Tag Archives: War in the Ukraine

Sep 6 2024

Russia-China Alliance Has Crushed OPEC; Western Sanctions Lead To “Dark Ships” Evading Sanctions


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: Sep 5, 2024 at 08:00 pm EST

Aug 23 2024

Trade Between the EU and Russia Plunges to 24-Year Low


Posted Aug 23, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 
World Trade 2

Sanctions and a mysteriously erupted underwater gas pipeline have led to a dramatic decrease in trade between the European Union and Russia. In June, trade between the two fell by 10% to  €4.9 billion, marking a low not seen since September 1999, when trade fell to €4.6 billion.

Russia continues to export gas (1.1 billion euros), oil (333 million euros), as well as iron and steel (164 million) to the EU. Overall, Russian goods to the EU fell 14% in June on a monthly basis to 2.5 billion euros, the lowest level since February 1999.

European products received by Russia declined 5% on a monthly basis to 2.4 billion euros. Russia still relies on the EU for pharmaceuticals (634 million euros), equipment( 262 million euros), and optical instruments (203 million euros).

Sanctions do not eliminate demand. When we look at neighboring OR neutral nations, we see a dramatic increase in trade. The EU in particular is buying Russian goods from third-parties at a mark up. Russia’s trade with Romania and Bulgaria increased by 15%, for example.

The main thing here is that Russia is lush with natural resources and fossil fuels. There are not many alternatives for Europe in terms of fossil fuels, especially since America lost its energy independence under the Biden Administration. The demand for Russian fuel has not waned so Western nations are simply forced to purchase the same exact product from a third party. Russia has effectively been selling oil to nations like India who then turn around and sell it to the West at a premium

Russia does not need to adhere to the G7 nation’s price capping regulations. Pettiness is poor business, and simply attempting to ostracize a necessary trade partner from the global market has backfired in a major way. Now nations like those under BRICS are trading freely without Western interference and it is becoming overtly apparent that sanctions do not work. Is it any wonder that Turkey wants to join the BRICS alliance despite its alignment with NATO?

Money is power. Some wiser world leaders will oppose the one-world method of agreeing to collectively embark on poor economic policies to benefit the greater good of the alliance. Hence why nations like China and India have not bought into the climate change policies set by a greater authority. The nations who chose to invade Russia through a proxy war in Ukraine have made a terrible financial decision that will significantly harm their economies for years to come.

Jul 29 2024

Funding Ukraine Through Frozen Russian Assets


Posted originally on Jul 29, 2024 By Martin Armstrong

G7_Leaders_Reach_Deal_to_Unlock_Frozen_Russian_Assets_for_Ukraine 6 13 24

EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni has claimed that the Group of Seven (G7) will release $50 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine by October. These leaders agreed at the last meeting on June 13 that they would indeed take the money they confiscated from Russia and provide it to Ukraine in terms of a loan.

They stipulate this by saying they will only loan Ukraine money made on the profits of holding these assets. The risk will be shared among the G7 nations, and this risk is substantial, for Ukraine will no longer exist as a nation when this is over based on our computer models. Zelenskyy is too busy stuffing his pockets to actually care about his people or the future. He is banking on NATO invading Russia and extinguishing it as a country so he can then seize all the assets of Russia for Ukraine.

Ukraine War Wealth

The Pandora Papers revealed that Ukraine had the highest number of politicians from any country with a secret offshore account. Even Forbes Magazine said that Ukraine owes it to the West to clean up the outrageous corruption. NATO could not even permit Ukraine entry due to its overtly corrupt politicians.

These nations are teetering on the edge by using these assets as collateral. If they were to actually give Ukraine the frozen assets, Putin would then be justified to just confiscate ALL assets held by Western countries and private/public corporations. These actions by the G7 completely violate international law. What’s more, these nations are now threatening foreign banks in nations like India to cease funding Russia or risk being debanked or blacklisted by the United States and Europe.

No sum is ever enough for Ukraine. Zelensky is demanding the full $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. Reports state that the income generated from the $300 billion has only reached $3.2 billion on an annualized basis at this time. Yet, the European Commission released $1.6 billion to Ukraine on July 26, which does not include the proposed $50 billion incoming loan.

“There is no better symbol or use for the Kremlin’s money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proudly stated. She forgot to add that 90% of these funds will go right back to Europe to reimburse them for the aid they have sent Ukraine. It is beyond morally corrupt to recirculate illegally confiscated assets in this manner.

“The extraordinary revenues generated in this context by the EU operators do not belong to Russia and are held by CSDs,” or central securities depositories, the EC released in a statement. “The EU has now started to channel these revenues to Ukraine.” So, the commission felt they could steal assets from Russian people and corporations simply residing in a country they sanctioned? Europe is not at war with Russia, technically, and neither is the rest of the G7. Ukraine is not a member state. The West unleashed a new form of economic warfare that would be used against them as any “unfriendly” nation could easily turn around and withhold funding from another country.

Jul 29 2024

Russian President Putin Pledges to Reciprocate if U.S. Places Long-Range Missile Systems in Germany


Posted originally on the CTH on July 28, 2024 | Sundance

I can tell you from firsthand recent experience, Russia has psychologically prepared the citizens of the country for war against the West, if that is what’s needed.

The Russian people do not want war but trust me – they are a hardened nation filled with people who are used to hardship in comparative terms to Americans and Europeans. Their military bases are full of trainees, and the streets have as many young men in fatigues as they do business attire.

The roads and highways are full of not-so-subtle billboards preparing the nation. There are posters on the streets and in the subway stations, and flyers in almost every business, shop, office and retail location preparing the citizens of Russia.  There is also a very cold and deliberate tone in all of the expressed government information about preparation.  In short, they’re ready.

POLITICO – Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy missiles within striking distance of the West should the U.S. move forward with its missile deployment in Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a tit-for-tat response should Washington deploy long-range missiles in Germany, saying Moscow would answer by placing similar missiles within striking distance of the West.

Washington and Berlin announced earlier this month that the U.S. will deploy the arms in Germany starting in 2026, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles and developmental hypersonic weapons. The missiles “have significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe,” the White House said in a statement.

The move is meant to show the U.S.’s commitment to NATO and its European allies.

In a speech on Sunday to mark Russian navy day, Putin accused the U.S. of escalating tensions, saying “we will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world,” Reuters reported.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty — signed in 1987 — banned ground-based missiles with a range of more than 500 kilometers. The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Moscow’s development of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, known in NATO circles as the SSC-8. (Read More)

RUSSIA TODAY – Russia will consider itself free from a moratorium on the deployment of medium and shorter-range missiles if the US places missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in an address to sailors at the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg.

Earlier this month, the US and Germany announced plans to deploy long-range precision missile systems in Europe. According to a joint US-German press release dated July 10, the US “will begin episodic deployments of the long-range fires capabilities of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026.”

Putin called this announcement “noteworthy,” as such a deployment will put important Russian state and military facilities, administrative and industrial centers, as well as defense infrastructure within the reach of the weapons. He noted that the flight time of such missiles to targets on Russian territory would be about ten minutes, and that they could also be equipped with nuclear warheads.

“This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American medium-range missiles in Europe,” Putin stated. He said that while Russia has long left the Cold War in the past, the US “did not reciprocate.” The president warned that if the US goes through with the missile deployment plan, Russia will respond accordingly. (read more)

I know exactly where that speech was given, and I have seen the naval combat training center therein.

Vladimir Putin is not bluffing.

Jul 18 2024

Russia Raises Taxes to Fund War


Posted originally on Jul 15, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Russia 5 Rubles

The people always lose in times of war. Vladimir Putin is looking to the Russian civilians to help fund the war that has lasted far longer than anticipated, thanks to Ukraine having backers with deep pockets. The flat tax rate of 13% that Putin implemented when he took over for Yeltsin in 2001 is being ratified for the first time I nearly 25 years.

Families earnings under 2.4 million roubles ($27,312.14 USD) will maintain the 13% rate. Those earning between 5 and 20 million roubles (>$227,592.80 USD) will face a flat tax rate of 18%, while those earning between 20 million to 50 million roubles (%$568,982.000 USD) will face a 20% tax. The highest earners bringing home over 50 million roubles annually will be taxes 22%.

Now, this is still a light rate of taxation compared to what we see elsewhere. Still, people and businesses alike are displeased. The corporate tax rate will rise by 5% from 20% to 25%. The government expects to generate an additional 2.6 trillion roubles in revenue once the tax is implemented next year.

Russia’s Finance Ministry believes that 2 million people, 3.2% of the working population, will see a rise in their taxes. Taxes on investments will not change. “The changes are aimed at building a fair and balanced tax system,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said, adding that the additional funds would bolster Russia’s “economic well-being.” He said the tax hikes will help fund social spending, including state child support and Russia’s pension fund.

It is almost unheard of for a nation to maintain the same rate of taxation for two decades. The flat rate was big selling point of Putin’s success and popularity among the Russian people. Yet, wages in Russia have also risen at the fastest pace in over five years, with a 7.3% uptick in 2023. Russia is expected to spend at least 40% of its budget on the war in Ukraine. Russia now must prepare for a prolonged war as NATO has become heavily invested and has backed the country into a tight corner.

Jul 1 2024

Putin & the May 7th Turning Point


Posted originally on Jun 30, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

2023_02_21_Putin_Speech 2

COMMENT: Living in Eastern Europe, I can see how your May 7th target marked Putin’s change in attitude. Before May 7th, it was others who brought up nuclear war. May 7th saw Putin yield to his critics, and ever since, he has been directly warning the world about nuclear war. I think your model pinpointed this change.

Very interesting

Grygoriy

Calgary_Herald_2014_04_16_23

REPLY: Yes. I was concerned that either Ukraine would do something stupid and assassinate Putin or he would yield to his critics. It seems the second option was the outcome. His critics have long held that he should have just invaded Ukraine and conquered it like the US did with Iraq and then release Ukraine after eliminating the anti-Russian faction. Putin did not want to appear to be an invader and termed it a special operation to defend the Donbas. It was Victoria Nuland who installed an UNELECTED government and then instructed them to attack the Donbas to start this civil war and call them “terrorists” because they wanted to separate from Kiev. This article is from April 2014.

What I find really disturbing is how the press has rewritten history and now ignore all the facts to paint Putin as evil when Nuland started this war to draw in Putin.

Jul 1 2024

Multiple EU Military Bases Put on High Alert as USIC Develops Strategic Distraction Plans to Change Subject From Biden


Posted originally on the CTH on June 30, 2024 | Sundance

United States military bases in Italy, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania have been put on high alert with a potential terrorist related threat event eminent.  Given the nature of domestic USA politics, in combination with the catastrophic results about to come from France, the timing of some form of Intelligence Community (IC) event would make sense.

The IC has two wings, DHS (domestically) and CIA (internationally).  Distracting people away from the problems the IC faces within the Joe Biden collapse would be a paramount objective this upcoming week.

DHS goals – domestically (borders etc) – could be tripped up by Biden trouble, and CIA goals – internationally (Ukraine etc) – could be tripped up by Biden trouble.

If there was a created crisis (ie. false flag) in the EU, whatever it is would likely involve framing something to either: (a) give the appearance of Russia triggering the event; or (b) create something that draws out a response from Russia.

EUROPE – Several U.S. military bases across Europe were put on a heightened state of alert over the weekend, with the level of force protection raised to its second-highest state amid concerns that a terrorist attack could target U.S. military personnel or facilities, according to two U.S. officials.

The bases, including the U.S. Army garrison in Stuttgart, Germany where U.S. European Command is headquartered, raised their alert level to Force Protection Condition “Charlie” on Sunday, the officials said.

That status “applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely,” according to the U.S. Army.

One of the U.S. officials, who is stationed at a base in Europe, told CNN they haven’t seen this threat level “in at least 10 years,” and said it usually means the military has received an “active-reliable threat.”

Asked about the shift, a spokesperson for U.S. European Command, Cdr. Dan Day, declined to comment on specific force protection levels. But he told CNN that USEUCOM is “constantly assessing a variety of factors that play into the safety of U.S. military community abroad. As part of that effort, we often times take additional steps to ensure the safety of our service members. For operational security reasons we will not get into specific measures, but we remain vigilant.” (read more)

Jun 28 2024

North Korea Will Send Troops to Ukraine


Posted originally on Jun 28, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

(Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

A week after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un has declared that he will send troops to Ukraine in the Donetsk region. Russia has already received two million rounds of ammunition, ballistic missiles, and rocket launchers from North Korea, but this marks the first time that troops will actively engage in battle.

Furthermore, Ilya Ponomarev, a former Russian member of parliament, stated that North Korea has strengthened Russia’s relationship with China, as China could use North Korea as a middleman to avoid Western sanctions when sending goods or military equipment to Russia. “China is cautious not to fall foul of secondary sanctions by the US, but North Korea is not in danger,” he explained, calling North Korea one of Russia’s “key” partners. “So, there is no problem for the Chinese to assist North Koreans and then North Koreans to make trade with Russia and benefit from this both financially and in terms of military development.”

A spokesperson for the Pentagon said that the troops will be used as cannon fodder in Putin’s “illegal war.” Is war ever legal? NATO is alarmed as the partnership has quickly advanced from pledging an allegiance to assisting one another if attacked to joining the war effort in Ukraine.

North Korea is a small nation whose inhabitants live in utter darkness from the rest of the world. One must question how many troops will defect once arriving in Ukraine, especially once they meet Russian soldiers and learn how much different life is for those living outside of the hermit kingdom. Kim Jong-Un will undoubtedly use the troop’s families as leverage to prevent any defectors, but one must wonder how effective these troops could be against Western-backed forces. North Korea has not fought in a war since the 1950s, and sadly, these troops may very well be positioned as cannon fodder.

Now, North Korea has not declared war on Ukraine. They are allegedly sending troops to assist in the reconstruction efforts in exchange for an annual sum of $115 million. “The goal is to rebuild a city destroyed by fighting,” said the unnamed official, without specifying further on the location.

South Korea certainly sees Russia as a clear enemy and is likely to up its efforts to support Ukraine and NATO. This opens the door for the West to send troops to Ukraine under the same premise of reconstruction. All the chess pieces are aligned and ready, with the Neocons simply waiting for the right moment to strike.

Jun 25 2024

North Korea Engages in Biowarfare?


Posted originally on Jun 25, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

North Korea ECM 2

North Korea’s qualms with its southern neighbor have long been a petty battle. North Korea floated 1,000 balloons filled with trash and fecal matter to South Korea last month. What began as a disrespectful practical joke could turn into a false flag for war. The South Korean Unification Ministry has reported that the balloons were filled with parasites, which could be considered an act of biowarfare.

This is not to say that South Korea will declare war or consider this an act of war. We are on the brink of the next global conflict and simply any threat to the allies of the West could be used as the false flag to justify war. South Korea is a “longstanding partner” of NATO, but not a member. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was the first South Korean president to begin attending NATO summits as it moves closer to potentially joining the alliance.

NATO and South Korea founded the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme last year to collaborate on cybersecurity and disbarment efforts. North Korea’s recent alliance with Russia is of great concern to NATO and its presence is now felt in the Indo-Pacific region.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-Dl9v31VNdo%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Did North Korea intentionally send parasites in those balloons? No one knows, but scientists are studying the fecal matter to understand disease prevalence in the hermit kingdom. Defectors from North Korea are commonly treated for parasites, and it is well-known that the citizens are facing a famine and are forced to forage for whatever food they can find. Nothing happens in North Korea with the approval of Kim Jong-Un. Was this a case of pettiness or an attempt to show the South that it could penetrate their airspace? It would not matter for the Neocons could easily declare it was an act of biological warfare to claim the enemy had fired the first shot.

Jun 20 2024

North Korea and Russia Join Forces


Posted origially on Jun 20, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Tj6gnhHswcI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

If there is one country that the West and Japan fear more than Russia, it is North Korea. Dictator Kim Jong-Un repeatedly threatens nuclear warfare, but that is his last grip on power as he knows his nation would be overtaken instantly if the threat did not exist. North Korea rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin’s visit, where the two nations pledged to protect one another if attacked.

North Korea gave Putin the royal treatment during his visit, the first time Putin had gone to the hermit kingdom in 24 years. Putin’s picture was displayed around the nation alongside Jung-Un’s, which is a massive sign of respect in North Korea as the dictator’s picture must be displayed throughout households and public centers. He is upheld as a diety rather than a politician. Putin rode in the motorcade with Kim Jong-Un, parading around Pyongyang. Putin is desperate for allies as all of NATO has turned against Russia. Yet, North Korea has more to gain from this partnership.

The hermit kingdom has only China as a trading ally and partner as it has been exiled from the global economy. North Korea has been facing an ongoing famine and agriculture composes over 21% of the nation’s GDP. Farming and all other industries are completely controlled by the government. The nation could never be successful with or without open trade. Nearly half (44.7%) of North Korea’s GDP is derived from industrials such as cement and steel, but few are willing to open trade lines as they are sure to anger other nations due to international sanctions.

Kim pledged “full support and solidarity with the struggles of the Russian government, military and the people” and will help Russia “to protect its own sovereignty, safety and territorial stability.”

“Situations continue to be complicated and ever-changing, but I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we will continue to strengthen and closely engage in strategic communication with the (Russian) leadership,” Kim added. Putin said that Russia would also act to protect North Korea if it were invaded, opening new opportunities for false flags. North Korea has allegedly been supplying Russia with arms, but Moscow really needs soldiers.

There is nothing more that Russia could do to anger the West. Perhaps Putin would have hesitated to call upon North Korea for help before, but he has nothing to lose now as the West is clearly moving to mobilize against Russia.