An encouraging sign:

Sen #JamesLankford, #Republican of #Oklahoma, also spoke w/NBC’s Kristen Welker, saying that #Putin was “a murderous KGB thug” & a “dictator” & that he understood why President #Zelensky of #Ukraine wanted assurances that #Russia would actually abide by any #ceasefire agreement that he signed.

“Zelensky is rightfully concerned that Putin has violated every single agreement he’s ever signed & that he can’t be trusted. He’s looking for some kind of #security guarantees.”

Back to London…

#Starmer opened the #summit of #Europe’s leaders in London w/ #Macron & #Zelensky seated beside him. “We’re gathered here today because this is a once in a generation moment for the #security of Europe, & we all need to step up,” Starmer told the assembled leaders. “Getting a good outcome for #Ukraine is not just a matter of right & wrong, it’s vital for the security of every nation here & many others too.”

#GlobalSecurity #geopolitics #Putin #Russia #expansionism

Secretary of #State #MarcoRubio has reiterated the #Trump admin’s attitude toward #Zelensky, saying that #Ukraine’s president had disrupted efforts toward a peace process w/ #Russia by challenging #JDVance in the Oval Office on Friday. Zelensky “found every opportunity to try to ‘Ukraine-splain’ on every issue,” Rubio said. [a. Ridiculous terminology. b. Someone had to]

#geopolitics #UnitedStates #MafiaState #RevengePolitics #authoritarianism #ForeignPolicy #allies #NATO #Europe

#VanHollen called Friday’s display in the Oval Office “a despicable display of bullying” by #Trump & #JDVance against #Zelensky. He also characterized the Trump admin’s rare #minerals deal as an “#extortion” of #Ukraine.

#geopolitics #Russia #UnitedStates #MafiaState #RevengePolitics #authoritarianism #ForeignPolicy #allies #NATO #Europe

But since joining the admin, #MarcoRubio has adopted #Trump’s [#Russia’s] talking points. “As a member of the Senate, Secretary #Rubio was somebody who stood up for American values, American principles,” #VanHollen said. “Now he’s simply taking his directions at the State Dept from #ElonMusk & essentially parroting the president’s position.”

#geopolitics #Ukraine #UnitedStates #MafiaState #allies #NATO #Europe #ForeignPolicy #RevengePolitics #authoritarianism

Sen Chris #VanHollen, #Democrat of MD, told FoxNews on Sunday that he regretted voting to confirm his fmr colleague #MarcoRubio to be Sec of #State. Van Hollen said #Rubio used to acknowledge that #Russia was the aggressor in the #war against #Ukraine & would never have accused #Zelensky of being a #dictator as #Trump has. But since joining the admin, Rubio has adopted Trump’s talking points.

#geopolitics #UnitedStates #MafiaState #allies #NATO #Europe #ForeignPolicy

Sen #ChrisMurphy also criticized Secretary of #State #MarcoRubio, his former #Senate colleague from Florida, for not opposing #Trump’s efforts to align #America with #Russia. “That’s been a great disappointment to many of his former colleagues in the Senate,” Murphy said of #Rubio.

#geopolitics #Ukraine #Russia #UnitedStates #MafiaState #allies #NATO #Europe #ForeignPolicy

Sen #ChrisMurphy said he believed President #Zelensky of #Ukraine appropriately asked #Trump & #JDVance how they could reassure him that #Putin of #Russia would abide by the terms of a #ceasefire agreement. “It is a sad day in America when we are getting closer & closer to Russia, a brutal #dictatorship, & further & further away from #democratic #allies,” Murphy said.

#geopolitics #US #MafiaState #Europe #ForeignPolicy #authoritarianism #RevengePolitics

In another interview, on NBC’s Meet the Press, #Republican #House Speaker #MikeJohnson suggested that President Volodymyr #Zelensky of #Ukraine should step down if he doesn’t sign #Trump’s deal [#extortion] on rare #minerals & agree to end the #war. “Something has to change. Either he needs to come to his senses & come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that,” Johnson said.

#geopolitics #MafiaState #Putin #Russia #US #ForeignPolicy #RevengePolitics

#MikeJohnson also, however, described the #war in #Ukraine as “unjust” & called President Vladimir V. Putin of #Russia an “aggressor,” a departure from the friendly language that #Trump has used to describe #Putin. “I think Vladimir Putin is a an old-school communist,” Johnson said. “He’s not to be trusted, & he is dangerous.” He also said that #China, Russia, #Iran & #NorthKorea amount to “new Axis powers” & they “are not on America’s side.”

#geoplitics #USpol #ForeignPolicy

Kremlin’s spox, #DmitryPeskov praised the #Trump admin for changing its #ForeignPolicy in ways that “couldn’t have been imagined,” on the #war in #Ukraine.

“The new administration is fast changing all foreign policy configurations,” Peskov said, speaking to #Russia state television in comments recorded last Wednesday & released on Sunday [even before Friday’s debacle]. He added: “This coincides with our vision in many ways.”

#geopolitics #US #MafiaState #Europe #ForeignPolicy #PutinsPuppet

In addition to #Britain PM #Starmer & Presidents #Zelensky of #Ukraine & #Macron of #France, in attendance at the summit were, Chancellor Olaf #Scholz of #Germany & Prime Minister Justin #Trudeau of #Canada, Ursula #vonderLeyen, the president of the European Commission, #MarkRutte, the secretary general of #NATO, & #Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan #Fidan.

#geopolitics #Putin #Russia #Trump #UnitedStates #allies #Europe #ForeignPolicy

#Starmer of #Britain held a phone call w/ the leaders of #Estonia, #Latvia & #Lithuania – 3 countries that were not invited to attend Sunday’s #summit – in which he welcomed their support for #Ukraine, Starmer’s office said in a statement. “The Prime Minister updated them on his discussions with the leaders of Ukraine, #France & the #UnitedStates in recent days,” the statement said.

#geopolitics #Zelensky #Putin #Russia #Trump #US #Europe #allies #NATO #ForeignPolicy #RevengePolitics

Sergey #Lavrov, #Russia’s foreign minister, said that #France Pres #Macron & PM #Starmer of #Britain were “impertinent” in proposing thousands of #peacekeeping troops for #Ukraine. “No one is asking us,” Lavrov said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda, the Russian state news agency #Tass reported on Sunday. Lavrov praised #Trump for “behaving correctly,” according to the report.

#geopolitics #Zelensky #Putin #US #Europe #allies #NATO #ForeignPolicy #RevengePolitics

“It is unsurprising that allies in #Europe are gathering in London this weekend & equally unsurprising that the #UK is being taken much more seriously in Brussels & capitals,” Ashton said.

And yet there are limits to #Starmer’s #diplomacy. He was unable to extract any #security guarantees from #Trump for #Ukraine, despite an exaggerated show of deference to the president. That included Starmer hand-delivering an invitation for a state visit from #KingCharles….

#geopolitics #Russia #US #NATO

#Britain on Saturday announced a nearly $3B loan to #Ukraine aimed at bolstering the #war-torn country’s #military capability. It will be paid back using profits generated on sanctioned Russian sovereign assets, & the first tranche of funding is expected to be disbursed to Ukraine next week, Britain’s Treasury said.

#Europe’s leaders pledged to assemble a European “coalition of the willing” to develop a plan for ending Ukraine’s war w/ #Russia, which they hope could win the backing of #Trump.

The comments came ahead of a #summit in #London on Sunday, where #Starmer met w/ President Volodymyr #Zelensky of #Ukraine & other European leaders to discuss the #war. The gathering took on greater urgency after Zelensky’s meeting w/ #Trump & #JDVance on Friday raised fears the US would try to strong-arm Ukraine’s president into making a #peace deal on whatever terms the Americans [#Putin] dictated.

#geopolitics #Russia #US #allies #NATO #Europe #ForeignPolicy #RevengePolitics #PutinsPuppet

#Britain, #France & #Ukraine to Develop Cease-Fire Plan to Present to #US.

Britain’s PM Sir Keir #Starmer announced the move ahead of a meeting w/ #Europe leaders as the region reeled from #Trump’s attack on President Volodymyr #Zelensky of Ukraine.

#geopolitics #Putin #Russia #UnitedStates #MafiaState #allies #NATO #ForeignPolicy #authoritarianism #RevengePolitics #PutinsPuppet

The future of two Russian military bases in Syria that are integral to Moscow's military reach in the Middle East and Africa are now in the hands of Syria's interim President Ahmed Sharaa. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/03/world/politics/russia-military-bases-assad-syria/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #russia #syria #middleeast #basharalassad

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is taking action to ensure the speedy delivery of Israel’s military aid.

In its second term, the Trump administration has approved almost $12 billion worth of foreign military sales to Israel, Rubio said.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/rubio-to-expedite-4-billion-military-assistance-to-israel-5818724

#Ukraine #Russia #US #Israel #Rubio #Trump

Peter Hegseth has surrendered to Russia by discontinuing all defenses against cyberattacks from Russia. The gates are now open for Russia to enter and do whatever damage it wants.

https://gizmodo.com/trumps-defense-secretary-hegseth-orders-cyber-command-to-stand-down-on-all-russia-operations-2000570343

#Russia #PeterHegseth #cyberattacks #cyberdefenses #surrender

"My Heart Breaks!
My Blood Boils Over Putin and Trump!"
- Aure

A Ukrainian Defender evacuates a little girl to a safe place.

This girl, and millions of Ukrainian children, are the reason why we fight. For their sake, we want a just and lasting peace.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #Zelensky #war

About the pathological lies and Russophobia of ukrainian dictator

That was not his only false statement. In insisting that Putin can’t be trusted, Zelensky omitted his own record in undermining diplomacy with Moscow.

The December 2019 Paris agreement recommitted Ukraine and Russia to the Minsk peace process, the UN Security Council-endorsed framework for ending the war that broke out in 2014 between the post-coup Ukrainian government and Russian-backed eastern Ukrainian rebels.

After initially taking some positive steps toward implementation, Zelensky ultimately refused to comply, a stance that he previewed in Putin’s company.

...

The Russian invasion forced Zelensky to abandon his hostility to negotiations, resulting in the Istanbul talks of March-April 2022. While Zelensky now claims that Russia cannot be negotiated with, his own representatives in Istanbul hold a much different view.

“We managed to find a very real compromise,” Oleksandr Chalyi, a senior member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, recalled in December 2023. “We were very close in the middle of April, in the end of April, to finalize our war with some peaceful settlement.” Putin, he added, “tried to do everything possible to conclude [an] agreement with Ukraine.”

#ukraine #ukrainianconflict #ukrainian #lie #war #russophobia #Zelensky #liar against #Putin #Russia #russian #Donbass #history

GREAT idea, Def Sec Putin.🤦🏻‍♀️

WaPo:

“Defense Secretary Pete #Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to pause cyber and information operations against #Russia as #Trump seeks to bring Putin to the negotiating table to end the war in #Ukraine.”

https://meduza.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ff4a009ba1f59d865f0301f85&id=414aae5b48&e=79a0d84f2c
#russia #politics #media #freedom #press #meduza

Allies of #Russia continue to target NATO and now the UN.
#Musk
#Trump
#Graham
#election2026
#2026election
“It’s time to leave NATO and the UN.” His endorsement aligns with growing calls from some Republican lawmakers, including Senator #MikeLee, to reconsider the US commitment to the alliance.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/elon-musk-backs-us-withdrawal-from-nato-alliance/

il silenzio degli intellettuali: articolo di roberta de monticelli sul ‘manifesto’ del 17 feb. 2025

C’è qualcosa di terribile nel silenzio con cui filosofi, giuristi, intellettuali specie accademici assistono oggi non solo alla violazione su larghissima scala, ma all’ostentato ripudio, da parte di molti governi occidentali, dei principi di civiltà enunciati nelle costituzioni rigide delle democrazie e nelle Carte del costituzionalismo globale che la seconda metà del Novecento ha prodotto. A esemplificare questo assunto, non c’è che l’imbarazzo della scelta.

Guerre e politiche di escalation bellica illimitata. Riarmo selvaggio nei programmi della maggior parte dei governi europei, genocidi tollerati alla luce del sole, deportazioni annunciate di interi popoli, respingimenti di massa di migranti e immigrati, detenzioni illegali, razzismo ostentato ai vertici dei governi, attacchi violenti all’indipendenza dei sistemi giudiziari nazionali e al diritto internazionale, asservimento delle politiche pubbliche a enormi concentrazioni di ricchezza privata, privatizzazione dello spazio cosmico, recesso dai pochi vincoli esistenti alla devastazione dell’ecosistema.

Assistiamo del resto – come ai tempi in cui fu scritto il famoso romanzo di Camus, La peste – al contagio inquietante con cui il cinismo della Realpolitik, sdoganata ai livelli di governo in alcuni stati democratici occidentali, si diffonde nella sfera dell’informazione e del dibattito pubblico; e al fenomeno complementare del silenzio, della non-partecipazione, quindi dell’apparente indifferenza che vi risponde.

Ma si può tacere quando su un grande giornale nazionale di tradizione progressista si legge, a proposito del piano trumpiano di deportazione di massa della popolazione di Gaza, che si tratta di una proposta, «fuori dagli schemi», e che da parte europea sarebbe segno di «poco coraggio» non prenderla in considerazione (Molinari, Repubblica 13 febbraio)? Oltre certi limiti cinismo o silenzio e indifferenza, i sintomi più classici della «banalità del male», equivalgono a complicità nei crimini: è il fenomeno che Luigi Ferrajoli chiama «l’abbassamento dello spirito pubblico» e il «crollo del senso morale a livello di mass» (L’ostentazione della disumanità al vertice delle istituzioni e il crollo del senso morale a livello di massa, sito di Costituente Terra).

La domanda che sottende questa angosciata constatazione è: c’è una corresponsabilità del dotto, dello studioso, del “filosofo” in senso lato in questo «abbassamento dello spirito pubblico»? E una risposta è: certamente.

È la lettura puramente politologica che ha prevalso della democrazia, tanto diversa da quella ancora prevalente da Calamandrei al primo Bobbio, e, sul piano globale, nel pensiero che portò alla Dichiarazione Universale del ’48. Un pensiero che sta al polo opposto di quello che, a destra e a sinistra, riduce l’idealità, il vincolo etico in funzione di cui sono progettate tutte le istituzioni democratiche, a ideologia. Cioè a pura retorica di battaglia.

Quel pensiero etico non si è prolungato fra gli intellettuali della guerra fredda prima, e di un atlantismo triumphans poi, ma nei documenti della perestroika e della politica dell’«Europa Casa comune» dello sconfitto Gorbaciov, assai più dei “nostri” leader consapevole della connessione inscindibile fra ordine internazionale e democrazia in ciascuno stato. E pensare che la sciagurata storia della nostra democrazia incompiuta, sempre di nuovo violentemente intimorita, avrebbe dovuto rendercene fin troppo consapevoli.

A proposito di Alleanza atlantica. Giova accostare gli estremi, il grande statista sconfitto e la visionaria che de Gaulle fece confinare in uno stambugio di Londra perché non intralciasse la politica, nel ’43 – e crepasse pure d’inedia e di dolore: Simone Weil. Profetici entrambi. «Nella politica mondiale odierna non c’è compito più importante e complicato di quello di ristabilire la fiducia fra la Russia e l’Occidente», scrisse Gorbaciov (appena prima di morire). «Sappiamo bene che dopo la guerra l’americanizzazione dell’Europa è un pericolo molto grave», scrisse Simone nel suo stambugio. La perdizione dell’Oriente (non solo mediterraneo) è la perdita del passato e dello spirito.

Ciò che accade oggi, e di cui siamo responsabili, è l’esito dell’avvenuta politicizzazione (ovvio, se l’idealità non è che ideologia) di ogni sfera di valori e di norme, dunque in particolare dell’etica e del diritto, una politicizzazione nel senso più arcaico e tribale di “politica”, intesa come sfera delle relazioni amico-nemico e continuazione della guerra con altri mezzi. Un’evoluzione dell’autoritarismo – più ferino e insieme indissociabile dalla tecnologia, e soprattutto radicato ormai nel potere aziendale e digitale, un completo rovesciamento del Leviatano o “stato etico” fascista, un nazismo a guida privata. Dove l’abolizione della differenza fra il vero e il falso avviene in nome della libertà di opinione e di espressione, e con la forza degli algoritmi che governano i social, per cui poi l’attacco allo straccio di stampa che resta sembra ancora quasi onesto: ti bastono perché non mi piace ciò che dici, all’antica.

Intanto il re non riscrive il passato (che importa) ma i nomi sul mappamondo. E noi? Vorrei rispondere con le parole di Raji Sourani, fondatore e direttore del Centro per i diritti umani a Gaza: «Mi sarei aspettato che l’Europa ci chiedesse di rinunciare alle armi. Macché. Ci chiedeva di rinunciare al diritto».

#abbassamentoDelloSpiritoPubblico #AlleanzaAtlantica #CostituenteTerra #dittatura #Gaza #Gorbaciov #ilManifesto #LuigiFerrajoli #Nato #occidente #RajiSourani #Realpolitik #Repubblica #RobertaDeMonticelli #Russia

It’s great to see the outrage against the US siding with the oppressor (Russia) against the oppressed (the Ukrainian people).

Just can’t help but wonder why the same outrage hasn’t been there for US support for the oppressor (Israel) in its live-streamed and ongoing genocide of the oppressed (the Palestinian people).

I can’t imagine what’s different about Ukrainians and Palestinians as people that might explain the huge disparity in empathy…

🤔

#Ukraine #Russia #EU #Europe #USA #fascism #racism #hypocricy #Palestine #Israel #apartheid #ethnicCleansing #genocide

Some free Political advice Keir, people will like you more for shaking Zelensky's hand than Trump's.

Don't fuck this up, it's important.
#UKPOL #UKpolitics #Starmer #Zelensky #EUpol #Russia #US

My talk w the fierce-debating, fascism-fighting @mehdirhasan.bsky.social from my 12-hr livestream marathon Tuesday!

Check it out—Lotsa great conversation & ideas! And an ample amount of Dan Bongino ripping :)

https://open.substack.com/pub/blueamp/p/mehdi-hasan-cliff?r=j0lyx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #news #politics #media #fbi #law #press #ukraine #russia #china #usa #america #us #canada #europe #eu #podcast #video #tech #substack #ai

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

After yesterday's events in the White House, Haltbakk Bunkers, one of Norway's largest marine fuel companies, appears to have announced that it will no longer refuel American Navy vessels.

Haltbakk has called on other European companies to refuse service to American forces as well.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #Norway

In 2024, the #USA spent as much on its #defense #budget as the next 12 largest defense #budgets combined

#US #UnitedStates #China #Russia #Germany #UK #UnitedKingdom #India #SaudiArabia #France #Japan #SouthKorea #Australia #Italy #Israel #Ukraine #Poland #Pentagon #NATO #military #war #nuclear #visualization #DataViz

Israel wants US to keep Syria 'weak' by allowing Russian bases, sources tell Reuters

https://kyivindependent.com/israel-wants-us-to-keep-syria-weak-by-allowing-russian-bases-sources-tell-reuters/

#politics #usa #israel #russia #syria #turkey

"A reminder that extorting Zelinsky was what got Trump impeached the first time. Once again, he brings shame to the Oval Office and to America."

~ Greg Dworkin

#Putin #Trump #Vance #Zelenskyy #Ukraine #Russia #PutinsPoodle
/8

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/1/2306996/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Roundup-Trump-mugs-Zelinsky-for-the-ratings-and-Putin-s-approval

"In the Oval Office on Friday, Donald Trump and JD Vance behaved like angry children. Volodymyr Zelenskyy acted like a man."

~ Charles Pierce

#Putin #Trump #Vance #Zelenskyy #Ukraine #Russia #PutinsPoodle
/7

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a63982213/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-deal-argument/

"There is little more Trump could do to advance Russia’s interests at the expense of the peace and security of the United States than if he was an active agent of the Russian KGB—a theory that reputable sources have begun to publish."

~ Robert B. Hubbell

#Putin #Trump #Vance #Zelenskyy #Ukraine #Russia #PutinsPoodle
/6

"Here's what the idiots in the White House utterly fail to comprehend. They and the US came out of that argument weaker. Zelensky came out stronger, with Europe rallying behind Ukraine more than before. They came out looking like petulant idiots; he came out looking like a leader with integrity."

~ Rebecca Solnit, quoted by Robert B. Hubbell

#Putin #Trump #Vance #Zelenskyy #Ukraine #Russia #PutinsPoodle
/5

https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/a-day-of-shame-as-trump-abandons