“What changed with the German Minister of Defense, and why did it change so fast?”

December 23, 2025

Act 1: “Europe’s last peaceful summer.” Russia may attack NATO sooner than expected – Nexta, Nov 17 2025

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the past summer may have been “the last peaceful one” for Europe.

“We always assumed that a Russian attack on NATO could happen in 2029. But now we’re hearing assessments pointing to possible escalation as early as 2028, and some military historians even believe we have already lived through the last peaceful summer,” the minister said.

Act 2: Pistorius cools NATO rhetoric — there will be no Third World War – Nexta, Dec 23 2025

Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius has distanced himself from alarmism within NATO. In an interview with Die Zeit, he said he does not believe in a scenario of a full-scale war between Russia and the Alliance.

He was commenting on remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said the Alliance must be prepared for a war “on the scale experienced by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers”.

Pistorius responded bluntly, saying this was most likely a figurative exaggeration. “I do not believe in such a scenario. In my view, Putin does not intend to wage a full-scale global war against NATO.”

Brian McDonald asks:

Just last month, Boris Pistorius warned a German newspaper that Europe may already have seen its last peaceful summer and that Russia and NATO could be at war next year.

Now he says there will be no Third World War and that talk of a NATO–Russia conflict is “figurative exaggeration.”

What changed, and why did it change so fast?

One Dimitry Medvedev asks a similar question:

The ‘European peacemakers’ are surprising. Pistorius said he doesn’t believe war will break out between NATO and Russia, and Stubb admitted our country has no interest in attacking alliance members.
So, what happened? Sobering up or have the Christmas holidays simply begun?

My answer to both is: Tulsi Gabbard

DNI Tulsi Gabbard @DNIGabbard – 21:02 utc · Dec 20, 2025

No, this is a lie and propaganda @Reuters is willingly pushing on behalf of warmongers who want to undermine President Trump’s tireless efforts to end this bloody war that has resulted in more than a million casualties on both sides.

Dangerously, you are promoting this false narrative to block President Trump’s peace effort, and fomenting hysteria and fear among the people to get them to support the escalation of war, which is what NATO and the EU really want in order to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia.

The truth is the US intelligence community has briefed policymakers, including the Democrat HPSCI member quoted by Reuters, that US Intelligence assesses that Russia seeks to avoid a larger war with NATO. It also assesses that, as the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.

The master called and the poodles winced but found their place.

Posted by b on December 23, 2025 at 18:00 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Putin said it several times: Russia does not want to start a war with the europeans supporters of the ukronazis and banderists.

But of course those supporters do not want to listen. They have their own agenda which is to destroy the Russian Federation.

Good luck, for what we see is that they will be destroyed first, and first by their sanctions.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 18:08 utc | 1

their intelligence is that bad that Tulsi Gabbard had to confirm it for them? What to talk about not understanding the true nature of the conflict and Russia intentions that are obvious to every average Joe in the world!

Posted by: Waqas | Dec 23 2025 18:09 utc | 2

Or rather, Trump via Tulsi. He’s got his own plan relative to Russia/China and he’s probably started seriously threatening European stooges to drop the WW3 rhetoric. They see the WW3 Dem’s heads are all bowed before Trump (Epstein fits aside). It’s taken awhile, but it might finally be sinking in that they are just fungible eunuchs of US Imperialism.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Dec 23 2025 18:09 utc | 3

I agree with Tulsi Gabbard’s assessment: the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.
However, the Russians may be capable of conquering all the ukraines east of the Dnieper, not sure about Odessa, and leave the western ukraines to the Europeans to choke on.
Still, the Russians have to be prepared for an all-out war with the Europeans, because history shows that the people funneled up in that relatively tiny oddly-shaped peninsula on the extreme western edge of the Eurasian landmass cannot prosper without conquering other lands.
And the Europeans have to be prepared for an all-out war with Russia as an excuse the for European population’s declining standard of living.
So I expect the current conflict to continue for at least another year, if not several more right up to the visible time horizon.

Posted by: José Sopla | Dec 23 2025 18:12 utc | 4

The private bank got their money back with the new €90 billion grant from the EU so they’re happy enough for the time being. There must be another plandemic on the way could also be the reason the private bank are happy and are calling in the dogs. Anyways, happy Christmas to you B and all you barflies and a very peaceful and prosperous New year.

Posted by: Ogre | Dec 23 2025 18:14 utc | 5

On my guard against almost everyone, but would I be “fooled again” by Tulsi Gabbard?
Oh, it’s too depressing to contemplate.

Posted by: bassplayer | Dec 23 2025 18:16 utc | 6

Also in a way

Finnish President Stubb admitted that Russia poses no threat to Europe.

The narrative of a “Russian threat” is merely a pretext for the militarization of Europe. NATO leadership is thus seeking to justify demands on countries to increase their military budgets.

Posted by: Jo | Dec 23 2025 18:22 utc | 7

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have so far kept the bulk of their forces facing NATO and as such their capability in traversing the most fortified area in modern history, far more fortified than the Korean Demilitarised Zone, is not really reflective of their combat ability as Europe has no similar zone to stop them.The big problem for Russia is that any fabulous reasons for attacking NATO, a nuclear power, are far outweighed by the obvious and realistic reasons for not attacking them. True, it might stop the ceaseless aggression, subversion and hostility at some date but it also means you are now stuck with Europe. I leave that part unclarified.The Russian Federation covers seven time zones and much of the resources of the planet while Europe has nothing to offer them except a moribund economy. About the only thing Europe would offer would be a lessening of any Baltic Sea headaches but to fully achieve that they’d have to go into Scandinavia as well.There is no reason to attack Europe and the European oligarchs are projecting their thinking on Russia again.

Posted by: ChalkLine | Dec 23 2025 18:28 utc | 8

It also assesses that, as the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.

My emphases.

The objectives of the SMO imply that they have the capability to a regime change and to destroy the ukronazi army. It was never to conquer or occupy, but to liberate. Again the yankees understand nothing, for they are unable to think outside their criminal mind.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 18:29 utc | 9

I agree with Tulsi Gabbard’s assessment: the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.

Posted by: José Sopla | Dec 23 2025 18:12 utc | 4Well no one does under the decent humane terms that Russia has fought in Ukraine. But Russia has no interest in gaining more territory, just protecting its own peoples. On the other hand in a Europe provoked war Russia would be far far superior.As Putin made very clear recently, the surgical effort that Russia has applied in Ukraine minimising the deaths of Russian soldiers and civilians would not be applied to a war with Europe.15k civilians have died in Ukraine. A minimum of 500k military and likely close to 2 m are dead. At least 600k initial soldiers + about 3 million recruits have been whittled down to 3-400k with no one de-mobbed yet.UKRAINE HAS BEEN THE MOST CIVILIAN FRIENDLY WAR EVER.
30:1 or even 100-1 military to civilian only happens when the stronger force really cares about the civilians.A war with Europe won’t be like that.Compare Iraq where some “tens of thousands” lets say 30k Iraq military and Police were killed but 200k civilians suffered violent deaths (with 400-600k dieing in all).That is what a war with Europe would look like. Capital cities would be bombed or hit with massive missiles from both sides. Killing civilians to dissuade the other side would be the intention for both Nato and Russia. Millions of civilians would die, probably tens of millions.30:1 Russian style, vs 1: 15 US Nato styleFrankly, given what we know about western missiles relative to Russian, the best we can hope for is to go nuclear where both sides lose. In conventional weaponry we are lost already.

Posted by: Michael Droy | Dec 23 2025 18:32 utc | 10

Besides the US changing their position on Russia, two things have happened in Germany. Pistorius has gotten more money than he can spend in two lifetimes. And he’s realized it will take two or three generations before the arms and the soldiers he is ordering will be combat ready.
He has also realised that no propaganda will prevent his voters from realising some time soon what is stated in the last paragraph of the article: that it is not very convincing to trash Russia’s capabilities in the Ukraine war while at the same time propping up Russia to some superhero that can invade Berlin and Paris any time it wants.
Army speak what the Germany minister is doing is “tactical retreat”.

Posted by: Marvin | Dec 23 2025 18:34 utc | 11

Regrets? I have many….
I gave money to Tulsi and Bernie. I asked for it back, no reply.
She seems to infer that Russia is not that strong. Who knows? I don’t. But i’m guessing that their slow pace has been discussed and planned and is succeeding in limiting Russian casualties while depleting and exhausting Ukraine and NATO. I also guess that Russia is stronger than Gabbard suggests.
Bottom line, Europe is a mess. US is a mess. Trump’s team has the emotional maturity of bunch of spoiled rich kids in a high school cafeteria food fight. As much as I can’t stomach Gabbard anymore she is the best of a bad breed.

Posted by: migueljose | Dec 23 2025 18:35 utc | 12

Unsaid by Gabbard: US Intelligence assesses that America and NATO do not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy Russia.
They do not have the capability of arming and defending Ukraine.

Posted by: Keme | Dec 23 2025 18:41 utc | 13

Confucius said: “There was a time when I used to listen to what people had to say and trusted that they would act on their word, but now I have to listen to what they say and watch what they do.”

All that scaremongering by Pistorius and his ilk was and is to prop up support for the theft of Russian assets and rebuilding armies so they can sow death and terror again around the globe like they used to. Did he backtrack on his statement that if voluntary military draft would gather insufficient meat, that he would reinstate mandatory military draft? No he didn’t.

In contemporary time, Confucius would likely say: Now it’s useless to listen to what they say and I need only to watch what they do.

Posted by: xor | Dec 23 2025 18:50 utc | 14

Thanks b!

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 23 2025 18:50 utc | 15

I have my own interpretation of Gabbard’s words–“Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.” Russia’s combat abilities indicate it has the ability to destroy any single or series of combatants directly or at a distance. The overall size of Russia’s military tells us it doesn’t want or anticipate the need to “occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.” If Russia felt the need to defeat NATO in Europe, it could do so easily. Russia learned occupation is a waste of effort unless a country’s public really wants it there. As for legally dealing with German rearmament, the UN Charter gives Russia the right to render Germany harmless, and Russia can do that easily without one of its soldiers setting foot inside Germany. So, Pistorius took the correct exit ramp and surrendered. Outlaw US Empire intel still needs to improve. Once the “historical lands” become part of Russia again and are added to its constitution, conscripts will be able to be stationed there, meaning the current size of Russia’s military anticipates what’s its mission will be once the SMO ends. Yes, Russia added over 400,000 volunteers, yet continued its usual conscript draft. Given the perks and very low chances of becoming a casualty, I expect another 400,000 to join in 2026. Russia continues to build and commission warships of all types for its Navy and also continues to expand its Aerospace and missile forces, so it needs more contract personnel.

I’d be very curious to read a US intel assessment of its own military to see the degree of dishonesty employed.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 18:54 utc | 16

Keme | Dec 23 2025 18:41 utc | 13—

I second your assessment.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 19:02 utc | 17

Thanks b, and a merry Christmas

Keme, xor and karlof1. Great comments, cheers.

Brings us back to “no easy wars left”. Sure one side can inflict massive damage to point of turning back into the stone age (see Libya and Palestine) but occupation is an entirely different story. Hence “regime change ” (see Syria) operations currently being applied to Venezuela.

Posted by: Suresh | Dec 23 2025 19:03 utc | 18

Two interviews today.

John Helmer: NATO and Russia: One Miscalculation Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPEk86o9–I

—

Mark Sleboda | The Real Flashpoint To World War 3 Putin Draws a Red Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEXNDndLLMg

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 23 2025 19:05 utc | 19

Posted by: Keme | Dec 23 2025 18:41 utc | 13

He shoots, he scores!

Posted by: Caveman | Dec 23 2025 19:08 utc | 20

I think it’s shame how Trump has misused Tulsi. She’s lovely.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 23 2025 19:08 utc | 21

Always, always, “war is a racket” … and the primary target is your home audience, who you are looting to pay for the master class and your own petty but guaranteed salaries.
So Mr Pistorius’s target was the German people: he wanted to rile them up so they wouldn’t complain overmuch as their health care and pensions were converted to profits for the few. Now, task done, he needs to tack to the new direction as ordered.

Posted by: Caliman | Dec 23 2025 19:10 utc | 22

I’m still reminded of the MOD recruitment ads since the war started that now no longer depict soldiers in vague MENA locations in desert camo but in scenes that are clearly meant to be the Ukrainian steppe complete with Ukrainian style farm houses with temperate green and brown camo. No enemy is depicted, rather the soldiers are rescuing civilians (Who also can’t be heard speaking a specific language) fleeing from an unseen enemy. Really made me nervous to see them making that. Although they ironically ultimately depict the British forces running away well in advance of their enemy. Hilariously the campaign was titled “You Belong Here”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iEuw_TMrY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxHQoR2P5CU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RT-nowKm4
Also
what ~~NATO and the EU~~ the neocons in the US who started this war and their pals in the post Soviet states like Poland the Baltics really want in order to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia.
Fix that for you Tulsi.

Posted by: Altai | Dec 23 2025 19:13 utc | 23

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 23 2025 19:08 utc | 21
——————————
If she had objected the reason to go after drug trafficking in Venezuela with a war flotilla including a nuclear submarine and a nuclear carrier, he would have stated “I don’t care what she says”.
He uses people like disposable items.

Posted by: scc | Dec 23 2025 19:21 utc | 24

The reporting or analysis of Russian capabilities for a war with NATO seems to omit Russian does not use conscripted troops for battle in the SMO. They also always disregard Putin’s declaration Russia has no intention to expand into Europe, and never did. This type of imperialist aggrandizement is Western, which is projected on to their enemies as propaganda for their citizens consumption.

Posted by: Keme | Dec 23 2025 19:24 utc | 25

“Russia has no interest in gaining more territory, just protecting its own peoples”
– Michael Droy 10

More often than not, those two things are directly related, I would suggest instead:

“Russia has no interest in gaining more territory [for it’s own sake]…that said, the European has always sought to dismember Russia as senseless recreation for it’s uppermost class. They have always done so through lands that are now labeled Ukrainia using the Black Sea Coast for resupply, this must end. We will liberate Odessa, the city we built, and retake our lands along the coast and environs inland to Transnistria to establish a direct transportation/energy corridor to our landlocked customers in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 19:26 utc | 26

I just don’t buy into the fiction that (a) the US is seeking peace in Ukraine and (b) that there is a meaningful division between the US and the EU. They both want to destroy the Russian Federation and China. If the US seriously wanted to end the war, given that they started it and are keeping it going with their intelligence resources, weapons etc, they could stop it at once. Whatever the broke EU wanted. Don’t be taken in by the false moves. A happy holiday to all at the bar.

Posted by: Vragtes | Dec 23 2025 19:29 utc | 27

Mark Sleboda’s summary. EU hopes Kiev regime can hang on for another 2, 3, 4 years while EU can get its military industrial complex running. The latter assumption is highly dubious it could ever even succeed.

Sleboda says EU won’t most likely attack Russia directly, but they will expand Ukraine horizontally perhaps through Moldova and inserting EU troops to Ukraine.

Putin last week before the Q&A talked in a military meeting. Russia’s military leadership assumes EU will attack and go to war with Russia in the future.

Anyone who has been following SMO knows the prospect of EU militarizing is a dubious proposition, nevertheless, they will try an reinstate conscription, hoping AFU will hold on for several more years.

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 23 2025 19:30 utc | 28

EU also thinks Trump will be replaced by someone who will again get on board to attack Russia.

Posted by: unimperator | Dec 23 2025 19:31 utc | 29

Amateurs discuss strategy, war planners plot out supply lines, depots, and factory mobilization.

Where would anyone in NATO develop the hope that Russia become as dumb as USA and fight through a vast wasteful logistic network.

The Germans may be getting realistic about dumb Russians.

Posted by: paddy | Dec 23 2025 19:34 utc | 30

Pistorius has gotten more money than he can spend in two lifetimes.
Posted by: Marvin | Dec 23 2025 18:34 utc | 11

Not true. First, Germany’s defense funding consists of a one-off €100 bn Bundeswehr special fund (Sondervermögen, borrowed money), spread over roughly five years, plus rising annual defense budgets (2024 €71 bn; 2025 €86 bn; 2026 €108 bn planned).

Second, the benchmark itself has changed. Thanks to Trump, NATO’s former 2 percent of GDP spending target has become a 5 percent expectation. NATOstan needs some accounting trickery to reclassify and redefine what “defense” now entails:

road and rail infrastructure
digital infrastructure — symmetric gigabit FTTH is standard household commodity in urban Russia, but not for the urban plebs in Germany
cyber capabilities — whatever that is, besides more money for intel services
energy resilience — would come out-of-the-box if not for:
climate adaptation of critical infrastructure

Defense, in NATO-speak, is no longer just tanks, jets, ammo and personnel. It’s supply chains, grids, data centers, railways, ports, and redundancy. In other words, much of what is labeled “infrastructure” or “climate” spending is now functionally accounted for as “defense”.

Third, capacity matters more than authorization or capability. Germany’s problem is not excess money (which it does not really have anyways). It is procurement inertia, lengthy approval processes, industrial bottlenecks, and a depleted production base, commonly referred to as deindustrialization, thanks to climate regulations and other EU red-tape. Big parts of the funds are already allocated for long-term contracts, multinational programs, and backlog replacement duties.

Last but not least, even with all special funds included and more spending programs, Germany still would be underfunded relative to its commitments. A sustained move toward a 5 percent defense framework would require hundreds of billions more over the next 10 years.

In other words: Germany is talking more than it can ever deliver, and that was true even before last week’s double humiliation whammy at the EU Council meeting or DNI Gabbard’s authoritative post on X.

Some fun facts: Time from order to delivery for a (read: one) F-35 Lightning II now is somewhere between 3 and 5 years. Same goes for a (read: one) 220 kV transformer from companies like Siemens, Hitachi, or GE Grid Solutions… 🫠

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 23 2025 19:37 utc | 31

It is Groundhog Day again. Until something tangibly changes, this is likely just more talk, based on the last 20 such moments.

Again, this is NOTHING. NOTHING has changed. NATO is still not destroyed or collapsed. Until NATO withdraws from Ukraine for good, and, IMO, trom Finland, this is not over.

But the bar will get excited and produce hundreds of posts based upon some random utterance by a European bureaucrat.

Calgon, take me away.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Dec 23 2025 19:47 utc | 32

So, when will they finally take into account the 2014 COUP.

Any peace plan to end the war in Ukraine must take into account the COUP.

IN 2014 THE UNITED STATES CONDUCTED A COUP IN UKRAINE.

In 2014 the United States (aligned with a faction in the Ukrainian government) conducted a coup in Kiev (to replace the democratically elected Yanukovich government which was considered insufficiently pro-Europe).

Many in Eastern Ukraine rebelled against this coup-government.

A civil war began.

The coup-government claimed authority over all of Ukraine

and called itself “the Ukrainian government”.

The coup-government sent in the military to deal with the eastern rebels.

The media claimed, and still claims, that the U.S. backed coup-government had a “right” to all of Ukraine and they champion (vigorously support) a march to the Russian border.

WHAT IF THE RUSSIANS HAD CONDUCTED THE COUP IN 2014?

Imagine that in 2014 Russia (aligned with a faction in the Ukrainian government) conducted a coup in Kiev (to replace the Yanukovich government which many considered too pro-Europe).

Perhaps many in Western Ukraine rebelled against this coup-government.

A civil war began.

The coup-government claimed authority over all of Ukraine

and called itself “the Ukrainian government”.

The coup-government called in the Russian military to deal with the western rebels.

Of course, to be consistent, the media would have to claim that the Russian backed coup-government had a “right” to all of Ukraine and that they championed a march of the Russian military to the Polish border.

The important point is that statements such as “coup-Ukraine will not give up any of its land,” and “Zelenski Rejects Giving Land” make no sense.

This is because the coup-government, and its successors, never established authority over all of Ukraine.

WHAT IF THE CHINESE HAD CONDUCTED THE COUP IN 2014?

What if the Chinese (aligned with a leftist/communist faction in the Ukrainian government) had conducted a coup in Kiev. Would this give them authority over all of Ukraine?

What is the legal situation?

A few notes on the 2014 Coup in Ukraine.

About a month before the coup the US Under/Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, was taped telling US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, why she wanted Arseniy Yatsenyuk to be the prime minister of the upcoming coup-government, rather than the boxer Vitali Klitschko who was apparently the favorite for the position.

The Russians released the tape to the internet. Some thought this would stop the coup going ahead.

However, the coup went ahead, Nuland’s order was carried out, and Yatsenyuk got the job of prime minister.

Klitschko got the job of mayor of Kiev.

Everyone in sight (except possibly Tyahnybok) was a Jew but you are not allowed to call it a Jew coup.

You are allowed to call it a Nazi coup though.

All this led directly to the 2014 coup-Ukraine vs rebel-Ukraine civil war,

which led to the 2022 coup-Ukraine-NATO vs rebel-Ukraine-Russia war.

So here we are; the Jews get 80% of Ukraine with a coup. And they demand more.

And the Russians get 20% by war. Clearly, the Russians should get into the coup business.

And the Ukrainians get,…. killed in large numbers.

Posted by: John | Dec 23 2025 19:51 utc | 33

I have a feeling that this about-face will be explained something like this:

‘The Russians were preparing to invade Western Europe, but NATO weapons and training were so successful in Ukraine that Putin has gotten cold feet.’

They can’t say they were lying, so they’ll pivot back to ‘Russia weak gas station with nukes.’

Posted by: Caveman | Dec 23 2025 19:51 utc | 34

To Get It Off …
… my chest. Assassination of General Sarvarov–immediately, he did what he was not supposed to do categorically–he used his personal vehicle which was staying on the unsupervised lot. This is a no-no. This is a violation of obvious procedures which have been implemented by FSB. But … it is what it is. His deputy likely will take his place.
Celebrity analyst claims that General Sarvarov violated directives or protocols given by the FSB is false.
Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for criminal liability for public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for the purpose of protecting the interests of the country and its citizens, maintaining international peace and security.
Never mind that he disregards the memory of one of ours. Adequate people never do this, not with enemies either.
Remember bar people who and where you receive information from.
General Sarvarov – Kingdom of Heaven, eternal memory.

Posted by: Natalya Volkova | Dec 23 2025 19:53 utc | 35

I take this to mean that Ukraine is closer to a collapse than many realise. If it does collapse suddenly (and there is a growing “resistance” to the Zelensky regime to take into account), then this would leave the EU warwishing states to literally send their own troops and new arms to immediately make up the shortfall. Something they cannot do at the moment or for the close future.

Basically the bluff has been called. Put your own troops where your mouth is. If you don’t have them – shut up.

Note that Stubbs in Finland is also calming rapidly down, and Macron is trying to do the Diplomatic bit. (Which he thinks he is good at !)

The hangout is the Countess of Babel in Brussels, and her sidekick, “Catastrophe Kallas”. Not having got their hands on enough billions for Ukraine, their helping hand towards the Arms Industries is now, 90 = less the 45 billions to cover earlier loans, ie. only 45 billions. Blackrock and other US vulture and vulgar funds, seem to be hopefully planning to get more from “Rebuilding”, and less from Uke “conquests”.

Posted by: Stonebird | Dec 23 2025 19:54 utc | 36

It’s all for show for the respective target audience and depending on what needs to be said officially at the moment.
The fact is: the US is still supplying intelligence and weapons to Ukraine, even though it is now demanding money from Europe for the weapons and has England acting as a smokescreen supplier.
Trump wants **his** peace, in which he can shine as the great peace president. As long as that is not within reach, the sanctions are just a “lure” for Putin to dissuade him from backing down from his minimum demands.
The apparent European U-turn is nothing more than an attempt, now that the theft of Russian assets has failed, to somehow save face and still have a say in the negotiations.
Always look at what is actually being done, never believe grandiose announcements.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 19:54 utc | 37

“the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.”Posted by: José Sopla | Dec 23 2025 18:12 utc | 4
No, not conquer and occupy, but destroy essential objects. Pure defense, if necessary.

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 20:00 utc | 38

Posted by: Waqas | Dec 23 2025 18:09 utc | 2
“What to talk about not understanding the true nature of the conflict and Russia intentions that are obvious to every average Joe in the world!”

Oh, they understand all right. It’s just that they can’t bring themselves to admit publicly that they are a bunch of dumb losers. But it will have to come eventually, just, they hope, after they retire (or are dumped into the famous ‘dustbin of history’ more likely.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:09 utc | 39

S. Brennan@1926: No surprise to me if upon liberating Odessa and its western environs, clear up to Transnistria, that the R.U. would extend an olive branch to what would then become NovoUkrainia, a land where the Ukrainian dialect of Russian is spoken by the vast majority of its citizens. Free passage, beyond thrifty levels of rail utilization to the ports on the Black Sea. In such a program, Ukraine would be once again connected to their brother eastern Slavs, though independent and possessing only a small army.

Logically, the Galicia region, which had long suffered iln part Tatarian occupation and a slightly more friendly rule by first, the Polish-Lithuanian state and latterly the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Primary cultural transformation in the latter two situations was that many originally Orthodox people of the area made a pact with the Vatican and came under Romanish power, with the exception of certain rites and rituals. Not Catholic in name as Uniates, but a subsidiary entity under “Holy” Mother Church. Thus, over centuries, those Uniate peoples became somewhat hostile to Russia, being now more Westernized and modernized (in some respects).

World War One and resultant Polish independence, along with the formerly Russian “Chihawahwa Baltic statelets came about as results of the Treaty of Versailles and the losses of lands of the Germans and Austria-Hungarians…leaving some few millions of German speakers now part of culturally hostile governments.

In the Second World War, the Galicians viewed the German armies as liberators from Bolshevik and latterly Stalin’s nationalistic Soviet state. Some numbers of those deracinated Galicians became more Nazi than the Germans themselves. Ukraine today is terribly hobbled by Stalin’s adhesion to what had become a Ukrainian Frankenstein Monster, having been given lands and peoples who were neither Russian Orthodox, nor linguistically diverse from the Russian language and the Ukrainian dialect.

Thus, a NovoUkrainia state would need to divorce those very pro-Western and Russophobic peoples in the southwest of the current Ukrainian state. So it becomes NovoUkrainia for those who speak the Ukrainian dialect and a reconstruction of MaloRossia (Little Russia) where Russian speaking, Orthodox folk would become, by popular referendums, entities within the Russian Union. Thereby, the pie would be peacefully restored to national wholeness…in stark contrast to the Fankenstein Monster known as the E.U., a subsidiary of International Bankster Crime Clans.

Posted by: aristodemos | Dec 23 2025 20:15 utc | 40

Besides the US changing their position on Russia,
Posted by: Marvin | Dec 23 2025 18:34 utc | 11

They did not change their position on Russia. Only stupid people ignoring the history of the yankeeland could imagine that their position towards Russia will ever change.

What they are trying now is to avoid the denazification and the demilitarisation of 404 which would follow a capitulation. With the intention to keep alive the country 404 as a proxy for a future war against Russia.

All what the yankees are saying is a smoke screen to hide their real intentions which will never change: to remain the only hegemon.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:18 utc | 41

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 18:54 utc | 16

Yes. That’s where it’s at. And Russia is very probably keeping a lot in reserve just in case EU-NATO loses its tiny collective mind and actually attacks them. Then it will be a race between how fast the Russian Army can double in size and how fast they can flatten Europe with Oreshniks etc. In my opinion the missiles will win easily.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:20 utc | 42

My answer to both is: Tulsi Gabbard

Posted by b on December 23, 2025 at 18:00 UTC |

I’d add to that: the beancounters are crunching the numbers behind the scenes, and finding out the numbers don’t add up. The costs are real and present, the promised lucre from a break-up and plunder of Russia is looking further away than ever.

Sure, they can print, but they devalue their own currencies by doing so, risking both their own personal wealth and the social/political instability, arising from the effect on the living standards of their citizens/subjects/hostages.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Dec 23 2025 20:20 utc | 43

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 19:26 utc | 26

Yes, exactly right.y

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:22 utc | 44

Natalia@a1953: It is highly evident that Survarov was not a reincarnation of Suvarov.

Posted by: aristodemos | Dec 23 2025 20:22 utc | 45

@ Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:09 utc | 39
They are not stupid failures, but deceitful, hypocritical propagandists who, through constant propaganda, have now created the conditions necessary to gain the necessary acceptance among the population for diverting tax money to the arms industry.Fools cannot do such things. Never underestimate your opponent!

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 20:26 utc | 46

Viktor Pinhasov, a 34-year-old taxi driver from Kyiv, managed to escape Ukraine, crossing five days of the Carpathians and reaching Romania. “I want to go and be free, to live,” he told CNN after arriving in Romania. He is one of dozens of Ukrainian men who, every week, attempt to illegally cross into the western part of the country.
Ukrainian Men Risk Lives Crossing Borders to Escape War | Ukraine news – #Mezha

Posted by: Fredrick | Dec 23 2025 20:28 utc | 47

The deckchairs are being re-arranged right now, it seems:

“The Kiev regime’s functionaries plan to flee abroad after its imminent fall, and many Ukrainian elite representatives have already moved their families overseas and transferred their financial assets there, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement obtained by TASS. “The ‘rats’ are fleeing the sinking Ukrainian ship. The press office of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation reports that the information the SVR receives indicates that the Kiev regime’s functionaries plan to flee abroad after its imminent fall. Many Ukrainian elite representatives have already moved their families overseas and transferred their financial assets there. As the information of Ukrainian embassies in the West suggests, functionaries and business people increasingly often apply to national diplomatic missions in European states for assistance in obtaining residence permits there,” it said. This trend is especially evident in Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Western countries. In particular, over 90% of Ukrainian diplomats working abroad firmly intend not to return to their country after their mission expires, the press office stressed.”
https://en.interaffairs.ru/article/russias-svr-reveals-kiev-officials-plan-to-flee-diplomats-unlikely-to-return/

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:30 utc | 48

It also assesses that, as the last few years have shown, Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.

This sentence is really one of the most stupid ever.

Russia has the capability to destroy the european countries to the ashes. Why did she speak about conquering and occupying?

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:34 utc | 49

@ Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 20:30 utc | 48

“Voting with their feet ” I think that is called, possibly the most effective way of expressing a democratic opinion…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Dec 23 2025 20:36 utc | 50

Pistorius before changing his mind, had a phone call with Naryshkin.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:46 utc | 51

Russia has the capability to destroy the european countries to the ashes. Why did she speak about conquering and occupying?
Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:34 utc | 49
because they have to justify the introduction of conscription.No soldiers can protect against massive or even total destruction, so introducing conscription and producing weapons is pointless.The only thing that helps is to change the language, talk, negotiate, beg if necessary, make promises, but then keep them. So stay friendly. (Unless you can eliminate your opponent faster than you yourself are eliminated).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 20:50 utc | 52

thanks b…

it seems not everyone agrees with tulsi.. me neither…

@ Stonebird | Dec 23 2025 19:54 utc | 36

good post.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Dec 23 2025 20:53 utc | 53

100% no: rationalization after the fact being extrapolated into a pleasing conclusion despite all the evidence contrary to it.

One day this, another day that, and yet another this again; meaningless clowns spouting gibberish and propaganda and wishful thinking on all sides of the “debate”.
“Intelligence agencies” etc. are being used as anonymous sources and carry no weight. Even if they were not they still peddle in rubbish.
Occupation and territory are irrelevant in most (but not all) ways for nearly all concerned; if taken to the extreme then empty desolation will do just fine until later, if need be. If the desolation has to be radioactive then the US and the RF are the prime areas for that, not the patsies.
Both main parties arguably has (or at least had) the capability to destroy the Earth many times over, if it comes to that. This is ignored since it doesn’t fit the narrative and instead the clowns talk as if it is and can only be some kind of infantry-based war and nothing much else. They both want to maintain the illusion that they are both/all in control and will avoid any nuclear holocaust. That is nothing but hubris and belied by their (both main powers) actions including changes in their nuclear postures.
The level of contact and “trust” (non-existent if you are sane) is far below that of most if not all of the cold war, easily including the Cuban/Turkish missile crisis.
There has been a continuous increase in belligerence against Russia; the actions not the words, but often in words as well. Wider geopolitics tie into this; Gaza/Palestine (somehow effectively corralling Russia into support of zionism), Syria, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Baltic and Nordic regions, pressure and/or noise/trouble against China, everything everywhere.

Nope, sorry people but WW3 is more likely than ever (and it has always been highly likely ever since the end of WW2) and all the assholes will continue to be assholes no matter what they say or pretend or for that matter what you/we would like to pretend to be true. Then on top of that you can add accidents and manipulation; some people clearly want a nuclear war, quite a lot of people it seems including many in or “close to” power considering how almost nothing at all is or has been done to avoid it and how all previously existing safeguards have been removed or neutered.

Things are nowhere close to peace, nowhere close to deescalation, and extremely close to another “last” war for any silly reason imaginable including pure fantasy.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Dec 23 2025 20:53 utc | 54

Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said the Alliance must be prepared for a war “on the scale experienced by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers”.

channeling Dr. stranglove are we ?

Posted by: Exile | Dec 23 2025 20:54 utc | 55

I, as a German, so much hoped that Russia is liberating us again from our mental-sick leaders.But now I do understand: It’s over, we need to do it by our own 🙁

Posted by: Hermann | Dec 23 2025 20:54 utc | 56

Pistorius before changing his mind, had a phone call with Naryshkin.
Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:46 utc | 51

Pistorius may be easily confused with Metreweli. No biggy.

Posted by: Nervous German | Dec 23 2025 21:00 utc | 57

@ Sunny Runny Burger | Dec 23 2025 20:53 utc | 54
Nuclear war could break out if the EU/NATO has armed itself to such an extent that it believes “now we can,” and/or if the political climate changes dramatically (e.g., Trump is no longer in office).
If nothing changes in Europe (e.g., through elections), I expect Ukraine to follow a similar path: conscription, then martial law, so that those in power cannot be voted out.

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 21:01 utc | 58

Jams O’Donnell 48,

This has been going on for some time. The trick for the “leadership” of ex-ukrainia is to not to leave while there’s money on the table and yet to still find a chair when the music stops.

Last week a commenter chastised me for not being sympathetic to these “refugees” because as the children, relatives and friends of those well connected Waffen SS running the shit show in soon to be called ex-ukrainia they’re not innocent bystanders. Furthermore, how these “refugee” ingrates who drove 80K cars just weeks before their departure can get unemployment-payments/housing/medical intended for the native WORKERS of Europe is beyond me.

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 21:01 utc | 59

Was there ever a plebiscite in East Germany joining West and did a democratically elected government renounce claims on the repatriation of East German lands to East German
y from Lithuania, Poland, Russia etc

Posted by: Cavery | Dec 23 2025 21:02 utc | 60

Russia can simply let the EU and NATO fragment and collapse on their own. Putin is the imaginary bogeyman in the closet that diverts attention from the real one staring back in the mirror.

Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 23 2025 21:04 utc | 61

Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said the Alliance must be prepared for a war “on the scale experienced by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers”. channeling Dr. stranglove are we ?
Posted by: Exile | Dec 23 2025 20:54 utc | 55

Again a stupid statement by rutte. The next world war would be like noone experienced before. But why are they so stupid?

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 21:05 utc | 62

Mossad strikes again!

Posted by: drinky crow | Dec 23 2025 21:05 utc | 63

Bah! Let’s switch to “outrageous mode”, it’s nearly Christmas after all…

The Russians have a fully complete and un-redacted set of the Epstein Files, and have let Pistorius know that they’ve seen his name in the documentation…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Dec 23 2025 21:13 utc | 64

This is sure sign that some NATO functionaries are actually aware of the dire situation on the Ukronazi eastern front and are preparing for the worst – the rapid collapse of the UAF ala France May 1940.
It will be a messy collapse too with the Brits emergency evac of their ‘covert’ RN base at Odessa, and thousands of mercs attempting to leave the country at all costs, mixed with fleeing Ukronazis bureaucrats and just plain ordinary civilians too. Just think of the roads west towards Paris or toward Dunkirk in May 1940 and you will have a very good idea of what this collapse will look like.

Posted by: tobias cole | Dec 23 2025 21:15 utc | 65

“What changed with the German Minister of Defense, and why did it change so fast?”

Signature cuckolding, nothing changed.

“Friedrich Merz is considered a supporter of economic liberalism and competitive capitalism and advocated deregulation and the reduction of taxes and bureaucracy. In April 2021, he saw a connection between high government debt and the danger of a liquidity trap, but this was met with expert debate as he later made a fiscal policy U-turn to enable defence spending.

He is also a politician who bases his opinions on demand.

Posted by: BlindSpot | Dec 23 2025 21:15 utc | 66

Posted by: Natalya Volkova | Dec 23 2025 19:53 utc | 35

You are quoting Marty from Amerika. He’s no celebrity. Since he’s American, the laws in Rf do not apply anyway.

Now let’s say the dead guy was indeed crazy and went alone everywhere in his own little car. That is just more proof that team Gerasy is made from paper generals like himself.
Let’s say the dead guy was following all rules and still was exploded. That is more proof team Gerasy is so stupid they can’t provide any security for the small number of people in their own general staff, much less for a country. All versions are one worse than another but he’s a low level Trumpy propagandist and doesn’t think. I’m surprised he did not call Kirillov an idiot too

Posted by: rk | Dec 23 2025 21:19 utc | 67

Azerbaijan is becoming a pain and must be busted. Eastern Azerbaijan with a width of 100km along the Caspian Sea coastline should be taken over by Russia and link up with Iran. That gives Russia and all year round warm water port in Chabahar – right at the eastern opening of petroleum transit routes. This will also disrupt US plans to bypass Russia and China in overland Asia to Europe transport routes.

Posted by: Jason | Dec 23 2025 21:41 utc | 68

Pistorius’ comments are simply an admission of defeat and in no way alter the long term picture which is ECONOMIC. The empire and its vassals know the war is lost but that THEIR war to subjugate the world is lost as well. Brics is where the future lies, Putin knows it, Trump knows it and hates it, and as for the rest of the jerks who run ‘Europe we will see. Of course there are other updates that will tilt Euope: elections in Spain, France and eventually Germany and the changes in the press, read deus ex macchina

Posted by: Stierlitz | Dec 23 2025 21:41 utc | 69

@ rk | Dec 23 2025 21:19 utc | 67

You regularly post “concerns” about Mr. Martyanov’s credibility, yet you never seem to post those “concerns” directly on his blog, where he would have the opportunity to answer your “concerns” directly.

In a seasonal mood of helpfulness, here is his blog address: https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/

Off you go…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Dec 23 2025 21:45 utc | 70

I don’t know accurately the day of zélensky resignation. Not later than next Friday.Nevertheless, I predict that that the new direction of Ukraine will be endorsed next Saturday by the Rada.Most probably, Budanov will come out as the strongman or the grey eminence of the new regime.

Posted by: Parisian Guy | Dec 23 2025 21:48 utc | 71

Oreshnik will be ready by end of the year – so maybe a nut allergy? 🌰

Posted by: xblob | Dec 23 2025 21:55 utc | 72

Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:34 utc | 49—

Gabbard replied directly to the EU/NATO Narrative and Reuter’s propaganda. But Gabbard’s also a propagandist as proven by her speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on 21 December in Phoenix where she extoled Christianity and demonized “Islamist ideology” without defining what the latter is or what nation invented it and which nations have used it as a proxy. Nothing about Trump’s wonton violations of the Ten Commandments or other pertinent items of current interest. IMO, her appearance was to apply damage control to Trump’s gross unconstitutional illegalities.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 21:57 utc | 73

rk | Dec 23 2025 21:19 utc | 67—

Martyanov has confessed to retaining his Russian citizenship, and is a dual citizen.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 22:01 utc | 74

I gave a fucking damn to what any of those german “politicians” (speaking politely) are saying or doing. The EU is nearly done and so are those “elites” ( what is the opposite of elite in rude english? I wanna know, please), especially the Germans.
Regarding Tulsi Gabbard one must know that she is only one person in that big machine of power. Naturally, she can`t say the plain truth, but her words were very harsh for the position she has, and for sure not without the permission of the inner circle. I really think that the US want to get rid of that costly war adventure asap, but not for eternity. One of those days we will get them… they might think to themselves..
have a great christmas and may god bless you all

Posted by: ableman | Dec 23 2025 22:05 utc | 75

Posted by: Parisian Guy | Dec 23 2025 22:10 utc | 76

It’s possible that a number of factors, internal and external, all occurring close together in time, have combined to give Boris Pistorius second thoughts about agitating for war and instead adopting a more cautious stand.

Perhaps the rate at which Germany is attempting to increase its armed forces and reserves, and in producing weapons and ammunition (and buying the same) is not as great as the Merz government might have hoped for.

Perhaps public opinion polls have just been released and Merz’s approval ratings are now approaching single percentage digits due in no small part to the German public’s resistance to fighting a war that Germany has no existential stake in.

Perhaps Pistorius has been made aware of the real state of Russia’s military capabilities and Putin’s recent statement that if Russia had to fight the Europeans, Russian conduct of such a war would be very different from the way it is conducting its SMO in Ukraine.

Or perhaps the Merz government is in recess, the Chancellor himself is on holidays, and Pistorius is now free to go off the reservation and say what he has always wanted to say.

German Defense Minister Pistorius suddenly stopped believing in “Putin’s attack” and NATO’s war with Russia

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Dec 23 2025 22:20 utc | 77

Well, it seems that not every US citizen (apart from a few here) has a tin ear for Russia’s position. I don’t know who Jarold McWilliams is, but his assessment is good. Unfortunately no-one in the US but spooks will read it.
“Accepting the Trump proposal’s idea of “shared reconstruction” funded by Russian money would be perceived inside Russia not as a compromise, but as an attempt to formalize and legitimize what many already regard as an act of expropriation.”
https://eng.globalaffairs.ru/articles/peace-proposals-mcwilliams/

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 22:24 utc | 78

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Dec 23 2025 22:20 utc | 77

Perhaps Pistorius got a good slap on the mouth from one of his US bosses. Or maybe his life insurance provider told him he was a bad risk. Either would do.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Dec 23 2025 22:29 utc | 79

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Dec 23 2025 22:20 utc | 77These are all hypothesis. Very possible, for sure. But what are the probabilities for them to happen just right today?The Macron and Meloni reversals are facts, not hypothesis.
I bet you know the Ockam’s razor

Posted by: Parisian Guy | Dec 23 2025 22:31 utc | 80

Like climate and weather we can either accept the long range pattern or get caught emotionally up with a fine day verses a rainy day impacting our plans.

Look no further than Russia if you want the long range and consistant view.

Nato and US are just theatre of the absurd playing with people’s minds to gain attention.

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Dec 23 2025 22:35 utc | 81

Pretty sure that Trump still demands control of NATO countries’ military budgets. Since NATO has no longer has any purpose other than enmity to Russia (defending colonial empires is done along with them) no matter what Pistorius found good PR to do today isn’t going to change policy. Another two weeks may see another shift in the winds.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Dec 23 2025 18:09 utc | 3 Assumes without evidence that Trump talks to Gabbard, or vice versa. Gabbard’s suggestion that NATO doesn’t need to follow Trump’s orders re 5% GDP military spending sounds like a random suck-up statement from Gabbard, who was trying to sound relevant.

Posted by: Jo | Dec 23 2025 18:22 utc | 7 Stubb is correct, Gabbard’s nonsense about how it’s about blocking Trump’s peace plan is merely incoherent gibberish. (Well barring a somewhat forced reading where her real complaint is that the Europeans are just talking poor to extort more money, as Trump would call it. Or pay less protection money as they wouldn’t dare put it.) Stubb’s statement implies—regardless of what Studd intends or will admit to—there is no longer any need for NATO. I rather suspect that Trump will have it explained to him that squeezing the Euros for money is one thing, but NATO is a device for keeping the Americans (in control) in Europe as well as the Germans down (with American direction.)

Posted by: Michael Droy | Dec 23 2025 18:32 utc | 10 The official annexation of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia refute this. Indeed, Crime’s annexation may be ten years old but it still was expansion of Russian territory. That part is just wrong. The difference in civilian casualties between Ukraine and Gaza speaks volumes, but the flight of millions of people has also minimized civilian casualties. But there can’t be mass evacuation to (officially) neutral countries in a NATO/Russia war.

Posted by: Keme | Dec 23 2025 18:41 utc | 13
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 23 2025 19:02 utc | 17 If NATO/US really were unable to arm and defend Ukraine, the SMO would be over. The notion that NATO/US need to conquer and occupy Russia needs justification. Regime change or chopping the country up doesn’t require conquest and occupation. Raising the bar higher makes the high jump more difficult but it’s not really a valid argument.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Dec 23 2025 22:43 utc | 82

“It will be a messy collapse too with the Brits emergency evac of their ‘covert’ RN base at Odessa…” – Tobias Cole 65

Usually I agree with your take but…Russia’s Slo-Mo has allowed the English* and their obedient minions, the Angliphiliacs all the time in the world to militarize NE Romania right next to the Odessa Oblast. With all the logistics now installed to support a bloody linear retreat and then to have a terrorist base just out of reach of Russia…it’ll be a messy affair
And since Russia [and the Infallibility-fan-club] are unwilling to contemplate supporting a breakthrough, the British in their bases dotting the BSC will be able to saunter across the border to Romania when the time comes. Do I wish this to be the case, no but what is done is done or, more truthfully, what went undone is done.

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 22:46 utc | 83

@1 Naive. Sadly, the warmongers ie Pistorius Kallas VdL Merz Starmer etc will not be in the least harmed by the sanctions. However the populations of the countries they have so badly served, will be harmed.
I hate them , like Baerbock and Habe ck they will scamper of to a neocon septic think tank and blame everyone one else for the problems they have created.

JB

Posted by: Judge Barbier | Dec 23 2025 22:50 utc | 84

fresh https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-frontline-report-december-23rd on a 1405 AFU casualties day

Now my interpretation. As I said before, the jump back to 1.400 from 1.100 is a kursk level commitment by the AFU. The fact that RF opens the sumy encirclement gambit, and now reinforces the karkiv angle is a bit “you have guys to spare? Now you have to split them and fail”, a more efficient way to reduce the lemming waves in some areas (kupiansk comes to mind)

As for europe? if even odessa is off the cards for 2026 (unless AFU collapses) … not worth replying factually to nonsense,

bye, bye, have a human pastrami sandwich (heavy on the mustard) waiting. (same nonsense better smell)

Posted by: Newbie | Dec 23 2025 22:52 utc | 85

The war on Russia has been an ongoing project for some two hundred years. It is a permanent condition. Period.

Posted by: nwwoods | Dec 23 2025 22:55 utc | 86

They are not stupid failures, but deceitful, hypocritical propagandists who, through constant propaganda, have now created the conditions necessary to gain the necessary acceptance among the population for diverting tax money to the arms industry.
Fools cannot do such things. Never underestimate your opponent!

Posted by: smartfox | Dec 23 2025 20:26 utc | 46

Yes exactly correct. Nothing that the US does is because of not understanding anything or stupidity. It is all propaganda. They are not, yet, ready to say “Since 1945 we have been engaged in a project to destroy Russia and take all its stuff.”. The USians love criminals. They have been taught for many decades to love criminal gangs, e.g. The Godfather and Goodfellas. Victoria Nuland and Hilary Clinton are not stupid. They are not smarter than we are, but they do that which they do because they are evil not because they are stupid.

Others have said it over and over and you, correctly, just did. Never underestimate your enemy.

Posted by: acementhead | Dec 23 2025 23:17 utc | 87

Sure, they can print, but they devalue their own currencies by doing so, risking both their own personal wealth and the social/political instability, arising from the effect on the living standards of their citizens/subjects/hostages.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Dec 23 2025 20:20 utc | 43

No it is not true that ultra wealthy lose from inflation. The ultra-wealthy hold real assets and have net borrowings far greater than their cash holdings. The ultra-wealthy benefit from inflation. If they didn’t it wouldn’t happen. Inflation is not a mystery it’s a policy.

Posted by: acementhead | Dec 23 2025 23:25 utc | 88

Remember bar people who and where you receive information from.
General Sarvarov – Kingdom of Heaven, eternal memory.

Posted by: Natalya Volkova | Dec 23 2025 19:53 utc | 35

Who’re you, again?

Posted by: Laurence | Dec 23 2025 23:34 utc | 89

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Dec 23 2025 19:08 utc | 21
“I think it’s shame how Trump has misused Tulsi. She’s lovely.”

Whatever treatment Tulsi receives within the Trump administration, I have the impression that she is the voice of reason to counter the warmongers who are advocating for more death and destruction, and I appreciate her willingness to take the insults and disrespect from her former colleagues in order to add her perspective ino the mix.

Posted by: Paranaense | Dec 23 2025 23:37 utc | 90

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 22:46 utc | 82

“Russia’s Slo-Mo”

It would be best to remember that Russia’s ‘Slo mo’ as you call it in ad hominem fashion to suit your purposes has always been a careful SMO, not a full war. To pretend otherwise is pure ignorance of what a full scale war is. It’s the only one cleaning up the mess as Ukraine continues to retreat as well.

It would also be best to remember that the US and its puppets in the UK including Tony ‘Page 8 prime minister’ Blair saw 20 years of warfare in Afghanistan to achieve nothing, then leave the country in a far worse position. I can still remember Blair’s garbage speech about helping the poor women of Afghanistan emancipate themselves as a motivator of yet another phony neocon war.

European wars in the past lasted sometimes for more than 30 years. Unfortunately they do not follow tabloid guidelines and actually are finished when one side loses or surrenders.

Britain has shown itself to be an incompetent yet a dirty underhanded player in Ukraine, Romania, and on the high seas. I very much doubt given the political manipulations in Romania, that the Romanians themselves are even behind their current government. The newest ‘Page 8’ prime minister Starmer has simply backed the Zionists, run to Zelensky (the day after he was elected), and lied to British people to get into office. He has also led his country into increasing economic disaster. His popularity has tanked as well. It would be good to remember that the current Britain is not still in the 19th century when Britain “ruled the waves” and like the current imperialist US “waived the rules”.

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Dec 23 2025 23:41 utc | 91

Is that the same Gabbard who denounced war with Venezuela in 2019?

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | Dec 23 2025 23:49 utc | 92

My POV is that Gabbard is not the most reason of Pistorius reversal. He could have ignored what Gabbard said.But he could not ignore that Macron and Meloni just said that we’d better try to speak again with Putin This is the point : Germany discovered it was alone in its crusade against Russia.
Posted by: Parisian Guy | Dec 23 2025 22:10 utc | 76

Pistorius change of mind is directly linked to his contact with Naryshkin. Germany is not alone, the roastbeefs are first and always were first. Tibet. Operation Pink. Operation Unthinkable. Among others.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 23:49 utc | 93

Posted by: S Brennan | Dec 23 2025 22:46 utc | 82

I always suspected him to be a concern troll. Here we are: he is a one. Those kind of people who think that they know better what to do than the Russians.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 23:57 utc | 94

While Tulsi may have reset their settings for now, it’s just a matter of time before the Euros go back to their default state of thievery. Remember that they have no resources of their own, and they own their fast disappearing wealth to their former colonies.
All they have to do is wait out Trump, and when his term ends, maybe Tulsi will be history too. That’s all they’re doing. And while they wait, they’ll be plotting and scheming on how to undermine Tulsi and others like her. Including and especially Vance. They wouldn’t have liked his Munich speech. Funny how reminiscent of Putin’s Munich speech that was.

Posted by: AmusedIndian1947 | Dec 24 2025 0:01 utc | 95

Posted by: Judge Barbier | Dec 23 2025 22:50 utc | 83

Unfortunately you are right. Very unfortunately. The problem is that too many people voted for them and elected them. There is not one to take his responsibility to change anything. There is also no organisation to replace them. Everything is locked.

Posted by: Naive | Dec 24 2025 0:04 utc | 96

@82

In Vietnam, terrorists were chased across all of Indochina: Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, N Voetnam.

Do you think RF forgets the 1960-1970’s in SEA? When RF bombs terrorists who will react?

They would say “what would LBJ do?

Posted by: paddy | Dec 24 2025 0:09 utc | 97

Gold price just went over $4500 in Shanghai…..one of the short term indicators of change, eh?

I have been thinking that the hatred of Russia started with the Orthodox Christianity split with the Roman version. Those Orthodox Christians lived in the Russian regions and became integrated more into the Russian culture and values….rejected by the West/Roman religious underpinnings

I find it fascinating that the Roman version is the one to embrace usury and killing of non-believers. I believe it was the usury issue that helped create the Iron Curtain and keep USSR out of the Western private/usury system of finance.

I see the global conflicts today reflecting those same issues….top down or bottom up financing and killing for exceptionalism.

The shit show continues until it doesn’t.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 24 2025 0:18 utc | 98

They did not change their position on Russia. Only stupid people ignoring the history of the yankeeland could imagine that their position towards Russia will ever change. What they are trying now is to avoid the denazification and the demilitarisation of 404 which would follow a capitulation. With the intention to keep alive the country 404 as a proxy for a future war against Russia. All what the yankees are saying is a smoke screen to hide their real intentions which will never change: to remain the only hegemon.
Posted by: Naive | Dec 23 2025 20:18 utc | 41

Exactly correct. The only thing that has changed at all is the lies that they are telling. The Project has been going continuously since 1945. They aren’t stopping now.

Posted by: acementhead | Dec 24 2025 0:34 utc | 99

I don’t know accurately the day of zélensky resignation. Not later than next Friday.

Nevertheless, I predict that that the new direction of Ukraine will be endorsed next Saturday by the Rada.Most probably, Budanov will come out as the strongman or the grey eminence of the new regime.

Posted by: Parisian Guy | Dec 23 2025 21:48 utc | 71

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What information sources have helped you to develop this perspective?

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Dec 24 2025 0:40 utc | 100

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