In my last blog entry (13 April 2025) I wrote that,
The "delusional" and the "teritorial expansionist" aims of the political box which Putin has build around himself since his invasion of, and annexation of, Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 contains his "unwavering" delusion of recreating "Novorossiya".
This "Novorossiya delusion" of Putin, still smarting from the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, is best illustrated when, in an interview in 2014, he stated that,
"Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview on 17 April 2014 that the territories of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa were part of what was called Novorossiya. In May 2014, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic proclaimed the confederation of Novorossiya and its desire to extend its control towards all of south eastern Ukraine" (Wikipedia)
Yet, in his current war with Ukraine to fulfill his "delusional ideas" about recreating a historical "Novorossiya", and as reported by John T Psaropoulos (right),
"Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine are slowing down dramatically,
two analyses have found, continuing a pattern from 2024 at a time when
both nations are trying to project strength in the face of United
States-mediated negotiations aimed at ending the war.
...
Russia’s diminishing returns have come even as it has greatly expanded the size of its forces from an estimated 150,000 soldiers who carried out its initial invasion in February to May 2022." (Al Jazeera: 10 April 2025) (my emphasis)
And whilst Europe and the UK continue to defend the inalienable right of Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's invasive war with Ukraine Trump, on the other hand, continues his 'near' unwavering support of Putin and his "delusional" dreams about recreating "Novorossiya".
"Sir Keir Starmer’s coalition of the willing can bring Donald Trump into line with Western allies over Russia’s war by ramping up joint production of ammunition and building new factories in Ukraine, multiple Western officials and defence sources have told The i Paper.
Officials said the coalition should help Ukraine build as much strategic leverage as possible while peace talks stall. Sources suggest this should include opening factories in Ukraine and massively increasing the country’s ammunition production." (The iPaper: 16 April 2025) (my emphasis)
On the other hand, and as reported in an interview on CBS with a former CBS National Security contributor,
"There are reports that the Kremlin is praising the [Trump] administration saying that Washington's rapidly changing stance onboard policy, quote,
".... largely aligns with Moscow's vision on international affairs"
Further during the interview, a former CBS National Security contributor stated that,
"... President Trump does not view protecting Ukraine's sovereignty as a core US National Security interest. He views it more as charity. The reality is that the bi-partisan support for helping Ukraine ... was really centred on the fact that helping Ukraine was in America's National Interest" (CBS News: 17 March 2025) (my emphasis)
"He [Trump] is beginning to look as if he's been genuinly manipulated by Putin because the Kremlin shows all the signs of knowing that they've got the White House where they want them ..." (Sky News: 16 April 2025) (my emphasis)
And underscoring the manipulation of Trump by Putin, France 24 (cf. also MSN) reports that,
"The US State Department has shut down its Global Engagement Center, which aimed to counter disinformation from countries like Russia, China, and Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed on Wednesday that the centre restricted free speech in the US and elsewhere.
The State Department has shut down its office that sought to deal with misinformation and disinformation that Russia, China and Iran have been accused of spreading." (France 24: 17 April 2025) (my emphasis)
"Poland's Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, described the attack [on Sumy] as "Russia’s mocking answer" to Kyiv’s agreement to a ceasefire proposed by the Trump administration more than a month ago.
Mr Sikorski, speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, said: "I hope that President Trump, the US administration, see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill, and I hope the right decisions are taken." (Daily Express: 14 April 2025) (my emphasis)
"Donald Trump doubled down on his pro-Russia strategy on Monday, deflecting blame away from Moscow for deadly ballistic missile attacks in Ukraine, while taking no action to ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin to implement the cease-fire the president repeatedly promised on the 2024 campaign trail." (Rolling Stone: 15 April 2025) (my emphasis)
And as Putin bombards the city of Dnipro, Arpan Rai (left) reports that,
Donald Trump’s secretary of state Marco Rubio and Moscow-friendly envoy Steve Witkoff are travelling to Paris for talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine – as the US president’s Easter deadline for a truce rapidly approaches.
With Mr Trump having expressed frustration with both Kyiv and Moscow over the slow progress in peace talks, and lashing out at Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky with false claims that he “started” Vladimir Putin’s invasion, European officials are expected to plead Kyiv’s case in the talks on Thursday." (The Independent: 17 April 2025) (my emphasis)
As his global "tariff" strategy accumulates ongoing failures and criticisms in the US and throughout the world, is Trump now going to ensure that Putin succeeds in demanding the complete capitulation of Ukraine in Putin's raging war with Ukraine, simply to "save face"?
(to be continued)
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