The UK Signs Security Measures With Finland and Sweden As They Embark On NATO Membership
Boris Johnson signed security declarations with both countries within 24 hours, providing a buffer of protection during the application process
The UN are bit part players in this war when they should be the ones stopping things having failed to prevent it. Just as the failure of the League of Nations led to the Second World War (it took 3 years from when Germany left to the official onset of war), will the failure of the UN allow another World War?
The UN Human Rights Council agreed to an inquiry with 12 abstaining and 2 objecting. We are clear what side China are on having objected to the resolution. How will this actually save lives or prevent deaths? It won’t, because all it will do is report on the deaths and state whether they were legitimate or not.
We still have the Mariupol soldiers trapped in the steelworks. The UN haven’t even publicly moved to do anything on this issue which makes you wonder what use is the UN, bar that as a human shield?
The news that Finland and Sweden are more than likely going to apply to join NATO and that the UK has stepped in to offer security guarantees to both countries during the process is a major event in Europe. This is not about ganging up on Russia, but declaring allies to deter any such invasions. How will Russia respond? They have already declared any NATO expansion would be seen as a hostile move and a threat to Russia without any evidence. Will they then turn on the Finns in a propaganda war? The Swedish government have yet to declare an intent to apply to NATO, but it is expected within the next few days. The security agreements apply whether Sweden and Finland choose to join NATO or not, therefore, no one can say this about NATO but countries choosing to support each other.
We are reading everyday of the atrocities that the Russian troops have carried out, and the first trial will be held soon. The scars, and damage has been done and we all knew 12 weeks ago that this would happen. When people look back, they will ask why wasn’t more done to prevent these needless deaths. Only NATO and the UN can respond to that with their charters and articles. I think Macron’s chats with Putin offered false hope, and Macron has never come back with much from them. We also know when the Russians invaded, the Ukrainians didn’t have enough weapons and were crying out for them and to protect the skies. Germany sent some helmets, Macron rang Putin a few more times, and other countries pledged weapons and sent them eventually. When it was clear that the war wasn’t going to be a quick one, the UK, and US sped up the deliveries, and neighbouring countries took in refugees.
Are we at a stalemate, waiting to see what Russia will do next while the Ukrainians continue to fight in Odesa, Donbas, and Mariupol? We should ask what good are the alliances that are supposed to protect world peace when they pick and choose when they are brave enough to assist?
Day 77 (11 May)
Two wives of the soldiers trapped in the Azovstal steelworks have appealed to the Pope to help them. The choices are to die defending the steelworks for the rest of Mariupol has been occupied, or surrender and be captured, tortured, and imprisoned or killed by the Russians. The Ukrainian army does not have sufficient equipment or manpower to attack the Russians, and the UN seemed to only be interested in civilians. Given that the evacuees ended up in a Russian occupied town, it shows that the Red Cross and UN had little control over the evacuation process. Perhaps they were merely used as human shields?
Ukraine has been trying to negotiate for the release of the injured soldiers in Azovstal in exchange for Russian serviceman. This was attempted before the UN ‘assisted’ and the Russians have not responded and are unlikely to do so. Their soldiers are expendable and worthless, and the capture of Neo-nazi soldiers would assist the validation of the invasion to the Russian people and those who are pro-Putin, therefore, are more valuable dead or alive to Putin for propaganda purposes.
The Macron-Scholz show has been heavily criticised by the world at large. Both leaders have not visited Kyiv, and both have been slow to show active support in assisting Ukraine. Macron is already talking of peace, and forgiving Russia when the war is over, and stating that Russia should not be humiliated for their war crimes and atrocities. At this point, many are wondering what is Macron on? A power trip yes, but his words are meaningless and have been dismissed for how can one not hold Russia to account and punish them for the crimes they have committed and where they continue to do so? Mad Macron, who believe he can reform the EU into a structure that he envisages. Scholz, who is trying to fill Merkels’s shoes is doing a poor job as Macron’s sidekick. The UK, Finland, and Sweden have already said that relations with Putin/Russia cannot be ‘normalised’ in light of current events. What does Macron what to do? Forget about any war crimes trials? Should the ICC get their acts together, will Macron want to broker peace with Putin from his prison cell? Macron’s predecessor (Hollande) has criticized the recent statements as unrealistic.
Five of Kyiv’s metro stations with Russian connections are to be renamed, and it was put to a public vote:
Leo Tolstoy Square ~ Vasyl Stus (Ukrainian writer, and not Tolstoy’s fault as I am sure he would have opposed Putin).
Beresteiska ~ Buchanskaya
Heroes of Dnieper ~ Heroes of Ukraine
Minsk ~ Warsaw
Friendship of Peoples ~ Botanicals
The Czech Republic as expected has replaced Russia in the UN Human Rights Council.
Belarus is now being held to account for their own part in human rights violations and war crimes as the country sends special forces troops to the border as they consider Ukraine a threat. Ukraine is merely defending itself, and if troops are coming over to attack them from Belarus, then they have a right to defend their land. In Belarus, while not all citizens support the government position, in an attempt to coerce support the death penalty might be on the table for those who oppose Belarus aiding Russia in the Ukrainian invasion.
Many are forgetting that Luhansk and Donetsk (Donbas) are under heavy fire as the Russians are keen to officially annexe the region as a victory. Not all residents have been brainwashed as regions that were not under the control of the separatists are being attacked. With no supplies, roadblocks, and no information on what is going on (no power or water), will the UN intervene given that Russia claims that the region is Russian?
The Czech Republic have stated that the actions of Russia are deemed to be genocide.
The story of the day goes to Boris Johnson making a 24 hour visit to Finland and Sweden to sign a security agreement regardless of whether the countries apply to join NATO or not. This means that the countries would provide assistance upon request if they were attacked, and that this would be reciprocal. The deal is important as a message to Russia and the world, that the UK will defend the countries, as the period during the application period that leaves the countries vulnerable to attack without NATO support.
Johnson has signed bilateral agreements with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto, and Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson that leads to cooperation between the countries in terms of defence and security. Finland states that they were forced to change their view as Russia was ready to attack their neighbour, therefore, it was only prudent to reinforce their defences. Sweden has stated this move includes sharing military resources. This is a political alliance and agreement, which shows that even though the UK left the EU, it is strong and supportive member of Europe and did not need to be a member of the EU to offer a security alliance to Finland or Sweden. The same can’t be said for France (who hold the EU presidency at present and will switch to the Czech Republic in July), or Germany who both are equal in terms of military resources but where the leaders are too preoccupied with their own perceptions of power on the international platform.
This move by Sweden and Finland ends a long period of neutrality, where Russia has claimed that NATO expansion is a threat to Russia, and that NATO should not accept any new members. To do so, Russia would consider that a hostile action. As NATO is a defensive alliance, there is no threat unless you attack first without provocation. Russia has always opposed Ukraine joining NATO, and now are demanding that Finland and Sweden do not join.
Ukraine will hold its first war crimes trial (domestic), while they are still searching for the other soldiers involved in the Bucha massacre. The Russian soldier who will stand trial in this case is alleged to be involved with the death of a civilian in Sumy, and is custody. It is said that the charges include premeditated murder, and violating the laws and customs of war.
The puppet deputy governor (Kirill Stremousov) in Kherson has declared that the city is Russian. It looks like they aren’t even going to bother with a fake referendum.
Day 78 (12 May)
The leaders of Finland announce (as anticipated) that they will seek NATO membership as it is in the best interests of the country and if parliament approves the move, they will start the application process next week.
This is the full statement from Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin:
During this spring, an important discussion on Finland's possible Nato membership has taken place. Time has been needed to let parliament and the whole society establish their stands on the matter. Time has been needed for close international contacts with Nato and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We have wanted to give the discussion the space it required. Now that the moment of decision-making is near, we state our equal views, also for information to the parliamentary groups and parties. Nato membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.
In light to this, Russia will consider this move a hostile threat from Finland, and the same should Sweden follow suit. Putin will use this as propaganda, claiming it is the big bad West attacking and ganging up on Russia so they need to defend themselves. In a statement responding to the Finnish announcement, Russia has said this was an ‘unfriendly step’ against Russia and stated:
"Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop the threats to its national security arising in this regard,"
As Finland shares a border with Russia (due to the annexed Karelia region from the Winter War of 1939), this move is one that the Finns had resisted, but had been wary of for many decades. Finland and Sweden would strength the NATO alliance in the Baltic region, but it should be remembered this is a defensive alliance where action is only required when there is a threat. There are regular exercises that take place which also serve as a deterrent to any potential aggressors.
The UN Human Rights Council has voted to hold in inquiry into the human rights violations by Russian troops in Ukraine. 33 votes were in favour, 12 abstained, and 2 opposed (China and Eritrea). https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/05/human-rights-council-hold-special-session-address-deteriorating-human-rights
The abstentions were:
Sudan, Armenia, Bolivia, Cuba, India, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Senegal, Pakistan, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan.
China and Russia have accused the UN of demonising Russia. Chen Xu, for China claimed the resolution was too political, while the ambassador for Russia (Gennady Gatilov) stated:
Instead of discussing the true causes that led to the crisis in this country and looking for ways to resolve them, the 'collective West' is organising another political rout to demonize Russia.
The process of joining NATO can take a year, even though Stoltenberg (Secretary General) has stated it would be supported and a swift process.
The BBC has acquired CCTV footage of Russians killing civilians and then breaking into the premises and looting the goods. They did not know they were on CCTV. The injured guard was bleeding and hid, but died before anyone could come and rescue him. The video makes for horrifying watching and it is sad to think that the West in apathy could have done more to prevent this. If the NATO application ha not been opposed by Germany and France, would Putin have tried to invade earlier?
I wonder what China is thinking? TC
EL, I wish I had more to give you than my thanks for all the hard work that you are doing to document and relay the events to us. Please know how much you are appreciated.