The Nobel Peace Prize Is Announced On Putin's 70th Birthday
Representatives from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine are joint winners
We’ve been talking about a possible Russian nuclear threat since the start of this invasion back in February, and as we approach winter, the threat increases. What does a desperate unhinged dictator who faces defeat do? When they have nothing left to lose, they take everything down with them.
Ukraine, like many of us are waiting for the international community to take decisive action before it is too late. They seem content to help put out the fire, but only when the fire has started, rather than to look at measure to prevent the fire in the first place.
Where is the special tribunal to prosecute war crimes, and what is the international community going to do about the stolen grain that is funding Russia’s war? Can the UN continue to be a credible organisation with Russia having a permanent seat and vote at the UN Security Council table?
Day 226 (7 October)
Vladimir Putin is 70 today, the same day that the Nobel Peace Prize is announced. He has had birthday wishes from Kim Jong Un (North Korea), Lukashenko (Belarus), and the Russian Orthodox Church. Lukashenko sent him a gift certificate for a tractor, and the Kremlin have chosen not to stage celebrations due to the war in Ukraine.
The Nobel Peace Prize was announced today, and there has been a mixed response to the award that was shared by three parties, and the idea behind it was supposed to be a message of peace
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Center for Civil Liberties - a Ukrainian human rights organisation.
-Ales Bialiatski – an imprisoned human rights activist from Belarus.
Memorial – a Russian human rights organisation that was shutdown in December 2021 due to violating foreign agent law. The Kremlin put the organisation on a list of foreign agents, claiming it receiving funding from abroad.
Ukrainians have applauded the award, while others say it is insensitive as it is trying to lump all three nations together as one. Belarus and Russia are effectively attacking Ukraine, and for an award to try and force them together right now just doesn’t sit right.
The problem is that the West has been conditioned into thinking that Ukrainians are poor Russians, and Belarusians are poor Russian cousins, and that is how the media and literature have portrayed things. That’s Ukrainians have taken offence to the lack of cultural awareness and understanding. One can see that the intent was a good one, but again fails to consider the historical and cultural tensions between the three countries.
Russians have been travelling by boat across to Alaska to seek asylum, and to escape been drafted into Putin’s war.
Iran has claimed that it has not sold or supplied Russia with any kamikaze drones.
However, there is evidence that Russia has used Iranian drones in attacks against Ukraine.
Yesterday, Russia summoned the French Ambassador in regards to the supply of weapons to the Kyiv region, highlighting the dangers of such actions. France replied today by announcing they would supply Ukraine with 6-12 French Ceasar howitzers, and further military aid
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The damage to the attacks in Zaporizhzhia yesterday are still being assessed with the death toll to date at a dozen death. Apartment buildings have been completed destroyed and the likelihood is there were few survivors.
Sanna Marin, the Finnish Prime Minster gave a simple answer when asked how the conflict in Ukraine should end:
The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That's the way out of the conflict.
As Ukrainian police investigate the war crimes in liberated regions, they have discovered locations that were used as torture chambers. No doubt there will be more, and some will have been destroyed to cover the evidence. It makes it difficult to see why a special war tribunal has not been set up, even though it has been discussed since Bucha earlier this year. Ukraine has urged the international community to do this, yet there is no response from the UN while Russia is still a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Even writing that seems ridiculous in the current situation.
The Ukrainian Secret Service has charged 26 collaborators who assisted with the sham referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk with treason. Three were named as Russian proxies, who held high ranking positions, and the others have not been named yet.
Listening to President Zelensky it is understandable that he is being described as an impressive war leader. He states that the Russians need to fight back and overthrow Putin, who he claims is sending unarmed young boys to be cannon fodder. He is a realist and says this is a extremely dangerous phase, although he refuses to comment on whether Putin will use nuclear weapons. President Zelensky's demeanour isn't over-confident, words are chosen carefully to avoid Putin over-reacting, but it is clear he isn't afraid of Putin because Russian morale is abysmal. The West maybe ignorant of culture, history now, however, President Zelensky impresses one that he will be an influencer, educator, world leader who will unite countries against future invasion, if only Ukraine could win now.
There have been many times I've not agreed with them on this one. Usually I just hope they'll do better next time. This time I'm just livid! They've done nothing towards creating any type of peace with this ridiculous political appeasement! I'd hoped Zellensky and Ukraine would get it, they deserve it. But to have the audacity to include Belarus and Russia is just beyond disgusting! Nothing else has stopped this war, so I fail to understand their reasoning of "hope" that this will bring it to an end. If they truly felt that way, they are naive beyond measure. Belarus and Russia will see this as nothing more than positive feedback, regardless of who the award is intended for. I find it beyond contemptuous. Imho, a slap in the face to Zellensky and the people of Ukraine, not to mention ALL the countries trying to help Ukraine! They are an embarrassment and I hope the world at large tells them so! What a mockery!