Putin is praying that US Republicans continue to withold US support for Ukraine

As the re-anointing of Putin as 'Supreme Leader and Czar of Russia' draws ever closer, so does his indiscrimanate terror bombing of the people of Ukraine continue to accelerate.

 As reported by Olena Harmash and Yurii Kovalenko (left),

"Russia unleashed missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during Wednesday morning's rush hour, killing five people, wounding more than 30, and damaging residential buildings and energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said.......
"Another massive attack against our state. Six regions were struck by the enemy. All our services are now working to cope with the consequences of this terror," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app." (Reuters : 7 February 2024) (my emphasis) 

Putin is determined to bomb the people of Ukraine into submission before his inevitable crowning glory as the "Supreme Leader and Czar of Russia."

cf. AFP News Agency : 7 January 2024 : YouTube

And in the US, Donald Trump continues his 'bromance' with Putin by deperately ensuring that his Republican 'cult' followers in the US Senate and Congress continue to stymie US President Biden's aid for Ukraine. 

Under the guise of rejecting US President Biden's aid for securing the Southern border of the US against illegal immigration, US aid for Ukraine has also been blocked by the Republican party in the Senate.

In the words of US Republican Senator James Lankford (right),

"Popular commentator, four weeks ago that I talked to .. they told me flat out, before they knew ANY of the CONTENTS of the Bill, that, "If you try to move a Bill that solves the border crisis during this presidential year I will do whatever I can to destroy you because I do NOT want you to solve this during the presidential election" (Lawrence O' Donnell : MSNBC : 8 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Lawrence O' Donnell : MSNBC : 8 February 2024 : YouTube

This rejection of the Southern border Bill by Republican politicians, a Bill that INCLUDES aid for Ukraine, is been hailed by Putin and his 'siloviki' in the Kremlin as a 'green light' for ramping up their onslaught of terror against the people of Ukraine.

The Biden aid for Ukraine is precisely for Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's [Pu-truschev's] 'terror onslaught' against the people of Ukraine.

Step forward Emmanuel Macron, President of France!

As reported by David Axe,

 "Ukraine needs warplanes. France is retiring some of its delta-wing Mirage 2000Ds. And the French government already has pledged to Ukraine the Mirage’s best precision-guided munitions.
...
Moreover, the Mirages could reach Ukraine shortly after Ukraine also receives a large consignment—hundreds, according to Macron—of Hammer rocket-boosted bombs, each ranging as far as 34 miles. (Forbes : 6 February 2024) (my emphasis)

David Axe further reports that,

"Ukrainian officials have been eyeing the type even as they work with Danish, Dutch and Norwegian officials to acquire score of surplus European Lockheed Martin F-16s—and get Ukrainian pilots qualified on the single-seat fighters in the United States and Romania." (ibid  David Axe)  

France, Denmark, Holland, and Norway have rather put a damper on the exuberance of Putin [Pu-truschev] and his 'Kremlin siloviki' celebrations of Republicans in the US Senate blocking Biden's aid for Ukraine.

Indicative of Putin [Pu-truschev] and his Kremlin 'siloviki's  fear of extra US aid to Ukraine is the fact, as reported by Rebecca Rommen (right), that,

"Russian military bloggers have hit out at Kremlin propagandists after they ignored recent "blunders" made by the Russian army, the think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

They pointed to one particularly damning loss in an armored assault against Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, per the report.

In the assault, Russian forces reportedly came under attack from Ukrainian drones and sustained heavy losses, losing a column of armored vehicles, including several T-72 tanks and fighting vehicles." (Business Insider : 4 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Underscoring what Russian military bloggers are revealing; as reported by  Sinéad Baker (left),

"Russian prisoners who are sent to fight in Ukraine are now being made to serve until the war ends instead of just for six months, the BBC reported.
...
But prisoners who sign up for the fight now are being told that they will likely have to stay on the front lines until the end, according to the BBC.

They can get a full release only if they get a state decoration, become incapacitated, reach the oldest age for serving in the military, or the war ends, the outlet reported." (Business Insider : 5 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin [Pu-truschev] simply cannot run away from the fact that the EU is filling the vacuum left by the the current witholding of military support for Ukraine by US Republicans.

Indeed, Putin [Pu-truschev] is praying that US Republicans continue to withold US support for Ukraine.

UPDATE : 9 February 2024 

In an outline by Jen Psaki of the changing and growing support of Putin by Republicans since his invasion of, and illegal annexation of, Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, US National Security advisor Jake Sullivan stated in December of 2023,

"Question To Jake Sullivan : "Do you think that any member of Congress who votes against aid to Ukraine is voting for Putin?

Jake Sullivan answer : "I believe that any member of Congress who does not support funding for Ukraine is voting for an outcome that will make it easier for Putin to prevail. That is, a vote against supporting Ukraine is a vote to improve Putin's position. That's just an inescapable reality" (MSNBC : 8 February 2024) (my emphasis)

MSNBC : 8 February 2024

 

(to be continued)

For how long can Putin (?) fool ALL of the people of Russia?

"In the 1930s, the Kingdom of Hungary relied on increased trade with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany to pull itself out of the Great Depression. Hungarian politics and foreign policy had become more stridently nationalistic by 1938, and Hungary adopted an irredentist policy similar to Germany's, attempting to incorporate ethnic Hungarian areas in neighboring countries into Hungary. Hungary benefited territorially from its relationship with the Axis.(right: Hungarian leader Miklós Horthy and German leader Adolf Hitler in 1938) " (Wikipedia)

Fast forward to 2024 and we have the current Hungarian leader, Victor Orban, following in the footsteps of his predesessor Miklós Horthy, and advocating the recovery of territory culturally or historically related to Hungary's  nation but now an integral part of Ukraine.

And to this end, as reported by Lisa O'Carroll (left),

"EU leaders have returned to Brussels for a second showdown in two months with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán over his refusal to sanction a new €50bn assistance package for Ukraine." (The Guardian : 1 Februaary 2024) (my emphasis)

Guardian News : January 2024 : YouTube

Underpinning Victor Orban's recalcitrant attitude towards the €50bn assistance package for Ukraine, and his unwavering support for Putin, is the fact that,

"Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday.", as reported by Boldizsar Gyori and Gergely Szakacs. (Reuters : 28 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

And whilst Putin [Pu-truschev] may be gleefully 'egging on' Orban to throw another spanner in the works of the EU's assistance package for Ukraine, Lili Bayer has just reported a mere two hours ago that,

 "Charles Michel (left), the European Council president, has announced that a deal has been reached on 50 billion euros (€50bn) for Ukraine.

“All 27 leaders agreed,” he said, adding that “this locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine.”

The agreement comes after the bloc’s most influential politicians sat down with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán this morning.

Orbán had vetoed an agreement during a summit in December, and efforts have been ongoing to bring him onboard.

Michel’s announcement indicates leaders succeeded in convincing the Hungarian leader." (The Guardian : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Lisa O'Carroll,

"Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said the decision [of the €50bn assistance package for Ukraine]“once again proves strong EU unity”. The four-year package is designed to keep Ukraine’s economy afloat, with cash for hospitals, schools and civil servants wages and pensions.

“Continued EU financial support for Ukraine will strengthen long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military assistance and sanctions pressure on Russia,” he said." (The Guardian : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Ironically, this critical decision of the EU follows on from, as reported by Steve Rosenberg,

"In an exhibition hall opposite the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin walks onto a stage.

There's rapturous applause, a standing ovation.

No surprise there. The invited guests - many of them Russian celebrities - are officially supporting Mr Putin's candidacy in the presidential election in March.

The Kremlin leader is running for a fifth term in office. The audience here is only too pleased.
" (BBC News : 31 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

And what does Putin (?) say to his audience?

As reported by Vladimir Isachenkov (right),

"President Vladimir Putin vowed Wednesday to push back Ukrainian forces to reduce the threat of attacks on Russian territory as he met with activists running his campaign ahead of the March presidential election that he's all but certain to win.

Asked about plans for the military campaign in Ukraine, Putin said the line of contact needs to be pushed back to "such a distance from our territory that will make it safe from Western-supplied long-range artillery that Ukrainian authorities use for shelling peaceful cities." (AP on CTV News : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin, vowing to reduce the threat from Ukraine's armed forces, comes against the backdrop of,

"Ukraine launched a massive missile barrage against four Russian military positions in occupied Crimea on Wednesday.
... 

It came a day after Ukrainian forces struck a radar station used by air defence systems in north-western Crimea.

Explosions and active surface-to-air interceptors were reported in the major port city of Sevastopol and the nearby military airfield of Belbek." (Joe Barnes : The Telegraph : 31 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

As also reported by David Averre and Will Stewart,

"Ukraine's armed forces today claimed to have sunk another Russian warship using kamikaze attack drones in a formidable strike off the coastline of Crimea.

Footage shared by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence showed how its unmanned seafaring vessels bore down on the £55 million Black Sea missile ship Ivanovets.

The 184ft warship was hit by multiple drones off annexed Crimea and was reportedly sunk after suffering massive hull damage." (Daily Mail : 1 February 2024) (my emphasis)

 Daily Mail : 1 February 2024 : YouTube

 

 

Putin's (?) 'macho' words before an admiring audience rings rather 'hollow' in light of Ukraine's devastating onslaught against his forces in Ukraine's Crimea.

 As Abraham Lincoln (right) once said,

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, 

and all of the people some of the time, 

but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”

For how long will Putin (?) be able to 'fool ALL of the people of Russia ALL of the time?" 

CNN : 29 January 2024 : YouTube

 

(to be continued)

Putin's desperation is now on full view for all to see.

 Miriam Kuepper (left) reports that,

"Vladimir Putin is allegedly putting out feelers to see if America is ready for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

The Russian president is also 'prepared to drop opposition to Kyiv joining Nato', according to a new Bloomberg report.

He approached senior US officials last month via an unnamed intermediary as he was 'testing the waters' to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, two people close to the Kremlin claimed. (Mail Online : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 As also reported by Bloomberg News,

"Vladimir Putin is testing the waters on whether the US is ready to engage in talks for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He’s put out feelers to the US via indirect channels to signal he’s open to discussion, including potentially on future security arrangements for Ukraine, according to two people close to the Kremlin.

US officials say they’re not aware of the supposed overtures, which may amount to a trial balloon, and see no indication the Russian president is serious about looking for a way to end the fighting, which has settled into a deadly stalemate as the war heads into a third year. (Bloomberg News : 25 January 2024) (my emphasis)

But, as reported by Mark Trevelyan and Alison Williams (right),

"The Kremlin on Friday denied a Bloomberg report that President Vladimir Putin was "putting out feelers" to the United States for possible talks on ending the war in Ukraine and might consider dropping key demands on Ukraine's security status.

The Bloomberg report said Putin was "testing the waters" on whether Washington was ready to engage in talks, and had reached out to the United States via indirect channels." (Reuters : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And whilst US officials state that Putin [Pu-truschev] may be flying a "trial baloon" to end his war with Ukraine, this "trial baloon" may just have something to do with the fact that,

"Ukraine appears to be targeting Russia's oil and gas industry with small, cheap drones as it seeks to disrupt Russian supply lines.

Fires have broken out at several energy infrastructure locations in Russia over the last few weeks following suspected drone strikes, including at a Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse, a Rosneft storage facility in Klintsy, and Novatek's Baltic Sea Ust-Luga terminal.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show the fires at the facilities in Tuapse and Klintsy.

Ukraine is likely targeting the facilities in an attempt to disrupt Russia's military operations." (Alia Shoaib (left) : Business Insider : 27 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Joe Blogs : 23 January 2024 : YouTube

And as reported by Ukrayinska Pravda,

"Ukraine’s defence forces killed 770 Russian soldiers and destroyed 15 armoured combat vehicles and 3 artillery systems over the past day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook" (Ukrayinska Pravda on Yahoo News : 27 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And on the economic front,, as reported by Charter97,

"Last year, Russian exports amounted to $422.7 billion — $169.4 billion (almost 30%) less than in the record year of 2022 ($592.1 billion) — this is the preliminary assessment of the Central Bank. This is the minimum since 2020, and if we exclude the pandemic year, since 2018.

At the same time, imports increased by $27.9 billion (10%) and returned to the pre-war level — $304.4 billion, as in 2021. This was the main factor in the collapse of the current account balance of the balance of payments — almost 5 times from $238 billion in 2022 to $50.2 billion." (Charter97 : 28 january 2024) (my emphasis)

And as now reported by Amy Walker (left),

"In Russia, the government and central bank are arguing about how best to protect the currency.

Putin considers his measures to be the best - the head of the central bank denies this.

Moscow : In Russia, a public dispute is emerging between President Vladimir Putin and central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina. (right)

This is about capital controls that are intended to stabilize the ruble.
...
Putin introduced capital controls to prevent currency collapse

The Russian government ordered the capital controls by decree in October 2023; they were initially limited to April.

According to the government's wishes, the regulation should run until the end of the year (i.e. 2024), as it announced on Tuesday (January 23) in the messaging app Telegram.

It obliges exporters to convert their foreign exchange earnings into the local currency, rubles.

In the summer of 2023, the ruble collapsed massively; at times there were 101 rubles for one dollar." (The Limited Times  : 26 January 2024) (my emphasis)

As the Russian economy continues to head South, and Ukraine continues to inflict serious damage on Putin's [Pu-truschev's] oil refineries and oil storage facilities, the very backbone of Russia's economy, is it any wonder that Putin [Pu-truschev] is now "flying 'peace' balloons"?

Putin's desperation is now on full view for all to see.  

                              

    

(to be continued)

Putin's desperation to regain his Czarist stature in the minds of the Russian people.

The noose is beginning to tighten around Putin's [Pu-truschev's] neck as the EU, NATO, the UK, and the US, implement financial and military-support strategies to enhance their support of Ukraine in its war with Putin [Pu-truschev]. 

On the NATO front, the Turkish government has finally relented in supporting Sweden's accession to NATO.

 As reported by Arthur Parashar (left),

"Turkish MPs have finally given Sweden the green light to join NATO, clearing the biggest remaining hurdle to expanding the Western military alliance.

The key vote leaves Hungary as the only NATO member left to approve Sweden's application after 20 months of delays." (Mail Online : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Mail Online : 23 January 2024

Wrong-footed by Turkey supporting Sweden's NATO accession Victor Orban, Putin's [Pu-truschev's] proxy in the EU, is now scrambling to try and make amends with Sweden over his vociferous call NOT to allow Sweden to join NATO.

 As reported by Stuart Lau (left),

"If you want to join NATO, come and talk to me — that's Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's latest message to his Swedish counterpart.

"Today I sent an invitation letter to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson ... for a visit to Hungary to negotiate on Sweden’s NATO accession," Orbán tweeted Tuesday.
...
Kristersson's office did not immediately respond to Orbán's invitation." (Politico : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

 It is telling that Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (right) has not yet responded to Orban's sudden invitation, no doubt due to the fact that the EU, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda,

".... EU member states are ready to approve the aid package for Ukraine at the summit in Brussels on 1 February, regardless of whether Hungary supports it.

If Orban (left) continues to block the support package, the remaining 26 EU countries will decide to approve it, and preparations for such a scenario are already in full swing.
...
The sources stressed that if Orban decides to go this route, the EU could launch the next stage of punitive measures against Hungary, which could lead to the deprivation of its voting rights as a member state." (Ukrainska Pravda on Yahoo News : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 If Putin [Pu-truschev] is jumping up and down in anger in his bunker at Sweden within a hair's breadth of becoming a full member of NATO, he is apopletic with rage at the EU deciding to approve its E50 billion financial package in support of Ukraine by simply side-lining his EU proxy, Victor Orban.

Putin's [Pu-truschev's] rage is evidenced by his recent missile onslaught against the people of Ukraine.

The Independent : 24 January 2024

 As reported by Maryam Zakir-Hussain and Tara Cobham (left),

"At least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said strikes throughout the country killed 18 people and injured more than 130 in his nightly video address." (The Independent : 24 January 2024) (my emphasis)

These assaults of Putin [Pu-truschev] against the civilian population of Ukraine has spurred on the military support of EU members and NATO to ensure that Ukraine can continue its devastating assault on Russia's military capabilities.

As reported by AP News,

" NATO signed on Tuesday a $1.2-billion contract to make tens of thousands of artillery rounds to replenish the dwindling stocks of its member countries as they supply ammunition to Ukraine to help it defeat Russia’s invasion.
...
“This is important to defend our own territory, to build up our own stocks, but also to continue to support Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (right) told reporters.

“We cannot allow President (Vladimir) Putin to win in Ukraine,” he added. “That would be a tragedy for the Ukrainians and dangerous for all of us.” (AP News : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 Furthermore, as reported by Sabine Siebold (left),

"Germany will send six helicopters to Ukraine out of Germany's military inventory to be delivered from the second quarter of this year, its defence minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday, the first delivery of its kind from Germany.

The helicopters, called "Sea King" helicopters, should help Ukraine with everything from surveillance of the Black Sea to transporting soldiers, Pistorius said." (Reuters : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)

On the home front, Putin [Pu-truschev] is having to face escalating and dangerous criticisms, even in the face of,

"Russian lawmakers are weighing a bill that would grant the state power to seize property from people who criticize Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.  

Criticizing the invasion, which began nearly two years ago, is effectively a crime already. But the new bill aims to make penalties even harsher.

The draft bill, considered by Russia’s parliament on Monday, would allow for the state to seize the property of Russians who have left the country and have criticized the war but who continue to rely on revenue from renting out their houses or apartments in Russia." (Bradford Betz : Fox News on Microsoft Start: 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)   

As reported by Steve Rosenberg (right),

"In a function room on the edge of Moscow, something unusual is happening.

A group of women are publicly criticising the Russian authorities. Their husbands are among the 300,000 reservists mobilised by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine in autumn 2022.

And they want them home.

"When will our husbands be considered to have discharged their military duty?" asks Maria. "When they're brought back with no arms and legs? When they can't do anything at all because they're just vegetables? Or do we have to wait for them to be sent back in zinc coffins?" (BBC News : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

BBC News : 23 January 2024 : YouTube

Is it, therfore, any wonder that Putin [Pu-truschev] is, once again, threatening to use nuclear bombs against Ukraine?

As reported by Mark Trevelyan,

"The war in Ukraine has dented Russia's confidence in its conventional forces and increased the importance to Moscow of non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNWs) as a means of deterring and defeating NATO in a potential future conflict, a leading Western think-tank said on Monday.
...
Moscow denies wielding nuclear threats but several of President Vladimir Putin's statements since the onset of the war in Ukraine have been interpreted as such in the West - starting on day one of the Russian invasion [of Ukraine] when he warned of "consequences that you have never faced in your history" for anyone who tried to hinder or threaten Russia. (Reuters : 22 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Is it any wonder that, as reported by Stacy Liberatore (left), that,

"Humanity is still in a 'time of unprecedented danger.'

That is the conclusion of scientists behind the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic timepiece which indicates how close the world is to ending.

The clock was updated today and remained at 90 seconds to midnight - the theoretical point of annihilation." (Mail Online : 23 January 2024) (my emphasis)  

Mail Online : 23 January 2024

As Putin approaches his public annointing as the Czar of Russia in the upcoming Russian presidential elections, it should come as no surprise that he ([Pu-truschev]) will do anything to retrieve his status in the mind of the Russian people as the 'saviour of Russia'.

Putin is now desperate to regain his Czarist stature in the minds of the Russian people.

But who will the people of Russia be annointing Czar of Russia in their upcoming Russian presidential elections? Putin or Pu-truschev.

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

UPDATE 25 January 2024

 Tom Porter (left) reports that,

 "Russia is struggling to break through Ukraine's defensive lines because when its troops gather to attack, they're targeted by Ukrainian drones, a think tank has said.

An influential Russian milblogger noted that Russian forces were struggling to work out how to break out of the current stalemate, according to US think tank, The Institute for the Study of War.
...
It added that even forces gathering far behind the front line are vulnerable to attack." (Business Insider : 24 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

Added to which, as reported by Kate Nicholson (right),

"Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine is “not the best” right now, suggesting Russia is struggling to make any significant gains.

The Russian president, speaking at a meeting of participants in some nation-wide family contests on Tuesday, suggested he still believes southern Ukraine will join the “common Russian space”.

But, Putin acknowledged that “the situation” on the battlefield “now is not the best and far from calm”.

According to the Russian state news agency, TASS, Putin was talking about the  eastern Donbas region and “Novorossiya” – which translates to “New Russia” – in particular. (Huffpost UK on Microsoft Start : 24 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin [Pu-truschev] is finally having to admit that his raison d'être for his war with Ukraine viz. his delusions about “Novorossiya”, for illegaly invading and annexing Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, his subsequent illegal invasion and occupation of the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, and his current war with Ukraine that he started in 2022, is coming to an end in 2024.

                             

 

(to be continued)

Putin is unable to hold back the tide of Ukraine's victory in 2024

In my blog entry of 24 December 2014 I wrote that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has attempted to assuage fears of economic collapse and promised rapid recovery as he faced hundreds of journalists amid the worst financial crisis of his rule." (Aljazeera :  18 Dec 2014)

As he boldly stated,

"Under the most unfavourable world conditions, such a situation can last two years," Putin said days after the Russian rouble fell to record lows, following a 60-percent dive in value since the beginning of the year." (ibid Aljazeera) (my emphasis)

Like the legend surrounding King Canute, Putin is ordering the waves of a disastrous Russian economic downturn to recede but, unfortunately, to no avail. (blog entry 24/12/2014)

In the words of Theodore Dalrymple,

"Political power or office often gives those who possess it the illusion that they control events. That, after all, is the reason why the story of King Canute retains, and will always retain, its relevance to the current political situation." (Wikipedia) (my emphasis)

Fast forward to 2023 and, in the wake of his current war with Ukraine, Putin [Pu-truschev] is, once again, having to learn the lesson of King Canute.

As reported by Jonathan Leake (right),

"With Russian forces stuck in a stalemate on the frontlines in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is facing a drain on the Kremlin coffers that threaten to sink his war machine.

Russia’s oil and gas revenues have plummeted by 37pc in just one year, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
...
A surge in oil exports from Guyana, Canada, Brazil and, above all, the US, means Opec’s overall market share is steadily reducing. There may be no way back, say analysts." (The Telegraph : 19 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

 

CNBC Television : December 2023 : YouTube

Jonathan Leake further reports that,

"With their power diminishing, Opec+ has been riven with infighting. A November meeting was delayed at the last minute amid reports that African members, who heavily rely on oil revenues day-to-day, were reluctant to agree to Saudi plans to cut their output.

Shortly after, Angola, which had been an Opec member since 2007, quit." (ibid Jonathan Leake )

 As also reported by Giulia Carbonaro (left),
 
"China's state-owned banks are tightening curbs on funding to Russian clients as they fear being subjected to secondary sanctions from the U.S., according to a Tuesday report by Bloomberg.

At least two banks have ordered a review of their Russian businesses in recent weeks and plan to sever ties with clients on the U.S. sanction list. The banks will also stop providing financial services to the Russian military sector, according to sources familiar with the matter, and review companies including non-Russian clients doing business in Russia or sending critical goods to Russia through a third country." (Newsweek : 16 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

 Newsweek : 16 January 2024

On the military front things also seem to be going South for Putin [Pu-truschev].

As reported by Nathan Rennolds,

"Russian marines and paratroopers are refusing to launch certain types of assaults due to concerns over the huge losses other troops are suffering, a Ukrainian official said, the Kyiv Post reported.

 Nataliya Humenyuk, a press secretary for the Armed Forces of Ukraine's
Joint Command South, said that the soldiers considered "themselves 'elite    troops' " and did not "want to go into frontal assaults" that former felons and reservists typically carry out, the outlet reported." (Business Insider : 20 January 2024) (my emphasis)

It is not only his 'elite' troops that Putin [Pu-truschev] has to worry about.

As also reported by Chris Panella,

"A newly released photo shows the Ukrainian crew and the US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle that fought and won against one of Russia's top tanks.

The photo comes on the heels of a viral video earlier this week depicting an intense battle between a Bradley and a Russian T-90M, a heavily armored tank Russian President Vladimir Putin once bragged was "the world's best."

The Defense Ministry of Ukraine shared on Friday the photo, which came courtesy of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, of the Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley IFV crew responsible for defeating the Russian T-90M on the battlefield." (Business Insider : 19 January 2024) (my emphasis)

Metro : Microsoft Start : 20 January 2024

More disconcerting for Putin [Pu-truschev], just today Maxim Rodionov and Lidia Kelly report that,

"A fire at a terminal of Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producer Novatek (NVTK.MM) on the Baltic Sea was caused by two explosions, the state RIA news agency reported on Sunday, citing local officials.

The agency said that the fire has since been contained to a 100-cubic-metre fuel depot." (Reuters : 21 January 2024) (my emphasis)

 This follows on from a report by  Paul Kirby (right) that,

"Fire has broken out over a large area of an oil storage depot in southern Russia after officials say it was hit by a Ukrainian drone.

Russian media say four oil tanks caught alight and the fire then spread over an area of 1,000 sq m (10,763sq ft).

Russian authorities in the Bryansk region say no-one was hurt.

The Bryansk governor said the drone was intercepted near the town of Klintsy and its explosives then fell on the oil depot.

The drone strike is the second on Russian oil facilities in two days.

An unprecedented attack targeted a major oil loading terminal in Russia's second city, St Petersburg, on Thursday." (BBC News : 20 January 2024) (my emphasis)

And just in, Oliver Slow (left) reports that,

"An explosion has occurred at a gas export terminal near the city of St Petersburg in Russia, officials say.

The blast caused a large fire, state-owned RIA Novosti news agency said. It said the fire had been contained, and there were no reports of injuries.

The cause of the fire is not known, but local media have reported that drones had been seen in the area." (BBC News : 21 January 2024) (my emphasis)

BBC News : 21 January 2024

Putin [Pu-truschev] has now been forced into the arms of Kim Jon Un to supply him with yet more North Korean armaments as he suffers from the critical onslaught of the Ukrainian army, and his economy decidedly points South in the coming year.

As reported by Hyunsu Yim (left),

"Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to
visit Pyongyang soon when he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Russia last week, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.

Putin also thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his invitation to visit, KCNA said, citing North Korea’s foreign minister’s assistant office.

It would be the Russian leader’s first trip to North Korea in more than two decades." (Reuters : 21 January 2024) (my emphasis) 

Like King Canute, Putin [Pu-truschev's] is unable to hold back the tide of a Ukrainian victory in 2024.

 

(to be continued)