Ukraine Weekly Update (BRICS of Hope)
25th October 2024
The war in the Middle East is becoming emotionally draining to follow as one heartbreaking tragedy for the Palestinian and Lebanese people gives way to another. It is difficult to remain detached from these things as the internet bombards us with images we would rather not see. The Israeli government, with the support of its people, appears to want to kill all the Arabs in the region and take large swathes of their territory to create a Greater Israel. But just as Popeye needed spinach to defeat his enemy Pluto, so Israel will need to be fed by America so it can have a chance against Iran - whether it is acting as a US proxy or not.
But it will never be strong enough unless it brings the temple down on everyone’s heads with a nuclear bomb. Even then, Iran’s non-nuclear but deadly response will already be on its way. All the targeting has been prepared by the Iranians who can easily destroy Israel with conventional weapons - or so the ‘experts’ are telling us. An intelligence ‘leak’ of the Israeli plans appears to have delayed its attack. As we wait, Hamas, Islamic Resistance, Hezbollah and the Houthis are making life uncomfortable for Israel and its citizens. Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, died a hero’s death that was filmed and published by the Israelis as part of an unintended recruitment drive for Hamas fighters. In spite of all this suffering, there is at least some reason to be optimistic about the future.
Nearly 2,500 miles away to the north, a ray of hope glistened on the waters of the resort at Kazan. There, at the BRICS Summit, Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas was welcomed while the genocidal actions of the Israelis were roundly condemned and a ceasefire demanded. After BRICS, it will be impossible for Western leaders to peddle the myth that Putin is isolated. It will be impossible for the legacy media to deny that he has the support of at least half the world which is represented by its leaders at the Summit (see below). Dr. Gilbert Doctorow points out that it is the G7 countries that are isolated because they are not welcome in BRICS! The legacy media is howling with rage at this ‘grotesque summit’, according to this report.
There will be many at the Summit who believe that BRICS is the future; an irresistible future; where the emerging Multi-Polar World Order is taking its first tentative steps based on the following principles:
No nation should interfere with the sovereignty of others. No nation should dictate to another in relation to culture, politics, economics, values and morality. Indeed, no nation should dictate to another in any sense.
The Summit must be seen as one of these first steps: we will have to wait some time before we are able to judge whether this can/will work in practice since there are significant differences between BRICS countries. But it provides many with hope. The Summit is covered in detail below.
In Ukraine, the Russians continue to make slow progress in most Directions but there is no stalemate as some in the West would like you to believe. In some places, the Ukrainians are on the verge of collapse. It is obvious that Ukraine has a very severe manpower shortage which its botched mobilisation was unable to resolve. Now there is talk of recruiting 18 year old’s, many of whom are already leaving the country for safety in the West.
In the US, Cackling Kamala continues to embarrass herself while Donald J provided his impression of an apprentice at MacDonalds. According to Zero Hedge, Trump has justifiably complained about election interference from our very own Two Tier Kier and his failing Labour Party - I imagine he enjoyed that. He would also have enjoyed a recent poll which shows him 58%-42% ahead.
On this side of the Atlantic, Europeans can’t decide whether they want a nuclear war or not: some want to allow Ukraine to kill civilians in Moscow while others are a little reticent.
Finally, in what could turn out to be an important date in history, the Russian Duma ratified the Russia-DPRK Strategic Partnership Treaty. Russia and North Korea now have a military alliance, as I understand it. Maybe this is connected with the Western hysteria about North Korean troops in Ukraine.
According to the Duma, the treaty:
..is designed to maintain a balance of power and reduce the risk of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. It also includes provisions on mutual defense.
Putin - On Nukes
In an interview, Vladimir Putin responded to Zelensky’s threat to develop nuclear weapons. He asserted that Russia will not allow this and will be able to track any Ukrainian moves in this direction which will be impossible to hide. You can read more at RT. Putin described Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’ as a list of demands rather than a basis for negotiations, which Ukrainian legislation does not allow.
This report suggests that Ukraine does not have the materials or the technology to develop nuclear weapons and would be in breach of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons if it attempted to do so.
Putin on Palestine
The Palestinians will not leave there, this is their land, we must understand this. This is the first thing. And secondly, the more humanitarian problems there are, the more people will want to defend their interests. By the way, many in Israel understand this too.
Free Russian Grain
According to Sputnik Africa:
Russian grain will be exported directly to 13 countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Qatar, Kuwait, South Korea, Pakistan, India, Iraq, the chairman of the union, Edouard Zernin, told the Russian media
The grain will accommodate 20% of the needs of some African countries and is free.
North Korean Troops in Ukraine??
Zelensky and some other Western leaders are claiming that North Korea has troops in Ukraine but this is denied by both Russia and North Korea. I believe this is all theatre - so I’m not going to indulge until I have proof positive. The rumour suits Zelensky because he wants to get the US involved in an escalation. I think it possible that North Korea has observers in Ukraine learning from the conflict but I don’t see how Russia could benefit from their active involvement: they are not short of men. Even if the troops are active, how on earth can Western leaders complain given NATO’s heavy involvement since February 2022. But Westerners, totally oblivious to the clear hypocrisy of their complaint, will milk this for all its worth. US congressman, Mike Turner, has suggested that North Korean troops in Ukraine is a red line which permits Ukraine to retaliate by sending long range missiles deep into Russia. I suspect that the real ‘red line’ is the Russian-DPRK Treaty. In what must count as the most cringeworthy piece of propaganda spouted this year, the once great Z has claimed that the BRICS Summit was a ‘smokescreen’ to hide the transfer of North Korean troops to Ukraine. Putin had this to say about it. But Zelensky doesn’t appear to realise how ridiculous his claim is. I wonder if he’d had a line or two before making it? Meanwhile, Russian soldiers are taking advantage of the rumours by raising DPRK flags along with their own when they capture territory.
Ukraine Propaganda Not Working
For a long time, Ukrainian propaganda has been delivered via its ‘Single Telethon’ Channel and the ‘Office Network’ but this Ukrainian source is reporting than 50% of the public is abandoning these outlets. Oh dear!
Mobilisation - Milking Ukraine Dry
Western leaders are calling for Ukraine to reduce the age of conscription from 25 to 18 according to a Ukrainian source. Some extremist maniacs, including the Brotherhood’s Dmytro Korchinsky, want 14 year old’s to fight. But according to this Ukrainian source, commanders on the ground are describing the new recruits as ‘incapable ballast’. Out of 25 new recruits, according to a Ukrainian strategist, one will fight and the rest will either run away or die quickly.
Can We Have A Ceasefire Please - Z
Zelensky has again called for a ceasefire of the air war on energy infrastructure as Ukraine’s depleted electricity grid struggles - with cauld winter approaching. If Ukraine had not targeted Russia’s energy sources, much of their system would not have been destroyed by Russian retaliation. But Russia will not be interested. b writes about it at the MoA (23rd October). I don’t think the T shirt will be helpful to his request.
Umerov - ‘We will do very bad things’
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Defence Minister, has promised to do ‘very bad things’ if Ukraine is forced to give up territory in order to join NATO - as some in the West have suggested. Umerov had not heard of such initiatives, he said, and they should not be taken seriously. I wonder what ‘bad things’ he had in mind? This man could have been a villain in a US gangster movie - scary.
Yulia Mykytenko Admits Defeat
Lieutenant Mykytenko, of the unmanned reconnaissance platoon, has admitted that Ukraine lost its chance to win the war back in 2023 and will not be in a position to challenge the Russians for at least ten years. She also said that motivation among Ukrainians is much lower than it was a year ago.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
18th/19th October
Overnight, 13 ‘aircraft type’ drones were destroyed/intercepted over Bryansk, 2 over Rostov and 1 over Belgorod - according to the Two Majors. Another 17 drones were intercepted over Oryol while in Bryansk, a woman was injured by a kamikaze drone. Damage was caused to houses, cars, commercial premises and warehouses all over Belgorod but only one civilian was injured.
19th/20th October
Belgorod region was attacked by drones and shelling overnight. According to the Governor, a twelve year old girl and two women were hospitalised with shrapnel wounds along with a man whose leg was injured. 20 houses along with outbuildings and 15 cars were damaged. According to the Russian MoD:
Air defenses intercepted or destroyed 110 UAVs, 43 of which were taken down over the Kursk Region near the border, where fighting has been raging since early August. Another 27 were destroyed over Lipetsk Region, 18 over Oryol Region, and eight over Nizhny Novgorod Region. Seven and six UAVs, respectively, were destroyed over the Belgorod and Bryansk Regions, and one was downed over Moscow Region.
20th/21st October
Bryansk suffered shelling and drone attacks overnight but no casualties were reported. Belgorod region suffered shelling which injured two civilians.
21st/22nd October
Overnight, a distillery in Tula region suffered drone attacks but there were no casualties. Drones were shot down over Bryansk, Voronezh and Tambov regions. There was some damage to property but no casualties. In Belgorod, three people were injured by drone attacks while in the DPR two people were injured by shelling and another two by drone drops. In Energodar, drone attacks damaged propane tanks close to the Zaporozhye NPP. One man was killed by shrapnel.
22nd/23rd October
In Belgorod region, overnight, a woman was injured by a drone attack on her house while a man was injured by a drone attack on his car. In Donetsk (DPR), one man was killed by shelling and another two injured. Two were injured by shelling in Gorlovka while two more were injured by drones. Four drones were destroyed over Rostov while 20 drones were destroyed in Zaporozhye which also suffered shelling. No casualties were reported.
23rd/24th October
Overnight, many villages in Belgorod were attacked by drones but only one casualty was reported.
24th/25th October
In Kursk region, overnight, a man was killed by a drone attack on his car. In Belgorod, many villages came under attack from drones and artillery. Some damage was caused but no casualties were reported. The DPR was also attacked with drones and shelling but only one casualty was recorded.
The Sea War
22nd/23rd October
Ten drones were shot down over Crimea and night while four unmanned boats headed for the peninsular were destroyed in the Black Sea.
23rd/24th October
Overnight, one drone was shot down over the Black Sea.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
18th/19th October
Geraniums were in the air overnight in Odessa, Kiev and elsewhere. An air defence system was reportedly destroyed in Odessa. Pyriatyn in Poltava was attacked by Geraniums.
19th/20th October
Overnight, Russian KH-59/69 missiles destroyed two American MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft systems and other military equipment in Odessa. The Russians also attacked the Druzhba Hotel in Krivoy Rog with Iskander-M missiles. The hotel was being used to accommodate foreign specialists.
20th/21st October
Overnight, port facilities in Odessa were set alight as you can see here. A Russian missile entered an unused oil depot according to this. Explosions were heard in Sumy and Krivoy Rog.
21st/22nd October
According to this report, Geraniums were seen flying over Sumy region.
23rd/24th October
Overnight, Russian missiles attacked targets in Cherkasy, the port of Yuzhny in Odesa Region, and Ochakiv in Mykolaiv Region. Snake Island (i.e. Zmeinyi Island), which is an important logistical hub for supporting in ‘commando’ attacks on Crimea, was hot with KH-222 cruise missiles.
24th/25th October
According to Rybar:
The Russian forces carried out missile strikes on enemy targets in the Odesa, Zhytomyr, Khmilnytskyi, Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk Regions.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports (excludes Kursk)
w/e October 4th 16,650 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 536.
w/e October 11th, 14,430 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 483.
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.
Kursk
The Ukrainians are suffering between 250 and 350 casualties a day in Kursk.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the Ukrainians lost more than 26,550 servicemen, 177 tanks, 93 infantry fighting vehicles, 105 armoured personnel carriers, 1,003 armoured fighting vehicles, 686 motor vehicles, 229 artillery guns, 38 multiple rocket launchers…
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Kursk
On the 23rd October, according to the Two Majors:
In the Kursk region, as a result of a breakthrough in the enemy's defences near the Novoivanovka village, 15 civilians held hostage by the AFU were freed. In addition, the advance continues near the village of Plekhovo. A large accumulation of AFU reserves in the village of Yunakovka was destroyed by an ATGM strike.
In Korenovo District, the Russians have repelled Ukrainian attacks in the area of Zeleny Shlyakh - Nizhny Klyn.
By the end of the 23rd October, according to Rybar:
To the north, a Russian armored group advanced in the vicinity of the Kalinov Log gully, and the Dolzhik and Rossoshnoye tracts. Fighting is currently underway in the area of the Verkhnya Bloshka gully, the Krepenets tract, and the Kazatsky Les tract.
On October 24th, the town of Olgovka came under Russian control, according to Slavyangrad. At Kazan, Putin said that 2,000 Ukrainian troops are surrounded in Kursk. According to Pravda, 400 have surrendered in the past week.
Kharkov
There have been no significant changes here as fighting continues in the multi-storey building of Volchansk. Fighting also continues around the Liptsy area.
Kupyansk-Liman
On the 23rd October, according to the Two Majors:
In the Kupyansk direction, there are reports of the RFAF advancing from Stelmakhovka to Lozovaya, which is a logical action after the formation of a bulge in the enemy defence at Kruglyakovka.
In the Liman section, the RF MoD reported that units of the 'Western Troops Grouping' had liberated the village of Novosadovoye in the DPR as a result of active and decisive actions.
On the 24th October, the Russians had reached the outskirts of Terny (north east of Liman), according to this report and advanced into Kruglyakovka.
Seversk
On the 24th October, according to Marat Khairullin:
In the Seversky direction, the Russian Armed Forces have liberated the village of Serebryanka, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. Footage of attacks on the enemy in this village from Solntsepёk flamethrower systems, literally burning out enemy positions…
Chasiv Yar
On October 23rd, it was reported that half of Chasiv Yar has been recaptured by Russian forces. Its full capture will leave the way open to Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk.
Toretsk
On the 23rd October, according to Slavyangrad:
The situation in Toretsk is similar to that in Selidovo. The assault forces have become more active over the past few days, they managed to break the AFU fortifications in the center of the city and in the northern part of the city near the mine.
Stelmahovka-Andreevka
On October 24th, according to Marat Khairullin.
In the Stelmakhovka area, Russian Armed Forces units occupied commanding heights north and west of the settlement. At the same time, in the west, the enemy was pushed back almost to the settlement of Lozovaya.
Pokrovsk - Detail
On the 24th October, the Russians liberated the village of Nikolaevka, according to Marat Khairullin.
North Of Selidovo
South Of Selidovo
On the 23rd October, the Russians were gradually taking control of Selidovo - according to the Majors. Hrodivka was taken under full control by the 24th October while fighting was fierce in the Lysovka area. Gornyak is also close to liberation, according to this report. By the end of the week Selidivo was surrounded.
Kurakhovo
In the Kurakhovo Direction, the Russians liberated the village of Ostrovskoye on the 23rd October and rushed directly towards Kurakhovo which is an important logistic hub for Ukraine.
Uhledar
According to Marat Khairullin:
In the South Donetsk direction, our armed forces entered the settlement of Antonovka, developing an offensive in the direction of Uspenovka and enveloping Bogoyavlenka from the right flag. They are also advancing towards it from the direction of Ugledar, gnawing through the enemy's line of defense built there.
Zaporozhye
During the week, the Russians have managed to capture important high ground in the Orekhov Direction.
Kherson
This week, the Ukrainians have been busy mining the flood plains of the Dnieper.
The Economic War
EU Approves Theft of Russian Assets
The EU has approved of a mechanism to provide Ukraine with a loan of 35 billion Euros which will be stolen from frozen Russian assets but only if certain political conditions are met. However, the European commission has yet to tell us what these conditions are. Kirill Logvinov, a Russian spokesman, said that such thefts will undermine confidence in the Euro and highlight the importance of working out a new financial infrastructure independent of the West through BRICS. But Russia has access to some frozen Western assets which it will now dip into by way of retaliation.
Wise Westerners - Lubos Blaha
Blaha, MEP for Slovakia, condemned the above measures as ‘theft and banditry’: other comments he made are worthy of repetition because he asked some searching questions:
Did you steal American property when the United States launched an unprovoked aggressive war against Iraq? Did you steal American property when NATO bombed Belgrade? And when was Kosovo illegally separated from Serbia?
And today I ask again: will you steal the property of Israelis for committing genocide against the Palestinian people?
Please pull yourself together! And stop pouring billions and weapons into Ukraine. Poor Europeans need these billions. This is unfair to our own citizens.
Blaha also advised EU members that sanctions against Russia are not working as he was able to see for himself on a recent visit. He also had this to say:
The only thing that can bring peace is dialogue with Russia. Not theft, not weapons, not more dead Ukrainians, but dialogue and respect. And I will continue to travel to Russia, because I do not believe in war, I believe in peace, just like the Slovaks. The only way to prevent Ukrainians from dying is to stop the expansion of NATO, to stop Russophobia. And yes, this includes gratitude for liberation from fascism during World War II. And yes, this includes apologies for making racist, militaristic and hateful statements here.
Captain Told To Be Quiet About Nord Stream
Captain of the Christiano island port, Jon Anker Nielsen, has admitted that for the last two years he has been forced to keep silent about what he saw prior to the explosion of the "Nord Stream".
According to Maria Zakharova:
In the early days, the harbor master, according to his own statement, was told not to say a word. But today, Jon Anker Nielsen can well report that four or five days before the Nord Stream explosion he went with the rescue service to Christiano, because there it was discovered "several unidentified ships with transponders turned off and which did not respond to requests. As it turned out, they were American warships. When the rescue mission approached them, the command ordered them to turn back.
I’ve never believed that anyone but the Americans, maybe with the Brits on board, carried out this terrorist attack. The other versions have been entertaining but hardly credible.
Germany - The Chips Are Down
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is disappointed after US Tech Company Wolfspeed pulled out of a deal to spend 3 billion Euros on a plant that would have produced chips for EV’s; the demand for which has fallen considerably - according to Slavyangrad. I think I read somewhere that German economists have revived their growth forecasts downwards for next year.
World Politics
US Election - Did I Say It Was Boring?
I had been watching too much Kamala - have a look at this:
Controversial the Donald may be, but boring - never. Maybe that’s why so many love him in spite of the fact that he is human all too human. Americans have had enough of puritanical, unforgiving Wokeness which stifles their instincts, attempts to change their reality and force an alien moral code down their throats. Many inside and outside of the West are rebelling against LGBT+ ideology.
Biden/Harris Government Priorities
Starmer in US Election Interference Row
British advisors to Cackling Kamala, including Two Tier Kier, have been accused of election interference including the offering of advice to Democrats that they should ‘kill Musk’s Twitter’. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
Wise Westerners - Viktor Orban on the ‘Victory Plan’.
Viktor Orban has made some perspicacious comments on Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’ that other Western commentators have been too polite to point out.
Twenty-six countries had to listen to Zelensky in shock that he now has a winning plan. And what was before? Until now, we thought that they were acting according to a winning plan. But this turned out to be wrong. Now they want to move from this to a plan for victory.
We all know that the so-called ‘Victory Plan’ was not really a plan at all: simply a demand for things that had already been requested and denied to the Ukrainians - such as NATO membership - which is opposed by at least six members.
Poor Macron - 78% Disapproval Rating
Macron’s disapproval rating continues to increase along with that of PM Michel Barnier whose disapproval rating rose by four points to 60% - according to Pravda. What a team eh!
Moldovan Elections
The Moldovan elections are complicated and involve voters from both inside Moldova and outside of it, including some who live in Russia. People voted in Presidential elections and in a EU referendum. The existing President Maia Sandu won most votes in the first round ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo and there may now be a second round of voting between these two. The people appear to have voted to join the EU by the tiniest of margins but both Sandu’s supporters and her opponents are making accusation of vote rigging and other underhand practices to secure votes. For example, Moldovan voters in Russia were provided with only two voting stations. But the margin of victory was disappointing for EU supporters who were expecting a 70%-30% win. You can read more at Pravda or at the Moon of Alabama (October 21st).
Maria Zakharova claimed that votes were falsified in an effort to hide the lack of support for joining the EU and that election observers recorded 778 violations, including intimidation, bribery and preventing voters from entering polling stations.
Crazy Westerners
Gina Haspel - ‘Let’s Just See What Happens’.
Former CIA Director Gina Haspel, has come up with a new form of foreign policy which eschews any sort of pre-planning or assessment of possible outcomes concerning the actions of allies. She recommends that allies, such as Ukraine, should be allowed to do what they want and then we should simply ‘just see what happens’ as part of a process in which ‘lady luck’ is courted as an alternative to rational calculation. In an apocalyptic version of ‘let’s suck it and see’, she claims that Ukraine should be given the permission it seeks to launch missiles deep into the domain of the world’s largest nuclear power and we’ll ‘just see what happens’. We don’t need to announce it, she said, just let them get on with it.
Jean-Noel Barrot
France’s Foreign Minister is calling for NATO countries to support Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’ including a fast track NATO entry for Ukraine..
Annalena’s Fascist Genes
Annalena Baerbock is an infant operating in a world full of adults. Judging by the idiotic statements she has made over years she is clearly intellectually challenged when required to use some ‘thinking muscle’ because she hasn’t got any. I understand that Annalena has relatives who were serving Nazis during World War Two. So I wonder whether her Nazi ideas about the conduct of warfare are inherited1 or not!
Annalena, who must have seen the atrocities that we have all seen in Gaza and Lebanon, has said that Israel’s bombing is justified because Hezbollah is hiding behind civilians. Such a blanket statement could allow for the killing of a thousand civilians to eliminate just one military combatant. But poor Annalena is so challenged that this would never occur to her. During the Second World War, the Nazis had a similar philosophy with regard to partisans behind their lines in Russia - many of whom were Jews.2 If it was assumed that a village of, say, 500 people, contained a few partisans, the Nazis simply killed everyone in the village - because the partisans were assumed to be hiding behind the villagers. The Nazis killed the babies and children out of compassion since they would not be able to survive without adults. How decent of them. Jacques Baud talks about it here.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
BRICS Summit - Kazan
The BRICS Summit is probably one of the most important global events of the decade but the Western media will mostly ignore it. In broad terms, the Summit will seek to strengthen multilateralism, integrate new members into the bloc and address regional challenges. The commitment to developing alternative financial systems, including the New Development Bank, are among the most important initiatives to be pursued.
According to Sputnik:
Created in 2006 as an informal grouping of emerging economies, BRICS has grown into a behemoth of international affairs, surpassing the G7 industrialized economies by PPP GDP in 2018, and more than doubling its membership earlier this year to include six new members. As its economic power grows, so does its potential to influence global politics.
You can read more here.
RT described the Summit as follows:
The upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia could mark a turning point in global geopolitical history. Faced with the slow erosion of the Western world order, a new balance is emerging, driven by a coalition that seems increasingly determined to chart its own course. This unique event brings together 24 heads of state from various nations, including iconic figures such as China’s Xi Jinping. The inclusion of Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in this assembly raises major questions about the current dynamics of global governance.
BRICS represents the emerging Multi-Polar World Order as an alternative to the existing but decaying Unipolar World Order led by America. In future, BRICS countries will seek to find ways in which they can conduct financial transactions between them using their own currencies rather than the dollar, including a ‘digital payment platform’. The BRICS movement is underpinned by a philosophy of cooperation, non-interference and respect for the sovereignty of states. The fact that Guterres attended suggests that the UN’s seeks to revitalise its role in a changing world. Guterres, defending himself against Ukrainian objections, said that it is appropriate for him to attend since half the world’s population is represented here.
BRICS countries will be seeking to reform the UN along with other world institutions that are not fit for purpose (such as the WTO, IMF). 36 countries were represented at the Summit. More than 20% of the world’s gold reserves are held by BRICS countries with Russia and China leading the way. To put things in perspective, BRICS countries posses 53.84% of the world’s grain reserves; 53.31% of it meat reserves; 52.29% of its gas reserves; 42.69% of its oil reserves; 40.77% of its coal reserves and 33.95% of its water resources.
The Outcast Holds Court
On Day One of the Summit, Putin held bilateral meetings with the leaders of China, India, South Africa and Egypt. He also met with the President of the New Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff. This short video shows how ‘isolated’ Russia is.
In an interview, when questioned about claims that BRICS is attempting to defeat the dollar, Putin explained that BRICS is seeking to increase financial independence and reduce geo-political risks. The use of local currencies, he said: ‘‘helps to keep economic development free from politics as far as possible in the context of today’s world.” Sanctions on Russia have provided the incentive to seek new global financial arrangements.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, explained that members of BRICS, unlike the EU members: ‘are not bound by mutual obligations….but instead share common goals and interests’. Peskov stated that membership of NATO would not disqualify countries from membership - so Turkiye was able to join.
Key Statements/Proposals Part of BRICS’s final Declaration:
Stated the importance of expanding cooperation on the basis of common interests and further developing strategic partnership.
Expressed concern over the negative impact of illegal sanctions on the global economy.
Called for greater participation of the least developed countries, especially in Africa, in global processes. Welcomed the strong interest of the Global South in coming together.
Took note of proposals for mediation for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue.
Reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and to maintaining the central role of the United Nations in the international system.
Reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including the Security Council, to make it more representative.
Welcomed the use of national currencies in financial transactions between the bloc’s member states and their trading partners.
Opposed unilateral measures imposed under the pretext of combating climate change.
Called for reform of Bretton Woods institutions, taking into account the increased representation of developing countries.
Supported the adoption at the UN of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders.
Concerned about the escalation in the Middle East, condemned the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy and the undermining of pagers in Lebanon.
Advocated unconditional respect for the sovereignty of Syria and the protection of its territorial integrity.
Agreed to transform the New Development Bank into a multilateral development bank for emerging market countries. Unlike Western banks, the NDB does not set conditions within the framework of domestic policy. Almost any country can join the NDB by requesting investment to structure projects in their national currency (not the dollar).
They support the initiative of the Russian Federation to create a Grain Exchange with coverage of other agricultural sectors in the future. This is important since it would exclude big grain producers such as the US and Canada.
BRICS countries called for strengthening the non-proliferation regime and nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.
Stressed the need to resume the Iranian nuclear deal by all parties.
BRICS will study the creation of a single transport platform to ensure multimodal logistics between the countries of association.
Summary of Declaration
The final Declaration is 46 pages long but Sputnik provides a decent summary here. However, RT provides a better summary that I am not able to share because I am having problems with RT archive. If you wish to see it, go to Brave; open the menu in the top right hand corner; select New Private window in Tor; wait for it to load; type in RT.
Conditions for Joining
According to Pravda:
defend the reform of the UN Security Council.
refuse to apply economic sanctions without the approval of the organization.
maintain friendly relations with current members.
New ‘Partner’ Members
Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam joined as ‘partners’. Turkiye’s membership will infuriate the West which could respond by imposing some sort of sanction. Partner members do not have voting rights.
The BRICS World (includes ‘partner’ members)
Putin - The Future of BRICS
It is obvious that the next wave of global economic growth is being born in the countries of the global majority. Therefore, the time has come to discuss the idea of creating our own platform to unlock the potential of our growing economies….It is important to build alternative, reliable and free from any dictate multilateral financial mechanisms for production, logistics chains, establish an exchange of technologies and advanced knowledge, develop and increase the capacity of new international transport corridors.
It appears that The New Development Bank will be part of this initiative.
Growth - BRICS v G7
Western Response
Mark Seddon
Mark Seddon, Director of the Center for UN Studies at Buckingham University:
I've been looking through the Western British press this morning and there is very little mention of BRICS. But it shows that the western media tend to look only at themselves. But in my opinion, they need to wake up. Because there is a reaction against the idea of a unipolar world. And the global South is tired of being lectured. They want to have their own organizations. And good luck to them in doing that.
Alex Krainer
In an interview with Nima at Dialogue Works, Alex Krainer identified an attitude towards economics, pervasive among BRICS countries that is diametrically opposed to that of the West - which he discusses here. The West has followed Adam Smith’s assumption that a ‘hidden hand’ allows the market or market place to operate freely in order to achieve an equilibrium that benefits everyone. In practice, Westerners haven’t adhered to the ‘free market’ model and the market has tended to benefit the rich and powerful, at the expense of the poor.
Krainer notes that intellectuals at BRICS have been discussing what nations should and should not spend their money on - which involves planning of sorts. The moral and spiritual dimensions of spending are not discussed by Western economists, he says. Spending money on nuclear weapons, for example, should be frowned upon while improving living standards should be welcomed. But this would not conflict with BRICS’s basic principles since individual BRICS countries would not be forced into any moral compliance by others - as they are under the Uni-Polar World Order.
The Crisis of Neo-Liberalism
According to Zero Hedge:
The global Covid response was the turning point in public trust, economic vitality, citizen health, free speech, literacy, religious and travel freedom, elite credibility, demographic longevity, and so much more. Now five years following the initial spread of the virus that provoked the largest-scale despotisms of our lives, something else seems to be biting the dust: the postwar neo-liberal consensus itself.
The post war neo-liberal consensus broke with liberal traditions that gave primacy to the Nation State. Instead, it created systems of global governance such as the WHO, WTO, IMF, the UN and so on. The European Union is part of this even though it is not global. But these institutions are not accountable to the people within the nation states: this is why the majority of British people voted for BREXIT. The elites have argued (still argue) that global problems, even apparently fabricated problems such as global warming, require global responses but inevitably these latter will be undemocratic because there is no system of global governance that people can vote for. Therefore, according to Jeffrey Tucker at Zero Hedge, calls for an end to nation states are calls for an end to the limited democracy we currently enjoy.
Our ruling elites and those behind them have attempted to create a ‘new normal’ following Covid/lockdown but they have failed - and now they face a populist backlash that rejects the neo-liberal world order with its Woke Ideology; climate catastrophism; authoritarianism; attacks on free speech, the undermining of culture and the abandonment of national interests. In response, nationalism and traditionalism are growing as trust in ruling elites plummets.
At the moment, it appears that populations in the West are often divided 50-50 on many issues while very few sitting governments or leaders are popular. In the UK, the experience of the Labour Party is instructive. It came to power with a huge majority but has struggled since, with ratings plummeting and Starmer becoming the UK’s most hated man. These issues will not be resolved until the people obtain nationalist governments led by politicians who put the interests of the nation and its people ahead of any global considerations. This is beginning to happen in Europe and is the flip side of the emerging Multi-Polar World Order.
That’s it for another week but I will report on the fallout from the Summit next week once the analysts have picked at it a little. I will also be doing one or two philosophy shorts next week. People should know that if they unsubscribe from these they will also be unsubscribing from the Update - which many did recently. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, follows, likes, shares and comments. Have a good week - Best Rob
Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.
Just joking.
This is featured in a film called Defiance starring Daniel Craig and Liev Shreiber
So - Israel carries out a very limited attack on Iran and the Iranians are not really bothered about retaliating, such was the devastating nature of the attack. Let's hope it ends there.
I just wish that Lebanon could receive some S-400s to stop the bombing.
BTW Kazan isn't anywhere near the sea. It is a fabulous city in Tartistan. Lennon and Nureyev came from there.
Our ABC news reported that over 50% of Moldovans voted NOT to join the EU. This was reported elsewhere as well.
BRICS participants were treated with respect, and given equal opportunity to speak, giving hope for a better future.
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
― Arundhati Roy