Germany Encourages The EU To Ease Sanctions In Kaliningrad
The Russians steal Ukrainian grain via Turkey
Day 128 (1 July)
Russia openly transports stolen Ukrainian grain from an occupied region across to Turkey and ‘friendly countries’. A Russian ship, the Zhibek Zholy has sailed from Berdyansk to Chars in Turkey. The tracker of the ship has been switched on and off, making it difficult to ascertain where any cargo was loaded. The appointed governor (Yevhen Balytskyi) of the occupied area declared on social media 7,000 tonnes of grain was being exported, and later deleted part of the post. Ukraine demands that the ship be seized by Turkey.
Germany has suggested that the EU lift sanctions to Kaliningrad in a bid to ease tensions with Russia. I think that is called appeasement, and will someone will tell Scholz that Kaliningrad is essential for Russia to launch missiles in the Baltics and to block off that area of the sea. Thus, by allowing imports of raw materials it undoes all the work of all the all other sanctions that have been imposed against Russia. The lesson here is, stick to your guns and don’t cave under pressure of a threat.
More traitors are being prosecuted—three law enforcement officers have been arrested, charged with aiding the Russians by supplying the identities of Ukrainian veterans in Berdyansk, and for supplying vehicles and weapons to the the Russians.
Turkey will not ratify the protocols for Finland and Sweden until the requested extraditions have taken place. Sweden have countered this by stating no Swedish citizens will be deported, and an extradition can only take place when a request is made, it complies with Swedish law, and is compatible with European Convention. This is of course the correct thing to do, but Sweden has also been criticised for giving up the Kurds for NATO membership. By ensuring the correct protocols are followed it minimises domestic hostilities.
Odesa has been targeted again, just after Snake Island was reclaimed. News of the death toll rises every few hours (18 so far), and it is claimed that one of the missiles that Ukraine had to surrender for the Budapest Memorandum in 1994, was used to target the shopping centre in Krememchug.
China has responded to the Strategic Concept that NATO released yesterday. They criticise NATO, claiming that the view of China’s foreign policy is incorrect, and thus encourages conflict. China also criticised the West for supplying Ukraine with weapons. The issue of Taiwan has been on the minds of many, and Stolenberg has stated that what happens to Taiwan ‘matters to NATO allies’. We can take that to mean should Taiwan be invaded, then NATO would offer support.
Ukraine imposes sanctions against Syria, individuals, and other entities in what is a trade embargo. This follows Syria recognising the self-proclaimed independent states in the Donbas, which Ukraine calls an ‘unfriendly act’, and diplomatic ties have been severed too.
I have made notes on the first 10 minutes of the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Patrick Sanders speech; however, Omitted his outline on how to prepare and effective deterrence because, sorry, it's gobbledygook to me, whereas I better understand 'protecting our values and interests'. Sir Patrick is forceful, and thus, reassuring and persuasive, as well as, a welcome voice! Sir Patrick goes into details on, " How he intends to mobilise the British Army...to deter Russian aggression, to prevent war," (emphasis is placed on the the fact that the intention is not to provoke war. He quotes the historical axiom: ' If you want to avert conflict, you had better be prepared to fight') "..A clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy and the freedom to live without fear of violence as the brutal aggression of President Putin and his expansionist ambitions." It is all or mostly quotes from Sir Patrick's speech, so I am forgoing the quotation marks. This is our 1937 moment, we are not at war, but we must act rapidly. ...so that we aren't drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion. OPERATIONAL MOBILISE: a singular focus and ruthless priorisation. ...A coalition partnership to provide material, intelligence, and training to sustain Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invaders. ...mobilising the army to prevent war is as tangible and concrete an act of leadership as I can offer. MOBILISATION : focus on winning the war, working with these allies, against this threat in this location. The UK will lead by example! HISTORY SHOWN US: Putin's calculations don't always follow ow own logic. Russia wages war at the strategic and not the tactical level. Its depth and resilience means it can suffer any number of campaigns and engagement battles lost and yet regenerate and still ultimately prevail. Armies that have tasted defeat learn more quickly. Putin's declared intent to restore the lands of historic Russia makes any respite temporary and the threat will become ever more acute. Russia will be an ever greater threat to European security after Ukraine than it was before. Ceding more territory to Putin could prove a fatal blow to the principle of national sovereignty that has underpinned the international order since 1945. And we can't allow the NATO states to live with the grim reality of the human cost of occupation that we see in front of us. Taking up the burden in Europe means we can free more US resources to ensure that our values and interests are protected in the Indo-Pacific. ...IT'S THIS OUR WILLINGNESS TO SHED BLOOD TO PROTECT OUR COMMON VALUES AND EACH OTHER'S TERRITORY THAT WILL SEE US PREVAIL. "The conflict of Ukraine will herald, I think, a paradigm shift in how NATO delivers collective deterrence." From the doctrine of reacting to crises to one of deterring them. This principle is at the heart of mobilise. Russia knowing that they can't gain a quick localised victory, in any circumstance, or in any time - they will lose if they pick a fight with NATO! " It takes an army to hold and regain territory and defend people who live there. It takes an army to deter, and this army, the British Army, will play its part along side our allies. In the Ukraine we have seen the limitations of deterrence by punishment , it's reinforced the importance of deterrence through denial. We must stop Putin's seizing territory rather than expecting to respond...with a delayed counter offensive! We must meet strength with strength from the outset and be unequivocally prepared to fight for NATO territory.
I just viewed, "British Army Chief warns UK and allies facing '1937' moment'.", it was on Sky News on the 30th of June. We have been warned of tough times ahead and the threat to international order and world peace. I guess we cannot continue to seek distractions to ignore what is Russia's 'military operation'! Social comments were many and one said that we need to be worried by the statement of the US focusing on protecting the Pacific.