This is a short sitrep which will also serve as an open thread, on the situation right now. (I will also update the paragraphs on recognition and sanctions, as the situation becomes clear). Amarynth for the Saker Blog.
The new recognition agreements between Russia recognizing Donetsk and Lugansk as independant countries, are now fully ratified by the Russian parliament and this was unanimous.
The line of contact is relatively quiet so far. There is sporadic firing but since 9 hours, very little of it. Patrick Lancaster from the Ukraine War Report reports that 3 civilians were killed in a roadside IED near Donetsk just after Russia recognized the #DPR and #LPR. He and some fellow journos also came under fire. Russian troops deployed very quickly to carry out Putin’s specific order “to establish peace”.
The actual borders – there still seems to be some confusion and today will bring clarity. The best that I’ve seen is Peskov’s clarification: “DPR and LPR are recognized as independent ‘within the boundaries in which they were proclaimed and exist’.
Rats scurrying:
- Blinken moved all US embassy staff to Poland. He says they will regularly return to continue diplomatic work in Lviv. Poland raised cyberthreat regime from 1/4 to 3/4.
- Biden said the recognition of the two Republics threatens US security.
- The Biden Administration urged President Zelensky to move to Lviv, western Ukraine – ABC.
- US Deputy National Security Advisor Finer says all evidence confirms that Russia is now heading for military action and will not take the diplomatic path.
Nebenzia, at the UNSC briefing:
“Many of our colleagues are willing to attest that the Minsk Agreements are dead, which is not true. Kiev still has to implement them. We (Russia) remain open for a diplomatic solution, but we will not allow for another bloodbath in Donbas.”
and
“The main task of our decision [on the recognition of independence] was to preserve and protect these lives [of people in Donbass]. This is more important than all your threats.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAMfmwMp2yk
Ukrainian representative. to the UN, Kyslytsya says Ukraine’s one goal is peace and the problem of Donbass must be solved through the Minsk agreements.
Zelensky, the monkey with a hand grenade according to Russian Parliament member Andrei Lugovoy, squeaked all day long. “We don’t have time for history lessons”, he says, while calling for emergency meetings with everyone. The most comical comment was that he is going to break diplomatic relations with Russia. There will be no war he says, while also saying that he might institute martial law. Enough of Zelensky!
A moment of sanity from Dogu Perincek, Secretary General of the Turkish Vatan (“Motherland”) Party: “We see that a new world order is being created. The Atlantic block is left behind, the world is entering the Asian one. The US idea of a unipolar world has failed.”
Another moment of sanity: “Putin’s decision on Donbass completely changes the world order.” Serbian President Vučić.
And insanity:
MFA Russia – Zakharova: The letter by US Representative to the Office of the @UN in Geneva to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights @mbachelet on the “first steps” to be taken by Russian authorities after an “inevitable” military invasion of Ukraine has puzzled us.
China: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier in the day, expounding China’s stance and generally repeating that security concerns are now urgent and must be resolved through negotiation. But that is not all. During the phone call, Wang also urged the US side to fulfill a series of promises that US President Joe Biden has made and avoid sending wrong signals on containing China by its new version of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and by its provocations on the Taiwan question else there will be confrontation with Beijing. (Spectacular Pain Dial Moment by digging in the knife)
The all important recognition: The Zone B stalwarts are right in there.
The Houthis, who understand clearly what it means to live under war conditions, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia are ready to recognize the new-born twins.
TODAY is SANCTIONS DAY
- The list starts with Germany suspending the Nord Stream 2 certification (pending yet another report).
- US – a ban on investments in the DPR and LPR, as well as any import of the region’s goods, services, or technology to the United States. America is also banned from exporting anything to the republics. Furthermore, Washington has made it completely illegal for any American citizens to conduct financial transactions with the breakaway states, and it has also frozen DPR and LPR assets currently in US banks. From now on, any individual involved in business or politics on the territory of the newly recognized republics may be subject to personal sanctions from the US.
- UK sanctions 5 Russian banks and 3 Russian “high net worth individuals”. Rossiya Bank, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and Black Sea Bank, were named as part of the “first tranche” of the UK government’s response. Alongside the financial institutions, three “very high net worth individuals,” Gennady Timchenko, Igor Rotenberg and Boris Rotenberg, have had their UK assets frozen.
- EU – won’t recognize Russian passports issued to citizens from DPR and LPR.
More will be incoming.
It was bound to happen. And this is by far not a knee-jerk reaction. This was in the works for some time. So interested parties who are miffed cannot say they were not fore-warned.
Yes, Ukraine is first steps, we have almost approached the end of the first quarter in US football parlance. Perhaps Syria will be the stage as the next quarter begins.
“The lists starts with Germany suspending the Nord Stream 2 certification.”
Thus doing the bidding of their masters, and cutting their own throats, ensuring Germany & therefore Europe’s ‘economic power house’ is dead. Ensuring a cold dark Europe in the coming months total dependant on the US and forced to do as Master says or LNG etc will not be supplied.
“Biden signed an executive order to ban any US business from doing business with Donetsk, Lugansk”
Thus proving the don’t give a rat’s ass about the people or humanitarian issues, people are just pawns on a board to be sacrificed to which ever the current whim of the US happens to be.
Nothing new here, we all know this…..
Let the krauts freeze their b***ocks off.
F*** ’em.
Without the gas from Nord-Stream 2, Germany and other recipients of this gas will, sooner rather than later have a wintertime “freeze in the dark” period. If this affects a few million Europeans, even if only for a few days, Germany and the others affected will be down on their knees like supplicants before the Czar, begging Russia to send gas through Nord-Stream 2.
Antoinetta III
Looking forward to that, perhaps Gasprom will say:-
“sorry you didn’t want our gas, we’ve sold it to those that do, with long term contracts, sorry there isn’t any for you now”….
Europe had there chance.
Very interesting comments on an economics (!) website, almost all agreeing with sentiments here:
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/germany-halts-nord-stream-2-major-sign-impending-russia-sanctions-will-be-tough
Onward new twins. A new dawn has begun.
Apparently the German government has “indefinitely suspended” the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline due to events in Ukraine.
This move will obviously not come as a surprise to the Russian government. I cannot believe that the German government would be so willing to sacrifice their own national interests in this self-defeating manner. Its a big shame
the Germans proving another time, what C.G.JUNG once noticed: the Germans are somewhat
boundless, as they prooved to be in cruelity and now athousandandonest – time in servility.
God helps them, but thei’r looking the other way. Ignoring, judgement is waiting for them.
Yes, and may I add this other quote by Jung: “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness’s of other people. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
I think Putin has an eye for the Shadow as he is more aware and conscious than those who judge too quickly in the West (Jung also said “Thinking is difficult, that is why most people judge”.
Economics will bring Germany back to Nordstream within two years or less.
This is how the left operates. Goodbye Germany.
Brilliant move by Putin and the 2 UKN Republics !
Checkmate Biden.
Any news from Auslander? We hope he and his family are fine.
He is probably busy writting the most important book of the century! My regards and good wish to him and his amazing wife (now, how is it that I know this?). Take care, Auslander.
Thanks for update , just a quick comment Nord stream 2 was always about securing Germanys future growth and in time it will be activated .
well otherwise there is gonna be a huge legal bill when Germany is sued by the relevant pipeline companies involved. Any sanctions not authorised by UN are illegal.
Why would Russia let gas sit there waiting for the Germans, when Asia is begging for it? Power of Siberia 2 is ongoing, with links from the gas fields currently supplying Europe to the Asian pipelines, making it a formality to switch routes, and customers.
Germany is missing the bus, deliberately. The bus will be long down the road before Germany gets the same treatment as France got with AUKUS. Europe will be economically devastated by the time the US is finished.
So, the USA is going to f*uck West Europe by sanctioning Russia,
Well, I think they really deserve it.
César, Júlio
you somewhat carry your name rightly
Great cynicism of a thinker
a human acc. to Hannah Arend)
Totally. Russia is under no obligation to save Europe from it’s own idiocy. America do not want the EU as a competitor so, Germany commits energy suicide for a country that is in a state dementia and collapse. I expect this stupidity from the British, always thought the Germans were smarter than that.
Chancellor Scholz had been indicted for tax fraud by a court in Hamburg and obviously he’s hoping for an acquittal or a mere slap on the wrist. For most of the Atlantacist puppets, the strings are not visible. But we see the strings on this poor excuse for a human being.
Thank you very much for the valid and clear information you provide. Yet, I am a little confused; some days ago the evacuation of non-combatants was started. Is that going to continue? In my opinion the current situation precludes an UkroNazi full scale offensive. If recognition of the new Republics was preplanned, there was not any point for evacuation. Would you please elaborate a little on this?
Excuse my bad English.
Thanks again for your consideration
Kind regards
Leonidas
“In my opinion the current situation precludes an UkroNazi full scale offensive”.
The Russians are careful, conscientious, and very thorough. They cannot by any means rule out the possibility of a crazed, suicidal berserker attack by the UAF or its Nazi hangers-on.
While that would lead to a massacre of the attackers, it is best of vulnerable civilians – especially women and children – are out of harm’s way for the time being. Think of it as putting them in a very large air raid shelter until the all-clear sounds.
Well, yes, Russia is evacuating women, old people and children from Ukraine, and Western “partners” are evacuating their diplomats and military advisers!
The evacuation continues. About 90,000 refugees from Donbass have already crossed the border with Russia. 44 regions of the Russian Federation are ready to accept refugees from Donbass. They create comfortable conditions for guests, do everything possible to help. Humanitarian aid is collected for internally displaced persons, it is sent from different parts of the country. Russian hospitals accepted people from evacuated hospitals of Donbass.
Zelensky said that Kiev would not consider the request of the DPR and LPR for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the regions of Donbass controlled by Kiev. The war continues.
After a relative calm night, the Armed Forces of Ukraine resumed shelling the LDNR from artillery and mortars. At the moment, powerful battles are reported on the outskirts of Lugansk and Donetsk.
An IED installed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces went off at night on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway. The target was a car with one of the DPR commanders, but the IED went off later than planned. As a result, a civilian car that was following was destroyed, three people died.
DPR intelligence notes the arrival of additional weapons in the form of artillery, rocket launchers, and armored vehicles at the line of contact. This provocation will lead to large-scale hostilities.
For the first time since 2018, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used MLRS: 5 rockets from the BM-21 Grad, 12 shells of 122 mm caliber were fired at Donetsk (Kiev district). Near Lugansk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the positions of the militia from 152-mm guns. Under fire Gorlovka, Pervomaiskaya front line in the LPR. Mortars, artillery. The north of Donetsk is shaking from explosions. Bakhmutka and Lugansk are suffering in the LPR. Right now there is a battle going on in the direction of the city of Happiness.
Grad (“hail”) missiles, 122 mm (howitzer or long-barrel artillery), and 152 mm artillery are supposed to be kept away from the Line Of Contact an, at depots where the OSCE can verify their presence. Violating the cease-fires used to be standard practice in the 8 years of the “Minsk Agreement”. I expect the UAF and the Nazi battalions will soon learn those violations have become a very dangerous step. Perhaps the LDNR will be able to purchase shiny new 152 mm artillery pieces on credit.
City of Happiness is Счастье, a city with 12,000 people in 2019. It’s in Lugansk, and a large electricity generating plant is just to the north. My approximate transliteration is Shastye. Hard to find the correct version on the web.
yes, you are right, it is Shastye, thanks
LDNR evacuated women, children and elderly a few days ago – to Russia.
People left in LDNR are fighting-age men – and since yesterday Russian soldiers.
Check mate.
Wow! Sanctions from hell, indeed. Germany is a joke. When has NS2 not been in suspension? And uncle Biden’s idea of sanctions from hell is to proscribe any US company to do business with Donetsk and Lugansk Republics. What has been the volume of US business in those republics before now? Really, the West couldn’t be more pathetic.
well, this isMonthy of the coconut- part with the black knight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs
called the West
Wasn’t Monsanto interested in all that farmland? Now they can whistle Dixie. I’m grinning.
“… while also saying that he might institute martial law. Enough of Zelensky!”
Well, if Canada can, then why not?
It’s likely to start looking a lot more like post-Nato Libya as the months drag out.
I suspect all this lock-down drama and “move to Lviv” theatrics is more closely related to the risk of an internal uprising and coup against the nazi storm trooper elements that are bullying the country into following their death-cult propaganda than Russia.
Russia has effectively implemented the Minsk II policy principles and now the remaining Ukraine government will have to work with the two Republics at the diplomatic/embassy level rather than as a domestic discourse. And, one would assume, in the Russian language.
If this was the historic Jones-Town cult moment, then it’s KoolAid time all round.
As for NS2, well I’m sure it can sit there longer than any of these politicians (excepting perhaps Putin) can keep their seats warm. And more than likely, the commercial gas transit company has options to set up an LNG hub of Kaliningrad etc and sell into a much higher spot-price market just down the pond.
From what I read, the DPR and LPR ratified their territory as encompassing the boundaries of their respective Oblasts. If that is the case, that provides Russia the territorial ambiguity to liberate more territory.
I could see a creeping liberation up to the Dnieper and along the south to Mariupal to link Transnistria.
For a start, it means that all the UAF units surrounding the republics are trespassing and will be asked – politely at first – to leave the oblasts.
Actually, Mariupol is already within the Donetsk oblast. Should the Kiev people be reluctant to leave, they may have to reckon with the Russian navy on their exposed seaward flank.
I did not know that but am relieved to see it confirmed by Google maps. This means that the Sea of Azov is secure.
In the Sea of Azov the Ukrainians might be allowed to row a dinghy out a few hundred metres from port. Anything larger… I wouldn’t want to be on board.
Perhaps could liberate up to Odessa in a slow movement based on legal means. There was substantial support for Russia there and Putin did make mention of the murders there. I guess we will see.
Cheers!
I think they should liberate everything east of the Dnieper River!
At this point; I think the cost verses reward would favor it!
Nothing of the sort.
This is normal politics. They had to choose “some” borders, current LOC was clearly unacceptable, so they took the next most logical in the old administrative boundaries.
In practical terms, it means that the border is open for negotiation/agreement in the future as no such agreement exists today anyway.
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/russia-recognises-dpr-lpr-within-borders-in-which-they-proclaimed-independence-kremlin-says-1093265194.html
Putin said the borders will be by which they proclaimed. So that answers the border question.
“TODAY is SANCTIONS DAY
The lists starts with Germany suspending the Nord Stream 2 certification (pending yet another report).
Biden signed an executive order to ban any US business from doing business with Donetsk, Lugansk”
The clown show will begin. Germany is committing suicide and Biden banning business in these areas is the most flacid response ever. Disgraceful.
The border matter is not answered, not clearly. LPR Constitution defines border as the entire oblast, independent of nazi military positions. And, taking VVP speech in entirety, even the border and also legalistic character of “Ukraine” is undefined.
One sequelae of Decision Speech of VVP may reasonably be collapse of nazi armies in Ukraine and attendant uprising of people’s militias to replace them, one way or another… Another may be the fascist occupation of Germany will end some midnight when they run away.
Speaking of Order and Law and R2P…the People’s Republics (and their Mother) may be obliged, as time passes, to do their duty and come to the aid of those arising militias. I imagine that process is ongoing, just secret…as it must be.
Perhaps VVP is correcting the Bolshevik errors…gee, ya think? Why else was the lengthy History Lesson the preface of bigbig speech? How else the heavy criticism of Lenin? How else will those who did the massacre at Odessa be tried? Look at map of Imperial Russia…
Some may speculate as to how far the Court’s reach will extend…Brussels, London, and (gasp!) no one would imagine that reach extending to, uh, North America.
Like General Ripper famously said, Two can play. Bear and Panda have bibig hammer.
Fascists not so much, and their nutzlossenvolk are fractious and in soft revolt as they begin to realize their objective situation, and the Character of the Rule under which they live. Not a pretty prospect for Those Fine Ladies and Esteemed Gentlemen who have proposed themselves as fit to rule the Earth.
Perhaps we might rather say that today is feet-shooting day. The Germans have surged into the lead with their brilliant plan to deprive themselves of energy.
We do not want to buy your gas, we prefer to die of cold and see our companies go bankrupt.
– All right.
We will not buy or sell anything for LNDR.
– All right.
We will continue to call you barbaric, ugly, dirty and evil invaders.
– All right. Anything else?
Yes, yes, there is something else. It’s all China’s fault :-)
Kudos to both of you ;)
We the separatistic country of Slovenia stand behind our brothers in Donbass! Disregard the bum in charge (for now).
Happy to read about China and their support of Russia’s decision. This is a major development.
Scholz made its decision to suspend NS2 certification. I wonder how long it will last ? My impression is this will last a long time, as they publicly said they are willing to pay more for their natural gas. What will be the reaction of the major german customers of the NS2 pipeline ?
Will Russia/China confirm the Power of Siberia 2 in the near future ? The natural gas destined to Germany would be shipped to China instead.
“My impression is this will last a long time, as they publicly said they are willing to pay more for their natural gas”.
It’s not even about price. There simply isn’t enough gas available to Germany. And before they import LNG they will need to build the infrastructure for it.
Economics, business, and war require meticulous long-term planning. But politicians have an attention span of about 30 seconds, and think tomorrow is long-term planning.
Those things really do not mix.
I know this argument about the economics of Germany. Even if Scholz is very aware of the economic situation, it went for this decision. He will maintain it until the US say differently, and he will eventually pay the political price. This is why I think this decision to suspend NS2 will last a long time.
I think that Russia should take the time to review their way of negociating long-term contracts with Germany and better protect their investments in those projects. Why would they accept blindly euros ? Why not asking for gold, or convertibility to gold in these contracts ? We know that the EU will be after euro deposits by russian financial institutions. The EU will use the same strategy being used by the US, as in Afghanistan, Iran, Lybia.
30 Seconds…
how optimist you are!
It is actually a bit longer than 30 seconds; it is until the date of the next elections. Just one of several major problems with elected governments. No long-term planning or thinking is possible.
Antoinetta III
8-) I do try to think the best of everyone! 8-)
As an American with slavic blood I am proud of Russia and Putin. The West is degenerate. I am ashamed and embarrassed by the USA. This is not the country I grew up in. Most of us are disgusted by Biden and his administration. The mass of Americans are too easily brainwashed and led astray by propaganda. Our country is falling apart. Biden is a joke! We are a country run by Zionists.
Well Said! Applies to me perfectly!
I feel the same way about Canada.
Same, here on Left Coast, Murka.
I see it as the country I grew up in since the US became the Empire supplanting the failing British Empire after WW 2. This was cemented in the 60s when “they” assassinated the reformers JFK, RFK, MLK, and others. “They” got away with it. There was the Korean War (technically not ended 70 years later) and then the Vietnam War that embedded the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) that Eisenhower warned us about. One notes it was as he was leaving public office. This has been continued by a still growing corrupted Keynesian style military augmentation of the economy. The Cold War with the Soviet Union enabled the national security complex to join with the MIC. Technology advances so that “what’s good for GM good for the country” is no longer true for the elites who control the wealth. Its now what’s good for Wall St financiers and Silicon Valley. Debt slavery has replaced Wage Slavery. The national security MIC complex has now been joined by the pharma and medical businesses for an even more encompassing surveillance and medical tyranny. The real economy for regular people has been hollowed out. As is noticed by many of Saker, the US is an Anglo-Zionist run Empire increasingly since Israel became a state in 1948. One has only look into the Rothchilds to notice how important some of those of Jewish faith have been to global finance for centuries. The US is being supplanted by a digital new world order. What I wonder about is: Are Russia and China knowing participants in it? Putin is a Russian nationalist. I disagree with Saker’s view of Covid so I wonder about Russia’s acceptance of the mainstream paradigm. The present Chinese government does appear to have a concern for the general welfare of the population but… A future corrupted hierarchy would have so much digital control of the people. Think of HImmler’s SS with China’s digital capabilities – a WEF wet dream.
Nice summary Andrei, thanks. Just to add :
German overengineered seppuku ritual getting momentum:
**Certification of Nord Stream 2 will be stopped, the German Ministry of Economy has given appropriate instructions — German Chancellor Scholz**
Cheers!
Today is also a day to mourn the passing of Germany
https://www.rt.com/russia/550232-germany-suspends-nord-stream/
Germany lept off the cliff!
“Given Russia’s latest action” the certification [of NS2] “cannot go ahead,” Scholz told reporters. “This is now about taking concrete steps relating to the situation that we have seen now.”
Let’s track the exodus of German industry to Russia now.
Spengler knew where it was headed!
His Deutschland cemented the Hour of Decision.
Will the USA stop importing Russian oil and gas? Will it hell!
On industry exodus from Germany – they are welcome in Serbia as well. :-)
Russian gas suply via South Stream is safe and secured, special arrangements for free trade with huge markets of Russia, Iran, Khazahstan and Chine are either in place or being negotiated.
Ze can take his Nazi gangs and Bandera’s with him when he follow his masters orders and move to Lvov. Americans have practically split the country along almost Nazi-frei lines already. The rest can be decided in referendums.
Somewhat surprising that Germany cancelled NS2 out of its own volition. Reports say that minister of climate and the economy Robert Habeck from the greens was pushing for it. The level of disregard these politicians have for their own people is often difficult to fathom. But not only Germany will be affected by sky-high gas prices. Almost all of Europe will feel the not so proverbial heat except for Russia and a few countries like Hungary that have recently made long-time contracts with Russia. Gas prices on the spot market are probably going to rise already at the hour. And Scholz is reavealing what a pushover he is. He is beholden to whomever radical that is with him in the room at any given moment. This does not bode well for Germany on so many levels with so many problems piling up. A prediction can be made that Germany is either going to blow up or that it’s going to go the way of Canada.
Habeck, the economy minister
said:
Germany is secure in supply, price is another matter. LoL!
Doesn’t he understand, commodities are all about price…
“The level of disregard these politicians have for their own people is often difficult to fathom”.
Not really, if you consider that anyone with morals or empathy is excluded from leadership. And they’ve got theirs – they can always scuttle away (by helicopter if necessary) to their nice little estates in Carmel, Argentina or New Zealand with their ill-gotten loot (printed by the US government).
My understanding is that NS2 is not cancelled but that the certification process is suspended sine die.
The certprocess may be re-started at any time, long time or short time, hours or years. Meantime there will be legal process over the costs. Occupied Germany has taken a minimal course. When, some dark midnight, the occupiers depart, then the matter of Russian Gas will be revisited. Meantime the German Industrialists will move production to Russia.
for clarification my “German industrialists will…” was perhaps too stark . the idle machinery will either be sold and moved by legalistic process, bankruptcy perhaps, and either be scrapped or re-started in Zone B – either way the manufacturing moves to the source of fuel when the source of fuel changes. This takes a bit of time…I’d say a bell-curve peak at 3 years. One may perhaps expect our Chinese brothers getting the German technicians and machinery at scrap prices…like they did with Kaiser Fontana Steel, then setting it up wherever they please…since they and “Mother” have bigbig hammer, the German Industry might even find itself in Persia!
Of course these are times of rapid change…and while one suzerain German government can suspend NS2, another may choose to license it…and that can happen nearly overnight. I imagine Bismarck’s Ghost haunting Olaf’s dreams…whispering “Time’s wastin’, my boy, find a way to get rid of the occupation!”
“Meantime the German Industrialists will move production to Russia”.
Ho ho ho! What a great idea! Just imagine how the Washington creatures will gnash their teeth and spit.
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/uk-and-allies-begin-imposing-sanctions-on-russia-boris-johnson-says-1093270511.html
UK is sanctioning 5 russian banks, according to Sputnik. Also, EU will limit access to european financial markets.
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/eu-seeks-to-limit-russias-access-to-european-financial-markets-1093269568.html
The west is no ‘Au pair’.
From Spain, I’ve experienced many problems today accessing the Sputnik and RT websites. The other websites seem to be okay. Anyone else having these problems? Is it possible that these websites are being taken down by the West?
No problems accessing these sites from Extremadura.
Regards,
Guy
Currently in Germany and having no problems accessing these sites…. so far!
OK they have access to RT Germany, yet they have been excluded from the comment function there for weeks. It is astonishing that the Germans are kept away from the war and their opinion on it with flimsy arguments. I wouldn’t be surprised if, when it’s all over, they’re allowed to report from their vassalage again.
I have also problems to access rt.com from Brazil, and this for several days.
Other sites work correctly, for example francais.rt.com.
Too many people visiting them, in hope of seeing the other side of the story?
I’ve notice that also, with both, but especially with RT: on and off – sometimes inaccessible for over half an hour…
The idiot in Britain who calls himself the opposition leader Starmer wants RT off the air World wide LOL!! democracy my arse.
“Biden said the recognition of the two Republics threatens US security”.
Has he gone completely insane? How on earth does anything to do with the DPR or the LPR concern US security?
Perhaps Sleepy Joe is using “US security” in the now customary sense of “freedom of US corporations to loot, pillage and kill wherever they choose”.
It is, perhaps, a “lapsus linguae”, an unconscious recognition that the 21st of February is possibly the beginning of what Andrei Martyanov called “The New New World Order”.
By US security, he means his security — in the shady deals he and his son had going on with sex trafficking in Ukraine.
The Germans have already suspended Nord Stream 2! Ha ha ha! Their instantaneous reaction to an act of apparent disrespect for US supremacy is to cripple their own economy and deny their own citizens energy.
Fine. No one in Russia cares; the Chinese will have all the more gas; and the German government will be severely embarrassed if it tries to back out of that foolishly impulsive gesture.
Good.
No commercial gas for the market appears to have come through NS2 to date. The key question is what gas is coming on the market via existing pipelines from Eurasia/Russia?
The available information over the recent winter period is not much, if any. With previous contracts not being renewed and suppliers across the continent, including the UK, relying on spot market prices subject to constant price increases through speculative behaviour.
These price rises will have direct and indirect effects (think of fertiliser production and future food prices) not just for industry but for millions of ordinary consumers. Different countries across Europe seem to be pursuing different policies to alleviate the pain of this to domestic consumers.
In the UK a lot energy suppliers have gone bust and out of business in the past six months as a consequence. With domestic users transferred like tins of peas on a production line to deals they have no input to with the few remaining suppliers. The energy regulators price cap is set to increase by 54% in April and a further rise in the cap has been set for October.
Millions of households are faced with a stark choice of eating or heating as bills rise to unpayable levels. Interestingly, Gazprom does operate in the UK, but only supplies energy to business users. I don’t know whether this is a commercial decision or due to UK legal constraints? If the former it would be an interesting exercise for Gazprom in the UK to offer domestic consumers stable gas and electricity deals more in line with prices which previously existed, if that is possible?
if it were it would certainly put a few noses out of joint.
UK is pushing for NS2 sanctions simply because it believes it is safer with only 3 percent Russian gas their main supplies are Norway and Holland….and of course wants its EU neighbours to suffer.
Mind you higher prices and supply restrictions might persuade it to reinvest developing its own gas and oil resources. Unless Bojo has sold us down the river for USA LNG.
If the UAF goes on shelling the republics, the Russians might have the option of announcing that, regrettably, the gas pipeline has been destroyed and no more gas can be supplied.
Unfortunately, a glance at a map of the pipelines shows that only one of several passes through the republics, and that is a smallish one.
Oh well…
“…it would be an interesting exercise for Gazprom in the UK to offer domestic consumers stable gas and electricity deals more in line with prices which previously existed…”
What a nice idea! I would try to be first in line. Lower prices and a reliable Russian supplier… And annoying the UK government!
“EU – won’t recognize Russian passports issued to citizens from DPR and LPR.”
So, the EU wants to penalise the people of the Donbass?!?!?
I saw that and wondered how would they know which Russian passport was issued to whom?
(Unless it’s a high profile person eg a tennis player like Ilya Marchenko who plays for Ukraine and would now qualify for Russian citizenship) ?
how can you be surprised at the people who literally created the concept of economic terrorism, sanctioning many countries for decades and destroying their economies on purpose, like Syria, Venezuela, etc etc?
It seems that Russia is motivated by and guided by Christian principles.
This is something I have never witnessed or recognised in any govt action.
God speed Mr Putin
well, this isMonthy of the coconut- part with the black knight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs
called the West
@ Saker
Thanks, as always, for the SitRep.
You’re reporting all is quiet on the western front, however, dubious and allegedly Ukrainian agent avía.pro is reporting the AFU “…resumed large-scale strikes on the territory of Donbass. Attacks began to be delivered on the region’s most important infrastructure and civilian strategically important facilities in Donbass.
According to the data provided by the residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, this afternoon the Armed Forces of Ukraine were actively attacking the region’s gas pipelines, roads and railways, water supply systems, and a few hours ago, as a result of an accurate hit by Ukrainian ammunition of an unknown type, the Lugansk TPP was seriously damaged, in resulting in a massive fire at the facility…”
https://avia-pro.net/news/vsu-unichtozhili-udarami-luganskuyu-tes
I have tried to verify their report, double checked with Donetsk News Agency,
https://dan-news.info/en/
which reported on the attack on journos and 1500 rounds delivered to Donbass in 24 hours, nothing on the electric station. You have access to more Russian sources, and could probably find out if Luhansk station was in fact destroyed, as per avía.pro report.
Thanks.
Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf, my sources just report that Ukraine Said So! Nobody believes them. But they are moving weapons to the area.
Generally there still is shelling, but not as bad as yesterday.
Thanks, Amarynth, appreciate it.
Lone Wolf
21 February O happy day …..
US just defacto recognized the DPR and LPR as having sovereignty by sanctioning them; can’t get any stupider.
Russia is investigating the discovery of a grave containg many victims that the Ukrainians apparenty murdered and then followed this up with Russia’s concern regarding genocide which gave the Russian the authority to intervene and bypass the UN. Rather stupid of Germany’s Scholtz to ignore and shrug off Putins’ comment over a genocide which incidentally played right into Russian hands and portrays the contempt by Scholtz’s remarks.
Someone should ask Schulz’s what did your Grandad do in the War? the man is scum.
I am deeply worried for those LPR and DPR folks. With these sanctions, how will they discover the joy of changing gender each week.
I also am very much in pain from my friends of Czechia, afraid that their economic domination by Germany may come to an end in 10 years time. What would their mother and grandmother, who while doing forced work at a German bomb factory during WWII, subtly rendered inefective the final product, at risk of her own life, think of it. Yap, many unsung heroes did their share in the war. She would broadly smile, at least.
Go ahead, what genocide, you said?, alright, first vassal, sign those sanctions, you deserve it, and, more importantly, we deserve that you that to yourselves.
Interesting. Didn’t notice that.
Very true.
As long as you leave the lunatics in charge of the asylum, you will have a war.
Kiev is the Cuckoo’s Nest, all off their meds.
Name me one sane citizen of Ukraine who is in the government.
They all are crazed on Russophobia.
They rant against Russian language while speaking Russian.
They agree to send their young men into battle against an adversary they have no hope of defeating.
Just as they sell all their natural resources for pennies, they sell their young women into prostitution and white slavery.
Ukraine wasted all the assets left them from the USSR (which Russia paid for), wasted thirty years watching all their assets atrophy and rust, and now, accept social conditions where few have livable incomes and none have retirements. They are a nation with almost all on the dole. They are European beggars.
This is Ukraine. At the bottom of the list of nations. Determined to further the pain for its resident citizens in order to keep killing Russians.
Finish them off. End this disgrace. Liberate the Ukrainians from themselves. Prosecute the criminals.
Reduce the present entity to five or six pieces.
Just use the first eruption of military action to decimate all their depots and pulverize their command and control centers and networks. Wipe out their national military.
Chase all the nazis to Galicia. Let the monkeys have their zoo.
Cauterize the pus-filled sore known as Ukraine.
Very pleased to see that Minsk is not dead. Very much hope it is true.
All Western commenters and news items keep saying that Minsk is dead and diplomacy to resolve the issue is dead. Almost makes you think they never wanted Minsk to be implemented!!
So, what Putin has done is stopped the daily bombing and killing and start to give Donbass a normal life while negotiations go on regarding implementing Minsk. In other words, the West and Ukraine cannot hold Donbass as ransom.
I expect to hear more screaming and wailing when Russia starts to insist that Minsk be implemented.
“Nebenzia, at the UNSC briefing:
‘Many of our colleagues are willing to attest that the Minsk Agreements are dead, which is not true. Kiev still has to implement them. We (Russia) remain open for a diplomatic solution, but we will not allow for another bloodbath in Donbas.’”
How are those Minsk agreements not dead? If the new republics are about to be recognized by Syria, Venezuela, etc., are they not two new nation states; isn’t the Donbass a part of Ukraine in the Minsk agreements? If he is not right in saying that, it’s a statement that is perceived as weak and/or fearful.
Just because they are two nations it does not mean they cannot be merged or demerged.
Look at Czechoslovakia!!
The primary purpose of the recognition is to stop the bloodshed and give Donbass people a normal life.
Ukraine still has to recognise the new Republics and build a relationship with them, just as they would have under Minsk.
Or not. But if they choose not to, it is Ukraine’s loss, and the Republics are under Russia’s protection.
Kiev should have accepted Putin’s first offer, implementing Minsk would have represented a better outcome than what Kiev has now had handed to it.
The West should take note of that and realise that failure to heed Russia’s security concerns will lead to a far worse outcome than if they had been accepted.
It’s like filibustering, cheap in my view The West can’t continue with the Minsk process like this, so it’s done just to say, “you quit the Minsk negotiations, not us.”
Okay, so today Putin said the Minsk agreements are dead (I heard on CNN). Now that sounds like Putin; he’s a serious statesman. Nebenzia made a foolish mistake. How can the Minsk agreements not be dead!
These two Republics are temporary, they will be used to liberate the rest of Ukraine, with the help of all the fed up people left in Ukraine. It is time to chase these rats and exterminate them and their hateful ideology. Then a new and free Ukraine will arise!
I have just been watching BoJoin Parliament and his sanctions announcement.
Pathetic performance by both BoJo, the leader of the opposition and a few MPs.
Couldn’t bear to watch it all.
President Putin knew those sanctions were going to happen regardless of what Russia did, the West and their media have been given their hymn sheet in which they will attempt to sing in harmony.
This was inevitable years ago and was predicted by the statesman George Kennan when he said the expansion of NATO would be an ‘epic fateful mistake’. This mistake has been compounded by the containment policies of the West of Russia, China and Iran, what do containment polices consist of except as the UK said recently their pivot to Asia included sending its latest aircraft carrier to the far east as a sort of Imperial warning and the surrounding of same with military bases and the disruption of their economic growth, this is lunacy as any self respecting nation will not be intimidated. Certainly not Putin who has shown a masterful understanding of all the machinations of the West.
I don’t see anything wrong with US/NATO loading up lethal hardware in a failed state on Russia’s border, it’s moderate lethal hardware in the hands of moderate psychopaths, what could go wrong?
Let them bark. Russia gave them all the time needed to resolve this problem, and yet, they did nothing, except spill more lies. Godspeed President Putin! You have the whole world of freedom-loving people behind you. New day rising!
I am sure Russian policy makers know full well where they could target in order to counter Zio-Anglo sanctions game. It going to have a boomerang effect on the dollar empire the like of which have never been before experienced by the Uncle Shmuel.
700,000barrels of oil per day shipped to the US from Russia. This is due to sanctions on Venezuelan oil that the US refineries are designed to process. Changes to the refineries will run in the billions of $ plus downtime. Inflation from hell!
I know that the Chinese politics are alway in private so as to be non confrontational. But their lack of public support for this event is for me very irritating. However, some sources report that stinky Blinky called the FM Yi yesterday. And Yii told him politely to look well upon his failure in Ukraine where youve been made a laughing stock. The exact same thing will happen if the US pursues its policy of aggression in Taiwan. My view is that if it all causes the price of oil to go up a majority of the Deep State behind it will be happy with the outcome. The Deep State pimps the USA as its byatch and will discard it immediately when it finished.
BTW, does anyone has info about the action that took place around 0600 on February 21 on Rostov border? Five Ukro “specops” reported killed by the russians on russian territory, two ukrainian BMPs which attempted to exfiltrate the ukies were destroyed by russian border guard? Probably, the event that triggered the recognition?
Yugoslavia. Carved up by the USA, using NATO pretense, by force, murdering over 100k people.
Palestine. Invaded by Jews, supported by UK and USA with money and military, by force, murdering over 250k people. A genocide. Carved up.
Korea. Invaded by Japan, then by USA, by force, murdering untold millions. Carved into 2 countries, by force, by the USA. A genocide.
Crimea. Separated by the will of the people, by referendum. No force applied.
Donbass and Lugansk. Separated by the will of the people.
So if the USA can carve up by force, and the so-called international community accepts; then why the so-called intl community cannot accept the will of the local people to decide their country, without the use of force?
@ gune
Great historical analogy just forgot Viet Nam, and farther back in history, Mexico. And Cuba. And Hawaii. And…ad infinitum…
But to compare what Russia has done with Crimea and Donbass, your examples more than suffice. If Russia would have let maniac Saakashvili to raze South Ossetia and Abkhazia, their fate would have been much worse than the suffering of Donbass the last decade. R2P, for Russia, is true to its acronym, for the US, however it means “Rape 2 Pillage.”
Lone Wolf
add California to list…infiltration and treason by Yankee Mexican citizens, Independent “State” declared, followed by prompt or nearly immediate request to Washington to join Union…a color revolution prototype, but to be fair, I think, not an operation in the sense we see now, not curated by occult force…though there Masonic Brotherhood was a big factor…if one reads their own not-easy-to-find Histories. (some of which used to be in the State Library) Masons were a big factor in California History…and curated the Vigilante Organization. Such events can be organic, or not, and sometimes mix.
Your question’s rhetorical I expect.
What makes US terrorists ‘moderate’? Because they’re our terrorists. We vetted them and all their mothers swore they’re nice boys
Absolutely, i believe it’s called the ‘right to self determination’:-
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, [Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
entry into force 23 March 1976]
(https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx)
PART I
Article 1
1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
Additionally:
The UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, (https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/Independence.aspx), states:-
The Declaration states that “the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the United Nations Charter, and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, and that steps should be taken to transfer, unconditionally, all powers to the Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories so that they might enjoy complete freedom and independence”.
The Declaration puts forth ordering principles which guides the progressive development of international law in accordance with the General Assembly’s own explicit mandate under Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations:
– that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights (art. 1);
– that all peoples have the right to self-determination, but that this necessarily includes the right freely to determine their political status and freely to pursue their economic, social and cultural development (art. 2);
– that all armed action or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples shall cease (art. 4);
Now admittedly this is in reference to the Colonies, but it reinforces the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Both seem applicable in the current case at hand.
Boris Rotenberg is a Finnish citizen. It is weird that the EU allows the US and UK to sanction their citizens.
Borders Clarification.
Please consult the map on this tweet:
https://twitter.com/UkrWarReport/status/1496086529671839747
Also, remembering that VVP spoke to correcting errors of Lenin et al, see> https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/map-russian-empire-1914
Oh, so, NOW Zelensky wants to implement the Misk II Agreement. Too late. That train has already left the station.
So far these sanctions are a face saving exercise. NS2 suspension changes nothing for Russia as it has never operated. UK sanctions on a couple of Russian billionaires is neither here nor there, in fact it may trigger the repatriation of huge Russian money from the UK. None of the really big Russian banks are on the list either. As for America sanctioning the Donetsk and Lugansk I can just say that this is an absolute farce.
Let us wait and see what the EU comes up with. I do not believe that Brussels is having an easy time in securing consensus on what they are proposing. Hence the delay.
“Biden said the recognition of the two Republics threatens US security.”
The Americans are delusional. I can hear the gnashing of teeth and Blinken/Nulands wailing from the other side of the Atlantikkk
The raft of sanctions against Russia, are being implemented outside of the UN and constitute an uncivilised, illegal and unsavoury spectacle far removed from order and justice.
Europe and the UK are hiding behind the American global thug, feeling empowered by that thugs protection, acting as the criminal’s “enforcer”.
The West is a disgrace.
Oh, Oh, I got a great title for Saker’s future book I know he’s thinking about, I just know it!
Okay here it is, ready?
Donbass Ascending
The Eastern Nativity of DPR and LPR
“A historical perspective of the struggle of Eastern Ukrainians, their will to survive as they endured great suffering and their final emergence to become two sovereign nations that bravely joined the multipolar world.”
So what do think, huh?
C’mon it’s a great title, divinely inspired and will mark a new beginning of hope in the fight against the malevolent side of man.
If US-controlled Ukronazi regime stays true to its MO, it will continue to harass Donbass, luring Russia into a fight beyond its peacekeeping territory, as in the Georgian war, and the RF will have to establish a buffer zone. I suspect Zelensky has never had any control over the Ukronazis, so this will inevitably lead to Russian seizure of more and more territory — unless Zelensky grows a pair and stands up to the Nazis. Where it stops nobody knows, but what happens once the US runs out of sanctions options? Keep your eye on Patrick Lancaster’s site to find out whether Ukraine behaves itself now that Putin has recognized DLPR. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjTWVaRx6jMN5ZYgbqe2_w
So the ‘pro-Russian’ people who said there would be no invasion were wrong – but right. By recognizing the two Donbass regions as independet states and sending in peacekeepers – there has been no invasion. lol.
The Ukies can either escalate and turn the whole thing into a bloodbath or let it go and be rid of a piece of territory that wasn’t working out for them anyway.
The West gets to impose its oh so tough and cutting sanctions and looks mean and serious and together, Putin gets to look the hero, Johnson is free of his domestic trouble, Macron gets an election boost. Everyone’s a winner.
Apart from the working people of the Donbass area, and the working people of Germany who’ll pay more for their gas and the working people of Russia who’ll be paying for the refugees and the working people of Europe in general.
So, business as usual.
:)
As in the children’s punctuation exercise “Where to put a comma: It is impossible not to recognize.”
And this is just the beginning of the Russian language lesson. )))
PS Thank you very much for the sanctions!
“Send more sanctions! The last ones were delicious!”
Only the Donetsk an Lugansk people have reason to be joyous , for the rest of us its sad really it has come to this. I have watched Mr. Putins face for years now an feel he is really a man who loves peace but the crown is heavy on his head an it wears on him. I am an american who greatly admires Putin an what he has accomplished . I feel sorry for the man having to bear the burdens of the West’s hatred for Russia. But I cheer his courage and strength and pray he stays around a long time ! The russian people owe him a great debt the world owes him a great debt!!
Good point but the occupiers won’t depart anytime soon. In the meantime Europeans will be starving and freezing. It could be that inflation being triggered is wished for, though, so as to get rid of unsustainable debt levels. At any rate, even suspending the certification process on Germany’s own volition was not necessary. People won’t notice the subtle difference and why take the political heat?
By far not all production is going to move to Russia. Sanctions will stand in the way and, let’s face it, Made in Russia does not yet have the required appeal when it comes to cars (not everyone can afford an Aurus) and high-priced investment goods. It might be different for energy-intensive bulk items like aluminum and fertilizer if, big if, sanctions will allow it.
“Made in Russia does not yet have the required appeal”
Required appeal to whom? You do realize that the russians don’t give a damn what the westerners think about them, right?
Thank you sanctions! Thanks to them, Russia is rapidly reviving its economy. )))
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin:
We have been preparing for a possible reaction to the recognition of the LPR and DPR for many months now. I mean, first of all, import substitution and an analysis of all the risks that we may face if such decisions are made. They, these risks, have already been worked out quite well, we understand the issues related to restricting, among other things, the import of high technologies and many other issues,” he said.
Working groups have been formed in the ministries and departments of Russia, which will make decisions, including together with the Central Bank. It is obvious for the government that the situation in Donbass will degrade.
Today we need to aggravate this situation, go into it, because this is the only way we can catalyze the processes related to import substitution and achieve the national development goals that you have set.
The government will do everything necessary to ensure the economic development of Russia and the well-being of the population.
Maybe there are some readers who have the technical expertise to answer a big question: can NS2 pipeline be re-routed?
If so, Russia could make offers to Denmark, Poland, or/and Sweden to be the primary client state for the pipeline, possibly attracting industry from Germany to those countries. As fanatically anti-Russian as Poland, Sweden, and Denmark are, money talks.
It may be both technically and politically impossible, but I would like to understand what constraints do exist in this context.
Thanks!
PS: congratulations to the new republics and to Russia for this big win. Also, pray for our friend Austlander and the people of Donbas, that there will be no war.
Don’t think this would happen until the collapse of NATO and the EU. But, this could be just around the corner. We’ll see.
well if the companies involved in the construction sue and get compensation for sanctions….they could use it to build supply gas via other routes.. but to countries that want long term contracts…which is gazprom policy ?
In 1927 Sergei Eisenstein gave us the brilliant silent film October (Ten Days That Shook The World).
The “West” went nuts during those ten days and remains totally psychotic to this day over Russia and her might.
Yesterday Vladimir Putin and Russia shook the world again by simply recognizing the independence of two small republics who have been catching hell from the Ukronozis for years and agreeing to protect them.
The “West”, on auto pilot, reacted with their two mainstays. Hysteria and sanctions. Oh, and they ran like hell.
There are many, many more days of Western shaking to come caused by both external and internal events because not only has Russia had it with the “West” the people of the “West” have had it with their “leaders”.
Let the shake, rattle and roll commence.
Donbass has been liberated. Meanwhile on the other side of the planet Canada has fallen. Funny how things are working out.
Godspeed Mr Putin
Donbass has not yet been liberated within its borders, we have to do this.
“The list starts with Germany suspending the Nord Stream 2 certification (pending yet another report).”
If the Germans decide to follow through and officially cancel Nordstream 2, that is huge news. That will officially mark Germany’s decision to commit economic suicide–all in order to please their American masters.
The German economy will then give up cheaper gas from Russia in exchange for high-priced American gas.
How many Germans will freeze as a result of more expensive heating bills from this American “Freedom Gas”?
The Germans will learn the hard way the true meaning of American Freedom–the freedom to freeze to death, that is…..
Not only the Germans-Germans, but the whole of Western (Central, Northern and Southern) and a fragment of Eastern Europe. By the way, the gas that the US sells to the EU is Russian. )))
Gazprom alone provides 35 percent of Europe’s gas consumption. And there is nothing to replace them with, and prices in the Asia-Pacific region will always be higher – all gas will go there.
Nebenzia, at the UNSC briefing:
“Many of our colleagues are willing to attest that the Minsk Agreements are dead, which is not true. Kiev still has to implement them. We (Russia) remain open for a diplomatic solution, but we will not allow for another bloodbath in Donbas.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nebenzia’s comment above answers my question as to how to reconcile Putin’s action with the SCO charter.
Simple, but elegant.
What about the SCO Charter?
The republics held referendums “On Independence” in 2014 before the signing of the Minsk agreements (until the “Northern Wind” defeated the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Battalions). Therefore, the recognition by Russia of the independence of the LDNR does not apply in any way to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which have the status of a UN document binding for execution (the Resolution was adopted unanimously by the Security Council)
I’m referring to Articles 1 ( joint counteraction to terrorism, separatism and extremism in all of them manifestations) & 2 ( mutual respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of the states and inviolability of frontiers) of the SCO’s charter. They are clearly worded documents that Russia is a signatory to. No referendum in Donbas can supersede that.
Notice Nebezia’s words at the UNSC.
“Many of our colleagues are willing to attest that the Minsk Agreements are dead, which is not true. Kiev still has to implement them. We (Russia) remain open for a diplomatic solution, but we will not allow for another bloodbath in Donbas.”
We also notice China giving a similar response as it did when Crimea was annexed. It’s not full-throated support. I see this as an acknowledgement of the SCO charter, which both China and Russia are committed to.
Ymmv.
In the Treaties “On Friendship and Hundred-Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of Russia with the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics”, the borders are not indicated, on purpose. ))).
Recognition of the independence of the republics of the LPR and the DPR will be established within the boundaries adopted during the 2014 referendum on self-determination of the republics. That is, within the borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of the Ukrainian SSR, as prescribed in the constitutions and laws of the republics of Donbass.
Law on the state border of the DPR
Article 3. State border
2. The Donetsk People’s Republic confirms the passage of its State Border:
1) with Ukraine – along the administrative border of the former Donetsk region of Ukraine (including the territorial sea) with Kharkov, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine;
2) with the Lugansk People’s Republic – along the administrative border of the former Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine;
3) with the Russian Federation – along the line of the former state border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation within the administrative border of the former Donetsk region of Ukraine.
https://dnrsovet.su/zakonodatelnaya-deyatelnost/prinyatye/zakony/zakon-donetskoj-narodnoj-respubliki-o-gosudarstvennoj-granitse-donetskoj-narodnoj-respubliki/
Law on the State Border of the LPR
Article 3. State border
2. The Luhansk People’s Republic confirms the passage of its State Border:
1) with Ukraine – along the administrative border of the former Luhansk region of Ukraine with the Kharkov region of Ukraine;
2) with the Donetsk People’s Republic – along the administrative border of the former Lugansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine;
3) with the Russian Federation – along the line of the former state border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation within the administrative border of the former Luhansk region of Ukraine.
https://glava-lnr.info/dokumenty/zakony/zakon-o-gosudarstvennoy-granice-luganskoy-narodnoy-respubliki
Demonstrative lesson “How to keep the enemy in suspense” from the press secretary of the President of Russia Putin )))
CNN: Regarding the recognition of the sovereignty of the DNR and LNR. Tell me, are we talking about their recognition within the current, actual borders or within the borders of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions? As far as we understand, these are slightly different boundaries.
Dmitry Peskov: Within the limits in which they proclaimed themselves.
CNN: Proclaimed at what point?
Dmitry Peskov: Well, when these two republics were proclaimed.
Bloomberg: Can you elaborate on this issue?
Dmitry Peskov: No, I have nothing to add.
Ekho Moskvy: Do these borders include, for example, Mariupol?
Dmitry Peskov: I have nothing to add to this. Within the limits in which they exist and have been proclaimed.
Ekho Moskvy: Do they exist or have they been proclaimed?
Dmitry Peskov: Well, they were proclaimed and still exist.
“Echo of Moscow”: That is, in the current?
Dmitry Peskov: I have nothing to add to this.
BBC News: Can I clarify, I just didn’t quite get it, will the recognition of the people’s republics be within the borders that now exist or that they themselves have declared?
Dmitry Peskov: Within the boundaries in which these republics were proclaimed.
BBC News: In 2014? That is, Donetsk and Luhansk regions?
Dmitry Peskov: In this case, I have said everything that I could say on this topic.
well, this isMonthy of the coconut- part with the black knight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs
called the West
A couple of points:
1.Isn’t it amusing that the Ukrainians,who for years now have said “We can’t implement the Minsk agreements”,over and over,are now complaining that Russia is violating them (which they aren’t anyway).
2. Peskov’s “DPR and LPR are recognized as independent ‘within the boundaries in which they were proclaimed and exist’,is a bit contradictory. Since the referendum which created the Republics was won Oblast-wide. Meaning the entire Oblasts were included in the “proclaimed” creation. While right now they only exist in a little over a third of that area.That leaves the issue murky for the future.
3. Serbian President Vučić saying, “Putin’s decision on Donbass completely changes the world order”,needs to be clarified. Did he mean that as a “good” change,or a “bad” change. He needs to clarify that for Serbians,and of course for us as well,lol.
Shelling has picked up a little but much less than yesterday.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an artillery attack on Horlivka
The territory of the DNR remains under fire from Ukrainian artillery by this hour
The DNR officially confirmed Ukraine’s use of MLRS.
One LNR defender killed by AFU fire
I don’t know of course where the Russian soldiers are but at least the paperwork is being done. Russian Federation Council has received President Putin’s appeal to deploy Russian army abroad – chairwoman Valentina Matvienko.
How does it help the people living in LPR or DNR when the USA bans goods and services there and wont recognize their passports?
The objective is to convert and where not possible kill, maim, destroy, demoralize and if all fails at least limit in develpoment anyone and everyone having anything to do with Russia.
All sanctions are designed to fulfill that objective first and foremost, secondary objectives come after that.
This specific sanction is in the “demoralize” one combined with “limit development” by complicating travel/education etc. for the casual people.
This is war, remember that. In war the goal is to destroy your enemy. Not to be nice to them. The fact Russia does not fight back, for the most part, does not make it any less of a war it is.
Now, of course it is stupid. As Russians are not some undeveloped folks who would NEED the “western know-how”. Far from it. So the policy will backfire. But that is the intention.
))) They will travel on Russian passports.
Interesting if immigration officers see their addresses (Donetsk, etc.) Would they turn back someone with a Russian passport? Very likely!
Passports (normally) do not include addresses.
But you can make blacklists and, in case of US, the VISA application requires you to provide this information. Faking it is a federal offense and you would go to jail if found out. There are ways.
Saker, you are right. This is bigger than just Ukraine:
https://www.rt.com/russia/550276-putin-military-use-abroad/
The abroad can still mean just Ukraine.
Exactly! Specifically recognized by Russia are the people’s republics of the DPR and LPR. According to agreements and official invitations of the parties. Respecting the norms of international law.
We deploy military contingent abroad only on the basis of agreements and official invitations.
And this time the procedure will be followed.
Thanks for the answers. I was too hopeful that Russia could come to help Latin America…. Not yet.
Is Ukraine blackmailing Biden?
They would have plenty of material on both Father and son.
How could they not be?
NATO pressconference, statement now.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/events_67375.htm
Kent
hmmm…..nothing from Macron….I cannot find anything.
Any details re the Ukrainian incursion by APC s into Russia….maybe Russia is going to provide?
Ukr and Borrell claim Russian troops have moved into the two republics…ukr claiming 10000…..????.
EU to announce its sanctions Tuesday against Russia….could be interesting to see which countries initiate….disagree….are coerced/threatened to comply…who will monitor or punish participants and transgressors that do not follow the line….which countries are worth watching …Italy Hungary Austria etc?
Interesting to see who reveals their be phobias and psychopathic manias and hysterias against Russia.
Macron :
By recognizing the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, Russia is violating its commitments and undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. I condemn this decision. I called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and European sanctions.
note Erdogan’s proposal to act as mediator be Ukr and Russia….in the bin presumably ho ho ho….considering Lavrov referred to various militants presence in Ukraine ….
“Ukr and Borrell claim Russian troops have moved into the two republics…ukr claiming 10000…..????.”
– Lying, nomen illis legio! )
Yesterday there were only engineering units of assault and barrage with EW units. And the crews of the tanks and armored vehicles located there (which, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are 1375 units of armored vehicles. Including 410 tanks, 99 armored personnel carriers, 140 self-propelled artillery mounts (ACS), 545 infantry fighting vehicles, 181 multi-purpose transporter (MT-LB). In fact there are more of them))).
French FM suspended his meeting with Lavrov…
Despite suspension of Nordstream, et al., a clear net gain for Russia. Organically Russian ethnic republics now officially friends with Russia and under her protection.
The artificial modern ukraine is now being disassembled and sorted out. The Ukie Thugocracy’s territory is being steadily reduced. Their armed forces took a hit: 4 AFVs destroyed.
Zelensky and his regime look like losers–which is never helpful to their cause.
The fact that Germany is making a move so injurious to her interests really shows how much Uncle Shmuel controls Europe.
It would be great to see a German equivalent of Orban arise, someone who admits Russia’s legitimate security concerns. not going to happen, of course–barring a miracle.
Still this is encouraging: whenever the US tries to start trouble, CIA controlled Eastern Europe actually *loses territory*: S. Ossetia, Crimea, now Donbass and Lugansk!
Keep stirring up trouble America—and the frontiers of your Empire will be reduced to your shoreline !
A big hint from the Almighty urging you to go back to being a republic!
Guess the crypto exchange I work for won’t be servicing residents from DPR and LPR.
A shame.
More importantly though, Putin just massively one-upped the morons in the US, NATO, and Ukraine big-time. All to cheering crowds I might add.
Awesome.
Yesss!
Russia is just warming up )))
id Eu and USA continues like this they will soon find themselves ”isolated” in a prison all their own doing… while the rest will be free to live and work with oneanother… ie the new free world…
A bi-gender “free world” of families. )))
Putin’s speech from 21.2. translated to german:
https://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2022/praesident-putins-komplette-rede-an-die-nation-im-wortlaut/
I am always amazed how sane and profound the Russian politicians are and what demagogues, rabid dogs and even utterly stupid people the west has to endure.
“Every nation is worthy of its ruler” (in my opinion Socrates)))