The State Department on Thursday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7, as a “cynical ploy.” Putin ordered the ceasefire to take effect at noon on Friday and last through Saturday after a request from Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Instead of welcoming a potential pause in fighting, the US dismissed the order as an attempt by Putin to reinforce his troops.
“From our perspective, there is one word that best describes that, and it’s ‘cynical,'” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. He said it was “cynical” because Russia continued its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
“So as you can tell, we have little faith in the intentions behind this announcement. Our concern … is that the Russians would seek to use any temporary pause in fighting to rest, to refit, to regroup, and ultimately to reattack,” Price said. President Biden made similar comments, saying he thought it was an attempt by Putin “to find some oxygen,” although any relief for Russian troops would also be a relief for the Ukrainian side.
Other Western governments made similar comments, including the EU’s European Council President Charles Michel, who called Putin’s order “bogus and hypocritical.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also slammed the ceasefire, saying, “a so-called ceasefire brings neither freedom nor security to people living in daily fear under Russian occupation.”
Ukrainian officials also rejected the ceasefire, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t explicitly say his forces wouldn’t follow it, so only time will tell if Putin’s order brings calm to Ukraine for 36 hours.
“Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to at least briefly stop the advance of our guys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized men closer to our positions. What will this bring? Just another increase in the death toll,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.
Earlier on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would welcome any ceasefire in Ukraine as there has been no real pause in the fighting since Russia invaded over ten months ago. While Russia and Ukraine are incredibly far apart on their demands for peace talks, an agreement on a short ceasefire could potentially lead to more cooperation in the future.
Give it a rest people!… Have a cease fire. Sometimes a cease fire can lead to other good potentials….
YES, any and some hope for a resolution of this terriblee tragedy… That could been avoided had Stoltenburg not rejector negotiations at the very beginning of this disaster… !!!!!
Could have been avoided if Putin didn’t invade.
Could have been avoided if the US hadn’t supported an antidemocratic coup in Ukraine, or if Ukraine had been willing to implement the Minsk agreements.
BINGO
Could have been avoided if Putin didn’t oppress Ukraine for years, try to buy Ukraine from Yanukovych and then violate the Budapest Memorandum.
Providing a better economic deal than the west
You need some education, at least get some books in your library and read.
Have you seen the article in The American Conservative about BlackRock working with Zelensky to buy up Ukraine?
I read it, Mary.
What an opportunity to make some enormous profits!
Oh please. Let’s see what scavenging the disaster capitalists in the West will be up to next couple years with what’s left of Ukraine. For them Russia is doing a favor as they pretend to condemn the war. Can’t have peace till enough of Ukraine is ruins.
But the Obama/Biden administration was opposed to Minsk agreements and did not support negotiations. They actively provoked Russia and Merkel and Holland both know it. And even now, they are not courageous enough to say so. They were true vassals of the USA, traitors of their nations.
Merkel and Holland confirmed that this was planned by US/NATO a long time ago, when Biden was the VP.
When he became president he appointed neocons Blinken and his friends Nuland and husband Kagan in the state department, knowing he can count of them to work to get the Biden war.
ByeDone never met a war he didn’t love and didn’t personally have to serve in.
Far earlier avoidance was in play”
1. no expansion of nato
2. no violent overthrow of the democratically elected government.
3. no buying time by the lying France and Germany
4. no killing of “his own people” in the Donbas.
Biden was there too, he knows the details when the Ukrainians turned down the option of neutrality and trad with Russia and the EU. It is high time we talk about Biden’s responsibility, he was involved starting with the Obama/Biden coup organized by Nuland and the CIA. He knows, it is Biden’s war, he did all he could to get it and now he does all he can to keep it going.
They don’t listen, they can only see $$$ bills.
Damn straight Donna! They might enjoy the ceasefire so much that they refuse to continue fighting 😁
Any olive branch is a good and welcomed one for those who are locked in an intractable battle of differing visions and hopes. We pray for all those involved to live another day and find peace at the end of this dangerous tunnel of war and hostility…!!!!!!!
But the western value people have only one value, profits. Ceasefire is not profitable.
A song for those who don’t believe in Christ, Christmas, the death and Resurrection of Jesus or eternal life.
With all due respect Mary, we are here because we are people of peace and are making an effort at understanding. Why are you here?… To be harsh, to be judgmental …? I think Jesus would feel hurt by your remarks. Jesus never denied anyone, anything and he gave his life for all of us. He did not leave any notes behind, offering words of support for meanness.
Beautifully said Donna. Though you and I don’t share the same beliefs, I love how you interpret yours.
I’m also part Comanche. 😉
Comanche is SO badass!!! 😃
Michael Ansara in “Broken Arrow” was Apache, which seemed to be the favorite of the old Cowboys & Indians shows.
Rightster, I believe he was part Arabic as well 🙂
A song for those who don’t believe in Christ, Christmas, the death and Resurrection of Jesus, or eternal life.
Hi Mary:
I am a Christian, thru and thru. This song is an excellent reminder of our humanity. peace and understanding-donna
It is just a piece of poetry. God gave us the imagination and we use it. Nothing wrong about that. At least, it is not evil and that is the most important, though, of course, it does smell a bit of communist ideology.
“it does smell a bit of communist ideology”
no doubt the john birch society would have thought so, but, really, it belongs to its post-communist culture – 1960s counterculture anarcho-utopianism, resistant to any ideology or institution…or even action – his ‘imagining’ is a largely passive and complete act – in this way following in a line from the rejection of the ‘impurity of left politics’ and ideological utopianism (‘you know it’s gonna be alright’) ridiculed in ‘revolution’
Communism in Lenin’s interpretation looks the same: no religions, no states, no private properties, all people are equal and all are brothers.
The point is, for achieving the communism, you have to pass first through 3 stages: dictatorship of the “party of the working class” (dictatorship of Bolshevik party), socialism and developed socialism. everything what is standing in the way should be destroyed. That’s how the genocide of the aristocracy, the clergy, the businessmen, the farmers, Cossacks and everyone who is on their side, was justified.
John Lennon didn’t mentioned the first 3 stages. So it looks very nice.
“Lennon didn’t mentioned the first 3 stages. So it looks very nice.”
lennon didn’t refrain from. or fail to “mentio[n]” history – he positively rejected it – that’s what makes his statement utopian, not crypto-leninist – ends did not “justif[y]” means:
‘but if you want money for people with minds that hate/well all i can tell you is brother you’ll have to wait’
Lenin is the same utopian as Lennon, if you take him at face value. The point is, neither Lenin, nor Trotsky believed themselves in this nonsense. You may compare them with neocons who are talking about the democracy. It is just a way to cheat ignorant people and keep the power.
“Lenin is the same utopian as Lennon, if you take him at face value.”
No, As I’ve already used Lennon’s words to show once, “if you take” Lennon’s words “at face value” – i.e., if we understand his declared and pointed message as meaning what the words plainly say vs a subterfuge – Lennon is classicly and conventionally utopian:
Yr paraphrase of ‘Lenin’s idea of destruction’ as a historical stage in getting to (what you characterize as his idea of) utopia: “everything what is standing in the way should be destroyed”
Lennon: “But when you talk about destruction/Don’t you know that you can count me out”
Lennon just repeated Lenin’s definition of the communism.
“Lennon just repeated Lenin’s definition of the communism.”
Oh, good:
so – wisely – you do not deny that lennon’s “communism” emphatically repudiated the “what is standing…should be destroyed” feature of “Lenin’s definition of communism” as the culmination of historical stages:
Lennon: “But when you talk about destruction/Don’t you know that you can count me out”
“What is standing in the way should be destroyed” – is not “feature of Lenin’s definition of communism”, it is feature of Lenin’s definition of Proletariat’s Dictatorship. Communism, according to Lenin is the last stage of the evolution of the human society. It looks about the same as this piece of Lennon’s poetry.
Lenin’s “Communism…is the last stage of the evolution of the human society. It looks about the same as this piece of Lennon’s poetry.”
Except you teed off claiming, “Lennon didn’t mention the first 3 stages. So it looks very nice.”
But that is misleading because – as explained to you – Lennon overtly rejects any such “evolution of…human society” involving a “destroying” “first 3 stages”:
Lennon:
“You tell me that it’s evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out”
Seeeeee???
In Lennon’s view, it’s not “institution[s]” that must be changed; rather, “You better free your mind instead.” i.e. – free your mind by “imagin[ing]” another world.
Differences between his and Lenin’s ideas that – given Lennon’s hyper-clarity on these points – you do not now dispute.
There are nothing to dispute about. Lennon just used the idea of communism for his own piece of poetry.
“There are nothing to dispute about.”
That is: so long as you accept that Lennon rejected the historical “evolution” and “destroying” element of Lenin’s thought about how communism would be realized, “there are nothing to dispute.”
It is poetry and music about young love and war and it is moving more so in the original.
More a song for people who don’t believe in a society focused on war as a conflict resolution tool. Most of the wars fought by primates like us are based on ideas which have been bolstered by an us vs them mentality (OUR GOD, Zero-sum, neighbor-stranger, etc).
The song doesn’t say what you can and can’t believe, it says you don’t have to turn it into an excuse to call someone else’s version wrong.
Discarding boundaries that separate us and them makes it easier to stop fighting over them.
It’s a song about boundaries, kinda the opposite of your interpretation, actually.
If we are such blasphemers, why are you here? Jesus was not judgmental, he was accepting. If you find us so offensive, leave us… The Jesus I know did not behave in any way that you do….
More a song for people who don’t believe in a society focused on war as a conflict resolution tool. Most of the wars fought by primates like us are based on ideas which have been bolstered by an us vs them mentality (OUR GOD, Zero-sum, neighbor-stranger, etc).
The song doesn’t say what you can and can’t believe, it says you don’t have to turn it into an excuse to call someone else’s version wrong.
Discarding boundaries that separate us and them just makes it easier to stop using this excuse to justify fighting with them.
If there are fewer boundaries, there are fewer reasons to fight about them.
It’s a song about boundaries, kinda the opposite of your interpretation, actually.
In front of the barracks in front of the big gate
Stand a lantern
And is it still in front of it?
So we want to see each other again
At the lantern we want to stand
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen.
Our two shadows looked like one;
That we were so fond of each other
You could see that right from that.
And all people shall see it
When we stand by the lantern
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen.
Already the guard shouted: They blow cone stroke;
It can take three days! – Kam’rad
I’ll be there in a minute.
So we said goodbye.
How I would like to go with thee
With you
Lili Marleen
With you
Lili Marleen.
She knows your steps
Adorn your aisle
Every evening it burns
She forgot me for a long time.
And should a sorrow happen to me?
Who will stand by the lantern
With you
Lili Marleen?
With you
Lili Marleen?
From the quiet room
From the earth ground
Lift me like in a dream your amorous mouth.
When the late fogs turn
Will I stand by the lantern?
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen
Just like in the old days
Lili Marleen.
See original
It is about young love and war.
There are plenty of places online for Christians to go to to share their religion. This is a place where people come to so we can discuss war and things related to war and peace.
If there is no heaven or hell then there is no justice for those who promote war.
“If there is no heaven or hell then there is no justice for those who promote war.”
1/ Yes, if no heaven/hell, then no justice except such justice as either is – or is not – enforced on earth.
2/ So yes – if no heaven/hell, then those who “promote war” may escape justice.
3/ But…what is your point in pointing this out?
Below, my preference for imagined utopia – unlike Lennon’s serenely hopeful view that another world is possible – which I respect – this one gets the sorrowing aspiration for deliverance in the world we live in, as in this often incompletely quoted passage: “Religion is the opium of the masses; it is the cry of the heart in a heartless world.”
Lovely….
Zelensky should test Putin and ask for a day or two off in a few weeks. See if Putin reciprocate.
and the religious holiday in a few weeks is?
What would be Zelensky’s claimed rationale after rejecting a truce out of hand a few weeks before? You’re overpaid.
If the US was interested in peace there would have been no war.
Well said.
Instead they maximize brutality, they refuse even a 36 hr. x-mas ceasefire. They are very sadistic people, the Psychopaths in D.C. and Kiev.
Touche!
According to RT , Renate, Ukrainazia shelled Donetsk in the first minute of the would-be truce.
There was no “truce” in play. Putin decreed a unilateral Russian ceasefire and invited the Ukrainians to join it. They declined to do so, in advance of the time.
Why do you work so hard to make up an excuse for war criminals? That is what the leadership of the USA/NATO is, the leader of the gang of war criminals is the “honorable President Joe Biden”.
What is Biden’s excuse to deny the soldiers a few hours of peace?
Biden is in charge, he tells Zelensky what he has to do.
There’s no “excuse” involved.
A unilateral ceasefire that the other side declines to join in is not a “truce.” Words mean things.
Would a mutual ceasefire, and maybe even an actual truce, have been a good thing? Yes. That doesn’t mean that it was magically so just because that’s what you wanted.
I’m not interested in making excuses for war criminals of any nationality, including American, Ukrainian, or Russia. My sympathy is with their victims, not with their regimes.
That’s why she called it a “would-be truce” which means “there was no truce in play”.
By declining and denying the soldiers a few hours of cease fire shows how unwilling the criminals in Kiev and D.C. are to negotiate anything. They are a gang of real psychopaths and there is no criticism of them which a really FREE press would allow.
Renate, you and I are cut so much from the same cloth that I believe we share a split soul.
Keep on rockin’!
Sophistry.
That’s why she called it a “would-be truce” which means there was no truce in play.
“Would-be” has the connotation of avoiding saying a truce existed. Come on.
No doubt, the people of US are interested in peace. MIC isn’t and that is the problem. When the political will of the minority with big money is stronger than the political will of the majority, it means, there are no true democracy.
So true, all democracies in USA/NATO alliance cut freedom of the press, muzzling any opposition. Ukraine is anything but democratic.
Our corporate owned media is the cover like never before as far as one can see.
Hopefully, internet will keep people informed and prevent the country sliding into the totalitarianism.
Without a free press and information there is no informed free speech.
Julian Assange and Edward Snowden paid the price, Chris Hedges had months worth of his interviews taken off YouTube, CN was defamed by NewsGuard and Pay Pale blocked the account, a Russian Conductor
and a Soprano were fired because they did not defame Putin and their guest appearances were canceled and much more of the same. Zelensky has a death list MSM does not mention it. He eliminated all opposition parties and more.
Democracy has become a joke.
Rock god Roger Waters, of all people, is on ZelBoy’s death list.
God forbid that anyone advocate for peace.
I recall the great journalists we had reporting from Vietnam and we still have great journalists just not on MSM. They would have reported about the death list ZelBoy’s ( like that) people keep but to top it is the silence of the Biden administration, not a word, not a single one that I know of. Nothing about real war crimes with evidence available, not a peep.
Renate, do you remember Peter Jennings on ABC news? He would have done the same. I recall when Dubya was president, he announced on air that they were unable to receive any news whatsoever from the White House unless it was favorable. Every time he mentioned Bush, he almost imperceptibly rolled his eyes.
I wept when that man died.
Mass media in The West is owned by the oligarchy. The owner of TV decides who can be allowed to speak to the nation and who can’t. As we learned recently, even the president of US can be deprived of his right to talk to the nation if the owner of TV channel decides so. In the main internet resources it is about the same story, but at least, we can talk here and even on YouTube and also some quite popular bloggers with different from the mainstream political ideas are tolerated so far in the main internet resources.
It is remarkable that the situation with the freedom of information in such countries as Turkey and Egypt is much better than in The West. For example, the last autumn I watched RT in Turkey without any problem. In Egypt it was a bit worse, but also available. So, in general, the western public is worse informed than the people in many other countries of the world. And, of course, the democracy is impossible without the freedom of information.
RT is back on air again, I don’t know about Sputnik.
Last time I have been in UK in August-September 2022. At the moment I am in Greece. I can say that RT on YouTube in Greece is available but not so fresh as in Turkey. Far from that.
It was time when one could watch RT and PressTV (Iran) in UK on TV. I think they blocked them both about 10 years ago.
IN Germany they blocked both RT and Sputnik radio.
Even Ukraine’s Intel chief called the conflict a stalemate many weeks ago. Now Biden can’t stand the idea of even a short ceasefire, exactly because it could lead to further negotiations that end the pointless bloodshed and destruction. Russia has won, they already hold the Donbas and can’t be forced out.
Won? Perhaps in your personal definition.
The US. of all countries, trying hard to ignore a cease fire. Not the same US as 50 years ago. That’s for sure.
Washington has once again treated a tentative for peace negotiations with contempt, … and Kiev will, of course, snap to their “sieg heil”. Still, whatever the pol-scum says, the world sees the sacred time being traduced by godless Washington.
Typical myopic attitude which can lead to world war III and extinction of mankind.
One of my intel friends told me never talk to Russians they are all bad! This dickish attitude is pervasive in America especially in Washington.
Only the cockroaches will survive and I don’t mean Joey Biden and Washington politicians from both parties.
Although, because they are cockroaches they may well survive….LOL
Please, don’t insult the innocent cockroaches.
We’ve all witnessed which is the party can’t be trusted to honor agreements. But even given the possibility it’s a trick, Washington isn’t confident enough to call their bluff.
Even demented Biden knows, Putin means what he says, he keeps his word.
When US politicians call someone cynical, it is really funny.
So much projection. And also Orwellian.
“a so-called ceasefire brings neither freedom nor security to people living in daily fear under Russian occupation.” Fear vs an artillery shell are a very different thing.
Who are the people luving under Russian occupation? All those Kiev declared undesirable sub-humans. They could not wait to get out of Zelenski’s Jurrasic park.
How long will it take for some to grasp that there is a civil war going on. Zelenski put his government squarely on one side — the other is getting a foreign country to help.
If it could not be one country, it has to fall appart. Any government in the world that chooses to have favorite ethnicities. and disempower others — should be de-recognized as a country, not be given military help to preserve all of “its” territory and enforce
apartheid. We should be supporting partition if clearly Kiev never wanted a truly multi-lingual, multi national state. Canada is such a state — but nobody is suggesting that it becomes French only, and English speakers go to US, and stop trying to make Canada just a province of America. This logic sounds
absurd when discussing Canada, yet it is exactly what we are advocating in Ukraine!
It is really not that complicated.
IsraHell comes to mind as well, Bianca…
So does Turkey, Iraq and Syria, when it comes to Kurdistan.
“How long will it take for some to grasp that there is a civil war going on. Zelenski put his government squarely on one side — the other is getting a foreign country to help.”
Zelensky is getting many foreign countries to help him squash the Donbas people, all NATO nations.
Stop killing? Are you insane?
This and overwhelming military superiority are why Putin is going to win. Position the enemy to either rant against a Christmas truce or accept it and risk peace breaking out. The neocons should just lay their king over.
Putin has already lost this war.
Only the dead have lost it.
Zelensky has lost this war.
“Putin has already lost this war.”
tell me about the jar of dried peasant ears on your plantation porch again, mister don, sir, hyuk! hyuk! that was a fun trick, sir
You made me laugh out loud!!!!
I wish Don wouldn’t have blocked me—-or maybe I blocked him—-I miss his inanities!
++++
Neocons lay the king over? Even if forced to, they will discuss the manner in which it will be layed over, and think ofvsome other clever suicidal plan to wiggle out, At everybody’s expense, of course. And when dust settles, they will be back in power lecturing us all about how things should be going forward,
Yep.
No one but Russian supporters buy this BS ceasefire. Just another Putin “goodwill gesture’ to buy his frontline troops more time to regroup and re-attack.
A ceasefire proposal might be a move to buy time.
A unilateral ceasefire is likely something else.
Going through the possibilities from “best” to “worst”:
1) A genuine “goodwill gesture” without expectation that the other side will reciprocate;
2) A genuine “goodwill gesture” with expectation that the other side might reciprocate (and that that reciprocation might lead to further talks);
3) A troop morale booster;
4) A domestic PR move to accentuate the church-state-war connection;
5) A foreign PR play to try for some “we’re the good guys” credibility;
6) A ruse.
7) A no risk/no brainer combination of 1-5.
It was an idea of Patriarch Kirill. Putin obviously thought that it would be wrong to contradict, so he supported it and that is all.
A lot of people don’t seem to realize that Russian leadership is capable of respect for religious authority and values.
Interesting.
Kirill’s past record indicates that he was proposing what Putin wanted him to propose rather than Putin thinking it would be wrong to disobey his servant.
That is just your imagination. Both patriarch Kirill and the chairman of Russia’s council of muftis – mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, are supporting Putin in nearly everything. Russian Christian and Muslim leaders united in their support of Putin since 1999. The leader of Chechen Muslims Akhmad Kadyrov also supported Putin from August 1999, though in the first Chechen war he was on the side of the separatists.
One minute you say “Putin, as practising Orthodox Christian, can’t ignore the opinion of the patriarch.”
The next minute you acknowledge that Kirill supports Putin in almost everything.
The patriarch gets his opinions from his fellow Chekist, Putin, who of course doesn’t ignore those opinions.
It may not totally, 100% run in that direction. They do both have leverage on the other.
If Kirill defies Putin, he might suffer a tragic fall from a window.
If Putin defies Kirill, he risks some support from Orthodox Russians, a community he retroactively joined — after his KGB career ended — by suddenly remembering that his mother had him secretly baptized as an infant.
But those leverages aren’t especially equal, and Kirill seems like the subservient partner in the co-option of the Moscow Patriarchate by the Russian state.
There are no contradiction. As I said, Russian religious leaders (both Christian and Muslim) are supporting Putin because they agree with him.
Patriarch gets his opinion from his own understanding of the situation. About 80% of Russian people also agree with Putin and support him. Does it mean they are somehow subservient to Putin? Probably you don’t know that in 1991 Yeltsin had over 60% support, but he lost the credibility in the following 8 years and by 1999 he had no more than 10%. The people are judging the statesmen by the results of their work. Putin in his 23 years at the top of the state proved his efficiency as the leader of the nation. That is why he is enjoying the support both of the clergy and the people.
You dont know the first thing about Kirill’s past record. Putin is of the Orthodox faith.
And if the dog hadn’t stopped to poop it would have caught the rabbit.
I think you forgot that one 😉
Personally, I find the US position about a fight for freedom and democracy a gigantic pile of bullcrap and Biden and his gangsters are guaranteed to be champions on that score – bar none. And why first place?
I give you all the American regime changes, invasions, coups, and other attempts to incite violence within the borders of other nations across the world and history.
I like the way you think OB1,
I do, I do, I do. 🙂
Thanks. Wouldn’t it be cool if they gave a war and nobody came?
(I didn’t author that statement, but it stuck with me all the way through the Vietnam nightmare).
Damn hippies. /s
Well, while I was in Berkeley in the early 70’s I did have long hair and a beard, and so forth … 😉
I still do.
Wars, I’m STILL a sucker for a guy with long hair! 😁
And my hair’s cut in a (curly) “shag”… remember those? 🙂
The Christmas Truce in WWI, MIGHT have bveen a ploy to buy more time.
The Russian MOD is fighting a very successful war of attrition disarming NATO (Ukraine was disarmed in March,), tank by tank, artillery by artillery, air defense by air defense.
NATO overall has accumulated the following equipment losses;
355 Aircraft, 199 helicopters, 2807 UAV’s, 399 Anti Aircraft systems, 7382 tanks inc. APC’s, 967 multiple rocket launchers, 3768 rocket launchers and 7900 military automotive equipment.
In March 2022 Ukraine reached the Istanbul peace agreement and Russia withdrew its forces from Kiev. Boris Johnson intervened and promoted a NATO solution to the Russian problem. And here we are today with Poland calling up 200,000 reserves, Ukraine is collapsing and Poland/Romania are now being called up to die for empire. What the empire looses in the Ukraine, they loose for the final NATO war against Russia.
In the past year we have seen the Rules Based Order act in a state of criminal insanity. They blew up the Nord Stream Pipeline which will deindustrialise Europe. The shelling the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Station in an effort to cause a nuclear accident. The planning of a false flag nuclear weapon detonation on their own soil!!! This is the actions of criminally insane psychopaths.
Spot on my friend. But all we hear in North America is how bad the Russian army is and they are taking terrible losses, and the sheep just eat it up.
The criminally insane always believe their own lies.
Agree on all, but is this use and loss of weapons not a feature, rather than a bug? I mean, among many things, this Ukraine caper is about the continued relevance and justification for the weapons complex budgets. Losses have to be back filled, by much more expensive stuff, too, usually. Success!
And on the way they gained a new customer, sales to Taiwan are going up and they can pay the bill.
Yup, Taiwan’s a good one. They have some $$ to waste on MIC toys. Finland and Sweden have joined up too, but they are much less loaded with spare cash.
For Europeans, definitely, it does mean the guns instead of butter. More American guns instead of their own butter.
Well said, even Don Julio could understand it if he only wanted to.
Straightjackets are in order.
What a bunch of assholes we are represented by to the rest of the planet.
The assholes are dangerous duds.
And how is it US business? Out officials really believe that they must comment on anything?
Well, the US is fronting the weapons and money at the cost of Ukrainian and Russian lives, so they call the shots.
“‘Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve’…the Kremlin said in a statement.”
News Update:
* In surprise reversal of anti-ceasefire stance, US Secretary of State Blinken declares ceasefire an “opportunity” to end conflict.
* Encourages Russian soldiers to congregate at Dormition Cathedral, Kharkiv [49.989876, 36.230614] and Transfiguration Cathedral, Chernihiv [51.489140, 31.307673] – video chat loved ones at 2400 (GMT+2)
Well, this is encouraging. Thanks for posting. 🙂
…eh…hope there was no misunderstanding about the spirit of that ‘news flash’ post…w/US requests for russian battalions to gather en masse at GPS pinpointed positions, and use their cell phones to further identify their location at a pre-set military time…
I could see them trying that.
“I could see them trying that.”
Well, now…regardless of religious creed, at heart, nuclear age neocons are surely a godless lot…
…having arrogated the “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” prohibition, and made themselves the arbiters of planetary life and death…
…and yet…can def. see Ghoul-land Nuland convulsed in fervent prayer for that one…
If Russia now decides to attack instead, would we hear an apology from all those who didn’t want death to take a few days off? Is every gesture at ending the killing going to have the standard reply that Russia is just trying to regroup so they can reattack. Talk about self-fulfilling prophesy.
The BS ceasefire was not followed through entirely and there will be no apologies.
There never is when the Ukrainian regime “killed his own people”.
The Russian army invaded Ukraine. The Ukrainians are determined to drive them out. Can you imagine the Taliban or the VC accepting a unilateral cease fire called by the foreign invaders? Putin should withdraw to the February 22nd line of control and the Ukrainians might agree to negotiations and a mutual ceasefire to set a timetable for Russia’s complete withdrawal..
How in the f*ck did that have anything to do with what I said?
I would have loved to read your reaction if it was Zelensky proposing a ceasefire. I’m sure it would not be positive.
Look, The entire pro Russia blogger team here gave you a like (14).
You guys should start having your own annual reunions just like the Flat Earth Group.
My reaction would have been the same you f*cking moron. Unlike you, I don’t want anyone to die.
Correction from you: Sixteen (16) likes.
I did not want to grant Putin a break – because I saw it as a simple ploy to prepare for a better attack.
Russia did decide to attack – why do you think e.g. I should apologize?
With Putin stating his demands for a more permanent end to the killing that the Ukrainians accepts territorial loss, yes – simply because accepting such terms is going to mean much more war and thus much more killing.
And yet Russia attacked anyway. Doesn’t that shoot down the theory about needing time to regroup? And they attacked because the truce was rejected. Just like diplomacy before the invasion and early on in the invasion. And you certainly have no reason to apologize especially since my comment wasn’t directed toward you but to the peace-loving people that rejected taking some days off from killing. The article lists those same people that said Ukraine can make their own decisions. The US state department, Biden and all of our EU lackeys. Shockingly(sarc), Zelensky agreed.
When they sit down at the negotiating table, then, and only then, will you see what demands either side is willing to move on from. Until then, it’s just negotiating bluster
It shoots down the theory that they absolutely needed time for a regroup – it does not shoot down the theory that they could have been in a better position if they had had time to regroup. If the present attacks near Soledar are very successful (like the ones near Popasna) then it is evidence that they did not need time to regroup, though not proof that they did not think they needed time.
Unilateral truce does not need to be accepted – it is declared and if the enemy does not attack it is observed – attacking is evidence that a build up for an attack was underway and without the truce it had to be executed.
Point accepted.
On that we agree.
Ah yes, “a cynical ploy”. This from CIA’s and MSNBC’s Ned Price, who claims that criticism of Israel’s killings is “anti-Semitic” and “unfairly targeting Israel”. Surely nothing cynical about that.
Amazing how Zelensky lies as easily as people like Ned Price and Bill Kristol. It is Russia that is advancing in Donbass, not the Kiev conscripts. Yesterday it was confirmed that Russia cut off the southern road to Kiev-occupied Bakhmut. Zelensky has demanded counter-attacks several times and they have all failed. Every day Russia frees more of Bakhmut, so it is they who are giving up something by a ceasefire.
Maybe Zelensky should ask the Ukrainian men he has forced to wear uniforms and sit in wet, cold trenches in Bakhmut whether they want a three-day ceasefire or not. Or whether they think it disturbs their “advance”.
To be fair it probably was a ploy or at least the Russians fully well understood that it would be a good move in regards to propaganda and that’s about it. There was not much chance that either the Russians or the Ukrainians would actually manage to get their troops to completely stand down, not when the battles are so active and when there are so many places being hotly contested.
It was a smart move in regards to propaganda, but then again the West will simply claim that Putin is violating his own ceasefire, even though it’s ridiculous to think that a ceasefire can be enforced unilaterally on a battlefield. In our Western Press it will not be seen as a propaganda coup, but in Russia and possibly Ukraine it will be a whole lot different.
At the very least it takes a firm commitment from both sides to make any ceasefire work and even then one side usually takes advantage of the time to shift forces and consolidate their positions.
The fact that Ukraine refused to give a firm commitment meant it stood no chance at all. And I believe that Ukraine refused to give a commitment because they knew that their own troops would violate it due to the ongoing line of contact being so active. They couldn’t enforce it if they tried.
To be fair, we don’t know jack about why the Russians proposed it.
warmonger in chief at it again…Christmas? Must be a good opportunity to kill more Russians.
A ceasefire allows time for the defender to fortify so it would benefit Ukraine unless they were planning a massive offensive but the front lines at the moment sees Ukraine going backward where the main fighting has been going on.
The year is 2023, we embrace peace for all of humankind.
We’ll kick ass for peace, Donna!
If a part-Comanche and a redneck cowgirl can’t do it, NOBODY can ! 😁
The disrespect that Biden showed towards Russia in his dismissal is a game changer.
The US will pay a large price for this. The NATO troops and the Ukrainian troops in Ukraine will pay a price. Biden has definitely stiffened Russian resolve, and other nations very much identify with Putin on this.
U.S. has converted into a godless secular state for a while now. Respecting Christian tradition is the last thing in the mind of the heathens.
Hold on a minute, A. Just because not all of us are Christians doesn’t mean we don’t know right from wrong.
Recall that our Cadaver-in- Chief is a practicing (supposed) Catholic.
US unipolar hegemony will end, but only after nuclear Armageddon. Too bad we won’t be alive to see that.
“US unipolar hegemony will end, but only after nuclear Armageddon”
but fortunately not before my Happy Meal! thank you, Charice!!!
The state department no longer speaks for me. It should be simply referred to as the MIC Department of Propaganda). The people there are welcome to speak for themselves.
We didn’t authorize this proxy war. We weren’t asked to pay for it out of our taxes – or our childrens’ taxes. We didn’t ask for sanctions to be levied on anyone.
AFAIC this government is a rogue operation under the leadership of nutjobs and right wing hawks, along with the seriously cracked head of state.
Takes one to know one.
Well as it turned out the Russians did not even try to hold a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine – so the Ukrainians were wise not to believe in it.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-clinches-us-german-armoured-vehicles-rejects-russian-truce-order-2023-01-06/
Wow, they have you working on the weekend now?
Keeping the standards of your arguments as high as you can manage, I see!
Nah, that’s ought to be West MSM propaganda. Russians never lie.
Sure 🙂
Cynical!!Of course the USA and the EU would NEVER behave that way!!! Ukraine, with no help, refuses any negotiations-how realistic is that??
“Bakhmut” is a media event—as is the whole Ukrainian “war”. Entertainment for the western populations, who hate Russia with a vengeance. BUT NOT RACIST AT ALL.
How do you get to any of these ‘conclusions’?
1) Is there anything like the coverage in the media of Bakhmut as there were of e.g. the Iraq war?
2) You have many cases of Russians being exposed to the hate that Japanese persons were after Pearl Harbor?
3) How can the war in Ukraine between two Slavic peoples where the west is supporting one side be racist?
Zzzzz
The Banderites chant DEATH TO THE MOSKALS and call them SUBHUMAN. gee i dont know how i can possibly call the war in Ukraine racist.
Hromadske media outlet is funded by the US and Brussels. It commenced operations on 22 November 2013 as a propaganda arm of the US/EU and NATO.
They chanted such slogans in Ukrainian schools many years before “Revolution of Dignity” 2014 and, so called, “pro-Moscow” president Yanukovich tolerated this, the same as all other Ukrainian presidents before him. They started to cultivate the hatred in Ukraine immediately after the collapse of USSR. In The West it was called “the promotion of democracy”; big money were invested in the project.
It only qualifies as racism if the two sides can in some way think that they are of different racial background – otherwise I would have said that the evidence for the Russians wanting a racial cleansing was clearly more convincing than what you have linked here in this
But as it stands neither side is actually claiming that the other side is actually a different race – so singing that the Moskals (i.e. the Moskal, is a historical designation used for the residents of the Grand Duchy of Moscow from the 12th to the 15th centuries.) is not racism by definition.
It is not racism, it is neo-Nazism. Or, if you like, you can call it Nazism, because the leaders of Ukrainian collaborants Bandera and Shukhevich are proclaimed by Kiev regime as the main heroes of Ukrainian nation. So, they are following the politics of Nazi Germany. This time Nazi ideology is supported also by Anglo-Saxon leadership.
What is neo-Nazism to you???
Proclaiming Bandera a hero does not endorse all his views – proclaiming Shukhevich (Roman Shukhevych) a hero is a pretty clear signal that the ‘admiration’ demonstrated by this is not an endorsement of all the things these people did (Roman Shukhevych being very famous for a massacre of Poles).
It is a recognition of these peoples fight against communist Russia.
No and for the record Bandera did not follow the policies of Nazi Germany:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepan_Bandera *
To people like Bandera and Roman Shukhevych the fight was for Ukrainian nationhood more so than for a Aryan Race dominated new European order.
So no Ukraine is not neo-Nazi because they may say that Bandera or Roman Shukhevych are heros, and indeed neither Bandera nor Roman Shukhevych were actually Nazi’s themselves, they happened to fight the Russians in a period where the Nazis were the main other force fighting the Russians – so more a case of the enemy of my enemy is my ally – than one of fighting for the same end goal.
Anyone who does not just see that Bandera and Roman Shukhevych fought with the Nazis but also look into how that came about would know this.
* had to replace the name of a people of a certain faith with ‘people of the Abrahamic faith’ to get out of moderation purgatory.
Wasn’t it the first time too?
The irony is amazing…….So Poroshenko, Merkel, Hollande all admit that they lied cynically about Minsk1/Minsk2 to buy time to rearm Ukraine, But Putin is now the one cynically buying time to rearm….projection much?
Right now the Russian army has NATO on the ropes in Bakhmut. Advancing in Soledar, Klischiivka and Bakhmutski which will have Bakhmut operationally encircled. Now is NOT the time for a Russian ceasefire.
Germany is sending Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles and considering sending Leopard2 tanks, France is sending AMX-10 light tanks and US is sending Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles…..because you know….Ukraine is winning and definitely not running out of the 3,500 tanks (not inc apc’s) they had at the start of the SMO.
Keep in mind that in total the world has about 75,000 tanks.
Projection seems to be the primary psychological response of neocons and sociopaths, but I repeat myself.
I still have to say, my larger concern is the potential for this to escalate…
“Let there be Peace on Earth”…. Okay the holidays are over, time to be reality based. I want some MF PEACE and I want it right now!
“…there’s time to rob them all the more
the other three hundred and sixty four.”
Tom Lehrer
Does anyone else see a war triangle evolving? China, Russia, US….
No it is just 2 on 1.
More like one on everybody else.
Let’s toss Iran in there as well, Donna.
What we all need to ask ourselves is…..are we prepared to die for empire?
Hell No……!
I dont think you have a choice……Ukrainian military elite are now openly stating this is a NATO war. The empire has declared war and we are irrelevant.
Ahah….. Thank you for the clarity.
Well … are you?
As James Joyce used to say: “let the Empire die for me!”
Thus spoke our Dear Warlord in Chief… a true sinical swine hell bent on war.
I couldn’t have said it better myself…