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NATO to keep Ukraine at arm's length


RT
Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:49 UTC
Summit
© Paulius Peleckis/Getty ImagesFirst day NATO Summit • July 11, 2023 • Vilinius, Lithuania
Kiev will be permitted to join the US-led bloc "when allies agree and conditions are met"...

NATO has reaffirmed its readiness to grant Ukraine membership at some point in the future. A joint statement released during the annual summit of the US-led bloc said Kiev would be invited to join only "when allies agree and conditions are met," but it will be allowed to bypass the so-called Membership Action Plan that is usually required for candidate members.
"We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognize that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan.

"The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met."
Ukraine has become "increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the US-led bloc," it stated. It also outlined the need for "additional democratic and security sector reforms" in the country.

Comment: Zelensky 'builds confidence' with rage:
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has accused NATO of not showing enough "respect" as he lashed out at the US-led bloc for its unwillingness to offer Kiev immediate membership.

Zelensky launched his broadside on Tuesday as NATO began its summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Ukrainian president cited "signals" he had received which indicated Kiev would not be granted an invitation of any sort to join the bloc.
"We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation. Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect. It's unprecedented and absurd when [a] time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine."
According to reports, the most recent version of a draft communiqué by NATO states that it "will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine when allies agree and conditions are met." Such a stance appears unacceptable to Kiev, which has accused the bloc of playing into Russia's hands.

The outburst from the Ukrainian leader has reportedly not gone down well with Western diplomats at the summit in Vilnius.

Asenior diplomat from Central Europe told Politico:
"I am critical of many aspects and particularly of some allies' attitude, but I think that this is not a thoughtful and fair approach. Zelensky is going too far."
NATO has sent already enough signals that it is ready to accept Ukraine into its ranks at some point, another diplomat told the outlet:
"Whatever the wording in our communiqué, all allies are agreed that Ukraine's future rightful place is in NATO and only us and them can decide on this."


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Arrow Down

White House opposes independent oversight of Ukraine aid


RT
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:05 UTC
Sopko
© atnNewsJohn Sopko, independent IG for Afghanistan reconstruction
President Joe Biden's administration has urged lawmakers to drop plans for an inspector general to monitor assistance to Kiev...

President Joe Biden's administration has objected to plans by US lawmakers to establish an independent inspector general who would scrutinize Washington's massive military and economic aid packages for Ukraine.

At issue is a provision added to the $874 billion US defense budget for the government's next fiscal year, calling for an additional oversight layer on Ukraine aid modeled after the inspector general established for reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Conservative lawmakers, including Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, have argued that the White House lacks adequate controls to prevent fraud and other misuse of the $113 billion in aid approved by Congress to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Comment: Perhaps there is 10% for the big guy.

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Laptop

FBI colluded with Ukraine in social media crackdown - lawmakers


RT
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:58 UTC
FBI computer
© The Daily Beast
The bureau failed to properly vet information provided by Kiev, the US House Judiciary Committee says...

The FBI cooperated with Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) to clamp down on social media accounts disseminating alleged "Russian disinformation," but ended up flagging pages run by the US State Department and American journalists, a report by the House Judiciary Committee has revealed.

Released on Monday, the report accused the FBI of not properly vetting lists of accounts provided to it by the SBU before sending them to the likes of Meta, Google, and Twitter.

As a result, the two agencies "flagged for social media companies the authentic accounts of Americans, including a verified US State Department account and those belonging to American journalists," and requested that those pages be deleted, the document read.
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Jet3

North Korea threatens to shoot down US planes as it condemns nuclear moves


SCMP
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 17:54 UTC
2flags
© ReutersHanoi, North Korea • 2019
North Korea accused the United States on Monday of violating its airspace by conducting surveillance flights and warned that, while Pyongyang was exercising restraint, such flights may be shot down.

Provocative military actions by the US were bringing the Korean peninsula closer to a nuclear conflict, said an unnamed spokesman of North Korea's Ministry of National Defence in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The report also cited the use of US reconnaissance planes and drones and said Washington was escalating tensions by sending a nuclear submarine near the peninsula.

"There is no guarantee that such a shocking accident as the downing of a US Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen" in waters east of Korea, the spokesman said.
bombers
© South Korean Defence Ministry/ReutersUSAF B-1B bombers, F-16 fighter jets and S. Korean Air Force F-35A jets
Joint drill above the Korean Peninsula in March
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Bad Guys

The US is trying to use foreign mercenaries to plug gaps in Ukraine - they are in for a rude awakening

Rachel Marsden
RT
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:35 UTC
French military Ukraine
© Daphné BENOIT / AFPA French military serviceman (R) stands guard as French military servicemen take part in a military drill to train Ukrainian servicemen, ahead of their departure to the Ukrainian frontline.
Western mercenaries from countries other than the US are dying for Washington's interests while President Joe Biden warns Americans themselves to stay away.

Most of the foreign mercenaries in Ukraine at this point aren't American, according to Russia's Channel One news. It's actually Poland and Canada that lead the charge, with the US coming in third. And now reports are starting to emerge of US intelligence attempting to fill the void with even more foreign recruits to fight for US interests against Russia in Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense estimates that about 2,000 of the approximately 7,000 'volunteers' have been killed.

Recent reporting reveals a troubling trend among Western mercenary deaths: combatants whose military experience is virtually non-existent. Presumably it all looked like good Hollywood action hero fun from afar — until the bullets started whizzing by.
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Bad Guys

Ukraine must show 'gratitude' to the West to keep support, UK defense minister warns Kiev at NATO summit

Cristina Gallardo
Politico.eu
Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:59 UTC
Ben Wallace
© Sean Gallup/Getty Images“There’s a slight word of caution here which is, whether you like it or not people want to see gratitude,” Ben Wallace said
Ukraine must show "gratitude" to its allies, despite its disappointment over the way NATO framed Kyiv's future membership prospects, in order to maintain long-term Western public and political support, the British defense secretary warned on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ben Wallace cautioned that the U.S. is heading for a presidential election next year, and lawmakers from countries making big military donations to Kyiv could face a political problem if they are met with Ukrainian anger. There is concern across Europe that NATO-skeptic Donald Trump could return as U.S. president.

"Sometimes you have to persuade lawmakers on the Hill in America, you have to persuade doubting politicians in other countries that, you know, that is worth it, that it is worthwhile and that they are getting something for it," he said. "And whether you like it or not, that's the reality of it."

Comment: Apparently the Kiev junta sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians is an insufficient demonstration of Kiev's gratitude.

This, and other developments, seem to reflect a shift occurring amongst the various factions who have been funding and directing this failing proxy war; some appear to be pushing for Kiev to make even greater sacrifices in their pathological urge to destroy Russia, whilst others seem to be preparing the ground for some kind of compromise:


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Clipboard

'We need Russia, and Russia needs us' - former Reagan adviser to RT


RT
Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:11 UTC
Suzanne Massie, an adviser to Ronald Reagan
© RTSuzanne Massie, an adviser to Ronald Reagan
Talking is easier and cheaper than using weapons, Suzanne Massie says.

The US and Russia must find a way to resume dialogue as good bilateral relations are vital for both countries, Suzanne Massie, a scholar of Russian history who advised the administration of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, has told RT.

Massie, who is considered to have played an important role in efforts to end the Cold War, said in an interview on Tuesday that her desire is now to help Washington and Moscow start talking again.
"I believe that we [the US] need Russia, and Russia needs us," Massie argued.

Comment: See also:

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Eagle

What to expect from NATO Summit 2023

M. K. Bhadrakumar
India Punchline
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00 UTC
Charles and Biden
Britain’s King Charles (L) welcomed US President Joe Biden to Windsor Castle with pomp and pageantry, UK, July 10, 2023
The trajectory of the Ukraine war hangs in the balance. All eyes are on the US President Joe Biden's arrival in Vilnius for the NATO summit meeting (June 11-12.) Biden got a big boost already from Turkish President Recep Erdogan's commitment to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Türkiye's Grand National Assembly for swift ratification.

That this commitment was forthcoming ahead of Biden's one-on-one meeting with Erdogan in Vilnius has great optics too, which will inevitably strengthen his hands to forge a NATO consensus on the way forward in the Ukraine war.

Biden's statement said, "I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkiye on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area." The wording skirts the Ukraine war specifically, but is indicative of Erdogan returning to the NATO fold like a prodigal son having struck a far-reaching deal for his country — Erdogan had mentioned the resumption of Turkiye's accession process with the EU as the West's price to pay. Indeed, Turkey's course correction (away from the SCO and BRICS) will impact the balance of forces in the Black Sea, which is critical to future Russian military offensives.
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Recycle

Top left-wing Finnish politician tries to explain naked Hitler salute picture scandal

Thomas Brooke
Remix News
Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:00 UTC
Antti Lindtman
Antti Lindtman, a favorite to replace Sanna Marin as his party’s chair, told a Finnish tabloid newspaper the embarrassing photographs were not intended for public viewing
A top Finnish politician in the running to replace former Prime Minister Sanna Marin as leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sought to explain how he came to be photographed stark naked, save a balaclava and Santa hat, with a group of friends giving Hitler salutes.

Antti Lindtman, the current chairman of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group and a member of parliament for the Finnish district of Uusimaa, has admitted to being one of the individuals in a number of resurfaced photos taken when the 40-year-old politician was 18 years old.

The photographs, which show Lindtman and four other individuals posing in Santa hats and full face masks, equipped with replica firearms, and giving the Sieg Heil salute, have been circulated on social media and among the Finnish media since Tuesday. The SDP politician has now commented on the scandal via the Iltalehti tabloid newspaper.

Comment: See also:

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Stormtrooper

'Damage control': Interpreting the Kremlin meeting with Yevgeny Prigozhin and his men

John Helmer
Dances with Bears
Mon, 10 Jul 2023 01:00 UTC
comic cover
© Marvel
Translated from Colonel Cassad, with afterword by John Helmer, Moscow - posted July 10 at 15:08.

"Today it's a little funny to see the bewilderment from reports of Putin's meeting with Prigozhin, because, they say, Putin had called Prigozhin a rebel, and then meets with him.
Russian message
1. From a legal point of view, Prigozhin is no longer a rebel, since the criminal case on the evidence of the rebellion has been closed, and no new cases have been opened. Accordingly, the state has no new legal claims against Prigozhin, or not yet — interviews of witnesses and the study of evidence on the deaths of the pilots continue. Therefore, there are no legal obstacles to such meetings.

Comment: See also:

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