Comment: The future via Russia is crystal clear.

Comment: Skimming the fan club descriptions of Russian diplomacy, there are salient points made in this article, as well as glimpses of the Palestinian situation from Abbas.

Comment: One step closer to making direct conflict a reality...

Comment:
1) It is possible that the article is a little disappointing for people in the US who these days are enveloped in election talks 24/7. For an American voter it may not be insignificant whether a distinction is made between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, irrespective of whether they vote, and if they do, whether that vote is counted. The presence of Trump on the stage, and still standing, probably offers those who follow the news and opportunity to understand more about our world. Whether the opportunity is made use of or not it up to them but it is there, and it is different from having had Nicky Haley and Kamala Harris as the two contenders.

2) The author could also have mentioned the Minsk agreements as a missed opportunity while Trump was US President. US was not a part of this agreement, but the Trump's administration did little to help it along, the preparation for the conflict we have today continued during the Trump presidency, as intended during the days of the previous US president, Barack Obama, under whom we had the Maidan coup in 2014. For this reason, giving Biden the credit as reported in this article: 13 Aug, 2024 04:22 'Stupid' Biden threats caused Ukraine conflict - Trump - is not the whole story. Trump might think he can do better this time: 13 Aug, 2024 08:03 Trump outlines hopes for relations with Putin but Trump still needs to become president, and before that there is time to make the conflict deeper and more difficult to get out of. Is that what is happening?

9 Aug, 2024 08:22
Ukraine wants US help to retain part of Russian border region - WaPo

Officials in Kiev reportedly believe easing restrictions on the use of ATACMS missiles could give them leverage in talks with Moscow
[...]

As fighting continues in the region, an aide to Vladimir Zelensky told the Washington Post on condition of anonymity that Ukrainian officials have requested US approval to conduct strikes using ATACMS - which have a range of up to 300km - to target Russian airfields. The paper noted that this decision "could allow Kiev to hold a portion of Kursk (Region) for some time."

"This will give them the leverage they need for negotiations with Russia — this is what it's all about," the adviser added, echoing an earlier statement made by Mikhail Podoliak, another senior Zelensky aide.

In late May, the US allowed Ukraine to use American-made weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia in response to Moscow's advance in Ukraine's Kharkov Region, which sought to protect civilians from Kiev's recurring artillery strikes. Media reports suggested that the range of Ukrainian strikes was limited to about 100km, meaning that some high-priority targets such as airfields remained beyond Kiev's reach. Ukraine has repeatedly asked the US to lift those restrictions.

Meanwhile, the Post noted that the Kursk incursion comes as Ukrainian officials "have expressed some sense of urgency" to improve their military position before the November presidential elections in the US, amid concerns that Republican candidate Donald Trump could win the vote. The latter has repeatedly vowed to end the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours if elected, while criticizing military aid to Kiev.

3) Is someone in Ukraine genuinely worried about the spectre of a Trump presidency, or is it rather that someone in the US told someone in Ukraine to mention Trump when asking for weapons because "concern" may help grease the squeaky wheels of the Democratic election machine and facilitate the request for military assistance in the right places? Whatever the situation might be, we now read: 15 Aug, 2024 20:10
Biden 'open' to supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles - Politico

The Pentagon is reportedly already working through the details of a potential transfer of JASSM missiles

4) Here are a few articles on SOTT that may related to the discussion of what a Trump presidency might mean for Europe including Russian and Ukraine:

• Vance explains Trump's plans for Europe
• Pompeo offers Trump an escalatory 'peace plan' for Ukraine
• German Foreign Ministry sets up 'crisis group' in case of Trump comeback - FT
• EU sets up Trump working group - FT
• Ben-Gvir Endorses Trump, Says He's More Likely to Back War on Iran
• SOTT Focus: 'The Council' - Who is Running the United States of America? Unveiling the Faces of an Elitist Assault on America

5) People in many other countries, including Russia and the author of the article, are well aware that they deal with an establishment in the US that is more entrenched than a change of face every few years. If Trump becomes president, can he prove them wrong?

6) There is also Israel and its influence over the US. From an Israeli perspective, it would not be in its interest to have a lot of nations in Europe who oppose what Israel does in Gaza. A few nations have given recognition of Palestine to exist, but they have not gone too far with action. US influence in Europe helps to prevent that from happening. Do some countries recognize where part of European instability is buried? How a BRICS trio is staring down Israel

Comment: What a big pile of stinky lies. See also:

• US and UK blew up Nord Stream - Russia's top spy
• Kremlin comments after another EU state drops Nord Stream probe
• Independent investigator: Elements of UK government behind Nord Stream attacks
• Sweden halts Nord Stream investigation, hands off to Germany, as Hersh fills in more blanks
• Poland deeply involved in Nord Stream terrorist attack
• Poland covered up for Nord Stream attackers - WSJ
• Biden's attack on Nord Stream pipelines was aimed at Germany - Seymour Hersh
• US blew up Nord Stream gas pipelines - Moscow

Comment:
1) Related to this article is: Russia declares federal emergency in another region and the comments.

2) It is not possible to make such an incursion from Ukraine into Russia without strong support from NATO countries. The HIMARS weapon system is unlikely to be operated without US guidance and western operators in key positions. On this topic, read: Best of the Web: Michael Brenner: The West's Reckoning? from March 2024:

Moreover, there already are thousands of Westerners bolstering the Ukrainian armed forces. Roughly 4 - 5,000 Americans have been performing critical operational functions from the outset. The presence of a majority predates by several years the onset of hostilities 2 years ago. That contingent was augmented by a supplementary group of 1,700 last summer which was as a corps of logistic experts advertised as mandated to seek out and eradicate corruption in the black-marketing of pilfered supplies. The Pentagon people are sown thought the Ukrainian military from headquarters planning units, to advisers in the field, to technicians and Special Forces. It is widely understood that Americans have operated the sophisticated HIMARS long-range artillery and the Patriot air defense batteries. This last means that members of the U.S. military have been aiming - perhaps pulling the trigger on - weapons that kill Russians. In addition, the CIA has established a massive, multipurpose system able to conduct a wide range of Intelligence and operational activities- independently as well as in conjunction with the Ukrainian FSB. That includes tactical Intelligence on a day-by-day basis. We don't know whether they had a role in the campaign of targeted assassinations inside Russia.

3) HIMARS have been used in the operation, though fired from Ukraine. The same source published 15 Aug, 2024 17:05, Ukrainian HIMARS destroyed in Iskander strike - MOD video

The US-provided rocket launcher was taken out in Sumy, where it was being used to bomb Russia
[...]
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strike destroyed the launcher, a six-rocket reloading pod, and two service vehicles of the Ukrainian artillery unit.

The M142 is mounted on a wheeled truck chassis and can fire volleys of GPS-guided rockets, converted aircraft bombs, or long-range ATACMS ballistic missiles. The US has provided Ukraine with at least 40 launchers, according to information released by the Pentagon.

4) From the article:

Washington's efforts have created all the prerequisites for Ukraine to lose its sovereignty and part of its territories, including those coveted by some American allies,

Already now much of the agricultural land in Ukraine is controlled by multinational Western investors. Does it matter to them if their property is officially a part of Ukraine, a future Porky-reign or Poland, as long as it is not Russia?

Comment:
From the same source a number of headlines reflect the backing the Ukrainian military operation has in the US and Europe as if they welcome more war:

15 Aug, 2024 10:59
West knew about Ukraine's Kursk incursion plan - Zelensky aide

Kiev's key supporters, including the US, have denied prior knowledge of the attack on Russian territory

Kiev discussed its plan to launch a cross-border attack into Russia with its Western backers, a top adviser to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has admitted.

Western officials have said they supported last week's incursion into Kursk Region, but have denied any prior knowledge of the operation.

However, Zelensky aide Mikhail Podoliak has told The Independent that these disclaimers were not accurate, the British online newspaper reported on Thursday.

"There are certain things that have to be done with the element of surprise, and that have to happen on a local level," he was quoted as saying. "But there were discussions between partner forces, just not on the public level."

The Ukrainian official reiterated the explanations of the motives behind the operation that he previously offered on national television, stating that Kiev's objective is to use military "coercion" against the Russian public.

"When the war proceeds into the territory of Russia, they are certainly scared. They are shocked. This has a significant impact on the psychological state of Russia," he said.

Russian officials have said that by attacking civilians in Kursk Region Kiev had killed any chance for peace talks - an objective that their Ukrainian counterparts claim the incursion brings closer.

Podoliak urged the British government to permit Kiev to strike Russian territory with the long-range Storm Shadow missiles London has donated. If such attacks happen, "Russia would understand the cost of war is too high," he told The Independent.

According to British media, London allows Ukrainian troops to use any of weapons it sends to them on Russian soil, with the exception of the cruise missiles, which the UK manufactures jointly with France.

Moscow has warned that if any Western weapons are used for strikes deep inside Russia, it would share similar capabilities with parties elsewhere in the world that would use them against Western military assets.

Moscow considers Kiev's military tactics in Russia to be "terrorist." Western nations arming Kiev share responsibility for atrocities committed by Ukrainian troops, officials have said.

The above comes after slow coming acknowledgements from many governments who perhaps are on holiday. The reality might be that the move into Russia was organized with NATO and not the civilian administrations.

12 Aug, 2024 15:56
Kiev failed to notify backers of Kursk incursion - Berlin

German government spokesman Wolfgang Buchner has refused to condemn the cross-border attack

13 Aug, 2024 20:43
EU 'fully supports' Ukrainian attack on Kursk - Borrell

The bloc's top diplomat has expressed his backing for Kiev's operation in the Russian region

13 Aug, 2024 21:56
Biden admits 'direct contact' with Ukraine over Kursk assault

The US leader has made his first remarks about the incursion of Kiev's forces into Russia

14 Aug, 2024 19:38
More NATO members endorse Ukraine's attack on Russia

Finland and Estonia have joined Poland in hailing the incursion into Kursk Region

The prime ministers of Finland and Estonia have voiced their support for the Ukrainian attack on Russia's Kursk Region. The comments from the respective Russian neighbors come after EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell and US President Joe Biden also backed the raid.

Kiev sent several thousand troops across the Russian border last week. They have seized a dozen or so villages and indiscriminately targeted civilians, according to Moscow.

"Ukraine has the right to self-defense and it's clear that they can do their operation in Kursk," Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters in Helsinki on Wednesday, at the joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal.

"We fully support Ukraine in its different operations and personally I wish them luck," Michal said.

Earlier in the day, Polish PM Donald Tusk said that Kiev has "every right to wage war in such a way as to paralyze Russia in its aggressive intentions as effectively as possible." He also claimed that Russian actions have "the hallmarks of genocide."

Most Western leaders declined to comment on Ukraine's assault as late as Monday, choosing instead to make general statements endorsing "self defense" on part of Kiev. They also claimed to lack any knowledge of the Ukrainian offensive in advance.

On Tuesday, however, the US president suggested that Washington had been in touch with Kiev throughout.

"I have spoken with my staff on a regular basis, probably every four or five hours for the last six or eight days," Biden told reporters in New Orleans. "And we've been in direct contact, constant contact with the Ukrainians."

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy commissioner Josep Borrell said that Kiev had the bloc's "full support" for the Kursk offensive.

Ukrainian troops interviewed by Western outlets have admitted that the incursion's primary objective was to capture some territory that could be traded with Moscow in eventual peace talks, while relieving pressure on Pokrovsk, Chasov Yar and New York in the Donbass.

However, the attack appears to have weakened Ukrainian positions in Donetsk People's Republic, as Russian troops began to advance more swiftly. The Kursk incursion also resulted in an increase in Russian enlistments, according to President Vladimir Putin.

15 Aug, 2024 07:42
Supporting Ukraine 'a business opportunity' - new NATO member's PM

Finland joined the US-led bloc last year, and has since launched into a weapons making boom

After the latest developments, peace might come more slowly:
14 Aug, 2024 13:04
'Unhinged' Kiev killed chance for peace talks - Moscow

Any chance of negotiations will remain on a "long pause" after Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Region, a senior diplomat has said