Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update

9th January 2026

As we enter 2026, let’s spare a thought for the soldiers of both sides in Ukraine who are spending the orthodox Christmas at the front in wintry weather and a continuation of hostilities. It will not be a peaceful Christmas for them.

This week, commentators have been preoccupied with the attack on Venezuela and the kidnap of its President - which has overshadowed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. I have published two short articles on this which you can read here and here. I also cover the fallout from the attacks below as Trump announces plans to steal up to 50 millions barrels of Venezuelan crude¹ and demands that Russia and China not be allowed to trade in this oil. Along with many others, I believe that this attack and its aftermath announces the complete breakdown of international law and the onset of barbarism. It’s a sad start to 2026 and the world has changed, becoming a more dangerous and less harmonious place for us to live. There will be battles ahead between the hegemon and the emerging multi-polar world order/BRICS and many are speculating about how the latter should respond. This article in Sputnik suggests that they should stop buying US arms - for a start.

On January 8th/9th, in retaliation to the attack on Putin’s residence, Russia has launched an Oreshnik attack on the underground gas storage facility in Lvov (the largest in Europe). You can see footage on X and read more at Sputnik.

Trump has abandoned 66 international organisations, including the WHO and the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. These that are not thought to be in the US’s national interests. Many of these organisations are not accountable to anyone and are part of the Deep State - so maybe this is why Trump is parting company with them - as Alex Krainer believes. Trump is divorcing himself from the rest of the world in a manner that is perhaps commensurate with his status as a rogue Emperor similar to Caligula, according to some. Others are suggesting that the US republic is now dead.

In addition to attacking Venezuela, Trump has also threatened Cuba, Mexico and Columbia, while he has not given up on obtaining Greenland which the US suddenly describes as a threat which it needs for self defence (but it needs its resources more). The Danish leader, Mette Frederiksen, is making defiant noises but her puppet like status will be revealed in time. In an amazing demonstration of elite double standards, the European leaders issued a joint statement that Greenland belongs to its people but said nothing about Venezuela belonging to its people. The consistency required of a coherent moral position is totally absent from European discourse.

As Colonel Wilkinson points out, Trump could not complain if Xi Jinping annexed Taiwan because it is much more of a threat to China than Greenland is to the US. Poland’s Donald Tusk was quick to point out that there is no point to NATO membership when one member can threaten to attack another.

The situation in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon is much the same as it was last week as the Zionists continue to break the ceasefires and prevent aid getting to the Palestinians. In Iran, civil unrest continues.

In Ukraine, the Russians continue to make progress in most directions though they are facing fierce opposition in Kupyansk. The air war continues as Russian missiles, drones and an Oreshnik take their toll on Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure while Ukrainian terror attacks continue to kill and maim Russian civilians. Zelensky has made new political appointments but there is much infighting in the RADA (see below). Some posts, such as Energy Minister, have been difficult to fill as you can read at Sputnik. Who would want to take charge of energy infrastructure that is collapsing under continuous attacks. The post of Justice Minister is also unattractive in the middle of a corruption scandal.

On January 7th, Russian soldiers and many Ukrainian soldiers celebrated Orthodox Christmas at the fronts no doubt wishing that the war will end. Happy Christmas to those who celebrate it this week.

The Middle East

The bodies of 30 Palestinians were found under the rubble here.

In the Middle East, the Zionists continue to break the ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. On the 3rd January they launched a drone at a car in South Lebanon killing two. In Gaza they shot and murdered 3 civilians, including an 11 year old girl. In the West Bank they have forcibly displaced 12,000 children and they are still blocking the Rafah Crossing which means that insufficient aid is getting through to Gaza. The Palestinian Civil Defence force can no longer fulfil its function of demolishing unsafe buildings due to a lack of fuel. On the 6th January the Zionists shot and murdered a child in North Gaza and they murdered another child in Jabaliya on the 7th January. On the 8th January, the Zionists killed 1 and injured 7 in Gaza. On the 9th January the Zionists killed another 14 in Gaza including 5 Children. The rabid Zionists have violated the ceasefire in Gaza 1,193 times up until today, killing 484 and injuring 1,206.

According to this report, Jolani has agreed for Israel to occupy Southern Syria which is alarming. His forces have been attacking Kurdish neighbourhoods as you can read here.

In Iran, what began as peaceful protests over currency depreciation was hijacked by armed gangs, members of which are now being arrested. Evidence is coming to light that the rioters were paid by Westerners and that the timing of the Venezuelan attacks in concert with the Iranian rioting is no coincidence. Indeed, US politicians are bragging about their involvement. The rioting continues as I write. According to Mahmoud OD the Iranians do not rule out a preemptive strike on Israel if they feel threatened. An attempt to overthrow the government through Israeli/US involvement in riots such as those above could count as a threat requiring proportionate preemptive action as would an imminent Cyber attack. I think this is wise since Iran and other countries have been caught out by surprise Zionist actions in the past. Iran has turned off the internet so that the rioters could not communicate but Elon Musky turned Starlink on for them to use.

Meanwhile in the West

Pirates of the Caribbean film series with Johnny Depp - 2000s

Orthodox Christmas

The Orthodox Christian world (apart from some in Ukraine) celebrated Christmas on January 7th. Dmitry Medvedev issued the following greeting:

Ukrainians Celebrate Orthodox Christmas in Spite of Ban

In Ukraine, many orthodox Christians celebrated their Christmas on January 7th in spite of being told to celebrate on December 25th. This shows that people will resist social engineering.

Budanov Appointed

This week, Zelensky appointed Kyryol Budanov as head of his office. By appointing Budanov, in place of Yermak, Zelensky could be attempting to appease the nationalists and protect himself. According to this, Budanov has been involved in a number of terrorist attacks on Russian citizens - so the Russians will want to arrest him rather than negotiate with him. This report suggests that Budanov works for the CIA and that Zaluzhny works for MI6. You can read more at the MoA.

Mykhailo Fedorov has been appointed the new Minister of Defence. The head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, has been forced to resign at Trump’s insistence according to this report due to his involvement in the attack on Putin’s residence - though Trump has publicly denied that an attempt was made to kill the president. In a strange twist, Zelensky has appointed Chrystia Freeland - ex Canadian Vice PM as an economic advisor. I should say that some Ukrainian reports are claiming that the once great Z is meeting Yermak on a daily basis.

Dmitry Medvedev had this to say about Zelensky’s ‘excellent choice’:

The bloodthirsty clown who has lost legitimacy has chosen a new head of the office. It’s terrorist Budanov. Excellent choice. It’s a pity that there’s only one vacancy. Otherwise, it would have been necessary to offer another one to the great commander Zaluzhny. And immediately wipe both possible rivals in the presidential election off the chessboard. However, this is unlikely to help the rag doll with a cocaine-addled nose. She’s doomed anyway, Karabas-Barabas will send her to the oven

The Attack on Putin

The Russians have gathered irrefutable evidence that Putin’s residence in Novgorod was attacked by Ukrainian drones and it is becoming clear that Western intelligence must have been involved. Effectively, therefore, this was an attack by Europe on a sensitive location closely linked with Russia’s nuclear deterrence. Scott Ritter observed:

If the Ukrainian attack had been successful, Russia would have launched a large-scale nuclear response against all of Europe. I don’t think the world understands how close it was to a nuclear Armageddon. Russia has no choice but to restore deterrence methods by physically destroying Ukraine in its current form. The current Ukrainian government cannot be considered a negotiating partner, but rather a terrorist structure that needs to be completely destroyed.

Donald J does not believe (or so he claims) that an attempt was made to assassinate Putin. If he had accepted that the attempt was made, he would also have to concede that Westerners or even Americans assisted in the attack which the Ukrainians could not have achieved without Western intelligence.

I am not really sure whether this was a serious attempt to kill Putin or simply a PR stunt designed to intimidate him. I am certain that Trump is capable of such intimidation. I am not even sure whether Putin was at his Novgorod residence at the time.

Ukraine Terrorist Attacks

2nd/3rd January

Overnight, missiles injured 3 civilians in Belgorod while drones injured another 2. In total, 22 drones were destroyed over Russian territory at night. But according to this report 300 drones were shot down overnight.

3rd/4th January

A total of 193 drones were shot down over Russian territory up until 7 am on the 4th January: including 37 over Bryansk.

4th/5th January

Overnight, a drone attack killed a man in Kursk while in Belgorod 6 people were injured by drone attacks. A total of 427 drones were shot down over Russian territory at night.

5th/6th January

Overnight in Tver, 1 person was killed and 2 injured by drone fragments. In Sudzha (Kursk) the rector of the Holy Trinity Monastery was injured by a drone attack. In total, 184 drones were shot down over Russian territory at night, including 60 over Bryansk.

6th/7th January

Overnight in Belgorod, a man was injured when a drone attacked his car. Between 11 pm on the 5th to 7 am on the 7th January 178 drones were shot down over Russian territory.

7th/8th January

Overnight in Belgorod, 1 man was killed and another injured in drone attacks.

8th/9th January

Overnight, the Ukrainian attacked an oil tanker in the Black Sea close to the Turkish coast. The vessel was damaged but taken in tow. Belgorod was attacked depriving half a million people of electricity and another 200,000 of water. A total of 66 drones were shot down at night: the majority over Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

The Sea War

2nd/3rd January

Overnight, 1 drone was shot down over the Sea of Azov and 12 over Crimea.

5th/6th January

1 drone was shot down over Crimea at night.

The Air War

Russian Iskander

Russian Missile/Drone Attacks

2nd/3rd January

On the 2nd January the Russian MoD announced that a retaliatory strike had been launched following Ukraine’s attacks on civilians in Kherson. Kinzhals were used to attack industry, energy infrastructure, transport/port facilities, assembly shops for missiles, ammunition and fuel depots and troop deployment points - including temporary bases for mercenaries. Geraniums were out in search of energy infrastructure in Odessa, Nikolaev and Chernigov.

4th/5th January

Chernigov TPP

Overnight, Geraniums attacked targets in Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv (TPP) while thermal power plants in Chernigov and Kiev were also hit.

5th/6th January

According to South Front:

On the night of January 5, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a massive Russian attack involving 165 strike UAVs and 9 Iskander-M ballistic missiles , along with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. According to their data, 137 drones were shot down or suppressed, but not a single missile was intercepted. The main strike hit the Chernihiv region: up to eight Iskander missiles struck targets in Chernihiv, including six direct hits and two in the area of the 169th Land Forces Training Center in Desna. As a result, a local thermal power plant caught fire.

Power plants in Kiev were also hit.

6th/7th January

Overnight, the Russians attacked targets in Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog and Uman.

7th/8th January

Overnight, the Russians hit energy infrastructure in Krivoy Rog, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye. Pavlograd was also attacked. There were outages in some areas and water supplies were interrupted.

8th/9th January

Overnight, 120 Geraniums attacked energy facilities in Kiev and an Oreshnik attacked underground gas storage facilities in Lvov. These facilities are deep (up to 890 metres) so the Oreshnik would have damaged rather than destroyed it as you can read here. Energy facilities in Dnepropetrovsk were also hit. The Ukrainians claim that 97 Russian drones were launched at Ukraine, of which 70 were shot down. Klitschko, the Mayor of Kiev is advising people to leave the city. According to a Ukrainian source, half the houses in Kiev are without heat. You can read details of the attack here.

Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks

6th/7th January

Overnight, an oil depot in Belgorod region suffered drone attacks which set 2 tanks alight.

The Ground War

Russian T-90 tank still playing a big role in the conflict.

Russian MoD Reports - Ukrainian Losses

w/e 19th December 9,920 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 648.

w/e 26th December 9,910 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 675.

w/e 2nd January 9,245 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 619.

w/e 9th January 8,780 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 713.

The Fronts

Front Line Cats

Sumy

Kharkov

By the 8th January, according to the Majors:

On the Kharkov front, the “North” Group of Forces is engaged in battles near Volchansk, and the enemy is reinforcing its assault battalions for counterattacks. Our units have advanced near Liman, in Volchansky Khutory, and in the Melovoe-Khatnye area.Kupyansk

Kupyansk

By the end of the week, according to the Majors:

In Kupyansk, the situation is difficult. Our units are courageously holding a focal defense in the industrial zone and the northern part of the city. Operators of the “West” Group of Forces’ drones are trying to deprive the enemy of logistics by destroying equipment on the approaches to the combat zone.

Liman

According to this report:

In the west, (the Russians) were gradually pushing the enemy out of the Yarova area, in the center, assault units were breaking through the defense near Zarechne, and in the east, heavy fighting was ongoing in the forests near Dibrova.

Seversk

Konstantinovka

By the end of the week, according to the Majors:

Konstantinovka is being actively targeted by the Russian Armed Forces. The enemy fixes attacks north of Yablonovka and from the area north of Chasov Yar in the western direction with the aim of forming protrusions for a strike on Konstantinovka’s logistics.

Chasiv Yar

Dnepropetrovsk

Krasnoarmeysk - Pokrovsk

On January 8th the Two Majors reported that:

North of Krasnoarmeisk (Pokrovsk), counterattacks continue on the Dobropill front, and the enemy’s channels are gradually being forced to acknowledge our troops’ progress.

Kamyanske

Novopavlovka

Guliaipole

By the end of the week, according to the Majors:

West of the liberated Gulyaypole in the Zaporozhye region, in the village of Zalynchnoe, the enemy has set up a new defense hub and placed drone operators there. The “East” Group of Forces is attacking the enemy with “Lightning” (https://t.me/voin_dv/18285), and the Russian Aerospace Forces - with FABs. For several days in a row, there have been reports of the enemy’s counterattacks, which were repelled by the Far Eastern soldiers.

Counter attacks by the Ukrainian forces are being repelled.

Zaporozhye

By the end of the week, according to the Two Majors:

On the Zaporozhye front, battles are taking place in Primorsky. Reports of our troops’ progress with battles northeast and east of Stepnogorsk are being received.

The Economic War

The Decline of the Dollar

For decades the US consumer has benefited from the dominance of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. This has allowed consumption based lifestyles to thrive in the US even though the US’s productive capacity has not been strong enough to pay for this. In other words, the US has been living beyond its means which is evident from its massive debt. Financial speculation has also helped in keeping the US economy afloat. However, the dollar is losing its dominance as BRICS countries complete deals which employ their own currencies rather than the dollar. According to the Two Majors:

The dollar’s privileged position isn’t being lost in a big bang, but in a quiet, relentless drip of bilateral trade deals, and currency swaps that bypass the SWIFT system. As this privilege recedes, so does America’s ability to consume the world’s output on credit. The standard of living that was financed by global demand for dollars will contract.

Now the bill for the era of free money is arriving. Trillions in corporate, commercial, and government debt issued at near-zero rates must now be refinanced at significantly higher costs. This isn’t a risk; it’s a mathematical certainty. Capital that should be flowing into new factories, infrastructure, and R&D will instead be vacuumed into servicing old debts. It is a massive, non-negotiable drag on future growth.

In consequence, the purchasing power of American wages will fall along with living standards. According to the Majors, the US will continue in its efforts to retain its hegemonic position and its constant conflicts - including Iran and now Venezuela - are chest beating attempts to turn the clock back to the 1950’s/60. Eventually, however, the US will have to accept a reduction in status as it becomes part of the multi-polar world. Thereafter, the US will continue to decline, according to the Majors.

Venezuela is Nothing New

Maduro-Venezuela

Could be genuine

Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges of cocaine trafficking in the USA. The original charge of being the head of a narco-terrorist cartel was dropped.² Maduro stated that he is a decent person, still President of his country and a prisoner of war. This will be a rallying call to all those Latin Americans who now hate the gringos. The next hearing will be held on March 17th 2026. Switzerland has frozen the assets of Maduro and his inner circle because they could have been gained illicitly. In doing so, Switzerland recognised the illegitimate international court of Donald J Trump.

Delcy Rodrigues has taken over as President in accordance with Venezuela’s constitution. Some believe that she betrayed Maduro and handed him over to the Americans as you can read here. Others, such as Alex Krainer, believe there is much more to this episode than meets the eye and that Maduro handed himself over to the Americans. China has condemned the US’s attack on Venezuelan sovereignty and recognises the legitimacy of the Rodrigues Presidency. The lawyer who defended Julian Assange will represent Maduro in court.

Stumbling Starmer was asked by a journalist why he is not prepared to condemn Trump for his actions in Venezuela while condemning the Russians for invading Ukraine. Starmer’s answer: ‘It’s complicated’. The Russian ‘invasion’ of Ukraine was also complicated. But the situation in Venezuela is less so. A nuclear power has attacked another country with absolutely no justification in international law, it has kidnapped the President and his wife and is now talking about running the country or ‘fixing’ the country and bringing it back to health before elections can be held. That’s not complicated: its good old fashioned, naked imperialism.

Meanwhile the Orwellian BBC has told its journalists that they cannot use the term ‘kidnapping’ to describe the kidnapping of President Maduro.

In Venezuela, the authorities have declared martial law for employees of the oil industry while mobilising its armed forces to repel any invasion.

b and commentators from the Moon of Alabama provide some good discussion of the kidnapping here. b is calling it a ‘virtual war’. Given the free reign US aircraft were granted, this is an apt description.

The irrelevant EU does not recognise Rodriguez as temporary President just as they did not recognise Maduro.

Some have speculated that the kidnapping was about oil - which is no doubt true - but according to this report in Pravda, it is also about attacking BRICS and helping the dollar through oil transactions conducted in the currency. In addition, Trump is seeking to prevent Venezuelan oil trade being conducted in other currencies (which would weaken the dollar).

It is difficult to see where Trump goes from here. Rubio and co are insisting that the US will govern Venezuela and they are telling its government to stop trading with Russia and China and to expel military advisers from China, Cuba, Iran and Russia. No government can submit to such gangsterism especially one which has enormous public support. Indeed, the public support for Maduro, expressed on the streets, is massive and the acting President and the military appear opposed to cooperation with the US. If this situation continues, then the US will need to put its troops in harms way in order to enforce its orders This will not be easy, physically or politically, with the mid terms around the corner.

If you would like a different perspective on the kidnapping Alex Krainer provides it here. He believes there is some method in Trump’s apparent madness and that the Donald is a force for good. I find this hard to believe but I’ll keep an open mind. I don’t know of any other commentator who takes this view.

Trump has also announced imminent ground strikes against drug cartels in Mexico as he goes full on rogue.

Runaway Tanker Chased by Pirates

The Marinere (formerly the Bella 1), an oil tanker that became Russian by changing its flag, has been chased by the US navy since the 21st December. According to the War Chronicle, quoting the Wall Street Journal, the Russians sent a submarine and other naval vessels to prevent its capture.

The vessel (pictured) left the shores of Venezuela and was heading towards Murmansk (Russia). However, sadly, on the 7th January the US Navy finally caught up with and seized the tanker in the North Sea. I should say that this seizure was especially absurd because the tanker was empty. Alex Christoforou believes that this apparently pointless pursuit was conducted for optics that will show Trump to be strong and Putin weak. The Russian President, along with most of the non-Western World (the RoW) will view this as a tantrum from a spoiled infant needing some form of reprimand. And he may get it.` Christoforou also speculates that Trump wanted the tanker to take Russian prisoners as a form of leverage. I notice that a number of UK/US/NATO servicemen were killed by the Russians in Odessa recently. Perhaps there is a connection. The Marinere was crewed by 20 citizens of Ukraine, 6 from Georgia and 2 from Russia, according to the War Chronicle. According to Maria Zakharova, the Russians have been sent home.

According to this report the Russian tanker Sophia on its way to Venezuela with oil was also seized by the US in the Caribbean. The US will prosecute the crews of these ships according to Tass. Some are calling for Russia to employ similar measures in the Black Sea, according to this. If Russia lets this go without a response it will be appear weak and the US will carry on.

The Marinere was traveling in international waters so was outside the jurisdiction of any nation state. The fact that it was attacked with impunity sets a precedent that other nations may follow and it serves to confirm that international law is dead as a doornail. I believe that it also reinforces the claim that some of us have been making for a while: The Third World World War is not coming: it’s already here! It is different from previous wars but is, nevertheless a war of sorts. I’m not sure what people have in mind when they talk of war but most dictionaries define it as ‘armed conflict between countries’. These definitions do not suggest just how much ‘armed conflict’ is required to justify the claim to be at war or how the conflict is expressed. War fought by proxies such as that in Israel and Ukraine is armed conflict. So even if the big boys are hiding behind the skirts of proxies, it is still armed conflict. If a country seizes the ship of another country on the high seas it does so by being armed and by using or threatening to use arms: that’s armed conflict. Tankers are not seized in times of peace. If we weren’t at war in 2025 we are certainly at war in 2026. In July 2025 I published an article entitled: ‘Is the Third World War Here?’ based on a question posed by Dmitry Trenin. The Third World War cannot be fought in the same way as previous World Wars because the US is a Sea Power and neither it nor its European lackeys are capable of a land war politically or physically. So, the US is attempting a Sea War, maybe in the hope that it will be able to compete in this arena with Russia, China and Iran. Therefore, the war will continue along the same lines with the US and the Europeans capturing Russian vessels in the Caribbean/Atlantic or even the Baltic while Ukraine will continue to carry out terrorist attacks on Russia’s tankers. On the 9th January, the US announced its intention to capture more tankers, some of them Russian. The war in the Middle East could expand to include Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Economic, political and military attacks on non compliant nations, inside and outside of the West, will continue, including attempts at regime changes all over the planet. All these things are part of the Third World War, in my view.

In future, we will need to prepare ourselves for defeats that are merely apparent and victories that may be reversed. The Russians and anyone opposed to Israel and the US will suffer acts of terrorism but we must not lose hope. As an optimist, I am predisposed to be hopeful but it requires an effort of mind to remain so in these times.

Will sane people take his toys away?

I am buoyed by the US Senate’s decision to stop further interference in Venezuela without the approval of Congress. The pirates are being reigned in - for the moment.

Plonker Vance - ‘Trump is Peace President’

I have called out Vance as a Plonker on one or two occasions in the past but his recent defence of Trump as the ‘Peace President’ takes the proverbial ‘biscuit’ and makes him look ridiculous.

Kallas Accuses Russia

It seems as is Kaja Kallas doesn’t do much apart from accusing and criticising Russia. In this respect, she has started early in the New Year accusing Russia of damaging a cable in the Baltic Sea while producing zero evidence.

Coalition of the Thrilling

The pen is mightier than the sword - so they say.

The ‘coalition of the willing’ met with Witkoff and Kushner in Paris on January 5th. Predictably, they talked about boots on the ground in Ukraine once a ceasefire is agreed. The UK, France and Ukraine leaders are thrilling examples of modern manhood. With pomp and ceremony they dramatically signed a ‘statement of intent’ to deploy peacekeeping forces in Ukraine following the almost mythical ‘ceasefire’. It sounds scary but it isn’t really. Intention is nowhere near as scary as action. People don’t always do that which they intend or they don’t have the power to do that which they intend - and that is certainly true of the ‘Europeans’.

It is not clear whether Trump has given his approval but the US did not sign the declaration. I suppose that such a statement is a substitute for action, since the European leaders can’t really do anything. They also talked about creating military hubs and warehouses for military equipment in Ukraine to provide juicy targets for the Russians. This a bit like building castles in the clouds. Alexey Arestovich, former Zelensky adviser, believes that the troops will deployed to control Ukraine and prevent a civil war. They will not pose a threat to the Russians, he claims. But I somehow doubt that Putin will share this view.

Mad, Mad Merz

Mad, Mad Merz has just woken up to an ‘energy and humanitarian crisis’ that has been raging in Ukraine for years. Therefore, he and his allies are ‘intensifying their efforts to end the war' - as if they had any say in the matter. I think the first stage in this process is to accept defeat on the battlefronts and recognise that Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Crimea are constitutionally part of the Russian Federation and will remain so because their people have voted for it. This would be a recognition of an uncomfortable reality the Europeans cannot allow themselves to see. Once the remaining Russian speaking people in Ukraine are freed from oppression then there will be no need for ‘security guarantees’ or article 5 type assurances. In a moment of rational clarity, Merz accepted that French and British troops will not be able to enter Ukraine without Russia’s permission - which will never be given.

Emergency UN Meeting

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said :

The crime committed by the USA in Caracas has no and cannot have any justification. It has become a harbinger of a return to the era of lawlessness and arbitrariness. Russia calls on the USA to immediately release Nicolas Maduro - the legitimately elected president of Venezuela. It is unacceptable to allow the USA to establish itself as an international judge.

Of course the UN can do nothing.

Tomio Okamura - ‘Stop Funding Ukraine’

The Speaker of the Czech Parliament is against funding the thieves in Zelensky’s Junta:

It’s unacceptable to buy weapons with money belonging to Czech pensioners, citizens with disabilities, and families with children, and send them to wage a completely senseless war. We cannot give away our citizens’ money to foreigners just because pro-war propaganda wants it.

Protests

The White House

Some of the slogans are not completely appropriate since the bombing has stopped. The protesters chanted ‘Trump and the USA, biggest threat in the world today’ - which is true.

Times Square - New York

Hands off Venezuela protests also took place in Times Square.

Portland - Oregon

Protesters demanded the release of Muduro and were branded communists.

Barcelona

Pro Maduro supporters gathered outside the Venezuelan consulate in Barcelona.

Berlin

Protesters burn the US flag outside the embassy in Berlin.

North Carolina

Members of the Veterans For Peace arranged for this sign to be displayed over a major road in North Carolina on January 3rd.

Buenos Aires - Argentina

Hundreds gathered outside the US embassy demanding the release of Maduro and his wife.

Brazil - Trampling on the US Flag

Pro-Maduro protesters trampled on the US flag outside the American Consulate in Brazil.

France

In an act that could symbolise the pending collapse of the EU, many mayors in France are taking down the EU flag and replacing it with a farmers flag.

Pro-Maduro March Caracas

Addressing the massive crowds, the acting President Rodriguez said that ‘there is no foreign agent running this country'.

Israel

Thousands of religious Jews protested in Israel against an alien regime that has taken over their country and is persecuting them with an ‘occupation army’ - i.e. the IDF. During the protests, which were peaceful, a Zionist bus actually mowed down the protesters, killing a 14 year old boy.

The emerging Multi-Polar World

The End of International Law

Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin has argued that International Law has been abandoned by the Hegemon and its lackeys as they struggle against the emerging Multipolar World Order in what could soon become a Third World War. I believe a World War of sorts is already being fought as I have explained above.

Dugin argues that the Westphalian system, which in 1648 established international law operating through sovereign Nation States, was undermined initially by the rise of Nazism and fascism during the 1930’s but has now disappeared completely. This has been clearly demonstrated by the actions of the United States in Iran and Venezuela especially. The Europeans have shown by their reluctance to condemn Trump’s violation of international law that they are completely subordinated to the US and are no longer committed to the Westphalian system. International law, Dugin argues, is anything that serves US interests. This is where we are at the moment with Trump announcing that he does not need International Law. You can read Dugin’s article here. It may be a little scary but I feel privileged to be witnessing all this and even more privileged to be reporting on it - from my snug and safe home in the Scottish Borders: others are less fortunate.

It’s been an incredible week really: one in which it became evident that the world has changed even if it actually changed some time ago. Those who are following events closely cannot help but be affected by the way the Trump regime has trampled upon international law creating uncertainty and confusion. We live in interesting but dangerous times. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions (which help the Busker reach more people), follows, shares, restacks, like`s and comments. Have a good week. Best wishes - Rob

Correction

See footnote³

Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.

1. Trump’s plans to make money out of stealing Venezuelan oil may be more difficult than Trump imagines due to lack of investment - as you can read here.

2. According to this, the so called ‘Cartel de los Soles’ which Maduro was initially accused of leading does not actually exist.

3. Last week I did a piece on the Latvian authorities spying on Russian communities regarding New Year celebrations. One of my subscribers, BG. had this to say about the matter:

You got the Latvian part wrong. This gentleman Sergei Mironov is pictured in front of the Tass logo. He is Russian, not Latvian. He just talks about Latvia. Without knowledge of Latvian it is difficult to find out what is going on (well, Russian would help to, as there are many Russian speakers and Russian TV and media).

Following a Latvian source, fireworks in Latvia are prohibited during night to not hinder sleep (and there is a fine) from 11 pm until 7 am (in summer June 1st - August 31st) and 10 pm until 7 am (September 1st - May 31st). Additionally, during new year firework is allowed from 12 pm until 01 am. So there is a short gap on the evening of December 31st, when firework is prohibited. As there is 1 hour time difference between Riga and Moscow, it would be prohibited to make firework when the Moscow Kremlin is doing so. But it is free to join the fireworks in Bejing, Vladivostok, Irkutsk or Caracas on time

https://www.la.lv/ja-kads-velas-svinet-pec-maskavas-laika-tad-drosi-to-var-darit-cita-valsti-riga-pastiprinati-kontroles-priotehnikas-izmantosanu-gadu-mija

Seems to me quite ordinary administrative behavior. No reason to make a politicum. Whilst a lot of hostile stuff happens in the Baltics, I see also a number of strange reports in Russian media about them.