AfD is shame for Germany

From the Politico:

"AfD leader says Putin poses no threat to Germany, warning instead of Poland

November 12, 202

By Nette Nöstlinger

BERLIN — A leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Russia doesn’t pose a threat to his country — but that Poland potentially does.

The comments, which echo Kremlin messaging, come at a time when centrist German politicians are increasingly warning that the AfD is using its rising influence to act as a mouthpiece for Putin inside Germany — a claim AfD leaders strongly deny.

Putin “hasn’t done anything to me,” Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the AfD, said on German public television. “I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment.”

Chrupalla went on to insist that any country can potentially pose a threat to Germany.

“Take Poland, for example,” Chrupalla said, citing the country’s refusal to extradite a Ukrainian citizen German authorities suspect of sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022. “Poland can also be a threat to us.”

German centrists are increasingly portraying the AfD as a party that represents Russian interests from inside Germany, with some going so far as to argue the Kremlin is taking advantage of the party’s access to official information for espionage.

Marc Henrichmann, the conservative chairman of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee, said he believes that Russia is doing exactly this.

“Russia is naturally exerting its obvious influence in parliament, especially in the AfD, in order to spy and obtain sensitive information,” Henrichmann recently told German newspaper Handelsblatt. “The AfD is gratefully allowing itself to be used for this betrayal by Putin.”

Chrupalla has forcefully pushed back against those accusations.

“They accuse us of things they can never prove, and I find that perfidious,” he said during the talk show.

Chrupalla’s comments come as AfD leaders are enmeshed in an internal dispute over a group of party politicians who were planning a trip to Russia to attend an international conference of the BRICS countries in Sochi, Russia.

The AfD’s other co-leader, Alice Weidel — who has sought to polish the AfD’s image, rein in some of its most overt pro-Russian politicians and has sought closer relations to the Donald Trump administration in the U.S. — has attempted to stop the politicians from attending, signaling a growing rift inside her party over just how far support for Russia should go.

“We shouldn’t continue like this,” she told reporters in the Bundestag on Tuesday. “We can’t afford it, and we don’t want to.”"

***

Shame on the scum that elects these traitors!

The face of Putin's war

 From UNIAN:

"The ruins of Pokrovsk revealed the true face of Putin's war - WSJ 

Marta Gichko, 12.11.25 

By the time Russian troops outnumbered Ukrainian defenders in Pokrovsk, the city was already in ruins, and bodies littered the streets. This brutal battle demonstrates the Kremlin's true goal: not simply to seize Donbas, but to restore Russia's influence in Ukraine and restore Moscow's status as a great power, writes The Wall Street Journal. 

Despite the efforts of US President Donald Trump, who called on both sides to "stop the killing" and attempted to seek a territorial compromise, the White House peace initiative is stalling. As analysts note, Putin isn't bargaining over territory, but fighting over history, symbols, and the "restoration of the Russian Empire." 

"Trump is trying to solve the problem, but Putin is consulting Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, and Catherine the Great on his vision," William Courtney, a senior fellow at Rand and former US ambassador, wryly observed. "He thinks in imperial terms." 

Even before the full-scale invasion, Putin published an essay in which he claimed that Ukrainians and Russians were "one people" and that Ukraine itself was "Lenin's creation." On the eve of the invasion, he reiterated this in an address: 

"For us, Ukraine is not just a neighboring country; it is an integral part of our own history." 

For the Russian leader, who experienced the collapse of the USSR as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century," the war is an attempt to rewrite history and restore Russia to its role as a power equal to America. 

"Putin is waging this war to reverse the results of the Cold War and restore Russia's status as a great power," explained military analyst Ruslan Pukhov.

Following the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, Russian media portrayed the summit as a symbol of equality between the two superpowers. For the Kremlin, experts say, true success lies not in peace, but in recognition of Russia as a force dictating terms to others..." 

Trump's special relations with Orban

From the Obozrevatel:

"The US is preparing for war, Trump is giving Orbán a "respite," and Russia is setting conditions for ending its aggression against Ukraine. Interview with former Ambassador to the US Shamshur 

Roman Pryadun, 11/12/2025 

Oleh Shamshur, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States and France, shared his thoughts... in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA. 

- ...Trump's "personal" foreign policy once again revealed itself – a meeting at the White House with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. After which, the American leader, as if from a king's shoulder, announced: sanctions against Budapest will not be imposed for a year. Orbán can safely receive Russian energy resources, despite demanding the opposite from the EU. Yes, there is a caveat: Hungary must also purchase American gas, nuclear fuel, and certain technologies. What does Trump's decision mean for the US? Because it clearly benefits Budapest and Moscow: the oil is flowing, Orbán is happy, and so is Putin. But for Europe, it means a dilution of sanctions pressure. If Trump made an exception for Orbán today, tomorrow he will do the same for someone else he will be pleased with. 

Let's start with the logic of the visit itself. First, Orbán is undoubtedly pleased with the results. Yes, he didn't achieve his "maximum program," but he achieved his goal—the sanctions have been postponed. We'll see what happens in a year, but the fact itself is a political victory for him. 

When explaining the postponement, Trump stated that Hungary had reached a "dead end" and could not act differently. In other words, he effectively vindicated Orbán before Europe. And this already creates a sense of "most favored nation" treatment for Budapest from Washington. 

Next up is nuclear energy. We've already heard about the easing of sanctions that could have blocked the completion of the Hungarian nuclear power plant. However, Orbán has promised to buy American nuclear fuel. How this will be implemented remains to be seen, but Orbán's main goal now is to continue joint projects with Russia.

The political aspect is no less interesting. It's quite possible that Orbán was "whispering" his narratives on Ukraine to Trump. And, judging by some of Trump's statements after the meeting, these whispers fell on fertile ground. There is a certain commonality in their ideas about "settling" the war. It's possible that the topic of the "Budapest meetings" was raised again behind the scenes: the idea of ​​returning to the format that Orbán has long been trying to revive. He certainly brought home something that can be presented as a political victory. And, of course, he has something to report to "friend Volodymyr." After all, Trump seems to regard Orbán not just with understanding, but with a certain reverence.

– As for Russia... 

 Here, everything is clear: the easing of sanctions is "music to Putin's ears," as they say. But for the European Union, this story is another cold shower. Anyone in Brussels who seriously considers strategic autonomy has received further confirmation: Orbán is Moscow's Trojan horse. And that easing the sanctions regime, even as imperfect as it is, is a dangerous game. Trump's showering of compliments on Orbán came as a shock to Europeans. Because it seemed almost like a direct appeal: "Follow Orbán's example." After this, Brussels was once again convinced that Budapest is the problem, and that now there is a "protector" behind it, namely, Trump himself.

- And finally, the United States... 

My subjective opinion is that Trump isn't thrilled about this meeting, but he couldn't avoid it. Preparations dragged on for a long time. Clearly, there were debates within the administration. The tightening of sanctions could have happened at a time when oil prices allowed it with minimal risk to the American market. But despite everything, Trump went along with it not only for political reasons, but also for ideology. He likes Orbán: a conservative, anti-Brussels, "strongman." He's beloved among Trump's base. Therefore, Trump couldn't refuse him. It's telling that a meeting with a seemingly "minor" prime minister turned into an international event. This, in fact, is the main harm – political and symbolic.    

- More broadly, Trump has recently adopted a very active policy toward Moscow's allies. The leaders of five Central Asian states visited the White House for the first time. The Americans have noticeably intensified contacts with Minsk: Lukashenko is releasing hostages, Washington is easing sanctions, and there are promises to further lift restrictions. In some areas—Hungary, Belarus, and Central Asia—the US is actively expanding its influence among countries that were, until recently, in Moscow's orbit. Is this a coincidence or a deliberate strategy? 

As former Trump adviser John Bolton said, "Don't try to understand his foreign policy concept. He doesn't have one." Yes, formally speaking, a meeting with Central Asian leaders might seem like a strategic element. But we must be realistic: Trump's every strategy is a set of ad hoc agreements. He doesn't build systems; he bargains...

As for Belarus, if Trump is truly trying to initiate some kind of dialogue with Lukashenko, then, excuse me, it's complete nonsense. It's unclear why the US needs this. If the idea is to "pull Lukashenko away from Russia," then that's simply ridiculous. It's like back in the Obama era, when some people seriously thought Medvedev could be pulled away from Putin and exploited. Well, that's exactly the same story. Totally unrealistic.

Where could there be any pragmatic calculation here? Lukashenko is making demonstrative gestures—releasing political prisoners (though then immediately jailing others), and Trump will be able to say, "See, I can negotiate even with Belarus." So for him, this is a symbolic demonstration: I'm effective. 

One more thing. This could very well be part of Putin's game. He could very well use the Belarusian channel to push his signals to Trump. Like, "See, even Lukashenko says the same thing as us." And here again, a logical question arises: why do the Americans need this at all? After all, Trump can easily call Putin directly or even send his "emissary" Vitkoff—hugs, smiles, agreements. So, frankly, I don't see a rational explanation for this flirtation with Lukashenko.   

- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated: "We are ready to meet with the Americans again, ready to negotiate an end to the conflict," as he calls it, "in Ukraine." But the "root causes" remain the same: "denazification" and all the rest. And another interesting detail – Anchorage. He says the agreements reached between Trump and Putin must be implemented. And Lavrov quotes: "The Americans assured us during Anchorage that they would ensure that Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not impede the peace process." So, it turns out that Trump allegedly promised them to essentially "break" Ukraine so that it would agree to Russia's terms, and they are waiting for that to happen.

I think, unfortunately, this assumption is not without foundation. Not "break," but at least influence. The US President wants "peace." He always has someone "bad": sometimes Zelensky, sometimes Putin, sometimes the other way around. It's a kind of "Trump swing." Therefore, what Lavrov said—about meetings, about Anchorage—all this shouldn't be dismissed. Obviously, it largely corresponds to what actually happened. Don't forget, after Alaska, Putin effectively "broke" Trump himself—and he emerged from the negotiations convinced that it wasn't simply necessary to stop the war, but to "address the global root causes." This is precisely what the Russians were counting on.  

Why is all this happening again now? We've seen it before: whenever Trump's temper flares or he enters a state of rage, Russia immediately throws something out there. Sometimes it's the idea of ​​mythical "economic projects," sometimes it's a "new bilateral meeting," sometimes it's Dmitriev, who's trying to "gently" test the waters. It's all a classic Russian "layered pie": pressure, a hint, and an attempt to defuse tension. And the effectiveness of this tactic shouldn't be underestimated, especially when it comes to influencing Trump."

Trump: Russia-Ukraine war did us damage but now we are profiting from it

From the American Presidency Project:

"Remarks at a Swearing-in Ceremony for Sergio Gor as United States Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia and an Exchange With Reporters

November 10, 2025

 

"...Don't forget, I put out eight wars—nine to come. I think I'll get the other one taken care of. But I put out eight wars. And look at the damage that Russia-Ukraine has done to us as a country. I mean, they—we spent $350 billion. We're not spending any money anymore. Now they pay us, through NATO. You know, I got NATO to go from 2 percent to 5 percent. Well, that's very important..."  

 

***

 

Of course, the alleged $350 billion is a brazen lie that has been disproved umpteen times, yet Trump keeps repeating it.

USA undermines UN resolution about Ukraine

From the KyivPost:

"Trump Admin Pushes to Weaken Ukraine Resolution on Russian Occupation at UN, Sources Tell Kyiv Post

by Alex Raufoglu | Nov. 11, 2025

WASHINGTON DC – In a surprise reversal that has alarmed Ukraine and its allies in the UN, the Trump administration is pushing to strip language from a resolution that affirms the country’s territorial integrity and condemns Russia’s occupation of Crimea and other regions, according to two people familiar with internal UN discussions.

The annual resolution, submitted by Ukraine to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly – formally titled: “Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” – has for years been a diplomatic mainstay, reaffirming international support for the war-torn country’s sovereignty and documenting human-rights abuses in Russian-held areas.

Last December, the US joined 77 other countries in voting for the measure, which passed with 78 votes in favor.

The text explicitly recognized Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and detailed the worsening human-rights situation in occupied territories.

Now, Washington wants those references removed. Two diplomatic sources told Kyiv Post that the US side is pressing for the resolution to be recast under the broader label of the “war in Ukraine,” without references to “territorial integrity” or “aggression.”

Western partners privately fear that the move would effectively water down the UN’s most consistent annual rebuke of Russia’s invasion – and signal a sharp break from the bipartisan consensus that had held since 2014.

“This is another example of Washington walking away from Ukraine’s core interests at a critical diplomatic juncture,” one European envoy told Kyiv Post on Sunday. “If the language goes, the message to Moscow is that the US is no longer leading the defense of the international order.”...

For Kyiv, the stakes are high. The resolution not only condemns Russia’s occupation but also lays the groundwork for future accountability efforts at the International Criminal Court and in other international venues. 

The dispute comes just as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented its latest findings to the same UN committee.

In its Oct. 27 report, the Commission concluded that Russian forces are committing crimes against humanity – including murder and forcible transfer – through systematic drone attacks and forced deportations in occupied territories..."

 

IAEA helps Russia destroy Ukrainian energy sector

From UNIAN:

"The enemy knows where to strike: The IAEA is helping Russia destroy our energy sector, says expert 

Andriy Kaut, 11.11.25 

Russia has access to IAEA inspection reports that inspect Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This significantly facilitates the enemy's missile and drone strikes against these facilities, energy expert Gennady Ryabtsev expressed this opinion on Ranok.LIVE. 

 

"IAEA inspections visited Ukrenergo substations and determined how well these facilities were protected. They filmed and photographed everything, and produced a huge report. And then the Russians received all this information from the IAEA," Ryabtsev reported. 

 

The enemy has direct access to the organization's reports because many Russian nationals continue to work there, the expert explains.

 

"Since Russians still sit in the IAEA's governing bodies and have access to all information concerning Ukraine, the competent authorities in the Russian Federation know everything that the IAEA inspectors know," Ryabtsev concludes."

Barcelona's Grand Theater loves Russia

 From UNIAN:

 "Ukrainians attacked in Spain while rallying with portraits of actors killed by Russia

Lyudmila Zhernovskaya, 11/11/25

In Barcelona, ​​Russians attacked protesters protesting the inclusion of ballerinas from leading Russian theaters in the Gran Teatro del Liceo's repertoire. This was reported in a statement by the Ukrainian Center in Barcelona, ​​which organized the event together with the organization "Campaign for Ukraine."

On November 9 and 10, Ukrainians gathered outside the building with posters and photographs of cultural figures killed by the Russian occupation army. 

According to the statement, the theater administration rejected the appeal to cancel the performance, stating that Russian culture is "apolitical." The city and parliamentary councils, as well as the Generalitat de Catalunya, ignored the appeal. 

One of the participants was attacked near the theater, and another in the concert hall when she unfurled a Ukrainian flag. The statement noted that the response to the Russian attacks was dignity, not aggression:

""Culture outside politics" does not exist during Russia's colonial war against Ukraine. Russian culture has become an instrument of semantic warfare, legitimizing violence and imperial policies. The choice of indifference becomes a position in favor of the aggressor.""

***

Catalunians at least should empathize with others fighting for self-determination.

Russia steals Ukrainian heritage

Below are a few of the numerous Ukrainian artworks stolen by Russian occupiers from galleries in the Kherson region (source: the War and Sanctions portal of Ukrainian government).

 

Name: A decorative panel. Tomatoes in a vase

Author:Maria Prymachenko 

 

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

Name:Palm Sunday 

 

Author:Mykola Pymonenko 

 

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

 

 Name: View of the city of Odesa 

 

Author:Ivan Aivazovsky 

 

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

Name: Sea 

 

Author: Ivan Aivazovsky 

 

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

 

Name: Fishermen on Kinburn / Rybalki na Kimburni 

 

Author:Valery Mashnitsky 

  

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

 

Name: First snow / Persнyi snih 

 

Author:Ksenia Stetsenko 

 

Details of theft: It was taken out of the Kherson Art Museum by representatives of the russian federation 

 

Ancient heritage has also been stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories:

 

 

Name: Anthropomorphic archaic stele 

 

Details of theft: Removed from the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve "Stone Tomb" to the territory of Crimea under the guise of a temporary exhibition

"Russia invaded anyway": Stoltenberg regrets NATO's refusal to help Ukraine

First, from Kyiv Independent / Yahoo!News:

"More weapons for Ukraine in 2014 could have prevented full-scale war, Stoltenberg says

Abbey Fenbert, October 10, 2024

NATO allies could have done more to arm Ukraine in 2014, potentially averting Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with Politico published Oct. 9.

Stoltenberg stepped down as NATO Secretary General on Oct. 1 after serving in the role for 10 years. Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte now leads the alliance.

At the end of his term, Stoltenberg cited the insufficient response to Russian aggression in 2014 as his major regret.

"I continue to believe that if we had armed Ukraine more after 2014, we might have prevented Russia from invading — at least we would have increased the threshold for a full-scale invasion," he told Politico.

Stoltenberg pointed out that Russia's war in Ukraine did not begin with the 2022 invasion but with Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the Donbas war in 2014.

"I worked hard to try to convince NATO allies to do more, to provide more military support, more training," Stoltenberg said.

"Some allies did, but it was relatively limited, and that was very difficult for many years because the policy in NATO was that NATO should not provide lethal support to Ukraine."

A greater willingness and more coordinated effort from member nations to send military aid to Kyiv may have deterred Russia, Stoltenberg speculated

"If we had delivered a fraction of the weapons we have delivered after 2022, we may have actually prevented the war," he said.

Stoltenberg said there were "some parallels" to NATO's past red lines and the current restrictions some member states have placed on which weapons they will send Ukraine and how Ukraine can use them.

The debate over the use of Western long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia reflects contemporary divisions among NATO allies as to how best to support Ukraine's defense.

"According to international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defense, and the right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets on the territory of the aggressor, Russia," Stoltenberg said."

***

And in the same line, a more recent material in the New Voice of Ukraine: 

"Stoltenberg: Timely aid might have prevented war in Ukraine

November 9, 2025

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg admitted Western aid to Ukraine was "too little and too late," saying stronger early support could have deterred Russia's full-scale invasion, The Sunday Times reported on Nov. 8.

"Ukraine demonstrates both the strength and the weakness of NATO," Stoltenberg said.

He noted that NATO allies since Russia's full-scale military invasion "provided unprecedented military support … without which Ukraine would most likely not have defended itself as it did."

On the other hand, the ex-NATO chief added, it must be recognized that Alliance support came too late and was too limited, because from 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea and invaded Donbas, until the full-scale invasion in February 2022, NATO allies provided almost no military support or it was too restricted. He also stated there was practically no lethal aid, as the Alliance feared it would push Moscow to invade Ukraine.

"But Russia invaded anyway," Stoltenberg stated.

He also believes Russia's military invasion of Ukraine could have been avoided.

"Had we provided more military support to Ukraine earlier, it could have prevented a full-scale invasion," the former NATO secretary general said.

Then, Stoltenberg pointed out, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would have concluded that attacking Ukraine was impossible because NATO allies had armed the country.

"But we didn't do that, and therefore it was much easier for Russia to invade," he added."

***

Leonid Nevzlin commented in the Obozrevatel, 11.11.2025: 

"And this is the absolute truth. The war crimes Putin and his accomplices are committing today are the result of the civilized world's insufficient response to the seizure of Crimea. Impunity breeds impunity. And, apparently, this lesson has still not been learned." 

Zaluzhny: Talks about negotiations with Russia and peace in Ukraine are dangerously premature

From the New York Post:

"Words are weapons — Russian diplomacy is just another front in its war on Ukraine

ByValerii Zaluzhny, Nov. 10, 2025

...As Ukraine defends its existence, we face an opponent who sees diplomacy not as dialogue but as a natural extension of its war effort.

Russia’s negotiators, like its generals, fight to exhaust, confuse and divide. 

Their aim is not peace but delay; not compromise in pursuit of accord but conquest through deception.

Ukraine has fought for survival for 11 years. Yet even now, some in the West urge us to negotiate with the people who came to kill us.

They forget two simple truths.

First, what is at stake is not just Ukraine’s fate but Europe’s security.

Second, any “peace” with Moscow that rewards aggression is an invitation to further wars.

The Kremlin speaks of negotiations only when it feels pressure and only to buy time. Peace on Russian terms is not peace — it is surrender.

That is why calls to rush into a comprehensive peace deal are dangerously premature.

Real peace cannot be achieved by signing papers while Russian missiles are murdering civilians.

It will take time, strength and an unshakable understanding of with whom we are dealing.

Russia’s so-called diplomacy is a lethal weapon system inherited from the USSR. It was designed not to solve conflicts but to manipulate them. To understand it, one must study its architects. 

Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet foreign minister for more than 40 years, mastered the art of negotiation as psychological combat. Western diplomats nicknamed him “Mr. No” for good reason.

His mission was to stall, exhaust and dominate the conversation until the other side yielded. Every pause was tactical. Every speech a test of endurance.

That tradition continues today in the person of Sergei Lavrov.

Watch him in any international forum: long monologues, selective quotations, endless digressions meant to blur facts and drain attention.

This is the “tactic of exhaustion.” The goal is to make discussion so confusing that truth loses meaning and moral clarity fades. 

Lavrov, like Gromyko before him, embodies the Soviet legacy of negotiation as theater — a performance of power meant to delay accountability.

Kissinger observed that Soviet diplomacy combined maximum demands with minimum concessions.

The purpose was never to reach agreement but to legitimize the Kremlin’s gains and demand more. 

Modern Russia has adapted this to the age of propaganda.

Disinformation plays the role ideology once did. The same habits persist: deny, delay and deceive until fatigue sets in abroad and cynicism grows at home.

Every encounter with Russian officials follows a familiar pattern.

First, they flood the table with falsehoods and extraneous details, forcing opponents to spend hours correcting lies.

Second, they invoke moral relativism — accusing the opponent of exactly what they bring to the table: colonialism, hypocrisy or double standards. 

Third, they present aggression as reaction, occupation as protection and genocide as self-defense.

It is a cynical inversion of values, calculated to paralyze democratic societies.

Understanding this method is vital not only for Ukrainian diplomats but for all who engage Moscow.

Negotiating with Russia is not a conversation; it is a contest of will.

The Russians test endurance, exploit empathy and interpret every gesture of goodwill as weakness.

The only language the Kremlin respects is consistency backed by power...

The “Gromyko method” relies on endless verbiage to disguise aggression as reason. 

The modern Russian approach adds post-truth propaganda to the mix.

The West must stop mistaking this for genuine negotiation.

Every hour spent debating with Russian envoys who have no mandate for compromise is an hour stolen from defending freedom...

Today, Russia’s foreign ministry acts as an extension of its war machine.

It buys time for rearmament, spreads lies to fracture alliances and uses international institutions as shields for aggression.

Moscow’s envoys block resolutions, dilute sanctions and pose as mediators while their army targets civilians.

Ukraine does not reject peace. We reject capitulation disguised as peace.

A just settlement must restore our territorial integrity, ensure accountability for war crimes and guarantee that no aggressor will ever again threaten Europe from Moscow.

Anything less would betray not only Ukrainians but the principles that keep the free world safe and free...

Our strength lies not only in our soldiers but in our clarity of purpose: peace through victory, not illusion."

Lavrov: Trump promised to convince Zelensky to capitulate but failed

From the Dialog, Nov 9, 2025:

"Lavrov, who has fallen out of favor with Putin, made a statement about "agreements" with the US on Ukraine 

The Russian Foreign Minister claims that the Americans allegedly made a promise to the Russians on Ukraine. 

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of the aggressor country returned to the public eye following rumors of his possible resignation and made a statement about negotiations with the United States to end the war unleashed by the Kremlin in Ukraine.  

In an interview with Russian propaganda media, Lavrov claimed that during US President Donald Trump's talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Washington allegedly promised Moscow that it would ensure that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "does not impede the achievement of peace." 

"Apparently, certain difficulties have arisen in this matter," the minister of the aggressor country added..."

Ukraine loses land because the USA stops aid

From DonPress, Nov 9, 2025:

"An expert explained the cause of the difficult situation in Pokrovsk 

The complex situation around the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region is directly linked to the lack of US military support for Ukraine. Journalist Vitaly Portnikov stated this live on the Espresso TV channel. The expert recalled: 

 

"When we lost Avdiivka, the Republicans blocked military aid to Ukraine. Now that we're about to lose Pokrovsk, it's simply the end of the military aid package we owe to US President Joseph Biden." 

 

According to Portnikov, for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, the seizure of Pokrovsk is a way to demonstrate that the Russian occupiers are continuing their offensive in Ukraine: 

 

"Many say Putin wants to strengthen his negotiating position with Donald Trump, but I don't think he needs that. If Putin were truly seeking to end the war, that would be logical. But he has no intention of ending anything. His goal is a protracted war. The only thing he's interested in is Trump not imposing serious sanctions against Russia." 

 

The expert explained that the Kremlin leader views the capture of every Ukrainian city as a step toward the complete seizure of Ukrainian territory: 

 

"It's impossible to say that the capture of Pokrovsk will fundamentally change the course of the war. Even if the Russians enter the ruins of the city, this doesn't mean they will quickly seize other settlements in the Donbas. We remember that the Russian army simultaneously advanced in various regions of Ukraine. This proves that Putin is seeking not just the occupation of the Donbas, but the conquest of the entire country. His main goal is to establish a puppet government in Kyiv." 

 

The journalist explained that the final point of the Russian offensive is not Kramatorsk or Sloviansk, but Uzhhorod [a city at the Western edge of Ukraine - M. M.]: 

 

"A large city like Pokrovsk hasn't fallen under Russian control since Bakhmut. Avdiivka was the smallest settlement. But both then and now, the reason is the same: a lack of military aid. When we lost Avdiivka, the Republicans blocked support." Now that we're losing Pokrovsk, the aid package Biden secured has simply run out. There's no new package, and European aid can't replace American aid. We need to address this by convincing Donald Trump.""

 

***

The problem with convincing Trump, of course, is that Trump wants the destruction of Ukraine. 

Disarmed by its Western "friends", Ukraine works hard to rearm

From the Independent:

"Inside Ukraine’s start-up weapons industry rising from the ashes

As Europe and the US ponder over what arms to send to help the war against Russia, Ukraine is forging ahead with homegrown missiles and drones made from carbon printers and lawnmower engines. World affairs editor Sam Kiley reports from Kyiv

08 November 2025 

Naive, self-sabotaging and riddled with Moscow’s agents, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons and an arms industry that produced a third of the Soviet Union’s supply, trusted the West and the Kremlin to protect it, and was left fighting for its life.

Now, 30 years on, the start-up nation redefining how war is fought has been forced into a bodge-and-make-do world of arms production, fusing old technology with IT know-how to break the bonds its allies tied to make Kyiv fight one-handed.

The latest innovation is a cruise missile with a range of 3,000km, a maximum speed of 900kmph and a payload of over a tonne, which has been used in strikes deep into Russian territory.

The FP-5 “Flamingo” missile is powered by a rocket and a Soviet-era turbofan jet engine bolted on top. Some of those engines have been dug out of landfill dumps. 

It’s got twice the range of the US Tomahawk, carries twice as much explosive and costs about the same. 

But its main advantage is that it is entirely under the control of Ukraine’s forces. The UK and France restricted the use of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Russian targets inside Ukraine for many months.

The US reduced the ability of Ukraine to use American ATACM missiles against Russian targets in Russia and has not yet decided on whether to allow access to Tomahawks, that would be paid for by European allies.

In contrast, Kyiv can fire the Flamingo at any target it wants. It is not restricted by what Ukraine’s “allies” say it can and cannot do when fighting Russia’s invading forces...

Targeting oil refineries has had a measurable effect. Russia has at times lost about 20 per cent of its fuel capacity and pump prices have soared by 10 per cent...

With arms supplies from the West so uncertain, Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine now makes about 60 per cent of its own weapons. 

“When you have a gun being pointed towards your head, you don’t think about standards, you think that ‘this should be working’,” says Iyna Terekh, the chief technology officer of Fire Point, which makes Flamingos among other munitions.

“And the huge achievement of the Ukrainian government is to downgrade the bureaucracy pressure as much as possible so that technology can thrive.

“And that is what happened to our company. We didn’t care that we meet Nato standards.

“We only cared that our weapons would be effective on the front line, not on some paperwork. We could, as a result, make a very effective weapon.”

As well as Flamingos, Fire Point also produces the shorter-range Shahed-style drones FP1 and FP2. The former have been used frequently to attack Russia as far as Moscow.

The latter, which carry a payload of 150kg, have been mistaken for long-range American missiles because of their explosive power.

Their value lies in that they’re cheap and fast to make. It takes a couple of hours to make the wings and 30 minutes to fashion the fuselage from a mix of plastic and carbon.

The lightweight machines are glued together with carbon printers, use lawnmower engines and rely on open source navigation systems...

For Ukraine, price competition is important. The European Union, Kyiv biggest backer, is an economic bloc at least nine times the size of Russia’s economy with four times its spending power. Ukraine’s allies can outspend Russia, if they choose to, but so far they have not...

Russia has had years to prepare for its invasion of Ukraine. With hindsight, it was aided by the collapse of Ukraine’s arms industry after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Back then, Ukraine had the third-largest nuclear weapons stockpile. It produced 30 per cent of the Soviet Union’s weapons.

Ukraine produced some of the Kremlin’s most terrifying weapons –intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) like the SS-18 “Satan”...

But in 1994, Ukraine was persuaded to give up its nukes in return for an agreement from the US, UK, and Russia to guarantee its security.

Later, China and France signed up, but only Ukraine believed the memos were worth the ink spent on setting them down...

Ukraine’s weapons industry is now worth only $1bn, but it is growing very fast...

“We all have to grow up and build our own security with our own hands,” says Terekh."

Australia found a loophole to import Russion oil

From the Guardian:

"‘Loophole’ in sanctions allowing Russian oil to be imported to Australia through port part-owned by Macquarie Bank

Luca Ittimani, 9 Nov 2025

Millions of tonnes of Russian oil have been traded through a port part-owned by Macquarie Bank and potentially sold on to Australian businesses, new data shows.

The identification of a new link between Australia and the trade in Russian-origin products exposes further gaps in government sanctions, as Australia lags behind the EU and the UK in tightening import rules.

Australia stopped buying fuel directly from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine but has imported more than 3m tonnes of Russian-originating oil products since 2023, the Europe-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) has found.

Australia’s sanctions allow purchases via third countries, which Crea’s Europe analyst Vaibhav Raghunandan said had indirectly supported Russia’s oil production and the Kremlin’s tax revenues.

“This is a significant loophole being exploited by Australian buyers who, while on the right side of the law, are undoubtedly on the wrong side of the ethics of it,” Raghunandan said.

“It clearly undermines Australia’s support for Ukraine. It not only allows the continued flow of Russian oil but also allows Australian companies to profit off it.”...

Kateryna Argyrou, chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, called on Macquarie Bank to review its investment and disclose whether the terminal had facilitated the handling of Russian oil.

“Australia cannot stand with Ukraine while Australian capital helps sustain Russia’s war economy,” Argyrou said.

“Every drop of Russian oil sold helps finance the destruction of Ukrainian homes and lives. Australians deserve to know whether their banks and investment funds are profiting from that.”... 

The European Union and United Kingdom in October announced sanctions on third-party refiners of Russian material from 2026, including by targeting specific terminals and refineries.

Matching those sanctions would be essential to reduce oil revenue to the Kremlin, according to Dr Anton Moiseienko, a senior lecturer in law at the Australian National University.

“It’s really important to move towards that step,” he said.

“Otherwise [refineries] … keep purchasing Russian oil, and then refined products go to places like Australia, and all of that combines to create a market that generates billions for the Russian government.”"

Angelina Jolie tells about her visit in Kherson, Ukraine

From the actress' Instagram:

Stoltenberg tries to excuse NATO's impotence

From Ukrayinska Pravda / Yahoo!News: 

 

Former secretary general explains why NATO did not close airspace over Ukraine

 

Roman Petrenko,Iryna Kutielieva, November 9, 2025

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has explained why NATO did not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022...

In his memoir, the former NATO chief recalls the "painful moment" in February 2022 when he rejected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's desperate plea to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said he was afraid their conversation might have been the Ukrainian president's last phone call, as the West feared for his life.

"He called me from a bunker in Kyiv with Russian tanks just up the road. And he said: 'I accept you're not sending in NATO ground troops, though I disagree. But please close the airspace. Prevent the Russian planes, drones and helicopters from flying and attacking us.'"

Stoltenberg recalled that NATO had closed the airspace over certain countries to protect civilians in the past – for example, over Bosnia and Herzegovina and over northern Iraq, where it was necessary to protect the Kurds.

He explained that closing the airspace over Ukraine would have required NATO to destroy Russian air defence systems in Belarus and Russia, since Western fighter jets could not have operated safely in Ukraine if they were being targeted by Russian missiles.

"And if there is a Russian plane or helicopter in the air, we have to shoot it down and then we are in full war between NATO and Russia. And we're not willing to do that. As Biden, who was US president at the time, put it, we will not risk a third world war for Ukraine."

Stoltenberg added that ending that phone call with Zelenskyy was "painful", knowing the Ukrainian president's life was in danger."

***

That's why Trump is evolution rather than negation of Biden.

FT: Trump is under the hypnotic influence of Putin

From the UNIAN:

"Trump succumbs to Putin's "hypnotic influence," despite Russia's lack of victory, according to FT

Karina Bovsunovskaya, 10/21/25 

If there were a Nobel Prize for patience, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would win it. This is what Edward Luke, editor and columnist for the US, writes for the Financial Times. 

 "The Ukrainian leader's February meeting with the newly inaugurated Donald Trump went down in history as the most shameful case of school bullying in modern times. Zelenskyy had no choice but to ignore the taunts in the Oval Office. His resilience provides no grounds for pessimism. On Friday, Trump again warned Zelenskyy that his country would be destroyed unless he ceded some territory to Russia. Zelenskyy, as usual, dismissed this latest wave of vitriol. Has Trump ever yelled at Putin? It was a rhetorical question," Luke analyzes. 

According to Luke, the Russian dictator could also have received several nominations for the Patience Award. Specifically, at the start of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which Trump called a "brilliant" move, Putin's long-term strategy quickly became clear: he wanted to gain in negotiations with a re-elected Trump what he had failed to achieve on the front lines.

"Such talk was dismissed as far-fetched back then. But judging by Trump's actions since January, not his words, the Kremlin's gamble is paying off. By refusing to give in to any of Trump's demands, Putin has secured a second summit with him this year – this time hosted by Hungary's pro-Putin Viktor Orbán. Zelenskyy will have to work even harder to demonstrate the necessary tolerance in the coming days," the FT editor noted. 

Meanwhile, Trump can't take it anymore. Specifically, on Monday, he said that of the global conflicts, "only one" remains. The American leader is known to believe he has ended the wars between Israel and Hamas, India and Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  

"In Trump's view, Zelenskyy's stubbornness has cost him his current Nobel Peace Prize. Like Gaza, Trump sees Ukraine as a commercial opportunity with a large expanse of undeveloped coastline. He views Zelenskyy's government as an intractable adversary who must understand when he's beaten. As Trump told the Ukrainian president in February, 'You don't have the cards,'" the publication's columnist recalled. 

However, as Luke writes, Zelenskyy does have cards, namely, the growing support of a "coalition of the willing." Specifically, Europe will likely loan Ukraine the bulk of Russia's frozen assets, amounting to $200 billion, enough to tide it over for the next few years. 

"In addition to European military supplies, Ukraine has significantly expanded its ability to strike oil refineries and airbases deep within Russia. Many viewed Russia's recent drone reconnaissance missions in several NATO countries as a sign of Putin's fervor. But his activities in the 'gray zone' could just as easily be interpreted as weakness," the editor believes...

However, the question still arises as to why Trump is so confident Putin is winning, to which Luke responded: 

"Some believe Putin has some secret influence over Trump. Others say it's deep state propaganda. Whatever lies behind Trump's greed, we should long ago stop worrying about why. The reality is undeniable. Putin has fewer aces up his sleeve than Trump assumes. One of those aces is Trump himself.""

Old fishing nets from France protect Ukrainians from Russian drones

From France24:

"French fishing nets find new purpose on Ukraine's front lines

Roscoff (France) (AFP) – Once used to scoop fish from the sea off the coast of France, recycled fishing nets are finding new life in Ukraine to protect the country's roads and military infrastructure from Russian drone attacks.

25/10/2025

"It smells like rotten fish," joked Christian Abaziou, 70, as he picked up a piece of used netting at Roscoff port in western Brittany's Finistere department.

He and his fellow volunteer Gerard Le Duff, 63, members of the Kernic Solidarites association, were awaiting a delivery of used nets.

Stuffed into giant white bags to be recycled, they loaded the packed piles of thin green netting into a truck to be sent on its way to Ukraine, where they are used to entangle Russian drones. 

In early October, the two men had already transported 120 kilometres (75 miles) of nets to Ukraine. And a second truck carrying 160 km of nets left Friday from nearby Treflez.

"When we started humanitarian convoys three years ago, drones weren't part of the picture at all," said Gerard, the association's president.

But the war has evolved, "and now it's a drone war".

'Proud' to help

Russia's drone arsenal used against Ukraine includes small flying devices identical to those sold commercially, but equipped with explosives and capable of striking more than 25 km from the front line.

To defend against them, Ukrainians have been covering roads with nets mounted on poles, stretching for hundreds of kilometres. 

As drones approach, they get trapped—like insects in a spider's web.

When Abaziou learned of this new tactic, he quickly got in touch with a retired fisherman.

"Within 48 hours, I had all the fishing nets I needed," he said.

"It's from the heart," said Jean-Jacques Tanguy, 75, former president of the Finistere fisheries committee.

According to him, fishermen "are proud to know that their used equipment... is going to help save lives".

Fishing nets, replaced annually, pile up along the docks of Breton ports.

"The ones we collect are destined for recycling. They might as well serve a good cause," said Marc-Olivier Lerrol, deputy director of Roscoff port, which gathers around 20 to 25 tonnes of nets per year.

"You're always welcome -- come back anytime!" he called out to Gerard and Christian in farewell.

'Moved to tears'

Stored alongside several tonnes of soup, infant formula and medical supplies, the nets are transferred to a Ukrainian truck at the Polish border, more than 2,000 km from Brittany.

The first convoy headed to Zaporizhzhia in the south, where the nets are meant to protect certain neighbourhoods of the city.

The second is expected to go a bit farther south, toward Kherson, a city also facing the daily threat of drones.

A Frenchman living in Ukraine, who wished to remain anonymous, facilitated the exchanges between Kyiv and the volunteers in Brittany.

"There's a huge need for nets here," he told AFP.

"The idea that Breton volunteers would think to send kilometres of fishing nets to save lives in Ukraine... When you tell that to any Ukrainian, they're moved to tears."

Looking ahead, Abaziou hopes Ukrainians will send transporters to collect the nets in Brittany. 

"We'll help gather and load them, but we don't have the budget to continue (the convoys) ourselves."

Kernic Solidarites isn't the only group sending nets to the Ukrainian front.

Stephane Pochic, owner of a fleet of trawlers in Finistere's Loctudy, sent some in August via a Hautes-Alpes-based association, Arasfec Paca.

"It's a symbolic gesture to show our support," Pochic told AFP.

And the fishermen's solidarity movement isn't limited to France.

Ukrainian positions are also being protected by nets from Northern Europe, notably Sweden and Denmark."

***

The photo below, from the Guardian, shows a road in Donetsk region in Ukraine, protected by nets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Child embarasses Putin on live TV

From the Dialog, Nov 4, 2025:

"Putin embarrassed himself live on air: a child bluntly asked him an awkward question about Ukraine

During a protocol event in central Moscow, Putin experienced an awkward moment that dealt a heavy blow to Russian propaganda and to Putin personally. A girl named Kira, invited to the ceremony as "the child of a special operation hero," publicly complained that her uncle, wounded at the front, was being sent back to the war zone without treatment.  

After the official ceremony, several children were brought up to Putin. Suddenly, the girl broke the carefully planned scenario and said something no one expected to hear on live television.  

"My uncle is at the front right now. He was wounded in the arm. He was in the hospital, but they're not treating him. Now they're sending him on a mission. I'd like him to be transferred to a good hospital in Russia," the child said.

The Kremlin's PR people, who carefully control the flow of "inconvenient information" to the media and Putin, especially in front of cameras, failed to take into account that a child is capable of asking a direct and pointed question.

Putin's face registered confusion. He looked flustered and blurted out a clumsy, "We'll find him, okay? We definitely will. Thank you for remembering him, good job." But at that moment, millions of Russians literally saw live on television: Russian soldiers were being crippled not only by war, but also by their own state..."

This news had an update the next day, Nov 5:

"The girl who asked Putin an awkward question about Ukraine lost her father in the war, according to media reports

Eleven-year-old Kira Pimenova, who asked Putin to return her wounded uncle to the hospital, had already lost her father in the war in Ukraine. The family's tragedy caused by the war unleashed by Putin turned out to be much more widespread than previously thought...

An Agency investigation revealed that Kira's father, Vladimir Pimenov, was mobilized in September 2022 and died in the spring of 2024 near Horlivka. Before the war, he worked for the Federal Penitentiary Service and oil companies. He was 36 years old.  

The girl lives in Novosibirsk with her mother and younger sister. Her uncle, Anton Fisyura, whom she asked for help, was a cook and cafe manager before the war. Now he has been sent back to the front, despite being wounded..." 

Update: You can see a subtitled video of the encounter here. 

The only thing Russia has is its nuclear arsenal

From UNIAN:

"Stupak: Russia has nothing to offer the world. It only poses a nuclear threat

Lesya Leshchenko, 5 November 2025

The Russian Federation has nothing left to offer the civilized world except nuclear threats, military analyst Ivan Stupak stated on Kyiv24. 

According to him, the constant demonstration of nuclear power is an attempt to create the illusion of grandeur by displaying weapons that not everyone possesses. He emphasized that the only thing the Russians have is nuclear weapons, which they threaten to destroy humanity with. 

He added that the Russian Federation has made no positive contribution to global science and technology.

"The Russian Federation has nothing left to offer this world. The only things they have are nuclear weapons and calls to 'kill you all.' They have no artificial intelligence developments, no cures for serious diseases. Nothing," the expert said."

***

Also, from the Dialog, 6 November 2025:

"Yakovina explained why Putin entered the nuclear arms race if defeat was inevitable

Journalist Ivan Yakovina recalled that nuclear weapons are Putin's main trump card and a means of maintaining power

Regarding the competition between Trump and Putin, which involves threatening each other with nuclear weapons, Ivan Yakovyna said the following: "Now the Russian government, apparently, is planning to spend billions of dollars on building infrastructure and preparing for nuclear tests on Novaya Zemlya. This is very, very good, because these resources will be diverted, among other things, from the war against Ukraine. There's a very high probability that people will be killed there during these tests, and almost certainly things won't go as planned, they'll make a fool of themselves in front of Trump, and Trump will definitely laugh, and so on." 

The journalist explained on his YouTube channel why the Kremlin needed to engage in a nuclear arms race with the United States. 

"This all costs a huge amount of money. Nuclear bombs and nuclear missiles are generally very expensive, especially given that the Russian budget is already in very poor shape. Putin, of course, understands that the costs of this nuclear arms race will be colossal. So why is he doing all this? You might ask, and I think I have the answer. Putin is prepared to engage in nuclear escalation, to engage in this nuclear arms race, for the same reason that nuclear weapons occupy a central place in his mythology," the political observer explained.

Yakovina then added: "Essentially, nuclear weapons are the last 'artifact' of the Soviet empire remaining in his possession. This is the only thing that makes Russia a country of global significance. Yes, the Russian Federation has indeed accumulated a large number of nuclear weapons and can truly destroy virtually any country in the world. Without nuclear weapons, Russia would receive as much attention as Mongolia, Sudan, or Nigeria. Nuclear weapons are the main symbol and support of Putin's power.""