Trump curse returns to those who pushed Russia, Russia, Russia
13 Mar, 2023 09:29
Former Munich Security Conference chair suggests way to resolve Ukrainian conflict
Wolfgang Ischinger proposed that work to thrash out a peace initiative could be done through a contact group
Wolfgang Ischinger, the former chairman of the Munich Security Conference, has argued that an international contact group should be set up with a view to resolving the Ukraine crisis, with the US, the UK, France and Germany making up its core. Now is the time to start a serious conversation about ways to secure peace, he wrote in an op-ed for Germany’s Der Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday.
Ischinger, who presided over the annual security convention from 2008 until 2022, opined that “it is high time that we put in motion a peace process for Ukraine.” He acknowledged that critical voices in the West are posing questions that are not “completely unjustified,” such as how much longer governments are planning to pump the Eastern European country with weapons.
With this in mind, the veteran German diplomat called for the “immediate” creation of a special contact group that would function alongside the existing Ramstein Air Base group, which helps coordinate defense aid to Ukraine.
Such a congregation of world powers, according to Ischinger, should be given a mandate to thrash out multiple settlement scenarios and options, as well as to prepare draft agreements so that, if and when Kiev and Moscow decide to sit down at the negotiating table, there is already some groundwork in place for a peace process.
In addition to the four mentioned Western powers, the contact group envisaged by the German politician would also involve nations like Canada, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Baltic states, as well as the UN, EU, OSCE and NATO. To make it more representative, invitations should also be extended to the likes of Brazil, India and China, Ischinger added. (They are trying a power play on Russia because all their sanctions failed. Russia aligned countries are making too much money, they will not go along with the political pressure gang up)
He said the key issues on the group’s agenda would include the terms of a ceasefire, the issues ofsovereignty over Crimea and parts of Donbass, security guarantees for Ukraine, and its possible NATO membership.(none of these things will happen, its all talk for now, proposing Ukraine in NATO is what created this war along with other points)
Officials in Moscow have on several occasions made it clear that they are open to negotiations with Kiev in principle, provided that Ukraine accepts Russia’s conditions and recognizes what theKremlin calls the “reality on the ground.”
Addressing Russia’s Federal Assembly late last month, President Vladimir Putin claimed that it was Ukraine and its Western backers who had “started the war.” Moscow, according to Putin, “has been using force to stop them.”
In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled that Moscow was “ready to respond to all serious proposals” to resolve the conflict. He claimed, however, that the West does not allow Kiev to make decisions on its own.
(Second or third comms insinuating west is done with Ukraine shithole in the last day. Any discussion to benefit Ukraine isn’t going to work.Crimea and Donbass voted to cede from Ukraine.)
https://www.rt.com/news/572878-ex-munich-conference-chair-ukraine-contact-group/
13 Mar, 2023 08:54
Moscow admits it ‘doesn’t know’ who attacked Nord Stream
A full investigation, not ludicrous leaks to the press, is needed in the high-profile case, Nikolay Patrushev said
Russia does not know who blew up the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines last year, and wants to see a thorough investigation to get the answer, its most senior security official has said.
Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, also dismissed a claim that Western intelligence services suspect a private “pro-Ukrainian group” of blowing up the pipelines as being meant for people lacking in critical thinking skills.
“The narrative that the US and the UK were not involved in this terrorist attack is apparently pushedin the hope that the readers cannot think logically,” he said.
Patrushev was referring to a series of articles in the Western press, claiming that the undersea energy links, built to directly supply Russian natural gas to Western Europe, may have been sabotaged by a shady group possibly funded by a Ukrainian businessman. Unnamed intelligence officials claimed that the people behind the operation were not linked to either the US or Ukrainian governments. The pipelines were ruptured by powerful explosions in late September.
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Argumenti i Fakti, published on Monday, Patrushev expressed doubt that the group described by the media could even exist, explaining that such acts require special equipment and training, which might be expected from a national black ops team.
“TheUS and Britainhave such units. Other NATO states use combat divers for sabotage operations too, but only if the leading member of the alliance, which dictates its agenda, gives its permission and support,” Patrushev stated.
Only a thorough impartial investigation based on evidence can put an end to the controversy, he added, arguing that “declarations of subjective one-sided versions explain nothing.”
Weeks before the claim was floated, based on anonymous intelligence services, veteran investigative reporter Seymour Hersh alleged that the Nord Stream sabotage was conducted by a US-Norwegian team on the orders of US President Joe Biden. Both nations have denied the allegations.
Hersh said Washington wanted to lock in German support for its anti-Russian campaign over the Ukraine crisis, and put an end to the purchase of cheap Russian pipeline gas by Western European nations.
Patrushev assessed that no pro-Ukraine actor had any reason to blow up the pipelines, asKiev “goes hat in hand to Berlin hoping for increased military assistance and other aid.”Washington, however, has long expressed opposition to Russian-German energy cooperation, the official noted.
(Jack P did a Human Events daily podcast indicating three days before this bogus story was released Scholz came to WH for private talks with Bidan. Remember Scholz was also at the WH in Jan 2022 when Bidan announced at press briefing, they’ll find a way to stop Nord Stream pipelines. Scholz knew and agreed that day for US and others to get rid of NS. Jack also said the plan to blow up NS he believes MI6 put pressure on the US to do this, says a lot of pressure and bad plans come from them. The meeting last week was becauseScholz is being hammered by German leaders and citizenson the dramatic rise of costs to the public. Industries are closing down due to the cost of fuel, people are hurting, because Germany nows buys LNG from the US at 6x the cost of Russia’s gas. Jack said this stupid story was just to soothe Germany, and no one is expected to believe it, but politicians and the public won’t push back. It was comms for morons to accept.)
https://www.rt.com/russia/572880-patrushev-nord-stream-sabotage/
13 Mar, 2023 09:38
Russia launches communications satellite
The spacecraft will help facilitate data exchange between the International Space Station and Earth
Russian space agency Roscosmos has announced that it successfully launched its Luch-5X communications satellite into orbit on Monday.
TheProton-M carrier rocket, fitted with a Briz-M booster, blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:13am Moscow time, the agency announced.
The launch vehicle functioned as expected, with the upper section separating from the carrier as planned, Roscosmos said.
Several hours later, the agency announced that the Luch-5X had been placed in its designated orbit.
The new satellite "will helpimprove advanced broadcast and communication technologies,” it explained.
It’s the fourth launch of a carrier rocket by Russia since the start of the year, and the 115th mission overall for the Proton-M vehicle.
The Luch-5X is part of Russia’s Luch Satellite Data Relay Network (SDRN), which was established in 2016.
The system provides for the exchange of data between the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) and the Mission Control Center (TsUP), which is located in the town of Korolev in Moscow Region. (Why announce the town?)
https://www.rt.com/russia/572881-roscosmos-satellite-proton-launch/
13 Mar, 2023 06:40
US privately urged traders to resume shipments of Russian oil – FT
Trading companies say Washington “actively encouraged” them to re-engage in shipping crude, the outlet reported
TheUS administration called on the world’s largest commodity traders to shed concernsover deals with price-capped Russian oil in an effort to ensure global supplies, the Financial Times reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
Last year, G7 countries and the EU banned imports of seaborne Russian oil, but sales to countries that haven’t joined the sanctions are still permitted at a price limit of $60 per barrel.
While the White House hasn’t opposed trading Russian crude in compliance with the price cap, major trading houses have shunned oil deals from the sanctions-hit country, the outlet said.
But as concerns over curbs in Russian oil supplies are mounting, Washington – which had been pushing for restrictions – is now seeking to secure the flows. According to the FT,US Treasury Department officials have held private meetingswith the executives and traders of some of the largest global trading companies – including Trafigura and Gunvor – urging them to resume shipping Russian oil.
“We’ve been actively encouraged by the Americans . . . to re-engage on moving the oil,” one traderwho spoke with Treasury officialstold the news outlet.
Washington reassuredthese companies that they could trade with Russia without breaching Western penalties, FT reported, citing five people involved in the talks.
“It’s up to individual companies to make their own decisions. Our goal is to communicate what is allowed under the price cap architecture,” anofficial from the Biden administrationsaid, according to the outlet.
While traders from theEU and G7 countries require documentationproving that Russian oil is traded in line with the price cap, US enforcement was “relatively lax,” the outlet noted, citing traders.
“The Americans really do want [Russian oil] to move,” one of the traders told the FT.
Last year, Trafigura, Vitol, Gunvor and other major traders stopped doing business with Russia over concerns about their reputation and the fear of losing banking support. Trifugura sold its 24.5% stake in oil-refining company Nayara, in which Rosneft owns 49.13%.
https://www.rt.com/business/572754-us-treasury-urge-traders-resume-russian-oil-exports/
(The US once again putting EU at a disadvantage)
An obvious sign Mitchell is part of DS, we should be celebrating the donor class? Really