What I remember is Putin chewing out his head of intelligence who advised against invading Ukraine:
What a huge error, even if Russia ends up winning.
With that, Ukraine has decided not to agree to Russia’s claims, and have been pretty successful keeping Russia out. It’s worthwhile maintaining one’s own sense of the world, and not fall into narratives served by others.
Wikileaks leaked 2008 cable from ambassador to Russia William Burns to Sec State Rice and President Bush: Nyet means nyet: Russian redlines regarding NATO expansion especially Georgia and Ukraine.
The one issue that unites all Russians is vehement opposition to NATO expansion
I will find and link to my previous comment about this cable.
Edit: found it, Cable: 08MOSCOW265_a
That is a very well-stated case, CW. The only objection I would make is that it is not the “US” which has behaved so stupidly – it is that tiny minority of the Political Clique in the DC Swamp who have established themselves as enemies of humanity. Sadly, “representative democracy” has totally failed … co-opted by nasty people.
The people who called for the end of NATO after the USSR & the Warsaw Pact broke up were correct. Let’s hope that Divine Intervention lets President Trump overcome the inevitable opposition from our elected CongressScum and exit NATO now.
Let me rephrase it:
Wikileaks leaked 2025 cable from ambassador to United States Vladimir Palin to President Putin: No means no: American redlines regarding Canada’s trade deal with EU.
The one issue that unites all Americans is vehement opposition to EU expansion.
Since both US and Canada were obviously a part of a greater empire a few generations ago.
Do you see how silly this sounds?
lol. Ukraine is losing, badly, and will end up devastated, tragically. Their demographics are even worse than Russia’s.
Good advice. Consider taking it yourself.
Here is an interesting sidelight to the (increasingly UK/Euro) proxy war in the Ukraine – impact on Chinese shipments of certain goods to Europe through Russia.
“… In October, Moscow banned a series of goods from being transited through Russia, with a focus on dual-use items such as mechanical and electronic products that could potentially be used by Western forces in Ukraine. …”
The Chinese truly are the Capitalists of this age – happily selling to both sides in a conflict!
Yeah but it looks like China was outflanked and this rail link isn’t working out.
The captain of the Solong cargo ship who was arrested after crashing into a US-flagged tanker off the English coast is a Russian national, the vessel’s owner said Wednesday, as maritime experts search for answers.
The Solong careered into the Stena Immaculate while it was at anchor in the North Sea and carrying huge amounts of jet fuel for the US military, setting fire to both vessels and prompting emergency rescue efforts by the British coastguard.