WW3? Ukraine/US vs. Donbass/Russia

[bojancan]

Aug 5.2025
Danny Haiphong
484K subscribers
Putin's Nuclear Move SHOCKS NATO, Trump Dooms Ukraine w/ Scott Ritter & Larry Johnson

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Russia's offensive in Ukraine has sent Trump and NATO into a panic as their losing proxy war is crumbling at a faster rate. Scott Ritter and Larry Johnson join to discuss the risk of nuclear conflict amid Trump's escalatory moves and Russia's devastating response.

[Tintin]

From Levan Gudadze,

‼️🇷🇺⚔️🇬🇧 The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported a planned terrorist attack in international waters



Yes, absolutely a reliable report. Saved to the Avalon library (https://avalonlibrary.net/Ukraine/Articles/2025-08-04_British_Intelligence_Services_are_preparing_an_Environmental_Disaster_in_International_Waters_%28 Press_Bureau_of_SVR%29.pdf) as retrieved from the SVR website earlier this morning:

https://avalonlibrary.net/Ukraine/Articles/2025-08-04_British_Intelligence_Services_are_preparing_an_Environmental_Disaster_in_International_Waters_%28 Press_Bureau_of_SVR%29.pdf

[ExomatrixTV]

Scott Ritter: Russia Shatters NATO’s Last Hope:

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Russia’s new missile, the Oreshnik (https://rumble.com/search/all?q=Oreshnik), is now in full deployment — and NATO has no defense against it. In this video, we break down how the collapse of the INF Treaty triggered a new arms race, and why Europe may be facing its most dangerous moment since the Cold War.

Former intelligence officials warn: this missile changes the game. Capable of conventional and nuclear strikes, the Oreshnik (https://rumble.com/search/all?q=Oreshnik) is faster, stealthier, and unstoppable. With the U.S. still years away from deploying Dark Eagle, is NATO defenseless?

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,

Putin’s meeting with US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff just wrapped up — it lasted nearly 3 hours

Handshake and smiles at the Kremlin

Vladimir Putin warmly receives US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1953059496323899832

1953059496323899832

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,

RT has launched http://1000ua.ru, sharing all the information on the 1,000 Ukrainian POWs Kiev chose to EXCLUDE from exchanges

It contains their names, age and military units, so family members can learn their relatives' fate

The POWs made an appeal to Zelensky:


https://x.com/RT_com/status/1953122946442248195

1953122946442248195

[Ravenlocke]

From

Levan Gudadze

President Vladimir Putin and the US leader's special envoy Steven Witkoff discussed the Ukrainian crisis at a meeting, said presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

"If we name the topics, then first of all, of course, it is the Ukrainian crisis. And the second topic is the prospects for the possible development of strategic cooperation between the US and Russia," he said.

In particular, President Putin conveyed some signals to the US on the Ukrainian issue and received similar ones from Donald Trump through Witkoff, said Ushakov.

According to the presidential aide, the conversation was useful and constructive.

"The situation now is such that our president has full information, that is, our signals, signals from President Trump. And Trump has not yet been informed of the results of this meeting. Therefore, I would refrain from more detailed comments. Let's see when Witkoff can report to Trump on the conversation that took place today. After that, obviously, we will be able to supplement my comments now with something more substantial," added Ushakov

https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1953118968517927295

1953118968517927295

[Ravenlocke]

From TASS,

The Kremlin will be able to give a more detailed statement on the meeting between Putin and Steve Witkoff after the latter reports on the outcome of the talks to Trump, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said:
https://vk.cc/cOk2E6

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1953105143714472156

1953105143714472156



Also from TASS

US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO and special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with other countries, have taken a walk in Zaryadye Park in downtown Moscow:
https://vk.cc/cOj1Mn

Video: TASS

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1952978687999004880

1952978687999004880




https://tass.com/politics/1998693?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Kremlin to provide details on talks with Witkoff after he briefs US President Trump

After the meeting, Yury Ushakov said that Steve Witkoff had received some signals on the Ukrainian issue, and in turn, reciprocal signals had been received from US President Donald Trump

MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. The Kremlin will be able to give a more detailed statement on the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff after the latter reports on the outcome of the talks to US President Donald Trump, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Putin received Witkoff in the Kremlin. After the meeting, Ushakov said that Witkoff had received some signals on the Ukrainian issue, and in turn, reciprocal signals had been received from US President Donald Trump.

"The current situation is that our president has full information, including our signals and signals from President Trump. Trump has not yet been briefed on the outcome of this meeting," Ushakov said.

"Therefore, I would refrain from making more detailed comments. Let's see when Witkoff will be able to report to Trump on the talks that took place today. After that, obviously, we will be able to expand my current comments with more details," he added.

The meeting between President Putin and Steve Witkoff was also attended by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Special Presidential Envoy for Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries.

Witkoff arrived in Moscow at about 7:00 a.m. Moscow time (4:00 a.m. GMT), where he was met at Vnukovo Airport by Dmitriev. About an hour later, the two took a walk through Zaryadye Park in central Moscow.

This marks Witkoff’s fifth visit to Russia since the beginning of the year. His most recent trip to Moscow took place on April 25, following an earlier visit to St. Petersburg on April 11. On both occasions, he held meetings with President Putin.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that he could impose new sanctions on Russia on August 9 unless an agreement was reached on resolving the Ukraine crisis. He added, however, that Russia seemed "to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions." When asked if there was anything Russia could do to escape sanctions, the US leader said that it would require "a deal where people stop getting killed."

On July 14, Trump announced a 50-day deadline for an agreement on resolving the Ukraine conflict, adding that if no deal was reached, he would impose 100% tariffs on Moscow and its trading partners.

On July 29, the US leader said he was reducing the deadline to 10 days. On August 5, Trump noted that the US would decide later whether to impose the restrictions. According to Trump, Washington’s further steps would depend on the outcome of his special envoy Steve Witkoff’s upcoming talks in Moscow.

[bojancan]

I am angry about EU... they should behave much more independently... and working more for their own interest.. not to be such obedient sheep to US... which looks to me like mafia on steroids...

Aug,6
Alex Christoforou
238K subscribers
Shadow fleet SANCTIONS. Air-Truce? Witkoff in Moscow. Trump clueless on Ukraine. EU to crush INDIA
HpBp4TL9lYM

0:00 - Introduction: Biden's War and Trump's Efforts to End It
1:34 - Update on Witoff's Visit to Moscow
3:01 - Trump's Statement on Ceasefire and Sanctions
5:02 - Trump Discusses Russia's Air Truce Offer
7:00 - Trump's Response to Ukraine's Military Recruitment Practices
9:01 - Trump on Sending Weapons to Ukraine
10:25 - Trump's Threats Against Russia's Shadow Fleet
12:22 - CNN Report on Secondary Sanctions Impacting the U.S. Economy
14:34 - EU's Sanctions Preparations Against India
17:26 - Yermach's Claims About Indian Components in Russian Drones
19:20 - Summary of Yermach's Article in the Washington Post
21:13 - India's Purchase of S400 Missile Systems
23:10 - Trump's Remarks on EU Investment Claims
30:11 - Update on Peace Treaty Between Azerbaijan and Armenia
37:32 - Corruption Findings in Ukraine's Military
41:41 - Closing Remarks and Channel Promotion

[ExomatrixTV]

Ukrainian Positions Completely Collapsed Near Lyman | 4 Sqkm Heavily Fortified Area Encircled:

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[ExomatrixTV]

Ukrainians CAUGHT Showing Off That They’re Neo-Nazis At Football Game!:

E0ZUnXl17pE

[bojancan]

Trump's big mouth... and his rhetoric has gotten him nowhere.... so sad... I'm not shocked...

Aug 7.
Alexander Mercouris
314K subscribers
US Blinks, Withdraws Deadline, Offers Trump-Putin Meeting, Putin Says Yes But NO To Meeting Zelensky
9m1Ky2IcuPo

[Vicus]

The discovery of the Azov training ground near Balakleya resulted in the arrival of two Iskander-M missiles -today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/9f00338e80_snimok.webp

The Russian Armed Forces have raided a training camp for the 3rd separate assault brigade "Azov"* (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) in the Kharkiv region. The attack was carried out rockets OTRK "Iskander-M". This was reported by the Russian channel NgP radZVedka.

According to available information, our people have uncovered the location of the Azov* training ground in the area of the settlement of Kreydyanka near Balakleya in the Kharkiv region. The training ground, located in a forested area, was used not only to train Azov* units, but also other brigades included in the 3rd Army Corps, which Azov* was turned into.

The strike was carried out by two Iskander missiles during training, i.e. at the moment of the greatest concentration of personnel of the Ukrainian formations. The power of the explosion from the missile hits was such that it was clearly heard even in Chuguev. It is possible that one of the missiles hit the ammunition. There is no exact data on the enemy's losses, but it is emphasized that they are significant. A large number of obituaries are expected to appear by the end of the week.

At the moment, the training ground is cordoned off, SBU counterintelligence is working, searching for "Russian spies" who leaked the coordinates of the training camp. Officers are being checked, phones and other means of communication capable of transmitting electronic messages are being confiscated. Particular attention is being paid to preventing leaks of materials about the strike to the press.

The press service of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has not yet confirmed the arrival at the training ground, and there is no information on the Azov channel either. However, it was not expected.

https://en.topwar.ru/269330-rezultatom-obnaruzhenija-uchebnogo-poligona-azova-pod-balakleej-stal-prilet-dvuh-raket-iskander-m.html

[Vicus]

Fortification construction on the verge of collapse: Russian Armed Forces burn engineering equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Sumy Oblast and the DPR -today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/00ddcc978e_okop.webp

Kyiv regime militants are urgently preparing a "bridgehead" for retreat in various directions in the SVO zone, as well as in the Sumy region. The enemy is hastily trying to build new lines of defense, attracting a large number of engineering personnel for construction work. equipmentHowever, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are prevented from implementing this idea by constant attacks from Russian drones.

Footage of the destruction of engineering equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which was used to build defensive fortifications in the area of the settlements of Shevchenkovo in Sumy Oblast and Krasny Liman in the DPR, has been published online. Lancet loitering munitions effectively fired at it.

It is worth noting that in both of the mentioned areas of the LBS, the enemy is doing, to put it mildly, not in the best way. In Donbas, the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has cracked so much that no defensive lines in the rear will help.

As for the Sumy region, here the enemy managed to slow down the advance of the Russian army a little at the cost of huge losses of personnel of the assault regiments and brigades. However, the militants clearly do not have enough forces to exploit the success.

In this regard, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already announced that the city of Sumy is being prepared for a roundabout defenseHowever, given the activity of Russian loitering munitions, the enemy may not be able to complete the assigned task.

https://en.topcor.ru/62878-stroitelstvo-ukreplenij-na-grani-sryva-vs-rf-zhgut-inzhenernuju-tehniku-vsu-v-sumskoj-oblasti-i-dnr.html

P.S: nice video too...

[Vicus]

Armored Trains in Special Operations -today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/4a6a18ca7b_bepo-2.webp
Armored train Yenisei during training in the rear area, July 2025.

In February-March 2022, special trains of the railway troops began operating in the Special Operation zone and in the liberated territories. The trains with special equipment and weapons are intended for engineering reconnaissance and infrastructure restoration. They also identify threats and respond to them, accompany rail transport and solve other tasks. Currently, three such armored trains are in combat service.

Not on a siding

Just a few days after the start of the Special Operation, in early March 2022, the first photographs and videos of a special purpose train of the Russian army appeared on specialized resources. The so-called cover and support train operated in the Melitopol direction. The train included armored platforms and carriages for various purposes. Later it became known that it was the Baikal train from the railway troops.

continue: https://en.topwar.ru/269283-bronepoezda-v-specoperacii.html

Vicus comment:

Long but very interesting article and photos...

[Vicus]

The Deal of the Century: Why the Americans Needed Our Commander Islands -today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/c4e75c6e12_88.webp

The American side is not shy about making increasingly loud statements. Donald Trump's ultimatums seem to impress no one anymore. This time, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Fritz, who serves in Estonia as part of the US Army Security Command, decided to shock the world community. He believed that it would be a good idea to expand the territory of his native state by acquiring the Commander Islands from Russia. Such a dubious proposal could have drowned in the information flow or become a "joke of the day" if not for the dangerous consequences behind it.

Land of Hope

The Commander Islands are located approximately 200 kilometers from Kamchatka. The archipelago consists of two large islands - Bering and Medny, as well as several small islands. According to data from 2023, only 624 people lived on the islands - all in the village of Nikolskoye. They were discovered in 1741 by the captain-commander of the Russian fleet Vitus Bering, who was returning from Alaska to Kamchatka. From that moment on, the Commander Islands became the territory of the Russian Empire, which the Americans were going to acquire in the XNUMXst century.

"The proposal is for the US to peacefully and pragmatically purchase the Commander Islands from the Russian Federation for $15 billion to monitor potential Chinese submarine activity attempting to penetrate the Arctic Ocean."

continue: https://en.topcor.ru/62869-sdelka-veka-dlja-chego-amerikancam-ponadobilis-nashi-komandorskie-ostrova.html

Vicus comment:

Is that satire?, a joke?, like Babylon Bee?...or simply another Amerikan stupidity?...:facepalm:

Just imagine if Russia buy some Caribbean island ,just because it can...a perfect place for his submarines...

[Vicus]

Russian radars in Crimea have begun to be covered with domes - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/14f937cb5f_shdhku5ljy4c59mlussildxuwhpvlc6kzp_v5uk2jarln8sfwnlrwg-mpyt-nfs-7bt5ioi4a609qihdfuky1hj3.webp

The Kiev regime continues its attempts to attack military facilities in Russian Crimea. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published a video that allegedly shows Ukrainian kamikaze UAVs striking Russian Armed Forces radar stations on the peninsula.

The enemy announced that it had destroyed the Nebo-SVU, Podlet K-1 and 96L6E radars from the S-400 air defense missile system, as well as some dome (spherical) structures on Mount Ai-Petri, where the air defense base of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment (military unit 85683) of the Russian Armed Forces and the BK-16 transport and landing boat of Project 02510 are located. The attack was carried out by the Primari (Ghosts) special forces unit back in July.

At the same time, experts on the Internet drew attention to the huge spherical protective domes, inside which various air defense radars are located. Some experts believe that such dome structures not only give away the radar position, but also do not greatly protect the equipment and personnel inside from hits by Ukrainian attack drones.

It was also noted that anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAMs) and air-to-air missiles often simply miss the enemy's small, low-flying drones, either going off too early or off to the side, causing no significant damage. Ukrainian operators launch FPV drones from unmanned boats (UBKs) approaching the peninsula. The screenshot shows damage to the protective dome and the radar inside.

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not comment on the information from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Therefore, it is not possible to verify the authenticity of the video.

https://en.topcor.ru/62890-rossijskie-rls-v-krymu-nachali-zakryvat-kupolami.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_b15cnMbGQ

Twin Encirclements on the Front: Russian Forces Trap Thousands — What’s Zelensky’s Next Move? - 5hours ago

[jaybee]

~
~

Let's hope peace is on the horizon and the Ukraine/Russia conflict will be ending soon - very soon....

headlines on Infowars...

BREAKING: Deal To End The Ukraine War Reached! (https://www.infowars.com/posts/breaking-deal-to-end-the-ukraine-war-reached)


Trump set to hold peace summit with Putin in two days.

Russia says, “Offer is acceptable!”

As Alex Jones just said...this is a very dangerous time because the Global 'forces' that want the war to continue will not want these latest moves towards Peace to be successful....

let's see how this develops...

[Bill Ryan]

let's see how this develops...Nothing substantial will happen, unless Trump somehow gets to understand Russia's position (at last!) and then agrees to Putin's requirements. That seems pretty unlikely, as then he'll 'look weak' and will be castigated by the neocons in Washington, which is always the last thing that Trump could tolerate.

The meeting was initiated by the US (not Russia), and it took Witkoff 3 hours to persuade Putin to agree to a summit meeting. The whole gambit is a Hail Mary play by Trump to extricate himself from the tariffs corner he painted himself into.

[jaybee]

let's see how this develops...Nothing substantial will happen, unless Trump somehow gets to understand Russia's position (at last!) and then agrees to Putin's requirements. That seems pretty unlikely, as then he'll 'look weak' and will be castigated by the neocons in Washington, which is always the last thing that Trump could tolerate.

The meeting was initiated by the US (not Russia), and it took Witkoff 3 hours to persuade Putin to agree to a summit meeting. The whole gambit is a Hail Mary play by Trump to extricate himself from the tariffs corner he painted himself into.


Alex Jones usually has his finger on the pulse ....he's also saying 'we're not out of the woods' yet - so we'll see how this goes.... that's all that can really be said at this point...

[Vicus]

Our way or highway

The entire West are just running like headless chickens...this direction...wait, the other direction...or maybe not, what about?...etc.

That happens when there is NONE moral compass whatsoever (how went down the Roman Empire?...)

The actual wannabe World Empire is rapidly collapsing and they cant figure out WHY... too big to fail? wait and see...all the antique Colonial powers later export to the "new world" and this time using all the
crank manners again but this time global...well, to understand quickly the WHY, the best example is the school yard...

Everybody went trough this fire prove, specially men: there is always a bully/gang trying that you submit to them or else...and there is only ONE curse of action: defend your self, no matter how blood taint the result, you may lose but you showed your strength (character) and with this you gain respect...and the bully actions are no more.

Translate that school scenario to the actual global "scenario"... and what you get?

From the Soviet Regime collapse, Russia was always take as "taken"...now they will do what US want...or else...until Vladimir Putin step as President and began to clean house...

From already 25years! Russia try to "normalize" relations with the West, nope...the rest is History now but... the first man,woman,child killed in Dombass changed over night everything for Russia...

Again Russia is attacked by the WEST using a proxy first...and not too long after sound the "bravado" from the entire WEST!

Well... you really wanted? you get it! but this time in ALL fronts...specially where the WEST more hurt: in their pockets. And so is BRICS born.

The 2 population biggest country ,China and India,the biggest country in Southamerica, and every day new prospects are in line to wait for the chance to be in a new "positive" world economies...without be"bulling" but respect as equal.

And is worth nothing to mention the absolute military superiority right now! at ALL levels...

This time is Russia way or Highway.

[bojancan]

New morning... a new day... man/baby extraordinaire... thrower of tantrums... Trumpstein theatre... patsy of all above him... we know who they are...
Good analyses by Alexander... thank you!

Aug, 8
Alexander Mercouris
314K subscribers
Zelensky Panics Begs EU Support As Putin Calls US Bluff, Trump Delays Sanctions; Pokrovsk Cauldron
MhEng9H-aWs

[Ravenlocke]

From Alex Christoforou,

Fly to Rome President Putin. Trust us, it will be ok. Meloni gave her word.

Fox News: Two sources familiar with the negotiations told Fox News that the summit was in the works as early as this coming Monday, with Rome being one destination discussed.

https://x.com/AXChristoforou/status/1953773694716625406

1953773694716625406

[Ravenlocke]

From TASS,

Press review: Putin-Trump meeting may revive dialogue while Moscow, Abu Dhabi deepen ties. Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 8th:
https://vk.cc/cOp1G9

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1953794401320210570

1953794401320210570

https://tass.com/pressreview/1999543?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Press review: Putin-Trump meeting may revive dialogue while Moscow, Abu Dhabi deepen ties

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 8th

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Moscow confirms preparations for a potential Putin-Trump summit; Russia and the UAE have strengthened bilateral economic ties; and Trump’s new tariffs targeting India and China over their ties with Russia are unlikely to disrupt Moscow’s energy exports. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.



Izvestia: Putin-Trump meeting may revive US-Russia dialogue and boost de-escalation

Tensions are mounting within global political circles in anticipation of the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The official confirmation from Moscow regarding preparations for such negotiations became headline news on August 7. Experts interviewed by Izvestia view this dialogue as a genuine opportunity to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine, but they also highlight significant obstacles - chief among them being Europe’s confrontational stance. An in-person meeting between the two leaders could also provide new momentum for US-Russia cooperation, members of the State Duma told Izvestia, noting that the Russian parliament would be open to hosting American congressmen in the future. Meanwhile, Western capitals are hoping for a trilateral summit involving Putin, Trump, and Vladimir Zelensky.

The location of the meeting has not yet been officially announced, but according to Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, it has already been agreed upon. Vladimir Putin noted that the United Arab Emirates could serve as a suitable venue for the talks. Switzerland, which hosted the last US-Russia summit in 2021, has also expressed its readiness to facilitate direct negotiations. "Switzerland reaffirms its willingness, if necessary and at the request of the parties, to support dialogue and provide its ‘good offices’ in line with its longstanding tradition of promoting peace and diplomacy," Pierre-Alain Eltschinger, official spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, told Izvestia.

According to Richard Bensel, Professor at Cornell University in New York, Vladimir Putin is almost certainly seeking to delay the imposition of new US sanctions, but in return, he will not make any concessions. Trump, meanwhile, has no reason to forgo the threat of sanctions, though out of habit he might postpone them in exchange for Putin expressing support for the importance of talks with Ukraine, the expert believes.

For Trump, the very act of holding a new summit is significant, as it allows him to showcase progress in negotiations with Russia, political analyst Malek Dudakov told Izvestia. "For Russia, it is essential to influence the Trump administration’s position and persuade it to address the root causes of the current conflict in earnest. Only then can one begin to speak of a real chance for de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis," Dudakov said.

The upcoming meeting between the two presidents should be viewed with cautious optimism, Konstantin Blokhin, a senior research fellow at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia. "Even if the two sides reach an agreement on Ukraine, Europe remains a factor, as it continues to support Ukraine, and Trump’s ability to apply pressure on Europe is also limited," the expert told the newspaper.



Vedomosti: Putin, UAE President discuss strategic ties as Abu Dhabi seeks expanded economic cooperation with Moscow

On August 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin advanced his international diplomatic activity by receiving the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in the Kremlin during an official visit. This is his fourth trip to Russia in his current capacity as head of state. Putin stated that Russia and the UAE have traditionally enjoyed warm, friendly relations, which Moscow places special value on. The Russian leader emphasized the rapid development of bilateral economic ties, both in trade and investment. The most notable moment of the meeting occurred when Putin remarked that the UAE is among the suitable countries to host his potential meeting with US President Donald Trump. Experts interviewed by Vedomosti noted the UAE’s deepening ties with Russia as part of Abu Dhabi’s strategy to strengthen its regional leadership, diversify foreign partnerships, and enhance technological and economic cooperation.

In turn, Al Nahyan thanked the Russian side for its hospitality and expressed hope that his visit to Moscow would yield "positive results" for both nations. He praised the pace of Abu Dhabi’s growing relationship with Moscow and voiced a desire to increase bilateral trade within the next five years.

Following the talks, the two countries signed an agreement on trade in services and investment, as well as a memorandum of cooperation in the field of ground transportation, according to the Russian government press service.

The UAE leadership is taking deliberate steps toward deepening ties with Russia in an effort to bolster its position as a leading power in the Middle East, Andrey Zeltin, a senior lecturer at the School of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economics, told the newspaper. Relations with Moscow, he said, are part of a constructive regional rivalry between the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In this context, Zeltin continued, Abu Dhabi is a step ahead of its competitors: on the one hand, it is an indispensable partner to both the United States and Russia; on the other, it remains a significant partner to Israel. For these reasons, the Arab monarchy could serve as a convenient venue for a potential summit between Putin and Trump, he explained.

The talks align with Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy of diversifying its foreign policy relationships, Ivan Bocharov, program manager at the Russian International Affairs Council, noted. According to him, the Russian side placed particular emphasis on economic issues, especially in light of recent challenges faced by Russian companies operating in the UAE. "The Emirates play a crucial role for Russia in terms of finance and, according to some reports, its shadow fleet," he added.



Izvestia: How Trump’s new tariffs could affect Russian economy

Russia holds a significant share of the oil export markets in India and China, making it unlikely that these Asian partners will abandon Russian supplies, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe. On August 6, Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on India in response to its crude oil purchases and also threatened China with further duties over its trade with Moscow. Against the backdrop of this renewed escalation in the trade war, Brazil’s president is calling a meeting with other BRICS nations to coordinate a collective response.

In 2024, Russia’s trade turnover with India reached an all-time high of $70.6 bln, and with China, nearly $245 bln. However, according to the latest data from China’s General Administration of Customs, trade between Russia and China fell by 8% in the first seven months of this year, amounting to $125.8 bln. Despite this, it remains highly improbable that Asian partners will halt purchases of Russian crude even under the threat of secondary sanctions, Pavel Sevostyanov, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Analysis and Sociopsychological Processes at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told the newspaper.

"Russia holds a substantial share of India’s crude oil imports. According to the latest OPEC review, its share exceeds 40%, amounting to roughly 1.8-2.2 mln barrels per day. Another key factor is the oil composition: Indian refineries are largely configured to process Russia’s Urals export blend," Olga Belenkaya, Head of Macroeconomic Analysis at Finam Financial Group, emphasized.

The US is currently holding talks with Asian countries to position itself as their primary supplier of oil and gas, replacing Russia, according to US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. He added that discussions with India on this matter are still at an early stage.

Nevertheless, there remains a risk that overall trade conditions with key partners could worsen due to US pressure, Vladimir Chernov, analyst at Freedom Finance Global, warned. At the same time, both India and China have already partially adapted to similar scenarios following previous rounds of secondary sanctions imposed on Russia, and their domestic political will to maintain ties with Moscow remains resilient, the analyst added.

Furthermore, a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is expected next week. According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, the leaders’ conversation could lead to the first steps toward a ceasefire. This, in turn, could create the conditions under which the US refrains from imposing additional tariffs on Russian exports, noted economist Andrey Barkhota. However, Vladimir Chernov believes the presidents are more likely to focus primarily on anti-Russian sanctions and the conflict in Ukraine.



Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Ukraine expands arms production, prepares for prolonged conflict despite ceasefire talks

Ukraine’s declared willingness, mediated by the United States, to negotiate a ceasefire has thus far had no effect on the intensity of its military operations. Over a 24-hour period, Ukrainian forces launched 240 strike drones, eight Storm Shadow missiles, and several maritime drones into Russian territory. At the same time, Russian forces continued to hold the initiative in the zone of the special military operation. Experts interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta predict that tensions between the parties will only escalate in the coming days, as both sides aim to secure militarily advantageous positions ahead of potential peace talks. In the longer term, Kiev is expected to use any ceasefire as a strategic opportunity to further build up its military capabilities.

Western media continues to assess the outcomes of the August 6 visit to Moscow by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. As noted by Bloomberg, Donald Trump suggested that Vladimir Putin might be prepared to enter ceasefire negotiations if the topic of a potential "territorial exchange" were on the table.

Nevertheless, a rapid cessation of hostilities, as demanded by the West, is unlikely to align with Russia’s interests or with one of the primary objectives of the special operation - Ukraine’s demilitarization. Vladimir Zelensky maintains that "Ukraine will definitely defend its independence," signaling that the country will continue preparing for war.

"Regardless of any compromises reached after a ceasefire, both the Russian and Ukrainian armies will still face the task of planning for the sustainable defense of territories within the conflict zone. Whatever political regime comes to power in Kiev, it will not accept decisions concerning former Ukrainian regions that have come under Russian jurisdiction. This means there is a high probability that Ukraine will continue preparing for military action to reclaim those areas," retired Colonel Nikolai Shulgin told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Retired Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev concurred with Shulgin’s assessment, saying, "Kiev makes no secret of its revanchist goals, and NATO is already potentially preparing the Ukrainian Armed Forces for renewed combat."

According to The Independent, since the beginning of hostilities, Ukraine’s domestic arms production has increased 35-fold. Since 2014, the number of companies involved in weapons manufacturing in Ukraine has surged, with the country now hosting around 100 state-owned and nearly 700 private defense enterprises. "Unless Ukraine’s defense industry is addressed through specific terms in any peace agreement, the country’s arms production will continue to expand exponentially, which would pose a direct threat to Russia’s security," Shulgin asserted.



Kommersant: India resists US tariff pressure, reaffirms strategic ties with Russia

On Thursday, August 7, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergey Shoigu met with his Indian counterpart, National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ajit Doval. This visit is significant not only from a bilateral perspective but also in the broader context of the current international climate. Just a day prior, US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India in response to New Delhi’s refusal to cease purchasing Russian oil. Indian authorities deemed such pressure unacceptable, emphasizing that their actions are guided by national interests. Experts polled by Kommersant believe that US pressure will not only fail to fracture the Russia-India partnership but will likely strengthen their strategic cooperation.

India is the largest importer of Russian oil, which meets approximately 45% of the country’s energy needs. A sudden halt to Russian oil imports would trigger a sharp spike in domestic energy prices, affecting both industry and consumers, along with a host of related negative consequences, the newspaper writes. On the other hand, if the United States follows through with imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods, the impact on India’s economy would be significant as well, given that the US is its largest trading partner - India exported $86 bln worth of goods to the United States in 2024.

Nonetheless, New Delhi has so far displayed a firm willingness to resist Washington’s pressure.

According to Alexey Kupriyanov, Head of the Indo-Pacific Center at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ajit Doval’s visit to Moscow is "clearly timed to coincide with the imposition of US sanctions against India." "It carries both symbolic and practical significance. On the one hand, it’s a demonstration of India’s commitment to maintaining its current policy of economic cooperation with various global centers and its continued purchase of Russian oil. On the other hand, Doval is a trusted confidant of Prime Minister Modi, part of his inner circle, and plays a direct role in shaping policy toward Russia," Kupriyanov explained to Kommersant.

As for Trump’s approach, Kupriyanov believes "he behaves like a classic robber baron, attempting to exploit all his advantages, real and imagined, to force a competitor to yield and act in ways that serve Trump’s own interests." "For India’s leadership, this kind of pressure is absolutely unacceptable. Moreover, capitulating to Trump would have serious domestic political consequences," the expert added. Ultimately, he concluded, such pressure "will only bring Russia and India closer, rather than sever their partnership."

[bojancan]

Aug, 8
Firstpost
8.58M subscribers
PM Modi Speaks to Putin as Trump Rejects Trade Talks | Vantage With Palki Sharma | N18G
L93jnFHXuRY

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin after Donald Trump rejected trade negotiations with New Delhi. The Indian PM will also be visiting China later this month for the SCO summit, his first such trip in seven years. Is India betting on its BRICS partners to take on Trump? Palki Sharma tells you....

[Ravenlocke]

Wow Putin gonna go to USA for this? Madness.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1953941000407134668

1953941000407134668

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 "Russia and the USA are close neighbors, so it is quite logical that the meeting between Putin and Trump will take place in Alaska.

In Alaska and the Arctic, the economic interests of Russia and the USA intersect, and prospects for the implementation of large-scale projects are visible.

Putin and Trump at the summit in Alaska will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

Moscow expects that the next meeting between Putin and Trump after Alaska will take place in Russia, an invitation has been sent to the US president.

Moscow and Washington will dedicate the coming days to active and intense work on the parameters of the meeting in Alaska. It will be a complex process."

- Yuri Ushakov, Putin's Envoy on Foreign Affairs.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1953952595623793104

1953952595623793104

[jaybee]

~
~

The title of this video isn't strictly correct because, in it, Trump didn't say where the meeting would take place but it has since emerged that it is proposed to be Alaska -

Trump has gone back to 'charm offensive' when taking questions from the press here.... 6:15....particularly saying that Europe wants peace....Zelensky wants peace.... hmmmm ... maybe some factions do but there is a distinct feeling that Peace will be resisted from some (many?) of these quarters for long term strategy 'reasons' ie One World Government, NWO, reasons...???

Some interesting nitty gritty aspects of the coming talks @ 6:40 ....and must be why Russia has agreed to meet and said terms are acceptable (to negotiate)...when Trump talks about the situation being very complicated - but they will be talking about ......getting some land back.....swapping of territories.....some switches......for the betterment of both parties....


Trump Finally Reveals Putin Meeting Venue, Shocks Ukraine With 'Give Up Land' Message| Alaska|Russia (12:33)


omaVc7AdQGg


some comments below the video...


'Did you know? Alaska used to be Russia? Before Russia sold it to USA for $7.2million US in 1867'


'Bs Russia do not lose thet mutch soldier! In any case a very Little number compared to Ucraine loses !'


'Let's hope for peace.'


'President Putin will be at UAE 🇦🇪 for meeting with Donald Trump'


'Should be up to the Dnipro River which is a natural separation between east and west Ukraine.'


'Hopefully this meeting ends the war'


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

edit because I feel moved to post this ..... re 'talking'.... :)

WITHIN YOU, WITHOUT YOU (LYRICS) - The Beatles (5:07)

JoFt5PAATkQ

:thumbsup:

[Rizotto]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 "Russia and the USA are close neighbors, so it is quite logical that the meeting between Putin and Trump will take place in Alaska.

In Alaska and the Arctic, the economic interests of Russia and the USA intersect, and prospects for the implementation of large-scale projects are visible.

Putin and Trump at the summit in Alaska will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

Moscow expects that the next meeting between Putin and Trump after Alaska will take place in Russia, an invitation has been sent to the US president.

Moscow and Washington will dedicate the coming days to active and intense work on the parameters of the meeting in Alaska. It will be a complex process."

- Yuri Ushakov, Putin's Envoy on Foreign Affairs.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1953952595623793104

1953952595623793104

Anybody else feeling uneasy about the proposed Trump-Putin meeting taking place in Alaska? The moment I heard this, my immediate gut reaction was that Putin would be at great risk of harm, he shouldn't set foot in any of the NATO countries, and especially not the USA, run by the unstable and dangerous Trump administration.

Why not a location that's completely neutral, or better yet, an online video meeting. At least to begin with, and test remotely whether Trump's serious about negotiations.

[Tintin]

The Child Traders

A documentary by Andrew Bridgen in co-operation with Urban Scoop: this is one hell of a rabbit hole, and names are named.

From War to Exploitation: The Crisis of Child Trafficking in Ukraine

azhQJpXT5PI

Description:


14,562 views Premiered 18 hours ago #UrbanScoop #Ukraine #ChildProtection
Support our work here - https://www.urbanscoop.news/support-us/

In this explosive Urban Scoop investigation, we examine serious allegations of child trafficking in Ukraine — claims that connect the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Britain’s MI6, and the UK Foreign Office. The investigation also raises questions about corporate entities operating under the banner of protecting vulnerable children in war-torn regions.

Former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen plays a key role in bringing these allegations to public attention, demanding answers and transparency at the highest levels.

This in-depth report includes:

First-hand testimonies and whistleblower accounts

Alleged links between intelligence agencies and humanitarian organisations

Examination of structures set up to protect — and potentially exploit — displaced children

The political and international implications if these allegations are proven true

Urban Scoop is committed to investigating stories that others shy away from — giving voice to the voiceless and holding those in power to account.

📢 Watch, share, and join the conversation.
The safety of vulnerable children is not a political issue — it’s a human one.

#UrbanScoop #Ukraine #ChildProtection #AndrewBridgen #HumanRights #InvestigativeJournalism

[Ravenlocke]

From Brian Berletic, in regards to Russia- US negotiations,


🇺🇸🇷🇺 Regarding US-Russian Negotiations

1. The US CANNOT be negotiated with - no matter what "leverage" anyone including Russia "thinks" they have over the US - the US only seeks space and time to reassert itself - no level of betrayal is beneath them (for more information please see: Iraq, Libya, Syria, Iran, Minsk 1, Minsk 2, every arms control treaty the US ever signed, etc);

2. The ONLY way for multipolarism to prevail is to create a world that forces the US into first - isolation economically and diplomatically, as well as containment militarily where its military has no possible means of fighting and winning through conventional, nuclear, hybrid, or other means and remains confined to US borders INDEFINITELY;

3. The US and all means of influence, coercion, and capture must be displaced/isolated until the special interests - corporations/financial institutions driven by a deep supremacist mindset collapse and are swept away by alternative interests in the US who genuinely seek to work constructively with the rest of the world - ZERO such interests exist in any significant degree in the US at the moment - this will take a generation or more, if it is even possible;

4. The rest of the world dreams of normality and returning to the "status quo," but as the US has demonstrated with Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and its growing confrontation with Russia and China directly - the interests running the US are only getting more desperate and dangerous - they will NEVER - accept defeat or compromise;

5. Any decision made by Moscow or Beijing or anyone else in regards to the US believing somehow the multipolar world has a seat at whatever table US interests rule from and will eventually be respected and accepted by these interests - are likewise dangerously delusional and will lead their people, and possibly the entire planet to ruination;

6. We can only hope that Moscow and its allies understand all of this - and are only dragging their feet to buy time and manipulate the US in turn - that this is their own version of uncompromising insistence on a better world in the same way the US insists on destroying it;

7. Unfortunately, I have met far too many people who constantly fall for Washington's game of musical chairs through elections, the perception that the White House or Congress make decisions, that the people running US policy are reasonable and that they and their "allies" (proxies/client states) are guided by self-interest rather than deep, supremacist ideology and blind greed that short-circuits everything up to and including self-preservation.

Because of these deep misconceptions across the multipolar world, strategy to deal with the danger US special interests pose constantly and consistently falls far short and repeatedly ends in failure and all the tragedy that comes with it;

This is one of these junctures I sincerely hope I'm wrong about...


On the US-Russian High Level Negotiations

Why would Russia have any serious negotiations with the US when nothing in the US has fundamentally changed regarding its overall geopolitical objectives (primacy) and the fact that it has used negotiations (just this year) as cover for decapitation strikes on another nation (Iran)?

The US itself has openly said it does not desire peace in Ukraine - but to freeze the conflict so it can destroy Russia's ally China before circling back around to deal with Russia later...

The US will use these negotiations as it always does to try to place Russia in the most difficult position possible, continue the war by using any number of its proxies to act "independently" just as it had Israel do vs. Iran - and Russia will find itself in a worse position than it already is in now.

The US - in its current state - cannot be negotiated with. The better an offer proposed by the US, the bigger the trap laid.

Matters must be resolved in such a way that it leaves the US no other possible option but what the world requires to finally live in peace, stability, and prosperity.

This must be done through military and economic superiority independent of any relationship with or retaliation from the US.

Anything short of this seen as a possible way to reason with the US is dangerous delusion and will end in tragedy.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1953949245658345597

1953949245658345597

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic,

🇺🇸🇷🇺 Russian President Traveling to US: Placing One's Head in the Crocodile's Mouth...

Russian President Putin travelling to the United States demonstrates misplaced trust in the US it has neither earned nor deserves - and in fact has demonstrated throughout recent history (and as recently as earlier this year) no such trust should be placed in it.

The US has committed serial murder of national leaders from Iraq to Libya, to the leadership of Hezbollah last year and just months ago an attempted decapitation strike against the Iranian leadership.

President Trump during his first administration had a senior Iranian general lured to Iraq where he was killed by US drones.

The US CIA oversees Ukrainian intelligence killing senior Russian officers and journalists in the streets of Moscow - Russia's capital city - and the US military has overseen strikes on targets inside Russia with US and European weapons.

The US has many options to exercise "plausible deniability" regarding any incident in the upcoming meeting - including using Ukrainians themselves, or any other number of terrorists and operators the US has backed and used around the globe vs. Russia (and many others) throughout the 21st century.

The vector sum of US foreign policy is clearly toward more open conflict between the US and Russia, Iran, and China.

The targeting of the leaders of these countries (Iran) is ALREADY happening.

For those that say "Russia has nuclear weapons, it will never happen," also said this ahead of the US using US missiles to strike targets across Russia.

Maybe nothing will happen - but it seems reckless and unnecessary - especially since the US has no intention of making peace with Russia or anyone else for that matter - and even as it arranges this meeting - continues continuity of agenda vs. Russia, Iran, and China as I type this...

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1954191247499043163

1954191247499043163

[bojancan]

Very unusually... to meet in Alaska... they should meet in neutral territory... nothing good in Us territory... it's just not...

Aug,9
The Duran
491K subscribers
Putin and Trump to meet in Alaska (Live)
QGjF_HnJGcU

[Ravenlocke]

If peace comes I hope the Bering Strait Railway Tunnel is part of the agreement.

https://x.com/Navsteva/status/1953964002322919626

1953964002322919626

We envision a world where “win-win” replaces zero-sum, sharing prosperity for all nations to thrive in peace. Join us!

🇺🇸🤝🇷🇺 Trump expects to meet Putin on August 15 in Alaska. The unipolar world is dead—sign the MoU for the Bering Strait megaproject of the century. Connecting Eurasia and the Americas, it will create millions of jobs, spark hope, and drive global peace. Let’s make it happen!

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1953951336942420033

1953951336942420033

[Ravenlocke]

Good overview regarding the recent US theater regarding Trump-Putin meeting by
@RachBlevins
feat.
@MarkSleboda1

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1953863015516057857

1953863015516057857

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇦🇪🇺 Europe and Kiev have presented their proposal for resolving the Ukrainian conflict ahead of the upcoming negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, writes The Wall Street Journal.

The peace initiative provides for a ceasefire before any other steps and mandatory security guarantees for Kiev, including possible NATO membership, the article noted.

Ukraine and European allies fear that Trump, after talks with Putin, will place the blame for any breakdown of agreements on Kiev.

Ukrainian representatives have already handed over their plan to a number of high-ranking American politicians, including J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and Keith Kellogg

Trump getting outmaneuvered by the Euros? Interesting.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1954219202304524739

1954219202304524739

[Rizotto]

I totally agree with the concerns of the seasoned geopolitical analysts above (Brian Berletic, the Duran, Mark Sleboda, etc.): i.e. nothing good will come out of a Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Moreover, such a meeting would be hugely risky for Putin's safety.

Surely, the Russians haven't forgotten that in early June 2025 Trump started negotiations with the Iranians about their nuclear program, when all the while the Israeli-USA axis of terror had already pre-planned attacks on Iran which took place on June 13 and 21. The June 13 attack was specifically to decapitate Iran's leadership.

It's hard to believe that Russians would be so naive as to agree to a Trump / Putin meeting on USA soil, after all the threats and derogatory comments by Trump against Putin over the past several months.

What's going on???

[Michel Leclerc]

From Brian Berletic, in regards to Russia- US negotiations,


(...)

The US - in its current state - cannot be negotiated with. The better an offer proposed by the US, the bigger the trap laid.

Matters must be resolved in such a way that it leaves the US no other possible option but what the world requires to finally live in peace, stability, and prosperity.

(...)



This has been my insight since the Japanese financial crisis in the beginning of the ’90s. It was clear then that the United States would only accept one scorched meadow after having scorched the entire earth. It is called exceptionalism – or the divinisation of “democracy”. The shining city on the hill surrounded by smoke columns of all proxies and adversaries.

Contrary to other countries, US internal civil war or a revolution aiming at relinquishing “democracy” – the free peoples of the South and the East do not believe it will happen — because US citizens believe they are themselves exceptional, perfect. Civil wars there will be – in the vassal states.

Overcoming the US economically and militarily will take the rest of the century. 150 years separated the apex of the Roman Empire (from Trajan to Diocletian) and the final downfall in 450 AD.

Until then resistance is the only way, and the shape it takes will be each non-US citizen’s decision.

[bojancan]

From point of view of Alex C... interesting... he is kind of joking... to get a prize 50 millions for Maduro.. he knows where he is... :ROFL:.... that's crazy... all of the world is talking about that prize... not good for US and Trump!!! What a clown world...
Aug, 9
Alex Christoforou
238K subscribers
Putin, Trump Alaska summit. Zelensky says NO. Istanbul Plus TERMS. Zangezur corridor. Maduro bounty
YIZiC_QsF5s

[rgray222]

From point of view of Alex C... interesting... he is kind of joking... to get a prize 50 millions for Maduro.. he knows where he is... :ROFL:.... that's crazy... all of the world is talking about that prize... not good for US and Trump!!! What a clown world...
Aug, 9
Alex Christoforou
238K subscribers
Putin, Trump Alaska summit. Zelensky says NO. Istanbul Plus TERMS. Zangezur corridor. Maduro bounty
YIZiC_QsF5s


Yes, all the players are positioning and posturing for negotiations. Both sides are making unsustainable demands before the process starts. It is simply noise that distracts.
I hope this guy gets the $50 million, but that is probably as doubtful as this being his last video.

[Ravenlocke]

Very interesting conversation between Pepe Escobar and the Judge.
The first part is talking about Lula and about Bolsanaro now that he is under house arrest and Pepe says there is enough evidence to convict him, if he ends up in jail “all bets are off”.

At 12:59 the judge asks Pepe about the upcoming Trump Putin meeting, and Pepe explains what he feels got Putin’s attention. He speculates that Witkoff must have brought an offer that got Putin’s attention based on Ushakov’s comment when he said,
“We received finally an acceptable offer”.



https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1954144807309234669

1954144807309234669

[Ravenlocke]

Putin-Trump.

What really happened - and didn't - 8 years ago on the sidelines of the G20, compared to a Putin-Xi summit three days before.

By the way, capricious History dictates that after Putin-Trump, Putin and Xi will meet again at the SCO summit in late August.

https://asiatimes.com/2017/07/putin-trump-stage-manage-win-win-meeting/

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1954217275403186621

1954217275403186621

https://asiatimes.com/2017/07/putin-trump-stage-manage-win-win-meeting/#

Putin and Trump stage-manage a win-win meeting
With a ceasefire in southwestern Syria in the works, meeting proves diplomacy beats demonization

by Pepe Escobar July 8, 2017

From the start, the “positive chemistry” in the Mother of All Sit-Downs was a given. The format – with only the four principals, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and two translators – prevented any leaks. What was originally scheduled for 35 minutes went on for 2 hours and 16 minutes, and not even an impromptu appearance by First Lady Melania Trump – they were late for the Elbphilharmonie pomp and circumstance – managed to stop the flow.

They needed to deliver. They needed headlines. They got plenty. Including a possible first step at real cooperation; a ceasefire deal in southwestern Syria. Yet the real headline is that diplomacy beats demonization.

Still, from the toxic, overwhelmingly Russophobic Beltway point of view, that dystopia masquerading as a summit – the actual G-20 – was a mere backdrop; the only thing that mattered in this parallel G-2 was confirmation of an obsessive narrative; Russian interfered in the US elections.

Spin City gave us slightly conflicting views. Tillerson admitted “intractable” differences but stressed Trump was “rightly focused on how do we move forward”, while an uncharacteristically irritable Lavrov said Trump had accepted Putin’s denial, adding what is, in fact, the real clincher; Putin wants proof and evidence of Russian interference.

That won’t happen. The “Russian hacking” tsunami ebbs and flows, always following the same pattern; accusations by some proverbial “anonymous official” or “expert”, usually debunked. If the acronym jungle of US intel had concrete, definitive evidence, that would have been splashed on every single front page long ago.

The real test for a possible reset will be the US-Russia ceasefire in southwestern Syria. Tillerson and Lavrov had been discussing it for weeks now. And it’s a Russian idea.

Essentially, that would lead towards American/Jordanian peacekeeping forces near the Golan; Damascus allowing Iranian and Russian peacekeeping forces around the capital; Turkey ensconced between Jarablus and Al-Bab in the north with Russians around them; and the Americans in the northeast all the way to Raqqa alongside the Kurdish YPG.

In a nutshell; a regional balance of power which, assuming it holds, might slowly lead towards a final all-Syria settlement.

Jordan – and Israel – are not warring parties in Syria, and yet the deal directly concerns them. It’s not clear whether US forces will have to be back to Jordan. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will complement the Astana negotiation – the actual top frontline decider – involving Russia, Iran and Turkey. It’s not clear whether Daesh will be eradicated for good. It’s not clear whether the Pentagon will stop sporadically attacking the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

The real big story

And then, there’s the big story of the G-20 in Hamburg, which actually started three days earlier in Moscow, in a full-fledged official summit between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi repeatedly extolled the “strategic alliance”, or “the fast-growing, pragmatic cooperation”, or even the “special character” of China’s ties with Russia.

Putin once again pledged to support the New Silk Roads, or One Belt, One Road initiative (Obor), “by all means”, which includes its interpenetration with the Eurasia Economic Union (EEU).

The Russian Direct Investment Fund and the China Development Bank established a joint $10 billion investment fund.

Gazprom and China’s CNPC signed a key agreement for the starting date of gas deliveries via the Power of Siberia pipeline; December 20, 2019, according to Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller. And that will be followed by the construction of Power of Siberia-2.

They kept discussing a military cooperation roadmap.

And at a closed Kremlin meeting the night before their official summit, in which they clinched yet another proverbial raft of deals worth billions of dollars, Putin and Xi developed a common North Korea strategy; “dialogue and negotiation”, coupled with firm opposition to the THAAD missile system being installed in South Korea.

Xi, in an interview to TASS, had already expounded on US missile defense – an absolute top priority for the Kremlin – “disrupting the strategic balance in the region”.

This was Putin and Xi’s third meeting in 2017 alone. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, Putin had already hinted that this one, in Moscow, would be “a major event in bilateral relations.”

The giveaway: that’s where they not only deepened their joint strategy for Eurasia integration but also coordinated their common approach to Trump at the G-20. This is what a strategic partnership is all about.

How to restart a reset

Considering the toxicity levels in the Beltway, Putin and Lavrov went to the G-20 harboring no expectations that a package deal could be achieved between Russia and the US.

They knew this would be a strictly political meeting – and not economic; an easing of sanctions was out of the cards.

They also knew there’s not much Trump could offer to the Russian economy. This exhaustive report sets the record straight.
Even under sanctions, Russia should expect a “handsome recovery”, with an expected growth of 3% to 4% in 2017. There has been an “extraordinary decrease in the share of oil & gas revenue in Russia’s GDP.” Russia has “the lowest level of imports (as a share of the GDP) of all major countries.” And the clincher; Russia “must focus on China, the East, and the rest of the world.”

That’s already happening. At the BRICS meeting on the sidelines of the G-20, they called for a more open global economy and for a “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system.”

Putin and Lavrov faced Trump and Tillerson knowing full well that

political factions in the US won’t waiver in their mission to keep the tension with “peer competitors” Russia and China at a very dangerous level.

At the same time, they knew Trump and Tillerson really aim for a reset – incipient as it may be at the start.

Syria is an ultra-complex case where the sphere of influence is mostly Iranian but the hard, cold facts on the ground and in the skies are mostly Russian. With this ceasefire deal, it’s as if Putin and Lavrov are inviting a losing Washington to be part of a solution that satisfies – sort of – all parties, including Israel and Turkey.

Trump did not make any substantial concessions in Hamburg, at least according to what both Tillerson and Lavrov volunteered to disclose. The Beltway is barking that Trump gave Putin a win. As usual, they’re wrong; Putin and Trump stage-managed a win-win.

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,
Putin gave Trump envoy Witkoff the ‘Order of LENIN’ — CBS

Soviet Union’s HIGHEST civilian decoration

Award for SENIOR CIA official Juliane Gallina

Her 21-year old son DIED fighting ALONGSIDE Russian forces in Ukraine

Earlier this year, Putin gave Trump a personal portrait

Order of Lenin is a Soviet-era award recognizing outstanding civilian service

It was disbanded in 1991

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1954307190447112544

1954307190447112544

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,

Europe issues ‘JOINT statement’ on Ukraine just days before Trump–Putin meet

- CONTINUE arming Kiev

- CONTINUE sanctioning Moscow

- Promise Ukraine ‘security guarantees’

- ‘Path to peace cannot be decided without Ukraine’ — code for bringing Zelensky to Alaska

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1954305665541030058

1954305665541030058

[Rizotto]

Here I go again... Have we entered the twilight zone? I cannot believe that Russia would entertain having Putin meet Trump in Alaska of all places, in such short order, when there's been so many recent comments by Trump condemning Putin, as well as a recent assassination attempt on Putin, the USA neocons dead set on continuing the Ukraine war, etc.

The USA has a track record of setting up 'negotiations' meetings with heads of states, only to assassinate them.

Maybe the Russians are just calling Trump's bluff, knowing that he's just going to change his mind in a couple of days and call off the meeting. Is it all about making Trump look like a fool?

[Tintin]

"Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland;
who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island;
who rules the World-Island commands the world."
- — Mackinder, Democratic Ideals and Reality, p. 106

-----------------------------

As has been clear to many of us here, following the 'love in' with the Aliev-Pashinyan-Trump trifecta witnessed this past week, the obvious hoves into view: see Mackinder (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Geographical_Pivot_of_History):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gx_bWd-XUAEcNMW?format=jpg&name=900x900

--------------

Here's the "World Island" map - focus on the pivot area:

https://ideas.time.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/11/heartland.png?w=360&h=240&crop=1

From this article (https://ideas.time.com/2013/11/21/a-history-of-the-world-in-twelve-maps/slide/sir-halford-mackinder-the-natural-seats-of-power-1904/):


The English academic, politician and imperial explorer Sir Halford Mackinder almost single-handedly invented both the academic study of geography and the concept of ‘geopolitics’. Throughout the late nineteenth century he campaigned successfully for geography to be studied as a subject in its own right at Oxford University. He was also, not coincidentally, an enthusiastic supporter of English imperialism, climbing Mount Kenya in 1899 and becoming an MP in 1910. In 1904 he gave a talk at the Royal Geographical Society entitled ‘The Geographical Pivot of History’, which was illustrated with this world map. Mackinder believed that central Asia, or what he called ‘Eurasia’, represented the pivotal area of the world’s politics, and that whoever controlled this vast, landlocked region and its resources would effectively rule the globe. The map influenced generations of thinkers and politicians, from George Orwell’s dystopian world of 1984 to the US foreign policy promoted by Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski.

--------

The suggestion that the Zanzegur corridor may house US troops should give many of us the chills. The Iranians are on to it, and without a doubt, Russia as well.

Vladimir Putin is nobody's fool so it'll be fascinating to find out what gets discussed in Alaska at the end of this coming week.

[Tintin]

A fascinating article from Matt Ehret of whom I am a big fan, and his insights focused around rail-projects:

-----------------------------------

Source: https://matthewehret.substack.com/p/will-upcoming-putin-trump-summit

Will upcoming Putin-Trump summit in Alaska herald the revival of the Bering Strait Tunnel?
Or Will Closed System Golden Domes Continue to Plunge the World Towards a New Dark Age?


Matthew Ehret
Aug 09, 2025

[Extracted..]


A Brief History of the Bering Strait Rail Vision
It was amplified in 1890 by Colorado’s former governor William Gilpin who outlined the program in his Cosmopolitan Rail vision.

It was re-amplified by Czar Nicholas II and his Finance Minister Sergey Witte in 1905 when teams of American rail engineers were invited by the Czar to carry out feasibility studies. A french engineer (Loicq de Lobel) was employed by Czar Nicholas II and said: “We will be running through trains in five or six years… No more seasickness, no more dangers of wrecked liners, a fast trip in palace cars with every convenience.”

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w97y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe04ccec7-e6f6-4821-9e37-ecf96792be80_1024x615.webp

The development of new cities, mining, transport corridors and oil and natural gas of Russia’s Far East represent one of the greatest boons for economic investment during the coming century, and already features an array of partners from China, Japan, South Korea, India and other APEC nations.

Putin’s 2018 proposal that the USA join in this project of win-win cooperation is important not only because it would build trust, create business opportunities and re-establish the lost art of long-term thinking, but would also help link up western businesses into partnership with the Asia Pacific development process now being shaped by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and especially the Polar Silk Road.

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KiB3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a497e87-ecd4-46a1-99c5-904ceeb5bcd1_3000x2000.png

Although tensions have been enflamed to schism China and India from cooperating directly on the BRI, India’s embrace of Russian Far East development investments has created a non-linear flank which can help bring these two Asian giants into harmony.

When compared to the robust development of Russia’s Arctic and the new emerging Polar Silk Road paradigm, which have united China and Russia ever closer into a long term Arctic growth program, the North American Arctic remains an underdeveloped, barren tundra. Despite the bountiful resources in the Arctic, no roads, rail or other development have been permitted to extend northward for decades.

Other than President Trump’s 2020 announcement of Federal support for this new project, the only North American Arctic discussions of note in recent decades have centered on anti-Russian militarization and Anti-ballistic missiles.

This has amplified to nuclear hysterics in recent months, as Canada unveiled a new Arctic Defense doctrine in April 2024, embracing long range ballistic missiles in the Arctic in Canada’s Arctic, and participation (with Japan and New Zealand) into the US-UK-Australia AUKUS nuclear submarine military program.

Sadly the neo-conservative war hawks demonstrated their influence on Trump’s second administration when the Golden Dome military-surveillance grid was announced in February leading some to suspect that the ideas of Technocracy Inc (once led by Elon Musk’s grandfather) had not disappeared.


-----------------------------

Maybe this will be discussed as well, who knows: it may not be all about Ukraine although that will feature.

[Ravenlocke]

Dmitriev was on the table during the 3-hour Putin-Witkoff.

He's been very upbeat all along.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1954128004994470004

1954128004994470004

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic,

🇺🇸🇷🇺NEW VIDEO: US-Russian Presidents to Meet: US Prepares Dagger of Betrayal (Again)

On YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gp0wfO-r2Bo?si=Yuiua5q_82sDGCmW

▪️Nothing has changed fundamentally within the US power structure to change the overall objectives of US special interests in regards to pursuing primacy worldwide, thus, no fundamental change in US foreign policy has taken place;

▪️The US geopolitical priority is the pursuit of unipolar hegemony through a division of labor and strategic sequencing, wanting a ceasefire to allow European forces to position themselves inside Ukraine allowing the US to pivot the center of global conflict to Middle East, Asia-Pacific;

▪️The US will provide Russia irresistible terms to lure Russia into a ceasefire and will use European client states to “disrupt” peace by sending in military forces to Ukraine, claiming Europe did it “unilaterally” in the same manner the US used Israel to attack Iran earlier this year;

▪️At the same time the US continues to encircle Russia through its interference in the Caucasus region, dismembering Iran’s network of allies in the Middle East, threatening to arrest Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, and continues to prepare US military forces for confrontation with China in the Asia-Pacific, all of these nations being Russian allies;

▪️The US just used negotiations as a means of luring in Iran for a US-Israel decapitation strike on Iran’s military and political leadership, enabled the recent Israeli decapitation strikes on Hezbollah’s leadership last year, and President Trump himself recently gloated about luring Iranian General Qassem Soleimani to Iraq where a US drone strike killed him in 2020 - all of which raises the risk for Russian President Vladimir Putin traveling to the US for “diplomacy” with an “agreement incapable” government;

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1954565753535168888

1954565753535168888

[bojancan]

Joe Biden isn’t the President any more.. so please Trump... it’s okay to drop that cliche now... and regarding Graham... he has his fingers crossed behind his back.... I do NOT trust US!

Aug, 10
Alex Christoforou
238K subscribers
Zelensky Alaska dreaming. Macron/Starmer UNITE. EU/UK hand Vance counter proposal. Medvedev cartels
sECjRFqqQBg

[ExomatrixTV]

“In Russia You’d Be Arrested,” EU President Tells Man As He’s Arrested:

Rx3OdMEaKYk
It came across as more than a little ironic when Ursula von der Leyen (https://rumble.com/search/all?q=Ursula%20von%20der%20Leyen), President of the European Commission, touted free speech protections in the EU while a protester—who is also a 2024 European Parliament candidate—was arrested during her speech.

Jimmy Dore and Kurt Metzger note the contradiction of claiming free speech rights while suppressing dissent, comparing the EU’s approach to authoritarian practices but with “better branding.” Jimmy criticizes von der Leyen and the political elites for their hypocrisy and control tactics, mocking the staged nature of the event.

[Tintin]

Dmitriev was on the table during the 3-hour Putin-Witkoff.

He's been very upbeat all along.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1954128004994470004

1954128004994470004

Dmitriev being 'upbeat': Yes, he has (and he's following our X account somewhat incredibly), compared with Brian Berletic who, although he does make some salient points as ever, seems to have swallowed a bottle of black pills. I don't think there'll be much movement on Ukraine. Ushakov's comments recently concerning "acceptable to us" may not have been in the context of the SMO but an overall statement encompassing a variety of potential areas of collaboration.

Next time Donald's on the course with that Graham entity I'd advise him to find another use for that 5 iron :)

[Tintin]

Some history we do know but wonderful to see some old maps and documents which I certainly do have a fascination with having once toyed with the idea of becoming a cartographer :) Courtesy, Kirill Dmitriev (https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1954738415817146862):



Some Russian history in Alaska 📚
1. 1860 map labelling Alaska “Russian America” (Sitka as capital).
2. 1867 U.S. Treasury warrant — $7.2M for the purchase of Alaska
3. Russian Envoy Eduard de Stoeckl’s signed receipt.

🇷🇺🤝🇺🇸

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyCgNpLXcAAlCyj?format=jpg&name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyCgNpKXEAEt_C0?format=jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyCgNpNWgAMXexI?format=jpg&name=240x240

[bojancan]

I like them both ... Diesen and Berletić... here is one more interesting talk between them from yesterday..

Aug, 10
Glenn Diesen
205K subscribers
Brian Berletic: Is the U.S. Setting a Trap for Russia in Alaska?
1fwXBgu6Z5I

[bojancan]

New day.. new happenings... as was said many times... the the entire policy direction has not change... which is to continue its global hegemony at any cost... I trust also in Brian's/Berletić analyzes...

Aug, 11
Alex Christoforou
238K subscribers
Vance, US done funding Ukraine. Kallas steps up. Klitschko tired of war. Mexico, no Maduro evidence
j2VuoE4OfvI

[rgray222]

Here I go again... Have we entered the twilight zone? I cannot believe that Russia would entertain having Putin meet Trump in Alaska of all places, in such short order, when there's been so many recent comments by Trump condemning Putin, as well as a recent assassination attempt on Putin, the USA neocons dead set on continuing the Ukraine war, etc.

The USA has a track record of setting up 'negotiations' meetings with heads of states, only to assassinate them.

Maybe the Russians are just calling Trump's bluff, knowing that he's just going to change his mind in a couple of days and call off the meeting. Is it all about making Trump look like a fool?

These meetings are fairly well choreographed, maybe not the outcome, but certainly the where, when, how, and even the discussion content will have been sorted out long before the meeting ever takes place. The off-campus location allows them to forego all the pomp and ceremony of a state visit. When you think about it Putin has only to fly across the Bering Strait, while Trump has to fly coast to coast and the length of Canada. Also, Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin presidential aide, said that Trump has already been invited to a follow-up meeting in Russia.

In one short post, you have put us all in the Twilight Zone, you have speculated

That Trump might be spearheading an assassination plot on Putin
The neocons will manipulate Trump to conduct an endless war in Ukraine
Putin says yes to a meeting that he is going to cancel at the last minute
Putin has accepted this meeting with Trump for the sole purpose of making Trump look like a fool

I found some mild humor in your comment to please find some humor in mine............ The only thing I can say about your post is that it was like swallowing hot lava from an active volcano. Thank God it was short.

[Ravenlocke]

From RT, August10,

Scott Ritter arrives in Moscow UNEXPECTEDLY

FBI confiscated his passport 14 months ago but last month said their ‘priorities had been changed’— Ritter, on his Substack page

'I am in Russia as a guest of the National Unity Club' to promote peace and friendship

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1954648064284574080

1954648064284574080



Judge Napolitano,

LIVE FROM MOSCOW: Scott Ritter in conversation with Russian Officials,


Judge Napolitano first question to the Russian government representatives sitting in on the interview with Scott Ritter is,

“What do the Russian people expect from the meeting in Alaska between president Putin and president Trump?”

https://x.com/Judgenap/status/1954953499843891741

1954953499843891741

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic,

US Vice President JD Vance Once Again Performing "The US and Europe are Split" + "the US Wants Out of Ukraine"

1. this is AMERICA'S WAR in the first place - and the US controls Europe's senior leadership no matter what theater they perform to try and convince the public otherwise;

2. The US has publicly declared its need to implement division of labor and strategic sequencing and this is the narrative they need to sell it to different target audiences both in the US and across Europe;

3. JD Vance even before he became VP repeatedly said the US needs to focus on war with China (which is the central theme in all policy papers the Trump admin is now implementing verbatim) - and that Europe needs to "step up" in America's stead until it can return in force;

He never once sincerely talked about actually ending the war;

4. The war in Ukraine - if the US really wanted out - would end overnight - the US would pull the CIA from Ukraine, its commanding generals from Germany and all of its material support, and Ukraine would utterly collapse.

The fact that NONE of these things are happening is the clearest evidence of all that US intentions to end the conflict or "walk away" from it are fiction, and that it is merely implementing its "division of labor" strategy as it has repeatedly said it would;

5. Europe gains nothing by continuing a US proxy war with Russia - it is overtly destroying Europe's economy - an economy that benefited greatly from peace and cooperation with Russia prior to the US-overthrow of Ukraine in 2014 and the subsequent escalation that has taken place;

Finally...

Those hallucinating a "US-Europe split" have yet to explain why Europe would continue this war the US itself started and only US hegemony benefits from.

They also haven't accounted for US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's directive in February this year demanding Europe "step up" and "double down" on Ukraine (not end the war) while the US pivots to China and Europe's obedience in carrying it out even while play-acting some sort of "split" from the US.

The obvious explanation is that the spit narrative is merely required to sell Europe's continued and otherwise self-destructive investment in Ukraine to the European public - especially to Europeans who dislike the current Trump administration.

Despite how elementary and obvious this game is, because of wishful thinking and a desperate desire among many to believe this war is coming to an end, and also the deep, artificial divisions created by Western "left/right" politics, people are overwhelmingly buying into it - despite serial betrayals over the past few months by the Trump administration alone demonstrating uninterrupted continuity of agenda from the Biden administration...

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1954808502704382423

1954808502704382423

[jaybee]

~
~

another insightful and educational presentation from Barbara Boyd + Promethean Updates....

Are Trump and Putin Cooking the Development Deal of the Century? (14:02)

BNRbs6b-HGE



11 Aug 2025 The Monday Brief
Get our FREE newsletter at https://www.PrometheanAction.com — Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are planning a pivotal summit in Alaska to discuss key issues including the Arctic's development and the Eurasian geopolitical landscape, without the involvement of Europe or Ukraine. Barbara Boyd explores the historical background and ramifications of this meeting, the historical relationship between the US and Russia, and the potential for joint economic development in the Arctic, which has sent shockwaves through the British Empire and European leaders. The video also delves into the implications of the Russiagate investigation and its ties to London, showcasing how this summit could undermine the post-war global order. Join Barbara Boyd as she discusses why this meeting is significant, the historical context, and the potential future developments between the US and Russia.

00:00 The Monday Brief - Intro
01:35 The British RAGE Against Peace
06:08 The Best Peace Deal Ever: Joint US/Russian Development Of The Arctic
09:04 The Real Russiagate Targets In London, Kyiv, And The Atlantic Council

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

my comments

dynamite quote from Barbara Boyd - blasting through the heavy wall of propaganda carefully created by the Globalist Elite - - - who fear a normalization of relations and economic alliance between Russia and America more than anything.... I get the feeling that Trump has finally, in the face of constant deep betrayal from Globalist factions in America (speculation...maybe the last straw were the revelations about former Attorney General Bill Barr secretly scheming to put him (Trump) in jail...)

Trump has finally decided..... f**k it.... let's go all the way and sort this out once and for all....???

He needs to 'sort it out' while he has the chance because god only knows what the Globalists and Democrats will do if they manage to cheat their way back into power again... Trump himself and many of his supporters could be imprisoned for life, or worse... and America would fall.... the War of Independence finally lost....

12:28 - Barbara -

So, here's what they don't want you to understand about this summit.

This isn't just about ending a war in Ukraine. Thisis about ending an entire world order that has kept humanity trapped in cycles of imperial resource extraction and manufactured conflict for over a century.
The British Empire never died after Franklin Roosevelt died. It just put on a three-piece suit and called itself the rules-based international order. The screaming you hear from London, Brussels, and their American assets isn't about Ukraine's territorial integrity. It's the death rattle of a parasitic system that has fed off human misery for generations. If America and Russia become partners instead of enemies, their game is over.


oh boy - pray for Trump and Putin and order in the popcorn... :pop2:

[Rizotto]

Here I go again... Have we entered the twilight zone? I cannot believe that Russia would entertain having Putin meet Trump in Alaska of all places, in such short order, when there's been so many recent comments by Trump condemning Putin, as well as a recent assassination attempt on Putin, the USA neocons dead set on continuing the Ukraine war, etc.

The USA has a track record of setting up 'negotiations' meetings with heads of states, only to assassinate them.

Maybe the Russians are just calling Trump's bluff, knowing that he's just going to change his mind in a couple of days and call off the meeting. Is it all about making Trump look like a fool?

These meetings are fairly well choreographed, maybe not the outcome, but certainly the where, when, how, and even the discussion content will have been sorted out long before the meeting ever takes place. The off-campus location allows them to forego all the pomp and ceremony of a state visit. When you think about it Putin has only to fly across the Bering Strait, while Trump has to fly coast to coast and the length of Canada. Also, Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin presidential aide, said that Trump has already been invited to a follow-up meeting in Russia.

In one short post, you have put us all in the Twilight Zone, you have speculated

That Trump might be spearheading an assassination plot on Putin
The neocons will manipulate Trump to conduct an endless war in Ukraine
Putin says yes to a meeting that he is going to cancel at the last minute
Putin has accepted this meeting with Trump for the sole purpose of making Trump look like a fool

I found some mild humor in your comment to please find some humor in mine............ The only thing I can say about your post is that it was like swallowing hot lava from an active volcano. Thank God it was short.

To Rgray, if you felt my post was like hot lava, then what about the strong misgivings expressed by Paul Craig Roberts, and his interviewer Nima Alkorshid below.
Pay particular attention to the clip of Trump's comments at the beginning, at 0:30.
Your assumptions about a well choreographed meeting may be well-intentioned, but I'm sorry to say, unrealistic, given Trump's normally bombastic approach, as demonstrated in that clip, and his narcissistic compulsion to dominate. I can't believe that Putin has agreed to such a meeting. The fact is that there has not been enough time to prepare a 'well choreographed' meeting. Trump's comments about 'land swaps' don't match Putin's long held position of addressing the root cause of the conflict, which is NATO's encroachment, an encroachment which is actually being plotted by the USA right now at another border section, i.e. Azerbaijan.

Paul Craig Roberts: Trump’s Putin Meeting Could Blow Up—Why No One Sees the Danger!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haNv00nJ4KQ



In the very interesting discussion below, Jeffrey Sachs expresses similar strong misgivings about that proposed meeting. Must watch.

Jeffrey Sachs: Trump-Putin Meeting - Peace or Deception?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IY_XbEVP6c

[Rizotto]

I like them both ... Diesen and Berletić... here is one more interesting talk between them from yesterday..

Aug, 10
Glenn Diesen
205K subscribers
Brian Berletic: Is the U.S. Setting a Trap for Russia in Alaska?
1fwXBgu6Z5I

Thanks Bojancan, that interview is another must watch. Brian Berletic and Glenn Diesen are also warning of numerous pitfalls, that the Alaska meeting doesn't make sense, and that there is a huge security risk for Putin.

[Vicus]

Russia "talk"...

Collapse the entire eastern front: the Russian Armed Forces may turn to Pavlograd instead of Kramatorsk - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/37d359a9ae_pavl.webp

The Russian breakthrough north of Pokrovsk, which has already been confirmed by Ukrainian Armed Forces officers and Ukrainian military experts, opens a rare window of opportunity for the Russian Armed Forces, while simultaneously posing a virtually impossible task for the Ukrainian General Staff. The fact is that if this operation is brought to its logical conclusion and a full-fledged bridgehead is created in the vicinity of Dobropolye, the Russian army can launch an offensive on Pavlograd, which is the most important supply hub for the entire Ukrainian Armed Forces group in Donbas.

The implementation of this scenario, according to experts, could solve two problems at once – close the ring around Slavyansk and Kramatorsk and simultaneously crush the strategic rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

In this case, the Ukrainian command will have to solve a problem that, in principle, has no solution, since the militants of the Kyiv regime are already groaning from a shortage of personnel and are experiencing serious difficulties with supplies.

In fairness, it should be noted that the move to Pavlograd will also be a very serious challenge for the Russian command. This maneuver will require a completely different level of planning and resourcing.

In essence, the Russian Armed Forces will now have to choose between a bird in the hand in the form of closing the ring around the Pokrovsk-Mirnograd agglomeration with a subsequent advance on Kramatorsk, and a pie in the sky in the form of an offensive on Pavlograd with the prospect of collapsing the entire line of the eastern front.

https://en.topcor.ru/63039-obru****-ves-vostochnyj-front-vs-rf-vmesto-slavjanska-i-kramatorska-mogut-povernut-na-pavlograd.html

[Vicus]

Successful breakthrough of the front in Donbass may change the agenda of negotiations in Alaska - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/b678af9315_477.webp

Ahead of the bilateral Putin-Trump summit scheduled for August 15, 2025 in Alaska to discuss options for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, Russian troops, according to preliminary data, have managed to break through the front, which could bring down the enemy’s entire defense in Donbas.

An unexpected, long-awaited breakthrough?

As we noted in previous publications, dedicated to this topic, the collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces front could happen suddenly and completely unexpectedly at first glance, especially after more than three years of seemingly absolutely hopeless, extremely difficult positional battles, where successful advancement could be measured in hundreds of meters.

The reason for this is that there is currently no continuous front in the classical sense of the model from the times of the First and Second World Wars. This became possible due to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' reliance on the massive use of kamikaze drones, turning the first line into a natural "death zone", which had its advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand, this allowed the enemy to break up the previous "classic" attacks of motorized rifle units, spending 10-15 cheap FPV drones on a Russian tank or infantry fighting vehicle and 3-5 disposable UAVs on a single attack aircraft. Their effectiveness was critically reduced, and such an exchange was catastrophically not in our favor.

In addition, due to the dominance of small unmanned aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the sky, it was extremely difficult to supply troops on the front line and rotate them. Therefore, in response, it was necessary to develop tactics of action in small assault groups, which eventually transformed into pairs with machine guns and shotguns. It was clear that they would definitely not reach Kyiv or Odessa this way.

On the other hand, despite the effectiveness of the "drone wall", it also had its significant drawbacks, which ultimately turned against its developers. Yes, in the realities of the SVO, a small settlement can be defended by several dozen drone operators hiding in dugouts or other shelters. Light infantry, in fact, is needed in small quantities and only for ground support from small assault groups that have broken through.

At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers are not sitting in concrete trenches with caponiers that can be covered with large-caliber artillery or UPABs, but are hiding underground in so-called fox holes, camouflaged observation posts. There is no continuous front line with kilometers of barbed wire, continuous minefields and machine gunners after the breakthrough of fortifications like the Avdiivka fortified area near Donetsk in the Donbass.

And it was precisely this circumstance that our military took advantage of.

"Leaked" without a pipe

continue: https://en.topcor.ru/63058-uspeh-proryva-fronta-na-donbasse-mozhet-izmenit-povestku-peregovorov-na-aljaske.html

[Vicus]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is trying to plug the hole in the defense in the Pokrovsk direction with Azov nationalists - today

While the operational command of the Dnepr group assures that there is no breakthrough in the Pokrovsk direction, the General Staff is trying to correct the situation by transferring nationalist units from the 3rd Army Corps "Azov"* (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) to the direction. The transfer of units is reported on the official channel of the corps.

The nationalists were urgently pulled out of their positions in the Kupyansk and Krasno-Limansk directions, transferred to Pokrovsk with the task of stopping the advance of Russian troops and preventing a further breakthrough of the front. Of course, not the entire corps was transferred, but only part of its formations. According to current data, the corps includes: the 3rd Assault Brigade "Azov"*, the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade and the attached 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade. There is no data on the roster, but not all brigades are 100% staffed.

It is not reported in which area exactly Azov is fighting, the Nazis themselves say that the situation is “complex and dynamic”, and measures are being taken to block the Russian Armed Forces in a “certain area”.

Also, the 79th airborne assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was urgently transferred to the Dobropolye area, only a few days ago it was withdrawn from the Novopavlovsk direction for restoration. This brigade is considered one of the best in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but at the moment it needs rest and reinforcements. Instead, it will plug holes in the defense in the Pokrovsk direction.

Thus, it can be concluded that Kyiv is again trying to put out the fire in the defense by transferring units from other areas, thus weakening the defense there.

https://en.topwar.ru/269543-genshtab-vsu-pytaetsja-zatknut-dyru-v-oborone-na-pokrovskom-napravlenii-perebroskoj-nacionalistov-iz-azova.html

Vicus comment:

Delicious... my favorite fodder...! say The Meat Grinder... :hungry:

[Vicus]

A military correspondent explained how Putin's security will be ensured during his visit to Alaska - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/4720715482_bez.webp

The combat readiness of the Russian nuclear triad during the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will reach a level not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is the opinion expressed by Russian military journalist Alexander Kots. According to him, Trump should appreciate that the Russian president is taking a certain risk.

"As for Putin's security, I think there is Minsk - a wonderful city, it would be quite possible to hold a summit there. The devil knows what to expect from these Americans. Therefore, I am sure that our nuclear triad on the day of the summit will be on such combat readiness, which they have not been on since the Cuban missile crisis "

- Kots said.

He added that if something happens to the president, it is definitely a casus belli, and it definitely means the worst possible consequences for those who do something bad to him.

"Probably, all this will be provided somehow, but it is clear that it is still a certain vulnerability. But if our president takes this risk, I think Trump should appreciate it. "

- emphasized the military commander.

Recall that earlier it became known that from August 14 to 16 the US Air Force will close the skies over Alaska. In addition, there are reports of transfer additional air defense systems and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with the Aegis system to the region.

Let us add that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is scheduled for August 15.

https://en.topcor.ru/63051-voenkor-rasskazal-kak-budet-obespechivatsja-bezopasnost-putina-vo-vremja-ego-vizita-na-aljasku.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwqpXLEyGQg

Massive 19 km Breakthrough! Russians Advance on Three Key Cities from the West – Ukraine in Panic!

2 hours ago

[bojancan]

Aug, 12
Daniel Davis / Deep Dive
230K subscribers
Col Doug Macgregor: Russia SUDDEN ADVANCE Near Pokrovsk
rAAaYc_pCfM

Political context before the Trump–Putin meeting

The meeting is days away, with European leaders preparing to press Trump toward a settlement with Putin that aligns with their interests.

They are also trying to get Zelensky involved or present at the talks, but Trump appears uninterested in accommodating that request.

While Washington and Brussels focus on diplomatic maneuvering, analysts argue the real drivers of the situation are unfolding on the battlefield.

Major breakthrough on the Eastern Front

In the past 48 hours, Russia has launched its largest advance in two years near Pokrovsk (also spelled Picrosk/Pokrovske area), north of that sector.

The Russian strategy remains focused on destroying Ukrainian forces, not holding land for its own sake.

Ukrainian troop numbers are critically low; battalions are being filled with underage recruits and older men.

Russia is recruiting about 35,000 new soldiers per month, with 150,000 currently in training.

The Russian advance has expanded rapidly—roughly 10 km per day—and already cut the Druzhkivka–Kramatorsk road, a major logistical artery.

This road is one of only a few paved connections in the region; losing it severely limits Ukrainian ability to move troops, supplies, or reinforce positions.

Why the breakthrough matters

If Russia pushes deeper, they could encircle Ukrainian forces in a “cauldron,” starving them of supplies and forcing surrender or destruction in place.

The area behind the current Ukrainian line includes major cities like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, as well as Ukraine’s last major defensive line in the east (marked on Ukrainian maps in yellow).

Previous defensive lines south of this area were undermanned, allowing Russia to bypass them quickly.

Ukrainian defensive situation

Ukraine’s high command has recognized the severity of the breach and deployed its final strategic reserve—an elite Air Assault (AOV) brigade.

However:

It’s only one brigade, not multiple brigades or divisions.

They will be arriving to an area with minimal or no prepared fortifications beyond the yellow line.

Once committed, Ukraine will have no remaining strategic reserve.

Russian commanders are likely aware of this deployment and may try to annihilate the brigade outright.

Analyst perspectives

Col. Douglas Macgregor and other military analysts believe Russia has effectively won the war militarily—the question now is only how far they push.

They see no evidence Russia timed this offensive for the summit; instead, it’s driven by battlefield opportunity and the approaching autumn rains, which will slow movement.

Comparisons to Ukraine’s surprise Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022 are dismissed—back then Russia had few troops in the region and withdrew in good order; Ukraine today has no comparable reserves or equipment for such a reversal.

Russia has improved in countering Ukraine’s drone tactics, using jamming, intercepts, and striking operators’ positions.

Implications for the summit

Putin may present the battlefield reality to Trump as proof Ukraine’s position is untenable, potentially pushing for a settlement.

However, analysts doubt the meeting will alter Russia’s military plans.

Ukrainian analysts fear the current breach could trigger a broad collapse of the eastern front, with mass withdrawals across the Dnipro River if the “cauldron” scenario unfolds.

[Ravenlocke]

Those who fear the upcoming #trumpputinsummit are ready to do everything to prevent or to undermine it. Below is an urgent statement from the MOD of Russia (AI translation)

“Full text of the urgent statement by the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

According to the information received from several sources, the Kiev regime is preparing a provocation with the aim of disrupting the scheduled Russian-American negotiations on August 15 of this year.

For this purpose, a group of foreign journalists was transported by the SBU by car to the city of Chuguev in the Kharkiv region on Monday, August 11, under the pretext of "preparing a series of reports about the residents of the city in the frontline zone."

Immediately before the summit on Friday, a provocative strike using UAVs and missiles is planned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on one of the densely populated residential areas or hospitals with a large number of casualties among the civilian population, which should be immediately "documented" by the invited Western journalists.

As a result of the provocation by the Kiev regime, all responsibility for the strike and the casualties among civilians will be blamed on the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to create a negative media background and conditions for the disruption of Russian-American cooperation on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Provocations are also possible in other populated areas under the control of the Kiev regime”


https://x.com/Dpol_un/status/1955335850360815906

1955335850360815906


Victor Orban,
Just four days ahead of the historic summit between President Trump and President Putin, the European Council sought to issue a statement in the name of all EU heads of state and government.

Before the liberal-mainstream chorus begins its newest rendition of their favourite “Putin’s puppet” tune, I decided to share why I could NOT support the statement on behalf of Hungary.

1. The statement attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited.

2. The fact that the EU was left on the sidelines is sad enough as it is. The only thing that could make things worse is if we started providing instructions from the bench.

3. The only sensible action for EU leaders is to initiate an EU-Russia summit, based on the example of the US-Russia meeting.

Let’s give peace a chance!

[Ravenlocke]

The point of publicizing such information is to prevent the event from happening, so -- would make sense if it worked. It has before

https://x.com/RWApodcast/status/1955351838217187335

1955351838217187335

[Ravenlocke]

Ukraine Faces Catastrophe As Pokrovsk Front Collapses,

EU In Denial;

Merz Calls Alaska Crisis Talks


Ukraine Faces Catastrophe As Pokrovsk Front Collapses, EU In Denial; Merz Calls Alaska Crisis Talks
Topic 1637

Ukraine Faces Catastrophe As Pokrovsk Front Collapses, EU In Denial; Merz Calls Alaska Crisis Talks
Topic 1637

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1955341795002552775

1955341795002552775

0:00 - Discussion on the dramatic news from the Ukrainian battlefields in Pokrovsk
2:20 - Confirmation of Russian military advancements in Pokrovsk and surrounding areas
4:11 - Implications of Russian control over key supply routes for Ukrainian forces
7:14 - Analysis of the potential Russian strategy and its impact on Ukraine
12:16 - Overview of the operational crisis for the Ukrainian military north of Pokrovsk
19:03 - Reports of Russian advances in the Lyman area and surrounding regions
27:00 - Assessment of the situation in Pokrovsk and the implications for the Ukrainian army
30:01 - Discussion on the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska
39:00 - Analysis of the European leaders' response to the crisis and their demands
46:40 - Summary of the current military situation and potential outcomes for Ukraine
1:11:00 - Final thoughts on the implications of the Pokrovsk situation for Ukraine's future

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸"Preparation for the meeting": Lavrov held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Rubio — Russian Foreign Ministry

▪️Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This was reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
▪️During the conversation, the parties discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15.
▪️Lavrov and Rubio confirmed their commitment to a successful meeting.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1955339553931399689

1955339553931399689

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Russia’s Defense Ministry reports that Kiev is preparing a provocation aimed at derailing the planned Russian–American talks set for August 15.

According to the ministry, in the lead-up to the Alaska summit, Ukrainian forces plan to carry out a strike on a densely populated residential area in Kharkov Region. The attack will then be blamed on Russian forces to create a negative media backdrop.

The Defense Ministry also warned that provocations by Ukrainian forces could take place in other areas under Kiev’s control, not just in the Kharkov Region.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1955339293205119157

1955339293205119157

[Ravenlocke]

From RT

Putin to meet Trump at an American MILITARY base

CNN says presidents will meet at Elmendorf-Richardson base in Anchorage

Trump to MEET Putin in Alaska’s Anchorage on FRIDAY — Press Sec Leavitt

FUN FACT: Alaska was once Russian territory until 1867

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1955407330058686492

1955407330058686492


Former Alaska Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman, in an interview with Izvestia, shared that he takes pride in his Russian roots.

“I am proud of my Russian roots, but I am also proud of my Alaska Native heritage. You know, I became the first Alaska Native elected to a statewide office,” Leman stated.

According to the American politician, his family “traces back” to Russian colonists in America. The former Alaska lieutenant governor also noted that in the village of Ninilchik, where he grew up, traces of Russian culture and influence still remain today.

“Our family history records a marriage in 1798 between a Russian man named Yefim Rastorguev and a local Alutiiq woman named Agrafena. I am their descendant,” Leman shared.

Additionally, in the interview with Izvestia, the politician said that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15 “will go down in history.” Leman emphasized that he expects the Russia-U.S. summit to yield a “positive resolution” regarding the conflict in Ukraine.


https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955354622622831095

1955354622622831095

[Ravenlocke]

From TASS,

Vladimir Putin has congratulated Kim Jong Un on the 80th anniversary of the liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, the Kremlin press service said after their phone call:
https://vk.cc/cOwTpW

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1955334512537219407

1955334512537219407

https://tass.com/politics/2001451?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Putin congratulates Kim on 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule

Kim Jong Un, in turn, stressed that North Korea remembers the Red Army’s role in Korea’s liberation

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the 80th anniversary of the liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, the Kremlin press service said after their phone call.

"The Russian president congratulated the North Korean leader on the upcoming national holiday, the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from the Japanese colonial rule that will be marked on August 15," it said.

Kim, in turn, stressed that North Korea remembers the Red Army’s role in Korea’s liberation.

On August 15, 1945, Soviet forces liberated the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Tokyo’s officially declared surrender put an end to the 35-year Japanese rule in Korea. This date is celebrated as a national holiday both in North and South Korea.

[Ravenlocke]

Putin discussed the upcoming summit in Alaska with Kim Jong Un over the phone.

The president also highly appreciated the support provided by the DPRK during the liberation of the Kursk region from the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He noted the courage, heroism, and selflessness demonstrated by the DPRK soldiers.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1955323193281110484

1955323193281110484

[Ravenlocke]

According to Italian newspaper, Corriere Della Sera,



‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 Putin will propose a deal to Trump: withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from three regions of Ukraine, — Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

▪️ Russia is ready to offer Donald Trump a plan to resolve the conflict: the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass in exchange for the exit of Russian troops from the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. This was reported to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera by Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics.

▪️ The expert, whom the publication calls a “trusted Kremlin advisor on foreign policy,” stated that a bilateral Russian-American plan for achieving a ceasefire might be concluded in Alaska.

Key conditions of the plan:

— Withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbass areas.

— Withdrawal of Russian troops from Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, while the frontline in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions will remain unchanged.

— Ukraine’s commitment not to join NATO.

— Demilitarization of Ukraine and constitutional reform in a federal sense.

▪️ According to Suslov, there is a high chance that Trump will support the Russian proposals, as for him this is “essentially a way out” of a difficult political situation related to the threat of secondary sanctions against BRICS countries.
- RVvoenkor


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1955312138236424660

1955312138236424660

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The flight path of Putin’s aircraft over Alaska will require additional coordination with U.S. authorities. For safety reasons, the plane will likely depart from Chukotka and cross through the Bering Strait, according to Vladimir Kanashevsky, head of the International Private Law Department at Moscow State Law University, speaking to TASS.

Separately, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that airspace over Anchorage will be closed on the day of Putin and Trump’s meeting.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955143138630308113

1955143138630308113

[Mike Gorman]

I would like to know exactly what Witkoff offered Putin that so radically shifted the mood - we have seen a complete rejection from the DC/Pent mob, perhaps it has taken a while for Trump's team to build momentum an remove the Biden crew, behind the scenes, an they were able to present a completely different set of options for Russia? But that was a swift shift eh?

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic,

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Regarding claims Ukraine's SBU is preparing operations to "disrupt" the meeting between the US-Russian presidents...

...the US CIA has rebuilt and now directs ALL of Ukraine's intelligence agencies - including the SBU - since 2014, according to the New York Times itself.

Everything the SBU does is directed by the US.

Source: https://archive.ph/KxYig

In other words it isn't "Ukraine" disrupting the US-Russian meeting - it is the US itself.

And not because there is a "split" between the Trump administration and the CIA - but precisely because both are working together to do exactly to Russia what they BOTH just did to Iran.

The US is creating the illusion of seeking diplomacy while US proxies carry out US-engineered provocations the US wants to create distance from (anything from an attack on President Putin himself to the movement of European troops directly into Ukraine and anything in between).

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1955477898095464624

1955477898095464624

🇺🇸🇷🇺A Warning Regarding Washington's Fake Interest in "Peace" with Russia (Minsk 3.0 or Iran Part 2)

The more the US pretends interest in "diplomacy," the greater the chance it is creating plausible deniability for something it has tasked its proxies with (terrorism, assassinations, even outright war).

Even as people admit Europe and Ukraine are US proxies, some seem fixated on the notion that they both suddenly have achieved "agency" and are trying to "sabotage" "peace" we all know the US isn't interested in in the first place.

This comes even as the US itself STILL arms Ukraine, still maintains the CIA at the top of Ukraine's intelligence agencies, and as US generals remain firmly at the top of Ukraine's armed forces' chain of command.

The most likely scenario is the US poses as attempting to make peace with Russia while Europe sends military forces INTO Ukraine just as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told them to do back in February 2025.

It could be accompanied by something even worse - perhaps a large scale missile strike on Russia or even worse still we can't even image.

Worst of all, the US JUST DID THIS to Iran just a few months ago - engaging in fake talks it never had any genuine interest in and had prepared/armed/enabled Israel to attack during - then joined in after they began!

The problem isn't a lack of evidence or information - the US literally writes its plans down on publicly available policy papers and even openly tells the world what it will do.

Instead, it is a lack in desire by many to face reality no matter how obvious it is - because of how unpleasant that reality is and what it requires of us to actually overcome.

This applies to leaders at the highest levels of power just as much as it applies to ordinary people.

As Europe prepares its "Coalition of the Willing" to "sabotage" US President Trump's "peace" talks, remember it was US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth who in February this year who ANNOUNCED the coalition in the first place!

Everything from Europe expanding NATO spending to "doubling down" on supporting Ukraine, to moving European troops into Ukraine itself to freeze the conflict was announced in Secretary Hegseth's February 12, 2025 directive.

This was always the plan, the key ingredient is moving Russia into a position where these troops can be moved into Ukraine.

Source: US Department of Defense - https://defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1955187802297237572

1955187802297237572

[Ravenlocke]

Pepe Escobar,

What's in play: the most concise pre-Alaska - and beyond - analysis anywhere. Hit the groove.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1955318535049396533

1955318535049396533

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250812/the-bear-and-the-eagle-face-off-in-alaska----1122598684.html

Pepe Escobar: The Bear and the Eagle Face-Off in Alaska

Two weeks after Alaska, there’s the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. India’s Narendra Modi and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian will join, among others, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the same table. A BRICS/SCO table.
September 3, in Beijing, is the 80th anniversary of what is officially defined as the victory of “the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. Putin is the guest of honor. The rehearsal, with 22,000 participants, took place this past weekend in Tian’anmen Square.

On the same day, in Russia's Vladivostok, it’s the start of the Eastern Economic Forum, which discusses everything about Russia’s drive to develop the Arctic and eastern Siberia – the equivalent of the Chinese “Go West” campaign started in the late 1990s. Key Eurasian players will be in the house. Putin addresses the plenary session on September 5.
Top BRICS leaders of China, Russia, Brazil and India, meanwhile, are actively involved in a flurry of phone calls coordinating a collective response to the tariff wars – part of the hybrid war by the Empire of Chaos against BRICS and the Global South.

How Trump is Aiming for a PR Win

Let’s see how Alaska is setting the stage for something much bigger.
The summit was announced following what Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov concisely defined as “a proposal from the American side which we think is quite acceptable.”

This sentence was as far as the Kremlin would comment – in contrast with the non-stop verbal onslaught emanating from Washington. That the Kremlin even considered the American offer means an implicit recognition of what Russia is achieving on the battlefield and in the geoeconomic sphere.

Timing. Why now? Especially after Trump had threatened buyers of Russian oil with tariffs? Essentially, because military intel in selected deep state silos have done the math and finally admitted that the long proxy war in Ukraine is lost.
Moreover, Trump personally wants to get over it so as to concentrate on the next chapters of the Forever Wars – including the one that really matters: against “existential threat” China.

From Moscow’s point of view, conditioned by the successful results of its calibrated war of attrition, the facts on the battlefield spell out the special military operation rollin’ on - and no ceasefire; at best a “humanitarian” pause of a few days. The Americans want a ceasefire of at least a few weeks.

Reconciling both sides’ optics will be a Sisyphean task. Still, Alaska is just the beginning: the next meeting is already in the works to take place in the Russian Federation, according to Ushakov.

Trump’s motives are easily identified: create the perception of the US extracting itself from the mess; some sort of truce; and back to doing business with Russia – especially in the Arctic.
In parallel, assuming any sort of deal, the deep state will never recognize the new Russian regions, even Donetsk and Lugansk; and will seek to re-weaponize Ukraine, “leading from behind”, for a NATO-led war replay further on down the road.

So the US-Russia abyss is mirrored by the domestic American abyss – and most of all the Trump-NATO/EU abyss. The toothless chihuahua European pack, trying to salvage its pitiful Kiev actor, is doing somersaults – complete with possible black swans – to derail the summit even before it happens.

There’s no way Trump can sell any sort of settlement to the rabid NATO/EU pack. But nothing would please him more than to transfer the war – in full – to them. With the benefit that the deep state in this case will not complain – because it will be reaping massive euro profits from the weapons sale racket. End result: a classic Trump PR win.

Exit Ukraine, Enter the Arctic

Ukraine, though, will not be the main theme in Alaska. The ever-perceptive Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov cut to the chase: what really matters is that “the first signs of common sense are appearing in Russia-US relations, which were absent for several years before.”

Ryabkov was quick to also highlight the dangers: the risk of nuclear conflict in the world “is not decreasing”; and Russia sees the risk that “after the expiration of the New START Treaty, nuclear arms control will be completely absent”.

Once again: Alaska is just the beginning of something much bigger – including, finally, a serious discussion about “indivisibility of security” (what Moscow wanted already in December 2021, rebuffed by the autopen administration).

And that brings us to the Arctic – and serious stuff that will certainly be debated in depth at the upcoming Vladivostok forum.

The Arctic holds at least 13% of global undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of undiscovered natural gas. Russia controls at least half of all these reserves. The Empire of Chaos badly wants to be part of the action.

Yet one thing is possible massive US investment in joint Arctic projects with Russia. Something entirely different is the US joining the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – which the Chinese call the Arctic Silk Road. The NSR reduces shipping time between Asia and Europe by up to 50%.

The Russian-Chinese rationale for the NSR – including the expansion of Russia’s unique nuclear icebreaker fleet - is exactly to bypass the Suez Canal and connectivity channels controlled by the US. The key question then is what would it take to swing Moscow to accept a Trump-Putin deal in the Arctic.

So on Ukraine, in principle, Russia has all the cards – as long as the special military operation goes on, now on overdrive. On hybrid war, the tariff chapter, the US ruling classes finally realized they have no cards – because blowback caused by secondary sanctions will badly damage the US. What’s left then is a commercial deal: the Arctic.

It's quite intriguing that even the JPMorgan Center for Geopolitics admitted that the best solution for the Ukraine mess is a Georgia scenario: that would somewhat offset the optics of a total capitulation by the West. Only Ukraine would capitulate: no NATO, no EU, no money, no security guarantees.

Inestimable Prof. Michael Hudson has condensed how Alaska will proceed under two vectors: “Part I is whether the US will acknowledge that the trajectory of the current fighting is for a total Russian victory, on the terms that Putin has been explaining for two years: no NATO membership, no foreign arms supplies, Nuremberg-like trials of the Banderite leaders, and perhaps reparations by Ukraine and NATO for the rebuilding of formerly ‘Ukrainian’ Russia.”
Assuming Trump accepts it, and that’s a major “if”, then comes the real nitty gritty (remember Ryabkov), “starting with whether a new atomic missile and arms treaty will be put in place.”

Russia’s version of peace, writes Prof. Hudson, will flow along these lines: “We don’t want an atomic war with the United States. Let’s agree that if a German or other EU/NATO missile hits Russia, when we retaliate it will only be against Britain, Germany and France, not North America.”

Prof. Hudson is adamant that “America has only one thing to offer other countries: the (temporary) promise NOT to hurt them. There’s nothing positive to offer, given its de-industrialization and the world’s de-dollarization.”

As it stands, and also considering the multiple ramifications of the hybrid war against BRICS, Alaska carries the potential of offering Washington a way out of the debris of a massive strategic defeat.

Any analyst who tried to understand the special military operation from the beginning, in detail, could tell that Russia’s war involved something much bigger than Ukraine. It was always about the burial of the “rules-based international order”, in fact the whole old order architecture. That is happening as we speak in the black soil of Novorossiya. Strategic patience, in the end, does pay.

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺 “Moscow’s key condition for a final settlement of the Ukrainian conflict is a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status for Ukraine, along with its demilitarization and denazification. Preserving the Kiev regime in a combat-ready state, all while nurturing hopes of revenge, is not in Russia’s interests.” — Elena Panina, RUSSTRAT

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955436974485151928

1955436974485151928

[Ravenlocke]

“Tunnel Across the Bering Strait? Putin-Trump Meeting in Alaska Could Boost Joint Projects on Rare Earth Metals and Bering Strait Tunnel”

Washington, D.C. — A meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska could give momentum to joint projects involving rare earth metals and the construction of a tunnel across the Bering Strait. This was stated to Izvestia by Peter Kuznick, Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington.

“This could mark the beginning of economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. The Arctic holds vast deposits of rare earth minerals. We could launch a joint project to develop them. There has also been discussion about a tunnel across the Bering Strait—an idea talked about both here and in Russia. It’s a major high-speed rail project that would connect Eurasia and the United States,” the analyst noted.

According to him, this would be a crucial step in improving relations and could even contribute to resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

For more details, read Peter Kuznick’s exclusive interview with Izvestia.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955551290349724118

1955551290349724118

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 The US Embassy in Moscow has issued visas to Kremlin pool journalists for the first time in four years, allowing them to cover the August 15 meeting between the Russian and US presidents.

The single-entry visas are valid until November 11, 2025, enabling the journalists to report on the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955510203656638859

1955510203656638859

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸 Trump could trade Ukraine for Arctic oil and gas

Advisor to Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, said:
"In Alaska and the Arctic, the economic interests of our countries coincide and prospects arise for large mutually beneficial projects"

The Arctic will be a key topic of the meeting between Trump and Putin on August 15, writes The Spectator.

⚡️⚡️⚡️ Moscow could give the US access to oil and gas production in the Arctic, in exchange for the US supporting Russian conditions on Ukraine.

"Kyiv will be furious about the Arctic agreement related to Ukraine. Zelensky built his power on reclaiming lost territories and promised never to concede Crimea and Donbas. An agreement that consolidates these losses will be condemned as betrayal," writes the British publication.

The article emphasizes: "Kyiv's position is fragile, the Ukrainian armed forces are exhausted and depend on the West. Europe, without American money, can only support Ukraine with words.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1955661338958500169

1955661338958500169

[Ravenlocke]

NOW - Merz and Zelensky set peace conditions for Putin, including recognition of Russian occupied territory as a non-negotiable, "borders may not be changed through violence."

https://x.com/disclosetv/status/1955643406597980299

1955643406597980299

[Ravenlocke]

EVENING BELLS: The Route of a Departing Day

The meeting between Putin and Trump may take place near the airfield from which, during the Great Patriotic War, American Lend-Lease fighter planes—the P-39 Airacobras—and B-25 bombers took to the skies. They flew along the route of the ALSIB program.

Alaska – Siberia.

And then onward to the front.

Ahead of the summit, the journal Rodina revisited the chronicles of these heroic flights.

The first planes set off along ALSIB on October 7, 1942. Leading the group was a B-25 adorned with the image of a polar bear, piloted by the famous Arctic aviator Ilya Mazuruk.

From that moment on—a colonel, commander of the 1st Ferry Aviation Division.

He had a vast, dangerous, and incredibly demanding responsibility.

The 1st Ferry Aviation Regiment delivered aircraft from Alaska to Chukotka—through the taiga and across the Bering Strait, from Fairbanks to Uelkal.

The 2nd—from Chukotka to Kolyma, through the tundra and wild mountains to Seymchan.

The 3rd—from Kolyma across the Chersky Range and the Oymyakon Highlands, home to the “Pole of Cold,” to Yakutsk.

The 4th—through the Yakut taiga to Kirensk.

The 5th—from Kirensk to Krasnoyarsk.

From there, the pilots who had delivered the planes were sent back to America on transport Douglases. Meanwhile, the baton was taken up by the 9th Ferry Aviation Regiment and the 2nd Ferry Aviation Regiment of the Naval Air Force.

Their task was somewhat easier: they flew over relatively populated areas, navigating by the “Kaganovich compass"—following the Trans-Siberian Railway. But “easier” did not mean “easy"...

Better than anyone, as early as February 1942, American President Franklin Roosevelt understood this:

“We know one thing: the Chinese are killing Japanese, and the Russians are killing Germans. Therefore, we must begin sending them a hundred times, a thousand times more material than they are receiving from us now...”

Eighty years later, in December 2022, Alaskan authorities barred Russian diplomats from visiting the graves of Soviet pilots in Anchorage. Perhaps on Friday, Trump will explain to his fellow countrymen—now welcoming the summit with open arms—just how wrong they were?

— Kotsnews

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1955705856311615811

1955705856311615811

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The U.S. Treasury has quietly lifted certain sanctions on Russia until August 20 to enable preparations for the Alaska summit between Putin and Trump.

The OFAC license allows financial transactions “necessary for participation” in the meetings but does not unfreeze any blocked assets.

It’s a rare carve-out—highlighting how Washington will bend its own sanctions regime when high-level diplomacy demands it.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1955720921106538943

1955720921106538943

[bojancan]

I love George's monologs... love it!

Aug, 13
George Galloway
683K subscribers
MONOLOGUE: Art of the steal
dQXVirkRdUg

[bojancan]

Aug, 13...1 hour ago...
Danny Haiphong
488K subscribers
Russia DESTROYS Trump Nuke Threat, NATO & Ukraine MELTDOWN | Brian Berletic & KJ Noh
I2lzeTwSlnk

Trump's chaotic nuclear gamble reflects a HUGE problem for the US in Ukraine says Brian Berletic, and the dangers are only mounting. Geopolitical analysts Brian Berletic and KJ Noh joined the show to break down the truth behind the latest in Ukraine and beyond. This video was recorded before Alaska summit announcement and reveals critical details about the truth on Ukraine and Trump's position.

[Tintin]

Pepe Escobar,

What's in play: the most concise pre-Alaska - and beyond - analysis anywhere. Hit the groove.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1955318535049396533

1955318535049396533

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250812/the-bear-and-the-eagle-face-off-in-alaska----1122598684.html

Pepe Escobar: The Bear and the Eagle Face-Off in Alaska

Two weeks after Alaska, there’s the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. India’s Narendra Modi and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian will join, among others, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the same table. A BRICS/SCO table.
September 3, in Beijing, is the 80th anniversary of what is officially defined as the victory of “the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. Putin is the guest of honor. The rehearsal, with 22,000 participants, took place this past weekend in Tian’anmen Square.

On the same day, in Russia's Vladivostok, it’s the start of the Eastern Economic Forum, which discusses everything about Russia’s drive to develop the Arctic and eastern Siberia – the equivalent of the Chinese “Go West” campaign started in the late 1990s. Key Eurasian players will be in the house. Putin addresses the plenary session on September 5.
Top BRICS leaders of China, Russia, Brazil and India, meanwhile, are actively involved in a flurry of phone calls coordinating a collective response to the tariff wars – part of the hybrid war by the Empire of Chaos against BRICS and the Global South.

How Trump is Aiming for a PR Win

Let’s see how Alaska is setting the stage for something much bigger.
The summit was announced following what Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov concisely defined as “a proposal from the American side which we think is quite acceptable.”

This sentence was as far as the Kremlin would comment – in contrast with the non-stop verbal onslaught emanating from Washington. That the Kremlin even considered the American offer means an implicit recognition of what Russia is achieving on the battlefield and in the geoeconomic sphere.

Timing. Why now? Especially after Trump had threatened buyers of Russian oil with tariffs? Essentially, because military intel in selected deep state silos have done the math and finally admitted that the long proxy war in Ukraine is lost.
Moreover, Trump personally wants to get over it so as to concentrate on the next chapters of the Forever Wars – including the one that really matters: against “existential threat” China.

From Moscow’s point of view, conditioned by the successful results of its calibrated war of attrition, the facts on the battlefield spell out the special military operation rollin’ on - and no ceasefire; at best a “humanitarian” pause of a few days. The Americans want a ceasefire of at least a few weeks.

Reconciling both sides’ optics will be a Sisyphean task. Still, Alaska is just the beginning: the next meeting is already in the works to take place in the Russian Federation, according to Ushakov.

Trump’s motives are easily identified: create the perception of the US extracting itself from the mess; some sort of truce; and back to doing business with Russia – especially in the Arctic.
In parallel, assuming any sort of deal, the deep state will never recognize the new Russian regions, even Donetsk and Lugansk; and will seek to re-weaponize Ukraine, “leading from behind”, for a NATO-led war replay further on down the road.

So the US-Russia abyss is mirrored by the domestic American abyss – and most of all the Trump-NATO/EU abyss. The toothless chihuahua European pack, trying to salvage its pitiful Kiev actor, is doing somersaults – complete with possible black swans – to derail the summit even before it happens.

There’s no way Trump can sell any sort of settlement to the rabid NATO/EU pack. But nothing would please him more than to transfer the war – in full – to them. With the benefit that the deep state in this case will not complain – because it will be reaping massive euro profits from the weapons sale racket. End result: a classic Trump PR win.

Exit Ukraine, Enter the Arctic

Ukraine, though, will not be the main theme in Alaska. The ever-perceptive Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov cut to the chase: what really matters is that “the first signs of common sense are appearing in Russia-US relations, which were absent for several years before.”

Ryabkov was quick to also highlight the dangers: the risk of nuclear conflict in the world “is not decreasing”; and Russia sees the risk that “after the expiration of the New START Treaty, nuclear arms control will be completely absent”.

Once again: Alaska is just the beginning of something much bigger – including, finally, a serious discussion about “indivisibility of security” (what Moscow wanted already in December 2021, rebuffed by the autopen administration).

And that brings us to the Arctic – and serious stuff that will certainly be debated in depth at the upcoming Vladivostok forum.

The Arctic holds at least 13% of global undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of undiscovered natural gas. Russia controls at least half of all these reserves. The Empire of Chaos badly wants to be part of the action.

Yet one thing is possible massive US investment in joint Arctic projects with Russia. Something entirely different is the US joining the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – which the Chinese call the Arctic Silk Road. The NSR reduces shipping time between Asia and Europe by up to 50%.

The Russian-Chinese rationale for the NSR – including the expansion of Russia’s unique nuclear icebreaker fleet - is exactly to bypass the Suez Canal and connectivity channels controlled by the US. The key question then is what would it take to swing Moscow to accept a Trump-Putin deal in the Arctic.

So on Ukraine, in principle, Russia has all the cards – as long as the special military operation goes on, now on overdrive. On hybrid war, the tariff chapter, the US ruling classes finally realized they have no cards – because blowback caused by secondary sanctions will badly damage the US. What’s left then is a commercial deal: the Arctic.

It's quite intriguing that even the JPMorgan Center for Geopolitics admitted that the best solution for the Ukraine mess is a Georgia scenario: that would somewhat offset the optics of a total capitulation by the West. Only Ukraine would capitulate: no NATO, no EU, no money, no security guarantees.

Inestimable Prof. Michael Hudson has condensed how Alaska will proceed under two vectors: “Part I is whether the US will acknowledge that the trajectory of the current fighting is for a total Russian victory, on the terms that Putin has been explaining for two years: no NATO membership, no foreign arms supplies, Nuremberg-like trials of the Banderite leaders, and perhaps reparations by Ukraine and NATO for the rebuilding of formerly ‘Ukrainian’ Russia.”
Assuming Trump accepts it, and that’s a major “if”, then comes the real nitty gritty (remember Ryabkov), “starting with whether a new atomic missile and arms treaty will be put in place.”

Russia’s version of peace, writes Prof. Hudson, will flow along these lines: “We don’t want an atomic war with the United States. Let’s agree that if a German or other EU/NATO missile hits Russia, when we retaliate it will only be against Britain, Germany and France, not North America.”

Prof. Hudson is adamant that “America has only one thing to offer other countries: the (temporary) promise NOT to hurt them. There’s nothing positive to offer, given its de-industrialization and the world’s de-dollarization.”

As it stands, and also considering the multiple ramifications of the hybrid war against BRICS, Alaska carries the potential of offering Washington a way out of the debris of a massive strategic defeat.

Any analyst who tried to understand the special military operation from the beginning, in detail, could tell that Russia’s war involved something much bigger than Ukraine. It was always about the burial of the “rules-based international order”, in fact the whole old order architecture. That is happening as we speak in the black soil of Novorossiya. Strategic patience, in the end, does pay.

Fabulous synopsis. Thank you Pepe :highfive:

[Bill Ryan]

Pepe Escobar,

What's in play: the most concise pre-Alaska - and beyond - analysis anywhere. Hit the groove.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1955318535049396533

1955318535049396533
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250812/the-bear-and-the-eagle-face-off-in-alaska----1122598684.html

Pepe Escobar: The Bear and the Eagle Face-Off in Alaska

Two weeks after Alaska, there’s the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. India’s Narendra Modi and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian will join, among others, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the same table. A BRICS/SCO table.
September 3, in Beijing, is the 80th anniversary of what is officially defined as the victory of “the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”. Putin is the guest of honor. The rehearsal, with 22,000 participants, took place this past weekend in Tian’anmen Square.

On the same day, in Russia's Vladivostok, it’s the start of the Eastern Economic Forum, which discusses everything about Russia’s drive to develop the Arctic and eastern Siberia – the equivalent of the Chinese “Go West” campaign started in the late 1990s. Key Eurasian players will be in the house. Putin addresses the plenary session on September 5.
Top BRICS leaders of China, Russia, Brazil and India, meanwhile, are actively involved in a flurry of phone calls coordinating a collective response to the tariff wars – part of the hybrid war by the Empire of Chaos against BRICS and the Global South.

How Trump is Aiming for a PR Win

Let’s see how Alaska is setting the stage for something much bigger.
The summit was announced following what Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov concisely defined as “a proposal from the American side which we think is quite acceptable.”

This sentence was as far as the Kremlin would comment – in contrast with the non-stop verbal onslaught emanating from Washington. That the Kremlin even considered the American offer means an implicit recognition of what Russia is achieving on the battlefield and in the geoeconomic sphere.

Timing. Why now? Especially after Trump had threatened buyers of Russian oil with tariffs? Essentially, because military intel in selected deep state silos have done the math and finally admitted that the long proxy war in Ukraine is lost.
Moreover, Trump personally wants to get over it so as to concentrate on the next chapters of the Forever Wars – including the one that really matters: against “existential threat” China.

From Moscow’s point of view, conditioned by the successful results of its calibrated war of attrition, the facts on the battlefield spell out the special military operation rollin’ on - and no ceasefire; at best a “humanitarian” pause of a few days. The Americans want a ceasefire of at least a few weeks.

Reconciling both sides’ optics will be a Sisyphean task. Still, Alaska is just the beginning: the next meeting is already in the works to take place in the Russian Federation, according to Ushakov.

Trump’s motives are easily identified: create the perception of the US extracting itself from the mess; some sort of truce; and back to doing business with Russia – especially in the Arctic.

In parallel, assuming any sort of deal, the deep state will never recognize the new Russian regions, even Donetsk and Lugansk; and will seek to re-weaponize Ukraine, “leading from behind”, for a NATO-led war replay further on down the road.

So the US-Russia abyss is mirrored by the domestic American abyss – and most of all the Trump-NATO/EU abyss. The toothless chihuahua European pack, trying to salvage its pitiful Kiev actor, is doing somersaults – complete with possible black swans – to derail the summit even before it happens.

There’s no way Trump can sell any sort of settlement to the rabid NATO/EU pack. But nothing would please him more than to transfer the war – in full – to them. With the benefit that the deep state in this case will not complain – because it will be reaping massive euro profits from the weapons sale racket. End result: a classic Trump PR win.

Exit Ukraine, Enter the Arctic

Ukraine, though, will not be the main theme in Alaska. The ever-perceptive Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov cut to the chase: what really matters is that “the first signs of common sense are appearing in Russia-US relations, which were absent for several years before.”

Ryabkov was quick to also highlight the dangers: the risk of nuclear conflict in the world “is not decreasing”; and Russia sees the risk that “after the expiration of the New START Treaty, nuclear arms control will be completely absent”.

Once again: Alaska is just the beginning of something much bigger – including, finally, a serious discussion about “indivisibility of security” (what Moscow wanted already in December 2021, rebuffed by the autopen administration).

And that brings us to the Arctic – and serious stuff that will certainly be debated in depth at the upcoming Vladivostok forum.

The Arctic holds at least 13% of global undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of undiscovered natural gas. Russia controls at least half of all these reserves. The Empire of Chaos badly wants to be part of the action.

Yet one thing is possible massive US investment in joint Arctic projects with Russia. Something entirely different is the US joining the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – which the Chinese call the Arctic Silk Road. The NSR reduces shipping time between Asia and Europe by up to 50%.

The Russian-Chinese rationale for the NSR – including the expansion of Russia’s unique nuclear icebreaker fleet - is exactly to bypass the Suez Canal and connectivity channels controlled by the US. The key question then is what would it take to swing Moscow to accept a Trump-Putin deal in the Arctic.

So on Ukraine, in principle, Russia has all the cards – as long as the special military operation goes on, now on overdrive. On hybrid war, the tariff chapter, the US ruling classes finally realized they have no cards – because blowback caused by secondary sanctions will badly damage the US. What’s left then is a commercial deal: the Arctic.

It's quite intriguing that even the JPMorgan Center for Geopolitics admitted that the best solution for the Ukraine mess is a Georgia scenario: that would somewhat offset the optics of a total capitulation by the West. Only Ukraine would capitulate: no NATO, no EU, no money, no security guarantees.

Inestimable Prof. Michael Hudson has condensed how Alaska will proceed under two vectors: “Part I is whether the US will acknowledge that the trajectory of the current fighting is for a total Russian victory, on the terms that Putin has been explaining for two years: no NATO membership, no foreign arms supplies, Nuremberg-like trials of the Banderite leaders, and perhaps reparations by Ukraine and NATO for the rebuilding of formerly ‘Ukrainian’ Russia.”

Assuming Trump accepts it, and that’s a major “if”, then comes the real nitty gritty (remember Ryabkov), “starting with whether a new atomic missile and arms treaty will be put in place.”

Russia’s version of peace, writes Prof. Hudson, will flow along these lines: “We don’t want an atomic war with the United States. Let’s agree that if a German or other EU/NATO missile hits Russia, when we retaliate it will only be against Britain, Germany and France, not North America.”

Prof. Hudson is adamant that “America has only one thing to offer other countries: the (temporary) promise NOT to hurt them. There’s nothing positive to offer, given its de-industrialization and the world’s de-dollarization.”

As it stands, and also considering the multiple ramifications of the hybrid war against BRICS, Alaska carries the potential of offering Washington a way out of the debris of a massive strategic defeat.

Any analyst who tried to understand the special military operation from the beginning, in detail, could tell that Russia’s war involved something much bigger than Ukraine. It was always about the burial of the “rules-based international order”, in fact the whole old order architecture. That is happening as we speak in the black soil of Novorossiya. Strategic patience, in the end, does pay.

Fabulous synopsis. Thank you Pepe :highfive:~~~

Pepe discusses all this with Judge Napolitano, published yesterday. :muscle:

Pepe Escobar: A Pre-Alaska Analysis


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eotXhnaECY

[Tintin]

From Simplicius on X (https://x.com/simpatico771/status/1955881208480416124) :muscle:



‼️🇷🇺💥Loud victory: The FSB and the Russian Ministry of Defense destroyed Ukraine's long-range missile production, thwarting Western plans

▪️Data obtained by the FSB allowed the Russian Armed Forces to destroy Ukraine's long-range missile production, which was being developed with the help of one of the Western European countries.

▪️As a result of a joint operation by the FSB and the Russian Ministry of Defense in Ukraine, four enterprises producing "Sapsan" missiles were struck — two in the Dnipropetrovsk region and two in the Sumy region. A backup site of the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant in the Zhytomyr region was also hit.

▪️The destruction of Kyiv's long-range missile production prevented the threat of strikes deep into Russia. The Ukrainian authorities planned these attacks with NATO's permission.

▪️The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that during July, massive and group strikes with precision weapons were carried out against design bureaus, missile fuel production plants, and missile weapon assembly facilities of Ukraine's military-industrial complex. Simultaneously, Western-made air defense systems deployed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend these facilities were destroyed. In the Dnipropetrovsk region alone, four launchers of the Patriot SAM system and a multifunctional AN/MPQ-65 radar system produced in the USA were destroyed.

RVvoenkor

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1955880898047483906/vid/avc1/1280x720/du676VaebeoOy4Jd.mp4

[Bill Ryan]

For those interested in the human factor of what's happening on the ground, this Duran presentation by Stanislav Krapivnik is outstanding and super easy to understand.

:flower:

Military crisis in Ukraine drives negotiations w/ Stanislav Krapivnik


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGf5SGB1mJo

[Bill Ryan]

A possibly much-needed moment of humour here, that made me laugh out loud. (Brits will enjoy this, but it may be lost on everyone else!)

At 41:04 in this excellent interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cawbPZq1yWI) with Patrick Henningsen:
From that point of view, the Trump administration is just basically pretending to do diplomacy and and this that's what Steve Witkoff is. I call him the Del Boy of diplomacy.
He's like, if you're British, you know what that means, but just basically a chancer. somebody who's just kind of showing up in the suit, the meeter and the greeter at the casino, but doesn't run the casino. And he doesn't really have any depth of understanding of anything. He couldn't even name the Donbas regions in an interview with Tucker Carlson. :ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:

[bojancan]

Aug, 13
Rachel Blevins
140K subscribers
Col. Larry Wilkerson: Putin Gives Trump LAST CHANCE for Peace as NUCLEAR WAR Threat at Historic High
vuGF34m0scQ

All eyes are on Alaska, as Presidents Trump and Putin are set to hold an in-person meeting on Friday. But first, Trump joined a video conference with Zelensky, who is in Berlin to meet with his European handlers.

Col. Larry Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of State, noted that Trump’s sole focus on a ceasefire and his claim that he would know “in the first two minutes” of talking with Putin whether a deal could be made, are extremely concerning.
Putin is taking the time to meet in the interest of avoiding a world war, but Trump doesn’t seem all that interested.

-----------


Aug, 13
Danny Haiphong
489K subscribers
Jeffrey Sachs: Putin CORNERS Trump as Russian Surprise Attack Shocks Ukraine | Patrick Henningsen
cawbPZq1yWI

Trump's desperation has exploded in anticipation of his coming meeting with Vladimir Putin as Russia makes huge gains on the battlefield.

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs joins the show to expose the brutal truth behind the spin about this historic event, and why there is much more to Trump's inconsistent and dangerous foreign policy than meets the eye.
Patrick Henningsen joins second half of the show to discuss ALL things geopolitics including Israel, Gaza, and the rising multipolar world.

[Adi]

A possibly much-needed moment of humour here, that made me laugh out loud. (Brits will enjoy this, but it may be lost on everyone else!)

At 41:04 in this excellent interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cawbPZq1yWI) with Patrick Henningsen:
From that point of view, the Trump administration is just basically pretending to do diplomacy and and this that's what Steve Witkoff is. I call him the Del Boy of diplomacy.
He's like, if you're British, you know what that means, but just basically a chancer. somebody who's just kind of showing up in the suit, the meeter and the greeter at the casino, but doesn't run the casino. And he doesn't really have any depth of understanding of anything. He couldn't even name the Donbas regions in an interview with Tucker Carlson. :ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:

I did giggle at this, I must be honest. They are two peas in a pod.

[grapevine]

Zelensky & Rutte FAIL to get invite to ALASKA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBt6J09kxs (30:50)

0:00 - Discussion on the European Ukraine call with Trump and Vance
1:01 - Analysis of the main purpose of the call with Trump
2:50 - Examination of the European demands presented to Trump
5:30 - Commentary on the cynicism of European leaders regarding Ukraine
8:30 - Reflection on Zelensky's response and the state of the war
10:31 - Overview of potential outcomes from the upcoming Alaska meeting
12:58 - Discussion on the misinformation surrounding U.S.-Russia relations
17:10 - Insights on the motivations of European leaders regarding the conflict
19:10 - Speculation on the federalization of Ukraine and historical context
25:30 - Conclusion on the potential for future negotiations between Trump and Putin

[Ravenlocke]

‼️🇺🇦🏴‍☠Forced evacuation of families with children has been announced in Druzhkivka and neighboring settlements near the breach site of the Russian army

(just some cloaked DRG dudes - no breakthrough at all...)

▪️Evacuation will cover the settlements of Andriivka, Varvarivka, Novoandriivka, and Rohanske of the Andriivka community in the "Donetsk region".
▪️The occupation Donetsk Regional Military Administration reports that about 1880 children live in these settlements.

RVvoenkor

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1956062717187363327

1956062717187363327

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🪖🔁🇺🇦🪖 #Russia returned 84 servicemen from the territory of Ukraine, in exchange 84 captured #Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers were handed over, the #Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1955990063461904593

1955990063461904593



From RT,

Russia brings home 84 servicemen from Ukrainian captivity — 84 given in return

Kiev decided to take only two POW's from those who wrote to Zelensky, 998 remain

'They are probably afraid that they were completely converted in Russian captivity' — aide Medinsky

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1955972157848097049

1955972157848097049

[Ravenlocke]

‼️🇷🇺✈️🇺🇸 #Russian journalists are getting ready to go to #Alaska.


https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1955989828446593026

1955989828446593026

From RT,

Russian IL-96 carrying journalists takes off from Moscow

Next stop: Anchorage, Alaska 🇺🇸

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1955993514866602399

1955993514866602399

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺 #Putin is having meetings with his inner circle before the meeting with #Trump.

"In my opinion the US administration is making a sincere and vigorous effort to stop hostilities and stop the crisis."

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1955989439458554045

1955989439458554045

[Ravenlocke]

RT,

Trump says there's a '25% chance' his meeting with Putin will fail — but calls it a setup for a second summit with Zelensky to broker peace in Ukraine

'It’s like a chess game' — he told Fox Radio. Open to 'more Russia sanctions' if talks collapse


https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956004959800971563

1956004959800971563

🇷🇺 Russia’s delegation for tomorrow’s Putin–Trump summit in Alaska:

Lavrov, Ushakov, Belousov, Siluanov & Kirill Dmitriev

Talks start 11:30 a.m local time with a private tête-à-tête

Agenda: Ukraine crisis, peace & security, and future trade ties

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1955954707400184120

1955954707400184120

[Bill Ryan]

Maimunka News

Russia returned 84 servicemen from the territory of Ukraine, in exchange 84 captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers were handed over, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.
https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1955990063461904593
For sure, that's because 84 Russian prisoners of war were all that Ukraine had to exchange. Russia almost certainly had thousands more Ukrainians who had surrendered.

[Ravenlocke]

From TASS,

Russian Direct Investment Fund chief to participate in Russia-US summit in Alaska:
https://vk.cc/cOzzXg

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1955949580224254264

1955949580224254264

https://tass.com/politics/2002197?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Russian Direct Investment Fund chief to participate in Russia-US summit in Alaska

"Kirill Dmitriev will take part in the summit of the leaders of Russia and the US on August 15, Friday, as part of the official delegation," sources said

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Special presidential envoy for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev will take part in the Russia-US summit in Alaska on Friday, August 15 as part of the official delegation, informed sources close to the delegations told TASS.

"Kirill Dmitriev will take part in the summit of the leaders of Russia and the US on August 15, Friday, as part of the official delegation," sources said.

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday, August 7, that Russia and the United States had agreed on a meeting between the leaders of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Putin confirmed that preparations were underway for such a meeting, indicating mutual interest.

This announcement followed a visit by US Presidential Special Representative Steven Witkoff to Moscow on August 6, during which he was received by Putin.

According to the US Department of State, the summit is scheduled to take place in Alaska on August 15. Putin’s last visit to the United States was in 2015.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS,

The Ukrainian side accepted only two Ukrainian prisoners of war from a list of 1,000 people, whom Kiev had previously refused, as part of the exchange, Vladimir Medinsky, presidential aide and head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukraine, said:
https://vk.cc/cOzIqI

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1955969765240897838

1955969765240897838

https://tass.com/politics/2002255?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Kiev accepts only two Ukrainian POWs from list of 1,000 as part of swap — Medinsky

Russia returned 84 servicemen from Ukrainian territory in exchange for 84 Ukrainian prisoners of war

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. The Ukrainian side accepted only two Ukrainian prisoners of war from a list of 1,000 people, whom Kiev had previously refused, as part of the exchange, Vladimir Medinsky, presidential aide and head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukraine, said.

"Another swap. The Russian Defense Ministry: Russia returned 84 servicemen from Ukrainian territory in exchange for 84 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Our guys are home," Medinsky wrote on his Telegram channel. "However, out of the 1,000 prisoners of war who appealed to Zelensky (included in the list published by RT), the Ukrainian side accepted only two people: Alexander Boychuk, born on October 14, 1976, and Vladimir Fedorenko, born on February 16, 1982," the aide emphasized.

"They (the Kiev authorities - TASS) are probably afraid that they were completely re-educated while in Russian captivity," Medinsky noted.

On August 6, the head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukraine reported that Kiev had refused to accept 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange for Russian prisoners, which complicated the second stage of the process. The third stage has not yet begun. On August 12, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Vladimir Zelensky still refuses to accept Ukrainian prisoners of war from the published list of 1,000 names.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS,

Russian troops liberated two settlements in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported:
https://vk.cc/cOzTiL

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1955996156015604052

1955996156015604052

https://tass.com/politics/2002327?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Russian troops liberate two settlements in Ukraine operation over past day

Battlegroup South units liberated the settlement of Shcherbinovka and Battlegroup East units liberated the settlement of Iskra in the Donetsk People’s Republic

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated two settlements in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Battlegroup South units liberated the settlement of Shcherbinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations… Battlegroup East units liberated the settlement of Iskra in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active operations," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,315 troops along engagement line in past day - latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,315 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost roughly 155 troops, two tanks and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, about 225 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and over 265 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 355 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, roughly 230 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and more than 85 troops and seven jamming stations in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 155 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 155 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and an armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, two air assault brigades, a jaeger brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Boyaro-Lezhachi, Korchakovka, Kiyanitsa, Khrapovshchina, Vakalovshchina, Yunakovka, Pershe Travnya, Varachino and Andreyevka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Volchansk, Ambarnoye and Sinelnikovo in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 155 personnel, two tanks, an armored combat vehicle, nine motor vehicles, seven field artillery guns, including two NATO weapons and two electronic warfare stations in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 225 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 225 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of a tank brigade, two mechanized brigades and an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Senkovo, Glushkovka, Novosergeyevka and Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region, Kirovsk and Kolodezi in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 225 personnel, an armored combat vehicle and eight motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed eight electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 265 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 265 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup South units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of five mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Minkovka, Fyodorovka, Vasyukovka, Chervonoye, Nikiforovka, Berestok, Zvanovka, Novodmitrovka and Stepanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 265 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, five motor vehicles and three field artillery guns, including a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two electronic warfare stations of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 355 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 355 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Novonikolayevka, Shevchenko, Dimitrov, Novoaleksandrovka, Krasny Liman, Udachnoye, Rodinskoye and Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost over 355 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, including a Turkish-made Kirpi armored vehicle, eight pickup trucks, five field artillery guns and a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 230 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 230 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Poltavka, Zelyony Gai and Kulturnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, Voronoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and Aleksandrograd in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 230 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, eight motor vehicles and two artillery guns, including a US-made 155mm M198 howitzer in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two electronic warfare stations of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr destroys over 85 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr destroyed more than 85 Ukrainian troops and seven enemy jamming stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian army and three territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Kamenskoye, Chervonaya Krinitsa and Stepovoye in the Zaporozhye Region, Tokarevka, Antonovka and Kamyshany in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

"Over 85 Ukrainian military personnel, 10 motor vehicles, a 155mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery gun, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer, seven electronic warfare stations and an Israeli-made RADA radar station were destroyed," it said.

Russian troops strike Ukrainian UAV storage sites, ammo depots over past day

Russian troops struck Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) storage sites and ammunition depots over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck storage sites of unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots and temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 147 locations," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses down 268 Ukrainian UAVs, four smart bombs over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 268 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and four smart bombs over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down four guided aerial bombs and 268 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 665 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 77,184 unmanned aerial vehicles, 625 surface-to-air missile systems, 24,572 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,585 multiple rocket launchers, 28,500 field artillery guns and mortars and 39,648 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS,

Agenda of Putin-Trump summit, delegation lineups — Kremlin aide offers details:
https://vk.cc/cOzUaO

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1955998202089398564

1955998202089398564

https://tass.com/politics/2002277?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Agenda of Putin-Trump summit, delegation lineups — Kremlin aide offers details

According to Yury Ushakov, the summit will center around the settlement of the Ukraine crisis, but the leaders will discuss other issues as well

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Friday’s meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump will begin at 10:30 p.m. Moscow time (7:30 p.m. GMT), opening with a one-on-one conversation attended only by interpreters, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said at a briefing.

According to him, the summit will center around the settlement of the Ukraine crisis, but the leaders will discuss other issues as well. Ushakov also said that the sides had determined the lineup of their delegations.

TASS has gathered the key statements by the Russian presidential aide.

About preparations for summit

Preparations for the Putin-Trump meeting are in their final stage, with all issues being "intensively resolved." "And, certainly, above all, the political agenda of the summit is being worked out."

The program of the meeting between the two leaders has been agreed. "This meeting, as you all know, will be held in Alaska, in Anchorage, specifically, at a facility at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson."

The talks between Putin and Trump "will be business-like," and the Russian delegation is approaching them "professionally."

About format of talks

The meeting between Putin and Trump will begin at approximately 10:30 p.m. Moscow time on August 15 with a one-on-one conversation between the two leaders. "This conversation will be held in a tete-a-tete format, naturally, with the participation of interpreters."

Talks between delegations will see five people on each side: "Certainly, a group of experts will be somewhere nearby."

Following the meeting, Putin and Trump will give a joint press conference for the media "where they will sum up the results of the talks."

The Kremlin finds it symbolic that the meeting between Putin and Trump will be held not far from the burial site of Soviet pilots in Alaska. "So, the meeting will be held near such a historically important site, reminiscent of combat camaraderie between the people of our countries. And this is particularly symbolic in the year of the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany and militarist Japan."

Following the one-on-one conversation, Putin and Trump will continue the talks "over a working breakfast."

The leaders will make brief statements in the open part of the talks. "It is planned that at the very beginning of the meeting, each president will say a couple of words, as is customary at international talks."

On delegations

The lineup of the Russian delegation has been determined. It includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries Kirill Dmitriev.

The lineup of the US delegation has also been determined but "it will be right to wait for a relevant statement from the American partners."

The Russian delegation will leave Alaska for Russia immediately after the summit’s conclusion. "And, in the event you’re worried as to whether our delegation will return to Russia, yes, I can confirm, obviously, the delegation will return, it will fly out immediately after the conclusion of the negotiations."

What will be discussed

The settlement of the Ukraine crisis will be at the crux of the Putin-Trump summit, but other issues will also be discussed. "Naturally, broader tasks on ensuring peace and security as well as the most pertinent and pressing international and regional issues will be touched upon."

The leaders will also discuss bilateral cooperation in the economic sphere. "I will note that this cooperation has an enormous and, unfortunately, as yet untapped potential.".

[Ravenlocke]

TASS,

US President Donald Trump estimates the probability of success of his upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska at 75%:
https://vk.cc/cOAevr

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1956053317747970488

1956053317747970488

https://tass.com/world/2002459?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Trump estimates probability of success of Alaska meeting with Putin at 75%

The US leader said that, if his talks with Vladimir Putin were successful, he could organize a trilateral meeting with Vladimir Zelensky

NEW YORK, August 14. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump estimates the probability of success of his upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska at 75%.

A Fox News Radio host asked the US head of state to assess the likelihood that he would conclude the meeting was not worthwhile following talks with Putin. Trump said the probability of that happening was 25%. "This meeting sets up like a chess game. This [first] meeting sets up a second meeting, but there is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting," the US leader pointed out.

Trump added that, if his talks with Putin are successful, he could organize a trilateral meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. Three different locations are currently being considered for the meeting, and the possibility of holding the trilateral talks in Alaska has not been ruled out.

On August 8, Trump announced that he was looking forward to meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. The plans for the talks were then confirmed by Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. According to him, the leaders will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. The Kremlin expects the next meeting between Putin and Trump to take place on Russian territory, Ushakov added.

Following a meeting in the Kremlin with the UAE leader on August 7, the Russian president said that he was open to meeting with Zelensky, but that the conditions for such a meeting needed to be created. "Unfortunately, we are still a long way from creating such conditions," he added.

The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized that a lot of preparatory work needs to be done before Putin and Zelensky can meet. Meanwhile, Kiev is insisting on such a meeting without a clear agenda. According to Ushakov, the US mentioned the possibility of a trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump. However, Moscow declined to comment on this possibility and called for a focus on the bilateral summit between Russia and the US.


Preparations for the meeting between Putin and Trump occurred under tight deadlines, yet all parameters were successfully met, according to Peskov.

TASS has compiled the key statements from the Kremlin official regarding the upcoming encounter:
https://vk.cc/cOAhbp

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1956060868426306014

1956060868426306014

https://tass.com/politics/2002439?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Fast preparations, possible results: Kremlin on Putin-Trump meeting

Dmitry Peskov cautioned against making forecasts about the summit’s outcome, emphasizing the unpredictability of the discussions

MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Preparations for the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump occurred under tight deadlines, yet all necessary parameters were successfully met, according to Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He also cautioned against making forecasts about the summit’s outcome, emphasizing the unpredictability of the discussions.

TASS has compiled the key statements from the Kremlin official regarding the upcoming encounter.

Preparations

"Preparations for the Putin-Trump meeting took place within a very short timeframe, but all parameters were met."

Agenda

The leaders are expected to discuss the Ukrainian settlement: "The matter is very complex and multifaceted." Currently, they are examining the Ukraine conflict between Russia and the US, and the Ukrainian side's perspective is considered relevant for subsequent stages of negotiations.

Possible results

Russia and the US do not intend to produce any formal document based solely on the summit's discussions: "However, given that there will be a joint news conference, the president will outline the range of agreements and understandings that can be achieved." Peskov cautioned against attempting to predict the summit's outcome, calling such efforts "a big mistake": "Let's see how the conversation unfolds."

Witkoff's visit to Russia

US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow and his discussions with President Vladimir Putin on August 6 were deemed productive: "We exchanged signals, which facilitated the organization of a high-level meeting."

Visas for Russian journalists

The Kremlin official attributed difficulties in obtaining US visas for Russian journalists to what he described as America’s "loss of the knack" for issuing them. Peskov stated, "It was the Americans who, three and a half years ago, initiated the idea of curtailing all processes related to bilateral relations, including consular services."

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,

Upcoming Putin-Trump summit LESSENS chance of WW3 — Hungary's FM

Szijjártó says always better when MAJOR POWERS talk

And Biden, Europe ‘irresponsible' for refusing to speak with Putin

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956044660658389066

1956044660658389066

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,
(Video shows about five buses parked to load journalists as motorcade drives by.)


Advance team and journalists already bound for Alaska


NOW a high-speed motorcade rushes through Moscow

Spot the stretched Aurus in the middle…

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956036667837395356

1956036667837395356

[Ravenlocke]

From Sputnik,

1️⃣ HISTORIC PUTIN-TRUMP SUMMIT

The two leaders will meet at Elmendorf-Richardson Base in Anchorage at 11:30am local time.

▪️Private talks first
▪️Ukraine crisis central focus
▪️Five-strong delegations join later
▪️Press conference to reveal outcomes

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956067209798934756

1956067209798934756

🇷🇺✈️🇺🇸A stone's throw away: Russian Delegation arrives in Alaska as summit nears

Part of the Russian delegation has landed in Anchorage, Alaska, on an IL-96 airliner for the upcoming Putin-Trump meeting on August 15.

But did you know? Russia and the US are practically neighbors!

👉 At their closest point, Russia and the USA are just 3.8km (about 2 miles) apart across the Bering Strait!

👉 The islands of Big Diomede (Russia) and Little Diomede (USA) stare at each other across the icy waters

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956052811675849060

1956052811675849060

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Putin-Trump Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the Far East ahead of traveling to Anchorage for his August 15 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

Peskov described the meeting as a high-level bilateral dialogue focused on “the most difficult issues,” including Ukraine, while stressing that Kyiv’s position will be considered only in later stages. He said both leaders share a “mutual political will” to resolve disputes through diplomacy — a quality he called rare in today’s world.

He praised Trump’s “unprecedentedly unusual approach” to tackling complex problems, which is “highly appreciated by Moscow and by President Putin personally,” adding that Trump “appears sincere” in wanting to help settle the conflict in Ukraine.

No formal agreements are expected, with any understandings to be outlined at a joint press conference. Peskov warned against premature predictions and said European leaders are unlikely to mount an adequate response to the summit’s outcomes.

Preparations were completed on a tight schedule, with all parameters met. Peskov called the recent Moscow visit by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff “productive and substantive,” paving the way for the talks. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said a successful summit could reset U.S.—Russia relations.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956068951898906736

1956068951898906736

[Ravenlocke]

From Kirill A. Dmitriev

✈️ Heading to Alaska soon. Honored to join the Russian official delegation at the Putin–Trump summit on August 15. 🕊️

Dialogue will prevail! 🇷🇺🤝🇺🇸

https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1955921796365975776

1955921796365975776


Talked to Bret Baier of Fox about restoring US Russia relations and avoiding WWIII

https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1907946988534116426

1907946988534116426

[Ravenlocke]

Kirill A. Dmitriev

Diocese of Alaska Announces Week of Prayer Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit “to guide these talks with mercy, to calm enmity, and to end the shedding of blood.” 🕊️

The diocese emphasized that praying for leaders is “a spiritual duty, not a political act.”

https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1955473366720344291

1955473366720344291

https://orthochristian.com/171850.html

DIOCESE OF ALASKA ANNOUNCES WEEK OF PRAYER AHEAD OF TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT

Anchorage, Alaska, August 12, 2025


The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Sitka and Alaska has announced a week of special prayer services leading up to the planned meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15.

His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska issued a pastoral letter on August 9 calling for the diocese’s clergy, monastics, and faithful to participate in what he termed a “three-day ascent of intercession” from August 12-14, culminating in a day of prayer on August 15 when the leaders are scheduled to discuss potential paths toward peace in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

“In this hour we ask our Lord Jesus Christ to guide these talks with mercy, to calm enmity, and to end the shedding of blood,” Bp. Alexei stated in the official communiqué. “That they occur in Alaska is meaningful to us: this land has long been a bridge between Russia and America, first formed spiritually by the Orthodox faith planted here by Saint Herman, Saint Innokenty, and Saint Yakov (Netsvetov), a faith kept by Alaska Native peoples to this day.”

The diocese has organized services at churches throughout Alaska, with special observances at three significant religious sites:

On Tuesday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m., churches will hold a Moleben for Peace with an Akathist to St. Olga of Kwethluk, with special services before her relics in Kwethluk. St. Olga, known as the “Matushka of All Alaska,” is venerated as a healer and reconciler.

Wednesday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. will feature a Moleben for Peace with an Akathist to St. Herman of Alaska, including special services at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak before his relics. St. Herman, who came from Valaam Monastery to Alaska in the 18th century, is remembered for defending indigenous peoples and promoting unity.

Thursday, August 14 at 6:00 p.m. will see a Moleben for Peace with an Akathist to the Sitka Icon of the Mother of God, with special services at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka before the historic icon, which the diocese describes as “a historic bond between Russian piety and Alaskan faith.”

On Friday, August 15, the day of the summit, the diocese has declared a general day of prayer for peace. Churches will remain open for quiet prayer where feasible, and bells will ring at noon to gather the faithful. Those unable to attend services are encouraged to pray the Akathist to the Theotokos of the Jesus Prayer at home.

The diocese emphasized that from an Orthodox perspective, praying for leaders is “a spiritual duty, not a political act,” citing scriptural calls to pray for those in authority. “Although the war is far away, the Church understands suffering anywhere to touch us all. When leaders are present in Alaska, they are our guests, and Christian hospitality includes intercession for wisdom, restraint, and just decisions,” the official statement noted.

Bp. Alexei’s pastoral letter specifically called for prayers for “the protection of the innocent, the return of captives, and the comfort of the grieving and afflicted” in both Ukraine and Russia, acknowledging the “immeasurable sorrow borne by Ukrainian and Russian faithful alike.”

The molebens are open to all members of the public.

For more information about the prayer services, the diocese can be contacted at 907-677-0224 or commsecretary@odosa.org.

[Ravenlocke]

From Maimunka News,

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russian President #Putin arrived in Magadan, far-east #Russia, overnight in preparation for his flight to #Alaska.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1956059131971842282

1956059131971842282

[Ravenlocke]

https://x.com/Hawkeye1745/status/1956085626043777136

1956085626043777136

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇰🇵 Vyacheslav Volodin, on behalf of the President of Russia, congratulated the leadership and people of Korea on the 80th anniversary of Liberation

A ceremonial meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule was held in Pyongyang.
Chairman of the State Affairs Committee of the DPRK Kim Jong-un addressed the audience.

On behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin congratulated the leadership and people of Korea by reading out the text of the message:
80 years ago, units of the Red Army and detachments of Korean patriots inflicted a crushing defeat on the Kwantung Army and put an end to Japanese colonial rule in Korea.

It is important that the bonds of military brotherhood, friendship and mutual assistance forged in those distant war years remain strong and reliable today. This was fully confirmed by the heroic participation of Korean servicemen in the liberation of the territories of the Kursk region from the Ukrainian invaders. The Russian people will forever preserve the memory of their courage and dedication.

I am confident that the consistent implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty concluded last year in Pyongyang will contribute to further strengthening mutually beneficial Russian-Korean cooperation in all areas. By acting together, Russia and the DPRK will be able to continue to effectively protect their sovereignty and make a significant contribution to building a fair multipolar world order.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956109975320977428

1956109975320977428

🇰🇵🇷🇺 Another Russian Visit to DPRK!

Russia’s State Duma Speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, one of Putin’s closest allies, is heading to Pyongyang on August 14–15 for an official visit.

He’ll lead a delegation to North Korea’s capital to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the country’s liberation from Japanese rule.

This happens just as Moscow’s new air route to Pyongyang takes off.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1955737765687255303

1955737765687255303

[bojancan]

This video is very interesting... was 1 hour ago...



Aug, 14
Rachel Blevins
140K subscribers
'IT'S A TRAP' US Panics Over Russian BREAKTHROUGH, Begs for Ceasefire to Save Kiev –Mark Sleboda
g1y_i9_JPhc

Trump went from claiming that there would be “severe consequences” if Putin didn’t agree to a deal at their summit in Alaska on Friday, to saying, “This meeting sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting.”

International Relations and Security Analyst Mark Sleboda noted that Russia would be foolish to agree to a ceasefire deal presented by the U.S. because we have yet to see any evidence that NATO is done with its proxy war against Russia, and an agreement between Moscow and Washington would end up being another Minsk-style deal, where Russia agreed to halt progress, just as the Kiev regime’s forces are crumbling on the battlefield.

[bojancan]

Regarding Lavrov... always loved his diplomacy and his witt... he is actually more epic than Putin... he is a living legend...

Aug, 15
Alex Christoforou
239K subscribers
Alaska High Stakes. Lavrov, Russia is prepared. China sanctions Lithuania. Zelensky runs to Starmer
-MVVxQ6cfW8

0:00 - Introduction and context from Oroini, Cyprus
1:42 - Discussion on the significance of the holiday in Cyprus
1:57 - Overview of the Alaska summit and key attendees
5:50 - Analysis of the composition of delegations and implications for discussions
9:38 - Putin's confidence in U.S. efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict
10:12 - Trump’s assessment of the summit's potential success
13:26 - Ukraine's military actions prior to the summit and their implications
17:01 - Foreign minister’s comments on regime change in Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia
19:13 - China's sanctions against Lithuania in response to EU actions
22:21 - Tulsi Gabbard's investigation into the Russia gate narrative
24:02 - Commentary on Zelensky's visit to London and its implications
28:32 - Melania Trump suing Hunter Biden for defamation
29:31 - Conclusion and wrap-up of the video update

[Ravenlocke]

L E G E N D!!!

Lavrov flew to the USA wearing a sweatshirt with the inscription "USSR"

“CCCP”

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956258595110101340

1956258595110101340


Lavrov,
“The West likes to speculate and sell it as “facts,” but here it’s simpler: Russia comes with open cards, not a cheat’s deck.”

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956240747310543174

1956240747310543174


Pepe Escobar,

Grandmasta Lavrov lands in Alaska in a white CCCP sweatshirt.

Dream Team already throwing howlers out of the park.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1956277412070592547

1956277412070592547

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russian journalists from the Kremlin press pool, arriving in Alaska, were housed in a stadium converted into a temporary accommodation center, with single bunks separated by curtains.

The hosts claimed there was not enough hotel space in Alaska to accommodate such a large group.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956274616747389345

1956274616747389345

Maimunka News,

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 Another video from the “American Experience” accommodation for #Russian journalists in #Anchorage.

They report slow, unreliable internet, scarce power outlets forcing them to rely on power banks, and absurd translations — a light switch labeled “fire,” for example. Overall, it looks like the Americans wanted to give them a real taste of “tent city” life, U.S.-style. #Alaska

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1956328893968789553

1956328893968789553

[Ravenlocke]

Diana Panchenko 🇺🇦

Ukrainians protesting in Alaska.
Any one of them could head to Ukraine and fight. But they prefer to chill on the backs of American taxpayers, expecting someone else to do the fighting for them. To them, the war's just a show. Real Ukrainians in Ukraine want peace NOW. We crossed fingers the summit brings lasting peace.

https://x.com/Panchenko_X/status/1956234545612644496

1956234545612644496

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,
Russian reporter in Alaska comments on EMBARRASING conditions journalists made to lodge in

'You must charge from your own powerbanks'

Even ubiquitous signs hastily Google translated — 'The funniest thing that amused us is how they translated Russian

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956348781848416748

1956348781848416748


Both Washington, Moscow want 'concrete results' out of historic Alaska meeting, says RT's Egor Piskunov reporting from Anchorage, Alaska

'In my view, US making sincere efforts to halt hostilities' — Putin

'Goal is to establish long term conditions for peace'

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956353859300753622

1956353859300753622

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,


❗️ Putin’s plane to land in Anchorage at 11:00 local (22:00 Moscow) — Kremlin Spox Peskov

Confirms that Trump will personally greet the Russian President at the aircraft
https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956354869008224765

1956354869008224765

[Ravenlocke]

🇧🇾🇺🇸 Our conversation was very good — Trump

"We discussed many topics, including President Putin's visit to Alaska. We are also discussing the release of 1300 prisoners," the US leader said.

Trump emphasized that he looks forward to meeting President Lukashenko in the future.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956357396470923716

1956357396470923716

[Ravenlocke]

Margarita Simonyan

After being assigned for the night to what appeared to be a disaster evacuation zone, Russian journalists were treated to breakfast of tuna mayo left out overnight, some chips, and an unlimited supply of water (from a drinking fountain).

The sacrifices of last-minute diplomacy.

https://x.com/M_Simonyan/status/1956360334010098158

1956360334010098158

[Ravenlocke]

From RT

Head of NATO's Joint Armed Forces in Europe, USAF Gen. Alexus Grynkewich is also in Alaska - CNN

Will ‘provide military advice’ to Trump & Pentagon Chief in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956379621957783638

1956379621957783638

[Ravenlocke]

RT,

Ukraine ramps up terror strikes on Russian border regions ahead of Alaska talks — Special Ambassador Miroshnik

52 civilians hit by Ukrainian drones in 24h, 4 killed, incl. 3 children among the wounded

Deliberate hits on civilians in Belgorod, Rostov, and Kursk

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956381493434962424

1956381493434962424

[Ravenlocke]

⚡️🇷🇺 Putin's Tu-214 has entered US airspace

This follows from data from the FlightRadar24 service.

▪️More than 70 thousand people are watching the flight.

The plane is heading to Anchorage, where a historic meeting between the heads of Russia and the USA will take place today.

-Ostashko

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956393729628971053

1956393729628971053

[Ravenlocke]

“Undoubtedly an important meeting for the entire world.”

Russia’s Presidential Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Anchorage and gave his first comments regarding the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska.

“It is important that the dialogue continues; we hope for a constructive discussion. There is a lot of disinformation about Russia, and undoubtedly there is an important opportunity to clearly convey Russia’s position to the American side,” Dmitriev said.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956191843768787213

1956191843768787213


The Kremlin press pool, sent to cover the Putin-Trump summit, was housed at the Alaska Airlines Center

(@AKAirCenter).

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956190911026880531

1956190911026880531

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺✈️🇺🇸 Video of Putin’s plane landing in Elmendorf Air Base, Alaska.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956415315627389006

1956415315627389006


🇷🇺✈️🇺🇸 Over 380,000 people on Flightradar24 tracked Putin’s plane landing in Alaska.


https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956412810289922342

1956412810289922342

[Ravenlocke]

RT,

RED CARPET rolled out for Putin in Alaska

‘ALASKA 2025’ on display

Fighter JETS stationed nearby as he will SOON meet Trump in Anchorage

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956415453192147310

1956415453192147310

[Ravenlocke]

Olga Bazova
About that 🇺🇦 stan gathering of people, who more than likely can't even point Ukraine on the map in Anchorage.

You can tell this is a rent-a-crowd because of upsidedown Ukrainian flags. This is extremely offensive to any real Ukrainian

https://x.com/jaccocharite/status/1956339195854626967

1956339195854626967

[Ravenlocke]

❗️ Russian reporter Zarubin says that the plane that just touched down in Anchorage is NOT Putin's plane

Half a million people online watched it land with anticipation

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956418117363495092

1956418117363495092

[Ravenlocke]

The Russian delegation is already looking for bears to ride in Alaska

https://x.com/simpatico771/status/1956402237363622011

1956402237363622011

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, will not attend the Putin meeting.

The Russian side views Kellogg as sympathetic to Ukraine, which a senior US administration official said could have made his participation “counterproductive.”

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956397250420371945

1956397250420371945


🇺🇸 I think the meeting with Putin will go great.
https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956397552972276172

1956397552972276172

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Trump on Air Force One:

"I think it's going to work out really well, and if it doesn't, I'm going to head back home real fast." -"If it doesn't, you'll walk?" -"I would walk, yeah."

But he wouldn't run.


https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956398882289602696

1956398882289602696

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸 American servicemen are rolling up the red carpet and the welcome arrangement, moving them to another location

Apparently, this is done for security reasons to avoid showing the actual meeting place before the Russian Federation president's plane lands.
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956421108925690125

1956421108925690125


‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸The meeting between Putin and Trump will be in a "3 on 3" format, not "1 on 1", with the participation of ministers, - White House
▪️Rubio, the head of the State Department, and special envoy Whitkoff will join Trump.
▪️The US president's plane has already landed in Anchorage.
❗️Putin is still not in Alaska, - Kremlin pool journalists clarify.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956425459912085978

1956425459912085978


‘We expected the Trump-Putin meeting to be one-on-one, as it was in Helsinki in 2018, with translators. However, we now learn from press secretary Caroline Levitt that Donald Trump will be accompanied by two more: Marco Rubio and Steve Whitkoff’, — Sky News.


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956426420277657822

1956426420277657822

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 Kirill Dmitriev has posted an image of the meeting hall at Joint Base Elmendorf where the meeting between President Trump and President Putin is set to take place.

The slogan of the meeting is "Pursuing Peace - Alaska 2025."

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956425964709380329

1956425964709380329

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The presidential Aurus has appeared at the Elmendorf military base in Anchorage.

🐻 Almost 400.000 were following that Aurus on Flight Radar

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956427747104030939

1956427747104030939

[Ravenlocke]

RT,
BREAKING: Putin TOUCHES DOWN in Alaska to meet Trump — TASS

First time in the US since 2015

First face-off with Trump in 6 years — stakes couldn’t be higher

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956429749250843006

1956429749250843006

[Ravenlocke]

RT,

❗️Russian President Vladimir Putin OFFICIALLY in Alaska

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956431755885613555

1956431755885613555

[Ravenlocke]

From Sputnik,

📹 WATCH LIVE: Putin and Trump meet in Alaska

The Russian and US presidents will discuss the Ukraine crisis, economic cooperation, and global security at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

Join Sputnik’s LIVE STREAM

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956430832194768907

1956430832194768907


Above video, President Putin disembarking off the plane, and President Trump greets President Putin on the red carpet near President Putin’s plane and both then start walking.

[ExomatrixTV]

"Putin just scored THE BIGGEST Russian victory of the war" Col. Daniel Davis | Redacted:

68c-88hTKnI
Col. Daniel Davis says Ukraine under Zelensky's leadership just made the biggest mistake of the war by its latest move towards Russia's border. This is all happening as Russia just scored its biggest victory in two years. What will happen at the peace summit in Alaska?

[Ravenlocke]

If you cannot see Sputnik video,

From DD Geo,

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956433623474675746

1956433623474675746


https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956433684439113963

1956433684439113963

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The first joint photo of the presidents of the USA and Russia!!!

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956435268854321329

1956435268854321329


🇷🇺🇺🇸 Putin and Trump got into the U.S. president’s car, spoke there for a couple of minutes, and then left Elmendorf Air Base.

This is pretty unprecedented.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956435782824337595

1956435782824337595

Caption this.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956434868214378610

1956434868214378610

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The first joint photo of the presidents of the USA and Russia!!!

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956435268854321329

1956435268854321329

[Ravenlocke]

"I can't hear you"

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1956439039529095239

1956439039529095239

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺 Putin reacts to insane western journalists screaming questions at him. 🤣

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956444377125200048

1956444377125200048

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Meeting has begun.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956439166251933993

1956439166251933993

[Ravenlocke]

From 🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉

How Putin and Trump reacted to provocative shouts from certain Western journalists, who were later removed from the room. How Putin and Trump reacted to provocative shouts from certain Western journalists, who were later removed from the room.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956444622936473821

1956444622936473821

Putin and Trump’s talks began in a “three-on-three” format, under a backdrop reading “Pursuing Peace.” Sitting to the left of Putin were Ushakov, Lavrov, and an interpreter, while Rubio, Witkoff, and another interpreter sat to the right of Trump. At the start of the talks, both leaders refrained from making statements to the press and did not answer media questions.

Putin helped Trump calm the press’s nerves. Journalists asked about Ukraine and several other topics, but the presidents reserved their answers for the press conference. Little Marco fidgets.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956442959995682982

1956442959995682982

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics,

The only reason we did not arrest "this criminal," whose arrest was authorized by the ICC, is that we do not recognize the ICC — NBC discusses the President of Russia

Yeah because you created it to persecute people who don't cave to your demands.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956451206219649254

1956451206219649254

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Seating chart and menu for today's meeting.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956452867856126239

1956452867856126239

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics,

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Trump is in for a history lesson. Putin brought a lot of papers.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956446527137997043

1956446527137997043

[Ravenlocke]

Journalists gathered in the press center awaiting the start of the speeches by Putin and Trump in Anchorage, it was previously reported that the talks could last at least 6-7 hours

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956456304115081377

1956456304115081377

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸"This marks the end of Putin's isolation from the West in the most impressive way": Sky News shares impressions of the meeting between the two presidents

➖"This is exactly the moment Vladimir Putin has been craving. He was received on American soil as an equal for a meeting of great powers. The red carpet, the handshake, the flyover – only North Korea could have arranged such a welcome for someone accused of war crimes.
❗️This marks the end of his isolation from the West in the most impressive way. Instead of sanctions, Donald Trump awarded the Russian president something equivalent to a state visit," – Sky News special correspondent in Alaska, Ivor Bennett, shares his first impressions of the meeting between the two presidents.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956456609556603349

1956456609556603349

[Ravenlocke]

"Chaos and almost fights for a spot": Pavel Zarubin showed what the process of working with the press looks like in American Alaska

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956458445235794149

1956458445235794149

[Ravenlocke]

Putin approached Trump in his "I am the head of the universe" style — former US ambassador to Poland

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956458840964358371

1956458840964358371

From Zlatti71,
👋"Trump and Putin greeted each other like old friends; to say the reception was warm would be an understatement," writes Reuters.

Western media continue to assess the meeting of the presidents of Russia and the USA. Here is what else they write:

CNN

"So far, the body language at the summit on Friday has been far from cold... Smiling Vladimir Putin peeked out of the window of President Donald Trump's armored limousine as they passed a row of cameras at the runway in Alaska."

The New York Times

The publication's journalists noted that Trump and Putin did not have translators during the meeting at the airport — the Russian president speaks English well. Seeing the leaders of two superpowers in one limousine is extremely unusual.

Wall Street Journal

"High stakes and a rare opportunity to reach an agreement... The negotiations could be the most significant step toward peace in recent years."

The Telegraph

"In Anchorage, for the first time in many years, the leaders of the two countries have a real chance to change the trajectory of the conflict."

O Globo

"The first minutes of the meeting show that the parties are set for an honest and long conversation."
- ZN

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956458910619140395

1956458910619140395


DD Geopolitics,

🇬🇧 "Putin is a master of manipulation." - Sky News is on Hardcore Reeeeeeee!!! mode


https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956458566317167043

1956458566317167043

[Ravenlocke]

RT,


Russian Foreign Ministry spox Zakharova on Western media’s MELTDOWN over Putin–Trump meeting

‘Can be called obsession, bordering on complete madness’

‘For 3 years, they talked about Russia's isolation’

‘Today they saw the red carpet rolled out to welcome Russian Prez in USA’


Sky news,
Putin will ‘use his KGB-trained powers of deception and SEDUCTION’ on Trump

British journalists learned everything they know about Putin from Red Alert 2

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956462278309765162

1956462278309765162

[Ravenlocke]

🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉

Oleg Tsaryov: There is no doubt that these images are the main reason why Putin and Trump met in Alaska. I am confident that the key parameters of the agreements currently being finalized behind closed doors were discussed multiple times by Putin and Trump’s teams before the summit.

Moreover, if everything had not been agreed upon in advance, if no consensus had been reached, the meeting would not have taken place.

The meeting is the final stage of negotiations. The meeting is for show. The main work is done beforehand. And what a great show it turns out to be! You have to agree!

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956455519297868075

1956455519297868075

[Ravenlocke]

Intel Slava

🇺🇸🇷🇺In Alaska, preparations are underway for the press conference of Putin and Trump. The final briefing of Putin and Trump is not expected soon. The press is not even allowed to take their seats yet.

https://x.com/Intel_Slava/status/1956465176330564025

1956465176330564025

[Ravenlocke]

From RT

⚡️ Putin-Trump 3-on-3 talks have JUST ENDED

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956480211035529516

1956480211035529516

[Ravenlocke]

RT,

FIRST reactions from the Russian delegation as Putin–Trump talks END

Defense Minister Belousov in a ‘GREAT MOOD’

Finance Minister Siluanov: we’ll know everything ‘later’

Sputnik footage

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1956485637085032563

1956485637085032563

DD Geopolitics,

🇺🇸🇷🇺 "Excellent." - Andrey Belousov, Russian Defense Minister, when asked about the Trump-Putin talks.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956484397768773858

1956484397768773858

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics,

🇷🇺🇺🇸 In an interview with Rossiya 1 journalist Pavel Zarubin following the Russia–U.S. talks, Dmitriev said: “We’ll hear everything and find out soon.”

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956485871076778284

1956485871076778284

¤=[Post Update]=¤

DD Geopolitics,

🇺🇸🇷🇺 US President Donald Trump and Putin will BOTH be taking part in the joint press conference, per reports
"A lot sooner...than we thought...this seems like they're doing this a little quicker."

🇪🇺 Trump is reportedly on the phone with European leaders right now.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956484805635588341

1956484805635588341

[Ravenlocke]

From RussiaNews,

🚨⚡️ The Kremlin reports that the Russia–U.S. presidential press conference will begin shortly

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1956485739857973582

1956485739857973582

🚨⚡️ FIRST reactions from the Russian delegation as Putin–Trump talks wrap up:

Defense Minister Belousov in a "GREAT MOOD" 😎

Finance Minister Siluanov: "we’ll know everything… later."

Russia playing it calm, collected, and always one step ahead.

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1956487056869450091

1956487056869450091

[Ravenlocke]

From RussiaNews, the Kremlin ru video of

🚨⚡️ Putin-Trump 3-on-3 talks ended 20 minutes ago.

The restricted, high-level discussions have officially concluded.

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1956488848579723368

1956488848579723368



RussiaNews,

🚨⚡️ BREAKING:

The press conference has begun - Trump and Putin have taken the stage.

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1956490342007751134

1956490342007751134

[Ravenlocke]

RussiaNews,

🚨⚡️ President Vladimir Putin:

- "Russia and the USA are close neighbors, despite being separated by an ocean,"

- "A significant part of the shared history of Russia and the USA is connected with Alaska,"

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1956491285705216091

1956491285705216091

[Ravenlocke]

From Zlatti71,
Several important clips of Putin’s speech with English subtitles,

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956492809764065735

1956492809764065735

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956493720750116933

1956493720750116933


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956493827558256749

1956493827558256749



Main points from Putin's statements in Alaska:

▪️ Putin called his talks with Trump constructive and useful;

▪️ Putin said it was logical to hold the summit in Alaska since Russia and the USA are neighbors;

▪️ The Russian president said that when meeting Trump in Alaska, he greeted him as a neighbor;

▪️ Russia is grateful to the USA for the respectful treatment of the memory of Soviet soldiers buried in Alaska, Putin noted;

▪️ Relations between Russia and the USA have fallen "to the lowest point since the Cold War" in recent years, but Putin said he has established very good direct contacts with Trump;

▪️ The situation around Ukraine became one of the central issues of the summit in Alaska, the Russian leader said;

▪️ Russia is interested in ending the Ukrainian crisis and is ready to work on Ukraine's security, Putin said;

▪️ Putin hopes that the understandings reached with Trump will open the way to peace in Ukraine;

▪️ The president expects that neither Kyiv nor Europe will obstruct the progress made in the settlement;

▪️ Bilateral trade between Russia and the USA has increased under Trump, and Russia and the USA have things to offer each other in various fields from technology to the Arctic, Putin said;

▪️ The Russian president thanked his American counterpart for the confidential tone of the conversation;

▪️ Putin hopes that the agreements in Alaska will become a cornerstone for resolving the Ukrainian problem and restoring Russia-USA relations.

▪️ The president expressed confidence that the war in Ukraine would not have happened if Trump had been the US president at that time;

▪️ According to Putin, the sooner the conflict in Ukraine is resolved, the better.

Photo: Alexander Kazakov/Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation/TASS, Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

✔ Subscribe to TASS / World

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956494501939220793

1956494501939220793

[Ravenlocke]

From Sputnik,

🚨🚨BREAKING: 🇷🇺🇺🇸Putin just invited Trump to Moscow for next meeting

Trump says that sounds very interesting, jokes he’ll catch some ‘heat’ for accepting the invitation

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956495193265385900

1956495193265385900

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics,

🇺🇸🇷🇺 "President I will like to thank you very much. I'll speak to you very soon. And probably see you again very soon. Thank you very much Vladimir." - President Trump.

"Next time in Moscow." - President Putin, in English.

"Ooo, that's an interesting one. I'll get a little heat for that one. But I can see it possibly happening. Thank you." - President Trump.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956494925492826383

1956494925492826383

[Ravenlocke]

From DD Geopolitics,

🇺🇸🇷🇺 BREAKING: The joint Trump-Putin lunch has been cancelled. The President will return to the White House immediately.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956496424163852562

1956496424163852562

[gini]

'Russia Just DESTROYED the Neocons: The Secrete Deal Of Washington & Moscow To Pursue Peace.' BvbhvZMt4KA. neutralitystudies-16/8/25--28 min

[Bill Ryan]

A detailed analysis from The Duran, outstanding as always. (And a fun video title. I wonder if Trump will go to Moscow?)

"Next time in Moscow." Alaska Summit


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfHm0e-kqY

[rgray222]

Putin says Russia-Ukraine war wouldn't have happened if Trump was US President in 2022 instead of Biden

https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/ef5cb04d52546f7478700c68117cd98a?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=576&cropW=1024&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=485

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (August 15, 2025) said that the Ukraine war would have never happened if Donald Trump had been the US President instead of Joe Biden in early 2022. Putin’s remark, which came during a joint press conference following talks with Trump, echoed a claim Trump has made several times, blaming his predecessor, Biden, for the war.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/putin-says-russia-ukraine-war-wouldnt-have-happened-if-trump-was-us-president-in-2022-instead-of-biden/articleshow/123328272.cms

[ExomatrixTV]

A detailed analysis from The Duran, outstanding as always. (And a fun video title. I wonder if Trump will go to Moscow?)

"Next time in Moscow." Alaska Summit


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfHm0e-kqY
:bump:

1956721792363700466
source (https://x.com/JohnKuhles1966/status/1956721792363700466)

[bojancan]

Pepe was having talk with Danny.. and gave his analyses ... LIVE with Danny Haiphong... Danny is still talking with Mark Sleboda, I also like a lot... Interesting!!!
And very much interesting for me yesterday was.. all sides ... they didn't even eat their lunch there... ja... interesting!

Pepe Escobar: Putin’s Summit BOMBSHELL — NO Trump DEAL, Ukraine DONE | Mark Sleboda JOINS
Tlk_LlxeR_U

No one expected what happened at the Putin-Trump Summit in Alaska and everything is about to change. Pepe Escobar breaks down the shocking results of the summit and how its will impact the geopolitical situation in Ukraine and beyond forever. Mark Sleboda joins later with his take on the historic comment in US-Russia relations.

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 Russian President Putin has begun addressing the nation following his cabinet meeting at the Kremlin.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956745340771594602

1956745340771594602

[Ravenlocke]

From Pepe Escobar,

On RT earlier today, talkin' 'bout Alaska and beyond. Enjoy.

drive.google.com/file/d/1UwdmNt8g94OiJ6Y5XygvZbIBrTIvWUfF/view

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1956715487091454357

1956715487091454357

Also on Sputnik,

🚨 Putin-Trump summit went much better than expected — Pepe Escobar

There are few details about what exactly was discussed in the meeting, but Russian officials have made it clear that they’re pleased with how it went.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956500683991216288

1956500683991216288

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 Russian President Putin has begun addressing the nation following his cabinet meeting at the Kremlin.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956745340771594602

1956745340771594602

From Sputnik,

🚨HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPEECH:

🔶 Visit to Alaska was timely and very useful

🔶 He had opportunity to calmly and thoroughly outline Russia's position in Alaska

🔶 Russia wants to see fighting in Ukraine end

🔶 Russia would like to move to resolving all issues by peaceful means

🔶 Addressing the root causes of the Ukraine crisis should be foundation of the settlement

🔶 Conversation in Alaska brings necessary decision closer

🔶 Russia respects the Trump administration's position on need for early cessation of hostilities in Ukraine

🔶 Russia discussed almost all areas of cooperation during the talks with Trump in Alaska

🔶Conversation with Trump was frank and informative

🚨 Putin holds a meeting in the Kremlin following Russian-American talks in Alaska

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1956740700789260592

1956740700789260592

[Ravenlocke]

🇪🇺🇺🇦 EU and NATO leaders issued a joint statement after a phone call with Trump:

They stressed that Ukraine must receive firm security guarantees to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. No restrictions should be placed on its armed forces or cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot hold a veto over Ukraine’s path toward the EU or NATO.

All decisions on its territory will be made by Ukraine itself. Borders cannot be changed by force. Support for Ukraine will continue, with a pledge to do more to strengthen it in order to end the war and achieve a “just and lasting peace.”

As long as "bloodshed continues in Ukraine, they will maintain pressure on Russia." Sanctions and other economic measures will be expanded to target Russia’s military economy until a “just and lasting peace” is reached.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956662334727897451

1956662334727897451

[Ravenlocke]

‼️🇺🇸🇷🇺 #Trump says he disagreed with #Putin on one major issue but wouldn’t say what it was

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1956588987700691078

1956588987700691078

[Ravenlocke]

Medvedev:

Meeting in Alaska
First Results

1. A full mechanism for meetings between Russia and the US at the highest level has been restored. Calm, without ultimatums or threats.

2. The President of Russia personally and in detail presented to the US President our conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine.

3. Following an almost three-hour conversation, the head of the White House refrained from escalating pressure on Russia — at least for now.

4. Importantly: the meeting proved that negotiations are possible without preconditions and simultaneously with the continuation of the special military operation.

5. Most importantly: both sides directly placed responsibility for achieving future results in negotiations on ending hostilities on Kyiv and Europe.

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1956623904601997769

1956623904601997769

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦 Trump said his meeting with Putin and calls with Zelensky and European leaders “went very well.” All sides agreed the war must be ended by a real peace agreement, not a fragile ceasefire. Zelensky will visit Washington on Monday, after which a meeting with Putin may be scheduled.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956640471196799305

1956640471196799305

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 The Russian Armed Forces have completed the liberation of Voronoye in Dnepropetrovsk region and Kolodezi in the DPR, the Ministry of Defense reported.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956650964670087223

1956650964670087223

[Ravenlocke]

Lavrov's USSR shirt, created by the Russian SelSovet brand, immediately sold out. Now you have to wait for up to two months to order it! 🤣

https://x.com/NinaByzantina/status/1956665145633251661

1956665145633251661

[Bill Ryan]

A whole bunch of post-Summit news updates, as reported by RT:

https://www.rt.com/news/622916-putin-trump-alaska-summit-live

(Edit to add: this post has been updated several times with new summary over the last ~21 hours)

20:47 GMT
Trump told European leaders he hopes to hold a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky by next Friday, although it is contingent on how his talks with Zelensky go on Monday, CNN has reported. European officials also expect at least one EU leader to join the Washington meeting, though it remains unclear who, according to the news outlet.

Earlier, Axios also reported that Trump wanted a trilateral meeting “fast,” as early as August 22.



20:10 GMT
Lavrov has discussed the results of the Alaska summit in a phone call with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.



19:56 GMT
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has expressed hope that the talks in Anchorage will pave the way to peace. Writing on X, he said he spoke with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and expressed Budapest’s “appreciation” for Trump’s efforts in settling the Ukraine conflict and “for the fact that, despite all the pressure, the meeting went ahead.”

“We hope yesterday’s talks in Alaska will open the way to peace. At the same time, we trust this will not end as it did 3.5 years ago, when Western Europeans torpedoed the Istanbul peace agreement. The process launched in Alaska must not be derailed,” Szijjarto said.



19:46 GMT
Lavrov has held a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to discuss the outcome of the Alaska summit, the Russian ministry has said.



19:43 GMT
Putin reportedly told Trump on Friday he was willing to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and “mentioned China as one of the possible guarantors,” Axios claimed, citing a source.



19:39 GMT
During a call with Zelensky and European leaders following the Alaska summit, Trump said he wants to hold a trilateral meeting with Putin and the Ukrainian leader “fast,” as early as August 22, Axios reports.

Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Washington on Monday for a meeting with the American president.



17:17 GMT
The leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic nations have released a joint statement following the Alaska summit blaming the underlying causes of the Ukraine conflict on Russia.

The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden also demanded that Ukraine not be forced to downsize its military, or be limited in its cooperation with other countries, including regarding its NATO bid. They also insisted that Ukraine and Western European nations should be part of the peace process.

“No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions on Europe without Europe,” they said.

Moscow has long listed among the root causes of the conflict Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO, and the US-led military bloc’s eastward expansion – which Russia sees as an existential threat.



17:04 GMT
Zelensky refused to cede to Moscow the parts of the new Russian territories in Donbass still under Ukrainian control when Trump raised the question during a briefing after the summit, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.

Following the talks in Anchorage, the US president announced that he would be pursuing a full “peace agreement” rather than a “mere ceasefire” in the Ukraine conflict. He had floated the idea of “land swaps” in the days ahead of the summit.



16:20 GMT
Putin and Trump at the Alaska summit have given “new momentum” to the efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

In a post on X, he expressed hope that “this new process,” with Zelensky’s participation “will lay the foundation for lasting peace.”

“Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of contributions to the establishment of peace,” he wrote.



15:50 GMT
Putin has described the Alaska summit with Trump as “timely and very useful.”

The two leaders discussed “practically all areas” of US-Russian interaction, as well as a “fair” resolution to the Ukraine crisis, Putin said during a meeting with senior officials in Moscow to review the summit in Anchorage.

“We have not held direct negotiations of this kind at this level for a long time,” he said, adding that the Alaska summit was an opportunity for Moscow to “calmly state our position in detail.”

Putin said he had the opportunity to discuss the “genesis” and core causes of the Ukraine conflict. “It is precisely the elimination of these root causes that should be the basis for the settlement.”



15:49 GMT
Following the Alaska summit, Trump believes that the best way to quickly negotiate a peace treaty in the Ukraine conflict is for Kiev to cede to Moscow all parts of the new Russian territories in Donbass still under Ukrainian control, the New York Times has reported, citing anonymous officials.

The US president raised the issue with Western European allies on Saturday, the outlet said.

“It breaks from a strategy Mr. Trump and European allies, as well as Mr. Zelensky, had agreed to before the US-Russia summit in Alaska,” the NYT wrote.

Earlier in the day, the US president said that “the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement,” rather than a “mere ceasefire.”

In a statement later in the day, Western European leaders ruled out territorial concessions for Ukraine.



15:05 GMT
Western European leaders have been invited to the upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky, scheduled for Monday, the New York Times has reported, citing officials with knowledge of the private discussions.

Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that he will travel to Washington to meet with the US president, following the summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.



14:06 GMT
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed Trump’s efforts to “achieve a just and lasting peace” in the Ukraine conflict.

“Ukraine can count on our unwavering solidarity as we work towards a peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests,” he wrote on X.



13:49 GMT
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has thanked Trump for his phone call with Western European leaders following the Alaska summit.

Strong and credible security guarantees” should be offered to Ukraine as part of any sustainable peace deal, he said on X.

Finland, which borders Russia, joined NATO in 2023, despite Moscow’s stance against the US-led military bloc’s expansion.



13:44 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Paris will work with its European allies to provide “unwavering security guarantees” for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.

“I welcome, in this regard, the readiness of the United States to contribute,” he said in an X post commenting the Alaska summit.

“We will work on this with them and with all our partners in the Coalition of the Willing, with whom we will meet again soon, to make concrete progress.”



13:16 GMT
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed Trump’s peace efforts at the Alaska summit, calling for Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to be involved in the “next phase” of the talks.

He also promised to keep “tightening the screws” on the Russian economy in an effort to pressure Moscow, while also pledging to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”



13:06 GMT
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed hope for a possible peace deal, following the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

“A glimmer of hope finally opens for discussing peace in Ukraine,” she wrote in a brief post on X.



11:09 GMT
India has welcomed the summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska, calling their leadership in pursuit of peace “highly commendable.”



10:42 GMT
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has welcomed the talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. He argued that the summit rejected a “black-and-white view” and erased “a single mandatory opinion” on the conflict as “vigorously promoted by the Biden administration and continues to be advocated by a group of strong players in the European Union.”

The Ukraine conflict has its historical roots, he added, and “we must speak equally about security guarantees, both for Ukraine and for the Russian Federation.”

Fico warned that the EU’s “unsuccessful strategy” is to continue trying to “weaken Russia through this conflict by all possible means, including incredible financial, political, or military assistance to Kiev.” He said Trump’s approach reflected “clear American pragmatism and support for its own American interests.”


10:22 GMT
Western European leaders issued a joint statement on the US-Russian summit in Anchorage. While they “welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine” and to “achieve just and lasting peace,” they also made clear that the EU and UK will continue pressing for Ukraine’s membership in both the EU and NATO.

The statement insisted Ukraine must have “ironclad security guarantees,” declaring that “no limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or cooperation with third countries. Russia cannot veto Ukraine’s pathway to EU and NATO.”

Trump’s push for de-escalation contrasts with European leaders’ resolve to arm Ukraine and bring it closer to NATO, precisely the steps Moscow has long condemned as being among the root causes of the conflict.



09:37 GMT
The Ukraine conflict could be wrapped up before Christmas if Putin and Trump meet with Zelensky for a trilateral summit, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has said.

He suggested that Trump will have to impose “severe consequences” on Russia and its trading partners if the meeting does not happen.

Graham, a staunch backer of Ukraine, has urged the US to supply record amounts of arms to Kiev, from long-range missiles to F-16 fighter jets. Earlier this year, he introduced a bill in Congress that proposed 500% secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil and gas.



09:17 GMT
Trump has announced that after his summit with Putin and following phone calls with the leaders of NATO states and Ukraine, he will be pursuing a permanent peace agreement in the Ukraine conflict rather than a “mere” temporary ceasefire.

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump confirmed that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky will fly to Washington to meet him on Monday.



09:17 GMT
Ambassadors from every EU member state will convene for an extraordinary meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the bloc’s next steps after the Alaska summit, Politico has reported, citing two anonymous diplomats.

The ambassadors were reportedly asked to meet in a “restricted format,” without their aides and phones, in an effort to avoid potential leaks.



09:02 GMT
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called an impromptu cabinet meeting to discuss the results of the Alaska summit with his ministers, Berlin-based tabloid Bild has reported, citing anonymous sources.



08:51 GMT
The world is a safer place now that the leaders of the two biggest nuclear superpowers have resumed top-level diplomatic relations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.



08:37 GMT
The telephone call between President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and NATO leaders “wasn’t easy,” Axios correspondent Barak Ravid has said, citing a source familiar with the conversation.



08:10 GMT
Zelensky has said on his Telegram that he will travel to Washington on Monday to meet President Trump and “discuss all of the details” regarding a possible ending of the conflict. Zelensky said that he “had a long and substantive conversation” with Trump during which the American president informed him about his meeting with Putin.



08:09 GMT
Trump and Zelensky held a one-on-one call on Friday before Western European leaders joined a discussion, Ukraine’s presidential office has said.

The leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Finland and Poland also took part, along with NATO’s chief and the head of the European Commission according to the Elysee in Paris.



08:08 GMT
The timing of a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump remains undecided, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said. He added that the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky was not raised in discussions at the Alaska summit.



06:59 GMT
US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky shortly after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, delaying his arrival off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews early on Saturday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino has said.

Axios has reported, citing sources close to the matter, that Trump spoke with Zelensky and European leaders for more than 90 minutes to brief them on his discussions with Putin.



06:47 GMT
Russia and the United States will soon hold consultations to ease tensions in bilateral ties, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, Aleksandr Darchiev, told Izvestia after the the Alaska summit. “Regular consultations on normalization are due to take place soon, we call them on irritants in bilateral relations, where we hope to discuss them in detail,” he said.

Darchiev added he hoped the talks would speed up the resumption of direct flights, calling restored connections a priority as Moscow and Washington seek to manage differences.



06:12 GMT
The world is safer when Washington and Moscow maintin dialogue at the highest level, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said, praising the latest US-Russia summit as proof that peace in Ukraine can only come through talks, not war. He added that Hungary has consistently backed diplomacy, unlike what he called “pro-war” politicians in Brussels.



05:57 GMT
US F-22 fighter jets escorted the plane carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin as it departed Alaska en route to Russia, the Kremlin has said.



05:24 GMT
The White House has shared a photo of US President Donald Trump meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during the talks in Alaska, as part of the 2025 summit titled ‘Pursuing Peace’. The post quoted Trump as saying the two leaders had made “great progress.”


05:09 GMT
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged stronger from the Alaska summit with Donald Trump, arguing that Moscow met key goals while Washington gained little.

“I think Trump did not lose. But Putin clearly won,” Bolton told CNN. “Trump didn’t come away with anything except more meetings… Putin has, I think, gone a long way to reestablishing the relationship, which I’ve always believed was his key goal.” He added that Putin avoided sanctions or ceasefire demands while “Trump achieved very little,” and claimed that the US leader “looked very tired up there. I mean, very tired, not disappointed, tired.”

The Trump-Bolton relationship has been underscored by years of mutual criticism, with the American leader dismissing Bolton as overly hawkish and Bolton accusing Trump of prioritizing personal politics over national security.



04:36 GMT
The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska was a “joint success” for the two leaders, according to the vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, Konstantin Kosachev.

“The very fact of the meeting in Alaska, its tone, and the outcome are a great and joint success of the two presidents,” Kosachev wrote on Telegram. He added that Putin and Trump have both made “a tremendous personal contribution to achieving the maximum possible result for today,” underscoring the significance of the talks at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base, which lasted two hours and 45 minutes.



04:21 GMT
The Russian-US summit “fully justified its motto: pursuing peace,” Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid ****sky has said. He called the meeting between Putin and Trump a “productive” step toward resolving the Ukraine conflict.

Although no breakthrough was expected, ****sky described the talks as a “significant turning point” in restoring cooperation. Trump rated the outcome “10 out of 10,” ****sky noted on Telegram. ****sky added that Anchorage would go down in history as a milestone in bilateral relations, and suggested the next stage of dialogue could take place in Moscow.



03:50 GMT
Trump said he maintained a strong personal rapport with Vladimir Putin and argued that the two leaders could realise advanced US-Russia cooperation if not for political turmoil in Washington. “I always had a great relationship with President Putin, and we would have done great things together…their land is incredible…rare earth, the oil, gas, everything,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Trump blamed the investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, which he repeatedly referred to as a “hoax”, for halting progress. He suggested that domestic political scandals, rather than a lack of will on either side, prevented the United States and Russia from pursuing joint projects



03:35 GMT
Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed his claims of US election fraud, telling him that mail-in ballots mean votes could be “rigged.” In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump said that Putin told him “It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections.”

Trump used the remarks to repeat his own allegations that America’s voting system is corrupt. He argued that mail-in ballots allow multiple votes per person and undermine election integrity, reviving claims he has made since the 2020 presidential race.



03:19 GMT
First Lady Melania Trump has sent a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukrainian and Russian children, which US President Donald Trump delivered during the Alaska summit, Reuters has reported, citing sources.

Unnamed US officials told the agency the letter focused on what they called “the abductions of children” during the conflict, without giving further details.

Ukraine and its Western backers have accused Moscow of “deporting” Ukrainian children to Russian territory. Russia has said the minors were evacuated from the conflict zone for safety reasons and would be returned to parents or legal guardians on request.



03:18 GMT
Trump has downplayed the idea that Western pressure forced Vladimir Putin into talks. “I don’t want to say anything brought him to the table. He’s a very smart guy. Nothing brought him to the table, so to speak,” Trump said, adding that negotiations were progressing despite the ongoing conflict.



03:07 GMT
Trump has urged Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to pursue a negotiated settlement with Russia, describing the conflict as “a terrible war where he’s losing a lot, and both of them are.” Trump said ending the fighting would be “a great achievement for them. Forget about me,” framing peace as primarily Ukraine’s responsibility.

Trump also said European nations must play a stronger role in efforts to end the conflict. “Now it’s really up to President [Zelensky],” he said. “And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit.” He added that a direct meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin was being planned, and suggested he could join the talks: “Not that I want to be there, but I want to make sure it gets done.”


03:04 GMT
Trump has suggested he could be in line for a Nobel Peace Prize if he helps broker peace in Ukraine, but insisted his past record already merits recognition.

“Somebody said if I get this settled, I’ll get the Nobel Peace Prize,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.“Well, I’m not involved in it, but what about the other six wars or whatever it is? I mean, those were big.”

Some world leaders have formally put his name forward for the honor in 2025: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet nominated Trump for mediating a ceasefire in a border clash with Thailand, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also submitted a nomination citing Trump’s Middle East diploma



02:19 GMT
Trump has signaled that the US is so far holding off on imposing new tariffs on Russia’s trading partners. “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Trump told Fox News. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”



02:04 GMT
Russian officials have presented the US with a list of one thousand Ukrainian service members that Moscow intends to release, Trump told Fox News. “That was agreed to today. Well, they [Ukraine] have to accept them. They [Russia] are going to release them.”

Moscow has accused Kiev of essentially refusing to take back hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers in Russian custody, noting that out of 1,000 people, Ukraine took in only two



01:56 GMT
The ultimate Ukraine deal depends not only on Zelensky, but also on the European nations, Trump has said, adding that “they have to get involved a little bit.”

He did not rule out a potential trilateral meeting involving Putin, Zelensky, and himself. “If they’d like, I’ll be at that next meeting. They’re going to set up a meeting now between President Zelensky and President Putin,” he said, adding that he “want[s] to make sure it gets done.



01:33 GMT
Asked by Hannity what advice he would give Vladimir Zelensky, Trump replied: “Make the deal.



01:33 GMT
Trump described the summit with Putin as “a very warm meeting” while calling his counterpart “a strong guy.” “We’re pretty close to it,” he said, referring to a settlement of the Ukraine conflict, adding that Kiev “has to agree to it.”

“Maybe they’ll say no. Because [former US President Joe] Biden handed out money like it was candy. And Europe gave him a lot of money.



01:26 GMT
Putin and Trump agreed “on a lot of points,” the US president has told Fox News. “There’s one or two pretty significant items, but I think they can be reached,” he said, adding that “now it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done.



01:16 GMT
Putin and Trump did not take reporters’ questions at the press conference because the two leaders have provided “exhaustive statements,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. He added that the talks “allow us to confidently move forward together in seeking settlement options” in the Ukraine conflict.



00:43 GMT
The Kremlin has described the talks between Putin and Trump as “very positive.



00:36 GMT
Trump greatly appreciated the results of the summit with Putin, according to Fox News. The American leader said he would “give today a ten” when asked to comment on the outcome, according to the media outlet



00:19 GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin has departed from Alaska.



00:03 GMT
The Alaska summit is a milestone in the emergence of a new world order, “a symbol of a changing era,” Russian political commentator Sergey Poletaev has said. It showed that the West “no longer sets the rules” and that the world is becoming truly multipolar



00:02 GMT
Putin has visited Fort Richardson National Cemetery near Anchorage to honor Soviet pilots who died in Alaska while ferrying US-made aircraft to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program during World War II. The president was filmed making the sign of the cross after laying flowers at one of the tombs

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 After doing Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu’s dry cleaning Melania Trump decided to ask Putin the end the war for the “innocent children.”

This comes AFTER the USA stopped medical visas for Palestinian children injured by THEIR BOMBS!

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956827198536700029

1956827198536700029

[Ravenlocke]

Russia’s Pivot to Asia analysis of the Putin-Trump summit,

Putin-Trump Alaska Summit: Analysis

There were several subtle signs during the Putin-Trump meeting that progress was made, even while most media headlines baldly state "No deal". We evaluate the situation:

1) Personal empathy between Trump and Putin: they are on first name terms and Putin described the meeting as 'respectful'. This helps repair the damage done by the Biden administration, which often used insulting terminology.

2) President Zelensky also got what he wanted: Putin saying that no deal could be reached without Ukraine. The onus is now on Zelensky to make a deal soon, with Russia having the upper hand on the battlegrounds.

3) Europe appeared to be partially warned off interfering.

4) This implies that intense diplomatic efforts will be made by the United States to bring the conflict to an end. That will involve Ukraine and Europe rolling back some of their demands, with Trump in a position to punish them both economically and militarily if they do not agree.

5) We feel that progress was made and an understanding of Russia's position was taken into account. The extent of what was stated is being kept under wraps - but that doesn't necessarily mean agreements did not occur.

6) What happens next depends on several issues: what happens on the battlefields as concerns more Russian advances and especially a potential collapse of the Ukrainian frontlines; what happens with President Zelensky, whose position must be under considerable internal threat; and the extent that Europe may wish to interfere to prolong the conflict. These are difficult points to pin down. However these are almost certainly among the key issues discussed.

7) A possible strategy - depending on current military intelligence - is that the conflict soon draws to a natural conclusion: Russia wins. It can then - together with the US and Europe - assist with stabilizing Ukraine, annex the Donbass and related regions, oversee elections and operate a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia. Russia would withdraw troops from mainland Ukraine. Security guarantees would be signed - no NATO in Ukraine - with Kiev allowed to join the EU. In short - Russia achieves its objectives over a conflict that Europe should never have become involved with and should always have remained a small regional issue for Moscow to deal with. Trump, it appears, has taken that on board.

8) Europe will be told to shut up - it’s done enough damage. A key issue is whether they will - or not.

9) Finally, the US and Russia sides departed without sharing a planning lunch. That was probably a relief for the Russians after what was served to them as "Alaskan hospitality". That wasn't a good look.

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1956625262340100240

1956625262340100240

[Jaak]

7) A possible strategy - depending on current military intelligence - is that the conflict soon draws to a natural conclusion: Russia wins. It can then - together with the US and Europe - assist with stabilizing Ukraine, annex the Donbass and related regions, oversee elections and operate a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia. Russia would withdraw troops from mainland Ukraine. Security guarantees would be signed - no NATO in Ukraine - with Kiev allowed to join the EU. In short - Russia achieves its objectives over a conflict that Europe should never have become involved with and should always have remained a small regional issue for Moscow to deal with. Trump, it appears, has taken that on board.

8) Europe will be told to shut up - it’s done enough damage. A key issue is whether they will - or not.



Lol . USA started this mess and have pushing it for decades for that conflict to happen . USA and EU both helped to make Maidan revolution happen.
USA wanted to take over EU energy market which they largely did with this conflict ( Burisma before the conflict , selling LNG to EU now ).
Directives for puppet politicians of EU to be hostile against Russia have came from USA for many years now . I recall some wikileaks documents from USA embassy in Estonia.
Seems funny that they are shifting the blame on EU while USA has made the most profit out of this conflict .
None of the so called aid to Ukraine was free . Corporations made a nice profit and USA got all kinds of mineral rights and farm lands for Monsanto and other evil corporations to take over in Ukraine as soon as the dust settles and peace is made.
Most of EU spending tons of money to buy weapons etc from USA just to send them to Ukraine..

¨ Kiev allowed to join the EU¨.
That would probably be death of Ukraine . Millions more will migrate out as soon as borders open , mostly the younger people . If all kinds of EU standards and regulations etc get pushed on them then where they will take the money to make it happen...
Trump is going to meet with Zelensky very soon but i think i saw somewhere that Zelensky already declared that he aint giving up any territory for peace deal and that peace will happen seems unlikely. Will see .

[Ravenlocke]

The Alaska Summit – Hidden Motives and Outcomes

By Elena Panina

When analyzing the Alaska negotiations, it is crucial to first describe what was left unsaid by Putin and Trump but conveyed through their gestures and expressions. Because no matter the words spoken, postures and gestures ultimately reflect the underlying dynamics of ongoing processes and the balance of power. Measuring personal dominance here is pointless—this is a team game.

▪️ The lack of clear information about agreements disappointed globalist media, but the summit was never meant to deliver that. The true objective of the talks, the first hidden motive for both sides, was gathering missing intelligence—the kind that can only be obtained through a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. The U.S. views Russia as an adversary, and Russia recognizes this, responding accordingly.

And this objective was achieved. The presidents filled the gaps in understanding that had accumulated during the absence of direct contact. Now, they are recalibrating their management of the process—not revisiting their initial views on the roots of the conflict but rather preparing for further confrontation. Regardless of Trump, the U.S. will always see Russia as an enemy and prey. There should be no illusions here—they would come at a steep price. Russia understands the threats posed by the U.S., no matter who occupies the White House.

The visible aspects, open to emotional interpretation: another blow to the myth of Russia’s isolation, postponed sanctions, continued military action, and Trump’s obvious move to disengage from the conflict by shifting responsibility to Europe and Zelensky. Ahead of the summit, we outlined two possible scenarios for Trump, and this prediction came true. We were also among those who argued that no agreement could be reached in the first round. A deal at this stage would have signaled someone’s premature surrender. Conditions for an agreement are not yet ripe but continue to develop.

▪️ The hidden outcomes of the summit are far more intriguing. What are they?

1. Trump demonstrated institutional weakness: he backed out of a planned bilateral meeting without foreign ministers, fearing it. He was pressured into bringing Rubio—a concession to neocon oversight. Trump caved, took Rubio, and left Vance at home. In response, Russia balanced the equation by including Lavrov in its delegation. The meeting became trilateral. Let’s repeat: this was not the original plan. But it was displayed for all to see and will be noted—Trump’s autonomy is limited. Putin is more sovereign. This is a hidden summit outcome: the boundaries of Trump’s power within his own circle have been exposed.

2. Trump sees an advantage in letting Russia be the one to force Europe and Zelensky into peace. He himself doesn’t want to escalate conflict with them by openly aiding Putin. This helps Trump avoid a trap ahead of the midterm Congressional elections.

3. Trump is stalling the consolidation of his European opponents—they have a meeting in Andorra on August 16 to coordinate resistance in case Zelensky is pressured into concessions.

4. Trump is soberly assessing the situation and retaining his freedom of maneuver despite pressure from hawks in his circle: a second round of talks is being prepared, sanctions are delayed, and Putin continues to force Zelensky into “peace through strength.” This tightens Europe’s dependence on the U.S. and keeps Trump in the role of arbiter.

5. For the first time, Trump stated that a Zelensky-Putin meeting is now Europe’s initiative, not America’s—that he didn’t even ask for it but is willing to join, though he’d rather not. This is a direct signal that Europe will bear responsibility if it fails to make Zelensky accept ground realities. Trump is stepping back from a fight where victory isn’t guaranteed and risks outweigh gains. Essentially, this is a threat to Europe, not Putin.

6. Putin gains an opportunity to build on military successes, thereby validating Trump’s proposals to Europe. Trump is delivering an ultimatum: either Europe agrees now, or Putin advances further. Meanwhile, Trump tightens the economic noose around Europe’s neck. This marks a temporary alignment of interests between Russia and Trump.

7. Putin did not concede, as evidenced by the canceled joint lunch between delegations. Such lunches are always consolation prizes for those who’ve been pressured. The accusations from some ultra-patriots that Putin was “trading Konstantinovka for U.S. access to Russian resources” turned out to be nonsense. Putin not only strengthened Russia’s external influence but also consolidated his domestic position, gaining more leverage for elite rotation. He is in a strong position and will undoubtedly use it.

▪️ In the end, both sides bought time, avoided a head-on collision (which would have benefited Europe and the U.S. Democratic Party), preserved autonomy and initiative, and held onto their trump cards. They continue their chosen course, reinforcing desired trends—consolidating power, maintaining influence over allies, strengthening bilateral communication, and steering the situation away from deadlock—all without abandoning their core strategies.

Notably, post-summit, Trump’s approach to future meetings has shifted. Before: a bilateral summit in Alaska, a U.S.-brokered trilateral meeting with Zelensky a week later, and then a possible Trump visit to Moscow in September (maybe). After: the Alaska summit and a potential quick reciprocal visit to Moscow. The trilateral meeting with Zelensky, at Trump’s initiative, has been dropped. Now, it’s Europe’s problem—along with full responsibility for the outcome. U.S. policy is increasingly disentangling itself from Ukraine and European ultimatums and grievances.

This sets the stage for the next rounds of negotiations. The results of this summit lay new groundwork for the future. Who won? Both sides, each in their own way. Who lost? Europe and Zelensky—which means Ukraine, which will keep losing as long as its current regime remains in power, no matter who leads it.

This, too, is a hidden summit outcome. It wasn’t announced anywhere, but it’s the most important development. No one yielded, no one caved, and no one derailed future progress. Trump and Putin accomplished their objectives at this stage and are moving on to the next. These will depend on the outcomes of the Russian Armed Forces’ summer campaign, as negotiations don’t create resources—they reflect their current state.

The attempt to disrupt Russia’s offensive by pressuring Putin into a premature freeze and triggering a domestic political crisis failed. Similarly, the effort to turn Trump into an executor of Europe’s ultimatums, boxing him into a corner, also failed—another hidden summit result.

Russia has endured yet another extremely difficult test, providing grounds for cautious optimism. Though the main battles still lie ahead.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1956795512113496123

1956795512113496123

[s7e6e]

Imagine a whole world driven by empathy instead of profits!

[ExomatrixTV]

Full President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin New Conference:

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c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-holds-news-conference-with-russian-president-putin/664312 (https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-holds-news-conference-with-russian-president-putin/664312https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-holds-news-conference-with-russian-president-putin/664312)

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[grapevine]

7) A possible strategy - depending on current military intelligence - is that the conflict soon draws to a natural conclusion: Russia wins. It can then - together with the US and Europe - assist with stabilizing Ukraine, annex the Donbass and related regions, oversee elections and operate a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia. Russia would withdraw troops from mainland Ukraine. Security guarantees would be signed - no NATO in Ukraine - with Kiev allowed to join the EU. In short - Russia achieves its objectives over a conflict that Europe should never have become involved with and should always have remained a small regional issue for Moscow to deal with. Trump, it appears, has taken that on board.

8) Europe will be told to shut up - it’s done enough damage. A key issue is whether they will - or not.



Lol . USA started this mess and have pushing it for decades for that conflict to happen . USA and EU both helped to make Maidan revolution happen.
USA wanted to take over EU energy market which they largely did with this conflict ( Burisma before the conflict , selling LNG to EU now ).
Directives for puppet politicians of EU to be hostile against Russia have came from USA for many years now . I recall some wikileaks documents from USA embassy in Estonia.
Seems funny that they are shifting the blame on EU while USA has made the most profit out of this conflict .
None of the so called aid to Ukraine was free . Corporations made a nice profit and USA got all kinds of mineral rights and farm lands for Monsanto and other evil corporations to take over in Ukraine as soon as the dust settles and peace is made.
Most of EU spending tons of money to buy weapons etc from USA just to send them to Ukraine..

¨ Kiev allowed to join the EU¨.
That would probably be death of Ukraine . Millions more will migrate out as soon as borders open , mostly the younger people . If all kinds of EU standards and regulations etc get pushed on them then where they will take the money to make it happen...
Trump is going to meet with Zelensky very soon but i think i saw somewhere that Zelensky already declared that he aint giving up any territory for peace deal and that peace will happen seems unlikely. Will see .

The biggest problem here is that unless the EU/UK agree with the US led terms there will always be clashes and unrest throughout Ukraine/borders as various sites are targeted for skirmishes, which could continue ad infinitum. This would be intolerable for Ukraine and all the citizens living in the EU/UK who will continue to see their taxes going into this bottomless pit while their countries spiral into further decline.

My guess is that Trump wants to walk away, to make MAGA and fulfill his election promise, but that his "allies" are standing in the way because of the Democrats' original plan under Joe Biden (and I'm remembering all that talk about corruption/payouts when Hunter Biden's laptop first went missing, and the diagram/chart which was posted by Tintin several pages ago which showed the billions of dollars paid to the US administration,) and which payouts are probably not confined to the US.

Trump needs to find a way to pull the EU/UK back into line pdq. The biggest mistake would be to let them think they can go it alone without the US imo. and they just might..

[rgray222]

My original thought on the summit between Trump and Putin was that it had a chance of achieving peace, but the simple act of Lavrov wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt now leads me to believe that Putin does not want peace. Lavrov, Russia's long-serving Foreign Minister, is regarded as a loyal executor of Putin's directives and is no longer an independent thinker. In the last few years, Lavrov's role has been to deliver pre-approved messages from Putin. Putin did not choose a message about stopping NATO's expansion or the treatment of Russian citizens in Ukraine, or even removing the Nazi's from Ukraine. The message was so loud and so clear it could have been plastered on a 100-foot banner being pulled by a noisy biplane over the Alaskan skies. The only logical conclusion you could reach is that Putin was telling Trump, the Europeans and the world that the Soviet Union was his number one priority. So why would Putin agree to the summit if restoring Russia to the former glory of the Soviet Union is his number one priority? By all accounts, Russia is gaining ground in Ukraine, albeit very slowly. So why agree to the summit?

https://cdn.rokna.net/thumbnail/rcLGuB778mRC/JxbH6O0-CsApv-r9kUOthsywLCCX9LPoCm9Kp2bgkI_jz8IapPirZmbRjjplUgpKbcWDT5-XXEg,/lavrov-swishirt.jpg

The only possible reasons that I can see as to why Putin consented to the summit are:

Putin wants to avoid sanctions. No country has ever crumbled under the weight of the sanctions, but they do have a serious impact on the economy. While the Russian economy shows some resilience, it is primarily war and oil-driven. As recently as June 2025, Putin emphasized the need to avoid a recession in Russia, stating it "is not to be allowed under any circumstances" during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Severe sanctions by Western countries would most likely move Russia in the direction of the recession that Putin is so desperate to avoid.
Another reason (and the one I feel is most important to Putin) for Putin to request the summit was to move Russia out of the shadow of China. Most people in the diplomatic corps around the world believe that Russia has become a European chess piece for China. There is no doubt that Putin has read the reports and heard the talk, and the summit offered him an opportunity to be on center stage without China in sight or even in the conversation. Putin wants the world to view him as an independent leader pursuing national interest rather than being beholden to China.
Putin may have no intention of stopping the war, he was just buying more time. This could very well be the case, but it will give him only a month or two before massive amounts of weapons are shipped into Ukraine and biting sanctions begin. I suppose that Putin has thought about this and feels he could accomplish what he feels is necessary within 30-60 days.
Putin does want peace. This would be great if true, but it does seem that taking over part or all of Ukraine is what he really wants. After all, Lavrov's sweatshirt spoke volumes. Was anybody listening?

[Bill Ryan]

My original thought on the summit between Trump and Putin was that it had a chance of achieving peace, but the simple act of Lavrov wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt now leads me to believe that Putin does not want peace.The broad understanding among everyone in the Global Majority (and in Russia!) is that Lavrov was just trolling. :)

But what's so very interesting is that the shirt has immediately sold out in Russia, with a two-month waiting list. If I was Russian, I'd probably have bought one too. I'm pretty sure it's all about Russian pride, nothing more, and certainly not about any 'expansionist' agenda. (Russia does not need any more land!)

[bojancan]

Show must go on...
I am very sad for EU... so foolish from their governments, specially from few of them above... not doing referendums... to ask people what they want... people should be asked in all countries... regarding spending money for wars instead for well being of populations... but... who will sell weapon to EU?????? We know... US!


Aug 17
Alex Christoforou
239K subscribers
Europe A-Team travels to USA. Trilateral meeting, NATO security guarantees. Putin EXOSKELETON
SYV0mcc3GNQ


0:00 - Introduction to the need for a ceasefire and negotiations
1:22 - Update on talks between Trump and Putin regarding Ukraine
3:30 - Discussion on root causes of the Ukraine conflict
5:59 - Zelensky's upcoming visit to the United States
7:51 - Potential trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Putin, and Trump
10:02 - European leaders' support for Zelensky during his visit
18:10 - EU foreign minister warns Trump about trusting Putin
20:33 - Polish foreign minister's commitment to support Ukraine
22:46 - Outline of the deal discussed in Alaska
25:53 - Discussion on security guarantees for Ukraine
31:01 - Updates on protests in Serbia
36:43 - Melania Trump's letter to Putin regarding peace
39:12 - Discussion on media narratives and public perception of Putin
41:00 - Commentary on Lavrov's attire compared to Zelensky's
43:25 - Conclusion and video wrap-up

=========

And here is much more profound and serious talk by Alexander Mercouris... hour ago..



UK/EU Rush To Save Zelensky, Gatecrash Monday DC Talks, Panic Sweeps Europe, Kiev NO To Alaska Terms
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[bojancan]

I think this video suits also here....
========


I didn't finished with this video yet... will go later afternoon... I knew they were having conference ... so many well known men and women... warriors for peace!!!
Who would be the man/woman for Nobel Peace? My choice : Jefrey Sachs... Or Francesca Albanese


Aug, 16
Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
621K subscribers
ON STAGE: Judging Freedom LIVE with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Col Douglas Macgregor, Max Blumenthal, Anya Parampil.

ON STAGE: Judging Freedom LIVE from the Ron Paul - Blueprint for Peace Conference
1E0Rf6M4068

[Mike Gorman]

I gain the impression that both Trump & Putin know exactly what the response to the Alaska detente results will be, that Zelinskyy shall not budge plus his EU/UK backers will seek to implore Trump to stay the course & support their approaches: this will provide an off-ramp and I am certain the back channel discussions have been intense and far reaching and Trump has his own intentions, lots of business & closer relations with Russia. Monday will be colourful, it will be dynamic. We shall see!

[rgray222]

My original thought on the summit between Trump and Putin was that it had a chance of achieving peace, but the simple act of Lavrov wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt now leads me to believe that Putin does not want peace.The broad understanding among everyone in the Global Majority (and in Russia!) is that Lavrov was just trolling. :)

But what's so very interesting is that the shirt has immediately sold out in Russia, with a two-month waiting list. If I was Russian, I'd probably have bought one too. I'm pretty sure it's all about Russian pride, nothing more, and certainly not about any 'expansionist' agenda. (Russia does not need any more land!)

I may very well stand alone in this thought, but in the context of the war where Russian and Ukrainian men are dying every single day and the collateral death and destruction is on such a grand scale, this act of trolling seems narrow-minded, frivolous and petty.

Russia may not need more land, but it stands to gain extraordinary wealth by taking over the eastern section of Ukraine, which is rich in oil, gas, coal and a host of minerals such as rare earth, lithium etc.. The estimated value is in the 10s of Trillions of dollars.

[Ravenlocke]

My original thought on the summit between Trump and Putin was that it had a chance of achieving peace, but the simple act of Lavrov wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt now leads me to believe that Putin does not want peace.The broad understanding among everyone in the Global Majority (and in Russia!) is that Lavrov was just trolling. :)

But what's so very interesting is that the shirt has immediately sold out in Russia, with a two-month waiting list. If I was Russian, I'd probably have bought one too. I'm pretty sure it's all about Russian pride, nothing more, and certainly not about any 'expansionist' agenda. (Russia does not need any more land!)

Zarubin video clip about Putin commenting on Lavrov’s sweater,

🇷🇺 “Imperialist!” — Putin commented on Lavrov's “USSR” sweater in Alaska

🤣

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957223349526077781

1957223349526077781

[Ravenlocke]

“Only two options”

https://x.com/ChrisHelali/status/1957213501979595077

1957213501979595077

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🇺🇦🇦🇿 BREAKING!! RUSSIA STRIKES AZERBAIJANI (ISRAELI) OIL ASSETS IN ODESSA!!

Russian Geran-2 drones have struck the Usatovo area in Ukraine’s Odessa region, targeting both a rail station and a fuel terminal operated by SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company.

This follows a similar Russian strike on August 6, when a SOCAR oil depot in Orlivka was hit, injuring employees and damaging the facility.

🛢️ SOCAR operates energy infrastructure across Ukraine, including terminals and logistics hubs. These repeated strikes have raised alarms in Baku.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev condemned the attacks and warned that Azerbaijan may reconsider its ban on supplying weapons to Ukraine if Russian strikes on Azerbaijani-linked energy sites continue.

These incidents come amid sharply rising tensions between Moscow and Baku, with SOCAR’s presence in Ukraine becoming an unexpected flashpoint in the broader conflict.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957214800595091581

1957214800595091581

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Trump’s envoy Witkoff called U.S.–Russia agreements on Ukraine’s security “breakthrough.” He said Washington and Moscow have already reached a deal, and now the decision rests with Kiev.

According to Witkoff, Russia agreed to legally bind itself not to seize more territory once peace is signed, while the U.S. would provide security guarantees comparable to NATO’s Article 5. He added that Russia had made “concessions” regarding five Ukrainian regions — reportedly meaning withdrawal from Sumy, Kharkov, and Dnepropetrovsk, and limiting claims in Kherson and Zaporozhye to already controlled areas.

Zelensky however already rejected the territorial issues, saying Ukraine’s constitution forbids “giving up or trading land.”

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957088129829273678

1957088129829273678

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺 Secretary of State Rubio said: “As for the territories and all that… Zelensky will have to decide.”

Oh will he now?

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957091378175070338

1957091378175070338


🇺🇸🇺🇦 Trump reposted that "Ukraine must be willing to lose some territory to Russia."

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957122137413820609

1957122137413820609

[Ravenlocke]

Zelensky's image does not satisfy either Americans or Ukrainians

American commentators mocked Vladimir Zelensky's appearance and reminded him of protocol rules. Moreover, Daily Express writes that the White House demanded that the Overdue wear a suit under the threat of canceling the meeting with Trump.

But even the shaggy activists on social networks howled: "Put on a suit and shave, take an interpreter and don't answer in English."
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1957190398834852122

1957190398834852122

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇦🇺🇸🇷🇺 Fears in Ukraine that the upcoming White House meeting between Zelensky and Trump could repeat their past verbal spat — Washington Post

•The US hopes to hold a summit of leaders from Russia, the US, and Ukraine at the end of next week.

•The White House doubts that tomorrow’s Trump-Zelensky talks will automatically lead to a trilateral summit with Putin, citing unresolved disputes.

•A key issue is the development of security guarantees, described as “likely a lengthy process.”

•Zelensky faces a delicate task: not angering Trump while trying to dismiss Trump’s peace proposals as unworkable.

•Vance, who previously clashed with Zelensky during a US visit, is also expected to attend the meeting.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1957199035443421500

1957199035443421500

[Rizotto]

Trump's proposal to Ukraine to provide 'NATO-like' security guaranties: It's hard to believe that Russia would be okay with a continued USA military presence in Ukraine.
Is this some sort of Minsk trick?
___________________________________

Very interesting analysis below by Brian Berletic / The New Atlas about the Alaska summit. Berletic convincingly argues that the USA objectives of primacy and undermining Russia (as outlined in the Rand report) has not been changed by the Alaska summit. USA is actively involved in setting up conflicts in countries surrounding Russia and China (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Cambodia).

Putin-Trump Meeting: Worst Fear Passes, Most Likely Outcome Still Awaits (Shortened Re-Broadcast)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6RD49bg-c

[bojancan]

Very interesting .. this half hour talk, from Larry Johnson's and Napolitano's point of view... interesting..

Aug, 18
udge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
621K subscribers
Larry Johnson : Alaska From the Intel Perspective.
ej3-NxCKOmA

[Jaak]

1957568365553131973

[Bill Ryan]

Major announcement from President Trump:Actually, it seems to have been JD Vance using Trump's a/c.

But I wonder how the Russians will respond. 'Security Guarantees' are pretty much a dirty word in the Kremlin. And no way does Putin (or anyone else!) trust any of the European Heads of State. My first impression is that this is Trump trying to be everyone's friend once again — which is a weakness, not a strength.

[Jaak]

And no way does Putin (or anyone else!) trust any of the European Heads of State.

I like it how the EU crowd are sitting like students in trouble waiting to see the principal .

1957552743083577739

[bojancan]

Major announcement from President Trump:Actually, it seems to have been JD Vance using Trump's a/c.

But I wonder how the Russians will respond. 'Security Guarantees' are pretty much a dirty word in the Kremlin. And no way does Putin (or anyone else!) trust any of the European Heads of State. My first impression is that this is Trump trying to be everyone's friend once again — which is a weakness, not a strength.

Thank you Bill... it was my first thought also the same... "Security Guarantees"!!!!
In EU... US are having so much bases around the world.. in EU too.. and now... they will have one more in Ukraine with solders...
I see Trump as like knife on both sides... I am very disappointed... specially I am very angry about EU clique, those ABOVE... they are not thinking about consequences for European people at all!
Trump looking forward also to be THERE and selling arms... for sure taking some minerals too... etc!
Not nice.. not good!

[Ravenlocke]

From Sputnik,

🚨🇷🇺🇺🇸 Putin & Trump held phone call half an hour ago – Ushakov

Trump briefed Putin on his talks with Zelensky and European leaders, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Sputnik.

🔸 Both presidents voiced support for direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

🔸 Putin also warmly thanked Trump for the hospitality during the Alaska meeting.

🔸 They further backed raising the level of representatives from Moscow and Kiev in the talks, Ushakov added.


📞 Axios claims Trump-Putin call takes place

Axios reported that President Trump phoned Vladimir Putin while Zelensky and European leaders were at the White House, citing two sources. Bild earlier claimed Trump interrupted the summit for the call.

However, Fox News reporter Jackie Heinrich noted that the White House has not confirmed Trump broke off the meeting to speak with Putin.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1957565067106361692

1957565067106361692


RussiaNews,

🚨⚡️ Key takeaways from Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov's statement following a phone conversation between the Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump:

🔹The conversation took place almost an hour ago at the initiative of the US president;

🔹Putin warmly thanked Trump for his hospitality during the meeting in Alaska;

🔹Trump informed Putin about the negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of a number of European countries;

🔹The conversation between the US and Russian presidents was "frank and very constructive" and lasted about 40 minutes;

🔹The leaders expressed support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine;

🔹Putin and Trump agreed to continue contacts on Ukrainian and other issues on the international and bilateral agenda;

🔹The Russian president once again noted the importance of Trump’s efforts in finding solutions leading to a long-term settlement in Ukraine.


https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1957574050479501692

1957574050479501692

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇺🇦 In the Oval Office, before Trump and Zelensky began their closed-door talks, a large map of Ukraine was set up, according to BBC correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

The map was placed directly across from the table where Trump and Zelensky were seated once journalists were asked to leave. Eastern regions of Ukraine were shaded pink, marking the areas under Russian control.

Zurcher suggested the map may serve as a visual tool for Trump to pressure Zelensky into considering a territorial trade for peace.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957508990168162776

1957508990168162776

[Ravenlocke]

RussiaNews,

🚨⚡️ Funny how none of those who claimed the Alaska summit was “Putin’s victory” and a “disgrace for global democracy” dared to say it to Trump’s face.🤣

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1957540914991362451

1957540914991362451


From DD Geopolitics,

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇹 Italy's Prime Minister Meloni:
We will begin with a proposal similar to NATO Article 5 model.

Disagreement between European leaders and President Trump over a ceasefire preceding a peace deal, with multiple European leaders voicing their support for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

These people want MORE war.

"We support implementing Article 5 type security guarantees."
- Prime Minister Starmer.


https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957523646341345330

1957523646341345330


Every single child has to go back to its family. This should be one of our main priorities in these negotiations.

Trump:
I was just thinking we're here for a different reason but we just a couple weeks ago made the largest trade deal in history. Congratulations.

What children? ASK HIM FOR THE EPSTEIN LIST.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957524123430822157

1957524123430822157


🇺🇸🇺🇦"I have known Putin for a long time and have always had a great relationship with him. I think he wants to find an answer too. We all want to reach a ceasefire while working towards lasting peace." — President Trump

The Trump-Zelensky-EU leaders press conference has ended.

The meeting between Trump, Zelensky, Rutte, von der Leyen, Starmer, Meloni, Macron, Stubb and Merz has begun.

Key points from Trump’s statements at the meeting with European leaders and Zelensky:

➡️Trump said the Alaska summit strengthened his belief in the possibility of achieving peace in Ukraine.

➡️He stressed the need to discuss a potential territorial exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

➡️Trump expressed confidence that Putin and Zelensky can find common ground to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

➡️He said he does not believe in the threat of “further Russian aggression” against Ukraine.

➡️Trump voiced confidence that a three-way meeting on Ukraine with Putin and Zelensky will take place — the only question is when.

➡️Within a week or two, it will become clear whether the conflict in Ukraine can be settled through negotiations.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957525002041122903

1957525002041122903

[bojancan]

Interesting talk with Paul Craig Roberts...

Aug, 18
Dialogue Works
323K subscribers
Paul Craig Roberts: Trump–Putin Deal EXPOSED: Will the Power Elites KILL the Agreement?
nzceFcbljvg

[Ravenlocke]

From RT quoting Financial Times article,

Ukraine’s grand plan for Trump’s guarantees: $100 BILLION in US weapons — paid by Europe

Plus a $50 B drone pact with Washington — FT

Will Brussels just fire up the printers to cover Zelensky’s bill?


https://x.com/RT_com/status/1957558115198726208

1957558115198726208

[Ravenlocke]

Margarita Simonyan,

Donald Trump really going out of his own way to stop Merz boring everyone with his ceasefire talk for at least one night.

https://x.com/M_Simonyan/status/1957567641423343833

1957567641423343833

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Ukraine has offered Trump a $100 billion deal to purchase American weapons in exchange for so-called “security guarantees,” the Financial Times reports, citing official documents.

Kiev outlined its intention to buy at least 10 Patriot air defense systems, along with other missiles and military equipment. In addition, Ukraine and the U.S. plan to sign a separate $50 billion agreement for drone production involving Ukrainian companies.

Poof... there goes your money Eurobros..

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957559045390549087

1957559045390549087


🇺🇦🇺🇸🇷🇺 Kiev also demands full compensation from Russia for war damages, potentially to be paid out of the $300 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets held in the West. Any easing of sanctions, the document adds, should only come if Russia abides by a future peace agreement and “plays fair.”

Yeah that's never going to happen. Guess Zelensky chose violence.

🇺🇦🇺🇸🇷🇺 NO DEAL.

Kiev rejects any agreements that involve territorial concessions to Russia and insists on a ceasefire as the first step toward a broader peace deal, according to a Ukrainian government document.

Kiev also rejects Putin’s proposal made to Trump in Alaska, to freeze the front line if Ukrainian forces withdraw from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

The document claims this would create “a staging ground for further rapid Russian advances toward the Dnepr” and allow Putin “to achieve his goals of aggression by other means.”

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1957560616891424933

1957560616891424933

[Ravenlocke]

From Moon of Alabama,

New on MoA:
Europe Demands 'Security Guarantees' For Ukraine ... Russia Can Give Those
https://moonofalabama.org/2025/08/europe-demands-security-guarantees-for-ukraine-russia-can-give-those.html

https://x.com/MoonofA/status/1957470003101384733
1957470003101384733

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/08/europe-demands-security-guarantees-for-ukraine-russia-can-give-those.html

Europe Demands 'Security Guarantees' For Ukraine ... Russia Can Give Those
August 18, 2025

Europe Demands 'Security Guarantees' For Ukraine ... Russia Can Give Those

Later today U.S. President Donald Trump will meet the (former) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski to talk about the results of last week's summit between Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. As a result of that summit both sides declared that the war in Ukraine must be ended with an all-encompassing peace agreement. That again will require for Ukraine to give up on certain territories and to become a neutral country.

Zelenski will try to induce Trump to return to his previous position. Trump had earlier demanded an immediate ceasefire from Russia at the current frontline. But after trying he had found that he had no way to achieving that. Trump had to agree to Russia positions because there was no other way left to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump is notoriously prone to change his position from one talk to another. This time however I believe that he will stick to his agreement with Putin.

Zelenski will be told to file for peace with Russia under whatever condition Russia will demand from him.

After the talk with Zelenski Trump will have a meet and greet with a bunch of European premiers, chancellors and presidents. They want the war to continue which requires to keep the U.S. involved in it.

Their main talking point and request will be a 'security guarantee' for Ukraine which, they say, will require U.S. involvement and backing.

Being asked about it during an interview Trump's Russia envoy Stephen Witkoff gave a polite response (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/amid-pressure-on-zelensky-to-make-deal-us-to-offer-some-security-guarantees/ar-AA1KG26R):
“The United States is potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees, but not from NATO — directly from the United States and other European countries,” Witkoff said in a “Fox News Sunday” interview.The meaning of "is ... potentially ... prepared ... to be able ... " in this context must be translated into "No way that's gonna happen!"

Two years ago I had already discussed the question of security guarantees for Ukraine (https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/07/who-can-guarantee-ukraines-security.html):
The Ukraine is now obviously losing the war. It will soon need to sign a capitulation like ceasefire agreement with Russia. But who or what can guarantee that any such agreement will be held up?
NATO membership is no longer an option.
...
A direct full security guarantee from Washington to Kiev is also impossible. It would create a high likelihood of a direct war between the U.S. and Russia which would soon become nuclear. The U.S. will not want to risk that.
...
Russia's might makes even an attempt of an Israel like security guarantee for Ukraine too costly for the U.S. and thereby simply impossible.
There is only one country in the world that can guarantee peace in Ukraine and the security of its borders. That country is Russia!
But any such guarantee will of course come with conditions attached to it. Either Ukraine will accept those or it will never be secure from outer interference.
That is simply a fact of life Ukraine has had to, and will have to live with.
Alastair Crooke suggests (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBruXRLYNk) (video) that the peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine will follow the outline of the Istanbul Agreement negotiated in March 2022 between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine, under pressure from the West, had at that time refrained from signing it.

The Istanbul Agreement did include (https://www.glostat.com/documents-countries/main-provisions-of-treaty-on-ukraines-security-guarantees-istanbul-communiqu%C3%A9-2022/) security guarantees (emphasis added):
The agreement assumes:
...
2. Possible guarantor states: Great Britain, China, Russia, the United States, France, Turkey, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland, Israel. The free accession of other states to the treaty is proposed, in particular the Russian Federation proposes Belarus.
...
4. Ukraine does not join any military alliances, does not deploy foreign military bases and contingents, and conducts international military exercises only with the consent of the guarantor states. For their part, the guarantor states confirm their intention to promote Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. 5. The guarantor states and Ukraine agree that in the event of aggression, any armed attack on Ukraine or any military operation against Ukraine, each of the Guarantor States, after urgent and immediate consultations between them (which shall be held within no more than three days), in the exercise of the right to individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will provide (in response to and on the basis of an official request from Ukraine) assistance to Ukraine, as a permanently neutral state under attack, by immediately taking such individual or joint action as may be necessary, including closing airspace over Ukraine, providing necessary weapons, using armed force in order to restore and subsequently maintain the security of Ukraine as a permanently neutral state.
Any such armed attack (any military operation) and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall cease when the Security Council takes the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
The mechanism for implementing security guarantees for Ukraine, based on the results of additional consultations between Ukraine and the Guarantor States, will be regulated in the Treaty, taking into account protection from possible provocations.
Again:
... such guarantee will of course come with conditions attached to it. Either Ukraine will accept those or it will never be secure from outer interference.So yes, the Ukraine can have 'security guarantees'. But the conditions of those will be set by the main guarantor - which has to be Russia.

Trump seems to have understood that. How long will it take those European 'leaders' to get it?

[Ravenlocke]

Yes - Finland lost territory after siding with Nazi Germany


⚡️Finnish President Stubb:

We have a long border with Russia. We have our own historical experience with Russia.

We found a solution in 1944, I am sure that we will be able to find a solution in 2025.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1957539318844755989

1957539318844755989


Stubb: "We found a solution in 1944, I believe we can in 2025."

Completely unprompted, Finland decides to remind world it fought against Russians alongside the Nazis.

In a war it lost, which resulted in Finland ceding its territory, paying reparations, and charging its own leader with war crimes.

Thanks for that contribution.

https://x.com/M_Simonyan/status/1957541546963746922

1957541546963746922

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 After doing Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu’s dry cleaning Melania Trump decided to ask Putin the end the war for the “innocent children.”

This comes AFTER the USA stopped medical visas for Palestinian children injured by THEIR BOMBS!

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1956827198536700029

1956827198536700029



From RT,

Lugansk schoolgirl writes back to 'Mrs. Trump' that Melania should send that letter to Zelensky

Faina notes only Donbass kids 'living under shelling by the Ukrainian army for 11 years now', years before Russia moved to defend them

Based?
https://x.com/RT_com/status/1957302498873528377

1957302498873528377

[Jaak]

Yes - Finland lost territory after siding with Nazi Germany


Germany and soviet union were allies when soviets tried to invade Finland. So they lost territory before siding with germany. They sided with germany in an attempt to conquer back what they had lost.
And yet finland is the bad guy because they fought back and didnt let themselves get invaded totally .

In the end of the war Finland fought against Germany with some minor help and collaboration from soviet union .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War

[syrwong]

Although clairvoyance cannot be used as "proof" of anything, often I like to consider it seriously. After all, "real evidence" and news report wIth cesored images should always be viewed with skepticism these days. This clairvoyant vision of the Polish seer is worth pondering.

45BJVGLs_7I

Could this be the truth - their talk was not about making peace, but quite the opposite? I wondered why Putin agreed to the meeting at a US military base. The oddities are
1. Why was Putin not worried about his own safety? It is quite 'obvious' for laymen that US are Russia are long time enemies and he could even be arrested for war crimes. Why the greetings were so cordial?
2. Meeting at the enemies' army base is a humiliation by most standards. Normally shouldn't it be held in a neutral territory, or in a room at the UN?

[gini]

'Trump reveals details of Zelenskyy meeting, teases next move with Putin'. -kKnpQpKI-oE 25 minute interview with president Trump .19/8/25

[Ravenlocke]

Maria Zakharova:

“At yesterday’s meeting in Washington, the President of Finland, Stubb, literally said the following: “Finland has an extensive border with Russia and has its own experience of interacting with this country during World War II. We found a solution in 1944, and I am confident that we can find a solution in 2025.”

The big question is whether Stubb fully understood the hell of his own statement.

Let’s dive into history.

From 1939 to 1940 and from 1941 to 1944, Finland was in a state of armed conflict with the Soviet Union.

As a result of Finnish provocations, the Soviet-Finnish War began, which Helsinki lost. Then there was a short pause, and afterward Finland openly sided with Hitler and declared war on the USSR three days after the start of the Wehrmacht’s Operation Barbarossa.

Finland’s allies to Hitler matched their role. As the Finnish politician Väinö Voionmaa of that time wrote: “We are an Axis state [Rome-Berlin-Tokyo], and we are mobilized for attack.”

Finland committed real war crimes, which it itself acknowledged in November 1945 following trials of Finnish war criminals.

It was the Finns who played a crucial supporting role for the German Army Group North during the Siege of Leningrad—a genocide of the Soviet people. Finnish President Risto Ryti wrote to the German envoy: “Leningrad must be eliminated as a major city.”

From hunger, cold, bombings, and artillery fire in besieged Leningrad, at least 1,093,842 people died, and according to some estimates, up to 1.5 million. Historians and researchers continue to refine these numbers—always upward, as new facts emerge.

In 2022, the St. Petersburg City Court recognized the actions of the German occupation authorities and troops, together with their collaborators, including Finnish armed units, as “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide of national and ethnic groups that constituted the population of the Soviet Union.”

This is the kind of “experience of interaction” Helsinki invested in from 1941–1943.

Is that what Stubb is referring to?

It’s worth reminding that Berlin continues to differentiate Leningrad blockade victims by nationality, making payments only to Jews, even though during those years all the city’s residents died from hunger caused by the blockade, and Finnish and German artillery killed all Leningraders, regardless of their background.

The civilian population suffering under Finnish occupation still remembered the atrocities of the White Finns during the Civil War (“Vyborg Massacre” and other incidents), and the old veterans of Mannerheim continued committing them against Slavic and Karelian populations in the USSR. In occupied Soviet Karelia, the Finns established over 14 concentration camps for civilians, through which 50,000 people passed. Prisoners were crammed so tightly that in rooms of 15–20 square meters there were 20–25 people, i.e., one square meter per person. About a third of the prisoners were killed or died from hunger, cold, or unbearable conditions.

Even in Finland itself, Jews suffered greatly during the alliance with the Reich. Finns served in punitive units of the SS “Viking” Division. Jews living in the country were forbidden to work, and some were handed over to the Gestapo.

And it must be admitted that in one respect, Stubb is correct: in 1944, a solution to the problem with Finland was found. It was called the Moscow Armistice.

Helsinki renounced Hitler and the Nazis, joined the war on the side of the USSR, and the Lapland War began. Finland’s former allies turned their guns against Nazi Germany. Historians agree that Finland had no choice. The victorious Red Army was sweeping away the Reich and its allies across the front line, and the cunning Finns decided to make a separate peace with the USSR to avoid ending up as a defeated country at the conclusion of World War II.

So, if Stubb intends to act like in 1944, he should turn against his recent Nazi allies and start hitting the Kyiv regime

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1957697386320433390

1957697386320433390

[Ravenlocke]

The Melania letter to Putin was a carefully crafted set up to gain leverage over Russia, and to further US involvement in the war should a Ukraine deal not get done.

Lindsey Graham (in a scripted Fox News interview) was asked about the Melania letter and he floated the possbility of declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror.

Ursula brought up the children (as referenced in Melania's letter) yesterday to Trump. Trump did not catch on to where Ursula was going, but it was obvious that her statement was carefully scripted to add weight to the Melania letter narrative.

Finally, Zelensky handed a letter to Trump from his wife Olena to be given to Melania, commending her for broaching the topic of Ukraine children and Putin.

The US is very good at manufacturing consent, and the Melania letter was just that. Should a resolution to Ukraine not come then the Melania letter may be the launchpad to continued US escalation, including a push from Congress to designate Russia a state sponsor of terror, and for Trump and the US to remain bogged down in project Ukraine.

https://x.com/AXChristoforou/status/1957712000177307785

1957712000177307785

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic

🇺🇦🇷🇺 Meanwhile: Another exchange of dead soldiers, 1000 Ukrainian bodies for 19 Russian.

We keep hearing about how Russian gains are coming at an astronomical cost - but all actual metrics suggest otherwise.

This is whether its the US-UK propaganda organization Mediazona admitting to declining Russian losses, exchanges like this, or the admitted nature of the fighting taking place on the battlefield according to the Western media itself...

h/t
@squatsons

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1957789745825869975

1957789745825869975

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic,

🇺🇲🇪🇺🇷🇺🇺🇦 Because what just took place in Washington was theater, we will need to wait until the US announces its actual decisions regarding:

- how it will try to freeze the Ukraine war THE US started and STILL perpetuates (not end it);

- how it will betray whatever promises it makes Russia (if Russia affords the US this opportunity);

- and how the US will use the freeze in Ukraine to begin wider confrontation, death and destruction elsewhere.

There is no US-European divide.

Europe's leadership was installed into power by the same unelected interest the Trump administration and all other US administrations serve.

The "divide" is simply used to provide the US distance from whatever its European proxies do while the US pivots from Ukraine to an equally senseless confrontation with China.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1957699241943658823

1957699241943658823

Even amid the theater, the reoccurring theme was;

- freeze the war;

- deploy Western troops to Ukraine to ensure it stays frozen;

- rearm Ukraine with billions in US weapons;

In other words, Minsk 3.0.

Which is LITERALLY, EXACTLY what US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth laid out in February in Brussels and the only actual options the US and Europe have
begun preparing for since then...

All "Europe" is doing to "ruin" "Trump's peace plan" is EXACTLY what the Trump administration told them to do in February.

https://defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/

From February onward, Europe's primary focus has been preparing to implement WASHINGTON'S directives.

- more money for NATO;
- expanding arms production;
- "doubling down" on support for Ukraine;
- preparing a coalition of the willing to deploy to Ukraine;
- a "division of labor" between US war/proxy war in Europe and the "Indo-Pacific;"

A nation that is enthusiastically bombing Iran and eagerly preparing for war with China doesn't want "peace" with Russia - it wants a pause so it can defeat its enemies in detail because it is incapable of defeating them all at once.

That is what the Trump administration itself has publicly said, that is the reoccuring theme across years of policy papers - that is what they are openly doing, and that is what Europe is obediently aiding the US to do.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1957722164469330421

1957722164469330421

[Ravenlocke]

US Air Force Chief of Staff, David Allvin announces his unexpected resignation before the due date

Will be out by November 1st

Unclear if Allvin chose to retire or was asked to by Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, who has fired several senior military officers since January

https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1957684459546833107

1957684459546833107

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov just gave his FIRST MAJOR INTERVIEW after the Putin-Trump summit last Friday

Here are the highlights🧵👇

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1957796845880545350

1957796845880545350

1️⃣ Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska shows the US team’s genuine desire for long-term solution - Lavrov

2️⃣ Lavrov: Our goal has been to protect Russians

Russia has never aimed to simply seize territory, whether it’s Crimea, Donbass, or Novorossiya, he adds.

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1957796851228303611

1957796851228303611

3️⃣ "If Ukraine rejects neutrality and NATO non-membership, then the provisions that were the basis for recognizing Ukraine's independence disappear" — Russian FM

4️⃣ Trump has been invited to Russia, Lavrov informs

https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1957796856500523392

1957796856500523392


After the Alaska summit, ‘Trump and his team have taken a much deeper approach to resolving [Ukraine] crisis’

Lavrov points to NATO’s constant violation of promises NOT to expand eastward

‘There have been 5 waves of NATO expansion since these promises were made’


https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1957753676690346117

1957753676690346117

[Ravenlocke]

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇦🪖💀 Ukrainian forces tried to stage a provocation deep inside Russian territory to show #Trump they were still capable of conducting sabotage operations.

A Ukrainian sabotage-reconnaissance group crossed into Bryansk region through the forests, but Russian special forces units were waiting. In a short clash, three Kiev regime fighters were killed, while three others — including their commander, a captain of Ukraine’s special operations forces — were captured. The commander immediately surrendered, lying face down with his hands raised as soon as the shooting started.

The group carried explosives, firearms, communications gear, and navigation equipment. Their exact mission was will be detailed later by #Russian authorities. #Ukraine

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1957836013923115062

1957836013923115062

[bojancan]

Good talk by both of them...

Aug, 18
Rachel Blevins
141K subscribers
Zelensky, EU Visit IRRELEVANT, Russia is Demilitarizing NATO –Andrei Martyanov
o2_uX9VLrdw


Trump was joined by Zelensky and a slew of European politicians at the White House on Monday, following his summit with Putin in Alaska. But while there was talk of “security guarantees” for Kiev and Trump made it clear he is now pushing for a deal to end the war, rather than a temporary ceasefire, there’s still no indication NATO is planning to address Russia’s list of “root causes” anytime soon.

Veteran, Author and Russian Military Expert, Andrei Martyanov, noted that the frenzy at the White House was largely irrelevant, as Western politicians can pledge whatever they want, but they don’t have the weapons and capacity to back it up. And Russia is still making progress on the battlefield where it is “demilitarizing NATO” in this proxy war.

[Ravenlocke]

Gilbert Doktorow: We’re living in the dark ages—full of hate, vile propaganda, and impunity. Leaders like Kallas and Baerbock are morons, and democracy is putting such savages in power.

“We’re living in the dark ages. It’s very sad to say, but we’re living in the dark ages. This is a period of hate, a period of vile propaganda, a period of impunity, where those who have committed crimes, including high crimes and treason, walk away without ever being brought to court and with no fear that their crimes will be fully exposed.

Anybody who was following Dick Cheney must have understood the man was mentally ill just by his crooked smile. But you couldn’t speak about it because that’s an ad hominem remark. I mean, the smile is something you make, and it tells you something about what’s behind the face.

What can you say about Kaja Kallas? She’s a laughingstock of Russia. What can you say about Annalena Baerbock? The German we have in this cabinet—a moron like that, I mean, she’s a moron—is unthinkable. And so how can you look for respect, diplomacy, and the rest of it for people who are savages, uneducated, with no knowledge of anything, people who speak about a 360-degree change of opinion? This is beneath contempt.

I think we have to look at the democratic processes that are putting these morons in power.”

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1957555746599739498

1957555746599739498


Full interview here,

tyzGNH5vO0g

[Tintin]

The Melania letter to Putin was a carefully crafted set up to gain leverage over Russia, and to further US involvement in the war should a Ukraine deal not get done.

Lindsey Graham (in a scripted Fox News interview) was asked about the Melania letter and he floated the possbility of declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror.

Ursula brought up the children (as referenced in Melania's letter) yesterday to Trump. Trump did not catch on to where Ursula was going, but it was obvious that her statement was carefully scripted to add weight to the Melania letter narrative.

Finally, Zelensky handed a letter to Trump from his wife Olena to be given to Melania, commending her for broaching the topic of Ukraine children and Putin.

The US is very good at manufacturing consent, and the Melania letter was just that. Should a resolution to Ukraine not come then the Melania letter may be the launchpad to continued US escalation, including a push from Congress to designate Russia a state sponsor of terror, and for Trump and the US to remain bogged down in project Ukraine.

https://x.com/AXChristoforou/status/1957712000177307785

1957712000177307785

Somebody needs to tell Melania this (linked below and posted here August 9th (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?114491-WW3-Ukraine-US-vs.-Donbass-Russia&p=1680231&viewfull=1#post1680231)), and show it to Donald: oh, and the Gollum on Bankova Street's wife features too. The ICC have issued the warrant to the wrong individual of course.

The content is way punchier than the carefully crafted description, by the way.

Re-posting, and it's a must watch:

-----------------------------------

The Child Traders

A documentary by Andrew Bridgen in co-operation with Urban Scoop: this is one hell of a rabbit hole, and names are named.

From War to Exploitation: The Crisis of Child Trafficking in Ukraine

azhQJpXT5PI

Description:


14,562 views Premiered 18 hours ago #UrbanScoop #Ukraine #ChildProtection
Support our work here - https://www.urbanscoop.news/support-us/

In this explosive Urban Scoop investigation, we examine serious allegations of child trafficking in Ukraine — claims that connect the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Britain’s MI6, and the UK Foreign Office. The investigation also raises questions about corporate entities operating under the banner of protecting vulnerable children in war-torn regions.

Former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen plays a key role in bringing these allegations to public attention, demanding answers and transparency at the highest levels.

This in-depth report includes:

First-hand testimonies and whistleblower accounts

Alleged links between intelligence agencies and humanitarian organisations

Examination of structures set up to protect — and potentially exploit — displaced children

The political and international implications if these allegations are proven true

Urban Scoop is committed to investigating stories that others shy away from — giving voice to the voiceless and holding those in power to account.

📢 Watch, share, and join the conversation.
The safety of vulnerable children is not a political issue — it’s a human one.

#UrbanScoop #Ukraine #ChildProtection #AndrewBridgen #HumanRights #InvestigativeJournalism

[Tintin]

My original thought on the summit between Trump and Putin was that it had a chance of achieving peace, but the simple act of Lavrov wearing a Soviet Union sweatshirt now leads me to believe that Putin does not want peace.The broad understanding among everyone in the Global Majority (and in Russia!) is that Lavrov was just trolling. :)

But what's so very interesting is that the shirt has immediately sold out in Russia, with a two-month waiting list. If I was Russian, I'd probably have bought one too. I'm pretty sure it's all about Russian pride, nothing more, and certainly not about any 'expansionist' agenda. (Russia does not need any more land!)

Trolling of the highest calibre, yes, as clearly evidenced by Ravenlocke's video post here (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?114491-WW3-Ukraine-US-vs.-Donbass-Russia&p=1681305&viewfull=1#post1681305) showing the delegations enjoying the joke :)

[Rizotto]

Brian Berletic,

🇺🇲🇪🇺🇷🇺🇺🇦 Because what just took place in Washington was theater, we will need to wait until the US announces its actual decisions regarding:

- how it will try to freeze the Ukraine war THE US started and STILL perpetuates (not end it);

- how it will betray whatever promises it makes Russia (if Russia affords the US this opportunity);

- and how the US will use the freeze in Ukraine to begin wider confrontation, death and destruction elsewhere.

There is no US-European divide.

Europe's leadership was installed into power by the same unelected interest the Trump administration and all other US administrations serve.

The "divide" is simply used to provide the US distance from whatever its European proxies do while the US pivots from Ukraine to an equally senseless confrontation with China.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1957699241943658823

1957699241943658823

Even amid the theater, the reoccurring theme was;

- freeze the war;

- deploy Western troops to Ukraine to ensure it stays frozen;

- rearm Ukraine with billions in US weapons;

In other words, Minsk 3.0.

Which is LITERALLY, EXACTLY what US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth laid out in February in Brussels and the only actual options the US and Europe have
begun preparing for since then...

All "Europe" is doing to "ruin" "Trump's peace plan" is EXACTLY what the Trump administration told them to do in February.

https://defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/

From February onward, Europe's primary focus has been preparing to implement WASHINGTON'S directives.

- more money for NATO;
- expanding arms production;
- "doubling down" on support for Ukraine;
- preparing a coalition of the willing to deploy to Ukraine;
- a "division of labor" between US war/proxy war in Europe and the "Indo-Pacific;"

A nation that is enthusiastically bombing Iran and eagerly preparing for war with China doesn't want "peace" with Russia - it wants a pause so it can defeat its enemies in detail because it is incapable of defeating them all at once.

That is what the Trump administration itself has publicly said, that is the reoccuring theme across years of policy papers - that is what they are openly doing, and that is what Europe is obediently aiding the US to do.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1957722164469330421

1957722164469330421

Brian Berletic is exactly lining up all that's happening and, based on prior events, arrives at the most plausible conclusion. Even if we wish it wasn't true, it doesn't nullify the fact that the Trump administration and NATO members have done nothing of substance to stop these wars, nor offered credible solutions.

There still is the question of why exactly the sharp Russians participated in this 'Alaska Summit' theatre at all. The only reason I can come up with is that they wish to send the message to the world that they're ready and able to talk peace. Just a big PR event, it seems.

[Bruce G Charlton]

@Rizotto - I share your perspective.

"There still is the question of why exactly the sharp Russians participated in this 'Alaska Summit' theatre at all. "

I fear/ suspect (as does BB) that the participation is another (among others) sign, not of sharpness, but of increasing Russian leadership's loss of clear comprehension, a weakness of resolution, gullibility, fatigue. In other words they seem to be tempted by a strategy of appeasement. And as such they are doomed not just to failure, but to yield counter-productive outcomes for Russia.

The trouble is that there is no real "answer" to the global problem of escalating spiteful and destructive aggression from the collapsing, self-loathing/ self-assertive US-Western Empire; headed by a (puppet) leadership class who do not value and indeed loathe the people of the nations they "lead". Appeasement does not work (it has been tried and failed).

Deterrence does not work - because (by repeated and increasing provocations of Russia, Iran, China etc) the Western leaders are apparently just looking for a pseudo-plausible excuse coercively to hurl their populations en masse into a colossal war.

So I don't think there is any "safe" strategy that non-Western nations can adopt that has a good chance of success against such a foe as the West has become.

But multiple experiences indicate that any attempt at agreements treaties, commitments, contracts, or the like - will certainly fail to the detriment of the non-West; because such "agreements" are merely manipulations; an agreement will be made (as BB describes with Minsk I and II) dishonestly from the start, in bad faith; made in order to be subverted, taken advantage of, and turned against the non-Western party.

So the non-Western party will soon find themselves in a much worse position than before the treaty/ cease-fire, or whatever it might be.

It makes common sense to face the unavoidable problem now, rather than put-off the tough decision - only to face a worse problem later.

[Tintin]

The only reason I can come up with is that they wish to send the message to the world that they're ready and able to talk peace. Just a big PR event, it seems.

Yes, I'm inclined to agree there concerning PR. It was a highly-visible public event designed to show the world that at least they have begun a process of rapprochement, of some sort. And Trump wants his Nobel Prize nomination too let's not forget :)

I have to admit both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump were on very good form: both were on a charm offensive.

All the real nitty-gritty continues behind the scenes. As astute a commentator as Brian Berletic is I maintain he has overdone the black pills, and I'm keeping him at arms length for a while. He's not really offering any startling new insights on the situation at the moment, anymore than any of us already have here, or other valuable commentators in the wider space with whom we're familiar: he's becoming a little too predictable for my liking just now. That may change of course.

[Tintin]

Via Simplicius on X (https://x.com/simpatico771/status/1957525841589813576):

Text:


"A realization is starting to dawn on the Ministry of Truth's stooges at the Telegraph: Russia is not a paper tiger.

After decades of mockery, after years portraying Russia as a backward country that doesn't even have functioning toilets (yet somehow has a metro that is orders of magnitude better, cleaner, and safer than London's or New York's), whatever neurons left in their globalist brains are starting to spin.

This is the result. Panic and alarm.

Russia's military output surpasses the entire West's, its army is now the strongest and most experienced on the entire continent (if not the world), while its economy has shown excellent resilience. And now, the economy, along with its society, has pivoted towards Asia. The dream of a Russia that looked west and was willing to sell its soul for some consumer goods is now over. Forever.

Europe? The mockup of a giant with feet of clay. And it won't get better."

ZradaXXII

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyqHLd5WMAAw3gm?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Rizotto]

Brian Berletic isn't all black pill. In some of his previous commentaries, Berletic pointed to the fact that the world's inexorable shift towards the BRICS as one of the major ways that will ensure Russia's win over the debt-ridden and morally bankrupt 'west'. I think he's quite correct about that. Even if Russia sustains bad damage from some military attack, there is still the ongoing growth of the BRICS with new members joining and distancing themselves from USA control, and consolidating wealth among themselves.

[Bruce G Charlton]

@Tintin - IMO "Black Pill" is a calculatedly manipulative term, mostly used by those who are trying to sell something or buff their career!

What matters is truth (as best we know it), and that doesn't change with the mass media headlines. BB is predictable because the underlying geopolitical strategies change only very slowly. Terry Boardman has documented (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Hostility-Russia-Background-Ukraine/dp/1915776074?crid=3P9F5UB3W2LVY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QLU1iqaBK58v23-EtTGqprgoUaas36ZkI6I1uH4dfeKkSPqokzzUNzeLzUoKOMBX9bWjAyrejHQ8t8IkNP8zbZp8C42DVsVPXt9oe4L1t5aak8EYHjK 6-ICrlDZQJ93JK_RZm4iz6W6wOOqdBTb_Bg.nVfFIXHvflFK-gMCaBe0YGePpyhXOBlZEOUrYFRk1Eo&dib_tag=se&keywords=terry+boardman&qid=1755681892&s=books&sprefix=terry+boardman%2Cstripbooks%2C100&sr=1-1) how the current Western strategy wrt Russia originated in late 19th century - so thats already about 150 years. A couple of days last week doesn't alter such things.

Terry Boardman's argument can also be read in four parts on (http://threeman.org/?p=3050) his (http://threeman.org/?p=3076) web (http://threeman.org/?p=3097) pages (http://threeman.org/?p=3104).

[Tintin]

@Tintin - IMO "Black Pill" is a calculatedly manipulative term, mostly used by those who are trying to sell something or buff their career!

What matters is truth (as best we know it), and that doesn't change with the mass media headlines. BB is predictable because the underlying geopolitical strategies change only very slowly. Terry Boardman has documented (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Hostility-Russia-Background-Ukraine/dp/1915776074?crid=3P9F5UB3W2LVY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QLU1iqaBK58v23-EtTGqprgoUaas36ZkI6I1uH4dfeKkSPqokzzUNzeLzUoKOMBX9bWjAyrejHQ8t8IkNP8zbZp8C42DVsVPXt9oe4L1t5aak8EYHjK 6-ICrlDZQJ93JK_RZm4iz6W6wOOqdBTb_Bg.nVfFIXHvflFK-gMCaBe0YGePpyhXOBlZEOUrYFRk1Eo&dib_tag=se&keywords=terry+boardman&qid=1755681892&s=books&sprefix=terry+boardman%2Cstripbooks%2C100&sr=1-1) how the current Western strategy wrt Russia originated in late 19th century - so thats already about 150 years. A couple of days last week doesn't alter such things.

Terry Boardman's argument can also be read in four parts on (http://threeman.org/?p=3050) his (http://threeman.org/?p=3076) web (http://threeman.org/?p=3097) pages (http://threeman.org/?p=3104).

Totally agree with regards to 'truth' as best we can determine that: a noble and landmine ridden path but worth the pursuit :flower:

Terry Boardman's articles are a must read and anyone viewing this post and response is urged to give them time. They have also been saved to our library.

[Tintin]

Brian Berletic isn't all black pill. In some of his previous commentaries, Berletic pointed to the fact that the world's inexorable shift towards the BRICS as one of the major ways that will ensure Russia's win over the debt-ridden and morally bankrupt 'west'. I think he's quite correct about that. Even if Russia sustains bad damage from some military attack, there is still the ongoing growth of the BRICS with new members joining and distancing themselves from USA control, and consolidating wealth among themselves.

Well, yes, and I agree for the most part, and, certainly in the past. Today he's just going over ground that others have trod. I've no gripe with him, truly, and he's certainly heads-and-shoulders above a lot of commentators out there. I'm attempting to draw my own conclusions absent too much external noise at the moment.

[Tintin]

Another development and I'm inclined to give this some credence.

From DD Geopolitics (https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1958095123352301682)

Text:


🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Ukraine’s Military Losses Exposed: 1.7 Million Dead and Missing

Russian hackers have reportedly breached the Ukrainian General Staff’s database, revealing catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the compromised digital registry, if the data is correct, Ukraine lost 1,721,000 troops killed or missing over three years of the conflict. The breakdown is:

118,500 in 2022
405,400 in 2023
595,000 in 2024
621,000 in 2025 — the heaviest year yet

Each record contains names, circumstances and locations of death or disappearance, personal details, family contacts, and photographs.

The hack was carried out by groups including Killnet, Palach Pro, User Sec, and Beregini.

The hackers now hold terabytes of sensitive material: full loss registries, personal data of Ukraine’s Special Operations and intelligence command, as well as lists of all foreign arms suppliers and the weapons delivered from 2022 to 2025.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyyNIfTWIAAlcBR?format=jpg&name=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyyNIgZWcAABu5d?format=jpg&name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyyNIhcXAAEiDvx?format=jpg&name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GyyNIh8WYAAjHMh?format=jpg&name=large

----------------

Let's hope the US administration gets to see some real numbers of lives lost on the Ukraine side and not the inhumane slop that is being served to him - President Trump - through Kiev and his so-called 'advisers'. We knew the numbers were tragically large: this is a disaster :flower:

[Vicus]

The assault on Konstantinovka has begun: the Russian Armed Forces have eliminated the “pocket” south of Predtechino and advanced west -today

Units of the Russian Armed Forces eliminated the "pocket" between the settlements of Predtechino and Aleksandro-Shultino to the east of Konstantinovka. The surviving militants were forced to retreat chaotically to Konstantinovka.

Also, according to a number of sources, the advance units of our army entered Konstantinovka from the Predtechino side. Confident control has been established up to Volkhovskaya Street, and fighting has begun in the area of Samarkandskaya Street. In addition, continuing to act according to tactics that have repeatedly proven highly effective, the Russian army is confidently forming another "pocket" - this time in the Shakhovo area.

As expected, after the final liberation of Chasov Yar, Russian troops began the active phase of the offensive on Konstantinovka. This rather large settlement is a key node of the enemy's defense on the approaches to the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration. The loss of Konstantinovka will mean a serious erosion of the defensive belt in front of the last major line in the western part of the DPR for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Confident control over Chasov Yar allowed the Russian Armed Forces to free up some of their reserves, thus opening up the possibility of increasing pressure simultaneously on several sections of the front. At the same time, Konstantinovka, like the neighboring chain of settlements occupied by the enemy - from Alekseevo-Druzhkovka to Druzhkovka itself, lies in a lowland, which creates the possibility of exerting a dense fire impact on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area.

https://en.topwar.ru/269899-nachalo-shturma-konstantinovki-vs-rf-likvidirovali-karman-juzhnee-predtechino-i-prodvinulis-na-zapad.html

[Vicus]

The Russian Armed Forces are starting to form a new cauldron for the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the border with the Dnepropetrovsk region - today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/57963d5565_ng1.webp

Having crossed the western border of the DPR, units of the “Vostok” group of the Russian Armed Forces are increasing their presence in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

Our troops are currently advancing towards Novogeorgievka, located not far from the borders of Donbass. Thus, the Russian Armed Forces are approaching the enemy group defending Kamyshevakha from the southwest.

The Ukrainian garrison in the village and enemy units to the east of it may find themselves in a difficult situation, cut off from supply lines. A number of experts suggest that battles for Kamyshevakha may begin in the near future. Russian military firepower is already increasing on Ukrainian positions and fortifications in this section of the front. The enemy is suffering losses in equipment and manpower here.

From the northern flank of this area, the Russian Armed Forces are also conducting active offensive operations. Active battles are underway for Yanvarskoye, where Russian assault units have managed to gain a foothold in this settlement and continue its liberation. And in the Novoselovka area, combat aviation The Russian Federation launched four high-explosive air bombs at a forest belt where Ukrainian servicemen were located in dugouts.

All this may indicate that the Russian Armed Forces are beginning to form a new cauldron for the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the border of the DPR with the Dnepropetrovsk region. However, the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from this area would probably also suit the Russian command.

https://en.topwar.ru/269871-vs-rossii-nachinajut-formirovat-novyj-kotel-dlja-vsu-na-granice-s-dnepropetrovskoj-oblastju.html

[Vicus]

Russian Iskander visits Azov temporary deployment point in Slavyansk -today

The Russian Armed Forces have closed down a temporary deployment point for units from the 3rd separate assault brigade "Azov"* (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) in Slavyansk. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The military department posted footage of the strike on the temporary deployment point of the Azov* brigade in Slavyansk. According to available information, the strike was carried out rocket operational-tactical complex "Iskander". The results were monitored by the intelligence UAV. Most likely, the coordinates of the PVD were transmitted to ours by locals, and after checking their accuracy, a missile with a high-explosive warhead was fired at the PVD.

"An Iskander OTRK crew struck a temporary deployment point of the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Slavyansk region of the DPR."
- Reported in the Ministry of Defense.

The details of the strike are not provided, so there is no data on the losses of the nationalists from "Azov"*. The authorities of Slovyansk, controlled by Kyiv, are also not commenting on the nighttime landing.

It is worth noting that in recent days our forces have been very actively processing the frontline zone, covering the locations of the UAVs and mercenaries, warehouses, systems Defense etc. Moreover, both Geraniums and Iskanders operate. The former mainly at night, the latter around the clock.

https://en.topwar.ru/269896-rossijskij-iskander-posetil-punkt-vremennoj-dislokacii-azova-v-slavjanske.html

[Vicus]

Azov counteroffensive fails: Russian Armed Forces thwart enemy attempts to "cut off" salient north of Pokrovsk - today

Footage has been published online showing the moments when the equipment of the Azov* militants (*a terrorist organization banned in Russia) deployed by the Ukrainian command for the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) area was destroyed.

Despite the fact that the widely publicized Nazi formation in Ukraine used the Ukrainian Armed Forces to try to recapture the positions lost by the Ukrainian Armed Forces Tanks, armored fighting vehicles with infantry, motorized groups and pickups, the enemy was unable to break through the defense of the Russian Armed Forces on this section of the front. The video shows that fighters of the "Center" group successfully destroy the forces of the "elite" units of the enemy.

Currently, high-intensity fighting continues north of Pokrovsk in the area of our breakthrough near the settlement of Zolotoy Kolodez, where the enemy, in the hope of stopping the advance of the Russian Armed Forces, has pulled up numerous reserves, including the above-mentioned “elite” formation.

Despite the enemy's hasty transfer of significant forces to the Pokrovsk direction, our troops were able to advance northwest of Poltavka in the vicinity of the settlement of Sofiyivka. In general, the activity of Russian troops continues to increase in this section of the combat contact line, which operates in the format of consistent pressure by small assault groups, avoiding direct frontal attacks. The main goal is to gradually weaken the enemy's defenses, break through them in vulnerable areas.

https://en.topwar.ru/269845-kontrnastuplenie-azova-provalilos-vs-rf-presekli-popytki-protivnika-srezat-vystup-k-severu-ot-pokrovska.html

[Vicus]

Kyiv conceals facts of participation of citizens of European countries in military operations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-08/thumbs/2c676cae94_1.webp

Not only a large number of Ukrainian citizens are fighting in the ranks of the Russian army, but also many Europeans. This was reported by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. As the department explains, anti-fascists from Bulgaria, Greece, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain and other countries of the continent are serving in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces. However, the Kiev regime is carefully concealing this information.

"When such volunteers are captured, the Ukrainian authorities do not include them in the exchange lists, but hand them over to European countries under the obligation not to allow such a fact to be made public in the media."
– the Foreign Intelligence Service notes.

They add that Kiev propaganda is trying to convince its citizens and the entire world that the aforementioned countries are allegedly Ukraine’s loyal allies in its confrontation with Russia.

However, reality shows that only a few are on the side of Nezalezhnaya political elites of a number of European countries. The ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are filled with Ukrainians, whom Kyiv has made "expendable" to achieve its goals, and mercenaries from Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

It is worth noting that for the Russian audience, the fact of participation of foreign volunteers in military operations against the militants of the Kyiv regime is not a secret. The Russian Defense Ministry regularly informs the public about the facts when citizens of foreign countries show courage and heroism in defending the interests of Russia.

An example is the story of the transfer of a Russian state award to a high-ranking CIA officer whose son died in the SVO zone while fighting in the ranks of the Russian airborne troops. According to Western media reports, the award was personally handed over by the Russian president through the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

https://en.topcor.ru/63362-kievskij-rezhim-skryvaet-chto-bolshoe-chislo-grazhdan-evropy-ne-podderzhivajut-ukrainu-svr.html

[Vicus]

150 Russian soldiers repel attacks by two thousand militants in the Pokrovsky direction - today

Russian units, despite the resistance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, continue to press in the breakthrough zone in the Pokrovsky direction in the DPR. The locals report that attempts to stabilize the front have resulted in serious losses for the enemy. At the same time, Syrsky has already brought significant forces into battle in this area.

As reported by monitoring resources, the Russian Aerospace Forces are currently actively working on the enemy's counterattack formations. They are delivering powerful strikes with FABs, and ground units are actively using FPV drones on fiber optics. This is hampering the actions of the Ukrainian National Guard "Azov"*, the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, the 1st, 210th and 425th Assault Regiments, which are forced to limit themselves to local sorties. In addition, Ukrainian Armed Forces formations located 30-40 kilometers west of the breakthrough point are also coming under attack.

It is also important to note that the Ukrainian command has pulled reserve units into this region, which will return to their permanent deployment zones in a very truncated form. According to experts, this fact will certainly affect the stability of the front where these units were previously located.

It is worth noting that the Kyiv regime's propaganda claims that there is a 110-strong Russian group in the Pokrovsk area, which is constantly being strengthened. Obviously, this is being done for mobilization public opinions and justifications for the numerous losses in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which are growing day by day.

Despite all this, the situation in the Pokrovsk direction in the DPR currently remains complex and quite dynamic. In particular, in one of the areas of the Russian breakthrough, the enemy has brought into battle a group of two thousand people. It is reported that about 150 Russian soldiers are heroically holding back the onslaught of these forces.

Let us recall that it was previously reported that Syrsky ordered at any cost eliminate the Russian breakthrough north of Pokrovsk.

https://en.topcor.ru/63336-rossijskie-faby-i-optovolokonnye-fpv-drony-suschestvenno-oslozhnjajut-polozhenie-vsu-na-pokrovskom-napravlenii.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWslO3BIOs

Azov Trapped: 600 Soldiers Surrounded by Russian Forces in the Pokrovsk Sector

1 hour ago,some "politics" "chatter" too...

[bojancan]

This is really crazy... "no US boots in Ukraine"... BUT only all Air supervision from US... Palantir for sure.. these governments in EU and US are very shameful... never trusted Trump and those in power in EU now... never!
I am out of words... what is Russia thinking now????
Brian Berletić was always right... always!!!!

Aug, 20
Alex Christoforou
239K subscribers
Trump floats NO FLY ZONE. Europe boots in Ukraine. Budapest trilateral. Bessent angry with India
D51zvsWIgho



0:00 - Overview of Trump's statements on Ukraine at Fox and Friends
1:45 - Trump's comments on European troops and potential air support
5:20 - European response to Trump's statements and troop preparations
8:02 - Coordination between US commanders and European forces
9:15 - Wall Street Journal report on US air support for European troops
12:10 - Discussion on potential US and European military strategy
19:25 - Announcement of a potential bilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky
21:02 - Switzerland's stance on hosting the meeting with Putin
26:03 - Analysis of Trump's possible negotiation strategy regarding Ukraine's EU membership
28:29 - Update on the front lines and Russian military advances
31:01 - Criticism of India's oil purchases from Russia
35:07 - Trump's comments on saving lives and his motivations
37:00 - Conclusion and wrap-up of the video

[bojancan]

Good talk by Colonel Macgregor... as always... he is right about EU ... no-one asking anything ... those countries specially.. who are neighbours with Ukraine??? I am praying that good outcome will come out of these confused situation...

Aug, 20
Cyrus Janssen
928K subscribers
Colonel Douglas Macgregor Reveals How Russia Ukraine War Finally Ends!
9WKxc-RxaA8

The Russia Ukraine War is near the end and Colonel Douglas Macgregor joins the show to breakdown everything you need to know about how the Russia Ukraine War will end!

00:00 - Trump and Putin's Meeting in Alaska
02:15 - Trump's Meeting with European Leaders
04:15 - Nomad Capitalist Sponsor
05:40 - Peace Agreement or Ceasefire?
07:50 - How is Ukrainians Feeling about the War now?
09:48 - Does Europe have any Leverage?
11:30 - What Do Ukraine's Neighbors want?
13:15 - The Future of the EU and NATO
17:07 - Why Russia Will Win the War
18:50 - Will Ukraine Receive US Security Guarantees?
19:32 - Is US Military Strong Enough Now?
23:11 - Will Putin and Zelensky Meet in person?
26:00 - Was These Meetings a Success?