Tag Archives: Donbas region

Jan 21 2025

Inflation Soars in Russia


Posted originally on Jan 21, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Inflation up

Russia’s CPI reached 9.5% this December as government spending has pulled the reigns away from the central bank. Inflation elevated from 8.9% YoY in November to 9.5%, slightly below expectations of 9.7%. Prices are up 1.3% on a monthly basis overall, but Russians are feeling the impact of war.

Services from 11.4% to 11.5% on the yearly while non-food goods are up from 5.7% YoY to 6.1% Prices at the grocery store have soared from 9.9% YoY to 11.1% as Russia struggles to find reasonably priced imports. Core inflation is up 1% monthly, but up 10% over the past four quarters. The central bank is lightyears away from its 4% inflation target. The spread between rates and inflation is a concerning 11.5%.

Russia’s Central Bank maintained its policy rate of 21% in December. This is not a money supply issue and government cannot curtail spending amid a rapidly escalating war effort. The Kremlin pumped 10 trillion rubles ($100 billion) into military spending last year and that figure will continue to grow. Russia’s economy still grew by 4% in 2024 as it adapted to trade without the West.

Analysts had expected the central bank to raise rates in December, but that would not have deterred government borrowing. The Kremlin also required banks to issue state-direct soft loans to military defense contractors for 25 trillion ($250 billion). As we are seeing in Russia, there is absolutely nothing more inflationary than war.

Jan 17 2025

UK and Ukraine Sign 100-Year Partnership


Posted originally on Jan 17, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Starmer.Zelensky.Uk_.Ukraine

UK’s Keir Starmer is eager to sign a 100-year partnership with Ukraine to strengthen security in the Baltic, Azov, and Black Seas and increase economic and cultural ties. The pact will ensure that the UK is obligated to support Ukraine regardless of who comes to power after Starmer. A Russian drone strike targeting Kyiv amid Starmer’s meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky strengthened their resolve.

“For me, that drone attack is just really a reminder of what Ukraine is facing every day and a reminder that this war is brought about by Russian aggression,” Starmer told reporters at a press conference in the Mariinsky Palace. “Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure,” he added, saying that their partnership has been brought to “the next level.”

Starmer committed £40 million to TIGER (Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience), an economic recovery fund intended to help small and medium businesses in Ukraine. This comes on the heels of London providing £12.8 billion in aid, with £7.8 billion directed toward military assistance.

The UK will also boost its Grain Verification Scheme to track stolen or destroyed grain from occupied territories. The program was created based on the former Soviet government’s seizure of grain from Ukraine in 1932-33, which led to widespread famine and the deaths of nearly 4 million people. The Soviets starved their own people during that period as Communism failed, which is why Yeltsin handed over Russia to Putin to prevent the old oligarchs from reverting back to failed policies.

Ukraine believes this partnership will help it fast-track its way into the NATO alliance. In recent days, nations like Poland have been recklessly calling for Ukraine to urgently join bloc, which would IMMEDIATELY begin the next world war. Everyone is keen to aid Ukraine in its war efforts but no one is willing to speak with Putin directly or discuss what actions must be taken to bring about peace.

It is of no coincidence that NATO nations are calling to raise funding and strengthen ties with Ukraine as Donald Trump comes to power. The UK and Germany are Ukraine’s top supporters behind the US. There is no plan for the war effort to wane or for peace to be presented as an option. It is interesting how, during the last world war, the UK under Churchill was the one to help push the US to join the effort. Alliances have been cemented, and Russia is keenly aware that they are soon to be at war with not only Ukraine but nearly the entirety of the West.

Jan 11 2025

Jim Rickards Breaks Down Major Corporations Current Relationship With ESG And Russia’s War Status


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: Jan 10, 2025 at :7:00 pm EST

Jan 10 2025

Weakening Russia Conventionally Leaves Only Nuclear War


Posted originally on Jan 10, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Churchill on Truth

QUESTION: Hello, thank you for unique comments and alternative views on the Russia-Ukraine war as regards to Nato expansion and neocons et cetera. We sure seem to be racing towards WWIII.

It would be interesting if you would care to comment on the inability of Russia, despite support on the ground from North Korea, to kick out Ukraine’s counter-invasion in Russia’s Southern Kursk region.
Is it a sign of weakness from Russia’s military or is it some kind of Russian 3D-chess tactic?
What if Mexican tanks rolled into Arizona or Canadian tanks invaded New Hampshire?

Kind regards,

JH

ANSWER: Unfortunately, our NEOCONS project the image that the USA is an imperial power that wants to conquer the world. In turn, this has only emboldened the NEOCONS inside Russia and China, and they judge all Americans by the actions of our NEOCONS because nobody will speak up or dare to challenge them.

Vide

Having two employees in Ukraine certainly helped when we have people on the ground to get to the truth. I warned the computer had projected Ukraine was the place where World War III would begin. The NEOCONS protected the Ukrainian Nazis, despite the fact that the horrors they committed even shocked the Germans from documented cases of cutting out babies from pregnant women and sowing in a live cat. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ukraine – a very dark side.

Merkel_Minsk_Buy_Time_to Prepare for wart

The deliberate fake peace negotiation to buy time to build this army to invade Russia was just deplorable. The mere fact that Merkel was part of this deception to create World War III intentionally was unbelievable. Why would anyone negotiate with the West when they lie about everything?

ECM Ukraine Russia War

The problem we face is that this authorization for Ukraine to use long-range missiles to attack Russia while losing the Donbas daily demonstrates that Zelensky is a real Judas taking orders from the NEOCONS, and this is to weaken Russia. They may be able to weaken Russia conventionally to prepare for a NATO invasion using some false flag perhaps by May this year, but they are counting on the fact that Russia will never push the button, so they will be able to walk in and conquer the country dividing the spoils of war.

USNDX Y Cash Chart 1 8 25

I do not see that scenario succeeding according to our computer. If I were a Russian, I  would push the button and destroy all of Europe if they invaded Russia. They NEVER consider what if they are wrong!  Be on guard for 2026 into 2027. Weakening Russia conventionally reduces its defense to nuclear. Hello! How stupid can these people be? Why do you think the dollar elected 3 Yearly Bullish Reversals at the end of 2024? While everyone is focused on the Fed and Debt, they are not paying attention externally to the US economy. NATO is a threat to world peace!

Dec 24 2024

Eastern Region of Moldova Declares a State of Emergency as Ukraine Refuses to Continue Transit Agreement for Russian Gas


Posted originally on the CTH on December 24, 2024 | Sundance

In the nation of Moldova, the left bank of the Dniester (Nistru) River is home to 360,000 citizens in the Russia-controlled region of Transnistria. To the right side of the dividing line made by the Dniester is the western/EU allied side of Moldova.

The Russian energy company, Gazprom, provides gas to Transnistria through Ukraine. The gas is subsidized by Russia, so the Russian-allied citizens of Transnistria do not pay market prices; in fact, the gas is provided free. However, the gas into Transnistria is also used to power the Moldavskaya GRES power plant, which generates electricity for both banks of the Dniester. In essence, the “free” Russian gas is provided to both the pro-Russia and anti-Russia elements in the region.

The contract for the transit of Russian gas into Transnistria through Ukraine’s territory expires on January 1, 2025. Despite the war between Russia and Ukraine, gas transit and the contract signed in 2019 have continued. However, Ukraine under Zelenskyy has repeatedly said they do not plan to extend the gas transit agreement with Gazprom. This is a way for Zelenskyy, technically NATO, to create anxiety and crisis in the region.

The western aligned government of Moldova have been demanding that Russia withdraw all military and influence from the Transnistria region, meanwhile the Transnistria local governing officials are requesting Moscow to keep the flow of Russian gas ongoing. Observers have noted, “It looks stupid to ask for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria and meanwhile request Russia to continue to give free gas to the region.”

The citizens of Transnistria are pawns in the political schemes. Zelenskyy (Ukraine) is refusing to allow gas to heat their homes to come after the transit agreement ends. Ukraine, together with NATO, want Russians out of Transnistria. The looming energy crisis has created a state of emergency that the west, together with the Moldavian government intends to exploit.

It is not accidental that the EU/NATO/US State Dept/CIA are using the flashpoints of Georgia and Moldova to create conflict against Russia (check the map).

EUROPE – Moldova enacted a state of emergency, as the country gears up for an energy crisis at the start of 2025 following the end of Ukraine’s obligations to transport Russian gas through its territory.

Moldova, and especially the country’s breakaway region of Transnistria, will be hit the hardest following the end of the decades-long agreement.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that the country has enough gas, bought on the international market, to keep the right bank of the Dniester (Nistru) River warm throughout the winter ahead.

But, he added, some360,000 citizens on the left bank of the river, in the Russia-controlled region of Transnistria, “are still dependent on one source of import — Gazprom.”

The leader of the Russian-controlled Transnistria declared a state of economic emergency on Dec. 6. Heaters, as well as basic goods like rice, grains, matches, salt and so on, have disappeared from shops, hoarded by the local population in anticipation of the crisis ahead.

Following decades of relying on free Russian gas, the Moscow-controlled region will now need to pay market prices, lowered by energy bill relief schemes provided by the Moldovan government. (read more)

It’s almost a guarantee at this point the CIA and U.S. State Dept. have ongoing strategic operations in control of Moldova. Energy market prices will be a lot higher than what eastern Moldovans pay now. There is going to be unrest and political friction created by this crisis as the west says, “apparently, independence has a several costs.”

White House FEBRUARY, 2023 – President Joseph R. Biden Jr. met today with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Warsaw. President Biden reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He highlighted ongoing US assistance to help Moldova strengthen its political and economic resilience, including its democratic reform agenda and energy security, and to address the effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine. (link)

Moldovan President Maia Sandu

For more than two years we have been saying to keep an eye on Moldova in the background.  On November 2, 2024, Moldova held their national election, and while the actual number of people living in Moldova voted for the anti-war position, once the overseas ballots were added the results changed.  The nationalists became the minority and the pro-war/pro-EU globalists declared victory.

This may seem like a relatively ‘over there’ and small issue.  However, the people who control Joe Biden, the U.S. State Dept and the CIA have been positioning themselves in/around Moldova for several years now.

Now that Georgia has voted to reject the EU and anti-Russia efforts, watch out for Moldova to become the spark that leads to escalated conflict with Russia.

Moldova has a significant population of pro-Russia citizens in the east, which makes the internal domestic dynamic a little strenuous to manage. It is very similar to Ukraine in that regard. It is much smaller than Ukraine, but similar inside the national political dynamic.  Additionally, the geopolitical dynamic that is unfolding with the use of Moldova is identical to how the U.S/NATO exploited Ukraine.

It was the Moldovan ex-pat community, living outside Moldova, that overwhelmingly decided the fate of this small nation that borders Ukraine.

The people living in Moldova are majority aligned with Russia.  However, the people voting in the election from outside Moldova changed the dynamic of the election.  This reality creates a major source of angst for Russia and Vladimir Putin.  This dynamic also creates the point on the stick the EU/USA and CIA will use to poke the bear.

Watch closely.

When the U.S. activates NGOs in European countries (Moldova, Hungary, Georgia) the media call it “spreading democracy.” However, when the people who live in the country organically rise up in the opposite direction against the government outcomes from the NGO pressure, the media call it “Russian interference.”

Dec 17 2024

Dave Brat Details His Visit To Ukraine With Other Christian Leaders


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: Dec 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm EST

Dec 13 2024

World Bank Slush Funds for Ukraine – Another $20 Billion Wired from US


Posted originally on Dec 13, 2024 by Martin Armstrong 

World Bank

The United States Treasury Department expedited a $20 billion aid package to Ukraine as part of the 50 billion G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans initiative. The establishment wants to offload these funds as quickly as possible to deter Donald Trump from reversing course and withholding aid. The funds were sent to the questionable World Bank and derived from frozen Russian assets.

Will the funds be used for humanitarian aid? No one knows. Joe Biden would have had to call upon Congress to agree to send military aid, although he initially wanted to split the $20 BILLION down the line and devote half to economic aid and the other half to the military. Since there are absolutely no checks or balances on these funds, his administration simply marked it all as economic aid and wired it to the World Bank.

“These funds – paid for by the windfall proceeds earned from Russia’s own immobilized assets – will provide Ukraine a critical infusion of support as it defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen, who personally oversaw the transfer. “The $50 billion collectively being provided by the G7 through this initiative will help ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to sustain emergency services, hospitals, and other foundations of its brave resistance.”

Yellen followed up by stating that Putin is “engaging our coalition in a contest of wills” and hoping the West will retreat on its stance to prolong the war at all costs. She praised the “creative policymaking and the unity of the G7” for prolonging the war that would have ended years ago if not for Western interference. In fact, the war would never have begun if not for Western interference, or dare I say, the deliberate creation of this manufactured war.

Not only does Yellen expect Russia to retreat, but she demands that they pay Ukraine for damages. This could never occur. The premise of aiding Ukraine has created an endless excuse to send funds into the abyss. The World Bank will allegedly place the $20 billion in the Facilitation of Resources to Invest in Strengthening Ukraine Financial Intermediary Fund, yet another overflowing fund intended to save the world from what Yellen called a “belligerent regime.”

I reported how whistleblowers revealed that the World Bank had $41 billion in unaccounted funds initially destined to fight climate change. Now, the World Bank is funneling billions more under the premise of Ukraine – not to mention that the $20 billion was stolen from Russians and created a new form of economic warfare. All of this reeks of corruption.

Dec 9 2024

Tucker interview of Lavrov


Posted originally on Dec 8, 2024 by Martin Armstrong 

2024_12_06_18_12_09_Kremlin_issues_ultimatums_in_Lavrov_s_interview_with_Tucker_Carlson

MSN has the audacity to publish Ukrainian propaganda, and they, of course, criticize Tucker Carlson for even interviewing any Russian. They claimed that the interview only “outlined the Kremlin’s demands regarding the war in Ukraine in this interview, reiterating typical Kremlin propaganda narratives.” The Ukrainian propaganda actually wrote: “This isn’t Carlson’s first foray into Kremlin-approved journalism. Back in February 2024, the ever-objective host managed to secure a two-hour interview with Vladimir Putin, where the Russian dictator flexed his well-rehearsed tales of historical revisionism and grievance politics.”

Nero Bosporus Intervention

Crimea has been fought over countless times. Here is a coin of the Roman Emperor Neo, who was forced to intervene in Crimea as well. Go back further; it was occupied by the Greeks. They love to put out their own propaganda about history when Ukraine was never a country. The monetary history of the region does not support Ukraine’s claims of past glory. They claim that Putin in his interview “mostly delivered his deeply unscientific interpretation of Ukraine’s history and its relations with Russia, while Carlson mainly listened without questioning or contradicting him.”

Kiev Golden Gate r

In truth, Kiev was the home of the Rus (Russians) until the Mongols invaded and destroyed their capital in 1220. All that remains standing is the single gate. This is like the Americans respecting London or the Jews maintaining that Jerusalem is their ancient land. The Ukrainians are generally not respected by their neighbors as being just corrupt.

Khruschev

The IMF and everybody else routinely say that Ukraine is the most corrupt state on the planet. Simply because Krischev rebuilt Kiev after the war and redrew the border for administrative purposes, the Ukrainians call this their homeland when it never was. Not only did Kruschev come from this region, but his successor, Brezhnev, was even born in the Donbas. This is what the entire world is to thrust into World War III for a territorial grab.

Neocon Couple Kagan Nuland

All we ever hear from the press is the propaganda put out by the Neocon couple and their sister-in-law running the Institute for Study of War. They all have ties to this region, and this has been a family feud against Russia. They all insist Russia persecuted their families.

Nuland was there at Miadan, handing out cookies and water and cheering on the government’s overthrow. Then, she hand-picked an interim government and directed this UNELECTED government to start the civil war against the Donbas and the Russians.

Dec 8 2024

BREAKING: Spanish newspaper scoops that “Golden Exile” is being prepared for Zelensky in UK


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: Dec 7, 2024 at 3:30 pm EST

Dec 6 2024

Tucker Carlson Interviews Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow


Posted originally on the CTH on December 5, 2024 | Sundance 

First things first, Tucker Carlson deserves enormous credit for gaining reentry into Russia during a time when Russia has essentially locked down their entry visa process. This was not a simple task, and Tucker’s motives for doing so are accepted without immediate reservation. As the only other American I know who has navigated this dynamic, congratulations Tucker.

There have been no diplomatic channels used by the U.S. government toward Russia for over two years. Literally, all talks between government officials and emissaries have been severed for the past two years. As I have said before, this is a very dangerous dynamic.

That said, this conversation does not take place without the intent of Russia, specifically President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from wanting this conversation to take place. Without any doubt this is a public message, a direct and intentional communication, intended to reach a U.S. audience much deeper than the average American viewer. Perhaps an audience of one. Again, great job.  WATCH:

Chapters:
0:00 Is the US at War With Russia?
12:56 Russia’s Message to the West Through Hypersonic Weapons
17:47 Is There Conversation Happening Between Russia and the US?

23:18 How Many Have Died in the Ukraine/Russia War?
28:21 What Would It Take To End the War?
36:11 What Happened to Alexei Navalny?
39:45 Boris Johnson Wants the War to Continue
45:43 Sanctions on Russia
56:31 The Chinese/Russian Alliance
1:02:18 Who Is Making Foreign Policy Decisions in the US?
1:05:05 Biden Pushes the US Toward Nuclear War Before Trump Takes Office
1:08:52 What’s Happening in Syria?
1:13:08 Lavrov’s Thoughts on Trump

One of the things that separates Russians from their eastern European counterparts, is their keen ability to detect and dismiss bullshit. If you watch Russian engagement, from either inside or outside of Russia, their non pretending is truly an artform. Even the silent space between their words is something remarkable to watch.

Vladimir Putin has a weapon the “west” cannot defend against.  It’s not part of his physical military armament, it’s far more powerful.  Putin has the truth as a weapon.

The western group must pretend they didn’t carry out a color revolution in Ukraine.  The western group must also pretend they didn’t install Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  The western group must also pretend there was not a civil war happening inside Ukraine for a decade, and the western group must pretend they didn’t try to provoke Vladimir Putin with expansions of NATO and an intentional breaking of the Minsk accords.  There are other pretenses that must be maintained, but those are the top ones.

Into this grand game of pretenses comes President Donald Trump, not exactly the best pretender (by choice) and Vladimir Putin not only knows this, but he also respects this Trump attribute of honesty in problem solving.

Keep in mind, President Putin watched how President Trump dealt with the “North Korea threat” problem that was left to him by President Obama.  Putin watched how Trump negotiated an exit to escalating conflict by honesty confronting China, the true hand on the puppet strings of the DPRK.

Putin saw in that North Korea geopolitical dynamic that President Trump dealt with Kim Jong-un with a brutally honest strategy that encompassed the influence of China.  While Putin is more allied currently with China, he knows President Trump cuts through the gordian knot woven by western interventionists.  Trump cuts through the gordian knot with honest and pragmatic policy.

As a result of this dynamic, everyone around President Trump, including the National Security Council, his National Security Advisor (Waltz), his CIA Director (Ratcliffe), and his State Dept Secretary (Rubio), all have to maintain the “western” pretenses that were/are cemented by the people and silos they replace.

The larger American government, sans President Trump, have to maintain all the aforementioned pretenses, in part because the Intelligence Community and the USA media support it, and in part because it would weaken the USA on the global stage to ever make honest admissions about our control of Ukraine.  And yes, that pretending dynamic includes Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg who President Trump appointed as special envoy for Russia and Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin’s strongest weapon is the truth.  Vladimir Putin also knows the auto-setting on President Trump’s psyche of problem solving, ie ‘optimal solutions’, is also centered on truth.

The proverbial $64,000 question: How does truthful President Trump deal with truthful President Putin, while all around the office of the White House are people who only know how to maintain pretenses?

That my friends, is going to be a very interesting dynamic to watch.

One way President Trump could gain back the power of not pretending is to: (1) request an immediate ceasefire; then (2) tell the CIA (Ratcliffe) to immediately withdraw all CIA operatives from Ukraine; then (3) tell Secretary Marco Rubio to pull all USAID operatives out of Ukraine; then (4) tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he must hold a national election within 60 days.

If the U.S and NATO pull all of the control agents out of Ukraine and hold an election, the result will highlight the will of the Ukranian people to retain Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  If Zelenskyy wins, then he is in a stronger position.  If he loses, then he was never strong to begin with, and he’s the wrong person to be negotiating with.

Calling for an election in Ukraine is a radical approach because I think we all know what the outcome would be.  Then again, that’s the problem with pretending, when you stop you have to accept the transparently predictable forecast.

In the interim, President Putin has the truth as a weapon, and President Trump is going to have to find a way to deal with it while everyone around him maintains pretenses.

My money is on President Trump finding an optimal solution, just like he did in North Korea. It will certainly be interesting to watch.