Russia Announces It Will Leave The International Space Station After 2024
The EU agrees to reduce energy consumption under threat of Russia cutting energy supplies
Each day I wonder what else can happen in this conflict—more traitors will be arrested, and weapons from the West will be delivered to Ukraine. That seems to be the general pace, and threats from Russia come in various forms from missiles being launched, to threats of referendums, and then there is the gas supply being cut off.
The news that Russia intends to build its own space station is a c lear indication that they do not wish to cooperate with the West in anything. So what was all the schmoozing about for the last couple of decades? Putin knew that he had to appear to wish to have a democratic state, but that doesn’t mean he ever wanted it. He needed to gain the trust of others and get his foot in the door and he wasn’t going to achieve that by declaring he wanted the USSR reformed. It was all a lie and an act, and most people knew it but wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The energy crisis can only get worse, and while it is summer people are on holiday and aren’t thinking about it because it doesn’t affect them yet. In several months though it will, and prices will increase. This is why Russia has been courting the Arab countries to get them on side as that is where other countries will seek to purchase energy and oil from, and Russia wishes to get them as allies to prevent the West from trading with them.
This might tempt countries to urge Ukraine to accept a peace deal, but we have seen what the Russians have done, and that they have already gone back on the grain blockade deal. The UN seems powerless again, and writing statements condemning the action hasn’t and won’t stop Russia. We know that, so what are these alliances going to do to ensure the safety of the world? Issuing statements on Twitter are not going stop the war or the Russians from continuing the invasion in Ukraine.
Day 153 (July 26)
Yesterday, the president of Guatemala visited Kyiv and met with Zelenskyy. The visit shows support for Ukraine, and that is important as Russia tried to recruit allies around the world. They signed a visa free agreement, which is the start of growing ties.
Reports claim that Germany has delayed delivery of air defence systems to Ukraine due to Scholz failing to give approval. This is contrasted with the German Foreign Minister who states that they will continue to supply Ukraine with ammunition and weapons. The proof is when Ukraine receives delivery of the military support.
The Russian gas issue continues as Gazprom increases pressure in a pipeline which means it is liable to be unstable and could lead to reduction of energy being supplied. This also means that countries cannot build up reserves for winter. Supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Poland and the Netherlands from Gazprom were cut earlier this year as they refused to pay in roubles.
The EU has agreed to take measure to ration energy by 15% in the event that Russia will reduce energy supplies. Only Hungary has not agreed to the proposal. This is so that states do not need to tap into the winter reserves.
Traitors in the Donbas have been sentenced to 15 years in prison, while other spotters have been arrested for providing information on Ukrainian targets and army positions to the Russians
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The big news is that Russia will leave the International Space Station after 2024, and will build their own Russian space station they have stated. Th partnership will set back the plans made between all the nations involved, but was not unexpected as Russia has voiced this threat before. Given the increased tensions between Russia and the West due to the invasion in Ukraine, this was a move that was expected. NASA and the other international partners will have to consider their options, and hope to keep the space station operational until at least 2030
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Erdogan of Turkey is to meet with Putin on 5 August 2022, to discuss Ukraine in Sochi. Can Turkey be trusted as they are not entirely neutral considering they have backed Syria recently. If Erdogan is trying to be a mediator, whose side does he favour? Given that he has met Putin recently in Tehran, where do his loyalties lie? In the past he has claimed that Ukraine was ready to cede land as part of a peace deal he was brokering, only for Ukraine to declare they will not ever cede land to the Russians.
Ukraine has launched an ‘Army of Drones’ initiative with United24, which aims to build up an army of reconnaissance drones to pinpoint Russian troops as a defensive measure. 20 Fly Eye drones have been acquired so far.
Russia has claimed responsibility for launching 13 missiles on Odesa less than 24 hours of signing the grain blockade agreement. These were launched from the Black Sea, and Lavrov has casually claimed that the missiles haven’t hindered the grain being transported.
As the agreement has technically been broken, it is again testing the waters to see what the UN and Turkey will do, and that is nothing because they can’t do anything. The missiles appear to be Russia bragging that they can do what they want and break agreements because no one can punish them.
The UK has made additional sanctions against those who are supporting the Russians, which includes a UK resident (Graham Phillips) who has been posting disinformation on the war in Ukraine. His assets have been frozen. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093779/Notice_Russia_260722.pdf
The Russian Duma (parliament) have drafted legislation to name Ukraine as a terrorist state, and those who supply arms to them as ‘sponsors of terrorism’. This is to mirror the calls for the West (especially the US and UN) to declare Russia a terrorist state
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Of course Russia will further cut energy supplies knowing if anything will divide the European countries and 'persuade' them to relieve sanctions on Russia that will do it!
To be called a 'terrorist state', I would expect that Ukraine would have been the aggressor invading Russia, rather than the other way round. It will be interesting to see which party Turkey and even Hungary eventually align with, if the time comes that such a decision has to be made. I wouldn't think the Western countries would trust Turkey not to 'share' intelligence.