Posted originally on the CTH on December 11, 2023 | Sundance
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been an advocate for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to solve the conflict. This puts PM Orban in opposition to NATO and the larger EU narrative who want to continue funding the Ukraine proxy war. {LINK} The EU even began speculating about kicking Hungary out of the EU over the issue; to wit Orban smiles.
At the inauguration of Javier Milei, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confronted Viktor Orban and it was caught on camera.
TODAY – […] Contacts between Kyiv and Budapest have intensified ahead of the European Council meeting on 14-15 December, where the decision to open accession talks with Ukraine and approve macro-financial assistance is to be considered.
Among other things, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister, at the inauguration of the Argentinian president on Sunday. And last week, Andrii Yermak, Head of the President’s Office, spoke to Szijjártó by phone.
Posted originally on Dec 10, 2023 By Martin Armstrong
COMMENT: It first seemed you were just a Russian supporter. The more I read, the more I became shocked that we have instigated this conflict with Russia and all the conspiracy theories are being proven true. The person who referred me to your site said you had the best sources because everyone wanted to know what Socrates was forecasting. Your post today about Boris Johnson telling Zelensky there is no peace with Russia truly hit home. These people have no qualms about letting millions die for nothing. It makes me wonder if these people want power and enjoy hurting others. I cannot comprehend their thinking, let alone their moral character. Johnson has the blood of many on his hands, and he cannot wash them clean like Pontus Pilate.
MW
REPLY: The West wants this war. Zelensky was told to keep fighting to kill as many Russians as possible. Lindsey Graham said it was the best money he ever spent to kill Russians. The problem is that 500,000 Ukrainians are now dead and still counting. Not a single leader in the West gave 2-seconds of thought about all the Ukrainian deaths and that 8 to 10 million have fled their homes. They have destroyed Ukraine because of their hatred of Russians. It was the unelected interim government installed by the US, EU, and Britain that started this civil war, attacking the Donbas on their instructions. The people voted for Zelensky because he promised peace. Johnson interfered and said no way.
McCain was at Maidan encouraging a revolution and that the United States would stand behind them. Can you imagine if a Russian addressed the crowd on January 6th, encouraging them to overthrow the government? The Neocons have used Ukraine for their purpose to wage war against Russia, and they never cared about the Ukrainian people or their country.
Khruschev arbitrarily drew the Ukraine border for administrative purposes. He grew up there and was responsible for rebuilding Kiev after World War II. His successor, Brezhnev, was also born there in the Donbas. Does that mean the Cuban Missle Crisis was not with Russia, but with Ukraine since they claim the Donbas? From the beginning, before the US started this civil war, I had employees on both sides in Donetsk and Kyiv and warned on February 20, 2014, that Ukraine should have been divided based on language. I stressed that point again in 2022. I also warned back on December 3rd, 2013, before the Maidan Revolution, that “Ukraine Maybe The Most Important Country To Watch.” This has NEVER been my personal opinion or wish. Our computer pinpointed Ukraine before anything even took place.
Our computer pinpointed Ukraine as the place where World War III would begin.
Posted originally on the CTH on December 3, 2023 | Sundance
If you were a curious and nationalist minded European person who wanted to better understand the dynamic of American politics, such an intentioned person would likely visit Washington DC to meet, understand and absorb the reality of USA politics. However, that approach, while familiar, would be a mistake.
A visit to the DC beltway would generate opinions and insights from the perspective of the federal government apparatus. Additionally, the U.S. politicians are going to repeat the policy agenda points that are debated and discussed. But does that approach really inform the curious visitor about how Americans feel, engage and interact with the government? The answer is no; the visitor would get the official skewed perspective, but leave without any understanding of how the policies described are actually considered by the American people.
To really understand the nature of how Americans view the political dynamic inside the U.S, as well as discover how the people would be reacting to policy or possible workarounds therein, the curious visitor would need to go to where the boots on the ground are – to the actual people who are engaging in American life.
The reverse of this scenario is also true. Traveling from the USA to visit Spain, Holland, Hungary or Belarus, and spending time with their political leadership, will only gain you a top-level policy outline of what those officials and politicians are trying to achieve. If there is a conflict between the official position and the actual reality on the ground, the curious visitor would never see it.
This dichotomy is the fatal flaw within the process of gathering information. Tucker Carlson or (fill_in_blank) cannot understand how/if the political policy transfers to the citizens by talking to the known leadership. What is happening on the ground could be entirely different, and that begins the conversation to a larger awakening.
My curiosity revolved around Western global sanctions against Russia. It has been almost two years since massive sanctions against Russia were implemented. The goal of the sanctions was to hurt Russia economically, weaken Putin domestically, and ultimately change the outcome in Ukraine. However, the Russian economy is larger than before the sanctions; the Ruble is stronger against the US Dollar than before; Vladimir Putin is more supported inside Russia than before, and most of the financial and economic systems under sanction have failed to yield a substantive difference on the ground in Russia.
How is this possible, when we are told the sanctions delivered hardship to Russia? The answer is simple; the sanctions didn’t work. Why not? What is happening? These were the questions I had in mind as I went to where the economic systems are actually being engaged by the people. I can say with certainty what I found is nowhere in any Western media presentation.
I will describe tomorrow the granular details of why the claims of the west do not match the reality of what is taking place. On the ground, the sanctions are invisible because ordinary people in Europe, (a) are not in alignment with the expressed government intent, and (b) therefore have no issue constructing ways around them.
The US, UK, France and bureaucrats in Brussels are the tip of the spear against Russia, but behind that face there are EU mechanisms that do not align. Things are not what they seem.
Before getting to those details, some of which have to be shared carefully due to the sensitivity of the information and process (sand in the machine), let’s start by looking at the subtle indications which will validate what we discuss next.
WASHINGTON DC – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regularly pushes the EU to the cliff edge, but diplomats are panicking that his hostility to Ukraine is now about to finally kick the bloc over the precipice.
A brewing political crisis is set to boil over at a summit in mid-December when EU leaders are due to make a historic decision on bringing Ukraine into the 27-nation club and seal a key budget deal to throw a €50 billion lifeline to Kyiv’s flailing war economy. The meeting is supposed to signal to the U.S. that, despite the political distraction over the war in the Middle East, the EU is fully committed to Ukraine.
Those hopes look likely to be knocked off course by Orbán, a strongman who cultivates close ties with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and who is widely seen as having undermined democracy and rule of law at home. He is demanding the whole political and financial process should be put on ice until leaders agree to a wholesale review of EU support for Kyiv.
[…] Previous peacemakers such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel or other Orbán-whisperers from the so-called Visegrád Four — Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic — are no longer there. The expected comeback of Donald Tusk for Poland, a pro-EU and anti-Russian leader, will only heighten Orbán’s status as the lonely, defiant hold-out.
“There is no one left to talk sense into Orbán,” a third EU official said. “He is now undermining the EU from within.”
[…] In theory, Brussels could come out with the big guns and use the EU’s so-called Article 7 procedure against Hungary, used when a country is considered at risk of breaching the bloc’s core values. The procedure is sometimes called the EU’s “nuclear option” as it provides for the most serious political sanction the bloc can impose on a member country — the suspension of the right to vote on EU decisions.
Because of those far-reaching consequences, there is reticence to roll out this option against Hungary. When EU leaders brought in “diplomatic sanctions” against Austria in 2000, the day after the party of Austrian far-right leader Jörg Haider entered the coalition, it backfired. Many Austrians were angry at EU interference and anti-EU sentiment soared. Sanctions were lifted later that year.
There is now a widespread feeling in Brussels that Article 7 could create a similar backlash in Budapest, fueling populism and in the longer term potentially even trigger a snowball effect leading to an unintended Hungarian exit of the bloc.
Given those fears, diplomats are doubling down on ways to work around a Hungarian veto. (read more)
Now you know why I went to Budapest.
What I can tell you is the nationalist outlook, a sentiment against the interests of Brussels, is not only an Orban perspective. The Hungarian people, and the institutions therein, have no issue with Russia. This extends to the reality within the Russian consulate in Budapest; you’ll specifically see how this all manifests tomorrow.
(Washington DC) – […] Instead of targeting flagship exports like oil and gas, Ukraine’s European allies will focus on restricting trade in diamonds, iron and copper, which are of relatively little value to the Russian state. When it comes to energy, “we’ve reached the capacity of what we can do without shooting [ourselves] in the foot and harming our competitiveness,” one EU diplomat claimed.
The biggest omission is liquefied natural gas, the all-important fossil fuel that netted President Vladimir Putin’s regime an estimated $6.6 billion in sales in the EU this year alone. Countries like Spain and Belgium have actually even boosted their LNG imports by a massive 50 percent in 2023, compared to 2022.
Meanwhile, hopes that Europe could agree to shut the door on Russia’s atomic energy sector given its dangerous occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — the continent’s largest — have failed to materialize. Hungary is expanding one of its own atomic power stations with Moscow’s help and populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has vowed to veto any sanctions that would hurt the industry, despite criticism from EU and Ukrainian officials alike. Unanimous support from all 27 member states is needed to impose new restrictions, meaning talks on the subject are now deadlocked. (read more)
Posted originally on Nov 28, 2023 By Martin Armstrong
When I said that Ukraine had lost 100,000 soldiers DEAD, I got a rash of emails claiming I was spreading Russian Propaganda. Then the head of the EU said that in a speech, and Zelensky said it was classified and she had to take that out. Of Ukraine’s 700,000 army, more than 150,000 are DEAD, and nearly 300,000 have been injured. This is why Zelensky has been conscripting 16-year-old boys and, behind the curtain, insisting that the EU forcibly return all able-bodied people to the front line. My same RELIABLE sources have the number of dead and injured Ukrainians approaching 500,000. The battle for Bakhmut was senseless. Zelensky ordered soldiers to their deaths, all to pretend he was winning for fear that the money would stop flowing.
Ukraine not only blew up the Nord Stream, undermining the German economy and sending unemployment up from 4.7% to 5.8%. Zelensky denied that Ukraine blew up the Nord Stream. Moreover, Ukraine has been behind the assassination attempts inside Russia. Zelensky has been desperate to create World War III. He shot a missile into Poland and tried to blame Russia. The Dutch Court covered up the shooting down of the Malaysian passenger jet when the Ukrainians tried to blame that on the Russian-Ukrainians living in the Donbas. Zelensky is trying to blow up the Turkish pipeline all to undermine the Russian economy with no regard for what that will do to Europe, whom he then demands more weapons and money.
The Neocons have to be removed from power. They have been trying to undermine Russia by cutting off its energy sales since 1980. They imposed sanctions on Poland and Russia while creating pipelines to send gas to Europe. They started the Syrian Civil War, and that was the arms dealings hidden by the Benghazi incident. They signed the pipeline deal from Nigeria to Europe 2 months before they directed the Ukrainians to blow up Nord Stream. Then the Niger coup stopped that pipeline, and Victoria Nuland urgently flew to Niger to try to save the pipeline. The Neocons will not stop, and they pull off these covert acts all outside of Congress, circumventing the Constitution with every breath they take.
They are behind the Middle East war to circumvent the Suez Canal in hopes of destroying that, rerouting everything through Israel to cut off all trade with Russia once again. When will the Ukrainians rise up and overthrow Zelensky, who has sold his country to the Neocons? It looks like his days are numbered as we head into 2024. The Ukrainian people have been played for fools. They have been the vanguard to die for the dreams of the Neocons, and what do they stand to gain? Absolutely nothing!
Posted originally on Nov 29, 2023 By Martin Armstrong
As the people of Ukraine continue to suffer under his rule, Zelensky is living a lavish lifestyle. The former comedian is said to have properties around the world. So while he is begging the world to “do their part” and fund his war, he is using much of the funds for his own pleasure. Two of his associates, Boris and Serhiy Shefir, are taking the fall after it was discovered that people acting on behalf of Zelensky purchased two yachts worth $75 million.
The yachts named “Lucky Me” and “My Legacy” were purchased in Abu Dhabi and Antibes in October 2023. The names alone are an insult to the people. Zelensky has repeatedly fired top-level officials for misusing foreign aid while hiding his own wrongdoings. Zelensky is listed in the Panama Papers, and the fact-checkers try to divert people away from this fact. I estimated last October that he had $100 million stashed offshore, which was a conservative estimate as others were claiming the figure to be closer to $850 million.
Zelensky purchased a $5 million property in Egypt under his mother-in-law’s name, Olga Kiyashko. “A suspicion is creeping in that Ukrainian bureaucrats, with the help of their relatives, are stealing financial aid to Ukraine from the West,” the political scientist continued. He stressed that Ukrainian corruption is to blame and that egocentric officials who prioritize personal gain over care for their own people infest and control Kyiv’s political system,” Egyptian political scientist Abdulrahman Alabbassy commented. It is said Zelensky owns a $35 million home in Sunny Isles Beach, FL, but I have not been able to verify the claim.
His people are skilled in hiding money and assets. Before he was installed as president, Zelensky gifted the majority of his stake in numerous businesses to Serhiy Shefir who later became his top consultant and is now one of the two brothers taking the blame for purchasing the luxury yachts.
Zelensky’s victory in Ukraine will be looked upon as the Judas who sold his country for 30 pieces of silver. The corruption in Zelensky’s government is perhaps the greatest in the world. He is leading men and women to slaughter while half the population has fled. There is no strategic benefit to the Ukrainian people, and Zelensky’s promises of ending corruption and peace with Russia, for which the people voted, have been ignored. The volatility will rise sharply from 2024; a critical target will be 2026.
Posted originally on Nov 27, 2023 By Martin Armstrong
Janet Yellen never has anything of value to say, but she is the US Treasury Secretary and a mouthpiece for the globalists. Janet Yellen believes that Europe needs “us [USA] to do our part for this to hold together as a package,” despite sending Ukraine more funding than any other nation. Yellen said it is America’s responsibility to maintain Ukraine’s infrastructure and fund their entire private sector.
“By 2030, America will no longer be the leading superpower,” the World Economic Forum continually warns. The politicians do not care about the deep hole America has dug itself into by spending with no end in sight. They do not care that our debt has become less attractive to numerous nations and the buyers of last resort are also shying away from government debt. The pillars of a strong economy do not matter to the current leaders because the goal is global. Yellen said that continual aid for Ukraine is of the utmost priority.
“Well, it’s a critical priority for the President, and critical to the national security of our country. I can’t prognosticate about the timetable on this. I’m pleased that Congress has passed legislation to keep the government open and running, but it really is essential that this aid be provided both to Israel and to Ukraine. We can’t allow Ukraine to lose a battle on the homefront because it lacks enough money to keep schoolteachers in the classroom and first responders on the job when it’s fighting valiantly on the battlefield. So, Ukraine is utterly dependent on this aid. We need to join others. Our European friends are providing — have provided 50 billion euro[s] of aid to Ukraine over the next four years, the IMF has provided over 15 billion. They need us to do our part for this to hold together as a package. And, of course, Israel urgently needs aid as well. And this aid is critical to the national security of America, if Putin were to win this brutal war in Ukraine, next, we might see him attacking a NATO ally of ours. We need to stop this.”
Do people realize that these wars have absolutely nothing to do with US national security? According to a new poll released this week by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, less than half (45%) of Americans believe we are overextending our aid in Ukraine. Yellen and the 55% of Americans who support perpetual blank checks are free to empty their wallets for Zelensky. These are the same people complaining of high interest rates and inflation, utterly unaware that war is the primary driver of inflation
Posted originally on Nov 26, 2023 By Martin Armstrong
Zelensky is facing rising opposition. He has suspended the elections because he was elected promising peace and has consistently waged war and refused even to negotiate peace. He authorized a false flag shooting a missile into Poland, and tried blaming that on Russia. Zelensky told CNN in February 2023 that he refused to negotiate with Putin. This civil war in Ukraine was instigated by the unelected interim government of Ukraine installed by the Neocons. Ukrainian sources swear that the election was rigged and the votes were fixed to install Zelensky, who has done precisely the opposite of his campaign promises.
With Ukraine essentially destroyed, its farmland being sold to his hedge fund investors, and nearly 10 million Ukrainians have fled the country, many of whom have no intention of returning. He suspended elections because he knew very well he would be voted out of office with more than 500,000 dead and, kidnapping 16-year-old boys conscripting them for the front lines.
There is a growing movement to overthrow Zelensky as Ukrainians are starting to wake up that they have been merely the vanguard sacrificed to weaken Russia before NATO declares war on Russia under some pretense.
Our sources have been saying that Zelensky intends to allow Poland to take the Western region of Ukraine, and that will be a step toward justifying war with Russia. This is now starting to be reported in foreign press – never in Europe or the United States.
Posted originally on the CTH on November 25, 2023 | Sundance
Speaking to our CTH audience following direct conversations in the EU, I can assure you that privately it is well known that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is at a designed stalemate. Russia has solidified the western frontlines in Ukraine in exactly the position originally intended. Additionally, the fortifications are of such strategic scale no one in the Western alliance would dare to propose any effort for direct confrontation.
This is the reality on the ground in Ukraine, and if you look carefully at western reporting, you will see indications of the unspoken truth.
Bild reported that inside the German govt, there are leaks about conversations between U.S and German officials. “While outwardly expressing full support for Ukraine, behind closed doors in Berlin and Washington plans are being hatched to force Ukraine into talks with Russia to freeze the war on its current front lines, German newspaper BILD said in a report published on Nov. 24.” {link}
The Biden administration, specifically the Dept of State and CIA are now managing the narrative. The Eastern EU bloc (NATO realists) well understand the dynamic, although you will see opaque indications from traditional western media. However, if you look carefully, you will note one of the indications of this dynamic can be found in the unwillingness of the U.S. to provide logistical support for advanced M1A2 tanks to engage the Russian lines {link}.
Bradleys arrived sooner and have made their presence felt on the battlefield already. For now, because of winter conditions, sending small Bradley-and-Abrams groups would be “inefficient” and “hard to support” logistically, he said.
Sumlenny cited the July offensives by the 47th Mechanized Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region, where he said Ukrainian troops suffered heavy losses of Bradley armored vehicles against Russian defenses. At the time, 34 of the 100 Bradley tanks the US had provided had been destroyed, according to Oryx, an open-source military research group. {link}
The Russian military have long ago positioned their strategic assets to take out any advanced armored columns. All of the primary routes for U.S. provided Ukrainian tank deployment have been field targeted by proactive artillery placement. Any advancing U.S/Ukraine armor would be walking directly into previously sighted positions. It is a literal stalemate with air combat as the only solution to break the hardened fortifications. The Russian air defenses are also positioned against this approach.
You cannot gather a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic without traveling to the epicenter of the discussion; so, that’s what I did. From those discussions, and from discussions with actual Russians who know the strategic intent of the front line (Russian) fortifications, you can easily see how the Western alliance is having to face the reality of a stalemate yet needing to save face given the nature of the prior expenditures.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are not a matter of “if”, but “when”, and that means politics drives the decision making.
This is the reality of the situation.
The overwhelming majority of the Russian people stand in support of the efforts by Vladimir Putin. They do not necessarily align with the man, but they do align with the intention of national defense against western/NATO encroachment.
Winning is not the western/NATO objective. Saving face is the priority.
Posted originally on the CTH on November 5, 2023 | Sundance
First things first. Did you notice the byline on the NBC report we discussed about U.S. and EU officials beginning talks with Ukraine about peace-talks to end the stalemate. For those who didn’t notice, Kristen Welker was one of the reporters who wrote the article {NBC LINK}. Then today, Zelenskyy appears on NBC Meet the Press, with Kristen Welker, to discuss the status of the Ukraine war and say there is no “stalemate.” Funny, but not accidental, how that happens.
The full interview link is here (and below); however, during the interview Welker asked Zelenskyy about President Trump saying he would end the conflict within 24 hours. Zelenskyy scoffs at the possibility and rejects that any peace negotiations could take place. WATCH (3 mins):
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I’m going to try and put the absurd nature (literally his World War Reddit disposition) of Volodymyr Zelenskyy over there on the side for a moment [that’s not easy], and accept his pronouncements are with what he genuinely believes, with the full weight and support of the U.S. State Dept/CIA to frame his reference.
KRISTEN WELKER:
On Saturday, I sat down with an emotional President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who spoke to me in both Ukrainian and English and acknowledged his people are tired but undeterred. His plea to U.S. lawmakers: give Ukraine one more year of aid and it will be able to close its funding gap or, he warned, the price for the United States will be even higher.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Zelenskyy, let me start off by asking you: It has now been more than 600 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. How would you describe the state of the war right now?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
Thank you very much for the question. As far as the situation on the front is concerned, I think – of course, I cannot provide all the details to you. But nevertheless, we hold the initiative in our hands. You can imagine what a full-scale war or what two years of a full-scale war is like. Everybody gets tired. Even the iron gets tired. But, nevertheless, I am proud of our warriors and of our people, that they are strong. Our people are helping. Our people are mobilized. And our people have a strong desire to win. Again, some spheres, Kristen, we see steps forward. Sometimes they are slow steps because of the landmines which Russia planted there while we were preparing for a counter-offensive. And in some spheres, we have problems with the air. Unfortunately, this thing hasn’t changed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. We have seen Russia’s domination in the air. It’s a fact. And without the air defense, our steps forward are slow.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
But I can give you one example about Black Sea. We have great success in the Black Sea. Even after Russia blocked Black Sea and canceled our grain corridor, grain initiative — by the way, we help by this corridor countries of Asia, countries of – every country to manage the hunger. And I think that was very important, crucial. And when Russia canceled it because they had initiative in the Black Sea, they blocked Black Sea. Now, we really defeated it. We really defend our Black Sea, and Russian fleet is being destroyed by our ammunition. And now, Russia doesn’t control fleet. That means that we used all ammunition — sea, drones and air defense — to defend this region. It’s very important. That was a signal – signal that we can manage this war even against such a terrorist organization like Kremlin.
KRISTEN WELKER:
The strategy of this war. This summer, and you reiterated right now, the progress has been slower than desired. And recently one of your top generals said Ukraine has, quote, “reached a stalemate.” Has the war reached a stalemate?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
Kristen, you know, on the 24th of February when Russia invaded our cities, country, our land, our families, and they attacked all of us, the world gave us three days. Some European countries who really believed in us, they said one month. Others said it will be very quick. And this is really this situation, what they said. But now we speak with you. Now, it’s almost two years. Now, initiative in our hands. Yes, a lot of people, of course, in the world are tired. Of course, it’s understandable. Somebody tired on the battlefield, somebody tired on the works, and somebody tired abroad. They want to come back home to their husbands, to their soldiers, to these guys, women and children. Somebody tired from European leaders to support Ukraine. Yes, of course because long war.
KRISTEN WELKER:
I hear you rejecting the characterization by your top generals that this is a stalemate. Are you changing strategies, as has been reported?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
I believe that today indeed, the situation is difficult. I don’t think that this is a stalemate, this attack on the, on the, on the part of the Russian army. But before that, we did a lot. We have done a lot. We had a very difficult situation. They thought that they would checkmate us, but this didn’t happen. And on the contrary, we took the initiative in our hands. Now, Russia wants to do – to attack us. They are attacking us in the east of our country while losing thousands of people and hundreds of units, pieces of weaponry. We don’t see it. But in the Andriivka direction in the last week, 200 pieces of weaponry, of ammunition were lost – have been lost. Thousands of people have been lost. They have been killed.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
So we don’t see details. Sometimes our attitude to the war, that somebody staying on the one – one place. But it’s not just stay. When you stay, you kill the enemy, and this is the fact. Of course, Russia understands that now when focus from Ukraine taken off, and when this focus to the Middle East, and when they try to divide the world in this crisis, Israel/Palestine crisis, and of course, of course Russia is very happy with this war. They don’t count how many children were killed there. They don’t think about the flag or nationality. We saw some moments their attitude. We saw what was in Makhachkala, Dagestan. This is the part of Russia. This is what the biggest wave of antisemitism. So what they want? They just want to divide the world, to take focus from Ukraine to another war. And if it will not be enough for them – I’m again repeat it, and I’m repeating it these two years – if it will be not enough for them – it will not be enough. Because Syria was not enough. They began in Ukraine. After Ukraine, in the Middle East. They will continue their plan. And you see that Iran is supporting them, in Ukraine supporting them with the weapons and now in the Middle East again.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So, President Zelenskyy, are you looking at a shift in strategy to try to gain the upper hand right now?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
Our military are coming up with different plans, with different operations in order to move forward faster and to strike Russian Federation unexpectedly. But barehanded, it’s impossible to do without weapons, without relevant, proper weapons. It’s a fact. Therefore, we have to prepare. We have to clearly understand what steps could be more appropriate, and we have to move forward faster.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Zelenskyy, NBC News is reporting that U.S. and European officials have begun quietly talking to your government about what possible peace negotiations with Russia might look like to end this war. Have you personally been involved in these talks, and what’s the status of these talks?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
A lot of different voices around us. I heard a lot of different voices and emotions and without any contradictions and propositions, a lot of different things. But as for me, I don’t have – for today I don’t have any relations with Russians. And they know my position. That is the position of my country. That is the position of our people. We don’t want to make any dialogue with terrorists. And the president of the United States and Congress, bipartisan support, all these people, they know that I am not ready to speak with the terrorists because their word is nothing. Nothing. We can’t trust terrorists because terrorists always come back, always come back.
KRISTEN WELKER:
As you know, with this attack against Israel, Americans are now being asked to fund two wars. And there’s growing skepticism about ongoing support of Ukraine, particularly among Republicans in Congress. What is your message to U.S. lawmakers who don’t want to send another dollar to Ukraine?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
Thank you very much for this question. First of all, it’s not aid to Ukraine. I think that it is aid to the United States and the European Union. As I said, I believe that Ukraine is defending our joint values, common values. I will repeat: I believe that Putin wants to divide Europe, to weaken the United States of America. And he always wants to find a hot spot in Europe so that there is no stability in Europe, in the Middle East – what’s happening now – and on other continents, too. And I believe that Ukraine is defending both the European Union, the European continent, and our common values.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
My message, one more message, you have to understand how we fight, how we live. You have to understand, just to come to Ukraine and see. We are the same people. We have the same values. I’m really thankful to President Biden. By the way, he was here. And I think he’s a strong man. And it was a historical moment. He’s a hero because he was in those moments under a Russian missile attack. But he was here, and he understood more about Ukraine. Yes, he knew Ukraine even before this invasion. Yes, he knew, but he understood the heroic attitude Ukraine has to democracy, to their people, to their houses, to their families. And he understood. He began more strongly to help us. And I’m also thankful to Congress. I had the opportunity to address Congress two times. And really, Congress and the bipartisan support was very important in a very important moment. Now, it’s a very important moment not to lose the will, not to lose this strong position and not to lose your democracy.
KRISTEN WELKER:
As you know –
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
Please, it’s very important. Now, you don’t send your soldiers. God bless. Don’t send your daughters and sons to other NATO country. Because if Russia will kill all of us, they will attack NATO countries, and you will send your sons and daughters. And it will be – I’m sorry, but the price will be higher. That is my signal. And believe in democracy, believe in Ukraine.
KRISTEN WELKER:
How long should they expect to send more money? When do you anticipate you can end this war, President Zelenskyy?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY:
I think that the next year with the challenges, because this is the year of your elections. Now, again, we see the critical situation in the Middle East. So I think your help is very important for the next year. And that is crucial. And I think, if we will manage all the things that I said, the gap will be minimized in our budget. And after that, after next year, if – it the war will not finish next year – if – if it will not finish – I think that using air defense systems, using this platform of cooperation and co-production, and using these new jobs, I think we will manage to minimize this gap and you will not help us such high price. I’m sure. That’s it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
And to be very specific, I’m going to ask you about the election momentarily. You are asking for more air defenses. F-16s obviously are in the process of being ready. What more air defenses do you need, President Zelenskyy? Can you be specific?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
Yes. Anti-drone systems and specific drones which our defense ministers and commanders they know very well. That’s drones which can attack enemies and also drones which are intelligent. They provide intelligence. So these specific things we began to produce.
KRISTEN WELKER:
And when we come back, more of my interview with President Zelenskyy, including his response to former President Trump’s proposal to end the war in 24 hours.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Welcome back. As the Republican presidential candidates prepare to meet in Miami this week for their third debate, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke directly to the frontrunner who will not be on stage, former President Donald Trump.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Zelenskyy, former President Trump, who is the GOP frontrunner, has said that if he is reelected he could end this war in 24 hours. What is your reaction and message to former President Trump about that?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
Former President Trump said that about 24 hours, that he can manage it and finish the war. For me, what can I say? So he’s very welcome as well. President Biden was here, and he – I think he understood some details which you can understand only being here. So I invite President Trump. If he can come here, I will need 24 minutes – yes, 24 minutes; not more. Yes. Not more. Twenty-four minutes to explain President Trump that he can’t manage this war. He can’t bring peace because of the Putin. If, but always there is an “if,” If he’s not trying and if he’s not ready to give our territory for this terrible man, for the Putin, if you are not ready to give it, if you are not ready to give our independence, he – he – he can’t manage it. Yes.
KRISTEN WELKER:
You have –
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
– So he’s very welcome.
KRISTEN WELKER:
He’s welcome to come to Ukraine. Other presidential candidates have obviously come to Ukraine as well. Have you had any contact with former President Trump since he left office, President Zelenskyy?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
No. No. No, no. That’s why he’s very welcome to repeat our tradition, which was when he was the president.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you think he would have Ukraine’s back if he were to be reelected?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
Really, I don’t know. Really, I don’t know. I hope that – that – that it depends not only on the president institutionally. I think it depends on the opinion of Americans, of your society. I think that is most important. I think it’s important in the United States and EU, the attitude of just ordinary people. It’s their support. It’s their money. It – it depends on them.
KRISTEN WELKER:
There are reports that you plan to visit Israel. Is that true, and what will your goal be?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
From the very start, on the first day of the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas against Israel, we condemned this aggression and we stated our position. And I said that we are ready to go to Israel today. It is difficult to say because I’m a president of a country at war, and you know that on our battlefield it’s very hard. Therefore, my visit there depends on a number of things. I have to be open. First – so what’s happening on the battlefield defines many things. And, second, it depends on whether we will be able to get our citizens of Ukraine who are stranded there. If we can get them out of there, if for this it’s necessary for me to be there, in Israel, in Egypt, wherever our people are released, I will fly there if it’s possible. If that can be done without my involvement at the level of diplomacy, they will do that then.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you believe Israel is following international law?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [TRANSLATED]:
I have to be sincere. We are looking at this situation as if something new. It’s not a new situation at all. It’s a fire that has been burning between Israel and Palestine, and some people are still throwing matches into this fire. And I’m sure that Russia was behind and sponsoring Hamas. And Iran, too. That’s who is to blame. When we talk about laws, rules, where there are terrorists, there are no rules. Everything is beyond laws. Everybody’s trying to save their own lives and fight against the enemy using all the effort, all the forces. First, in order to finish this war and sit down at the negotiation table, pressure on Russia and Iran, you have to admit that these countries are behind approaches. And I would also add North Korea there. You saw how many North Korean munitions were found in Gaza. It’s a fact, absolute fact. And it’s difficult, of course. The main thing is that if terrorists are attacking, if terrorists attack, if they behead children, you have the full right to defend people and defend your own country, state. But we have to understand: If we can open humanitarian corridors, take away prisoners of war, help people who are not involved there, the whole world should do this and the whole world should do all they can to stop this war.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Zelenskyy, thank you so much. Before you go, if you want to share: What keeps you going? Do you ever feel defeated?
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY [ENGLISH]:
I have a lot of power, but even feeling strong, and I have a lot of energy, it doesn’t mean that we want to fight all our lives because the price is high, like I said. Because the war takes the best of us, the best heroes, the best men, women, children. That’s it. But we are not ready to give our freedom to this [EXPLETIVE] terrorist, Putin. That’s it. That’s why we are fighting. That’s it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Zelenskyy, thank you so much for your time this morning. We really appreciate it.
Posted originally on the CTH on October 31, 2023 | Sundance
The only people who deny financial corruption in Ukraine are those who benefit from it. That group includes U.S. politicians who gleefully send billions of taxpayer funds into the country of Ukraine while capturing returns in the process.
U.S. advisors and consultants, along with private sector contractors and multinational corporations like Blackrock, are all beneficiaries of the vast sums of money being dumped into Ukraine. We all know this. So, on one hand it is simple to see why the Ukraine government officials would use the same opportunity to enrich themselves
After all, U.S. taxpayers are not only buying bombs, missiles and bullets with the money sent to Ukraine, we are also paying the salaries and pensions of the same government officials who are skimming the proceeds. The corruption is everywhere, and every entity is participating in the graft, in one form or another.
Zelenskyy’s wife goes shopping in Paris during the war. Where exactly do politicians think she is getting the money to spend on glitzy holiday vacations? Everybody knows exactly what is going on. The glaringly obvious theft is a large part of the contention the American people have with this insufferable effort to fund Ukraine.
During a lengthy Time Magazine article, one of the close and key advisors to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that the corrupt stealing of US funds is widespread. In addition to the theft, the overall tone of the Time Magazine article paints the war effort in Ukraine, what we have always called ‘World War Reddit’ for its mostly theatrical value, as a lost cause. This is not surprising; however, for Time Mag to make such an admission, that does indicate a narrative shift in the overall effort.
TIME – […] Since the start of the invasion, Ukraine has refused to release official counts of dead and wounded. But according to U.S. and European estimates, the toll has long surpassed 100,000 on each side of the war. It has eroded the ranks of Ukraine’s armed forces so badly that draft offices have been forced to call up ever older personnel, raising the average age of a soldier in Ukraine to around 43 years. “They’re grown men now, and they aren’t that healthy to begin with,” says the close aide to Zelensky. “This is Ukraine. Not Scandinavia.”
[…] As conscription efforts have intensified around the country, stories are spreading on social media of draft officers pulling men off trains and buses and sending them to the front. Those with means sometimes bribe their way out of service, often by paying for a medical exemption. Such episodes of corruption within the recruitment system became so widespread by the end of the summer that on Aug. 11 Zelensky fired the heads of the draft offices in every region of the country.
The decision was intended to signal his commitment to fighting graft. But the move backfired, according to the senior military officer, as recruitment nearly ground to a halt without leadership. The fired officials also proved difficult to replace, in part because the reputation of the draft offices had been tainted. “Who wants that job?” the officer asks. “It’s like putting a sign on your back that says: corrupt.”
[…] Amid all the pressure to root out corruption, I assumed, perhaps naively, that officials in Ukraine would think twice before taking a bribe or pocketing state funds. But when I made this point to a top presidential adviser in early October, he asked me to turn off my audio recorder so he could speak more freely. “Simon, you’re mistaken,” he says. “People are stealing like there’s no tomorrow.”
Even the firing of the Defense Minister did not make officials “feel any fear,” he adds, because the purge took too long to materialize. The President was warned in February that corruption had grown rife inside the ministry, but he dithered for more than six months, giving his allies multiple chances to deal with the problems quietly or explain them away. By the time he acted ahead of his U.S. visit, “it was too late,” says another senior presidential adviser. Ukraine’s Western allies were already aware of the scandal by then. Soldiers at the front had begun making off-color jokes about “Reznikov’s eggs,” a new metaphor for corruption. “The reputational damage was done,” says the adviser. (more)
Time Magazine, a far-left ideological ally of the Biden regime, is publishing this at the same time that Congress is debating another request for billions more dollars in Ukraine aid. The timing here would indicate a substantive shift in position for the leftist media. Perhaps they are starting to realize, the bloom is off the ruse.
World War Reddit, written, produced and directed by: Nuland, Blinken and Sullivan.
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