Will Trump, once again, bail out Putin?

Now that the war in Gaza has been concluded, Trump has now set his eyes on the war in Ukraine. (for FULL Trump Knesset speech)

 

 OneIndia News: 13 October 2025: YouTube

"As Olha Hlushchenko (left) reports,

"US President Donald Trump has called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a leader who could help in resolving Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Trump speaking aboard Air Force One returning to the US after his visit to the Middle East, as reported by Ukrinform

Details: "Erdoğan can," Trump replied when asked whether other leaders, including the Turkish president, could assist in resolving Russia's war against Ukraine.

He believes that Russia respects Erdoğan." (Ukrayinska Pravda on Yahoo News: 14 October 2025) (my emphasis)

What makes this a rather interesting comment from Trump is the fact that Putin has decided to "take on NATO", of which Turkey is a member. 

Furthermore, as reported by Joe Barnes (right),

"Donald Trump is preparing to arm Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles as he turns his attention to ending its war with Russia.

 …

World leaders used a subsequent summit in Sharm El-Sheikh to back Mr Trump to solve the conflict in Ukraine. The US president will meet Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.

The two leaders are due to discuss their “visions” for how the long-range Tomahawk missile could bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, according to Mr Zelensky." (The Telegraph on Yahoo News: 13 October 2025) (my emphasis)

And as Sasha Vakulina (left) also reports,

"Recently Trump has voiced the possibility of supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks, long-range cruise missiles capable of striking targets at a range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometres.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (right) said that "the topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern" to Moscow.

"Now is really a very dramatic moment in terms of the fact that tensions are escalating from all sides," he said in remarks carried by Russian state media. (EuroNews: 14 October 2025) (my emphasis)

Guy Faulconbridge (left) earlier reported that,

"The topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television reporter Pavel Zarubin in remarks published on Sunday. "Now is really a very dramatic moment in terms of the fact that tensions are escalating from all sides."

The war in Ukraine, Europe's deadliest since World War Two, has sparked the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and Russian officials say they are now in a "hot" conflict with the West.

…

Peskov said that if Tomahawks were launched at Russia, Moscow would have to take into account that some versions of the missile can carry nuclear warheads.

…

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that it was impossible to use Tomahawks without the direct participation of U.S. military personnel and so any supply of such missiles to Ukraine would trigger a "qualitatively new stage of escalation". (Reuters: 12 October 2025) (my emphasis)

Trump's threat to Putin of supplying Zelensky with Tomahawks missiles has, once again, sparked the old 'mantra'  of Putin of threatening "nuclear" armageddon. 

This time around, however,

• with the Russian economy imploding faster and faster, 
• and with Putin's 'siloviki' more earnestly sharpening their knives, 
• and Russians now experiencing long queues to obtain meagre supplies of petrol, 
• and with rampant inflation causing an escalation of food prices in Russia,

Putin desperately needs a war to survive.  

And as Jorge Liboreiro (left) also reported earlier,

"The European Union is considering a proposal that could potentially restrict the movements of Russian diplomats across the bloc's territory, according to a document added to the latest round of sanctions and seen by Euronews.

The plan would concern members of Russia's diplomatic and consular missions, including administrative and technical staff as well as family members. (Euronews: 7 October 2025) (my emphasis)

This could severely 'clip the wings' of that dyed-in-the-wool Soviet  Foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov (right), to his and Putin's utter dismay. 

As I wrote in my previous blog entry,

"Visibly turning into "a political puddle of madness", we should not underestimate that Putin will, indeed, press the nuclear button that will set off WW3." (blog entry: 25 September 2025)

The world now awaits the confrontration between Trump and Putin.

Will Trump, once again, bail out Putin?  

UPDATE: 16 October 2025: GMT: 17:37 

As if on cue, 

Donald Trump says he's speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin now.

As reported by Paul Kirby (left), 

"We don't yet know if it was Trump or Putin who initiated today's conversation, but coming on the eve of Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House, it is clearly an important moment.

…

It's unlikely Putin's maximalist demands to end the war have changed, but Russia is clearly concerned that Trump is now considering handing the Ukrainians long-range Tomahawk missiles that could reach Moscow." (BBC News: 16 October 2025) (my empahasis)

Furthermore,

"The US president writes on social media: "The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion" (BBC News: 16 October 2025) (my emphasis)

BBC News further reports that,

"We don't know exactly what Trump and Putin are discussing, but their call comes just days after officials in Moscow raised concerns about the US potentially supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

When reporters asked Trump if he would provide Kyiv with Tomahawks on Sunday, he replied: "We'll see... I may." The missiles would be "a new step of aggression" in Ukraine's war with Russia, he added" (BBC News: 16 October 2025) (my emphasis)

Which, again, raises the question,

"Will Trump, once again, bail out Putin?"

It would seem that events are fast heading that way!                              

 (to be continued)

Can a war with NATO now save Putin from his own political demise?

Following the recent rather bizarre "stream of consciousness" (cf. Wikipedia) speech delivered by Trump to the assembled Heads of State at the UN, and which included a UN escalator and tele-propmpter, the Nobel Peace Prize, and bringing up an old grievance at not getting a contract to refurbish the UN complex in New York (Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy : USA Today: 23 September 2025), 

 

FULL Trump UN Speech: C-Span: 24 September 2025: YouTube

Trump and Zelensky afterwards held a press conference at which Trump pronounced that (cf video below):-

•  Question: Mr. president, do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace? 

         Trump: Yes I do.

• Question: Mr president .... on president Putin, and do you still trust him?

         Trump: I'll let you know in about a month.

• Question: President Trump, your message to president Orban whose refusing and still buys Russian oil.

         Trump: Well, he's a friend of mine. I have not spoken to him but I have a feeling if I               did he might stop.

 

Sky News: 24 September 2025: YouTube

But as Steve Benen (left) points out,

"Part of the problem with Donald Trump’s humiliating failures in addressing Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the president has struggled to settle on a strategy and stick to it.

…

• Trump said he’d resolve the conflict quickly, and then he reversed course. 
• He said the war was nearly over, and then he reversed course. 
• He said he was poised to impose new economic sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s regime, and then he reversed course. 
• He said a ceasefire would have to be secured before peace negotiations could begin in earnest, and then he reversed course." (MSNBC: 24 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Nicholas Vinocur, Clea Caulcutt and Gabriel Gavin (right) also pose the critical question, 

""Has Donald Trump suddenly converted to being a fervent Ukraine supporter?"

The question quickly dominated chatter Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York after Trump caught officials off guard with his most pro-Ukraine statement to date — a bold assertion that Kyiv can not only win its war against Russia, but also take back every inch of territory it’s lost." (Politico: 24 September 2025) (my emphasis)

As Rob Crilly (left) suggests,

"Rather than pledging fresh support to Ukraine or loading up action on Russia, Mr Trump appears to be handing things over to Europe and Nato.

…

It sounds as if he may have had enough." (The Telegraph: 23 September 2025) (my emphasis)

And whilst, "Trump caught officials off guard with his most pro-Ukraine statement to date", and  "Trump has struggled to settle on a strategy and stick to it", Putin continues to :-

• try and intimidate the people of Ukraine into submission, is his deperate attempt to conceal that the four  walls of his bunker are relenlessly closing in upon him
• and to try and draw NATO countries into reacting to his dangerous strategy of 'goading' a NATO reaction to his "airspace incursion" of some NATO countries with his drones and fighter aircraft.

Putin is now desperately trying to 'fully rally the Russian people' behind his delusional and Quixotic attempts to re-create the old USSR as the Russian economy begins to implode, and long queues at petrol pumps becomes the new normal in Russia.

Putin needs war to survive the 'sharpening of the political knives' as a prelude to unseating him should he fail in his war with Ukraine, particularly amongst his 'siloviki' and sundry Russian oligarchs

As stated before (previous blog-entry: 22 September 2025 ),

"Like Russia, Putin is now also running on 'fumes'."

Even in his delusions about recreating the old USSR, Putin is now aware that only a war with NATO can save him from his own demise. 

UPDATE: 25 Septemner 2025: GMT: 17:14 

BBC News has just reported that,

"President Donald Trump is hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House for talks, with a private meeting under way

Turkey could help bring Zelensky and Putin to the negotiating table - Trump

The focus again shifts to the war in Ukraine when a reporter asks: how can Erdogan help bring Putin and Zelensky to the negotiating table?

Answering the question, Trump says the Turkish leader is "very respected by both of them" and could be a "big influence" if he wanted, although right now he is "very neutral". 

The best thing [President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia, says Trump." (BBC News: 25 September 2025) (my emphasis)

But the critical question is:-

"Will Turkey stop buying Russian oil?"   

And we have just heard from Ellen Mitchell (left) that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin made new threats Wednesday to use nuclear weapons against the West, suggesting any nuclear power supporting a country that attacks Russia would be seen as participating in the aggression.

Addressing Russia’s Security Council, Putin said the country’s nuclear doctrine has been revised in light of an “emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and our allies.” " (The Hill: 25 September 2025: GMT 17:41) (my emphasis)

This new 'threat' of Putin underscores that he is now aware that only a war with NATO can save him from his own demise. 

Visibly turning into "a political puddle of madness", we should not underestimate that Putin will, indeed, press the nuclear button that will set off WW3.

                                         

 

 

(to be continued)

Like Russia, Putin is now also running on 'fumes'.

Putin, manically pouring missiles and drones over the cities of Ukraine to try and intimidate the people of Ukraine into submission, is his deperate attempt to conceal that the four  walls of his bunker are relenlessly closing in upon him. 

As reported by Hanna Arhirova (left),

"Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine early Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.
… 
“Each such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on his official Telegram account." (AP: 20 September 2025) (my emphasis)

This manic and desperate bombing of the civilians of Ukraine by Putin comes against the backdrop of Ukraine's calculated and deliberate continuous destruction of Putin's oil refineries and Russia's infrastucture.

As reported by Dmytro Basmat (left),

"Ukraine's General Staff said that it had struck two oil refineries overnight on Sept. 20 in Russia's Saratov and Samara oblasts, confirming earlier reports on social media from Russian residents.

The General Staff also added in its announcement that it had damaged the main transport infrastructure facility in Samara. It said that explosions and fires had been recorded, while the final results of these strikes are still being determined.

"All affected facilities are involved in supplying the Russian Armed Forces," the General Staff wrote." (Kyiv Independent on Yahoo News: 20 September 2025) (my emphasis)

 

MV TV News: 20 September 2025: YouTube

 

The Sun: 22 September 2025: YouTube

Furthermore, an economic bombshell has just landed upon Putin's head.

The Independent has just reported that,

"Rachel Reeves (left), the UK Chancellor, will announce plans to explore using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's war effort.

This initiative follows Russia's recent incursion into Estonian airspace, where three MiG-31 fighter jets remained without permission for 12 minutes, causing global outrage." (The Independent on MSN: 21 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has previously suggested a loan to Ukraine backed by "cash balances" from frozen Russian assets, aiming to avoid outright confiscation."  (ibid The Independent)

In his financial desperation, Putin is now resorting to raise taxes to fund his war with Ukraine.

As reported by John Varga (right),

"Vladimir Putin plans to slap higher taxes on rich Russians as he desperately searches for more money to fund his war in Ukraine. The Kremlin boss said the government was considering increasing levies on dividends or raising tax rates on luxury goods - both of which measures would hit wealthy citizens." (Express: 20 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Konstantin Samoilov (left) sums up the current state of Putin's economy as "Russia Running on Fumes".

As he explains,

"Russia is on the borrowed time.....
...
Many millions of Russian men ... the best and the brightest have left the country. 
...
I am sure that the victory of Ukraine will not come from the front lines but rather from inside Russia where Moscow's elites will tear each other and the country apart..... Because Russian elites are addicted to money" (Inside Russia: 19 September 2025: YouTube)

In the video below he goes on to explain exactly why Putin is fast running out of money to support his war against Ukraine, which also explains why he now has to slap higher taxes on rich Russians, as reported by John Varga.

 

Inside Russia: 19 September 2025: YouTube 

Is it  any wonder that Putin now needs his war in Ukraine for his own survival?

As MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore (left) explains,

"There is "absolutely no evidence" Russia's president wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service has said.
… 
"MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore told a news conference on Friday Vladimir Putin was "stringing us along".

"He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal. But he cannot succeed," Sir Moore said.

"Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he - and many others - underestimated the Ukrainians."
…
"Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable. But he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself," he said."

Putin is "mortgaging his country's future for his own personal legacy and a distorted version of history", he added, saying the war was "accelerating this decline". (Sky News on MSN: 20 September 2025) (my emphasis)

As Autumn leads to Winter, the looming question is :-

"How, now, will the people of Russia react to the economic deprivations that Putin is now forcing upon them to, in the words of  Sir Richard Moore, "impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal"? 

Like Russia, Putin is now also running on 'fumes'. 

UPDATE: 23 September 2025: GMT 08:02 

John Varga has just reported that,

""Ukraine's army conducted devastating strikes on Russian munition depots, inflicting serious damage. The attacks targeted warehouses storing large quantities of ammunition and over 19,000 drone units in August and September." (Express: 22 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Compounding the throbbing 'headache' overwhelming Putin from these critical strikes by Ukraine's forces, Laura Zilincanova (right) further reports that,

"The number of registered businesses in Russia has slumped to its lowest point since 2010, according to Ukraine's foreign intelligence service (SZRU). It claims Russia has lost approximately 486,000 business since 2022, leaving the country with 3.17 million business enterprises operating across the country, as of September 1, 2025.
… 
… In July, GDP grew just by 0.4% on the previous year and growth in corporate profits has weakened, while real wages have also decelerated, The Economist has reported. Trade sanctions have also limited access to markets for businesses, leading to dampened economic opportunities." (Daily Express on MSN: 22 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, following Putin's 'drone' invasion of Polish airspace on 9 September 2025 , Daniel Smith-EL & Ethan Evans reported  that,

"Ukraine is reportedly on the brink of striking a significant deal with Poland, which could prove pivotal in its conflict with Vladimir Putin's Russia.
… 
"We will sign an agreement on cooperation between the ministries, as well as on acquiring drone control skills," he stated....  I think that the Poles are very much looking forward to this after such enormous efforts aimed at helping the population." (Wales Online on MSN: 19 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Perhaps most significantly causing Putin to clutch at his 'throbbing headache'; Perkin Amalaraj and James Clark Reynolds (left) report that,

"British jets are ready to 'confront' Russian planes violating NATO airspace, the Foreign Secretary told the UN on Monday as she accused Moscow of risking 'direct armed confrontation'.

Yvette Cooper condemned recent Russian incursions into NATO airspace as she addressed the UN Security Council for the first time as Foreign Secretary." (Daily Mail: 22 September 2025) (my emphasis)

 

DRM: 22 September 2025: YouTube  

And yet again, with nothing else left in his war-toolbox, Putin is again threatening 'nuclear war' by ostensibly offering to,

".... voluntarily maintain the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set in the 2010 New START accord after it expires in February if the U.S. agreed to do the same." (Andrew Osborn, Vladimir Soldatkin and Jonathan Landay : Reuters: 22 September 2025) (my emphasis)  

This totally 'meaninglessness' offer of Putin's is yet another indication of the walls of his bunker relenlessly closing in upon him. 

Putin is now scraping the bottom of the 'political' barrel for his survival 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin is nervously shaking his WW3 'nuclear war' fist during the Zapad 'war games' against NATO

In my previous blog entry I wrote that,  

"The danger is that Putin has now embarked upon 'reckless' behaviour, tantamount to precipitating WW3 and dragging the world down with him. 

No wonder France is quietly preparing its hospitals for the possibility of a wider conflict." (blog entry: 14 September 2025)

And now, as reported by Bryony Gooch (left). 

"The Kremlin issued a sharp warning to Nato when it said the alliance was “fighting against Russia” and was “de facto involved” in the war in Ukraine.

“Nato is providing direct and indirect support to the Kyiv regime,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (left) told reporters. “It can be said with absolute certainty that Nato is fighting against Russia.”

Yet as Russia sends drones into Poland and Romania and organises drills with Belarus (cf: video below), experts say that Putin is testing Nato’s response through its more aggressive movements past Ukrainian borders." (The Independent on MSN: 17 September 2025) (my emphasis)

 

The Independent on MSN: 17 September 2025

And whilst Putin and Lukashenko of are playing at 'war games' in Belarus, Samya Kullab (left) informs us that,

"Ukraine anticipates a substantial $3.5 billion by next month for a critical fund to procure US weapons, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday, bolstering its protracted fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.
… 
Meanwhile, a US-Ukraine fund devised to spur investments in the Ukrainian mineral sector is set to launch with $150 million of seed capital, senior Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. (The Independent on MSN: 18 September 2025) (my emphasis)  

Furthermore, Paola Tamma and Laura Dubois (right) report that, 

"Brussels is preparing ways to use Russia’s frozen assets to back €170bn of “reparation loans” to Ukraine, a move that would transform Kyiv’s finances but risk a major confrontation with Moscow.
… 
Washington has also been pressing its allies to tap Russia’s underlying assets, not just the profits that have been used to underwrite a $50bn loan to Ukraine last year. The G7 should “consider seizing (or otherwise use) the [Russian sovereign assets] principal innovatively to fund Ukraine’s defence”, according to a US note circulated to G7 members and seen by the Financial Times. (Financial Times: 17 September 2025) (my emphasis)

And on the 'hardware' side, Yuliia Dysa, Mike Stone and Jonathan Landay report that,

" Ukraine will receive missiles for Patriot air defence systems and HIMARS rocket launchers in the first batch of weapons being sent under a new funding programme agreed by the U.S. and Ukraine's European allies, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.
… 
NATO allies hope to provide $10 billion in arms for Ukraine. The first two batches, worth $500 million each, will "definitely include missiles for Patriot and HIMARS," Zelenskiy said at a joint press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv on Wednesday. (Reuters: 17 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Demented Putin's saturated bombardment of Ukraine's civilians with drones and missiles will soon have to contend with Patriot and HIMARS blowing them out of the sky before they reach their targets. 

The Zapad 'war games' in Belarus of Putin and Lukashenko now take on a more ominous threat from Putin.

Putin simply cannot confront the military 'hardware' of NATO. 

The Zapad 'war games' now taking place in Belarus signifies a more dangerous threat of 'nuclear war' between Putin's Russia and NATO.

As I reported on in my blog entry of the 28 April 2024,

"Underscoring Putin manically determined to bomb the people of Ukraine into submission, John Varga also reports that,

 "Vladimir Putin's closest ally [Belarus president Lukashenko (left)] raised the spectre of an impending nuclear armageddon after revealing his country now possessed "several dozen" Russian nukes.

The shocking news has prompted Nato to scramble to put its nuclear forces on full alert, after Belarus' murderous tyrant warned a major confrontation with the West could end in an atomic "apocalypse". (Express : 27 April 2024) (my emphasis) (blog entry: 28 April 2024) 

Furthermore, let us recall that in my blog entry (18 September 2024) I reported that, 

"And once again Putin, via his Belarus puppet Lukashenko, is threatening 'nuclear war' by invoking the Putin mantra about NATO involvement in his war with Ukraine.

As reported by John Dunne,

"Belarus leader Aleksandr Lukashenko has again warned of nuclear war and has deployed troops along the length of his country’s border with Ukraine. (right: Lukashenko and Putin)

He has regularly suggested that WW3 could be triggered if Ukraine’s western allies becoming even more embroiled in Ukraine’s battle against Russia.
...
"If they send NATO troops [to Ukraine], this will start WW3." (London Evening Standard: 18 August 2024) (my emphasis) (blog entry: 18 September 2024)

And pushing Putin further towards the brink of a 'nuclear' confrontation with NATO,  Konstantin Samoilov (left) reports in the video below that,

"Russia's Central Bank just switched to emergency mode with a key Rate cut. Debt service cost is spiking, fuel shortages are spreading to new regions, and oil revenues and tax intake keeps shrinking. Even officials now admit the economy is in trouble. 

The countdown to Russia's economic armageddon has begun" (Inside Russia: 18 September 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Inside Russia: 18 September 2025: YouTube 

Added to which, as Konstantin Samoilov also reports, 

"Every September Russian state TV usually drowns you in harvest bragging. Record wheat, bumper corn, smiling ministers, perfect charts; Russia is usually the breadbasket, right? Not this September. (video below) ( Inside Russia: 16 September 2025) (my emphasis) 

 

Inside Russia: 16 September 2025 : YouTube  

It is therefore, without a doubt, that Putin is nervously shaking his WW3 'nuclear war' fist during the Zapad 'war games' against NATO. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin threatens WW3 to hide his 'fears'.

As night follows day, it was to be expected that Trump would 'pretzel' himself to find an excuse NOT TO sanction Putin's Russia.

After all, the tariffs which he imposed upon THE COUNTRIES of the world, Trump conspicuously excluded Putin's Russia. 

Rachel Muller-Heyndyk and Joe Inwood (left) now report that,

"US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, but only if Nato countries meet certain conditions which include stopping buying Russian oil.
… 
Trump has repeatedly threatened tougher measures against Moscow, but has so far failed to take any action when the Kremlin ignored his deadlines and threats of sanctions." (BBC News: 13 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Not only is Trump giving Putin the time to continue his evil and insane bombardment of Ukraine's civilian population, he now ALSO requires NATO countries to,

"He described the purchases of Russian oil [by some NATO members notably Serbia, Hungary, and Turkey] as "shocking" and also suggested that Nato place 50 to 100% tariffs on China, claiming it   would weaken its "strong control" over Russia."  

As Caitlin McFall (rught) also reports,

"President Donald Trump on Friday said he was "sort of" running out of patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin "fast" after the Kremlin said negotiations with Ukraine were "on pause."
… 
"But it does take two to tango," Trump said after host Brian Kilmeade pointed out that Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy has offered to meet with Putin a number of times. "It's amazing when Putin wants to do it, Zelenskyy didn't. When Zelenskyy wanted to do it, Putin didn’t. Now Zelenskyy wants to and Putin is the question mark."
… 
Though despite actions taken by European allies, Trump has not imposed any new sanctions directly on Russia since he re-entered the White House, and is facing mounting criticism for not taking more immediate action against Putin after eight months in office. 
… 
While Washington has put tariffs on U.S. imports from India, there are carve-outs on items like pharmaceuticals and electronics – both of which the U.S. heavily imports from New Delhi. !" (Sky News on MSN: 13 September 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Sky News on MSN: 13 September 2025

Meanwhile, as Jan van der Made reports,

"Russia and Belarus are set to stage a massive military exercise in mid-September and with the war in Ukraine still raging, the move has raised concern across Europe. Germany has issued military warnings, while France is quietly preparing its hospitals for the possibility of a wider conflict." (RFI on Yahoo News: 11 September 2025) (my emphasis)

whilst Taipei News reports that,

"Putin has vowed to continue fighting unless Ukraine cedes more land, while talks have been paused with no immediate results expected, the Kremlin said." (Taipei News: 14 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Taipei News goes on to report that,

"Speaking at a conference in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said the West should not trust Putin.

“Putin’s goal is to occupy all of Ukraine, and no matter what he tells anyone, it is clear that he has set the war machine in motion to such an extent that he simply cannot stop it unless he is forced to fundamentally change his personal goals,” Zelensky said." (ibid Taipei News)

In testing the preparedness of the EU and the UK to confront his war machine, Putin knows that he can simply dismiss Trump's "feeble" and empty threats.

However, Putin's threats "masks" his own fears of the growing pressure against him which continues to build up inside Russia.

True to form, and steeped as he is in the Russian ideology of "maskirovka", military deception; with the Russian economy imploding, and the 'siloviki' and  'Russian Clans' slowly positioning themselves for a post-Putin Russia, Putin's current 'bluster' hides the fear of his own demise.

The danger is that Putin has now embarked upon 'reckless' behaviour, tantamount to precipitating WW3 and dragging the world down with him. 

No wonder France is quietly preparing its hospitals for the possibility of a wider conflict.

 

 

 

(to be continued)