News & views related to the war in Ukraine …
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May 18, 2025
Ukraine Open Thread 2025-108
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It would be great if we keep this thread “short and to the point”, i.e. Ukraine battlefield facts.
Posted by: Emi | May 18 2025 12:31 utc | 1
🇺🇦 The resignation of the battalion commander of the 47th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is connected with the fighting around the village of Tetkino.
Ukrainian propagandist Butusov writes about this.
In the Tetkino area of the Kursk region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to attack in columns head-on under attack from Russian drones, which is leading to “significant losses of equipment and personnel,” he reports.
“Nobody tries to draw conclusions and learn, but on the contrary, they continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, without regard for losses,” he complains.
Earlier, the commander of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that he submitted a resignation report due to “moronic tasks” and “stupid generals.”
🔴 @DDGeopolitics |
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | May 18 2025 12:35 utc | 2
From the previous thread:
RE:
@LogosApplied | May 17 2025 16:10 utc | 312
About Kathyn
One impression, rely on it or not:
Several German war veterans did’nt believe Goebbels version, since they remembered what was talked about among those who were there at the time.
Posted by: petergrfstrm | May 18 2025 9:20 utc | 398
A: There are documents in Archives.
Russian President was sorry. He apologized.
The Poles wiggle, regarding the crime of starving thousands of Soviet POW’s.
The Polacks (I am one) feel exempt.
Poland is “victimized” from all edges.
Regarding the “Poland from the sea to sea” of the XV century (or so) – there were many nations, tribes, maybe countries on the way to those “seas”.
I am not aware of treaties, aggreements, “ceasefires” allowing for such permanency. There was the Union with Lithuania, there was the Unia Lubelska document. Alas, there is a significant book regarding the animus: “By the sword and Fire” (Ogniem i Mieczem). How splendid we were, and righteous!
Posted by: LogosApplied | May 18 2025 12:40 utc | 3
friedrich “cocain-train” merzler:
The talks in Istanbul did not meet our expectations, despite the extremely constructive position of the Ukrainian delegation. Nevertheless, the parties managed to agree on the exchange of prisoners.
However, Russia still refuses to comply with the demand for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. The EU plans to introduce the 17th package of sanctions on Tuesday. Among other things, it will target the so-called “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.
our best, bravest and smartest person in germany. a total idiot. or propagandist. i wonder if that thing can be sued for volksverhetzung, propaganda, and general stupidity.
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 18 2025 12:58 utc | 4
our best, bravest and smartest person in germany. a total idiot. or propagandist. i wonder if that thing can be sued for volksverhetzung, propaganda, and general stupidity.
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 18 2025 12:58 utc | 4
In this context (sanctions package), I would like to point out again: This includes sanctions against EU citizens for the first time! Something that has never been done before and which in EVERY case violates monetary law.
The question will be… Will anyone sue? Those affected wouldn’t be able to, since any financial amount that could be used for the lawsuit would be confiscated by this sanction. Sanctioned in this package are the editor of “Anti-Spiegel” and Alina Lipp, both of whom, with their reports, are very inconvenient for the system here, especially in Germany, although the proposal for sanctions probably came from the new Chancellor, “Merz.”
If this goes through??
Be careful if you live within the EU, or if you don’t, if you have any valuables, real estate, bank deposits, or the like.
.The so-called hermetically sealed “Eastern Zone” during the Cold War will still seem like kindergarten to us.
Free travel will probably be somewhat difficult, just like back then…only then it will be blocked from the other side of the West. This would be entirely feasible if digital money were introduced, a very easy exercise for the system…the STASI and KGB could only dream of the possibilities that would open up.
The system will LOCK ITSELF IN
Posted by: Leipziger | May 18 2025 13:26 utc | 6
Nachtrag:
In this context (sanctions package), I’d like to point out again: This includes sanctions against EU citizens for the first time! Something that has never happened before and which in EVERY case violates monetary law.
The question will be… Will anyone sue? Those affected can’t, since any financial amount that would be confiscated for use in the lawsuit would be subject to this sanction. Sanctioned in this package are the editor of “Anti-Spiegel” and Alina Lipp, both of whom, with their reports, are very inconvenient for the system here, especially in Germany, although the proposal for sanctions probably came from the new Chancellor, “Merz.”
If this goes through?
Be careful if you live within the EU, or if not, because you still have some valuables, real estate, bank deposits, or similar assets within the EU.
BE CAREFUL when writing something here or on similar blogs…THE ENEMY IS LISTENING AND READING IN ANY CASE!
“` And I don’t see things getting better at the moment.
EVERYTHING will be used to silence critics…EVERYTHING
WE…have had this before! NOT YOU!!
.The so-called hermetically sealed “Eastern Zone” during the Cold War will still seem like kindergarten to us.
Free travel will probably be somewhat difficult, just like back then…only then it will be blocked from the other side of the West. Which would be entirely feasible if digital money were added, a very easy exercise for the system…the STASI and KGB could only dream of the possibilities that would open up.
The system will enclose itself.
Feedback geben
Seitenleisten
Verlauf
Gespeichert
Posted by: Leipziger | May 18 2025 13:33 utc | 7
Posted by: Leipziger | May 18 2025 13:33 utc | 7
I have always been worried about Europe going this way. Realizing their own impotence, the leaders are now going after their own. Perhaps the EU will become a giant prison.
At the beginning of the SMO, they tried to take down SouthFront by canceling their domain registration. Southfront.org just moved to Southfront.press, so that was another epic fail by the tyrants.
But it seems they’re back for another round. Perhaps watching Dima’s Military Summary Channel video will be declared a crime?
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | May 18 2025 13:42 utc | 8
With Sec Rubio leaning over the Resolute Desk beside him, DJT looks down at the map where Russian Forces are liberating strings of villages, hamlets and small communities. The names—-Bogatyr, Komar—-conjure nothing for him. These places are Flyover Country as far as he’s concerned: they’re not Kiev, so they’re forgettable, hardly worth his time.
Since they’re not Kiev or Odessa or other move-the-needle cities, they’re meaningless gains in DJT’s eyes. If they don’t matter to him, they shouldn’t matter to Russia. The war, in his view, is ridiculous. It’s not like this is a TV show anybody would ever watch.
His head hurts, trying to remember why the U.S. is even involved in this war, but Sec Rubio, standing beside him, rustles the map a bit, just to center his attention once more, and DJT knows he cannot walk away.
Besides which, the U.S. must be the winner in any agreement. DJT has to find a way.
It is frightening for neocons like Sec Rubio to realize that China is strengthening militarily while the U.S. continues to play footsie w/ neo-Nazis in Ukraine. China, an industrial powerhouse, is increasing its stocks of weapons while the U.S. is depleting its own and facing a moribund production ecosystem whose MIC factories focus almost exclusively on bespoke & boutique over-engineered armaments impractical for peer-to-peer warfare.
A long line of neocons like Sec Rubio masterminded the conflict in Ukraine, bankrolled it, ginned-up the neo-Nazi elements of Ukrainian society, trained them to use MIC weaponry by testing the weapons on fellow Ukrainian citizens in eastern Ukraine, provoked Russia into waging the war and then refused peaceable off-ramps.
“On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So there’s an element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. We don’t want to be involved in this process of endless talks. There has to be some progress, some movement forward.”
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 14:02 utc | 9
Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update, 16th May 2025: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-and-world-affairs-weekly-5d7
Posted by: The Busker | May 18 2025 14:09 utc | 10
The objective is to simply freeze this conflict so they can divert their limited resources to focus on China. Russia should not take the bait. Regardless, there cannot be good-will or financial incentives to resolve this conflict because russian blood has been spilled by these for-profit international capitalists. The biggest slap on the russian face is to allow these capitalists to profit by clicking buttons on a computer and making decisions without having any real risk but willfully causing the death of many Russians.
Posted by: Chester Doraemon | May 18 2025 14:20 utc | 11
Maybe DJT should sanction himself-?
Because the peculiar thing is that he is the president of the super-power nation which authored the conflict in Ukraine and which has long sustained it.
DJT’s very country is fomenting the “BLOODBATH” as he blares about it on Truth Social. *Has* been fomenting it for more than 3 years. Will *continue* fomenting it if he cannot persuade VVP to agree to a ceasefire. It’s as if he is saying, “Stop it, Vladimir, because *I* cannot.”
DJT emotes, gesticulates wildly, and makes it seem that he has no volition, no agency whatsoever, in removing all U.S. intel or military personnel from Kiev, halting all weapons shipments, sending the Reaper Drone back to its base in Italy and shutting down CIA ops in Ukraine.
Perpetuating a falsehood, DJT portrays “beautiful Ukrainian soldiers” as victims of Russian aggression, though DJT’s own Sec of State has affirmed that “the U.S. is in a proxy war with Russia.”
The U.S. trained this proxy, flooded this proxy w/ lethal weapons, supplied the proxy w/ drugs like Captagon, which make troops feel fearless in combat and then unleashed them onto the battlefield as if they were Disney automatons in a grisly Magical Kingdom of stultifying warfare.
Never having ended a war, DJT does not know how to achieve peace. No one in his Cabinet of advisors has this kind of *muscle memory* either, having never ended a war themselves. Ditto for Zelensky’s curators in Europe.
But VVP knows, because he has done it, and he can do it again.
Look at Chechnya and you’ll know how VVP achieved peace.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 14:34 utc | 12
The Guardian says: ‘Between a mathematician and a Trump-loving hooligan’: Romania’s stark presidential choice
From the Washington Post: A Russian-stoked protest movement lifts a MAGA-like populist in Romania
From Politico: Romania’s Simion wants a broad coalition. Good luck with that.
From The New York Times (in reference to Simion’s possible win): Romania Is About to Experience Disaster
From Foreign Policy: Romania’s Far Right Is More Extreme Than You Think
Flak comes when you’re over the target
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 14:39 utc | 13
Tit for tat in tanker wars:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-18/russia-detains-oil-tanker-that-left-estonia-report-says
A return to letters of marque and piracy is not a positive development.
I hope this finds you well
Posted by: ockham | May 18 2025 14:44 utc | 14
Re: Justpassinby | May 18 2025 12:58 utc | 4
Merzler almost had it right when he said:
“Russia still refuses to comply with the demand for a complete and unconditional ceasefire.”
Replace “ceasefire with “surrender” and you have an accurate understanding of what the moronic EU fools are demanding.
Posted by: Perimetr | May 18 2025 14:46 utc | 15
Nobody tries to draw conclusions and learn, but on the contrary, they continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, without regard for losses,” he complains.
“Earlier, the commander of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that he submitted a resignation report due to “moronic tasks” and “stupid generals.”
🔴 @DDGeopolitics |
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | May 18 2025 12:35 utc | 2
Can anybody explain why they are quiet comfortable with totally inadequate tactics and planning?
What is the reason?
Posted by: jpc | May 18 2025 14:59 utc | 16
from telegrams pavel durov:
A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram, asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections. I flatly refused. Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels.
You can’t “defend democracy” by destroying democracy. You can’t “fight election interference” by interfering with elections. You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t. And the Romanian people deserve both. 🇷🇴
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 18 2025 15:03 utc | 17
Normality had come back. https://t.me/boris_rozhin/165190
Posted by: ostrr | May 18 2025 15:21 utc | 18
Ockham 14
I think if a ship is in your territorial waters, as apparently the Estonia bound shop was in Russian waters, you have a right to stop it. But Baltic states are attempting to stop Russian tankers in international waters.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 18 2025 15:24 utc | 19
The Baltic/Estonia situation is one to watch as Russia simply cannot afford any type of blockade of the Baltic. I suspect a show of force will be required against NATO unlike Ukraine.
Posted by: silverfoxes | May 18 2025 15:39 utc | 20
Ukraine is history,, another couple of years and Russia will be on Polish borders, sailing its ships from Oddessa.. western sanctions will have been doubled..and BRICS will be the new eastern trading venue..
The numbers of Russian troops ready for action will have been tripled, and the russian economy will be streaming its successes to the world even though its rate of interest is 20% or so.. // and the west will still be threatening Russia.. the west will still be trying to use legal, sanction, and blockage means (soft power so to speak) to block China from successfuly marketing its produced products in USA ruled America.. an Americans will still be buying those Chinese products. The British will still be trying to steal somebody’s oil and Israel will still be pestering its neighbors.
Nothing is going to change.. those against MAGA will have succeeded..there will be more homeless in America, more robots, fewer jobs, higher taxes, smaller pensions, much more costly educational opportunities, and nearly all of the money in the west will be in off shore tax havens (safe from government taxation), nearly all of the monopoly powers governments need to govern will have been privatized (so government becomes more and more non functional), and the weapons industry will have made a few weapons even more powerful weapons than those in use today and leaders of governments everywhere will be using the weapons taxpayer money purchased to blow up tax paying humans somewhere else. Nothing will change except the names that run the governments.
Posted by: snake | May 18 2025 16:07 utc | 21
Posted by: silverfoxes | May 18 2025 15:39 utc | 20
RE: the Baltic/Estonia situation, international waters, etc.
<<
International waters in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea present a more difficult theatre of conflict in which/through which a European Navy could commit acts of aggression against Russia, because they don't present the *plausible deniability* of a proxy, a third party, carrying out the piracy & blockade, behind which the Euro Navy could hide.
Overt piracy & blockade of ships in international waters is an act of war.
If Finland's Navy or Estonia's Navy commits an act of war against ships transporting Russian oil in international waters and Russia responds by sinking one of Estonia's ships, how quickly will the USS. Harry Truman hot foot it from its tether in the Red Sea to the Baltic-?
It would be very weird to see Russia onboarding some Ansar Allah mercs to launch hypersonics from Kaliningrad @ a U.S. aircraft carrier that had made its way to the Baltic, cruising for a bruising, for instance.
The Truman would be hustling back to a friendly port, stat: gotta reload.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 16:14 utc | 22
@21
Imagine if DPRK sent stabilization troops to secure the Russian Federation from the EU planned colonization.
Maybe even station nuclear forces….
Like US for the nazis
BRICS might need to arm up same as van der Leyen wants for EU.
Posted by: paddy | May 18 2025 16:25 utc | 23
Steel,
I agree, there are no non NATO proxies in the Baltic/Finland, that is why Ukraine is so valuable to the west a hige proxy willing to suicide themselves against the Russians. After Ukraine there are no more of those left.
Posted by: silverfoxes | May 18 2025 16:29 utc | 24
*** It would be very weird to see Russia onboarding some Ansar Allah mercs to launch hypersonics from Kaliningrad @ a U.S. aircraft carrier that had made its way to the Baltic, cruising for a bruising, for instance. ***
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 16:14 utc |
Carrier battle groups are obsolete. Tripwire bases – like what NATO has put in Romaina are obsolete.
Kallas and Estonia will continue to provocate and then nag their husband to bring their carrier battle groups. And then it won’t come, if the US has any good sense at all. Given the quantity of post modernist trained beaurocrats, that is not guaranteed. So then if the navy doest show, Trump is a deadbeat Dad.
Deadbeat Dad and its derivation is the frame they are trying to draw.
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 16:41 utc | 25
I guess Anonymous will skip the day even DS gives 15.2 km2 and that on a low 1.300s day
Posted by: Newbie | May 18 2025 16:51 utc | 26
Today’s headline: “Vance & Zelensky Repair Relationship In ‘Good’ Vatican Meeting”
Why is Zelensky skulking around the Vatican shortly after a new pope was installed? It’s hard to image a more evil, less Christian, man than Zelensky (who claims to be Jewish). How many Churches has Zelensky destroyed in Ukraine? Yet the Vatican welcomes him with open arms. Telling.
Also telling that the Trump admin is slowly but surely coming around to licking this guy’s butthole just like the previous administration. At the moment, Trump policy on Ukraine is indistinguishable from Biden policy.
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 16:53 utc | 27
“Trump policy on Ukraine is indistinguishable from Biden policy.”
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 16:53 utc | 27
I wholeheartedly disagree.
I guess you missed that furor at the White House when Zelensky visited; 180 degrees different than Biden
Posted by: canuck | May 18 2025 16:57 utc | 28
I have heard it said that whoever the US votes for as President, they still end up with John McCain’s foreign policy.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 18 2025 17:02 utc | 29
I think if a ship is in your territorial waters, as apparently the Estonia bound shop was in Russian waters, you have a right to stop it. But Baltic states are attempting to stop Russian tankers in international waters.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 18 2025 15:24 utc | 19
True. I wonder if this wasn’t a trap because that ship while leaving Sillamae could have stayed in Estonian territorial waters instead of venturing into Russian territorial waters. In the end Kaliningrad could be provisioned by sea through international waters but Russia bound ships coming from or heading to the Atlantic can be seized in Danish waters. There are alternative northern ports of course but the impact shouldn’t be underestimated.
Posted by: xor | May 18 2025 17:09 utc | 30
Ockham 14
I think if a ship is in your territorial waters, as apparently the Estonia bound shop was in Russian waters, you have a right to stop it. But Baltic states are attempting to stop Russian tankers in international waters.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 18 2025 15:24 utc | 19
Sovereign zone and Estonia…a story WITHOUT UN recognition.
Estonia has thus expanded its territorial waters to such an extent that NO—emphasis added—international waters exist in the Baltic Sea…thus, EVERY SHIP must sail through Estonia and is exposed to its violence.
The media just doesn’t mention this…
The tanker therefore had to sail through its territory…the Russian SU-35 therefore had to violate its airspace!!
Posted by: Peery | May 18 2025 17:11 utc | 31
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 18 2025 17:02 utc | 29
What was McCain’s slogan during his failed presidential bid? Uh, Forget The Liberty or something.
Wait, maybe that was just his father’s motto. Not sure.
Posted by: lex talionis | May 18 2025 17:13 utc | 32
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 16:53 utc | 27
No matter how they’ve sold the new pope in catholic countries, like the one I live in, the new pope is a gringo, and a dangerous one at it, his introduction was in Italian and Spanish, pretending to be Peruvian, English language was not used. It did not fool me when I first saw his face, he is a gringo and as such he will behave. Pope Francisco was Argentinian but not a Che Guevara, but he will look like a Che compared to the new one.
Posted by: Paco | May 18 2025 17:16 utc | 33
After Ukraine there are no more of those left.
Posted by: silverfoxes | May 18 2025 16:29 utc | 24
You forgot the monkeys from Moldova. Today they were busy “adjusting” elections in Romania, the rest of time they are busy signing agreements with Germany, France, Us and Uk for military bases.
Posted by: rk | May 18 2025 17:22 utc | 34
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 16:53 utc | 27
RE: JD and Zelensky repair r’ship in “good” Vatican mtg
<<
Everybody's smitten w/ the Nazi kitten, but why-?
Is it the natural martyrdom of a figure who sacrificed his population and their land in order help the U.S.-led NATO attain their goals-?
In a TIME mag article in July 2022, Lula said that Zelensky's "behavior is a bit weird. It seems like he's part of the spectacle. He is on television morning, noon & night. He is in the UK parliament, he is in the German Bundestag, the French parliament, the Italian parliament, as if we were waging a political campaign."
At that point, Lula explained to the TIME mag interviewer that Zelensky shared as much of the blame for the war as VVP.
Against which the TIME interviewer pushed back.
To which Lula responded, speaking of Zelensky: "He *did* want war. If he didn't want war, he would have negotiated a little more. People are encouraging this war. They are encouraging this guy [ Zelensly.] And now he thinks he is the cherry on the cake. Okay. You were a nice comedian. But let's not make war for you to show up on TV. Keep in mind too that Brazil has not joined with the U.S.-led NATO countries in economic sanctions on Russia. No Latin American nations have."
So that was in July 2022.
But last week, Lula carried water for Zelensky *twice*---once during the Victory Day celebration, when he delivered a message directly to VVP from Zelensky and a second time on his return trip from Beijing when he stopped off in Moscow, this time to pressure VVP to attend the Istanbul talks, "dammit."
By the way, during Lula's latter effort to carry water for Zelensky, VVP was meeting with the prime minister of Malaysia and did not find an opening on his schedule for Lula.
So Lula returned to Brasilia empty-handed.
Whatever happened to Lula is the same thing that has happened to far too many others during the SMO. It's not a coincidence, but what is it-?
Cocaine does not explain it.
Any politician in the Americas, where cocaine is in ample supply, need not become a sycophant to Zelensky in order to secure a stash.
Remember: coca was native to the New World, so this side of the globe has always known of its psychotropic features and utilized them.
At any rate, when DJT visited Paris to see the reconstructed Notre Dame cathedral in December 2024, Macron had already arranged for him and Zelensky to have a sit-down. At first DJT demurred, but eventually he conceded. Afterward, Zelensky was in possession of fresh content about the *meeting* to post on X and to use as media-buzz during his nightly TikTok report.
I wonder if JD, a Catholic, went to the Pope's inauguration and got caught flat-footed by *some person* who said, "Hey, look. Zelensky is over there. He feels really bad about that debacle in the Oval Office. Can you shake hands and make up-?"
JD *might* also have demurred, but ultimately did not.
Now Zelensky is posting on X what a "good" meeting it was, getting his own PR boost out of the event.
As adults, we know we can avoid meeting w/ someone with whom we'd prefer not to meet. But it does not sound like leaders, so-called, in certain sectors of the Western world can deny this guy.
What would the penalty or the fall-out be-?
The inauguration of a Pope is not an important enough of an occasion unless Zelensky gets something out of it, for instance.
Likewise, the funeral of a Pope two weeks ago was not an important enough of an occasion unless Zelensky got something out of it too.
What is going on-?
Does it boil down to Zelensky's willingness to martyr his population & destroy their country in service to the U.S.-led NATO's war aims-?
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 17:37 utc | 35
Why is Zelensky skulking around the Vatican shortly after a new pope was installed?
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 16:53 utc | 27
if you consider how the “ukraine” has swiftly changed its religion from orthodoxy to a “fake orthodox” church under a new lead and its adaption of more catholic religious holidays and all that after the maidan, you can see that this is just another cultural genocide commited by the west.
this time in favour of “their” religion (catholic) against the “evil russian heathen” orthodox christianity.
i am not even going to comment on judaism or anything of that sort (dont give a rats ass if elensjiyiyh is a jew). this is catholic bullshittery against orthodox christianity.
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 18 2025 17:56 utc | 36
Looking forward to the Black Sea being renamed to
Russia’s Biggest озеро
Will DJT be up for the announcement gig maybe in Moscow?
Posted by: PubliusFlavious | May 18 2025 18:10 utc | 37
The warmongering Neo-Nazi loving EU bigwigs – apply more sanctions to Russia and its trading partners, the EU is ran by monsters who support genocide and Neo-Nazism, horrible people indeed.
“The European Union has enacted new sanctions against Russia, while warning of additional measures if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The Polish EU presidency confirmed that the EU’s 27 member states greenlit the sanctions during negotiations in Brussels.
The sanctions package—scheduled for official approval on Tuesday—targets approximately 200 oil tankers allegedly involved in bypassing oil export limits on Russia.
Companies based in Vietnam, Serbia, Turkey, and other nations also face new restrictions over alleged involvement in supplying military equipment to Russian forces.
Additionally, dozens of Russian officials will join the existing list of nearly 2,400 individuals and entities subject to EU asset freezes and travel bans.
Furthermore, EU leaders have warned Moscow it will face severe economic penalties unless it accepts a US-supported proposal for a month-long cessation of the war in Ukraine”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 18 2025 18:15 utc | 38
supporting islamist terrorists in Sahel.
https://sundayindependent.co.za/analysis/2025-04-16-ukraines-double-game-smiles-in-diplomacy-bloodshed-in-africa/
Article in a southafrican newspaper explains facts about destabilizing ukrainian military support to jihadists in Mali. Giving them drones, starlink satellite devices and heavy mortars and ammo. Three Sahel countries i northern Afrika have severed ukrainian embassies in their countries. Talk about double standards…
Posted by: Truemoon | May 18 2025 18:16 utc | 39
re: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 17:37 utc | 35
For decades, foreign leaders who didn’t follow US orders were removed from power, often quite quickly and violently (e.g. President Ngô Đình Diệm). I find it more than odd that Zelensky is dictating terms to the US.
I think most of this is Kabuki Theatre designed to placate Trump’s MAGA base, with the purpose of creating the false illusion that “Trump wants peace” but Putin is making “maximalist demands” that block the process.
More likely that the US is attempting to turf the Ukraine War off to its Russophobic vassal EU states, so the US can proceed with its planned war against China. This is the plan described by Wess Mitchell in his article “Strategic Sequencing:How Great Powers Avoid Multi-Front War”.
This plan rests on the hubristic premise that Russia can be defeated both militarily and economically, which is deeply delusional thinking, but characteristic of the shallow elites who still think it is 1999 with the US reigning as the world’s dominant hegemon. It is amazing to me that such thinking can persist in the face of the stark realities created by a de-industrialized US that cannot come close to competing with China and Russia in the manufacture ships, steel, explosives, missiles, ammunition, tanks, etc. etc. (and requires Chinese spare parts and rare earths to keep its antiquated military equipment going).
Once push comes to shove and US Carrier Battle Groups are sitting on the bottom of the sea, while US military bases are blasted to smoking ruins by barrages of missiles that US Air Defense systems cannot intercept, it will become unavoidably clear that the US is not #1 – false narratives will not be able to disguise the scale of defeat. Will the US then turn to its nuclear arsenal to forestall utter defeat?
Posted by: Perimetr | May 18 2025 18:19 utc | 40
re: PubliusFlavious | May 18 2025 18:10 utc | 37
you wrote: “Looking forward to the Black Sea being renamed to Russia’s Biggest озеро
Will DJT be up for the announcement gig maybe in Moscow?”
No worries, Trump will soon announce that Earth will be renamed “Trump”.
Earth Day will be then be known as “Trump Day”, Earth First! will be renamed “Trump First”, and terra firma will henceforth be called “Trumpa firma”.
Posted by: Perimetr | May 18 2025 18:23 utc | 41
We know why the Trump admin loves Germany’s AfD party see below.
“The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a far-right and conservative political party in Germany that gained prominence in the country by criticizing immigration, particularly during the European migrant crisis a decade ago.
Known for its xenophobic rhetoric and virulent Islamophobia, the AfD frequently teeters on the edge of hate speech laws and has spent years as a marginal opposition party in Germany.”
But why would the German government hate such a party – when it clearly backs a genocide in Gaza, and a Neo-Nazi dictatorship in Ukraine – it can’t be because it cares about immigrants – when its aiding and abetting in the mass murder of Palestinians – so it must be because that if the AfD came to power certain vile German politicians would lose their power.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 18 2025 18:24 utc | 42
@40
The comedian is Trump’s kind of guy!
Trump base MAGA or otherwise wants Kiev and its nazis off the the US dole! Trump is more Obama/Biden! We were duped by his promises on Kiev.
I wanted him to end the US gifts and te=arget direction on Jan 20!! He has been as generous as Biden, if not as dumb.
Trump is using the image of dying soldiers to get a ceasefire so he can arm up Kiev to colonize Russia.
Trump 47 is 44 plus 46!
John McCain and Annie Appelbaum are proud of Trump.
Posted by: paddy | May 18 2025 18:26 utc | 43
Can anybody explain why they are quiet comfortable with totally inadequate tactics and planning?
What is the reason?
Posted by: jpc | May 18 2025 14:59 utc | 16
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-learned-helplessness-2795326
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 18:28 utc | 44
If you include individual sanctions against EU persons living in Russia, you can easily boost the sanction numbers. The uncanny thing, these are purely administrative EU measures, no court decisions at all, but they will result in automatical confiscation of assets (if they have not been moved out), what you do for convicted criminals. No assets in the EU means you cannot pay lawyers to sue.
Posted by: Teraspol | May 18 2025 18:34 utc | 45
Carrier battle groups are obsolete. Tripwire bases – like what NATO has put in Romaina are obsolete.
When I was younger, I didn’t really get the sense of building a medieval castle for domination of an area when no ranged weapons were available. I still haven’t resolved this completely. If anyone here can point me at a relevant text, that would be great.
However, my main intention was to discuss the Constanta base in that light. It is located fairly close to the Focșani Gate, and it does encroach closer towards Russia from Ramstein. MoA, please expound.
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 18:40 utc | 46
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | May 18 2025 12:35 utc | 2
“Nobody tries to draw conclusions and learn, but on the contrary, they continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, without regard for losses,” he complains.
Losses? Those are not losses. Those are expenditures. You have to spend to earn your money. Ukrop lives are cheap and getting cheaper so to get some revenue you need to spend lots of them.
Earlier, the commander of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that he submitted a resignation report due to “moronic tasks” and “stupid generals.”
Those generals are not stupid. They are businessmen. They have a client and a factory, the factory churns out consumables, the client authorize bank transfers and it provides a lot of materiel as well.
Yes, this is a very nice client we are talking about. This client even show the factory’s CEO (which happens to be a likable Jewish comedian) around like he is some kind of hero.
Oh yes this a super nice client. When this client comes to visit the factory, management has very nice surprises to enjoy after the mandatory posing for photos.
Some nasty people say the client are suckers for giving us so much for burning through our cheap and miserable consumables. But look not to the cheap consumables we are burning through. No. Look at whom are we throwing our cheap and miserable consumables. Yes.
Posted by: Johan Kaspar | May 18 2025 18:55 utc | 47
Paco @ 33
the new pope is a gringo
Indeed, and a rare opportunity was missed to have chosen the name “Mickey” – Pope Mickey the First.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 18 2025 18:56 utc | 48
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | May 18 2025 12:35 utc | 2
Yet the whole western culture in last 100 years brainwashed everyone into believing only evil Russians used human wave tactics with complete disregard for own casualties.
Something smells fishy to me.
Posted by: Abe | May 18 2025 18:57 utc | 49
*** [Learned helplessness] ***
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 18:28 utc | 44
I dont think this covers the entire phenomenon, but something like Stockholm syndrome plays a part.
The “totally inadequate tactics and planning” is a feature and not a bug. The postmodernist method (Communism) features action by those whose consciousness has taken on an enlightened quality. Any praxis toward the end is therefore correct, cracking of eggs not being counted.
Within a closed beaurocratic system, like say the DoD, there is no escape from this type of psychopathic parasite. Shunning and disregarding, as an ordinary manner of dealing with this type of pathology, can appear to be learned helplessness. It’s really individuals aligning themselves with a faction and then “flying low and avoiding the trees” to avoid trouble. So the biggest and strongest Cluster B dark tetrad individuals thrive in this kind of feminized organization. So, a feature and not a bug.
The error you are making is assuming competence in tactics and planning are the the metrics they are using for self assessment. They are looking at praxis and the purity of the object for action because that is how you strengthen your position within the organization.
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 19:01 utc | 50
@frithguild – me, an error? argh. I’ll have to refuse that, as I was only throwing a log onto the fire of further explanation. If had went for the bullseye instead, I would surely have announced it! /s
That’s not to distract from your angle, which I believe is very valuable. But can we call it a feature and not a bug, when the effect is invisible to those locked into denial? Again, that’s not criticize you, but meant to drive a wedge into this opening at institutional culture.
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 19:28 utc | 51
@Posted by: Paco | May 18 2025 17:16 utc | 33
Pope Leo XIV worked most of his life as a missionary. And missionaries strive to convert others to their faith / their way of seeing the world / Weltanschaung. You can only do that if you consider that you own the truth, and others and their beliefs are mistaken. It’s the original sin of all three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). That mindset is very close to that of fascism. It should not come as a surprise that he sides with the totalitarian party.
Posted by: Shahmaran | May 18 2025 19:34 utc | 52
https://www.flightradar24.com/RRR4954/3a64ae74
RAF A400 transport from Rzsezow to (probably) Brize Norton.
https://www.flightradar24.com/RSD101/3a64c70f
Also Russian IL-76 doing ISR style loops off Sochi, but I think its one of the government Special Flight Squadron. Testing?
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 18 2025 19:39 utc | 53
@Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 18:40 utc | 46
“I didn’t really get the sense of building a medieval castle for domination of an area when no ranged weapons were available”
But you understand Trump Towers, don’t you? Or Burj Khalifa in Dubai? The essential point of building these things, is to make other people think you are powerful and not want to fight you. I was born and bred in a castle. Believe me, it works even in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Posted by: Shahmaran | May 18 2025 19:41 utc | 54
The twisting of reality is getting interesting. Below is a quote from a ZH piece
The Pope himself has meanwhile been urgently calling for peace in Ukraine, among other global hotspots. Interestingly, Washington could be eyeing Rome as a venue for more talks to achieve peace:
A day before the event, Rubio said that the Vatican could serve as a neutral venue for future peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Speaking in Rome before his meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s envoy on Ukraine, Rubio noted that “both sides would be comfortable” holding talks there.
Give the rift between Rome and the Russian orthodox church in addition to the persecution of the Russian orthodox in Ukraine makes this proposal laughable and Rubio claiming it was acceptable to Russia, I believe is a flat out lie.
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 18 2025 20:02 utc | 55
canuck | May 18 2025 16:57 utc | 28
Interesting how everyone gets the news they want. People like you only see the “smackdown.” Other people will only see Vance and Z smiling and mugging for the cameras in Rome.
The more intelligent will see that the weapons and intel flow from the US same as they ever did and that not a single thing about the war is different from 6 months ago (except for incremental Russian territory gains).
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 20:03 utc | 56
I had heard chatter that Hamas asked for food to be let in for Edan Alexander, this might be Witcoff delivering. Too early to tell if this will actually arrest the starvation.
https://x.com/MenaLive_/status/1924190507275571578
I hope this finds you well
Posted by: ockham | May 18 2025 20:04 utc | 57
Does it boil down to Zelensky’s willingness to martyr his population & destroy their country in service to the U.S.-led NATO’s war aims-?
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 17:37 utc | 35
To my way of thinking, Zelensky first has to destroy the Azov battalions before any kind of capitulation, or he dies. This would explain the “stupid generals” and bad, bad, bad decisions by Syrisky, precisely with these brigades, on the front(s) that led to too many being sacrificed.
Zelensky’s a dead man walking, and he knows it. And so does anyone who remotely fathoms the terrible position he’s put himself in. And make no mistake, he chose his path. He’s such a ridiculous villain you almost feel sorry for him. Almost.
Posted by: Nooneuknow | May 18 2025 20:04 utc | 58
Zelenskyy Calls For Pressure on Russia During 1st Face-to-Face Meeting With Carney
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-zelenskyy-meeting-g7-prep-1.7538111
“…There can be no peace without the full support and participation of Ukraine,’ Carney told Zelenskyy. Carney reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine, but he did not provide details on what that would entail under his government.
Roland Paris, director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa said Canada is ‘laying down markers’ that Canada will continue to be a steadfast ally of Ukraine…”
Carney is being coy because recent polls indicate domestic support for ‘Project Ukraine’ is low among the domestic public. Canada is de facto if not officially, a member of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’. Curiously unmentioned in this CBC article is the bilateral meeting Carney apparently held with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reported elsewhere.
Posted by: JohnGilberts | May 18 2025 20:06 utc | 59
Posted by: Shahmaran | May 18 2025 19:41 utc | 54
RE: projecting power via architecture
<<
We're practically in "Look on my works, ye mortals, and despair" territory...
Ivan Grozny, known in the West as Ivan the Terrible, was a master @ commissioning architectural structures in order to project state power, particularly after battlefield victories.
Upon conquering the khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, and significantly expanding Russian territory, he commissioned St. Basils Cathedral on Red Square as a way to commemorate the win. It has represented been the ultimate metonym for Russian power ever since.
Ivan Grozny dealt a definitive & final defeat to the Crimean Tatars, who conducted raids every spring into Muscovy in order to capture slaves to take back to the peninsula.
BTW: Ivan Grozny was the first Tsar of Russia and inaugurated the empire period.
In a fit of madness, he killed his son, Ivan Ivanovich, who was the tsarevich. The event is depicted in the famous painting by Ilya Repin, "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan."
This kicked off the Time of Troubles after Ivan himself passed away, a Tsar-less 70-year period w/ plenty of False Dmitris trying to claim the throne. Mussorgsky immortalized the drama in his opera "Boris Gudanov."
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:14 utc | 61
Wonder what happens when the Azov battalions finally realize that Zelensky (and all his “friends”) are trying to get them all killed…
Posted by: Nooneuknow | May 18 2025 20:14 utc | 62
Posted by: Moonraker | May 18 2025 20:03 utc | 56
RE: not a single thing about the war is different from 6 months ago
<<
Erm, driving the AFU and NATO mercs out of Kursk Region was startlingly major, especially to the tune of 76,000 KIA/WIA for the AFU & NATO mercs plus the destruction of *more* armor/artillery than was consumed in the entire Greatest Counteroffensive Ever.
Can't sneeze at that.
Those casualty rates were over & above the ordinary LOC losses for the AFU, by the way.
And lest we forget, the ultimate Sudzha show-down produced the surprise attack via Pipeline. Legend & lore galore.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:20 utc | 63
*** But can we call it a feature and not a bug, when the effect is invisible to those locked into denial? ***
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 19:28 utc | 51
I don’t take your comment as criticism and if mine seemed like a potshot at you that was not my intention. I revert to broad and unusual positions so easily I don’t even notice I’m doing that. Even so, that we engaged in this “de-hurtful retraction”(John Spartan) discussion actually illustrates my point – modernist thought process has built in all manner blind alleys. Every statement of fact needs an apology. So yes, your descriptor “denial” is the dead balls on accurate tag.
As I see it, denial cohabitates with the sin of pride (not the modernist virtue of pride). So when I posit that objective truths don’t matter to US entities (Examination of objective truth is absolutely critical in heading off prideful hubris), I’m back to making overstatement. But not really because there is no objective truth. So it’s kind of me testing a thesis – that the US is getting it painfully wrong far more often than in the 50’s to 60’s because the products of a postmodern education – basically graduates from the 90’s forward – are entrenched in government organizations. “Totally inadequate tactics and planning” is how this gets expressed (Boeing anyone?)
This barroom contains so much assessment of objective factors it kind of quenches my thirst. I admire it. I just don’t see it in the West. So I guess I’m razzing the baroom.
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 20:24 utc | 64
@ persiflo | May 18 2025 18:40 utc | 46
the sense of building a medieval castle for domination of an area
A castle, the stone kind, was very much impenetrable for a long while. Might sound obvious, but that’s the point.
You build it among a bunch of villages and small towns and you can do whatever you want with them – raid, pillage, demand tribute. By the time those locals form a force to retaliate, you’ll be hold up safely inside. Big or small, if well supplied you can outlast anything short of a proper siege army. Those locals will simply get bored from scratching your stone work. Militias, consisting overwhelmingly of farmers, have better things to do in their life to not starve.
Then you get to continue. Expand, dominate and exploit the local population. Expand. Et cetera.
A very expensive luxury too. Europeans could afford to build them everywhere they could spit, but in the rest of the world any stone fortification was a rarity.
Posted by: boneless | May 18 2025 20:28 utc | 65
nytimes stirring the pot a bit—an above-the-fold headline in the Sunday edition:
“Russia Unleashes One of Its Largest Drone Barrages of the Ukraine War”
And the subhead:
“The bombardment, which Ukrainian officials said mostly targeted Kyiv, came a day before President Trump was expected to talk with President Vladimir Putin”
Stir it up, little darlin’
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:28 utc | 66
Further to #59 & Knight of Malta Carney’s reported bilateral with Fuhrer Merz in Rome:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: Make Bundeswehr ‘The Strongest Conventional Army in Europe’
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/17/nxfl-m17.html
“Merz’s government is pushing ahead with massive military rearmament to make Germany ‘fit for war’ again, in the words of Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
To justify the war course, Merz resorted to vile anti-Russian war propaganda in the style of the Nazis. Russia he claimed had ‘broken all the rules’ that had applied in Europe since the Second World War. Russian troops were ‘raging’, killing ‘women and children, civilians and soldiers every day.’
The outcome of the war, according to Merz, will decide ‘not only the fate of Ukraine,’ but also ‘whether law and order will continue to prevail in Europe and the world – or tyranny, military force and the naked right of the strongest.’
This is not about peace or international law but about building a new imperialist world order. The goal is to completely control Ukraine, reduce Russia to the status of a neo-colony and establish rule over the resource-rich and geostrategically central Eurasian landmass.”
Posted by: JohnGilberts | May 18 2025 20:30 utc | 67
Carney is being coy because recent polls indicate domestic support for ‘Project Ukraine’ is low among the domestic public. Canada is de facto if not officially, a member of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’. Curiously unmentioned in this CBC article is the bilateral meeting Carney apparently held with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reported elsewhere.
Posted by: JohnGilberts | May 18 2025 20:06 utc | 59
Carney can go to Hell. He doesn’t represent me. I speculate that he doesn’t represent the thinking of most Canadians.(even after overt censorship and endless RahRah Ukraine). We (Canadians) see that the US is up to its old tricks- War Machines and Ghettos Scenes- and we want no part of it- just like we want no part of the Genocidal bastards in Palestine.
Posted by: Original Newbie | May 18 2025 20:39 utc | 68
Posted by: boneless | May 18 2025 20:28 utc | 65
RE: A castle, the stone kind, was very much impenetrable
<<
Walking onto Red Square one day, I approached St. Basils from the south, closest to the Moscow River, and saw the collection of boulders which had been hurled, as ordnance, from catapults stationed *across* the river @ the Kremlin in a would-be/try-hard Medieval attempted siege.
It was impressive to see the tonnage that had been flung, hoping to make Russia cave. It was an Object Lesson, too, in how breakthroughs in Physics often led---almost overnight---to new technology in warfare.
The piled up boulders were part of an exhibit, commemorating that attempted siege. The next time I visited Moscow, the boulders were no longer there.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:41 utc | 69
“Third Battle for Kherson?” (???????????????)
“Russian Forces Amass Near Kharkiv Sector” (??????????)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVkXxarMIO8 (length: 12 minutes)
Posted by: WMG | May 18 2025 20:41 utc | 70
Forgot to mention above that Canada’s PM, as well as being a Knight of Malta is also a member of the Bilderberg Group, originally formed by the Nazi collaborator Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. This has obvious relevancy to Canada’s ‘all in’ support for Project Ukraine.
Bilderberg Meeting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Meeting
Posted by: JohnGilberts | May 18 2025 20:43 utc | 71
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:20 utc | 63
Trump’s President, the Russian Army is continually adapting, whereas the Ukrainian Army is continually degenerating to a point where it will be an army in name only. I’d think these factors will be reflected in the official wartime data that we are not yet privy to, until the conflict is over. Most of the open-source metrics and reports about the conflict are largely from compromised sources guesstimates, or confabulations, some might be ballpark, others way off so the only way is to interpret is by way of a type of chronological analysis, applied to the capabilities of the respective sides in the conflict. Simply put, what can they do, or not do, now that they could or couldn’t do x period (in your case six months) ago.
If this approach is followed I think you’ll find that the character of the war has changed considerably, least ways the Ukrainian’s, and few of their supporters, entertain anything other than the idea that a negotiated end to the conflict will occur that leaves Ukraine significantly impacted territorially.
Posted by: Milites | May 18 2025 20:47 utc | 72
*** You build it among a bunch of villages and small towns and you can do whatever you want with them – raid, pillage, demand tribute. By the time those locals form a force to retaliate, you’ll be hold up safely inside. ***
Posted by: boneless | May 18 2025 20:28 utc | 65
Maybe so from the point of view of whoever is ensconced there. What is underestimated i think is how well this worked for surrounding settlements. The laws in the 7th Danelaw relied upon the actions of theigns in both the Yarl’s wittan and the weapontake. There was a price to buy in – kind of like buying a piece of a partnership. In return, you get the protection of the castle and it’s system of justice and a place to go when the longboats are on the horizon. So theigns were pretty hot shit – far better than being a noining.
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 20:56 utc | 73
the Russian Army is continually adapting, whereas the Ukrainian Army is continually degenerating to a point where it will be an army in name only. I’d think these factors will be reflected in the official wartime data that we are not yet privy to, until the conflict is over.
I have been wondering for a while if this kind of data is one of the major remaining war aims of the West. IOW, how do you get a country to fight for the last Ukrainian?
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 20:58 utc | 74
Posted by: boneless | May 18 2025 20:28 utc | 65
Castles were far more sophisticated in their conception than being upgraded bandit hideouts, that’s a page from the leftist version of history. They were not only engineering marvels, but showed a superb understanding, by their creators, of their psychological, tactical and strategic value.
As for being impenetrable they certainly were nothing of the sort, and their appearance kickstarted the counter/counter-counter cycle with a vengeance, prompting technological and scientific spin-offs that were world-changing. As for their actual construction, few civilisations had the ability to create and congregate the wide variety of skills and technologies required for their construction, let alone mine and transport the materials required.
Posted by: Milites | May 18 2025 21:17 utc | 75
Posted by: WMG | May 18 2025 20:41 utc | 70
I’ve said for months, ‘watch the K’s’, especially now the diminished US ISR is probably/possibly allowing Russia to consider variants of her well-thumbed maskirovka playbook. Hit them where they ‘ain’t, not where they are, is advice as old as the hills, and painfully relearned by Russia around Kharkov a few years back.
Posted by: Milites | May 18 2025 21:24 utc | 76
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 20:58 utc | 74
Simple, appeal to the ‘I am in blood stepped in so far’ mentality, after all it worked for the Nazis and they didn’t have access to SM!
Posted by: Milites | May 18 2025 21:30 utc | 77
Ukrainian neo-Nazi group Right Sector is set to sign a formal cooperation agreement with a coalition of Russian separatists. The two groups plan to join forces to establish paramilitary units to fight at the front and also stoke social unrest in order to destabilize Russia.
In a statement on Saturday, the so-called Coalition of Indigenous Peoples, which openly advocates for the disintegration of Russia into multiple fragmented states and is designated as extremist by Moscow, said that the two organizations will hold a signing ceremony in Kiev on Tuesday.
The event will feature Right Sector leader Andrey Tarasenko, along with figures claiming to represent secessionist movements in the Russian regions of Karelia, Chuvashia, and Dagestan.
Among the other key figures to be present is Vladimir Grotskov, a representative of the so-called Karelia National Movement. According to several media reports, Grotskov, a Russian national, moved to Ukraine in 2014 and later took part in the hostilities in Donbass. He reportedly remained active on the battlefield beyond 2022, fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
The stated goals of the partnership include the “joint struggle against Russian imperialism,” “support for liberation movements within Russia,” and efforts to garner international support for Ukraine. Other planned activities include military cooperation, the establishment of “volunteer units,” and an information warfare campaign.
via rt
Posted by: Jo | May 18 2025 21:39 utc | 78
Posted by: Republicofscotland | May 18 2025 18:24 utc | 42
“Known for its xenophobic rhetoric and virulent Islamophobia, the AfD frequently teeters on the edge of hate speech laws and has spent years as a marginal opposition party in Germany.”
Heaven forbid that anyone might express an unapproved thought! Or say anything that might make someone feel uncomfortable! How hateful! It must be a European thing that doesn’t make any sense to Americans. It does remind me of the joke about two guys discussing current events and policy in the heyday of the USSR. One guy agrees with all the official positions of the Party. The other guy says “what’s wrong comrade, don’t you have your own opinions?” The first guy says “yes, but I don’t agree with them.” Why do some Europeans feel like they need permission to have a divergent opinion?
Posted by: Paranaense | May 18 2025 21:50 utc | 80
Posted by: Jo | May 18 2025 21:39 utc | 78
I’ll hazard a guess that Russian intel services are already all over these nutters, knowing who they are, where they are, and what they might be up to.
As for the idea of trying to destabilise Russia internally, it becomes much more difficult to upset things in a nation where the economy is humming, living standards are stable, if not rising, and visible investment in public services and amenities such as transport networks and public parks is ongoing.
This partly explains why NAFO acolytes are regularly trying to dredge up anything to show that Russia might be in some economic trouble, because they know that nothing keeps a leadership in position better than a thriving, prosperous and content population.
To paraphrase someone somewhere: It is very difficult to get a man to rebel when his belly is full, his marketplaces are well-stocked, his job has plenty of overtime and his utilities are cheap..
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 18 2025 22:24 utc | 81
If Russia retaliates by destroying ships attempting to confiscate their oil cargoes, and/or gives the Houthis lots of missiles, the stock markets will experience panic, panic driven purchasing will spike inflation, and everyone will want to stock up on oil, gas, and coal, reserves.
Russia’s attitude to the prospect of all of that could be to flash a tight little smile and opine: “How you say, come at me bro.”
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/1c9e8da1-b7b3-46c7-9bfb-543942ccf2ae
Posted by: Babel-17 | May 18 2025 22:40 utc | 82
Steel yourself for a shock.
The U.S. has been conducting a proxy war against Russia since [ fill in the date ], using Ukraine & NATO mercs as its proxies, and at no point in this *event* has the U.S. been a neutral entity in this war.
The *expected* phone call on Monday, 19 May, will lay this out in the most bare-bones way possible. No matter how much DJT “loves the Russian people” and decries “the BLOODBATH in Ukraine,” the U.S. and the Russian Federation are faced off as belligerents in this war.
They are *not* on the same side, no matter how many trips to Moscow Witkoff makes.
The U.S. continues to supply its proxy, Ukraine, and promote its usurping leader in Kiev, Zelensky.
In for a dime, out for a dollar.
The tough thing for the U.S., however, is that they are *in* for much more than a dime—-and they will never receive a dollar on each dime they’ve invested.
There’s no amount of Narrative Management that can alter this.
Listen, it’s business, ultimately—played out at a geopolitical scale. DJT and VVP can still respect each other after this, and even conduct trade, but it’s not as if personal feelings of good-fellow feeling will alter how Russia runs the table on Ukraine/NATO going forward.
It’s not personal.
Both leaders have to protect their national interests.
For Russia, this has been an existential war, one the history books will never stop writing about.
For the U.S., this has been a strategic & tactical *adventure* in the long-standing Directive: to curb-stomp Russia, regime-change Russia and dismember Russia.
They failed *this* time.
But there’s always *next* year.
P.S. Scuttlebutt has it that DJT’s call to VVP may not even happen now, on account of Russia’s *throw-down* over Kiev.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 22:42 utc | 83
In a statement on Saturday, the so-called Coalition of Indigenous Peoples, which openly advocates for the disintegration of Russia into multiple fragmented states…….
Posted by: Jo | May 18 2025 21:39 utc | 78
I can see an Oreshnik on its way….🚀
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 18 2025 22:42 utc | 84
Jo | May 18 2025 21:39 utc | 78
*** (report re Right Sector + coalition of Russian separatists)
The stated goals of the partnership include the “joint struggle against Russian imperialism,” “support for liberation movements within Russia,” and efforts to garner international support for Ukraine. Other planned activities include military cooperation, the establishment of “volunteer units,” and an information warfare campaign.***
The nonsense has been allowed to go on far too long already.
Facilitated by liberal Putin the Atlanticist/zionist sycophant….
As seen with the “jihadists” elsewhere it will never end till all their ‘leaders’, followers and puppet-masters are killed. Which is exactly what should be done, anywhere and with maximum force, as a warning to any others who might ever be inclined to get such notions. The only solution.
But of course that won’t happen.
Posted by: Cynic | May 18 2025 22:44 utc | 85
In a statement on Saturday, the so-called Coalition of Indigenous Peoples, which openly advocates for the disintegration of Russia into multiple fragmented
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 18 2025 22:42 utc | 84
Kate Baklitskaya on the byline journalist, writer, fixer based in Chișinău, Moldova. Article in the Daily Mail. So this is MI6 and instant coco marshmallow balls Starmer.
Posted by: frithguild | May 18 2025 22:54 utc | 86
Posted by: Cynic | May 18 2025 22:44 utc | 85
Well I dunno, if “liberal Putin” is “the Atlanticist/zionist sycophant”, why are so many in the West keen on him being overthrown?
It‘s a head-scratcher, for sure…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 18 2025 22:56 utc | 87
Looking forward to the Black Sea being renamed to
Russia’s Biggest озеро
Will DJT be up for the announcement gig maybe in Moscow?
Posted by: PubliusFlavious | May 18 2025 18:10 utc | 37
They should hold off on that until after the liberation on Constantinople, an event predicted by St Kosmas: https://byzantineprophecy.com/2020/01/03/first-blog-post/
Posted by: Drifter | May 18 2025 22:57 utc | 88
However, my main intention was to discuss the Constanta base in that light. It is located fairly close to the Focșani Gate, and it does encroach closer towards Russia from Ramstein. MoA, please expound.
Posted by: persiflo | May 18 2025 18:40 utc | 46
It doesn’t have to make military sense. Not only is the Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base, Mihail Kogalniceanu, in Constanta easy Oreshnik fodder, the planned deployment of 10,000 men is a joke, based on the scale of the conflict. The important thing is that the expansion is a $2.7 billion project. Some people will make a lot of money off this folly.
War is a racket.
Posted by: Drifter | May 18 2025 23:13 utc | 89
Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 18 2025 22:56 utc | 87
*** Well I dunno, if “liberal Putin” is “the Atlanticist/zionist sycophant”, why are so many in the West keen on him being overthrown?
It‘s a head-scratcher, for sure…***
Not so difficult to figure.
Putin obviously wants a basically neoliberal regime in Russia, with totally unnecessary US and EU corporate investment (effectively, long term surrender to the globalist / WEF agenda) and oligarchy but preferably not a fragmented former Russia.
However, the destructive opponents (US/UK/EU/Israeli political establishment) do want a fragmented former Russia to loot.
The breakup would make that easy.
Being personally and insatiably avaricious for power and wealth — but inevitably prone to demise — they don’t want to have to try to wait till a globalist/WEF regime is imposed ….. and even looking ahead to their Global Imperium becoming a reality they wouldn’t want to have to share all the (stolen) wealth and power with any additional agencies (such as the rulers of a unified Russia).
Posted by: Cynic | May 18 2025 23:31 utc | 90
Drifter | May 18 2025 23:13 utc | 89
*** It doesn’t have to make military sense. Not only is the Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base, Mihail Kogalniceanu, in Constanta easy Oreshnik fodder, the planned deployment of 10,000 men is a joke, based on the scale of the conflict. The important thing is that the expansion is a $2.7 billion project. Some people will make a lot of money off this folly.
War is a racket. ***
Also a prospect of further social pollution via US “culture”?
Posted by: Cynic | May 18 2025 23:40 utc | 91
Regardless of respect levels which the U.S. may feel toward Russia and Russia may feel toward the U.S., the fact is that these adversaries are faced-off in a diametrically-opposed stance, with no alignment in their respective aims.
In that Russia holds advantages in all areas, not just militarily but also diplomatically, it makes sense for Russia to proceed w/ this advantage, full speed ahead.
It is good for Russia to leave the U.S.’s 22-point plan in the dust and just chive on w/ its military objectives, which are quite rational and productive in their own way.
The U.S.’s 22-point plan is unacceptable and does not address Russia’s interests in concluding the SMO.
Regardless of how committed DJT feels about the 22-point plan, it simply does not address the issues at hand, and it disrespects Russia in disregarding Russia’s concerns.
No amount of coercive messages on Truth Social can change this.
Even Russian soldiers, interviewed by the nytimes, state that anything less than a full liberation of *all* Russian lands in Ukraine will be regarded as a failure.
So the Russian side is hardcore right now.
No matter how many times Witkoff comes to Moscow and talks for hours with VVP, nothing will change this.
DJT will try for a summit meeting between him and VVP. If a summit *does* come about, DJT will try his darnedest to *trick* VVP into agreeing to the 22-point plan, which VVP will deftly sidestep.
In some ways, it will be like the way Sir Keir tried to *trick* DJT into agreeing to backstop the European Reassurance Forces in Ukraine—and DJT, ever nimble, always steered clear from those manipulations.
The gimmicks won’t work now.
The U.S. is in a proxy war with Russia.
Russia and the U.S. are adversaries.
Russia holds the winning cards and all of the advantages.
It’s just a matter of time before the U.S. is forced to fold—and time is on Russia’s side.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 19 2025 0:08 utc | 92
I’ve wondered often what’s going to happen when all those soldiers come back from the front. Even if they signed on voluntarily, the things they’ve seen, done, and seen done will make it extremely difficult to integrate them back into civilian society.
Posted by: Geronticus | May 19 2025 0:21 utc | 93
It’s the beginning of the end: Russia’s taking of ground is accelerating right along the front line. Ukrainian forces are crumbling.
I think the US and NATO are going to be obsoleted by Russia now. Putin and The Kremlin have had a gutful of the waffling around of IMPOTUS who continues to blow his trumpet as much as he can but achieves nothing except media sound bite trash and face saving nonsense. Yet still NATO and the US are at pains to comprehend the simple claims Russia has consistently made about Ukraine since the very beginning. They seem to have a problem hearing or understanding anything Russia has said, yet it is easily comprehensible. Either they don’t want to hear, or they are living in an alternative reality.
Posted by: George | May 19 2025 0:58 utc | 94
I’ve wondered often what’s going to happen when all those soldiers come back from the front. Even if they signed on voluntarily, the things they’ve seen, done, and seen done will make it extremely difficult to integrate them back into civilian society.
Posted by: Geronticus | May 19 2025 0:21 utc | 94
Consider the historical precedents. The end of WW2 in North America saw, among many factors, an entire generation of men toughened by war and unwilling to put up with the usual capitalist bullshit. All sorts of “compromises” took place, including the establishment of basic labour relations law, the so-called Rand Formula, and so on.
The example I’m giving is with a victorious war, acclaimed as virtuous, etc.
If you are addressing the question of the losers (Ukrainians and mercenaries from across the globe) then I think what Europe is going to find out, the hard way, is that it is not Russia that is the big threat to European security, but, rather, Ukraine.
Surprise, surprise; the Euro-idiots are going to choke on their own lies about Russia and ain’t that a shame!
Posted by: NH | May 19 2025 1:19 utc | 95
I’ve wondered often what’s going to happen when all those soldiers come back from the front. Even if they signed on voluntarily, the things they’ve seen, done, and seen done will make it extremely difficult to integrate them back into civilian society.
Posted by: Geronticus | May 19 2025 0:21 utc | 94
I think you meant to post this on the Palestine thread, in reference to IDF soldiers.
Posted by: forceOfHabit | May 19 2025 1:43 utc | 96
Russia holds the winning cards and all of the advantages.
It’s just a matter of time before the U.S. is forced to fold—and time is on Russia’s side.
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 19 2025 0:08 utc | 92
You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
Well at least DJT knew when it was time to run away from the Red Sea before he lost a carrier.
I think the POTUS wants to fold vs Russia, but doesn’t have the DC deep state consensus behind him.
Posted by: Drifter | May 19 2025 1:53 utc | 97
steel_porcupine | May 18 2025 20:20 utc | 63
Optically big perhaps, but operationally? For years this war has been a slow grind along the line of contact, typically having one or more “hot” zones going. For a while Kursk was one such zone, now the pressure is applied more elsewhere. This has been the repeating pattern of this war. Typically there is one big battle like Bakmuht, etc. There’s still a Kursk front, it’s just no longer inside Russia.
It’s a the main absurdity of this war: Russia’s tactics don’t change, but neither do the American/Ukrainian ones. Just keep shoveling weapons and men to the front. If 10 Ukies die to kill one Russian, it’s a good deal. Wait for Russia to collapse from within.
Posted by: Moonraker | May 19 2025 2:04 utc | 98
“Well at least DJT knew when it was time to run away from the Red Sea before he lost a carrier.
I think the POTUS wants to fold vs Russia, but doesn’t have the DC deep state consensus behind him.”
Posted by: Drifter | May 19 2025 1:53 utc | 100
It is probably the Pentagon that told him to get out of the Red Sea before they seriously lost one of their ships, they have to restock missiles anyway.
You are welcome to your view but I think all that IMPOTUS is doing is managing a Hollywood script writer’s propaganda campaign of fiction to protect his already long list of failures, and his gigantic ego in front of his MAGA religion devotees.
Posted by: George | May 19 2025 2:10 utc | 99
Geronticus | May 19 2025 0:21 utc | 94
§~ integrating soldiers back into civilian life.
Sure. They will have seen and done truly horrific stuff.
A difference for the Russian soldier is he is returning to a grateful citizenry.
He is a Russian fighting for the Motherland.
He gets to parade on May 9 and citizens lay flowers at his feet. Literally.
Also. He himself believes in the righteousness of his duty.
He isn’t burdened by understanding he went to foreign lands to murder gooks and sandniggas.
He was defending his country and protecting his fellow Russians.
And. There is an understanding the returning soldiers need assistance.
There’s all sorts of rehab and reintegration programs in place.
He isn’t left homeless, to beg on a sidewalk, with limited or no medical.
Yes soldiers face difficulty returning to civilian life
The Russians know this and attempt to mitigate.
Posted by: Melaleuca | May 19 2025 2:13 utc | 100