Ukraine Weekly Update
The election of Donald Trump and the Republicans has overshadowed everything else this week. I think that most people who read this are breathing a sigh of relief that Cackling Kamala was not elected and are pleased that the Woke - Liberal - Globalists have taken a beating. Unfortunately, Trump will still back Israel to win and will protect it from the ‘barbarian savages and left wing extremists’ who want to destroy it. Clearly wanting to get on with business he said: ‘It would be nice if they could win fast’. Businessmen are not interested in wars, unless they are working for the Military Industrial Complex.
But Trump obviously has no idea how close Israel is to defeat and his characterisation of Arabs as savages demonstrates that he is still infected by that vicious strain of Western arrogance that will hinder conflict resolution in the Middle East. Trump’s steep learning curve will need to be navigated quickly if he is to spare the American people from another war. Trump must also come to accept that the Israelis could be more accurately described as ‘barbarian savages’ than the Arabs or the Persians.
Kamala Harris has congratulated Trump on his win and urged Democrat supporters to accept the result. Given the margin of victory, I am hopeful that there will no violence and no legal challenges.
Zelensky was in a bad mood after hearing the result, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn’t appear very interested, publicly at least. Peskov is suspicious that Trump’s vow to end the Ukraine war could amount to electioneering but he acknowledged that the US has the power to do this by denying Ukraine the milk that sustains it. The reactions to the Trump victory among ‘lefties’ has been hysterical to say the least. Some would say that they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. A long list of celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey et al will now have to leave the US having promised to do so should Trump win. You can see the complete list here. Good riddance!
In London, climate activists sprayed the US embassy with Orange paint as you can see here - then on the 7th Democrats took to the streets of Chicago to protest the election of Trump. They didn’t claim that the election was unfair as far as I know: they were protesting simply because more Americans voted for the Republican Party than the Democrat Party. Hey, get a grip: that’s called democracy. They used the occasion to call Trump names - such as ‘racist’ ‘fascist’ ‘sexist pig’ - and it all sounded rather pathetic really. In such a mood, the Democrats will be looking for someone to blame. Putin could be a candidate but only for the ultra deluded. Biden is more convenient. Poor old sleepy Joe eh - I almost feel sorry for him. He is being blamed for his ‘selfishness’ in clinging to office even though those who experience cognitive decline are the last to realise it. No - Biden’s ‘minders’ are to blame really, along with those who allowed the Cackler to get anywhere near politics - especially after her poor performance at the 2020 Primaries where she was painfully bad. The much more able Tulsi Gabbard wiped the floor with her. You can read more at Zero Hedge. Harris’s defeat was yet another example of that wise adage: ‘go Woke; go broke’.
[This week I have written two articles on the election which only subscribers of my Substack and my Telegram Channel can view]
According to a Ukrainian source, Zelensky had a five minute phone chat with Trump in which the latter reiterated his view that Z should seek a negotiated settlement.
In the Middle East, Israel, which is continuing it genocidal attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, has made very little progress on the ground in South Lebanon and appears to be suffering heavy casualties. Netanyahu has sacked his defence minister Yoav Gallant on suspicion of being involved in a security leak while many Israelis have been out on the streets demanding the release of the hostages and protesting the forced recruitment of Orthodox Jews. Missiles and rockets continue to rain down on targets in Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv courtesy of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Islamic Resistance but the promised Iranian retaliation has not yet materialised. If you would like to find out more about the success of Hezbollah’s defence have a look at this article from the Palestinian Chronicle. In one of the most ludicrous declarations of the ME war, Israel has branded UNRWA, the UN relief organisation, as ‘terrorist’.
The EU has organised an informal Summit in Budapest to discuss Trump’s victory and how to respond. Meanwhile in Germany, the ‘traffic light’ coalition is in trouble, which could result in elections being called in March or even January.
On the battlefronts in Ukraine, where Ukrainian casualties have declined sightly, Russia continues to make slow but steady progress. It seems that the Russians have started a new offensive in Kursk (see below).
No, I’m not going to talk about mythical North Korean soldiers in Kursk disguised as Russians.
Revolution Day 7th November
On this day in 1917, the ‘October’ revolution1 began. You can read a summary of it here.
Sometimes Words Are Not Needed
Choi Son Hee
The North Korean Foreign Minister, in talks with Sergei Lavrov said that:
From the very beginning of the SVO, the respected comrade Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong-un gave instructions that we, without looking back at anyone, should invariably and powerfully support and provide assistance to the Russian army and the Russian people in their holy war.
Under the wise leadership of Vladimir Putin, she said, Russia will protect its sovereignty and its security while North Korea will stand by its ally until victory is achieved. You can read more at Sputnik.
Western Narrative Change - Russia is Advancing
The NYT is reporting what we have all known for some time - that the Russians are advancing/gaining ground steadily along all fronts and that the Ukrainians are running out of men. The article claims that according to the Pentagon, the Ukrainians have sufficient forces to last 6-12 months - but I think that’s a little optimistic. The article also highlights the increased use of drone attacks by the Russians - 350 in July; 750 in August and 1,500 in September. The NYT admits that the Russians have learned ‘on the march’ and that morale among Ukrainian troops is low.
Israel Asks Russia to Negotiate
According to Newsweek, Israel has asked Russia to mediate between it and Hezbollah in securing a peace deal. This sounds rather strange but Israel believes that Russia’s good relations with Iran could help bring stability to the region.
Refugees - Where Did They Go?
Since the start of the SMO 5.3 million refugees went to Russia; Germany 1.2 million; Poland 981,000; Czech Republic 380,000; UK 250,00; Spain 211,000; Italy 173,000; Romania 162,000; Slovakia 127,000 and Moldova 123,000. You can see the full list here or at Sputnik. A total of 4.9 million Ukrainian refugees were taken in by European countries, excluding Russia and Belarus.
Yermak Writes To Santa
Please Santa, can I have:
Full and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine. Cancellation of illegal annexations. Demilitarization and de-occupation of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Restoration of freedom of movement.
But has he been a good boy?
Firewood Hoarders Beware
Anyone caught storing firewood in Ukraine without permission could face a ten year jail sentence.
Ukraine Will Retreat to the Dnieper - Yermak
This Ukrainian source, which claims insider information, is suggesting that Yermak is deliberately allowing a collapse on the Donbass front so that the Russians will advance to the Dnieper thereby forcing the Americans/NATO to send weapons, funding and a military contingent. Interesting!
Revenge of the Dead
There has been a twelve fold increase in the number of cemeteries in Ukraine since the start of the SMO. Many of the new cemeteries do not meet sanitary standards allowing ‘decomposition products’ to penetrate into the ground water and into rivers such as the Dnieper, the Danube and the Bug. So the pollution will affect neighbouring countries such as Poland and Romania. I can’t help seeing this as a revenge of sorts by many who were forced to die for their country.
Google Reveals Patriot Positions in Kiev
Google maps has revealed the position of Patriot batteries in Kiev, according to this report. It is not clear whether this was an accident or not. But the Russians will already have known where the Patriots are without the assistance of Google. Why hasn’t Russia taken them out yet, I wonder?
The Famous Zelensky Curse
Zelensky Criticises Poland
The once great Z appears to be getting further and further adrift of reality. Recently he criticised Poland on a number of counts, including its refusal to shoot down Russian missiles and to provide MIG fighter jets to Ukraine. He suggests that Poland has been acting in a cowardly fashion afraid to make its own decisions.
Dirty Tricks; Dirty Bomb?
According to this Ukrainian source, Ukraine has produced several versions of a ‘dirty atomic bomb’ which it could use to strike deep into Russia if it obtains permission. Zelensky’s strategy of joining NATO or returning to ‘nuclear status’ which he talked about recently, has been discussed with the British according to this source. When the West was informed of the dirty bomb project Z was told to stop - but he carried on regardless.
The Russians are taking this seriously as Igor Krillov, Russian spokesman on nuclear matters, made clear in an interview. He claimed that before the SMO, Ukrainian terrorists had planned to capture the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and cause the release of radioactive materials which would have contaminated much of Europe - to a greater extent than Chernobyl did. He also noted that:
Ukraine has become one of the main importers of the used nuclear fuel. The delivery routes are organized through Poland and Romania. At the same time, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Andrey Yermak personally oversees the organizational, logistical and financial issues.
Bezugla’s Been Let Out Again
Whether she is someone else’s mouthpiece or not, Bezugla certainly has entertainment value and demonstrates how Wokeness can kill. Recently, she has championed the cause of female equality by suggesting that the failure to conscript women into the army is illegal and discriminatory. Women should have as much right as men to be blown to pieces. Bezugla also complained about the deployment of valuable air defence personnel to the fronts, according to Alexander Mercouris. This reminds me of the end of World War Two in Germany when Luftwaffe units were used as infantry - which was fair enough since the Luftwaffe had virtually ceased to exist.
Mobilisation could be improved if the once great Z had granted Syrsky’s request that he divert 40% of the security forces to the fronts. I think there are around 100,000 such forces and he could divert some of the TCC workers.
Gunpowder Running Low
The head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, German Smetanin, told Reuters that they are short of gunpowder for mortar shells which is reducing the effectiveness of the armed forces.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
1st/2nd November
Overnight, a drone crashed into a residential building in Bryansk. According to the Russian MoD, 24 drones were shot down over Russian regions (Bryansk (8); Kursk (8); Belgorod (2); Oryol (3); Rostov (1); Crimea (1)). In Belgorod, a drone attacked a car, injuring two civilians while other drones caused damage to houses.
2nd/3rd November
A man was killed when a drone attacked the village of Kiselev in Volokonovsky District. Overnight, three civilians were injured by drone attacks in Belovsky District of Kursk.
3rd/4th November
Overnight, a drone attack killed a man on a farmstead in Volokonovsky District (Belgorod) while four civilians were injured in the village of Oktyabrsky. In the Horlivka (DPR), three men were injured by drone drops on a market place.
4th/5th November
Overnight an apartment building in Belgorod was hit by drones which injured one civilian and caused a fire. In Shebekino (Belgorod) shelling caused some managed and injured one civilian.
5th/6th November
In Belgorod Region overnight, three civilians were injured by drone attack while in Horlivka (DPR) a man was injured by unexploded cluster submunition.
6th/7th November
Ten drones were shot down over Voronezh at night and caused no damage or casualties. Belgorod regions suffered drone attacks and shelling which damaged cars and buildings but only one casualty was reported. In the DPR, one man was injured by shelling and another by ‘the detonation of an explosive object’.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
1st/2nd November
Overnight, Russian missiles hit the National Guard Academy building in Kharkov. At least 40 people were killed according to this report. Geraniums were seen flying over Kiev where the Ukrainian air defence could not cope. You can see some footage here.
2nd/3rd November
Kiev suffered a huge attack from Geraniums overnight but the Ukrainians are saying that they were all shot down?
3rd/4th November
Geraniums were in the air again overnight, flying towards Cherkasy and Nikolaev and elsewhere. According to Rybar:
Overnight, our troops used Geran strike UAVs against the enemy's capital region, Izmail and Bolgrad district of Odesa Region, as well as Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Sumy and Cherkasy Regions.
On November 4th, the Russian MoD gave this report:
Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation targeted the infrastructure of military airfields, energy facilities, and an oil refinery used to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces, production facilities and storage sites for unmanned boats, as well as concentrations of enemy personnel and military equipment in 132 areas.
3rd/4th November
According to Rybar:
Russian forces struck enemy targets in the Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk and other regions of the so-called Ukraine. More than 10 Geran-2 drones struck the territory of the Bolhrad airfield in Odesa Region.
5th/6th November
On November 5th, according to Pravda:
The Russian forces obliterated a batch of 25,000 155-mm NATO shells in the port of Odessa. Twelve armoured vehicles (Turkey) and a warehouse of unmanned boats were also destroyed. An MLRS radar and launch platform equipped as a bulk carrier (a vessel for transporting cargo in bulk), were destroyed.
6th/7th November
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Kyiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions. According to this report, in Kiev itself warehouses, collections of manpower, UAV repair shops and the SBU headquarters were hit causing many fires. Port infrastructure in Odesa was also damaged. It seems that partisans were involved in the attacks on warehouses in Kiev.
7th/8th November
Kiev was attacked overnight, destroying warehouses containing Western equipment including Musk’s Starlink electronic warfare systems.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
1st November
Overnight, Ukrainian drones attacked fuel and energy facilities in Stavropol Region.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports
Weekly Reports (excludes Kursk)
w/e October 18th, 15,495 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 467.
w/e October 25th, 15, 630 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 506.
w/e November 1st, 17,000 Casualties killed and wounded (record high): equipment losses 589 (record high).
w/e 8th November 14,330 Casualties killed and wounded; equipment losses 444.
The Fronts
I have not seen reports for all Directions this week - so there will be some gaps. However the most important fronts are covered.
Front Line Cats
Kursk
On November 7th, according to the Two Majors:
In Kursk, the front is practically motionless, with reports of clashes near Novoyivanovka and Plyokhovo. The Russian Armed Forces continue to clear forest areas in the Sudzha and Korenevo districts. The enemy is regrouping and withdrawing units that suffered significant losses due to unsuccessful counterattacks.
On the 7th November, the Russian MoD announced that Ukraine has now lost 30,000 casualties in Kursk.
On November 8th, the War Chronicle gave this short report:
Since night, reports have been coming about a new offensive of the Russian army in the Kursk region. First of all, ukrokanals write about this, the offensive goes towards the villages: Pogrebki, Zeleny Shlyakh, Daryino and Sudzhi. From our side, there are reports on the contrary - about attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Zeleny Shlyakh and the surrounding territory.
Kharkov
On the 8th November, the Russian MoD gave this short report:
In Kharkov direction, Russian troops have inflicted fire damage on units of AFU one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, three territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.
Kupyansk
By the end of the week, the Russians were advancing on Kolesnikovo - according to the Majors.
Seversk
Toretsk
The Russians are advancing in the centre of Toretsk by the end of the week.
Pokrovsk - Selidove - Kurakhovo
By the end of the week in the Kurakhovo Direction, Stepanovka and Antonovka were both liberated. According to this report, Maksimovka and Volchenko were also liberated by the end of the week.
On the 7th November, the Russians were only 9kms from cutting the road into Kurakhovo:
On November 7th Marat Khairullin reported on Selidovsky (Selidovo) Direction to the north of his map:
….the Russian Armed Forces advanced along the railway west of the settlement of Vishnevoe and began assault operations in the settlement of Grigorovka. Separate detachments are working simultaneously in the area of the settlement of Petrovka. The enemy was completely driven out of the settlement of Novoalekseevka by the forces of the 80th Tank Regiment of the Russian Army. The advance south of Novoalekseevka and north of Novodmitrovka made it possible to straighten out the line of clashes between these two settlements. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the complete liberation of the settlement of Kremennaya Balka, which was previously taken under control by our soldiers.
Uhledar
According the Marat Khairullin on November 7th:
In the South Donetsk direction, the Russian Army liberated the settlements of Antonovka and Maksimovka. In the area of Katerinovka and Antonovka, Russian fighters are clearing enemy strongholds, preparing for a further offensive on Yelizavetovka. They have also advanced to the east of Bogoyavlenka, where they have come close to the Yelizavetinsky forest. And in the area of Bogoyavlenka itself, the Konstantinopolskaya Dacha tract has been completely cleared of the enemy, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces units have been pushed further north from the forest. The Russian army is advancing here, gradually leveling the Maksimovka-Trudovoye line. To the northwest of the tract, they have already reached highway 0510.
Zaporozhye
There has been very little movement on this front and on the 7th November the Two Majors gave this short report:
The enemy continues to work with 120-mm mortars + cluster munitions work with M74 submunitions, which, if not exploded, can remain active and are triggered upon contact with infantry or light equipment.
On November 8th, according to the Majors, Russian infantry was activated near Nesteryanka and advanced 2.3 kms.
The Economic War
World Bank Gives Ukraine $600 Billions Loan
I’m surprised that the World Bank has such faith in Ukraine’s continued existence. The interest on this will be enormous.
World Politics
The US Election
Russian Reaction
Duma spokesman Yevgeny Pioov (or Popov), commentating on the likelihood of a Trump ‘deal’ had this to say:
As for Trump's further actions, it seems to me that before January he will offer us some kind of plan, some kind of deal, which will have obviously unacceptable conditions. We will reject it, and then he will throw up his hands in the manner appropriate to him and provide Ukraine with some powerful aid package and lift the restrictions that Joseph Biden observed to some extent.
Sergei Lavrov has stated that he would welcome dialogue with Trump with regard to the conflict:
We’ll see if there are any proposals, and I reiterate that it was not us who broke off relations and it’s not up to us to suggest reviving those. If there is an initiative to sit down and have a frank conversation about where we are standing and how we should move forward, without any unilateral demands, we will be ready [for that].
Dmitry Medvedev observed that a ‘somewhat fatigued’ Trump was prone to dishing out ‘banalities’ on the campaign trail, including claims about ending the Ukraine war. If elected, Medvedev suggested, Trump:
would be forced to observe all of the rules of the system, [and would be] unable to stop the war. Not in a day, not in three days, not in three months.
And if he tried to end the war he would be assassinated just as John Kennedy was in 1963, according to Dmitry. I think that a Trump assassination is still on the cards.
But Can You Vote Away Imperialism?
No of course you can’t: that’s why the most important thing about the Trump victory was the people’s rejection of globalist neo-liberalism. Garland Nixon talks to Joti Brar about the issue here. Joti is an intelligent individual who is adept at explaining imperialism clearly.
German Troops In Ukraine
German ‘left wing’ politician, Sahra Wagenknecht has been pointing an accusing figure at her government again and has submitted a written appeal to Scholz after receiving reports that German troops are stationed in Ukraine:
In our opinion, the presence of Bundeswehr soldiers in Ukraine and, therefore, in the combat zone raises questions of international law concerning the conditions under which the FRG itself can become a party to the war.
The Germans have been there for a long time but Wagenknecht has now brought this fact to the attention of the public. This also highlights the hypocrisy of those complaining about ‘imaginary’ North Korean troops in Ukraine.
The German parliament has passed legislation that will pave the way for conscription.
Moldova
On Sunday, people inside and outside of Moldova voted in the second round of the election in which the pro-Western incumbent, Maia Sandu ‘won’ 55.3% of the vote while her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo won 44.7%. The latter won many more votes than the former inside Moldova but only 17% of the vote outside of it. Last week I reported that there were some anomalies in the voting including a lack of voting papers and polling station for Russian Moldovans living in Russia. There were also some problems in Transnistria which is also outside Moldova. But pro-Russian Stoianoglo has said that he will challenge the result in the Constitutional court. Maria Zakharova called it the most undemocratic election in the country’s history. Naturally, the West will provide only glowing coverage of these elections.
EU Summit 7th Nov Budapest
This informal Summit discussed how the EU is preparing for the aftermath of Trump’s victory. Orban greeted all the leaders who attended on their arrival, except Two Tier Keir, who was late - but he did greet him later - see photo. It must be a little strange for Orban given his open criticisms of the EU but he remained amicable as professionals do. I can’t imagine him or Lavrov or Choi Son Hee, or Jaishankar ‘bad mouthing’ any other politician in the way that Joe Biden has done. I am so glad that ‘regime’ has gone. And, of course, the once great Z was also in attendance which is not surprising given the fact that the Ukraine war will be top of the discussion list given Trump’s potential impact. Even though his speech was not broadcast, this report suggests that Zelensky demanded to be given all of Russia’s frozen assets.
But Orban didn’t pull any punches when he told the Summit:
The situation in which Europe finds itself is difficult, complex and dangerous. It has been going on for the third year. Russia is waging war against Ukraine. The Middle East is at risk of escalation, plagued by terrorist attacks. In North Africa, conflicts are destabilizing the region. Irregular migration is a constant problem for Europe, which is once again approaching peak levels. The global economy is once again facing the frightening prospect of post-Cold War fragmentation, challenging the very foundations of the European model and threatening the peace, stability and prosperity of Europe. We gather today because we believe that these threats and challenges concern us all.
At some point in the Summit, Ursula von der Leyen, demonstrated the contradictory Orwellian logic that has infected Western leaders. When questioned about the EU’s purchase of Russian oil she said: ‘The EU is forced to buy Russian oil so that Putin doesn't make more money elsewhere'. I wonder whether the slave owners of years gone by applied a similar logic such as: ‘If we don’t enslave them someone else will benefit from their bondage’.
Russia to Attend African Energy Week
As part of an effort to continue dialogue between the two countries, Russia will attend African Energy week (4th-8th Nov) in Cape Town. This year, the event will be attended by representatives of Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosatom, Rosseti, Novatek, Sberbank and other energy and financial companies.
Hungary/NATO Relations at ‘Boiling Point’
According to an article in Politico, the relationship between Hungary and NATO has reached ‘boiling point’. Hungary ignored the NATO summit in Budapest while the country's Foreign Minister Szijjarto spoke at a Belarusian security conference together with Sergei Lavrov and the head of the Syrian Foreign Ministry. NATO is critical of Hungary’s cosy relations with China and Russia. Yet Hungary still has access to the alliance’s information, including classified intelligence.
Fico Visits Xi
Slovak PM Robert Fico visited China this week and met with Xi Jinping. In a press interview, Fico blamed NATO expansion for Russia’s SMO and was supportive of the China-Brazil peace initiative. Fico will discuss this with Lula da Silva when he visits Brazil in December.
Fico was criticised by the British Ambassador for appearing on Russian TV which he sees as a tool for Russian propaganda. In return, Fico criticised the Western press for its dishonest coverage of the conflict. With regard to negotiations, he pointed out that:
if you…claim that the West is interested in peace in Ukraine, give me at least one positive example of a peace initiative from the West or Great Britain. There are no such examples. On the contrary, it was Western politicians who did everything possible to ensure that in April 2022, immediately after the start of the conflict, not a single realistic, ready-made peace agreement was signed. And Zelensky's peace plan crumbled to dust as unrealistic.
Ouch!
Russians Barred From Voting in Estonia
If any group of people was barred from voting anywhere in the world, there would be uproar but not when it comes to Russians - the new pariahs. So no one in the West will complain about Estonian PM Christen Michal’s decision to submit a parliamentary bill banning Russians and Belarusians from voting in municipal election.
Indeed, discrimination against Russians in Europe is reaching epidemic proportions. According to the Two Majors:
Anti-Russian hysteria in Europe has long reached the level of real crime. Drivers with Russian license plates are beaten on European highways, hoses and wires are cut in cars, license plates are torn off. The police do not react to these cases. In schools, Russian children are beaten. Numerous Europeans who speak out against persecution remain unheard. And no one knows how many more generations of Europeans will grow up in large-scale hatred based on nationality.
Have they learned nothing at all from the experience of Nazi Germany?
Scholz Government Crumbling
Poor old Olaf has announced that he will be calling for a vote of confidence in his government sometime in mid-January which he is likely to lose. This would then be followed by an election in March. Germany has been hit by massive strikes and demonstrations and there are huge rifts within the ruling coalition, according to Zero Hedge. The funding of Ukraine and the commitment to Green Policies are among the issues which divide the government. Scholz has just fired his Finance Minister Christian Lindler following a policy disagreement over Ukraine funding which the Minister wanted to reduce.
Centre ‘right’ leader, Friedrich Merz, is not happy with Scholz’s casual time line and wants a vote of no confidence called now so that the election can be called in Mid January, according to Politico. This makes sense to me - why wait?
The Polish Siegfried Line
The Poles have erected concrete ‘hedgehogs’ along its border with Russia and Belarus over a distance of 800kms and at a cost of $2.5 billions. But these great ‘fortifications’ are not meant to stop the Russians but merely inconvenience them - according to the country's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. I think they are being built to convince the Polish people that there is a threat where none exists.
The emerging Multi-Polar World
BRICS SWAPAI
Researcher at the Center for Social and Political Studies of Republika, Srpska Neven Djenadija, participated in the International Scientific Symposium “Inventing the Future” in Moscow, where the panel “The Future of Digital International Relations’’ discussed his concept called “BRICS SWAPAI” which could provide an alternative to Swift. Djenadija explained:
This idea aims to develop, through AI - artificial intelligence - a platform that will allow the exchange of goods with states that are under sanctions or that have canceled the SWIFT code and as such cannot be in the international payment system
The platform will be developed as a pilot project among BRICS nations.
Kazakhstan To Join BRICS
On the 7th November, Sergei Lavrov announced that Kazakhstan has been invited to join BRICS as a ‘partner country’ - according to Tass. Lavrov was in Kazakhstan to meet with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and its Foreign Minister and prepare the groundwork for Putin’s visit later this month.
Putin at Valdai
On November 8th, Putin spoke at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Sochi and reminded everyone that:
The old world order is irrevocably disappearing, one might say, has already disappeared, and a serious, irreconcilable struggle is unfolding for the formation of a new one. Irreconcilable, first of all, because this is not even a fight for power or geopolitical influence, this is a clash of the very principles on which relations between countries and peoples will be built at the next historical stage
Furthermore, he suggested:
A completely new world order is taking shape before our eyes, unlike anything we know from the past.
He also said that no one in Washington or Brussels can change the hard fact that the world needs Russia and he was critical of the West’s ‘geopolitical greed’ which is driving global conflicts. He also gave a warning:
I have already said that we have come up to a dangerous line. The West's calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, a country with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrate the extreme adventurism of Western politicians. Such blind faith in one's own impunity and exceptionalism could result in a global tragedy
If you would like to know more about his speech, Tass provides a fairly good article.
That’s it for yet another eventful week. I want to say something about Subscriptions because I’m not sure if people are aware of what this involves on the Busker.
Subscriptions are free and I have no plans to start charging - though I may give people the chance to make a donation at Christmas. Those who subscribe will usually receive only one email a week and will have access to over 100 articles including some on important issues outside of the Ukraine conflict. Subscribers will get these extra articles, access to my catalogue going back to June 2023 and the odd philosophical article. This week I published two articles on the US elections that only subscribers to the substack and to my Telegram channel will receive. Subscribers can also view or participate in the discussions that take place. If for some reason, people don’t want to subscribe to the substack but still want to view this content, they could join my Telegram Channel on which I also post videos produced by other commentators. I have no idea if there is a downside to this. Forgive my ignorance.
I should also say that it may be some time before I publish the final instalment of the ‘Independent thinking’ series which I may have to re-write because it is too biographical. However, judging by some comments perhaps people would benefit from knowing a little more about my background. What do you think?
Anyway, many thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, shares, restacks and kind comments. Best wishes - Rob
Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.
October 25th, according to the old calendar.
With the feeling that multiple sources of news are necessary to get a sense of ' truth ' I don't subscribe ( financially ) to any of them.
However this very comprehensive report and Mr Campbell's opinions ( which match comfortably with mine ) may make The Busker my first .
Thank you so much for all your work.