Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update
July 11th 2025
The most important event of the week, for those outside of the West at least, was undoubtedly the BRICS Summit of July 6th/7th in Rio de Janeiro which is covered in some detail below. Trump believes that BRICS is challenging US interests and plans to impose tariffs or sanctions on BRICS countries. BRICS was set up to hurt us, he complained, whereas the truth is that it was set up to prevent you from hurting them. He appears to be totally unaware that such actions are actually driving countries away from US influence and the dollar. At The Summit, President Lula of Brazil responded thus:
I don’t think it’s responsible or serious for the president of a country as large as the United States to be threatening the world over the internet. He needs to understand that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor. We are sovereign nations. If he believes he can impose tariffs, then we have the right to respond with tariffs of our own.
In the Middle East, a ceasefire deal may be close but has not been completed as I write. Hamas is requesting that the existing aid system run by the US and the Israelis, which is being used to slaughter Palestinians, be replaced with an international and independent system. They also want guarantees that the Israelis will not return to fighting while negotiations have started. You can read more at telSUR. This week, 3,700 Palestinians were killed or wounded by the IDF: most of them women and children. Israel is also arming anti-Hamas militias as the murderous IDF declines in strength after taking many casualties. Hamas will show these treasonous people no mercy. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
The IDF is taking casualties in Beit Hanoun north of Gaza and in Khan Unis where Hamas rocket fire has hit Israeli units. US Zionist Alan Dershowitz has said in an interview with Piers Morgan that there are no innocents in Gaza, hinting that the Palestinians should be wiped out. Sadly, many Israeli people share this view.
The Houthis have stepped up their attacks in response to Israel’s murder of civilians in Yemen and the continuing genocide in Gaza. This week, they have sunk two ships related to Israel in the Red Sea and are still lobbing missiles at Ben Gurion airport.
Donald Trump is still insisting that Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been set back years which makes calls for it to admit IAEA inspectors rather superfluous and puzzling. Iran is being a little coy about the extent of the damage - which is probably wise. Israel is prepared to attack Iran if it suspects that the program is being revived while Iran has said that it will continue to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes with the support of the Global South and East.
Iran has sent the IAEA inspectors packing and may even pull out of the NPT. Iran has warned Israel that it will be hit hard if it decides to attack. Alistair Crooke discusses the situation here. Iran’s President Pezeshkian was interviewed by Tucker Carlson which you can read about/watch at Zero Hedge. Some in Iran have complained that he was too soft but I don’t think so. The Orange man has been telling little fibs again by claiming that the Iranians are calling for talks: they are not, according to their Foreign Ministry. But they are beefing up their air defences with help from China, according to Zero Hedge. Iran has not ruled out talks altogether but has made them conditional on: a) US guarantees that they won’t attack b) Commit to ‘mutual respect’ and c) US acknowledgement that it made mistakes. The Iranians must know that Trump will not agree to any of this?
US Economist, Paul Craig Roberts, claims that Iran was close to destroying Israel entirely. Others have said the same and more evidence is coming to light regarding the scale of the destruction. But this means that Israel now knows that Iran can annihilate it so Bibi is probably more determined than ever to get the Americans involved in a war. Yet, there are no credible reasons Trump can give for doing so - therefore - expect a false flag.
In Syria, the Western masters have declared that HTS is no longer a terrorist organisation and is in talks with Israel to normalise relations. The head chopper Jolani has also been redeemed and sanctions have been lifted. Meanwhile Wahabi death squads are annihilating Alawite and Christian families.
On the morning of July 4th, Trump spoke on the phone with Zelensky about strengthening air defences and joint drone production. Zelensky also pleaded with Trump for more weapons, convinced that he can still win - and he asked Trump to impose sanctions on Russia - which may yet happen.
According to Sputnik, Pete Hegseth acted unilaterally to deprive Ukraine of certain missile supplies - which I find hard to believe. If it is true, then Trump will want to brush it under the carpet as another embarrassing episode. But Trump eventually acquiesced to Zelensky’s request and has said that he will be sending more weapons to Ukraine. So we’re back to square one after a brief pause. But tomorrow he could say something different.
The US is sending only 10 Patriot interceptors according to b at the MoA which will be expended very quickly. A senior Ukrainian Air Force Officer called Trump’s meagre contribution (which will not last a single engagement) ‘a sick joke'.1 But some European countries, including Germany, will be providing Patriot systems which they will purchase from the US. Anyway, Maria Zakharova has revealed that there are no plans for further talks with the Americans. Talks were postponed at Washington’s request. And the once great Z has refused a third round of talks with the Russians: he wants to met with Putin instead. Trump is angry with Putin at the moment, lambasting him at interviews. Alex Krainer believes that this could be for domestic consumption - as he discusses here. Trump wrongly accused Putin of killing too many soldiers in Ukraine (Russian and Ukrainian) while ignoring the civilian atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza.
In Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian source, Yermak, who is disliked by the US, controls 85% of the information meant for Zelensky and is making a bid for power. According to a Ukrainian report, Zelensky’s popularity rating has plummeted to 14% and 60% of Ukrainians do not want him as President. In the air war, Russia has been targeting TCC premises, including recruitment centres for the past week and continues to do so - according to a Ukrainian source. This is popular among the Ukrainians, many of whom are posting the addresses and working hours of TCC (i.e. recruitment) personnel on line. The Russians continue to make steady progress in areas such as Sumy and Pokrovsk while delivering some of the heaviest air attacks of the war.
In the US, Elon the Musk has announced his creation of the ‘America Party’ to challenge the corrupt two party system and set Americans free. Many, including some Maga supporters may want an alternative. They will be disappointed that Trump failed to deliver on many things, including the Epstein Files which will never see the light of day - as the elites breath a collective sigh of relief. It was never going to happen was it! Alex Krainer believes that the list will continue to be used to blackmail those who appear on it by the Trump team. Trump is not going to abandon that sort of leverage. It appears that it is proving difficult to evict all the illegals from the south and it appears that Trump cannot or does not wish to avoid wars. Paul Craig Roberts discusses the broken promises here while in this video Brian Berletic explains why it was never going to be any different under Trump as the Deep State continues to exert control.
Murderer and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated Orange Man Good for the Nobel Peace Prize - and he’ll probably get it. So, a war criminal recommends his chief accomplice in genocide for a Peace Prize - it could happen only in the West. I find it hard to view images of a smiling mass murderer being lauded by Trump and Vance in the Oval Office. The fact that this monster is their friend is nauseating.
In a move that sums up the US establishment, Marco Rubio announced sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese because she criticised various countries for allowing War Criminal Netanyahu to travel in their air space. We in the West inhabit an ‘upside down’, Orwellian World where murderers are celebrated while their victims are ignored or even blamed for their own suffering.
In the EU, Ursula von der Leyen won her no confidence following allegations against her as part of the Pfizer scandal. You can view a good rant against her in this brief video.
A ‘Coalition of the Willing’ was convened this week that featured Giorgia Meloni but produced nothing of interest.
It’s been an interesting week.
Putin Attended Russian ‘Popular Front’ Exhibition
The Popular Front (Peoples Front) has been helping the military involved in the SMO for the past three years while also providing humanitarian assistance to people in the Donbass - all under the heading ‘Everything for victory’. Putin praised their efforts.
Putin attended The ‘Everything for Victory’ Forum at which a minute’s silence was observed in memory of those who have given their lives for the fatherland.
Zaporozhe NPP in Trouble
The Zaporozhe nuclear power plant has no power from external sources but is relying on emergency diesel generators. Ukrainian attacks on the power supply to the plant are responsible for this situation.
RADA MP Dmytruk - The People Want Peace
Exiled MP Artem Dmytruk was recently interviewed by Rick Sanchez of RT who asked him whether the people of Ukraine believe they can win. He answered that the people know this is impossible and want peace. Dmytruk also claimed that the people hate Zelensky and are ecstatic when the Russians attack TCC centres. He also revealed that whereas Zelensky is in control within the country, with regard to the war, he simply follows orders from the West. He also confirmed that Zelensky must try to extend the war because the minute it stops he will be dead.
Pretend Not to Understand Russian - Teachers Told
Ukraine’s Education Ombudsman Nadezhda Leshchyk (pictured) has advised Ukrainian teachers that if their students speak Russian they should pretend not to understand ‘as a gentle way of influencing’ so that Russian speakers are discouraged. I am amazed that she has managed to rationalise this request without understanding the moral implications of preventing people from speaking their native tongue. The German people must also have engaged in such rationalising when the Nazis started persecuting the Jews during the 1930s.
Ukraine Desertions - Update
According to researcher/journalist Boyko, a total of 230,000 men have deserted from the Ukrainian army: 107,000 in this year alone (which is a record). These figures are from official data: the real figure will be much higher.
Ukraine Burning Bodies to Avoid Paying Compensation
This report, which is hard to believe, claims that the Ukrainians are burning the bodies of soldiers handed over to them by the Russians to avoid paying out compensation. Zelensky’s gangsters are capable of this but I can’t be certain that it is true.
SBU Colonel Voronich Assassinated
Colonel Ivan Voronich of the Ukrainian intelligence services, who is suspected of organising terrorist attacks on Russia, has become a victim of terrorism. It is possible that he was killed by Russian sympathisers; by political or personal rivals; or because he knew too much. He was shot dead in Kiev and the assassin escaped after firing five shots.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
4th/5th July
On the evening of the 4th July a commercial enterprise in Shebekino (Belgorod) was hit by drones which set the place alight and injured two civilians. Residential buildings in Engels and Saratov were hit by drones while Leningrad and Rostov also came under attack. In Belgorod region, one civilian was injured by debris from a downed drone while in Oktyabrsky a drone detonated near an apartment building injuring two civilians including a child. Elsewhere in Belgorod, drones hit an agricultural enterprise, injuring 7 while in the Petrovsky district HIMARS missiles killed 4 and injured another 7. HIMARS are more deadly than drones and they require Western complicity in the terrorism in order to hit their human targets. In total, according to the Russian MoD, 34 drones were shot down over Voronezh; 11 over Bryansk; 9 over Belgorod and Saratov; 8 over Novgorod; 6 over Kursk and 2 or 3 each over Rostov; Smolensk; Ryazan; Leningrad; Orel; Chuvashia and 1 each over Moscow; Penza and Tula.
5th/6th July
According to the Russian MoD, a total of 120 drones were shot down overnight: 30 over Bryansk; 29 over Kursk; 18 over Oryol; 17 over Belgorod; 13 over Tula; 4 over Kaluga; 3 over Leningrad; 2 over Smolensk; 2 over Novgorod and 1 over Tver. Many Russian airports were shut down due to drone attacks and have lost 20 billion rubles in revenue.
6th/7th July
Overnight, a drone attack set a car on fire in Shebekino (Belgorod) killing the driver and passenger. Elsewhere in Belgorod a man was injured by drone attack while driving a combine harvester. In Borisovka (Belgorod) a man was injured when a drone attacked his vehicle while a kamikaze drones injured a man in Klimovsky, Bryansk. 48 drones were shot down over Moscow and Voronezh regions.
7th/8th July
Overnight, a drone attack on Bryansk caused damage and injured one civilian. In Belgorod, three people were injured by drone attack on the village of Borisovka where a man was injured when a drone hit his vehicle. In Kherson, terrorist attacks killed a woman and injured a man while in the Gorlovka (DPR) cluster munitions killed another civilian.
8th/9th July
Overnight, the ‘Gorodskoy Beach’ in Kursk was attacked, killing 4 and injuring 15. Five year old Tolya died trying to shield his mother from drones on the beach, according to this. He suffered 30% burns. Drones attacked Moscow Region; Ryazan; Tula; Lipetsk and Voronezh. In Shebekino (Belgorod) a woman and a 14 year old boy were injured by shelling. In Rylsk (Kursk) the local hospital was attacked injuring 2. In total, 23 drones were destroyed over Kursk; 16 over Bryansk; 15 over Tula; 12 over Belgorod; 12 over Oryol; 4 over Moscow Region; 2 over Smolensk and 1 each over Voronezh and Ryazan.
9th/10th July
Overnight in Belgorod, a woman was injured by drone drop while a drone attack on a farm killed one and injured two. 2 drones were shot down over Belgorod, 1 over Penza and 1 over Kursk. In total, 25 drones were destroyed over Russian territory.
10th/11th July
According to the War Chronicle:
Yesterday evening and until 7 a.m., 155 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones were shot down over the territory of Russia. Most of all over the Kursk region - 53, some near the nuclear power plant, over the Bryansk 19, Smolensk - 15, 14 and 13 over Belgorod and Tula. In the Lipetsk region, in the Khlevensky district, a man died during a strike on an agricultural enterprise.
In Kursk, a 73 year old man was killed when a drone attacked his house. Several houses in the region were set aight by drone attacks. In Belgorod, one man was killed when a drone attacked his car and another 2 were killed when the Hospital in Shebekino was attacked. In Aleshki (Kherson) a woman was injured by shelling. In Tula, one man was killed and another injured by drone strikes.
The Sea War
5th/6th July
Overnight, unmanned boats were repelled as they attacked Novorossisysk, according to the Majors. One drone was shot down over the Sea of Azov.
9th/10th July
Overnight, 8 drones were shot down over the Black Sea and 2 over Crimea.
The Air War
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
4th/5th July
Overnight, according to the War Chronicle, the SBU Academy was hit along with Zhulyany Airfield where missile batteries and maybe a Patriot system were set alight. Two waves of containing a total of 200 drones targeted Kiev. According to the Majors:
Explosions were heard in Kiev and the region, Starokonstantinov, Chuguev, Kharkov region, Kremenchuk, Poltava region, Odessa, Nikolaev, Cherkasy, and Khmelnitsky regions.
Two Iskander missiles hit the airfield at Voznesensk (Nikolaev) causing two massive fires.
5th/6th July
According to the War Chronicle on July 5th:
Over the past day, hypersonic "Daggers" hit the Starokonstantinov airfield of the Armed Forces of Ukraine three times, Khmelnytsky region. At the same time, an air raid alert was announced in several regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv, as the Kinzhal flying on hypersonic created powerful peals of thunder similar to explosions - flying at a speed of 10,000 km / h. "If you heard, then the missile has already passed you," Ukrainian resources write.
The Russians have been targeting TCC premises during the past week in order to disrupt mobilisation. Today they attacked the TCC at Kremenchuk. The Ukrainian administration is particularly annoyed at these strikes because they are enormously popular with the people.
On July 6th, a large column of smoke was seen rising above Troieshchyna in Kiev, near the Thermal Power lant. There was no alarm and the Dnepr District of Kiev was left without power.
6th/7th July
According to the Majors:
The Russian Armed Forces launch high-intensity strikes against enemy rear targets. The destruction of shopping mall buildings is becoming a new system element. Last night, explosions were reported in Kiev near the Desnyansky department of the Ludolovs. Explosions were also heard in Kharkov, Sumy, Odessa, Izyum, as well as the Chernigov region.
7th/8th July
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Kharkov, Sumy and Ochakov.
8th/9th July
Overnight, hypersonic ‘daggers’ attacked Lutsk while hundreds of Geraniums were also in the air. Vinnytsia; Khmelnytskyi; Kyiv; Poltava; Kharkov; Krovoy Rog; Cherkasy; Pavlograd; Zaporozhye; Zhytomir and Lvov all came under attack. According to a Ukrainian source, the Russians are attacking military sites, airfields and energy infrastructure in anticipation of a massive Ukrainian strike scheduled for 9th/10th July. According to this report, more than 300 drones were deployed along with several dozen missiles of various types. 7 Kinzhals hit Lutsk City and surrounding areas, along with 3 Kh-101s while 2 Kh-101s hit Ozerne air base in Zhitomir.
9th/10th July
Overnight, Geraniums and Iskanders attacked Kiev. According to the Majors, more than one hundred drones were launched overnight, most of them at Kiev. According to Slavyangrad:
….judging by the videos that began to appear in the morning in Ukrainian TG channels, Geraniums and Iskanders hit the Antonov Design Bureau, the Meridian plant, and the territory of the Aviadynamics plant tonight. There is also data on the destruction of air defense positions, but there is no objective control yet.
According to Zelensky, 200 Geraniums and 18 missiles were used.
10th/11th July
Overnight, Sumy, Kharkov, Nikolaev and Zaporozhye came under attack.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
4th/5th July
Overnight, according to the War Chronicle:
The enemy attacked the Voronezh region and Chuvashia at night. Explosions over the Borisoglebsk airfield in the Voronezh region. The Su-25, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35 are based there.
In Cheboksary, drones attacked a manufacturing plant causing a fire while an attack on energy infrastructure left 20,000 without electricity in Zaporozhye.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports - Ukraine Losses
w/e June 20th 9,350 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 410
w/e June 27th 9,130 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 462
w/e July 4th 9,100 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 427
w/e July 11th 8,860 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 523
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Kursk
According to the Majors:
On the Kursk section of the border, the GRV North reports that now the AFU are trying not to break through the border, but to maintain their positions at the border towns of Ryzhevka and Bessalovka, sending reserves for slaughter.
On July 11th, the Ukrainians continued in their efforts to break through in Kursk towards Tyotkinsky.
Sumy
By the end of the week, according to the Majors:
In the Sumy direction, the enemy counterattacks with variable results. The main criterion is the number of eliminated personnel and destroyed enemy equipment. The Russian Aerospace Forces are crushing the advancing formations of the AFU with heavy bombs, and soon the enemy's counteroffensive will come to naught. Nevertheless, the resources of the GDV "North" write that ours were able to advance in a day at Yunakovka and Varachino.
Kupyansk Region
South of Kupyansk
Svatove
Svatove-Kreminna
According to Slavyangrad:
In the Liman direction, Russian forces have taken the settlement of Zelenaya Dolina, battalion strongpoints of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and advanced with a wide front towards the settlements of Srednee, Shandrigolovo, and Kolodezi in an area of up to 40 km²
Toretsk-Konstantinovka-Chasov Yar
According to the War Chronicle:
There is a significant advance of Russian units in the Chasov Yar area. The liberation of the Shevchenko microdistrict is underway - ours have entrenched themselves in the eastern part and in the center. The general direction of the offensive is Nikolaevka to the west of the city.
Mirnograd - North Of Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk - Mirnograd
South of Pokrovsk - Kamyanske Detail
By the end of the week, according to the Majors:
There are battles on the Zaporozhye front near the northern outskirts of Kamenskoye, fighters of the 247th and 108th are fighting with counterattacking units of the AFU. In the area of Malaya Tokmachka, the 70th motorized rifle regiment continues its assault operations, and bloody battles are underway.
Novopavlovka
Poddubnoe
By the end of the week, the Russians had liberated Tolstoy and Poddubny.
The Economic War
Dmitriev - European Suicide
To add insult to injury for Brits, Starmer will be increasing tax on fossil fuels - which will impact on this household because we use oil and coal.
Black Rock Pulls Out of Ukraine
You may remember that some time ago Black Rock cut a deal with Ukraine to exploit its resources. That was back when there was some hope among Western leaders that parts of Ukraine could be saved. The recent loss of ‘Ukrainian’ lithium resources - I reported on last week - may have been a factor in arriving at this decision. Is this a sign of things to come for Ukraine? I have no idea, but Alex Christoforou provides some speculation and analysis here. Investors are canny people: they are reluctant to invest in something that may not exist for very much longer.
EU Reduces Ukraine Grain and Sugar Imports
The EU is to reduce Ukrainian grain and sugar imports by 70-80% in 2026 in order to protect EU farmers.
World Politics
Khamenei
His first public appearance since the end of the war is greeted ecstatically.
Israel Hid Extent of Damage Caused by Iran
According to the British Telegraph paper, Israel concealed serious damage caused by Iran to five military bases including the Tel Nof air base. You can read more at Sputnik.
The Persecutors Are Also Victims
These pictures show how a man lived and how he died. He was an IDF soldier but he was also a victim of this war. He served in Gaza and Lebanon and suffered with PTSD. He set himself alight in his own car. And just like all the dead children, women and young men among the Palestinians, he was too young to die at 24. This is all we know but much more can plausibly be assumed. This young man was traumatised by war and was probably feeling guilty about the genocide he was forced to be part of. Apparently, in a suicide note, he explained that he could not get the images of dead women a children out of his mind. Something similar happened to Wehrmacht soldiers after being asked to kill Jews when they entered the Ukraine in 1941.
We could ask why he didn’t simply refuse to fight - as many have done - but then he could be accused of cowardice and/or of betraying his country. So, perhaps he could not face such accusations and decided to commit suicide. Of course, this was the action of a man who was mentally ill. The rates of PTSD and of suicide are high in the IDF. The oppressor can also be the victim. Oppression eats itself in the end, just as this man was consumed by fire by his own hand. He could have ended his life quietly and anonymously but he was obviously making a point.
Wise Westerners - Zoran Milanović.
Croatia’s president slammed the EU leadership for supplying arms to Ukraine. We have wasted much of our best equipment, he complained.
IAEA Inspectors Pack Bags and Leave Iran
They seem pleased to be going.
NATO Bypassed
It seems that some countries in Europe have felt the need to form bilateral mutual defence treaties in spite of the fact that they are in NATO. Britain and Germany have signed a treaty and so have France and Poland. Can they see the writing on the wall?
Britain’s Political Landscape Has Changed
Wow!
Orban Warns of Ukrainian Electoral Interference
Viktor Orban is warning of Ukrainian interference with the upcoming 2026 elections in Hungary in a bid to secure a pro-Ukrainian government. Ukraine’s intelligence is already planning to create a large political Party to challenge Orban’s Fidesz Party.
Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid
The Europeans are laying it on thick regarding the Russian/Chinese/Iranian/North Korean threat. Here’s some examples:
Duda - I Order You to be Afraid
Polish Prime Minister, Duda, is doing his best to ramp up the anti-Russian hysteria in trying to persuade the Americans that Ukraine must be funded:
In Russia, there is no respect for human life, as in our countries or in Western Europe. Therefore, the question arises of how to stop Russia. In my opinion, this is a huge task facing US President Donald Trump and America. Today, in the whole world, only the US has such a resource that is certainly capable of containing Russia. Containing Russian imperialism, keeping it in check — this is the most important thing, because everyone is afraid of it.
Everyone is afraid of Russia because people like you are spouting such utter nonsense. It is Ukraine, not Russia, that has no respect for human life.
Rutte - I Order You to be Afraid
If Xi Jinping decides to attack Taiwan, the first thing he will do is call Putin to Moscow and tell him: 'I'm getting ready to do it and I need you to distract Europe by attacking NATO territory.
Yes - and my granny’s a terrorist!
Medvedev’s Response
Mad Merz - I Order You To Be Afraid
The German Chancellor has come out with all guns blazing at Russia, claiming that ‘diplomacy has been exhausted’, that Moscow is ‘threatening the very right of a people to exist’ and ‘eroding political freedom throughout the European continent'. He forgot to mention that Ukraine threatens the right of Russian people to exist in Ukraine. The sad thing about this garbage is that many Germans will believe him. Moreover, it is simply chest beating that cannot be backed up by actions. Mad Mertz is demanding Russia pay Ukraine $500 billions in damages. Good luck with that!
Protests
London
Hundreds protested in London against the genocide in Gaza. Twenty people were arrested which is unusual for such a small demo but shows that the police are cracking down.
Paris
Thousands protested in Paris shouting ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza' and ‘Stop Arming Israel’.
Berlin
Police stopped a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin.
Stockholm
Thousands marched in a rainy Swedish capital to protest the genocide in Gaza.
Amran
Thousands protested in the Yemeni city of Amran against the genocide in Gaza.
Bayda
Thousands also protested in Bayda (Yemen) and there were protests in Taiz and Hajjah. All these protests are using the slogan ‘Steady with Gaza’.
US Cities
Thousands demonstrated in cities across the US chanting ‘Stop the Gaza Genocide'.
The Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit
The Summit took place in the Azerbaijan city of Khankendi on the 4th July. Speaking at the Summit, President Pezeshkian of Iran said that all countries present condemned Israel’s attacks on his country. These included: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. I find this odd since Azerbaijan has been accused of allowing the Israelis to attack Iran using its airspace. The meeting between Pezeshkian and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan as they arrived was recorded. The Iranian President greeted Aliyev like a long lost brother and the latter appeared a little surprised. But Pezeshkian continued the handshake longer than was comfortable for Aliyev - as you can see here. But this meeting is open to many interpretations. It is surprising, given the fact that Azerbaijan has allowed Israel to use its airspace for Israel to attack Iran, that the meeting turned out to be so amicable.
The above picture demonstrates a show of unity between Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkiye as they walk along together with smiles. Obviously, something is going on behind the scenes.
Asean Ministers Conference - Kuala Lumpur, July 9th
The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting met in Malaysia on July 9th. This brings together the ten Asean member states along with key diplomatic partners, including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended for the first time and met with Serge Lavrov. According to Russian MFA:
They also held a substantive and frank exchange of views on the settlement in Ukraine, the situation in Iran and Syria, as well as a number of other international issues. They have reaffirmed mutual commitment to searching for peaceful solutions to conflict situations and resuming Russian-US economic and humanitarian cooperation and unhindered ties between their countries’ societies, which could be promoted by the resumption of direct flights. They also emphasised the importance of continued efforts to normalise the functioning of bilateral diplomatic missions.
Rubio will also be meeting with the other Foreign Ministers attending. You can read more here.
The emerging Multi-Polar World
BRICS Summit - July 6th/7th Rio de Janeiro
Brazil chaired the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio, with an agenda covering health care, trade, investment, finance, climate change, artificial intelligence management, and issues of peace and security - according to Tass. Putin attended via video link. BRICS countries now hold over $60 trillions in financial assets - which is over 50% of the world’s total financial assets.
BRICS was founded primarily as a trade and development group in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Over the past year, the group has extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, as well as welcoming ten partner states.2 Some say it was a response to the arrogance and hubris of the United Stated which weaponised the dollar.
This year’s summit brings together around 4,000 participants from 37 nations, including senior dignitaries from member states, partner countries, and international institutions.
The Summit was conducted under the banner:
Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.
Red Carpet and Flowers for Araghchi
It was clear from the handshakes with which this man was greeted that he is admired, as you can see at X. He seemed a little embarrassed by the sunflowers, though.
Lavrov Meets Lula
Crown Prince of Abu Dabi Arrives
Leaders Meeting 6th July
On Sunday evening the BRICS Summit Leaders’ Meeting called for the Israelis to withdraw completely from Gaza; it condemned the US/Israeli attacks on Iran and the Ukrainian attacks on railway bridges in Kursk and Bryansk. It also condemned the rise of unilateral tariffs and welcomed Indonesia as a new member. Speaking at the meeting, Araghchi said that Israel had committed ‘an unprecedented breach of international peace’ and that ‘it is shameful that the international community could not do anything meaningful to end the genocide of Palestinians'. They also agreed that the Gaza strip and the West Bank are both part of Palestine. Russian Finance Minister Siluanov had this to say:
We are discussing measures for cross-border settlements, the development of inter-depository interaction, the formation of reinsurance capacity, and the launch of a credit rating methodology.
This would be an alternative, sanctions free, alternative to Swift.
Putin - Via Video Link
Key Statements
The influence of BRICS is growing year by year. BRICS countries continue to deepen cooperation in key areas; they possess enormous political, economic, and human potential. BRICS significantly surpasses some other alliances, such as the G7, in terms of purchasing power parity. BRICS has many like-minded partners among the countries of the global south and east. The world is undergoing radical changes, unipolar system of international relations becoming a thing of the past.
Putin also spoke of the need for separate payment systems as an alternative to Swift which the US is using to threaten and punish other countries.
Lavrov
Unilateral sanctions and use of the dollar as a punishment has worsened the global economy. Neo-liberal model has led to economic crisis of the past few decades.
Therefore, BRICS’s New Development Bank is key to a Multi-Polar future.
Lavrov insisted that ‘multipolarity is not a choice but an objective reality'. He also observed that the outdated neo-liberal model based on neo-colonial practices is fading. You can read more at Sputnik.
In a post conference interview, Lavrov also said that the IAEA should be held accountable for the role it played in Israel’s attack on Iran which followed the assessment it published prior to July 13th when the Israelis attacked. This assessment was totally at odds with previous assessments and led to the deaths of more than 1,000 Iranians. The IAEA must guarantee that it will not use ‘fake stories’ in future, he insisted. Lavrov was also critical of the pointless arms race being conducted by the Europeans.
Trump Responds
Donald J has threatened countries doing business with BRICS with an extra 10% tariff. He warned that BRICS will be dead if it creates its own currency or otherwise operates against US interests. Trump knows virtually nothing about BRICS, so I have heard. Chinese spokeswoman, Mao Ning, pointed out that BRICS cooperation is open and inclusive and doesn’t target any country. No one benefits from a trade war, she said, Trump’s threats are simply counter-productive. He is also considering a Bill (promoted by Lindsay Graham) that would place 500% tariffs on countries dealing with Russia. It will be interesting to see how such a measure would work.
Was it a Success?
There are many problems between the BRICS countries - e.g. China/India - which will need to be ironed out and there is a long way to go before BRICS can assert itself emphatically on the world stage. However, the Summit does provide hope that this is beginning to happen.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, called the BRICS Summit ‘a historic turning point in the unfinished struggle for post-colonial justice’. Wow! That is so true. Apparently, Modi observed that ‘two thirds of humanity has been denied adequate representation in global institutions in the 20th century’. Again - so true. The UNSC, the World Bank and the IMF were all created by the West for its own benefit and to enable it to dominate everyone else. Forcing the dollar down people’s throats did the same thing. Hitherto BRICS may have confined itself too much to criticism of Western institutions but now it is introducing alternatives - e.g. to the Western financial system. The Russian/BRICS Development Bank, formed some time ago, represents a direct challenge to the World Bank with regard to international investment and an Alternative Payment System to SWIFT are among alternatives that have a lot of growing to do before they can effectively challenge the West - but they will grow. With regard to the UN, they will be pushing for reform to make it more representative of the current world and they want the IMF and the World Bank to benefit them as much as it does the West. There is no doubt that officially BRICS believes that there is a climate crisis3 which has been caused by the West and it is resolved to ensure that Westerners should pay for the resolution of the crisis rather than the Global South. ThinkBRICS provides a quick and neat summary of the situation here.
BRICS must be seen as part of a slow process: work in progress that will eventually lead to the pre-eminence of the Multi-Polar World Order where all the world’s countries become sovereign states. My impression is that Rio de Janeiro was a step forward towards that objective.
That’s it for another week. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, shares, restacks, follows, likes and comments. Have a good week - best Rob
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Zelensky later claimed that Trump was offering 10 Patriot Systems rather than 10 missiles - but I would be surprised if that is the case.
Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan.
Just to recap our talking points:
Russia bad. Seriously Russia very bad.
China also evil because of some reasons, trade imbalance and putting their country next to all those US military bases on the other side of the world.
Iran super evil because they don’t like it when America and Israel attack it unprovoked.
North Korea is okay bc they have nukes and might launch them if fkd with
Trump wants peace in Ukraine but can’t figure out how to stop providing military support for killing Russian civilians.
BRICS bad because they don’t like being threatened by the US every 10 minutes.
America great because it just is.
It’s amazing how more people don’t see how crazy americas foreign policy is. Neo colonialism indeed.
Masoud Pezeshkian speaks fluent Turkish as well as Farsi and identifies as Turkish and Khameni is a native Azeri and well regarded in Azerbaijan and in the Azeri part of Iran. Erdogan, Israel and MI6 are behind the trouble in Azerbaijan at the moment supported by the French and the CIA. Looks like they want to create a diversion.