Kyiv Day ~ But Are France And Germany Blocking World Peace?
Russians steal metal while the fight for Donbas continues.
The Macron/Scholz (France and Germany) alliance is of concern, because it is clear that both countries have a different agenda than the rest of the EU and NATO (bar Hungary which I see as a pseudo Russian client state in disguise). Are they acting in the best interests of democracy and Ukraine, or for their own countries?
This is a time where the EU and NATO need to stand together, yet Macron wants to play at being Napoleon, and Scholz doesn’t seem to know what he is doing or saying. One minute he is promising weapons to Ukraine, then he states that he can’t fulfil that pledge due to some small print that no one else knows about and that he can’t quite quote. Don’t they realize that their hesitancy in assisting Ukraine in defending themselves supports Russian propaganda?
I have seen some French comments from those who voted for Macron, exclaiming they are ashamed to be French, and that Macron’s ideas do not represent the French. The problem is that they elected him because the alternative was an unknown quantity, but what choice did they really have? Macron is no better than a mini-dictator himself right now, refusing to discuss or budge on his ideas of how the conflict should be resolved.
France and Germany are creating disharmony in Europe which is ideal for Putin, but both contradict themselves. By claiming they support democracy, but then believe that Ukraine should cede land to Russia because it is more convenient for the world. Their calls to Putin are doing more harm than good, and the French and Germans seem to agree. Putin is not your friend, nor does he wish to negotiate, so stop calling him. Do they think they have Yoda powers and can convince him to do what they say with a Jedi mind tick? Russia has stolen land, grain, steel, gold, the homes of millions, the lives of thousands—at what point will the appeasement duo accept that there will be no diplomatic resolution while Putin is in power?
WARNING: Below is a distressing image of bodies in Mariupol that have been dumped in a supermarket. It is horrific, but this is what Macron and Scholz need to see when they have another chat with Putin.
Day 95 (29 May)
Today is Kyiv day and the city is 1,540 years old.
Russian troops are preventing evacuations from Zaporizhzhia and are blocking 400-500 cars a day from leaving the area. Some are demanding money before they let cars through as a bribe.
Zelenskyy has visited the frontline of Kharkiv as a morale booster, to thank the troops and to hand out gifts and awards. The second largest city has been under attack again.
Severodonetsk in Luhansk is the main target in the Donbas as it is the largest city. It has come under heavy attack as Ukraine waits for heavy weapons from the allies to arrive.
In an interview with the BBC, Andrei Kelin the Russian ambassador in the UK has stated that he does not believe there is a nuclear threat, and has repeated the Kremlin line that the images in Bucha were staged and fabricated, thus denying that any civilians were killed or that Russia has carried out any war crimes, despite soldiers admitting to criminal acts.
Reports claim that Germany has not sent any weapons as they had pledged. It casts doubt on Germany’s position as to whether they are telling the EU and NATO what they want to hear, but them fail to follow through. Germany has appeared to have backtracked on the offer, stating there is an NATO agreement that prevents them from sending weapons. It seems that other NATO countries don’t have a problem.
Poland has donated 18 howitzers to Ukraine. Germany, nil as far as we know.
The citizens of Lithuania have managed to raise 5 million euros in three days to buy Ukraine and advanced Bayraktar drone that is carries laser-guided bombs. What has Germany sent—nil, how much has France given? The drone is Turkish, so has Turkey donated any drones?
Denmark has supplied Ukraine with ant-ship Harpoon missiles, that will provide and strengthen the coastal defences.
At the end of May, Russian soldiers could technically leave the ‘special military operation’ as there is a 90 day deadline under Russian law for the operation,
Ukraine has been capturing soldiers accused of war crimes, but this could cause issues if they are used for prisoner exchanges. That might mean that justice will not be served, and the guilty will go free.
Russia has been stealing millions of dollars worth of metal from Ukraine. For a second night, drone footage has caught Russian ships being loaded with metal items as they have looted Ukrainian supplies, and are exporting them to Russia from the now occupied Mariupol.
A man has been jailed in Ukraine for helping Russian troops in the Donbas region. He was charged with providing information of the location of Ukrainian military troops in Kharkiv that were shelled. He was caught trying on the border with Slovakia (Uzhhorod) where he was carrying out other similar actions that were traitorous.
Macron and Scholz appear to be a burden where some see them as traitors to NATO and the EU. The appeasement duo seem to have a bromance, have they been making secret calls to each other to get their story straight when they dial-a-friend? Russia has lied, so they can’t be trusted it is as simple as that. You cannot negotiate with those who deceive.
Macron has insisted that negotiations are between Moscow and Kyiv, so why is he and his lapdog butting in and dictating what Ukraine should do? The duo called for a ceasefire—again, I mean, numerous leaders have asked for this and Putin has ignored them for the last 94 days, so why would he listen to the appeasers?
The duo asked for a lift on the blockade of grain in the Black Sea. Again, this has been addressed, with Putin saying he will do it when sanctions against Russia are lifted. It is worth noting that France and Germany have not been generous with their donations of weapons (although both have pledged them), but seem to have a lot of time to call Putin. Neither have visited Ukraine yet either. If Russia had invaded their countries, would they be in a hurry to cede land to Russia? I think not, and the citizens would push them out of power as well.
A representative in Mariupol has released a disturbing image of bodies that lie in a supermarket because there are no graves to bury them in. I am sharing this because the truth needs to be seen, and these victims should have a decent burial if they cannot get justice.
To answer the question posed by EL in the opening paragraph: in my view, also, France and Germany are acting solely in their own interests, but trying mightily to straddle a careful line that they hope disguises their true views. TC
The Clive Myrie interview on BBC Sunday Morning with the Russian Ambassador to the UK is available (in a longer form) on BBC IPlayer. IMHO it is a "must watch" item, both masterful and illuminating on many fronts .