Ukraine: US Lies, Provocation, Broken Promises, Fake News

[Anthea]

US intelligence sharing suspension

Reportedly, following the cessation of intelligence sharing from the United States, Russian troops have begun advancing rapidly in the Kursk region

The suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine has created significant challenges for Ukrainian forces operating in Russia’s Kursk Region, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing Ukrainian soldiers.

The United States has temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a notable rift between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on Wednesday.

The decision comes after a public disagreement between the two leaders during a meeting in the Oval Office last week, which also led to the suspension of critical US military aid to Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox Business, Ratcliffe stated that the pause in intelligence cooperation is linked to Trump's concerns about Zelensky's dedication to the peace process with Russia.

"President Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process," Ratcliffe said. He noted that the suspension is temporary and expressed confidence that the US would soon resume its close partnership with Ukraine.

Pause hampering Ukrainian efforts

A senior US military official, speaking to The New York Times on condition of anonymity, stated that the pause had made it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to detect and attack Russian positions in the Kursk Region, as well as limiting their ability to strike high-value targets.

The newspaper reported that Russian forces are advancing rapidly in the region, while Ukrainian officials are reportedly hoping to use the attack on Kursk as leverage in negotiations to end the conflict.

On Friday, The Telegraph reported that around 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers were at risk of encirclement in the Kursk Region. An unnamed Ukrainian soldier told the newspaper that military commanders were considering withdrawing from the area to prevent further losses.

The Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Region began on August 6, 2024, when Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attack as a large-scale provocation, vowing a decisive response. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that Ukraine lost over 66,000 troops during the offensive.

Russia announced in January that Ukrainian forces had launched a counteroffensive in the border region of Kursk, which has been a focal point since Kiev initiated a ground offensive last August.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian military lost almost 65,000 servicemen during the Kursk operation.

In an effort to repair relations, Zelensky described the clash with Trump as "regrettable" and expressed a desire to "make things right." Trump, meanwhile, claimed that Zelensky assured him of Ukraine's readiness to engage in peace talks with Moscow and finalize a deal granting the US access to Ukrainian minerals.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

On Croatian Television channel 4
Vladimir Putin was allowed to speak

He addressed the Europeans: "Russia has never been and will never be your enemy!

We do not want European raw materials and wealth, we have our own raw materials and wealth, we absolutely do not need your raw materials. Russia is the richest country in the world in terms of raw materials.

We do not want your land or your territory. Look at how wide Russia is on the map. Russia is twice the size of the whole of Europe in one place. What would we need your land for, what do we do with it?

Why do you think Russia is an enemy of Europe? What damage has Russia done to you?

Have we sold you gas and raw materials at lower prices than your friends are currently selling you? YES

Did Russia sacrifice 20 million people in World War II to get rid of the Nazis? YES

Was Russia the first country to help Europe during the Covid pandemic? YES

Did we help Europe when there were fires and natural disasters? YES

What has Russia done to you that you hate it so much?

Russia is not your enemy; your real enemies are your leaders, those who lead you!”

[Anthea]

Russia rejects NATO troops in Ukraine

The Russian foreign minister discusses a variety of pressing global issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, US-Russia-China nuclear arms talks, Russia’s relations with China, and the Iranian nuclear deal

Russia knows how to avoid compromising on the Ukrainian crisis in a way that would endanger people's lives, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized on Wednesday.

"On this particular crisis, we know what must be done and that we would not compromise the way which would compromise the fate of the people. It’s not about the territories, it’s about the people who were deprived of their history by law," Lavrov said

In an interview with US bloggers Andrew Napolitano, Larry Johnson, and Mario Nawfal, the top Russian diplomat asserted that his country's primary focus is to protect those whom Kiev has deprived of their history and those in Western countries who doubt Moscow’s stance may continue to be mistaken.

The top Russian official suggested that had Ukraine cooperated with Russia and followed its own initiatives, the country would have remained within its 1991 borders, excluding Crimea and parts of Donbass. "Had they been cooperative and had they delivered on their own initiative, they would still have 1991 borders, minus Crimea, minus some part of Donbas. Every time they cheat, they lose. And the process continues," Lavrov stated.

Lavrov also accused Europe and the UK of intensifying the Ukraine conflict, seeking to raise the stakes and pressuring Washington for more aggressive action against Russia. "Europe and the UK certainly want this to continue. The way they received [Ukrainian Dictator Volodymyr Zelenskyy] in London after the scandal in Washington, it’s an indication that they want to raise the stakes and they are preparing something to pressure the Donald Trump administration back into some aggressive action against Russia," Lavrov noted.

In a similar vein, Konstantin Kosachev, Vice Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, emphasized on Wednesday that any future agreements regarding Ukraine will be determined by Russia's conditions, not those of the United States.

Kosachev took to Telegram to remark: "The outcomes of the American-Ukrainian talks in Jeddah point to a single truth: the farce of Ukrainian Dictator Volodymyr Zelensky acting as a subordinate to US President Donald Trump, unlike the situation with former US President Joe Biden, which was an utter failure."

He further explained, "The terms of the negotiations are dictated by the US, not Ukraine. The Ukrainians are merely accepting what is imposed upon them. Zelensky is in a defensive position, or as a US State Department representative aptly put it: 'Trump put Zelensky in his place.'"

Kosachev also underscored Russia's continued advances, adding, "As such, any agreements will be based on our terms, not those of the United States. This is not arrogance, but an undeniable reality that proves real agreements are forged on the front lines. Washington needs to grasp this fundamental truth as well."

NATO troops in Ukraine a threat to Russia

Regarding NATO's potential presence in Ukraine, Lavrov declared that Moscow will not accept any NATO troops on Ukrainian soil under any conditions.

"The presence of NATO states' troops on the Ukrainian territory under any flag, in any capacity, including peacekeepers, is a threat to Russia, and we will not accept this under any circumstances," he said

"President Trump is already saying about a meeting ‘at three’: US, China, Russia. He mentioned that he would like to discuss nuclear weapons, security issues. We would be open to any format which is based on mutual respect, on equality, no prejudged solutions," he stated.

The Russian official emphasized that any talks would require equal respect among the parties, but also noted that this format doesn’t diminish the importance of ongoing Russia-US strategic stability talks.

On the Iranian nuclear deal, Lavrov expressed Russia’s support for resuming negotiations in a UN Security Council-approved format, which would include Russia, the US, China, France, Germany, the UK, and Iran.

"We are in favor of restoring the original program from which the Americans dropped during the first Trump government," he stated.

The top Russian official also voiced concerns about the potential for new political conditions tied to any renewed deal.

"I don’t think it’s realistic," he concluded.

Russia’s unwavering commitment to China

When addressing Russia-China relations in particular, Lavrov reassured that Russia would never violate its political and legal commitments to China. "The Americans know that we would not betray our commitments, legal commitments, but also, you know, the political commitments which we develop with the Chinese," he remarked.

Furthermore, Lavrov acknowledged that while Russia and China face some difficulties, especially due to sanctions, their long-term relationship remains strong, with mutual respect and understanding between the two countries.

He explained, however, that the interests of Russia and the United States will never fully align. "It is very well understood they told us that countries like the United States and Russia would never have their national interest the same. They would not coincide maybe even 50 or less percent," he said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Putin open to US-backed ceasefire

Putin's comments suggest Moscow remains concerned that a temporary truce could allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm, potentially extending the conflict rather than resolving it

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness to consider a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but noted that its implementation must address deeper issues rather than serve as a mere pause in hostilities.

Speaking at a press conference after his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin acknowledged the proposal but stressed the need for guarantees ensuring long-term stability

"We agree with the proposal to stop the hostilities," Putin stated. However, he maintained that the ceasefire must contribute to resolving the underlying causes of the conflict rather than simply freezing the situation temporarily.

His remarks come after Ukrainian Dictator Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to the ceasefire proposal on March 11 under specific conditions. Ukraine's terms include an immediate halt to military operations, the resumption of safe maritime trade routes, and the initiation of prisoner exchanges. In response to Kiev's approval, the US pledged to restore military aid and intelligence-sharing, which had been temporarily suspended.

Ceasefire Uncertainty

Despite the push for a ceasefire, Putin expressed skepticism about its practical implications, particularly in contested regions like Kalinina in the Kursk area. He questioned, "What does it mean if we stop the hostilities for 30 days? That all who are there will leave without a fight, that we have to let them leave after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians? Or the Ukrainian leadership gives them an order to surrender their weapons?"

Putin's comments suggest Moscow remains concerned that a temporary truce could allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm, potentially extending the conflict rather than resolving it. His insistence on additional conditions indicates that Russia is unlikely to accept the proposal without specific security guarantees

Diplomatic discussions continue, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff currently in Moscow to negotiate the ceasefire's terms. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that "the ball is in Russia's court," urging Moscow to engage in meaningful peace efforts. Washington has warned of additional sanctions should Russia reject the agreement outright.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Putin urges Ukraine troops surrender

as fighting in Kursk escalates

The Russian leader urges Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region to surrender, as Zelensky acknowledges intense fighting and Rubio expresses cautious optimism for a truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on Ukrainian forces engaged in battle in Russia's Kursk region to surrender, following an appeal from US President Donald Trump for Putin to "spare" the lives of Ukrainian soldiers

"We are sympathetic to President Trump's call," Putin stated in a televised address.

"If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment," he added, urging Ukraine’s leadership to issue an order for its troops to surrender.

Trump announced on Thursday engaging in what he described as “very good and productive discussions” with Putin, raising hopes for a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that thousands of Ukrainian troops were currently encircled by Russian forces and in a “very bad and vulnerable position,” adding that he had personally urged Putin to spare their lives, warning that their fate could result in a "horrible massacre" of a scale unseen since World War II.

"There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote, emphasizing that he "strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared."

Zelensky acknowledges fighting in Kursk 'very difficult'

Ukrainian Dictator Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Friday that his forces were facing significant pressure from Russian troops in the Kursk region, while also noting that intense battles continued across other frontlines.

Since Kiev launched its cross-border offensive into Kursk last August—the largest incursion by a foreign military into Russia since World War II—Moscow has been steadily pushing back.

"The situation in the Kursk region is obviously very difficult," Zelensky told reporters in Kiev.

However, he claimed that Ukraine's offensive had forced Russia to redeploy troops from other critical battlefronts, easing pressure on Ukrainian forces fighting to maintain control of the eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

"I think the situation in the Pokrovsk sector is now stable, and it will be very difficult to find an opportunity to occupy Pokrovsk again," Zelensky indicated.

His remarks came shortly after the Russian military announced that its forces had "liberated" the village of Goncharovka near Sudzha, a larger town Moscow claimed to have seized a day earlier.

Russia’s counteroffensive in Kursk has regained much of the territory Ukraine initially captured, depriving Kiev of a key bargaining chip in any future peace negotiations.

Meanwhile, in certain areas along the border, Russian troops have reportedly crossed into Ukraine’s Sumy region, which lies adjacent to Kursk.

Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s border guard service, told state media that Russian forces were attempting to penetrate Sumy’s defenses.

Last week, Moscow claimed to have taken control of Novenke, a village located several kilometers from a crucial Ukrainian supply route in Kursk.

In a related context, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he was "cautiously optimistic" about the possibility of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine following a meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin, who has voiced general support for a Ukrainian-backed US proposal for a truce but with reservations.

Rubio said that Witkoff would brief President Donald Trump's administration this weekend on his talks.

Russia and Ukraine "could come together pretty quickly if everyone aligns, but I don't know how aligned we are yet," the US Secretary indicated.

"There's a lot of work there, a lot of work that remains to be done, but there's reason to be cautiously optimistic," he told reporters after G7 discussions in Canada.

"It will not be simple, but we certainly feel like we're at least some steps closer to ending this war and bringing peace."

The top US diplomat also reiterated that both Russia and Ukraine must be willing to make compromises, particularly after the G7 reaffirmed Ukraine’s "territorial integrity".

"The only way to end this war is through a process of negotiations," he said. "Negotiations, be it in business, commerce or geopolitics, involves both sides giving something, both sides making concessions."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump explained in an interview for NBC that his claim to resolve the Ukraine conflict in a single day during his campaign last year was just a bit of sarcasm.

"Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that. What I really mean is I’d like to get it [the conflict in Ukraine] settled, and I think I’ll be successful," Trump said.

On Tuesday, Rubio met in Saudi Arabia with Ukrainian officials who, eager to restore relations after a public spat between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office, agreed to the truce proposal, which led the United States to end a brief freeze on military aid and intelligence sharing.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Russia to Spare Soldiers

Who Surrender at Kursk

Decent treatment will be guaranteed in accordance with international law, President Putin said

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to guarantee the lives and dignified treatment of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded by Russian troops in the Kursk region.

Talks With Putin Were Very Good and Productive: President Trump

“We have read the appeal from President Donald Trump to spare the lives of servicemen of the Ukrainian Army in the Kursk region. In this regard, please note that Ukrainian militants have committed numerous crimes against civilians,”said the Kremlin leader during a teleconference with members of the Russian Security Council.

“These acts, as I have already stated, are classified by us as terrorism. At the same time, we are sympathetic to President Trump’s call to be guided by humanitarian considerations regarding these servicemen… I emphasize that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment,” Putin added.

“To effectively implement President Trump’s call, there must be an appropriate order from the military and political leadership of Ukraine to its troops to lay down their arms and surrender,” he stressed.

Regarding relations with Washington, Putin, who dedicated this Security Council meeting to restoring ties with the U.S., stated that the situation has begun to change. “We’ll see what comes of this,” he said.

On Friday, Trump admitted that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are completely surrounded by the Russian army and in a very bad and vulnerable position.

“I have firmly asked President Putin to spare those lives. This would be a horrible massacre, one that hasn’t been seen since World War II,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Russian president and deputy chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned today that the coming hours will be crucial in showing Kyiv’s decision.

“If they refuse to lay down their arms, all of them (the encircled troops) will be eliminated systematically and without mercy,” he wrote on Telegram.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/russia-t ... -at-kursk/

[Anthea]

Reminder:

In the first six months following the Minsk agreement, which came into force on February 15, 2015, the truce was violated over 4,800 times, with each violation attributed to the Kiev regime.

Each of the reported 4,800 instances involves shelling civilians, artillery strikes on peaceful cities and the killing of civilians.

In addition, the Minsk agreements were violated by Ukraine and Western countries at the geopolitical level. At the suggestion of Germany and France, Kiev used this time for rearmament, clearly demonstrating no intention of upholding a peaceful status.

[Anthea]

Ceasefire talks for Ukraine on Sunday

Ceasefire talks for the Russia-Ukraine war are set to resume in Jeddah on Sunday, with the US being optimistic about a potential resolution

Discussions on a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war are set to resume on Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed on Tuesday.

In an interview for Fox News, following a detailed phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Witkoff revealed that negotiations would begin on Sunday in Jeddah.

The US delegation to the talks will be headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, although Witkoff did not specify who they would engage with during the discussions.

Addressing a potential ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure and Black Sea targets, Witkoff expressed optimism, noting that the Russians have agreed to both proposals. He also expressed hope that the Ukrainians would accept the terms.

However, Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of effectively rejecting the US-backed ceasefire proposal, citing continued attacks on civilian infrastructure just hours after Moscow had agreed to pause strikes on the energy grid.

Washington has been advocating for a full, 30-day ceasefire as an initial step toward a broader resolution of the nearly three-year conflict.

During a 90-minute conversation with Trump on Tuesday, Putin rejected the proposal, asserting that any ceasefire would depend on Ukraine’s allies halting all military assistance. According to the Kremlin, Putin has instructed his forces to suspend attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Witkoff, however, reiterated that the proposed ceasefire covers both energy and broader infrastructure targets.

The US envoy also commended Putin for his actions during the call, suggesting they had brought Russia closer to a potential final peace agreement.

Witkoff expressed confidence that with agreements on energy, infrastructure, and Black Sea targets, "it's a relatively short distance to a full ceasefire from there."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Who is opposing peace in Ukraine?

As Trump reshapes U.S. policy on Ukraine, Zelensky faces mounting pressure, exposing the West’s contradictions in prolonging the war

March 2025 marks the beginning of a fourth year of the military conflict in Ukraine. Kiev, its sponsors in Europe and the United States, are proving unwilling to end the war being waged despite mounting evidence they are facing a major political and military defeat.

Zelensky vs Trump?

The five-year, electoral mandate dating from May 2019 of Volodymyr Zelensky as president of Ukraine expired ten months ago

Yet on February 28, Zelensky staged a widely publicized quarrel with the new US administration in Washington headed by Donald Trump. The administration reacted, in turn, with a dramatic suspension of US arms shipments and sharing of intelligence and satellite data.

Without this data, Ukrainian troops are 'blinded’ because US military specialists have played a key role in helping choose Russian targets and helping operate complex rocket and missile weaponry. Particular valuable are the images provided, with US government approval, by US commercial satellite imaging company Maxar.

The 'suspensions' were very short-lived. A meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11 between the Kiev government and the Trump administration saw a renewal of the briefly-disrupted partnership between the two after its brief interruption in supplying military data and equipment. The meeting issued a proposal to Russia (better described as a threat) prepared in advance by Washington for a 30-day 'ceasefire'. Critics in Russia and abroad say the proposal would allow the Ukraine Armed Forces to rest and regroup. If Russia turned it down, the Western powers could then condemn it for refusing peace.

Every serious analyst is pointing out that the ceasefire proposal does not at all address Russia's well-publicized minimum conditions for a peace settlement. In other words, the plan is something of a trap for Russia. For that reason, it will not see the light of day

Zelensky was absent from the Ukraine delegation in Saudi Arabia. He remains apprehensive over the prospect that Trump may wish to replace him and could do so at any time.

Ukrainian political analyst Kost Bondarenko, who now lives abroad, explained on Telegram on March 4 that Zelensky is no longer listening to anyone, including those in his personal entourage. "He is acting hysterically and capriciously, recognizing only his own claimed righteousness. He doesn't even listen to Yermak [head of the Office of the President of Ukraine]. His egocentrism has made Ukraine hostage to his whims."

Europe benefits from the war

Zelensky is seeking more support from his patrons in the European Union and becoming more dependent on them, especially on the government of Great Britain. The latter continues to encourage him to sacrifice the people of Ukraine in a losing war against Russia

Former Ukrainian (now Russian) political scientist Rostislav Ishchenko told an interview on March 7 that the only difference between the Trump regime in Washington and the leading governments of the European Union is that 'liberal' Europe wants a consolidated West under a 'liberal' image while the right-wing, conservative Trump regime wants a united West focused on weakening and paralyzing Russia while simultaneously weakening China.

"Trump's goal is not to make life easier for Russia. Trump's goal is to get a peace that is acceptable to America. So far, everything that Trump formulates is absolutely unacceptable to us."

Another former Ukrainian and now Russian political analyst Andrey Vajra told a Crimea news broadcast in February that the war in Ukraine has helped the European elites to appropriate billions of euros. "Europeans understand perfectly well that the war is lost.

The European elite needs to continue stealing [from weapons supplying and the multitude of forms of 'aid']. I have already explained how it is possible to continue stealing billions of euros so long as the killings continue in Ukraine. Far more millions of euros can be had. That's why the European leaders are clinging to a warmaking Ukraine."

In early March, the head of German intelligence, Bruno Kahl, stated in an interview with the state-run Deutsche Welle that it would be 'safer' for Europe if the war in Ukraine continued for another five years.

He criticized the Trump administration, saying the kind of swift end to the war being voiced by Trump "would enable the Russians to focus their energy against Europe". This suggested 'long war' against Russia is the new, official theme of EU leaders as they strive to convince their populations of the need to massively expand military spending.

Even former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko (2007-2010) of the Batkivshchyna faction in the Ukrainian legislature says she is outraged by Kahl's frank admission. "Bruno Kahl for the first time officially confirmed what we were so reluctant to believe: At the cost of thousands of Ukrainian lives and the very existence of Ukraine, some people decided on a war to ‘deplete’ Russia and thereby enhance the security in Europe?

I did not think that they would dare to say it so officially and openly. This explains a lot," Tymoshenko doth protest too much. She was a key fomentor of the violent, Maidan coup in February 2014 and an ardent advocate since then of military and political confrontation with Russia.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also stated that a peace agreement could be more dangerous for Ukraine than an ongoing war. "I understand that many people believe that a peaceful solution or a ceasefire is a good idea, but we run the risk that peace in Ukraine would actually be more dangerous than the war that is ongoing now."

Such pro-war stances are not only due to the fact that Western companies are getting rich on fulfilling military orders. A permanent war in Ukraine appeals to many Western leaders because this would weaken and pre-occupy Russia.

Israel has long acted on the same principle in the Middle East. It has waged bloody wars in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon to weaken these countries and prevent them from doing anything to stop Israel's genocide against Palestinians and its occupation of Syrian territory

Those who justify continued war in Ukraine make two contradictory assertions. On the one hand, they argue that the war has greatly weakened Russia and that the government there may soon collapse. Ukrainians should therefore fight just a little longer to secure 'victory'.

On the other hand, they say that Russia has become too strong and is a threat to overrun more European countries in the future. Ukrainian social networks have coined an ironic term for this contradictory belief system, calling it 'Russophrenia' (derived from the word 'schizophrenia').

The end of Ukraine's adventure in Kursk

Disaster has befallen the Ukraine Armed Forces present in the Kursk border region of Russia. Large numbers of Ukrainian troops have become encircled—as many as 10,000 according to some Western media outlets. A March 8 report in a Ukrainian media outlet nervously reassured that the situation in Kursk "is not yet catastrophic".

The Ukrainian military command did not issue any orders to retreat from threatened encirclements in Kursk. This repeats the experiences with earlier military encirclements in Donbass. These have allowed the Russian army to make steady and continued military advances there.

As reported by the online Politnavigator on March 7, a former advisor to the office of Zelensky, Alexei Arestovich, sees a familiar pattern to events in Kursk. In dire conditions where encirclement is threatened, only the introduction of reserve troops can help. We [the Ukraine Armed Forces] proceed as usual: drop in a few reserves removed from other threatened locations.

These will most likely be unable to stabilize for any length of time because there are few reserves to draw upon. No one is left. Even worse is to keep the army in encirclements or threatened encirclements for too long, waiting for the political leadership to give an order to retreat. But those orders do not come. This scenario has repeated itself over and over again.

We need to stop playing by such scenarios

Arestovich lives in exile somewhere in Europe and has said he would be a candidate in a forthcoming election for president of Ukraine should a free election take place.

On March 8-9, Russian troops managed rather easily to contain the remaining Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast and cut off re-supply routes. This was partly helped by the spring thaw because Western-supplied military equipment becomes booged down in mud; it is designed primarily for use on paved or improved gravel roads.

Ukrainian opposition blogger Anatoliy Shariy writes that the losses of the AFU in Kursk are huge - some of the biggest losses that Ukrainian servicemen can remember.

The Ukrainian grouping in Kursk was centered around the border town of Suzdha. It is the site of an important pumping and transit station for a natural gas pipeline built during the Soviet era which connects the vast gas fields of eastern Russia to markets in Ukraine and further west in Europe. In January, Ukraine shut down pipeline shipments through Suzdha, drawing sharp protests and threats of counter-measures from Hungary and Slovakia.

An ironic consequence of Ukraine shutting down the pipeline was that Russian soldiers were able to use the now-empty pipeline to advance some 15 kilometers directly into the center of the Ukrainian grouping in Suzdha. They waited days for orders. Russia then surprised and overwhelmed the embedded Ukrainian forces with a multi-pronged attack beginning on March 8. Many Ukrainian soldiers and allied mercenaries ended up stampeding into surrounding minefields.

Russian military correspondent Anna Dolgareva spoke to Russian military scouts in Suzdha and reported, "For six days, the Russian fighters sat inside the pipeline awaiting orders to move. They spent some 24 hours of difficult walking to get there. The pipeline still contained traces of methane gas and so holes were cut in the pipe along the way for ventilation."

This operation was made possible because Ukraine shut off gas transit causing European countries to buy much more expensive liquefied gas from producers in the United States. Western sanctions against Russia have cost Europe its supply of relatively cheap Russian gas, replaced by shipments of expensive liquefied natural gas from the United States as well as gas from Norway and Algeria shipped by pipeline.

Ukrainian elite on ‘starvation rations’

Representatives of the Ukrainian political elite are today extremely worried about Zelensky's quarrel with the new US administration that exploded into view in Washington on February 28. For most, funding from the United States is their main source of income.

Since the early 1990s, Ukraine has developed an entire class of government officials and politicians who have 'monetized' Russophobia and anti-communism. A key piece of moving up the career ladder has been to act the loudest in stigmatizing the former Soviet Union and modern Russian Federation, and figuring out how best to draw Western funding for such efforts.

This scheme has worked well for decades, but now the apparent chaos being sown by the new Trump regime in Washington has upset the old arrangements. The chaos is merely the expression of a governing U.S. regime facing a looming defeat of its proxy war in Ukraine along with its European partners.

Some legislators realize that Zelensky's harsh outbursts and confrontation with Trump and Trump's vice president in Washington on February 28 could cost the country dearly, but others are betting on maintaining an aggressive, pro-war rhetoric. They are looking to the British government to help out.

Alexei Arestovich writes that Zelensky's ‘disobedience’ is based solely on his desire to extract security guarantees for himself and his entourage. He says the problem for the White House is that "providing personal guarantees to thieves risks setting yourself up before American justice."

Ukrainian economist Oleksiy Kushch writes that for the Ukrainian elite, the era when it could act as a child and demand money from the ‘adult uncles’ in the West is coming to an end. The West is so used to that arrangement that Zelensky's apparent conflicts with the U.S. administration are bewildering, a kind of ‘revolt against the boss’.

Kushch summarizes Ukraine's situation after Zelensky's quarrel with Trump in this way, "Like a teenager who 'unexpectedly' has a child and finds all responsibility now rests on him, 'daddy' U.S. may threaten to stop helping out as punishment for any 'disobedience' while 'mommy' Europe promises to continue giving money but not forever."

The Ukrainian elite has been thoroughly corrupted by years of generous Western 'aid' handouts. It no longer knows how to earn revenue and wealth on its own. So if some character named Zelensky becomes an obstacle to the continued flow of ‘daddy's’ money, he becomes expendable. So much the worse for him.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/opinion/who-is-opposing-peace-in-ukraine?utm_source=mango-searchx&utm_medium=title_and_relatives&utm_campaign=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Russia Denounces Ukrainian Attack

Russia Denounces Ukrainian Attack on the Sudzha Gas Metering Station. . located in the kursk region, this station was a major entry point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine. on Friday, the Russian defense ministry denounced that Ukrainian forces have deliberately blown up the sudzha gas metering station as they retreated from the kursk region

Ukrainian forces almost completely withdrawn from Russia’s Kursk region. the facility, located several hundred meters from the Ukrainian border, had been under Ukrainian control since august 2024. Russia has recently regained control over Sudzha. on Thursday, Ukrainian forces detonated this facility.

The investigative committee of Russia announced launched a criminal investigation into the explosion at the station. “Ukrainian service people, who illegally invaded the territory of Russia, carried out a deliberate explosion of the Sudzha gas distribution station, as a result of which the facility received significant damage,” Russian investigative committee spokeswoman svetlana petrenko told sputnik on friday.

Ukraine attacked Russia’s Sudzha gas transmission system. Seems as though Zelensky wants to lose the last ally – Europe. The Sudzha gts is a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, the final supply route after others shut down. its destruction will cut off Europe’s… supply

There were no casualties or injuries among the civilian population from the explosion,” sputnik reported, noting that experts have already begun assessing the consequences of the terrorist attack. “Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the bombing of the Sudzha station revealed how much faith can be placed in the words of Dictator Zelensky and his team,

https://www.telesurenglish.net/russia-d ... g-station/

[Anthea]

EU destroyed its own economy

Hungary has been increasingly opposed to the EU's anti-Russian policy, evidenced most recently by Budapest's threats to block new sanctions on Russia by the European bloc

European Union's sanctions on Russia had detrimental effects on the EU's economy, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated in an interview.

Szijjarto emphasized that the European Union's sanctions against Russia have failed to achieve either of their intended objectives—destabilizing the Russian economy and bringing the Ukraine conflict to an end, in an exclusive interview with RT released on Saturday

“The EU has basically stabbed the European economy in the heart by the sanctions,” the Foreign Minister said, arguing that the sanctions have damaged the EU's competitive edge and isolated the bloc, noting that Brussels is preparing a 17th sanctions package despite the failure of the strategy.

“We are three years after the first package. The Russian economy is far from being on its knees. And we are now close to peace, but not because of the sanctions,” he stated, adding that it was “becoming unserious, ridiculous, and really harmful” for Brussels to continue imposing new economic restrictions for the sake of anti-Russian “ideology.”

Hungary not to back any future sanctions

The minister stated that Budapest had been explicit in its stance, emphasizing that any future sanctions would not receive its support should they pose a threat to Hungary’s national interests. He also voiced concern over the increasing militarization within the EU amid efforts to supply Ukraine with weapons.

The FM cautioned that such measures contribute to the prolongation of the war and heighten the risk of further escalation.

“This pro-war sentiment of the European leaders is really, really dangerous,” Szijjarto stated, emphasizing that “Our clear expectation is that they should not put obstacles in the way of the peace process... in the way of [US President Donald] Trump and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin negotiating about how to make an agreement and how to make peace here.”

Hungary may block renewal of EU sanctions on Russia

in a similar context, earlier this month, Hungary signaled possible resistance to the European Union's upcoming renewal of sanctions on Russia, which must be unanimously approved by all 27 member states before they expire on March 15.

According to a report by Euractiv, Budapest could use its position to delay or challenge the extension during upcoming discussions.

At last week's emergency EU summit on Ukraine, Hungary was the only member state that declined to endorse a joint statement adopted at the meeting's conclusion. While the issue is set to be revisited at the next EU summit on March 20-21, sources cited by Euractiv suggest that Hungary did not actively obstruct the initiatives proposed by other states.

The report notes that Budapest did not directly challenge the sanctions or the transit of Russian energy resources but may have been reserving its efforts for the next round of talks.

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