Both Putin and Trump now stand 'politically' naked before the world community.

In my last blog entry (27/03/2026) I reported that,

"Holding a loaded gun in his quivering hand, and aiming it at the heads of his Russian oligarchs,

"Vladimir Putin has asked oligarchs to donate to Russia’s budget in a bid to stabilise the country’s finances as he presses on with his invasion of Ukraine, according to three people familiar with the matter." (Max Seddon (left): Financial Times: 26 March 2026) (my emphasis)

We now learn from  Konstantin Samoilov (right) that, 

"Putin sat down with the coutry's top oligarchs ... the wealithiest men ... his 'inner circle' ...  

The tone in that room wasn't a negotiation. It was pure unadulterated blackmail.

The demand placed on the table from Putin was very simple and brutal.

"Hand over the massive capital to continue funding the war effort or face a 20% 'windfall' tax and, eventually, the dismanteling of your empires."

But instead of the usual 'fearful' complience, Putin got something very different this year. 

He hit a wall of resistance. In a stunning display of defiance, all but one of the assembled billionaires, effectively snubbed Putin's demands. The concensus echoing through that room was very clear ... "We Will Not Pay!" .... "We won't pay!" ... Putin heard that for the very first time. 

Putin left the meeting very angry" (Inside Russia: 11 April 2024: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Excerpt:  Inside Russia: 11 April 2024: YouTube

Confirming this report from Konstantin Samoilov , Milena Wälde (left) also reported that,

"Peskov explained that one individual had independently offered to donate a “very large sum” to the state during a recent meeting with business leaders, describing it as a personal initiative. “This was absolutely his initiative, and not President Putin’s. Although, of course, the head of state (Putin) welcomed such an initiative,” Peskov added, insisting the money was not intended for the war." (Politico : 27 March 2026) (my emphasis) 

And as Anna Danylchuk (right) also recently explained, 

"This "window" of of opportunity that Trump opened to Russians and Iranians when sanctions were 'temporarily lifted' will not save the Russian economy because the Ukrainian drones keep targeting Russia's export terminals just as the one in East Luga today, and Primorsk yesterday. And this is something that prevents Putin from  saving his economy ..." (Anna From Ukraine: 26 March 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

And as Trump tries to extricate himself from his war with Iran, in the hope that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened to releasing 20% of the world's oil for global delivery, BBC News reports that,

"US and Iranian delegations fail to reach a deal following lengthy peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan - how they unfolded

US Vice-President JD Vance says Tehran's negotiating team did not accept Washington's terms, adding "this is our final and best offer"

While Iran's foreign ministry calls on the US to refrain from "excessive demands" and says talks took place in an atmosphere filled with "mistrust, suspicion and doubt" (BBC News: 12 April 2026) (my emphasis)

 

Al-Jazeera: 11 April 2026: YouTube

This total fiasco of Trump reaching a deal with Iran, potentially using Vance as the 'fall guy' for the 'Islamabad Talks Failure', was something that the international political world expected.

 Putin's belief that this ongoing war between Trump and Iran could offset his closed circle of Russian oligarchs refusing to bankroll his failing war in Ukraine as the price of oil coninues to 'spike', is proving to be the fantasy of a defeated man.

Ukraine contiues to succesfully and severely restrict the flow of Russian oil onto the international market, and Putin's oligarchs are finally begin to push against his demented "Novorossiya" fantasies.

Both Putin and Trump now stand 'politically' naked before the world community.

Putin simply cannot denounce or stop supporting Iran as the Russian economy continues to implode.

And as Melania Trump pushes the "Epstein Saga" back onto the forefront of news in the US, Trump cannot denounce his own wife in public.

 

Nicolle Wallace: MS NOW: 10 April 2024: YouTube 

UPDATE: 13 April 2024: GMT: 07.43 

 

As reported by Paul Kirby,

"Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power is over, and the system condemned as an "electoral autocracy" lies in tatters, defeated by a 45-year-old former party insider [Péter Magyar] (left) who convinced a majority of Hungarians to bring it to an end.
…
[Péter Magyar] likened their electoral victory to the Hungarian revolution of 1848, and the uprising against Soviet occupation in 1956." (BBC News: 13 April 2026) (my emphasis)

 

BBC News: 13 April 2026 

 

Putin, Trump, and Vance have just witnessed what lies in store for them.

 

As Lenin once quoted,"The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them. Useful idiots" 

 

 

Unfortunately for Putin, the electoral defeat of his 'useful idiot' in the EU', Victor Orban, who stifled EU support for Ukraine's war against Putin, further underscores the refusal of his oligarchs to bankroll his failing war with Ukraine. 

 

One can only begin to imagine the growing fear that Putin now has for his own demise, if not also for his life. 

 

 

 

(to be continued) 

Putin is practically holding a gun to the heads of his oligarchs to save himself.

Holding a loaded gun in his quivering hand, and aiming it at the heads of his Russian oligarchs,

"Vladimir Putin has asked oligarchs to donate to Russia’s budget in a bid to stabilise the country’s finances as he presses on with his invasion of Ukraine, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The comments by Russia’s president to a large group of prominent businessmen on Thursday made it clear that he is intent on pursuing the war to a victorious end despite the growing strains on the Kremlin’s budget." (Max Seddon (right): Financial Times: 26 March 2026) (my emphasis)

The current war between Trump and the Ayatollah in Iran, and the effective blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, which has caused the price of oil to spike upwards of $100+, is not proving to be the "windfall" for Putin, as many expected.

As Anna Danylchuk (left) explains, 

"This "window" of of opportunity that Trump opened to Russians and Iranians when sanctions were 'temporarily lifted' will not save the Russian economy because the Ukrainian drones keep targeting Russia's export terminals just as the one in East Luga today, and Primorsk yesterday. And this is something that prevents Putin from  saving his economy ..." (Anna From Ukraine: 26 March 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

 Anna From Ukraine: 26 March 2026: YouTube

 

 Similarly, Konstantin Samoilov (left) explains why Putin's so-called 'windfall' is not all that it seems. 

As he explains,

"But you know what, a very interesting phenomenon is happening. The volume of oil shipped from Rusia has actually dropped in the last month. 

Reason number one. There have been attacks [by the Ukainian army] on Russian ports, and this whole [oil] supply chain has been disrupted. ... The Ukrainians have been disrupting it. " (Inside Russia : 26 March 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, he reports that,

"The untouchable shield [of Russian gold reserves] has been melted down ... [Russian] Gold is being turned into working capital, just to keep the Russian [economic] machine breathing ..." (ibid Konstantin Samoilov)

 

 

Excerpts from : Inside Russia : 26 March 2026: YouTube    

 And as a panicked Victor Orban (left) of Hungary fears losing in the   upcoming   Hungarian elections by continuing to block EU financial aid for for Ukraine,   and threatening to,

  " ...  stop sending natural gas to Ukraine until crude oil flows on the Druzhba pipeline resume ... " (Anita Komuves: Reuters: 25 March 2026) (my emphasis),

 Amy Mackinnon (right) reports,

"A bipartisan pair of US senators viz. Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, are set to introduce legislation calling for sanctions to be imposed on senior Hungarian officials involved in obstructing aid to Ukraine.

If passed, the Block Putin act would require President Donald Trump to impose financial sanctions and visa bans on Hungarian government officials involved in the country’s purchases of Russian oil and gas, and who have sought to block support for Ukraine." (Financial Times: 26 March 2026) (my emphasis)

With the eyes of the world now focussed on the war between the US, Israel, and Iran, Anna Pruchnicka and Olena Harmash have just reported that,

" Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed ​an agreement on ‌defence cooperation that lays the foundation for ​future contracts, technological ​cooperation and investments, President ⁠Volodymyr Zelenskiy (left: with Saudi Prince Mohammed ⁠bin Salman) said ​on Friday.

Zelenskiy, who is ​visiting Saudi Arabia, said the agreement was signed ​ahead of a ​meeting with Saudi Crown Prince ‌Mohammed ⁠bin Salman." (Reuters: 27 March 2026) (my emphasis)

As I wrote in my previous blog entry (15 March 2026),

"... it is now ironic that Trump, and even Saudi Arabia and other Middle East Gulf nations are knocking on the door of Zelensky to help them defend themselves against Iranian/Russian drones. (cf: BBC News, AP News, France 24) ."

And  Kathrine Frich (right) also reports that a staunch Putin blogger, Ilya Remeslo, 

"... argued that internal divisions are deepening among Russia’s top officials. He pointed to tensions involving senior figures such as Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov.

He also noted that state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov has recently criticized key institutions, including the defense ministry and central bank.

“Every conflict drives a stake into the system, and I think the system will eventually explode,” the blogger emphasized." (Dagen.com: 25 March 2026) (my emphasis)

Which raises the question :-

"Why is Putin practically holding a gun to the heads of his oligarchs to save the Russian economy?" 

UPDATE: 30 March 026: GMT 07.27 

  Will Stewart (left) and Paul Withers (right) have just reported that,

"Vladimir Putin is confronting rebellion from his staunchest Ukraine war supporters amid growing concerns about a potential coup. An extraordinary surge of pessimism regarding the conflict has overtaken the "toxic" Kremlin dictator's most devoted allies." (Daily Expreess on MSN: 29 March 2026) (my emphasis)

They further report that,

"Putin's own ultra-nationalist theorist Alexander Dugin (left) visited frontline troops and discovered them experiencing "a frenzied rage combined with despair.", and that,
… 
"Russian leader's absence has been especially significant in recent weeks given an unusual wave of public discontent resulting from 

ongoing mobile internet shutdowns, the blocking of popular messaging app Telegram (which intensified in the middle of this month), and the mass slaughter of livestock in Siberia over fears of disease," said political analyst Farida Rustamova (left: BBC Reporter)" (ibid Will Stewart and Paul Withers )

 

Anna from Ukraine: 1 April 2026: YouTube

Is it any wonder that Putin has now to resort to 'proverbially' holding a gun to the heads of his oligarchs as his fear of a 'coup' hangs over his head, and as the Russian economy falls over the edge into total meltdown?   

 

 

 

(to be continued) 

Will the war in Iran now continue to be Putin's false economic saviour.

In a recent interview on UATV English, Zelensky responded to the
questioner who remarked on an air raid siren during the interview with the following :-

Quesioner: "So  there's an air raid alert going on right now. How do you feel every time you hear that noise ...."

Zelensky: "I don't have much time to feel .... It became the part of our life ... I hope we will have peaceful time No.. I'm sure that we will have peaceful time ... It depends on what alllies will be ready, and how they are ready to support us... " (UATV: 12 March 2026) (my emphasis)

 

UATV: 12 March 2026: YouTube 

Zelensky went on to respond to a later question.

"Middle east is always trying to balance because of the long history of economic relations withe Russians. They try to balance ... yes .. They understand ... that this [Russia] is an agressor. ... Now they begin [to understand] what does it mean to live under attacks [from Iran]. They [are now] attacked by Iranians and Russians.... Even [by] "Shaheeds" ... My intelligence showed me images where we see this [Shaheeds] is made in Russia ...." (ibid UATV English)

Furthermore, in my last blog entry I reported that,

"And we now learn from CNN that,

 

"Sources tell CNN that Russia is aiding Iran's war effort by providing intel on US military targets. When President Trump was asked about this, this is how he reacted :- 

 

Reporter: It sounds like the Russians are helpig Iran target and attack Americans now. 

 

Trump: That's an easy problem compared to what we're doing here. But .. but .. Can I be honest. It's just ... I have a lot of respect for you ... You've lways been very nice to me ... What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time ... We're talking about something else..." (CNN: 7 March 2026) (my emphasis)

And 5 days ago (10 March 2026), Rachel Maddow (left) reported that,

"Iran has been getting help in targetting American personel and military ...  help from a sophisticated ally [Russia] in targetting American personel and US military capabilities all over the Middle east. ... "Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle east". (MS Now: 10 March 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

MS Now: 10 March 2026: YouTube

She went further on to report just how Iran's closing of the Straits of Hormuz is affecting the economies of, amongst others, Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, and the the Phillipenes. (ibid Rachel Maddow)

But as the BBC News reported on the 13th March, 2026,

"The UK says it will not follow the US in easing sanctions on Russian oil after Washington authoried sales of Russian oil in an attempt to reign in soaring energy prices caused by the US/Israeli war with Iran.

Reacting in  Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman said Russian and US interests were aligned on the need to stabilise oil prices, but the European Union said, "It is deeply concerned by that decision".  (BBC News: 13 March 2026) (my emphasis)

 

BBC News : 13 March 2026 

Yet, as Maia Davies (left) reports,

"Donald Trump has urged the UK and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route out of the Middle East.
… 
"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated." (BBC News: 14 March 2026) (my emphasis)

Now bear in mind that,

"Trump's message came a week after he said the US did not need the UK to send aircraft carriers to the region and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of seeking to "join wars after we've already won".

He also told the BBC's US partner CBS that he "couldn't care less" whether allies could do more to assist with the war, adding: "It's a little bit late to be sending ships, right? A little bit late." (ibid Maia Davies)

Now whilst Putin, his Kremlin propagandists, and his "siloviki" are "cock-a-hoop" over  Trump's "easing of sanctions" on Russia,  Konstantin Samoilov (right) paints a rather different picture about whether Trump's easing of sanctions against Putin will be the "windfall" that Putin now expects to re-fill his empty economic coffers. 

As he reports,

"Russia's economy is now so battered, so distorted, by war and sanctions, that it can only breathe when the Middle East is on fire.

That's not strength. That is dependency. 

And when this panic fades, the Kremlin goes back into the hole. Only a way deeper one." (Inside Russia: 11 March 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Inside Russia: 11 March 2026: YouTube  

And it is now ironic that Trump, and even Saudi Arabia and other Middle East Gulf nations are knocking on the door of Zelensky to help them defend themselves against Iranian/Russian drones. (cf: BBC News, AP News, France 24)   

It is therefore no wonder, as Antonia Langford (left) reported earlier,

"Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to help Gulf states counter Iranian drones if they can convince Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

The Ukrainian president said he would send his top military experts to the Middle East in a long-shot offer after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were all hit by Iranian drones." (The Telegraph on MSN: 8 March 2026) (my emphasis)

So the "cock-a-hoop" excitement of Putin and his cohorts about Trump lifting sanctions against Russia, and thereby re-filling Putin's empty economic coffers, may be very short-lived indeed.

And we should be reminded what Zelensky said in his recent interview with UATV English,

"It's understandable that this is the biggest risk when the world had during this year, during the last years, because it can be World War Three [WW3] ...

If this war in the Middle East will not stop, like the West had to stop Putin at the very beginning [in his war with Ukraine] .... It can be long war .... It can be world war ..." (idid  UATV English)  

Putin is now frantically biting his nails that the war in Iran continues to be his economic saviour.  

UPDATE: 15 March 2025: GMT 14.40 

Two hours ago, James Landale (left) reported that,

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused European allies of seeking to "blackmail" Kyiv into reopening a pipeline transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
… 
The EU has urged Zelensky to repair the [Druzhba oil] pipeline quickly and is asking him to allow inspectors in to visit the damage. Some EU officials fear Zelensky's resistance may help Orban win re-election." (BBC News: 15 March 2026) (my emphasis)

There is nothing more insidious than the EU shielding behind the threatening claim that, "Zelensky's resistance may help Orban win re-election."

In effect, the EU is asking the people of Ukraine :-

• to "directly" start to re-fill the empty economic coffers of Putin; coffers that have been emptied by Putin's brutal and genocidal war in Ukraine
• to continue, as they have for the last four years, suffer death and destruction in their homeland at the hands of Putin,
• to help the people of Hungary rid themselves of Victor Orban, even though this will cause more difficulties for Ukrainians in ridding Ukraine of Putin's genocidal war against them,
• and, finally, to in effect be the sacrificial lamb on the alter of Putin's continuing genocide in Ukraine because of the near-shutting off of 20% of the world's consumption of oil by Iran in its war with the US, and that passes through the Straits of Hormuz. 

Zelensky is correct in stating that,

"How is this different from lifting sanctions on the Russians? Why can we in one case tell the United States that we oppose lifting sanctions, while on the other hand forcing Ukraine to resume oil transit through Druzhba – and at a political price that effectively pays for anti-European policies?" (ibid James Landale)

Must Ukraine save the world before it saves itself from Putin? 

 

 

 

(to be continued) 

With war in Iran, will Putin now trigger a "nuclear" assault against Ukraine and start WW3?

On 18 April 2024, 2 years ago, Sumi Somaskanda & Holly Honderich (left) reported that,

"Ukraine's [then] prime minister [Denys Shmyhal] has told the BBC there will be a "Third World War" if Ukraine loses its conflict with Russia, as he urged the US Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill. (BBC News: 18 April 2024) (my emphasis) 

 

 

BBC News: 18 April 2024

They further reported Denys Shmyhal (left) stating that,

"If we will not protect... Ukraine will fall," he added. "So the global, the global system of security will be destroyed... and all the world will need to find... a new system of security.

"Or, there will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and in the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War." (ibid Sumi Somaskanda & Holly Honderich)   

Fast foreward to 22 February 2026 and, in an interview with Jeremy Bowen, 

"Putin, Zelensky told me, has already started World War Three, and the only answer was intense military and economic pressure to force him to step back.

"I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him... Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves." (BBC News : 22 February 2026) (my emphasis)

 

BBC News : 22 February 2026 

 

And we now learn from CNN that,

 

"Sources tell CNN that Russia is aiding Iran's war effort by providing intel on US military targets. When President Trump was asked about this, this is how he reacted :- 

 

Reporter: It sounds like the Russians are helpig Iran target and attack Americans now. 

 

Trump: That's an easy problem compared to what we're doing here. But .. but .. Can I be honest. It's just ... I have a lot of respect for you ... You've lways been very nice to me ... What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time ... We're talking about something else..." (CNN: 7 March 2026) (my emphasis)

 CNN: 7 March 2026 : YouTube

 

CNN goes further on to report that,

 

 "The US also has intelligence suggesting that China may be preparing to provide Iran with financial assistance, spare parts, and missile components, three people familiar with the matter said". (ibid CNN)

 

 Interestingly, as reported by Antonio Scancariello (left),

"Donald Trump has slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and praised Vladimir Putin as he discussed the Ukraine-Russia war. The US President told POLITICO the United States would help choose Iran's next leader, predicted the downfall of the Cuban regime, and attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the tech giant Anthropic." (Express: 5 March 2026) (my emphasis)

So Trump is "praising" Putin, who is helping Iran locate US army positions so that they can more precisely direct their bombs against US sodiers and equipment, whilst at the same time, as reported by James Landale (right),

"The US has asked Ukraine for help defending Gulf allies against Iranian drones, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said Ukraine's partners had been reaching out and there had been "requests from the American side".

Zelensky said he had given instructions "to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security".

Asked about the Ukrainian offer, US President Donald Trump said: "I'll take any assistance from any country." (BBC News: 5 March 2026) (my emphasis)

 

The confusion in Trump's mind by :-

•  "slamming" Zelensky on the one hand, and then 
• "asking Zelensky for help against Iran" on the other hand, 

indicates not only "mental confusion" but, more dangerously, a state of mind verging on "mental incapacity".

 

Whilst Putin suffers from the "demented delusions" about re-creating an imaginary "Novorossiya" (Wikipedia) in his war against Ukraine, Trump likewise suffers from the "delusion" about "the United States helping to choose Iran's next leader".

 

As Putin's war with Ukraine becomes inextricably intertwined with helping Iran target soldiers and military equipment in their war with the US, and given Iran's goal of achieving "nuclear bomb" status, Zelensky may be correct is saying that,

 

"Putin ...  has already started World War Three"

 

Will events in Iran, and his failing war in Ukraine, tip Putin over the edge into the abyss of triggering a "nuclear" assault against Ukraine?  

 

UPDATE: 8 March 2026: GMT 20.14 

 

According to the Sun, Russian tech has been found in an Iranian drone that hit the RAF base in Cyprus.  

 

As reported by Robert Folker,

"The Iranian drone that hit a British airbase in Cyprus was equipped with Russian military hardware, it has been reported.

RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, and it is understood to have contained a Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system.

The piece of technology was first seen in drones that were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December.." (Express: 8 March 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

 The Sun : 8 March 2026: YouTube 

 

 

UPDATE (2): 9 March 2026: GMT 09.46 

 

Just this morning Will Stewart (left), Charlie Bradley (right) report that,

"The Kremlin has warned that “it seems to us that the end of the world is upon us”
…
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman hit out at a breakdown in “international law” - even though it was Russia that triggered such turmoil with its own illegal four-year invasion of Ukraine.
… 
The doom-laden warning for the planet came amid massive US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which the Kremlin labelled a “perfect storm”.

Russia appears helpless to assist Tehran except possibly in providing intelligence on American and Israeli military positions." (Express: 9  March 2026)  (my emphasis)

 
We have to ask ourselves,

 

"Will events in Iran, and his failing war in Ukraine, tip Putin over the edge into the abyss of triggering a "nuclear" assault against Ukraine, that has precipitated the Kremlin warning that, "it seems to us that the end of the world is upon us?"  

 

 

 

(to be continued)