowledged that such a ceasefire is in place. He is instead talking about a ceasefire on general infrastructure which is a whole different game to play.
If the Ukraine insists on continuing its attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure Putin will have to hit back (machine translation):
The Russian Foreign Ministry threatens Ukraine with a "symmetrical response", accusing the Ukrainian Armed Forces of strikes on Russian energy projects.This is reported by the press service of the department.
"It is obvious that with such antics, Kiev once again demonstrates its complete inability to negotiate, as well as its lack of desire to achieve peace. We warn that if the Kiev regime continues its destructive line, the Russian side reserves the right to respond, including a symmetrical one, " the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
If the Trump administration is serious about seeking peace in Ukraine it will have to tell Zelenski that he will have to accept the ceasefire parameters Trump has agreed upon with Putin. (It will also have to use more precise language in its read-outs.)
There is a temporary ceasefire with regards to energy infrastructure in place. Zelenski does his best to ignore and sabotage that deal. If Trump lets him get away with this the trust that has been build up during recent U.S.-Russian talks will be gone. This would seriously impede further negotiations.
If Trump wants peace in Ukraine he has to get serious about this.
Posted by b on March 22, 2025 at 17:09 UTC | Permalink
next page »I think Zelensky does want a cease fire but that he isn't able to make steps towards that goal becuase he is threatened by the ukrainian ultra right wing / the ultra right wing ukrainian nationalists. Or perhaps Zelensky wants to continue his grift by siphoning off funds/money that come from Europe or the US.
I also think that Zelensky has a good reason why he is doing this. Publicly NATO has said many times that the Ukraine would be able to join NATO but behind closed doors Zelensky was told that the Ukraine wouldn't be able to join NATO anytime soon. Conclsuion: NATO + the US want to destroy the Ukraine by letting it fight Russia. Then its'no no wonder that Zelensky wants to continue his grift as long as possible.
Yes, the US needs to tell Zelensky that the US is serious about making peace with Russia but even the US is sending mixed messages.
Posted by: WMG | Mar 22 2025 17:24 utc | 2
Glenn Diesen:
"Will the Nationalists Turn Against Zelensky?"
https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/will-the-nationalists-turn-against
Posted by: WMG | Mar 22 2025 17:26 utc | 3
Very ambiguous US readout on Energy and Infrastructure. We know how bad education is in the states but there's no excuse here, how can there be a ceasefire on energy?
Posted by: Ogre | Mar 22 2025 17:28 utc | 4
Zelensky is just a pawn. It is the British establishment that controls Zelensky.It is these elements that have infiltrated the US. So unless Britain's aristocracy is made to pay a price Russia baiting and wars on its periphery are unlikely to stop. Afterall the objective is russian naturall resources, including the Arctic and the Arctic route. A complete defanging of UK is overdue !
Posted by: Srang | Mar 22 2025 17:30 utc | 5
I’m just flabbergasted that this Zelensky character is still in power. Also that Zelensky is slowly but surely allowing his country to be given to the U.S.. Step by step. I’m sure Zelensky wants to keep the war going, not for the glory of Ukraine, but to keep the Neo-NAZI wolves from eating him alive.
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Mar 22 2025 17:35 utc | 6
Ukraine Weekly Update, 21st March 2025: May be Useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-f46
Posted by: The Busker | Mar 22 2025 17:37 utc | 7
"The US read out is less clear"
Russians sucked in yet again.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 22 2025 17:39 utc | 8
The situation is akin to a circus with the lack of direct communication between Russia and Ukraine allowing for all sorts of he said-she said about what was agreed upon. As I reported yesterday, the talks in Riyadh will feature the Russians in one room, the Ukrainians in another, with the Trump Team shuttling back and forth. Yes, a circus. The two men Putin has named are extremely experienced with Budanov on record as being "fearful" of Sergei Beseda who is currently the adviser to the director of the FSB, and ex-head of the fifth service, which deals with active operations and the infiltration of deep undercover agents in Ukraine. His partner will be former Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Senator Grigory Karasin, who currently is Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs. He was Russian ambassador to the UK and is fluent in English as well as several other languages.
According to Karasin, both Sergey Beseda, advisor to the FSB chief, and himself "maintain a purposeful and constructive attitude" as they are getting ready to lead the Russian delegation. "We expect to achieve progress. First of all, there is an issue on which we will work. It’s hard to expect to tackle the entire agenda but we are determined to try to resolve at least one issue," the senator told the Zvezda TV channel.Karasin added that Russian delegation members would return home on March 25.
Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov announced earlier that Russian and US experts would hold consultations in Riyadh on March 24. The Russian delegation will be led by Karasin and Sergey Beseda, an advisor to the FSB director. The parties are expected to discuss the Black Sea Initiative. [My Emphasis]
One issue at a time via intermediaries means negotiations will last until 2026 given the vast number of points-at-issue. If Trump wants the talks to proceed faster, Zelensky must be removed and the no negotiation edict must be rescinded. So, the ball remains in the Outlaw US Empire's court and will until the war it started is brought to a peaceful end.
I noticed that wording 'energy and infrastructure' rather than 'energy infrastructure' and thought it was simply a mistake - but maybe not. Z is certainly making the most of these ambiguities but I don't think Putin was wise to agree to this 'partial ceasefire' unilaterally. It seems that Zelensky is no better than Netanyahu when it comes to honouring ceasefires.
Posted by: The Busker | Mar 22 2025 17:45 utc | 10
A ceasefire observed by one side only isn’t a ceasefire at all. It’s holding back your armed forces while your opponent continues to strike your assets at will.
The moment Ukraine struck that gas facility should have meant Russia resumed attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The fact that Russia continues to refrain defies all logic. It’s lunacy. This must be the first time in history where one side imposes ceasefire conditions on themselves and observes them while their opponent does not.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 17:46 utc | 11
Behind all this is the threat of assassination on negotiation/capitulation since Maidan that has not gone away.
Posted by: d4l3d | Mar 22 2025 17:52 utc | 13
@20
The U$$A is not serious about peace with Russian Federation.
The EU wants to see Russia as East Africa a set of colonies feeding the EU.
Russia has no career dealing with U$$A and its hangers on.
The single difference between Biden and Trump is Trump is awake and sends various often contradictory messages.
Posted by: paddy | Mar 22 2025 17:55 utc | 14
[email protected] complete defang of the UK is overdue.....if the Russians can't subdue 404, now faced with negotiations, in a situation that required complete enemy capitulation, other than the US, who has the balls first and foremost to defang the UK.....while the masses wait for it to collapse from debt overload.....which will never happen, they have given themselves 100 years to subdue Russia.....99 to go.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 22 2025 17:55 utc | 15
Srang at 5 makes a good point, just a minor quibble. There is no such thing as Britain/British/UK uppermost/ruling class, it's 100% English. The rest of the "knighted" uppermost-class is a gaggle of geese "parroting" the English uppermost/ruling class's directives, they have no real agency.
"Zelensky is just a pawn. It is the British England's establishment that controls Zelensky.It is these elements that have infiltrated the US. So unless Britain's England's aristocracy is made to pay a price Russia baiting and wars on its periphery are unlikely to stop. After all the objective is russian naturall resources, including the Arctic and the Arctic route. A complete defanging of UK England is overdue !"
Posted by: S Brennan | Mar 22 2025 17:58 utc | 16
Sean at 15, you're stealing my thunder...just like a tank of lobsters I tell 'ya
Posted by: S Brennan | Mar 22 2025 18:00 utc | 17
" A ceasefire observed by one side only isn’t a ceasefire at all. It’s holding back your armed forces while your opponent continues to strike your assets at will.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 17:46 utc | 11 "
Very true, these one-sided ceasefires are very odd. Just like the ceasefires Hamaz and Hezbollah seem hell bent on observing.
Posted by: Salami | Mar 22 2025 18:03 utc | 18
To avoid this kind of creative legal abuse the Russians should be insisting on an agreed resolution document for any (limited or otherwise) ceasefire agreement. The document would be printed in Russian, Ukrainian and English and publicly accepted by the parties.
I am still wondering why there has been no suggestion of lightly armed UN peacekeepers for any peace agreement.
Posted by: Fred | Mar 22 2025 18:07 utc | 19
Posted by: paddy | Mar 22 2025 17:55 utc | 14
##############
As difficult as it may be to imagine, Trump is surrounded by even less competent people.
I am convinced that the month of April will write the story of this Administration. If tariffs go well, the game continues. If tariffs go poorly, Trump will be in a panic.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 22 2025 18:08 utc | 20
Ukraine's (former) President Zelenski is trying to impede further talks between the U.S. and Russia.
This post goes wrong from the first sentence! Beginning with the idea that US/Russian negotiations for peace---including in Ukraine---should notinclude Ukraine is bizarre. Any peace must include Ukraine!. If you try to justify that assumption on the grounds that of course Ukraine isn't independent, just a US cat's paw, then seeing any hint of Ukrainian dissidence as intolerable insolence, is little more than believing the US should run Ukraine as it sees fit, forever. Advising the US government on how to deal with uppity servants is not how I would want to spend my time. If you try to justify excluding Ukraine on the grounds the US has cut the strings to their puppet, the only reason for complaining is that you don't believe your own premise...and you're upset that Ukraine isn't simply rolling over? Also, the empirical facts don't really favor the US-has-dropped-loser-Ukraine claim, not in my view.
I still cannot grasp how Trump trying to do a general peace deal centering on oil/Middle East etc. with Russia, leaving Ukraine as an afterthought, can possibly work. Ukraine is not an afterthought for Russia, even if it's been designated SMO. Nor have I understood how Trump must find excuses, much less have to lay diplomatic traps so that when his targets fall into them, then he has excuses to withdraw. Personally I don't believe that Trump really campaigned on peace in Ukraine, but his choir did and does and would be happen to sing hymns to their Messiah, Prince of Peace.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 22 2025 18:09 utc | 21
What puzzles me is why Starmer thinks the UK is invulnerable to retaliation. Surely even he must realize that his so-called independent nuclear deterrent is no such thing; any launch from Trident subs requires the US to supply launch codes and therefore would be a declaration of war by the US on Russia. Assuming, of course, that the clapped-out old subs and missiles would work at all, which is highly dubious.
As as been pointed out in these columns and elsewhere, Starmer's a long-time SIS (MI6) asset. Given that SIS is behind most if not all of the Ukronazi's dirty tricks, the only conclusion I can reach is that the SIS is running the UK government. And the same seems to be true of most of Europe's major players and not a few of the chihuahuas as well.
Posted by: pasha | Mar 22 2025 18:12 utc | 22
Ukraine's (former) President Zelenski is trying to impede further talks between the U.S. and Russia.
This post goes wrong from the first sentence! Beginning with the idea that US/Russian negotiations for peace---including in Ukraine---should not include Ukraine is bizarre. Any peace must include Ukraine!
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 22 2025 18:09 utc | 21
--------------------
Ukraine's army has been decimated, it's force projection relies exclusively on EU moral support and US Intelligence. They lost the war but want to pretend they are still fighting. Zelensky wants a US guarantee so he can breach any peace deal. generate a Russian response and then demand that the US send its forces and weapons to fight his war that he has already lost. That's his entire strategy. It's BS. He is not a serious partner in any peace deal.
Posted by: Fred | Mar 22 2025 18:25 utc | 23
@Zang 5
Quote "Zelensky is just a pawn. It is the British establishment that controls Zelensky.It is these elements that have infiltrated the US. S"
Exactly .
The most evil plotter of wars has to be eliminated for ever for world peace.
Posted by: Sam | Mar 22 2025 18:25 utc | 24
@Sean 8
Quote "Russians sucked in yet again.
Cheers M"
Characterstic of putin and his foreign .iniater. ig long winding talk in the middle of critical existential war and doing nothing .
Putin has stupidly wasted 3 years for england and its vassals(west is another name for england only) yo arm itself and prepare for war so much that a 3rd rate country like england pirate island dare say that it will directky attack or help others attack moscow.
It is putin's dekaying tactics in war that has put russia in situation that is miserable and insulting for Russia. Putin lavrov and pesko must be removed.
Posted by: Sam | Mar 22 2025 18:29 utc | 25
Under any other US Admin this cocained peon would be taken care of by the CIA. They would make it look like an OD, I am sure... Easy-peasy, this garbage of a human excrement is so into drugs, no one would even question it for a second...
For sure, he'd be out of the picture by now given how abrasive and arrogant this piece of shit is.
An interesting question now, though, is whether Trump and anyone in his Admin (including John Ratcliffe whom he put in charge of that filthy joint) would even listen / comply / care about what Trump / Ratcliffe tell the CIA goons to do to take care of the "little zelenski" problem?!
Or will they simply sabotage any order like this (or worse -- rat them out) given the political standoff in the good ol' US of A?!
No good options for the MAGA man, eh?!
Posted by: RockTime | Mar 22 2025 18:37 utc | 26
A more accurate heading would be How BRITAIN Is Trying To Sabotage Trump's Negotiations With Russia.
Ever since it was announced by Starmer that the UK had signed a 100 year partnership (sic) deal I knew the game was on.
It's almost like the scenes out of that child like propaganda show that recently aired ( The Agency TV series with Michael Fassbender) where all the spooks are gathered in London, including the Chinese and Africans.
Let's see what bullshit Zelensky /Starmer tries next...
Posted by: Skeletor | Mar 22 2025 18:44 utc | 27
If Putin genuinely wants peace he's going to have to bite the bullet and reduce Wasrael to rubble. i.e. blast the crap out of the Parasite State until it looks and functions like post-jew-plague Gaza.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 22 2025 19:02 utc | 28
Clearly, it was a waste of my time to try and inform the bar.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 19:04 utc | 29
Karl, the commenters have much bigger mouths than they do ears.
You must remember that the bar is much bigger than the commenters.
There truly is a silent majority here nursing a snifter of brandy
or tossing back a straight up shot of aquavit who appreciate the heck
out of you and what you provide. Never doubt that. Cheers!
Posted by: waynorinorway | Mar 22 2025 19:18 utc | 30
I don't think Putin can hold back Russian strikes much longer - no matter what Trump says - its obvious Zelensky is nodding in agreement with Trump - then ordering his forces to strike Russian assets when Trump isn't looking - then again we don't know what was said in private between Trump and Zelensky - Trump might be hinting at, or even giving the nod to Zelensky - to keep on striking Russian assets.
The safe bet must surely be for Putin, is to resume destroying Ukrainian energy/military outlets - and see where that leads.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 22 2025 19:20 utc | 31
Start with the probable reality: President Trump would like to stop Zelensky's war on humanitarian grounds, but what he really wants is to re-establish normal relations with Russia (thereby eliminating the possibility of thermonuclear WWIII).
So Zelensky will not cooperate with any ceasefire? Great! That gives the US a good reason for shrugging and walking away from the Ukraine. What Russia does to the Ukraine after that is none of the US's business; the EuroScum can get involved if they want. And it looks like Zelensky is not just falling into this trap -- he is jumping in with both feet.
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Mar 22 2025 19:21 utc | 32
Maybe Trump and Putin - are secretly working on replacing Zelensky - and these recent strikes are flickering embers of the end of Zelensky's brutal dictatorship.
"Two major events have shaken the domestic landscape in recent weeks. First, former President Pyotr Poroshenko has found himself in serious legal trouble. Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council has imposed sanctions on him, as investigators pursue the ‘10 black suitcases’ case. Second, former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, long dormant since the launch of Russia’s military offensive in 2022, has suddenly re-emerged.
Timoshenko kept a low profile during the early years of the conflict, occasionally criticizing the government from the Rada’s rostrum, traveling to hospitals, and attending international forums. Her support for Zelensky, when it suited her, was loud and clear. Yet earlier this month, she shocked observers with an emotional rebuke of German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl, who opposes a ceasefire. Timoshenko accused him of attempting to weaken Russia at the expense of “the very existence of Ukraine and the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.”
Her social media presence has since taken a distinct turn. Timoshenko now praises Trump and openly advocates for a swift peace deal. This puts her in direct contrast with Zelensky and his administration on Bankova Street, who continue to delay settlement talks.
Behind the scenes, according to media reports, it turns out that both Poroshenko and Timoshenko have been in covert communication with Donald Trump’s circle, aiming to pave the way for new elections in Ukraine. Poroshenko, it seems, is primarily angling for a role as a go-between for Washington and Kiev. Timoshenko, however, appears to be playing a longer game.
According to Politico, Timoshenko has been working behind closed doors to gather support from members of parliament, hoping to position herself as the head of a future ruling coalition. Then came a cryptic comment from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who claimed that a certain Ukrainian politician had secretly reached out to Putin. Many believe the description fits Timoshenko."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 22 2025 19:25 utc | 33
Yes, Karl, the signal to noise ratio is already bumping along the bottom on this thread.
I have found Aurelien over at substack to be a useful counterweight. I think he's a retired diplomat, now living in France, and his explanations about negotiations, treaties, and general inter-state are small gems to be treasured and absorbed.
Clearly, it was a waste of my time to try and inform the bar.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 19:04 utc | 29
Why?
The waste of time is to try to "negotiate" with fucking liars, who will never respect what they say. It is valid for the ukronazis as well as for the yankees, Trump or not Trump. Everyone should know that as soon as the ppp will want to negotiate seriously he will be killed by the banderists.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 22 2025 19:27 utc | 35
This is why - Western/Nato/EU backed NGO's in Serbia want regime change.
"The Serbian authorities will not reverse their approach to sanctions on Russian, according to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin. Belgrade has not taken part in the Ukraine-related restrictions imposed on Moscow by Western states.
The US and EU have been piling sanctions on Russia since 2014. The initial restrictions regarding defense, energy, banking, and trade came in response to Crimea joining the country after a violent Western-backed coup in Kiev. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Western states have dramatically expanded the measures.
“As you know, we have not joined the Western sanctions against Russia, and we will continue to follow this course,” Vulin said on Saturday during a meeting with the secretary of the Russian National Security Council, Sergey Shoigu, in Moscow."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 22 2025 19:30 utc | 36
Big question - are these Ukrainian strikes done with weapons requiring US support, like the ATACMS or other missiles? Or are they done with home-grown drones that they can target on their own?
If the strikes are necessarily done with American support, that implies a different level of betrayal on the part of the Americans.
It's obvious that Zelenski and the Trump crew are playing silly buggers with Russia. Trump's deliberately vague statements; Zelenski saying one thing and doing another, all designed to sabotage any attemmpt at resolving the situation. They're just playing for time.
Posted by: Barofsky | Mar 22 2025 19:34 utc | 38
Start with the probable reality: President Trump would like to stop Zelensky's war on humanitarian grounds, but what he really wants is to re-establish normal relations with Russia (thereby eliminating the possibility of thermonuclear WWIII).
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Mar 22 2025 19:21 utc | 32
Trump having humanitarian thoughts? LOL! Who could believe that? He wants his part of the Ukraine resources. He also is using Ukraine to destroy the european empire.
And he wants to get rid of the war in Ukraine so as to begin a war with Iran.
By the way, where are the JFK files and the 911 files showing that the mossad was fully on in them?
Posted by: Naive | Mar 22 2025 19:35 utc | 39
Posted by: Fred | Mar 22 2025 18:25 utc | 23 All true...but any peace in Ukraine must and will include a Ukrainian government to order the surrender and enforce that order. The Russians don't have enough troops to defeat the Ukrainian army in the field, or to storm built up cities or to occupy the whole country. They've never had anywhere near enough. (I suppose that's why it an SMO instead of a war.) Peace talks between the US and Russia have to deliver a peace of some sort to Russia and that means some sort of Ukrainian government has to be part of the deal. I still don't see how Russia can make some sort of grand devil's bargain with Trump divvying up energy/Middle East leaving Ukraine TBD.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 22 2025 19:38 utc | 40
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Mar 22 2025 17:35 utc | 6
If you notice, when Zelenski is in trouble he visits Euro capitols and pals around with the creatures in the Euro ruling class and they pat him on the back give him money, weapons, special forces and so on. The reality is that we are in a major struggle in the West between the globalist bureaucrats centered in Europe and their mates in Washington and those who do not go along with globalism and the woke agenda--it's that simple, in essence. The enemy is not Russia but the EU. Trump cannot simply dump them because he hasn't yet defeated the globalists in Washington who are now howling at the Moon and getting ready for a low-grade civil war. It's going to get very rough. The opposition to Trump within the Democratic Party base is building up to an hysterical level, or so it seems, from some people I know.
Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Mar 22 2025 19:38 utc | 41
Zelensky has four goals, none of which concern negotiations regarding the future of Ukraine or its remaining Ukrainian population.
1. Self preservation. Surviving the overarching, pernicious threat from his fellow countrymen of the Azov persuasion. The ones that shoot their compatriots in the back for any attempt at exiting the meat grinder.
2. Get richer.
3. A steady supply of good coke.
3. Have a pilot and aircraft at the ready and a safe bolthole lined up.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Mar 22 2025 19:41 utc | 42
[email protected] is at war with the Ukraine, why must the US eliminate Tiny Dancer, Dancer is doing as he is told, the Russians on the other hand have had ample opportunities and have a legal basis for eliminating the little piece of shit......but if you are familiar with appeasement and restraint you'll quickly understand how Russia might lose the whole fucking thing.....toot sweet!
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 22 2025 19:43 utc | 43
I 100% endorse waynorinorway comments to karlof1 at 30.
There are masses of people who come here to learn, myself being one.
So please don't take umbridge due to other drinkers (!) because we value your contributions as a wise thinker.
Thanks Oldengineer
Posted by: Oldengineer | Mar 22 2025 19:51 utc | 44
The ceasefire deal was more optics than anything else. POW's got exchanged on a 1 - 1 basis which has been done in the past so nothing special there. In addition Russia returned some critically wounded Ukrainian POW's that it was obliged to care for but now will fill up beds in European hospitals freeing capacity in Russian hospitals. The cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure was something Russia had been vying for some time and which Ukraine under the direction of its US+UK+EU handlers never respected.
Ukraine's continuation of attacks on Russian energy infrastructure demonstrates to the world, the real world not only the West, that bellicose Ukraine is unable to abide to ceasefire deals and treaties, necessitating the need to continue the SMO and finish what was started.
Russia's major trade partners that are also major trade partners of the West, like China and India, when facing Western pressure will feel a lot less compelled to reduce their trade with Russia, on the contrary. I think that was Putin's 5D chess move.
Posted by: xor | Mar 22 2025 19:55 utc | 45
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 17:42 utc | 9
You did inform me, karlof1, thanks. The timetable is clear; the Russians are clear on what they Will and will not be doing, but they also will not be stopping the SMO. This could very well mean that they go all the way. And perhaps that is as it should be.
A bit OT because he isn't discussing these particular 'negotiations', but for a refreshing change of pace - Alex Christoforou is back in Lemasol (sp?)by the sea, did a lovely walk this morning chatting about Europe trying to gear up militarily, and not succeeding. Very enjoyable.
Posted by: juliania | Mar 22 2025 19:58 utc | 46
Posted by: juliania | March 22, 2025 at 19:58
... I watched it twice.
Posted by: juliania | Mar 22 2025 20:02 utc | 47
vargas has just won his 13th ,"Most retarded Post I have Read Today Award" for the 13th time 910with this idiocy;
"Putin,s obsession with negotiations is funny."
Posted by: vargas | Mar 22 2025 19:58 utc | 47
1. vargas and Sun of Alabama are both tied with 13 each.
42.
Agreed. Where is the bolt hole? France, US, Egypt or Israel?
Posted by: Cavery | Mar 22 2025 20:12 utc | 49
Something we already knew - especially with the (ZNPP) in mind - the Neo-Nazi dictatorship is willing to sacrifice Europe - if it completely loses.
"Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov proposed blowing up nuclear power plants to deny them to Russia if Kiev started losing in the conflict, Aleksey Arestovich, a former aide to Vladimir Zelensky, has claimed.
“They know about our plans to blow up all the nuclear power plants if Ukraine starts losing,” Arestovich claim. “Budanov was running around with that [idea] a year and a half ago. To blow up everything: the Russian plants we can reach, and our own — so nobody gets them… On the principle: we all bite the dust, but so will they.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 22 2025 20:22 utc | 50
You may have noticed that there have been zero acts of rabid terriers in the French Riviera. It is the best place in the world to live if you have a huge pile of money. It is beautiful, clean and safe.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Mar 22 2025 20:25 utc | 51
The only player in this ceasefire farce that is not completely ridiculous is Russia. Weasel Zelensky keeps trying to manipulate his patrons into coming to his rescue, although Trump has made it clear that US troops in Ukraine ain't going to happen. Trump is trying to arbitrate a conflict that was mostly instigated and then bankrolled by his own country. How does that work? As Firesign Theatre once asked: how can you be two places at once when you're not anywhere at all? Russia has made its position clear from the start of the SMO. Which words that Putin said do they not comprehend?
Posted by: Mike R | Mar 22 2025 20:26 utc | 52
I agree with Simplicius that the "stop attacking energy ceasefire" was just Putin trying to wrest control of the "who really wants peace" narrative.
One of those silly things that must be done, but are silly.
Neither side want peace, because that would mean Ukraine losing a huge chunk of itself, and for Russia it would mean not achieving its objectives, which in essence would mean the war made things worse.
For the war to have truly been won, Russia must achieve all its objectives. Defeat and half measures stopped being an option once Russia crossed the Rubicon.
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 22 2025 20:42 utc | 53
Posted by: pasha | Mar 22 2025 18:12 utc | 22
I am genuinely curious as to your statement that the Brits do not have the capability to launch nukes without getting codes from the US. I do not believe that is true and have heard that it is possible for certain commanders to launch even without getting the OK from the president of the US.
Something like this was raised years ago when Pakistan allowed failsafe to be installed on their weapons...or at least that is what I seem to remember. While I could believe that for Pakistan I have trouble believing the UK would agree to such a thing for their own weapons.
Posted by: dan of steele | Mar 22 2025 20:55 utc | 54
A ceasefire observed by one side only isn’t a ceasefire at all. It’s holding back your armed forces while your opponent continues to strike your assets at will.
The moment Ukraine struck that gas facility should have meant Russia resumed attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The fact that Russia continues to refrain defies all logic. It’s lunacy. This must be the first time in history where one side imposes ceasefire conditions on themselves and observes them while their opponent does not.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 17:46 utc | 11
Not lunacy. It's a calculated move.
The Russians do one big attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a month. They just did one such attack before declaring a partial 30 day ceasefire which covers only energy infrastructure. A partial ceasefire that Zelensky openly ignores for all the world to see.
Meanwhile the Russians are doing what they have been doing in the past few months. Fighting their ground war, and preparing the April strike on Ukrainian infrastructure.
(No, sadly I did not come up with that observation myself. The guys from The Duran did.)
Posted by: Martina | Mar 22 2025 21:02 utc | 55
The moment Ukraine struck that gas facility should have meant Russia resumed attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The fact that Russia continues to refrain defies all logic. It’s lunacy. This must be the first time in history where one side imposes ceasefire conditions on themselves and observes them while their opponent does not.Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 17:46 utc | 11
Someone noted in the latest Ukraine thread (I think) that Russia has destroyed so much of the Ukrainian energy facilities already that it can calmly stick to the ceasefire agreement while Ukraine smashes everything around it. Which will give Russia some longterm negotiation advantage.
Posted by: Avtonom | Mar 22 2025 21:03 utc | 56
Zelensky, Zelensky.....who or what is this guy? He's not a pawn entirely. Mostly, he's an obstacle that weak kneed leaders can't openly get rid of. Russia - being rather cerebral and cold blooded - shows forbearance without admitting that he's a destructive incompetent - who helps their cause. He can't step down, they'll do a Khadaffi on him. He rides the tiger with no dismount and nobody can muster the courage to get rid of him.
To me, that's how it is. Can somebody step up and end the Ukr.bloodshed? If it's braid hairdo lady, bring it on. End this horror.
Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 22 2025 21:04 utc | 57
Thanks b, for the further post on that 90min (initially reported by some) or 150 min call.
I believe your finally sentence, which appears to have tracked down the motives behind the pantomime from a few weeks ago in the WH!
“If Trump wants peace in Ukraine he has to get serious about this.”
It has been bugging me without knowing why… so I’ll play devils advocate to formulate the Game Theory being played by the CW.
————
First let’s take ‘independent’ Ukraine/Shelenski and the string puppets out of the scene!
Nothing that shelensky says is ‘him alone’. It has never been, as he was selected and trained for the role of a lifetime for any ‘actor’ - which he is a good one obviously. He deserved the Oscar that was brought to him by the CIA Hollywood buddies! And the million bucks per day he makes.
It’s not just his costume that is part of his ‘method acting’ but of course his ‘charged’ performances- a true pro!
Powder is ok but not booze for instance - that would lead to slurring and a bad performance.
He is operated and his lines are written daily and he has his entourage who are always near to keep him ‘directed’ and cue the lines for him. Provide the background and motivation of his 24/7 Truman show where HE actually knows it’s all roll playing but the AUDIENCE is the one that doesn’t!
Smart, see? Some of the best brains of Hollywood, stage and the PR and Advertising world are running the show! They have been doing it in the CW since the 70’s and have got very rich and expert at it!
Like I said that is obvious by the ‘correct English’ of the elites writing the daily scripts for him that he delivers daily! Even as he translates them into Russian and Ukrainian for his crowds.
So if you accept my thesis - than what happened in that bust up in the WH must have been scripted! Right down to him being bundled out of the building with No Lunch! Which was given to the various reporters and bloggers present instead so they could all eye witness that it was all a surprise bust up!
Question then is WHY?
It can only have been to set up the ensuing pantomime of the Madness Of The Europeans - ‘oh look they are falling out with the Yankee doodles! ‘
So now the Russians can go into the talks with the New Guy believing that he really is breaking from the 80 year allies of Europe and the great project ‘unthinkable’ of beating and destroying Russia!
It’s a tacit admission of the defeat of the proxy war which wouldn’t have come to be without the decades of planning and provocation even during and before Drumpffs first term.
He had to be given the story of having been kept an outsider to the deepstate uniparty working against him!
It is to get the Russians to drop their guard so that a whammy can be delIveree! A feigned mea culpa and see it’s not us it’s them, let’s get together against them eh pootin ? We’re great together aint we? Now that Biden is gone and I’ve stopped the money and weapons and intelligence and our unelected man child genius rocket man will cut off the starlink and look he’s even getting into the Pentagon now - we’ll soon pull the rug from the green goblin and make sure he has real elections ok? We’ll make sure the regions which want to be Russian can have reference ms on it, ok? We’ll make sure the dumb Europeans running around pulling a trillion euros out of their bum holes want succeed because we won’t sell them the weapons aginst you that need our planning and control m’kay Vlad?
I find such a scenario more fitting then the ‘start of a beautiful relationship’ happy ending of Casablanca!
Until the pull out happens of the remaing natzoids including the Yankee doodles; and they remove themselves from their natzo bases close to Russia and take their Nuclear football back home after 80 years - I won’t believe it.
I doubt Moscow believes any of the theatrics either.
Even if they go along with it - ‘yeah Donny, look I’ll stop the attacks immediately hang on the line, I’ll call of any underway and if we can’t selfdestruct - we’ll shoot them down ourselves - or give you the exact coordinates so you can’ (Dr Strangelove again it haunts my imagination) ‘look aren’t we so desperate to believe you and play ball? ‘
That kind of explains the extra time of the dramatic phone call - I can see Lavrov and Medvedev pissing themselves laughing in the room. Even having to leave because they can’t control themselves.
To be continued…
Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 22 2025 21:09 utc | 58
Now would be a good time to drive north to dnipro and make everybody in the south feel trapped...
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 22 2025 21:10 utc | 59
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 19:04 utc | 29
Not a waste of time, but we must take all pronouncements with a grain of salt as I'm sure what is discussed behind closed doors will not resemble what is made public.
Well, maybe some years/decades from now, as occurred with the Turkish Missile Crisis...
Can't speak for the other barflies, everybody seems to have their own preferred solution, though I doubt many are diplomats IRL.
Posted by: ChatNPC | Mar 22 2025 21:18 utc | 60
To me, that's how it is. Can somebody step up and end the Ukr.bloodshed? If it's braid hairdo lady, bring it on. End this horror.
Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 22 2025 21:04 utc | 58
No, they can't. Zelensky did his level best to remove the competition. And US and UK still can't agree on a replacement puppet. US favor the lady. UK favors the amabassador.
Posted by: Martina | Mar 22 2025 21:18 utc | 61
thanks b... too many comments to read...
who does zelensky represent?? it is an ongoing question with various answers... until he, or they go - i can't see anything changing here.
Posted by: james | Mar 22 2025 21:18 utc | 62
Posted by: S Brennan | Mar 22 2025 17:58 utc | 16
Mr Brennan, I doubt you will take seriously what I say, but I feel I should reply and put down a marker.
The English/British State was subjected to a palace coup in 1936.
King Edward VIII and his bride-to-be Wallis were bumped off the board and replaced by Bertie (King George VI) and Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. The latter became Queen of the United Kingdom, with all of the powers of that position.
That woman, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, was one hundred percent Scottish.
I feel I must put down this marker because it is all coming to a head.
The two Elizabeths that ruled the United Kingdom, with ever more established powers, for eighty six years are behind all of this Feminisation that has ruined and made vulnerable the West.
Like their henchman, Tony Blair, they are Scottish, and I do not want the English taking the blame when it all finally pours out.
Have you seen the state of the white working class in England these days? Is that really what supremacy looks like?
Posted by: John Cleary | Mar 22 2025 21:22 utc | 63
16sec Video clip comment on the current situation
https://t.me/European_dissident/66970
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 22 2025 21:26 utc | 64
karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 17:42 utc | 9
"The two men Putin has named are extremely experienced with Budanov on record as being "fearful" of Sergei Beseda who is currently the adviser to the director of the FSB, and ex-head of the fifth service, which deals with active operations and the infiltration of deep undercover agents in Ukraine."
***
It might make sense for the Russians to .... eeerrr, "eliminate" several of the human chokeholds over Zelensky. Budanov the first. Yermak etc. There are enough counter-currents to the actual Government dictatorship of Zelensky to form a solid base for some sort of realignment of the forces still within the country. It may sound a bit odd to get rid of the underlings before the chief, but if the hold that the equally corrupt have over their main sounce of grift has gone - wouldn't he try to find himself "marooned" in Europe for the rest of the war?
(He could set himself up with the proposed UN chief Baerbock?)
Having got the "moral high ground" after trying for a ceasefire, could Putin use a bit of dirty skullduggery next?
***
Don't worry Karl, some of us appreciate all you do.
@ Norwegian | Mar 22 2025 21:26 utc | 65
too bad it is not visible to those of us who don't have a telegram account..
Posted by: james | Mar 22 2025 21:34 utc | 66
"If the Trump administration is serious about seeking peace in Ukraine it will have to tell Zelenski that he will have to accept the ceasefire parameters Trump has agreed upon with Putin. (It will also have to use more precise language in its read-outs.)"
Brick in the fucking face! That's all these Ukronazis understand. They don't do subtlety.
Trump looks remarkabley weak letting these hustlers walk all over him. That at least should concern him. He does care about his image.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 22 2025 21:36 utc | 67
Karlof1 @ 9, 29:
The way I read the Tass report you linked to, the Russian team has brought along a list of related issues for discussion and negotiation, but does not expect that each and every one of them will be dealt with to the team's satisfaction. Progress would be achieved if any one issue on the agenda is discussed and resolved in a way that the Russians will be happy with, even if temporarily.
Negotiations and discussions are messy, and so much of the mess involved is really all about people pushing their own agendas and desires at the expense of what's actually at stake. Look at the current flap in the EU between Kaja Kallas and Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez over how the EU would or should intervene in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as an example. For Kallas, it's all about getting revenge on Russia over exiling her mother's family in Siberia, even though the family did eventually return to Estonia and the mother herself did well under the Communist system, becoming a doctor, marrying Kallas's father (then a Soviet bureaucrat) and the Kallases becoming part of the privileged Soviet nomenklatura class in Tallinn.
Also the MoA bar is much greater than those who comment actively here. There is no need to expect everyone to acknowledge that s/he has read all the most significant comments here, and the WordPress format here is not suited for such commenting. If I were you I'd take a leaf out of Roger Boyd and Rob Campbell's books in their attitudes towards commenting: they offer links to their Substack pages and leave it at that. They don't expect that everyone here will read all they have to say.
All comments here are equal in value and it's up to individual readers to decide which has more value for them than other comments.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Mar 22 2025 21:37 utc | 68
Trump is a man of peace? Really?
Posted by: Frank | Mar 22 2025 17:49 utc | 12
I'm not sure who told you that, but short answer: no. Yemen, Gaza, now Lebanon. Trump is a man of understanding when you're getting you're ass kicked. That's as far as it goes and sadly, that's better than Biden and the Dems.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 22 2025 21:39 utc | 69
Trump is going to tire of Zelenski's naked tap dancing and his penis on the pianos keyboard. He know Russia has much more to offer than that collection of misfits.
It will come to a point where he will cut him off competely. Europe hopes to fill the gap. Good luck with that and the end of your social programs.
Posted by: circumspect | Mar 22 2025 21:40 utc | 70
Ukraine's (former) President Zelenski is trying to impede further talks between the U.S. and Russia.
This post goes wrong from the first sentence! Beginning with the idea that US/Russian negotiations for peace---including in Ukraine---should notinclude Ukraine is bizarre. Any peace must include Ukraine!.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 22 2025 18:09 utc | 21
Oh, crypto Dem! Who pray tell represents this "Ukraine" that you insist must be involved in decision making about the US proxy war against Russia? The Nazis that have sent a million men to their death, stolen the resources of the country, suspended elections and who's mouths are watering for those fresh young 18 year olds?
You're a fucking troll, Steve-o. Go post on CNN. Go rally with Bernie.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 22 2025 21:46 utc | 71
Clearly, it was a waste of my time to try and inform the bar.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 19:04 utc | 29
Come on now, Karl. Its never a waste of your time here at the bar. You're sober voice is a key ingredient!
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 22 2025 21:49 utc | 72
Zelensky has become a loose electron.
Not sure anybody controls him anymore.
Posted by: scc | Mar 22 2025 21:51 utc | 73
I will just add to my earlier report that the second Lemasol walk recently by Alex Christoforou -- well, the best part of it was his feeding the cat at the end of it. I think he was almost breaking apart all the way through the rest of it. Best wishes to him; that was very painful to watch so I can't imagine how he was feeling. He made the report; bravo to him for that.
Poseidon wasn't the most sympathetic to the human condition god, it has to be said. Very sweet cat; thanks for that, Alex. I will light my candle and say a little prayer for you, for us all.
Here is how the Duran sees matters now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm7_6LCkvQE
Posted by: juliania | Mar 22 2025 21:55 utc | 74
WOW, reading the original post and the thread, I thought more people would be wise to the "Good Cop / Bad Cop" schtick in these negotiations. The WH sit down was scripted to clarify their new roles.
Russia won't be fooled, they do it too.
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Mar 22 2025 21:57 utc | 75
Russian Federation, at no cost to its tactical, operational or strategic capability, has maneuvered US to "put the money where their mouth is". Now those who are obsessed with "optics" have to prove not only that they mean what they say, but also that they can actually control their rabid proxy.
Meanwhile SMO continues at the pace and means dictated by the Russians, amid the background of unmitigated public chaos among the Western leadership. This has been quite clever.
Posted by: boneless | Mar 22 2025 22:02 utc | 76
Slightly off-topic, but noteworthy imo.
Patrick Lancaster has a new video out where Russian soldiers in Kursk are giving their opinions on foreign mercenaries. Of particular note, a Russian Commander said that Putin has ordered that foreign mercenaries are no longer to be taken alive. Ukrainian soldiers can surrender if they choose and will be treated well. Foreigners, however, are deemed to be illegitimate and to be eliminated. Interesting development.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 77
It's time for Russia to use nukes on Ukraine to force peace. Kyiv and Lviv are good initial targets. WW2 Japan was the same as Ukraine today.
Posted by: Jason | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 78
The end game is the West climbing down without having to admit they are out-gunned, out-smarted, and out-classed by Russia, China, and Iran. And these three are more than willing to let them save as much face as possible.
Posted by: freedom fritos | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 79
As long as Russia does not perseverate over *whether* Ukraine is abiding by the *limited ceasefire* or not, and simply chives on w/ its military goals in all sectors, the better. I get it that the chatteratti want to hyperventilate over each AFU violation of the *limited ceasefire*---so let that be the domain of the chatterratti.
<<
Meanwhile, if Russia keeps the pedal to the metal, all will unfold as planned.
>>
At a 'minimum'---a minimum---Russia can prosecute its SMO until the presidential elections in Ukraine, which may not happen until October 2025.
<<
The election of a new Ukrainian president after October will signal a 'moving-on' moment for everybody, including the EU. Until then, until that hinge-point, Russia can simply carry on w/ its objectives.
>>
And, yes, the chatteratti will of course continue hovering over every AFU misdeed and perseverating over each & every violation from the Ukrainian side... It gives us some cud to chew.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 22 2025 22:33 utc | 80
Posted by: Jason | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 79
yes I see all those videos of ukrainians doing harakiri before being captured... of course ukraine is the same as fascist imperial japan
Posted by: Macpott | Mar 22 2025 22:34 utc | 81
It's time for Russia to use nukes on Ukraine to force peace. Kyiv and Lviv are good initial targets. WW2 Japan was the same as Ukraine today.
Posted by: Jason | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 79
First time tragedy, next time end of the world. You're a fool or a troll, "Jason".
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 22 2025 22:46 utc | 82
" Ukrainian soldiers can surrender if they choose and will be treated well. Foreigners, however, are deemed to be illegitimate and to be eliminated. Interesting development.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 22:29 utc | 78 "
Careful, what you wish for. What will happen to Russian mercs in other conflicts ?
Posted by: Salami | Mar 22 2025 22:51 utc | 83
Posted by: Salami | Mar 22 2025 22:51 utc | 84
they are already treated much worse if captured by "the enemy" in a conflict
Posted by: Macpott | Mar 22 2025 22:52 utc | 84
The concept that Kiev is doing anything against the will of its CIA masters is ludicrous.
UA sovereignty has been entirely subverted by the CIA.
How can Kiev undertake strikes hundreds of kilometers across Russian terrein without active input from American ISR ?
This doesn't just apply to ATACMS and HIMARS. UA had no command & control, and no terrein intel, and no signals or surveillance without American help. USA military intel assets are all encrypted. You need people to key modules to receive and decode and signals, as well as planning and correcting drone trajectories across terrein and weaving around Russian Air Defense. Such strikes cannot be undertaken without American involvement.
The same applies to any Israeli actions -- always there are American refueling assets, escort squadrons, AWACS, EW, and satellite ISR input. It is always active involvement, not just political control from afar.
Posted by: Webej | Mar 22 2025 22:53 utc | 85
Indeed, Nietzsche, was a thinker who did advise us, the future generations, about the consequences of the nihilism. The tendency to becoming off the will of power.
If we do not exercise our best spiritual potentials, we are done.
Nietzsche did not believe in a hegellian concept like an "pure spirit" or a Plato's soul because those notions degrade the effective struggle for self-consciousness. And, to be clear, Nietzsche 's philosophy is total individualistic. He were not aware, in his time, of the first Buddhism translations, but he percived in the Buddha's purpouse something akin the Christianism: The life is painful, all we gonna die, have not ever before we never have existed? For the best...
Nietzsche says a great NO: there's pain, but there's pleasure.
Because the pleasure wants Eternity. Profound, Profound Eternity.
When Nietzsche were in Turin, he saw a horse, destroyed by his owner. The horse can't even move because was destroyed, full, of course, of humanity.
And, Nietzsche, freaked out and went to the horse and huged him, and the bully stoped the pain over the horse because Nietzsche fell down and never returned.
And then, when "Cerebral Paralisis" was writen in the bed, all the pharisees fleet. And, during 10 years, his sister was reciving the pension,. And when he was dead, everyone put the attention.
Posted by: Bully | Mar 22 2025 22:57 utc | 86
Posted by: Salami | Mar 22 2025 22:51 utc | 84
I’m not wishing for anything, merely reporting.
I’m not aware of Russian mercenaries operating in other conflicts. Any mercenary - regardless of origin - is playing war safari and does so with the knowledge they’re not protected by the Geneva convention. As such, they shouldn’t expect to be protected by it if things go wrong for them.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 22 2025 22:59 utc | 87
I guess we should be flattered to hear how the English are so clever as to be able to manipulate so many more powerful countries and their leaders, but unfortunately it is all nonsense. As if The late Queen, or Prince Charles, or even Prince Andrew ffs, and other assorted aristocrats - whatever that term means these days - give a fuck about what's going on in Ukraine. The fact that is obvious to anyone living in England is that immigration is in the process of rapidly overwhelming the native population, (and we're talking in ten years if that, not fifty or even twenty),the economy is circling the drain, and social cohesion is disintegrating. All the good jobs, posh houses, places in good schools, are going to Indians. If the aristocrats are so smart, why would they allow that to happen?
Posted by: martin_2 | Mar 22 2025 23:08 utc | 88
so, no. Nietzsche was saying that in the XXth Century, all we'll be nihilists because all of us will concerned by illusions of pain and dead. Typical end of the History.
What Nietzsche says is take your life and be someone who are proud of your life. Because you have an unique life that you must repeat. Live the best life because you gonna return to live in this infinite time.
Posted by: Bully | Mar 22 2025 23:10 utc | 89
Zelensky traveled to Donetsk Oblast and was again photographed with the UNSO flag, an organization that even Western Wikipedia lists as “neo-fascist.”
Posted by: Siddhartha | Mar 22 2025 23:13 utc | 90
The trouble with being an actor and Coke addict is that you no longer live in the real world. Zelensky has persistently demonstrated to everyone since the beginning of this war that he does not accept the reality of Ukraine's situation which inevitably will end badly for the country and its people. It is already a disaster at a monumental scale, but the US continues to want to carve up the spoils of war as if the country has no sovereignty of its own, and the same for the pro-Russian regions of Donbass and Russian territory itself. That's where the metal technology and rare earths are.
The amazing thing that no one talks about is that it is the US that instigated this war using Zelensky's Nazi idealists, Maidan, and its Euro puppets, and now it is the same US that is pretending to be the peacemaker in order to glorify Trump's abundant narcissistically driven megalomaniac ego.
It appears like a magic trick of making a rabbit the size of an elephant (in the room) disappear into a top hat.
Fair enough, the US changed parties last election, but the Republicans in Congress formerly voted through every bit of military and financial aid to Ukraine, and now the military aid has started again under Trump. It seems to me that just because Trump won the last election both US parties still bear some responsibility for provoking and assisting this war against Russia, but apparently the US government shows no continuity of responsibility and we are all supposed to sit there and pretend the rabbit disappeared into the hat and think it is our minds that are mistaken - this is championship level gaslighting. Are we therefore supposed to act like Orwell's sheep in Animal Farm and just accept it although we know there is something very wrong about the logic of it all?
Posted by: George | Mar 22 2025 23:19 utc | 92
Big question - are these Ukrainian strikes done with weapons requiring US support, like the ATACMS or other missiles? Or are they done with home-grown drones that they can target on their own?If the strikes are necessarily done with American support, that implies a different level of betrayal on the part of the Americans.
Posted by: Hickory | Mar 22 2025 19:31 utc |
The US has a rich and colorful history of failing to keep up its side of negotiated treaties and agreements. Many of us would be surprised if the US followed through on any agreement of substance.
Posted by: Clever Dog | Mar 22 2025 23:20 utc | 93
I mean, we will continue to see headlines like this in Regime Media: "Amid Ceasefire Talks, Russian strike kills Family in Zaporizhiazha, Ukraine."
So brace yourselves for plenty of propaganda saturation messaging from the West.
<<
Meanwhile, Gerasimov met w/ Russian Forces Central near Petrovsk on 20 March and pinned medals on uniforms, affirmed strategies or gave adjustments to his commanders. And Russia will keep on keeping on.
>>
Tomorrow, we will no doubt hear about some extraordinary abuse of Ukraine relative to the limited ceasefire.
<<
Welp.
>>
Until the U.S. can come closer to Russia's core issues, the SMO will continue.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 22 2025 23:27 utc | 94
I'm flipping out because Nietzsche is pure poetry even in the translation. I did read the spanish translation of Andres Sanchez Pascual published in Alianza Editorial in the 80's and I was destroyed by the insight. I remembered it in spanish, like it was now:
¡Oh hombre!
¡presta atención!
¿qué dice la profunda medianoche?
-«Yo dormía,
sí, dormía,
me he despertado de un profundo sueño».
-«El mundo es profundo,
más profundo de lo que ha pensado el día».
-«Profundo, profundo es su dolor,
pero el goce es todavía más profundo que la pena».
-«El dolor dice: ¡pasa!,
sí, el dolor dice: ¡pasa!,
pero todo goce quiere eternidad,
¡quiere profunda, profunda eternidad!»
https://formalverse.com/2022/08/08/odd-poem-zarathustras-roundelay-by-friedrich-nietzsche/
O man! Attend!
What does deep midnight’s voice contend?
‘I slept my sleep,
‘And now awake at dreaming’s end:
‘The world is deep,
‘And deeper than day can comprehend.
‘Deep is its woe,
‘Joy—deeper than heart’s agony:
‘Woe says: Fade! Go!
‘But all joy wants eternity,
‘Wants deep, deep, deep eternity!’
*****
The above is the R.J. Hollingdale translation of Zarathustra’s Rundgesang from the German original of Nietzsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra.
O Mensch! Gib acht!
Was spricht die tiefe Mitternacht?
»Ich schlief, ich schlief—,
Aus tiefem Traum bin ich erwacht:—
Die Welt ist tief,
Und tiefer als der Tag gedacht.
Tief ist ihr Weh—,
Lust—tiefer noch als Herzeleid:
Weh spricht: Vergeh!
Doch alle Lust will Ewigkeit—,
—will tiefe, tiefe Ewigkeit!«
Posted by: Bully | Mar 22 2025 23:27 utc | 95
10,000% what waynorinorway posted. Also. There’s timezones. Sometimes a thread has been turned to shit and it’s already 150posts long before some of us arrive. Think how b might feel. Running this @bar for decades. Works on a piece. Sometimes. (Not necessarily this time) THE VERY FIRST POST is a troll and, awaaaay we go. The thread is shit as morons and those who know better ignore the topic and respond to the troll. Sometimes it’s a day/day+half before I get to your substack. By then it seems too late to make a comment. The @bar has lost many much valued contributors. I’d hate you to stop posting here. Down here we have birds that can learn to talk. They are only capable of repeating nonsense they’ve heard. This bar has way more parrots and galahs than it deserves. And like mimicking birds, they are garrulous and chirp nonsense.Clearly, it was a waste of my time to try and inform the bar. Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 22 2025 19:04 utc | 29 §|~ Karl, ……You must remember that the bar is much bigger than the commenters. There truly is a silent majority ……who appreciate the heck out of you and what you provide. Never doubt that. Cheers! Posted by: waynorinorway | Mar 22 2025 19:18 utc | 30
Posted by: Melaleuca | Mar 22 2025 23:28 utc | 96
It might make sense for the Russians to .... eeerrr, "eliminate" several of the human chokeholds over Zelensky. Budanov the first. Yermak etc. There are enough counter-currents to the actual Government dictatorship of Zelensky to form a solid base for some sort of realignment of the forces still within the country. It may sound a bit odd to get rid of the underlings before the chief, but if the hold that the equally corrupt have over their main sounce of grift has gone - wouldn't he try to find himself "marooned" in Europe for the rest of the war?
(He could set himself up with the proposed UN chief Baerbock?)
Having got the "moral high ground" after trying for a ceasefire, could Putin use a bit of dirty skullduggery next?
***
Don't worry Karl, some of us appreciate all you do.
Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 22 2025 21:27 utc | 66
Yes to all. In Chinese Historical dramas you see how cold and calculating power dynamics are.
In Three Kingdoms you see a great strategic genius allied with another from.another kingdom, (Gonjin of the South and Kongming of the West), but Gonjin realises the other is smarter than him, therefore, he MUST find a way to destroy him, ASAP, but fails.
In Qin Epic, you see an advisor troubled by his king giving support to an unfriedly kingdom's king; a usurper, a womanizer, corrupt and generally unpresent in his rule.
This usurper's brother is competent, benevolent, and popular with his people, yet the vexxed advisors king helps capture and kill him.
The king explains to his vexxed advisor, that he'd rather have the weak and corrupt usurper at the helm of the unfriedlndly kingdom that the competent and rightful heir.
Also karlof1 does good work and adds value, but I disagree with him on the value of words, laws, official statements and treaties.
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 22 2025 23:32 utc | 97
all words of Trump are nebula. If he really wants to stop Z he would close Starlink not only for demonstration 3 days, but complete and forbit the UK to give US informations to Z.
As long as he supports Z with money, weapons and intel, Putin cannot trust any word of Trump.
Posted by: smartfox | Mar 22 2025 23:33 utc | 98
As many of us have observed, the US is at war with Russia.
Trump could have ended it but for whatever reason, he has not.
All of this NATO/Europe/Zelensky stuff is just noise.
Frank Herbert made a great point. There is always one person who can say, "yes or no". A decider.
Trump is that person. He can say "No" to Zelensky, he chooses not to, and people are still dying.
I am not going to allocate any more attention to Zelensky. He doesn't matter. Truly, I think Podolyak or Yermak have been running the show over there for Ukraine. Zelensky is just the public relations spokesperson. He's a nobody. He cannot decide anything.
So why is Trump playing games?
To what end? What is he seeking to gain? It's not "raw (sic) earth"
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 22 2025 23:33 utc | 99
Seriouslly. May be an interests of the constant hundreds of posts to thing right, will be with you.
But, I gonna write that Canuck, even a little pish, is right: a sane person can't be so obsssssssssive. Even I have some live to waste it on.
Like denk says:
Good Lord!
Posted by: Bully | Mar 22 2025 23:45 utc | 100
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Voldemort Kokainsky has to go! Mussolini's way? Ceacescu's wall? The important thing is that he is expedited
Posted by: Quick Fix | Mar 22 2025 17:21 utc | 1