As Scott Ritter knows, it is hard not to be affected by the horror that Donald Trump and Netanyahu have inflicted on the Middle East this week as the latter announced a continuation of the war against Hamas while the former watched as air strikes killed innocents in Yemen. Trump’s actions, in particular, have baffled many commentators including Alex Krainer whose speculation is worth considering here.
So - The Genocide Continues.
The attacks on Yemen and Gaza were orchestrated to produce maximum chaos and disorientation while tempting Iran into a retaliation. The US/Israel knew that once Gaza was attacked - the Houthis would attack Israel - so perhaps they tried to put them off balance/intimidate them. But the Houthis wasted no time in retaliating against US shipping, including an aircraft carrier, as well as targets in Israel. The Americans appear to be escalating further by attempting to place air bases on Yemeni territory, according to this report: thereby putting their people in harms way. Let’s see how that works out. I have written my own little rant at these developments under the title ‘Disappointed in you Orange Man - Part 2’. Those who haven’t seen it can view it here.
The Palestinian Telegram Channel I follow daily has been painful to watch this week as gory images of martyred children assault the senses. Horrifying images of the injured generate shame and anger towards the leaders of the Western world and Arab nations that are allowing this to happen. Most of the victims of the latest assault on Gaza are women, children and the elderly. The images are too distressing to reproduce here. 2,000 were killed in one round of indiscriminate bombing according to Hamas. I have no way of confirming this figure but the Palestine Chronicle reports that 200 children have been killed since Tuesday, which is sickening but believable. It is obvious from reports such as this that family homes are being destroyed. The Palestinians now see that the US is most definitely their enemy. The people of Morocco, Jordan and Turkey were out on the streets protesting against this acceleration of genocide as Hamas asked the Arab world to rise up.
The Israelis, who are now running to shelters again following Houthi attacks, are out on the streets protesting against this return to war.
This appears to have been timed to happen just before Trump talked with Putin as if he wanted to impress the latter with his toughness. But it will disgust, rather than impress, Putin.
Israel continues to make incursions into southern Syria while clashes between different groups are ongoing in the north.
On the 20th March, the rabid Zionists even attacked Hezbollah in eastern Lebanon.
On the battlefronts by the end of the week, the Ukrainians had almost been pushed out of Kursk and the Russians were advancing in a number of Directions. The Ukrainians even tried a ground incursion into Belgorod which is continuing as I write. It appears that Keith Kellogg, who is no longer part of the main negotiating process, has been assigned baby sitting duties to keep the once great Z in line. Seriously and officially, he will be responsible for talks with Z and the Ukrainian leadership as the Special Envoy to Ukraine.
Prior to his talk with Trump, pressure was being placed on Putin from the legacy media, the once great Z and the Europeans, to agree to the full ceasefire agreed between the US and Ukraine at the recent Jeddah meeting. Trump and his officials, assisted by the Western media, attempted to build up expectations of such a ceasefire so that if Russia refused it would be labelled as unreasonable. These people are so predictable. But Putin had already hit the ball back into his opponent’s court by agreeing in principle to a cessation of hostilities but highlighting certain ‘nuances’. He cares little about the Western press, Zelensky or the irrelevant, chameleon-like Europeans who have changed their tune from ‘Ukraine can negotiate with Russia only from a position of strength’ (i.e. continue the war) to ‘Putin refuses to negotiate’ (i.e. stop the war). The credibility of the irrelevants is severely undermined by the ridiculous Keir Starmer, who, in spite of his efforts at sounding tough, is saddled with a wimpish image that no one could seriously mistake for that of a warrior. He convened a ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting on the 20th March (see below).
On March 18th, during the phone call from Trump, the whole world was treated to a reality check Russian style (see below). Hopes, illusions and delusions were all dashed on the rocks of Russian realism as Putin offered the partial ceasefire previously suggested by Zelensky. It was a joy to behold. Alexie Zhuravlyov, State Duma Deputy, made it clear that Russia will negotiate ‘only and exclusively with the US'. I have produced a brief article on ‘The Phone Call’ which can be viewed here.
Trump has suggested that the US take over Ukraine’s energy facilities including its nuclear power plants in order to protect them. Zelensky has not agreed to this yet.
Congratulations to Sergei Lavrov who celebrated his 75th birthday this week.
To say that this has been an eventful week would be an understatement.
The Trump Team Speaks Out
Following the Jeddah ‘ general ceasefire’ proposal and before the ‘Phone Call’, Trump’s team showed that they understand the difficult situation they are in as negotiators.
Rubio Gets Real (Well Almost)
Following Putin’s qualified response to the Jeddah ceasefire deal, Marco Rubio admitted that this is a ‘difficult and complex situation’. ‘It’s still a long journey’, he said. Concessions will need to be made, he said. But then he spoiled it all by saying that the war has no military solution and that negotiations can take place only after a ceasefire. These people simply won’t listen.
Mike Waltz
This is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees, the future status of Ukraine…permanent pathway into NATO for Ukraine incredibly unlikely.
This is badly worded but he appears to be saying that Ukraine will need to exchange territory for security guarantees - though I have no idea how that will work. The phrase, ‘incredibly unlikely’ in relation to NATO membership will not be good enough for the Russians in my view. Events that are incredibly unlikely can still happen.
Witkoff
In a TV interview, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has revealed that Russia wants international recognition that the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson are now part of Russian territory. He also explained that Russia would not accept European troops as part of any future peacekeeping force and demanded that the Ukrainian army should be limited in size and strength. The Americans may accept this but I doubt whether the Ukrainians or the globalists (i.e. Europeans and Canadians) will.
The Phone Call
The much awaited phone call between Donald J Trump and Vladimir Putin was concluded on the afternoon of March 18th 2025. It lasted more than two and a half hours according to some and for 90 mins according to others. Much was expected of it and many in the West will be disappointed. First, it was agreed to have a 30 day partial ceasefire halting air attacks on energy infrastructure. The Ukrainians will breathe a sigh of relief at this. But I see it as a Russian concession to soften the blow that Trump must have felt at not getting more. It’s almost as if Putin is saying, mockingly, ‘I’ll give you a ceasefire - this is the one Zelensky wanted’.
This is a summary of the Kremlin statement released after the talk:
Reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, President Putin expressed readiness to work closely with American partners on a thorough and comprehensive settlement. He emphasized that any agreement must be sustainable and long-term, addressing the root causes of the crisis while considering Russia’s legitimate security interests.
Regarding President Trump’s initiative for a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side highlighted key concerns, including effective monitoring of the ceasefire across the entire front line, halting forced mobilization in Ukraine, and stopping the rearmament of its military. Russia also noted serious risks due to Kiev’s history of undermining previous agreements and drew attention to terrorist attacks carried out by Ukrainian militants against civilians in the Kursk region.
It was emphasized that a crucial condition for preventing further escalation and working toward a political-diplomatic resolution is the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
In response to Trump’s recent request to ensure the safety of Ukrainian troops encircled in Kursk Region, Putin ….assured his counterpart that Ukrainian soldiers who surrender will be granted safety and treated in accordance with Russian laws and international humanitarian norms.
During the conversation, Trump proposed a mutual agreement between both sides to refrain from striking energy infrastructure for 30 days. Putin welcomed the initiative and immediately instructed the Russian military to comply.
Putin also responded constructively to Trump’s proposal regarding maritime security in the Black Sea, and both leaders agreed to initiate negotiations to further refine the details of such an arrangement……
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts toward resolving the Ukraine conflict bilaterally, incorporating the proposals discussed. To facilitate this, Russian and American expert groups will be established.
Putin and Trump also discussed broader international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. They agreed to coordinate efforts to stabilize crisis areas and enhance cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security, which, in turn, would improve the overall state of US-Russia relations. A positive example of such cooperation was their joint vote at the United Nations on a resolution regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Both leaders expressed mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations, recognizing the shared responsibility of Russia and the United States in ensuring global security and stability. In this context, they explored various areas for potential cooperation, including discussions on mutually beneficial economic and energy partnerships.
Trump supported Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the US and Russia between players from the NHL and KHL.
The presidents agreed to remain in contact on all discussed matters.
The reference to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons must refer to Iran and stabilising crisis areas may refer to the Houthis. Lavrov has spoken out against the US’s attack on the Houthis so the Russians will push for stabilization through negotiation. With regard to the alleged encirclement of troops (including NATO personnel) in Kursk, I have seen conflicting reports on this - so I am not sure whether it still exists.
Here is a summary of the White House Statement:
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated on X that Trump and Putin discussed the need for “peace and a ceasefire” , agreeing the the conflict must end with a “lasting peace.” The peace initiative will begin with an “energy and infrastructure ceasefire” and negotiations on a maritime Black Sea truce. Talks will also focus on preventing future conflicts in the Middle East and averting the proliferation of strategic weapons. Leavitt added that Trump and Putin see an improved US-Russia relationship as having “huge upside,” including “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.”
Note the reference to the Middle East, where Trump is inflaming the situation, whereas Russia is focusing on conflict prevention. Trump described the talks as ‘very good and productive’. Daniel Davis provides a good exposition and analysis of the talk here (24 mins).
The claim that an agreement has been reached on an ‘energy and infrastructure’ ceasefire is misleading: it should have read ‘energy infrastructure’.
Russian and American ‘technical teams’ will meet in Riyadh on Monday to discuss the ‘technicalities’ of a potential expansion of the ‘ceasefire’ in Ukraine.
Reaction
Zelensky
At a press conference on the 19th March Zelensky said:
I don't want to offend anyone, but I don't want us to be on the "menu" list for Putin. We are neither salad nor compote for this man, despite his appetite. That's it. We are an independent country. So without us about us, I think it is wrong to negotiate because there will be no result desired for everyone.
Once again Zelensky is confirming his view that negotiations are pointless. According to this report, Zelensky had not yet agreed to the partial ceasefire at this point and continues to attack Russian oil depots. Zelensky also said that Putin’s request to take over the Ukrainian Oblasts now occupied is unacceptable and is ‘at odds with reality’. Yet the ‘reality’ on the fronts is very different with the Russians already occupying most of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson while moving slowly west.
Zelensky had a phone call with Trump on the 19th March and claimed that Trump accepts the fact that Ukraine will never legally recognise any territorial losses. But Putin will insist that Ukraine recognises these territories as Russian in order to avoid territorial disputes in the future. However, Zelensky has agreed to meet with Russian representatives to negotiate but ‘without any pleasure’ - according to Pravda. I am not sure whether the Russians will meet with him because he is no longer President.
Andrii Sibiga - Ukrainian FM
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sibiga, who is part of Ukraine’s negotiating team, has said that Ukraine will not give up land, it will not restrict the size of its armed forces and will not give up on joining NATO and the EU. Under the circumstances a full ceasefire is pointless.
Medvedev
Hungary
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto welcomed the phone call as a breakthrough for global stability:
Great news from Washington and Moscow – today, the world has become a safer place.
Other Europeans, such as Scholz and Macron repeated the mantra of continuing to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Unsurprisingly, Kaja Kallas claimed that Russia cannot be trusted. That takes the biscuit really given the French and German betrayal of the Minsk agreements: Europeans and Americans cannot be trusted.
18th March - 11 Years Ago Crimea Joined Russia
On March 18th 2014, much to the annoyance of the West, 96.57% of Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation. You can read more here.
European Security Without Russia is Utopian - Matvienko
Federation council speaker Valentina Matvienko has advised that Europe faces a deplorable fate if it continues with its hysterical Russophobia. European security without Russia and Belarus is simply Utopian fantasy, she said. She also called the EU a dictatorship - which it is. She added:
Security should be equitable for all states, not just a select few. We need to develop mechanisms to achieve this. In the realm of security, they are essentially complete vassals…
You can read more at Tass.
UK ‘Relic of the Past’ - Zakharova
Maria Zakharova poured some ice cold water over Keir Starmer’s fantasy about sending British troops to Ukraine and reminded us Brits of our true place in the world’s pecking order. You can’t send a nuclear powered ice breaker to the artic or send men into space, she reminded us:
[Britain] cannot even open modern clinics on its territory. The empire lost the scientific and technological revolution of the 20th century and uses old methods - intrigue, colonialism, piracy and theft. You cannot get far with them..
England has a long history of piracy going back to Elizabeth 1st (at least).
Oreshniks to Belarus
Lukashenko has confirmed that Oreshnik missiles will be deployed in Belarus sometime this year.
Ukraine War Crimes in Kursk
Patrick Lancaster has been in the Kursk area reporting for some time. He has spoken with Russian civilians who experienced the occupation and listened to their tales of Ukrainian looting, execution threats, home burnings and forced displacement. You can watch his report here. Another report from an eye witness claims that Ukrainian soldiers forced a man to kneel and sing the Ukrainian National Anthem - then they killed him.
101 Year Old Woman Survives 7 Month Occupation
Olga Mikhailovna, who is 101 years and 9 months old, survived the 7 month occupation ordeal in Kursk looked after by her granddaughter Polina.
Kursk Supermarket Monument
This expression of Ukrainian vandalism in Pyaterochka (Sudzha) may be preserved as a monument to the occupation - according to this report.
Toxic Chemicals Used In Luhansk
A drone containing toxic chemicals was shot down over Luhansk according to this report.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
14th/15th March
On the 14th March, the Ukrainians destroyed the Sudzha museum of local history out of spite. Two civilians were injured in the attack. Overnight, 20 drones were destroyed/disabled over Voronezh while a number of drones were destroyed over Bryansk. Belgorod also came under attack but no casualties were reported. Once again, Gorlovka (DPR) was less fortunate as two civilians were injured by drone drop and another by ‘barrel artillery'. According to Tass, 126 drones were destroyed/disabled over Russia at night: 64 over Volgograd; 38 over Voronezh; 14 over Belgorod; 7 over Bryansk; 2 over Rostov and 1 over Kursk.
15th/16th March
Overnight, according to the Russian MoD, 16 drones were destroyed/disabled over Voronezh; 9 over Belgorod; 5 over Rostov and 1 over Kursk. In Belgorod, two adults and a seven year old child were injured by drone attacks on two private dwellings.
16th/17th March
Overnight, 27 drones heading for Moscow were shot down over Kursk and Orel. In Kursk, drone fragments set fire to the roof of a bus station and a private garage but the fires were quickly extinguished. Bryansk and Rostov were also attacked. In Bryansk, a drone hit a car injuring its driver while another strike hit some agricultural machinery killing the operator. Belgorod villages suffered drone attacks but no casualties were reported. Gorlovka (DPR) was less fortunate as a drone killed one man while artillery fire injured seven. 13 drones were shot down over Astrakhan, 3 over Kalmykia, 2 over Krasnodar and 1 over Volgograd.
17th/18th March
Overnight, Belgorod villages suffered heavy drone attacks which damaged private dwellings, a community facility and a manufacturing plant. Three people lost limbs from exploding shrapnel and another was injured when a drone attacked his truck.
A school in the village of Grafovka (above) was also attacked. In Kherson, many villages suffered shelling which injured a man and a 7 year old boy. According to the Russian MoD, 41 drones were shot down over Belgorod; 2 over Kursk; 2 over Bryansk and 1 over Oryol.
18th/19th March
In Belgorod, a drone hit a car injuring a woman who was taken to hospital by a passing vehicle while one man was injured by a drone drop in Kherson. Overnight, 35 drones were destroyed/disabled over Kursk, 13 over Oryol; 1 over Tula and 1 over Bryansk.
19th/20th March
Overnight, 40 drones were destroyed/disabled over Voronezh, 54 over Saratov region, 22 over Belgorod and 9 over Rostov. In Gorlovka (DPR), 11 civilians were injured by artillery strikes on the city centre.
20th/21st March
Drones attacked Millerovsky district of Rostov overnight. In Gorlovka (DPR) a woman was killed and a man injured by artillery strikes. Elsewhere in the DPR, three civilians were injured by drone drops. 34 drones were destroyed/disabled over Volgograd; 4 over Rostov; 4 over Kursk and 1 over Belgorod.
The Sea War
14th/15th March
Overnight, drones attacked Crimea causing damage to a cafe, private dwellings and a church, while injuring two civilians.
16th/17th March
Overnight, ten explosions were heard over the town of Yeysk and over the Azov Sea coast. It is thought that a military airfield was targeted.
18th/19th March
Overnight, 7 drones were destroyed/disabled over the Sea of Azov.
19th/20th March
Three drones were destroyed over Crimea at night.
20th/21st March
Another three drones were destroyed over Crimea.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
14th/15th March
Overnight, Geraniums attacked ports in Odessa hitting an electric substation in Chornomorsk and causing an outage. According to the Two Majors:
The enemy has reported strikes on Chernigov (Chernigov Region), Pavlograd (Dnepropetrovsk Region), Cherkassy (Cherkassy Region), Starokonstantinov (Khmelnytska Region), Bogodukhov District (Kharkov Region), and all throughout the Vinnytsia and Kiev Regions.
According to the Russian MoD:
The Russian Armed Forces hit Ukraine’s military airfield infrastructure, drone production workshops, ammunition and logistics warehouses, energy facilities that ensure the work of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex
16th/17th March
According to the Majors:
Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes on targets within the Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Zaporozhye, Odessa, Poltava, and Sumy Regions all throughout last night.
17th/18th March
Overnight, the Russians attacked Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev, Odessa, Poltava, Cherkasy and Nikolaev regions.
18th/19th March
Overnight, the Russians hit targets in Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev, Zhitomir, Vinnitsa, Poltava, and Zaporozhye regions.
19th/20th March
Overnight, the Ukrainians reported 30 explosions over Slavyansk and Kirovograd while announcing train delays due to Russian attacks on the railway infrastructure.
Geraniums massively attacked Kropyvnytskyi where more than 30 explosions were heard in the city. Poltava, Kiev, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky, Zhitomir and Sumy regions also suffered attacks from Geraniums.
20th/21st March
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Tairova in Odessa. The Telekart-Pribor plant complex was hit and left the city without electricity. So it appears that the Russians have decided to break the ceasefire already broken by the Ukrainians. But the Ukrainians could have turned the power off as a precaution. Zakota, Kiev, Poltava, Zaporozhye and Cherkasy regions also came under attack.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
14th/15th March
Local media has reported 20 explosions over Volgograd region which appear to have been aimed at an oil refinery near Serepta Station.
17th/18th March
Overnight, 20 drones attacked and destroyed the oil refinery at Merefa in Kharkov.
18th/19th March
Just after Putin agreed to a partial ceasefire to include attacks on energy infrastructure, Zelensky’s drones attacked an ‘oil transshipment point’ in Krasnador and an oil depot in Kropotkin.
19th/20th March
Overnight, the Ukrainians attacked the oil refinery at Engels - so Zelensky has not yet agreed to the ceasefire and Russia should retaliate. One civilian was injured in the attack which also damaged many private dwellings. Nuclear capable Russian bombers are situated at Engels Air Base.
20th/21st March
Overnight, the Ukrainians attacked and damaged the Sudzha Gazprom measuring station, which breaks the energy infrastructure ‘ceasefire’ - according to the War Chronicle.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports - Ukrainian Losses (excludes Kursk)
w/e February 28th 2025 8,680 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 700.
w/e March 7th 2025 10,375 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 539.
w/e March 14th 2025 10,780 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 649.
w/e 21st March 2025 10,365 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 585
Ukraine Losses Kursk
Since the start of the Kursk operation the Ukrainians have lost: more than 69,120 troops; 400 tanks; 322 infantry fighting vehicles; 289 armoured personnel carriers; 2,210 armoured fighting vehicles; 2,503 motor vehicles; 568 artillery guns; 52 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS; and seven of MLRS made by the USA; 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles.
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Belgorod
This week, the Ukrainians have made several attempts to enter Belgorod region with small numbers of ground troops. Fighting is taking place near Demidovka (Krasnoyarsk District). Demidovka itself has been reduced to ruins. By the end of the week, fighting continued around Demidovka and Polissia to the south. It is thought that these attacks aim to draw Russian forces away from Kursk and prevent them from entering Sumy - according to this report.
Kursk
On the 19th March Russian air defences shot down an F-16 over Sumy. It appears that Ukrainian troops will be expelled from Kursk shortly. On March 20th, according to a Ukrainian report, the Ukrainians occupied only 4 settlements in Kursk.
Kupyansk
North of Kupyansk
Lyman - Terny - Torske
Seversk
Toretsk
By the end of the week, the Russians were advancing north of Druzhba.
Pokrovsk
By the end of the week, the Russians had liberated Shevcheno and were fighting towards Tarasovka.
Velykaya Novosilka
Zaporozhye
On the 20th March, according to the Majors:
various detachments of the Russian Armed Forces are currently advancing in the north from Stepovoye and in the south towards Lobkovoye, where our forces are met with fierce resistance by the enemy.
The Russians are also advancing towards Novodanilovka. Heavy fighting continues around Shcherbaky, Malye Shcherbaky and Lobkovoe.
If you would like an expert overview of the fronts Marat Khairullin, provides it here. He also provides a brief summary here. I am grateful to Marat for the colourful maps above.
The Economic War
The Carrot
The US has provided Russia with a ‘carrot’ by allowing an American hedge fund to buy Russian securities which will assist Russia in circumventing sanctions on the Financial sector.
Kaja Kallas Fails to Reach Aid Target
Kallas is attempting to raise €40 billion for Ukraine but France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Hungary are refusing to play ball. Germany may also hold on to the €3 billion promised. Kaja has not had an easy time of late. She was ignored in the US, she failed to consult leaders of key EU countries before pushing through her military aid plan -and caused offence; she replaced Spanish and Italian officials with her own hard liners - thus causing offence and she was warned by the European Central Bank against stealing frozen Russian assets. Oh Dear! Things got worse at the European Council meeting (below).
European Council Meeting March 20th
The European Council met on the 20th March and was unable to agree on any aid package to Ukraine, partly due to Hungary’s opposition but other countries, such as France also objected. You can read more at Politico. The meeting also agreed not to steal €200 billions of Russia’s frozen assets for fear of the consequences.
Germany Abandon’s Spending Limits To Rearm
Germany has abandoned previous spending limits in order to rearm in the face of what it sees as the Russian threat. Alice Weidel of AfD has warned that such indebtedness will undermine the country’s credit rating and lead to devaluation and a possible collapse of the Euro.
This appears to make no sense because there is no threat from Russia. However, Alex Krainer believes that the move towards war economies could be based on financial considerations in which banks are attempting to secure the ‘collateral’ that sustains them by creating war industries, having failed to create collateral through the Green Agenda.
World Politics
Mark Carney
Canada’s (neo) liberal PM has made it clear that Canada will never, under any circumstances become part of the United States. Carney is very much part of the globalist camp so his policies regarding Ukraine will be identical to those of Trudeau. Canada, he said, supports the ceasefire1 and will continue to provide the military support Ukraine needs to defend itself now and into the future. His comments on X were a cut and paste of those already made by European leaders.
NATO Changes Tune
Mark Rutte has said that the matter of Ukraine’s entry into NATO has been removed from the agenda and that he expects relations between the US/EU and Russia to be normalised once the conflict in Ukraine has finished. I think Russia rather than the US or the EU will decide to what extent the relationship between them will become normalised. At the moment, Putin appears to want normalisation with the US but others in his administration are not keen on the idea - so I have heard. But Vladimir will rise above these objectors given his responsibility as the leader of one of three nuclear superpowers.
Xi Snubs Ursula
Xi Jinping will not attend the 50th anniversary of China-EU relations to be commemorated in Brussels. Maybe he feels that Ursula is a little too dictatorial for his taste. Prime Minister, Li Qiang will go in his stead.
‘Russia Must’ - Macron
Following the recent meeting in Jeddah, which Russia did not attend, Emanuel Macron insisted that Russia must do certain things:
Russia must now accept the US and Ukraine's offer of a 30-day ceasefire. Russian aggression in Ukraine must end. Abuses must end, as must the delaying of statements [my emphasis].
That’s four musts Monsieur Macron. What he really means is that Russia should do certain things. Must is used to reinforce a moral appeal. Must can also be used as a warning that failure to obey will result in physical force being used but since France has no force Macron is probably making a moral appeal here but trying to sound tough. The Russians, who know more about the conflict than the impotent, irrelevant Macron, will ignore his mutterings.
But the whole European Chorus is singing the same tune: Russia must accept a ceasefire without conditions.
The intellectually challenged UK Foreign Office Chief, David Lammy said:
It's time for a ceasefire. Without any conditions. Ukraine has proposed such a position and Russia must accept it.
To which, the inimitable Medvedev gave a ‘diplomatic’ reply:
Great Britain has supplemented Trump's position: Russia must accept the proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine without any conditions, said the head of the British Foreign Office. Let Great Britain and its minister shove this idea back up their asses, where it was originally born. That's to put it in diplomatic language.
Medvedev ‘shoots from the hip’ and ‘takes no prisoners’, to employ some good old fashioned cliches.
Poland Wants Nukes
Polish PM, Andrzej Duda, has asked the US to provide it with nuclear weapons - which shows that he should never be trusted to hold a responsible position in government. He would be more appropriately employed in a sweet shop along with Annalena. Fortunately, the Americans now have some adults in their administration including JD Vance who said that he would be shocked if President Trump allowed nuclear weapons that far east.
Force Russia Into Peace - Z
The once great Z appealed to the EU, the G7 and every country in the world to ‘force Russia to peace':
I ask you to talk to everyone, from Brazil to China, from African states to Asian countries, about the need for real peace. Peace through force. Peace by forcing Russia to take all necessary steps for the sake of peace.
Another name for peace through force is war - you idiot.
Starmer’s War Meeting - 20th March
Keir Starmer has convened this meeting as a ‘coalition of the willing’ to defend Ukraine forcibly following a peace deal - with ‘boots on the ground and planes in the air’. In order to sound impressive and to give the impression that he is relevant, Starmer announced that plans to send ‘peacekeeping’ forces to Ukraine have reached the Operational Stage (Oh no! Not the dreaded Operational Stage!) that will involve ‘robust military power’ to enforce the peace. Such phrases give the rhetorical impression of movement and strength which is notably absent from reality. If European peacekeeping forces landed in Ukraine they would be slaughtered. Twenty Kiev allies were in attendance at the meeting which was held behind closed doors. It was agreed that the ‘peacekeeping’ force in Ukraine would involve ground forces, air forces and naval forces. Troops would be stationed in major cities and ports while patrol ships and minesweepers would be deployed in the Black Sea. Macron has announced that the ‘coalition of the willing’ will meet in Paris on March 27th to play ‘war games’ that exist only in their imaginations. Zelensky will be there.
Orban’s Demands
According to Victor Orban, Brussels has offered Ukraine membership in exchange for the lives of its male population (which will happen if the war continues much longer). Ukraine will obtain membership some time in the future if it keeps fighting. Orban believes that the EU will be destroyed by Ukraine’s membership. He has therefore come up with a set of demands for the EU to consider:
That’s one hell of a revolt which continued at the European Council meeting on the 20th March where there was no agreement on aid to Ukraine (see above). Orban is firmly against further aid to Ukraine. He also called for a Hungarian referendum to ask the people whether they want Ukraine in the EU.
Protests
Madrid
The protesters, who numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands, chanted ‘no military budgets’ and ‘peace with Russia now’. I suppose these phrases sound more impressive in Spanish. They were protesting an €8 billion military budget hike and want to leave NATO.
Istanbul
Thousands of demonstrators took the streets of Istanbul and elsewhere demanding the resignation of President Erdogan after he ordered the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s mayor and his political rival along with 100 of his supporters. Imamoglu is accused of corruption and backing the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which Erdogan considers to be a terrorist party. His arrest came just as Imamoglu was about to put himself forward as a Presidential candidate - there’s a lot of that going on at the moment. You can read more at Pravda.
London
On March 18th, around 3,000 people gathered outside Downing Street, where Starmer resides, to protest the restart of genocide in Gaza. You can read more here. These people are as outraged as many of us are.
The emerging Multi-Polar World
EU Engaging in Civilizational Suicide - Vance
RD Vance has warned Europe that its policy of open borders and its attacks on free speech could cause its civilization to collapse. Of course, its policy towards Russia/Ukraine is also contributing to economic collapse. But I wonder how long before the Trump administration and Elon the Musk start to ban free speech that is not to their taste - such as unwanted remarks on the genocide in Gaza. Morally, Gaza is their Achilles Heel and they will be judged as civilised or not on this basis by the RoW.2
Hamas Appeals To Humanity
Hamas Movement:
The war crimes and brutal genocide committed by the occupying army require urgent action to preserve humanity's dignity, which has been tarnished by months of silence and inaction.
The US administration bears direct responsibility for the innocent blood shed in the Gaza Strip by the criminal machine of terrorism and occupation, with political cover and US weapons.
We call on the guarantor mediators to assume their responsibilities in curbing the brutal aggression. We also appeal to our Arab and Islamic nation, states and peoples, to take urgent action at all levels to support our people in the Gaza Strip, and to activate the pressure and support tools capable of halting the aggression and lifting the unjust siege on our people.3
That’s it for another historical week. Many thanks for you views, shares, restacks, follows, likes and comments. Have a good week - best Rob
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i.e. the full ceasefire agreed at Jeddah.
Rest of the World
FREE SPEECH Musk Style is BS - I was moved to share this on Telegram and on Twitter. On X, I had to split the message into 5 or 6 parts. Two of these sections included the term 'Hamas': the others did not. When I looked back on the different posts I noticed that whereas the posts that did not include 'Hamas' attracted about 10-16 views, the Hamas ones attracted 1 or 2. Free speech on X is an illusion. You can't claim to be promoting free speech and at the same time making it more difficult for some words to be heard and easier for others to be heard. Elon the Musk is taking the piss.
"Britain has a long history of piracy going back to Elizabeth 1st (at least)."
That'll be England you'll be talking about, Dr Campbell. Ireland was busy being pirated around that time and Scotland a little later.
More seriously, we were all at it. The Portuguese, the Spanish, the French, the Dutch ... can't think of anyone who wasn't.
Had it not been for one factor we'd have just been one among many. That factor was key. For at least a couple of decades Britain was the only country that could do mass production of industrial goods. We had a monopoly.
It was seriously fraying round the edges, that monopoly, by the time of the Great Exhibition. By 1880 it was well and truly gone. The US and Germany were even then outproducing us and plenty of others coming up on the rails. Nevertheless, that head start was what we lived off for a century and more. Maybe up until WWII.
So we don't go pirating any more. With the best will in the world you can't do a lot of that with 30-odd tanks operational and the once awesome Royal Navy down to a few boats. We scrounge around for the scraps falling off the big boys' table.
Sic transit and a damned good thing too. Living off looting is getting to be so yesterday. So too for Europe as a whole. Time we all passed on that and got down to living off our own. We could, so easily, if we stopped living on old dead fantasies.
I think it's worth noting that Karoline Leavitt has a young son, born in the summer of 2024. Given her role in the delivery of the don's terror messaging, she should spend time looking at the images you refer to in the early section of your support. She might develope some human empathy ...
Also I think you are being too kind to Lammy; apart from coming across as a moron or ignoranus he seems like a moral coward. I watched the Krainer interview at Dialogue works via the link. It may be the case that the tall orange fella with the elaborate comb-over is fighting one part of the finacial elite, however he's not doing it for anyone else or to any prepared plan. I agree with the two words Michael Hudson uses to describe him.
Thank you again for your work.