" While Trump would like to pry Russia away from its BRICS commitments—especially those to Iran and China—that’s just not going to happen. Putin sees BRICS and the new trade corridors running through Iran all the way to the Baltic as an essential part of Russian economic development. "
Very true. Additionally China wants Brick and Road sees that as essential.
I opine the Xi China and Iran will have perhaps if not an equal say in any settlement, China at least a significant say (perhaps equal behind the scenes) and that China will receive full disclosure on settlement discussions/communications from Russia; and Russia will incorporate China desires before anything is signed. Trump has to know Russia is not throwing a China relationship away over Ukraine.
How foolish during the Ukraine war was the * US to constantly state they would prepare for war with China in 2025 - 2027 so outrageous when they already had their hands full - so pompous and now so entangled. The entire Blinken Biden administration was filled with diplomacy fools.
* General Mike Minihan, head of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command
Admiral Phil Davidson, former Indo-Pacific Command chief
Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti [ maybe a reason she was fired ]
Unfortunately there is the appearance of eg: Minsk, break of or withdrawal from prior nuclear de-armament ' deals ', the ceasefire in Gaza that led to an immediate pivot to Lebanon; is it fair to state Putin may feel he has no reasonable basis to believe the US ( future administrations ) would honor agreements or the 'spirit' of agreements eg: if Putin were to ceasefire in Ukraine would the US immediately pivot to the East or Taiwan eg: even if the US signs will the UK and EU agree and abide
Biden left Afghanistan and took a lot of heat, left equipment behind and always more morally horrific, left interpreters and others behind, - but in net effect, Biden left with nothing.
Trump needs to leave Ukraine with something. Trump probably wants to leave like Biden did, just dump it and turn to the genocide in Israel. But he could not take the criticism
The ' payment for minerals ' is frankly genius. Genius. It is probably little more than a promise, but it saves Trump face, he can say, yes I left Ukraine, but they are paying for it.
With Ukraine so corrupt and in bankrupt getting actual dollars out over the years may be wishful thinking, but Trump can tell the US people he ' got a deal ' and the administrations that follow can try to squeeze dollars from the quagmire.
Everything Russia has said from Demil to no NATO to withdrawing AEGIS ashore in E europe must happen or their will be no peace. Putin with kill every Ukrainian if he must but of course AFU will collapse long before that. Trump is flailing around like a fish in my live well trying to not admit to these facts but rekon he will one day.
Trump is trying to teach the Art of the Deal to people who wrote the original version of the book. I still don't think he realises how existential this is for Russia.
DOHA, February 26. /TASS/. Russian and US diplomats will hold a meeting in Istanbul on February 27 to discuss issues related to the operation of the two countries’ embassies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced. "Such a meeting will take place in Istanbul tomorrow," the top Russian diplomat said at a press conference following his visit to Qatar. "We have announced that our diplomats and high-level experts will meet to address the systemic problems that have piled up as a result of the previous [US] administration’s illegitimate activities aimed at creating artificial obstacles for the work of the Russian embassy,...
Trump demanding Ukraine minerals is "trolling UK." Zelensky & Starmer already signed 100 year contract pledging the assets to UK. UK is in dire economic straits, desperately needs collateral; but Zelensky was not legitimate president of Ukraine, so contract dubious ....
These "deals" are pretty irrelevant anyway because most of the minerals in Ukraine are now in Russian hands. Memo to the West: don't blow up Russian pipelines!
I've been listening to Danny Davis and Ian Proud, a former Brit diplomat (served at the Moscow embassy). Toward the end they speak briefly about the EU fiasco in Romania. Proud maintains that none of this stuff will end well for the EU.
Agreed. The EU has truly been "found out" and left high and dry by events in Ukraine and Trump's cold-shouldering. With Germany, the EU's engine, refusing to face its massive problems, I don't see how the EU has any long term future.
As I have been saying, Russia and the US will ultimately agree to a peace deal in the ME. Trump has the leverage to impose it on Israel and he will.
Trump agrees with Putin that we need a new global security architecture and if/when they succeed in designing it Trump will crown himself 'The Peacemaker'. And deservedly so.
I'm not so optimistic, Cass. Trump doesn't really have much leverage to impose his will on Israel because of the massive support of the Zionist lobby he got during the election. In a perfect world he'd give the Zionist maniacs 24 hours to cease all hostilities or losing funding and weapons supplies. That's the only language they would listen to, but I don't believe Trump will do it. Hopefully, he can thrash out a broad deal with the Russians and even Iran that brings pressure to bear on the other ME players. Trump has surprised me more than once, so who knows?
I tend to agree with you about the Zionist-Trump affair. However; it would be delicious to see Trump, having taken their money, then do to them what they are experts at, the double cross. We owe them nothing and the debt has been paid. Time to turn the tables. I suspect the Mossad element is what holds them back. Mossad is probably the most nasty, vicious actors on the world stage because they are zealots.
Some TV preachers are waxing wroth over Golden Trump in Gaza. "It is my duty as a preacher to rebuke Trump for his idolatry!"
I think (or hope) it's a hoot, and the televangelists are playing their predicted role: enflaming evangelicals against the Gaza-->Riviera red herring. er red heifer.
Related: -- Reform of Roman Catholicism via radically different pope to replace Francis, is a very different process from equally desperately needed reform of Christianity/Christian evangelicalism, esp. in USA.
" While Trump would like to pry Russia away from its BRICS commitments—especially those to Iran and China—that’s just not going to happen. Putin sees BRICS and the new trade corridors running through Iran all the way to the Baltic as an essential part of Russian economic development. "
Very true. Additionally China wants Brick and Road sees that as essential.
I opine the Xi China and Iran will have perhaps if not an equal say in any settlement, China at least a significant say (perhaps equal behind the scenes) and that China will receive full disclosure on settlement discussions/communications from Russia; and Russia will incorporate China desires before anything is signed. Trump has to know Russia is not throwing a China relationship away over Ukraine.
How foolish during the Ukraine war was the * US to constantly state they would prepare for war with China in 2025 - 2027 so outrageous when they already had their hands full - so pompous and now so entangled. The entire Blinken Biden administration was filled with diplomacy fools.
* General Mike Minihan, head of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command
Admiral Phil Davidson, former Indo-Pacific Command chief
Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti [ maybe a reason she was fired ]
Unfortunately there is the appearance of eg: Minsk, break of or withdrawal from prior nuclear de-armament ' deals ', the ceasefire in Gaza that led to an immediate pivot to Lebanon; is it fair to state Putin may feel he has no reasonable basis to believe the US ( future administrations ) would honor agreements or the 'spirit' of agreements eg: if Putin were to ceasefire in Ukraine would the US immediately pivot to the East or Taiwan eg: even if the US signs will the UK and EU agree and abide
This is difficult to say the least.
.
Biden v Trump Afghanistan v Ukraine
Biden left Afghanistan and took a lot of heat, left equipment behind and always more morally horrific, left interpreters and others behind, - but in net effect, Biden left with nothing.
Trump needs to leave Ukraine with something. Trump probably wants to leave like Biden did, just dump it and turn to the genocide in Israel. But he could not take the criticism
The ' payment for minerals ' is frankly genius. Genius. It is probably little more than a promise, but it saves Trump face, he can say, yes I left Ukraine, but they are paying for it.
With Ukraine so corrupt and in bankrupt getting actual dollars out over the years may be wishful thinking, but Trump can tell the US people he ' got a deal ' and the administrations that follow can try to squeeze dollars from the quagmire.
.
face saved.
Everything Russia has said from Demil to no NATO to withdrawing AEGIS ashore in E europe must happen or their will be no peace. Putin with kill every Ukrainian if he must but of course AFU will collapse long before that. Trump is flailing around like a fish in my live well trying to not admit to these facts but rekon he will one day.
Trump is trying to teach the Art of the Deal to people who wrote the original version of the book. I still don't think he realises how existential this is for Russia.
I gag on such food for thought. But keep coming back.
https://www.rt.com/news/613337-us-russia-talks-embassies/
DOHA, February 26. /TASS/. Russian and US diplomats will hold a meeting in Istanbul on February 27 to discuss issues related to the operation of the two countries’ embassies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced. "Such a meeting will take place in Istanbul tomorrow," the top Russian diplomat said at a press conference following his visit to Qatar. "We have announced that our diplomats and high-level experts will meet to address the systemic problems that have piled up as a result of the previous [US] administration’s illegitimate activities aimed at creating artificial obstacles for the work of the Russian embassy,...
Others may already know this -- Alex Krainer w/ Nima Alkhorshid, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzCu-inyCyI
Trump demanding Ukraine minerals is "trolling UK." Zelensky & Starmer already signed 100 year contract pledging the assets to UK. UK is in dire economic straits, desperately needs collateral; but Zelensky was not legitimate president of Ukraine, so contract dubious ....
These "deals" are pretty irrelevant anyway because most of the minerals in Ukraine are now in Russian hands. Memo to the West: don't blow up Russian pipelines!
Note the funny business happening in Romania with Georgescu being arrested after they "annuled" the previous election.
Probably nothing to do with the enormous Nato based being built in Romania that Georescu opposes. /s
This follows the nasty playbook that Mike Benz went over recently on X. Kind of like the bs they pulled on Trump with lawfare.
https://x.com/daily_romania/status/1894710297295786305
Yes. Unbelievable.
Look like they let him out. Wonder what the conditions were??? OR did they realize they made a big mistake trying to play that worn out tune again???
"The crowd erupts with emotion as the Romanian regime releases Călin Georgescu after arresting him earlier today
"This was a desperate attempt in cooperation with Brussels."
https://x.com/daily_romania/status/1894793507962785892
I've been listening to Danny Davis and Ian Proud, a former Brit diplomat (served at the Moscow embassy). Toward the end they speak briefly about the EU fiasco in Romania. Proud maintains that none of this stuff will end well for the EU.
Agreed. The EU has truly been "found out" and left high and dry by events in Ukraine and Trump's cold-shouldering. With Germany, the EU's engine, refusing to face its massive problems, I don't see how the EU has any long term future.
That's why Russia getting Odessa is vital. If they don't the globalists in Rumania and Moldova get to keep on playing with fire.
It's a good reason.
As I have been saying, Russia and the US will ultimately agree to a peace deal in the ME. Trump has the leverage to impose it on Israel and he will.
Trump agrees with Putin that we need a new global security architecture and if/when they succeed in designing it Trump will crown himself 'The Peacemaker'. And deservedly so.
I'm not so optimistic, Cass. Trump doesn't really have much leverage to impose his will on Israel because of the massive support of the Zionist lobby he got during the election. In a perfect world he'd give the Zionist maniacs 24 hours to cease all hostilities or losing funding and weapons supplies. That's the only language they would listen to, but I don't believe Trump will do it. Hopefully, he can thrash out a broad deal with the Russians and even Iran that brings pressure to bear on the other ME players. Trump has surprised me more than once, so who knows?
I share your concerns, Steg. I can only say I hope he pulls it off.
I tend to agree with you about the Zionist-Trump affair. However; it would be delicious to see Trump, having taken their money, then do to them what they are experts at, the double cross. We owe them nothing and the debt has been paid. Time to turn the tables. I suspect the Mossad element is what holds them back. Mossad is probably the most nasty, vicious actors on the world stage because they are zealots.
Some TV preachers are waxing wroth over Golden Trump in Gaza. "It is my duty as a preacher to rebuke Trump for his idolatry!"
I think (or hope) it's a hoot, and the televangelists are playing their predicted role: enflaming evangelicals against the Gaza-->Riviera red herring. er red heifer.
Related: -- Reform of Roman Catholicism via radically different pope to replace Francis, is a very different process from equally desperately needed reform of Christianity/Christian evangelicalism, esp. in USA.