Putin [Pu-truschev] is now beginning to running on empty

Once again Putin's glove-puppet, Dmitry Medvedev, has raised his head above the Rusian 'nuclear parapet' and threatened Ukraine and its allies with nuclear war.

As reported by Guy Faulconbridge (right),

"A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that any

Ukrainian attacks on missile launch sites inside Russia with arms supplied by the United States and its allies would risk a nuclear response from Moscow.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said that some Ukrainian military commanders were considering hitting missile launch sites inside Russia with Western-supplied long-range missiles." (Reuters : 11 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 Kanal13 : 13 January 2024 : YouTube

This threat of Medvedev was followed by Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister,

"...  [vowing] that Ukraine "will never be alone" as the UK announced £2.5bn of military aid to Ukraine over the coming year.

It is the UK's largest annual commitment since Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The PM made the announcement as he met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and signed the new agreement." (BBC News : 12 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Upon his arrival in Ukraine, Rishi Sunak stated that,

“I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine, in their darkest hours and in the better times to come,” he said, shortly before he arrived by train in an icy Kyiv." (Luke Harding and Jamie Grierson : The Guardian : 12 January 2023) (my emphasis)

 Luke Harding and Jamie Grierson go on to report that,

"The two leaders held talks and signed a new UK-Ukrainian security treaty."

10 Downing Street UK : 12 January 2024 : YouTube

Putin, no doubt, spurred on his 'glove-puppet' Medvedev to threaten of nuclear war aginst Ukraine and its allies as Ukraine's army continues to inflict heavy losses on his soldiers in Ukraine.

As Timothy Sigsworth (left) reports,

"Ukraine is inflicting “significant losses” on Russian forces attacking its bridgehead over the Dnipro river.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, said Russia’s attempts to push Ukrainian soldiers back over the river are failing because of “persistent command and communication problems” that are causing large numbers of casualties.
...
Ukrainian forces have therefore been able to maintain their positions in the face of repeated “heavy attritional attacks”, it said." (The Telegraph on Microsoft Start : 11 January 2924) (my emphasis)

 Further disconcerting for Putin [Pu-truschev ], Alexander Bolton reports that,

"Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (right) is stepping up his personal efforts to secure a deal on border reform and aid for Ukraine and Israel, which colleagues are characterizing as a major test of his leadership.  
...
The GOP leader reminded colleagues at a closed-door lunch meeting Tuesday not to lose sight of the nation’s pressing national security challenges presented by Russia, Iran and China." (11 January 2024) (my emhasis)

Let us recall that,

"Having succeeded in their bid to block aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, amongst other measures, the Republicans in the US Senate have not only given Putin [Pu-trushev] the best Xmas present that he could ever have wished for, but may also have laid the groundwork for a possible modern-day "Pearl Harbor" to be set in motion that will involve NATO." (blog entry 6 December 2023)

This euphoria of Putin [Pu-truschev] and his Kremlin 'siloviki' clique was rather short-lived, more so since, as reported by Bloomberg news on the Financial Post that,

"Russia’s budget deficit widened more than expected last year, as oil and gas revenues fell by almost a quarter and the Kremlin increased spending amid its war in Ukraine.
...
The deficit widened as spending exceeded projections by 11%. Taxes from oil and gas — a key source of funding for the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine — slumped 24% from a year ago, but still accounted for almost a third of total budget revenue last year, according to Finance Ministry figures." (Bloomberg News on Financial Post : 11 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin [Pu-truschev] and his Kremlin 'siloviki' clique, together with 'glove puppet' Medvedev, are now beginning to run on empty.

How the current Iranian military support of the Houthi in Yemen will affect Iranian military support of Putin's war with Ukraine now remains to be seen.

UPDATE 13 January 2024:

Oli Smith (right) reported that,

"Vladimir Putin has resorted to desperate measures to recruit more soldiers into his flagging army.

The president reportedly personally approved of a plan to cut off heating in Russian prisons to force prisoners to join the army.

President Putin wants to exploit the -35C temperatures in some parts of the country to bolster his weakened troops on the frontline in Ukraine.

This comes as an ex-military chief warned that Russia will run out of troops in weeks.

German tabloid Bild heard from human rights activists who revealed that conditions in Russian prisons were becoming so "unbearable" that fighting in Ukraine was the better option.

... The military's recruitment in Russian prisons has seen Russia's prison population drop from around 420,000 before the war to about 266,000 last month." (Express : 13 january 2024) (my emphasis)

UPDATE 15 January 2024:

Oliver Slow (below) reports that,

 "Ukraine's military says it has shot down a Russian military spy plane over the Sea of Azov, in what analysts say would be a blow to Moscow's air power.

Army chief Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi said the air force had "destroyed" an A-50 long range radar detection aircraft, and an Il-22 air control centre.

The A-50 detects air defences and coordinates targets for Russian jets.
...
Russian officials said they had "no information" about the attacks, but prominent pro-war Russian commentators have said the loss of an A-50 would be significant." (BBC News : 15 January 2024) (my emphasis)

BBC News : 15 January 2024 : YouTube

                          

 

(to be continued)

 

Winter has descended upon Putin in his war with Ukraine.

The first week of the New Year has ended and, already, as reported by AP News,

"Ukraine came under strong Russian missile attacks early Monday that struck near the front lines of fighting in the east as well as in central and western parts of the country, killing one person and injuring at least 30.

The heaviest casualty toll was in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a woman died in a missile attack outside the city of Kryvyi Rih and 24 were injured in a strike on the town of Novomoskovsk. In Kryvyi Rih itself, more than 20 houses and a shopping center were damaged in a missile attack, said regional governor Serhii Lysak." (AP News : 8 January 2023) (my emphasis)

 

PBS News Hour : 5 January 2024 : YouTube

This attack by Putin [Pu-truschev] using North Korean missiles and Iranian drones come as the day before,

"Vladimir Putin staged a lavish Orthodox Christmas Eve dinner for children of soldiers killed in Ukraine as he attempted to present himself as a caring leader by ordering officials to do more for the country’s troops.

The Russian leader vowed to back those “with arms in hands” as he hosted Saturday evening’s heavily choreographed event at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence on the outskirts of Moscow." (James Kilner (left): The Telegraph on Yahoo News : 7 January 2023), 

nothwitstanding the fact that,

"Russia is on course to have lost a total of 500,000 soldiers by the end of this year if casualties continue at their current rate, the UK Ministry of Defense said.

The average daily number of Russian casualties in Ukraine has risen by almost 300 during the last year, the department noted, citing data from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense." (Alia Shoaib (right): Business Insider : 7 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Let us recall that in September of 2023, following on from the report of James Callery (left) that, "Vladimir Putin is scrambling to draft mercenaries from Armenia and Kazakhstan to plug the gaps in troop numbers fighting in Ukraine.", Alarabiya News informed us that,

"Cuba has identified an alleged human trafficking ring aimed at recruiting its citizens to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said Monday.

The government was working to dismantle a “trafficking network that operates from Russia to incorporate Cuban citizens living there, and even some from Cuba, into the military forces involved in military operations in Ukraine”, the ministry said in a statement.

The Cuban government had initiated criminal proceedings against those carrying out the trafficking, it added." (Alarabiya News : 5 September 2023) (my emphasis)

Andrew Roth (right) now also reports that,

"The government of Nepal has banned its citizens from travelling to Russia or Ukraine for employment after 10 young men were killed and dozens more reported missing while fighting, predominately in the Russian military.

More than 200 Nepali soldiers are believed to have enlisted in the Russian army since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Nepal’s foreign ministry had said, and more than 100 of them have gone missing. A smaller number are believed to be fighting in the Ukrainian army.

“Work permits for Russia and Ukraine have been temporarily halted until further arrangements are made to minimise potential risks and losses for Nepali nationals entering these war-ravaged countries,” Kabiraj Upreti (left), a director at the department of foreign employment, told the state broadcaster RSS." (The Guardian : 5 January 2024) (my emphasis)

In repose to Putin's [Pu-truschev's] recent wave of heavy air strikes against the civilians of Ukraine, 

"NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg (right) will convene a meeting between NATO diplomats and officials from Ukraine on Jan. 10, following a recent wave of heavy Russian air strikes on the country, the transatlantic defence alliance said on Thursday.

The meeting, taking the format of the newly establish NATO-Ukraine Council, was being convened at Kyiv's request following missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians, cities and towns, a NATO spokesperson said.

Russia has intensified attacks over the New Year period, with President Vladimir Putin warning that a Ukrainian air strike on the Russian city of Belgorod, which Moscow said killed 25 civilians, would "not go unpunished". (Andrew Gray and Tassilo Hummel : Haaretz : Haaretz on MSN : 4 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Added to which, Pavel Polityuk (left) reports that,

"Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, forced into a bomb shelter by an air alert in Kyiv on Sunday, pledged millions of dollars to NATO to help Ukraine avert Russian drone strikes and announced donations of generators and transformers.

"Russia has continued threats and attacks with missiles and drones in various locations, even on New Year's Day," Kamikawa said through an interpreter, after her news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was moved underground.
...
Kamikawa said Japan would allocate $37 million to a NATO Trust Fund that supports equipment such as a drone detection system.

She also announced donations of five mobile gas turbine generators and seven transformers. Russian air strikes caused frequent power cuts across Ukraine last winter, and its two main cities experienced cuts due to a major attack on Jan. 2." (Reuters : 7 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 Jon Brady : Daily Mail : 7 January 2024

And whilst Putin's [Pu-truschev's]  current attempt to bomb the Ukrainian people into submission, Gergana Krasteva (left) reports that,

"As Vladimir Putin is spending billions of pounds on his war in Ukraine, people across Moscow have been left freezing without heating or hot water.

Temperatures in the capital plummeted to -30°C, and the old heating network is reportedly unable to withstand the weather.

This has meant that more than 20,000 residents have been abandoned freezing in sub-zero temperatures recorded in their own homes for days." (Metro : 7 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Winter has descended upon Putin in his war with Ukraine.

Perkin Amalaraj and Will Stewart : Mail Online : 3 January 2024 

 

                                 

 

(to be continued)

Putin's fate is now in the hands of the Russian people.

As the year draws to a close, esconced in his 'germ free' bunker, Putin [Pu-truschev] has thrown everything at the people of Ukraine to try and bomb them into submission.

 As reported by James Callery and Will Stewart,

"Russia launched 'everything it has' on Friday in its most intense aerial attack since the start of the war, with missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities including Kyiv.

The overnight attacks came days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in a major setback for the Russian navy.

It is seen as the most intense aerial attack of the brutal and bloody war Vladimir Putin unleashed 22 months ago, killing at least 27 civilians and injuring at least 144 across the country.

'Russia attacked with everything it has in its arsenal,' President Zelensky said on Telegram." (Mail Online : 29 December 2023) (my emphasis)

 

Mail Online : 29 December 2023

 

As also reported by George Wright (left),

"Ukraine has come under attack by Russian air strikes again, officials say, after two days of major aerial assaults by both sides.

Most attacks were concentrated on Kharkiv in the east, but explosions were also reported in elsewhere.

Moscow said it was retaliating against Ukrainian strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday, which killed at least 24 people.

That came after Russia carried out air strikes across Ukraine on Friday.

Kyiv said those attacks, which killed at least 41 people, were the biggest missile bombardment of the war so far.
...
Ukraine's interior ministry also reported damage to 12 blocks of flats, 13 homes, hospitals, a hotel building, a kindergarten, commercial premises, a gas pipeline and cars.

"These are not military facilities, but cafes, residential buildings and offices," Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.

"On the eve of the New Year, the Russians want to intimidate our city, but we are not scared - we are unbreakable and invincible." (BBC News : 31 December 2023) (my emhasis)

If Putin [Pu-truschev] thought that the stalling of the US aid package to Ukraine by US Republican Senators was working in his favour, he has another thing coming.

 

As reported by Joe Barnes (right),

 

"Britain vowed to send hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine on Friday after Russia launched its biggest aerial bombardment since the start of the war.

The Telegraph understands that the announcement by Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, was brought forward over fears that Moscow could strike again over the New Year holiday weekend.

Western intelligence chiefs believe Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, could be plotting another wave of missiles and drones as part of a winter campaign against civilian targets." (The Telegraph  : 29 December 2023)  (my emphasis)

Furthermore, Gareth Jennings (left) reports that,

"The Netherlands has released to Ukraine the first 18 Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, with others potentially to follow.

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren made the announcement on 22 December, saying that with the export approvals in place, the jets are being prepared for delivery. No details on the delivery timeline were provided, except that it would happen when trained pilots and suitable infrastructure were in place in Ukraine." (Janes : 28 December 2023) (my emphasis)

 

USA Military Power : February 2023 : YouTube

 

Emily Goodin (left) also reports that,

"Meanwhile, Biden, on Wednesday announced a $250 million weapons package to Ukraine  in what officials said could be a final amount of aid from the U.S. unless Congress approves new funding.
...
The package included air defense munitions, anti-armor munitions, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition." (Mail Online : 29 December 2023) (my emphasis)

 

It is no wonder that, as reported by Perkin Amalaraj,

"Russian despot Vladimir Putin has pushed his nation onto a permanent war footing, after signing a three-year draft budget that has committed to spending more than 6% of Russia's GDP on war spending.

A third of government spending in 2024 will be on the military alone, according to the draft budget.

While some of this is set to be paid for by increased oil revenues, spending in other public sectors, including housing, education and healthcare, are set to be slashed.

Education is expected to decline from 4.8% of total government spending in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024, while healthcare spending is expected to fall from 5.2% in 2023 to 4.4% in 2024.

Russia has also diverted funds for a $400bn (£314bn) 'national projects programme' that aimed to improve living standards in Russia, by spending money on infrastructure and diversifying the economy away from natural resources. (Daily Mail on MSN.com : 31 December 2023) (my emphasis)

 

For how long the people of Russia are prepared to suffer the privations caused by Putin's war against Ukraine since 2014 now remains to be seen.

 

Like Stalin before him, the upcoming 2024 presidential election in Russia has already been won by Putin.

 

But is it Putin or Pu-truschev who has really won the upcoming presidential elections in Russia?

 

Putin's fate is now in the hands of the Russian people. 

 

UPDATE : 3 January 2024

 

Perkin Amalaraj and Will Stewart : Mail Online : 3 January 2024

                                 

 

(to be continued)

Putin's [Pu-trushev's] support from Victor Orban and US Republican Senators are worthless

Having gleefully rejoiced at the political impasse in the US Senate regarding the latests tranche of US aid to Ukraine, Putin [Pu-truschev] now finds himself deflated by the fact that his 'EU comrade-in-arms', Victor Orban, has failed in his attempt to stymie Ukraine's accession to the EU.

CBS News : 18 December 2023 : YouTube

As resported by Barbara Moens, Jacopo Barigazzi and Aitor Hernández-Morales,

 "EU leaders on Thursday agreed to open accession talks with Kyiv, taking a definitive step toward Ukraine’s integration into the European project by bypassing Moscow’s closest ally in the bloc: the Hungarian prime minister.
.....
EU leaders thwarted weeks of vehement threats from Orbán to veto all Ukraine-related decisions within the European Council on the summit’s first day. However in a surprising, pre-agreed move, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested Orbán leave the meeting room so leaders could, technically, make a unanimous decision in his absence." (Politico : 15 December 2023) (my emphasi)

Not however to be outdone, Orban took a leaf out of the political playbook of Senate Republicans in the US.

As reported by Jaroslav Lukiv & Jessica Parker,

"Hungary has blocked €50bn ($55bn; £43bn) in EU aid for Ukraine - just hours after an agreement was reached on starting membership talks.

"Summary of the nightshift: veto for the extra money to Ukraine," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after Thursday's talks in Brussels. (BBC News : 16 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Bloomberg Television : 15 December 2023 : YouTube

Jaroslav Lukiv & Jessica Parker go on to report that,

"EU leaders said Ukraine would not be left without support.

Ukraine is critically dependent on EU and US funding as it continues to fight occupying Russian forces. (ibid Jaroslav Lukiv & Jessica Parker)

And in repsonse to Ukraine's financial needs,  the Council of the EU report that,

 Added to which, Joe Barnes (left) reports that,

"Britain will use its naval expertise to help Ukraine control the Black Sea as part of a 10-year security pact to be signed in the coming weeks.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will pledge to “keep Kyiv in the fight” against Russia by providing military support focused on naval assets, as well as financial aid and intelligence sharing." (The Telegraph : 18 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Further accellerating Putin's [Pu-trushev's] deflation from his previous euphoria over the stalling actions of Repblican Senators in the US and Victor Orban against US and EU support for Ukraine, his critics in Russia are becoming more strident in their criticism of his war with Ukraine.

As reported by Will Stewart (right),

"Vladimir Putin has been told to 'go to the frontline yourself - and die' by the wives and girlfriends of mobilised Russian soldiers.

They demand that he ends the slaughter in Ukraine amid an upsurge in protest in his country against the war he triggered almost two years ago.
....
[The Way Home] women's protest channel asked: 'What the hell are denazification and demilitarisation?'

'Do you yourself understand what you are talking about?

'Every time you say these words, people die.

'Let us live in peace!

'Or go to the front yourself - and die.'" (Daily Mail : 19 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Daily Mail : 19 December 2023

As also reported by Gregorio Sorgi, Barbara Moens and Jacopo Barigazzi report that,

"EU leaders are promising Ukraine will still get its €50 billion aid package to help prop up its war-shattered economy against Russian invasion — with or without the backing of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
...
“It’s possible for the 26 member states to provide the money on a bilateral basis,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters after the European Council in the Belgian capital. “A bit of time and space over the Christmas period might help.” (Politico : 15 December 2023) (my emphasis)    

Furthermore, as reported by the Council of the EU,

"The Council adopted today a twelfth package of economic and individual restrictive measures in view of the continued Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures deliver a further blow to Putin's ability to wage war by targeting high-value sectors of the Russian economy and making it more difficult to circumvent EU sanctions.
...

With this 12th package, we are putting forward a robust set of new listings and economic measures which will further weaken Russia’s war machine. Our message is clear, as I already stated when I chaired the informal Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv: we remain steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine and will continue to support its fight for freedom and sovereignty. (Josep Borrell (left), High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) " Council of the EU : 18 December 2023) (my emhasis)

And Putin's [Pu-truschev's] response to these developments?

As reported by Yulia Kesaieva, Darya Tarasova, Benjamin Brown and Amarachi Orie,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned there will be “problems” with neighboring Finland after it joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) earlier this year.
.....
It was also a blow for President Putin, who has long warned against NATO expansion.
.....
“There were no problems, but now there will be, because we will now create the Leningrad military district there and definitely concentrate military units there,” Putin added in the interview by Russian state broadcaster Russia 1." (CNN : 17 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Arirang News : 18 December 2023 : YouTube

This 'temper tantrum'of Putin [Pu-truschev] yet again poses the question :-

"Who is now in charge of Russia??? 

 As reported by Iona Cleave (right),

"The independent Russian media outlet, Proekt, led an investigation into 71-year-old Putin's past year of so-called "public" meetings.

Analysing 521 meetings and speaking to Kremlin journalists, they alleged that Putin hides from visitors and has switched over a fifth of meetings to video to hide his sickness and use of body doubles.

During 43 per cent of his meetings (224 of them), Proekt claims that the president "one way or another keeps his distance", suggesting he could be hiding his use of doppelgangers.

Over 113 of his meetings were conducted over video, including almost all with his Security Council as they made major decisions over his bloody war in Ukraine without him physically present." (The Sun : 8 December 2023) (my emhasis)

As I wrote in my last blog entry,

"In 1964, in the lead up to the British election, the late Harold Wilson (left) is supposed to have coined the famous phrase, ‘A week is a long time in politics.’

It would be wise for Putin [Pu-truschev] to take heed of what Wilson said  59 years ago. " (blog entry 10 December 2023)

Putin's [Pu-truschev's] Xmas presents from US Republican Senators and Victor Orban have proved to be worthless.

                                 

 

(to be continued)

Putin [Pu-truschev] should note that ‘A week is a long time in politics.’

In my previous blog entry (6 December 2023) I wrote that,

"Having succeeded in their bid to block aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, amongst other measures, the Republicans in the US Senate have not only given Putin [Pu-trushev] the best Xmas present that he could ever have wished for, but may also have laid the groundwork for a possible modern-day "Pearl Harbor" to be set in motion that will involve NATO." (blog entry 6 December 2023)

It should therefore come as no surprise that Putin's [Pu-truschev's] Russian TV propagandists are lauding the blocking of aid to Ukraine by US Senate Republicans.

Russia Media Monitor : 8 December 2023 : YouTube

Underscoring the dangers of the blocking of aid for Ukraine by Republicans at this critical  juncture in Ukraine's war with Putin [Pu-truschev], Elizabeth Haigh reports that,

 "The first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (left) has warned the world will 'let Ukrainians die' if they do not continue their support as the war with Russia comes towards the end of its second year.
...
The Ukrainian first lady said: 'We really need the help. In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die'.

'And if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die.'

'It hurts us greatly to see the signs that the passionate willingness to help may fade. It is a matter of life for us. Therefore, it hurts to see that.'" (Mail Online : 9 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, as Gabriela Baczynska and Andrew Gray report,

"The European Union will find ways to provide more financial support to Ukraine even if Hungary vetoes it as well as membership talks for Kyiv at a summit next week, a senior official said on Friday.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (right) has threatened to block moves to give Kyiv 50 billion euros in budget support through 2027 and the green light for membership talks - a key strategic objective for Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion.

Failure to deliver on those two proposals would come as a heavy blow to Ukraine, exhausted after nearly two years of a war that has descended into a fierce attritional battle with little change to the front lines this year." (Reuters : 8 December 2023) (my emphasis)

CRUX : 7 December 2023 :  YouTube

Meanwhile, as reported by Le Monde (with AFP),

"French President Emmanuel Macron met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday, December 7, in a bid to break the deadlock ahead of an EU summit after the Hungarian leader threatened to block further backing for Ukraine.
...
Macron welcomed Orban at the Elysée Palace for a working dinner from 1930 GMT to discuss "several subjects" on the agenda for the EU summit next week ..
...
The dinner will mark a rare welcome by a major Western European leader for the Hungarian strongman, who has retained closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin than any other EU leader, even after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine." (Le Monde with AFP : 7 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Haber Lütfen : 8 December 2023 : YouTube 

Whilst Macron has laid out the red carpet for Victor Orban, Barbara Moens, Jakob Hanke Vela, Clea Caulcutt and Hans von der Burchard report that,
 
“We have no time for games [with Victor Orban] at this moment,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (left) said earlier this week.

“If we are in a situation where peace in Europe is under attack, then we must do everything we can every day and every hour to protect our people, and even more so the people of Ukraine.” (Politico : 7 December 2023) (my emphasis)

The contrast between French Macron and German Baerbock regarding Victor Orban could not be starker. 

In similar vein, the contrast between US President Biden and US Republican Senators and Congress members regarding aid for Ukraine could also not be starker.

Putin [Pu-truschev] may be pleased indeed with US Republican Senators and members of Congress over their blocking of aid for Ukraine, just as he (they?) is pleased with the stand taken by his comrade in arms, Victor Orban, over EU aid for Ukraine.

But for how long?

In 1964, in the lead up to the British election, the late Harold Wilson (left) is supposed to have coined the famous phrase, ‘A week is a long time in politics.’

It would be wise for Putin [Pu-truschev] to take heed of what Wilson said  59 years ago.

    

 

(to be continued)

Putin's [Pu-truschev's] euphoria at political impasse in financial support for Ukraine .

Two days ago Arpan Rai (left) reported that,

"Ukraine’s Western allies must keep up their support for the country through a difficult winter to come in its war with Russia, Nato’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said.

Mr Stoltenberg admitted Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive this summer had failed to make significant territorial gains, but described Russia’s failure to capture any more major cities as a “strategic defeat” for Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.

“Wars develop in phases. We have to support Ukraine in both good and bad times. We should also be prepared for bad news,” the Nato chief said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD. (The Independent : 4 December 2023) (my emphasis)

As Stoltenberg was reinforcing NATO'S support for Ukraine, Putin [Pu-truschev] was gleeful as the Republicans in the US House of Representatives continued to thwart US President Biden's attempt to gain more funding support for Ukraine.

As reported by Haley Britzky and Lauren Fox,

"The Biden administration’s dire warning that the US will soon be out of money for Ukraine has run up against a grim reality on Capitol Hill, where some House conservatives have balked at supporting more Ukraine funding and Senate Republicans are insisting on making it part of a broader spending package to include money for Israel, Taiwan and the US Southern border." (CNN : 6 December 2023) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Frank Thorp V, Kate Santaliz and Lori Rampani,

"A classified briefing for senators on the White House's request for aid for Israel and Ukraine became "heated" Tuesday, with Republican members storming out of the meeting.
...
But it fell apart, senators from both parties said, after Republicans began asking about the border. GOP members in both chambers have demanded serious changes to immigration policy to address rising migrant crossings in exchange for passing new aid for Ukraine. (NBC News : 6 December 2023) (my emphasis)

DW News : 5 December 2023 : YouTube

 Aljazeera also reports that,

"The victory of the far-right in the recent Netherlands election and fiscal challenges in Germany are also complicating negotiations over the budget, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

The delay is endangering crucial pledges to Kyiv made months ago. A budget agreement would be “very, very difficult”, a senior official said.

The 50 billion euro ($54bn) instrument proposed is designed to keep Kyiv solvent to 2027. A failure to approve long-term funding, as well as a separate 20 billion euro ($22bn) facility for weapons purchases, would hit Kyiv hard as the war grinds on.

Olha Stefanishyna (right), Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, last week described the EU summit as an “existential moment” for her country." (Aljazeera : 4 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Notwithstanding the critical implications of US Republicans denying Biden's call for more funding support for Ukraine and the EU grappling with its budget, Farouq Suleiman reports that,

"Britain's foreign minister David Cameron (left) will underline the importance of support and humanitarian funding for Ukraine during his first visit to Washington since he assumed his post last month, the UK foreign office said on Wednesday.

The former prime minister will travel to the United States to reaffirm both the strength of Britain's relationship with Washington and London's continued support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion." (Reuters : 6 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin [Pu-truschev] may be rejoicing at the US and EU political impasse in support for Ukraine, but he also has to contend with the fact that,

"Ukraine’s military has said it has clashed with Russian forces 97 times across the frontline over the last 24 hours, amid fierce fighting as Kyiv looks to defend its lines.

 The general staff of the Ukrainian army said that it had repelled Russian attacks around Bakhmut and other areas of the east, and had pushed Vladimir Putin’s forces back around Zaporizhzhia in the south." (Maira Butt (right): The Independent : 6 December 2023) (my emphasis)

Maira Butt goes on to report that,

"Ukraine’s military security services are claiming Russian forces are killing their own troops using drones so they can’t be captured.

Spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces, Oleksandr Stupun, made the claim on Ukrainian national TV saying: “The fact is that the Russians do not allow their soldiers to surrender.

“There have even been cases when Russian drones have killed their own wounded.” (ibid Maira Butt) 

Putin [Pu-truschev] would be well advised to heed the words of Jens Stoltenberg (right).

 “Wars develop in phases. We have to support Ukraine in both good and bad times. We should also be prepared for bad news,” the Nato chief said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD.

This small moment of Putin's [Pu-truschev's] euphoria in light of the US and EU political impasse in support for Ukraine may, indeed, be short-lived. 

UPDATE : 7 December 2023

 Rachael Bunyan (left) reports that,

"US Senate Republicans have given Vladimir Putin 'the greatest gift he could hope for' by blocking a £50billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine, President Joe Biden said.

Biden had pleaded with Republicans yesterday for a fresh infusion of military aid for Ukraine, warning that a victory for Russia over Ukraine would leave Moscow in a position to attack NATO allies and could draw US troops into a war.

But hours later, Senate Republicans defiantly voted to block the £50.3billion ($61bn) of funding for Ukraine from advancing, in a devastating blow to Volodymyr Zelensky. That was part of a wider £87billion package ($110bn) of wartime funding for Israel as well as other national security priorities." (Daily Mail : 7 December 2023) (my emphasis)

CNN : 7 December 2023 : YouTube

Prior to America entering WW2 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour,

"During an emergency cabinet meeting called by Roosevelt (left) immediately after the war erupted in Europe, it was agreed that the United States would remain an outside influence unless directly threatened or attacked.

Even had the government backed the war, the United States was still getting over the turmoil of World War I. The general public was not ready to join another war, opting for neutrality. A poll taken in 1939, after the outbreak of war, showed 94% as being against going to war." (Pearl Harbor : 19 January 2017) (my emphasis)

And on Tuesday past (5 December 2023),

"A classified briefing for senators on the White House's request for aid for Israel and Ukraine became "heated" Tuesday, with Republican members storming out of the meeting.
...
But it fell apart, senators from both parties said, after Republicans began asking about the border. GOP members in both chambers have demanded serious changes to immigration policy to address rising migrant crossings in exchange for passing new aid for Ukraine." (ibid Frank Thorp V, Kate Santaliz and Lori Rampani,)

Having succeeded in their bid to block aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, amongst other measures, the Republicans in the US Senate have not only given Putin [Pu-trushev] the best Xmas present that he could ever have wished for, but may also have laid the groundwork for a possible modern-day "Pearl Harbor" to be set in motion that will involve NATO.

                                 

 

(to be continued)