Comrades, I am sure Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump had a good snicker over the optics presented. “Subtle”, like a brick through a window. Good stuff.
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The EU/NATO folks most certainly smiled like the lady in the ‘fireworks’ picture. However, the CIA/5-Eyes watched the remainder of the performance, not amused.
The body language, the facial expressions, the tone of their interactions, all of it frames the visual of two men of consequence meeting to discuss consequential things.
Having spent a considerable amount of time in the geopolitical orbit of both leaders, this meeting puts a very significant smile on my face. When respectful serious men cut through the nonsense of propaganda, containing ulterior motives created by others, good things happen. This is a very good start.
President Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. Both leaders then get into President Trump’s vehicle. WATCH:
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is once again rejecting any consideration for President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss terms for a ceasefire without his involvement.
On a Twitter storm Saturday, Zelenskyy rejected the thought of giving any Ukranian territory to Russia in exchange for peace. “The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this—and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier,” Zelenskyy said.
President Trump announced that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, in Alaska.
Zelenskyy reacted, carrying the message from the global intelligence community who support the ongoing conflict, and does not like the idea of the USA and Russia determining the outcome for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has banned opposition parties in Ukraine, taken control of media, targeted religious groups who he claims are subversive to his interests and cancelled elections in order to remain in power. Now Zelenskyy hides behind the claim of a constitution his regime modified in order to ensure he alone controls the pathways to peace.
(Via NBC) – A defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Saturday that his countrymen “will not give their land to occupiers,” after President Donald Trump suggested that a peace deal would include some “swapping” of territories with Russia.
“The answer to Ukraine’s territorial question is already in the constitution of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram early Saturday. “No one will and no one can deviate from it. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.” (more)
It has been reported that Vladimir Putin’s ceasefire terms include Russia totally controlling the Donbas region.
♦ Five days ago, President Trump reduced the 50-day ultimatum to 10-12 days for Russia to stop bombing Ukraine and come to the negotiation table.
♦ Four days ago, Dmitry Medvedev (July 28) issued a statement that Trump’s “ultimatum game” with Moscow amounts to a threat to Russia and pushes the United States itself closer to war. “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,” said Medvedev, currently deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council. “Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”
♦ President Trump responded today – “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
As expected, no one in the media pool asked the key question. If Ukraine is not a NATO member, and Russia is not a NATO member, then why is NATO even involved? Not a single media outlet cared enough to even ask the brutally obvious.
LET US NOT PRETEND. There is good news and there is bad news within the outlined strategy. More good than bad, despite the spin room narrative engineering being immediately spread by U.S. media.
First, President Trump is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 50 days to finish his strategic military operations in Ukraine, before a 100% tariff rate is executed against the Russian economy. With direct U.S. trade with Russia already not happening, the tariff would likely be applied toward any country purchasing any goods or resources from Russia (specifically India, China, Iran, etc.).
Second, despite Lindsey Graham and the EU leaders discussing the confiscation of Russian assets held in EU/USA bonds, neither President Trump nor NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte mentioned it. Again, the media never asked that question. Thankfully, President Trump seems to realize if such a confiscation took place, the financial credibility of the entire western finance system would be compromised. No nation would want to put their national wealth at risk by buying U.S. and EU treasury bonds.
Third, the part the MSM will focus on. In the interim of the 50 days, NATO will be both purchasing and moving offensive and defensive weapons systems into Ukraine. On the defensive weapon side, Germany will likely send Patriot missile batteries, and NATO will replace them with new U.S. purchases. In addition all NATO states will provide increased offensive weapons and purchases will be made from U.S. stockpiles. Those new offensive weapons will likely be held back until the end of the 50 days, giving Putin something to think about to bring him to the table.
Summary. Putin has 50 days. In the interim NATO is approved by Trump to ship offensive and defensive weapons into Ukraine. The Senate sanctions package will continue to be assembled, perhaps approved, but not deployed until after the 100% tariffs are executed if Russia is non compliant in getting to the table.
The carrot is the 50 days to get finished. The stick is all hell will break loose on Russia, including new and powerful offensive weapons, if Putin doesn’t end the conflict prior to the 50-day deadline.
Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumental appear on CBS with the always dramatic Margaret Brennan to discuss what President Trump is going to do against Russia and President Vladimir Putin tomorrow. Senator Lindsey Graham is very happy with the plans President Trump will outline tomorrow; very happy.
The action appears to center around the confiscation of Russian assets, Russian central bank reserves held in European bonds. The money belongs to the people of Russia in the form of bonds previously purchased by Russia using a system that many nations follow, including all those nations who buy U.S. treasuries.
If the USA or Europe end up confiscating those funds, the only thing this action would prove is that the western financial system cannot be trusted. Many Nations are already reluctant, some fleeing from EU/U.S treasuries as a result of this threat, and we are seeing changes in the bond rates as a result. Senator Graham doesn’t care about the strategic financial interests of the USA, he’s more concerned about fighting Russia regardless of long-term ramifications. WATCH:
[TRANSCRIPT] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. We have a lot to get to this morning. So, let’s begin with Senator Lindsey Graham in Clemson, South Carolina, and Senator Richard Blumenthal in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They both just returned from Europe, where they met with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Good morning to you both, Senators.
SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL: Good morning.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Good Morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Graham, I want to start with you. Russia is escalating. They’re not ending this war in Ukraine. NATO’s Secretary General is going to be here, in Washington, this week and will be meeting with President Trump, who is, according to our reporting, considering fresh funding for Ukraine. That would be the first time since he’s taken office. What do you know about what is coming?
Everyone can see the play by President Trump. Essentially, the “coalition of the willing” (U.K, Germany, France) are not willing to go to war against Russia without the United States in front of them. Giving the coalition the weapons puts the consequences of their use on the heads of NATO allies.
Despite the majority of Washington DC, specifically the Senate thirsting, pleading and demanding an expanded NATO war, President Trump does not want to go to war against Russia. However, simultaneously Trump has to try and steer the war machine controlled by DC, the Senate, USIC and NATO.
The INERTIA for expanded war is evident. President Trump is now trying to split the baby regarding Russia, by sending patriot missiles and weapons to NATO as opposed to sending them directly to Ukraine.
In February Marco Rubio earnestly and honestly said, “The Ukraine conflict is a proxy war for the United States against Russia.” President Trump has concurred with that statement and through his prior comments he attempted to extricate the U.S. from this dynamic.
The shipment of missiles to NATO instead of Ukraine is simply a way of trying to stop direct support, yet Trump is forced by the inertia toward war to maintain a footing of expanded conflict with Russia.
To be very clear, Russian President Vladimir Putin is clear-eyed on this situation with NATO, and he has been all along.
Putin has said repeatedly that NATO was/is in direct conflict against Russia despite Ukraine not being a NATO member. This conflict with NATO well precedes Putin’s decision to conduct a ‘special military operation’ within Ukraine.
Now, we see through Trump’s approach the dropping of pretenses. Putin was correct. With NATO directly providing the war weapons to Ukraine there is no pretense, no doubt. NATO countries are funding an offensive war against Russia using a non NATO proxy state, Ukraine.
… Put yourself in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s shoes against the backdrop of 35 previously exiled Russian officials from the United States as a result of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment and Joint Analysis Report {BACKGROUND}.
QUESTION: What exactly would Vladimir Putin think about this admission from the CIA?
CIA Director John Ratcliffe admits the former CIA and FBI fabricated the intelligence that led to the expulsion of Russian officials under the false premise of Russia “hacking” the 2016 election. Why now?
How would Putin interpret this very public message?
Then, consider the sequence….
If my data alignment points are accurate, now that the BBB is passed through the Senate we are likely to see some very major geopolitical changes come rushing to the surface.
Keep watching and let’s see if things happen the way we expect.
WASHINGTON DC – The Pentagon has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine due to worries that U.S. weapons stockpiles have fallen too low.
[…] In a statement following the publication of this story, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe. The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”
Included among the items being pulled back are missiles for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire and other missiles that Ukraine launches from its F-16 fighters and drones.
The losses will surely be felt on the ground as Ukraine continues to beat back fresh assaults by Russian forces. (read more)
In related news not getting attention, French President Emmanuel Macron had a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. [LINK] Also, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the president of Azerbaijan today, an ally of Putin [LINK]. Azerbaijan is to Russia as Mexico is to the United States.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine hold a press briefing at the Pentagon, to cover the NATO meeting and the strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. WATCH (prompted):
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