Bulgaria’s Government Resigns Amid Civil Unrest


Posted Dec 12, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

The entire Bulgarian government has resigned after nationwide protests following the government’s decision to join the European Union. “The government resigns today,” Rosen Zhelyazkov announced. “People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and religions have spoken out in favour of resignation. That is why this civic energy must be supported and encouraged.”

The media portrayed the initial civil unrest as a reaction to the 2026 budget, but the root of the agitation lies with the nation relinquishing sovereignty to join the euro. The Bulgarian government resignation is symbolic; true power lies with the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

“The decisions of the National Assembly are meaningful when they reflect the will of the peopleWe want to be where society expects us to be,” Zhelyazkov said, referring to the anti-government protests. “We have no doubt that the government will receive support in the upcoming vote of no confidence. Regardless, the decisions of the National Assembly are important when they reflect the will of the sovereign,” the prime minister said.

There is massive corruption in the Bulgarian government, hence the need to hold seven snap elections after the 2020 uprising. The people will no longer have the ability to elect their representatives.  Citizens have no trust in their government and do not bother with voting, as voter turnout reached only 34.4% in June 2024. Yes, they may elect who rules Bulgaria, but the EU determines the direction the nation must take. Over 6.4 million citizens must convert to the euro on January 1.

Once Bulgaria joins, it will no longer be able to devalue its currency to remain competitive. That’s how small economies adjust in a floating system. But inside the eurozone, you’re stuck. All monetary policy decisions are made by the ECB in Frankfurt, which answers to no elected body. If Bulgaria experiences a downturn, they can’t cut rates or devalue—just like Greece in 2010. They will be told to cut pensions, raise taxes, and accept IMF mandates. That’s not sovereignty.

Bulgaria now has the luxury of taking on more debt through the European Central Bank. It may now join a war on behalf of the EU against a nation with which it had diplomatic ties throughout the years. Bulgaria is the poorest member of the union; Brussels is not going to allow it to sway the course of the EU agenda in any capacity.

A Contrast in American vs British National Security Priorities


Posted originally on CTH on December 11, 2025 | Sundance

Lyndon LaRouche (1922-2019) was a rather eclectic fellow in the world of American politics for several generations. Some of his perspectives were sound and nationalistic, and some of his perspectives slipped into the realm of geopolitical conspiracy theory finding British Imperialism under every rock and blaming Queen Elizabeth II for assassination attempts against him.

Susan Kokinda and Barbara Boyd of Promethean Action continue the LaRouche tradition while smoothing out some of the more outlandish elements the originating political movement was known for. Barbara Boyd is the spokesperson and treasurer of the LaRouche Youth Movement. Boyd’s partner, Susan Kokinda, maintains a belief that eliminating British Imperialism is the objective of President Trump’s America-First policy agenda.  This is where I disagree.

While the outcome of President Trump’s policy does factually lead to the result LaRouche advocated, I strongly doubt “eliminating British imperialism” is the prism through which Donald Trump’s thought process flows.  That said, in the overall picture of American politics, the Kokinda and Boyd analysis of Trump’s opposition is generally accurate.

In their most recent update, Susan Kokinda discusses how President Trump’s recent national security strategy marks a significant departure from over a century of British-influenced American foreign policy.  Their review delves into the geopolitical friction between the U.S. and the UK, particularly regarding their strategies toward Russia and Ukraine.

Mrs. Kokinda underscores the broader clash of worldviews between America-First sovereignty and British-led internationalism, highlighting the latest developments including reactions from Russia and European elites. The episode also examines the opposition Trump faces from both within the U.S. political establishment and British geopolitical strategists and emphasizes the importance of maintaining political support to ensure the success of Trump’s transformative policies.  WATCH:

The divergence between the worldview of the European Union and President Trump is accurately presented as above.  The Ukraine/Russia war serves as a case study in how the two worldviews conflict.  The core of U.K policy and national security strategy continues to view Russia as the biggest threat; the national security outlook by President Trump does not.

On the domestic side of the issue, there are several American elements in direct opposition to the geopolitical trade structure of President Trump.

The Koch PAC seems to have abandoned their use of former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem since she became President Trump’s Secretary of DHS (Dept of Homeland Security).  Instead, the Koch network is funding Thomas Massie (House) and Rand Paul (Senate) to represent their interests.  MTG is likely to be a beneficiary, and other more traditional GOPe types will also likely benefit from Koch/CoC financing.

Just as the Biden/Obama agenda included the targeting of President Trump for removal (Transition Integrity Project – originating group) in early January 2017, so too did another UniParty stop Trump operation begin in January 2025.  We saw the latest iteration surface in the odd (at the time), narrative surrounding Qatar -vs- Israel.

The ideologically similar GOPe elements within the Sea Island network, tech and traditional Republican party, are all aligned due to opposition to Trump policy. They continue their efforts to divide elements from the larger MAGA network.

The use of the Qatar vs Israel wedge is clear within the billionaire tech/political group, and essentially distillates to 2028 positioning, JD Vance -vs- Ron DeSantis.

As noted by Mrs Kokinda, ultimately the issue boils down to “trillions at stake.”

EU & Zelensky Contemplating Dumping All US Debt If Trump Strikes Deal with Putin


Posted originally on Dec 9, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

Zelensky Ursula
WHY Euro

There is no official public declaration by European Union (or its member states collectively) that commits to such a move. They are discussing this now behind closed doors. Trump needs to consider IMMEDIATELY entering an Executive Order that all EU member state debts MUST be liquidated INSTANTLY!!!!! Any hedge fund that holds EU sovereign debt should be subject to sanctions forthwith. Trump should issue an Executive Order barring any US investment in Ukraine whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!With the EU seeking to fund war, they will  need to sell debt.

The EU and Ukraine are considering to threaten the United States that if Trump strikes a deal with Putin, they will dump $2.34 trillion in US debt in an effort to create an economic war with the United States to crash the bond market. NO American investment bank should now be allowed to sell ANY Sovereign Debt of any EU Member State. The US should EXIT NATO ASAP!!!!!

If the EU tries to pull this off, Trump MUST cut off all intelligence and money to Ukraine and the EU. Neither wants peace. Let them seal their own fate which will be their destruction. The EU will not survive beyond 2030. It is time for the EU member states to separate from this insanity or watch their youth be sent off to the slaughter. For what? Ukraine?

TRADING_WITH_THE_ENEMY_ACT_OF_1917_2010_US_Code_US_Codes_

Any Investment Bank or Hedge Fund supporting the EU or Ukraine can be sanctioned under these conditions and criminally charged as trading with the enemy! We had a Double Directional Change here in December 2025. Beware, the EU is absolutely desperate. They are going to use the Russian assets of which up to 80% is private Russian citizens – not state assets. We must ask, how many EU leaders also have their hand in the free money pouring into Ukraine with no accountability.

IBEUUS M Array 12 6 25

EU turns to War to cover up a humiliating decline.


Posted originally on Dec 9, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

Hate without risk

COMMENT: 

“When men can hate without risk, their stupidity is easily convinced, the motives supply themselves.”

–Louis-Ferdinand Celine

AF

Euro US

REPLY: That is on point Allen. These European leaders are living in the past. Their history of previous imperial greatness has become the core part of a their view of their nation’s story about itself—a “golden age.” It’s a source of immense cultural pride, artistic achievement, and historical identity. Reconnecting with that past is seen as healing. The establishment of the EU was supposed to defeat the dollar. That failed. Their claims that a combined GDP would exceed the US  never materialized because they are socialists and had to control everything. Their perceived national greatness failed before their eyes and war is now the cover up for a humiliating period of decline.

Hatred without risk

Zelenskyy Says European Counterproposal for Conflict Ceasefire Soon to be Sent to White House


Posted originally on CTH on December 10, 2025 | Sundance |

The entire premise of this interlocutory exchange is bizarre, actually, beyond bizarre when you think about it.

President Trump’s negotiation team worked with Ukraine officials and Russian officials to establish the parameters for a ceasefire proposal. Representatives from the U.S, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner working as moderators for a cessation of hostilities held multiple meetings with high level Ukraine and Russian officials, including Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As a consequence, President Trump’s team (Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner) have spent hundreds of hours, including nine entire days, over the last two weeks in detailed face-to-face discussions with Ukraine officials.

Zelenskyy then goes to Paris, London, Brussels and Rome, to consult with European leaders, and then has the audacity to say he will present a counterproposal from the Europeans to President Trump.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY – “Today, we already discussed with our negotiating team the results of yesterday’s work in London, which was conducted at the level of the National Security Advisors of our European partners. This was agreed upon yesterday at the leadersʼ level.

We are working very actively on all components of potential steps toward ending the war. The Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the U.S. Together with the American side, we expect to swiftly make the potential steps as doable as possible.

We are committed to a real peace and remain in constant contact with the United States. And, as our partners in the negotiating teams rightly note, everything depends on whether Russia is ready to take effective steps to stop the bloodshed and prevent the war from reigniting. In the near future, we will be ready to send the refined documents to the United States. Glory to Ukraine!” (SOURCE)

If Zelenskyy is representing Ukraine, then why didn’t Zelenskyy put his proposals into the agreement during two weeks of discussions with the U.S. delegation.

Is Zelenskyy representing Ukraine, or is Zelenskyy representing European stakeholders?

I know, rhetorical I guess…..

In the interim and throughout this process, more young Ukrainian men are dead.

President Trump Gives Extensive Comments on State of Ukraine-Russia Conflict


Posted originally on CTH on December 9, 2025 | Sundance 

President Trump sat down for an extensive interview with Dasha Burns of Politico.  Despite the ideological outlook of Politico, the interview itself was remarkably absent of combative antagonism. The result is a good review of the current positions of President Trump as they relate to the rest of the world.

The Ukraine-Russia conflict is the immediate issue that is discussed within the interview.  President Trump answers some direct questions about who is currently most responsible for continuing the conflict and is asked his opinion directly on Ukraine not holding elections.

President Trump notes Russian President Vladimir Putin is in the strongest position within the conflict and carries the strongest leverage into any ceasefire negotiations.  Trump also frames the need for the bloodshed to end with a much greater sense of urgency than any of the EU leaders or Zelenskyy.  Additionally sharing the opinion that Ukraine needs to have an election to showcase the will of the Ukrainian people in the leadership of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  WATCH:

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Will NATO & Europe Be Down for the Count with WWIII?


Posted Dec 9, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  
EU Cancelled

COMMENT: Marty, Thank you for the WEC. I agree with many, it was your best ever. I have re-watched it twice and pick up new things every the time. The contrast of arrays on Europe vs USA confirms sadly that Socrates will be correct and your effort to prevent WWIII will fail. But it does appear that you may succeed in keeping the US out of war here in Europe. I am taking my family out of here. They are introducing a conscription bill here in Germany. Thank you for that. You can smell war is in the air. The press will not tell the truth and there is nothing Putin can do or say that they do not criticize and subconsciously are telling Europeans Russia is weak and can be easily defeated.

Our European powers have again rallied behind Ukraine on Monday after President Trump blasted Zelensky a day prior, accusing him of not bothering to read the U.S.-proposed peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We stand with Ukraine.” German Chancellor Merz and French President Macron concurred.

2025_12_08_20_25_54_Confidential_Conference_on_Ukraine_Peace_We_Must_Not_Leave_Ukraine_and_Volodym

Here in Germany, DER SPIEGEL, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron in a secret call said that the U.S. could betray Ukraine and Europe. I think this is in line with your peace plan and they reject. They did not want to hear Trump say that Europe is erasing its culture with migration and has become irrelevant.

Nobody seems to ask how many Europeans are they willing to sacrifice this time for war? I would have thought Europe would have learned. That clip you had of Merkel and Hollande saying the purpose of creating the EU was to eliminate war seems to only refer to internally. So now they want all of Europe to invade Russia. It never ends. I really do not understand why humanity always loves war.

PVB

ECM Euro Waves 1 2

REPLY: We are about to enter the 3rd Wave 2026.03137 (January 11-12, 2026). It is highly questionable if the EU will survive beyond 2030.330137. Europe will never accept peace because these leaders are broke and they are robbing Russians in front of the entire world.

2025_12_08_21_33_13_Europe_nears_deal_on_Russian_assets_after_talks_in_London

Up to 80% of the “Russian Assets” that have been seized, belong to Russian individuals – not the state. On the private-side: reporting in 2023 estimated that private Russian property subject to freeze in the EU (yachts, villas, private accounts, corporate holdings, etc.) amounted to about US $58 billion. But the foreign reserves that were seized are not purely state assets. The central bank was holding foreign accounts of all various Russian companies and individuals doing business with the West. This is a violation of International Law and the EU does not give a shit because the European Press is so anti-Russia that they will never report the truth.

As of early 2025, Swiss authorities reported that around 7.4 billion Swiss francs (≈ US $8.4 billion) in Russian-owned assets had been frozen. That includes assets linked to individuals / companies subject to sanctions (real estate, luxury goods, etc.) as well as holdings tied to the Russian Central Bank.  Under Swiss law, outright confiscation of legally acquired private assets of Russians — simply because they are Russian — was deemed unconstitutional (as of 2023) by the Swiss Federal Council (not a “court”) on February 15th, 2023 accepted the conclusion of a working group from the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) that confiscation of frozen private Russian assets would be unconstitutional under Swiss law and violate the legal order.

The lies that the EU are using is lets say you have money on deposite in a bank, that bank then places reserves at the central bank, the EU seizes all the assets of the Russian central bank and pretend they are the assets of the state. They are clearly showing that the EU cannot be trusted and any non-European client with funds in the EU shoi;d get the funds out of there before you will never see them again. One prominent case involved Mikhail Fridman, a Russian oligarch. In April 2024, a court within the EU system (the General Court of the European Union) ruled there was insufficient evidence to keep him on the sanctions list. That effectively challenged the freeze on his assets under EU sanctions — at least insofar as the justification for listing him was concerned. Following that, Fridman initiated further legal action: he sued a national government (of Luxembourg) over damages arising from his asset freeze, and has also launched arbitration under international investment-treaty rules.

2014 April 23 Anti Terrorist Operation

The EU has violated international law and has ignored the fact that the Ukrainian Civil War was instigated by Ukrainians in Kiev and classified everyone in the Donbas as a Terrorist. Putin even requested that they rescind that terrorist classification to justify attacking the ethic Russians in Crimea and the Donbas.

May 2 2014 Odessa Trade Unions House

Only after the Ukrainians were openly killing Russians on the streets of Odessa and burned them alive did the Donbas declare its independence for which Kiev then declared them to be terrorists. The West wanted this war with Russia and the press refuses to report the truth cheering on World War III with every story they write. Our computer warns this will be the end of European civilization.

Billions are vanishing and these politicians speak nothing about the corruption in Ukraine which makes one wonder what they are making on the sidelines? Public reporting on exactly which European companies have active contracts to supply weapons to Ukraine is often partial, aggregated, or confidential to protect politicians. Many supply-contracts are mediated via governments, export licences, or procurement coalitions. The fact that these politicians NEVER criticize  Zelensky for the corruption is telling implying they have their hand in this cookie jar.

Even when companies are known, shareholding data of individual EU politicians (members of parliaments, governments, etc.) is typically very opaque, rarely if ever disclosed in a way that connects them to defense-industry shareholdings — meaning publicly documented cases are very limited. That said, some European companies known to supply Ukraine (or facilitate supplies), there is little or no verifiable public evidence that EU-politicians are significant shareholders in them.

Czechoslovak Group (CSG) defense conglomerate has explicitly supplied Ukraine. According to publicly available data, in 2022 roughly 41% of its revenue came from deliveries to Ukraine; in 2023 it was around 23%. Its exports include 155 mm and 152 mm artillery rounds, T-72 “Avenger” tanks, BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicles, multiple-launch rocket systems (e.g. RM-70 Vampire, BM-21 MT STRIGA), self-propelled howitzers (DANA M2, DITA), among others.

Then there is Rheinmetall (Germany). Again, I found no public breakdown showing “Rheinmetall → Ukraine” under a named contract. Yet, Rheinmetall is widely regarded as one of the major European defense manufacturers benefiting from the surge in European military spending tied to the war. Its business boom is strongly correlated with increased demand for ammunition, armored vehicles, and other military equipment in response to the war.

Smaller or mid-sized European firms are also on the take. The number of smaller or midsize European ammunition / defense-component firms are in supply chains that now support Ukraine or NATO rearmament. For instance, a 2025 academic study on European ammunition & grenade manufacturing outlines structural shifts in supply-chains, partly driven by demand related to Ukraine as reported in the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies.

In addition, institutional decisions within the European Union have reinforced these flows of money for arming Ukraine. As of early 2025, Defense News analysis estimates that about 60% of total aid is used in the U.S., about 25% is spent in Ukraine, and the remaining ≈15% elsewhere. In November 2025, EU lawmakers voted to deepen integration between the EU defense industry and Ukraine — under a programme allocating €1.5 billion, including €300 million for a “Ukraine Support Instrument.” That suggests EU-based defense contractors (like CSG, Rheinmetall, and others) are likely beneficiaries without and disclosure if any politicians are personally benefiting like Pelosi in the United States.

Despite substantial arms business, I found virtually no credible, publicly verifiable cases where an EU politician is documented as a shareholder — or major shareholder — in a company supplying Ukraine. This is simply being covered up. Shareholding disclosures for many European politicians do not always require them to declare holdings in privately held or non-public companies (especially defense firms). They made sure the laws they write always exonerate themselves.

Even when holdings are declared, they rarely specify the scale, affiliated subsidiaries, or whether the company has defense contracts — so linking a politician to “arms supply to Ukraine” becomes nearly impossible. I have found NOBODY in the press who has even bothered to produce any well-documented examples of a sitting EU politician with material shareholding in a firm known to supply Ukraine. WHY? Curiously, a 2025 Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies on ammunition supply-chains mentions “companies and inter-institutional relationships,” but does not document any politician ownership.

Many defense firms are privately held or structured via holding companies / trusts, which makes public shareholding disclosures harder to trace. There are no political transparency rules worth anything and they vary significantly across EU member states. Some require only limited disclosure; in others politicians may hold stakes indirectly (via holdings, blind trusts, family businesses, pension funds), complicating public traceability.

What we do know is certain, is that contract arms pipelines typically involve governments, intermediaries, export licences, not direct commercial sales — meaning “company X supplies Ukraine” may not appear in public procurement lists even if equipment ends up on the battlefield.

EU vs Russia

The combination of opacity (in shareholding) and indirect contract pipelines means that even well-informed public investigations may miss such connections because this is kept very behind the curtain. When these politicians constantly advocate war, if they are making a fortune on supplying Ukraine and sending people to their deaths, it seems nobody is willing to even open the door and ask a question when European War is now becoming inevitable.

UK Debt 1692 2012

The United States became the financial capital of the world after Britain entered World War I with no direct threat against the British people. Britain’s official declaration of war on August 4th, 1914, was primarily in response to Germany’s violation of Belgian neutrality. However, the reasons were more deeply rooted. Britain was not threatened. It claimed that the Belgian Neutrality Treaty (1839) was violated because Germany’s Schlieffen Plan required invading France through neutral Belgium. Britain was a guarantor (along with other powers) of Belgian neutrality under the 1839 Treaty of London. Ignoring this violation, Britain claimed it would call into question their credibility as a treaty guarantor and great power. That decision ended London as the financial capital of the world and it moved to New York.

Russian Roulette with Nuclear Weapons

I have been fighting hard behind the curtain to keep the US out of this next European War to conquer Russia. They will lose. They are playing Russian Roulette with Nuclear Weapons. NATO claims Russia will never push the button because they know what that would mean. But since the EU is NOT trying to force Russia out of Ukraine, this is about the conquest of Russia. If I was Putin and I know the objective is to totally destroy Russia, I would push the button.

2025_12_08_19_55_53_Nato_considers_being_more_aggressive_against_Russia_s_hybrid_warfare

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO’s Military Committee, has recently suggested that a “pre-emptive strike” against Russia could, under certain circumstances, be justified as a form of defensive action. He argued that NATO needs to shift from being purely reactive (responding after attacks) to possibly “being more aggressive or proactive instead of reactive.” He acknowledged that considering “pre-emptive strikes” would depart from NATO’s traditional posture — but that under the pressure of ongoing “hybrid warfare” (cyber-attacks, sabotage, airspace violations, etc.), such options are being studied. He specifically said that in certain contexts a pre-emptive strike “could be considered a defensive action.

This is what I have warned about. There are NO RATIONAL people in NATO. What he is justifying is I walk into a bar and punch you in the face calling it self-defense because if KNOW you really wanted to hit me first. If we strip away the Ukrainian BS and propaganda, reliable sources in Ukraine confirm that Russia has used hypersonic missiles and Ukraine claim that they have been able to intercept them 25% of the time is nonsense. They must launch all 32 missiles of a Patriot Missile System to even have a possible chance at interception. As with everything Ukraine puts out, there is hardly anything that can be verifiable. They are more concerned about pretending that they are successful to keep the money flowing in for their Lamborghinis and Ferraris in Monaco. Europe is not going to hold up very well in a conflict with Russia – it is suicide.

NATO ECM A

I cannot take credit for turning Trump. Perhaps I have contributed, but I have no confirmation. His new strategy warns Europe faces “the real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure.”  It also asserts that if present-day trends continue with immigration, demographic shifts, low birth rates, cultural/political changes, and suppression of free speech or democratic norms, “the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less.” Yes, this is what our model is forecasting. The EU may not exist post 2030. Trump’s strategy also says some NATO members “will become majority non-European,” and that raises “open questions” about whether they will see their alliance with the U.S. the same way as original members. We are completing the 3rd wave by September 2nd, 2026. Here too, NATO and the Neocon began to implement this war with Russia in 2021 which was 72 years from its founding in 1949. NATO is in its death throes between 2026 and 2030.

Neocon Darkness

Humanity’s gravitation toward war is a deeply complex phenomenon with roots in multiple overlapping domains—psychological, social, economic, political, and evolutionary. Rather than a single cause, it’s better understood as a tragic interplay of many factors. People who are drawn to positions of power involving conflict are deeply entrenched in tribalism. Humans evolved in groups that competed for resources. This fostered strong in-group/out-group dynamics, where loyalty to one’s group and suspicion or hostility toward outsiders could enhance survival. War emerges from such people because of their flawed character. It is amplified group identity—nationalism, ethnicity, religion, or ideology.

Reagan in quest of peace

The Neocons told President Reagan he should not meet with Gorbachev even though they could not call him a communist, so they reverted to tribalism telling Reagan “you can never trust a Russian.” There is no discussion with these people. I have tried and they have only proven that I was an idealistic fool who though I could make then seek the light instead the darkness they carry with them. They always reject peace and live consumed by their hatred.

Thrasymachus Quote

States and rulers have often used war to consolidate power, divert attention from domestic problems, or achieve geopolitical goals. The realist is forced to argue that in a world (no matter what its form Republic, Democracy, Dictatorship, or Monarchy), the thirst for power is the same just as justice is the same regardless of the form of government. Corruption, authoritarianism, lack of democratic checks, and poor governance can make war more likely. Leaders will far too often prioritize personal or regime survival over peace as we are witnessing in Europe rigt now. Historically, empires expanded through warfare, driven by economic exploitation and ideological beliefs in supremacy. The legacy of arbitrary borders and exploited grievances continues to fuel conflicts. Right now, European leaders are being driven by economic necessity to retain power, but simultaneously, they are blinded by ideological beliefs in supremacy that they can displace the United States and rise from the ashes this time from war.

Euro Over the Edge

The computer disagrees

Volodymyr Zelensky


Zelenskyy Met with Starmer, Merz and Macron – Now Heading to Brussels

Posted originally on CTH on December 9, 2025 | Sundance | 19 Comments

Yesterday, Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy traveled to London to meet with British PM Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

As expected, part of the Zelenskyy meeting with the “coalition of the willing” included a briefing by Ukraine negotiator Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who held detailed consultations for three days last week in Miami with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

President Zelenskyy then departed London traveling with his media entourage to Brussels for the next round of discussions with the European Union stakeholders, financiers and politicians. During the trip Zelenskyy told his media stenographers, “Under our laws, under international law — and under moral law — we have no right to give anything away. That is what we are fighting for.

The U.K, France and Germany support Zelenskyy’s position that he is not going to concede any territory to the Russian Federation, specifically the 30% of the Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine currently at the heart of the physical conflict.

The 30% issue surrounds the Donetsk region in Ukraine, which includes the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Russia is currently pushing deep into fortified Ukraine resistance in this region with a population of around 100,000. Zelenskyy claims losing this area would allow Putin to invade the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions.

Historically, this Donbas area was part of a brutal long-term Ukraine civil war between the pro-Russia eastern Ukrainian citizens and the pro-EU western aligned Ukrainian army. Russia’s current position is for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas to Russia as part of the ceasefire agreement, or Russia will continue forward conflict military operations until successful.

Seeing things through the pragmatic prism of inevitability, President Trump’s view appears to be that this Donbas area will be lost to Russia one way or the other. So, the best scenario to stop the killing is for Ukraine to give up this territory as part of the ceasefire terms. Zelenskyy, with support of the EU, France, Germany and U.K says a firm “no.”

Politico reports that Zelenskyy said in August of this year “it would take Russia four-years to fully occupy the Donbas,” subsequently a lot of killing would take place during this process.  President Trump is trying to stop the brutal “killing” part of that dynamic by getting the negotiation to the point of concession, but the EU team view any land area concession as positive affirmation for Russia to continue threatening Europe.

♦ On the ‘Security Guarantee‘ issue, this is where a quagmire is presented by European leaders.

From a pragmatic standpoint a European demilitarized zone, stood up and supported by EU military forces would appear to be the best solution.  However, the “coalition of the willing” say they are willing to put security troops into Ukraine, but only if the USA will defend them if attacked by Russia.  In essence, quasi-NATO forces on a non-NATO country, that if attacked would draw the entirety of NATO into the conflict, including the United States.

The U.K, France, Germany and EU Commission want a security structure similar to NATO for Ukraine that legally binds the United States to defend their interests if the ceasefire does not hold.  President Trump has rejected this construct as yet another way for Europe to pull the U.S into a conflict zone that is not in our vital national security interests.

The ceasefire proposal structured by Trump, Witkoff and Kushner – seemingly supported by Russia, does not permit Ukraine to join NATO; however, EU membership is entirely up to the EU and people of Ukraine to decide.  If Ukraine joins the EU, then EU forces alone should provide the security guarantee, not NATO which includes the U.S. and Canada.

(Washington Post) […] Zelensky said Ukraine will not surrender its territory in the eastern Donbas region — not to hasten peace talks, not to satisfy Washington’s push for compromise and not under pressure from Moscow’s continuing military onslaught.

Ukraine and Europe have insisted that a ceasefire be declared along current battle lines, but Russia has refused. Putin has claimed, illegally, to have annexed four entire regions of Ukraine (in addition to Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014) — far more territory than his military forces have been able to occupy.

Some Ukrainian officials held out hope that the negotiations could still bear fruit.

The proposal “is closer to be doable for Ukraine, but not easy and not finished,” said a senior Ukrainian official familiar with recent discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. (read more)

President Zelenskyy, whose term in office has long expired, departed London with his EU media entourage heading to Brussels.  The collective group is trying to figure out how to keep America tied to their stakeholder interests in Ukraine.

The European leaders are manufacturing a construct that is not supported by the vast majority of the citizens within the EU, even within Ukraine itself.  Meanwhile back in the USA, congress (House and Senate majorities) supports the position of Ukraine and the EU against the interests of President Trump and the voting majority.

There are trillions at stake.

The ruling class is supporting Zelenskyy, while the killing of the non-ruling class continues on the fields of Ukraine.

Following Three Days of Talks with U.S, Team Zelenskyy Heads to London for Meeting With “Coalition of the Willing”


Posted originally on CTH on December 8, 2025 | Sundance 

Following three days of negotiations in Florida (Thur, Fri, Sat) between President Trump emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Ukraine emissaries Rustem Umierov and Andrii Hnatov, the group then held a 2-hour phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

No substantial progress was reported.  However, military officials Umierov and Hnatov then flew to meet Zelenskyy in London where French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are assembled to discuss alternatives to ending the conflict.

Starmer, Macron and Merz form the core of the “coalition of the willing,” an EU group who have unilaterally proclaimed they were willing to send the military of the U.K, France and Germany into Ukraine so long as President Trump would backstop their troops with promises of U.S. intervention if things went badly.  Trump would not make that commitment.

Zelenskyy Inc, Macron, Starmer and Merz do not want to end the proxy fight against Russia.  Together with the EU leadership of NATO, the coalition of the willing want to retain the conflict.  However, the problem for the four leaders is that without strong USA support, the citizens of their EU countries will rise up against them.

Even with NATO missiles and transferred technological assistance, they ultimately need the American military in order to ensure Putin doesn’t squish them.  President Trump wants the proxy war to end – loggerheads are reached.

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seem to be paying too much attention to the bureaucratic speeches and instead is continuing forward advancement [SEE HERE] to secure the territory in Ukraine with or without a negotiated settlement.

The Russian Federation has presented its terms; the Russian terms for cessation are known; the rest is up to the EU, NATO, USA and Ukraine to work out.

At this point the problem is over-talking and FUBAR, or, well, a typically European situation.  So, Putin keeps going, more Ukraine troops are killed, while Putin awaits the endless conversations that he predicted would result in more endless conversations.  To be fair, Putin’s cold approach appears to be a mostly accurate interpretation of what he expected.

ZELENSKYY – “In recent days, representatives of Ukraine held substantive discussions with envoys of the US President – and now National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umierov and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov are en route to Europe. I expect detailed information from them on everything that was said to the American envoys in Moscow, and on the nuances the Americans are prepared to modify in negotiations with us and with the Russians.” (link)

By my count in the past two weeks, Witkoff and Kushner have spent nine days in direct all-day negotiations with various Ukraine officials from various institutions of Zelenskyy’s government, with a one-day trip to Moscow sandwiched between them.  Yet, western media continually proclaim the U.S. delegation of Kushner and Witkoff are ignoring the Ukrainians.

This is what I call the ‘paralysis of analysis’, or the part of every negotiation where things get so granular in detail that the larger objective is lost.

While the Ukraine team argues about whether a creek or a railroad track should determine the current point of conflict, another 250 Ukrainian soldiers have their limbs torn from their bodies and lie dead in the mud.  Today they will meet in London to argue over telephone pole ownership, while another battalion is fed to the meat grinder.

CNN frames a narrative that President Trump is unsympathetic and frustrated with Zelenskyy:

(VIA CNN) – […] Trump criticized Zelensky on Sunday after talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend in Miami ended with unresolved questions over security guarantees, territorial issues and continued concern that the US proposal tilts in Russia’s favor.

“We’ve been speaking to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and we’ve been speaking to Ukrainian leaders, including… President Zelensky, and I have to say that I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago,” Trump said. (more)

President Trump is reviewing the issue through the prism of “hours” because he knows that as each hour passes that’s more dead young men…. And FOR WHAT?

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling around Europe stopping for tea and crumpets with Macron, Starmer and Merz in London today.  Think about the upside-down priorities here.

Bread and Circuses – With Servants Patiently Waiting (Dec 6, 2025)

[SOURCE]

[If you think I’m not being fair to Ukraine, just go scroll Zelenskyy’s Twitter feed]

President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy – Europe Is Destroying Itself


Posted originally on CTH on December 6, 2025 | Sundance

President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy is outlined in a detailed 33-page report.

In addition to setting the priorities for the United States focus, the report details the Trump administration perspective on the world as broken down into specific regions.  The report is a brutally honest review of the current state of geopolitical benefits, risks and threats as they pertain to vital U.S. interests.

[Full pdf Here]

In addition to outlining a critically renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere, the Trump administration also notes the practical position of Europe, as it pertains to NATO and dependency on the U.S.A.

In a brutally honest review of the situation, the Trump administration notes Europe is increasingly losing their own identity.  The fear the Europeans express about being vulnerable to Russian strength is hypocritical, in the sense that in practical outcomes the EU is purposefully weakening itself and simultaneously demanding assistance against their own weakness.

[PAGE 25] – American officials have become used to thinking about European problems in terms of insufficient military spending and economic stagnation. There is truth to this, but Europe’s real problems are even deeper.

Continental Europe has been losing share of global GDP—down from 25 percent in 1990 to 14 percent today—partly owing to national and transnational regulations that undermine creativity and industriousness. But this economic decline is eclipsed by the real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure.

The larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty, migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife, censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition, cratering birthrates, and loss of national identities and self-confidence.

Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less. As such, it is far from obvious whether certain European countries will have economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies. Many of these nations are currently doubling down on their present path. We want Europe to remain European, to regain its civilizational self-confidence, and to abandon its failed focus on regulatory suffocation.

This lack of self-confidence is most evident in Europe’s relationship with Russia.

European allies enjoy a significant hard power advantage over Russia by almost every measure, save nuclear weapons. As a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, European relations with Russia are now deeply attenuated, and many Europeans regard Russia as an existential threat.

Managing European relations with Russia will require significant U.S. diplomatic engagement, both to reestablish conditions of strategic stability across the Eurasian landmass, and to mitigate the risk of conflict between Russia and European states.

It is a core interest of the United States to negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, in order to stabilize European economies, prevent unintended escalation or expansion of the war, and reestablish strategic stability with Russia, as well as to enable the post-hostilities reconstruction of Ukraine to enable its survival as a viable state.

The Ukraine War has had the perverse effect of increasing Europe’s, especially Germany’s, external dependencies. Today, German chemical companies are building some of the world’s largest processing plants in China, using Russian gas that they cannot obtain at home.

The Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition. A large European majority wants peace, yet that desire is not translated into policy, in large measure because of those governments’ subversion of democratic processes. This is strategically important to the United States precisely because European states cannot reform themselves if they are trapped in political crisis.

Yet Europe remains strategically and culturally vital to the United States. Transatlantic trade remains one of the pillars of the global economy and of American prosperity. European sectors from manufacturing to technology to
energy remain among the world’s most robust. Europe is home to cutting-edge scientific research and world-leading cultural institutions. Not only can we not afford to write Europe off—doing so would be self-defeating for what this strategy aims to achieve.

American diplomacy should continue to stand up for genuine democracy, freedom of expression, and unapologetic celebrations of European nations’ individual character and history. America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism.

Our goal should be to help Europe correct its current trajectory. We will need a strong Europe to help us successfully compete, and to work in concert with us to prevent any adversary from dominating Europe.

America is, understandably, sentimentally attached to the European continent — and, of course, to Britain and Ireland. The character of these countries is also strategically important because we count upon creative, capable, confident, democratic allies to establish conditions of stability and security. We want to work with aligned countries that want to restore their former greatness. (continue reading)

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin does not see a strong Europe; instead, he sees a continent destroying itself and creating vulnerabilities that can easily be exploited.

President Trump is attempting to stop the inevitable conclusion, the outcome created throughout history, when a strong nation state is positioned right next to a vulnerable, fat, lazy and weak-minded coalition of states.

Europe would be wise to listen to President Trump now, because the American people are not willing to put our blood on the line again to protect the EU – ultimately from itself.