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Is it possible that Mr. Xi's decidion to skip the G20 is partly intended to express some solidarity with Mr. Putin, who has his own awkward reasons for not attending? Also, Mr Ramaswamy is unlikely to be the Republican nominee for President of the US, and while some have suggested he might be a possible running mate for Trump, I cannot see the latter willingly sharing the ticket with someone who can run rings around him in terms of charisma, audaciousness (one might say flagrant truth-bending or worse) and intelligence. If Trump wins you might get a version of Mr. Ramaswamy's plan for the Ukraine war, but it will take a hard ass like Trump to give Zelensky that kind of ultimatum. Also, in both parties you hear doomsaying about Putin not stopping with Ukraine if he comes out of this war with what he can spin as victory (de facto possession of 20% of Ukrainian territory) and neutrality for Ukraine. This doomsaying is ridiculous IMHO because I cannot see Putin attacking a NATO country. The risk of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO was the reason for the war in the first place. Putin's pre-war evocations of Russky Mir and Decline of the West culture war themes may have been needed to motivate Russian troops but shot him in the foot as far as the desire to reunite Ukraine with Russia as it always was before the catastrophe of Bolshevism, which to me is the underlying real reason for the war. It has turned out to be counterproductive, however, in that Ukraine now has a much stronger sense of itself as a separate nation. Russia now is truly fighting for its life, and that is why I want a ceasefire now and negotiation based on current troop positions.

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1) No, I don't think he'd skip a major event of global importance just to express solidarity with Putin, especially when he didn't skip BRICS, which the Russian leader skipped because RSA remained loyal to its non-binding obligation to arrest him per the ICC's demand.

2) It's unimportant whether Ramaswamy is the nominee or VP (but FYI: https://sputnikglobe.com/20230830/trump-ramaswamy-has-talent-could-be-very-good-pick-for-us-vice-president-1112976173.html), the point is that it could still move the process along.

3) I don't believe that the doomsaying reflects the MAGA wing of the GOP. Moreover, the shift in US-Indian relations towards one of equality this summer shows that a pragmatic policymaking faction exists and is rising in influence.

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Sep 1, 2023Liked by Andrew Korybko

I agree the doomsaying is not from the MAGA wing of the GOP. It is from the other wing of the GOP and the Democrats. It unfortunately represents the majority in polls. I was very pleased at the shift in US-Indian relations toward one of equality. Perhaps if there is a peace agreement in the current SMO India and BRICS can take the lead in facilitating it.

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