1)Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Poroshenko betrayed the Maidan
The power in Ukraine has moved to the new oligarchs, the country was in the hands of one of them
“On the Maidan Ukrainians fought against the oligarchs. But one of them became President. Now he begins to destroy the other oligarchs — and, thus, creates the space for new clans,” the article says.
“The oligarchs in Ukraine, as the leaves: they fell off in the autumn, and the new grow in the spring. Deterrence old tycoons only created the space for new clans,” summarize German journalists.
http://ukraina.ru/news/20150630/1013515681.html
2)Poroshenko: in six years we will hold a referendum on joining NATO
A referendum on Ukraine’s accession to NATO will take place no earlier than 2021
“It will be a long process: it takes at least 6-7 years. When we’re ready, we will hold a referendum to ask the people of Ukraine, to join NATO or not,” he said.
http://ukraina.ru/news/20150630/1013513939.html
3)Lavrov: Russia, US Agree to Continue Contacts on Ukraine Crisis
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150630/1024047531.html
4)NATO’s Ukraine Policies Play Into the Hands of Warmongers – Russian Envoy
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150630/1024037494.html
5)Fights In Donbass 29.06.2015
http://newrussia.press/military/fights-in-donbass-29-06-2015/
6)Kiev appeal еру discount provided by Russia’s gas
Ukraine intends in trilateral talks with Russia and the European Commission to discuss the discount for gas for the third quarter
“I can’t tell you the number before negotiations and proposals we announced the European Commission,” said Demchyshyn after meeting with representatives of the EC bilaterally in Vienna.
As a result, the price of Russian gas for Ukraine in this period will be 247,18 dollars per 1000 cubic meters.
http://ukraina.ru/news/20150630/1013512151.html
7)Russia Isn’t Invading Ukraine but Maidan Ukraine Is Invading Donbass
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/ukraine-who-invaded-who/ri8409
8)Here’s How to Solve Ukrainian Crisis. Let the Country Join Both EU and Eurasian Union
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/solving-ukrainian-crisis/ri8391
9)Ukraine Army Could Save Its Banners From Russians but Not From Maidan Gov’t
http://russia-insider.com/en/ukraine-army-saved-its-banners-putin-not-maidan-government/ri8395
10)Paul Craig Roberts: Washington using Ukraine to create problems for Russia
The EU should abandon the course of American politics
“I don’t see any evidence that Washington wants a peaceful resolution of the situation in Ukraine, as vassals of the USA in Kiev. Washington needs Ukraine to create problems for Moscow. Kiev justified the EU sanctions against Russia, the purpose of which was to damage the European-Russian economic and political relations,” he said.
http://ukraina.ru/news/20150630/1013509825.html
11)Ex-Minister: 99% of Ukrainian pensioners live below the poverty line
Only 1% of Ukrainians of retirement age can be considered secured
“About 4.5 million pensioners receive around 2000 UAH, and only two million people – more than this amount. If guided by the criteria of the International Bank and the UN, to living in poverty can be attributed 99% of Ukrainian pensioners,” he said.
To this date, the minimum pension in Ukraine is 949 UAH ($45).
http://ukraina.ru/news/20150630/1013511622.html
12)Italians Opinion About Russian Sanctions (VIDEO)
http://newrussia.press/video/italians-opinion-about-russian-sanctions/
13)Fights in Donbass 30.06.15
http://newrussia.press/military/fights-in-donbass-30-06-2015/
14)Donetsk People’s Republic Special Forces Training (VIDEO)
http://newrussia.press/video/donetsk-peoples-republic-special-forces-training/
15)UN-NATO Interventionism: Ukraine Could Learn from Kosovo’s Troubles
16)Brzezinski: Russia Has to Be Assured That Ukraine Will Never Join NATO
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150630/1024022244.html
17)How Washington and its Allies Use Social Media to Topple Governments & Manipulate Public Opinion
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e2b_1435643979
18)Congressman Dana Rohrabacher grills U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power on Ukraine
Thanks for the sitrep Raskolnikova.
I’m puzzled by one thing: In the Italian video it says that shoe exports to Russia have been affected by sanctions. But shoes aren’t sanctioned. Can anyone explain this to me?
Thanks.
Seems that Russians don’t want to put out the money for Italian shoes with the fall of the rubel — but demand is dropping in Italy too.
http://www.fashionnetasia.com/en/BusinessResources/7711/Footwear_Russian_economic_crisis_hits_Italian_shoe_exports.html
http://www.italy24.ilsole24ore.com/art/markets/2014-12-15/italian-shoes–export–slows-down-as-russian-demand-continues-to-drop–180151.php?uuid=ABXU32QC
I think that’s more about stuff like Fiat and other italian car brands etc. The stuff that brings more profit, shoes are not worth talking about in comparison.
Lots of news today: Greek default, Russian gas cutoff to Ukraine, Iranian nuclear negotiations stalled.
OT
Couple of new things regarding Greece.
1. Greece’s financial problems would be far less severe if they hadn’t been spending more than other Europeans on the military. One reason why France & Germany kept okaying loans may have been because they were spending money on French & German military contractors.
6/30/15 http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article42283.htm Even after five years of economic catastrophe, Greece’s annual military budget amounts to $4 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute– 2.2 per cent of GDP. Total debt of $320 B is 175 per cent of GDP. In the decade the onset of crisis in 2010, Greece was regularly spending 7% of GDP on military. Some estimate that during that decade the country spent a total of $150 billion on defence – or half of the current debt pile. The Berlin and Paris governments continued to ply Greece with loans because the country was using the money to buy massive amounts of weapons from their manufacturers.
2. ” Greece’s real time bomb is an estimated $ 3 trillion to $ 5 trillion in credit default swaps, most of them probably held by large US banks and Deutsche Bank. If Greece actually defaulted, these sums would definitely trigger a chain reaction and take down the whole global financial system. That is why a Greek default must be prevented at all costs”.— Ernst Wolff http://www.4thmedia.org/2015/06/exclusive-how-close-to-the-abyss-is-the-world-financial-system/
On 1), that was officially confirmed in the press. One of the binding conditions for the first loan after the “ignition” was the purchase of military equipment from France and Germany for some 45 trillion Euro. It is still available online.
That should be 45 billion above, not trillion ^^
In an interview on Monday with Greece’s ERT TV, Tsipras said a robust ‘No’ vote would give the Syriza-led government a mandate and leverage to seek a better deal.
I don’t hear Tsipras saying the things that are said for Greece by others, in the Delphi Declaration. Why not? He just wants “a better deal.” Hmm, doesn’t look like he wants any substantial change or like he’s willing to confront the financial oligarchs, does it?
Absolutely correct. The situation facing Syriza and Tsipras today is not too different from that of German Social Democracy after Germany’s military defeat in WW1. The ascension to political power is conditioned upon false promises to the sheeple and sincere promises to Western imperialism, the latter truly hell-bent on total subjugation of the country. Of course, the Zionazis could have Tsipras overthrown but, unlike the Ukraine, the fascists in Greece are sympathetic towards Russia, and NATO is already present.
I reiterate: if Tsipras had any stature to speak of, he would simply repeat Victoria Nuland’s beautiful pronunciamento and then turn to BRICS without any apologies whatsoever.
Even easier – he could just loan those 320 trillion Euro from the next best greek commercial bank and have the debt paid off tomorrow. Literally. And those would then even be rated AAA+, ironically.
I don’t think he really ‘gets it’ — not at a deep or profound conceptual level — and I don’t think most of Syriza does either. Too much of the politician and not enough political-economics revolutionary. ‘A’ players instead of grandmasters or perhaps even masters. That’s why this is in fits and starts, taking so long, and so ambiguous in direction.
According to opinion polls Tsipras may lose the referendum and the Greek may vote Yes to the EU package.
How much more clear does the junta need to make it to Russia before Russia gets the message.They intend to join NATO,and plan on acting as Russia’s eternal enemy.Do they need to put it in bright lights over Kiev for Russia to understand that.As long as the junta holds power they will be a blood enemy of Russia’s. Every time Poroshenko opens his mouth to discuss NATO he says they plan on joining them.I know he’s a notorious liar.But when it “looks like a duck,and quacks like a duck.The odds are its a duck”.What he plans is to keep going for it until he gets it.Sooner or later he will build enough influence with the Russophobes in NATO to make it happen.First he needs to build momentum among the populous.Make them buy into that plan as the “only way to protect them from evil Russia”.He’s working hard on that now,with some success.And the longer this crisis lasts the easier it will be for him.They are doing what they did with the EU membership.Fire the people up with the idea,and it becomes a “given” in peoples minds.The US,Canada,Britain,the Baltics,Poland,Romania,are certain to agree to that. To “stop evil Russia from enslaving Ukraine,they will be forced to protect them in NATO”.Then they work on the other “bribed” members,and they have it.
If Putin runs again,his term would end in 2024.The next,certain to be Russophobic,US President will still be in office in the US.And if Poroshenko pushes for a referendum (which for sure he would win.Remember who counts the votes.) They will make the play for it then.I doubt they will wait for 2021 though.I see that moved up as soon as the US ok’s it.Any talk about “assuring Russia that Ukraine will never join NATO” is total BS.Are they going to make a “pinky swear” on it. Maybe another pledge like they gave Gorbachev,except this time it will be “NATO won’t expand one inch further East”.Certainly the Russians can believe that again.It worked so well the last time around.The facts are, for anyone to see that’s looking.The US wants missile bases on Russia’s borders,close to Moscow.And advanced operations bases inside Russia’s “protection zone”,and in Black Sea ports,say maybe Mariupol and Odessa.A hop,skip.and a jump from the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.
But lets say for a minute for the sake of argument,Ukraine doesn’t join NATO officially.There is nothing stopping NATO states from effecting state to state security agreements with the junta.And using Ukraine as a base for constant destabilization of Russia.So lets say Donbass gets some kind of trumped up “autonomy” (whatever they call it).Remember Crimea had “autonomy too.Yet they had to have a coup in the council chamber to be able to save themselves from what was coming their way.So “autonomy” alone is no panacea for them.The same corrupt pro-NATO junta would be in power.With their fascist sidekicks (Avakov et al),and Russophobic political parties.There will be constant provocations against pro-Russian supporters,including beatings and murders.The borders will be porous for the Right Sector (and others) to infiltrate agents and sabotage squads into Donbass,Crimea and Russia proper.Kiev will be the new spy capital of the World (Berlin and Vienna’s old role during Cold War I).Ukraine will host plenty of NGO’s and CIA posts to work on the Caucasus,Belarus, and Central Asia.Sending “volunteers” for terror raids.And as a “brother state” NGO’s working with Russian 5th column elements.As long as the junta retains control of Ukraine there is a fully open Pandora’s Box right on Russia’s most important border.Russia should never agree to the junta keeping power.Not under any circumstances.While the Kremlin wants a “whole” Ukraine, “Russia friendly”, or at least neutral.If that can be accomplished that would be best.But sometimes you can’t get what you want.And have to settle for the next best.And that is a full Novorossian state as a buffer.As the old song says “You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need “.
Thanks, Raskolnikova. nice job.
Another news is regarding the bridge to Crimea.
The final version of the bridge project was submitted to “GlavGosExpertise” yesterday.
Details are here in Russian
http://www.rg.ru/2015/07/01/most-site.html
Interview with director general of “Giprostrojmost” responsible for the project Iliya Rootman
colonelcassad.livejournal.com/2261762.html
Also photos
http://peremogi.livejournal.com/10415019.html
#1: Aber hast du mir gesehen, haha! So was nenn’ ich echten Blödsinn. “Poroshenko betrayed the Maidan” ? Wirklich?
Well, here the good ol’ liberal-conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has published something completely at odds with George Soros. Granted, the latter might not be too happy with his Ukro Zionazi quislings, but his adorable offal they are nevertheless. Poroshenko didn’t betray anything, but clearly his performance hasn’t met the expectations.
However, with this amusing dismissal of the whole Maidan enterprise, the faithful imperialist Lett and Greens can be counted on to start smearing Poor Old Shenko as a homophobe at the very least.
China ratifies the creation of BRICS bank
The launch of the BRICS bank is seen as a first step in breaking the dominance of the US dollar in global trade, as well as dollar-backed institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, both US-based institutions that BRICS countries have little influence within.
I recommend everyone to read the German original of the first link:
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/europa/ukraine-die-macht-der-milliardaere-13671510.html?printPagedArticle=true#pageIndex_2
It contains much more information than the Russian article that is linked to. Also, its main theme is a bit different.
Sure, the article makes some remarks about Poroshenko still trying to enrich himself with privatisation deals. It mentions in that context the phenomena of flash privatisations where the time between the announcement and the deadline for bids is very short. That keeps Western companies and others away as they don’t have the time for investigations. And so it becomes an insider job where only those with prior inside information bid.
But the main theme of the article is that the alliance between the Maidan and the oligarchs was an opportunistic alliance. They had a war to fight in the East and they couldn’t afford to fight on two fronts at once: so they temporarily made up with the oligarchs.
But, according to the article, recently the front in the East has stabilized and now the regime is stronger and can bother to take on the oligarchs. The dismissal of Kolomoyski as governor and the dismissal of the head of the secret service – who is claimed to be an ally of Firtash – are explained in this context.They mention also the establishment of a state broadcaster that should reduce the influence of the oligarchs on the media and a law that should make the financial links between the oligarchs and the parliamentarians more transparent.
Grain of salt time again.
There are now a lot of stories about Tsipras offering more concessions etc… and rely on a letter he supposedly sent. They’re just stating as fact that a letter was sent. Nothing about who to, or more importantly, about when.
It could easily have been sent days ago.
Only one story mentions the original source (and Financial Times is behind a paywall so we can’t check it). This one very early BBC story says “a letter seen by Financial Times”… so how did they see it? did they see it?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33345219
Sounds to me a lot like trying to pressure the Greek people into thinking Tsipras is BETRAYING them, still making deals behind their backs. Well, they DO want him to lose the vote,don’t they?
=================
I just put in an order for a truckload of salt, costing me too much to buy small box at a time.
This letter ?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/01/world/europe/document-tsipras-letter-to-european-leaders.html
Seems to be trying to not get too tough on collecting taxes, and doing a go-slow on downshifting pensions (ECAS ). This may be as much as he can really hope for, in present climate. But anyway everybody understand that it is unlikely to be accepted before the referendum. Trojanhorsing ? – Not a betrayal.