# entry

guid: CCAL-119scal-2025-05-12
title: Senate Calendars, DAILY - Senate Calendars for May 12, 2025 - 119th Congress, 1st Session
link: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CCAL-119scal-2025-05-12
hash: �{l(�C�*�0zo+�
tags: #Proceedings of Congress and General Congressional Publications
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<h2>Content Files</h2>
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guid: CCAL-119hcal-2025-05-09
title: House Calendars, DAILY - House Calendars for May 9, 2025 - 119th Congress, 1st Session
link: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CCAL-119hcal-2025-05-09
hash: ���!:�UjaS�� �
tags: #Proceedings of Congress and General Congressional Publications
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<h2>Content Files</h2>
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guid: 681d2e97038a3200013a7b51
title: As the World Marks the End of World War II, How Do We Prevent the Rise of a New Fascism?
author: ;Jason Ross
hash: ¿��Ο�Z��xi���
tags: #Daily Lead
content:
<div><img src="https://eir.news/content/images/size/w1200/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-08-at-8.42.47-PM.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>As the leaders of nearly 30 countries gather in Moscow to commemorate Victory Day over the forces of Nazism in what Russia calls the Great Patriotic War, the world stands at the precipice of a new war, a nuclear war that could eliminate the entire human species.</p>
<p>The military skirmishes, saber-rattling, and water tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack that left dozens dead, should lead us to pose a question: In what sort of political geometry is it possible for a handful of extremists to cause the potential outbreak of warfare between two nuclear-armed countries with a combined population of nearly 1.7 billion people? Who built the bomb whose fuse has possibly just been lit?</p>
<p>The continued destruction of Palestinian life, directed by an Israeli prime minister more interested in achieving and maintaining power, than in achieving good things for his country and its historical standing, is a call to conscience for the entire world. The <a href="https://eir.news/2025/05/news/an-anguished-voice-from-israel-haaretz-editorial-says-stop-the-war/">lead editorial</a> in the Israeli newspaper <em>Haaretz</em> encourages Israelis to speak out. Even the <em>Financial Times</em> <a href="https://eir.news/2025/05/news/ft-editorial-board-on-the-wests-shameful-silence-on-gaza/">urges</a> the West not to be complicit in a situation where months have passed since any food or aid entered Gaza.</p>
<p>While progress is being made toward resolving the Ukraine conflict, it is by no means certain that efforts to end the fighting will succeed. Are the European NATO nations forming a “Coalition of the Willing” to arm Ukraine “as long as it takes” in a position to prevent peace from breaking out?</p>
<p>Meanwhile, military planners in Anglo-American NATO see China as the primary threat in the future, and are driving conflict where no conflict is necessary.</p>
<p>Under what sort of paradigm, in which configuration of political space, can these conflicts be overcome? Helga Zepp-LaRouche’s <a href="https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2022/11/30/ten-principles-of-a-new-international-security-and-development-architecture/">Ten Principles of a New International Security and Development Architecture</a> propose a means of answering that question.</p>
<p>Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8 by the College of Cardinals, <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html">greeted</a> those assembled in St. Peter’s Square with his first words as Pope: “Peace be with you!” Remarking that “this was the first greeting of the risen Christ,” Leo XIV said that he wants “this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”</p>
<p>Achieving peace means achieving a world order that addresses the causes of conflicts, and the aspirations of the human species, a future of economic, scientific, cultural, and moral development. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjfFHIiXPmE">LaRouche Oasis Plan</a> concept and its <a href="https://schillerinstitute.com/the-oasis-plan-the-larouche-solution-for-southwest-asia/">extended developments</a> serve as an example.</p>
<p><a href="https://schillerinstitute.nationbuilder.com/ipc_meeting">Join</a> the International Peace Coalition today, May 9, for an intense discussion of the prospect of peace on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the defeat (but not the elimination) of fascism.</p>

link:
https://eir.news/2025/05/news/as-the-world-marks-the-end-of-world-war-ii-how-do-we-prevent-the-rise-of-a-new-fascism/

attributes:
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guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885190
title: As we commemorate VE and Victory Day, it’s time to tether the dogs of war
author: ;A A
hash: �r!6���`�q��k��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="code-block code-block-2">
<p><strong><em>Feeding the Ukrainian dogs of war will only prolong the needless suffering for the poor innocent people caught in the crossfire.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Join us on </span><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a><span>, and</span> <a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a>.</strong></p>
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<p>As we remember Victory Day, I have immense respect, of course, for the Allied forces of Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the USA and take pride in their achievements in contributing to the defeat of Hitler and Imperial Japan. Soldiers on all sides do evil things. But Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were evil regimes that had to be defeated. Today, with war raging in Ukraine, we should remember that, in war, it’s always the poor and innocent who suffer most.</p>
<p>When a small group of Ukrainian troops paraded through London on Tuesday as part of the VE Day celebrations, it occurred to me how quickly we forget the lessons of World War II, having said never again. As we commemorate, today, the end of World War II, there is a political consensus here in Britain that the killing should continue in Europe, even though Ukraine cannot win.</p>
<p>Shakespeare’s line to ‘let slip the dogs of war’ represents a cry for vengeance by Marc Antony after Caesar’s murder. War requires the putting aside of compassion to kill the hated enemy. To release the baying dog inside of our warriors.</p>
<p>During World War II, or the Great Patriotic War as it’s called in Russia, the allied effort, led by forces of Great Britain, America, and the Soviet Union, faced the monumental task of defeating the expansionist forces of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.</p>
<p>On VE Day, or Victory Day as it is known in Russia, we commemorate, or should, the end of killing and the slow reestablishment of civilised relations. We also remember our own heroes, like my great uncles, one of whom was killed in a sinking prisoner of war ship off the coast of China, and the other, who survived being shot down over France, escaping back to Britain with the help of the Resistance. Victory marks the moment the dogs of war were put back on the chain and the broken service personnel can begin to piece together civilian lives and confront the demons of their experience. We remember with pride, today, our glorious victories, at El Alamein, Stalingrad or Iwo Jima, and mourn the loss of our troops who died in the fight.</p>
<p>Taken together, around 7,5 million German and Japanese troops and their wider conscripts were killed to deliver Victory, not counting the enormous civilian death toll across Europe and the Asia Pacific.</p>
<p>Despite the best efforts to regulate the conduct of war, atrocities were committed on all sides. War is a terrible thing, and while I believe most troops conducted themselves with the appropriate military discipline, and none of the allies armies emerge completely blameless. Represent a cross section of society, with their fair share of criminals, murders and psychopaths.</p>
<p>Mass rape of women and girls is a stain on several allied armed forces, including the British, American and Soviet armies. There are recorded incidents of the summary execution of prisoners of war. The French, while they were in the war, and the resistance, were not free from blame, for example, massacring 21 prisoners in Abbeville on 20 May 1940, after Germany invaded. The wanton destruction of communities was all too frequent. Even the Canadians were accused of razing the town of Friesoythe on 14 April 1945, killing 20 civilians, in reprisal for the killing of their commanding officer.</p>
<p>It wasn’t uncommon for American service personnel to mutilate dead Japanese soldiers to keep their skulls as trophies. President Franklin Roosevelt was given the gift of a letter opener made by a Japanese soldier’s arm bone and reportedly said, ‘this is the sort of gift I like to get’. Many have questioned the British strategic bombing campaign, including the Dresden night raid, that killed 25,000 people, most of them civilians. And even though the nuclear bombing was justified on the basis of the greater number of lives lost had war with Japan continued, they still killed over 210,000 completely innocent people.</p>
<p>That’s what happens when you slip the dogs of war. That’s all the more reason not to allow wars to start in the first place and, indeed, to stop them as quickly as possible. Wars are breeding grounds for hatred and the dehumanisation of our fellow men and women.</p>
<p>But World War II was a war that had to be won, because while soldiers can do evil things, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were evil regimes. Driven by a core racialism and supremacism they industrialised the art of cruelty as an end in itself, rather than as a means of war.</p>
<p>Nazi Germany was driven by an ethno-nationalist ideology and sought to subjugate the whole of Europe including Britain. Nothing typified this more than the Holocaust whose aim was the eradication of an entire religious group of people from Europe. The rounding up of Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, political dissidents and homosexuals was undertaken on an industrial scale.</p>
<p>This required the establishment of an entire supply chain of cruelty, from the informers who ratted on hiding Jews, to the Nazis and their collaborators who gathered them up, to the railway system that transported them to concentration camps, to the predecessor of German company Bayer than manufactured the Zyklon B gas, even the Sonderkommando prisoners who loaded the bodies into the ovens.</p>
<p>The process had been carefully deliberated as a Final Solution at the genteel mansion in Wansee, Berlin, all the Nazis in their smart uniforms planning how it might all be achieved. Joseph Mengele’s disgusting experiments were conducted as if they had an academic purpose, working with the<strong> Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Genetics, and Eugenics in Berlin. </strong>Everything was deliberate with the Nazis, the orders to kills commando troops even if they showed their identification documents. The famous mass murder of 50 escaped prisoners of war from Stalag Luft III POW camp in May 1944 was considered and cold blooded</p>
<p>And the Japanese were the same in many respects. Between 1937 and 1938, the Imperial Japanese Army killed over 200,000 people in what has become known as the rape of Nanking, with levels of depravity unseen in modern warfare. Japanese soldiers had competitions to see which could kill one hundred civilians with their swords quickest. Innocent people were buried alive. Tens of thousands of innocent women and girls were gang raped. The imperial Japanese Army used female prisoners to work in military brothels throughout the war. 100,000 Asian civilians and allied prisoners of war were starved, tortured and worked to death in Thailand to build the famous death railways to Burma between 1940 and 1943. And, the Imperial Japanese were just as deliberate, driven by racial superiority, as the Nazis. Cruelty was the creed.</p>
<p>Had we not resisted Nazi and Imperial Japanese aggression, Europe and Asia would look very different today. Yet what a price in depravity and human cruelty we had to pay to defeat them.</p>
<p>Russia is not and has never been an expansionist threat to Europe since the downfall of the Soviet Union, and to claim otherwise lays us open to using the same racialised logic that drove Nazi and Imperial Japanese expansion. Feeding the Ukrainian dogs of war will only prolong the needless suffering for the poor innocent people caught in the crossfire and all the depravity and human wickedness that comes with it. That’s why, as we remember Victory, we should also remind ourselves how, in the end, it’s always the innocent who lose the most in war. And how we all, somewhere, have a war dog inside that we must restrain.</p>
<p></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/as-we-commemorate-ve-and-victory-day-its-time-tether-dogs-war/

tags:
#Europe #Russia &amp; CIS #World #Genocide #Germany #Ukraine #United Kingdom #Victory Day #War Crimes #World War II


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885192
title: The United Arab Emirates, NATO’s Little Sparta, flexes its muscles against the Muslim Brotherhood
author: ;A A
hash: u���&"E/Añ��J��
tags: #Middle East #World #Justice #Muslim Brotherhood #Terrorism #UAE
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="code-block code-block-2">
<p><strong><em>NATO’s Gulf States have had it easy for far too long, Declan Hayes writes.</em></strong></p>
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<p>Far from being the end of the story, the news that the autocratic <a href="https://www.theburkean.ie/articles/2025/04/24/the-muslim-brotherhoods-irish-waystation-the-geopolitics-behind-the-clonskeagh-mosque" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Arab Emirates have removed their funding from Dublin’s main Muslim Brotherhood mosque</a> is just more evidence of the shadow boxing the Gulf States countries engage in not only in Ireland, but globally as well, and more particularly in Syria, Yemen and other countries where they are responsible for the spilling of far too much innocent Arab blood.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/islamic-cultural-centre-in-dublin-was-shut-over-fears-of-forced-takeover/a1053583277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muslim Brotherhood’s main Dublin mosque</a> doubled as their European HQ and my previous article on <a href="https://strategic-culture.su/news/2022/09/30/muslim-brotherhood-mob-boss-qaradawi-dies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muslim Brotherhood mob boss of bosses Qaradawi</a> outlined just how pivotal that mosque cum spy centre is to their world wide terror network and why Sinn Féin MEP and serial Muslim Brotherhood apologist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Boylan">Lynn Boylan</a>, together with reputed IRA godfather <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Morrison_(Irish_republican)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Danny Morrison</a>, threatened me after <a href="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/250414-Mufti_me.jpg">this picture of me </a>with former Syrian Grand Mufti Hassoun, a high priority target for the Muslim Brotherhood murder gang, first surfaced some years ago.</p>
<p>Although fanatical Irish Zionist Mark Humphrys gives us much more information on the nefarious doings of both the <a href="https://markhumphrys.com/muslim.brotherhood.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muslim Brotherhood</a> and its <a href="https://markhumphrys.com/clonskeagh.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clonskeagh mosque</a>, it is more the interaction between the UAE, the Qataris and the Saudis that interest us here. First off, the Saudis, through their own giant “cultural centre,” were supplying the mosque’s school with incendiary, sectarian teaching materials that have no place in a modern, pluralist country like Ireland, or anywhere else for that matter. Secondly, as the mosque has long been known to be the command, control and coordination centre for the Muslim Brotherhood in all of Europe, the question arises why was the UAE, through its shady <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/al-maktoum-foundation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maktoum Foundation</a> (which also <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56217277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funds former Irish President Mary Robinson</a>), picking up the tab for it, when the Qataris are the main bagmen for the Muslim Brotherhood criminal empire. The answer, to me at least, is all these Gulf State autocracies are cut from the same cloth and the fact that one or more of them can buy cut price Irish politicians like Robinson or the knuckle dragging Sinn Féin crew only mirrors what they do elsewhere with pricier purchases.</p>
<p>Although the various Gulf States’ dictators pretend to be flavoured differently, just like CocaCola and Pepsi do, at heart they are the same and, though the old joke has it that CocaCola has more money than God, the Gulf States lot have more money that both of them put together. It is to protect their ill gotten goods that these dictatorships create mayhem worldwide, whether working in tandem or pretending to be opposed to each other, where one plays good cop and the other directly plays the villain, or pays ISIS and their other “business partners” to do their villainous work for them.</p>
<p>Look at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria%E2%80%93United_Arab_Emirates_relations#:~:text=The%20UAE%20stance%20on%20the,part%20of%20a%20peace%20settlement." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Libya and Syria</a>, where Saudi Arabia and Qatar paid the head choppers, while the UAE played the reasonable mafiosi. Or how about Yemen, where the UAE and Saudi Arabia bankrolled NATO’s war against the Houthis. Or <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudan-tells-icj-uae-complicit-and-driving-force-behind-genocide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how about Sudan</a>, where the UAE js <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8009pl4xjo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">implicated in the grossest of war crimes</a>, just as all of them should be with respect to Syria, where Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now volunteering to <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/27/saudi-arabia-qatar-to-settle-syrias-outstanding-debt-to-world-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pay off Syria’s World Bank debt</a>.</p>
<p>Good old Syria, which never made peace with Israel, is now being railroaded under its new Muslim Brotherhood management into signing up to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Accords">Abraham Accords</a>, which will further advance the Greater Israel project at the expense of Syrians, and Palestinians, who never mattered to these gangsters, except as sources of cheap labour. And don’t tell me about some token Qatari and Turkish funding for Gaza because the Muslim Brotherhood, through its Al Jazeera network, egged on the Gazans to die like lemmings. The Muslim Brotherhood disgust me, as they should you.</p>
<p>And don’t go on about that BRICS charade, which is only a hedge for the UAE and Saudi Arabia to protect their assets, lest Uncle Sam be eventually out-muscled. Little Sparta has vast dollar reserves and, if throwing the glad eye at BRICS is what it takes to preserve them, fair enough for these amoral monsters.</p>
<p>And, on the subject of Little Sparta, what is a mickey mouse country like the UAE doing being the <a href="https://astanatimes.com/2025/04/uae-sugar-giant-enters-kazakhstans-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">main player in Kazakhstan’s sugar market</a>, or in Geneva’s airport, through which it channels its massive gold hoardings? And what brought <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/31/middleeast/uae-death-sentences-killing-zvi-kogan-intl-latam/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murdered Israeli rabbi Zvi Kogan</a> to Dubai where he ran a kosher grocery store, before three Uzbekis dispatched him? And why is the UAE <a href="https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/irelands-pursuit-of-kinahans-in-uae-poses-risk-to-irish-citizens-expert-claims/a694159052.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the bolthole of choice</a> for Ireland’s main international crime gang?</p>
<p>The UAE, like its equally artificial Qatari, Saudi and Israeli buddies, is up to far too much skullduggery that it should be made paid for and, though it is good news that <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/ugcPost:7317970459982004224/?midToken=AQE_qbNeOHCMSA&amp;midSig=3SYK_owYMsXHI1&amp;trk=eml-email_next_best_action_digest_01-truncated~share~message-0-see~more&amp;trkEmail=eml-email_next_best_action_digest_01-truncated~share~message-0-see~more-null-9bx34d~m9x3oskl~ri-null-null&amp;eid=9bx34d-m9x3oskl-ri&amp;otpToken=MTcwMzFhZTIxMzJiYzljMWI3MjQwNGVkNDIxYmUxYjQ4YmNjZDU0MTlhYTg4YjYxNzBjZTA4Njg0ZjUyNWJmMWZlZDdkZmIwNzRkMWM4ZTM0Njk4YTgzODkzOGZiN2VkNzA3ZjNjNjM5ZTNhNzAzOWU4M2UwOCwxLDE=">Dr Ali Selim</a>, one of the Dublin mosque’s most active enforcers, must now look for a teaching position commensurate with his pathetic skill levels (this is a pen, that is a pen), all the rest of them must, together with those on their payrolls, be held to account if the Middle East is to ever have peace.</p>
<p>The British bequeathed the vast wealth of the Persian Gulf to a band of gangsters masquerading as princes,who are devoid of any semblance of morality. Not only is Dubai itself the centre for <a href="https://www.google.ie/search?q=dubai+potta+parties&amp;sca_esv=f6861048bb8aaca5&amp;sxsrf=AHTn8zoa_PFfO-AI55goAtkkfxwBN-cgxg:1745939844191&amp;source=hp&amp;ei=hO0QaPrlCeOqhbIP1qCQgQ0&amp;iflsig=ACkRmUkAAAAAaBD7lN5Sr-5O4S6IKIc51WoB9KYjQ0Ed&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj6t9fhxP2MAxVjVUEAHVYQJNAQ4dUDCBk&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=dubai+potta+parties&amp;gs_lp=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&amp;sclient=gws-wiz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the most revolting crimes against prostitutes</a> they ferry in to satiate their perversions but they have bought off anyone of importance who can be bought off and they have helped murder more innocents in Syria, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen than we can imagine. And then there was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jamal_Khashoggi#:~:text=On%202%20October%202018,%20Jamal,that%20was%20never%20publicly%20revealed." target="_blank" rel="noopener">that little murder incident</a> in the Saudis’ Turkish consulate</p>
<p>NATO’s Gulf States have had it easy for far too long. Because it is time to end their party, not only should their Dublin mosque stay closed but their entire global operation should be wound up and the proceeds shared between all the peoples of the Arab world from Algeria in the west to Iraq in the east, who have much more right to it than do these political perverts and the politicians, academics and other prostitutes they squander their pocket money on.</p>
<p></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/united-arab-emirates-nato-little-sparta-flexes-its-muscles-against-muslim-brotherhood/


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330239
title: But wait, there’s more: Dodgy Trócaire stat part 2
author: ;Jason Osborne
link: https://gript.ie/but-wait-theres-more-dodgy-trocaire-stat-part-2/
hash: F�CH�E�S$QZ�W5�
tags: #Featured #Irish News #News #Premium #Action Aid #fossil fuels #Trócaire
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/salah-darwish-su0rUMNakdA-unsplash-scaled.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885201
title: Storia dell’arsenale nucleare israeliano
author: ;A A
link: https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/storia-dellarsenale-nucleare-israeliano/
hash: ���y�G���ٻ�'�5
tags: #Italiano #Diplomacy #Iran #Israel #Middle East #Nuclear Weapons
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong><em>L’Iran definisce Israele il principale ostacolo alla non proliferazione nucleare. Storia del programma nucleare di Israele di Giacomo Gabellini. </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span><span><em>Segue nostro</em></span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>.</span></a></span></strong></p>
<p>Lo scorso 19 aprile, nel pieno delle trattative tra le autorità statunitensi e iraniane per la definizione di un accordo sullo spinoso tema del nucleare iraniano, il ministro degli Esteri iraniano Abbas Araghchi ha <a href="https://www.iranintl.com/en/202504198634" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sottolineato</a> «<em>la natura pacifica</em>» del programma nucleare iraniano e riaffermato l’opposizione di Teheran alle armi di distruzione di massa «<em>in linea con i suoi valori religiosi e nazionali e con la sua dottrina di difesa</em>». Araghchi ha quindi identificato nello Stato d’Israele «<em>l’unico ostacolo</em>» alla trasformazione del Medio Oriente in un’area libera da armi nucleari. Le esternazioni del ministro degli Esteri di Teheran miravano a richiamare l’attenzione generale su una realtà di fatto ormai nota praticamente a tutti, anche se mai formalmente riconosciuta dalle autorità di Tel Aviv: il possesso dell’arma atomica da parte di Israele. Una storia che risale al 1952, quando, ad appena quattro anni di distanza dalla nascita dello Stato israeliano, prese avvio il programma nucleare di Tel Aviv, grazie soprattutto agli sforzi profusi in proposito dal chimico di fama internazionale Ernst David Bergmann. Bergmann aveva affinato le proprie competenze presso l’istituto di chimica organica Emil Fischer di Berlino, dove aveva avuto modo di stringere rapporti con professionisti di settore molto vicini a personalità di spicco della scienza come Ernest Rutherford e Marie Curie. Suo padre era uno dei più influenti rabbini di tutta la Germania, nonché amico intimo del biochimico Chaim Weizmann che qualche decennio dopo sarebbe diventato il primo presidente israeliano.</p>
<p>Stando alle ricerche di alcuni studiosi, fu proprio Weizmann a reclutare Bergmann per conto dell’Haganah (organizzazione paramilitare ebraica operante in Palestina durante il mandato britannico), che nel 1936 lo aveva incaricato di assoldare uno scienziato in grado di fornire supporto tecnico per la messa a punto di una nuova tipologia di esplosivo da impiegare per la guerra contro gli arabi e le forze colonialiste britanniche. In seguito alla fondazione di Israele, Bergmann fu posto alle dipendenze del Ministero della Difesa, a capo della commissione per l’energia atomica creata per volontà del premier David Ben-Gurion e del suo giovane braccio destro Shimon Peres dopo che Robert Oppenheimer, John Von Neumann ed altri scienziati connessi al <em>Progetto Manhattan</em> avevano declinato la proposta di dedicarsi alla ricerca in Israele. All’epoca, Ben-Gurion e Peres erano fermamente convinti che il neonato Stato ebraico non sarebbe riuscito a garantire le propria sicurezza in assenza di un formidabile deterrente strategico. Conformemente a questa impostazione, Bergmann manifestò le proprie preoccupazioni riguardo la sicurezza nazionale attraverso una lettera in cui si <a href="https://nuke.fas.org/guide/israel/nuke/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diceva</a> convinto «<em>che lo Stato di Israele ha bisogno di un programma di ricerca per l’autodifesa rivolto a impedire che qualcuno ci trasformi nuovamente in agnelli destinati al mattatoio</em>».</p>
<p>Lo stesso gruppo di lavoro guidato da Bergmann, di cui facevano parte “mostri sacri” della scienza del calibro di Niels Bohr, Amos Deshalit e Aharon Katchalsky, fu incaricato dal Ministero della Difesa di Tel Aviv di avviare le prime prospezioni nel Deserto del Negev per verificare l’eventuale presenza di uranio. Riuscirono a reperire solo alcuni minerali contenenti questa sostanza radioattiva, per estrarre la quale fu escogitato uno speciale procedimento chimico che andava ad appaiarsi al nuovo metodo di produzione dell’acqua pesante, che funge normalmente da stabilizzatore nei reattori nucleari. Gli scienziati israeliani misero a punto questa tecnica di fabbricazione dell’acqua pesante basandosi sull’esperienza maturata in Francia, dove avevano collaborato con personale locale alla costruzione di un reattore e di un impianto di trattamento presso Marcoule; un’esperienza poi rivelatasi molto utile per la messa a punto della <em>force de frappe</em>.</p>
<p>Tel Aviv pensò quindi di far valere i buoni rapporti con Parigi maturati grazie alla cooperazione nucleare dei primi anni ‘50 per chiedere alle autorità francesi di fornire un reattore ad acqua pesante. L’Eliseo comunicò il proprio assenso nell’autunno del 1956, dopo aver  concordato con Tel Aviv l’operazione militare contro l’Egitto del colonnello Gamal Abdel Nasser. Nonostante l’operazione militare si fosse risolta in una clamorosa <em>débâcle</em>, Parigi decise comunque di protrarre la cooperazione con Tel Aviv inviando propri scienziati a lavorare fianco a fianco con i loro colleghi israeliani per la costruzione di un reattore nucleare di 24 megawatt in un bunker sotterraneo edificato presso Dimona, nel deserto del Negev. Le componenti necessarie alla realizzazione del reattore furono reperite sul mercato nero tramite alcuni contrabbandieri di fiducia su ordine diretto di alti funzionari del governo di Parigi, che per far arrivare il materiale in Israele senza destare troppi sospetti dichiararono alle dogane che si trattava di parti di un impianto di dissalazione da costruire in America Latina.</p>
<p>La segretezza era un punto fondamentale dell’accordo di collaborazione franco-israeliano, al punto da indurre le autorità di Tel Aviv a incaricare, nel 1957, il funzionario dello Shin Bet Benjamin Blumberg di creare una sezione dei servizi di <em>intelligence</em> apposita, il Lekem. A questo “ufficio per le relazioni scientifiche” era stato affidato anche il compito di mettere le mani sulle tecnologie e i materiali necessari a fabbricare armi atomiche “in maniera discreta”. Un compito che il Lekem eseguì in maniera magistrale, dapprima ottenendo circa 200 tonnellate di ossido di uranio di origine congolese acquistate in Belgio da una società milanese di facciata, e successivamente sottraendo 266 kg di uranio altamente arricchito – sufficiente a fabbricare 11 ordigni nucleari – dai depositi della compagnia statunitense Numec. L’azienda fu sottoposta a una serie di indagini dell’Fbi per via dei numerosi ospiti francesi e soprattutto israeliani – tra cui il futuro direttore del Lekem Rafi Eitan e il futuro direttore dello Shin Bet Avraham Bendor – che arrivavano a visitarne gli stabilimenti. Va evidenziato il fatto che la Numec era di proprietà di Zalman Shapiro, il chimico ebreo dell’Ohio collocato su posizioni ardentemente filosioniste che aveva fornito un contributo cruciale allo sviluppo del primo sottomarino a propulsione nucleare (lo Uss Nautilus).</p>
<p>Il Lekem, la cui costituzione era sfuggita persino alla Cia, suggerì al governo di Tel Aviv di mentire agli Stati Uniti riguardo alle intenzioni israeliane circa la tecnologia nucleare. I dirigenti dello Stato ebraico seguirono il consiglio, spiegando agli interlocutori statunitensi che il grande dispiegamento di mezzi quali escavatori, trivelle e autotreni nel bel mezzo del Negev che un <em>U-2</em> statunitense aveva fotografato durante una ricognizione, era in realtà finalizzato alla costruzione prima di una fabbrica di materiale tessile, poi di una fattoria agricola e infine di un centro di ricerca metallurgica. Parallelamente, Tel Aviv contattò con estrema discrezione le autorità norvegesi, che nel 1959 accettarono di vendere sottobanco notevoli quantità di acqua pesante nel quadro di un contratto che obbligava Israele ad impiegare il materiale solo ed esclusivamente a scopi civili e autorizzava personale norvegese ad ispezionare anche a sorpresa le strutture israeliane per verificare il rispetto di tutti i vincoli concordati.</p>
<p>Il presidente De Gaulle, cercando di evitare di esporsi ad attacchi interni ed esterni mentre portava avanti il delicatissimo processo di decolonizzazione che sarebbe culminato con la concessione dell’indipendenza all’Algeria, intimò al primo ministro David Ben-Gurion di rivelare pubblicamente l’esistenza del programma nucleare israeliano minacciando di interrompere la consegna del materiale necessario per completare la costruzione del reattore di Dimona e di un impianto d rigenerazione in caso di rifiuto di Tel Aviv. Di fronte alla tenacia dell’Eliseo, fu concordata una soluzione di compromesso, in base alla quale la Francia avrebbe fornito tutto l’occorrente al completamento della centrale e Israele, come contropartita, avrebbe rivelato apertamente i dettagli relativi al proprio programma nucleare impegnandosi al contempo ad arricchire l’uranio a scopi strettamente civili. Con ogni probabilità, il governo di Parigi era però consapevole che Tel Aviv avesse già varcato il limite che separa la ricerca civile da quella militare, giocando anche sulla estrema labilità di questo confine. «<em>Occorre comprendere che sviluppando l’energia atomica a scopi pacifici si compie un passo decisivo verso la definizione dell’opzione nucleare. Non esistono due tipi distinti di energie atomiche</em>», <a href="https://www.amazon.it/Israel-Bomb-Avner-Cohen/dp/0231104820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affermò</a> Ernst David Bergmann dopo aver abbandonato il proprio incarico al Ministero della Difesa israeliano.</p>
<p>L’annuncio di David Ben-Gurion che rivelava l’esistenza del programma nucleare israeliano e del reattore da 24 megawatt, che in realtà erano ormai 70, suscitò grande clamore, spingendo gli Usa, che in precedenza avevano rifiutato la proposta israeliana di includere lo Stato ebraico nel proprio ombrello nucleare e imposto una sorta di embargo sulle forniture militari a tutti gli Stati del Medio Oriente, a richiedere ufficialmente a Tel Aviv di sottoporre l’impianto di Dimona a ispezioni internazionali. Il governo israeliano accolse la proposta, a patto che la centrale fosse stata ispezionata solo ed esclusivamente da personale Usa, che avrebbe poi comunicato al pubblico generale i risultati. L’accordo favorì la successiva sottoscrizione del programma congiunto a scopi civili denominato Atoms for Peace, nell’ambito del quale il governo Eisenhower fornì supporto tecnico agli specialisti israeliani per la costruzione di un mini-reattore per la ricerca presso Nahal Soreq, a sud di Tel Aviv. Nell’arco di sette anni di ispezioni (1962-1969), gli osservatori statunitensi, tra i più autorevoli esperti in materia a livello mondiale, si <a href="https://zambon.net/shop/it/shop/97/guerra-nucleare-il-giorno-prima" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rivelarono</a> «<em>così ignoranti o disonesti da non accorgersi che i locali che visitavano sono una messinscena, con false strumentazioni che mimano processi inesistenti del nucleare civile, e che sotto il pavimento c’è un enorme</em> <em>bunker</em> <em>a otto piani dove si costruiscono le armi nucleari. In base ai risultati delle ispezioni, sia il presidente Lyndon Johnson che il presidente De Gaulle assicurano ufficialmente che l’impianto viene usato solo a scopi pacifici […]. L’impianto di Dimona viene così completato e, probabilmente nel 1966, comincia a produrre armi nucleari […]. Nel 1967, Israele ha già probabilmente almeno due bome nucleari, che schiera segretamente nella Guerra dei Sei Giorni</em>».</p>
<p></p>


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885195
title: China does not want the West’s Ukraine and Mideast quagmires
author: ;A A
hash: ][�Wtf �1�;o���
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
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<p data-qa="Component-Component" data-sanitized-class="e8zc9q40 css-1c6uqr6 ec74h0k1"><strong><em>Western propaganda alleging direct Chinese military support for Russia and Yemen has become so outlandish it is bordering on the absurd</em></strong></p>
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<div data-qa="ArticleReadingTime-Container" data-sanitized-class="speech-skip-target er6t7fe17 css-1cyqcxd e17crirv0"><strong><span>Join us on </span><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a><span>, and</span> <a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a>.</strong></div>
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<p><strong><span>Contact us:</span> </strong><a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u><strong>info@strategic-culture.su</strong></u></a></p>
<p>When your war is not going your way, drag China into it. The way Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Washington tell it, China is now directly arming Russia and militarily assisting the Houthis, the dominant governing power in Yemen. If those claims were true, it would amount to a major escalation on two fronts, in eastern Europe and the Middle East. That would be World War III levels of provocation by China.</p>
<p>Early this month, the Ukrainian military claimed it captured two Chinese soldiers. Zelensky paraded them in front of the world media. It was convenient timing, coming shortly after his epic verbal fight with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to withdraw American support and make nice with Russia.</p>
<p>But let’s say they really are Chinese citizens, so what? What you need to know for context is that the war in Ukraine has been a magnet for foreign fighters on both sides. Meanwhile, possibly more than half a million Chinese nationals live and work across Russia, though there is no exact census on this significant Chinese diaspora. Would it be so surprising that the Russian military managed to draft a few Chinese into the fighting, despite Beijing’s active refusal to be drawn into the conflict?</p>
<p>You have fighters from the former Soviet republics and satellite states fighting on either side, specially in the Donbas region. Joined by small numbers of Polish, Baltic, German, Canadian, French and American volunteers, there have even been pro-Ukrainian Belarusian and Russian volunteers fighting against the regular Russian army.</p>
<p>There have reportedly been Indians and Nepalis fighting alongside the Russians, but so far, only North Korea has openly supported Moscow by fielding its own soldiers into the regular Russian army.</p>
<p>Lately, Zelensky claims he has “reliable” intelligence that the Chinese have been making weapons in Russia. What are they? Apparently gunpowder and materials for artillery. What types? Do they come in ready-made or in parts that need to be assembled like Ikea furniture? He didn’t say.</p>
<p><em>Original article:</em> <a href="https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3307224/china-does-not-want-wests-ukraine-and-mideast-quagmires" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>scmp.com</strong></a></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/china-does-not-want-west-ukraine-and-mideast-quagmires/

tags:
#Editor's Choice #China #Diplomacy #Fake News #North Korea #Propaganda #Russia #United States #Volodymyr Zelensky #West


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330309
title: Bonnie Blue: The female Andrew Tate
author: ;Fatima Gunning
link: https://gript.ie/bonnie-blue-the-female-andrew-tate/
hash: W�)�c�%~��Y}A1
tags: #Comment #Comment World #Featured #Andrew Tate #Bonnie Blue #Casual Sex #Pornography
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BonnieAndrew-e1746784384201.png" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330324
title: Irish politics skorts the hard issues, again
author: ;John McGuirk
link: https://gript.ie/jmg-skorts-camogie/
hash: G�dr$y��O�I��%
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Camogie-02-e1746787710280.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Confession: Until a few days ago, I had never heard of a “skort”.</strong> Perhaps this is a male luxury, since the essential constituent parts of male attire – shirt, pants, socks, shoes, optional jacket or jumper – have remained essentially unchanged for four or five centuries. Women in that timeframe have gone through the bonnet, the corset, the miniskirt, pantsuits, and a hundred other innovations.</p>
<p>This week’s big political row, as some of you will know, relates to the mandatory wearing of Skorts by Camogie players at inter-county level. Many of the players would prefer to wear shorts, which apparently are a constituent part of a “skort”, with the other constituent part being a ring of fabric sewn to the outside of the garment to make it appear as if it is a skirt.</p>
<p>On Sunday, the two teams contesting the Munster Camogie final will, in contravention of the Camogie Association’s rules around skort-wearing, take to the pitch in shorts. The CA has yet to announce any punishment for this infraction of the rules, and it appears vanishingly unlikely that any disciplinary action will in fact be taken. The women will play their match in shorts. The world will keep turning.</p>
<p>The absence of disciplinary action here tells its own story: The CA is not so committed to its own rule about what players should wear that it is actually prepared to enforce it. Which should suggest to us, I think, that the rule itself was probably tossed in there without much thought. You can imagine how that goes: At some point somewhere in some endless committee meeting there was likely a moment where somebody drafting the rules said “and we’d probably better have some rules about the uniform”. Somebody else probably said “Helmet, shirt, and skirt”, to much nodding. It is possible that somebody else said “some of them might want to wear shorts” and that in response, another person – definitely not a man because we didn’t know such things existed – said “skorts would be fine”.</p>
<p>And that, I would almost bet my house, is how the uniform for Camogie came to be decided. Not with some big plan to oppress women and declare them unequal, but in a casual effort to throw down stuff on paper that really doesn’t need to be on paper in the first place.</p>
<p>It is a measure of the fundamental unseriousness of Irish politics that this became, in the vernacular, “a thing”.</p>
<p>You will note, dear reader, if you have been following this story, that an individual villain was never identified. There was nobody in politics or sports or media commentary who was staking out the villainous position that Camogie players must wear Skorts for the sake of tradition. Nor was there anybody defending the CA’s right to have female sportspeople wear traditionally female garb. Instead, we got that speciality of Irish politics: The argument with nobody. Here’s a prime example:</p>
<p>Imagine for a moment the organisation behind that photo: Somebody somewhere in Sinn Fein actually had to come up with this idea. They then had to email all their female representatives and inform them to come to the Oireachtas wearing shorts. They then had to summon the press. It is supposed to speak for itself: Sinn Fein alone stands with the Camogie players.</p>
<p>Okay, but stands with them against whom? Not the CA, which is not actually imposing its own rules. Not the Government, which probably regrets only that it did not have the idea itself to send out the female members of the cabinet in fetching sets of shorts. Not the media, which is happy to indulge this story as the human rights cause of our age.</p>
<p>The villain here, if there is one, is some kind of vague thing, like “a culture of sexism in the country”. But where actually is that culture of sexism? The very moment that the female camogie players announced that they would wear shorts instead of shorts, the national reaction approximated to something short of a shrug. If a culture of sexism did exist, then you might at the very least expect to find some kind of organised lobby that exists to defend that culture. You might expect to see or hear from at least somebody out there who thinks that female skort-wearing during camogie is of at least trifling cultural importance and should not be abandoned without a debate.</p>
<p>But no such person exists. Instead, the political class has gone to war with the vague notion of sexism, and then declared another stunning and brave victory over it. This has largely been indulged by the media, who can never get enough of you-go-girl displays of feminist power-taking-backery. We’ve come very close to another national conversation about our attitudes to women.</p>
<p>But what are those attitudes, really? Do we think that the paying public will turn away from Sunday’s Camogie final because some recalcitrant sexists refuse to watch women in shorts? If anything, I suspect the opposite is true: We’ve had a lot of politicians and activists pretending to be interested in Camogie this week because standing with the camogie players is the cheap and easy way to declare yourself a progressive in good standing.</p>
<p>And besides, it’s a whole lot easier to stand with camogie players against imagined sexism than it is to find houses for the several thousand women with children in this country facing homelessness this summer.</p>
<p>That’s politics in Ireland these days. Skorting the hard issues, if you’ll forgive the pun.</p>

tags:
#Comment Ireland #Comment World #Culture #Featured #Featured Picks #Highlights #Irish News #World News #Camogie #Feminism #Politics #Sinn Féin #Sport


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885206
title: Mamáyev Kurgán, una oda al heroísmo del pueblo soviético
author: ;A A
hash: ��������,*f�
tags: #Español #USSR #World War II
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong><em>¿Cómo no emocionarse al recordar que, en este país, 27 millones de vidas fueron sacrificadas por la invasión nazi?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Únete a nosotros en </span><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Spanish" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram </a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Spanish" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25"></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25"></a> <span>y </span><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a> <a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25"></a>.</strong></p>
<p><span><strong>Escríbenos: </strong></span><a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su"><strong>info@strategic-culture.su</strong></a></p>
<p>Estuve en Volgogrado el 21 de abril de 2022. No había movimiento en las calles, a pesar de que ya era hora de que todos estuvieran apresurados camino al trabajo. Después de dar un paseo junto al río Volga, crucé la ciudad, pasando por una estatua de Lenin en el centro, hasta llegar a la colina donde se erige el templo más hermoso dedicado al heroísmo y a la exaltación de la vida en todo el mundo: Mamáyev Kurgán.</p>
<p>Hice el recorrido inverso al tradicional y comencé por el final: la cima de la colina. Es casi surreal lo que tengo ante mis ojos: un coloso de 85 metros de altura, que fue la estatua más alta del mundo durante casi un cuarto de siglo. “La Madre Patria”, o “¡La Patria te llama!”, es una representación de Niké, la diosa griega de la Victoria, visible desde casi cualquier punto de Volgogrado. La ciudad pasó a la historia cuando aún llevaba otro nombre y, en el clímax de la Gran Guerra Patria, fue escenario de la batalla más sangrienta y épica de todos los tiempos: la Batalla de Stalingrado. De julio de 1942 al 2 de febrero de 1943, cuando fue liberada, en Stalingrado se vivieron escenas épicas, especialmente a partir de noviembre, con la contraofensiva del Ejército Rojo. Entre los escombros, los soldados soviéticos, ya sin fusiles, usaban cuchillos o incluso sus propios puños para golpear a los alemanes. Una salvajada heroica que les confiere el estatus de mártires, de semidioses. De hijos de Niké. Hijos de la Victoria.</p>
<p>Antes incluso de llegar a los pies de la estatua, uno nota su propia insignificancia como individuo. Parece la mismísima diosa, en su magnanimidad, inspirada por los mártires que aquí dieron su vida por la patria. ¡No! ¡Por la humanidad!</p>
<p>Su espada, erguida como si tocara el cielo, uniendo a aquellos hombres con los dioses, mide 33 metros. La sostiene su brazo derecho, mientras el izquierdo se extiende hacia el otro lado, hacia donde también gira el rostro de la diosa, de la madre, de la patria: valiente, impávido, llamando a sus hijos al martirio, como Dios llamó a Cristo para redimir a la humanidad de sus pecados. El viento pega su túnica al cuerpo. Descalza, con el pie izquierdo adelantado, lidera la marcha para liberar a su pueblo de la barbarie nazi. ¡Emilia! La mayor maravilla que jamás haya visto y que mis manos nunca podrán tocar.</p>
<p>Desde sus pies, se divisa toda la ciudad, el Volga al frente. Desciendo la colina y, a lo largo del camino, veo las lápidas de muchos héroes de aquella guerra sobre el césped. Son 35.000 soldados no identificados cuyos cuerpos descansan en esta colina sagrada. Una escultura de unos diez metros de altura cierra esta etapa del complejo: una madre sosteniendo el cuerpo de su hijo en brazos —como María con Jesús después de la Pasión—, cuya vida ofreció a la patria por la liberación de Stalingrado.</p>
<p>Entramos en la enorme sala donde se encuentra la Llama Eterna al Soldado Desconocido, una pira de unos ocho metros sostenida por una mano, en el centro de la cúpula, custodiada por soldados completamente inmóviles. El suelo es de mármore y las paredes, bronceadas, están cubiertas con tapices donde están inscritos los nombres de cada uno del millón de soldados y oficiales que cayeron defendiendo la ciudad. En el techo de la cúpula, medallas de condecoración de los héroes y una cinta de San Jorge alrededor. Bajamos por la rampa, rodeando la cúpula por dentro. Al fondo, un canto sereno de estilo religioso confirma a los visitantes que están en un verdadero lugar sagrado, más sagrado que cualquier templo.</p>
<p>¿Cómo no emocionarse al recordar que, en este país, 27 millones de vidas fueron sacrificadas por la invasión nazi? Niños, mujeres, ancianos, familias enteras. Confieso que lloré. La eliminación de generaciones. Un genocidio que reduce el Holocausto a un juego de niños. Pero, ¿por qué no se habla de este genocidio? Porque, mientras el Holocausto sirve como cortina de humo para ocultar que la Segunda Guerra fue una guerra interimperialista —y que, por tanto, EE.UU. y Gran Bretaña también son criminales, al igual que los crímenes del Estado de Israel—, Rusia es el país del comunismo, y el imperialismo jamás podría señalar a los comunistas como víctimas, mucho menos como sus víctimas. Más aún: Rusia siempre ha sido un objetivo a conquistar, y por eso no puede ser retratada como víctima, sino como agresora, siempre que sea posible. Aquello fue un sufrimiento inimaginable y una historia de superación verdaderamente legendaria. No tengo la menor duda: si hay un pueblo en el mundo que ansía la paz, es el ruso. Un pueblo maltratado y castigado por negarse a someterse a los peores delincuentes que jamás hayan existido. Todos los rusos llevan aún hoy las cicatrices de aquel gran trauma en su corazón.</p>
<p>Salgo purificado de la cúpula y veo, justo debajo, a unos escalones, la Plaza de los Héroes, donde hay seis estatuas que representan a los distintos grupos de hombres que lucharon en aquella guerra. Los escalones siguientes están protegidos por paredes que, en realidad, son un mosaico esculpido en los restos de edificios bombardeados por los alemanes: soldados lanzando granadas, sosteniendo banderas y espadas, marchando con sus fusiles. Al final, la estatua de un soldado con el torso desnudo, valiente como la Patria, mirando al horizonte con un fusil en una mano y una granada en la otra, listo para dar su vida en aquella batalla. En los últimos escalones del complejo (en realidad, los primeros, allá abajo), la inscripción:</p>
<p>¡ЗА НАШУ СОВЕТСКУЮ РОДИНУ! СССР!<br>
(¡Por nuestra patria soviética! ¡URSS!)</p>
<p>Y luego más figuras y placas en homenaje a cada ciudad héroe de la Unión Soviética. Son 200 escalones en total, que representan los 200 días de la Batalla de Stalingrado.</p>
<p></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/mamayev-kurgan-una-oda-al-heroismo-del-pueblo-sovietico/


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885208
title: Mamaev Kurgan, uma ode ao heroísmo do povo soviético
author: ;A A
link: https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/mamaev-kurgan-uma-ode-ao-heroismo-do-povo-sovietico/
hash: 8��5������Z
tags: #Português #USSR #World War II
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong><em>Como não se emocionar ao lembrar-se que, neste país, 27 milhões de vidas foram sacrificadas por causa da invasão nazista?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Junte-se a nós no</span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Portuguese" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>Telegram</u></a></strong><strong><u><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Portuguese" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a></u>, <u><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a></u><span>e </span></strong><strong><u><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a></u>.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Escreva para nós:</span> <a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>info@strategic-culture.su</u></a></strong></p>
<p>Estive em Volgogrado em de 21 de abril de 2022. Não havia nenhuma movimentação nas ruas e já era hora de todos estarem apressados para ir ao trabalho. Após dar uma volta pelo Rio Volga, atravessei a cidade, passando por uma estátua de Lênin no centro, e cheguei à colina onde foi construído o mais belo templo dedicado ao heroísmo e à exaltação da vida em todo o mundo: Mamaev Kurgan.</p>
<p>Fiz o percurso inverso ao tradicional e comecei pelo final, o topo da colina. É quase surreal aquilo que está diante dos meus olhos, um colosso de 85 metros de altura, que foi a estátua mais alta do mundo durante quase um quarto de século. Mãe Pátria, ou A Pátria te Chama, é uma representação de Niké, a deusa grega da Vitória, que pode ser vista praticamente de todos os pontos de Volgogrado. A cidade entrou para a história quando ainda era batizada de outro nome e, no auge da Grande Guerra Patriótica, foi palco da batalha mais sangrenta e épica de toda a história: a Batalha de Stalingrado. De julho de 1942 a 2 de fevereiro de 1943, quando foi libertada, cenas épicas ocorreram em Stalingrado, particularmente a partir de novembro, quando se deu a contra-ofensiva do Exército Vermelho. Em meio aos escombros, os soldados soviéticos que já não tinham mais seus fuzis utilizavam facas ou mesmo seus próprios punhos para golpear os alemães. Uma selvageria heróica que confere àqueles homens o status de mártires, de semideuses. De filhos de Niké. Filhos da Vitória.</p>
<p>É possível notar a nossa insignificância como indivíduos antes mesmo de chegar aos pés da estátua. Parece a própria Deusa, em sua magnanimidade, inspirada pelos mártires que aqui deram suas vidas pela pátria. Não! Pela humanidade!</p>
<p>Sua espada, erguida como se tocasse os céus, ligando aqueles homens aos deuses, mede 33 metros. É segurada pelo braço direito, enquanto o esquerdo se estica para o outro lado, para onde também se vira o rosto da Deusa, da Mãe, da Pátria, bravo, destemido, convocando seus filhos para o martírio, como Deus convocou Cristo para redimir toda a humanidade de seus pecados. O vento cola sua túnica ao corpo. Descalça, com o pé esquerdo à frente do direito, lidera a marcha para libertar seu povo da barbárie nazista. Emília! A maior maravilha que já esteve diante dos meus olhos e que minhas mãos jamais puderam tocar.</p>
<p>De seus pés, é possível ver toda a cidade, o Volga defronte. Desço a colina e ao longo do caminho vejo as lápides de muitos heróis daquela guerra sobre o gramado. São 35.000 soldados não-identificados cujos corpos descansam nesta colina sagrada. Uma escultura de uns dez metros de altura encerra essa etapa do complexo. É uma mãe segurando o corpo de seu filho nos braços ─ tal como Maria com Jesus após a Paixão ─, cuja vida ofereceu à pátria pela libertação de Stalingrado. Entramos na enorme sala onde se localiza a Chama Eterna ao Soldado Desconhecido, uma pira de cerca de oito metros segurada por uma mão, no centro da cúpula, guardada por soldados completamente imóveis. O piso é de mármore e as paredes, bronzeadas, estão cobertas com tapetes onde estão inscritos os nomes de cada um dos um milhão de soldados e oficiais que tombaram na defesa da cidade. No teto da cúpula, medalhas de condecoração dos heróis e uma fita de São Jorge ao redor. Vamos descendo a rampa, contornando a cúpula por dentro. Ao fundo, um cântico sereno e ao estilo religioso comprova aos visitantes que encontram-se em um verdadeiro local sagrado, mais sagrado que qualquer templo.</p>
<p>Como não se emocionar ao lembrar-se que, neste país, 27 milhões de vidas foram sacrificadas por causa da invasão nazista? Crianças, mulheres, idosos, famílias inteiras. Confesso que chorei. A eliminação de gerações. Um genocídio que transforma o Holocausto em uma brincadeira de criança. Mas por que não se fala desse genocídio? Ora, porque, enquanto o Holocausto serve como cortina de fumaça para encobrir o fato de que a II Guerra foi uma guerra interimperialista e que, portanto, EUA e Grã-Bretanha também são criminosos, bem como os crimes do Estado de Israel, por outro lado a Rússia é o país do comunismo e o imperialismo nunca poderia apontar os comunistas como vítimas, ainda mais como <em>suas</em> vítimas. Mais do que isso: a Rússia sempre foi um alvo a ser conquistado e para isso não pode ser retratada como vítima, mas sim como agressor, sempre que possível. Aquilo foi um sofrimento inimaginável e uma história de superação verdadeiramente lendária. Não tenho a menor dúvida: se existe um povo no mundo que quer a paz, este é o russo. Povo maltratado e castigado por não aceitar se submeter aos piores delinquentes que já existiram. Todos os russos guardam até hoje as feridas em seu coração daquele grande trauma.</p>
<p>Saio purificado da cúpula e vejo logo abaixo dela, a alguns degraus, a Praça dos Heróis, onde existem seis estátuas retratando os diferentes grupos de homens que lutaram naquela guerra. Os degraus que se seguem são protegidos por paredes dos dois lados que são, na verdade, um mosaico esculpido nos restos de construções bombardeadas pelos alemães: soldados lançando granadas, segurando bandeiras e espadas, marchando com seus fuzis. Ao final, a estátua de um soldado com o tronco nu, bravo como a Pátria, mirando o horizonte com um fuzil em uma mão e uma granada em outra, pronto para dar sua vida naquela batalha. Nos últimos degraus do complexo (na verdade, os primeiros, lá embaixo), a inscrição <em>за нашу советскую родину! СССР!</em> (À nossa pátria soviética! URSS!) e depois mais algumas figuras e as placas em homenagem a cada cidade-herói da União Soviética. São 200 degraus ao todo, que representam os 200 dias da Batalha de Stalingrado.</p>
<p></p>


guid: yt:video:0l563Jy3vaI
title: Yes, Nazis Can Be Defeated and Wars Ended!
author: ;The LaRouche Organization
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l563Jy3vaI
hash: �t ��2��⢈jJ
attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/v/0l563Jy3vaI?version=3","title":"Yes, Nazis Can Be Defeated and Wars Ended!","description":"In this dangerous moment, the best way to honor those who fought in Europe in World War II is to mobilize to make sure that the imperial forces which supported Hitler are exposed, to prevent a repeat of the tragedy of the two world wars in the 20th century.  Join The LaRouche Organization in its battle to end the scourge of oligarchism, and bring about sustainable peace among sovereign nations.\n\nLink to join the May 9 International Peace Coalition Zoom call (live at 11 AM EDT): \nhttps://schillerinstitute.nationbuilder.com/ipc_meeting?utm_campaign=ipc_correction&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=schillerinstitute\n\nLink to dialogue with Helga Zepp-LaRouche, May 7:\nhttps://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2025/05/06/live-with-helga-zepp-larouche-three-dangerous-hot-spots-one-solution-may-7-11-am-eastern-5pm-cet/\n\nLink to register for Schiller Institute Conference, May 24-5:\nhttps://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2025/03/01/conference-invitation/","type":"application/x-shockwave-flash","height":390,"width":640,"thumbnails":["https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/0l563Jy3vaI/hqdefault.jpg"]}]}


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138925
title: How Racism against Whites was legitimized by Marxist Multiculturalism
author: ;pcr3
hash: ���wX��ޤ��}D�
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>How Racism against Whites was legitimized by Marxist Multiculturalism</p>
<p><a href="https://hannenabintuherland.com/currentaffairs/how-racism-against-whites-was-legitimized-by-marxist-multiculturalism/">https://hannenabintuherland.com/currentaffairs/how-racism-against-whites-was-legitimized-by-marxist-multiculturalism/ </a></p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/how-racism-against-whites-was-legitimized-by-marxist-multiculturalism/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138923
title: US History Into the Memory Hole as “artists” Turn America into a Black Nation
author: ;pcr3
hash: M ���DիKzZ7��
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>US History Into the Memory Hole as “artists” Turn America into a Black Nation</p>
<p><a href="https://redstate.com/katie-jerkovich/2025/05/07/tasteless-nyc-tears-down-statue-of-thomas-jefferson-erects-12-foot-statue-of-overweight-black-woman-n2188813">https://redstate.com/katie-jerkovich/2025/05/07/tasteless-nyc-tears-down-statue-of-thomas-jefferson-erects-12-foot-statue-of-overweight-black-woman-n2188813</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/us-history-into-the-memory-hole-as-artists-turn-america-into-a-black-nation/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138927
title: The Democrat Judiciary Has Taken Over the Executive Branch
author: ;pcr3
hash: �A⧛�� �i!;8^�
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>The Democrat Judiciary Has Taken Over the Executive Branch</p>
<p>No border closing as Biden judge orders Trump to resettle 12,000 immigrant-invaders into the US.</p>
<p>I don’t think Trump and Mega Americans understand that they are in a fight to the death that can only be settled by violence. The intent of the Democrats is to destroy America and to replace it with a Sodom &amp; Gomorrah Tower of Babel. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> It is impossible to compromise with this agenda.  It can only be defeated, and that will require violence.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2025/05/07/federal-judge-orders-trump-admin-to-begin-processing-12000-refugees-in-next-7-days-n2188807">https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2025/05/07/federal-judge-orders-trump-admin-to-begin-processing-12000-refugees-in-next-7-days-n2188807</a></p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/the-democrat-judiciary-has-taken-over-the-executive-branch/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138929
title: The Pharmaceutical Companies Are In It for the Money, Not Health
author: ;pcr3
hash: Os��������?���
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>The Pharmaceutical Companies Are In It for the Money, Not Health</p>
<p>They don’t mind killing us as long as it makes money.</p>
<p>Merck rigged Gardasil trials to conceal harms, court documents reveal</p>
<p>A forensic analysis—now part of the official court record—lays bare a chilling narrative of clinical trial rigging, regulatory failure, and global deception.</p>
<p><a href="https://blog.maryannedemasi.com/p/merck-rigged-gardasil-trials-to-conceal?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=1044435&amp;post_id=162505496&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=dx5km&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email">https://blog.maryannedemasi.com/p/merck-rigged-gardasil-trials-to-conceal?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=1044435&amp;post_id=162505496&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=dx5km&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/the-pharmaceutical-companies-are-in-it-for-the-money-not-health/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138937
title: Sooner or Later Nuclear Weapons Will Destroy Life on Earth
author: ;pcr3
hash: m�r3� �1���K��O
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Sooner or Later Nuclear Weapons Will Destroy Life on Earth</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lewrockwell.com/2025/05/michael-snyder/who-is-going-to-use-nuclear-weapons-first/">https://www.lewrockwell.com/2025/05/michael-snyder/who-is-going-to-use-nuclear-weapons-first/</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>The India-Pakistan animosity raises the question whether British de-colonization was a bad decision.</p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/sooner-or-later-nuclear-weapons-will-destroy-life-on-earth/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138934
title: What Goes Around Comes Around
author: ;pcr3
link: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/what-goes-around-comes-around-4/
hash: ���b�o� ���ϓv
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>What Goes Around Comes Around</p>
<p>FBI Officially Launches Criminal Investigation Into N.Y. AG Letitia James Over Suspected Mortgage Fraud</p>
<p><a href="https://www.oann.com/newsroom/fbi-officially-launches-criminal-investigation-into-n-y-ag-letitia-james-over-suspected-mortgage-fraud/">https://www.oann.com/newsroom/fbi-officially-launches-criminal-investigation-into-n-y-ag-letitia-james-over-suspected-mortgage-fraud/</a></p>
<p>The Fulton County, Georgia,<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>prosecutor of Trump also appears to have come to a bad end.</p>
<p>Were these racist prosecutions caused by decades of white liberals teaching blacks to hate white people?</p>


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138931
title: The People Who Created the Digital Revolution Are Enemies of Humanity
author: ;pcr3
hash: c�<HS@�5#9_G���
tags: #Guest Contributions
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>The People Who Created the Digital Revolution Are Enemies of Humanity</p>
<p>Harrods latest retailer to be hit by cyber attack<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62x4zxe418o">https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62x4zxe418o</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Think of the massive problems, waste of time, theft of resources, theft of identity, inability to reach service suppliers, and compare the hell of life in the digital revolution with the peace, security, low stress life of the analogue era.</p>
<p>Can we please go back</p>

link:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/the-people-who-created-the-digital-revolution-are-enemies-of-humanity/


guid: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/?p=138829
title: The Digital Revolution Is Too Costly to Continue
author: ;pcr3
link: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/05/09/the-digital-revolution-is-too-costly-to-continue/
hash: :��?�����N�Fs
tags: #Articles &amp; Columns
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content:
<p>The Digital Revolution Is Too Costly to Continue</p>
<p>Paul Craig Roberts</p>
<p>Malwarebytes is a service that can help you to reduce your cybersecurity risks, but not eliminate them.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>The Internet will always be vulnerable, because it was developed as an open system. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Malwarebytes reports on two recent new ways cybercriminals can steal your identity.</p>
<p>One results from a problem in Google’s infrastructure that allows cybercriminals to send emails that seem to be from Google.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Responding to them can result in identity theft.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span><a href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/04/all-gmail-users-at-risk-by-clever-replay-attack?utm_source=iterable&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20250428_aprilweeklynewsletter_paid_v4_1_174551916671&amp;utm_content=Gmail">https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/04/all-gmail-users-at-risk-by-clever-replay-attack?utm_source=iterable&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20250428_aprilweeklynewsletter_paid_v4_1_174551916671&amp;utm_content=Gmail</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Another operates by exploiting the Zoom video conferencing system to take control of your computer, drain your bank account or do whatever the cybercriminals have in mind. <a href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/04/zoom-attack-tricks-victims-into-allowing-remote-access-to-install-malware-and-steal-money?utm_source=iterable&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20250428_aprilweeklynewsletter_paid_v4_1_174551916671&amp;utm_content=Zoom">https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/04/zoom-attack-tricks-victims-into-allowing-remote-access-to-install-malware-and-steal-money?utm_source=iterable&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20250428_aprilweeklynewsletter_paid_v4_1_174551916671&amp;utm_content=Zoom</a><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>It is not only cybercriminals who are after your data.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>So are commercial services and sellers of products.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>A suit has been brought against Shopify for installing tracking cookies on customers’ iPhones and using this data to create a profile that can be sold to merchants.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>If successful, the lawsuit is likely to greatly raise the cost to Internet marketers by dragging them into courtrooms in many jurisdictions.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Defending in multiple jurisdictions easily exhausts a company’s capital.</p>
<p>So, just as the vulnerability of the Internet raises the threat level and cost to individuals, it also raises the cost to Internet commerce and service providers. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>There needs to be some <i>objective</i> cost/benefit studies of the digital/AI revolution. From observation, I conclude that the costs are sharply rising, and the benefits are declining.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Indeed, many claimed benefits, such as students using AI to do their assignments and, thereby, never learning any skills, such as how to write a theme, solve a math or physics problem, in fact create an ignorant population devoid of ability to function independently of technology.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>They have no ability to even know if the information provided to them by AI is correct. Their minds are totally controlled by whoever programs the software.</p>
<p>The digital revolution has driven up the cost of cars and appliances and made them increasingly frustrating and costly to repair. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>The digital revolution has made it extremely costly in terms of time and stress to resolve any service issue problem.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Problems that in the analogue age were resolved with a three-minute telephone call answered on the third ring, now can go on for hours and days.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>A telephone call gets you a robot voice programed to answer questions that you would never call about and to direct you to another robot voice to take your payment or add to your service.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>It is a struggle to ever get a human, and when you do, it is someone in Asia who you can barely understand and wants your Social Security number in order to tell you that they don’t have the authority to deal with your problem, but they will connect you to a higher up.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Sometimes it happens and you reach a higher up, but usually via a return call 24 hours or more later.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Sometimes your bank account is frozen, and you can’t get to it when you need it. Your credit card gets compromised, and you have to be issued a new one, which often means you have to re-notify all of your automatic payments you have foolishly been tricked into: “Go Paperless, Save Trees, Save the Cost of Stamps,” and spend a day of your life informing your autopay service providers and merchant accounts of your new credit card number. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Everyone can add to this list, and on top of it all the digital revolution has caused people to cease answering a ringing telephone.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>About 95 percent of calls are scams.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>If a person recognizes your number, you might get a call back, and if you recognize the number you might answer.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Today a telephone<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>is mainly used for scrolling the internet and watching porn.</p>
<p>The digital revolution does enable us to work from home and to do video conferencing.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>The fake “Covid pandemic” introduced working from home, but now companies are finding that the absence of interaction with colleagues reduces work performance and creates a sense of isolation that undermines an employee’s association with the firm. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>It was possible to audio conference under the old analogue system.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>What does the visual element add?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>It appears that it lengthens the meetings, because participants want to be seen dominating the meetings.</p>
<p>The gainers from the digital revolution and AI are the companies as they are able to shift the cost of customer service to their customers and offshore any customer contact with a human customer service representative to Bangladesh.</p>
<p>Corporate executives and boards welcomed the digital revolution.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>It lowered corporate costs by shifting them to customers and, thereby, raised corporate profits and the “performance bonuses” of executives and board members.</p>
<p>During the era of the digital revolution, cybercriminals have had no problem bypassing current protections by exploiting new vulnerabilities.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>What, in my experience, cybersecurity firms tell their clients is that the best they can do for them is to train their employees in how to be careful and not be tricked into unintentionally giving access to the company’s records.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>These training sessions are ongoing as new methods of gaining access to confidential data continue to multiply.</p>
<p>Has the cost of protecting information in the digital age already exceeded the reduction in cost from imposing customer service costs on the customers?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>If not, it soon will. <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>What happens then?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Do all the people who have been taken for a ride by the digital revolution repudiate it and demand the return of sanity?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Or would they be lost and not know what do to with themselves if they couldn’t scroll their cell phone?</p>
<p>The digital revolution and its offspring AI raise a big question.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>What is to become of humanity?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>What role do humans have?<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Apparently a very limited one.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>I recently read that already there are operations that only machines can provide, humans surgeons being insufficiently quick for the operation to succeed.</p>
<p>So, if surgeons are not needed, who is?</p>
<p>Why did some humans think it was a service to mankind to eliminate human purpose? Confronted with the irrelevancy of people, little wonder that Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum saw the future in terms of reducing the world human population from the current billions down to 500,000 million people.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>And it is not even clear what these would have as a purpose.</p>
<p>In the movie, “The Graduate,” the line was that the future was plastics.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Today in real life the line is that the future is Artificial Intelligence.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>If so it is a dystopian future, a future we should prevent at all cost. It is a future in which humanity is both irrelevant and unneeded as there is nothing for them to do except for a handful to program the machines.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>But for whom are the machines programed?</p>
<p>Earlier when I first raised this issue, I said a colleague and I would provide a positive scenario of AI.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Here I withdraw my intent, as I am convinced that there is no acceptable human outcome from the digital revolution.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>It will destroy us as certainly as world nuclear war.<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Humanity has no greater enemy than the digital revolution, a horror beyond horrors.</p>
<p><span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Dr. Mathew Maavak raises the question whether the combination of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) with Artificial Intelligence has given us an existence “that no longer rewards insight, only compliance.”<span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space">  </span><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/616850-ai-end-world-vuca/">https://www.rt.com/news/616850-ai-end-world-vuca/</a> <span data-sanitized-class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Was it the raison d’être of the World Economic Forum to create a new breed of leaders who are more feckless and pliant than their predecessors?</p>


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330317
title: NCT staff ‘allowed to drive test vehicles illegally’
author: ;Maria Maynes
link: https://gript.ie/nct-staff-allowed-to-drive-test-vehicles-illegally/
hash: �X�����:���o\�
tags: #Irish News #Applus #National car test #NCT #Seanad #Senator Sharon Keogan
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
[unable to retrieve full-text content]<p>Seanad claims</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://gript.ie/nct-staff-allowed-to-drive-test-vehicles-illegally/">NCT staff ‘allowed to drive test vehicles illegally’</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gript.ie/">Gript</a>.</p>


guid: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/who-won-wwii-in-europe
title: Who Won WWII in Europe?
author: ;John J. Mearsheimer
link: https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/who-won-wwii-in-europe
hash: �v��'h`�ab�
content:
<div><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/I2vBStJB1Is" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On 8 May 2025, I appeared on “Deep Dive” with Lt. Col. (ret.) Danny Davis.</p>
<p>In the West, we celebrate the end of WWII in Europe on 8 May. Russia celebrates it on 9 May, because of time zone differences. We opened the show by discussing who was principally responsible for defeating Nazi Germany in that war. I made clear that when you look at a handful of key facts about the war, there is no question whatsoever that the Red Army played the key role in defeating the Wehrmacht and that President Trump’s claim that “we won” WWII and that “nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance” is nonsense and shows great disrespect for the 27 million Soviets who died in that horrific conflict. None of this is to take away from the significant price that both Britain and the United States paid in defeating the Third Reich, but it pales in comparison to the enormous blood price the Soviet Union paid.</p>
<p>We also talked about the current war in Ukraine, the crisis between India and Pakistan, and other matters.</p>
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guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330342
title: TDs debate motion to remove religion from schools
author: ;Maria Maynes
link: https://gript.ie/tds-debate-motion-to-remove-religion-from-schools/
hash: !T�6 ����wp��f�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_2224.png" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><span><strong>The Dáil has debated a Social Democrats’ motion calling on the Government to remove religious patronage in public education and to increase the number of multi-denominational schools in the State.</strong> While the Social Democrats called for the removal of faith formation – joined by other TDs in Labour, Sinn Féin, and Fine Gael –  TDs from Independent Ireland and Aontú argued against the motion. </span></p>
<p><span>Opponents of the motion, which seeks to ensure that all new schools are opened under non-religious patronage, have argued that many families are happy with a Catholic ethos in schools, and that Christian values instilled in pupils are beneficial – while the Social Democrats claimed that teachers face religious discrimination. </span></p>
<p><strong>‘THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO ARE HAPPY WITH SCHOOL ETHOS’</strong></p>
<p><span>Deputy Paul Lawless of Aontú pointed out that “thousands” of families exist across the country who are happy with the ethos of the schools their children attend. Speaking against the motion, he said that it sought to deny parents and staff “the ability to decide” the ethos of their school.</span></p>
<p><span>Deputy Lawless said: “I read the motion and I listened to the Social Democrats’ contributions. To be honest I am quite surprised. They talk about pluralism and choice but it seems that the only choice they want to provide is the choice of those people who agree with them.</span></p>
<blockquote readability="11">
<p><span>“There are thousands of families who are happy with the ethos of their school and who support the ethos of their school. Yet the motion seeks to deny parents, principals, teachers, and boards of management the ability to decide the ethos of their school. There is nothing pluralistic about this motion. I believe that pluralism is about inclusion and supporting the diversity in our culture. This is what we should be doing.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>On the support for divestment, Lawless said that his party  believes that parents should have a choice. </span></p>
<p><span>“The choice must acknowledge and must recognise that where parents decide they support the ethos of their school the Social Democrats should not overrule or override that. This is what choice and pluralism actually means.”</span></p>
<p><span>The Mayo TD claimed that the motion sought to “ban new schools” in terms of faith patronage, and to ban faith instruction, adding: “There is nothing pluralistic about that.”</span></p>
<blockquote readability="8">
<p><span>“What other countries in the world have sought to ban education pluralism? North Korea and Cuba. Those countries are not something we should be following. Politicians should never try to enforce their own rules on the public. We should celebrate the differences in our society and allow culture to be supported. I come from a teaching background. All children should be supported and families who wish to have their children in a school that is similar to their ethos should be supported. I am really disappointed that this is not captured in the motion.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>During Thursday’s debate on the Private Members’ motion on Parental Choice in Education, the Social Democrats claimed that teachers and education staff in Ireland “currently face religious discrimination” because they are not protected under section 37 of the Employment Equality Act. </span></p>
<blockquote readability="10">
<p><span>“This needs to end. There is no excuse for this in 2025. We must also remove the need for student teachers to have to do a religious certificate to teach in State-funded schools. This is divisive,” Deputy Jen Cummins said. She called on the Government to establish a citizen’s assembly on the issue, saying that the Soc Dems are seeking a full citizens’ assembly.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>“The Social Democrats are looking for the Government to reinstate the abandoned commitment to have 400 multidenominational schools by 2030, to adopt a policy that all new schools are opened under non-religious patronage, to remove faith formation from the school day with it to take place outside of school hours in line with families’ beliefs,” Cummins told the House.</span></p>
<p><span>The TD added that the party was pushing “to create a clear and independent mechanism for patronage change” via the establishment of a statutory framework for changing school patronage with independent oversight to avoid conflicts of interest by existing patrons, and to amend the Employment Equality Act and to establish a citizens’ assembly to make recommendations on the future of the education system.</span></p>
<p><span>Sinn Féin TDs expressed broad support for the motion, as the Dail heard that the party has “a long-standing policy on choice and diversification” and that in its 2024 manifesto, the party had “committed to developing a new strategy to support existing and emerging demands for diversification of patronage in school.” Party TDs argued that all new schools should be “nondenominational by default” to provide for diversity.  Deputy Connor McGuinness said such a system “would ensure no family is forced to send their children into a system or ethos that does not respect their values.”</span></p>
<p><strong>‘NO PROBLEM SUPPORTING GENDER IDEOLOGY IN SCHOOLS’</strong></p>
<p><span>Deputy Lawless pointed to Article 42 of the Constitution which states that parents are the primary educators for their child. </span></p>
<p><span>“In that sense I do support the Minister’s contribution earlier today around the survey that would seek to acknowledge that and support this in the education system. It is curious that the Social Democrats advocate for the removal of faith because of its perceived lack of evidence and yet they have no problem supporting a gender ideology in schools and puberty blockers, which have no basis in education at all,” he said.</span></p>
<blockquote readability="11">
<p><span>“The Minister referred earlier to a recent survey from the INTO at the conference. It stated that 60% of teachers voted against removing faith in education in our schools. They did so because parents actually do not support its removal. This is the case in many schools, I am not saying all. That is our perspective and that should be supported. Where, as the survey dictates, parents are happy with their school ethos then we should support that. The Irish Times also found that 70% of parents want their children to receive faith-based instruction. I ask the Minister to consider this contribution as well.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Leader of Independent Ireland, Michael Collins, also spoke out strongly against the motion.</span></p>
<blockquote readability="7">
<p><span>“I have listened carefully today to all the reasons we should remove church patronage. There are also those of us who oppose these statements and who argue that religious institutions play a significant role in the community and that their influence should be preserved. </span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>‘VALUES HELP TO SHAPE WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS’</strong></p>
<p><span>“Along with many others, I worry that phasing out religious patronage could disrupt existing school structures and community ties. Independent Ireland will stand firmly against this motion and I urge the Minister to consider the numerous benefits religious patronage brings to our schools and communities. Catholic schools and other religious institutions provide an education grounded in strong moral and ethical values,” the Deputy said.</span></p>
<blockquote readability="13">
<p><span>“These values, such as respect, compassion, integrity and service to others, are not just taught but woven into the very fabric of the school environment. They help to shape well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient, but also morally grounded and socially responsible. Religious schools foster a strong sense of community and belonging for many families. These schools are more than just educational institutions. They are an integral part of their communities’ cultural identity.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Collins also said that the focus should be on securing Department funding for schools rather than on the issue of religious patronage.</span></p>
<blockquote readability="9">
<p><span>“A total of 93% of schools in this country have a religious patronage. I feel that this motion should not be able to attack the religious. It should be attacking the Department for not funding schools properly. For example, in Dublin recently a school was almost faced with closure. This is happening the length and breadth of the country. I can only talk on behalf of the school where I was chairperson of the board of management. When we were stuck and the Department failed to step in it was the church that stepped in to look after the children’s needs and the school’s needs. The church stepped in there. That is an incredible situation that nobody wants to acknowledge. “</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Recently elected Social Democrats TD Deputy Sinéad Gibney told the Dáil of her own personal experience, explaining that she and her daughter “are both atheists.”</span></p>
<p><span>“I will talk about my personal experience in this regard. When I raised my daughter as a single parent, I came to second-level education choices with two clear asks. I wanted her to remain in a coeducational setting, which she had enjoyed in primary school, and I wanted her to enjoy multidenominational or interdenominational education. We are both atheists,” Deputy Gibney said.</span></p>
<p><span>“I had two options available, one fee-paying and one non fee-paying. We applied for both, but it did not look like we were going to be accepted to the non fee-paying option so we signed up for the fee-paying option. We bought uniforms, picked subjects and planned everything. Three weeks before the start of school, my daughter was accepted to the non fee-paying school. That changed our lives. It was the reason I was able to leave the corporate sector.”</span></p>
<p><span>The Social Democrats have been clear that they want to see a policy where all future schools are opened under non-religious patronage. In addition, they have called for faith formation to be removed from the classroom.</span></p>

tags:
#Irish News #Aontú #Catholic schools #Independent Ireland #Michael Collins #Patronage #Paul Lawless #religion #Religion in schools #religious education #Social Democrats


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330181
title: Answering Douglas Murray’s question on Ireland
author: ;William Stephens
link: https://gript.ie/answering-douglas-murrays-question-on-ireland/
hash: �8 &uY�Y��d���4
tags: #Comment Ireland #Featured #Premium #change #Douglas Murray #Immigration #Ireland #irish #migration
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/S20Mar2021-Dublin-Ireland-7.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: yt:video:VzUqZy95igs
title: Qui est ce sénateur?
author: ;Senate of Canada | Sénat du Canada
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzUqZy95igs
hash: �el�4�-ܥ��=��l
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guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885203
author: ;A A
hash: �o�/ J�L�Vo�al�
tags: #Europe #Italiano #World #Fascism #Genocide #Germany #Nazism #USSR #Victory Day #War Crimes #West
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
title:
Ottant’anni dalla vittoria: perché è importante ricordare le atrocità commesse dalla Germania durante la Seconda guerra mondiale

content:
<p><strong><em>Il Giorno della Vittoria</em></strong><strong><em> non rappresenta solo una commemorazione militare, né una celebrazione ideologica del comunismo, ma piuttosto il trionfo della vita sullo sterminio pianificato.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span><span><em>Segue nostro</em></span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>.</span></a></span></strong></p>
<p>Con l’avvicinarsi della commemorazione del Giorno della Vittoria nel 2025, vale la pena riflettere su ciò contro cui il popolo sovietico, insieme a molte altre nazioni, ha combattuto durante la Seconda guerra mondiale. Comprendere gli aspetti più oscuri di questo conflitto può aiutare a spiegare perché il Giorno della Vittoria riveste un significato così profondo per i russi moderni.</p>
<p>Con il progredire della seconda guerra mondiale, in particolare dopo il lancio dell’Operazione Barbarossa nel 1941 (l’invasione dell’URSS), il conflitto si trasformò in una guerra totale. La natura totalizzante del conflitto era, in larga misura, predeterminata dai termini stessi con cui i tedeschi lo avevano inquadrato fin dall’inizio.</p>
<p>Affrontando la guerra attraverso una lente fondamentalmente razziale e interpretandola come una lotta “di vita o di morte”, i tedeschi aprirono le porte a una catastrofe sempre più grave, caratterizzata da atrocità.</p>
<p>I crimini tedeschi contro gli ebrei sono già ben noti al pubblico occidentale, in particolare quelli commessi nei campi di concentramento polacchi (Auschwitz, Majdanek, Sobibor, Belzec, Treblinka e Chelmno), dove furono sterminate masse di ebrei, nonché la repressione del ghetto di Varsavia, dove migliaia di persone perirono e altre migliaia furono deportate nei campi di concentramento vicini.</p>
<p>Meno note agli osservatori occidentali sono le atrocità commesse oltre il territorio polacco, in terre che oggi appartengono agli Stati baltici, alla Bielorussia, all’Ucraina e alla Federazione Russa.</p>
<p>Per comprendere le radici di questa catastrofe, dobbiamo ricordare come le élite politiche tedesche distorsero grossolanamente i concetti geopolitici di Friedrich Ratzel e Karl Haushofer (quest’ultimo era in realtà un sostenitore dell’alleanza tedesco-sovietica), trasformandoli in giustificazioni teoriche per l’espansione territoriale e la guerra razziale.</p>
<p>In questo contesto, l’uso del termine “Lebensraum” (spazio vitale) da parte del governo nazista seguiva una logica brutale: i tedeschi, in quanto popolo “sano” e in crescita demografica, avevano bisogno di assicurarsi un territorio sufficiente nell’Europa orientale per realizzare il loro potenziale. Poiché queste terre erano già abitate, i tedeschi avrebbero dovuto distruggere o espellere i loro abitanti, dimostrando e assicurando così la loro “superiorità biologica”.</p>
<p>A questa teoria seguì un piano concreto, il Generalplan Ost (Piano generale per l’Est), un progetto per l’espropriazione, la schiavitù e la distruzione dei popoli slavi (attraverso massacri, lavori forzati fino alla morte e deportazioni in Siberia), seguito dalla colonizzazione delle loro terre da parte dei coloni tedeschi.</p>
<p>È in questo contesto che possiamo comprendere, ad esempio, il trattamento riservato dai tedeschi ai prigionieri di guerra sovietici. I soldati sovietici catturati dai nazisti subirono condizioni disumane. Circa 3,3 milioni di prigionieri di guerra sovietici morirono nei campi tedeschi, molti per fame, malattie o esecuzioni sommarie. In netto contrasto con il trattamento riservato ai prigionieri occidentali, i prigionieri sovietici erano spesso lasciati esposti alle intemperie senza riparo né cibo, in violazione diretta delle convenzioni internazionali.</p>
<p>La stessa logica del Generalplan Ost spiega uno dei crimini meno discussi ma altrettanto orribili della Germania nazista: la politica di fame deliberata imposta ai territori occupati, in particolare in Ucraina e in alcune parti della Russia. Il piano deviava sistematicamente le forniture di cibo alle truppe tedesche e al Reich, lasciando morire la popolazione locale.</p>
<p>Città come Leningrado (l’odierna San Pietroburgo) subirono quasi 900 giorni di assedio, che causarono oltre un milione di morti tra i civili, molti dei quali per fame. Si diffusero notizie di cannibalismo come conseguenza della disperazione estrema. In altre regioni, interi villaggi furono bruciati e i loro abitanti giustiziati (come a Koryukivka e Khatyn) nell’ambito delle operazioni di rappresaglia antipartigiana secondo la dottrina della Bandenbekämpfung (repressione dei banditi).</p>
<p>In seguito alla direttiva 46, firmata personalmente da Hitler, il comportamento delle SS sul fronte orientale si inasprì drasticamente. I tedeschi iniziarono a designare intere aree come “territori banditi”, dove l’obiettivo passò dalla “pacificazione” alla completa annientamento di tutti gli abitanti per garantire la “sicurezza” delle truppe tedesche, come testimoniato a Zhestianaya Gorka.</p>
<p>La maggior parte di questi massacri, insieme ad altre operazioni mirate specificamente contro comunisti ed ebrei, furono compiuti dalle Einsatzgruppen (unità mobili di sterminio). Queste squadre della morte erano specializzate nel radunare le vittime nelle foreste, nei burroni o nei fossati anticarro per fucilazioni di massa. L’esempio più tristemente famoso rimane Babi Yar, dove i nazisti massacrarono oltre 100.000 civili in pochi giorni, seguito dal massacro di Odessa del 1941, dove le forze tedesche e rumene uccisero circa 40.000 civili russi e ucraini.</p>
<p>Sebbene abbiamo già menzionato il lavoro forzato come parte del Generalplan Ost, è fondamentale sottolineare la deportazione specifica di 4-5 milioni di civili slavi nel territorio tedesco come lavoratori forzati. Questi Ostarbeiter (“lavoratori dell’Est”) ricevevano meno di 1.000 calorie al giorno e lavoravano principalmente nelle fabbriche di armi come Siemens e Krupp. A causa della malnutrizione e degli abusi, centinaia di migliaia di loro morirono prima della fine della guerra.</p>
<p>Altrettanto significativo fu il sistema di lavoro forzato gestito dall’Organisation Todt, una grande società statale che supervisionava i progetti infrastrutturali in tutta l’Europa occupata dai nazisti. Esempi notevoli includono il campo di Dora-Mittelbau per la sperimentazione di armi e la costruzione di ferrovie in Bielorussia, dove migliaia di persone morirono in condizioni di lavoro brutali.</p>
<p>Le prove a nostra disposizione dimostrano chiaramente che attraverso la fame, il lavoro forzato estenuante, le fucilazioni di massa e vari altri metodi, la Germania nazista cercò di sterminare le popolazioni dell’Europa orientale per far posto alla colonizzazione tedesca.</p>
<p>Questo è precisamente il motivo per cui il Giorno della Vittoria è importante. Non rappresenta solo una commemorazione militare, né una celebrazione ideologica del comunismo, ma piuttosto il trionfo della vita sullo sterminio pianificato.</p>
<p></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/ottantanni-dalla-vittoria-perche-importante-ricordare-atrocita-commesse-dalla-germania-durante-la-seconda-guerra-mondiale/


guid: yt:video:tDDDoB-fkP4
title: Who’s That Senator?
author: ;Senate of Canada | Sénat du Canada
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDDDoB-fkP4
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guid: https://www.mondialisation.ca/?p=5698467
title: Carney doit rejeter avec force la prise de contrôle américano-israélienne de l’aide à Gaza
author: ;CJPMO
hash: �n�` ՛��PX�KA
tags: #Francais @fr
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><u>Montréal, le 9 mai 2025</u> – Canadiens pour la justice et la paix au Moyen-Orient (CJPMO) exhorte le premier ministre Carney à rejeter fermement les plans dangereux des États-Unis et d’Israël visant à prendre le contrôle du système d’aide humanitaire …</p>

link:
https://www.mondialisation.ca/carney-doit-rejeter-avec-force-la-prise-de-controle-americano-israelienne-de-laide-a-gaza/5698467


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885204
title: Deep State, Deep Church: Welcome to the new Pope!
author: ;A A
link: https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/09/deep-state-deep-church-welcome-to-new-pope/
hash: Xb�IM� ��@Y3W��
tags: #Society #Christianity #Deep State #Leo XIV #Religion #Vatican
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="code-block code-block-2">
<p><strong><em>The 80<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the great victory only comes once, but there have been many popes throughout history.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Join us on </span><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a><span>, and</span> <a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong><span>Contact us:</span> </strong><a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u><strong>info@strategic-culture.su</strong></u></a></p>
<p><strong>Once upon a time…</strong></p>
<p>The author of this article personally knew the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost. Those were different times: I was a young theology student, and he was a superior of the Religious Order of St. Augustine. I have fond memories of him, of pleasant moments spent together and activities we did together. I can only wish him all the best.</p>
<p>Now, however, let us move on to serious matters.</p>
<p>The first US pope and a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he is the second American pontiff after Francis. He was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the United States, studying first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he graduated in mathematics in 1977 and studied philosophy. On September 1 of the same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis, continuing his studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he graduated with a degree in Theology. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained a priest in Rome on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Santa Monica.</p>
<p>He obtained his licentiate in 1984 and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, he was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985-1986). In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis and began his career in the Order to which he belongs, living half his time in the missions and half in the Roman Curia. In 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, and two and a half years later, his confreres elected him prior general of the Order, confirming him in 2007 for a second term.</p>
<p>On December 12, 2014, called by Bergoglio to take up pastoral duties, he was appointed bishop and began his mandate in Peru. His episcopal motto is “In Illo uno unum,” words that St. Augustine uttered in a sermon, Exposition on Psalm 127, to explain that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”</p>
<p>After several years of activity and assignments in South America, on January 30, 2023, Pope Bergoglio called him to Rome as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, promoting him to archbishop. In the consistory of September 30 of the same year, he created and proclaimed him cardinal, assigning him the diaconate of Santa Monica. In the meantime, he was counted among the members of the Dicasteries for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches; for the Doctrine of the Faith; for the Eastern Churches; for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; for Culture and Education; for Legislative Texts; and the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.</p>
<p>On February 6 of this year, he was promoted to the order of bishops by the Argentine pontiff, obtaining the title of the suburbicarian church of Albano.</p>
<p>Who knows what remains of dear old Father Robert.</p>
<p><strong>A few skeletons in the closet</strong></p>
<p>Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, we recall for the record, was involved in controversies concerning the handling of allegations of <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/papabile-of-the-day-cardinal-prevost-could-be-first-superpower-pope-for-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexual abuse</a> during his episcopate in the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru.</p>
<p>In 2024, three women accused two priests of the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ln80lzk7ko" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diocese of Chiclayo</a>, Eleuterio Vásquez González and Ricardo Yesquén, of <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/travel/culture/all-about-pope-leo-xiv-cardinal-robert-prevost-becomes-first-american-to-lead-catholic-church-19601776.htm">sexual abuse</a> suffered when they were minors. The victims claim that Cardinal Prevost <a href="https://newdailycompass.com/en/paedophile-priests-cover-up-casts-shadows-over-prevost-cardinal-who-selects-bishops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not open an adequate canonical investigation</a> and sent incomplete documentation to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, thus hindering effective action.</p>
<p>It has also emerged that in 2000, while he was provincial superior of the Augustinians in Chicago, Prevost authorized the transfer of priest James Ray, who had already been accused of child abuse, to a residence located near a Catholic elementary school, a decision that has raised further criticism of his handling of abuse cases.</p>
<p>Incidentally, as I write this article, many websites that reported on the allegations and scandals are being shut down. The real truth must never be discovered, right?</p>
<p>It will be equally curious to see what positions he will take on the most burning issues for the Catholic world, those where Bergoglio has destroyed millennial doctrine. On issues such as <a href="https://it.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/08/chi-e-robert-francis-prevost-il-nuovo-papa-leone-xiv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change or migrants</a>, he takes progressive positions, even though he has been considered a moderate by the press, as he is more cautious on social issues and LGBT rights<strong>.</strong></p>
<p>The choice of the name Leone is perhaps a sign of continuity with the figure of Leo XIII<strong>,</strong> Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, Pope from 1878 to 1903, who distinguished himself for his strong social openness, so much so that he was given the nickname “Pope of the workers.”</p>
<p>Even more interesting will be to observe his geopolitical position. He is a man from the hegemonic country, who has worked extensively in the southern hemisphere, creating a liaison with Rome, but without ever turning to the East.</p>
<p><strong>Will the smoke be white or blonde?</strong></p>
<p>Trump has already congratulated Prevost: “I am honored to know that he is the first American pope. How exciting, and what a great honor for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV,” he wrote.</p>
<p>Curious, isn’t it? It is precisely an American who has been elected, perhaps the ‘least American’ of those present, but it is equally true that the other candidates were too progressive for the current US administration.</p>
<p>At one time, the idea of an American pope seemed unthinkable: initially for logistical reasons, as American cardinals arrived too late for conclaves, and later for geopolitical reasons—a pope from a superpower like the United States would have raised doubts about the Vatican’s independence. But today, this scenario seems outdated. The global balance has shifted, and the cardinals seem more interested in the personal and spiritual profile of the candidates than in their nationality.</p>
<p>After all, Donald Trump and his entourage met with 72 cardinals during their visit to Italy for the funeral of the previous pope, leaving before the ceremony ended. Clearly, his blond quiff had an effect.</p>
<p>There is a curious fact, which many had predicted, with a touch of irony: this very quick election comes just before the big celebration on May 9 in Moscow, where the heads of state of half the world are gathered to celebrate the Great Victory of 80 years ago of Soviet Russia over Nazism and Fascism. In short, the Americans could have been more polite and waited at least until Saturday, but no, with their usual vulgar arrogance, they thought it best to overshadow the event of the year.</p>
<p>Yes, interesting. But who is going to explain to the US that the election of the Pope is only important to the West? The rest of the world has other things on its mind. The Pope administers the personal affairs of 1.3 billion people, while other authorities take care of the remaining 6.7 billion.</p>
<p><strong>A curiosity in the heavens</strong></p>
<p>In the field of esoteric geopolitics, here is an interesting observation.</p>
<p>Prevost was elected with the Moon in Libra, making him the ‘pope of agreement’, with a fixed cross on which stand two demonic weights, namely Pluto in Aquarius and Lilith in Scorpio. The fixed cross is particularly interesting from an astrological point of view because it is the junction. The Ephemerides see Mars in Leo, which means war. So, clearly, the election of this man must represent a turning point in many situations, with a large demonic aegis, so he will be a key man for what will happen in the near future.</p>
<p>We will see what Father Robert has in store for us. In the meantime, let’s sit back and enjoy the parade on May 9. The 80th anniversary of the great victory only comes once, but there have been many popes throughout history.</p>
<p></p>


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2163992/chomage-emploi-canada-avril-tarifs-chomage
title: Le taux de chômage augmente de nouveau en avril au Canada
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2163992/chomage-emploi-canada-avril-tarifs-chomage
hash: �gb�p��ٹ����
content:
<p>L’embauche de milliers d’employés temporaires pour les élections fédérales a stimulé la création d'emplois.</p>

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guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330351
title: IPAS centre bid: Who owns ex-NAMA Cork building?
author: ;Dr Matt Treacy
link: https://gript.ie/ipas-centre-bid-who-owns-ex-nama-cork-building/
hash: ��oà��2`�:�P�"
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong>The owners of a building in Cork City, that was once owned by two chaps who were bailed out by the taxpayer through the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA), have submitted a request to An Bord Pleanála to clarify whether the transfer of the building, from basement to third floor, can be turned over to the accommodation of International Protection applicants as an exempted development. </strong></p>

<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cork-The-Cube-IPAS.png" alt width="512" height="334" data-sanitized-class="alignnone size-full wp-image-330360"></p>
<p><span>The building is The Cube on Monahan Road and was once owned by a company called Monahan Road Development which was owned by Donal Leader and Jim Roynane who had €26 million of loans transferred to NAMA when it all went belly up in the property market.  </span></p>
<p><span>A charge attached to the NAMA transfer includes the Cube, then known as Phoenix House, on Monahan Road. The guarantor of that charge was a company called Regus Plc with an address in St. Helier on the Isle of Jersey but with an office at 26 Boulevard Royal, Luxembourg. At some stage NAMA sold the property and it ended up in the hands of the current people in Luxembourg. </span></p>
<p><span>As noted above, Monahan Road Development Limited was jointly owned by Donal Leader and Jim and Ann Ronayne. It was liquidated in 2020. They, in common with many of Boys and Girls From NAMA, have reinvented themselves, and they are not the only ones to have later become involved – either tangentially it seems in this case – or more directly in other instances, in the new adventure of asylum accommodation which has provided a similar magnet to opportunistic capital as property once did.  </span></p>
<p><span>And of course property ownership, knowing who you know, and access to credit is also a key factor in the new game. The extent to which the collapse of the Irish financial “elite” has facilitated the massive transfer of wealth to overseas companies in both the property and rental market, hospitality and now asylum accommodation is something that has yet to be fully analysed.</span></p>
<p><span>Jim Ronayne is currently the owner of Mossbawn Limited which according to its accounts, filed last July, has net liabilities of €1.2 million with creditors owed almost €3.5 million.  However, another company, Travglen, which owned by himself and the missus Ann reported net assets of €2.6 million. That company has franchises in Cork City, Douglas, Mallow and Clonmel for McDonald’s, the Big Mac people.</span></p>
<p><span>Donal Leader only appears to have resigned as a director of Monahan Road Development Management in November 2023, after the new owners bought the place. </span></p>
<p><span>The application for an exemption to allow the building to be used as an IPAS centre is from Monahan Road Development Management but the building and ownership is no longer in the hands of the two boys. </span></p>
<p><span>The building has been owned since February 2020 by a company called Signal Real Estate Opportunities which is based in Luxembourg. There is a charge on the property of the same date to the Bank of Ireland.</span></p>
<p><span>It has an address in Mallow which is the address of Wentworth chartered accountants. Mallow is the home town of the Ronaynes. Its last annual return was certified in October 2024 by Bobby Sheehan who is listed as one of the directors, along with Lucia Sheehan, of Monahan Road Development Management, so it would seem worth considering if Monahan Road is the owner of Signal Real Estate Opportunities. </span></p>
<p><span>The two directors of Signal Real Estate who are registered here, with “responsibility for declaration of compliance”, are Mark Weeden, a UK national, and Jens Hollerman, a German national, both with addresses in Luxembourg. According to the company constitution registered here in January 2019 Weeden and Hollerman are managers and the sole shareholder is the Luxembourg company. </span></p>
<p><span>The company’s annual returns are signed by Bobby Sheehan and, according to its last accounts, the company is in the red to the tune of €2.27 million. So they will be depending on yourselves to ensure that that is turned around, which it certainly will be if they get approval for an IPAS centre which it is reported could accommodate hundreds of people given the size of the building. </span></p>
<p><span>The last time The Cube was in the news over planning was more than a decade ago when Leader and Ronayne objected to a</span> <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20262080.html"><span>proposal from JCD</span></a> <span>for a building nearby which they claimed would have a negative impact on their own and adjacent buildings and businesses. Permission was eventually approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2020.</span></p>
<p><span>Perhaps there is a parable in the fact that JCD were proposing to build offices that would and now employ people doing stuff that has some value. More of that, maybe</span></p>

tags:
#Comment Ireland #Featured #Cork #Monahan Road Development Management #NAMA #Signal Real Estate #The Cube


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330357
title: TD: I’ll keep getting nails done in Palestine flag
author: ;Gript Video
link: https://gript.ie/td-ill-keep-getting-nails-done-in-palestine-flag/
hash: �,���Y����n�R��1
tags: #Irish News #Videos #israel #Palestine #Sinead Gibney
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content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Nails-Thumbnail.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330363
title: The great big papal roundup
author: ;Jason Osborne
link: https://gript.ie/the-great-big-papal-roundup/
hash: �H5��"��:����;r
tags: #Featured #News #Premium #World News #Catholic Church #Conclave #Pope Leo XIV
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pope-Leo-XIV.jpeg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330367
title: Dublin Fire Brigade launches new diversity drive
author: ;Ben Scallan
link: https://gript.ie/dublin-fire-brigade-launches-new-diversity-drive/
hash: U�K��7���A�j B
tags: #Featured #Irish News #Ben Scallan #diversity #Dublin #fire brigade
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fire-Brigade.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/paper-tiger-global-fracture-and-trump
title: Paper Tiger, Global Fracture &amp; Trump as Catalyst
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/paper-tiger-global-fracture-and-trump
hash: ��!�0Q�ќ� ����+
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ea00553-2cca-4f57-a902-5cd88fdea929_2400x1440.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9ea00553-2cca-4f57-a902-5cd88fdea929_2400x1440.jpeg" width="1456" height="874" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9ea00553-2cca-4f57-a902-5cd88fdea929_2400x1440.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":874,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><blockquote><p>But for all of humanity, trade should be free. Don't look at the current bluff of the US government, which is particularly loud, but in fact it is a foreign power and a middle force because it violates the fundamental principles of free trade. From this point of view, China now has to not only defend its own economic interests, but more importantly, protect free trade, which is not only beneficial to China, but also to all countries in the world, and in fact it is also beneficial to the American people.</p></blockquote><p>Podcast excerpt.</p><p>Chairman Mao is famous for declaring reactionaries as Paper Tigers beginning with Chaing Kai Shek in 1946 then more famously with the Outlaw US Empire. The saying evolved into a theory and forms the basis for China’s resistance to Trump’s Trade War on China and the rest of the world. That will be further explored in the <em>Guancha</em> podcast I’ll translate below, “<a href="https://www.guancha.cn/wanglihua/2025_04_20_772940.shtml">How to deal with Trump's trade war - wisdom from Mao Zedong</a>.” Today’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G98DeCZcT8">Hudson/Wolff/Nima chat</a> provides additional insight into why the Outlaw US Empire is a Paper Tiger and is a must watch 70-minute tutorial that also provides the basis for why the <em>Global Fracture</em> Hudson has written about will occur. And as is deftly pointed out during the chat, the Ds are not at all in opposition to what Trump is doing because they all work for the same boss—the Gun that Trump is now the trigger for.  The combination of the chat and podcast inform the reader/viewer what is driving this portion of history and the path it’s likely to take. I’ll add that the combo is relevant for the entire world, not just China and the Empire. I suggest reading the podcast first then viewing the chat so the proper context is provided. And now the podcast transcript:</p><blockquote><p>"They can fight for as long as they want, until they win completely!"</p><p>In early April, after the United States launched a new tariff war against China, a video of Chairman Mao Zedong's speech in 1953 was widely circulated, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who also shared the video on social media platform X, saying, "We are Chinese." We are not afraid of provocations. We will not back down.”</p><p>This deafening speech still encourages the Chinese people to be unafraid of struggle and forge ahead bravely in the face of a strong enemy. The symphony of history and reality proves that Mao Zedong's strategic philosophy is not only applicable to the beacon era but also radiates new vitality on the invisible battlefield in the era of globalization.</p><p>The live broadcast hall of the Observer Network View College invited Wang Lihua, a colonel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Gao Zhikai, deputy director of the Center for Globalization (CCG), and Li Bo, president of the Shanghai Spring and Autumn Development Strategy Research Institute, to explain how Mao Zedong Thought is embodied and applied in the international trade battlefield in the new era.</p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> Hello everyone, I am Li Bo, President of the Shanghai Spring and Autumn Development Strategy Research Institute, and welcome to the live broadcast hall of Guanguan College: How to Deal with Trump's Trade War - Wisdom from Mao Zedong.</p><p>On April 2, after US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, the world was in an uproar, and China became the only country outside the European Union and Canada to directly stand firm with the United States and fight back against unreasonable bullying head-on.</p><p>On the one hand, China's courage to fight back is due to the national strength and global trade position we have accumulated over the years, and on the other hand, it is also due to the extraordinary political wisdom accumulated by Mao Zedong, the founder of the Republic, during the revolutionary war years and the first decade after liberation in dealing with the severe international situation.</p><p>The live broadcast hall of the University today is honored to invite Wang Lihua, a senior colonel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Gao Zhikai, deputy director of the Center for Globalization (CCG), two experts to explain<em><strong> how to draw wisdom from Mao Zedong Thought and win this trade war.</strong></em> Welcome to the studio today.</p><p>Chairman Mao Zedong said back then that it was a big deal to get rid of superstitions about the West. In response to Trump's global trade war, online public opinion has quoted Mao Zedong's theory of "paper tigers". A lot of our audience is younger and may not have a clear understanding of that history. First of all, please review the historical background of the famous thesis that "all reactionaries are paper tigers".</p><p><strong>Wang Lihua:</strong> One of the characteristics of our party and country is that when we encounter difficulties and strong pressure, we always think of Chairman Mao's words, "All reactionaries are paper tigers." <em><strong>In fact, Chairman Mao first said this sentence in August 1946</strong></em>, when he originally wanted to peacefully build the country and establish a coalition government after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, but Chiang Kai-shek was unwilling, so Chiang Kai-shek began to fight a civil war with the support of the United States.</p><p>In this case, will it be possible to defeat the US-backed Kuomintang army? Everyone was thinking about this important question. At this time, American journalist Anna Louise Strong visited Chairman Mao, and in the course of the meeting, she proposed what if the United States wanted to use the atomic bomb?</p><p>Chairman Mao replied that<em><strong> the US atomic bomb was a "paper tiger" used to scare people, and then it was extended to "all reactionaries are paper tigers." This "paper tiger" looks terrible, but in fact has no great power,</strong></em> and this was Chairman Mao's basic view in those years.</p><p>When this point of view is spoken, it has a great impact because it gives us a very vivid picture of what our opponents are really like.</p><p>After the founding of the People's Republic of China, we encountered all kinds of difficulties, and when the difficulties were very great, especially when the pressure from external enemies was high, Chairman Mao was talking about this problem, "All reactionaries are paper tigers."</p><p>Let's think about it today, did Chairman Mao's talk about "paper tigers" just mentally encourage and calm the fears of everyone? Judging from the history of the party, Chairman Mao's talk about "paper tigers" has a very practical basis. In terms of strength, we are definitely far behind our opponents, but Chairman Mao believes that they are "paper tigers", mainly from the situation, from the essence.</p><p>As a great Marxist and a great strategist, how did Chairman Mao understand this situation? He believes that the most powerful people are not those reactionaries who are barring their teeth and claws, <em><strong>because they represent backwardness, reaction, and a minority, so in the final analysis they have no power.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>And we represent the advanced, progress, and the people, so we have strength. At the end of the day, the power is among the people, so they are "paper tigers</strong></em>." Practice has also proved the correctness of Chairman Mao's judgment.</p><p>For example, at the beginning of the Liberation War, Chiang Kai-shek was aggressive, thinking about defeating the Communist Party in three months. As a result, it was fought down in three months, and the soldiers were defeated. When the goal of the all-out offensive was not achieved, the Kuomintang changed to a focused attack, attacking Shandong with one fist and Yan'an with the other, and as a result, the key offensive also failed. In the end, we defeated the Kuomintang reactionaries in three years.</p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> In 1946, what was the balance of power between the KMT and the CCP?</p><p><strong>Wang Lihua:</strong> We are more than 1 million, Chiang Kai-shek should be more than 4 million, more than three times as much as ours, and his equipment is much better than ours. Therefore, it was not wrong to say that the Kuomintang was a "real tiger" at that time, but Chairman Mao thought that they were "paper tigers" because he was reactionary, regressive, and did not represent the will of the people and the interests of the people, so they failed in the end.</p><p>After the founding of the People's Republic of China, to resist US aggression and aid Korea, one of their countries supported the 17-nation coalition and some other countries, and it should be said that the developed countries in the West basically participated in the war at that time. They clamored to "fight to the Yalu River and go back for Christmas." In the end, as soon as we dispatched our troops, we fought two battles in less than two months, crossed the 38th parallel, and finally brought the United States to the negotiating table.</p><p>In the late '50s and early '60s, both superpowers put tremendous pressure on us. At that time, Chairman Mao said, "The snow presses the winter clouds and white flocculents, and the flowers are scarce for a while." In this case, what to think of them? Chairman Mao thought that they were still "paper tigers", nothing remarkable.</p><p>At that time, when the republic was first founded, our conditions were very poor, but on the basis of such poverty and bleakness, we mainly relied on our own strength, and at the same time won foreign aid, and achieved rapid development in socialist construction. In the end, the President of the United States went to a large socialist country that did not have diplomatic relations and eased relations with us, and our relations with other countries gradually recovered.</p><p>Therefore, Chairman Mao's judgment is correct and in line with the truth. The same is true for us today, so it is natural for us to think of the term "paper tiger".</p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> Thank you, Mr. Wang. Mr. Gao, the situation of the "paper tiger" at that time and the current "paper tiger" have changed a lot, and China is no longer what it used to be. How do you recognize the current behavior of the "paper tiger" in launching a global trade war?</p><p><strong>Gao Zhikai:</strong> I think if we look at the trade war launched by President Trump and the U.S. government against the world, including the tariff war against China, using Chairman Mao's theory that "all reactionaries are paper tigers", we can still come to the conclusion that the U.S. is a "paper tiger".</p><p>Why? <em><strong>First, the United States is now desperate</strong></em> to abuse tariffs and launch a tariff war against the whole world, which Trump calls "reciprocal tariffs".</p><p><em><strong>In addition, the tariff war is not just against China, but against dozens of countries. What Trump has done is unjust and perverse. </strong></em>This is equivalent to holding a gun and holding it to the head of every country and saying, you must listen to me, you must obey. He even said, <em><strong>"I will wage a tariff war against you, and you must not fight back." As long as you fight back, I will give you further punishment and so on.</strong></em></p><p>Of course, some countries are forced by the pressure of the United States to think about how they can pass the customs and never lose too much to him. So the Americans now feel that there are more than 70 countries talking to him, and that he has now achieved his goal of isolating China.</p><p>There are even Americans who say <em><strong>that in fact, other countries have been fooled, because the goal of the United States from the beginning was to target China,</strong></em> but he wanted to mobilize the whole world and let them participate in the tariff war and economic war in which the United States isolates China, and fight to the death with China.</p><p>The United States seems to be so powerful that it can hold a gun to the head of every country and force others to comply. <em><strong>But the fundamental reason why the United States is a "paper tiger" is that Trump's actions have fundamentally undermined the principle of free trade, and he wants to overthrow free trade and impose America's selfish interests on the whole world.</strong></em></p><p>Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer also wrote a book entitled "No Trade Is Free," which implies that trade should not be free. In interviews abroad, he has repeatedly emphasized that trade is not free, <em><strong>which actually shows that the mind is not free, the soul is not free, so you think that trade is not free.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>But for all of humanity, trade should be free</strong></em>. Don't look at the current bluff of the US government, which is particularly loud, but <em><strong>in fact it is a foreign power and a middle force because it violates the fundamental principles of free trade.</strong></em> From this point of view, China now has to not only defend its own economic interests,<em><strong> but more importantly, protect free trade, which is not only beneficial to China, but also to all countries in the world, and in fact it is also beneficial to the American people.</strong></em></p><p>From this point of view, judging from Chairman Mao's classic theory that "all reactionaries are paper tigers", Trump and the US government today are "paper tigers", because <em><strong>he has committed a big taboo, he wants to destroy free trade and oppose all mankind.</strong></em></p><p><strong>How to get rid of the disease of "Chongmei"?</strong></p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> Some people also believe that the United States is the largest economic country, holding the hegemony of the dollar and military hegemony, and the consumption power of the United States accounts for almost 13% of the global market and 14.7% of China's direct export market, and the indirect share may be even larger. If we are tough, it will lead to hard "decoupling", and serious results will occur, so some so-called "well-wishers" will persuade China to stop. <em><strong>How to get rid of the disease of "pro-American, American-worshipping, and American-phobic" in this trade war, what do the two teachers think?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Gao Zhikai:</strong> The United States is confident that it will win the trade war on the surface, but we can compare the economic scale of China and the United States. At the official exchange rate, China's economy is smaller than that of the United States, but mainly because the federal interest rate in the United States, which was as high as 5.5 percent in the last two or three years, is now declining,<em><strong> but it is still close to 5 percent, which is unsustainable.</strong></em></p><p>Because the federal interest rate is very high, the dollar is stronger. In the last two years or so, the renminbi has depreciated by about 17 to 18 percent against the dollar, and if exchange rate fluctuations are normalized, according to the official exchange rate, China's economy is actually about 75 percent of the size of the United States.</p><p><em><strong>But if we take the average purchasing power of the United States, China's economy today is about 130% the size of the United States. </strong></em>In addition, China is actually far ahead in many important indices such as steel production, power generation, and automobile production. <em><strong>In more than 200 manufactured goods sectors, China's output not only far exceeds that of the United States, but often even accounts for more than half of global production.</strong></em></p><p>Therefore, although we do not want to fight a trade war, if the United States forces us to fight, <em><strong>we have enough confidence. Our economic foundation is solid, but the United States has a lot of false places</strong></em>, and this is the first one.</p><p>Second, since 2017 and 2018, the United States has been clamoring for "decoupling" from China. Although he said, I'm just scaring you, or rather, I don't really want to "decouple" from you, etc. I don't believe you're going to decouple from me, but I'll be fully prepared.</p><p>From 2017 to the present, only a few years have passed, and all aspects of our country have been preparing for a long time, and we have long wanted to see what is the background of your country? Are you really going to undermine free trade? Are you really going to overturn the current international trade order and so on? <em><strong>We don't want a trade war, a tariff war, but we're prepared.</strong></em></p><p>Another crucial point is that many foreigners say that China is in trouble this time and has been isolated by the United States, and that the United States will unite other countries in the world to form a strong united front to fight against China. China will lose its share of exports in the U.S. market, causing domestic unemployment and factory closures. How do you respond to these questions?</p><p><em><strong>In fact, the market share of the United States is not as important as imagined, because the Chinese nation has lived on this earth for more than 5,000 years, and for most of the time, there has been nothing to do with the United States.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Therefore, if the United States wants to bully China and impose hegemonism on us, then we are ready to deal with a world without the United States, and we are confident that we can live for another 5,000 years, and this is China's confidence.</strong></em></p><p>We must see the truth, that is, the United States is a "paper tiger". <em><strong>America wants to be divided, we want to be united. </strong></em>Trump wants to force other countries to join him in opposing China, hating China, and decoupling from China, but <em><strong>it is very likely that he will not be able to do so, because every country has its own mind.</strong></em> <em><strong>Seeing that China is now defending free trade and the United States is undermining free trade, who wants to wear the same pants and ride in the same boat with the United States?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Wang Lihua:</strong> Although in the past we called US imperialism and all reactionaries "paper tigers", in terms of strength, they are indeed very powerful. Now, again, we say that the United States is a "paper tiger", but this time it is true. <em><strong>Even in terms of strength, the United States is basically a "paper tiger", and it no longer has the kind of advantages it had in the past, even if it is violent, it does not have much gold and steel, and it does not have much strength foundation.</strong></em></p><p>In 2024, in dollar terms, the GDP of the United States will grow rapidly, 1.5 times that of ours. <em><strong>But this GDP is very empty,</strong></em> as long as prices rise, there will be GDP if there are more dollars issued. GDP has a certain relationship with strength, but it does not fully reflect the real strength.</p><p>If we look at the strength of the United States from another angle, we can see the essence and true face of the American "paper tiger."<em><strong> Electricity generation is the driving force of economic development</strong></em>. Modern industrial production is inseparable from electricity, without which there can be no development and growth of production. Only when there is more power generation can economic growth be faster; With less power generation, growth is slow.</p><p><em><strong>China's total electricity generation in 2024 is 9.4 trillion kilowatt hours, equivalent to 2.2-2.3 times the total power generation of the United States, which is much larger than that of the United States.</strong></em></p><p>Industrial electricity consumption is more indicative of the problem. Without industry, we can't create so many products, we can't create so much wealth, and <em><strong>growth is likely to be bubble growth.</strong></em> China's industrial electricity consumption is 6.5 times that of the United States,<em><strong> and you say that your plate is bigger than mine, who can believe this?</strong></em></p><p>Another characteristic of electricity is that it must be used as much as it is generated, and the power generation, transmission, and electricity consumption are instantly balanced. If there is too much power and it cannot be used, the power plant will have to pull the gate, and if it is not enough, the factory will have to pull the gate. <em><strong>China's large power generation shows that the level of operation of our factories and the scale of industrial manufacturing are still far from the United States.</strong></em></p><p>And it's not just the United States that's far behind,<em><strong> China's industrial electricity consumption is twice that of the six major industrial countries combined: the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.</strong></em> We have such a large industrial capacity, production capacity, and our productive forces have developed to such a scale, what else is there to fear?</p><p>Some people may also say that China's high electricity consumption may be because your technology is not good. But I want to tell you that in recent years, China's scientific and technological breakthroughs have emerged one after another. Taking the military field as an example, the armed forces must seize all-round superiority in fighting wars, including land, sea, air, space, electricity, and networks. If we all have an advantage, it means that we have the strength and are sure to win the battle.</p><p>In terms of land routes, China ranks first in terms of high-speed rail and automobile scale, technology and export. In terms of sea routes, China has the world's largest shipbuilding volume and leading technology. In the air, our drones and fighter jets are the first in scale and technology. <em><strong>Now the big planes can't stop us, including the oblique detonation engine that has recently exploded, and China is also unbeatable.</strong></em></p><p>In terms of space, our Beidou satellite navigation scale is the first and the technology is the first. In two years, China's space station will become the only one in the world, and our lunar exploration program and so on will be among the best in the world.</p><p>We are also the world's largest in terms of power generation, and our power generation technologies include wind, solar and nuclear. China's nuclear fusion power generation technology is the world's leading; Our transmission technology, UHV, is unique, technology first, scale first.</p><p>Our 5G network has spread all over the country, does the United States have it? Our 6G has made a breakthrough,<em><strong> mobile phones can communicate directly with satellites</strong></em>, and the scale of mobile phone manufacturing accounts for more than half of the world. In addition, the large model of artificial intelligence has made the West feel a subversive breakthrough. We are at the forefront of quantum computers, quantum communications, and other scientific and technological research that represent the world's cutting-edge.</p><p><strong>Tactically attach importance to the "real tiger" of the United States</strong></p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> Through the comparison of these real data, we can see that China today surpasses the United States in many aspects, <em><strong>but Chairman Mao also said that we should "despise the enemy strategically and attach importance to the enemy tactically", so many people think that even if the United States is a "paper tiger" today, we must fight it as a "real tiger".</strong></em> Mr. Wang, how do you think we should pay attention to such a "real tiger" tactically?</p><p><strong>Wang Lihua:</strong> Our situation today is completely different from when Chairman Mao first fought to resist US aggression and aid Korea. According to Chairman Mao's statement, at that time, we were "more gas and less steel", and the United States was "more steel and less gas".<em><strong> Now, the "steel content" of our strength far exceeds that of the United States, and in such a background of strength, why do many people still feel the need to kneel when Trump is playing tricks there and suppressing China? Or can't fight with the United States? In fact, this is because in the process of development, they lost their "qi".</strong></em></p><p>Chairman Mao asked the people to read stories that were not afraid of ghosts. Among them, it talks about a scholar named Chen Pengnian, who went to a friend's house to play at night, and his friend went out to drink, ready to entertain him. He was sitting and waiting for his friend, and at this time, a female hanged ghost came from outside the door, and directly blew him with yin qi, Chen Pengnian suddenly felt that the yin wind was biting, and he would soon die.</p><p>At this time, he thought, "The ghost is still angry, but I am alone?" "If a ghost can with air, can't I blow her with air? So he puffed up and blew on the ghost. As a result, wherever the air blew, a hole was pierced in the ghost's body. And he continued to blow, and at last he blew the devil's chest, and his stomach, and finally the demon's head was blown out, and then the demon vanished.</p><p>This is a very interesting story, the ghosts here represent decay, backwardness, reaction, yin and evil. She has the air to blow you, but we are out of gas? <em><strong>We represent justice, and we must not only blow it, but also blow it with the energy of yang, light, and justice. We can blow this ghost away, and we can defeat the "paper tiger" and all evil ghosts.</strong></em></p></blockquote><div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F878290ae-fada-4777-b977-4742709c69e1_984x865.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F878290ae-fada-4777-b977-4742709c69e1_984x865.jpeg" width="984" height="865" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/878290ae-fada-4777-b977-4742709c69e1_984x865.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":865,"width":984,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><blockquote><p>In August 1950, People's Pictorial published "U.S. Imperialism Reveals Its True Form."</p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> Mr. Gao, there is a video of your conversation on the Internet, where you talked about the United Kingdom, and you think that the United Kingdom is not worthy of being China's opponent at all. After reading it at the time, I felt very relieved. What do you think about the "tactical importance of the enemy"? Is the United States a "real tiger" worthy of our attention?</p><p><strong>Gao Zhikai:</strong> <em><strong>In dealing with this unprecedented tariff war launched by the United States against the world, from a tactical point of view, China should pay attention to it, but from a strategic point of view, it must despise it.</strong></em></p><p>Trump said we were going to get more tariffs to make America richer. But he forgot to tell the American people, who will pay the tariffs? It is not China that pays, not the European Union, nor African countries and ASEAN countries, <em><strong>but the American people.</strong></em></p><p>So Trump said that collecting $2 billion in tariffs a day is equivalent to forcing the American people to pay $2 billion a day. <em><strong>Neither Trump nor his administration has the dignity and morality to say to the American people, I'm sorry, you paid this tariff, and I forced you to pay it.</strong></em></p><p>From this point of view, we must grasp whether Trump and his administration are "real tigers" or "fake tigers". We should be careful, first, not to take the "fake tiger" for the "real tiger", or turn it into a "real tiger". Also, don't mistake the "real tiger" for the "fake tiger", the relationship is very delicate.</p><p><em><strong>In other words, tactically, we must treat the United States as a "real tiger," but strategically we must treat it as a "paper tiger."</strong></em></p><p>After Trump launched the global tariff war, the U.S. stock market, bond market, and foreign exchange market collapsed, and the employment problem was in jeopardy.</p><p>Many people find out when they pay their bills, why did they overcharge me so much? If you look closely, it turns out that you have to pay tariffs, so will the American people still be willing to pay them? Will they vote with their feet? The United States will have midterm elections in 2026, and the next presidential election in the United States will be held in 2028. Will the Republican Party become a "lame duck government" next year? Will the Democrats return to the White House in the next presidential election?</p><p><em><strong>What Trump is doing is full of uncertainty because he is actually blackmailing the whole world, blackmailing China, blackmailing ordinary Americans</strong></em>. When Trump was doing real estate transactions in Manhattan, he went bankrupt six times and fought more than 4,000 lawsuits. What kind of person takes what kind of road, and when he encounters such a person as the president of the United States, he is now going to toss the whole world, and if he wants to win by such means, he can scare China back, but in fact this is wishful thinking.</p><p><em><strong>In short, we have to stand firm and insist on doing the right thing. In this tariff defense war, two points are very important: first, unswervingly defend China's legally legitimate rights and interests; Second, we must unswervingly protect the important principle of free trade. If we do a good job in these two aspects, I think we will definitely be able to defeat the "paper tiger" of the United States.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Li Bo:</strong> There was a previous statistic that after Trump imposed tariffs, the average American people spent an extra $3,800 a year to pay the tariffs, of course, the proportion of "reciprocal tariffs" at that time was not so high, maybe it was calculated at 60%, and now the tariffs have increased further, and the people have to pay more.</p><p>For example, US Treasury Secretary Bessant revealed in an interview abroad two days ago that his goal is to force US allies to negotiate through tariffs, and finally they will do business with the United States, not with China, and isolate China to the greatest extent.</p><p>There's also Silicon Valley tycoon Peter Thiel, who has close ties to U.S. Vice President Vance. Two days ago, he was very hesitant, saying that things made in China are really good, and the United States is dependent on them, but because China and the United States are systemic competitors, it is impossible not to "decouple". Even if there is great pain in "decoupling", it must be taken off.</p><p>Although only a small part of the supply chain with a high degree of automation can be transferred to the United States, this part of the supply chain with a low degree of automation may be transferred to other countries, as long as these countries are not as large as China and cannot threaten the United States in terms of size, military and ideology.</p><p><em><strong>These people really want the "decoupling" of China and the United States, even if it comes at a big cost, and Trump is just the one who issues orders in front of the stage.</strong></em> From this point of view, the United States is still a bit like a "real tiger". Mr. Wang, how do you think we should look at the "real tiger" of the United States tactically?</p><p><strong>Wang Lihua:</strong> This question is right, we are not afraid of him, and we are not trying to underestimate it. <em><strong>The emaciated camel is also bigger than the horse, and the United States is, after all, a world hegemonic country.</strong></em> Moreover, the fear of China's rise among American elites has been consistent, <em><strong>whether it is the Republican Party or the Democratic Party, whoever comes up will suppress China.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>We need to see both Trump's lack of rules and the thoughtfulness behind it, which is the common will of the ruling class. </strong></em>Therefore, we cannot treat it as a pure, superficial insight.</p><p>When Chairman Mao dealt with his own opponents and reactionary enemies, including the forces that suppressed us in the United States, he always said two words: We must see that it is a "paper tiger" and that it is a "real tiger." We must build on this analysis in order to define our own strategies, tactics and approaches.</p><p><em><strong>On the one hand, from a strategic point of view, they are "paper tigers", "dead tigers", "tofu tigers", and there is nothing to fear. We must build up our strategic thinking in this regard, strategically defy all enemies and all forces that suppress us and have the courage to fight and win victory.</strong></em></p><p>If you are suddenly intimidated by the enemy's aggressiveness, you will be defeated without fighting yourself, so you must establish confidence in victory. This confidence comes from a strategic analysis of the nature of the enemy, an analysis of the opponent, and the nature of difficulties.</p><p>On the other hand, we must see that the difficulties and opponents we face are "real tigers", who will eat people, will cause you a lot of trouble, and will cause a lot of economic difficulties. <em><strong>From this point of view, we must establish our strategic thinking and tactical thinking, attach importance to the opponent on every specific issue, adopt a cautious attitude, and pay attention to the art of struggle, so as to achieve victory in the end.</strong></em></p><p>This is Chairman Mao's basic thinking, and it is the same today. First of all, we can't be afraid, if we are afraid, we don't have to fight, we will fail if we lie flat. <em><strong>On the other hand, if you want to win your own victory, you must seriously analyze your opponent and where its characteristics and weaknesses are and be fully prepared not to fight a battle for which you are unprepared or uncertain.</strong></em></p><p>The series of industrial progress, scientific and technological progress and progress in breaking through the "bottleneck" project that we just talked about come from our precautions. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we changed the old development mode, implemented a new development concept, and led development with innovation. After more than ten years of hard work, many fields that the United States could have stuck our necks have achieved relatively big breakthroughs.</p><p>In addition, we must concentrate our forces on fighting a war of annihilation, to hurt the enemy, to attack his vital points, to hit his seven inches, and you can't always let him inflict losses and difficulties on you. <em><strong>Therefore, we must also hold on to his vital point, so that there will not be a longer entanglement.</strong></em></p><p>This time, our party and government have taken a series of resolute measures, and Trump has not taken advantage of it, for example, we have restricted the import of American agricultural products, and American farmers originally supported Trump, and they elected Trump in the hope of getting benefits, but they were sold by Trump, and now they are basically in a state of despair.</p><p>For example, we have restricted the export of rare metals, which has caused great difficulties for the US military and high-tech industries. For example, accelerate the construction of an offshore payment system for RMB. Isn't the United States a financial hegemon? <em><strong>We will promote fair trade and free trade among countries around the world through practical actions. These are very powerful.</strong></em></p><p>We must think carefully about every move, grasp its weaknesses, and concentrate our forces on fighting a war of annihilation. <em><strong>Finally, let Trump know that he has lost, and stop these unreasonable actions as soon as possible. It provides a good condition for free trade not only for China, but also for the world.</strong></em></p><p>Chairman Mao once said, "The US imperialists are very arrogant, and they must be unreasonable wherever they can be unreasonable." If you make a little sense, you have to do it. <em><strong>We are through targeted and time-effective actions to make him reason and abide by the rules in front of the whole world.</strong></em> [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>As said above, clearly the Outlaw US Empire is desperate, so desperate that it didn’t take the time to think things through and properly evaluate its opponent, which China certainly has. The cited amounts of electricity generation tells the story. If you know Chinese thought, it’s easy to see from where Mao’s wisdom grew—it comes from the same place as Xi Jinping Thought. The bold fact that China did without the Outlaw US Empire for 5,000 years and is prepared to do without it for another 5,000 years doesn’t even enter the mind of the Barbarian. The further realization that Trump is merely a tool also shows the depth of Chinese understanding. Like Tik Tok Man they have studies and thus know. Hudson’s interaction with the Chinese over the years has helped him predict how they’re reacting. Wolff’s referencing Hegel again on inescapable contradictions that can be anticipated provided one bothers to study what one’s doing is also something to anticipate when viewing the chat. The audacity Chairman Mao had in saying the atomic bomb is just another paper tiger was correct.</p><p>It appears that the coming Global Fracture might leave the Outlaw US Empire rather isolated with very few within its Bloc since it’s declared a trade war on even those many saw as its allies. The longstanding observation that the Empire only has interests not allies appears it’s being proven correct as its ruling elites have even alienated its neighbors. Even its co-Genocidalist and West Asian proxy is being attacked to the latter’s great shock. But there’s one target that’s yet to awaken to the reality of Trump’s actions, and that’s those that voted for him because he promised MAGA and peace, neither of which he’s going to deliver as he’s now proven.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>  </p><p></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/zhou-bo-liberal-international-order
title: Zhou Bo: "Liberal International Order"? This is nothing more than a form of historical myopia
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/zhou-bo-liberal-international-order
hash: ����f���Xs U
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc53b291d-23e7-415e-9731-a71fad653a51_1506x800.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc53b291d-23e7-415e-9731-a71fad653a51_1506x800.png" width="1456" height="773" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c53b291d-23e7-415e-9731-a71fad653a51_1506x800.png","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":773,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The editors at <em>Guancha</em> <a href="https://www.guancha.cn/ZhouBo3/2025_04_25_773602_s.shtml">note</a>:</p><blockquote><p>Recently, Zhou Bo, a researcher at Tsinghua University's Center for International Strategic and Security Studies, was interviewed by Gerardin Dugg and Hamish MacDonald, hosts of ABC Radio International's "Global Adventures" program, to elaborate on China's views on the current international situation, the Taiwan Strait issue and global responsibilities.</p></blockquote><p>The fact that this is comical will become apparent as one reads the transcript. The differing POV between China and West is quickly addressed in a way that’s very pragmatic and clearly doesn’t conform to that of the West. IMO, it’s these contradictory POVs that supply the comedic element and is what makes this interview so valuable, which is why <em>Guancha</em>’s editors translated and published it. A search for an English version of this transcript was attempted but nothing was found, although a link to the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/global-roaming/aukus-investigated-china-zhou-bo-mark-hammond-navy/104942518">previous interview</a> that’s mentioned at the opening was found. I’m aware that a new conflict point’s been opened by Outlaw US Empire terrorist proxies in Kashmir that has caused India and Pakistan to semi-mobilize their forces, which was the terrorist act’s intent. Hopefully, wise eyes will see the manipulation and calm the waters. Neither side has anything to gain by the action, so cui bono must be invoked, and that points to the usual suspects who benefit from sowing chaos. That maxim must be kept in mind as this long read is digested:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Geraldine Doogue:</strong> The next person we're going to interview is Zhou Bo – we've interviewed him before, and the response was very good. He is a retired colonel who recently published a new book, <em><a href="https://www.pekingnology.com/p/zhou-bo-on-should-the-world-fear">Should the World Be Afraid of China?</a></em> This is a rare book from a Chinese perspective.</p><p><strong>Hamish MacDonald:</strong> So let's start at this moment, and to be honest, what I specially, really want to know is: how does China see the situation in the world right now? The world is in chaos, but what does it all look like from China's perspective?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> It's really a "billion-dollar question". I've been thinking about it myself, in part because I don't quite believe in the once-ingrained concept of the so-called "liberal international order."</p><p>To put it simply, <em><strong>I believe that the current international order is not fundamentally different from the past: it has always been a collection of different countries, different social systems, different national identities, different cultures, and most importantly, different civilizations. </strong></em>For example, it was not until the "Great Geographical Discoveries" in the 16th century, that is, after da Gama discovered India and Columbus discovered America, that people gradually understood the outline of the world and began to have a more complete understanding of the world.</p><p>But if you simply define the "world order" as a so-called "liberal international order", it is actually a kind of historical myopia. Because if you really look at it that way, it's a bit like living in a Francis Fukuyama-esque world – the world where "history ends." </p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> So you mean, it's actually a Western-imposed worldview, right?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Yes, the so-called "liberal international order" only looked like that at best, during the period when the Soviet Union collapsed and China had not yet fully emerged. <em><strong>But if you really believe in that order, it's easy to fall into narcissism</strong></em>; as soon as you find that you are no longer strong, you will start looking for "enemies". This is actually very dangerous.<em><strong> But if you believe that this world order is a collection of civilizations, then you ask yourself: How do I coexist with others?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> In a way, President Trump will probably agree with you to some extent. He also seems to be envisioning a "shared" pattern of power and influence, which has caused a stir in some parts of the West-–because he has chosen to work with people who hold a completely different view of power. So in that sense, is the line of thinking that you're describing somewhat consistent with Trump's point?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> No, I don't think so. <em><strong>Because Trump's slogan is "Make America Great Again", and this "Great Again" is basically to restore American hegemony and restore dominance over the world. China, on the other hand, prefers to see itself as part of the world, nothing more</strong></em>.</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> <em><strong>Isn't he just trying to divide the world? </strong></em>Aren't we beginning to see this? He seems to be engaged in the division of "spheres of influence"?</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> yes, for example, he's willing to "cede" Europe to Russia, and maybe Asia to China, and then let the United States focus on its own affairs.</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> You may be right. <em><strong>But the point is that the so-called "sphere of influence" is actually a very old concept that simply does not apply to the 21st century. </strong></em>I have always stressed that China has no sphere of influence in the first place; Even if China wanted to have it, it wouldn't.</p><p>Why? A lot of people will refer to Southeast Asia as China's "backyard," but if you look at Southeast Asia, there are quite a few countries that have territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea, and several countries that are allies of the United States. Looking at Northeast Asia, North Korea will not necessarily listen to China.</p><p><em><strong>So, where is China's "sphere of influence"? So the conclusion is: if China doesn't have a sphere of influence at all, then there's no need to build one. We just need to go out into the world and make ourselves more influential.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Understand that "influence" and "sphere of influence" are two different things. China's influence is already global, so there is no need to pursue so-called spheres of influence.</strong></em> Pursuing a sphere of influence means you'll have to make a bunch of allies, and why would you want to do that when alliances are expensive and hard to maintain?</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> Interesting. You are putting forward the idea that China is completely non-aligned in its handling of international affairs. And you also have an interesting observation about China's "national character": you say that China still has a certain degree of "victim mentality", which is not conducive to the country's development. So why do you think this mentality is not helpful for China's own development?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Yes, many Chinese do believe in this "victim mentality". In a sense, this mentality is not unreasonable, because China did suffer from foreign aggression after 1840. But the so-called "hundred years of shame" that we often refer to is theoretical, and even mathematically, if it is counted from 1840, to 1949.</p><p>When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Mao Zedong declared that "the Chinese people have stood up from now on." Now that the Chinese people have "stood up," this humiliated history should also be turned over. This victim mentality can create nationalism because you feel like you've been treated unfairly. <em><strong>But once you get stronger, this emotion can make others start to feel nervous.</strong></em></p><p>If we divide China's economic aggregate by the size of its population, China is certainly a developing country. But at the same time, China does have the potential to become the world's largest economy.<em><strong> So the question arises: can the world's largest economy still be called a developing country? If the answer is "yes", then what is the point of dividing "developed countries" from "developing countries"? If China becomes one of the most powerful countries in the world, will it be necessary to maintain a "victim" mentality? Will you continue to call yourself a "victim"?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> Okay, but isn't that exactly one of the core issues of U.S. dissatisfaction with China? The United States believes that China is using its status as a "developing country" for its own benefit. For example, in the international sharing of responsibility for the climate transition, this has become a point of contention–-because China is classified as a developing country, it does not need to bear the same responsibilities and obligations as developed countries in the West when dealing with climate change. And this is unfair in the eyes of the West, after all, as you yourself mentioned, China may soon become the largest economy in the world. [Unmentioned is the fact that China has done more to reduce emissions than the West; thus, the question is fallacious.]</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> The problem is that China is wearing "too many high hats"–<em><strong>-and every hat is real, which confuses many people, including Chinese.</strong></em> In the eyes of the Chinese themselves: we are the world's second largest economy in terms of GDP, but in terms of purchasing power parity, we are the world's largest economy; We are the world's largest trading nation, the largest exporter, and the world's largest industrial nation. But at the same time, not so long ago we were the most populous country in the world.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> So, the question is: why does China seem afraid to admit its power and influence?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I think it's because China wears too many high hats, so every aspect of China is real. It depends on who you're talking to, and <em><strong>it also depends on where you stand and what perspective you use to view China.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> Indeed, Mr. Zhou, I do have this feeling of "wearing too many high hats" when I listen to your explanation. <em><strong>You say that China does not need and does not want allies, but at the same time it has "no limit to friendship" with Russia.</strong></em> How can these two statements be put together?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I'm glad you asked this question–-let me try to convince you in the simplest way possible. For example, I said, <em><strong>Hamish, I want to be friends with you. And then I said, wait a minute, Hamish, our friendship must have a limit. Do you think that makes sense? So the so-called "friendship without limits" is basically an expression of a good wish, hoping that this friendship can last for a long time.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> But China doesn't say that to all of its friends. It will indeed say that friendship has a bottom line. That's what it says to us in Australia. We've been through periods of growing friendships, but there have also been times when China will say, "No, there's a problem here." [Which side acts to terminate the friendship—China is even-n=handed while Australia oscillates politically like a wind sock.] </p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Maybe I can convince you in another way. Although this friendship is described in the same document as "unlimited", just a sentence or two after this sentence, we make it clear that this is not a military alliance. <em><strong>Therefore, this shows that even in this kind of friendship, China has a bottom line. </strong></em>China opposes the use of nuclear weapons in any form, and China has not supplied Russia with any missiles or military equipment.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> yes, that's what I don't quite understand. China wants to be a major global power, so why not exert influence in its relationship with Russia to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>That's because you're looking at this issue from a European perspective.</strong></em> And when China looks at this relationship, it must first look at it from a bilateral perspective.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> But China has also said that economic growth, for example, depends on peace, and that global stability is a prerequisite for sustained prosperity.</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Oh, of course. <em><strong>With regard to "stability", the question is what causes instability?</strong></em> Because Russia believes that NATO expansion is precisely the source of instability. This statement is not unreasonable, because <em><strong>the biggest difference between Putin and the previous leader is that he is the one who said, "Enough, that's it."</strong></em> Since the Soviet era, whether it is Gorbachev, Yeltsin or Putin, their attitude towards NATO has basically been the same--NATO should not continue to expand. <em><strong>But the difference is that Putin decided to act</strong></em>, and this is the difference between him and the previous leader.</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> I don't think we can resolve this difference of opinion in this episode, but I want to move on to another issue. You make an obvious point in your book: the biggest problem for all of us is how to avoid wars between China and other countries, no matter who the "other countries" are. And your answer is very direct, and it does point out a challenge in the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Can you summarize your point of view and let us hear what you think?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> First of all, I don't think a war between China and the United States is inevitable. There are only two places where we can have conflicts: one in the South China Sea and the other in the Taiwan Strait. I put the South China Sea in front of the Taiwan Strait, which is different from what many people think, because the United States has been sending planes and warships to the South China Sea, and we sometimes intercept them. This creates a very dangerous close encounter.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> What's wrong with the U.S. sending ships and planes to the South China Sea to maintain freedom of navigation?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>That's exactly the problem.</strong></em> These islands and reefs are Chinese territory, but the United States does not recognize them. <em><strong>The problem is that the United States itself has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but has always considered itself a "guardian". Then I want to ask, if this law is really that good, why don't you approve it? If it's not good, why are you using it to challenge others?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> But I still want to bring it back. I see you wrote in your introduction: "How to avoid war in the Taiwan Strait? My answer is simple–-convince China that peaceful reunification is still possible. This quote is very special. I would also like to add that you did not mention the people of Taiwan. What do they want? How do we reach a consensus where everyone's rights are respected?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I say this because it's the simplest answer to a "billion-dollar question." According to Chinese law, one condition for China to use non-peaceful means is that China believes that the prospect of peaceful reunification has been completely lost. Therefore, we must believe: "The prospect of peaceful reunification has not been completely shattered, and we still have patience." And now that China is in the midst of rapid development, it begs the question:<em><strong> Will China become more confident in pursuing peaceful reunification, or will it become more impatient and resort to force?</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>I believe that convincing the Chinese government that peace is still possible means that the United States has to exercise restraint, and the Taiwan authorities have to exercise restraint.</strong></em> If all of this can be done, I believe that peace is possible. If the Chinese Government believes that the path to peaceful reunification is no longer possible, it will be a completely different situation.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> But there are many ways to achieve reunification, and many people will cite Hong Kong as an example. So it is entirely possible that Taiwan will be "taken back" in a similar situation, right?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>That analogy is not entirely appropriate</strong></em>. Let me give you another example. Before the pandemic, about 1.5 million Taiwanese lived in Chinese mainland, <em><strong>so you can't imagine that the two sides of the strait are completely isolated.</strong></em></p><p>1.5 million Taiwanese live in Chinese mainland, which means that about 6% of Taiwanese already live in the mainland. People always mention that the mainland will use a "big stick", but everyone often forgets that the mainland actually gives a lot, a lot of "carrots". For example, Taiwanese children can go to kindergarten in Fujian Province, just like our own children. They will also have an ID card, which is almost the same as the mainland ID card.</p><p>So those 1.5 million people say a lot. These people don't care about living in a completely different society and a completely different political system–-<em><strong>as long as that society provides them with better opportunities</strong></em>. And these people are all above the middle class, so I believe that with the development of globalization and the acceleration of artificial intelligence, just like the rest of the world, <em><strong>the integration between the two sides of the strait is also accelerating. This also means that perhaps one day, Taiwanese people will feel that it is not bad to be part of the most powerful country on the planet.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> I'm interested in how you see China's future role as a global power. In China's message to the outside world, we often hear references to the "rules-based international order". At the same time, the United States seems to be abandoning its soft power and seems <em><strong>to be treating its allies as enemies</strong></em>. If the United States no longer plays its traditional role, how will China position itself? Is it to replace it, or is it something else in mind?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>China has actually stepped in</strong></em>. Because when the rest of the world looks more and more chaotic, it's only natural for people to look to China and ask the same questions as you. But what role will China play? In my opinion, <em><strong>China is more like an "anchor" or "stabilizer" in this turbulent world.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> But if China wants to be a stabilizer, doesn't that mean it has to play the role of mediator in the Middle East conflict, in the European conflict? Then we have to do something that China doesn't often do on the international stage, right?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I think China can indeed play a role in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. Although Russia and the United States are communicating now, if you read the news like me, you know that the ceasefire proposed by Putin is actually conditional, right? <em><strong>So there may come a time in the future when all the major powers, including China, will need to provide some form of collective security.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> Do you think China would really do that? Like in Ukraine or the Middle East?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Yes, I think it's possible, it depends on how the situation develops. If the end result is a kind of "truce", then security guarantees are definitely needed.</p><p><strong>Hamish MacDonald:</strong> So what kind of security guarantees do you think are possible, taking Ukraine as an example?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> For example, Russia has announced that it will annex those four oblasts to Russian territory, but it is actually very difficult for Russia to really take full control of those four oblasts, because Ukraine has at least the full support of Europe, and possibly even the United States. So, in the future these four states may well turn into an Afghan-like situation— the Ukrainians will conduct endless guerrilla warfare like the Mujahideen. This means that Russia will never be able to truly control those four regions. So, this means that the so-called "armistice" is possible. A lot of people are talking about a ceasefire, a truce, or any other scenario, and a "truce" is the one that is most discussed.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> So, first of all, I want to ask you, are China's security guarantees going to Russia, or are they going to Ukraine?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> It should be a collective security guarantee for both sides, because neither side can completely defeat the other, but both sides are actually very afraid. There is a fear that what will happen once the ceasefire is broken. This is not only Ukraine afraid, but Russia is also afraid, afraid that it will appear isolated. That's why Russia wants the Global South, such as China, India, and Brazil, to get involved.</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> You also mentioned in your book that China actually plays a very important role in global peacekeeping, which I didn't know much about before. If there is an arrangement for a truce in Ukraine, is China willing to send peacekeepers to supervise it?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I think China can do so if the parties to the conflict request–-which is the first requirement for peacekeeping. This is because China is the largest troop contributor of the five permanent members of the Security Council, and its credibility in global peacekeeping is beyond question. So I think China can take on that role with India, along with other countries in the Global South, plus some non-NATO European countries. After all, this war is taking place in the heart of Europe, and European countries should still participate, but not NATO members. Because I suppose for Russia, these countries will only be seen as "wolves in sheep's clothing".</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> Maybe we should go back to the title of your book: Should the World Be Afraid of China? Your answer is clearly "no". Can you expand on that point of view, especially at a time when the situation is very uncertain and no one knows what's going to happen next. Can you talk about why you think China can actually play a constructive role in the new world order?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Let's start with China's history over the past 40 years. <em><strong>The rise of China is already a miracle in human history, and that in itself says a lot.</strong></em> I think the next thing for China to prove is that even if China is strong,<em><strong> it doesn't need to act in a hegemonic way. This is the next challenge facing China. </strong></em>I think the first issue we've solved. Now it depends on whether China can become one of the most powerful countries in the world but not follow the path of hegemony.</p><p>It's really challenging, but we have time to observe. If China has been able to remain peaceful for the past 40 years, why can't China make the world safer?<em><strong> The world is not the single perspective of the West as it sees the world.</strong></em> If you look at the world from the perspective of the Global South, I think people's perception of China is generally positive. In Africa, the vast majority of countries have a positive impression of China. In the Indo-Pacific, the situation is more complicated, but even last year, according to a poll, in Southeast Asia, people actually praised China more than they did about the United States.</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> What about India? Can I interject? The relationship between China and India seems to be a bit more complicated.</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Yes, it is. Because Sino-Indian relations were originally good, until that deadly conflict occurred on the border in 2020. But even in that incident, I saw something positive — that neither side chose to shoot. Don't you think it's weird? The modern armies of the two worlds, however, are fighting in the Stone Age way. This shows that the soldiers on both sides subconsciously know: you can't shoot.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> We may have kind of overlooked the feelings of some countries in Africa and some countries in the Pacific–-especially the debt and debt repayment obligations that they are now burdened with because of Chinese loans. I wonder how we in Australia should view this relationship in this context? Does China want to be friends with us, or is it a more nuanced matter?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Let me tell you this, the first country I visited abroad was actually Australia, and that was in 1990. At that time, I came to work as an interpreter, accompanying Chinese pilots on the simulator of Ansel Air to help train Chinese pilots. Ansel doesn't seem to exist anymore. But I went again in 1999, when I was the first Chinese visiting fellow at the Royal Australian Military College, and I stayed there for three months. So I think that, overall, the Chinese's feelings towards Australia are quite positive. For you are far away from us, a great island in the middle of the ocean. Theoretically, <em><strong>we should not be enemies with each other, but historically you have always been involved in other people's wars.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> Yes, we're really far away. So why are Chinese Navy ships circumnavigating Australia? What is the purpose of this? How do we interpret this behavior?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>Then I should probably remind you why your warships sail so close to China's coastline? And why did your military planes invade the airspace of the Paracel Islands? That's China's airspace. And you've not done this once or twice, but many times.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> But our official position is that we're ensuring freedom of navigation in international trade lanes. There is a difference between the two.</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>Can I also borrow your words and do the same thing for the same reason as we detoured to Australia?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> You're saying you're going around Australia to transport trade supplies? Is that what it means?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>I mean, our ships are also conducting "freedom of navigation" operations around Australia.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> And what's the purpose?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong><em><strong> First of all, it's the high seas, and we have the right to sail. There is no international regulation that prohibits us from doing that.</strong></em> In fact, the question should be to ask you: Why did you cross the Taiwan Strait? <em><strong>What are you passing through there for? </strong></em>You don't really have much real trade through there, do you? One-third of your trade is with Chinese mainland, and warships don't need to cross the Taiwan Strait to transport these goods.</p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> So you mean, the interpretation that we should get from this is, "You don't do this to us"?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> I don't think the Chinese government has ever expressed its views in this way, but international law does allow us to do so. <em><strong>But if you can ask yourself, I think that's good for you.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> (laughs) So let's end here, shall we?</p><p><strong>Geraldine:</strong> Oh, wait, I also want to ask you a question in particular, which is about "hard power" and "soft power". Joseph Nye once said that in the long run, soft power often trumps hard power. For example, the Chinese People's Liberation Army is now very advanced in equipment, and your navy is also the envy of the whole world. But I would say that China's soft power is not really strong. Despite your improved image in the Global South, China's soft power is still at a disadvantage overall. What do you think, is this China's shortcoming?</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> <em><strong>I don't think so, it really depends on how you define soft power.</strong></em> In the case of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) you just mentioned, so far, the Chinese military's overseas operations have been all humanitarian in nature, whether it's anti-piracy, peacekeeping, or disaster relief. Our hospital ship, the Peace Ark, has traveled the world, providing people with medicines and medical services free of charge, never at any cost. These are all efforts by China to demonstrate its goodwill.</p><p>As a veteran of the People's Liberation Army, <em><strong>my hope is that even if China has the largest number of warships in the world, the PLA will continue to do only humanitarian missions in the future.</strong></em> Because there are always excuses to kill, but who can remember those excuses, right? But if you're just going to help people in need around the world, they'll appreciate you. And who can deny the importance of peacekeeping, the fight against piracy, disaster relief, these things? And this is exactly what the PLA has been doing. <em><strong>In the last 40 years, you can't find an example of the PLA killing a person overseas–-isn't that commendable?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Hamish:</strong> Mr. Zhou, we come from two countries that often misunderstand each other and don't often communicate directly. So personally, thank you very much for coming and talking to us today. I really hope to invite you back in the future to continue this conversation. I think that's more important than ever.</p><p><strong>Zhou Bo:</strong> Thank you, Hamish, thank you, Geraldine. It was a funny, friendly argument.</p><p><strong>Geraldine：</strong>[Chuckles] Friendly quarrel, we may need more friendly quarrels. [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>IMO, Zhou Bo misreads Russia and its SMO for Russia isn’t “fearful” and has vastly greater military capabilities over Ukraine and NATO. Otherwise, his replies to standard Western Propaganda/Talking points were excellent parries. More forceful responses were available, but Zhou’s tact was great. As for soft power, IMO the Global Majority sees how powerful China is and also sees its other behavior and <strong>listens</strong> to its proposals. Promoting a shared future for humanity is very far from being hegemonic. how China manages the Era of the Outlaw US Empire’s Decline is an excellent question that entirely depends on the Empire’s behavior. Currently the Empire continues to weaken itself in a manner that worsens its decline. The world has tired of paying tribute now that alternatives exist. And that’s what we see blossoming—regional arrangements generating new nodes of power. But what’s meant by power in this case is economic power judged by living standards—the advancement that development aims for. And what we see in declining powers is a lowering standard of living. </p><p>Clearly, Zhou’s book provides the context behind the talk of “victimhood” at the outset. The link goes to an excellent Sinology substack’s book review, which is a big read itself.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>    </p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-cbs-interview
title: Lavrov's CBS Interview
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-cbs-interview
hash: ��Y><���c�
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf740959-6700-4a07-b7e8-9f9833313856_720x480.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf740959-6700-4a07-b7e8-9f9833313856_720x480.jpeg" width="720" height="480" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bf740959-6700-4a07-b7e8-9f9833313856_720x480.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":480,"width":720,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":102711,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162294679?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbf740959-6700-4a07-b7e8-9f9833313856_720x480.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Although it was conducted in English and published in numerous outlets, I’ve taken the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “<a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/2011803/">Unofficial translation from English</a>” and reproduced it below. It’s adversarial as the opening lines announce:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Question: </strong>Good afternoon, Mr Minister. I would like to ask you about what happened in Kiev. On the night of April 24, a massive Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital took place. US President Donald Trump has publicly stated that there was no need for Russian strikes and that the timing was very unfortunate for them. "Vladimir, stop" is his quote. Why kill civilians if Ukraine says it is ready for a ceasefire?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>We strike only at military targets or civilian facilities used by the military. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has said this many times, and now the situation is no different. Unlike the Zelensky regime, we never deliberately target civilian targets.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>So this attack was carried out intentionally, not by mistake?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> If this was a target used by the Ukrainian military, then the Defence Ministry and commanders on the ground have the right to attack such targets.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>To be clear: when US President Donald Trump says, "Vladimir, stop," does this mean a refusal, or do you think that the civilian casualties are worth it because of the considerations you mentioned?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong><em><strong> I can assure you that the purpose of the attack was not something absolutely civilian, as in the case of the NATO strikes on Belgrade in 1999.</strong></em></p><p>In our case, we attack only those facilities that are used by the military. As for the ceasefire and the call to stop, President of Russia Vladimir Putin immediately supported US President Donald Trump's proposal, made a few weeks ago, to establish a 30-day ceasefire<em><strong> on the condition that we do not repeat the mistakes of the last ten years,</strong></em> when the agreements were signed, and Ukraine violated them with the support and encouragement of the Biden administration and European countries.</p><p>This was the fate of the agreement concluded in February 2014, then the Minsk agreements, and then the agreement reached on the basis of the Ukrainian proposals in Istanbul in April 2022.</p><p><em><strong>President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that we are aiming for a ceasefire, but we want guarantees that it will not be used again to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine and that the supply of weapons must be stopped.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: On </strong>March 11, Ukraine accepted the idea of a US-brokered ceasefire without preconditions. Are you saying that negotiations to stop something else are a precondition?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>No, this is not a precondition. These are the lessons we have learned at least three times, when agreements like the ones we are discussing now were violated by the Kiev regime with the strong support of European capitals and the Biden administration.</strong></em></p><p>If you want a ceasefire only to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, then what is your goal? Do you know what EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and NATO Secretary General Martin Rutte said about a ceasefire and a settlement? <em><strong>They openly stated that they would only support the agreement that would ultimately make Ukraine stronger and make it a "winner.</strong></em>" So if this is the goal of the ceasefire, I don't think this is what US President Donald Trump wants. <em><strong>This is what the Europeans, together with Vladimir Zelensky, want to make of President Trump's initiative.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Will Russia continue to attack Kiev, despite US President Donald Trump's words: "Vladimir, stop"?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>You are not listening to me.</strong></em> <em><strong>We will continue to strike targets used by the Ukrainian military, mercenaries from foreign countries, and instructors officially sent by the Europeans to help strike Russian civilian targets.</strong></em></p><p>If you look, for example, at the situation in the Kursk region, over the past six months, <em><strong>there has not been a single military attack among the targets at which the Ukrainians have opened fire.</strong></em></p><p>In addition, there was a proposal by US President Donald Trump, which was immediately supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to introduce a 30-day moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure. <em><strong>We have never violated this commitment made by President Vladimir Putin, and the Ukrainians have violated several hundred times what Vladimir Zelensky allegedly supported. </strong></em>I personally sent a list of these attacks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to the UN. This list is really indicative and speaks for itself.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Ukraine disputes this. But putting that aside, I would like to ask you what US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (April 23). <em><strong>The US President said that he believes that the United States and Russia have reached an agreement, so let's act.</strong></em> Does President Vladimir Putin agree with this?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>US President Donald Trump believes–-and I think quite rightly–-that we are moving in the right direction. The statement of the President of the United States talks about an agreement, and we are ready to conclude an agreement.<em><strong> But there are some specific points, elements of this agreement, which need to be finalized. This is exactly the process that we are engaged in. The President of the United States did not specify these details of the agreement, so it would be inappropriate for me to do so.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>But he did say that there is an agreement and that he sent his envoy Stephen Whitkoff to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin on Friday (April 25).</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Do you not trust the words of the US President?</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>I wanted to know what your President says. What will he say to the American representative?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>We continue our contacts with the American side on the situation in Ukraine. <em><strong>There are a number of signs that we are moving in the right direction. First of all, because President Donald Trump is probably the only leader on earth who has realised the need to address the root causes of this situation. He said that it was a mistake to drag Ukraine into NATO, that the Biden administration was to blame for this, and that he wanted to fix it.</strong></em></p><p>On April 22, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed the opinion that the US team now has a better understanding of Russia's position and the underlying causes of this situation. One of these root causes is NATO and the creation of direct military threats to Russia near our borders, and the other is the rights of ethnic minorities in Ukraine. Everything Russian: the media, education, culture – everything was banned in Ukraine at the legislative level. <em><strong>In order to get out of this crisis, we cannot simply forget about human rights.</strong></em></p><p>When Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, everything is discussed,<em><strong> American negotiators put human rights in the first place</strong></em>. In this regard, they have claims against China, against us, against anyone. <em><strong>But when Europeans and other Western countries talk about Ukraine, no one can say a word about human rights. No one.</strong></em> On the contrary, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and other people in Brussels and in Europe say that Ukraine defends "European values." It turns out that one of these "values" is the abolition of the Russian language. Imagine if Israel abolished the Arabic language in Palestine. Just imagine.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>You mentioned that the United States and Russia still need to work on some of the nuances of the agreement.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Yes. Do you want me to tell you about them?</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Yes, of course, I would like this, but it does not work that way. European sources report that the US proposal is actually just a list of certain theses. Does Russia have an understanding of what you need at the moment?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> We are polite people. And unlike some others, we never publicly discuss what is said at talks. <em><strong>Otherwise, such negotiations are not serious.</strong></em></p><p>If you want to know someone's opinion on the essence of this issue, please contact Vladimir Zelensky. He is happy to communicate with anyone through the media. He even complains about US President Donald Trump.</p><p>We are serious people. We consider and make serious proposals.<em><strong> This is a process that should not be public until it is over.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Good. In other words, there is no agreement?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>I did not say that.</strong></em> Now I understand why you wanted to get brief answers to your questions. Do you want some slogans on the air?</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> No. US President Donald Trump said that there was an agreement with Russia. Therefore, I would like to ask Russia whether there is an agreement with the United States.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>We have already commented on this statement. The talks are ongoing. Until the end of the talks, we cannot disclose what they are talking about.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Okay. Last month, US National Security Adviser Waltz said that President Donald Trump had asked for the release of thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia as part of what he called "confidence-building measures." What steps has Russia taken to comply with Donald Trump's request?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Listen, long before the request came from Washington, we were dealing with the fate of children who had to leave their homes during the conflict, they were left without their families. Most of these children were sent to orphanages. <em><strong>We share any details we have about these children, and as soon as the parents or other relatives make themselves known, they get the children back. This process has been going on for the past almost three years between the ombudsmen of Russia and Ukraine.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In other words, there will be no new release of thousands of Ukrainian children at the request of US President Donald Trump?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>No one knows why some "experts" advised President Donald Trump to talk about thousands of Ukrainian children.</strong></em></p><p>From time to time, once every two or three months, we organize exchanges with the Ukrainians through the mediation of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, which, you know, do not make a fuss about what they are doing. They are just doing something in which we are actively participating: returning children to their parents or relatives.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>What "confidence-building measures" can Russia offer now? Especially after the attack on Kiev, when US President Donald Trump said: "Vladimir, stop." How do you convince the United States that Russia is really serious about peace?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Over the past ten years, there have been many "confidence-building measures." I mentioned the agreement in February...</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>It was a night attack on Kiev...</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>Do you want a brief answer? That's what I understood from your first words. Or do you want an answer that explains the situation?</strong></em></p><p>US President Donald Trump's proposal for a 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin and was strictly observed. These were "confidence-building measures"; let's compare this with the policies and actions taken by the Zelensky regime. As I have already said, the Ukrainians attacked civilian energy infrastructure several hundred times.</p><p>Another "confidence-building measure" was the proposal by President Donald Trump and his team to resume the Black Sea deal. Our delegations met in Riyadh. They exchanged views on how this can be implemented in practice. The proposals made by Russia are being considered by the United States. There are many other examples of "confidence-building measures."</p><p><em><strong>But if you believe that only Ukraine is interested in "confidence-building", then I think that the short answer is an illusion.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Do you take US President Donald Trump at his word when he says that if Russia fails to conclude a deal to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, he will introduce secondary duties? I think he is referring to sanctions on oil coming from Russia. Or do you think that relations between Russia and America have been restored at the moment and this will not happen?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I cannot comment on what, in your opinion, US President Donald Trump meant when he spoke about something.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>What do you think he meant when he spoke about secondary duties on oil supplied from Russia?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> We hear a lot from US President Donald Trump. He said that he was terribly tired of this situation in the settlement, especially yesterday, when he commented on Vladimir Zelensky's statements. <em><strong>US President Donald Trump has his own proposals and his own style of presenting these proposals during public speeches.</strong></em></p><p>As I have already said,<em><strong> we are committed to real talks.</strong></em> US President Donald Trump supports them, and he instructed his people to continue to participate in them. I apologize, the answer was a bit long. But it is difficult to explain it in any other way.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>I asked about the threat of sanctions or secondary duties because you <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/2009093/">said</a> in your recent interview that if you had to choose personally, you would keep the existing sanctions against Russia. You said that Russia has restructured the economy, made it self-sufficient. There are growing fears that, quote, "the cunning Americans will suddenly lift sanctions to flood our market with services and technology." If this is the case, why should the United States consider lifting sanctions at all?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Why are you asking me? You have just quoted my statement. <em><strong>It is clear to me and to everyone who has read it. If you have questions for the US side about their attitude to the situation, then I am not the right person to ask them.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In other words, you want to maintain the sanctions? Do I understand correctly that this is Russia's position?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I do not want to explain once again what was said, I think it is quite clear. You quoted me quite close to what I said. Yes, I know that this answer was a little longer than you would have liked.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>However, in February of this year, one of your colleagues, Kirill Dmitriev, who heads the RDIF and is actively involved in the negotiation process with the United States, spoke differently. In this regard, I ask a question. He said that American companies are expected to return to the Russian market in the second half of 2025.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>President of Russia Vladimir Putin has already commented on this situation. He said that we have nothing against American companies. But those companies that then decided to leave Russia, upon returning, may find that their place has already been taken by Russian or other foreign investors. In this case, we will not take any action that would discriminate against those who invested in Russia instead of the Americans. If American companies want to fill a niche that is not yet occupied, if they want to propose a new project, in addition to past business relationships, we will of course consider this offer. <em><strong>If we find a balance of our interests, I think it will be quite natural to do business together.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In which areas did the United States propose lifting sanctions? After all, in the context of the current sanctions, many American companies cannot enter the Russian market.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>It depends on them.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In other words, there were no proposals?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> No. What can we offer in a situation when... The United States has made it clear to us that it is interested in doing business together. <em><strong>We never reject business proposals if they are based on equal opportunities and respect for each other and lead to a balance of interests.</strong></em> I cannot comment on the proposals that are mentioned in the media. <em><strong>This is not serious.</strong></em> We behave differently from the people in Kiev who communicate with the world through the media, including with the presidents of great countries.</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> If I understand you correctly, are you not afraid of sanctions and do not want them to be lifted?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> You quoted my statement correctly. This is my position.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>When US President Donald Trump threatens new sanctions, does this cause you any concern?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>This is the third time you have asked about this. By the way, I have answered you briefly.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> You expressed yourself briefly and directly. I asked about the sanctions to bring clarity and understanding. In general, as for what is happening now in the war zone in Ukraine, according to experts, about 18% of the territory of Ukraine is under the control of Russian troops. US intelligence believes that the situation is developing in favor of Russia. If that's the case, why should the U.S. believe that Russia is serious about ending the war if things are stacked in your favor?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> We judge by the reaction of our American colleagues to what we tell them. <em><strong>We do this during negotiations—they are confidential, like any serious negotiations.</strong></em> They know our position. I quoted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly stated that they now have a better understanding of Russia's position and the reasons for what is happening. He said that during the Biden administration, no one in Washington lifted a finger to do the same and try to understand Russia.</p><p><em><strong>This implies that the dialogue continues, supported by the United States and, I stress again, the Russian Federation.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> US President Donald Trump said that he hopes to meet with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the near future. When and where could they meet? And why?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Presidents are the masters of their own fate and their schedule. I heard US President Donald Trump say that he has a trip planned for mid-May and he will propose dates after that. I have nothing more to add.</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Yes. He was asked whether there was a possibility that he would meet with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, but he replied that most likely not. It's in mid-May, but it could happen soon after.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>You said the same thing as I did.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Yes.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>We read the same newspapers and watch the same channels on TV.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Yes, but I cannot pick up the phone and call US Secretary of State Marco Rubio like you. So when do you think this meeting can take place?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>I hope your viewers are well aware that it is unethical for the Foreign Minister to assume what presidents can and cannot discuss.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Do you think it would be great if the leaders of the two countries met in the near future? In your opinion, Special Envoy Stephen Whitkoff came to negotiate this?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>We are always in favour of meeting with people who are ready for dialogue. President Putin has repeated this many times. When President Vladimir Putin's Assistant for Foreign Policy Yury Ushakov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz met in Riyadh, our American colleagues made it clear that US policy is based on US national interests. They also understand that Russian policy pursued by President Vladimir Putin is also based on Russia's national interests and <em><strong>that the great powers are responsible for ensuring that if these national interests do not coincide (this happens in most cases), they do not allow this discrepancy to escalate into confrontation.</strong></em> This is what dialogue is for. <em><strong>They also added that when the national interests of two or more countries coincide, it would be foolish to miss the opportunity to translate this coincidence into some mutually beneficial projects. This is our position as well.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>It will soon be 100 days since President Donald Trump took office. He has made it clear that his patience is running out with regard to diplomacy. Do you expect the United States and Russia to continue dialogue after these potential peace talks fail? I mean, is the restoration of relations now so significant that it can withstand the breakdown of peace talks on Ukraine?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>First of all, Russia is always ready for dialogue. Therefore, you should ask this question to the American side. Secondly, you anticipate the outcome of the ongoing process by saying that the talks will fail. <em><strong>We are focused on getting things done, not talking about failures, victories, etc. If we do not focus on the facts, as we do, we will not be able to take a serious approach to the matter.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the window of opportunity is closing and time is running out. This is not my opinion, but what they said.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> Wait a second. I have just quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said yesterday about a better understanding of Russia's position. You may have missed this statement.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>He also said that a decision should be made within a few days and that the United States has other things to focus on.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>We understand the impatience, because in American culture you create “expectations” and tension around these expectations. This does not help to engage in real politics.</strong></em></p><p>But in our case (as I have already said) we are always ready for dialogue, for negotiations, and we would not bet on failure from the very beginning.<em><strong> This would be typical of bad, inexperienced negotiators.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Some representatives of the Russian leadership said that the United States and Russia could work together in the Arctic. Are there any specific areas for discussing cooperation now?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> You always want me to constantly disclose things that can be discussed by the relevant officials of Russia and the United States, those who are responsible for trade, economic cooperation and investment.</p><p><em><strong>What are you counting on? For a negotiator who has not yet reached a certain understanding to disclose details publicly? This is not serious.</strong></em></p><p>I have read President Donald Trump's book, The Art of Making Deals. He advises not to disclose information until the right time comes.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>With all due respect, US President Donald Trump talks quite a lot about what he would like to achieve with Russia and about the possibilities of working together. I understand that you do not want this.</p><p>As for the specific things that President Trump has said publicly, one of the things he raised is that the United States could work with Ukraine on the joint operation of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which is located in Zaporizhzhia. Russian troops now control the area. Do you agree with President Trump's public statements that it would be in the interests of greater security for the United States and Ukraine to jointly manage this facility?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>No, we have not received such an offer, and if we do, we will explain that the management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is under the jurisdiction of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, under the supervision of <a href="https://www.iaea.org/ru">IAEA</a> personnel, who are constantly present at the site and carry out monitoring. That apart from Ukraine's constant attempts to attack the plant and create a nuclear catastrophe in Europe and Ukraine, the safety requirements are fully met. Nuclear power plants are in good hands.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Does this mean "no"? [LOL!!!]</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I do not think that any changes are possible.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Okay, because it was in the White House's public statement to the media.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>As I have already said, we have not received any specific proposals. I understand that journalists have to make guesses. We cannot guess what is not mentioned in the negotiations.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Is the situation with the Zaporizhzhia NPP being discussed now?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> Should I say this for the third time? You wanted me to be brief.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>I heard you, but I just want to be absolutely clear, because it has been repeatedly reported that this is also part of the US proposal, which is now being discussed.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Why don't you ask me about US President Donald Trump's position on Crimea?</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Did you like what President Donald Trump said yesterday (April 23) about Crimea that it has been officially under Russian control since 2014?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong><em><strong> It's not a matter of whether you like it or not. The bottom line is that he told the truth, and then Vladimir Zelensky said that this was absolutely out of the question, because Crimea is part of Ukraine, according to the country's Constitution.</strong></em> For some reason, no one in Europe or in the United States reminded him that, in addition to territorial issues, the Constitution of Ukraine guarantees "the free development, use and protection of the Russian language and the languages of other national minorities in Ukraine," as well as guarantees the development of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of all peoples and national minorities in Ukraine. <em><strong>This is also written in the Constitution, as I have already said, but you have decided not to delve into this topic.</strong></em> No one in the West even mentions human rights when they demand that "Ukraine defeat Russia on the battlefield."</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>President Donald Trump said that Crimea is not even being discussed now.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>Yes, because this matter has been decided.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Do you mean that since Russia occupies and controls it, it will not negotiate on the future of Crimea? Are you talking about this?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Russia is not negotiating on the integrity of its territory. President Donald Trump understands this.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>This is what you want to bring to the public space. Are there any other US proposals that you like?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>No. I have only commented on what was said publicly. I would also like to emphasise once again that normal negotiators do not negotiate "through a microphone". They meet and discuss, listen to each other, and try to understand how to achieve a balance of interests. This is how our contacts with American representatives go.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>With all due respect, you have been in high positions in Russian diplomacy for 30 years...</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> How much?</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>At least 30 years. I mean, you have been in key diplomatic positions in the Russian diplomatic system for a long time.</p><p>I do not think that any of this is typical or normal, to use your words. Stephen Whitkoff is a representative of the White House. Kirill Dmitriev represents Vladimir Putin. Do you think it is sad that the system of international diplomacy is no longer being used, but instead the format of meetings of personal envoys is being used?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>You did not express your disappointment that the international system of diplomacy was not used during the entire period of the Biden administration.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>You didn't mention that Europeans are really nervous about being "marginalized." But I can quote a lot of what the Europeans have said. I</strong></em> have already mentioned EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who said that any deal should guarantee that Ukraine will be stronger and defeat Russia.</p><p>Do you need negotiators who believe in this logic and do not want to seek a fair balance of interests? The Trump administration is interested in finding such a balance. They sincerely want to better understand Russia's position. And they find this understanding. And we better understand America's position through the negotiations, meetings and discussions that we have.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In January of this year, Russia signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Iran. Is Moscow ready to break off these relations at the request of the United States, if it means improving relations with America?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>We have never received such requests. We welcome the negotiation process that has begun between the United States and Iran. We are ready to help if the parties believe that it will be beneficial. They know this.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>You were Russia's negotiator in <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/maps/de/1681439/">2015</a> on a significant international agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In particular, Russia has made a useful contribution to the destruction of Iran's enriched nuclear materials. Would you be ready to make such an offer again?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>We did not participate in the destruction of Iranian nuclear materials.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In recycling.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>Part of the deal was the transfer of some of these materials to Russia for storage.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Good. Not destruction, but storage. Are you ready to offer the United States to accept Iran's enriched nuclear materials produced in recent years for storage in Russia?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I said that we do not stick our noses into negotiations between two countries if Russia is not one of them. I think I said this unequivocally. You wanted a brief answer, but I will probably have to be more verbose if the essence of my words is not clear to you.</p><p>We welcome dialogue between the United States and Iran. We are certainly ready to help if both sides believe that it will be useful. And they know that we are ready.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Going back to that period. At that time, there were sanctions and pressure at the UN. Now it is completely different. I would like to ask you briefly about nuclear weapons, because Russia is a powerful nuclear power. According to US intelligence, Russia is developing a new satellite that should be capable of carrying nuclear weapons and, if used, disable other satellites with devastating consequences for the United States. This is according to openly published materials. Does this mean that Russia is going to violate existing treaties and deploy nuclear weapons in space?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>Before asking this question, you should check whether what the US military and intelligence are saying is true or not.</strong></em></p><p>I listened attentively to what President Donald Trump said about his views on the "list of achievements" of the US intelligence services. I have my own information, which I rely on.</p><p><em><strong>For many years, we have been promoting a resolution at the UN prohibiting the deployment of any nuclear weapons in space. And the country that is categorically opposed to this is the United States.</strong></em> At the same time, Washington is promoting the idea of banning the deployment of conventional weapons in space. <em><strong>They cannot answer the question of whether this means that they plan to place nuclear weapons in orb</strong></em>it.</p><p>My answer is very clear. We defend the UN for a legal ban on the deployment of any nuclear weapons in outer space. And the United States (at least this was the case during the Biden administration) was categorically against this.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>It was during the Trump administration that the intelligence agencies published these conclusions a few weeks ago. Do you claim that the conclusions of the Trump administration's intelligence services regarding Russia's development of a new satellite that should be capable of carrying nuclear weapons are incorrect?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>We have denied these accusations. I will have to repeat once again: for years we have been promoting a treaty (not a declaration) at the UN banning the deployment of weapons in outer space. The United States is against this. I have already told you that I cannot discuss the reliability of the intelligence services' reports. We have never received any facts that would confirm these accusations.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: Are </strong>you interested in arms control talks with the United States and the Trump administration?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> <em><strong>It was the United States that withdrew from the process of strengthening strategic stability. If they want to return to this path, we will see under what conditions this will be possible. Since US doctrinal documents refer to us as "adversaries" and some time ago US officials called us "enemies", we want to understand what Washington thinks about our relations and whether it is ready (I would like to emphasise it again) for an equal and mutually respectful dialogue aimed at finding a balance of interests. If this is the approach, then everything is possible.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>From everything you said today, I have not heard anything about Russia's readiness to make any concessions today.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> This is not true. I will answer briefly: you are wrong.</p><p><em><strong>I have repeatedly stressed both with regard to Ukraine and with regard to strategic relations with the United States our readiness to seek a balance of interests. If that's not what your broadcaster thinks is a willingness to negotiate, then I don't know how I can be even less eloquent in trying to answer briefly.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>There were very clear and specific statements by the Trump administration. For example, US Vice President J.D. Vance said that everything would be "frozen" along the current line of contact in Ukraine and this is quite close to the current positions of the troops. Do you really think that this can be a concession?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I am not discussing the details of what is being negotiated publicly. I understand that you love rumors, because they attract attention...</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>The US Vice President said this on camera.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Was that a question? What did you say?</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>We are talking about rumors. You said that this is a rumor. These are the words of the vice president.</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong><em><strong>No, I spoke about our position. We are not discussing what is being negotiated.</strong></em> [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>The interview took place this morning and was aired on CBS’s<strong> </strong><em>Face the Nation</em> with Margaret Brennan asking the questions. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sergey-lavrov-russian-foreign-minister-face-the-nation-transcript-04-27-2025/">The CBS transcript is here</a>. Ms. Brennan was clearly undiplomatic and doesn’t seem to know much about its conduct. Lavrov’s comeback about CBS never asking Team Biden about the diplomatic track was one of Lavrov’s many successful scoring thrusts if we look at this as a fencing duel. There were many howlers, one major one I indicated, most of which are due to this Lavrov observation:</p><blockquote><p><em><strong>We understand the impatience, because in American culture you create “expectations” and tension around these expectations. This does not help to engage in real politics.</strong></em></p><p>But in our case (as I have already said) we are always ready for dialogue, for negotiations, and we would not bet on failure from the very beginning.<em><strong> This would be typical of bad, inexperienced negotiators.</strong></em></p></blockquote><p>He could have added media. It’s hard to tell just how deeply hooked Brennan is on the Establishment Narrative that’s been ongoing since the Russian Revolution and those modifications of a more recent vintage. Lavrov understands that she is given a list that must be pounded to death, but in this case his tact and wit buried the ploy. Experienced Lavrov watchers at the Gym could likely have anticipated his answers before reading them. The 43-minute interview’s video at the link up top is in English but overdubbed in Russian. <a href="https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2011803/">It’s here in English</a>. IMO, it ought to be compared with the Tucker Carlson or Judge Napolitano interviews. I’m old enough to recall how Walter Cronkite interviewed statesmen for that same network, and he would never have made himself as big a fool as Brennan did. But then, there were actual diplomats within the US State Department, and leaks related to diplomatic talks just didn’t happen, nor did media try to pry so brazenly.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>    </p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/by-decision-of-the-president-of-russia
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/by-decision-of-the-president-of-russia
hash: ��y%?m�X鸼 �o�0
title:
By decision of the President of Russia, on the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the Russian side declares a truce

content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cb6b902-648a-41f7-9ca9-6913aea17f48_680x420.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cb6b902-648a-41f7-9ca9-6913aea17f48_680x420.jpeg" width="680" height="420" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7cb6b902-648a-41f7-9ca9-6913aea17f48_680x420.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":420,"width":680,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":"Meeting with members of the Council of Legislators","title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="Meeting with members of the Council of Legislators" title="Meeting with members of the Council of Legislators" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The above announcement <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76807">was published</a> by the Kremlin at 14:10 Moscow time and contained the following text:</p><blockquote><p>By decision President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, By the forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, for humanitarian reasons, in the days of The 80th anniversary of the Victory from zero hours from May 7 to May 8 to zero hours from May 10 to 11 is announced by the Russian side armistice. For this period, all hostilities are stopped.</p><p>Russia believes that The Ukrainian side should follow suit.</p><p>In case of violations truce by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate and effective response.</p><p>The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace negotiations without preconditions aimed at addressing the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, constructive interaction with international partners.</p></blockquote><p>I have many thoughts about the above that will need to wait given my schedule today.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/putins-actions-prior-to-the-truce
title: Putin's Actions Prior to the Truce Declaration
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/putins-actions-prior-to-the-truce
hash: 1w�� ��}��3�T
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd214be73-36f2-4ca8-9e2e-068537832c06_1880x1160.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd214be73-36f2-4ca8-9e2e-068537832c06_1880x1160.jpeg" width="1456" height="898" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d214be73-36f2-4ca8-9e2e-068537832c06_1880x1160.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":898,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":700305,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162364415?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd214be73-36f2-4ca8-9e2e-068537832c06_1880x1160.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed members of the Council of Legislators at the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76809">Kremlin noted</a>, “The event is timed to coincide with the Day of the Russian Federation Parliamentarism.” Afterward he met with Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and then with Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, all in that sequence but with the public announcement of the Victory Day Truce happening first.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Dear Valentina Ivanovna [Matvienko] and Vyacheslav Viktorovich [Volodin], Dear colleagues and friends,</p><p>First of all, I would like to congratulate the citizens of the country, the Council of Legislators, and all your colleagues working in representative bodies on the Day of Russian Parliamentarism. Thank you for your active collaboration.</p><p>Parliamentarism Day, as we know, was celebrated yesterday. This significant date reflects the continuity and uninterrupted development of our statehood, the importance of your work for the current stage of the country's development, and, of course, the fundamental nature of the <em><strong>constitutional principles of democracy</strong></em>, which help us to strengthen the country together, confidently overcome trials and difficulties, and achieve <em><strong>the big goals that we set for ourselves together with you.</strong></em></p><p>We see that our political, social, and legal system is working effectively, and in difficult conditions, including under external pressure, it is proving its viability and, I would like to emphasize, its true sovereignty. <em><strong>The main guarantee of such strength and reliability is the independent choice and trust of the citizens of our country.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Two centuries ago</strong></em>, our compatriot, statesman and reformer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Speransky">Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky</a> noted that the state "is driven and governed by three forces: legislative, executive and judicial." And he added that " the beginning and source of these forces are in the people, for they are nothing but the moral and physical forces of men."</p><p>It is important that now, in our days, these "three forces", the three branches of government are in balance, act clearly, in harmony with each other. Because the main criterion for making all decisions, their driving incentive and core are precisely national interests. <em><strong>Not some kind of teaching from the outside, but the firm, sovereign will of the people of Russia, a common desire to ensure the security of the Motherland and its future.</strong></em></p><p>I want to say that the entire parliamentary body, at all levels, adequately responds to the challenges of the time. Parliamentarians-–I have already said this many times--do a lot for victory, help front-line soldiers and war veterans. Many of them joined the ranks of volunteers, defenders of the Fatherland. Of course, this is a strong, courageous act that evokes special, sincere respect.</p><p>I also know that ensuring the tasks of a special military operation, supporting the defense industry, the army and navy remains an absolute priority for you. Thank you for such a deep understanding of your civic and professional responsibility.</p><p>So, with the participation of all parliamentary factions, the special, absolutely deserved high status of our heroes, participants in a special military operation, is legally fixed, and social protection measures for their families, relatives and friends are being expanded and adjusted. I ask you to continue to carry out this work continuously--together with the Government, the Ministry of Defense, other departments, and the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation.</p><p>I would also like to highlight the contribution of regional teams, leaders and legislative assemblies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation–-including their active participation in the sending of humanitarian supplies–-in the volunteer movement, as well as their friendly assistance to fellow legislators in the historical regions of Donbass and Novorossiya on the way to their integration into the common social, cultural and economic space of Russia.</p><p>In addition to the federal ones, almost every region introduces its own programs to help combat veterans and their families. I have already said that we need to carefully analyze and summarize this experience. Using best practices, define common, basic, if I may say so, initial support standards for all regions of the country. I know that this is not an easy task: the regions are different, of course. Nevertheless, it is necessary to strive for this. I believe that the Council of Legislators, as well as the parliamentary associations of federal districts, can play a coordinating role here. They are also doing a lot of meaningful work, and in this part it can and should be intensified.</p><p>Moreover, veterans of military operations are already coming to the representative authorities at all levels: reliable, responsible, principled people. <em><strong>They are worthily declaring themselves not with words, but with concrete work, real deeds, and concrete initiatives.</strong></em></p><p>I am sure that there will be more and more such parliamentarians and deputies thanks to the federal program "Time for Heroes" and, of course, the personnel projects that have already started in almost all regions of the Russian Federation.</p><p>Dear colleagues!</p><p>Naturally, the priority of issues of security, defense capability, countering external challenges and risks requires special attention today and significantly affects the current structure of the legislative portfolio.</p><p>But, as we have repeatedly said, <em><strong>the challenges we face are not a reason to postpone, but, on the contrary, an incentive to more dynamically solve the problems of the country's long-term development.</strong></em> This is why it is so important that you work intensively in all important areas, namely improving the quality of life of Russian families, improving demography, strengthening the economy and our technological independence, supporting business and entrepreneurial initiatives, developing regions, cities and towns of our large country, improving civil society institutions, and other issues related to the development of the Russian economy, with the preservation of our cultural and historical heritage.</p><p>For example, just over the past year, the law on technological policy was adopted with an emphasis on the development of full-cycle production based on domestic solutions, as well as a legislative package to modernize the fiscal system. I am referring first of all to the transition to a more equitable distribution of the tax burden.</p><p>I would like to emphasize that additional legal conditions have been created to attract investment in the restoration and revival of cultural heritage sites and monuments.</p><p>But of course, there are a lot of unresolved issues, dear colleagues, and there are enough administrative barriers. <em><strong>There's still a lot of work to be done here. I ask you to continue this work together with the Government, the expert community, and the business community.</strong></em></p><p>Further. The law on the Development of creative industries lays the legal foundation for an advanced, promising and growing sector of the economy.</p><p>Whole packages of legislative acts are aimed at solving the most acute and urgent problems of concern to citizens, in terms of combating cyber fraud and illegal migration. New measures to support families with children are being introduced. Indexation of pensions for working pensioners has been restored. <em><strong>In general, about two hundred socially significant laws were adopted in 2024.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Of course, the new law on local self-government and its role in the unified system of public authorities is of particular importance for the municipal community. I think we made a very good step here.</strong></em></p><p>I repeat, these are just some examples of truly large-scale, systemic legislative initiatives from various branches of law and regulation.</p><p>Senators of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma and regional parliaments are also actively involved in the development of long-term planning documents, such as the Spatial Development Strategy of Russia. It was approved by the Government in December last year and identifies both general, cross-cutting priorities and specific features of the country's regions. <em><strong>Our goal is to unlock the potential of all the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. I repeat, this is a question of harmonious development of the country, a question of justice and equal opportunities for Russian citizens.</strong></em></p><p>There's a lot of work to be done. The Government, Parliament, regions and local authorities have many tasks. Including the implementation of updated national projects. I ask you to take each of them under parliamentary control. <em><strong>Connect all forms and mechanisms of feedback with people in order to objectively assess the progress of transformations, to see how much their result meets the expectations of society and the obligations of the state.</strong></em> I've talked about it many times. I am sure that everyone in the audience shares this approach. <em><strong>We need to report </strong></em>not on the amount of money spent or resources used, but <em><strong>on the results of specific work, and look at how people's lives are changing.</strong></em></p><p>Finally, as before, special attention should be paid to parliamentary diplomacy: <em><strong>to explain and firmly defend our position, to defend the truth.</strong></em> Strengthen contacts within the Eurasec and CSTO, the CIS, BRICS and SCO, with all our friends and like-minded people, <em><strong>and their number is growing</strong></em>, and in different countries and on different continents. <em><strong>We do not give up contacts with Western parliamentarians both in North America and in Europe. If they don't want to, that's their business.</strong></em> But I know that we are always ready for this, and we always discuss these issues with the leaders of both chambers.</p><p><em><strong>Russia is open to mutually beneficial cooperation and supports integration processes based on the principles of respect for each other's sovereignty and our common history.</strong></em></p><p>So, tomorrow Volgograd will host the International Forum "Great Heritage-Common Future". It is organized on the initiative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Russia and Belarus and is timed to coincide with <em><strong>the sacred date</strong></em> for our fraternal peoples—the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War.</p><p>I cordially congratulate you on this upcoming holiday. We are proud of the feat of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and should be worthy of this feat. And just like them, we should see our duty in honest service to our people, our Fatherland, and the people of Russia.</p><p>I want to wish you all the best.</p><p>Thank you for your attention, thank you. [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>Russia as a democratic nation continues to expand the freedom of its citizenry, which is at complete odds with the West’s Establishment Narrative that Putin’s a dictator and today’s Russia differs little from the Stalinist USSR. That continues to be peddled by an Army of fleas that pester the world with their lies; and yes, some do come here and crap on the Gym floor. Putin cited the historical figure Mikhail Speransky who is known as the father of Russian liberalism, which is clearly of the Classic School. Russia’s social, economic, political, and cultural evolution is a convoluted history that regardless of the many tragedies and intrigues has continued to progress in a humanistic direction and is certainly not yet done. It should be clear by now to those of us having followed Russia’s evolution that the Russian National Interest is its people and their wellbeing, which is how it ought to be with all nations but alas is not in all too many cases. IMO, the primary reason Western elites covet Russia’s destruction is because it promotes its people instead of a small oligarchy. Russia has clearly evolved beyond that Feudal Trap, not without great trials and tragedies, but nonetheless the humanistic visions of its many pre-WW1 statesmen have won out.   </p><p>Now <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76812">the meeting</a> with Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Vyacheslav Viktorovich, how is the work going, okay?</p><p><strong>Vyacheslav Volodin:</strong> Everything is fine. You congratulated me and gave me a rating. I take it that this mobilizes us all even more.</p><p>You are right when it comes to the parliament: we need to develop different forms of work, because parliamentary democracy does not stand still. Today we have 119 years almost since the first meeting of the Tsarist State Duma, which was held in Moscow.…</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> In 1906.</p><p><strong>Vyacheslav Volodin:</strong> In 1906, yes.</p><p>But if we follow the development of parliamentary democracy in modern Russia, <em><strong>a lot has changed since 1993</strong></em>. And I would like to thank you once again, because you have initiated a new approach to the formation and distribution of victory totals after the election campaign, <em><strong>because the format when the winning party does not take everything for itself, divides opportunities equally, having a majority in the Duma, and gives its results. Solutions have become better.</strong></em></p><p>Of course, this adds to the discussion, adds to the opposition. But now, despite the fact that we have five political factions in the State Duma, each of them has the opportunity to represent even a small group of voters, but the right to vote, the right to influence, the right to oppose, to speak in the State Duma.</p><p><em><strong>And each faction has in its composition the positions of heads of committees, vice-speaker, participates in the Council meeting on an equal footing. This, of course, adds quality to the decisions made and increases efficiency.</strong></em></p><p>Today we had a meeting of the Council of Legislators. This is a new form of work. It has shown its effectiveness over the years. Because we meet with the heads of legislative assemblies, discuss problematic issues that lie within the scope of their powers. But given that the regulation and formation of the legislative field is up to us, we are working together with the Government to develop a solution.</p><p>We discussed the issue of improving the quality of education, healthcare and addressing issues in the field of personnel training, because there is a shortage of personnel in healthcare and education, as you say and give instructions to the Government and Parliament. That is why we have discussed these issues together with the Government.</p><p>As for the topic that was also mentioned in your speech today, you spoke about it, about the need to preserve historical memory, protect our historical heritage, and we, for our part, have stepped up our work over the past few years. Since 2021, we have adopted eleven laws on the protection of historical memory. And we are doing everything possible to ensure that those who destroy the graves of our soldiers and officers, destroy memorials, do not escape responsibility, despite the fact that they are located outside our country or are citizens of other states. This will now all fall into the legislative field. <em><strong>From the point of view of liability, it will be possible to establish it remotely, and now the judicial authorities will have such an opportunity.</strong></em> Of course, it is very important for us that no one rewrites history. And the most important thing is that our grandfathers, great-grandfathers who died, should be protected regardless of where they are buried, where they lie.</p><p>In this regard, tomorrow we will hold a forum initiated by the Belarus–Russia Parliamentary Assembly. We have invited our colleagues from other countries. About 20 countries will be represented, not only the CIS countries. Representatives of European countries are also coming, the delegation will be from Slovakia, Serbia, and our friends from China, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Cuba. We are waiting for you.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Absolutely. Sure. As agreed.</p><p>All that you have just said is extremely important. Of course, the social block is of particular value, of particular interest-–what people live by every day, what they encounter in their lives: health care, education–-<em><strong>the most important area of activity of any state.</strong></em></p><p>It is clear that a lot has been done recently, but it is also clear that there are always a lot of problems here. Whatever it is, you always need to do it. It is only necessary for one second to miss attention to these issues, and everything will sag. So this is very correct. Together with the Government, I ask you to pay special attention to this issue. These questions are of particular importance to everyone.</p><p><strong>Vyacheslav Volodin:</strong> Mr President, we will try to do all this. Moreover, just last week we received the latest legislative initiative from the Government to implement the President's Address to the Federal Assembly. We now have every reason to say that the President's Message to the Federal Assembly will be fully implemented during the spring session. Now it is fulfilled by 88.5 percent.</p><p>And your covenant and order that it is necessary to meet people without fail, it will also be implemented. We are making changes to the norm of the law, because we previously had a provision that a deputy can meet with voters once every six months. <em><strong>This will now be replaced by the requirement that it must be done once a month</strong></em>. <em><strong>We have a regional week once a month, and it would be right for every deputy to spend a regional week in the regions, meeting with people. And then many problems will be solved.</strong></em></p><p>I would like to say once again that without the support of the President, without your personal attention to the State Duma, to the Parliament, we would hardly have succeeded. <em><strong>Because in the 90s, there was a lot of noise, but little business. Now deputies devote more time to work, but there are still enough problems. Therefore, it is absolutely too early for us to rest on our laurels here. </strong></em>[My Emphasis]</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> We will decide and work together.</p></blockquote><p>Well, as I stated above, caring for the interests of a nation’s citizens ought to be the core duty of all nations but that isn’t the case as we well know. Volodin knows well how Russian democracy has matured but is still in its infancy. That all factions are represented in committees and such is very laudable and is an advancement over most other Parliaments. The new mandate that citizens must be consulted monthly is fantastic, and yet another nail in the coffin of the dictatorship narrative. I’m curious how the judicial mechanism to hold accountable non-Russians for desecration of Russian memorials, etc., outside of Russia will work.</p><p>And finally, <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76813">the meeting</a> with Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Valentina Matviyenko:</strong> Mr President, first of all, I would like to congratulate you on the Day of Russian Parliamentarism, because in fact, <em><strong>thanks to your support, I am telling you the truth, sincerely, the system of parliamentarism in Russia has taken place, it is one of the best in the world.</strong></em></p><p>This is not only our opinion, but also that of others. And when we discussed changes to the Constitution, it was your initiative to transfer the presidential powers to the Parliament, part of the presidential powers. This, of course, increased the role of the Federal Assembly and its importance, and confirmed your conviction of the importance of this democratic institution. Truth. Thank you very much, we remember that. And I also congratulate you on this holiday.</p><p>I would like to thank you for not breaking the tradition: <em><strong>on the Day of Russian Parliamentarism, you come to the headquarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly every year to meet with the Council of Legislators.</strong></em> We can say that our large parliamentary family gathers here these days. All heads of regional parliaments. For them, of course, this is an event. And this is a platform where we can discuss problems with the regions, what people care about, what needs to be done, and compare notes on the future plan of our legislation. As a result, <em><strong>I remember that when we proposed this idea to you, you supported it, and it became a good tool for strengthening the federal structure of the state. Because parliamentarians of all levels, members of the Government, the President shows such great respect for regional parliaments. So thank you for the tradition.</strong></em></p><p>I want to say that we have all been in high spirits in recent days, and today we have thanked both the soldiers and the commanders for the complete cleansing of the Kursk land from Nazi formations. Vladimir Vladimirovich, this is such a great thing. And under your leadership, they so professionally conducted the operation to clean up the Kursk region and so filigree, protected civilians. That's why everyone is in such a good, upbeat mood.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin: </strong>You know, I talked to the commanders who made a special contribution to this work. True, you can't name all of them, of course. FSB special forces officers, border guards, and Rosgvardiya servicemen also showed themselves in the best possible way there. The most important thing is that our citizens–-and this is the most important thing—held on very courageously. <em><strong>And it is our duty to ensure that confidence in our final victory is only strengthened. So it will be.</strong></em></p><p>You should definitely see it, Valentina Ivanovna. You work with regions. I am in contact with the acting head of state, I only spoke with him yesterday or the day before yesterday. Together with the Government, we must once again analyze what we need to do specifically in this region, in general in the border region, in order to support people and give them the opportunity to pass through these difficult tests. Honorably, in time, on time and in full to fulfill all obligations on the part of the state to our people.</p><p><strong>Valentina Matviyenko:</strong> Mr President, we will definitely join you.</p><p>And in your speech today, you raised a number of priority issues that parliaments should pay attention to. We will write this down in our decisions and, of course, we will also actively engage in this.</p><p>The meeting was held on very important issues.<em><strong> The 80th anniversary of the Victory, how to preserve our memory, how to fight the falsification of history, how to draw a line with our foreign partners. And the second is, of course, staffing the healthcare and education systems.</strong></em> A sensitive topic. Vladimir Vladimirovich, there are problems, and you know them well. But we had a good discussion, or at least we outlined what we should do next.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin: </strong>Does the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly work? Is everything okay?</p><p><strong>Valentina Matviyenko:</strong> Mr President, the Inter–Parliamentary Assembly is already a serious body today. <em><strong>Parliaments of different countries and inter-parliamentary organizations are waiting in line to become observers at the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.</strong></em></p><p>Now we held a solemn meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary. Despite the shouts from Brussels, all the presidents of the parliaments personally arrived. Large delegations. We not only laid wreaths and flowers at Piskarevskoye [memorial cemetery], but they all have a stele at Piskarevskoye cemetery, every sovereign state, then the Union republics. Everyone bowed to their warriors. And such vivid speeches were made about the fact that this is our common victory! This is our common memory, and we will fight together.</p><p>We have gained such momentum now in terms of model legislation, <em><strong>because it is very important for us to synchronize the legal field in the former Soviet Union.</strong></em> This is important for business, it is important for cultural and humanitarian projects. And model laws are developed with the participation of parliaments of all CIS countries, experts, and scientific organizations. In other words, this is not something imposed by anyone, but our common work, and most of these model laws are either fully or partially implemented in national legislation. Thus, we are bringing our legislation closer together and synchronizing it.</p><p>Monitoring of elections, all levels of elections. I am referring to the parliamentary presidential elections. We have established an institute under the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly to monitor elections and develop democratic institutions. <em><strong>And when we started working actively, the OSCE / ODIHR, which came to any of our countries with pre-prepared reports that everything was undemocratic, everything was wrong with us, even stopped traveling, because we have professionals working here and objectively give a picture of the elections.</strong></em></p><p>This is an exchange of experience, of course, legislation, these are common projects that we do, we have quite a lot of them. I would like to thank you for supporting the "Memory Train" project, when high school students from all CIS countries travel on the same train for two weeks. <em><strong>This year we managed to bring together the descendants of all the peoples of the USSR, including the Baltic states, Ukraine, all the descendants and children.</strong></em> After that, other children come, they have a different view of our common history.</p><p>As for the Federation Council, we are working together and actively. We carry out all the tasks that you have given us. Moreover, where we see that it is sinking, we are actively working with ministries and departments to promote it in terms of parliamentary control. The priority, of course, was a special military operation, the participants of the SVO, and the senators introduced a number of laws on their own initiative. It seems like a lot has been done, really objectively a lot has been done. But you're starting: there is a need for additional development, they did not take it into account, and we actively continued and will continue this work.</p><p>And you know, Mr Putin, it is true that there is such a patriotic upsurge in the country, such unity. And now you have somehow managed to create such an atmosphere of respect for our guys who are fighting. And it means a lot. And we have in the Federation Council three Heroes of Russia and members of the SVO. I'm a mentor to a captain in the military medical service, a field surgeon, and a graduate of the Military Medical Academy. You know, they are such bright people, they are unique people. The anniversary will pass, it will pass wonderfully, I am sure, but it is necessary to continue this work of patriotic education, to actively involve children with SVO veterans.</p><p>We are doing this, planning it together with the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation. And what is still worrying is, of course, we need to increase the pace of prosthetics. You gave such assignments, you visited CITO. After that, both Rostec and the Ministry of Industry joined in. In each region, when we leave, we always visit the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation and talk to the veterans. The work is being actively developed, but we need to increase the pace and have modern prosthetics that allow veterans to socialize, and so on.</p><p>Now, as for the Demography Council, which was created under your supervision. We have been very active, we have launched an active discussion in the society. They criticize something, support something. We created an expert council. Vladimir Vladimirovich, we have already developed a lot of materials, and we have now prepared them and sent them to the Government. After approval of the Demographic and Family Development Strategy, the Government prepares a plan for its implementation. We actively participate and send our ideas and suggestions there. And I have also sent you a letter with suggestions for your consideration, which you will consider necessary to support, perhaps even in the Message. Whenever the Message sounds, everyone is accepted for unquestioning fulfillment.</p><p><em><strong>Of course, there are objective circumstances, no one has any illusions. It is clear that this is the general demographic situation, not only in Russia. But nevertheless, we need to start some long-term things that will give results later.</strong></em> We have developed such proposals. I won't go into too much detail.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin: </strong>Yes, I'm aware of that. But yes, we need to make sure that this topic is always well-known. <em><strong>To make it prestigious–-a healthy big family. This is the main thing.</strong></em></p><p>Everything else is also important, of course. The material side of the case is also important, organizational support is all important. <em><strong>But the most important thing is the mood in society.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Valentina Matviyenko:</strong> Do you know what I like, Mr Putin? The first question is that the governors themselves are actively involved, and I meet with many of them. There are already such good regional programs that are non-standard in the Nizhny Novgorod region, for example, and in others. Each region has its own opportunities and traditions. I was recently in Komi. There, the birth rate is 1.5 – higher than the national one. <em><strong>That is, it is necessary to be very subtle in each region.</strong></em> In general, we are actively working.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Valentina Ivanovna, you and I know that if there are people, there is a country. There are no people–-the territory.</p><p><strong>V. Matvienko:</strong> It's true.<em><strong> Like our enemies, these Ukrainian Nazis, they don't even say the word "people". Pay attention to their rhetoric: "territories", "territories". We are for the people they killed, the people who lived there. For them, people don't exist. For us, people are territories for them. So it is in the whole country.</strong></em></p><p>In general, the topic is very relevant, very necessary. I have an assignment for you. We will be actively engaged.</p><p>This year, 32 election campaigns are regional: both heads of regions and chairmen of parliaments. For us, it is also always, every single voting day, and for the Federation Council, it is an update. These are fresh people, fresh blood. Some are being renewed by governors and legislative assemblies, or reappointed, or changed. <em><strong>Because that's how the Federation Council works, it's the only government body in our Constitution that never stops working.</strong></em> But the system of a single voting day allows us to change somewhere 20, somewhere 30 percent. And this is very important, because new competent people are emerging, and this helps us to modernize our work.</p><p>Thank you. [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>And yet more testimony that Vladimir Putin is a democrat not an autocrat. Note that the truce wasn’t mentioned at all. But there was one very important sentence and tag:</p><blockquote><p><em><strong>And it is our duty to ensure that confidence in our final victory is only strengthened. So it will be.</strong></em></p></blockquote><p>Thus, for Putin and Russia the truce is no concession to Trump or anyone. Let’s see how many publications and pundits cite those words over the next week. </p><p>The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly is a masterful brainchild that involves as many national Parliaments as would like to participate, which promotes people-to-people diplomacy and allows legislators to talk shop and exchange experiences so improvements can be made to governance. Putin’s policy of keeping the door open for those wanting to enter and establish or continue cordial relations is clearly giving the West fits, which is one of its main reasons why it wants to continue the war to the last Ukrainian. IMO, an important distinction was made about the Nazis always talking territory not people—territory doesn’t have rights. </p><p>And finally, the demographic issue is of prime importance for Russian long-term governance and is very dependent on the “mood in society.” Given Russian Conservatism, promoting the need for human propagation to start at a young age needs to be formulated wisely yet honestly. I’ll add that the social issue of too many divorces also needs to be wisely and honestly discussed. The latter is a topic I rarely see discussed by the government yet is crucial for demographics and the building of large families. </p><p>The annual “sacred date” approaches with the additional emphasis of it being the 80th such date. That Russia is at war with Hitler’s overt and secret supporters at this time is notable, along with the main nation that kept Nazism alive and is the primary aggressor in the current war but is trying to say I didn’t do it, when we have excellent evidence that it is indeed the guilty party. How the SMO gets resolved is still unknown, but the goals remain the same along with the still unanswered December 2021 proposals that have morphed into demands.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>      </p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-written
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-written
hash: )s��W6�aj���J
title:
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s written interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo with Focus on BRICS

content:
<p></p><div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16a7dc54-86ff-4c09-b731-ece0ab1ad87a_720x480.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16a7dc54-86ff-4c09-b731-ece0ab1ad87a_720x480.jpeg" width="720" height="480" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/16a7dc54-86ff-4c09-b731-ece0ab1ad87a_720x480.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":480,"width":720,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":35731,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162377936?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16a7dc54-86ff-4c09-b731-ece0ab1ad87a_720x480.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I like this file photo MFA provided.</p><p>In marked contrast to the highly adversarial CBS interview, the Brazilian newspaper <em>O Globo</em> submitted a written set of questions for<a href="https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2011929/"> Lavrov to answer</a> that are mostly focused on BRICS, although the final Q is about the SMO. IMO, it was refreshing to read about BRICS happenings instead of the continual circus surrounding the negotiations with Team Trump. Enjoy:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Question:</strong> Expanding trade among BRICS countries is one of the objectives for Brazil’s chairmanship in this group in 2025. What kind of opportunities does Russia see in terms of increasing the share of trade transactions in national currencies?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> We are witnessing an accelerating trend in the fragmentation of the global economy. Against this backdrop, it is quite natural for the countries of the Global South and East to reduce the share of Western currencies in their mutual settlements. No one wants to suffer from sanctions, considering that the West has been imposing them on undesirable countries by exploiting its monopoly on financial markets. <em><strong>Using reserve currencies as a competitive tool is unacceptable. Payment transactions can be blocked for political reasons, even when dealing with supplying socially important goods.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>We have been working within BRICS to ensure that there are no disruptions when carrying out payments and have been quite effective in our efforts. To give you an example, the rouble and currencies of our friendly countries accounted for 90 percent of Russia’s settlements with BRICS countries in 2024.</strong></em></p><p>Establishing resilient payment mechanisms is also among our <em><strong>priorities. Adopted in Kazan, the declaration of the BRICS 2024 Summit mentions the Trans-Border Payment Initiative, as well as payment and clearing infrastructure, a re-insurance company, and the New Investment Platform.</strong></em> These initiatives are designed to create favourable conditions for increasing trade and investment within BRICS. Russia hopes that we will continue working on these projects this year as part of Brazil’s chairmanship.</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Does the creation of a single currency remain a long shot for BRICS?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>The effort to move away from the dollar, also known as the dedollarisation, has been one of the defining global economic trends, which is attributable to the lack of trust towards the Western-led international financial institutions.</p><p>It would be premature to discuss a transition to a single currency for BRICS. We are working together to create a payment and settlement infrastructure for carrying out cross-border settlements among BRICS countries. In particular, as I have already said, this includes increasing the share of national currencies in our transactions.</p><p>We can come back to the question about a common currency or a single payment unit for BRICS <em><strong>once the necessary financial and economic conditions are in place.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Reinforcing global governance and promoting multilateralism is another major topic for BRICS. What do you think BRICS countries can do to this effect?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> BRICS has become much stronger compared to when this group took shape back in 2006. Today, it stands as a focal point with a mission to coordinate the interests of the Global Majority’s leading countries. BRICS fully adheres to the principles of equality, mutual respect and balance of interest among its participants. <em><strong>Russia views this group as one of the pillars of a multipolar world and an important mechanism for international cooperation.</strong></em></p><p>BRICS tends to attract countries seeking equal partnerships for the sake of fostering shared development. It was during Russia’s chairmanship in 2024 that BRICS leaders reaffirmed their decision to invite Indonesia to join BRICS. We also created a special status for partners. Nine countries have obtained it so far.</p><p><em><strong>That said, BRICS countries are not seeking to take someone else’s place.</strong></em> Their aim consists of creating a favourable environment for building capacity. The group has other priorities too, including supporting countries within the Global Majority in addressing the urgent challenges they face, as well as increasing the representation of the Global South and East in global governance.</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Brazil calls for expanding the UN Security Council. What is Russia’s current stance on this issue? Would it vote for making Brazil a permanent member?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Russia believes in a balanced reform of the Security Council as one of the main UN bodies, which is primarily responsible, as per the UN Charter, for maintaining international peace and security.</p><p>It is absolutely obvious to us that the shaping of a multipolar world should include broader representation of the countries of the Global South and East, that is, Asian, African and Latin American countries, at the UN Security Council.</p><p><em><strong>We believe that Brazil, which is conducting an independent foreign policy and can make a substantial contribution to settling international problems, is the right candidate for a permanent seat on the UNSC. We also support the nomination of India, on the condition that Africa would be represented at the Security Council as well.</strong></em></p><p>I would like to use this occasion to point out that we are against giving more seats to Western countries and their allies. There are too many of them at the Security Council as it is. We are not ready to support the nominations of Germany and Japan because of the revival of the militarist ideology there and their openly unfriendly policy towards Russia.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>During consultations between foreign policy planning departments of the BRICS countries' foreign ministries, the Russian delegation mentioned talks with the United States on the Ukrainian conflict. What conditions should be created for launching Russia-Ukraine peace talks?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> During our contacts with representatives of the US administration, we provided the details of the root causes and genesis of the Ukrainian crisis. We explained the parameters necessary for its final settlement, with due regard for Russia’s legitimate interests, primarily in the sphere of security and human rights.</p><p>We got the impression that our American counterparts now have a better understanding of Russia’s stance on the situation around Ukraine. We hope that this will help them during their dialogue with Kiev and individual European countries. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed me of the engagements he had in Paris on April 17 later the same day. He noted that the discussion was held in the spirit of the Moscow-Washington consultations.</p><p><em><strong>We remain open to negotiations, but the ball is not in our court. Kiev has not shown readiness for negotiations so far. The latest evidence of that is the Ukrainian armed forces’ inability to respect the 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy facilities (March 18 to April 17) or the 30-hour Easter truce (from 6 pm on April 19 to midnight on April 21). Zelensky’s regime has shown that is lacks the political will for peace and the ability to stop the war, which is being fuelled by the Russophobic circles of certain EU countries, primarily France and Germany, as well as Britain.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Do you think that other countries should take part in the potential peace talks, for example, Brazil, which maintains dialogue with both sides?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Russia appreciates the striving of our partners to help create conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Over 20 countries and a number of regional associations in Latin America, Asia and Africa have put forth such initiatives.</p><p>Brazil is one of such countries. In January 2023, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposed creating a multilateral negotiating format. That idea was reflected in the Brazilian-Chinese initiative for establishing the Group of Friends for Peace in Ukraine at the UN. Its operation is gaining momentum. The Group has held three meetings, and there are grounds to assume that it can become a respected platform of the countries of the Global South and East.</p><p>It is essential that all members of that Group of Friends for Peace take the root causes of the crisis into account and are guided in their activities by the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and as a whole. <em><strong>The principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states should not be applied in isolation from the right of nations to self-determination and the protection of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as language, race, sex and religion.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> On what terms would Russia agree to come to the negotiation table with Ukraine at this point?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I have already given you part of the answer to this question. It was Kiev which withdrew from the negotiating process in April 2022. It acted this way at the request of its Western curators. In September of the same year, Vladimir Zelensky outlawed all talks with Russia. This piece of legislation remains in force. It must be cancelled. Otherwise, talks cannot resume. In his recent interview with CBS, Vladimir Zelensky once again spoke out against talks with Russia. Let me quote his words: “We can't trust Russia. It's that we can't trust negotiations with Russia.”</p><p>We have made no secret regarding our position on the settlement. Russia proceeds from the premise that Kiev’s non-accession to NATO, as well as reaffirming its neutral and non-aligned status as per the 1990 Declaration on Ukraine’s State Sovereignty–-these factors form one of the two pillars for a final settlement to the Ukraine crisis that would meet Russia’s security interests. <em><strong>The second pillar consists of overcoming the legacy of the neo-Nazi regime which took power in Kiev after the February 2014 putsch, including the initiative by its perpetrators to eradicate and cancel, in both physical and legislative terms, everything Russian, be it the Russian language, media, culture, traditions, or the canonical Orthodox faith.</strong></em></p><p>The international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the DPR, the LPR, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as part of Russia is another imperative.</p><p><em><strong>All the commitments Kiev assumes must be legally binding, contain enforcement mechanisms and be permanent.</strong></em></p><p>Demilitarising and de-Nazifying Ukraine is also on the agenda, along with lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.</p><p><em><strong>We will also insist on obtaining solid security guarantees for the Russian Federation in order to shield it from any threats emanating from hostile activities by NATO, the European Union and some of their member states along our western border.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question:</strong> What do you think about the role and actions by the EU and the United States in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict at the current stage?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> The European Union has been sticking with its policy to offer all-round support to the Kiev regime. <em><strong>Brussels does not want anything but Moscow’s unconditional defeat. Any other outcome would amount to losing the geopolitical game for it. </strong></em>The EU believes that by ending its support to Ukraine it would demonstrate its strategic incompetence and impotence. In other words, <em><strong>the bureaucrats in Brussels focus on saving their reputation rather than achieving a fair and lasting peace.</strong></em></p><p>Instead of facilitating a settlement, the European Union has been seeking to undermine agreements by arguing that there has been little, if any, effort to invite it to contribute to these talks. At the same time, the EU is preparing to send military units from NATO countries to Ukraine despite all our warnings that this would be unacceptable. Arms deliveries to Kiev are continuing. The EU also plans to ramp up defence manufacturing. They are creating all these coalitions of the willing and discussing ways of creating extra-budgetary mechanisms for procuring more weapons for Kiev.</p><p>Against this backdrop, the fact that the current administration in the United States is trying to understand the root causes of the crisis is quite encouraging and contrasts with the Joe Biden administration, which pumped the Kiev regime full of lethal weapons and was proactive in its efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO. President Donald Trump has said many times that there would be no conflict if the preceding administration did not seek to drag Ukraine into NATO. Moscow and Washington maintain a dialogue to find a path towards a settlement. We hope that this paves the way for mutually acceptable results. [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p> While editing this the CSN&amp;Y song “Wooden Ships” was played, and this line is in-tune with the Global Majority’s aspirations: “We are leaving; you don’t need us.” I’m somewhat surprised no questions about tariffs and Trump’s Trade War were asked. Implied in Lavrov’s answers about BRICS is Russia’s hope that Brazil will be able to keep the momentum launched at Kazan going. The issue of a BRICS currency was put forward far too early as the basic underlying structure needs to be constructed first. IMO, <a href="https://warwickpowell.substack.com/p/revisiting-the-bancor">this article </a>has some worthwhile suggestions to contemplate as the BRICS universe matures, and its financial architecture grows more widespread and robust. </p><p>On the Ukraine issue, IMO more needs to be voiced about the EU/NATO’s overt support for an obvious Nazi regime. making that group again accomplices to a major crime against humanity. And in making this critique, the initial Aggressor—The Outlaw US Empire— must be named and also connected to its continual abetting of Nazism, Genocide in Palestine, and its own several Genocides in Southeast and Northeast Asia—the last 75 years of its history damn its leaders and everything they’ve said the Empire stands for.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>    </p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/a-day-at-mamayev-kurgan
title: A Day of Oratory at Mamayev Kurgan
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/a-day-at-mamayev-kurgan
hash: �?V,�e���׋V�I�3
content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc76dbae0-b1c5-4b04-a677-6791f2c94c96_1880x1160.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc76dbae0-b1c5-4b04-a677-6791f2c94c96_1880x1160.jpeg" width="1456" height="898" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c76dbae0-b1c5-4b04-a677-6791f2c94c96_1880x1160.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":898,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":859518,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162421543?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc76dbae0-b1c5-4b04-a677-6791f2c94c96_1880x1160.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Eternal Flame in the Hall of Military Glory on Mamayev Kurgan</p><div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2e41d6c-4ba7-496b-8c9f-5b80e14638b2_1880x1160.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2e41d6c-4ba7-496b-8c9f-5b80e14638b2_1880x1160.jpeg" width="1456" height="898" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f2e41d6c-4ba7-496b-8c9f-5b80e14638b2_1880x1160.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":898,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":861538,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162421543?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2e41d6c-4ba7-496b-8c9f-5b80e14638b2_1880x1160.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Another view of the hall during the wreath laying ceremony with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.</p><p>Most are familiar with this image at the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex:</p><div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ebf7a35-e8b4-4206-bfa5-14495118a743_960x650.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ebf7a35-e8b4-4206-bfa5-14495118a743_960x650.jpeg" width="960" height="650" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3ebf7a35-e8b4-4206-bfa5-14495118a743_960x650.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":650,"width":960,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":null,"alt":"Memorial complex Mamayev kurgan фотография","title":null,"type":null,"href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="Memorial complex Mamayev kurgan фотография" title="Memorial complex Mamayev kurgan фотография" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The memorial has an <a href="https://mamaev-hill.ru/en?ysclid=ma2mb8v97x221248483">excellent website</a> where you can take a virtual tour with the sites explained in English. Belarus President Lukashenko joined President Putin for this first major event beginning the festivities surrounding the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The main event here is<a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76824"> the plenary session </a>of the Union State International Forum’s Great Heritage – Common Future that was held in a hall in nearby Volgograd and attended by 450 delegates. The meeting was also addressed by the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin and Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sergeenko.</p><div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd181e7d3-4f7d-4efa-92c2-9136deef030b_1880x1160.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd181e7d3-4f7d-4efa-92c2-9136deef030b_1880x1160.jpeg" width="1456" height="898" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d181e7d3-4f7d-4efa-92c2-9136deef030b_1880x1160.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":898,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":397849,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162421543?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd181e7d3-4f7d-4efa-92c2-9136deef030b_1880x1160.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>IMO, the Union State ideally would have included Ukraine but that was made impossible by those who took control over the newly independent SSR and their Western controllers—all the decades of clandestine presence by CIA negated not just a Union State Triad but also came close to ruining the Commonwealth of Independent States. The events of 2022 began in 1990, and even before that in 1945 when the Outlaw US Empire kept Nazism alive. IMO, it’s that latter aspect that’s primarily responsible for the state-of-the-world today. One of the main goals of the 80th Anniversary is the upholding of Historical Memory, not just of the war itself but all the events that led to it, which means examining world history since roughly 1880. Such an examination won’t follow but will be touched on here at the Gym as we come closer to 9 May. Now, here’s the orations at the plenary session:</p><blockquote><p><strong>Vyacheslav Volodin:</strong> Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear Alexander Grigoryevich,</p><p>Thank you very much for finding the opportunity to take part in the First International Forum, held on the initiative of the Parliamentary Assembly of Belarus and Russia here, in the hero city of Volgograd, and dedicated to the protection of historical memory.</p><p>We have been working for two days: yesterday there was a session, today a plenary. 20 parliamentary delegations arrived from our friendly countries, which are represented not only by the CIS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization-the geography is huge: our friends came from China, Vietnam, Cuba, from Europe–-Slovakia, Serbia.</p><p>And of course, when we talk about the forum, this is a very important event for us, which not only draws us back to those most difficult, terrible years when fascism, having actually enslaved the whole of Europe, became a threat to the world. We ourselves, when discussing issues related to the protection of historical memory, recall the history of peoples, <em><strong>because when it comes to Victory, it is the Victory of the Soviet multinational people</strong></em>. And there are countries here that used to be part of one big state-–the Soviet Union,<em><strong> so today we are united by Victory</strong></em>, today we are united by the memory of those who are no longer there, but who sacrificed themselves for the sake of life on earth.</p><p>The conversation, both yesterday and today, has brought us closer to each other, we have become better able to understand each other. <em><strong>It is very important for our colleagues to talk about their contribution, the contribution of their people and their country to the Victory in 1945</strong></em>, and the long road that our country and representatives of the multinational people have taken.</p><p>We have representatives of Mongolia here who have remembered their contribution, and we have stressed that if it were not for their support, then it would probably be harder for everyone. Just as they talked about the support of Cuba, which made a decision in 1941 in support of the Soviet Union and opposed fascist Germany. We talked about our comrades from China, who went a long way in the fight against militaristic Japan, losing 35 million people.</p><p>I would like to emphasize once again that<em><strong> this work has brought us closer to each other, and this is exactly what parliamentary diplomacy is all about</strong></em>. Therefore, we have tried to discuss issues within the parliamentary dimension, including legislative support for the protection of historical memory. <em><strong>We see how ungrateful the world is today</strong></em>, and so we recalled the statements of the heads of state of that time: Churchill, Roosevelt, and de Gaulle. By the way, his grandson, Pierre de Gaulle, who spoke at our forum, is present in this hall, and it was very important for us to hear his opinion.</p><p>Dear Alexander Grigoryevich, Vladimir Vladimirovich!</p><p>I would like to express my gratitude for your support in holding the forum, because we would not have been able to organize it without the support of our heads of state. This is the first decision taken in the framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of Belarus and Russia. We hope that the number of participants will increase in the future.</p><p>And of course, we, for our part, will summarize all the legislative proposals in order to try to implement in practice a solution that will allow us not only to protect the historical memory, but <em><strong>also to do everything possible to punish those who destroy memorials, tombstones, trample on the graves of our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, those who are not only able to protect the historical memory. who died defending the world from the brown plague.</strong></em></p><p>27 million people died so that we could all live and plan for the future today. This is the victory of the large multinational people of the country, which took the brunt of the aggression of Nazi Germany, not just standing up in this war, but doing everything to win. But this Victory came at a high price. We not only celebrated all this, but also passed it through ourselves, because the war went through every family. Here they remembered the contribution of each nation, emphasizing that they made their contribution, <em><strong>they did everything in their power to ensure that the Victory took place as quickly as possible</strong></em>.</p><p>It is no coincidence that this forum is being held in Volgograd: it was here that a radical change took place for us in the Great Patriotic War, and for the whole world in the Second World War. Therefore, I would like to congratulate everyone present on the upcoming Victory Day holiday.</p><p>Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to our Presidents, Vladimir Vladimirovich and Alexander Grigoryevich, for doing a lot to protect historical memory, just as the heads of states and countries that have sent parliamentary delegations and are participating in the discussion of protecting historical memory are doing.</p><p>Happy Victory Day, our common Victory! Happy holidays!</p><p><strong>Igor Sergeenko:</strong> Dear Alexander Grigoryevich, Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,</p><p>Let me express my sincere gratitude from this rostrum for all the efforts you are making to preserve the common historical memory and<em><strong> shape the worldview of future generations based on the principles of justice, peace and mutual understanding.</strong></em></p><p>The <em><strong>sacred date</strong></em> of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory unites all of us and once again reminds us of the time when, in a tragic period of history, we were able to unite and defeat the seemingly most indestructible enemy.</p><p>The fact that the forum is being held in the hero city of Volgograd has a special symbolic meaning. Here you can feel the pulse of history and feel the terrible price of Victory. We were convinced of this by visiting here. A visit to the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan, the panorama museum "Battle of Stalingrad" and-especially–-the evening composition "Light of the Great Victory" presented for the first time caused an indelible impression and experience.</p><p>You realize that heroism was truly massive. These are intense street battles, when the defense line passed through neighboring streets, and more than 700 repulsed fierce attacks of the Nazis, and the birth of the sniper movement, and 17 fire rams of pilots, and 13 feats of soldiers who covered enemy pillboxes with their breasts, and the organization of the wounded crossing the Volga under enemy fire.</p><p>The Battle of Stalingrad is one of the bloodiest in the history of the Great Patriotic War. In modern conditions, it is especially, extremely important to preserve a single space of historical memory of the Great Victory, to strengthen the spiritual connection and continuity of generations. This is the main task of our forum.</p><p>Many participants noted that <em><strong>it is important today for young people to perceive the immortal feat of their heroic ancestors as part of their personal destiny, and the task of being worthy successors of glorious deeds— as an internal need.</strong></em></p><p>By holding the forum, we once again showed the greatness of the feat of the Soviet soldier to the whole world, discussed issues of countering any attempts to falsify history, glorify Nazism and revise the results of World War II, and exchanged experience in patriotic education of young people based on historical knowledge.</p><p>The program turned out to be rich and interesting. Many ideas and suggestions were made. This applies to the organization of search work, the creation of a museum exhibition, conducting scientific research and preparing young people for the defense of the Fatherland. Of course, they will find real implementation in the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of Belarus and Russia and the parliaments of friendly countries.</p><p>Dear comrades,</p><p><em><strong>Our meeting once again confirmed that the protection of historical truth is becoming the most important task for all countries and interstate associations, which builds their relations on the principles of equality, mutual respect and trust.</strong></em></p><p>In a few days, the world's attention will be focused on the Victory Parade on Red Square, and the path to the parade began precisely with the defeat of the Wehrmacht troops in Stalingrad. And it is deeply symbolic that the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag was hoisted by soldiers of the army under the command of General Chuikov, who defended Stalingrad and in April 1943 became Guards.</p><p>The strength of spirit, heroism, and resilience of the Soviet soldiers, who with incredible efforts were able to turn the tide of world history–-<em><strong>this is a lesson for us, who are now living and continuing their work</strong></em>.</p><p>The current forum under the auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly is not just a historical conference, it is a socio-political platform aimed at the future. I am sure that today we are laying the groundwork for its annual holding.</p><p>Thanks for attention.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Dear Alexander Grigoryevich, Dear friends!</p><p>I would like to welcome the participants and guests of the International Forum "Great Heritage-–Common Future" to this heroic and sacred land, which is without any exaggeration sacred for all the peoples of Russia and for all the peoples of the former Soviet Union.</p><p>The forum was organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Russia and Belarus and brought together heads of parliaments, parliamentary committees, public figures, scientists and experts from about 20 countries--the Chairman of the Russian Parliament [Vyacheslav Volodin] has just said this--and both from neighboring countries, as we have just heard, [and] from abroad. Southeast Asia, from Europe and Latin America.</p><p>Alexander Grigoryevich and I unanimously and sincerely supported the initiative to organize such a large-scale and representative meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Alexander Lukashenko for being here with us today.</p><p>It is symbolic that the forum is being held in the hero city, where the fate of the whole world was really decided. Today, the President of Belarus and I visited the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan, paid tribute to the memory of the defenders of the city, who covered themselves with unfading glory in the battles for Stalingrad. They stood to their deaths, just like the heroes of the Brest Fortress, the defense of Minsk, Leningrad, Sevastopol, and our other cities and borders. Just now we were driving here, talking about it, remembering it.</p><p>The steadfastness and courage of the soldiers of the Red Army, the unity of the entire multinational Soviet people, became an indestructible force. On the Volga banks, the enemy was stopped and defeated. The Nazi war machine was dealt a decisive blow, a radical change in the war was ensured. The road has been opened to the West, to Berlin, to the Great Victory, the 80th anniversary of which we will celebrate very soon on May 9.</p><p>In Russia, as in many republics of the former Soviet Union, Victory Day is one of the most significant and holy holidays. During the war, our peoples passed through the most difficult trials together, defended their independence and future, and the defeat of Nazism is our common heritage.</p><p>We are waiting for the leaders of a number of countries to attend the celebrations in Moscow, and we highly appreciate that the military units of many of the countries represented here will march shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers at the Victory Parade on Red Square.</p><p>The forum is working successfully. Its sections included discussions on such important topics as preserving historical memory, common moral and spiritual values, and educating young generations in the spirit of patriotism, responsibility and loyalty to the Fatherland.</p><p>I am sure that such principled approaches are shared not only in Russia and Belarus, but also in other countries participating in the forum. And in our countries, much is being done to preserve the truth about the Great Victory, including with the meaningful participation of legislators and parliamentarians.</p><p>So, on April 9, at the initiative of deputies of the State Duma of Russia, the federal law on perpetuating the memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War was adopted. We are talking about strengthening the legal framework, new opportunities for joint work of the state, public organizations, and citizens aimed at preserving the memorials of our fallen soldiers, supporting the search movement just mentioned here, and research projects related to the history of the Great Patriotic War, building monuments and opening new museums.</p><p>In total, more than ten federal laws on historical and memorial subjects have been adopted in Russia in recent years. Thus, new days of military glory were established in honor of the Crimean Offensive Operation in 1944 and the Battle of Leningrad in August 1944. The procedure for repairing and protecting cultural heritage sites has become clearer.</p><p>We are also grateful to the deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly for their active participation in this work, including the proposal to use part of the Union State budget funds for the construction of a memorial complex dedicated to the Battle of Ognennaya and Kursk Bulges in the Kursk Region, as well as for the construction of a monument in the Mogilev region, near the village of Buinichi, the battles where German tanks were stopped and burned by fighters whose feat was forever immortalized by our outstanding writer Konstantin Simonov—an eyewitness and participant of those events. Many people in this room know that the book "The Living and the Dead" was written about these events.</p><p>I believe that our joint work should be carried out on a regular and systematic basis. In this regard, I propose to create a commission for the preservation of historical memory at the Parliamentary Assembly. Given the authority and influence of the parliamentarians of our countries, its main task, in my opinion, should be to consolidate public and political forces, our citizens, <em><strong>especially young people</strong></em>, around joint projects aimed at protecting the historical truth about the Great Patriotic War, the Second World War, and the exploits of the Soviet people. Of course, leading experts and historians of our countries should be involved in the work of the commission.</p><p>I would also like to note that many participants of this forum actively cooperate with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. We are grateful to all those who contribute to the legislative support of the creative partnership of the CSTO member states, to the harmonization of national legislation and the development of model regulations, including on the topic of historical memory.</p><p>In particular, the Assembly adopted model laws and recommendations on legislative support for those issues that directly relate to responsibility for attempts to revise and distort historical events and the results of the Great Patriotic War. And in December 2024, she adopted an appeal to the parliaments of all countries of the world in honor of the upcoming Victory anniversary.</p><p>The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States also made an address on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory. For more than three decades, parliamentarians from the CIS countries have been engaged in a constructive dialogue, exchanging experience and successful legislative practices.</p><p>As you know, <em><strong>this year has been declared the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism in the Commonwealth,</strong></em> and many countries are hosting commemorative, social, cultural and educational events, including the Immortal Regiment march, which has already become a truly national event. For us, this is a tribute to the memory of our fallen soldiers during the war, an expression of deep gratitude to veterans, the generation of winners – our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers.</p><p>Dear friends!</p><p>We all know very well what an immeasurably high price our peoples paid for the victory over Nazism, what colossal sacrifices were made for this. And there is no doubt that Russia, Belarus, and other countries will always remember the lessons of this war.</p><p>The main one is obvious: <em><strong>we must do everything possible to resist the revival of Nazism, the spread of destructive ideologies—Russophobia, anti-Semitism, any form of racism, national or religious intolerance, so-called exclusivity, behind which lie claims to world domination, attempts to pressure or interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states.</strong></em></p><p>And of course, <em><strong>it is important to work together to create a fairer multipolar world order based on the principles of respect for each other's interests and the right of everyone to their own model of development.</strong></em> It is on this basis that Russia is developing partnership with Belarus and all other countries participating in the forum.</p><p><em><strong>We are convinced that the international community needs to work together to create a new architecture of equal and indivisible security, which would reliably protect all States without prejudice to the interests of others.</strong></em> This issue is particularly relevant for Eurasia. Our common continent should become a space of peace and stability, an example of sustainable economic, social and humanitarian development.</p><p><em><strong>We believe that such an architecture could be based on existing multilateral forms of cooperation, such as the Union State, the CSTO, which I have already mentioned, the CIS, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, ASEAN and other authoritative and influential structures.</strong></em></p><p>In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the organizers of this meeting and all its participants for their constructive work and significant contribution to strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation between our countries.</p><p>Thank you for your attention.</p><p><strong>Alexander Lukashenko:</strong> Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, Dear forum participants, invited guests!</p><p>The time and place of our meeting are symbolic. Personally, I would like to thank all of you, our deputies, and you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for inviting me to take part in this forum.</p><p>Personally, <em><strong>I am very pleased to see here almost all the familiar faces with whom we once started working when I was still a very young President. You have helped me a lot, and I have learned a lot from many of you, so I sincerely thank you for this invitation to meet with you today.</strong></em></p><p>We are gathered here in Stalingrad, a city that stood like a steel, impenetrable fortress in the path of the invaders. Here, the countdown to a victorious May has begun. It was here, in this city, the heroic city of the Soviet people, that a radical change in the war years began. And next year we will finally break the back of the fascist beast on the Kursk Bulge, and this was already an irrevocable victory, when nothing could be changed, when there was only one way–-Berlin.</p><p>Our meeting is not only a tribute to the common heroic past--<em><strong>we turn to history to protect not only the future, but also the present</strong></em>. So today the question is: we are the heirs of a great generation of victorious heroes and we have nothing to be ashamed of and something to hide. <em><strong>This status obliges a lot, but also annoys many people. We are opposed by the descendants of the defeated supporters of the Third Reich. We are talking about this more and more.</strong></em></p><p>It was Stalingrad that took an unprecedented 200-day strike, thousands of fallen heroes, everyone-–from general to soldier–-understood that the fate of humanity and the course of world history were being decided here. Just imagine, if the Fascists had won in Stalingrad, it would have been impossible for us to win this war. Planes are stationary, tanks are not moving, cars and motorcycles are not moving, we do not have the main resource–-oil, which we then mainly extracted in the Caucasus.</p><p>And not only this is valuable Stalingrad—it was impossible to retreat further. The next fate–-we would not talk about the Kursk Bulge—would decide the question of Moscow. That's why everyone here is standing up tight.</p><p>And the fact that, Mr President, you have defined today's forum here is very accurate. <em><strong>A place is an exact hit in order to discuss the problems that we are facing, which are imposed on us by these very descendants.</strong></em> That's why they stood to their deaths on the Volga, as you said, just like in the Brest Fortress.</p><p>General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov wrote: "We, the living participants in the battles for Stalingrad, bear witness that here our soldiers did not know fear in battle, did not retreat before death, fought the battle with such determination that even the dead did not let go of their weapons." I repeat: "The dead did not let go of their weapons." There is nothing to add to this.</p><p>We all bow down to the heroes who were able to withstand a deadly blow, stand up to their full height and push back the brutal enemy, driving him to Berlin. Of course, we do not forget about the help of the allies, <em><strong>but let's be honest: the allies joined when our soldier broke the back of the fascist beast.</strong></em></p><p>Thousands of natives of the entire Soviet Union, including Belarus, defended Stalingrad. I will mention only the names of some of them. These are the commander of the Don Front, one of the Victory Marshals Konstantin Rokossovsky; heroes of the Soviet Union, pilots Nikolai Karnachenok and Ivan Pstygo, tankers Ivan Yakubovsky, Alexander Lizyukov, gunners Vladimir Taranovich, Israel Beskin, infantrymen Vladimir Martsinkevich, Vikenty Skryganov.</p><p>The Belarusian Aleksey Vashchenko, who covered the embrasure of the enemy bunker with his body, has entered the history of the city's defense. One of the streets of the current city of Volgograd bears his name. Thank you for remembering. The memory of numerous heroes-liberators, including Belarusians, is preserved by the Hall of Military Glory on Mamayev Kurgan. These are our common heroes.</p><p>Therefore, the Mound of Glory near Minsk also preserves land from different parts of the Soviet Union, where the fiercest battles took place. We cherish a piece of Stalingrad in the very center of our capital–-on Victory Square. Bricks from Leningrad, from the legendary Pavlov House, are laid in the foundation of one of the buildings on Nezavisimosti Avenue. These are sacred relics for us. All Belarusians know about it.</p><p>And we know that the victory at Stalingrad was won by all our Soviet people, all those who worked for the needs of the Red Army in the deep rear, drawing the enemy's attention to themselves and undermining the military potential of the Wehrmacht from within. <em><strong>It was there, behind enemy lines, that the real second front was opened--not by the Americans or the French, and it was a response to the monstrous crimes of Nazism.</strong></em></p><p>The Belarusian Prosecutor's Office has been investigating the horrific facts of the genocide of the Belarusian people for several years. We reveal new facts of crimes. Thousands of women, old people, and children burned alive and tortured. Our scientists and military personnel are lifting the remains of babies from the ground, pressed to the mother's chest. There are children in every pit. Killed, destroyed by families.</p><p>The methods of execution are appalling. People were forced to lay down on their own corpses in order to place as many bodies as possible in the pit, and grenades were thrown at them to better tamp them down. We bring up testimonies about how pregnant women were slashed open, the heads of infants were smashed with a rifle butt, one-year-olds were thrown through the windows of burning houses, babies were thrown up and caught with bayonets. Mothers who saw this and went crazy were hunted like animals.</p><p><em><strong>Previously, these documents were classified: it was not customary in Soviet times to say that Lithuanian, Latvian, and Ukrainian Nazis demonstrated special cruelty. And today, in the Baltic States and in Ukraine, young people are waving the banners of the SS division, putting up monuments to the Fascist executioners, and all this with the tacit consent of the rest of the West. But we must not remain silent, and that is why we have gathered with you today.</strong></em></p><p>Western experts on Belarusian history, on our Soviet, Russian, and Russian history write that we talk too pretentiously about our heroes, exaggerate the scale of their feat. <em><strong>We are hinted that we should talk about our bad ones and not forget about the good Germans, they teach us from across the ocean of pseudo-objectivity.</strong></em></p><p>Today, the ambassadors of the European Union countries are shamefacedly laying flowers in Khatyn and hiding their faces from the cameras of journalists. Poland is holding events dedicated to the liberation of Auschwitz prisoners by the Red Army–-without our participation. <em><strong>The German media reports that this concentration camp was liberated, listen, by American troops</strong></em>. In short, everything is being done to erase the memory of the Great Victory, of our victors.</p><p>There are people here today who don't need to be convinced of anything. My generation and that of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich grew up listening to the stories of front-line soldiers, our parents and those who survived the occupation. With the generation born and growing up in the 90s, you will agree, it is more difficult: <em><strong>the worldview of the children of perestroika was formed at the very peak of revanchist propaganda. Much was done to discredit the Red Army, the partisan resistance movement in our land, and to whitewash the Nazi criminals.</strong></em></p><p>They didn't reach everyone, <em><strong>but their ideas got into some people's heads, and this is our lesson.</strong></em> <em><strong>To protect the historical memory, we must do even more, we must never relax, we cannot believe in any repentance–-only real deeds.</strong></em> And this is very relevant not only for the President and me today, when we are promised a lot–-<em><strong>well, maybe not everyone knows everything yet, you will soon find out</strong></em>–-but they will not do it as usual, as the Russian President said. I can only quote him: "Deceived once again." Therefore, only deeds, only facts: you–-to us, we–-to you. <em><strong>You taught us that. This is not our relationship formula–-that's what you taught us. If you want it this way, please, we can do it this way.</strong></em></p><p>Figures and facts are important, very important, but<em><strong> even more important are emotions, meanings, and uncensored footage of the military chronicle.</strong></em> I may say an unpopular thing, but this is not the time to talk about the traumatized psyche of children who can see these terrible pictures and videos that we often show. Well done, Russians, we are broadcasting this in full in Belarus, you show it more--you have more such opportunities, but we also need to work more in this direction in the archives. <em><strong>You're doing the right thing–-we don't need to worry that someone will see it less, more.</strong></em></p><p>And how can we explain to them why we are desperately fighting for this historical memory today? They must see the truth and draw appropriate conclusions with our help. They should understand why our soldiers, partisans and underground fighters, without hesitation, gave their lives for the country? And it is more difficult for us than for the post-war generation, because more than 80 years have passed–-the nerve of that era is no longer there.</p><p>Dear friends!</p><p>In Belarus, we actively promote in society the understanding that the memory of the Great Victory is part of the national idea. We are trying to do everything possible to make our children remember that this Victory is a strong bond between us and all the peoples, the Russian people, and all the peoples of the former Soviet Union. <em><strong>We cannot lose this, because together we are not just powerful–-we are the most powerful force, and we will never be defeated.</strong></em></p><p>The Great Victory is sacred,<em><strong> the truth about the Great Patriotic War is our shield, it is a great honor and responsibility to hold it in our hands, and we must remember this.</strong></em></p><p>And in conclusion, dear friends, I will try to express my opinion. Perhaps you will support me in this regard. Why do we fight so hard to preserve the truth and historical memory? We said a lot of very correct words. But why? We are also asked this question from the outside. This is my opinion, and I emphasize once again that you may not agree, but I want them to hear why we clung to this memory so much.</p><p><em><strong>First, we should be proud of this memory. They envy us. Thank God that we have a generation of winners that we are proud of</strong></em>. It's us, you know? Here they are, a million dead. This is us, so we cling to it.</p><p><em><strong>Secondly, because a new, regular war has begun. Dear friends, it started, but we didn't start it.</strong></em> The next stage of this war will be a hot war, a world war with weapons in hand. We don't want that.</p><p>Today there is a stage of war in the mass media, thank God, for now. We discuss, fight, fight on these platforms and so on and so forth,<em><strong> there is a war for the minds of our people, and for the heads. Modern hot war is impossible without this preparation. This preparation has begun.</strong></em></p><p>That is why we clung to this historical memory in such a way as to show the present and future generations, our children, that we had them and that if we suddenly need to fight for our land, for our families, for our children, as they fought, sparing neither their lives nor anything that we have there is one. <em><strong>That's why we talk about this historical memory, not because we want to talk.</strong></em></p><p>Let's be honest, there are a lot of people in our society who think: what's there, we talked, we talked, we went to the monuments today, we came back, and so on. No, as soon as we forget the way to Khatyn, Stalingrad, the Brest Fortress, everything will come back again, instantly, without even noticing. Therefore, we must cling to this historical memory with our teeth.</p><p><strong>Vladimir Putin:</strong> Once again, I would like to thank everyone here for being here and celebrating with us this glorious day–-Victory Day, which marked the beginning of the end of Nazism in Europe here on Stalingrad land. But if you are here, then you understand, as the President of Belarus so convincingly and vividly said now, that <em><strong>we have no right to allow this ever again in the future.</strong></em> That's what we're here for.</p><p>Thank you very much.</p><p>Happy Great Victory Day! [My Emphasis]    </p></blockquote><p>President Lukashenko was very blunt in his words aimed at the West. Volodin was too broad in his blanket accusation that the “world is ungrateful” and should’ve included Western prior to world, for that’s where Nazism remains and is promoted. I must opine that the term anti-Semitism needs modification for Semites are those who speak Arabic, not Hebrew, and the most virulent anti-Semitic peoples are Zionists. As pointed out, Slavs and Chinese are the two greatest genocidal victims of “the Brown Plague,” yet there’s no global recognition of that very important fact—Several Holocausts happened, and it wasn’t the Jews who suffered the brunt nor were the most numerous victims. And given what Zionists are now doing, Jews no longer merit any special mention aside from their conducting their own Genocide just like their Nazi comrades. IMO, no Western elite understands what they are provoking and how it is ultimately to their detriment. And I doubt any of them will read this transcript.    </p><p>I’d like to see Konstantin Simonov’s trilogy republished in multiple languages as only the first volume is available in English. </p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>

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guid: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-brics-fm-meeting-presser
title: Lavrov's BRICS FM Meeting Presser
author: ;Karl Sanchez
link: https://karlof1.substack.com/p/lavrovs-brics-fm-meeting-presser
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content:
<div data-sanitized-class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe857bd06-4521-4058-ad22-25eea6d47c5f_720x480.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" data-sanitized-class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img"><div data-sanitized-class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe857bd06-4521-4058-ad22-25eea6d47c5f_720x480.jpeg" width="720" height="480" data-attrs='{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e857bd06-4521-4058-ad22-25eea6d47c5f_720x480.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":480,"width":720,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":78662,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":"https://karlof1.substack.com/i/162485909?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe857bd06-4521-4058-ad22-25eea6d47c5f_720x480.jpeg","isProcessing":false,"align":null}' alt="" fetchpriority="high" data-sanitized-class="sizing-normal"></picture><div data-sanitized-class="image-link-expand"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container restack-image"><path d="M3 12a9 9 0 0 1 9-9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1 6.74 2.74L21 8"></path><path d="M21 3v5h-5"></path><path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 1-9 9 9.75 9.75 0 0 1-6.74-2.74L3 16"></path><path d="M8 16H3v5"></path></div><div data-sanitized-class="pencraft pc-reset icon-container view-image"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></div></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>At Rio the BRICS Foreign Minister’s Meeting was held over the 28-29 where Lavrov held many sideline meetings as well as the formal encounters. Lavrov said a few things that were quickly published by Russian media, but there’s usually more than the sought after “gotcha” quotes which you’ll discover as you read <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/2012487/">the transcript</a>:</p><blockquote><p>Dear Colleagues,</p><p>First of all, I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Brazilian friends for their traditional hospitality, the excellent organisation of the work of the BRICS ministerial meeting and the additional meeting that was held with the participation of BRICS members and partner countries.</p><p>These countries were represented today in accordance with the <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1979032/">decision</a> of the Kazan Summit, where a historic decision was made within the framework of the Russian presidency to establish this category of partner countries. These are Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.</p><p>We agreed to continue to actively involve partner countries in our joint work in various formats, starting with ministerial meetings, as well as meetings of experts and relevant ministers.</p><p><em><strong>We spoke in favour of further stepping up the role of BRICS and the world's majority countries as a whole in addressing the key problems of our time. We noted the need for collective action by our association in achieving the goals of sustainable development, ensuring security and economic growth.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>We paid special attention to the need to continue working to promote the reform of international monetary and financial institutions, primarily the revision of IMF quotas so that this quota system reflects the real weight of the countries of the Global South and East in the global economy and finance</strong></em>. In this context, most delegations emphasised the destructive nature of the policy of the countries of the "collective West", <em><strong>which may no longer be quite "collective", but all representatives of the West have the same goals, namely, to continue to live at the expense of others and to use neocolonial practices for this purpose.</strong></em> This includes unilateral illegitimate sanctions, abuse of the role of their currencies in the international financial system and unjustified trade protectionism, "tariff wars", which are much talked about today. <em><strong>We noted that in an attempt to maintain its elusive dominance and continue to obtain competitive benefits at the expense of others, the Western minority is "shaking" the international financial and economic architecture with its own hands.</strong></em></p><p>We discussed in detail current issues of regional and international politics, including numerous crises in various regions of the world. Of particular concern is the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and in the Middle East and in many parts of the African continent in general.</p><p>For our part, we emphasised that an effective solution to all these problems would be facilitated by relying on the principles <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text">of the UN Charter</a>, which should be applied not from time to time, pulling out one or the other depending on what goals these principles should correspond to, and <em><strong>they should be applied in their entirety and interconnection</strong></em>.</p><p>We reaffirmed our position in support of the reform of the UN Security Council, including support for the candidatures of India and Brazil for permanent members of the Security Council, while at the same time resolving the issue of the representation of the African continent.</p><p>Of course, we talked a lot about the Ukrainian situation. Once again, we have set out in detail our principled approaches to resolving this conflict by eliminating the root causes of its outbreak. They consist of many years of attempts to expand NATO to the east up to the Russian borders and "absorb" Ukraine into the North Atlantic Alliance, thereby creating direct threats to our security directly on the Russian borders. I would also like to emphasise the importance of putting an end to the Kiev regime's practice of exterminating everything that is in one way or another related to Russia and the Russian world, including language, culture, Russian-language media and the canonical Orthodox Church. Most of the participants in the meeting, commenting on this Ukrainian situation, showed a growing understanding of our approaches. We will continue this work.</p><p>The outcome of the meeting will be circulated by the Brazilian Presidency.</p><p>We would like to wish our Brazilian friends success in preparing for and holding the 17th BRICS Summit. It will be held on July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro. There is no doubt that the summit will be a productive event and will further strengthen our strategic partnership. Russia will contribute to this in every possible way.</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> Do the BRICS countries have a common position on the trade war unleashed by Donald Trump?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>We do not name any names in the final document. It will be circulated. It contains our general approaches to what is happening in the global economy now.</p><p>The final document enshrines a general conclusion about the negative consequences of the fragmentation of the global economy, concern about the weakening of multilateralism, violation of the rules of justice and inclusiveness, which should underpin the trading system. <em><strong>The World Trade Organisation should remain at the centre of this system, which must be adapted to modern realities. Concern about unilateral protectionist measures, unilateral sanctions, including secondary sanctions in violation of WTO principles, was formulated separately.</strong></em></p><p>The inadmissibility of blocking decisions on WTO reform, primarily blocking and resuming the work of the dispute settlement body, is also emphasized. <em><strong>On the whole, the position of our colleagues and partner countries coincides. It will form the basis for the preparation of relevant documents for the summit to be held on July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Are the BRICS members following the talks between Russia and the United States? And what assessments and influence on BRICS are being voiced?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Of course, it is important for everyone to understand how relations between Moscow and Washington are developing. This was heard in many speeches and in numerous bilateral contacts that I had on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting. We inform our partners on a regular basis, after almost every contact between representatives of Russia and the United States. We convey the relevant assessments through our ambassadors, as well as the ambassadors of our partners in Moscow. We do not need to formulate and keep any secrets here.</p><p><em><strong>We stand for an honest and equal dialogue aimed at creating a balance of interests. The United States is sending us similar signals. Work is underway in a variety of directions. It continues literally at the very moment when we are communicating.</strong></em></p><p>It seems to me that almost everyone sees the positive side of what is happening. They hope that the "advances" made regarding the prospects for the Russian-American dialogue will be justified.<em><strong> I think that in the near future we will see concrete confirmation that the interests of Moscow and Washington are mutual. To what extent it will be possible to find a concrete interpretation of this common interest in practical deeds will be shown in the near future.</strong></em></p><p>We will continue to build our relations with the United States in a transparent manner <em><strong>and in no way to the detriment of our traditionally strong ties with our strategic partners and like-minded partners.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>At last year's BRICS summit in Kazan under Russia's chairmanship, the creation of the BRICS Pay payment system for settlements in national currencies in trade between BRICS members was announced.</p><p>Brazil, which took over the baton of the BRICS from Russia this year, despite US President Donald Trump's threats to introduce "draconian" tariffs in the event of the BRICS abandoning the dollar, nevertheless declared its full support for this Russian initiative. How is this dialogue progressing? How else can the association respond to the West's attempts to use world reserve currencies as a weapon?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>The dialogue is progressing steadily.</p><p><em><strong>Not so long ago, a meeting of finance ministers and heads of central banks of the BRICS countries was held, who, in accordance with the instructions of the Kazan summit, considered the tasks of forming independent payment systems. It was decided to use national currencies more actively in mutual trade. Our today's final document notes the need to continue this work.</strong></em></p><p>Within the framework of trade between BRICS members, national currencies account for more than 65%. Against this background, the share of the dollar fell to one-third. <em><strong>There are tasks to create payment instruments and payment platforms, including the study of such issues as the creation of a cross-border payment system, the BRICS Electronic System of Inter-Depository Interaction (BRICS Clear) and the development of a single mechanism for the exchange of trade and economic information in general.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Consideration of options for the establishment of an insurance and reinsurance system, new platforms for grain trading and the possibility of extending this experience to other commodities is ongoing. All this is recorded in the final document.</strong></em></p><p>This policy is long-term and principled, given the continuing trends in the global economy due to the unilateral actions of our Western colleagues. This is one of the key areas.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>Is it possible to create a new international judicial body within BRICS that could become an alternative to the ICC, which has obviously already discredited itself?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>This topic has been raised. It is not reflected in the final document, because in fact BRICS should not be engaged in the creation of any judicial instances of its own. <em><strong>We are in favour of international judicial processes being based on a strong consensus of all States parties.</strong></em></p><p>The International Criminal Court, as you rightly said, has completely discredited itself. This structure is manipulated by Western countries. Some states that openly violate international humanitarian law are excluded from attack. And with regard to some other countries, "punitive measures", including "arrest warrants", are introduced in a biased manner, without relying on specific facts.</p><p>The Russian Federation, independently of BRICS, is promoting an initiative in the international arena, including through the UN, <em><strong>aimed at ensuring that as many states as possible subscribe to the need to depoliticise international criminal justice</strong></em>. And so that there are no more such precedents when the resolution of the most important issues affecting the immunities of states prescribed and enshrined in international law is at the mercy of such openly biased structures as the International Criminal Court.</p><p>This is a long-term work. At one time, the countries of the African Union collectively spoke in favour of withdrawing from this mechanism. They still have these sentiments.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>International experts have calculated that military spending around the world has increased sharply by 10% in 2024. They call this the worst result since the Cold War. Is the BRICS able to lead the countries of the world away from the dangerous line beyond which a third world war could begin?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I am sure that this is absolutely in line with the position of BRICS – to do everything to prevent such a development of events.</p><p>But for this to become a reality, the forces of unification alone are not enough. The understanding that World War III is unacceptable is manifested in many other countries that are not members of the BRICS, including in statements by the US leadership. <em><strong>In particular, Vice President J.D. Vance recently spoke about this, warning all those who are "instigating" the Ukrainian regime to continue the war, who are trying to draw the Europeans into this conflict</strong></em> by deploying some contingents in Ukraine: peacekeeping, stabilisation and others.</p><p>It is important to consolidate the positions reflected in the statements of the leaders of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. This statement was adopted on our initiative in January 2022 and is based on a long-standing agreement between the USSR and the United States, when a joint statement was issued stating that a nuclear war cannot be won, so it is necessary to do everything to ensure that it is never unleashed.</p><p>Today, this task is very relevant, especially in the face of thoughtless, aggressive actions and calls from the leadership of the EU countries and from London.</p><p><strong>Question: </strong>In light of President Vladimir Putin's recent meeting with US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Stephen Whitkoff in the Kremlin, what do you think about the general trends in international relations between Russia and its partners, given that such meetings often send a signal to many countries? Are there any new prospects for Russia in the light of such diplomatic contact?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I have already said that dialogue is always preferable under all other circumstances. I am a little surprised at how some countries react to the processes taking place in Russian-American relations. Everyone perceives these contacts between us and the Americans as some kind of sensation. Although in fact during the Cold War the ideological confrontation was very tough, the dialogue never stopped.</p><p>Today, in the US doctrinal documents formulated during the Biden administration, but which have not been canceled, Russia is shown as the main, immediate threat in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, and China is designated as the main rival in the long term.</p><p>If you follow the statements made by our Chinese friends commenting on their relations with Washington, the statements made against China by the United States, this is a tough exchange of statements on the Taiwan problem, the South China Sea problem and many other issues. But the dialogue between Washington and Beijing has not been interrupted for any period. Top officials are talking, as well as foreign ministers, security experts and defence ministers.</p><p><em><strong>Therefore, I would warn against the current state of the Russian-US dialogue being viewed as something out of the ordinary. This is a return to normality.</strong></em> And those who perceive this as a sensation are captive to the logic that the Biden administration has cultivated throughout its years in power, trying to present Russia as a pariah, as a country in complete isolation, with a "torn to shreds" economy, and so on. Therefore, now we are simply returning to normality. I have a feeling that most countries in the Global South and East, our strategic partners and allies, see this as a "plus."</p><p><strong>Question:</strong> President of Russia Vladimir Putin has announced a new truce. This time during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. <em><strong>Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sybiha immediately called on Russia to establish a truce right now, not for three, but for 30 days. How would you comment on such statements? Is a truce, even if it is short-lived, possible at all with the current approach of the Kiev authorities?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>Do not read statements by representatives of the Ukrainian regime either at night or in the morning. We know their value very well. Remember, a month and a half or two months ago, Kiev issued menacing warnings that they would not accept any truce. European radicals "instigated" the Kiev regime to continue this policy, saying that a truce and the start of negotiations could only take place at the moment when Ukraine had an advantage on the battlefield. Therefore, they say, we will pump it up with more weapons and then, when "Russia weakens", then we will talk from a position of strength.</p><p><em><strong>Now they have suddenly (not suddenly, of course, but against the backdrop of what is happening "on the ground", on the line of contact, where the Ukrainian regime is "backing away" more and more actively) "changed their position by one hundred and eighty degrees" and began to demand an immediate truce without preconditions.</strong></em></p><p>We went through all these situations when in February 2014, in fact, a truce was declared between the opposition and the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, and a peace document was signed that provided for early elections and the creation of a government of national unity for this period (before the vote). In the morning, they trampled on all this "truce" and seized administrative buildings.</p><p>The next "truce" was concluded within the framework <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/detail-material-page/1426913/">of the Minsk agreements</a> after the Kiev regime, which launched aggression against its own people, "choked" in its calculations and began to ask for a truce. They signed the Minsk agreements and approved them in the UN Security Council. The Ukrainians spat on these agreements.</p><p>At that time, there was still Petr Poroshenko. And when Vladimir Zelensky came to the presidency under the <a href="https://mid.ru/ru/detail-material-page/1426913/">slogans of implementing the Minsk Agreements</a> and establishing peace, he called at that time to stop discriminating against the Russian language, to allow Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine to speak the language in which they were brought up, which was the official language in Ukraine at that time. Already under Vladimir Zelensky, the French and Germans, as "guarantors" (as they described themselves) of the Minsk Agreements, convened a <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62277">summit</a> in Paris in December 2019, which I had the honour to attend. It was attended by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Zelensky and President of Russia Vladimir Putin. A document was prepared calling for the implementation of a key point of the Minsk agreements, a key first step – to declare a truce and ensure its implementation along the entire line of contact.</p><p>When the document prepared by the ministers had already landed on the table of the leaders, Vladimir Zelensky said that he categorically did not want to sign it. Because, he said, it was impossible, he did not want to stop hostilities, because then Russia would win. <em><strong>He said that he was ready to declare a truce on three sections of the contact line as an experiment.</strong></em> The French, the Germans, and we were surprised, but President of Russia Vladimir Putin said, "Let's do it, this is at least something." And this was approved. A document was issued calling for a truce in three areas. It also confirmed the need to ensure the autonomous status of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. But despite this agreement, nothing was done by Ukraine. <em><strong>The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not allowed to ensure any truce in any of these three areas.</strong></em></p><p>And, of course, the truce announced in connection with the agreement in Istanbul in April 2022. They say, make a goodwill gesture and let's stop hostilities. If we withdraw our forces from Kiev, this will be an important and positive signal. As you know, this was done.</p><p>Everyone is also well aware of how it ended. It was immediately said that the Russians had retreated. Then there was the provocation in Bucha, which still remains on the conscience of the West. Our constant calls to publish a list of persons whose corpses were shown there remain unanswered.</p><p>Speaking about the latest examples of a truce, the truce announced by President of Russia Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Easter was in no way observed by the Kiev regime. A huge number of violations were recorded.</p><p>The truce proposed by US President Donald Trump in the form of a moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure facilities was fully observed by the Russian side within 30 days, but did not affect the aggressive actions of the Kiev regime in any way. A couple of hundred violations were recorded by our representatives. We sent a list of them to the UN and US Secretary of State Michel Rubio. <em><strong>Therefore, we know the "price" of these calls for a truce.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>EU leaders, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and other "representatives" are now saying that Russia "must unconditionally agree to a ceasefire" only because they are losing on the battlefield and their plans to inflict a "strategic defeat" on the Russian Federation will never come true.</strong></em> Everyone is already well aware of this.</p><p><em><strong>Our proposal, which was voiced by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, is the start of direct talks without preconditions. In this situation, the truce is seen as a precondition that will be used to further support the Kiev regime and strengthen its military capabilities.</strong></em></p><p>As you may recall, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76450">visited</a> Moscow not so long ago. At a joint news conference, President Vladimir Putin was asked about his attitude to the idea of a 30-day truce, which was only voiced by his American colleagues. President Vladimir Putin supported this idea,<em><strong> but said that it should be formulated in such a way that it would not "fail," like all previous attempts of this kind.</strong></em> He explained that in order for this truce to work and achieve its goal, it is necessary to ensure clear, daily, objective and transparent monitoring of who behaves and how along the entire line of contact. <em><strong>Because the "ability" of the Ukrainian regime to organise provocations is well known. There is no doubt that these provocations would have continued, regardless of how this truce was organised. We do not see the possibility of honest monitoring for honest compliance with this truce.</strong></em></p><p>It is an outrageous case that a terrorist attack was once again organised against a Russian general. This is a despicable and cowardly act. The West is silent on this topic.<em><strong> And Ukrainian representatives, including the heads of parliamentary committees, say that this is the right course of action. They say that the enemy must be destroyed. And they will continue to destroy him, regardless of whether there is a truce or not.</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>We will no longer fall for this "trick." President Vladimir Putin has clearly stated this.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>You recently said that Russia views the WTO as an organisation that uses discriminatory approaches. You even said that Moscow could reconsider its obligations to it. From your statement today, it followed that, on the whole, you agree with your Brazilian colleagues that the WTO can play a role in the current economic circumstances if reforms take place. What influenced the change in this position? Did the position of your Brazilian colleagues themselves have an impact? Do you believe that the WTO can really come to life?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> There is no contradiction here. The position has not changed. The situation here is the same as with the <a href="https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text">UN Charter</a>. The Charter is good. It fully meets all the requirements for strengthening multipolarity in global relations. It's just that Western countries either apply it from time to time (as God wills) or ignore it altogether and promote their "rules-based order."</p><p>The same is true of the World Trade Organisation. If the principles on which it is based were fully respected, they would certainly meet the interests of all states that are members of this organisation.</p><p>But the fact is that these principles are not respected. The work of a key dispute settlement body has been blocked for many years, primarily by the United States, which does not want this body to consider the just claims made by the United States in connection with protectionist and other illegal measures.</p><p><em><strong>Therefore, we just need to go back to the basics. It is in this vein that we are talking about reforming the WTO. Not in order to negate the principles of equality and mutual benefit, fair competition, but in order to strengthen them and agree on their implementation, so that there are no more attempts to declare commitment to them in words and in practice to do the opposite. This is clearly stated in the final document of our meeting.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question (retranslated from English): </strong>The Brazilian Presidency did not support a new round of BRICS enlargement this year, focusing instead on the institutional consolidation of the group. From the Russian point of view, when will the association be ready to resume enlargement? Should this happen as soon as possible, or have there been difficulties at the BRICS Ministerial Council in finding common approaches to reforming the UN Security Council, which suggest that differences should be resolved before a new round of enlargement takes place? How, from Russia's point of view, should the process of transition from associate members such as Cuba to full members take place?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov:</strong> It is not true that Brazil does not support a new round of BRICS enlargement. The fact is that when we met at <a href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75385">the BRICS Summit in Kazan</a> in October 2024, we welcomed new full members (BRICS has doubled its membership). It was decided to take a short pause in the issue of further expansion so that we could adapt to working in the new composition, so that BRICS could smoothly adapt to the new situation with an increase in the number of participants. This was a common opinion. When creating the category of partner countries, the aspirations of many countries were taken into account. Obviously, partner countries will be priority candidates for full membership. I have no doubt that the process of expanding the association will resume soon.</p><p>Again, we decided to take a break and see how this adaptation goes. Naturally, the more members there are, the longer it will take to adapt to this situation and the more effort it will take to reach a consensus. This is a natural phenomenon.</p><p>As for the reform of the UN Security Council. We have been declaring our commitment to progress on this issue for many years. At almost every BRICS summit, at every ministerial meeting, we included this wording in the final statements. This year we also discussed this situation.</p><p>Russia has consistently supported Brazil and India as promising candidates for the role of permanent members of the UN Security Council in the context of its expansion, provided that Africa's aspirations are met at the same time. As I said, the Security Council needs more members from the countries of the Global South and East.</p><p>We cannot support an increase in the number of Western states in its composition. There are already six countries out of fifteen. In addition, none of the "Western" candidates (Germany or Japan) can contribute anything to the Security Council's deliberations. They adhere to the common position of the "collective West".</p><p>We are flexible in reflecting the position of the BRICS members on the reform of the UN Security Council. <em><strong>We believe that the main thing is to reaffirm the need to meet the aspirations of developing countries.</strong></em> This can be done in a variety of ways. You can read the wording of the statements at ministerial meetings and summits. Yesterday and today, we confirmed that we are ready to use any of them or any new of the proposed language. Of course, we need consensus on this issue. <em><strong>The main thing is that the reform of the UN Security Council should not be decided on the basis of the wording contained in the statements of any organization other than the United Nations, where a vote will ultimately be held. It is there that this issue will be resolved.</strong></em></p><p><strong>Question (retranslated from English):</strong> How do you see BRICS as an alternative opposition platform to the United States? Would you support this view? Is it reflected in the final declaration of this ministerial meeting? How important are BRICS tariffs in the context of the new US tariffs?</p><p><strong>Sergey Lavrov: </strong>I have already spoken about the negative impact of US tariffs on global trade and the economy. This contributes to the fragmentation of the global economic system. The final declaration describes the negative consequences of the tariff war, other protectionist measures, unilateral sanctions, including secondary ones, which undermine the activities of universal institutions (be it the IMF, the WTO or the World Bank). It should not be presented as political opposition to anyone (be it the United States or the EU). <em><strong>This is a negotiating position that BRICS will promote at the relevant international forums</strong></em>, primarily at the UN, the Bretton Woods institutions and, of course, in the G20, where BRICS partners interact with the G7 and its partners. This is an important forum representing more than 90% of the world economy.</p><p>To reiterate, this is a negotiating position. Western countries are aware of this. They cannot avoid a substantive dialogue aimed at achieving mutually acceptable solutions. <em><strong>We are fighting to achieve a balance of interests, not to defeat anyone in the Western camp.</strong></em> [My Emphasis]</p></blockquote><p>RT and others are trying to <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/616508-russia-victory-day-ceasefire-kiev/">spin Lavrov’s words</a>, specifically in the following manner:</p><blockquote><p>Russia considers President Vladimir Putin’s declared 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict as <em>“the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions,”</em> Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. </p></blockquote><p>Although Lavrov’s words are correct, the interpretation is false. Here’s the full paragraph:</p><blockquote><p><em><strong>Our proposal, which was voiced by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, is the start of direct talks without preconditions. In this situation, the truce is seen as a precondition that will be used to further support the Kiev regime and strengthen its military capabilities.</strong></em></p></blockquote><p>The “proposal” was that put forth by Putin last year when the grounds for negotiations were outlined within Putin’s address to the Foreign Ministry. The truce Lavrov refers to is that demanded by EU/Ukraine, not the one announced by Putin. With this attempted misleading spin, RT further degrades its credibility.</p><p>Otherwise, BRICS appears to be moving along fine. I’ve yet to find a link to the meeting’s final declaration, but it doesn’t seem to be meeker than any previous statements—there’s consensus on most everything, meaning China’s strong advice to not give-in to the bully is being followed. Here’s <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333103.shtml">Wang Yi’s headline</a>: </p><blockquote><p>Compromise, backing down will only embolden bully: Chinese Foreign Minister</p></blockquote><p>I suggest reading the short article as Wang’s not as diplomatic as Lavrov on the Trade War.</p><p>*<br>*<br>*<br><em>Like what you’ve been reading at Karlof1’s Substack? Then please consider subscribing and choosing to make a <strong>monthly/yearly pledge</strong> to enable my efforts in this challenging realm. Thank You!</em></p><p></p><p data-attrs='{"url":"https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe now","action":null,"class":null}' data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" data-sanitized-class="button-wrapper"><a href="https://karlof1.substack.com/subscribe?" data-sanitized-class="button primary"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p><p>  </p><p></p><p>  </p>

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