Putin, slouching in his corner, is aware that he has failed in Ukraine.

The fervent wish of Putin that the 'motly' crew of diverse international political leaders that attended his Kazan BRICS summit would, almost unconditionally, support his war with Ukraine, rather disappointed him.

It is no wonder because :-

• [President] Xi [of China] noted that China and Brazil have put forward a peace plan for Ukraine and sought to rally broader international support for it. Ukraine has rejected the proposal. (AP on Manila Bulletin: 25 October 2024) (my emphasis)
  
• While Western allies want New Delhi to be more active in persuading Moscow to end the fighting in Ukraine, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. (ibid: AP on Manila Bulletin) 
• Addressing the BRICS Plus session, Guterres [UN General Secretary] urged an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan. “We need peace in Ukraine, a just peace in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” he said. (ibid: AP on Manila Bulletin) 
• Russian President Vladimir Putin faced direct calls to end the Ukraine conflict from some of his closest and most important partners on Wednesday as world leaders gathered in Russia for the second day of the largest diplomatic forum held by the country since it began its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. (Yahoo News: 23 October 2024) (my emphasis)

Business Insider on Yahoo News: 24 October 2024

Furthermore, as Matthew Loh (left) reports,

"The war in Ukraine was mentioned only once in the 43-page document [the Kazan Declaration, a 134-point summary of their agreements], and though Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the event, its wording is a far cry from the Kremlin's preferred rhetoric.

That single paragraph contained none of Russia's usual talking points, instead urging all parties to act in accordance with United Nations standards — a more neutral statement often used by nations such as China." (Business Insider on Yahoo News: 24 October 2024) (my emphasis)

 

 Perhaps attendees at this conference were highly wary of the fact that, as reported by Helen Regan, Yoonjung Seo, Mike Valerio and Brad Lendon,

"On Wednesday, the White House said at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in eastern Russia this month and while it remains unclear what they will do, it is a “highly concerning probability” that they will join the fight against Ukraine.
...
.. Seoul is not taking this lightly.

On Monday, its Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and urged an “immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops.” (CNN World: 24 October 2024) (my emphasis)

 

CNN World: 24 October 2024

 

The Kazan Declaration, that 134-point summary of the recent BRICS agreements, ensures that Putin cannot call upon ANY BRICS members to supply him with troops to replace Russian troops killed in the 'Russian meatgrinder' in Ukraine.

 

Is is any wonder that BRICS members are extremeley wary of Putin trying to 'rope' them into his war with Ukraine?

North Korean troops in Ukraine have dangerously escalated Putin's war with Ukraine, and has led South Korea to,

 

"South Korea's president [Yoon Suk Yeol]  (left: with Zelensky) on Thursday raised the possibility of supplying Ukraine with weapons while stressing that his government "won't sit idle" as North Korea allegedly sends troops to support Russia's aggression toward its neighbor." (Mainichi: 25 October 2024) (my emphasis) 

 

This replacing of fallen Russian soldiers with North Korean troops in his 'meatgrinder' in Ukraine is a sign of desperate panic by Putin that he is losing this war.

 

Even trying to put on a brave face during questioning at the end of the BRICS summit simply did not work. 

 

Rehashing his 'threadbare' mantra about NATO as a cause of his war with Ukraine simply did not 'butter any parsnips' with the assembled reporters.

 

BBC News : 25 October 2024

 

Putin, now slouching in his corner, is aware that he has failed in Ukraine.

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin is fast becoming the 'poodle' of Kim Jon Un

The world is holding its political breath as Kim Jon Un's troops ready themselves to march, hand-in-hand, with Putin's army in Ukraine, whilst the Middle East brings us even closer to a cataclysmic showdown between Israel and Iran.

Most of all, the critical US presidential election is fifteen days away, which result will either sway the world into the direction of WW3 or into the direction of the concluding stages of Putin's war with Ukraine, as well as a critical stalling of Israel's impending war with Iran.

As Hannah Levene (left) reports,

"Military ties between North Korea and Russia increase as North Korea sends 3,000 soldiers to help Russia against Ukraine.
...
Volodymyr Zelensky grows concerns as he learns on a trip to Brussels that North Korean specialists are already on the ground in parts of Ukraine's occupied territories." (LBC: 17 October 2024) (my emphasis)

Cowering in his bunker, Putin is now having to go cap-in-hand to Kim Jon Un to bolster his fast diminishing forces in Ukraine as the rumblings of the Russian people begin to reach a crescendo, especiallly in Moscow and St Petersburg,  AGAINST any new drafting of young Russian men into Putin's 'meatrinder' in Ukraine.

On the economic front, as the Bank of Russia itself admits,

"At the same time, demand in the economy and in particular consumer demand
remained high overall – despite a certain decline in August. The entirety of these factors is still behind high inflationary pressures notwithstanding of the recent rise in interest rates, a slower expansion in retail lending and in the broader economy. 

Going forward, the current tight monetary policy is expected to ease labour shortages – a trend that seems to be emerging as employers show less appetite for hiring, explained by more moderate expectations for demand for their products and for investment. This is expected to combine with a consistently high saving ratio to cool down consumer demand and thereby movements in consumer prices (i.e. INFLATION)." (Bank Of Russia: No. 7: October 2024) (my emphasis)

(full video: Joe Blogs: Russian Industry Collapsing: 18 October 2024: YouTube)

Adding to Putin's panicked pacing around in his bunker,

• 
  "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased the amount of credit funds allocated to Ukraine in 2025 by nearly $880 million, according to the IMF memorandum.
  ...
  The increase in financing for 2025 will come from credit funds that were initially intended for disbursement in 2026 and 2027." (Bohdan Babaiev (right): RBC Ukraine on Microsoft Start: 19 October 2024) (my emphasis)
• "Canada announced the details of a $64.8 million military aid package to Ukraine Friday as National Defence Minister Bill Blair attended a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels." (David Cummings: CTV News (Canada): 18 October 2024) (my emphasis)
• 
  "The Danish government is donating 2.4 billion kroner ($350 million) to Ukraine to help bolster the country’s air defense systems and buy new weapons.
  
  The donation is part of Denmark’s 64.8 billion kroner fund to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia and is aimed at supporting the Ukrainian military’s urgent needs and strengthen its longer-term defense capabilities, the Danish Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, said in a press release." (Sara Sjolin (right): BNN Bloomberg: 18 October 2024) (my emphasis)
  

Coupled to Putin's economic and 'meatgrinder' recruiting woes, and the west continuing to support Ukraine financially, Will Stewart (left) and Oli Smith (right) report that,

"One of Russia's largest manufacturers of industrial explosives (the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhinsk) blew up in flames overnight after a swarm of Ukrainian drones.
...
The state-owned Sverdlov Plant also manufactures aviation and artillery shells, aerial bombs, components for cumulative anti-tank guided missiles, and warheads for air defence systems." (Express : 20 October 2024) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"A day earlier a key Russian microelectronics plant (the vast Kremniy El complex in Bryansk region) caught fire after a jet-powered kamikaze drone strike by Ukraine.
...
One of the biggest electronics bases in Russia with 1,700-plus workers, it also makes key hi-tech parts for multiple other lethal weapons." (ibid Will Stewart and Oli Smith ) 

Is it therefore any wonder that Putin is fast becoming the 'poodle' of Kim Jon Un?

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Total fear of failing in Ukraine has beset a shivering Putin in his bunker.

As Autumn wanes, and Winter begins to blow its cold chill over the horizon, Putin shivers in his bunker as news that,

• 
  "Russia Can't Hide the Fact Its Air Force Is Taking Heavy Losses in Ukraine. Russia lost another Su-34 combat aircraft over Ukraine on Saturday, reportedly shot down by an American-made F-16, marking the first air-to-air kill by Ukrainian-operated F-16s. The Su-34, a crucial asset for Russian air operations, has suffered significant losses during the conflict, with up to a quarter of Russia's pre-war fleet destroyed." (Peter Suciu (left): The National Interest: 13 October 2024).  (my emphasis)
• Gareth Jennings reports that, "Dassault Mirage 2000 combat aircraft promised by France will arrive in Ukraine in early 2025, it was announced on 8 October..French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu made the disclosure from his official X (formerly Twitter) account, providing a timeline some five months after French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the transfer in June.". (Janes: 13 October 2024) (my emphasis)
• 
  Abdujalil Abdurasulov reports that, "[What] happened near the city of Kostyantynivka was unprecedented. The lower trail split in two (cf. image on right), external and a new object quickly accelerated towards the other vapour trail until they crossed and a bright orange flash lit up the sky.The stealth drone’s failure is no doubt a big blow for Russia’s military.... It was due to go into production this year but clearly the unmanned aircraft is not ready... Four protype S-70s are thought to have been built and it is possible the one blown out of the sky over Ukraine was the most advanced of the four. (BBC News: 12 October 2024) (my emphasis)
  
• 
  The World Bank's executive board on Thursday approved the creation of a financial intermediary fund (FIF) to support Ukraine, with contributions expected from the United States, Canada and Japan, three sources familiar with the decision said.
  The only objection to the vote came from Russia, two of the sources familiar with the vote said. (Andrea Shalal (left): Reuters: 10 October 2024) (my emphasis)

 And whilst the World Bank approves a financial intermediary fund for Ukraine, Kris Boratyn reports that,

"Vladimir Putin is facing a potential economic crisis that could see Russia plunge into a £30 billion blackhole, according to experts.

Recent data suggests that the National Wealth Fund, which supports the economy during periods of financial shortfall, could be depleted as soon as next year.

Economists at Fink Money warn that this situation could push Russia’s economy into a deep recession." (Express: 7 October 2024) (my emphasis)

This is also reflected in the deep crisis within, and possible collapse of, the Russian Military Weapons industry, as The Military Show reports below.

 The Military Show: 4 October 2024: YouTube

On the 'nuclear front, The Military Show also reveals the catastrophic failures of Putin's missile tests.

The Military Show: 10 October 2024: YouTube

It is no wonder that fearful of how the Russian people would respond to a renewed call-up for Russians to join the army and fight in Ukraine, Putin is now openly welcoming North Korean soldiers into Luhansk.

As James Kilner (left) reports,

"North Korean soldiers have probably been killed fighting for the Kremlin on the front lines in Ukraine, South Korea has said.
....
Speculation that Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, would send his soldiers to fight in Ukraine for Russia has been rife but this would be the first known evidence of them being stationed on or near the front line." (The Telegraph on Microsoft Start: 10 October 2024) (my emphasis)

Coming to rely on North Korean soldiers simply indicates that the near total fear of failing in Ukraine has beset a shivering Putin in his bunker.  

                                 

 

(to be continued)