Seen a comment about the latest moves by Russia and the political landscape of possible deals:
"Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me. Fool me a dozen times; I must be an EU diplomat." ~Kevin Croysdale
I've got a bad feeling these latest moves are intended to play on the short attention span and dislike of the inconvenience this situation is having on people more remote to the conflict especially those in Europe, putting pressure on for the acceptance of a hastily made bad deal for Ukraine and giving Russia an upper hand. People just never seem to learn.
Furthermore:
This is something we've seen Russia do time and time again in the months and years leading up to this invasion - no reason to think they are doing anything different to their old habits now.
It's just a cynical move on Russia's part - the attacks on Kyiv and Chernihiv are going poorly anyway, they need to withdraw some troops either to rearm or to move them to Donbas - by trying to make it sound like it's a de-escalation because of the negotiations they hope those troops will be attacked less as they retreat or even Russia get to claim Ukraine are the cause of a breakdown in negotiations BEcause they are attacking troops that are "withdrawing as a show of good faith".
Russia need to do something so by telegraphing what they are doing as a part of "negotiations" they are hoping to score some points and further their narrative. It's a really cynical move but exactly from the Russian playbook.
And then overnight, Chernihiv have actually had shelling intensified.
*Greece to Hold Emergency Meeting on Wednesday Over Gas Payments in Roubles — Energy Ministry
*French Gas Network Operator GRTgaz: LNG Supplies Will Be Increased Thanks to New Facilities in France.
*French Gas Network Operator GRTgaz: At This Stage It Is Not Encountering Any Difficulties Regarding Gas Supplies
*Russian 2035 Bond Coupon Payments Have Arrived in Some Investor Accounts.
*German Inflation to Reach Over 7% in March, State Data Suggest — Yahoo https://financialpost.com/pmn/busin...n-to-reach-over-7-in-march-state-data-suggest
*The Kremlin Claims Crimea Is a Part of Russia, and the Russian Constitution Prohibits Anyone From Discussing the Fate of Russian Regions.
*The Kremlin: Peace Talks Must Be Held in Private and That We Will Not Discuss the Substance of What Is Being Discussed.
*The Kremlin Claims That It Has Not Seen Anything Else That Is Particularly Promising or That Appears to Be a Breakthrough, and That There Is Still Much Work to Be Done.
*The Fact That Ukraine Has Begun to Put Its Demands on Paper, to Be More Specific, Is Viewed Positively by the Kremlin.
*The Kremlin: The Chief Russian Negotiator in Charge of Peace Talks With Ukraine Will Provide an Update Later on Wednesday. https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1509109397133447169
*Ukrainian Finance Minister: In March Ministry Received 6.7 Billion Hryvnias From Customs Payments Instead of Expected 32 Billion Hryvnias, There Were Also Shortfalls in Value Added Tax
*Italy's Prime Minister Draghi To Talk To Russia's Putin On Wednesday - Prime Minister's Office - Reuters
*The European Commission Will Collaborate Closely With Member States to Prepare for Gas Supply Disruptions, According to a Spokesman.
*The Kremlin Claims Crimea Is a Part of Russia, and the Russian Constitution Prohibits Anyone From Discussing the Fate of Russian Regions.
*The Kremlin: Peace Talks Must Be Held in Private and That We Will Not Discuss the Substance of What Is Being Discussed.
*The Kremlin Claims That It Has Not Seen Anything Else That Is Particularly Promising or That Appears to Be a Breakthrough, and That There Is Still Much Work to Be Done.
*The Fact That Ukraine Has Begun to Put Its Demands on Paper, to Be More Specific, Is Viewed Positively by the Kremlin.
*The Kremlin: The Chief Russian Negotiator in Charge of Peace Talks With Ukraine Will Provide an Update Later on Wednesday.
It's right up there with all the other BS they keep sprouting like their Nazi this and that despite RF being full of extreme nationalistic parties etc.
I think for anything coming from the Russian side, taking anything the say as meaning the 180° opposite is probably closer to reality.
Besides any status can only be considered once they've gone full Stalin and deported all the original residents to Siberia and planted it all with loyalists. Then a rubber-stamped referendum can run with 90% approval.
It's right up there with all the other BS they keep sprouting like their Nazi this and that despite RF being full of extreme nationalistic parties etc.
I think for anything coming from the Russian side, taking anything the say as meaning the 180° opposite is probably closer to reality.
Besides any status can only be considered once they've gone full Stalin and deported all the original residents to Siberia and planted it all with loyalists. Then a rubber-stamped referendum can run with 90% approval.
I mean, we knew this already as half Trump's support team and campaign manager ended up in jail for taking money from and trading info with Russia, but yeah bit odd coming out and saying this as surely the American electorate are not going to be pro-russia at this point.
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: China-Russia Ties Have Withstood New Test Amid Changing International Situation but Maintained ‘Correct’ Direction of Development
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: China, Russia ‘More Determined’ to Develop Bilateral Ties, Boost Cooperation in Various Fields
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: China Is Willing to Work With Russia to Take China-Russia Ties to Higher Level in ‘New Era’ Under Guidance of Countries’ Leaders
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: Support Russia, Ukraine in Overcoming Their Difficulties and Continuing Their Peace Talks
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: Support the ‘Cooling’ of the Current Ukraine Situation As Soon As Possible
*Senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi: Support Efforts of Russia and All Parties in Prevent Large-Scale Humanitarian Crisis
*China: Downward Pressure in Domestic Economy Increased - Cabinet Meeting
*China: We Will Make Preparations for Possible and Larger Uncertainties in the Economy.
*Russian Finance Ministry to Pay for Unclaimed Part of Sovereign Eurobonds Due in 2022 in US Dollars on April 4 - Source Familiar With Buy Back Process - Reuters
'The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 30 March 2022'
*China’s CNOOC Prepares Exit From British North Sea Oil and Gas After Decade-Long Presence — Sources
*CNOOC's Sale Process to Include 43% Stake in Buzzard Field, Largest in the North Sea — Sources
'Chinese firm wants to focus on new developments in Latam, Africa'
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said Moscow and Beijing are leading the way "towards a multipolar, just, democratic world order" as he makes his first visit to China since Russia invaded Ukraine last month.
In a video released by the Russian foreign ministry ahead of a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Mr Lavrov said the world was "living through a very serious stage in the history of international relations".
At the end of this reshaping of global relations "we, together with you, and with our sympathisers will move towards a multipolar, just, democratic world order", Mr Lavrov added.
Mr Lavrov landed in the eastern city of Huangshan this morning. The two ministers were shown on Chinese state TV in face masks bumping elbows in front of their national flags ahead of the meeting.
*UK’s Prime Minister Johnson: It Is Inconceivable to Reduce Russia Sanctions if a Ceasefire Occurs.
*German Govt Spokesperson - Scholz Has Told Zelenskiy in Phone Calls Germany Would Be Ready to Act As a Security Guarantor
*German Govt Spokesperson - Does Not Want to Speculate Whether Security Guarantor Role Would Have Military Component
*OPEC Sees 1q Stock Build at 600k B/d, Down From 1m B/d Earlier.
*OPEC Sees Smaller 1q Oil Surplus Than Projected Earlier.
*Ukraine Losing $1.5 Billion a Month in Blocked Agriculture Exports Since Russian Invasion - Agriculture Ministry
*Italy Monitoring Developments Before Taking Any Decision on Possible ‘State of Alert’ Regarding Gas Supplies – Govt Source
*Needs to See if Gazprom Sends Contract Amendments to Gas Operators Before Taking Decision on State of Alert
*Russian Gas Flows to Italy Are Regular
*ECB’s Muller: Asset Purchases Are No Longer Necessary for the Economy.
*ECB’s Muller: A Rate Hike Is Likely This Year.
*ECB’s Muller: It Is Correct to Question Whether Low Interest Rates Are Still Appropriate.
*ECB’s Muller: Inflation Will Be Very Close to the 2% Target in the Medium Term.
*ECB’s Muller: Price Pressures Are Likely to Be Stronger Than in the Base Case.
He does realise that putting China and "democratic" in the same sentence only highlights how much of a sham Russia's claims to "democracy" are, right? I mean even China themselves state they are a dictatorship.
Edit; I just did a Google on China's claims to be a democracy and honestly feel like having a bit of a cry. I mean, how can you have the words dictatorship in your constitution and still claim to be a democracy. Words apparently have no meaning at all to these people. I'm thinking of starting my own nation and I'll call it a "moondoonglefangblasterichism" because we'll hold a vote every Tuesday on what flavour mud we'll have this week for socks and that will still make more sense.
*China’s CNOOC Prepares Exit From British North Sea Oil and Gas After Decade-Long Presence — Sources
*CNOOC's Sale Process to Include 43% Stake in Buzzard Field, Largest in the North Sea — Sources
'Chinese firm wants to focus on new developments in Latam, Africa'
I think it's related. China is moving its focus from "the West" to parts of Africa because it can gain much more from doing so. Partly because the exploitable reserves of natural resources are much larger, partly because the countries themselves are more easily exploited (China can effectively buy power over them and is doing so) and partly because it'll be easier for China to use brute force (or the threat of it) if the countries ever resist the arrangement (e.g. try to control their own resources by nationalisation). Having Russia as a subordinate ally would be useful to China in that plan to create a new zone of dominance. At the very least it would be a very bigger buffer state for China.
He does realise that putting China and "democratic" in the same sentence only highlights how much of a sham Russia's claims to "democracy" are, right? I mean even China themselves state they are a dictatorship.
Edit; I just did a Google on China's claims to be a democracy and honestly feel like having a bit of a cry. I mean, how can you have the words dictatorship in your constitution and still claim to be a democracy. Words apparently have no meaning at all to these people. I'm thinking of starting my own nation and I'll call it a "moondoonglefangblasterichism" because we'll hold a vote every Tuesday on what flavour mud we'll have this week for socks and that will still make more sense.
Authoritarian ideologies often include redefining words to suit the authoritarians. Most famously in fiction with the NewSpeak of Orwell's 1984, but in reality too. In this case, the "justification" would be that democracy is rule by the people, the Party tells the people what the people want, therefore rule by the Party is rule by the people, QED.
Past hour:
*Russia Will Pay a Portion of Its Eurobond Due on April 4th in Dollars - Source.
*German Govt Spokesperson - Will Not Let Up in Drive to Make Sure Sanctions vs Russia Are Not Undermined
*On Wednesday, Ukrainian Delegation Will Meet With Turkish Officials to Discuss Military-Technical Cooperation, According to a Ukrainian Negotiator.
*Ukraine’s President Zelensky: Russian Mines Are Seen As a Threat in the Black Sea.
*Ukraine’s President Zelensky: Russia Is Sending Fresh Military to the Country.
*Ukraine’s President Zelensky: Tells Norwegian Parliament Europe Should Ban Russian Ships From European Ports
*The EU Updates Its Fishing Rights for 2022 in Accordance With the UK Pact.
*OPEC+ Are Set to Roll Over 400k B/d Oil Output Policy - RBC.
*OPEC Secretary-General Barkindo Encourages OPEC+ to Stay on Course, and Remain Vigilant to Ever-Changing Market Conditions.
*OPEC Secretary-General Barkindo: I Call on International Leaders to Provide an Unrestricted, Steady, and Secure Supply of Energy to All Parts of the Globe.
*The Spokesman for UK Prime Minister Johnson: The Time Has Come To Tighten Sanctions Against Russia.
*UK PM Johnson’s Spokesman: There Is Further We Can Go Regarding Restricting Russia’s Access to the Swift Payment System.
*UK PM Johnson’s Spokesman: Unless We Increase Sanctions Pressure, Russia Will Learn to Live With Them.
*Ukrainian Negotiator: After Discussions With Russia in Istanbul, I Am Optimistic.
*Ukrainian Negotiator Podolyak: A Peace Deal With Russia Will Be Put to a National Referendum After Russia Withdraws Its Troops to February 23rd Positions.
*China’s Central Bank: The Economy Is Under Pressure From Falling Demand, Weakening Supply, and Expectations.
*China’s Central Bank: We Will Deepen Forex Market Reform and Increase Yuan Flexibility.
*PBOC: We Will Support Banks to Boost Capital in Order to Maintain the Stable Development of the Financial Markets.
*PBOC: The Economic Growth Is Being Hampered by a Supply Shock, Weaker Demand, and Expectations.
*ECB’s Muller: Asset Purchases Are No Longer Necessary for the Economy.
*ECB’s Muller: A Rate Hike Is Likely This Year.
*ECB’s Muller: It Is Correct to Question Whether Low Interest Rates Are Still Appropriate.
*ECB’s Muller: Inflation Will Be Very Close to the 2% Target in the Medium Term.
*ECB’s Muller: Price Pressures Are Likely to Be Stronger Than in the Base Case.
*ECB’s Stournaras: The ECB May Raise Interest Rates Slightly.
*ECB’s Makhlouf: We Are Worried About the Impact of Inflation.
*ECB’s Makhlouf: It’s Too Early to Tell How the Ukraine War Would Affect the Economy.
*ECB’s Makhlouf: The War Is Expected to Have an Influence on Inflation in the Eurozone.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
