There is no question, at least in my mind, that in spite of some worthy competitors, the most important event of the week was Putin’s visit to North Korea and the signing of a Military Alliance. This will make some people in the West very nervous. Trembling Western knees, will now realise that many countries which have been part of their ‘axis of evil’ are uniting against them. Oh Dear. You have all heard of that biblical warning: ‘you reap what you sow’ which Eastern philosophy calls Karma - well that’s what we are seeing right now.
The West’s total separation from reality is hampering its decision making to the extent that many of its attempts to harm other nations (such as Russia) are harming itself. This applies to sanctions, of course, but it also applies in the realm of Realpolitik (pragmatism) which the West has smothered with ideology - coupled with a reluctance to accept that the US Empire is crumbling. As long as the Deep State and its puppeteers remain in power, this will not change.
This blindness has made it possible for a formidable alliance to be formed between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea and it is possible that other countries will join. Whether the alliance will materialise as a phenomenon that could contribute to positive changes, remains to be seen.
On the battlefronts in Ukraine, things have not changed significantly. A new offensive may have started in the direction of Toretsk and beyond that Berova (south of Bakhmut). Fierce fighting continues in Volchansk and Liptsi where Ukrainian counter attacks have fizzled out. Ukrainian casualties, sadly, have been sustained at a high level this week - close to 2,000 daily - which provides a good indication of how things are going. Some are expecting something big to happen.
The Middle East shows signs of escalating with the Israelis planning an offensive against Lebanon as its genocide continues. The humiliating Houthis have sunk a ship in the Red Sea and damaged others while the West is spending billions to stop them but to no avail.
Putin announced his ‘peace plan’ which based itself in reality while the Swiss meeting dealt only with wishful thinking. The G7 met in order to remind everyone of its irrelevance.
And Sleepy Joe has shown that he is not well and should not be near this catastrophe for his own sake and for humanity’s sake.
The Demonisation of Vladimir Vladimirovich
It appears that Vladimir Putin has, for some time now, been cast by his Western detractors as the evil horned beast - and there are many images portraying him as such on line. Many have called him a dictator and some have called him the new Hitler - but when you think of it, these labels can be understood as representations of the Devil. And some Devil like mythical figures (such as Krampus) devour children, while Putin has been accused of stealing children (just as the Pied Piper of Hamelin did) - which is the next best thing. The Devil has enormous power over his supplicants and can make people act against their wills - just as ‘dictators’ such as Putin do (so it is claimed).
One of the big advantages of the ‘Putin as Devil’ narrative is that everything can be blamed on him - which has been a custom sometimes practised by the Christian faith over the centuries. So, for years now, we have been told that Putin or Russia has been responsible for this and that, which, in truth, have absolutely nothing to do with Russia. The rise in US petrol prices had nowt to do with the Russkies nor has the rise in energy costs in Europe or the fact that Trump won the 2016 election - and so on and on. But the latest claim being made by EU politicians is that Putin is responsible for the rise of ‘right wing’ parties in Europe. What could be better described as ‘populism’ rather than ‘right wing’ refers to the political philosophy of parties that are breaking with the right/left dichotomy but none of these has been created by Putin or inspired by him.
However, the Putin as Devil narrative is a purely Western invention: the following ‘portraits’ present Vladimir Vladimirovich in a very different light.
Putin as Peacemaker - Speech Dated 15th June 2024
This speech, timed to coincide with the Swiss ‘Peace Summit’ (15th/16th June), is reproduced by b of the MoA and it is well worth reading - though very long (good to see b posting again). If you wish to understand Russia’s position regarding the SMO and the West this speech will help. Here, Putin demonstrates the wide range of his knowledge and understanding of world affairs as they have affected Russia and continue to affect Russia. It is a speech that could not have come from Western leaders (or their speech writers) who lack the skills, wisdom and knowledge to create such a thing. It was a confident speech from a man in full possession of his considerable faculties. Can you honestly imagine Sleepy Joe Biden staying awake long enough to deliver this from a teleprinter?
There is no ideology in this speech; rather it presents facts that we know to be largely true along with an assessment and analysis based on these facts and which follows from these facts. Yes - I know, politicians don’t always tell the truth and they wouldn’t be politicians if they did so. But anyone who has been following events in Ukraine since the Maidan will be able to verify Putin’s claims from other sources.
But Putin’s speech belies his representation by the West as some sort of devil. One thing I noticed early in the speech is the reference to serving the interests of the people. This is something that Western politicians simply don’t do: they simply have no enthusiasm for serving the interests of the people who elected them - and some, such as our dear Annalena (Baerbock), have said this quite openly. But then the electorate has the choice not to vote for you again Annalena. Indeed, support for the Greens in Germany has declined somewhat - and the sooner they are thrown into that historical ‘dustbin’, the better.
By the way, Putin also announced that 700,000 troops are engaged in the Ukraine conflict, which is around 100,000 more than the last time Putin gave numbers in December 2023 - according to RT.
Putin - The Peace Deal
The peace proposals (see previous Update), unsurprisingly, were rejected by NATO and the Ukrainians. Olaf Scholtz said that the proposals were not meant seriously. Now if Scholtz were making them this would be the case, in the same way as Minsk was not taken seriously by Westerners. Some are saying: ‘How dare this evil dictator talk about Ukraine withdrawing troops!’ (which was among the conditions)
Larry Johnson believes that Putin is tempting the West/Ukraine with an offer that may allow them to keep Odessa. But it is possible that the proposals are also meant to appeal to the people who matter inside Ukraine. Zelensky is illegitimate and has opposition, some of whom may be prepared to do a deal if circumstances permit at some time in the future. At least it is on the table now. I think it was a good move politically.
But the ‘Peace Conference’ didn’t even discuss ‘peace’ other than to assert that Ukrainian territorial integrity must form the basis for negotiations. But this is too abstract a perspective. In reality, Ukraine comprises people who have different political views and national allegiances based on language. The people of the five oblasts which are now part of the Russian Federation want to be part of it. This is the reality voting people created - they weren’t forced. In oblasts such as Kharkiv and Odessa, some may wish to be part of Ukraine and others part of Russia while some will want to stay in the place they have called ‘home’ for generations. So the people must decide through a vote if stability is to be maintained in the long run.
Russian Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, has said that he has information which indicates that some deputies of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) are already reading the proposals. Personally, I would be very surprised if current Western leaders would accept territorial concessions but some have hinted at it in the past - if memory serves me well. I would also be surprised if Putin himself believes this will happen but he is also putting his case to friendly countries which will take note. I would be surprised if the majority of Russian friendly countries, would find Putin’s ‘deal’ unreasonable.
Putin as Respected World Statesman
Vladimir Vladimirovich was given a welcome fit for an Emperor or a rock star when he arrived at Pyongyang. It has to be seen to be believed (see links below).
In a publicised address to the North Korean people Putin said, among other things:
Russia supports North Korea and the heroic Korean people in their opposition to the insidious, dangerous and aggressive enemy, in their struggle for independence, identity, and the right to choose their own path of development.
Putin pointed out that North Korea was contributing to the development of trade and financial systems that can avoid Western sanctions as part of the Multi-Polar World Order. You can read more at Tass and you can watch some clips from the welcome he was given here or on X.
The ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement’ signed by both leaders at the meeting ‘implies mutual assistance in case of aggression against participants’ according to Sputnik.
In his latest article, Simplicius provides lots of detail, including this summary of article 4 of the treaty.
This appears to be unambiguous and therefore constitutes a major development in the war between Russia and NATO. Article Three involves a commitment from both countries to cooperate against any emerging threat. The agreement contains 23 articles which you can view at Sputnik.
Putin also hinted that Russia may be providing North Korea with long range missiles and technology in retaliation for the West’s arming of Ukraine.
Some Western leaders, totally oblivious to hypocrisy, criticised Russia for increasing tensions. What!
Alexander Mercouris provides some historical background to the relationship between Russia and North Korea here (first 20 minutes) for those who are interested.
Putin also paid a visit to Vietnam, the US’s old enemy, where both countries signed a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ - according to Sputnik. This year, Moscow and Hanoi celebrated the 30th anniversary of their ‘bilateral friendship treaty’. You can read more here.
Russian Patriots
In 2016, 80% of Russians considered themselves to be patriots: in 2024 that figure increased to 90%. You can read more here.
Ten Year Security Deal
Sleepy Joe has offered the once great Z a ‘security deal’ which amounts to a personal pledge by one politician, who may not be around for much longer, to another politician who carries no legitimacy. Ukraine has similar deals with some European countries - according to RT. This is virtual signaling at its worse. The pact is meant to ward off future aggression by Russia but it is not backed up by anything such as Article 5 of the NATO charter and in practice it will be absolutely useless. I’m not sure how it will apply if Ukraine ceases to exist.
Larry Johnson called it out for what it is: ‘just an empty promise by the United States’ that will look good on a campaign ad in which Biden will claim to be ‘defending freedom and democracy in a country that doesn’t have freedom and democracy’. You can hear more from Larry here.
Where Did Our Democracy Go?
A survey carried out by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology found that 43% of Ukrainians believe there has been a decline in democracy in their country (which means that 43% are awake). 28% believe that the Ukrainian authorities have been restricting the ‘rights and freedoms’ of citizens and 11% of those surveyed blame the war with Russia. 49% have noticed that the economy has declined over the past five years and 16.5% blame the war. Western journalists operating in Ukraine are complaining that press restrictions in Ukraine go way beyond what is necessary for wartime security needs - as reported in the NYT (reported by InfoDefence). But is the US of A any better? Many Americans have doubts that the published results of the last election bear any resemblance to the choices voters actually made. The truth or falsity of this claim is not the main issue here: rather the fact that people have such doubts means that ‘Democracy’ can’t work any more.
LGBT in Ukraine
Given the growth of Nazi-type movements in Ukraine over the past decades, a pro-LGBT march would appear a little incongruous and not necessarily popular. However, as if to emphasise Ukraine’s Woke credentials, a march was organised in Kiev. Among the participants were activists, representatives of diplomatic missions/ international organizations, politicians from foreign countries, and international observers. Those policing the march made sure it was over quickly and that LGBT paraphernalia was hidden from sight in the aftermath of the demo. They knew that several other very large anti-LGBT demonstrations would be taking place including the one shown here.
It seems that the anti-LGBT demonstrators believed that the Kremlin is behind the growth of LGBT in Ukraine. It is so sad that these Ukrainians don’t even realise who the real enemy is; they have no idea that many (most?) Russians are against LGBT as much as they are.
It should be said that many of the anti-LGBT demonstrators cherished unsavoury political views.
Ukrainian Musicians Choose Life
The whole of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra of 70 people (two thirds of whom are liable to serve) has not returned from its tour of Germany. They chose music; they chose life.
Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks (those that target civilians)
14th/15th June Overnight
The week did not start well for Russian civilians. Overnight, an apartment block in the village of Schchebekino (Belgorod) was shelled causing it to collapse. Five people were found dead under the rubble while another six were found alive but injured - according to the Military Chronicle. Elsewhere in Belgorod, a woman was killed when a rocket hit her house and in another village a civilian was injured by shrapnel.
70 drones were disabled by EW over the Rostov region but some drones still caused some damage to the electricity infrastructure - according to Slayangrad. Two civilians were also injured by shelling in Kursk district where 15 drones were disabled by EW.
16th/17th June Overnight
Overnight, Voronezh, Lipetsk and Krasnodar regions were attacked by ‘aircraft like’ drones, all of which were shot down, according to the Two Majors. In Belgorod villages some vehicles and houses were damaged by drones but no casualties were reported. Kursk also experienced attacks from shelling and drones which caused minor damage but no casualties. EW suppressed 11 drones in the border regions.
In the DPR, a war correspondent, Nikita Tsitsagi, was killed by shelling in the vicinity of the Nikolsky Monastery - according to Intel Republic. I have much respect for journalists on the front line who provide us with the truth. It was through Patrick Lancaster that I was presented with the truth of Nazism in Ukraine uncovered during the liberation of Mariupol. There are many more journalists risking their lives out there still - in Ukraine and in Palestine. Respect!
17th/18th June Overnight
Many villages in Belgorod region were attacked with drones and shelling overnight. There was damage to agricultural equipment, dwellings and cars but only four casualties. Many villages in Kursk also came under attack from shelling and drones but no casualties were reported. EW suppressed 11 drones in the border regions. Meanwhile, in the DPR, four civilians were wounded by cluster shells.
18th/19th June Overnight
Many villages in Belgorod came under attack from shelling and drones overnight. Several houses were damaged and one burned to the ground but no casualties were reported.
19th/20th June Overnight
According to Slavyangrad:
Overnight, the enemy conducted drone raids at Adygea, Kuban, Rostov, Orel, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, killing a woman.
The city of Grayvoron in Belgorod was attacked by shelling which injured two civilians and caused damage to 6 houses and 4 cars. The village of Bezymeno came under attack from drones which burned a house down and damaged the roof of an administrative building. In another village, a car was damaged by drone attack. In Kursk region, many villages sustained drone attacks and shelling. In Tyotkino, a man was killed while many other villages sustained minor damage. 37 drones were eliminated by EW. In Krasnador a house was burned down and one civilian killed, while in the DPR, two civilians were killed and six wounded by shelling.
20th/21st June
Villages in Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk came under attack from drones and shelling overnight. There was some damage but no casualties. 13 drones were suppressed by EW in the border regions. Elsewhere, three civilians were injured by shelling in the DPR.
The Sea War
14th/15th June
Overnight, a Northrop Grummon MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone (pictured), which had been exploring the Sochi/Novorossiysk area, gave a distress signal while over the Black Sea and flew back towards its base in Italy. But communication with the drone was lost and a search and rescue operation was undertaken. Sputnik has an article here. This is interesting because it is not the first time such things have happened. It is possible that Russia now has a different attitude towards these hostile ‘spies’ and is willing to start jamming them. Time will tell.
17th/18th June Overnight
The port of Azov in Rostov was attacked overnight and oil storage facilities set alight. The fires could not be extinguished and were left to burn.
20th/21st June
Overnight, 30 drones aimed at the Crimean peninsular were destroyed while many ‘small armoured artillery boats’ destroyed over the Black Sea. More drones were destroyed over Krasnador but some evaded defences to damage a boiler house. Two civilians were injured and another killed. An oil refinery was set ablaze in Seversky district but the fire was quickly extinguished. Two civilians were injured. Volgorod and Adygeya were also attacked.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Strikes
14th/15th June
According to Rybar:
During the night, Russian forces delivered another strike on infrastructure facilities in the territory controlled by the enemy. According to preliminary data, the targets hit included the military airfield in Starokostiantyniv and an underground gas storage facility in Stryi.
Explosions were recorded at Mirgorod airport in Poltava.
16th June
According to Rybar:
Over the past day, the Russian forces struck targets in the so-called Ukraine. The strikes hit Poltava, Cherkasy, Sumy, Chernihiv regions and the temporarily occupied territories of the DPR and Zaporizhia Region.
18th/19th June
Geranium drones attacked targets in Lvov (where electricity outages were a consequence), Vinnytsia and Zaporozhye - according to Rybar.
19th/20th June
According to the Military Chronicle:
Ukrenergo writes about a large-scale night strike on energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Donetsk and Kyiv regions.
You can read more about the attacks on energy infrastructure at RT.
Mirgorod airfield in Poltava was attacked overnight with drones and X-59 Cruise missiles - according to Slavyangrad.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Strikes
19th/20th June
Overnight, Ukrainian drones attacked oil refineries. According to the Military Chronicle:
One drone reached the target and hit a tank at the Platonovskaya oil depot in the Rasskazovsky district of the Tambov region. Several more drones hit the refinery in Enem near Krasnodar in Adygea and Afipsky,
20th/21st June
Crimea suffered another huge Ukrainian drone attack overnight that focused on the north west coast and Krasnador Krai where one resident was killed by falling debris. In total 114 drones were destroyed. More attacks are expected.
The Ground War
The Fronts
The fronts are presented from north to south - i.e. Kharkov to Kherson.
Front Line Cats
Russian MoD Weekly Reports
w/e 31st May 11225 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 412.
w/e 7th June 11,140 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 447.
w/e 14th June 12,795 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 409.
w/e 21st June 13,710 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 452.
Casualties increased by nearly 1000 this week which is the largest total this year.
Kharkiv
According to Rybar:
Fighting continues in the settlement of Volchansk. The enemy is trying to evacuate the wounded and redeploy reserves under the artillery fire of our troops. The AFU counterattacks have subsided for the second day. However, there are reports of the arrival of AFU assault units consisting of convicts. In the Lyptsi direction, the enemy is building up forces.
Further assaults in the Lyptsi Direction were made by groups of 50 or so of the convicts mentioned above but none were successful. Accounts vary regarding the Aggregate plant which some say is now fully in Russian hands and that the Ukrainians are being pushed out of the forest belt north of the Volchya river. If the Russians control this area it will be difficult for the Ukrainians to bring reinforcements in.
Volchansk - Detail
Kupyansk - Siversk - Svatovo
According to SITREP on June 20th:
In Svatovo Direction, in the Seversk sector, fighting continues at Razdolovka and attempts to pass along the railway towards Vyemka. From Liman sector, reports about the advance of our army near the village of Ploshchanka. There is fighting in the area of Terny. In Kupyansk sector, there are battles near Stelmakhovka and Stepnaya Novoselka, but without much advancement. They report the destruction of the bridge across the Oskol between Gorokhovatka and Borovaya. This should seriously complicate the supply of the AFU's Kupyansk Grouping, the diversions routes are quite far away.
Chasov Yar
By the end of the week, fighting continued for the high rise buildings in the Kanal District.
Toretsk Direction
According to Rybar:
the enemy expects an offensive by the Russian Army on Borova. In the Toretsk direction, the Russian Armed Forces advanced from the former entry-exit checkpoint "Mayorsk" to the eastern outskirts of the village of Pivnichne, capturing a pumping station and a section of the railway up to 2 km deep. There are also reports of the advance of our troops towards the settlement of New York (Novhorodske).
Borova is due West of Toretsk.
The Russian Armed Forces are working to liberate Toretsk, according to Marat Khairullin on June 19th.
The Gorlovka-Toretsk direction is coming to life, where, after a massive defeat of the enemy by artillery, aviation and UAVs in the areas of New York, Pivnichny, Pivdenny and Alexandropol, the Russian army began assault operations in several areas and broke through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The liberation of Toretsk (Dzerzhinsk) will give us occupation of the heights lying opposite Konstantinovka, which is located in the lowlands, and fire control over that area.
On June 20th, the Ukrainians began to evacuate Toretsk. If, or when, the Russians reach Borova, Ukrainian logistics in this Direction could become problematic.
Ocheretyne
Russian forces are advancing along the Karloveskoye reservoir in the area of Karlovka. Fighting continues at Arkhangelskoye and Novoaleksandrovka, as well as on the Sokol - Novopokrovskoye line.
Avdiivka - Krasnogorovka
By the end of the week, fighting was taking place in the centre of Krasnogorovka, as well as Umanskoye and Karlovka. If the Russians manage to invest Yasnobodrovka, in between Umanskoye and Karlovka, the Ukrainians will be forced to retreat with losses.
Vremyevka Ledge - West of Vuhledar
On the Vremyevka ledge, the RFAF repelled the AFU attacks on Staromayorskoye from the north and fought counter battles in Urozhaynoye. These clashes are taking place in the area circled west of Uhledar (sorry I couldn’t get a better map).
Zaporizhye and Kherson
There have been no significant changes in either of these Directions since my last report though fighting continues in the islands of the Dnieper and around Rabotino.
Some commentators, such as Alexander Mercouris believe that Russia is stockpiling ammunition and keeping its best equipment in order to launch an offensive in the Donbass that will trap the Ukrainians in a giant cauldron. The Kharkov action is meant to contribute to this plan by drawing troops away from the south.
The Economic War
Spain Importing Russian and Steel Again
Spain stopped importing Russian iron and steel some time ago but found that it can no longer do without it - so started importing again in April. Reality got the better of virtue signaling once again - according to RT. The whole sanctions fiasco is laughable. If the West considers trade with Russia to be immoral, it can’t pick and choose. Such an approach does not work morally or practically. Unfortunately, Western leaders haven’t the brainpower required to appreciate this.
European Market Share of Russian Gas Soars
In spite of sanctions, the supply of Russian gas to Europe, through pipeline and LNG, has increased, outstripping US supplies for the first time in two years. LNG shipments accounted for 15% of gas supplies to the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Bosnia, Herzegovina and North Macedonia. Europe’s attempts to wean itself off Russian gas are not going well. You can read more here or at Zero Hedge.
West Needs Russian Uranium
IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi has warned that the US and Europe’s nuclear energy industry cannot survive without Russian uranium. Russian firm Rosatom is the largest supplier of uranium in the world and the number one supplier to the US.
World Politics
The ‘Piece-Meal’ Summit
I am calling this the ‘piecemeal summit’ because it discussed a piece of this and a piece of that - including food security, radiation/nuclear safety, the release of prisoners and deported persons (including children adopted by Russia) - but did not discuss realistic ways in which peace could be achieved. The conference appears to have been convened to demand that Russia does what Ukraine and Westerners want rather than as an attempt to negotiate anything with an important interlocutor who was conspicuously absent. 92 countries attended out of the 160 invited.
At the summit, Macron had this to say:
We are all committed to establishing a lasting peace [which] does not mean the surrender of Ukraine…so we will help Ukraine fight against the aggressor.
We all want peace, he said, and none of us is at war with Russia. Much the same phrases were employed by many leaders at the conference, though some, such as Turkiye, suggested that there can be no ‘peace conference’ without Russia. Saudi Arabia suggested that there must be compromises and that Russia’s involvement is needed.
Most Western leaders see the conflict in simple black and white moral terms: there is an aggressor (Russia) and a victim (Ukraine). Putin’s more nuanced account does not carry any weight among these people yet it is much closer to the truth. In this version, Ukraine was the aggressor and the Russian people of the Donbass were victims - rescued by Russia.
The Colombian President said that he did not attend the summit because it was ‘an alliance on the side of war’ rather than a ‘peace’ conference. Justin Trudeau showed himself up by shouting ‘Slavia Ukraini’ at the photoshoot above - as if he were supporting a football team rather than being an unbiased participant at a ‘peace’ conference. But of course, most of those attending the conference support Ukraine and the neutral venue belies the fact that Switzerland has provided massive financial and moral support to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmitry Kuleba, was confident that the Summit will give rise to another Summit, to which Russia will be invited and which will end the war. Poor Dmitry, what can I say fella: ‘hope springs eternal in the human breast…’. Enjoy it while you can. Kuleba’s grasp of World Politics was summed up in his request to Kim Jong un that he arrest Putin in exchange for a ‘reset’ of Western relations and the lifting of sanctions on North Korea. I am baffled that someone who pretends to be a politician has no idea what is going on globally. Equally deluded, Andriy Yermak (who is running Ukraine, according to some), said that Ukraine will now agree a peace plan with its partners and invite Russia to a second peace conference. This combination of delusion and arrogance is astonishing.
But the Ukrainians want to return to the 1991 borders, which would mean that the people in Crimea, along with those in the new oblasts, who voted overwhelmingly in favour of being part of the Russian Federation, would be forced back into Ukraine. That is not going to happen and since Russia is insisting that Ukraine recognise the four new oblasts along with Crimea, I can’t see what negotiations could achieve even if Russia is sitting at the table.
Swiss political/military commentator, Jacques Baud, believes that the conference represented an attempt to provide Zelensky with a semblance of legitimacy - given the fact that his presidential term has expired.
The Summit produced a statement which recognised the territorial integrity of Ukraine as a basis for negotiations - and that’s about all it produced. 80 countries signed this but 12 did not, according to Sputnik. The latter included: Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil, the Holy See, India, Indonesia, Libya, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Most of these, it should be noted, are BRICS countries - I’m not sure about the Holy See! It should be noted that there are 195 countries in the world, so 80 countries is no where near a majority. Many countries would not attend.
This conference was a complete waste of time and energy. It was devoted to virtue signaling and hopium and a determination to ignore reality. The Chinese have called the G7 meetings ‘meaningless rituals’ and I have probably given this more space than it deserves. Cackling Kamala and Olaf Scholtz didn’t even stay for the second day.
I’ll leave the final word to the inimitable Medvedev.:
This Swiss "barnyard" is pure surrealism. … None of the participants of the "peace forum" know why they are there or what their role is. …Overall it is just dull crap fiercely burning through taxpayer’s money.
The latter is very true - what a waste of money.
G7
One of the main proposals coming from the summit as far as the Ukraine conflict is concerned was the decision to steal $50 billions of interest from frozen Russian assets and donate the money to Ukraine in the form of a loan which European countries will be expected to underwrite: if Ukraine defaults, they will have to pay the bill. It remains to be seen whether all European countries will be with happy with this sort of commitment. To me, it sounds like a chain heavier than the one Scrooge was dragging behind him. Alastair Crooke has pointed out that since Russia’s assets were frozen by the EU, the G7 had no authority to make this decision1. But as we all know, the ‘rules-based order’ makes the rules up as it goes along and doesn’t feel obliged to adhere to these rules if it doesn’t feel like it.
But in retaliation, Russia could seize $82 billions from Western investors in Russia. The UK will lose $18.9 billions, Germany $17.3 billion and France $16.6 billions. You can read more detail here.
One diplomat attending the G7 said that Sleepy Joe Biden’s condition has deteriorated somewhat: that he is ‘in a worse shape than ever before’. Biden has apparently been distracted time and time again during discussions - as reported by the New York Post. Anyone who has seen recent footage of Biden would agree that he is ill and should be no where near government - even as a puppet.
G7 - In Perspective
So, it was quite understandable when the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, said that the G7 represents only a minority of the world and has long strayed from its mission of stabilising the global economy. It is fast becoming a tool to preserve Western hegemony, he said.
Western Idiots - Michał Kamiński
The vice speaker of the Polish parliament had this to say about those scary Russkies:
I am sorry to say this, but we, the Western world, are idiots. Because we are repeating the same mistakes with regard to Russia and expecting different results. It's not going to happen. If you reach out to them, they will eat you. They will eat you. That is their nature.
But perhaps there’s an element of truth in his mutterings:
Wise Westerners - Senator JD Vance
In an interview Vance said that sending NATO troops into Ukraine would be crazy - especially since the war does not threaten NATO or the US. If only sanity was infectious, then the whole Senate could catch it.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
BRICS Foreign Minister’s Meeting
I reported on this last week but did not appreciate some of the implications arising from it in the way that political analysts such as Alexander Mercouris do. Following his examination of the FM’s Meeting, Alexander is suggesting that BRICS is becoming a ‘trading bloc’ as an alternative to the West and backed by it own financial arrangements, including the use of its own banking/payment systems, regulatory systems and its own currencies. Putin even talked about ‘security arrangements’ between BRICS countries that will be discussed at the main meeting in September.
But BRICS’s own, uniquely, anti-oppressive, attitude to trading will provide an alternative to the bellicose ‘exceptionalism’ of the US. Countries may feel that their money will be more secure with BRICS than it would be with the West. It appears that the collapse of the US Empire and the Rise of a Multi-Polar alternative is happening much faster than was previously believed. You can learn more here. Since this global transition has never happened before, I don’t think anyone can predict how long it will take. But I am convinced that conscious actors such as Xi and Putin are seeking to speed it up as much as they can.
It seems to little inexpert me that the Russians and the Chinese are in the process of creating new institutions to replace the defunct Western versions which are way past their sell by dates. Moreover, as Putin’s trips to North Korea and Vietnam demonstrate, new alliances are being formed that will make the West hesitate in its attempts to prevent the BRICS venture from succeeding. An alliance between Iran, Russia, China and North Korea is now in place or will be in place soon. The West does not have the military and economic muscle to oppose this but the great tragedy is that it still believes in its former invincibility - as recent statements from Biden illustrate.
BRICS Applicants
The following countries have applied for BRICS full membership or partner status. Many more are interested, including Malaysia, but have not yet submitted applications.
Azerbaijan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Palestine, Pakistan, Senegal, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda , Chad, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea and South Sudan.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryobkov, has stated that BRICS membership will not be open to countries involved in sanctioning other countries, according to RT.
That’s it for another eventful week. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, shares and comments. Anyone not wishing to subscribe can view much of my work on Telegram. Best wishes - Rob
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Crooke also points out that since sanctions against Russia need to be approved every six months, a veto from one country could lead to difficulties in servicing the loan. The EU could default on its payments but I have no idea what would happen next. The disappearance of Ukraine as a political entity could also cause problems.
Thank you so much for all the work you do to keep us all informed.
I see that the BBC and the British are up in arms after Nigel Farage made the comment that the West provoked the current conflict in Ukraine, which is admitting the truth. Also see The Postil Magazine
1993: The Barry R. Posen Plan for War on Russia via Zombie State Ukraine, February 1, 2023 Mendelssohn Moses which shows that the West has been planning this conflict for a long time. MoA also shows that Britain, and I am certain with USA support, are still at it in Macedonia - MI6 Coup in Macedonia Unravels.
I also not in MoA that the Banderite/Azov/Nazi of Ukraine are lined up behind the poor conscripts at the front line to shoot any who retreat thus proving the Nazis are the real cowards who say they are Ukrainian heroes but refuse to do the fighting https://www.theamericanconservative.com/azov-leader-admits-to-ukrainian-use-of-blocking-detachments/
It seems that reality is leading to Western European countries to resume trade with Russia as they can't rely on the USA - a recent peakprosperity.com interview 'The Fed Is Getting Ready To Torch The Dollar' says that the US shale gas is on the cusp of peaking and will be in rapid decline in a year or two. In addition they suggest that the US no longer honours contracts they sign and no-one should believe anything they promise. Art Burman has already called the US oil shale just about past its peak Arthur Berman: "Shale Oil and the Slurping Sound” Episode 101, Dec 13, 2023 on The Great Simplification website.
Congratulations to the Houthi, although I dislike the deaths of 3 sailors, for sinking another ship and there by putting more stress on Europe to come to their senses and break away from the US empire.
Such a terrible shame that Rishi Sunak seems to be going to loose the British election - some polls suggest the Tories will be down to 50 seats and Sunak will lose his - he will probably cry all the way to his $7+ million house in California. The Labour Party will win, but as they are now right Thatcher, that is no help to the British people - report of 50% of children in poverty in Birmingham.
Maybe if Britain stops spending money and resources fighting around the world and overthrowing elected governments, it will be able to feed some of their own children.
Counterpunch had a really good article on the US using torture by Jeffrey St. Clair, "The man from quiet room 4."
"Whether the alliance will materialise as a phenomenon that could contribute to positive changes, remains to be seen."
It already had. As some of the analysts has pointed out, it completely changes the nature of the Pacific region. It rules out any attacks on North Korea by the US or South Korea or Japan because such an attack will now involve Russia.
It alters the strategic posture of South Korea and Japan because the delivery of advanced missile technology from Russia to NK places both those countries at a strategic disadvantage.
Scott Ritter said Russia did this independently of China and in essence against China. He's wrong. The advantage the Chinese get out of this is that if China has a problem with North Korea in the future, both parties can call on Russia to mediate. China will see this as an advantage. Also, Russia's involvement reduces China's involvement in maintaining North Korea's stability so things get out of hand, which is also to China's advantage. North Korea has been a headache for China which is now less of an issue.
North Korea will benefit from trade with Russia and (indirectly through trade with Russia) from BRICS. Their economy will get better as will their military defenses.
What is happening is that China and Russia are essentially "surrounding" the West in every area of the world, from the Middle East to Africa to South America to Asia. By building alliances, military and otherwise,. with regional powers, Russia and China are forcing the US to reconsider its military moves, because any move the US makes might be compromised by someone in the region other than the US' direct target. As Garland Nixon put, if the US moves against one small country, another regional power might stab the US in the back militarily, making military strategic a much more complicated game for the US.
Meanwhile, Israel will either implode or it will have to attack Hezbollah. The US has now told Lebanon that it will support Israel directly if that happens. I've been saying for 18 years that this was going to happen as a prelude to war with Iran. Everyone told me I was crazy. Those losers can now suck it. Of course, none of them will ever admit they were wrong.
As I commented over at Antiwar.com, Netanyahu is acting like a "suicide by cop" mental patient. He knows if he doesn't bring the US in on Israel's side directly in the war, he will lose both the Gaza war and the Hezbollah war, he will go to jail and Israel will collapse. People in that position have nothing to lose, so they go for broke.
Meanwhile, the crazies in the Israeli and US governments are ignorant, irrational psychopaths with no perception of reality, so they still believe they can prevail. So the escalation will continue, both in Ukraine and the Middle East.
It's gonna be a long, hot summer - maybe for years.