It should come as no surprise that Putin is scurrying off to his 'bosom' buddy Xi Jinping of China as his forces stumble slightly in their attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv.
"Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit to China, in a show of unity between the authoritarian allies as Russia presses forward with a new offensive in Ukraine. .... “Moscow and Beijing have indeed accumulated a solid baggage of practical cooperation,” Putin was cited as telling Xi Jinping." (inews : 16 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cancelled all his upcoming foreign trips as he looks to concentrate on Russia’s advance in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.
It comes as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (right) announced a new $2 billion (£1.6bn) weapons deal during a visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, before suggesting Washington could sign a bilateral agreement with Ukraine in the coming weeks." (The Independent : 15 May 2024) (my emphasis).
"The modest gains Russian forces have made in their recent push into territory around the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv should serve as a wake-up call to Western leaders, and their continuing equivocation over just how much support to give to Kyiv’s war effort. The latest reports indicate Russian forces are seeking to exploit Ukraine’s critical shortages of ammunition and manpower to launch attacks on two fronts " (The Telegraph : 15 May 2024) (my emphasis)
On can only hope that Germany's Olaf Scholz is receiving this message loud and clear, and the German-made Taurus missiles will soon be winging their way to Zelensky's army.
Putin is using his 'rushed' trip to China to push Xi Jinping's 'peace proposals' for Putin's war with Ukraine.
And what, exactly, are these 'peace proposals' being pushed by Xi Jinping?
"China last year issued a 12-point statement outlining general principles for ending the war — including "abandoning the Cold War mentality" and resuming peace talks — which U.S. and EU officials have dismissed as an attempt to distract from its pro-Russia stance. Xi recently expanded on his principles for achieving peace in talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz." (Politico : 15 May 2024) (my emphasis)
Putin's reading of Xi Jinping's "peace proposals" is that,
“We have never refused to negotiate," Putin said. "We are seeking a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means. We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours." (Associated Press reporters on MSN new : 15 May 2024) (my emphasis)
Essentially, Putin is stating that following his war with Ukraine in 2014, and his current war with Ukraine since 2022, all lands annexed and occupied by his force since 2014 belongs to Russia and to Russia only.
I am somewhat reminded of the 1949 dystopian social science fiction novel by George Orwell, in which he states that, "War is Peace". (cf. Wikipedia)
Putin, it would seem, likewise beleives that "War is Peace".
Having constantly wielded the threat of unleashing 'nuclear' armageddon upon the world, Putin is now fuming in a demented fashion at the facts, as I wrote in my last blog entry, (2 May 2024) that,
"Lord David Cameron (left) has backed Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia using British-supplied weapons.
The
Foreign Secretary said it was a decision for Ukraine how to use the
supplied equipment and Kyiv “absolutely has the right” to strike back at
Russia. ... On a visit to Kyiv, Lord Cameron said: “In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view, it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they’re defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps.
“We don’t discuss any caveats that we put on on those things. But let’s be absolutely clear, Russia has launched an attack into Ukraine and Ukraine absolutely has the right to strike back at Russia.” (Irish News : 2 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"French President Emmanuel Macron said he
has not ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks
through Ukrainian front lines and the government in Kyiv made such a
request.
In an interview with The Economist published on
Thursday, Macron reaffirmed his previous statements backing Ukraine in
the face of Russia’s battlefield advances.
“If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, which is not the case today, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question,” he said. (Al Jazeera : 2 May 2024) (my emphasis)
Putin has now dramatically upped the stakes in a confrontation with NATO by,
"Russia has warned that it may target British military assets in Ukraine following remarks made by Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron during a visit to Kyiv. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Cameron's comments were provocative and could lead to a significant escalation of tensions between Vladimir Putin and the West." (Alessandra Scotto Di Santolo :Express : 6 May 2024) (my emphasis)"
"European intelligence agencies have warned their governments that Russia is plotting violent acts of sabotage across the continent as it commits to a course of permanent conflict with the west.
Russia has already begun to more actively prepare covert bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil, directly and via proxies, with little apparent concern about causing civilian fatalities, intelligence officials believe." (Sam Jones & Richard Milne :Financial Times :5 May 2024) (my emphasis)"
"Amid escalating tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered nuclear drills involving troops near Ukraine, aimed at practicing the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, as announced by the Ministry of Defense. These drills, which also involve the navy, underscore Russia's heightened nuclear rhetoric since the onset of the Ukraine conflict." (The Times of India : 6 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) on Monday threatened nuclear strikes on Western leaders who want to send their troops to Ukraine, doubling down on his increasingly hostile rhetoric toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ...
He pointed to leaders and politicians in the US, UK, France, the Baltics, and Poland who floated the idea of supplying Kyiv with troops." (Matthew Loh(left): Business Insider : 7 may 2024) (my emphasis)
The fact that Poland is now responding in kind to Putin's 'nuclear' threat against it by now threatening to station 'nuclear missiles' on its soil as a counter to Putin's 'nuclear missiles' stationed in Belarus, must have come as a devastating shock to Putin.
"Russia will make NATO nuclear weapons in Poland one of its primary targets if they are deployed there, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov declared today in the latest escalation of tensions between Moscow and Europe.
The comments came after Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday said his nation would be ready to host Western nukes, given Russia's decision to station intercontinental ballistic missiles in neighbouring Belarus late last year." (Mail Online : 25 April 2024) (my emphasis)
If 'nuclear missiles' on Polish soil is driving Putin into a more demented frenzy, then Xi Jinping's visit to France must be pushing him towards a near meltdown.
"French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday that focused on trade disputes — including lifting immediate tariff threats on Cognac exports — and Ukraine-related diplomatic efforts. ... Speaking alongside Xi after their meeting at the Elysee presidential palace, Macron said that France hopes China’s influence on Moscow would help to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine.
“We welcome the Chinese authorities’ commitments to refrain from sellingany weapons or aid” and to “strictly control” sales of products and technologiesthat can be used for both civilian and military purposes, Macron said." (AP News : 7 May 2024) (my emphasis)
Xi Jinping now has a choice to make, especially in light of Putin's latest 'nuclear' threats and China's 'seriously' wobbling economy.
China needs the EU market more than the EU market needs China.
Even more disconcerting for Putin, and as reported by John Varga(left),
"Vladimir Putin's army is facing a new crisis, after demoralised soldiers disobeyed orders and refused to fight.
The latest incident comes just weeks after paratroopers and marines refused to storm Ukrainian positions on the left bank of the Dnipro." (Express : 6 May 2024) (my emphasis)
The 'political tectonic plates' are not shifting in Putin's favour, and his threats about unleashing a 'nuclear war' are now being met with a 'foretaste', by Poland, of what he can expect if he carries out his 'nuclear-armageddon' threats.
Putin is now rushing 'headlong' into a 'Black Swan' event.
As Putin accelerates his 'manic' and terrifying assault on the people of Ukraine, German Chancellor Scholtz continues to 'dig in his heels' against supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine that can protect Ukraine's civilians against the near 'avalanche of weaponry' being supplied to Putin from China's XI Jinping and North Korea's Kim Jon Un, so that Putin can continue his 'manic' and terrifying assault on the people of Ukraine.
"Germany on Wednesday announced it was shipping 5,000 protective helmets to Ukraine, while reiterating that it would not send any weapons.
The gesture followed days of strong criticism of Germany’s refusal to export weapons to Ukraine and the fact that Berlin hasn’t granted Estonia permission to send old German howitzers to the country. Berlin had previously refused to export protective military equipment such as helmets or vests.
“We will deliver 5,000 helmets to Ukraine — equipment that is needed,” Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (right) said. A defense ministry spokesperson could not say whether the helmets would be donated or whether Ukraine would have to pay for them." (Politico : 26 January 2022) (my emphasis)
Since then, Germany has had to be dragged by NATO members into supplying Ukraine with weaponry to defend itself against Putin's 'manic' and terrifying assault on the people of Ukraine.
Tellingly, in a recent poll conducted by the German Forsa Institute, Tass is reporting that,
"The majority of Germans are against supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Forsa Institute for the [Russian free-to-air] NTV television channel.
Thus, as many as 56% of the polled spoke against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine while 37% favored such supplies. Notably, the number of those supporting this idea has considerably increased compared to March (28%). Supporters of The Greens party account for 63% of those who want Germany to supply Taurus’ to Ukraine while opponents of the idea are mostly supporters of Sahra Wagenknecht’s left-wing party and the right-wing Alternative for Germany." (Berlin - Tass : 30 April 2024) (my emphasis)
Controversially, both Forsa and its head, Manfred Güllner(left), have been accused of bias towards the SPD [the party of Olaf Scholtz] in connection with pre-election polls.
Former [SPD] Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a longtime friend of Manfred Güllner, stood down in favour of the CDU's [East German raised and Putinversteher]Angela Merkel. (Wikipedia)
Consequentially, and as reported by Euronews, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg is correct in bemoaning the fact that,
"NATO countries have not delivered what they promised to Ukraine in time, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.
This has allowed Russia to press its advantage on the battlefield, while Kyiv’s depleted forces wait for military supplies from the US and Europe, the NATO chief added.
"Serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield” for Ukraine, Stoltenberg told a news conference in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy." ( Euronews : 29 April 2024) (my emphasis)
"Vladimir Putin's army was left reeling after a deadly strike by ATACMS missiles wiped out a Russian military base in occupied Ukraine.
The devastating attack was filmed by Ukrainian drones hovering near to the base in Rogovo, which is located in occupied Lugansk province." (Express : 1 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"Ukraine has been pursuing a persistent bombing campaign targeting crucial oil fields within Russian territory for weeks.
Russia has been left grappling with rocketing fuel prices because of a tenacious bombing strategy putting growing pressure on consumers.
According to the latest government data, the cost of diesel went up almost 10 percent over the past week, with gasoline prices hitting a six-month high.
Reports of strikes on oil refineries have been increasing in recent months, with Russian Telegram reporting yet another drone attack in Ryazan Oblast causing a massive fire in the early hours of May 1." (Express : 1 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"The United States imposed sanctions on more than a dozen companies in China and Hong Kong for their support of Russia’s war in Ukraine as part of a tranche of nearly 300 new sanctions unveiled Wednesday.
The move comes after repeated warnings from top US officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to top Chinese officials that they must crack down on China’s provision of dual-use items to Russia that the US says are being used to strengthen its military in the war against Ukraine." (CNN : 1 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"European Union officials plan to inform Chinese diplomats on Friday about the intent to add more Chinese companies to a blacklist because they had helped Russia evade EU sanctions.
The Chinese companies stand accused of buying European-made goods that are not permitted to be sold to Russia, then exporting them to Russian military buyers.
The aim of the meeting is to enlist Beijing’s help in closing the loopholes, people familiar with the planning said." (South China Morning Post : 26 April 2024) (my emphasis)
Let us remind ourselves that China itself is currently facing critical economic problems.
" China's industrial profits fell in March and slowed gains for the quarter compared to the first two months, official data showed on Saturday, raising doubts about the strength of a recovery for the world's second-biggest economy. ... Signs of the economy gaining momentum in the opening months were shown to have gradually given way to concerns over lacklustre demand at home." (Reuters : 29 April 2024) (my emphasis)
"China could force Vladimir Putin to leave Ukraine by withdrawing its support for Russia, an analyst has said.
“China wants to win on all fronts, and this includes trying to balance the tension between supporting Russia and trying to alter the relationship with the US. ... Prof Bryson said: “China needs to work with the US and other countries to try to stabilise the international economy.
“This includes reducing trade barriers but also trying to facilitate the end of conflicts that are dampening global economic growth" (Express : 27 April 2024) (my emphasis)
Xi Jinping is well aware that as Putin continues to ramp up the growing possibility of precipitating a war with NATO as, with the aid of Chinese companies, he accelerates to rain bombs upon the people of Ukraine, the global economic fallout will be catastrophic for China.
Which raises the question,
"How long will the 'bromance' between Xi Jinping and Putin last?"
UPDATE : 3 May 2024
Finally two members of NATO are throwing down the gauntlet to Putin, confronting him with sending troops from a NATO country to defend Ukraine, and explicitly stating that the defence missiles they are providing to Ukraine can be used against targets in Russia itself.
"French President Emmanuel Macron said he has not ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through Ukrainian front lines and the government in Kyiv made such a request.
In an interview with The Economist published on Thursday, Macron reaffirmed his previous statements backing Ukraine in the face of Russia’s battlefield advances.
“If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, which is not the case today, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question,” he said. (Al Jazeera : 2 May 2024) (my emphasis)
"Lord David Cameron (left) has backed Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia using British-supplied weapons.
The Foreign Secretary said it was a decision for Ukraine how to use the supplied equipment and Kyiv “absolutely has the right” to strike back at Russia. ... On a visit to Kyiv, Lord Cameron said: “In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view, it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they’re defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps.
“We don’t discuss any caveats that we put on on those things. But let’s be absolutely clear, Russia has launched an attack into Ukraine and Ukraine absolutely has the right to strike back at Russia.” (Irish News : 2 May 2024) (my emphasis)
What is more significant about these developments is that Putin has, like a 'cracked' record, yet again threatened the world with nuclear war should any NATO troops assist Ukraine in fighting against his troops in Ukraine.
As recently as 2 months ago he addressed an assembly, that included many Russian generals, and again re-iterated his nuclear threat against NATO.
What should be understood is that Putin's threats of unleashing a 'nuclear war' against any NATO country willinvoke NATO countries to unleash their nuclear arsenal against Russia.
In other words, Putin is prepared to sacrifice the Russian peoples on the alter of his manic and delusional ideas about recreating the old Soviet Union.
As also reported by Tom Watlin and Arpan Rai,
“We have never refused to negotiate," Putin said. "We are seeking a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means. We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours." (Associated Press reporters on MSN new : 15 May 2024) (my emphasis)
