OF THE
TIMES
When we talk about the nationalization of the Central Bank, (what we mean is) bringing it into a policy of conformity with national interests. Right now, its policy is contrary to national interests.... We see in whose interests such a policy is pursued. The Central Bank raised interest rates to 20 percent, giving the bankers a dominant position in the economy. Possessing the most expensive and scarce resource, money, they determine which enterprise will survive, and which enterprise will die, go bankrupt, and so on. Rising interest rates are holding the entire Russian economy hostage to a handful of bankers. ("Events Like These Only Happen Once Every Century (Sergey Glazyev)", The Saker)Sound familiar?
"I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation from the President earlier today, the immediate drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $100 million to meet Ukraine's urgent need for additional anti-armor systems.
"The world has been shocked and appalled by the atrocities committed by Russia's forces in Bucha and across Ukraine. Ukraine's forces bravely continue to defend their country and their freedom, and the United States, along with our Allies and partners, stand steadfast in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Czechia has provided Ukraine with tanks for use in its ongoing conflict with Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, on Tuesday.The MIC must be having one helluva field day as the war thickens and the usual hands-off countries continue relinquishing their dispensable military equipment to Ukraine.
The Central European nation has also reportedly supplied Kiev with howitzer artillery pieces and Soviet-made BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. The supplies have been funded by the Prague government and some private donors, who joined a state-backed crowdfunding campaign.
Western nations have been supplying Ukraine with weapons, ammunition and fuel since shortly after the start of the Russian military attack, in late February. Most deliveries to date have included portable anti-tank and anti-air missiles, as well as small arms.
Australia said earlier this week it has been flying Bushmaster armored vehicles to Europe, destined for use by Kiev's forces. German media also earlier reported that Berlin had approved the delivery of self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine by a number of other NATO members.
Some NATO states, such as Slovenia, have virtually depleted their own supplies. Now, its prime minister, Janez Jansa, says his nation's Western allies are in no rush to replenish these stocks."Unfortunately, our reserves are depleted and now we are trying to replace equipment... with new deliveries from US.Earlier, Russia warned that it would consider arms deliveries to Ukraine as legitimate military targets but Moscow hasn't targeted any arms convoys outside of Ukrainian territory so far. It has not commented on a potential response to NATO states providing equipment repair facilities to Ukraine.
"If the war is going to get longer and longer, the war equipment that is being damaged needs to get serviced. Ukrainian repair houses are 100% busy, and they are asking other nearby allies to help them with repairs."
The EU Commission has triggered a new mechanism which could see billions of euros allocated for Hungary [be withdrawn].Budapest takes umbrage with Kiev's offensive comments and insults:
Speaking in the European parliament on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained that the European Commission and the Hungarian leadership have "not been able to find common ground" on the issue of anti-corruption reforms. She added that Budapest's response to a formal notice on the matter did not leave the EU top body with any other option but to move on "to the next step." "The Commission has today told the Hungarian authorities that we will now send a formal letter to start the conditionality mechanism." She referred to the instrument adopted in late 2020 allowing the bloc to withhold aid funding from a member that is found to be failing to adhere to the union's democratic principles.
Orban's presidential victory prompted his chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, to call on the European Commission to accept "the basic rules of democracy" and "not to punish Hungarian voters for expressing an opinion not to Brussels' taste." Gulyas was apparently referring to harsh criticism of Orban's policies by the EU leadership.
EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn made it clear that the body planned to speed up the implementation of the mechanism. However, any suspension of funds would involve additional negotiations between the sides and a qualified majority vote in the European Council. The EU Commission will have to provide details of particular cases when rule-of-law violations directly led to the misuse of EU budget funds by Hungarian authorities, which means that the process is expected to last months.
The conditionality mechanism, along with a multi-billion recovery package, was supposed to serve as "an additional layer of protection in cases when breaches of the rule of law principles affect or risk affecting the EU financial interests."
Poland and Hungary had consistently argued that the "conditionality mechanism" was not included in any of the EU treaties. They also said the ECJ would be overstepping its powers in approving such a mechanism.
Hungary's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Ukrainian ambassador, on Wednesday, over Kiev's harsh criticism of Budapest's stance on Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.A peace summit has been proposed:
Foreign Minister Peter SzijjartoIt wrote on facebook:"It is time for Ukrainian leaders to stop their insults directed at Hungary. Kiev should acknowledge the will of the Hungarian people."He reminded that Budapest had condemned the use of force by Russia, acknowledged Ukraine's sovereignty and accepted hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting.
However, the FM reiterated that Hungary wasn't a party to the conflict in Ukraine, saying that "we want to, and will, stay out of it."
Budapest, which has arguably the closest ties with Moscow among the EU capitals, has joined European sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. But it refused to send weapons to Kiev and insisted that it'll never support any curbs on Russian energy.
Ukrainian ambassador to Hungary, Lyubov Nepop, will now have to explain the words of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who claimed on Tuesday that"Orban feared Russia's influence and warned that Hungary would eventually be forced to choose between Moscow and the "other world."Kiev officials suggested that Budapest could be looking to use the fighting in Ukraine to claim the country's western Zakarpattia Region, populated by Hungarians, for itself.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday that he has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine in Budapest, urging the Russian leader to declare an immediate ceasefire.To the EU, Hungary is 'a disturbance' in 'the force'.
Orban said, as quoted by AFP, "His response was positive, but with conditions."
"Russia has all necessary resources to service its debts... If this blockade continues and payments aimed for servicing debts are blocked, it (future payment) could be made in rubles."The country has a total of 15 international bonds outstanding with a face value of around $40 billion. Moscow has managed to provide several foreign exchange coupon payments on its Eurobonds before Washington stopped transactions.
Comment: See also: Psychotic Polish deputy-PM offers US to install nukes in his country, wants Washington to send tens of thousands more troops