I always have stated that Hungary and Turkey are causes for concern. Here we are, where Hungary states that they do not believe in sanctions against Russia, and do not want mixed races in the country, while Erdogan meets with Putin, and discuss closer economic ties to enable Russia to bypass the Western sanctions.
The Kremlin and Turkey made a joint statement to declare their mutual interests. With this in mind, how can NATO still allow Turkey to have access to weapons and NATO intelligence? Erdogan has also stated he will attend the Shanghai Five meeting in Uzbekistan in September as Putin has invited him. Can NATO seriously do nothing, when a member is openly violating their guidelines?
World wars begin when alliances fail to uphold their charters, and members start to bypass rules and break into factions. Countries choose a side, and often remain silent and neutral where they know who they wish to support but don’t wish to suffer any consequences. China has always supported Russia, as India does and the African countries. We are six months into this war, and slowly countries are beginning to show their hands. Over the past decade or so there has been relative stability, and that has now come to an end where international tensions and conflicts begin to rise, but in truth, these conflicts always existed but were put on hold until something pushed them to the surface. That is what the Russian invasion of Ukraine has done—reopened old wounds and tensions that had simmered over the years, and with dictators being allowed to run amok in the UN, how can we realistically expect this war to end peacefully?
Will Putin admit defeat by agreeing to peace talks?
Day 164 (6 August
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Erdogan of Turkey meets with Putin in Sochi, where it is agreed that Turkey will pay for gas in rubles and will use the Russian Mir payment system (as many Russian banks have had sanctioned imposed against them).This is an electronic payment system used by the Central Bank of Russia. How will the West react to Turkey basically turning on them and supporting Russia (as we all expected)? The Turkish and Russian bank governors met in Sochi to discuss how payments should be facilitated.
In a joint statement, the Kremlin and Turkey have pledged to support Syria and the political position held there, and to improve cooperation in transport, industry and agriculture between the two countries.
They also state that the two countries will strive to achieve international stability, and by switching to rubles it will open up new financial opportunities for both countries. Basically, Turkey are not imposing sanctions against Russia and are supporting them financially as we know, evidenced by the fact they assisted Russian tourists to visit by chartering planes and putting in place a system where the could pay without sanctions affecting them.
If they had been an EU member that would not have been permitted, but even as a NATO member, these action contravene the Strategic Concept that was issued 29 June 2022. Should NATO take action, or more importantly will NATO take action?
The head of the Ukrainian branch of Amnesty International, Oksana Pokalchuk has resigned after the head office failed to address comments and concerns over poorly executed report (that did not seek local assistance) that passed as Russian war propaganda.
This was expected after reading the comments on her Facebook post that stated the regional office had not been given the opportunity to contribute their input, many called for her to resign if she felt that strongly about the report. Like many, it is believed that the report will endanger the lives of many Ukrainans.
Other members of the movement have admitted that Amnesty International has lost credibility after the release of the report.
More conspirators have been caught in by the SBU, where traitors have been passing information to the Russians that have led to missile attacks. They have been detained in Mykolaiv and Donetsk
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A tensions grow between China and the US, the US has summoned the Chinese Ambassador to explain themselves over the ‘irresponsible’ military drills being held in the Taiwanese waters. China in return has cancelled a number of meetings with the US, effectively looking as if they are ceasing diplomatic ties.
This is how world wars begin, where countries take a side and then stop diplomatic relations after strained attempts.
As more grain ships leave Ukraine, the hope is that the deal can extend to other raw materials such as metal. However, given that Turkey and Russia seem to be negotiating their own deals, it is difficult to see Turkey as a neutral party (in my eyes, they never were).
A teenage boy who was kidnapped and held hostage has told his first hand account of what happened. Vladislav Buryak, aged 16 stayed behind to look after his dying grandfather. When the grandfather died, he joined an evacuation convoy from Melitopol as his father is a Zaporizhzia official. It was because of his father that he became a valuable hostage and wasn't harmed, but he was made to clean the torture room, witnessed and heard prisoners being tortured, and tried to save the life of his cellmate who had been tortured and who tried to commit suicide.
There are gruesome tales of beatings, electrocutions, and sexual violence. His cellmate told him that he must survive to tell the world what has happened, so that people will know the truth.
Investigators have been busy identifying those who have potentially committed war crimes. They appear to have found the soldier castrating a Ukrainian prisoner and then killing him on video. These are horrific crimes that Amnesty International should be doing something about, yet they are more concerned about where soldiers should base themselves, and to tell them what military tactics are acceptable to them
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Facebook (Meta) disables Facebook and Instagram accounts that appear to have come from a troll farm, where people have been paid to target public figures that support Ukraine. The company has also removed fake Russian accounts that have spread propaganda. It is about 5 months late, and they won’t have got them all as there are no doubt more that are private, or harder to detect. Twitter need to do this too, but that is a huge task!
Hello M.M., like you my focus was struck by Turkey and Russia working "for international stability". What IRONY- lead destabilisation and then proclaim they are 'the saviours.
How can Russia and Turkey pledge to work for international stability when Putin has invaded Ukraine. It appears to me Erdogan is a traitor to the west and to NATO's guidelines.