The geostrategic context of newfound pressure upon each, their increased bilateral tensions, and rising fears that false flag provocations in Europe could manipulate them into war with one another make it likely that their planned Budapest Summit will be more successful than the Anchorage one.
Interesting assessment. Russia is in the "Catbird Seat'" and really has little to nothing to gain (the EU won't abide an easing of sanctions and still desires to steal impounded Russian funds/assets to prop up the illegitimate comic grifter in Kiev)by helping Trumpty Dumpty get next years Nobel Prize (which has been progressively cheapened over the years by awarding it to Kissinger, Obama and now Juan Guaidó-in- drag). I hope Vlad whispers in the Orange Man's ear about the potential consequences of further enabling the regime in Kiev with the acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles, or attacking Iran again. Take note of their 'handshake' upon meeting - you'll see who's "Daddy"!
The U.S. has zero intentions of doing anything that would stop it from destroying Russia. The destruction of Russia is U.S. policy.
Russia, China, Iran are the 3 remaining countries on the chopping block. Trump has played his role perfectly. Trump doesn't care about anyone other than himself.
All peace deals with the U.S. are fake. They aren't even a timeout because no matter what is said on paper, the C.I.A. and U.S. N.G.O.'s are always active.
Putin would be a fool to sign any critical minerals deal with the U.S. Putin must do what China is doing and cut off the U.S. from the critical minerals it is going to use to attack Russia with.
I wish you were wrong but I'm afraid you're right. Putin has this romanticized attachment to the West. He's stayed on too long and I think he will do what he did before under Minsk 1 & 2 and for the same reason. He is foolishly placing his trust in Trump.
Trump is an unworthy individual. He's a liar, murderer and theif.
I just don’t believe anything will come out of it. I truly believe Trump wants peace, but Ukraine, Europe and Trump’s CIA and deep state don’t. And thus the war will continue.
And Russophobes in both US political parties are lobbying for more war with Russia!
Most of all it seems Trump is embarked on a campaign of revenge against those who persecuted him in his first term and in hurting all the Blue states and dismantling solar and clean energy programs. He came out and said he cares 'ZERO" if American workers have lost their jobs and are hurting. What can Putin say to him to make him care??
The fucking Brits are responsible for trying to escalate Europe into WWIII. They tried to claim they were part of the peace talks in the Gaza conflict which was furthest from the truth after they called for Palestine to be a state. Truman pointed that out bluntly at the press conference in Egypt. The UK needs to face their empire is dead and collapse is imminent. Trump wants to do big business with Russia and sorry but money talks and bullshit walks.
Well, given the nuke that China just dropped on the USA i.e. medium and heavy rare earth minerals ban, I think Russia must react in the same way and stop letting redline after redline after redlines to be crossed without a significant response! China has shown it will not be bullied and terrorized by the USA any longer. Unfortunately, Russia has allowed itself to be drawn into a war that either never should have been started, or has failed to end it completely months or even years ago. In both cases, Russia had options like China is now using to deal a knockout blow to the USA and UK and put an end to this forever war against Russia
After the kabuki show in Alaska, and what China just did to the USA, Putin should give up his dream of being friends with America and thinking anything good can come from meeting with Trump. By the way, what China just did was knock Humpty Dumpty Trump on his ass and with it, put the final nail in MAGA, and the greatest, most lethal military the world has ever known. By the way, all those rare earth minerals will cripple the entire military industrial complex.
Russia could have denied the USA access to the Space Station, banned the sale of Uranium, fertilizer, and other commodities it keeps selling to the USA. And, it could have stopped the flow and delivery of gas and oil to any parts of the EU, even through third countries like India.
So, my conclusion is that Putin should learn a lesson from what Xi just did and tell that blabbering idiot Trump to get lost!
"Russia could have denied the USA access to the Space Station, banned the sale of Uranium, fertilizer, and other commodities it keeps selling to the USA."
You seem to think that Russia still matters. Only to the Grifter in Chief and his cabal, trying to profit from and emulate russia-level corruption.
About 15% of uranium used in US comes from Russia, down from 20% to 25% before putin's war. Space Station wouldn't be functional without US components. Only about 15% of imported fertilizer and urea comes from russia - which amounts to less than 5% of what's used.
To borrow a phrase, "Russia has no cards;" - just some nukes, and an army of internet worker bees.
Yes, all very logical indeed, but given the participation of people like Trump, Starmer, Macron and (either directly or in separate meetings), can the concept of logic really be applied?
This kind of agreement would be a major strategic defeat for Russia. A real proof of weakness and the sign of hallali to all the western Russia haters.
All this best russian blood poured for so few, actually nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Such an agreement will launch a stampede in BRICS and every country of the big South will run to beg USA the permission to lick their shoes.
There is a handful of countries & individuals that hate Russia and want the war to continue. Start with Zelensky the JEW, Lindsey Graham the QUEER. Then there are the British who once had an empire and are now reduced to a country slightly larger then New York state. Russia still has an empire 6,000 miles ling. :People laugh at Britian and the "Charge of the light brigade" charging into a battery of Russian cannons during the Crimeran war and getting blown to pieces. The USA for its own good needs to be friends with Russia. Pushing Russia away towards Asia is not good for America. Come on Trump wise up and do what is best for our country.
It’s hopeful news but… every time Trump tries to act rationally in US national interests, the Deep State and the Democrats-In-Exile (Europe) manage to undermine him. Let us hope that Trump is now clear-eyed enough about the risks to push past the hysteria of the warmongers.
Well, first, I guess I can understand why Pres Putin might continue to engage in this farce of chaotic diplomacy, but the acceptance of Budapest in the light of repeated US participation in the assassinations of negotiators is surprising. In theory, Pres Putin's trust in Trump's presumed good will should be counter-balanced by knowledge of the deep snakes surrounding Trump.
Secondly, there's a claim that Russian forces recently destroyed large, possibly irreplaceable stockpiles of weapons moved by Europeans into western Ukraine. If that's true, both party's interests are perhaps more aligned now and cessation of hostilities makes sense.
On the other hand, the US has a pressing need to inflate away its bloated debt, which means there is a need to run the economy "hot but not too hot" for years. Falling into recession at this point would be hazardous, and China knows it can play its trump card at any time. Both the need for inflation and indignity of being subject to China both argue imply the US ~needs war.
The best move by the US may be to invade Iran, triggering closure of Hormuz to imperil Chinese energy flow, and then use naval superiority to imperil Chinese commerce.
In this scenario, perhaps it would be more in Russia's interest for the Ukraine war to continue?
Thank You, Andrew. Russia is beginning the second battle for Kherson,and can feasibly take or enter most of the cities which it intends to take, as the line of contact grinds and jumps westward.
Russia needs a negotiating partner in Ukraine. Emergency martial law is up November 5 in Ukraine. Elections?
What protections did Trump offer Zelensky? What conversation did Zelensky have with European "leaders" before he met with the press?
Russia can offer Ukraine some electricity and gas relief this long winter, but has already largely depopulated the big cities, and can advance more rapidly into them.
Can Trump give European and City of London banking an off-ramp, so they don't need WW-3 as badly?
Isn't there some strategy in all these years of civilization to deal with countries that use borrowed might (current European countries) to support a country that has no cards (Ukraine). Are civilizations like Poland so hell built on Suicide by having a nuclear war with a neighbor. Don't they know their country had once vanished from the maps.
There are a lot of things that those who want forever war in and around Ukraine might do, and the list in this article covers them well.
All of these things are expensive, and those who want the forever war seem to be a trifle short on cash. Obviously everyone expected the White House to provide the resources, cash and muscle to keep that party going indefinitely.
The US has a serious debt and deficit problem and no amount of ridiculous stories from the Administration is going to convince the smart money otherwise. So the party is over.
The tomahawks (tomahoax) were a pre-set red line from 2021. Trump has done his best to pretend he didn't want to send them, that we have lots of them, that they are extremely effective, and that he has decided in his infinite wisdom that it is time for peace.
Putin didn't say that he wouldn't like it very much if tomahawks were sent to Ukraine. He said it would be a serious escalation. Russia has made it clear, largely with live field demonstrations, that they can place more capable and destructive projectiles within the same number of minutes to major US cities, as it takes the tomahawk to go from Ukraine to Moscow. Everyone who has taken a serious look at the weapons knows the US has fallen badly behind.
There was no chance of landing the tomahawks, Russia knows this, and Russia held to the red line because it had been set in advance. Unlike the Americans they understand that waffling means fear and lack of willingness to escalate, and they held their position. The US backed down and now all we hear is spin. That was bad enough. To answer the question of who selected the venue of Budapest with "Your mom" is incredibly revealing (and incredibly embarrassing to any American with a scintilla of pride), notwithstanding the reality that it was the obvious best choice for neutral politics, secured access and egress, and security on the ground. That two press secretaries said it reveals it was a pre-planned response.
The parties who want their anti-Russian crusade and war to continue are tapped as far as big projects go. That won't stop the individual actors, who are not concerned with the success of plans so much as their ability to continue to hold their positions and to keep proclaiming their plans to the masses, from announcing one scheme after another.
But all we are going to see is terrorism, and lots of it. Terroism is cost effective. The Right Sektor has been campaigning for about a year to replace Syrsky, identifying him as the largest problem when it is clear he is largely irrelevent. To replace him in a fashion that ensures Right Sektor support is to give control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to them. If in time they lose patience in waiting for this control, they'll simply eliminate Zelenskyy and seize it.
There is a lot of terrorism and suffering yet to come.
But the war was won, it was won by Russia, the world has turned again, and it is incredibly ironic to me that it happened on the anniversary of the day that a Soviet spy fired cyanide gas into Stephan Bandera's face.
Interesting assessment. Russia is in the "Catbird Seat'" and really has little to nothing to gain (the EU won't abide an easing of sanctions and still desires to steal impounded Russian funds/assets to prop up the illegitimate comic grifter in Kiev)by helping Trumpty Dumpty get next years Nobel Prize (which has been progressively cheapened over the years by awarding it to Kissinger, Obama and now Juan Guaidó-in- drag). I hope Vlad whispers in the Orange Man's ear about the potential consequences of further enabling the regime in Kiev with the acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles, or attacking Iran again. Take note of their 'handshake' upon meeting - you'll see who's "Daddy"!
The U.S. has zero intentions of doing anything that would stop it from destroying Russia. The destruction of Russia is U.S. policy.
Russia, China, Iran are the 3 remaining countries on the chopping block. Trump has played his role perfectly. Trump doesn't care about anyone other than himself.
All peace deals with the U.S. are fake. They aren't even a timeout because no matter what is said on paper, the C.I.A. and U.S. N.G.O.'s are always active.
Putin would be a fool to sign any critical minerals deal with the U.S. Putin must do what China is doing and cut off the U.S. from the critical minerals it is going to use to attack Russia with.
I wish you were wrong but I'm afraid you're right. Putin has this romanticized attachment to the West. He's stayed on too long and I think he will do what he did before under Minsk 1 & 2 and for the same reason. He is foolishly placing his trust in Trump.
Trump is an unworthy individual. He's a liar, murderer and theif.
Pretty much the essence of my comment above! The US/UK will never end their wars against Russia. Ever!
....and they will never defeat Russia either!
I just don’t believe anything will come out of it. I truly believe Trump wants peace, but Ukraine, Europe and Trump’s CIA and deep state don’t. And thus the war will continue.
And Russophobes in both US political parties are lobbying for more war with Russia!
Most of all it seems Trump is embarked on a campaign of revenge against those who persecuted him in his first term and in hurting all the Blue states and dismantling solar and clean energy programs. He came out and said he cares 'ZERO" if American workers have lost their jobs and are hurting. What can Putin say to him to make him care??
The fucking Brits are responsible for trying to escalate Europe into WWIII. They tried to claim they were part of the peace talks in the Gaza conflict which was furthest from the truth after they called for Palestine to be a state. Truman pointed that out bluntly at the press conference in Egypt. The UK needs to face their empire is dead and collapse is imminent. Trump wants to do big business with Russia and sorry but money talks and bullshit walks.
And Rutte and Zelenskiy too!
Well, given the nuke that China just dropped on the USA i.e. medium and heavy rare earth minerals ban, I think Russia must react in the same way and stop letting redline after redline after redlines to be crossed without a significant response! China has shown it will not be bullied and terrorized by the USA any longer. Unfortunately, Russia has allowed itself to be drawn into a war that either never should have been started, or has failed to end it completely months or even years ago. In both cases, Russia had options like China is now using to deal a knockout blow to the USA and UK and put an end to this forever war against Russia
After the kabuki show in Alaska, and what China just did to the USA, Putin should give up his dream of being friends with America and thinking anything good can come from meeting with Trump. By the way, what China just did was knock Humpty Dumpty Trump on his ass and with it, put the final nail in MAGA, and the greatest, most lethal military the world has ever known. By the way, all those rare earth minerals will cripple the entire military industrial complex.
Russia could have denied the USA access to the Space Station, banned the sale of Uranium, fertilizer, and other commodities it keeps selling to the USA. And, it could have stopped the flow and delivery of gas and oil to any parts of the EU, even through third countries like India.
So, my conclusion is that Putin should learn a lesson from what Xi just did and tell that blabbering idiot Trump to get lost!
"Russia could have denied the USA access to the Space Station, banned the sale of Uranium, fertilizer, and other commodities it keeps selling to the USA."
You seem to think that Russia still matters. Only to the Grifter in Chief and his cabal, trying to profit from and emulate russia-level corruption.
About 15% of uranium used in US comes from Russia, down from 20% to 25% before putin's war. Space Station wouldn't be functional without US components. Only about 15% of imported fertilizer and urea comes from russia - which amounts to less than 5% of what's used.
To borrow a phrase, "Russia has no cards;" - just some nukes, and an army of internet worker bees.
Yes, all very logical indeed, but given the participation of people like Trump, Starmer, Macron and (either directly or in separate meetings), can the concept of logic really be applied?
This kind of agreement would be a major strategic defeat for Russia. A real proof of weakness and the sign of hallali to all the western Russia haters.
All this best russian blood poured for so few, actually nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Such an agreement will launch a stampede in BRICS and every country of the big South will run to beg USA the permission to lick their shoes.
There is a handful of countries & individuals that hate Russia and want the war to continue. Start with Zelensky the JEW, Lindsey Graham the QUEER. Then there are the British who once had an empire and are now reduced to a country slightly larger then New York state. Russia still has an empire 6,000 miles ling. :People laugh at Britian and the "Charge of the light brigade" charging into a battery of Russian cannons during the Crimeran war and getting blown to pieces. The USA for its own good needs to be friends with Russia. Pushing Russia away towards Asia is not good for America. Come on Trump wise up and do what is best for our country.
It’s hopeful news but… every time Trump tries to act rationally in US national interests, the Deep State and the Democrats-In-Exile (Europe) manage to undermine him. Let us hope that Trump is now clear-eyed enough about the risks to push past the hysteria of the warmongers.
Trump is weak, stupid and easily manipulated.
And yet somehow always winning, so much winning. 😁
If Trump thinks he will out-fox Putin then he has a very bitter lesson to learn.
Well, first, I guess I can understand why Pres Putin might continue to engage in this farce of chaotic diplomacy, but the acceptance of Budapest in the light of repeated US participation in the assassinations of negotiators is surprising. In theory, Pres Putin's trust in Trump's presumed good will should be counter-balanced by knowledge of the deep snakes surrounding Trump.
Secondly, there's a claim that Russian forces recently destroyed large, possibly irreplaceable stockpiles of weapons moved by Europeans into western Ukraine. If that's true, both party's interests are perhaps more aligned now and cessation of hostilities makes sense.
On the other hand, the US has a pressing need to inflate away its bloated debt, which means there is a need to run the economy "hot but not too hot" for years. Falling into recession at this point would be hazardous, and China knows it can play its trump card at any time. Both the need for inflation and indignity of being subject to China both argue imply the US ~needs war.
The best move by the US may be to invade Iran, triggering closure of Hormuz to imperil Chinese energy flow, and then use naval superiority to imperil Chinese commerce.
In this scenario, perhaps it would be more in Russia's interest for the Ukraine war to continue?
Thank You, Andrew. Russia is beginning the second battle for Kherson,and can feasibly take or enter most of the cities which it intends to take, as the line of contact grinds and jumps westward.
Russia needs a negotiating partner in Ukraine. Emergency martial law is up November 5 in Ukraine. Elections?
What protections did Trump offer Zelensky? What conversation did Zelensky have with European "leaders" before he met with the press?
Russia can offer Ukraine some electricity and gas relief this long winter, but has already largely depopulated the big cities, and can advance more rapidly into them.
Can Trump give European and City of London banking an off-ramp, so they don't need WW-3 as badly?
Isn't there some strategy in all these years of civilization to deal with countries that use borrowed might (current European countries) to support a country that has no cards (Ukraine). Are civilizations like Poland so hell built on Suicide by having a nuclear war with a neighbor. Don't they know their country had once vanished from the maps.
There are a lot of things that those who want forever war in and around Ukraine might do, and the list in this article covers them well.
All of these things are expensive, and those who want the forever war seem to be a trifle short on cash. Obviously everyone expected the White House to provide the resources, cash and muscle to keep that party going indefinitely.
The US has a serious debt and deficit problem and no amount of ridiculous stories from the Administration is going to convince the smart money otherwise. So the party is over.
The tomahawks (tomahoax) were a pre-set red line from 2021. Trump has done his best to pretend he didn't want to send them, that we have lots of them, that they are extremely effective, and that he has decided in his infinite wisdom that it is time for peace.
Putin didn't say that he wouldn't like it very much if tomahawks were sent to Ukraine. He said it would be a serious escalation. Russia has made it clear, largely with live field demonstrations, that they can place more capable and destructive projectiles within the same number of minutes to major US cities, as it takes the tomahawk to go from Ukraine to Moscow. Everyone who has taken a serious look at the weapons knows the US has fallen badly behind.
There was no chance of landing the tomahawks, Russia knows this, and Russia held to the red line because it had been set in advance. Unlike the Americans they understand that waffling means fear and lack of willingness to escalate, and they held their position. The US backed down and now all we hear is spin. That was bad enough. To answer the question of who selected the venue of Budapest with "Your mom" is incredibly revealing (and incredibly embarrassing to any American with a scintilla of pride), notwithstanding the reality that it was the obvious best choice for neutral politics, secured access and egress, and security on the ground. That two press secretaries said it reveals it was a pre-planned response.
The parties who want their anti-Russian crusade and war to continue are tapped as far as big projects go. That won't stop the individual actors, who are not concerned with the success of plans so much as their ability to continue to hold their positions and to keep proclaiming their plans to the masses, from announcing one scheme after another.
But all we are going to see is terrorism, and lots of it. Terroism is cost effective. The Right Sektor has been campaigning for about a year to replace Syrsky, identifying him as the largest problem when it is clear he is largely irrelevent. To replace him in a fashion that ensures Right Sektor support is to give control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to them. If in time they lose patience in waiting for this control, they'll simply eliminate Zelenskyy and seize it.
There is a lot of terrorism and suffering yet to come.
But the war was won, it was won by Russia, the world has turned again, and it is incredibly ironic to me that it happened on the anniversary of the day that a Soviet spy fired cyanide gas into Stephan Bandera's face.
Think about it.
Have the UK and French elevated the number of their troops in Odessa?