A War Of Appearances And Money
Day 38 ~ The West begins to accept that Putin had been playing them
The Mariupol evacuation didn’t go as planned yesterday, however, that was expected but some vehicles managed to make it out, but not all of them. The Russians can’t keep to their word it seems, but they have pulled back from the northern cities as they said they would, but perhaps that’s because it suits them? The evacuation attempt will continue today with more success we hope.
More information was released as to why Zelenskyy fired two people in the security service. One was alleged to have abused his power and knew of the invasion before it happened and his family had left Ukraine 24 hours before the invasion. The other appeared to have been complicit in allowing the Russians to occupy Kherson so quickly. This might be a reason why Ukraine cannot confirm or deny the fuel depot attack on Belgorod if there are pro-Russian traitors in Ukraine. This is what happened with Crimea, as the corrupt president (Victor Yanukovch) handed over Crimea and then fled to safety in Russia in 2014.
Was is false flag as many believe? If you watch the video it seems convenient that the helicopters were in full sight and were captured arriving, firing missiles, and then leaving, as if it was perfect evidence. One should also question why the attack was at 5 a.m. as it was sunrise when it was carried out, for surely the cover of night would have been more strategic, but there wouldn’t have been enough light to identify the aircraft on a video?
Some say why would Russia do this, or if they had pro-Russians on the Ukrainian side who carried this out? This is to discredit the Ukrainians, basically playing the West against them and for Russia to look like the victim. Once Ukraine loses the help of the West, Russia can swoop in.
Video footage of towns and villages reclaimed by Ukraine have been released by those there and reporters. They are disturbing for when we read a reporter saying there are bodies left on the roads, we can only imagine it but when we see it, the true horror of how these innocent civilians died hits us. Many were on their bikes, or walking down the street and were gunned down for no reason at all. We can keep saying, ‘‘We’ll get them for war crimes!” but that doesn’t help the bodies lying in an undignified manner in the road, and the future victims who will have a similar fate. I have decided not to show those images, more out of respect for the unclaimed murdered victims, but these images are real and exist.
Sean Penn has been an active voice in the need for Ukraine to receive the weapons it needs to defend itself. He calls on a billionaire to help fund Ukraine, so rather than Musk invest in space, then perhaps he should look at this planet? The US is sending some tanks apparently, yet some are concerned that this is escalating the war. At this point we need to look carefully at the treaties and pacts made if one wishes to be technical about things. During the Second World War, Germany basically ignored so many pacts and treaties and eventually they were punished, but US intervention was necessary for the conclusion of the war.
I am including the Twitter thread from Ukrainian Air Force because it is necessary and relevant. They know what they need, but haven’t got the tools to defend themselves, and wished to correct some mistruths. This is like a food bank asking specifically for canned goods, and people donate fresh fruit—while the gesture is appreciated, it is not what they need for their operation. The West is giving them the help they want to give, rather than to give them the help they actually need.
While it has been pointed that the Budapest Memorandum seems quite useless, it is based on protection against chemical weapons, therefore, if it can be proven that Ukraine has been attacked by chemical weapons, or there is intelligence to prove there is a genuine threat, then the UK and US can intervene to protect Ukraine. It has nothing to do with NATO, but as far as I can see it is how a chemical missile has been used. Say for example a person is killed by a missile because it hits their car and they die, then it would not be included in the Budapest Memorandum. However, if a phosphorus missile was used and the chemicals burned someone and they died because of the chemicals, it would create a grey area as to whether chemical weapons were used. Often these missiles are used to create a smokescreen, and cannot be used on civilian targets, but if it was, and can be proven then the US and UK have justified means to defend Ukraine without seeking permission from the UN or NATO. That is my belief if one wants to be technical with the small print, but it whether or not they wish to do that. Putin has used the small print to his advantage by calling the invasion a special military operation, and justified it by claiming to ‘save’ the Ukrainians from Nazism. Someone needs the guts to use the small print to work for the Ukrainians now.
I believe that the US must intervene at some point for the conclusion of this war, for Russia is only afraid of the US as they have the resources to make it a fair fight. Should China get involved, then it will get very messy. Therefore, as a security guarantor country, it is my belief that only the US, Canada, UK and France would be acceptable, and I mean all four, and not one or two. However, all these countries are already heavily involved and are so because they don’t wish to be engaged in active war, but by being a guarantor country they are basically signing a bit of paper that says they will be ready for war.
Putin has been playing the West for the last couple of decades, shaking hands with other world leaders and being a guest in their countries, while meeting royalty and invited to events that would have been closed to Russians. Russian embassies around the world are playing the propaganda game, and spreading misinformation. While the number of Russian diplomats has been reduced in many countries, those that are left will be watched carefully as leaking of information and double agents are crucial in this type of war. Franklin D. Roosevelt was convinced to go to war through stolen German documents, whereas today information can be passed within seconds, and doctored.
Back in the Second World War, the US didn’t actively engage until they were attacked, and dragged their feet (for 2 years) before helping the War in Europe as they called it. It didn’t affect them, and so life carried on while they sold weapons to the allies. The weapons the US supplied to Britain were paid for by Britain, and when more assistance was requested, the US wanted collateral upfront before they delivered any goods. Do not think that the US gave them away freely and out of the goodness of their hearts as these were public funds that they profited from. FDR didn’t make it easy, and basically made Britain beg for help until the war was in his backyard. Suddenly, he was able to make things happen overnight. Many see FDR as one of the greatest presidents, yet he would not make my top ten for so many reasons, and he was extremely deceitful behind the scenes, but had a good public persona. He banned people from making notes in meetings, for if you are going to fib you can’t have it on record can you? He was caught out having an affair as his wife found his love letters, which probably made him more cautious of anything written.
Therefore, to get around the ‘NATO can’t get involved’ business, if Ukraine purchased the aircraft needed themselves then they would be armed, or if a benefactor donated then as an individual that would not cross any lines. Will Gates, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk, Buffett step up and give Ukraine what they need to save world democracy and freedom, where NATO has failed?
This war is a world war already because it is public and being played out in the public arena. In the previous wars. world leaders would call and meet to negotiate, and ask for help but they were behind closed doors. Zelenskyy has been making public addresses to do the same, and this time the public can lobby their own governments to help. With many immigrants around the world that have roots in Ukraine, this affects them and whatever country they now live in. It also affects all of us that value the freedoms and democracy we have come to enjoy due to those who sacrificed their lives in the previous wars.
It astonishes me still that some people believe that Ukraine should concede some land to Putin and save lives. Real life doesn’t work like that, for once a bully gets what they want easily, they will come back for more as Hitler did. Why do they think the Ukrainians are willing to die and fight? Because they know the Russians will keep coming back for more if they are not stopped. I saw another comment (far right) who believe that the US should not get involved, where they fail to understand that treaties and pacts have been signed on the proviso that the US will defend said countries if they are under attack. The consequences of failing to stop Putin now will be grave for the rest of the democratic world. Most of us knew Russia would act at some point, but the world leaders were not as well prepared as they should have been as in Churchill’s time.
The war is about appearances and money—each country has chosen a side even if they haven’t made it public, and those who stay silent do so because they know there will be backlash if they support Russia. They don’t want that or other countries to impose sanctions against them, but why would they support Russia? They have trading deals they are reliant on perhaps, or by staying silent, they hope that Russia will never invade them? It’s a case of siding with the bully so you won’t get attacked.
On the other hand, the prominent world leaders who are all career politicians are careful to balance what the world expects them to say and do, with what their citizens expect. They want to do the right thing, but also don’t want to rock the boat unless they have no choice. The UK is a small island, and has aided Ukraine as a nation, and associations and individual have donated themselves, but the UK alone is not enough to help Ukraine oust the Russians from the country. Ukraine can’t wait for two years until the West decides that they need to act, for many civilian deaths will have occurred, and how much of Ukraine will be left by then? There is a marked difference between the leaders in the Baltic states versus the countries further west—most have been invaded or threatened by Russia or the Soviet Union in the past and are fully aware of the fact that Russia take no notice of peace treaties or pacts. They know they need to stick together to defend themselves, while the ones further west dither with talks and discussions.
Churchill in his day made errors and learnt from them, but he was stubborn and a patriot, and having been at war himself knew a dictator and traitor when he saw one. He didn’t quibble and refused to negotiate with Hitler, knowing it was pointless and a waste of time while more people died. That is where we are now but with Putin. While Churchill was arrogant, he also was not afraid of speaking his mind and spoke from experience. Here, we have the voices of countless experts on Russia and the Cold War advising the world leaders what to do (who have the power but less experience and knowledge), yet we are still tip-toeing around the Russians. It is they who are laughing the weakness of the West who thrive on inert diplomacy. The window for diplomacy ended back in March, for even after this war ends and the world tells Russia to pay for damage and to rebuild Ukraine, do you think they will see a single rouble?
Day 38 (2 April)
The EU President visited Kyiv yesterday and met with Zelenskyy to assure Ukraine that the EU would help them rebuild the country, and look after the refugees. This should help Ukraine with their EU membership, and is perhaps one of the only good things to come out of the EU that has been embroiled in petty bickering over the years.
Reports claim that Russian soldiers have been affected by radiation sickness and doctors in Belarus have refused to treat them. This is for safety reasons without the appropriate PPE.
Belgium is sending fighter jets to Estonia to assist with the NATO defence line.
The Baltic states are stepping up their defences in key messages showing support for Ukraine and that as neighbours they must support each other for democracy.
Around 200 Russian national guard members at Chernobyl have been taken as prisoners of war as the Russians left yesterday. This comes after there was news of a prisoner exchange yesterday.
The Russians have already blocked a wikipedia article on the Belgorod attack and have been editing articles to claim that Ukraine attacked Russia. These comments have now been edited out. There is so much propaganda and disinformation being spread, and it is deliberate to confuse people.
Blinken calls Truss to discuss what further steps they can take to support Ukraine. We all know what they need to do, but neither will do it until there is a death on NATO soil or from a chemical weapon.
Russian children have reported a teacher in Penza for anti-war comments. They taped it and handed the teacher over to the authorities who is likely to be fined or imprisoned, as well as losing their job. They asked why a school trip to the Czech Republic was cancelled and they were told why, and gave an account of the war situation that was not the same as the official Russian version.
UNESCO has stated that the war has damaged 29 religious sites and 16 historic buildings, four monuments, and four museums so far.
Russia has declared that they consider the weapons sent by the UK to Ukraine as legitimate targets for them to attack.
Reports claim that Russian soldiers are selling looted goods in Belarus.
The issue of "dealing" with Russia is at the heart of all the West's failures. Lying, to its own public and to foreigners, is not an aberration: it is how Russian politics have been carried out throughout its existence. I should like to refer you all to the article in "The Spectator" by Christopher Booth, "The true story about Russian Lying". He was a journalist covering the war in Chechnya in late 1994. His tale about what happened and how the Russian establishment reported it is ample evidence of how foolish it is to believe a word out of Putin's mouth, or out of anyone in the entrenched Russian establishment, political or military. It is very instructive.
The West has to stop playing the fool here. It simply must. TC
Brilliant summary HM!! I grew up being taught that the only reason the US entered the war was because of the Pearl Harbor attack. The truth is deeper than that, imho. The US was already "quietly" aiding the allies, and making a small fortune off of it, but according to FDR, the people here didn't want to go to war, which is likely true. Many historians now believe when PH happened, FDR, who in fact had wanted to join the war, used it to his advantage. People were so outraged over the attack, they cheered him finally joining in. I couldn't agree with you more. This hesitancy has made the West, and imho, especially the US, look weak, scared and indecisive. Frankly, if it wasn't Russia but some other country that invaded Ukraine, I think the US would have already joined in more forcibly. I'm tired of this tippy toeing around Putin. Had Nato come together back in March, they could've quickly unleashed on Putin and put a stop to this madness before it even began. A heavy build-up of troops from all Nato countries, surrounding the borders of Ukraine, likely could have prevented so much of this death and destruction. They missed their chance of providing an immediate show of force by land, air and sea, because they've ignored history....again. Nato and the west has helped create this monster and this disaster.