Negotiations: a primer for Zone A residents

Okay, I am going to ask you to make a real effort and, for a while at least, drop your certitudes and what you believe is a good or a bad way to prosecute a war. Instead, I am going to appeal to your common sense.

Long before the Russian Special Military Operation (SMO) in the Ukraine started, but following the Russian ultimatum, I indicated many times that what Russia would be doing is the following: ask for negotiations and if the other side rejects them, Russia would turn up the “pain dial”, slowly, step by step. If the other side agreed to negotiations, but then used them to stall and negotiate in bad faith, same response: Russia would turn up the pain dial. A little. Step by step.

And do WHAT exactly next???

What is the point of turning on the pain dial and remaining silent?

The purpose of the pain dial is to convince your enemy to agree to substantive talks. Conversely, that means that turning the pain dial WITHOUT offering talks simply makes no sense.

Yeah, yeah, I know, in Zone A NOT to negotiate with the enemy is a sign of manhood, virility, courage, prowess and being “Presidential”. Which did not stop the Ubermacho Trump from… … negotiating with “Rocket Man” and then end up being totally screwed over by him. So, I get it, when you are used to stupid politicians, you do not want negotiations, or you end up with SNAFUs like Biden telling the 82nd in Poland about “you will be there” (that is in the Ukraine!).

But please understand that Russian politicians are not as stupid as yours.

And a country with smart and well-educated diplomats does not need to fear talks, quite the contrary.

Lavrov vs Bliken – you get what I mean?

Next, another Zone A hangup: the goal of a war.

In Zone A, wars are to be fought towards maximal destruction of lives and infrastructure. That is what the US promises its enemies “we will bomb you to the stone age” and that is what Uncle Shmuel did to Iraq. Only to eventually lose that war too (ditto for all the other wars the US has ever fought since WWII).

In Zone B people understand that the goal of a war is to achieve a political outcome.

As Ho Chi Minh tried to explain to his ignorant counterparts “you can kill ten of our men for every one we kill of yours. But even at those odds, you will lose and we will win“.

“Just” mass murder achieves very little and the little it does achieve is never long lasting. And nobody looks very “Presidential” after getting his ass handed to him!

For the Kremlin, this is a no brainer: you always talk to anybody worth talking to, especially if these talks increases your chances to:

Lose less soldiers
Lose less equipment
Kill less people (on both sides)
Preserve the civilian infrastructure
Get a sense of how your enemy is doing and feeling
Prove to your own and foreign public opinion that you are using violence only as a last resort
Only slowly increasing the pain on your pain dial, thereby making each increase more sensitive
Save immense sums of money
Have somebody on the other side to sign a declaration of surrender
Allow the country which you defeated to recover faster and better

What did the US ignoramuses do in Iraq?

First they did bomb it viciously and genocidally (Madeleine Aldumb admitted that openly!)
Then they invaded with the “kill! kill! kill!” mindset.
Then they declared victory.
Then they got stuck and defeated.
Then they shamefully had to run with their tails tucked.

General Shamanov vs General Petraeus – you get what I mean?

Now I do NOT want Russia to follow this no doubt “brilliant” US plan.

Turning the Ukraine into Iraq is NOT what Russia wants or needs.

So, and especially for those alternatively gifted or really mentally stuck in Zone A:

Russia is doing the absolutely correct thing by negotiating and talking with pretty much everybody and anybody. The problem is not the fact of talks, it is the dismal way the Russians (superb negotiators but sub-pathetic PR people) presented the information, which they did only partially, rather ambiguously and with all the wrong faces doing the talking.

The benefit of this PR disaster was a wave of rage and patriotism which is now even way higher than it was at the initiation of combat operations. There is a kind of an informal referendum going on in Russia where people vote with their feet to go to the local recruitment center and volunteer for combat in the Ukraine!

Now the center of gravity of this operation is clearly going to go to the big cauldron containing two more cauldrons in the Donbass.

Nobody really knows how many Ukrainian soldiers are left alive there, what their condition and morale are, and how much of their deep defenses still stand. But here is what we do know:

This is the biggest Ukrainian force in the entire theater of operations
There are AT LEAST several TENS OF THOUSAND soldiers still left
These were the best trained and equipped forces of the Ukrainian military
The way the Nazis organized them is, roughly, that in each Ukrainian “brigade” there is at least one bona fide Nazi “battalion” tasked with making darn sure that nobody negotiates with the Russians or, if they do, that those who do quickly get dispatched.

In these conditions a direct assault by Russian forces is always an option, they have proven in Mariupol and Avdeevka that they can do that when needed. I remind you that during WWII the Soviet Union liberated 1’200 (one thousand two hundred!) towns and cities from Nazi occupiers. The Russian military knows more about urban warfare than any other army on the planet, especially modern urban warfare.

But it would be INFINITELY better to convince these Ukrainian forces (which are doomed, and they understand that!) to surrender and, for that goal, offer them some kind of “out” which would include some tangible concessions/rewards for those units who will accept the inevitable and surrender.

The same goes for the “big” top level negotiations in Belarus or Turkey. Here is what Lavrov declared today about these talks. The Ukrainian side agreed to:

No nukes for the Ukraine
No NATO for the Ukraine
No alliances of any kind and a neutral Ukraine
Give up any claims on Crimea and the Donbass

Now if you do not see these as major concessions, you have issues I cannot help you with.

I will just say that many Ukie propagandists instantly dismissed it all as “false” just as they have, apparently, “resurrected/transported” the two Ukrainian soldiers who tortured Russian POWs to a location in Kiev. The truth is that these are painful and major concessions. Hence the desperate Ukie (and, really, US!) needs to present ANY negotiations as “5min to total surrender” by the Russians – the reality is too awful for the leaders of the Empire of Lies to even contemplate, let alone admit.

Add to this the “disarmament” of the Ukraine by the Russian armed forces and you will see that things are going pretty fantastically well, especially for such a short and RELATIVELY small and limited operation. At least that is true for the military aspect. Info operations, alas, not so much :-(

Finally, and as always, I remind you that this is not, repeat, NOT, about the Ukraine.

Disarming and denazifying the Ukraine is only a means towards a much more important goal: the future collective security architecture of a post-NATO Europe which, in turn, is just the cornerstone of all of international security.

So, the goal is NOT to denazify the Ukraine, that is a means towards the goal, the real goal is to denazify the planet.

Oh I know, very few, if any, in Zone A will see that as anything but totally over the top hyperbole. Why?

It’s a mental block: most folks in Zone A think of themselves and their country as somehow “indispensable”, but they are wrong. Far from being indispensable, they need to be permanently re-educated (over several generations!) and eventually integrated into Zone B as a “normal”, morally and mentally sane, country.

This, by the way, also implies NEGOTIATIONS with the US, NATO and all of Zone A!

And if Zone A does not want to negotiate anything? Correctomundo! You turn up the pain dial, and ask again. Then repeat until Zone A accepts talks.

It’s that simple, really.

My very last comment will be this: right now, the purely military aspects of the SMO are taking second place to the economic cataclysm which Zone A brought upon itself (and much of the world). The Eurolemmings especially are only slowly beginning to discover the immene joy and privilege of being a member of the European Reichsgau of Empire of Lies truly is!

What can I say? They SO richly deserve this….

And if all of the above is just Putinist propaganda, by all means, send a letter to the Russian General Staff, ask for a meeting, and explain to all these boneheads how warfare “your way” is so much superior to warfare “their way”. Begin by listing all the heroic victories which your country has ever won.

Or apply to the CIA. They actually might hire you! :lol:

Andrei

amarynth on March 31, 2022 · at 8:57 am EST/EDT

Larchmonter445, you understand the problems with the US appointing a president for Venezuela.

Now you want Putin to do this for the Ukraine?

Here is more hyperbole for you … That! that method of thinking is exactly what is completely abhorrent in a rules-based-international order. That is the simple difference. A people have to rescue themselves and a rescue cannot be imposed. Help ’em yes.

And this is what the major part of Latin American and Africa and other Global South denizens understand. Never will they call for another country to interfere in their own growth path. This is what the Solomon Islanders are expressing now.

Yes, the impediments in the Ukraine need to be removed. I don’t see Russia having stopped its denazification efforts and major battles are still going on. But after that, whatever and in whichever configuration a ‘Ukraine’ exists, it will have to become a country in its own right.

Russia is in Ukraine to stop a war. Not to create a bigger one, or even make space for a pretext of US/NATO to create a frozen conflict – we’ve had enough of that. Russia with the help of a big portion of our world, will also push NATO back where it came from.

The ‘kill’em all’ mantra we have to be careful with. There are people there and a bunch of remaining Nazis. The Nazis are being dealt with and the remainder has to be put before a court of law, properly constituted. The problem of Nazi’ism is way bigger than the Ukraine.

I don’t know when the sweet spot will be to stop this killing but, I sense it is approaching. How?

– The Ukrainian forces may just collapse. And the negotiation and rebuilding will be necessary.
– The Ukrainians may be serious about their negotiations, which means Washington is using a bit of brain. And that means negotiations will be necessary.
– something may happen that I and most others cannot foresee.

In no way should Russia interfere with the remaining real Ukrainians gaining and exercising some self-determination. In fact, just what China is doing now with Afghanistan, is what Russia should be doing with whatever remains of the Ukraine in my view, in other words, work with it to gain its own agency. China has in a sense adopted Afghanistan and is leading them by the hand to reconstruct the mess that the US/NATO and cronies left behind.

The US sat in Afghanistan for 20 years, pretending to build a country. There is deep anger in the world because of that. The expression is that the US/NATO screws up, and leaves the problems behind for the rest of the world to handle. This is not what true multi-polarity is about. In fact, regime change will not be allowed to happen in our world, if we believe the Chinese.

I read Double Helix just a while ago – actually went to look for it in relation to the new and updated agreement, Russia/China, of a few weeks ago – when Putin attended the opening of the Olympics. Perhaps you can consider applying some updates or write a part II. At that time, much of the helix action was dependent on the friendship of the two leaders. It has since been developed and inculcated in a raft of new instruments, not so much dependent on friendship ties – though, those are still of course there and strong.

What the Saker tried to handle here, is an almost universal difference in thinking, setting values, deciding on principles between ZZZZone B and A, roughly, or the hegemon single polarity, and a world that smoothly works with principles like multi-lateralism and multi-polarity and understands the hard work necessary. This difference is very deep – as deep as trying to understand the inscrutable nature of the Chinese people. We feel brotherly or sisterly, we feel coherence, and we feel connected. That is why Putin describes the real people of the Ukraine, as brotherly people. That feeling is now attempted to be broken yet again by the empire of lies, in Pakistan. I hope they fail.

279 Comments

Alabama on March 30, 2022 · at 6:21 pm EST/EDT

If we lose another decade around here, the skipper is going to be very upset.

And you did hear that from me.
- Cid on March 30, 2022 · at 7:21 pm EST/EDT
  
  Well, not long ago majority of Russians were afraid of war. They had a president who inspired them to fight, and who stand firmly against NATO.
  
  A president who is a truly patriotic and a very competent person
  
  I would trust more in him.
  
  There is no need to suffer, if Dombass is integrated in Russian Federarion (together with Mariupol, metolipol and I hope Kharkov) there is few that Ukraine can do. They were protected by nuclear umbrella and Ukraine can cry or shout but they will not be able to do what they did to the Dombass.
  
  I just hope that Russia will also take Odessa, real Russian city, lot of Russians there and unbelievable important from. Strategic point of view.
  
  But my point is, trust Putin. He always do everything that is possible.
  
  People always complain about Minsk but never remember that at that Moment Russia had several weak points:
  – Full food dependency from Europe. Now Europe depence of Russia
  – No alternative payment system
  – Not so much support of China
  
  The current sanctions would have been catastrophically in 2014. But now they are not.
  
  Trust the person who know when he is weak and work to resolve his weakness.
  
  Putin will do everything is in his hand using the power of Russia to help Russians, if he Won’t do is becuase he can’t.
  
  But we are seeing that he prepare Russia very well for this moment
  - Alexandre Marques on March 30, 2022 · at 7:47 pm EST/EDT
    
    Mas meu ponto é, confie em Putin. Ele sempre faz tudo o que é possível
    But my point is, trust Putin. He always do everything that is possible.
    Meu ponto é, confie em Deus, e que Putin seja um servo fiel.
    My point is, trust in God, and may Putin be a faithful servant.
  - Zookie's Turkey on March 30, 2022 · at 9:31 pm EST/EDT
    
    I only wish American politicians loved America as much as Putin loves Russia.
    - Truthsayer on March 30, 2022 · at 11:02 pm EST/EDT
      
      They do
      America is a pariah state with idiots
      They love it very much
  - lgfocus on March 30, 2022 · at 9:44 pm EST/EDT
    
    Cid, your comment shows great understanding and was beautifully said. I shared it on my twitter page.
  - Raymond on March 31, 2022 · at 11:09 am EST/EDT
    
    I agree with you Cid, I too would very much like to see Odessa being incorporated along with the 2 republics into the Russian Federation. It has as you noted a large Russian population, I wonder if it might be possible to do a little arm twisting, or, as Andrei describes it “turning up the pain dial, little by little” with pin point missile strikes on the AFU fish-barrel cauldron in Donbass. Which would be a triple whammy. 1. Payback for these past 8 years. 2. Smash physically and psychologically these would be storm troopers. 3. The re-incorporation of Catherine the Great’s city into the Motherland. I do hope it will happen but if not that Russia demands that ethnic Russians and their language be enshrined and preserved in the new Nurtured State of Ukraine. Sorry meant Neutral.
  - Jerry22 on March 31, 2022 · at 11:13 am EST/EDT
    
    Yes Cid. All anyone needs to do is look at the videos towards the end of Yeltsin. Russia was poor, broke, the citizens lives were miserable. Putin and the Russians have created a miracle.
    
    The evil Bush klan including old Poppy Bush involved in numerous wars, murder of JFK and endless other criminal activities comments about Russia which Putin never forgot. Bush essentially said something like Russia”s military is old rusting junk and let them play with their garbage, they are no threat. This is as Bush Sr. was letting oligarchs and Harvard economist come in and loot Russia.
    
    Putin remembered this. The USA and Bush could have been good partners, partners being a term Putin uses. Instead, they humiliated Russia and robbed Russia. I think one thing Putin realized is go with Russia’s strengths including rockets, math, science, physics and today computer programming. Putin and Russia realized that incredibly good cruise missiles like Kalibr backed by S400/S500 anti aircraft and anti ICBM missiles plus Kinzahls, Topol SM and many other missiles plus new tech means that Russia can control probably any battlefield.
    
    Russia then worked on their other strengths like energy with endless pipelines delivering the energy almost anywhere in the world at a fair price. Fertilizer, titanium, wheat, other food, minerals, neon gas and on and on. Russia put all the pieces together like a chess game. I hope all Russians realize what Putin has done for Russia.
- The Internationale on March 30, 2022 · at 11:12 pm EST/EDT
  
  The whole essence of negotiations with Ukraine in two quotes:
  
  Medinsky:
  Ukraine yesterday for the first time recorded its readiness to fulfill a number of important conditions for building good neighborly relations with Russia
  
  Kuleba:
  
  It is necessary to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. The 5th package of sanctions from the EU should come as soon as possible and be as tough as possible
  - John Magufuli on March 31, 2022 · at 12:34 am EST/EDT
    
    The whole essence of negotiations with Ukraine in two quotes:
    
    – French media | Contrepoints | Turkey replaces France.
    
    “It is tragic for Europe that France and the so-called liberal democracies are now replaced by an illiberal regime like Turkey in terms of diplomacy and mediation.”
    (…)
    “The talks between Ukraine and Russia were held in Istanbul. Turkey became a de facto mediator in this European conflict. We can be happy to see the two warring sides discuss and use diplomatic avenues. However, we can also regret the loss of diplomatic influence of France and EU countries.”
    (…)
    “The Turkish economy has strong relations to the Russian economy, for example, in terms of tourism or hydrocarbons. Erdogan has also grown closer to Zelensky, since Ukranian president came to power. Turkey provided Ukraine with Bayraktar UAVs currently used in conflict.”
    (…)
    “This pendulum game gives influence to Turkey and allows Turkey to become more than ever a political, economic and civilizational crossroads, enabling the Turkish leadership to gain and maintain the confidence of its Ukrainian and Russian counterparts.”
    (…)
    “Putin also met with Erdogan a few days after the start of the conflict(…) It is not surprising that Turkey serves as a place of discussion and reconciliation.”
    (…)
    “The example of Turkey shows that it is possible being a NATO member and to establish strong relations with warring countries such as Ukraine and Russia, same time.”
    (…)
    “In fact, France had long occupied this mediation position. But now Turkey is taking the place of France.”
    
    – Translation by dBSPL, Turkey, Senior Member of Pakistan Defence Forum
    https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/russia-ukraine-war-news-and-developments.706984/post-13664668
    
    Yandex-Übersetzung:
    
    United against hegemony: representatives of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries meet in China
    
    In addition to Afghanistan, the current conflict in Ukraine was also addressed. … Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov met in Tunxi … on Wednesday.
    
    The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan or their representatives will also take part in the third meeting of foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries. Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will represent Afghanistan. Qatar and Indonesia will participate as guests.
    
    (Lavrov and Wang) have stated that Russia and China are further expanding their strategic partnership…
    One focus of the cooperation with Moscow is to democratize international relations…
    
    The rapprochement between Russia and China, however, contrary to what some have portrayed, is not a matter of recent weeks or months, but the result of decades of effort to develop relations between the two countries, as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed. According to Wang, the two countries, which are also permanent members of the UN Security Council, will further intensify their partnership, thereby countering hegemony.
    – RT DE –
    https://de.rt.com/international/135019-geeint-gegen-hegemonie-vertreter-nachbarlander/
    
    In short: the EU is out of the regulation of European affairs. Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi is allowed to have a say, Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borell are not.
  - Michael Dubin on March 31, 2022 · at 1:53 am EST/EDT
    
    Diplomacy with Ukraine is a waste of time. NATO will just order it to ignore any agreements, like it did with Minks 1 and 2. Russia needs to pound Ukraine into submission and install a government.
    - Greg Galloway on March 31, 2022 · at 8:32 am EST/EDT
      
      110% OK
- Gerdt Malm on March 31, 2022 · at 12:39 am EST/EDT
  
  O good greef. What a story. This is gospel for me. I will continue with a big Halleluja. The truth always comes out at the Saker. Thank you again and again Andrei. You make me feel and my wife always in a good mood for the rest of the day here in Scandinavia. We send all heavenly blessings and we pray a lot for a free world from nazis!! God bless you and we also send a double blessings that will help you and your family. In Scandinavia we have very few people standing up for the truth. It’s completely dark mentally. You can count them on your both hands,sorry to say. Now Sweden will work for to get long range weapon!? For what? To send it from south to north? Because the land is so long?! No, they can’t fool me. It’s because you can reach the land of Russia of course. They are so stupid. They already have american patriots for 15 billion swedish crones (nearly 2 billion dollars)for defencive of course that’s always their thoughts. In Ucraine they now tells us that 657 people from Sweden is fighting,and nobody got hirt. Tell me another fairy tale….?
  - epsa on March 31, 2022 · at 3:58 am EST/EDT
    
    @Gerdt
    
    Well, maybe it’s pitch dark in Sweden mentally as you say, but that is due very much to the breakdown of the entire fabric of society. Violent crime/robbery is skyrocketing accompanied by rampant inflation, decaying infrastructure, and deindustrialization. If the Swedes subscribe to the fantasies about NATO’s benign protection coming to their rescue, it’s proof of the fact that hope dies last.
    
    I.salute Russia for taking out the Nazis in Ukraine, mercenary Swedes very much included.
    - A. Dane on March 31, 2022 · at 6:35 am EST/EDT
      
      Andrei wrote:
      “It would be INFINITELY better to convince the Ukrainian forces (which are doomed) to surrender by offering them a way out which would include some tangible rewards for those who will surrender”.
      My Comment:
      In this case their reward would be to survive as POW, protected by the Geneva Conventions.
      
      Andrei Wrote:
      “Disarming and denazifying the Ukraine is only a means towards a much more important goal: the future collective security architecture of a post-NATO Europe”.
      
      And that is what I have been writing about for a long time.
      I also see an “official” fracture of NATO:
      The British-American-Canadian-Australian and New Zealand Nations will continue within the NATO alliance, while all the European Nations will exit NATO and join the EU army.
      Thereby we will have a de-facto 4 Reich of the Holy Roman Empire.
      
      An erection of the Holy Roman Empire under the leadership of the unelected Fascist EU regime of Commissioners will be a NAZI dream comes true.
      Add to that the current negotiations of accepting NAZI infected Ukraine and Poland into the EU 4th Reich army, and we will soon see a Fascist Europe with Nuclear weapons rise from the ashes of the war in Ukraine.
      This will be a new dire threat to Russia, and every sovereign Nordic and European Nation.
      
      The “official” fracture of NATO is only a Scam, because the Deep State of the EU is joined at the hip with the Deep State of the US and UK.
      The current war in Europe (Ukraine) is to threaten sovereign European Nations into Joining either NATO or the EU army. The threat is especially put on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine.
      
      By the 1 of June, Denmark will have a referendum whether to Join the EU Army or not.
      I sincerely hope the Danes keep their military sovereignty and stays out of the EU Army.
      
      The solution to the threat against the sovereignty of the Nordic Nations is to erect a Nordic Alliance.
      I’m shure some Baltic Nations will join the Nordic Alliance, in order to keep their National sovereignty and peace in the Baltic region.
    - Gerdt Malm on March 31, 2022 · at 11:41 am EST/EDT
      
      You got it right there about Sweden. I completely agree. Today the prime minister said that we as swedes are very close to sign the contract to be a member of NATO. All of the other parties support it. That’s another way of saying that we will be at war. Here is only one . way. So if Finland go, we go. I have only one word left for these bastards : despise!
- Bubbaorwell on March 31, 2022 · at 11:40 pm EST/EDT
  
  I live in New Mexico. Just today I was talking to a woman from Crimea. She was visiting the grave of her mother at the cemetery near where I was working. She and her husband moved here about 20 years ago. I had talked to them a little several years ago. They still have a home in Crimea. Last night I was reading about how the crown clown of Ukraine was petitioning the world to ban displays of the letter Z. Being the good little conformist that I am I immediately started looking on the internet for a bumper sticker that said, I stand with Russia. To no avail. So I took a sharpie marker and Drew a Z on the ball cap I wear every day, about 2″ high and very dark. She didn’t notice that when we were talking, kind of sunny out, so I took it off and showed her. She was very shocked and asked what it was for(she knew what it meant to her) and I told her because I stand with Russia. I thought she was going to cry. She wanted to take a picture of it. Talk about breaking down her natural reserves about talking lol. She told me quite a bit about the Ukie Nazi army. What a bunch of monsters. I asked her if she had been on the bridge(Crimean), but she said no she always flew from Moscow to Crimea. I am invited to her home, here in NM, to visit with her and her husband. So yes my hat art work was a smashing success.
Garp on March 30, 2022 · at 6:25 pm EST/EDT

Andrei,
Thank you sir. Such a sane perspective.

I am awestruck ( in addition to the clear potency of the Russian military ) by the abysmal public relations they exhibit. With all the thousands of Zone B smart and capable people studying in the US ( which seems very capable in this regard ), are there no graduates who could spearhead a competency push in this arena?
- bonks on March 30, 2022 · at 7:59 pm EST/EDT
  
  Many of the Zone B people who went to Zone A have been indoctrinated to embrace the Judeo-Christian values – partly because they want to assimilate, partly to rebel against their motherlands, especially the younger ones.
  
  Most Zone B countries also do not share the cultural practice of slandering your enemies to get ahead (lying by omission to save face, positive propaganda that promote national and cultural values are more common). There are many of us who strive to maintain integrity and honesty by refuting lies, myths and insidious propaganda with facts and evidence, only to be called 50-cent army, wumaos, Russian propagandists, Putin apologists etc etc.
  
  It’s an uphill battle.
  - Harry Stantz on March 30, 2022 · at 10:35 pm EST/EDT
    
    “Judeo-Christian values”
    
    There’s no such thing.
    
    Judaism is Pharisaism.
    
    https://biblicisminstitute.wordpress.com/judaica/judaism-or-pharisaism/
    
    So it’s either Christian or Judeo.
    
    https://biblicisminstitute.wordpress.com/articles/wisdom/#judeo
    - Axierastos on March 31, 2022 · at 12:35 am EST/EDT
      
      You just misunderstood what he was saying and then proved his point about “Judeo-Christian Values” see?
      - Anne Brit on March 31, 2022 · at 5:22 am EST/EDT
        
        If you don’t know Christ you might get confused, and think it’s christian. A lot of pastors do. Even if Jesus calls them “seed of vipers”. Revelation is warning against those who falsly call themselves Jews, but are The synagogue of satan. Most people have no idea, as they never read scripture.
        
        Stuart Estrine on March 31, 2022 · at 6:23 am EST/EDT
        
        “ Synagogue of Satan “ ? How dare you. Do you have any idea how many Jews in the Red Army fought against the Nazis in the Great Patriotic War ? How dare you.
        
        Anne Brit on March 31, 2022 · at 10:31 am EST/EDT
        
        It’s the truth.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 7:59 pm EST/EDT
  
  all very good questions which make me angry
  btw – other bloggers are really pissed they say “your stupid PR policy gives US overtime work to explain what is really going on as opposed to your stupid verbiage”.
  Russia is decades behind the US in PSYOPs, and she does not own IT giants (even Telegram and Yandex are, if I recall correctly, foreign registered).
  At least today Putin issued a decree banning non-Russian software on government computers.
  Thank God for that at least…
  - Little Black Duck on March 30, 2022 · at 8:38 pm EST/EDT
    
    PR is essentially lying (at least it has devolved to that).
    Not engageing in it may prove to be a great asset in the long run.
    
    “No legacy is so rich as honesty”
    William Shakespeare
    
    “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything”
    Mark Twain
    - John Magufuli on March 31, 2022 · at 12:04 am EST/EDT
      
      Korrekt. Das russische Narrativ basiert auf den Tatsachen und die bleiben stehen. Das westliche Narrativ basiert nicht nur auf Lügen, sondern auf Krieg gegen die Realität. Mit Logik und Verstand ist die Botschaft nicht zu verstehen, sie ist weder in sich noch von einem Tag zum nächsten konsistent. Ich habe den Versuch, in deren Geschrei einen Sinn zu erkennen, längst aufgegeben. Es wendet sich rein an Gefühle. Psychotechnisch entfachte Hysterie. Gewaltiger Lärm, um den Gegner unhörbar zu machen und kritische Fragen unmöglich.
      
      Es basiert an dem Glauben auf die eigene Überlegenheit. Da sie am Ende die Stärkeren sind, bestimmen sie, was gilt, wenn die Hysterie vorbei ist. Es sieht aber gar nicht so aus, als seien sie diesmal die Stärkeren. Ganz und gar nicht.
      
      Wenn die Hysterie in Niederlage und Auflösung endet, und wir haben jetzt schon eine schwere Versorgungskrise bei Lebensmitteln und Energie, dazu Degradierung der Währung, und den Krieg faktisch verloren, dann wird das russische Narrativ immer noch das selbe sein. Z ist Kraft. Die Nazis sind Nazis und haben sich aufgeführt wie Nazis. Krieg und Terror durch EU und USA, seit der Bombardierung Belgrads ununterbrochen. Biowaffen. Die russische PR – auch, bei dem Geschrei jetzt nicht mitzutun – ist absolut genial. Ihr werdet schon sehen.
      
      Yandex-Übersetzung:
      
      Correct. The Russian narrative is based on the facts and they stand still. The Western narrative is based not only on lies, but on war against reality. With logic and reason, the message cannot be understood, it is not consistent either in itself or from one day to the next. I have long since given up trying to make sense of their shouting. It is purely about feelings. Psychotechnically sparked hysteria. Tremendous noise to make the opponent inaudible and critical questions impossible.
      
      It is based on the belief in one’s own superiority. Since they are the stronger in the end, they determine what applies when the hysteria is over. But it doesn’t look like they are the stronger this time. Not at all.
      
      If the hysteria ends in defeat and disintegration, and we already have a severe food and energy supply crisis, plus currency degradation, and have actually lost the war, then the Russian narrative will still be the same.
      Z is power. The Nazis are Nazis and they acted like Nazis. War and terror by the EU and the USA, continuously since the bombing of Belgrade. Bioweapons. The Russian PR – also, not to join in the shouting now – is absolutely brilliant. You’ll see.
      - Theophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 3:15 am EST/EDT
        
        I hope and pray that you are right.
  - Blue Pilgrim on March 31, 2022 · at 12:12 am EST/EDT
    
    Hear Little Black Duck — good point made. The goal of the empire in PR from that of ‘zone B’ is as different as with the military goals. ‘Zone A’ Want’s to successfully tell lies while ‘Zone B’ is to successfully tell the truth, and the latter is intrinsically more difficult.
    
    Also from Mark Twain: lie goes half way around the world while the truth is still putting it’s pants on.
- ebear on March 30, 2022 · at 9:04 pm EST/EDT
  
  I’m in no position to judge the competence of Russian PR, but from my perspective in Canada, if Russia hired the world’s best PR firm, I doubt it would make any difference. Our media is completely captured, and any attempt by independent journalists to report the truth is immediately cancelled. This situation has been in effect for the last two years, where any departure from the official “pandemic” narrative is immediately silenced. The proof of this is what happened to the trucker protest in Ottawa. For God’s sake, we even have pictures of our deputy prime minister holding a Nazi banner! And when the party in power feels threatened, our so-called worker’s party, led by an apostate Sikh no less, closes ranks with them to avoid a non-confidence vote, ensuring 3 more years of the exact same tyranny. As for Ukraine, we can expect no help from the conservatives, as they’ve also jumped on the Slava Ukraini bandwagon.
  
  Of course there are people here like myself who will speak the truth, but it mostly falls on deaf ears. Everywhere you look now you see blue and yellow, including even our fire stations, and by now, probably the parliament building itself.
  
  Thanks to independent journalists like Patrick Lancaster, I’ve seen what has happened in Donbass and Mariupol. The amount of evidence collected by him and others is simply overwhelming, and should be enough to make ALL Canadians hang their heads in shame at what they’ve supported, but I’m not holding my breath. The stupidity, ignorance and duplicity here is profound. I’m surrounded by it, even in my own family.
  - Htyul on March 30, 2022 · at 9:38 pm EST/EDT
    
    I share the pain. It’s become dangerous to even discuss these issues. I was following Irrussianality and Russian observer, both Canadian sources, and both have fallen silent. It’s not looking good compadre… I’m even stressed about commenting here.
    - nonsensical on March 31, 2022 · at 1:15 am EST/EDT
      
      stash some of your money outside of the canadian bank system if you can
  - Jim Bob on March 31, 2022 · at 3:10 am EST/EDT
    
    I’m Canadian as well. This is how I start conversation on the topic. Gets to the point quick and people see it.
    
    If Canada had killed 14,000 Americans in southern Ontario, allowed the Russian military into the country and had tens of thousands of neo-Nazi troops on the US border – would the US have waited 8 years to strike at Canada?
    
    That’s what happened in Ukraine.
    
    Works every time.
  - A.H.H. on March 31, 2022 · at 6:51 am EST/EDT
    
    Well said ebear.
    
    I have many close relatives in Zone A, especially in Canada. I consider them under the influence. Good, decent, intelligent, God-fearing, some highly educated and professionally trained such as veterinarians and nurses, successful contractors and family people and so on. But they stopped being reality-based. They focus on surviving that day, not the big picture. it is frightening. Is the influence of the technology and its propaganda – especially TV and 3-5G smartphones that strong? In combination with continuously pumped environmental and dietary toxins and aberrant socialization from Kindergarten? I don’t know.
    
    I have always been an outlier, an introvert who read, kept to himself, and marched to a different beat. However most who are easily led and influenced and care of their place with the majority have changed. They are scared, and covid amplified this insecurity. They are confronted with unbelievable evil, such implications about their rulers and of their entire society which they cannot face. They are frozen by Denial and a growing sense that everything is built on lies and the wolves lead their flock. It is 911 on an unbearable level. Then it affected about 3,000 people and a part of NYC and volunteer soldiers in remote wars. They could afford to go along with the myth. This affects each, requiring ceding of personal autonomy and over one’s body. It has broken the majority, and this was the intent.
    
    It is a spiritual struggle. So we need to pity and have compassion for most in North America and throughout the core of the Empire. They were transformed into overwhelmingly fearful and submitted slaves without agency. I think the zombie-apocalyse movie genre anticipated this, and mocks the sheeple, when most would be this remote controlled mindless drone operating at the lowest common denominator and at the beck and call of cruel Technocrats.. we are there. It is the New Order of the AntiChrist..
    
    The fight has to be won by Zone B. If Russia fails, we enter another Dark Age for many generations. Russia must win and roll it back and punish the Technocrats and dispossess the oligarchs to prevent the same fate for the rest of mankind.
  - Lasttruebeliever on March 31, 2022 · at 9:48 am EST/EDT
    
    I live in Canada in Alberta . I’ve commented here since the first war in Ukraine and this war cuts right through this family as did the first one.
    I’ve worked with nazis, both in the army in Viet Nam and afterwards with guys slightly older than me in Canada. If they have firmly gone down the path of murder they are incorrigible. Most of my family don’t understand this. Perhaps one does. My wife is half Hungarian and English and is a fanatical russophobe. We have agreed to not talk politics.
    I don’t care if anyone agrees with me in my conviction that justice is being served in Ukraine, I just want, excepting my wife, everyone who disagrees with me, to experience just one atom of the pain I have experienced personally since Miss Vicky got started there.
    
    BrotherBlueIconoclast
- Thomas on March 31, 2022 · at 5:00 am EST/EDT
  
  I waited quite some time for thesaker to address the Zone A war-mindset which is being displayed here ad nauseam. Thank you very much, Mr. Raevsky!
s on March 30, 2022 · at 6:29 pm EST/EDT

As long as Russia holds firm, then the blow soon to be delivered by the ruble-for-gas requirement is going to speak much louder than all the AngloZionist chatter to which far too many people still heed.

I think Putin’s ‘Empire of Lies’ moniker will end up being the PR Kill Shot of the first few decades of the twenty first century. So let the chatterers have their little small arms fire victories; when the world finally grocks the FOAB impact of the Empire of Lies statement their minor skirmishes – much like the little sorties into the Kiev outskirts currently being ballyhooed in the ELM (Empire of Lies Media) – will be consigned to oblivion where they belong.

Yes, maybe they could do a better PR job. But there is something very powerful – and also nowadays rare – in letting actions speak louder than words. Luckily, since I am not running a blog like you I have no reason to watch Western MSM and so I don’t, though occasionally I do enjoy Tucker Carlson’s opening monologues – he’s witty and incisive. And, yes, Youtube is a disaster though the Duran is sometimes okay on this stuff.
- ZOFH on March 30, 2022 · at 6:55 pm EST/EDT
  
  Re “Empire of Lies”:
  I also consider this perhaps the best PR-move they’ve made. The first time i heard Putin utter that phrase, i just thought “Meh, okay”. Yes, it was obviously true, but also seemed kinda cheesy. But then over the course of just a few days, it not only grew on me, but i think it’s actually the most accurate moniker to express what everyone outside the matrix has been feeling for years, and the “cheesyness” is actually a feature, because it’s so simple any child can understand it.
  - ram on March 30, 2022 · at 7:22 pm EST/EDT
    
    Almost everybody I know, maybe everybody, knows what I mean when I say “Empire of Lies” and now they are using the description as well. Truly that descriptor of the Anglo-Sphere has gone viral.
  - Pooblius on March 30, 2022 · at 11:46 pm EST/EDT
    
    …plenty in the matrix that have watched the lies..for decades…
    
    I keep the Carlin maxim close to heart.
    
    “I believe NOTHING the government tells me”
- Theophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 3:19 am EST/EDT
  
  “I think Putin’s ‘Empire of Lies’ moniker will end up being the PR Kill Shot of the first few decades of the twenty first century.” My thoughts entirely.
Little Black Duck on March 30, 2022 · at 6:29 pm EST/EDT

“the purely military aspects of the SMO are taking second place to the economic cataclysm which Zone A brought upon itself (and much of the world”)

Markets have not yet responded to the looming realities.
When the stock market collapses the pain begins.
Understanding will come last if it ever comes at all.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:00 pm EST/EDT
  
  I think that already 3 EU countries have declared an gas/energy emergency.
  and that is just the tiny beginning
  - Original Analyst on March 30, 2022 · at 10:34 pm EST/EDT
    
    The commodities sector is already reeling from the punch to the stomach caused by massive price rises in Nickel, Palladium, Platinum etc…investors are scrambling to find mines in Europe to compensate but this takes a long time to set up…
    Car makers have been hit 2 ways: they cant get components out of the Ukraine to complete assembly of cars in Germany. They have been ordered not to export to Russia…so some plants are already idle.
    so the pain is gaining momentum…
catubilu on March 30, 2022 · at 6:30 pm EST/EDT

Can someone explain to me in layman terms what does this really mean
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-says-putin-agreed-to-keep-payments-for-gas-in-euros/a-61310461 ?

I am not a finance guy so do not understand who won here, is it EU or Russia? or nothing changed and it is business as usual

Do not trust German mainstream media – wait to see the outcome of talks. Unfriendly countries have to pay in Roubles – how they get the Roubles is what the talks are about. The mechanism will be finalised tomorrow – as per VVP’s instruction last week. And stop re-posting this article all over the site and at other sites. Next to trash. Mod.
- Jean-Francois on March 30, 2022 · at 7:13 pm EST/EDT
  
  If Germany pay 1,000 euros to Gazprom Bank and they buy immediatelly rubles (in an account within Russia), this is the equivalent of buying the natural gas in rubles. More demand for rubles, so the exchange rate ruble/euros rises further, as long that Russia doesn’t use Gazprom Bank to buy German stuff with euros later. It seems to me that the goalof Russia is to push upward the value of its currency to 75 rubles/USD (pre-war value). But if the ruble rises so much that it goes to 60 rubles/USD, it will push the price of gold (in USD) upward since the central bank has pegged the ruble to 55 ruble/gram of gold (or 75 ruble/USD).
  - catubilu on March 30, 2022 · at 8:23 pm EST/EDT
    
    This make complete sense. Thank You!
    I wish Russia comes out on top out of all this, and the arrogant west suffers humiliating defeat that they do not forget for next 7 lives.
  - The Internationale on March 30, 2022 · at 10:50 pm EST/EDT
    
    Gazprom exchanging its euros from Germany for rubles is A LOT different than Germany directly exchanging euros for rubles to buy gas.
    - John Magufuli on March 31, 2022 · at 1:24 am EST/EDT
      
      Sie bezahlen das Gas in Rubeln, ganz wie sie sollen. Die Rubel können sie sehr einfach kaufen, indem sie der Gazprom-Bank € geben, und die tauscht sie ihnen in die nötigen Rubel um. Was ist denn das Problem? Sie sind zu stur, um zu akzeptieren, daß russische Untermenschen ihnen Bedingungen diktieren können.
      
      Dank des einfachen Services der Gazprom-Bank können sie sich einbilden, gewonnen zu haben. Aber sie zahlen das Gas in Rubeln. Ob da weitere Schritte kommen, wie können die aussehen? An deren Stelle würde ich Putin da nicht trauen. Die Gazprom-Bank ist keine Wechselstube, sie kann diesen Service an eine geeignetere Institution abgeben. Oder es wird mit der neuen Währung von SOZ-EAWU neu geregelt. Es ist nicht das Ende, sondern der Anfang, und bei allem, was noch kommt, müssen sie entscheiden, ob sie sich selber – oder besser – uns – das Gas abstellen oder ob sie die Kröte besser auch noch schlucken.
      
      Yandex-Übersetzung:
      
      They pay for gas in rubles, just as they should. They can buy the rubles very easily by giving € to Gazprom Bank, which will exchange them for the necessary rubles. What’s the problem? They are too stubborn to accept that Russian Untermenschen can dictate conditions to them.
      
      Thanks to the simple service of Gazprom Bank, they can imagine that they won. But they pay for gas in rubles. If there are further steps, how can they look like? If I were them, I wouldn’t trust Putin. Gazprom-Bank is not an exchange office, it can transfer this service to a more suitable institution. Or it will be regulated anew with the new currency of SOC-EAEU. It’s not the end, but the beginning, and with everything that’s yet to come, they have to decide whether they turn off the gas for themselves – or better – us – or whether they’d better swallow the toad as well.
    - John Magufuli on March 31, 2022 · at 1:45 am EST/EDT
      
      Die geben die € nicht Gazprom, um Gas zu bezahlen. Die geben die € der Gazprombank, um damit Rubel zu kaufen, mit denen sie – ganz wie vorgeschrieben – das Gas in Rubeln bezahlen. Das ist ein erheblicher Unterschied.
      
      Die Gazprombank (russisch Газпромбанк) ist eine der großen Banken in Russland und hat ihren Hauptsitz in Moskau. Sie wurde 1990 durch den russischen Energiekonzern Gazprom als Tochtergesellschaft gegründet, befindet sich aber heute nicht mehr mehrheitlich in dessen Besitz. …
      Im Verlauf der Krise in der Ukraine 2014 erließen die USA und die EU im Juli 2014 Sanktionen gegen die Gazprombank. … Am 24. Februar 2022 wurde die Gazprombank von der EU und den Vereinigten Staaten sowie Vereinigtes Königreich von ihren Teilen des Finanzmarktes abgeschnitten.
      – Wikipedia – Gazprombank
      
      Yandex-Übersetzung:
      
      They don’t give the € to Gazprom to pay for gas. They give the € to Gazprombank in order to use it to buy rubles, with which they – as prescribed – pay for the gas in rubles. This is a significant difference.
      
      Gazprombank … is one of the major banks in Russia and is headquartered in Moscow. It was founded in 1990 by the Russian energy company Gazprom as a subsidiary, but is no longer majority-owned by it today. …
      In the course of the crisis in Ukraine in 2014, the US and the EU issued sanctions against Gazprombank in July 2014. … On February 24, 2022, Gazprombank was cut off from its parts of the financial market by the EU and the United States, as well as the United Kingdom.
      – Wikipedia – Gazprombank
    - KRL on March 31, 2022 · at 3:23 am EST/EDT
      
      Yes, at the moment, Russia still get Euros, which will either become less valued currency, or that RF doesn’t want to use them for political reason.
      But Peskov says that the goal is not expected to be completely solved March 31, but it will eventually.
      I see it as one month compromise, when the gas is “somewhat” payed in rubles, and EU gets one more month to get start using some resemblence of common sense.
  - flex on March 31, 2022 · at 5:42 am EST/EDT
    
    What is Gazprom-Bank doing with the euros they received? Aren’t they prone to sanctions?
    - Jean-Francois on March 31, 2022 · at 9:57 am EST/EDT
      
      Those euros ‘vanish’ in some way if they cannot use them except to buy rubles.But as long that euros are used to buy rubles, it pushes the price of the limited amount of rubles in circulation upward with respect to other currencies. For me the important part is the decision of Russia to peg the ruble to 55 rub/gram of gold. It’s probably the mechanism they chose to gain from their gold reserves if the ruble rise so much that their profit from gas sales (in euros) are offset by a too strong ruble.
- Jean-Francois on March 30, 2022 · at 7:26 pm EST/EDT
  
  If I want to add to my previous post, if the contract for gas deliveries were to be paid in euros, Russia is starting to lose if its currency rises so that you need only 60 rubles (instead of 75) to buy one USD; you get less rubles than expected from a payment in euros for your gas. But if the peg to gold works, it means that the value of the gold that is in the vaults of the Russian central bank rises and offset this lost. The peg will probably work due to arbitrage. There are always people abroad who see an opportunity to transfer gold to get rubles (or the opposite) if they can make a profit, but this is rebalancing gradually the ration ruble/gold.
- Anand on March 30, 2022 · at 8:27 pm EST/EDT
  
  I think we’re just going to have to wait and see.
  
  I think we’d all prefer payments be paid in euro: the world is sick of having to import American inflation into our national economies.
  - Anand on March 30, 2022 · at 9:30 pm EST/EDT
    
    We’d all prefer payments be paid in *rubles*: the world is sick of having to import American inflation into our national economies.
- The Accountant on March 30, 2022 · at 10:13 pm EST/EDT
  
  Roubles are not available in little bags for people to buy at the store. They are created on demand by banks, because banks are factories for money not warehouses.
  
  All money is an accounting entry on the books of some institution. It has nothing to do with gold coins. Most people’s mental model of money is wrong. Money doesn’t really exist. It’s just a record of a promise, which as we have seen, an be cancelled by the promisor on a whim.
  
  In every international finance transaction, the consumer pays in the currency they have and the producer receives the currency they want to hold. Banks make money performing the magic of transforming one into the other.
  
  So the EU buyer of gas will goto to their European bank and instruct them to pay Gazprom using Euros in their account.
  
  Previously the EU buyer will have had the banking address of a bank in the Eurozone for Gazprom. Gazprom would receive the Euros and then Gazprom would ask its bank to transfer some of that to its bank in Russia in Roubles.
  
  Now the EU buyer will have to use the banking address of Gazprom’s account in Russia directly.
  
  What that does is put the risk of the transfer from Euros to Roubles being blocked by sanctions onto the EU buyer of gas, rather than Gazprom.
  
  Overall though little will change if the transaction is successful. The amount of Euros the EU buyer pays will remain the same. The number of Euros Russian entities hold will remain the same. (Gazprom + Russian Bank + Bank of Russia less Euros used to buy imports and hard assets). The amount of roubles that ultimately creates in Russia will vary depending upon the exchange rate – as it always has done.
  
  It’s the risk of the transfer of money being blocked that is being reassigned. Very likely though the Eurozone will pass the same law as Russia has – transfer of Euros to an escrow account in Euros opened in the name of Gazprom will be considered legal settlement of the debt.
  - Rodolfo on March 31, 2022 · at 5:59 am EST/EDT
    
    That was a good explanation. Thanks
- Odif on March 31, 2022 · at 4:45 am EST/EDT
  
  First Catubilu I would suggest spending a little time researching the ‘Petrodollar’ how it came about and what it means to the USA.
  
  Second; look at the European gas (and oil) wholesale price history from March 2021 to March 2022. You will note the purchaser (Europe) is paying a lot more for the exactly same product. It didnt get more expensive to extract or deliver, nor did anyone attach any magical properties to it to make it worth more. In this case the producer (Russia) is receiving more ‘money’ for the exact same product from the purchaser (Europe) without having to add any extra work.
  
  Its a sweet deal for Russia, why not take it?
  
  In reality the purchasing power of the purchaser (Euro) is diminished. To understand this better you have to understand that to every unit of ‘money’ there is a corresponding unit of ‘energy’. In our current world that unit of energy is provided by hydrocarbons. So for simplicity lets say a year ago Europe was paying 1 Euro for a given unit of natural gas, today it has to pay 6 Euros for the same unit of gas. That’s a big increase and when the producer tells you that they want it paid in their own unit of money (how ever you arrange that for it doesn’t matter) it increases the value of their currency against yours, that is the purchaser finds that his money isn’t worth what it was (we all know how that feels dont we?). Conversely the producer (Russia) finds his money is worth more.
  
  In the greater scheme it is not in Russia’s interest to see the European economy collapse (and it will collapse if they cannot secure supplies of gas and oil). Look at Europe as being a milk cow, feed it well and treat it carefully and you get all the milk you need but if you kill it there is no more milk.
  
  To answer your question of who won and lost here? I would say the Petrodollar lost.
Max on March 30, 2022 · at 6:33 pm EST/EDT

One need to talk to their opponents to find a common or compromise base. However, when it comes to TRAITORS, one need to be ruthless. What did Vladimir Putin say about handling traitors?

Was Ukraine behaving as a traitor? RAND Corp., designed a plan in 2019 inspired by the model: “Overextending and Unbalancing Russia”, which is forcing the opponent to extend excessively to unbalance and take it down. “As part of this strategy – the RAND Corporation plan envisaged in 2019 – “providing lethal aid to Ukraine would exploit Russia’s greatest external vulnerability,… Squeezed in the political, economic, and military grip that the US and NATO were increasingly tightening, ignoring the repeated warnings and proposals for negotiations by Moscow,”

If Ukraine was acting as a traitor then Russia needs to hold it accountable, so none in the future will be traitors towards Russia. One’ character & strength is determined by the stand they take.

https://www.zeit-fragen.ch/en/archives/2022/no-7-29-march-2022/ukraine-it-was-all-written-in-the-rand-corp-plan.html
Midge on March 30, 2022 · at 6:34 pm EST/EDT

Wonderful piece! Jaw-jaw may be better than war-war, but it only works if accompanied by pain, more pain, and even more pain. Remembering that will definitely help Westerners like me keep on an even keel through the ups and downs of the coming months and years of confrontation between China-Russia and the West.
hum on March 30, 2022 · at 6:35 pm EST/EDT

Remember, Zone A only accepts facts on the ground! This time around Russia must win the war in Ukraine or it will be The END, of Russia and probably BRI.
Sokenekos on March 30, 2022 · at 6:38 pm EST/EDT

Thanks Saker. However, what do we do about this part which is the key?
“The Ukrainian side agreed to: …”
Didn’t they “agree to” Minsk 1.0 and Minsk 2.0 – no less under UN resolutions – and where are we today? Take other UN-supported international agreements as well; say Kosovo, Bosnia Dayton accords, not to speak about the exceptional entity in the Middle East, and the same rhetorical question keeps coming back.
Thus, only Russian army can guaranty security and enforcement of said goals in the 404 territories like it does in e.g. Syria to which this campaign is getting eerily more similar. Neo-Nazis need to surrender first and then agree to the demands. They should not be given any maneuvering space.
Over there in Serbia we lost everything through negotiations despite winning the “kinetic war” (as you call it).
- amarynth on March 30, 2022 · at 6:58 pm EST/EDT
  
  The situation has changed. Russia will never allow the pain dial in someone else’s hands. They will keep it, de facto and de jure. Who was involved in the accords for the break-up of Yugoslavia? It was at the time that Russia still had hopes that the western partners were sane. They have learned that lesson so very clearly, and so has China, and so has Iran, and so has Venezuela, and I can list a list of about 140 countries that will be content to leave the pain dial in Russia’s hands.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:03 pm EST/EDT
  
  sigh
  must I really make a special post about VERIFIABLE measures and how that works???
  I mean,
  This blog is not a virtual Kindergarten, so why am I explaining BASIC concepts over and over again???
  This is really frustrating…
  - John Doe on March 30, 2022 · at 8:58 pm EST/EDT
    
    The level of education considerably dropped in the two last decades in the West, these people aren’t trained to think by themselves. It’s necessary to be patient as they learn critical thinking.
    A dumbed down education makes people more malleable, a convenient fact exploited by the elites.
  - Greg on March 30, 2022 · at 9:04 pm EST/EDT
    
    Is a post archived somewhere on the site that does detail the topic of Verifiable Measures? It is evidently a crucial matter in the current scheme of things. Not everyone here on the site now has been around since whenever this critical construct was previously outlined.
    
    The concept of Verifiable Measures isn’t hard to grasp, but how might they be drafted and enacted to be practicably reliable over ensuing time?
  - Voronsky on March 30, 2022 · at 9:07 pm EST/EDT
    
    Please continue putting your energy into remarks that the “silent majority” get loud and clear. How many millions of views now? Most of us get it. Also bear in mind that for many yes, this is kindergarten because it’s their first foray into Zone B logic. You may wish to move your terms/bio/Zone A vs. B primer links to a more prominent position at the top of the page, and also add to the moderation policy (and even this little comment box) a quick note that says “Please consult the ‘About Saker Blog’ links at the top of the page before asking questions about principles and big-picture items not directly related to the details of this post.”
  - Anand on March 31, 2022 · at 12:47 am EST/EDT
    
    I’m terribly sorry, but I too would appreciate something on “Verifiable Measures”, especially in the Ukrainian context.
  - Theophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 3:45 am EST/EDT
    
    Dear Saker,
    Yes you are doomed, I fear.
    When I was very young I was taught public speaking to soldiers by a Sergeant Major in the British Army who had seen a lot of war and the world. “You tell ’em what you are going to tell ’em, you tell ’em, then you tell ’em what you told ’em. That way they have a chance of understanding what you are on about… and don’t fidget or they’ll all be copying you in five minutes.”
    More to the point, what concerns me most, as one who has followed this saga for many years, it is pretty evident that it has always been important for Russia to control the northern shore of the Black Sea as a relatively easy frontier to defend. I take in everything you say but until that is so again, I cannot help thinking that it will be unfinished business for Russia and the West… an unbalanced situation. Other frontiers create other problems but that is the most dangerous especially as the Anglo Americans are already openly talking about bringing their warships back into the Black Sea and exactly how close they will go to the Russian blockade.
    - AndrewK on March 31, 2022 · at 6:15 am EST/EDT
      
      If NATO will try to meddle into Black Sea, then they will met up with Russia’s military. This will lead to direct confrontation, which NATO can’t win.
  - Greg on March 31, 2022 · at 5:18 am EST/EDT
    
    I would have left my previous request for an archive reference on this matter as it stands however the follow on postings alluding to lack of education and inability to grasp simple concepts require further comment.
    
    ‘Verifiable measures’ is in this context a jargon term. It has a technically specific application and recognised sets of constructs would apply to that application.
    
    Yes, the concept is basic, or at least is readily accessible with some basic thought process. However, how it might actually be applied in this instance is not. The hostility toward recognising that, along with chiming acolyte chorus, is a bit alarming.
    - amarynth on March 31, 2022 · at 7:29 am EST/EDT
      
      Iran is a superb example of verifiable measures but I think the JPCOA consultations is now off again. Not sure about that.
      
      Their verifiable measures included items such as .. they want to see the sanctions being dropped – as the sanctions were like usual all included in a myriad of actual laws in the US – and specific threats and coercion to corresponding banks and the European countries. Iran wanted to physically see those laws nullified, with an agreement that the US (on top level) will not again re-institute them. Hard and verifiable. Then Russia and later China, part of the negotiations there, said that if Iran gets these verifiable withdrawal of sanctions in law, both Russia and China intends on doing business with Iran, in a post sanctions regime with the JPCOA re-instituted – so clauses were negotiated that Russia (I don’t know about China right at the moment) was included in the ‘verifiable’ part … i.e., sanctions will not be passed on Russia and China for doing business with Iran.
      
      That is a strong grouping.
      
      Complex gyrations, but eventually included. Uncle Sam was not too happy of course and I think the JPCOA is probably now fully dead.
      
      But, this is a big but .. when the FM of Iran visited Russia just a very few weeks ago, Lavrov made a statement that they will nullify the whole of the unilateral sanctions regime. Just a day or two ago, in China, he stated that they will finally break the unilateral sanctions regime so that no-one can be threatened with loss of trade because of Uncle Scam’s long arm of the law.
      
      Lavrov is in India now .. cast your minds back to when Putin visited China and India – to great fanfare.
      
      So, Lavrov stated that he is there to see to the implementation of the programs agreed to between Putin and the other two leaders. I think that verifiable measures being asked for by anyone from the US and its lapdogs, will fall by the wayside with the new financial system incoming.
      
      Now think of the Ukraine .. what could the measures be? They are already in there. No nukes is verifiable. Some of the small print in the drafts state that the Ukraine will not be allowed military exercises without telling Russia about them first . that’s verifiable and so on.
      
      So it just means what it states – you can verify the Ukraine’s consistent application of whatever agreement is made . and the final arbiter is the UN founding documents, i.e., written down international law and agreed to by a multi-polar international order.
      
      The so-called rules based international order is something we have to fight hard against. I have been expecting major changes on the UN level – Putin has stated those for years now – in order to fully move to a multi.polarity in our world.
      
      There is one more thing. International relations and the world on this level is complex. If one wants to make it simple, well that is not the way things work – it is by nature complex.
      - Greg on March 31, 2022 · at 8:43 am EST/EDT
        
        Thanks Amarynth.
        So verifiable is not the same as secure. It is simply a threshold of measurability of terms that enables for clear and early identification of the terms being screwed over. At that point of realisation the situation then relies upon having the power to over-ride or safely ignore that betrayal. As has been repeatedly demonstrated, the West’s babel machine can readily and successfully construe daylight as darkness and vice versa. So verifiability means little without the power and the means to impose those verifiable terms despite shameless incalcitrance by the betraying party.
        
        On that basis the current action in Ukraine must reach achieve a satisfactory degree of necessary change, both within the active theatre of conflict and across the wider economic sphere, prior to ceasing that mission for any agreement, even one reliant upon ‘verifiable measures’. I’m sure the people in charge know what those necessary degrees of change are.
        
        amarynth on March 31, 2022 · at 9:37 am EST/EDT
        
        Greg, please take a look at what I’ve just written to Larchmonter – the bit about a sweet spot.
        
        /negotiations-a-primer-for-zone-a-residents/#comment-1057601
        
        What I think is usually not taken into account, is that the western babble is babble. The real world is being built out around us – in that same response to Larchmonter.
        
        So, we cannot lose sight of the forces that are around the reasons for the Ukraine. The western influenced part of our world is losing its supremacy and financial clout and very fast – so, in the same process they will be losing their ability to create mayhem across the world. Our fears that they will pull the rug out under something, are still grounded, but that ability is getting less and less.
        
        Pull the nazi influence from the Ukraine, and the west has nothing to work with. Then the Ukraine (in whichever format anything there continues) will just be another failed state. But I tried to describe the sense of it in that response to Larchmonter445.
        
        Bear in mind if there is agreement on anything, the Ukraine that will sign that, is not the Ukraine of today.
        
        Greg on March 31, 2022 · at 10:56 am EST/EDT
        
        Thanks for that link.
        Yes, I understand that the existence and implications of that broader sphere. I made very succinct reference to it in my previous comment. It is a very large part of developing the power necessary to enforce genuine standards. In many ways the conflict arena is the minor dimension of the two.
        
        Sokenekos on March 31, 2022 · at 12:25 pm EST/EDT
        
        Thank you Greg for your persistence on getting the clear answer on an issue I didn’t think it to be on the “kindergarten” level at all. Quite to the contrary!
        It was odd to read that Ukraine (= US + its vassals) has agreed to some points while Saker himself rightfully labeled it “non-agreement capable;” hence my reaction.
        I now better understand to what Amarynth is getting to, so thank you Amarynth as well!
- Exile on March 31, 2022 · at 6:02 am EST/EDT
  
  …. Over there in Serbia we lost everything through negotiations despite winning……
  
  The constellation of forces is very different today versus 1991-1999. Plus 1244 remains the law of the land, plus Dayton is also good for the Orthodox when strictly observed. Time is on the side of the just.
- Squirrel on March 31, 2022 · at 11:38 pm EST/EDT
  
  can someone explain what term “404” means?
Alexandre Marques on March 30, 2022 · at 6:42 pm EST/EDT

“So, the goal is NOT to denazify the Ukraine, that is a means towards the goal, the real goal is to denazify the planet.”

May God bless this goal.
- ZOFH on March 30, 2022 · at 7:05 pm EST/EDT
  
  While in the ukraine nazism is indeed the primary ideology, on the global scale it’s more like an unholy merger of neonazism and neo-bolshevik ideology. I often call them “nazibols”. Although the “na”-part is kinda incorrect, but “glozibols” sounds kinda retarded. Any ideas?
- Alexandre Marques on March 30, 2022 · at 7:34 pm EST/EDT
  
  “So the goal is NOT to denazify Ukraine, this is a means to the goal, the real goal is to denazify the planet.”
  
  May God bless this goal.
- TerraHertz on March 30, 2022 · at 8:16 pm EST/EDT
  
  Seconded! This is a great article.
  
  The only question is whether, after all the lies and insanity are excised, would there be anything resembling a functioning, just society left?
  
  Even if the answer is “No, the empire of lies is a cancer grown through everything”, then pehaps oblivion would be preferable
  
  I for one have had enough of living in a world where lies and murderous liars rule. I wish I could ‘vote with my feet’ and enlist in this fight. But in Australia, where is the recruitment office for Truth? I don’t hold much hope for our coming elections. The same Labor-Liberal-MSM uniparty of the genocidal Globalists will retain power, and even Clive’s ‘United Australia Party’ that presents itself as an anti-vax alternative is turning out to have a remarkably Nazi stink. (Sadly. Experience from personal involvement.)
  
  I hope Pres. Putin at least understands that to ‘denazify the planet’ he’s going to have to deal with the ‘ulitmate boss nazis’ – the Global Elites. Not just Soros, but the likes of Gates, Klaus Schwab and the WEF, the Rothschilds, the entire Zionist cult, all the secret societies like Committee of 300, Bohemian Grove, and so on.
  
  From now on, any time someone asks me to define what ‘Nazi’ means, I will make them watch that horrific video of bound Russian POWs being shot in the pelvis. I think that distills the Nazi philosophy very well. At any scale. This is what the US government did to multiple entire nations. Deliberately tortured and destroyed them, for no rational reason. Merely to demonstrate the power of their cruelty and ability to endlessly lie, kill and destroy.
  - Naresh Jotwani on March 31, 2022 · at 4:40 am EST/EDT
    
    Functioning, just societies will definitely remain after the Empire of Lies collapses. Truth remains after lies collapse. But these societies will be on a smaller scale, in which people do respect and care for one another … by and large. Huge, greedy, power-hungry, heartless corporate entities will not survive in their present form. What economists wrongly call “standard of living” will decline, but those who survive the collapse will be wiser and happier.
ABC on March 30, 2022 · at 6:43 pm EST/EDT

I read in the previous article’s comments that the Vatican has purchased Rubles in order to ensure the uninterrupted deliveries of gas. If this is true, I can only say what a ironic and historical justice this is. It should be well known that the fall of Constantinople can be more properly attributed to saxon crusaders than to the arabs. How history rights itself (even triflingly so) is a small justice.
- whatevs on March 30, 2022 · at 7:16 pm EST/EDT
  
  yeah, I agree with you.The Vatican is such a joke, unfortunately an evil one recently.
  
  (Although the idea that the Vatican has it’s own gas pipes separate from the Italian system is kind of ludicrous, so something about the story really doesn’t make any sense.)
  - Vladimir on March 30, 2022 · at 8:21 pm EST/EDT
    
    No, the Vatican is not a joke. They are what is driving this whole thing. And the fact that most Westerners cannot see that is almost proof of their involvement in itself, as fish cannot see the water they swim in.
    - whatevs on March 30, 2022 · at 10:13 pm EST/EDT
      
      Wasn’t it some famous Russian who asked “how many divisions does the Pope have?”
      - Theophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 3:49 am EST/EDT
        
        No, it was an infamous Georgian.
- Alexandre Marques on March 30, 2022 · at 7:42 pm EST/EDT
  
  Toda a justiça é … grande!
  
  All justice is… g r e a t!
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:04 pm EST/EDT
  
  I think that this Vatican story is an fake, a funny urban legend.
  not sure
  I think they were mostly busy “consecrating” stuff they don’t own to a God they betrayed…
  - Vladimir on March 30, 2022 · at 8:39 pm EST/EDT
    
    Almost as great a betrayal as that of Judas Iscariot.
InHocSignoVinces on March 30, 2022 · at 6:45 pm EST/EDT

Medinsky The Negotiator

The following short article is really worth having a look at.

“When Medinsky was the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, such performances were staged at the Serebrenikov Theater in cultural Moscow”
https://cont.ws/@ra-victory21/2248438

It gives a measure of the depth the cultural sewage flooding from SodomWest has permeated the RF government.
- Spiral on March 31, 2022 · at 12:31 am EST/EDT
  
  Exactly Putin-Lavrov point. If you look at
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oua0Puihrkc
  then it should be clear why Medinsky is the perfect
  match to Z/elensky.
  
  Best regards, Spiral
heretic on March 30, 2022 · at 6:49 pm EST/EDT

March 31, 2022 dawn

IMO

Ukraine is won – the real pain begins. But this is just the beginning.
OK Germany fails but a reinforced Nato will carry out its orders – sacrifice.

To win Russia must face a thoroughly defeated Bolshevik led USA. There is no alternative.

Trust Ukraine, the West, Israel? Never. The surviving Trotskyite Bolsheviks in Washington DC (like the leftover Nazi in Ukraine – same wars) will continue from their Fuhrer Bunkers – this enemy will maintain its hold until upended by WWIII or internal revolutions.

An agreement with Ukraine means absolutely nothing – it is the nation of this cornered beast that must take a priori consideration.

The US must be defeated while Brandon remains the Power of the US Presidency Principle – sap that Power – and that ends the Principle. That should be easy.

Putin has the future of humanity in his hands and heart – I could not suggest a better place.
.
- Captainchaos on March 30, 2022 · at 7:36 pm EST/EDT
  
  The West is more or less untouchable behind its shield wall of nuclear weapons. The best that can be done is to encourage the people of the West to overthrow their ruling class. Until that is accomplished, there is no one worth negotiating with.
  - Steffen Bendel on March 31, 2022 · at 2:54 am EST/EDT
    
    Yes, the west can not be attacked military wise. But that is not necessary. Important is that the west can not bully the rest of the world. So far, if they abandoned the dollar or did some trade protections, they were either sanctioned to death of directly attacked by force.
    But now there is someone who stands their ground and all the bullied countries see that resistance (together) is not possible. The west is become weak and powerless. Saudi Arabia talking selling oil for Yuan? 10 Years ago they probably would be bombed – the 9/11 attackers came from there after all. India not really wanting to join the sanctions? Huge Deal.
António Ferrão on March 30, 2022 · at 6:52 pm EST/EDT

The more powerful enemy can be vanquished only by exerting the utmost effort, and by the most thorough, careful, attentive, skilful and obligatory use of any, even the smallest, rift between the enemies, any conflict of interests among the bourgeoisie of the various countries and among the various groups or types of bourgeoisie within the various countries, and also by taking advantage of any, even the smallest, opportunity of winning a mass ally, even though this ally is temporary, vacillating, unstable, unreliable and conditional.

VIU, 1920 Moskow
Michael on March 30, 2022 · at 7:09 pm EST/EDT

I agree with most of what you say Andrei but there is no way it is going to turn out okay to allow Ukraine to join EU. Whatever EU touches gets infiltrated by Nato one way or another either covertly or overtly. Secondly, the list of countries that are to be guarantee states for Ukrainian neutrality of which are Poland Germany Israel Turkey and Canada were openly admitted by that Nazi thug as the same countries who backed these fascists in their attempt to clean Ukraine of Russians. Thirdly, supposedly these countries together with Ukraine will have something similar to the Article 5 injunction of Nato which I turn will bring actual Nato into a conflict if and when Ukraine decides to inevitably break its treaty qt the behest of EU US Nato as has been proven over and over again ad nauseum. Ex: Minsk 2 anyone? Dealing with Ukraine now decisively instead of allowing them to deal treacherously over time to create an even worse issue for Russia Russians Russian Orthodox Christianity Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and pro russian Ukrainians makes more sense. You would think by all the hate in the west levied against her and her track record with the west Russia wouldn’t agree to or belive anything it says or does anymore.
Santiago on March 30, 2022 · at 7:13 pm EST/EDT

Saker – if the UKN agreed to those 4 things why the fighting going on ?
Are the UKN troops defying the UKN Govt ?

But the risk in all this is if Russia ends the operation – will the same trouble re-emerge in 2-5 years time if the troops now fighting retain their weapons or rearm ?

Then the problem of hidden or smuggled in weapons by the EU & US.

Unfortunately the only way to denazisify the world is to remove those elites in the EU pushing this centuries old agenda and their operatives in the US.
- Santiago on March 30, 2022 · at 8:02 pm EST/EDT
  
  Surely UKN troops could deal with any nazis units who threaten them.
  Russia should encourage them to mutiny.
Richard Steven Hack on March 30, 2022 · at 7:21 pm EST/EDT

“Now if you do not see these as major concessions, you have issues I cannot help you with.”

Not quite. First there is the issue of the “security guarantees” that Ukraine wanted, which are clearly and utterly unacceptable to Russia, as they are no different from Ukraine being in NATO subject to Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which Ukraine specifically referred to in “offering” these guarantees.

Second, since it is obvious that the “security guarantees” offer was a non-starter – and that both Ukraine and the US, who is directing the so-called “negotiations”, know that Russia can not accept such a thing – what, then, was the point of the rest of the so-called “concessions”?

Let’s say you come up to me and my girl friend (which I don’t have, but let’s imagine!) and say “your money or your life”. After some negotiation, you say, “Okay, I won’t rape your girl friend, just give me the money.” Is that a “concession”?

Then there’s the issue of exactly how does one “enforce” an “agreement” with either the US or Ukraine about any of the so-called “concessions” offered by Ukraine? Sure, we won’t join NATO, we’ll just continue to accept NATO weapons and NATO training until we’re essentially integrated into NATO – just not formally. That’s what was happening all along any way. Is that a “concession”?

Sure, we won’t develop nuclear weapons. We’ll just rely on the nuclear weapons of the countries that our security guarantors have. Besides, we don’t have the money to develop nuclear weapons anyway. Is that a “concession”?

We won’t make any “alliances” – but we’ll still accept those NATO weapons and training, and economic ties with the EU, and oh, that EU membership that Russia has already accepted we can do. Is that a “concession”?

Sure, we’ll give up claims on Crimea that we know we can’t get back anyway. Is that a “concession”?

If so, your definition of “concession” is quite different from mine.

When you offer a bunch a “concessions”, which are not clearly defined in detail, and then add in a “poison pill” of “security guarantees” you know are wildly unacceptable, you are not “negotiating”. You are emitting bovine evacuation.

Of course, Russia knows this. Which is why Peskov dismissed this latest “offer” with the perfunctory “we welcome the submission, but we don’t see any improvement.”
Biswapriya Purkayastha on March 30, 2022 · at 7:22 pm EST/EDT

The day before yesterday I was told on Twitter that the woke world is against Russia.

Evidently, all of Africa, Latin America, and Asia minus Japan do not exist. We are not just unpersons, we aren’t even there.

This is the same syndrome that led to American Twitter bluechecks saying Bidet’s Warsaw speech was “listened to with respect” in the whole world. Perhaps you could ask us in the whole world first?

The Washington Post finally discovered that the Ukranazi coup regime is positioning its military assets among civilians. Far from denying this, the coup regime said laws of warfare do not apply in this case.
- Orisha19 on March 31, 2022 · at 5:49 am EST/EDT
  
  As you stated the majority of the world does not exist in the eyes of Europeans and North America?
  
  In all probability this is due to the White Slave Master Mentality that has existed in the West for half a millenia. The roots of this nefarious social construction dates back to Western Europe in their “Age of Discovery”.
  
  The Spanish and Portuguese were given the blessing of the Pope in 1494, through the Treaty of Tordesillas for the initial genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of Africans.
  
  This continuous assault upon humanity has continued unabated up until the present moment. However, lies or tricks will not suffice to get the fascist West out of this current pickle.
  
  We are about to witness the proverbial rug being snatched up under the feet of the so called “Masters of the Universe” by a coalition of the world led honorably by the Rus.
Bill Pilgrim on March 30, 2022 · at 7:27 pm EST/EDT

Definitely a hopeful development.

Meanwhile, Zone A media are reporting that Russian troops are mowing down civilians trying to flee via humanitarian corridors. This, on the heels of “they’re kidnapping children!” a few days ago.

“Babies pulled from incubators and stomped…” 2.0
Elmer Fudd on March 30, 2022 · at 7:28 pm EST/EDT

There is some here that most Americans would reject, but you make some excellent points. I’m not in complete agreement. However; Americans have forgotten Clausewitz’s rule that warfare is diplomacy by other means. When America makes war, we stop negotiations and loose sight of a reasonable post war objective.

I have attempted to explain to other Americans that we are fighting the Crimean War all over again. None have a clue what I am talking about. The issue is Russia’s right to take its place on the world stage just like everyone else.

I’d like to reference the greatest villain in this situation:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/fec-fines-dnc-clinton-for-trump-dossier-hoax

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland are responsible for this war because they incited, orchestrated and funded the 2014 coup in Ukraine to depose a Constitutionally elected President. The Hildebeast and her minions were unwilling to allow Ukraine to remain neutral like Austria, Switzerland and Finland. You might recall that up until the coup, Ukraine was selling turbine engines for military aircraft to Russia.

The tragedy here is that Senile Sock Puppet President Joe Biden escalated to nuclear economic warfare with the sanctions. The resulting escalation of the invasion was predictable. Biden destroyed whatever faith that Russia and the other BRICS had in the Dollar based, global economic order. The era of peaceful coexisting is OVER.
- Blue Pilgrim on March 31, 2022 · at 1:02 am EST/EDT
  
  I thibk Clausewitz had it backwards; rather, diplomacy is war by other means. One need not do ‘diplomacy’ with friends and family, but reaches agreement through mutual respect, love for the other, realization of truth, and empathy. Diplomacy is what one does with the ‘enemy’ and the psychopaths in the so-called zero-sum game, not pursuing win-win.
  
  Sadly, many humans are incapable of win-win or true cooperation and lack the faculty of empathy, much less actual generosity or altruism, and their psychopathy (or sociopathy) tends to spread as they develop their skills in deception and manipulation, with their greed and lust for power, while moral humans have difficulty in understanding such callous minds and pathology, and tend to be naive and slow on recognizing it and guarding against it (which is necessary but not pleasant to engage in). We need to know that viruses, for example, can be benign or virulent, and humans can be similar, depending on circumstances.
  
  To be as “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” is not such an easy thing, and should be really be taught to us as young children. Many in the US repond to warnings about the ruling elite, politicans, and gangsters with ‘Oh, don’t be so cynical — they would not do such evil things’. But for the gangsters, diplomacy and deception are just tools for getting what they want without viloence or overt threats or aggression.
Larchmonter445 on March 30, 2022 · at 7:31 pm EST/EDT

Saker,

You overlook the other side. They are evil, Russophobic to the point of pathological. They live to kill Russians and anyone not them. They have the NATO backing without membership now, so we see what the future will be.The US will never change its objective to destroy Russia. It must to contain China.

So, the other side of the “negotiation” isn’t a relevant counterparty. Kiev doesn’t exist as a government. It is slave to the West’s money and will. And it loves being the instrument of killing Russians.

So, it doesn’t matter if negotiations are the Russian way.

Russia was driven out of Afghanistan. Russia was driven to its knees in the 90’s.

Russia can be crippled and bled and eventually conquered, if done slowly.

They have to clean out the Ukraine statehood, government and its entrails. Replace it all with many statelets.

We see what the people of Ukraine need and want. Bread, water, medicine, utilities, homes and a new horizon.

The sooner Eurasia can help do all that, the safer Russia will be.

Deprive NATO and EU of a Ukraine.

Finish the SMO.

You have told us for months, this isn’t about Ukraine. It’s about NATO and the US.

Well, deprive them of any future Ukraine. Take it apart.

Russia should be talking to all its friends in the world and getting them to come help rebuild and reconstruct a new neighbor, many neighbors, in that vast land of hate and blood once called Ukraine.
- amarynth on March 30, 2022 · at 7:53 pm EST/EDT
  
  Russia does not do regime change. They work with what they have. Regime change is an abuse of power and belongs in the western playbook.
  
  The USSR did try to project power this way, regime change. They learned the lessons.
  
  The rest will happen, but in a way that is hard to fathom now. We are in a seismic shift where the west and Nato will not matter.
  - Larchmonter445 on March 30, 2022 · at 9:01 pm EST/EDT
    
    Porky and Zelensky are de facto and de jure criminals, war criminals with massive crimes against humanity.
    Arresting or removing them is purely legal under international law. It’s not regime change.
    - amarynth on March 30, 2022 · at 9:14 pm EST/EDT
      
      Sorry to be harsh! Call Interpol! Or patch on your Sheriff’s badge. What ya gonna do? Reality is reality. Women in Zone A throw panties at Zelensky when he is on stage. He is perfectly positioned to sign whatever he needs to sign – but, he won’t. Russia will have to work with what they can kick out from under the trash bin. That is the real situation. Porky has been made safe.
      
      Get fully in tune with what the Zone B has been telling all these times. Check Lavrov in China and in India now. The world is changing.
      
      The west was given its chance for a seat at the table. They declined.
      
      There still is a war in the Ukraine. How does this war come to an end? It has to, because there is no way in hell that it is going to be frozen Afghanistan style.
      - Larchmonter445 on March 30, 2022 · at 10:10 pm EST/EDT
        
        “Get fully in tune with what the Zone B has been telling all these times. Check Lavrov in China and in India now. The world is changing.”
        
        Of all the the hyperbole you ooze, this is really ridiculous.
        
        I was there in tune with China and Russia before anyone in these parts. “Double Helix” was eight years ago. And last time I looked, I wrote it, and branded the relationship with it.
        
        So, takes some tea and honey and calm yourself. We are all sharing the same foxhole.
        
        Makedonia on March 30, 2022 · at 11:10 pm EST/EDT
        
        Larchmonter, you’re absolutely correct. Good on you.
    - Sokenekos on March 30, 2022 · at 9:45 pm EST/EDT
      
      Bravo! It was a big mistake to recognize Poroshenko’s junta as a legal/legitimate government and then make matters worse by calling OSCE “observers” after the hostilities started. It could not have ended otherwise for the reasons you listed above. Likewise, it’s a big mistake now (worse than crime) to deal with the Zelensky’s junta in the same manner. Those ghouls and their handlers make real ghouls envious.
- Perestroika on March 30, 2022 · at 8:48 pm EST/EDT
  
  Indeed.
  
  The only thing the “SMO” can realistically accomplish for Russia is this: To buy time for a direct NATO heads-on in the near-future and safeguard the two break-away regions. At this point, it’s puerile wishful thinking, pie-in-the-sky, to hope for anything more from this “SMO”. Any deal that Russia signs will be worth the same as toilet paper. The moment it recall it’s troops back, whichever territory is vacated will be promptly used as a base for future hostilities against Russia, with US support in an unending proxy-war, which will only end when Russia take the fight directly to the NATO perpetrators.
  
  The status-quo post-SMO when Russia recall it’s troops (irrespective of whatever so-called “deal” is signed or not) will not be different from what Israel accomplished after it’s many campaigns against GAZA strip and Lebanon: It will continue to be surrounded by enemies, having to constantly watch it’s back.
  
  Anyone not seeing this, is delusional. Just go study the Chechen wars – what it took (and how many YEARS) to pacify that region. Google “groznification” just for starters. There won’t be any lasting success for Russia from this SMO, apart from de-facto seceding the 2 breakaway regions including Mariupol etc. The demilitarization of Ukraine will be temporarily, which again, buys time for Russia to prepare and focus for the war against NATO. The denazyfication thing will be unfortunately partial and also temporary (until NATO is dealt with if it ever will be).
  - Roger G. Mattingly on March 31, 2022 · at 5:22 am EST/EDT
    
    The only way to effectively deal with the US and NATO (European Union) in such a way that we avoid total destruction of the entire planet is to destroy those particular entities financially. If they have no money their ships will stay in port and their aircraft on the ground. Then, they slowly rust away. I’m hoping that this is what is happening regarding the meetings between Russia, China and India.
- Berg on March 31, 2022 · at 5:47 am EST/EDT
  
  yes, your argument is good, it is relevant. Humanity is at an impasse. The war in Ukraine is an event of humanity. All of humanity, we need China and other Brics, zone B, to see the gravity of the current moment and humanity’s impasse. I appreciate most of Saker’s arguments, but Saker’s strategy on the blog is now good cop, bad cop. We are perceptive and we are seeing what is happening. unnecessary presumption. I agree with Saker that Putin needs to bring Russian public opinion into the “conversation” and that Russia does not have infinite money. Maybe Putin’s mission is impossible, maybe the world government will happen and maybe China is not seeing the real size of the problem of this war. Do the Chinese realize that we are in a spiritual and mortal war? Just like here on the blog there are people who don’t realize that humanity has reached an impasse, most Russians don’t realize or don’t care that Russia is close to being fragmented or that maybe the third world war has already started.
- Melotte 22 on March 31, 2022 · at 7:30 am EST/EDT
  
  Fully agree with this.
- amarynth on March 31, 2022 · at 8:57 am EST/EDT
  
  Larchmonter445, you understand the problems with the US appointing a president for Venezuela.
  
  Now you want Putin to do this for the Ukraine?
  
  Here is more hyperbole for you … That! that method of thinking is exactly what is completely abhorrent in a rules-based-international order. That is the simple difference. A people have to rescue themselves and a rescue cannot be imposed. Help ’em yes.
  
  And this is what the major part of Latin American and Africa and other Global South denizens understand. Never will they call for another country to interfere in their own growth path. This is what the Solomon Islanders are expressing now.
  
  Yes, the impediments in the Ukraine need to be removed. I don’t see Russia having stopped its denazification efforts and major battles are still going on. But after that, whatever and in whichever configuration a ‘Ukraine’ exists, it will have to become a country in its own right.
  
  Russia is in Ukraine to stop a war. Not to create a bigger one, or even make space for a pretext of US/NATO to create a frozen conflict – we’ve had enough of that. Russia with the help of a big portion of our world, will also push NATO back where it came from.
  
  The ‘kill’em all’ mantra we have to be careful with. There are people there and a bunch of remaining Nazis. The Nazis are being dealt with and the remainder has to be put before a court of law, properly constituted. The problem of Nazi’ism is way bigger than the Ukraine.
  
  I don’t know when the sweet spot will be to stop this killing but, I sense it is approaching. How?
  
  – The Ukrainian forces may just collapse. And the negotiation and rebuilding will be necessary.
  – The Ukrainians may be serious about their negotiations, which means Washington is using a bit of brain. And that means negotiations will be necessary.
  – something may happen that I and most others cannot foresee.
  
  In no way should Russia interfere with the remaining real Ukrainians gaining and exercising some self-determination. In fact, just what China is doing now with Afghanistan, is what Russia should be doing with whatever remains of the Ukraine in my view, in other words, work with it to gain its own agency. China has in a sense adopted Afghanistan and is leading them by the hand to reconstruct the mess that the US/NATO and cronies left behind.
  
  The US sat in Afghanistan for 20 years, pretending to build a country. There is deep anger in the world because of that. The expression is that the US/NATO screws up, and leaves the problems behind for the rest of the world to handle. This is not what true multi-polarity is about. In fact, regime change will not be allowed to happen in our world, if we believe the Chinese.
  
  I read Double Helix just a while ago – actually went to look for it in relation to the new and updated agreement, Russia/China, of a few weeks ago – when Putin attended the opening of the Olympics. Perhaps you can consider applying some updates or write a part II. At that time, much of the helix action was dependent on the friendship of the two leaders. It has since been developed and inculcated in a raft of new instruments, not so much dependent on friendship ties – though, those are still of course there and strong.
  
  What the Saker tried to handle here, is an almost universal difference in thinking, setting values, deciding on principles between ZZZZone B and A, roughly, or the hegemon single polarity, and a world that smoothly works with principles like multi-lateralism and multi-polarity and understands the hard work necessary. This difference is very deep – as deep as trying to understand the inscrutable nature of the Chinese people. We feel brotherly or sisterly, we feel coherence, and we feel connected. That is why Putin describes the real people of the Ukraine, as brotherly people. That feeling is now attempted to be broken yet again by the empire of lies, in Pakistan. I hope they fail.
  - A.H.H. on March 31, 2022 · at 10:12 am EST/EDT
    
    Dear Mrs. A,
    
    You know how much I have regard for you, but we are human and all make mistakes. I made quite a few of my own on this forum. We have to acknowledge it and move on.
    
    I think you and Larch are arguing about two different things.
    We want international law to be respected and observed.
    
    But you want adherence to an ideal which died decades ago..
    
    The Empire uses international law cynically, a form of lawfare. It breaches them shamelessly. It says one thing, and does the opposite, expecting us to engage in double-think like in Zone A.
    Their continuously changing rules and criteria and terrorism and implementation means any territory under their control will never have peace.
    The actions of Banderas and Porky and Zelensky have made them illegitimate, which no decent country in our world would tolerate.
    They devolved into criminality and satanism which needs expunging.
    And Zone B said “No Más!”
    This cannot be permitted to continue.
    
    So I am sorry to say, but your finger on the pulse of this issue is not quite accurate.
    
    Consider the vast Zone B support for Russian cleansing action in the Ukraine.
    This support is by Zone B members who are sticklers for legality, human dignity and the right to life.
    They know Russia is on the defense and forced to act.
    They see the Empire as satanic and violating all principles dear to sane humans everywhere.
    It must be expelled from the Ukraine, and its cancerous proxies either eliminated or exiled to their handlers in the West.
    What Russia is doing is lawful – preventing genocide and responding to its oppressed citizens and cousins who called out for support for 8 years!
    
    Venezuela is quite different. It remains fully under native control. That is why we can laugh at Gudio or whatever is his name; the AZE does NOT control facts that count on the land of Venezuela.
    Unfortunately they are and were all over the Ukraine, and took root since German Empire founded it in 1918. The crimes of an entire century demonstrate that the only viable long-term solution is to dissolve this unnatural amalgamation of disparate territories, peoples, religions and cultures.
    
    Furthermore, the UN and the current understanding and implementation of international law is itself flawed, created by the Empire in its heyday, and as you astutely commented elsewhere, it is “on the table” and in the process of being reformed. So “playing by those crooked rules” of the UN, as if those borders were holy and permanent, rather than created by enemies and the comprador Bolsheviks (which VVP denounced right before this operation! Hinting at reversing its crimes!) is irrational and will lead to another century of civil strife and external proxy wars. Careful diplomacy prepared the ground. VVP and Russia have the support and understanding of those in Zone B who count. And the hysterical crooks in Zone A are the weak which will “suffer what they must.”
    
    Larch sees the big picture and where events must go.
    
    Regards,
    - amarynth on March 31, 2022 · at 10:55 am EST/EDT
      
      Hi A.H.H.
      
      OK, not getting involved in ‘he said’ ‘she said’ stuff or crosstalk over people. Direct with the person works better for me.
      
      The speed of which the world is evolving is hard to understand. People must understand that the Ukraine that at the end of the day will be ‘contracted’ with, is not the Ukraine that we see today. The one that will be contracted with, may be broken into pieces but surely it will be demilitarized and denazified. So, we have to think of the future entity if we think of contracting – not the entity that we see now.
      
      And then a while ago Smoothie did a funny thing a few times that made me laugh .. he would put a picture of Lavrov and say next to it .. Lavrov! Help!
      
      So I’m going to do that Lavrov! Help! thing :-)
      
      💬 Russia’s FM Sergey #Lavrov: A new reality is taking shape: the unipolar world is irretrievably receding into the past and a #multipolar world is being born.
      
      ❗ Nobody on Earth will be considered a second-rate player. All nations are equal and sovereign.
      
      The unipolar world is losing supremacy and fast. They can dance all they like, but they will be put into an equal position and they will answer to the world on many things. China (and Russia) are going to make them pay reparations for Afghanistan for example. They will have to answer about those biolabs. Just in for example: ▫️”The documents are supplemented with the permission to export the research materials abroad; particularly, to EU countries, USA, Canada and Japan.”
      
      This horror is growing.
      
      “❗️The information provided proves irrefutably the direct involvement and leadership of the US military in the UP-1 biological project.”
      
      Think now of those many US military bases. You think countries are going to allow them to exist on their territory?
      
      I believe many of the pieces of what Lavrov is talking about, are being put into practical place right now and we will see different structures evolving very fast.
      
      All unicorns and pink bunnies? Of course not.
      
      I talk from that future perspective and can see the loss of supremacy. I love it! These bastards were given an opportunity .. they burnt it! Let’s not bomb bomb bomb the ordinary people in the Ukraine and I hope for wisdom for the Russians to recognize when to make the cease-fire announcement.
      - A.H.H. on March 31, 2022 · at 11:53 am EST/EDT
        
        Ok fair enough. We will all focus on that future palatable perspective and will a beautiful omelet into being! In the meantime, some essential ingredients – rancid goose-stepping eggs – are going to get broken with absolute gusto. And no green buses out for NATO handlers this time.
        
        FWIW, much of the big bombing is mercifully done. A lot of what remains is siege-warfare and having not-so-polite Chechens knocking on diehard doors. I hope confirmatory good news in next Nightvision sitrep.. UkroNazis east of the Dnieper appear to be toast.
        
        In fact, as in Syria, cease fires are coming and guaranteed. It is extremely potent weapon of Russians. Troops are rotated out, resupplied and refreshed; AZE psyops are short-circuited; enemy combatants are thinned through desertion and relocation; and meanwhile sieges are maintained to consolidate won ground. One step back to gain two more tomorrow..
        
        But as you said the real fight is through the tireless shuttle diplomacy of Uncle Lavrov and the Chinese.. and a tsunami of bio warfare revelations. And we are so happy to see India committing itself more each day. She is the straw breaking the Hegemon’s back. Amazing days
  - Sarcophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 11:32 am EST/EDT
    
    Dear Andrei. Or should I say “Dear Rasputin”. Look at what you have done! The members of your little royal family have knives at each other’s throats! Just like back in 1915! In St Petersburg! You naughty mad monk you. But nice to see you back. I love a royal scandal.
- Schuindt on March 31, 2022 · at 2:00 pm EST/EDT
  
  humanity needs to make a very big reflection on its existence and on civilizing values. We need to listen to the ancient and wise writers and reform human civilization. the excess of words does not move me. I see cognitive dissonance in the air. I agree with Larchmonter445, he is correct. Ukraine is a challenge for humanity, everything compared to that is inaccurate. Here on the blog we want the continuation of Russian civilization. And it’s not just about the continuation of Russia either. The enemy of humanity is PSYCHOPATH and is about to win the war against humanity. The empire is following a plan for at least the end of the Soviet Union. Saker must have his reasons for choosing people, but I can easily smell smugness and smell mediocrity. I accept that Putin is not playing alone, he needs Russian public opinion, he needs the Russians. He is dealing with very powerful fifth columns in Moscow and Russia. The world is not evolving, the world is not changing, the world has come to its END. It takes sharpness of mind to understand this. All other things are secondary arrangements. I believe that Putin is making the best of him, but perhaps Russia is not ready for a gigantic and challenging task. Humanity will have to make an effort never made before so that it is not exterminated. I know the petrodollar is running out, but somehow the US, the Empire still has a lot of power and influence, and they still have a formidable military. May God have mercy on the human race, and may China engage with all her might in the Ukraine question now. The future of the BRICS and especially of China depends on what happens now in Ukraine.
DokkodoSunTzu on March 30, 2022 · at 7:35 pm EST/EDT

Really good article. I revisited the term, normalcy bias which I think applies to 90%+ of Zone A. They delusion of supremacy is actually a pathological. A collective mental illness that cannot face it’s succumbing to its own complications. I’m glad for all the difficulties I’ve had growing up as a black person in zone A with COINTELPRO etc as the norm. It cleared my mind up of the firehose of BS that infects so many over here from a young age. Thanks for your work.
Corso on March 30, 2022 · at 7:35 pm EST/EDT

There has been a palpable shift in tone from the American power structure since Tuesday. It is difficult to quantify, but the implication is that the power structure has come to an agreement behind the scenes and that this agreement is inimically hostile to the actual people that are in power behind the Biden administration and an admission of the peer status of Russia. I

This comes of course much too late to affect any Russian action, but it means you will soon see some seismic shifts in the political landscape of the West.
Jose Garcia on March 30, 2022 · at 7:41 pm EST/EDT

Just in short, read a headline in the NY “Com” Post that read Ukraine “forces” Russia to pull back from Kyiv. For me it was a good laugh.
Alpine on March 30, 2022 · at 7:44 pm EST/EDT

My only addition here is this:

Just like Andrei knows more about Russia and Russians, USA’ns know more about USA

I hope Moscow learns about USA from USA’ns not russian advisors and the echo chamber

What Larch says here is true to the core. That’s the USA DNA

Listen to it at your own peril
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:10 pm EST/EDT
  
  I am not a USAn, but I lived in this country for just about half my life and got 3 college degrees here, including two graduate one. I estimate that about 90% of USAn know LESS about their own country than I do. Just the level of literacy is so dismally low, and US schools so terminally toxic, that they REDUCE the average USAn ability to think. Add to this 4 hours or more of TV per day, exposure to commercials everywhere (they DO make people stupid), and the level of political discourse and you will see why I totally reject your assumption.
  Ignore my warning about this at your own peril.
  - John Doe on March 30, 2022 · at 9:07 pm EST/EDT
    
    It’s funny considering the US have practically less history than any other nation.
  - Alpine on March 30, 2022 · at 9:40 pm EST/EDT
    
    We are here because Russia took “not one inch” to the bank. The masses may be asses, but the bureacrats are total psychopaths. Look at State Dept, CIA, Treasury, AG line up. These guys are psychos
Michael Dubin on March 30, 2022 · at 7:45 pm EST/EDT

Diplomacy only works when all the countries involved are interested in diplomacy, but with Ukraine or NATO it is a waste of time. NATO has no interest in diplomacy and Zelensky is a NATO puppet (Russia know this) who will be ordered to ignore any agreements just like Minsk 1 and 2. I guess the Russians don’t consider the 8 years wasted on diplomacy enough. They must enjoy banging their heads against a wall.

They need to install a government in Kiev after the war. Force is the only language the west understands. To hell with diplomacy.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:12 pm EST/EDT
  
  a very primitive view.
  diplomacy is not something that “works” or “does not work”
  Diplomacy is what precedes and follows wars.
  That is why the Russians and the Chinese place such a high premium on it.
  Folks on Zone A not so much.
  Makes sense.
  - Swannie on March 30, 2022 · at 10:54 pm EST/EDT
    
    Indeed.
    
    As a New Zealander, I have long considered our governments position to be toxic vis a vis Russia, US, UK, AUS, China.
    
    Essentially our governments response is as follows:
    The Dragon invites the Kangaroo and the Kiwi over to his house where they all jump into the pool together with the Dragons friends the Bear and the Sacred Cow. Being a classless bogan, the Kangaroo starts drinking too much and soon starts to trash talk the Bear and the Sacred Cow. The Dragon, as a gracious host asks the Kangaroo to leave the party, and he does. The Kiwi, thinking he must do something to show solidarity with his good friend and erstwhile protector – the Kangaroo, immediatley gets up on the edge of the pool and begins to urinate on the Bear while threatening to eat the Sacred Cow whil etelling the Dragon that his friends the Bald Eagle and the Bulldog are going to “deal with” the Dragon.
    
    The Kiwi, swaggers away from the pool, leaving a stunned Bear, embaressed Sacred Cow and utterly seething Dragon behind.
    
    Fortunately for the Kiwi, the Bear is patient and requires more than a drunken “piss-ant” to get its ardour aroused. Similarly, while the Sacred Cow has some serious horns, it also prefers to pursue peace.
    
    The Dragon on the other hand is insensed with rage, that a guest in his house could treat another guest so despicably.
    
    And the Dragon NEVER forgets….
    - eagle eye on March 31, 2022 · at 5:59 am EST/EDT
      
      As an expat Kiwi in the land of classless bogans I salute that brilliant summation of our leadershits behaviour.
Harry on March 30, 2022 · at 7:50 pm EST/EDT

Indeed, a much needed primer.

If I may add one element you may have overlooked, which is quite relevant in my opinion; many westerners and especially Americans are totally unfamiliar with genuine diplomats and in particular the manner in which actual diplomatic negotiation are conducted, as our countries are typically lacking in that area. Like Trump, we are used to ‘business-like’ approaches to negotiations from our politicians.

Diplomats are not politicians. Nor are they businessmen

I can’t repeat that often enough. Diplomats are not politicians. They shouldn’t be!

That they usually are in the US and much of the rest of the west is one of our many faults. The manner of conducting these kinds of negotiations is a poor fit for career politicians. Which is one reason why the US is so bad at it. Even when nominal American diplomats do the talking, they are typically either not career diplomats (but political appointees) or held on such a tight leash by their political masters that they can’t do their job properly.

Diplomats communicate in a very different way than politicians, the opposite way perhaps. Of the latter it is often said (in the west, and all too often with good reason) “when do you know a politician is lying? When his lips are moving.” You automatically assume that what they say it is not the truth, or at best a distorted version of it. You know better than to take them at their word.

With diplomats it’s the exact opposite. You should pay very careful attention to exactly what he is saying, and in particular what he is not saying. And to how he is saying it. Diplomats should typically be taken literally.If you’re not used to it, it’s hard to describe, but trust me, they call it ‘the Art of Diplomacy’ for a reason.

Now, that brings us to another interesting question. If diplomats are not politicians, and they certainly aren’t PR people, then why did Medinsky gave that statement personally? Was it a mistake, an example of the wrong messenger? Or wasn’t it? Was he deliberately chosen and his text carefully constructed? I suspect the latter, which would mean that with his statement he was still doing his job, and still conducting diplomacy. That also means that you and I and everyone else of the general public was not the real target audience. Who was it meant for then?

I don’t know what the play is precisely, but I’m not buying the ‘bumbling PR’ flunkies take, at least not entirely, and not in this case. I can’t put my finger on why exactly, but this all looks like carefully planned and set up to me. I feel like it’s another chess move. Not a big one, but moving pawns forward at the right moment is important too.
- Stephane on March 31, 2022 · at 5:05 am EST/EDT
  
  One of the most interesting comments in the thread so far. Thanks.
- Mike on March 31, 2022 · at 5:49 am EST/EDT
  
  I believe you’re right. Perhaps a way to perceive how seriously the West are taking the message, by having it delivered by a somewhat flaccid messenger. Arrogance is the West’s greatest flaw; they’re always looking for a reason to belittle their opponent and thus not take him seriously. So Russia is testing; have you got the message or did you stop listening when you saw the messenger?
- Patricia Ormsby on March 31, 2022 · at 7:30 am EST/EDT
  
  I think you have a very good point. What we saw with Russia’s gold reserves overseas a couple weeks ago looked like bumbling or even treason, but in fact appears now to have been a deliberate lead up to the economic moves now in play.
John on March 30, 2022 · at 7:53 pm EST/EDT

Andrei, God sees all, knows all, created all ….. so let Him handle the PR. ;)

You are doing your part. It is as much as anybody can do.

My best to you and yours.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:15 pm EST/EDT
  
  You are doing your part
  
  IF ONLY! But I am doing THEIR part and by “their” I am referring to the herds of “political analysts” and other press-relations folks in Russia who are either sleeping all day (and night!) or deliberately sabotaging Russian positions on the world arena. Every time these morons make a move, there is the typical 24-48 scrambling to make sense of their bullshit and try to get the focus back on reality on the ground.
  
  I wish I could give these lazy morons a piece of my mind, face to face, I really would…
  - Naresh Jotwani on March 31, 2022 · at 7:19 am EST/EDT
    
    Not so, Dear Andrei!
    It is a huge and common error to think that if one “gives a moron a piece of his mind”, then things will get better! Trust me, the moron will misconstrue everything you say, possibly become a bigger moron — and also nurse a grudge forever. Nothing useful will be achieved. The “moronic” qualities are very deep-seated in the psyche. The persons in question have had thousands of opportunities since childhood to learn from those who offered “a piece of their minds”, but to absolutely no avail! Something is not quite right in there. One must endure what one cannot cure.
Webej on March 30, 2022 · at 7:53 pm EST/EDT

Andrei
A reminder to the readers to please pray for all those boys stuck in the environs of Kramatorsk.
That they will surrender and be saved and not foolishly resist to no purpose.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:17 pm EST/EDT
  
  I know, this is horrible.
  there are also signs that the Ukrainians are trying to move a ground force from center of the Ukraine to the east to help their surrounded comrades. In the steppe and open fields, with no aircover whatsoever.
  Yes, we should definitely pray for all of them because as things stand right now, they are all on a suicide mission.
Tom on March 30, 2022 · at 7:57 pm EST/EDT

On this point:
“‘Just’ mass murder achieves very little and the little it does achieve is never long lasting.”
American wars are fought to 1) feed Americans’ desire for death and destruction of manufactured enemies in far-off lands (similar to the Roman gladiatorial games) and 2) justify increase defense spending.
So the US’s wars over the past few decades have been extremely successful from this perspective.
Russia not wanting to slaughter Ukrainians or scam their public with higher defense expenditures makes no sense to Americans.
Fernando Rosa on March 30, 2022 · at 8:00 pm EST/EDT

I can agree that RF PR on the negotiations issue has been a apparent blunder of sorts, but could it not be that this hinted Minsk 3.0 scenario, although IMHO a clearly exagerated interpretation of what was actually said, was indeed intentionally conveyed in order to create the subsequent backlash within Russia, and thus weaken its defenders?
Befree on March 30, 2022 · at 8:02 pm EST/EDT

“For the Kremlin, this is a no brainer: you always talk to anybody worth talking to …”

I’m no diplomat but is a poor comedian who dances in drag and plays the piano with his penis worth talking to? Especially since he takes his marching orders from western whores posing as politicians who take their marching orders from Zionist sociopathic banksters who wouldn’t bat an eye to kill half the planet.

Did the Russian forces consider the ukronazis worth talking to? Is Satan worth talking to? Did Christ bother talking to his Sadducee murderers at his sham “trial”? Some people aren’t worth talking to but they are worth cancelling (ostracizing) and in the case of self defense against deadly violence, worth killing.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:18 pm EST/EDT
  
  I’m no diplomat but is a poor comedian who dances in drag and plays the piano with his penis worth talking to?
  
  Okay, nobody in Russia is REALLY talking to the Ukronazis. The Russians are talking to the Empire of Lies THROUGH their Ukrainian counterparts. You can think of them as ugly telephones and relax.
  Ze or the rest of them decide nothing, nothing at all.
  - eagle eye on March 31, 2022 · at 7:24 am EST/EDT
    
    There is a saying among some farming folk in the antipodes that goes something like, “if you want a mob of sheep moved, talk to the man with the whistle, not to his dog.”
    
    The Russians negotiating with the Ukrainians are talking to the dog’s prepubescent offspring. Perhaps they should restart the negotiations by inviting the man to the table. The dog seems to have been given instructions to herd the sheep around the paddock and not to send them out the gate and down the lane. Given that the “man” in this metaphor is the Zionist masters the USA answers to, perhaps it is time to publicly call him to the table.
    
    The whole world has been held hostage to the agenda of this small group of psychopathic narcissists for long enough. Time someone called their bluff
- Steffen Bendel on March 31, 2022 · at 3:07 am EST/EDT
  
  If the comedian is the official president then yes, talking to him makes sense. Because he is probably the only one who can agree to an internally binding contract. If Russian does a regime change, then the result will be not (fully) accepted by the west. But if the president accepted by the west agrees to something, even under pressure (that is how most decisions are done anyway), then there is no good way to not recognise the result.
  Maybe the West will not formally recognise the independence of Donbas and Russian Crimea, but there is very little they can say against it once Zelenski puts that in writing.
amarynth on March 30, 2022 · at 8:03 pm EST/EDT

Perhaps this helps some people get accustomed to a different value. It is just a cartoon, an image, but it does tell a story of old civilizations and young upstarts. Enjoy!

https://saker.community/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/photo_2022-03-30_17-58-20.jpg
hum on March 30, 2022 · at 8:12 pm EST/EDT

I tend to believe Saker painted a way too rosy picture when it comes to Russia’s failure!
You can call it wishful thinking or just plain putting lipstick on a pig. Ze or anyone else in Ukraine does not have any power to make any decision. Russia must dictate all conditions.
- The Saker on March 30, 2022 · at 8:21 pm EST/EDT
  
  what a refined analysis indeed!
  may I inquire about your age?
  - hum on March 30, 2022 · at 11:44 pm EST/EDT
    
    Saker, remember Minsk 1.0 and 2.0, and of course you remember the term “…not an inch…bla bla, bla…”. Goal of a war is to win the war to archive a political outcome to the winner’s favor and Zone A understands it very well! No negotiation is needed if you win the war. Ask Japan and Germany or Iraq. And remember, as always the winner takes all. So far Zone A took most of everything for decades and is advancing while Russia is retreating, just take a look at the world map. This war is the Russia’s last attempt to push back. Good luck!
    - The Saker on March 31, 2022 · at 3:36 pm EST/EDT
      
      Ask Japan and Germany or Iraq
      
      Oh this is a good one – Russia ought to learn from the USA on how to not negotiate.
      
      Okay, I will make it simple RUSSIA != USA
      
      cheers
Richard on March 30, 2022 · at 8:27 pm EST/EDT

Those of us in Zone A act like the victims of political abuse. We are lied into war after war and yet we can not see that we are being lied to again and again. When we speak up, we are ridiculed. At the very least we can say we did not remain stupid and quiet.

Then there is exstential threats: what use is a world to Russians without a sovereign Russia: I understand that. But on the other side you have NATO’s wealth/power psychopathic addicts who think of themselves as the “gods of the universe.” What if they have no use for a world where they cannot think of themselves as “gods”?
- Alabama on March 30, 2022 · at 9:45 pm EST/EDT
  
  What if the world has no use for them?
- Jiri on March 31, 2022 · at 2:48 am EST/EDT
  
  That danger is ever present. One hallmark of psychopathy is- if I can’t have it, no one can. That is, I will destroy it all.
Dftbs on March 30, 2022 · at 8:36 pm EST/EDT

Are we overestimating Zone A info war capabilities? Certainly they are in somewhat firm control of the narrative within Zone A, albeit with some leaks in the damn. But Zone A is only 15% of the world population and outside of Zone A the infowar narrative isn’t holding, and the Russian case is on firmer ground.
Arvy on March 30, 2022 · at 8:38 pm EST/EDT

Here is what Lavrov declared today about these talks. The Ukrainian side agreed to:
– No nukes for the Ukraine
– No NATO for the Ukraine
– No alliances of any kind and a neutral Ukraine
– Give up any claims on Crimea and the Donbass

I’ll believe any and all of that as having been agreed when I see an actual document signed by the Ukraine’s nominal head of state with a certified copy passed to his boss — i.e., the current U.S. head of state, also nominal. Even then, I’ll continue to have very serious doubts about its being worth the paper it’s written on.

No sensible person objects to negotiations per se. That’s really not the central issue in this case. There is an old saying, however, about not counting one’s chickens before they’re hatched. And, if one insists on doing so, it’s even less wise to declare one premature count to the general public.
Befree on March 30, 2022 · at 8:45 pm EST/EDT

“And if Zone A does not want to negotiate anything? Correctomundo! You turn up the pain dial, and ask again. Then repeat until Zone A accepts talks.”

Isn’t that what produced Minsk after they were handed their ass in cauldrons?

They hate the ground Russians walk on. They feel entitled to all the Earth’s riches and were just getting all comfy with Russia’s abundant resources under Yeltsin. Then along came a dark horse Putin who has not only kicked them off the Russian carcass but now threatens the Synagogue of Satans ambitions for global fascist hegemony. And you want to turn up the pain dial and talk to them? They will find a way to hate Russians even more while telling you anything you want to hear and writing it down on paper too. And then it’s off to the back room to connive again, cause that’s who they are. They hate you and they have no good will, that’s all you need to know. Cut the heads of their leaders off, this is not a diplomacy situation. And put a competent Christian administrator to run Ukraine who understands and likes Russia and understands and dislikes the west.

As for the Ukrainian conscripts trapped in the eastern cauldrons being held hostage by the embedded Nazi brigade, kill the Nazis and surrender to the Russians or the Russians may have no option but to kill you all and let God sort it out. It would be a pity, I don’t know how the Russians can save those soldiers, many of whom are their natural brethren, but the conscripts are armed, maybe numerically advantaged, and have a brain, they may just have to save themselves.
- The Saker on March 31, 2022 · at 3:37 pm EST/EDT
  
  sigh
  in 2014-2015 Russia did not have the mean she has today.
  Is that really so hard to understand??
Nunja Piznes on March 30, 2022 · at 8:49 pm EST/EDT

Firstly, thank you for a good overview of old school, ie rational and unsentimental, inner workings of negotiations. Described process is well understood by all adults. It has served its purpose ever since the first civilizations emerged, up and until the world of yesterday.

Obviously, this no longer applies. Today’s “western” world is infested by wokism, emotions and feelings are right (especially mine), facts and science are wrong, even punishable in many countries. Critical thinking, dissent and dialog has been crowded out. The art of diplomacy, debate and critical thinking is now verifiably lost on multiple generations across the west. Like Saker says above, the righteous western “leadership” doesn’t engage in talks. Cancel and sanction is the way. And the sheeple are clapping like seals to tough talk, even when it means destruction of your own economy and so on.

On a side note – it is useful to remind ourselves that the project of destroying Russia is centuries old. It did not start with President Putin. What had to be done in secret during the cold war and during the first two decades following “Perestroika” can now be done in public. System media’s journalistic processes have gradually become uniform across the entire west. Neocons and others bent on “sticking it” to Russia can thus play the media like a solo violinist plays the Stradivarius. Well, perhaps not always in perfect tune, but at least it is the same music….

…and the majority of the public obviously like the music, thus there is no longer a need for daily marching orders from the powers that be. The narrative has taken a life of its own, and western media is itself further fueling the flames by helping to stage drama (ie creating crowds by locking doors at train stations, using crisis actors and so on, even orchestrating false flags, like the BBC’s “news clip” of Syrian chemical bombing, now scrubbed off the internet, when behind the scenes footage emerged). Things have spun out of control. But the song doesn’t change. And the public loves it. Pity that they do not realise that the concert hall they are sitting in is on fire.

Have a good evening.
- Anton Gorbatow on March 30, 2022 · at 9:25 pm EST/EDT
  
  I think it is important to remember that Russia’s diplomatic efforts and military efforts are inextricably interwoven. Therefore, I think it’s accurate to say that Ukraine is about to suffer some severe diplomatic losses in the Donbass. The new “facts on the ground” will speak loudly at the negotiating table.
JustTruth on March 30, 2022 · at 9:09 pm EST/EDT

Russia just needs an agreement that is clear, Russia is a security guarantor and can be enforced. It should not sign anything until the Ukie military is completely destroyed and the Nazi’s in the military are either all dead or in Russian jails. Russia needs to keep Donbass, Mariupol and Odessa as independent republics. Ukies cannot have sea access.
Ric G on March 30, 2022 · at 9:12 pm EST/EDT

How much patience does Russia have? I give them two weeks before Russia says Force Majeure on all exports to the US and Europe.

You have frozen our accounts, destroyed our medium of exchange, we have no way of receiving funds for our exports. Please sort this out.

500 million shivering Europeans will soon be demanding their politicians solve this problem.

The supplier has all the power, all the legal authority, and time is on Russia’s side.

Turn the pain dial to severe!
- Theophilus on March 31, 2022 · at 4:13 am EST/EDT
  
  We are now at the beginning of Spring. It may be a bit chilly some days but it is next autumn that any shivering starts.
  - JJ on March 31, 2022 · at 6:33 am EST/EDT
    
    if German industry cannot earn sufficient to pay taxes . nor the employees…government would not have enough money to pay for gas reserves to be built up and continuing supplies during winter.
Topor on March 30, 2022 · at 9:14 pm EST/EDT

Dear Saker: I agree, ukraine is just a side show. The main objective is the security architecture of europe and Russias security guarantees.Russias ultimatum/treaty proposals where made directly to the USA because Euro union is a group of vassal states, however USA rejected negotiations ! Now for the PAIN DIAL. Ignore USA and make an “Indecent Proposal”(rozbiory) to Poland individually: Our treaty proposal based on your debt to us 600,000 soldiers liberating you from fascism. Polands borders back to end of ww2 .We will take over the western lands given to you by generous Stalin as our sovereign security zone. You will be neutral. Listen carefully…..our Slavic brothers Perfidious Albion and France didn’t save or intend to save you during ww2 but we did. Today Germany is going to fight for you? France? Britain? USA? ….HA HA HA HA!!! Watch how quickly USA and vassals will want to negotiate. Make them BEG to negotiate security Guarantees!
- Claudio E on March 30, 2022 · at 9:44 pm EST/EDT
  
  Dear all, thank you to all contributors.
  I just want to make what may be a side note, but I consider a pertinent one when referring to the unfortunate inhabitants of that rapacious country, the USA. Other than the First Nations, for whom the territories are known as Turtle Island. Please refrain from calling them “Americans”, let us decolonize our language. For us, south of the Rio Grande, they are known as Yankees or Gringos. America is a much bigger continent than a country, the USA. For us it is really the Abyayala. But, just to make it clear, we are not back, not a front yard of no fng gringos.
  - grr on March 31, 2022 · at 2:49 am EST/EDT
    
    I have been saying for decades that the USA stole the noun ‘America’. I have never called the USA America, and never refer to the citizens as ‘Americans’.
    Whenever someone says ‘an American’, I always ask where is he from? Mexico? Peru?
    
    Most don’t get it and think I’m a smart arse. But that better than being a dumb arse.
  - Babbs Christiansen on March 31, 2022 · at 11:14 am EST/EDT
    
    Claudio and Grr;
    With all due respect, words matter – look up the dictionary definition of America. There are several different definitions. Is it necessary to engage in ad hominem attacks and create further division when the world is confronting an existential threat to the entire planet? Is there now or ever in the history of the world one country – including your own – that is without blemish? I think not. Perhaps a more enlightened approach would be to address pertinent issues and posit viable solutions thereto?
Omowale on March 30, 2022 · at 9:14 pm EST/EDT

Eurolemmings 🤣😂🤣😂

Putin/Russia politically and militarily will achieve its goals in Ukraine.
Zelensky will surender.
Yesterday he spokes “to go green” kind of ‘cheat sheet’ from some woke vegan progressist eurolemming. 😂🤣

See how Scott Ritter analyzes the Russian Operation in Ukraine, Putin, Russia and Russian people historically. He crumbles CIA! Great interview for The Grayzone YT Channel… they have a good team.
I asked them to call you Andrei! Russian background!

The battle for Ukraine, with ex-UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSkpIq3T-Zc
jeffglobal on March 30, 2022 · at 9:22 pm EST/EDT

The only problem with your explanation is that the US and Ukraine will never be held to anything they sign. I can’t recall one treaty the US hasn’t violated. We know the current Ukronazis did not follow Minsk II. There’s even video of a Ukronazi Zelensky advisor praising ISIL’s use of war crimes. He still does propaganda for Ukraine, he’s on Youtube! Search, “In video: Ukrainian president adviser praises isis. Kiev’s warfare explained”

Evil cannot be negotiated with, only destroyed. To think anything said by Ukraine will stop the genocide is naive.
Zookie's Turkey on March 30, 2022 · at 9:29 pm EST/EDT

America has been taken over by the neo-cons. They are hellbent on ruling the world. If they can’t rule it, nobody will. They have tunnel vision and can only think about the next step of “The Plan.” The LT consequences or collateral damage of their decisions don’t factor into their thought processes. Their hubris and flat-out wickedness is going to get us all killed.
Colin Miller on March 30, 2022 · at 9:30 pm EST/EDT

For those who haven’t seen this interview with Prof. Michael Hudson and Prof. Richard Wolff here it is.

Ukraine: The Economic Fallout

UPDATED WITH TRANSCRIPT: Economists Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff join CN Live! to discuss the economic war against Russia, its boomerang effect on the West. Is globalization over? Watch the replay.

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/28/watch-cn-live-ukraine-the-economic-fallout/
John Neal Spangler on March 30, 2022 · at 9:33 pm EST/EDT

Truly the amazing thing is how the USA military has a fixed idea of using maximum power and force occupying a country with no long term thought. Mr. Martyanov is correct, Hollywood movies and TV shows have given the US military a good image, when they are incompetent War Criminals. Even when they were combat effective in WW2 no long term thought about the political consequences of certain actions. When I lived in Japan in the 80s and the US government was whining about the trade deficits with Japan, I thought if you run B-29 firebomb raids from one end of country to another and drop 2 atomic bombs, do not be surprised when they don’t want to buy your products.
I remember talking with a MITI official who said the mental atmosphere at MITI was like it was in 1942.
- Mike B on March 31, 2022 · at 2:01 pm EST/EDT
  
  Thanks for the comment. I lived in Japan in the 90’s and can identify. Btw you may like this book if you haven’t already seen it. Turns out we were pulling the strings of post WWII Japan through BOJ policy throughout the post war period. The author Werner is on youtube and apparently holds many views similar to posters here on thesaker. I find the book and his views fascinating. Cheers. https://bookarchive.net/pdf/princes-of-the-yen/
Cyric Vigilius on March 30, 2022 · at 9:46 pm EST/EDT

The whole regime will have to flee Ukraine. Every night all the ever tell is about mythical Ukrainian victories. How can they ever explain capitulation? Also, it is one thing to hide losses during a conflict, but quite another once it is over. Russia may not regime change, I think they will fall on their own swords, that is leave the country for Israel.
Andrew Celestina on March 30, 2022 · at 9:58 pm EST/EDT

An entry for the Zone A ‘Shame File’:

I have Australian and Slovenian citizenship. Both of my countries of nationality have equally venal and cowardly positions in relation to Russia and Ukraine.

Both Australia and Slovenia have minuscule geopolitical influence. Both countries have pathetically ceded their sovereignty in terms of foreign policy and ‘defence’ to the USA/EU and cower behind the nuclear shields of their ANZUS/NATO treaties. Both are happy to ‘fight Russia to the last Ukrainian’.

Both countries currently have right/centre-right coalition governments. Both will hold national elections in the next two months. Both are led by amoral populist Prime Ministers who recklessly exploit the fears and insecurities and fickle attention of the populace for electoral advantage. Both regimes now relentlessly demonize the Russian nation and its leadership and revere everything Ukrainian and idolize its leader. The opposition parties of both countries express negligible dissent. The citizens are thoroughly propagandized. Very few question the official narrative publicly for fear of ‘cancellation’.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janis Janša, boldly ‘travelled to Kiev’ by train to meet with Mr. Zelensky and commit Slovenia’s blood and treasure to repel the invading Russian hordes. (sarcasm)

Tomorrow (06:30 UTC, 1 April), which is appropriately April Fool’s Day, the President of Ukraine will address a rare joint-sitting of the Australian Parliament to plead for Australia’s support. I am sure his speech will be rhetorically tailored to tug the heart-strings of his Australian brothers-in-arms, with mandatory references to the Australian tradition of ‘mateship’ (a formerly proud sentiment that has devolved into – ”stick up for your friends for as long it involves no personal cost”), Australian ‘Diggers’ battlefield contribution to defending Europe in WWII (cough, cough, defeating Nazism??), kangaroos and beer. It will surely be his finest comedic performance. There will be a standing ovation and thunderous applause. Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison will immediately dispatch Australian troops to relieve the siege of Kiev, adding to the 70,000 tonnes of coal we have already sent.

I hang my head in shame.

(Slava Rossiya!)
Cyric Vigilius on March 30, 2022 · at 10:02 pm EST/EDT

It is interesting that the West seems to be starting to sour on Zelenskyy. They are actually covering the torture and death of the Russian POW’s and in Zelensky’s last video address he is telling everyone that Ukraine can only count on itself.

This is an interesting development. Speculations anyone?
- Cesky on March 30, 2022 · at 10:18 pm EST/EDT
  
  The powers that be have finished their cold, hard analysis of the sitatuion and have turned on the cabal running the Biden administration. Ever wonder why Anthony Blinken has a sick look on his face during the first 24 hours of a crisis? Its because he knows there are consequences when you cause powerful interests to lose money. Expect a slow, wide turn of the great media ships owned by these interests as they bear down on the failures that these “leaders” have inflicted on their patrons.
Uncle Bob on March 30, 2022 · at 10:19 pm EST/EDT

I don’t know what the Ukrainians may be telling the Russian negotiators or not. But we can clearly see what the stooge president is saying in addresses to the world and Ukrainians. It doesn’t take much to see the differences there.

Pro-Russian Telegram:

The President of Ukraine issued a new address against the backdrop of a chroma key, in which he once again stated that Kyiv cannot recognize Crimea and Donbass as Russian.
Moreover, Zelensky stressed that for every meter of Ukrainian land separated in 1991, his government will fight “until the last Ukrainian.”
Black Cloud on March 30, 2022 · at 10:28 pm EST/EDT

A minor quibble:

“Only to eventually lose that war too (ditto for all the other wars the US has ever fought since WWII).”

The US did resoundingly defeat both Grenada and Panama.

Otherwise dead-on, as usual.
MARS on March 30, 2022 · at 10:33 pm EST/EDT

Andrei,

I understand your point I really do, but two things:

1.- The point of military strength is to be heard so that there can be concession.
2.- in order to be heard you need to speak their language or they yours. If you can not communicate then there is no negotiations.

I understand that Russias language is diplomacy and when this is it getting results, to increase the pain dial, while the US language is achieving capitulation through shear military force, without negotiation only imposition.
You can always try to teach them your language, but they have to be willing to learn, and right now the US does not have the will to learn, and they do not speak your language of diplomacy or the pain dial. This for me presents a real problem. Maybe Russia needs to establish a base of strength first that the US understands, sort of like a Rosetta Stone? IMO which is meaningless, but alas I have one, the US needs to perceive Russias strength and not through pain dial, but by other means, and I am not implying destruction and utter submission of Ukraine, but for example, negotiations. The US perceived weakness when others want to negotiate, which makes them ignore the pain dial completely. And like you have stated, it also create a series of problems because Russia is very bad at communicating to its people and the world their purpose of this negotiations, many do not see it as going through the motions.

I believe that Putins position of meeting when matters were resolved was a show of strength, but that position should also be extrapolated to negotiations, I.e. there shall be no more meat Ing’s, anywhere, until our main demands are fully met, and I am not talking about Crimea not being in the table for 15 years, no, no I am talking fully met and publicly stated. Then we meet to discuss terms and mechanisms and other things.

Thanks

MARS
ratm on March 30, 2022 · at 10:36 pm EST/EDT

endless excuses, just kill the nazi bastards already

stop the negotiations
Erebus on March 30, 2022 · at 10:41 pm EST/EDT

As others have noted, there’s been a distinct shift in the West’s tone in the last few days. The realizations that doubtless lie behind it remind me of what George Foreman said about his famous fight with the rope-a-doping Ali:

“I thought he was just one more knockout victim until, about the seventh round, I hit him hard to the jaw and he held me and whispered in my ear: “That all you got, George?” I realised then that this ain’t what I thought it was.”

With that, the vapours of invincibility that had surrounded his prowess throughout his career dissipated and the “undefeatable” George Foreman went down in the next round. It took him decades to realize that his bitterness at losing was misplaced. Eventually, Foreman and Ali became close friends.

RU has been playing rope-a-dope for 20+ yrs. The tsunami of vitriol and sanctions were the West’s best shot. RU took the hit, held on and whispered “Is that all ya got?” in the West’s ear. Like Foreman, they too are realizing that this ain’t what they thought it was. Too late. RU, like Ali will turn it up a notch and the West will hit the floor. Let’s hope it sees the same light Foreman saw decades later. Only then will it become a win-win.
- mjcampanelli on March 30, 2022 · at 11:08 pm EST/EDT
  
  Awesome boxing references… I only wish that “my side” (USA) could prove as classy as Foreman and Ali
tranquilocomp on March 30, 2022 · at 11:07 pm EST/EDT

“real goal is to denazify the planet.”

You meant Zone A only. …the West?

Nigel Farage wonders in this interview if NATO would defend Estonia and Poland while mentioning that the NATO Articles were written in the 1940s (in a different world). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A93xABm2JQc

Farage gave an impressive speech in the Parliament on Ukraine. Tucker Carlson played the video today.
Richard L on March 30, 2022 · at 11:07 pm EST/EDT

I think you are right. The purpose of war is to turn the pain dial up to the point where the adversary calms down and then when that point is reached offer an exit door; a bit like herding a flock. This is a process where the psychology of mourning is involved and this is a process that takes some time. It can’t be rushed. Some steps in the mourning process include the shock, the anger, the denial, the magic thinking, the depression and finally the acceptance. I probably missed a few steps.

That may seem cruel but it reflects the way the human brain works as a neural network that needs some very strong signal to reorganize and open to a new reality.

There are many problems that make this conflict unique. 1. The real adversary of Russia is not Ukraine but Washington & friends. So Washington should suffer from this war. 2. The opponent in Ukraine is a fanatical bunch that is being used as cannon fodder by Washington but the fanatics are being praised as patriots and they don’t see they are being used as instruments. This reflects the way the hidden hand selects and trains the future politicians in the West by picking up narcissic people they can later manipulate. The hidden hand is an expert at remote controling people.

I don’t know who the hidden hand is but they apparently live in Washington. I just hope that the people in Ukraine who are currently remotely controlled will wake up?
cdvision on March 30, 2022 · at 11:08 pm EST/EDT

A very welcomed analysis by The Saker after the frenzy of yesterday, when keyboards were on fire denouncing the “Sell-Out”.

But I disagree in one fundamental respect. Despite the West spending tens/hundreds of millions on the propaganda effort, the info-war has been resoundingly handed to Russia. The viral circulation of the torture videos handed victory to Russia without them firing a shot. I could only stomach a small part, but if reviews are correct (I’m sure they are) then the info-war is resoundingly over. I can only imagine that blood is at boiling point in Russia. Forget regime change. The only way this will happen is if Putin stops one meter short of the Polish border. Forget any notion of concessions to Ukraine.

Its a truism that truth will prevail. The wall of propaganda is being demolished brick by brick. The West lost this, and there is no way back.
quasi_verbatim on March 30, 2022 · at 11:14 pm EST/EDT

Saker tells it like it is. How the fuck else are we to know what’s going on?
Low Rider on March 30, 2022 · at 11:25 pm EST/EDT

When you read or listen to Mr. Martyanov talking about ‘Ivy Leaguers’, remember that the CIA was originally all Ivy Leaguers. I don’t know if its still true, but for decades, anyone who mattered in the Agency had gone to Haarrrrrrrvard or Yale.

——-
I still think a band called “War” gave the best description of the CIA.

“You must be working for the C-I-A.
They wouldn’t have you in the Maf-I-A.”
— “Why can’t we be friends?”, War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0Qda32IKM
- whitehole on March 31, 2022 · at 12:16 am EST/EDT
  
  Check out also the great tribute to The Company from Weird Al Yankovic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-CG5w4YwOI
gary on March 30, 2022 · at 11:28 pm EST/EDT

The paradox is that you’re “negotiating” with a regime that you know that you’re going to have to take out one way or the other. I agree that the Ukrainian conditions are a good beginning. However pledging to not be in Nato is not enough. I don’t think it means that much. Look at Ukraine before the SMO. If not De Facto Ukraine was a member of Nato de Jure. Their army was totally a creature of Nato and behaved as though it was a member of Nato. Ukraine would have to go a lot farther than this. Specifically no supply of military hardware from the west ever and with heavy Russian oversight. But really to be honest how do you square the circle of de-nazifying Ukraine while leaving the Zelensky regime intact. Could you have de-Nazified Germany in 1945. What about de-fascifying Italy with Mussolini in power? Let’s not be naive. De-nazification in Ukraine is change of the Kiev regime. Is not what just happened in Mariupol regime change. Is not the liberation of the entire Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts regime change. You don’t think you didn’t have regime change in Kherson with the new currency being the ruble. Do you think Russia would be so dumb as to give Kherson and Mariupol back to Ukraine. I don’t think so. I think it’s good PR to call it de-nazification but it has to be regime change. I’m sorry but let’s get real here.

Maybe Russia will regime change historical novorussia (Odessa to Kharkov) while leaving intact the regime in historical Malorussia (Kiev and center) at least for a time being. I’m okay with that as long as Kiev itself is neutered and with only small arms. If “negotiations” can solve this with much less bloodshed then that’s good.
citizen8 on March 30, 2022 · at 11:35 pm EST/EDT

Excellent primer, I fully agree on Russian government options/strategy for negotiating.

And yet, I’d offer a slight reframe about the Zone A side (or at least the US): these may be the goals of war from a perspective of leaders/statesmen that care about the nation as a whole. However, the parasites running the Anglo-American empire don’t care about their host nations. Quite the opposite, the point is to plunder the productive output of their citizenry while degrading national unity and social cohesion so no effective internal rebellion can be sustained.

Thus, destructive wars make sense. Spending the nation’s money (not saving money) makes sense. That’s how the wealth is transferred from the general public to the connected insiders making a killing.

To get a bit more specific, Iraq wasn’t a loss for everybody. The US set an example for any country that dared sell oil in Euros. This example held for years. When Libya floated selling oil for gold, Hillary came and saw and Gaddafi died. That example held for years. The Eurolemmings recognized Guaido(!). I mean, that was worth it just for the comedy.

All the while, massive amounts of USD currency units have gone to those closest to the printing press. Sure, at some point the gravy train ends (is that tomorrow? 5 years from now? 10?). But to call the past half century losing wars for the top 5 – 10% of Americans is to under-appreciate the massive transfer of wealth and power that has occurred under cover of “war” (not even really wars because the Constitutional Government of the US hasn’t declared war in decades and, significantly, most Americans alive today have no memory whatsoever of a time when there was ever widespread mobilization/war effort under way). When US forces left Afghanistan, that was a victory for the armaments companies that get to sell more arms to replace the ones left behind. We also never ended the emergency or repealed the PATRIOT Act framework or got a refund from 20 years of war profiteering. Somebody must have lost the Afghan receipt.

When the F-35 or F-22 or Javelin or whatever not-free weapons system doesn’t “work”, that means it actually worked great. The check cashed and the public needs to turn around and buy new weapons. That’s a twofer.

While it may be true most Americans couldn’t assemble the kind of cogent, rational analysis in this primer, it’s not because they’d fundamentally disagree with the Russian perspective on the value of negotiations. Rather, it’s because most people are too busy in dead-end low-wage jobs just trying to keep food on the table and a roof over their head and stay out of the way of the police state and overpaid technocratic control freaks that have proliferated across healthcare and finance and academia and so on.
Greifenberg on March 30, 2022 · at 11:53 pm EST/EDT

As a resident of zone A, I really don’t understand our aversion to dialogue. I understand Russia’s non-negotiables:

No nukes for the Ukraine
No NATO for the Ukraine
No military alliances of any kind and a neutral Ukraine
Give up any claims on Crimea and the Donbass

All you really have to do is put yourself in Russia’s place and it makes absolute sense. These are areas of immense strategic importance to Russia. Existential in fact.

There is no need to hate Ukrainians or Russians. As a former soldier I know what it feels like to be a speck of sand caught up in the dust devil of the world’s hate.

The Empire has put Ukraine into a very bad place for it’s own selfish interests. Now the Ukraine sees Russia will defend herself to the last breath on these issues, and there is unlikely to be a positive political outcome for the Empire and certainly not Ukraine. It should be natural to negotiate at this point. Outside of Russia’s non-negotiable items everything should be up for discussion and perhaps Russia will make concessions in other areas. That doesn’t make Russia weak, it makes her smart. Really at this point both parties should be discussing a plan on how a peace settlement should be implemented.

Why must the Ukrainian army be destroyed? What is the good in that if the political outcome is likely to be the same either way?
JF on March 31, 2022 · at 12:13 am EST/EDT

Russia is in the process of losing the war at the talks table in Turkey, says the author of this article:
http://russiepolitics.blogspot.com/2022/03/billet-du-jour-les-pourparlers-russo.html
- Stand Easy on March 31, 2022 · at 1:15 am EST/EDT
  
  Hmm…I think the authoress is talking through her hat.
  
  What do you think JF?
Leonidas on March 31, 2022 · at 12:19 am EST/EDT

Dear Saker,
Lat us suppose that I’m a zone A dump citizen. Do you think that the nonsense of this guy Medinsky was good for the morale of Russian and DPR soldiers?

Best regards
Leeonidas
Babak Sayar on March 31, 2022 · at 1:33 am EST/EDT

If all Russia gets is a piece of paper with promises (which as we have seen can and likely we broken sooner or later), say recognition of Crimea and Donbass and neutrality, would all this would have been worth it? I guess even that was not forthcoming, without Russia going to War. I think after all the trouble Russia went through, and the fact that lkely sanctions will remain even if there is a paper promise to lift them, and all the other backlash created, the result of negotiations will be transitory. For all the pain and backlash, likely very long lasting, Russia should exact a much heavier price, namely permanent annexation of Russian speaking areas of Ukraine, which I think would include the entire Black Sea coast, and perhaps 2/3 of Ukraine. That is the price they must pay for not negotiating without a war. The allies and Soviets were not kind to Germany and tore it aoart after WW2. Russia syould not settle for anything less than annexation of at least half of Ukraine. And no it won’t be another Iraq fot obvious reasons which I need not explain. We shall see if Putin started the war to benefit the West, or to benefit Russia.
Karl luck on March 31, 2022 · at 1:42 am EST/EDT

I do not believe that negotiations will lead to anything. Prior to the war, they all came to Russia, and Russia patiently listened to them, knowing their lies & deceit. It is the same thing here, and Russia was “all in”, as per Putin’s speech- 18 December!

The Russians will do as they have said originally, and like the Chinese do not make idle threats. This is a complete configuration of the world, but people here that comment with views that Russia is alone in this struggle simply do not understand that China is 200% behind Russia’s back.

It was the same when we had to listen to Jew Trump in his dealings with North Korea, but it was never going to amount to anything, for China feeds them, and they are a extra defence against Zion white evil.

It has become clear that they are some here who want to separate the white Russians from China, but it is something that none of us can ever do. They are together as one.

Negotiations, sanctions, bullying, racial hatred against russians etc.. is all they have but pay back is coming.
- sejmon on March 31, 2022 · at 9:46 am EST/EDT
  
  PDJT is not a Jew…..
Leonidas on March 31, 2022 · at 1:51 am EST/EDT

I forgot to ask what Abramovich is doing there.
- Prince Andrew on March 31, 2022 · at 2:54 am EST/EDT
  
  Looking for another toy (football club) to play with?
  - Leonidas on March 31, 2022 · at 5:14 am EST/EDT
    
    Your Highness Prince Andrew, my question was serious.
- Exile on March 31, 2022 · at 6:22 am EST/EDT
  
  Abramovich Is protecting the interests of his ethnic group. Do some research on pilgrimages to Uman. Illuminating
- ryker1 on March 31, 2022 · at 6:40 am EST/EDT
  
  Great point, not clear is it? As Israel tried to protect him, I assume he is acting for them as some sort of go between.
Jiri on March 31, 2022 · at 1:55 am EST/EDT

The real goal is to identify the world. Spot on.

With China openly backing the project and hopefully India joining in unequivocally we will soon be there.

After India is on board, keep an eye on Taiwan,Japan, Korea. Once they abandon the Empire it is over.

Zona A does have one option. Circle the wagons and limit themselves to five eyes plus Europe. I am happy with that if it means they leave us in peace.
- joey_n on March 31, 2022 · at 3:09 am EST/EDT
  
  What if Europe decides to leave Zone A and ditch the Empire like Japan and Korea?
  - citizen8 on March 31, 2022 · at 12:12 pm EST/EDT
    
    Agreed, that seems to be what this is all about. Europe is the mark. Do they still possess enough lingering self-respect to declare independence from the hegemon? Or do they accept (even more) overt vassalage?
    
    The US and Russia actually seem to have a workable understanding behind the scenes – it’s just a strategy understanding rather than words on a public piece of paper. Russia gets more freedom of action outside the dollar block. The EU gets squeezed more within the dollar block. Both the Anglo-American neocons and the Russian Government could probably live with that arrangement for some time.
Uncle Bob on March 31, 2022 · at 1:58 am EST/EDT

So we might ask,just how much PR is the US making against Russia will all the uncertainty of the war and negotiations? I just saw a new meme that showed Putin being slapped like Chris Rock ,by Zelensky as Will Smith at the Oscars.Sad,just sad.
- Tom Welsh on March 31, 2022 · at 7:55 am EST/EDT
  
  Try as I may, I still cannot see what harm such nonsense does to Russia. Facts are facts, and do not bow down to excited lies and prattle. The only people likely to believe the lies are citizens of Western countries, and they do not matter. No one cares what they think. They have no power, and no influence.
  
  Besides, not all Western citizens believe the lies. I am one, and I don’t. I have read or listened to the MSM here in Britain for about 20 years, and I get all my information from the Web. Then I accept the civic responsibility of weighing evidence, understanding that almost every source and commentator has biases and blind spots.
Hal Duell on March 31, 2022 · at 2:08 am EST/EDT

No nukes for the Ukraine
No NATO for the Ukraine
No alliances of any kind and a neutral Ukraine
Give up any claims on Crimea and the Donbass
Yes, important concessions and well worth nailing down as a way to end this conflict.
Missing is any mention of the bio-labs. I do hope these are not swept under the carpet.
- Billb on March 31, 2022 · at 7:17 am EST/EDT
  
  No WMD of any kind should take care of the biolabs, assuming of course that all is required to be verified.
Noo Nee on March 31, 2022 · at 2:32 am EST/EDT

I fully agree with you, but negotiation ONLY about Donbas and Crimea means leaving rest of RUS around Odessa out of liberation.
Uncle Bob on March 31, 2022 · at 2:49 am EST/EDT

What real Russian victory in this war would look like:

https://t.me/OpenUkraine/11561
Jiri on March 31, 2022 · at 2:57 am EST/EDT

Regarding PR, Russia needs to do just one thing.

Everyday at 1100 Gen. Konashenko, the russian army spokesman, should get on stage in front of reporters and for exactly 15 minutes, no more or less, give report on the previous days events to assembled journeys.

That is all. No questions, no discussions.
Anton Gorbatow on March 31, 2022 · at 3:10 am EST/EDT

Kiev says it is sending 45 buses into Mariupol to evacuate citizens (while Russia has agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Mariupol to allow citizens to evacuate). Maybe a deal has been cut to allow Ukraine soldiers to leave Mariupol on those 45 buses.