NATO – criminals against peace
Sat 8:10 pm +00:00, 16 Nov 2024Putin says to Scholz – NATO has pursued an aggressive strategy against Russia, while trampling on the rights of the Russian speaking residents of Ukraine.
Alexander Mercouris gives the details of the Scholz Putin phone call – the first time a German Chancellor has spoken to Russia for two and a half years.
Putin states that German Foreign Minister’s allegations that Russia won’t negotiate are untrue and that it is Ukraine that walked away from the Istanbul negotiations, not Russia.
Talks must be a continuation of the Istanbul process, say the Russians. There cannot be a new process started by Zelensky.
Basis must be Istanbul Plus as Putin has stated previously.
All causes of the conflict must be eliminated.
No NATO membership for Ukraine.
No western military in Ukraine.
Limitations on arming Ukraine by West.
Donbas plus Crimea are now Russian territory.
The Maidan coup must be reversed, demilitarising Ukraine, and remaking the previous political system of Ukraine.
The Nazis who carried out the Maidan coup must be removed from the political scene.
Putin Crushes Scholz Tense Call, No Concessions, Blames NATO; Zelensky Furious; Russia East Kupiansk
As regards the military conflict, Russia wants a permanent sustained conclusion to this conflict not just an interval between wars.
Relations with Germany are bad due to unfriendly policy to Russia of the German government.
Russia did not cut off he gas to Germany as Germany has alleged.
Russia has never refused to supply Germany with gas.
Putin says Germany must return to its previous friendly attitude to Russia.
ME
Putin offers no criticism of Iran as do all Western countries.
Russia is making it clear that Western policy is not helping stability of ME.
There was no expectation of further talks together.
Both leaders said their aides would keep in touch.
German elections in February. Scholz about to lose vote of confidence in the Bundestag.
The Russians will talk but are not asking for continued contact.
A very tough readout. Putin blames NATO for the whole crisis for expanding NATO into Ukraine, despite Russian warnings.
Seizing power in Ukraine at Maidan in 2014 made the situation highly unstable.
CONTRAST TO PUTIN’S CONVERSATION WITH MBS Saudi Arabia.
Friendly relationship.
Saudi worried about oil price going so low.
SA and Russia see eye to eye on Middle East wars.
Further interactions spoken of.
Putin threw the book at Scholz.
Why did Scholz call Putin?
German reports of the call seem far from the Russian readout. Some ludicrous.
Scholz trying to help his chances in the coming elections.
German people want war to be wound down not escalated.
Scholz positioning himself as a kind of peace candidate. A low risk option.
ZELENSKY – furious the call took place, saying Putin is isolated. Ukraine only looks to the West. He says Russia won’t negotiate.
Ukraine agreed to terms of Istanbul in April 2022. Minsk 1 2014. Minsk 2 2015. Yet Ukraine failed to follow through on negotiated promises.
Zelensky says there will be no Minsk 3. He will only accept total Russian capitulation, and recovery of ‘lost’ territories.
Some of Ukraine’s negotiators state different terms to Zelensky who talks only of a ‘just peace’, which means getting back the former territories.
Overall the UKrainians have set their face against all negotiations, and only want Russian capitulation.
This supported by the West. Boris Johnson. ‘I’m afraid Zelensky is right.’ Tweet. More arming of Ukraine. Crazy.
If a deal is successfully brokered, all west will blame Trump for capitulation of Ukraine.
Trump provides the Ukrainian scapegoat possibly…..
Yet Kiev shows no inclination to make even a single concession.
Meanwhile Russian terms can only get harsher as their military advantage increases further.
Lavrov says Ukraine is a military/political project – which is harder than at Istanbul where Russia agreed Ukraine could join EU.
Now Russian statements are at odds in its top people with allowing Ukraine to join the EU.
Ukraine in the EU as an option is gone. The Russians are now implacable compared to 2022.
Trump should keep as distant as possible from Ukraine, say it’s a European issue – advice of Mercouris.
The US and Trump should just move on.
Tomorrow Alexander is visiting Hungary to meet government officials. With Alex Chrisoforou.
