Why do Merkel and her ministers continue to "flog the dead horse of Minsk2"?

"Oh! what a tangled web we weave

  When first we practice to deceive"

The walls are closing very fast around Donald Trump as more of the truth about the intimate links between himself and his 'Siamese' twin, Vladimir Putin, emerges.

More disturbing for Trump, his eldest children are now also being inextricably ensnared by the tangled web of lies that he has woven around himself.

As reported by Rachel Maddow (full video) yesterday,

" ... whether scrutiny of this president brought on by the Russia investigation [ ] is going to end up turning business and financial dealings, including during the campaign, that could represent serious criminal liability for this president ... for his campaign ... even potentially for his family ..." (MSNBC : 22 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

And whilst Trump's elder children are now facing possible criminal charges, charges from which they cannot be exonerated with a presidential pardon from their father; in a recent interview with Reuters reporters on August 20, 2018 at the White House, Trump stated that,

“I mentioned Crimea [during the Helsinki meeting], sure. I always mention Crimea whenever I mention Ukraine. Putin and I had a very good discussion. It was a very — I think it was a very good discussion for both parties. I mentioned the gas pipeline going to Germany.”
....
“No. I haven’t thought about it [lifting US sanctions against Putin's Russia]. But no, I’m not considering it at all. No. I would consider it if they do something that would be good for us. But I wouldn’t consider it without that.” (Reuters : 21 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Interestingly, as reported by RFERL,

"Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov (right), said on August 21 the Kremlin welcomed Trump's comments indicating readiness to cooperate with Moscow, but that it would "welcome even more some kind of concrete actions."" (RFERL : 21 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Now recall that, as reported by Jim Sciutto and Jenna McLaughlin (left),

"The [western intelligence] assessments, based on a broad range of intelligence, indicate that the Kremlin believes the July 16 summit delivered a better outcome than it had expected, but that Moscow is perplexed that Trump is not delivering more Russia-friendly policies in its aftermath" (CNN : 13 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

This 'perplexity' on the part of Putin and his Kremlin 'siloviki' regarding Trump's "lack of concrete action" no doubt refers to the fact that thus far, Trump has not yet lived up to his side of the bargain regarding the lifting of US sanctions against Putin and his Kremlin 'siloviki' for them helping him gain the keys to the White House.

Which, yet again, brings us to the thorny question of the Nord Stream2 pipeline.

In their recent tête-à-tête in Berlin, Merkel and Putin,

" ...  both viewed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project as a purely commercial venture, despite persistent fire by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments, Peskov said." (CNBC : Sun, 19 Aug 2018) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"That's why it is necessary to take measures against possible non-competitive and illegal attacks from the third countries in order to complete this project eventually," [Dmitry Peskov] told reporters shortly before Putin flew back to Russia. It was not immediately clear what such "measures" could entail. (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

Even more interesting is the the statement by Ursula von der Leyen, German Defence Minister, that,

"If you look at the gas pipeline ...Germany is an independent country where energy supplies is concerned.." (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

And when confronted by the reporter asking,

"... And you don't think this pipeline would compromise security ..." (ibid CNBC),

Ursula von der Leyen  responded,

"No. In our own German interests we have to make sure that this is not the case ... But there are many other things to worry about" (ibid CNBC)

And whilst Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen are both hell bent on ensuring that Nord Stream 2 goes ahead, irrespective of the real security concerns of Ukraine, together with other EU member states, UNIAN reports that,

"Russia's recent actions in the Sea of Azov indicate possible preparations for possible landing operations along Ukraine's coastline in the Sea of Azov and Odesa coast in the Black Sea, according to Oleksandr Khara, deputy chair of the board of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies.
......
Russia's actions in the Sea of Azov with the blocking of Ukrainian vessels show that the war is now also being waged on the sea, Khara wrote in a blog for Obozrevatel." (UNIAN : 23 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, whilst Putin has opened up a new front in his war with Ukraine,

"German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (right) told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Germany hoped to "create new momentum" in the Minsk peace process" (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

Why do Merkel and her ministers continue to "flog the dead horse of Minsk2"?

One need look no further than the ghosts of the Treaty of Rapallo (1920), and the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact (1939) 

As an article in the Economist (2014) also explains,

"WHEN Germans add the word Versteher (one who understands) to a term, they generally mix flattery with irony..... The label is now being attached to so-called Russlandversteher or Putinversteher: members of the elite or intelligentsia who gush with empathy for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, on talk shows, in journals and at dinner parties." (The Economist : 8 May, 2014)

Maybe .... just maybe .... this unconditional German empathy for Russia and Putin has its roots in that minor German princess, Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, who became Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, Russia's longest-ruling female leader, otherwise known as Catherine the Great.

(to be continued)

Is Merkel now Putin's best hope of rescuing him from the impeding disaster facing the Russian economy?

The summer holidays are coming to and end, and the Trump-Putin Siamese twins find themselves nursing political headaches.

The noose of impeachment is tightening around the neck of Trump, and Putin is sinking even deeper into the morass that he created with his war with Ukraine in the Donbas, and by his illegal occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.

 Trump's latest attack on one of his critics, former CIA head John Brennan, amplifies the degree to which Trump is now going to salvage his presidency.

As reported by the BBC,

"Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of ex-CIA chief John Brennan (right), denying the US president's critic any access to sensitive information.
...
In response, Mr Brennan tweeted that the move was part of President Trump's broader effort to "suppress freedom of speech and punish critics".(BBC News : 16 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Notwithstanding Trump trying to 'muzzle' his critics, we also learn that,

"Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Heather Nauert (left) has said Russia is orchestrating the conflict in Donbas and must pull its forces out of Ukraine." (UNIAN : 16 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, we also learn that,

"U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton will visit Ukraine next week.
.....
"As part of the visit, John Bolton (right) will meet with the leaders of Ukraine and high-ranking Ukrainian representatives," the embassy added." UNIAN : 15 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

What Bolton is going to discuss with Ukrainian leaders remains somewhat of a mystery since, shortly thereafter, he will be jetting off to Geneva to meet with Russians. As reported by Steve Holland,

" ....White House national security adviser John Bolton will meet Russian officials in Geneva next week as a follow-up to the summit meeting that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had in Helsinki last month, the White House said." (Reuters : 14 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

The question that needs to be asked of John Bolton is,

"Since the Helsinki meeting no-one, except Trump and Putin, know what was discussed during their 'private' meeting in Helsinki. So what, exactly, is this 'follow-up summit' in Geneva all about?"

Could it be that, as reported by Jim Sciutto and Jenna McLaughlin (left),

"The [western intelligence] assessments, based on a broad range of intelligence, indicate that the Kremlin believes the July 16 summit delivered a better outcome than it had expected, but that Moscow is perplexed that Trump is not delivering more Russia-friendly policies in its aftermath" (CNN : 13 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

and that Bolton's follow-up summit is to assure Putin that Trump will deliver on his demands that were discussed 'privately' between them at the Helsinki meeting?

This 'follow-up summit' should also be seen in the light of,

"Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 43 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).
....
Since Thursday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted three attacks on the Ukrainian positions near Svitlodarsk, Pavlopil, and Vodiane. "It should be noted the enemy used Grad multiple rocket launchers last night for the first time in a few months." (UNIAN : 16 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Coming close on the heels of Bolton attending a so-called 'follow-up' summit in Geneva with his Russian counterparts, especially in light of Heather Nauert stating that, "Russia is orchestrating the conflict in Donbas and must pull its forces out of Ukraine.", we now learn that,

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Berlin on August 18 for the second time in just over three months, her government says.
...
The agenda of the talks are set to include the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, as well as energy issues, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on August 13." (RFERL : 13 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

That 'energy issues' are also on their agenda seems to indicate that the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Germany and Putin's Russia has become a critical economic issue for Putin.

As reported by UNIAN,

"Oil prices fell on Wednesday, pulled down by a report of increased U.S. crude inventories and as a darkening economic outlook stoked by expectations of lower fuel demand." (UNIAN : 15 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

It is therefore an economic 'imperative' for Putin that Nord Stream 2 is completed, and starts earning hard cash for the strapped Russian economy. 

Paul Goble  has also reported that,

"Most Russians today are focusing on possible increases in pension ages, but they should be more worried about a larger and more immediate threat: an increase in inflation possibly to “explosive” levels as a result of international sanctions and government efforts to raise money, according to a group of Moscow financial analysts and financial experts.

            According to the group, which was assembled by the Rosbalt news agency, inflation will soon be accelerating because of increases in VAT and housing costs, higher prices for fuel, a decline in the price of oil, and a new wave of sanctions by the US, all of which will send prices up and the standard of living down (rosbalt.ru/russia/2018/08/08/1723017.html)." (Window on Eurasia : 8 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Is Merkel now Putin's best hope of rescuing him from the impending disaster facing the Russian economy?

(to be continued)

The Putin-Manafort-Trump conspiracy cabal is beginning to disintegrate.

As the walls of justice continue to inexorably close in around Donald Trump, current President of the US, we should not loose sight of the fact that the thread of Maidan is an integral part, and possibly a central part, of the impeachment noose that is now rapidly descending around the neck of Donald Trump.
 
Let us recall that at the 2016 Republican Convention at which Donald Trump was hoisted into being the Republican presidential candidate for the 2016 US presidential election, behind the scenes at this convention was Paul Manafort, Trump's new campaign manager, the same Paul Manafort who gave Victor Yanukovich a political and style makeover that led to Yanukovich becoming president of Ukraine in 2010.

Trump sang the praises of Manafort as his campaign manager after securing the Republican presidential nomination, but soon after began to sing a different tune about Manafort as the criminality of Manafort began to emerge.

Let us also recall that at this 2016 Republican convention, it was Diana Denman (right), a platform committee member from Texas, who had proposed at the Republican National Security Committee platform meeting in Cleveland,

".... a platform amendment that would call for maintaining or increasing sanctions against Russia, increasing aid for Ukraine and “providing lethal defensive weapons” to the Ukrainian military.


As  Josh Rogin (left) then reported,

"The Trump campaign worked behind the scenes last week
to make sure the new Republican platform won’t call for giving weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian and rebel forces, contradicting the view of almost all Republican foreign policy leaders in Washington." (Washington Post : July 18, 2016) (my emphasis)

It is known that Manafort's fingerprints were all over this attempt to scupper the proposed amendment of Diana Denman  regarding 'increasing' sanctions against Russia, and providing Ukraine with 'lethal' weapons in their war with Putin's Russia.

Now prison for Manafort beckons as the ill-gotten gains that he received from Yanukovich is revealed in a US Court of Law.


As Nathan Layne and Karen Freifeld (left) now report,

"While prosecutors have said they will not present evidence in this trial about possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, they may dig deeper into Manafort’s connections with Russian and Ukranian oligarchs, legal experts have said.

Devine said in his testimony on Tuesday that Manafort used Western-style polling and advertising to help lift pro-Russian political figure Viktor Yanukovych to victory in Ukraine’s 2010 presidential election.

Yanukovych was later swept from power and fled to Russia in 2014, triggering a big loss of business for Manafort." (Reuters : August 1, 2018) (my emphasis)


And it was precisely this fleeing of Yanukovich into the arms of Putin that so angered Putin against the revolutionaries of Maidan that he immediately set in motion his illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, and started his war with Ukraine in the Donbas.

Following Putin's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, the EU and the US instituted their economic sanctions against Putin's Russia.

It is this millstone of sanctions around Putin's neck that led to his direct collusion with Trump during the 2016 US presidential elections, and that has now led to Manafort staring into the abyss of  a long prison sentence.

And now the Putin-Manafort-Trump conspiracy cabal is beginning to disintegrate.

(to be continued)