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black-arcana · 1 year ago

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WITHIN TEMPTATION's SHARON DEN ADEL: 'Some People Stopped Following Us' Because We Became More Outspoken On World Issues

On April 5, Dutch metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION will release their brand-new song, "A Fool's Parade", which marks a collaboration with the talented Ukrainian producer Alex Yarmak. According to a press release from WITHIN TEMPTATION's publicist, "A Fool's Parade" "highlights Russia's pretense regarding the war, and condemns its lies, ongoing crimes and brutal intentions."

The song, released as a harbinger of the much-anticipated "Bleed Out 2024 Tour", is a powerful expression of what the press release calls "WITHIN TEMPTATION's commitment to continue shedding light on the ongoing existential struggle that Ukraine is facing against Russia's cruel invasion."

For the recording of the accompanying music video for "A Fool's Parade", Sharon Den Adel — the frontwoman of WITHIN TEMPTATION — recently spent time in Kyiv, Ukraine. The music video was directed by renowned Ukrainian video director Indy Hait.

With involvement in initiatives such as the Ukraine Aid OPS foundation, WITHIN TEMPTATION aims to keep drawing attention to Europe's much-needed support for Ukraine's defense.

During her stay in Kyiv, Sharon spoke to Metal Pilgrim about WITHIN TEMPTATION's decision to use its platform to draw attention to a variety of issues, including the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran.

Sharon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We never cared about what people wanted us to say or not to say. We always did what we wanted to do. But the older you get and the more confident you get in being who you are and what you stand for, you're more expressive. And I also feel like I have nothing to [lose] — well, of course, you have something to lose when you speak out about things like this, because it can always backlash, of course. And it's very delicate to choose the right words for things. But I try to prepare myself really well. And I hope eventually that pays off, meaning the people get the message. Some people stopped following us because we started supporting [certain causes] and being more outspoken. They say, 'You can't be political as a band.' I don't agree because everybody has an opinion and everybody's loud, and that's also society today. As you see on social media, it's like there's no filter on anything. I'm not saying that I need to overshout other people, but more like I still wanna stand for my opinion and hopefully make people think about it."

Den Adel went on to say that "you also have to choose your battles" in terms of which issues to focus on when coming up with lyrical themes for songs. "[The Russia-Ukraine war] is happening in Europe, and we are a European band. And so we also got a lot of times the question, 'What about this country? What about this situation?' And there's also a lot of awful things happening in different parts of the world. And also in interviews, I will talk about it when people ask me, but I won't do it on the social media because you get in discussion and it becomes one big fight with pro and against certain subjects. For me, in interviews, I do respond to that as well. But I also have to pick my battles. If I take on all the injustice of the world, it will fade away for the thing that I, at the moment, am inspired about most. And the last album that we did, with 'Bleed Out', we have focused on certain parts of the world, like Iran — there's one song, 'Bleed Out', is about that — but a lot of songs, actually, are about the Ukraine, because we're in the same region — it's a two-hours flight from Amsterdam to Kiev. So, I hope people understand that we are picking our battles — something that's closer. Everybody has to do that. But also, like I said, if I talk about every problem in the world, it doesn't come across as authentic and honest either, because it's, like, you're a saint or something, which I'm not."

In a June 2023 interview with James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound, Den Adel spoke about the lyrical inspiration for WITHIN TEMPTATION's "Wireless" single: "When the war started in the Ukraine, we were in the studio writing songs, And it's one of the songs that we wrote. And it is about war, of course. It's about a soldier going to war and thinking he's going to liberate people, do good stuff and be a hero and everything, but then he finds out that he's been lied to by media but also government. And then he finds that he can't go back because he's already in his army gear, for instance. You can't go forward, you can't go backward because you have your buddies next to you and you'll all die in the field. And in front of you, you have a mission impossible almost."

The Dutch singer continued: "So that's what we try to do — maybe also shine a light on certain situations within the war. It's just we're storytellers — it's like amplifying a certain kind of emotion that people could feel in this situation."

Asked how she and her bandmates decided to use Russia's invasion of Ukraine as inspiration for one of their songs, Sharon said: "Well, from my point of view, it's not just their war. I really believe what some people are saying — it's really our war as well. Because it's next to us. They already said, they're not gonna stop at Ukraine; they're gonna go further. And a couple of hours flying from my home, it's already Kyiv. So it's also our war. I think we should be aware of the fact that this is a danger for all of us. They won't stop. And hopefully — we wanna keep this a little bit alive in our own small way by writing about it and talking about it and waving a flag on stage about it."

In an interview with Greece's Rock Overdose, Den Adel stated about her band's participation in the event: "For us, it was an honor to be asked for it. I think as a band and as people, we really value freedom of speech and freedom and democracy. I think as a band, people sometimes say, 'Don't be so political,' people say, 'Don't be so expressive and don't take a side on things.' But as a musician, I think it's important to represent who you are, not just in music but really stand for what you make and what you are saying in your lyrics in a way. And things that are happening in the world inspire us to write music, and then you also have to take a stance and what side you are. I think when it's so obvious where there's an aggressor and where there is a country being violated, invaded, you should take a stance and then it makes it much easier even to be very clear about where you stand in this whole conflict. Of course, it's something that we are keeping ourselves updated with every day because we find it very sad to see that a country that wants to be a democracy is invaded this way. So we are very honored to be asked also to play for this event, this marathon, and happy to do it."

Released last October, WITHIN TEMPTATION's latest album, "Bleed Out", signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting, and djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, WITHIN TEMPTATION has created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who isn't afraid to make a stand on issues the members care about.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, WITHIN TEMPTATION have shifted their focus from writing about personal emotions and societal subjects to tackling global injustices and reflecting the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or unwilling to do.

While songs such as "Wireless" and "We Go To War" examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini.

The album also grapples with the complex issues around a woman's right to choose in recent single "Don't Pray For Me" and throughout, this impassioned and political focus is reflected in the intensity and heaviness of the music. Embracing a new era of musical exploration and lyrical depth, WITHIN TEMPTATION have pushed boundaries and showcased their artistic evolution, delivering a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music.

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#sharon den adel #within temptation #interview #Youtube

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nienieniestuff-blog · 27 days ago

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Ukraine

I need to talk to a Russian, to a Russian I don't know. I speak into the void, but I know that there are people there who understand what I am saying. Your leader Putin is just destroying European civilization. I am reluctant to use such lofty words, the little ones like to help me more, because in times of propaganda battles they have less work to do and don't have to puff themselves up all the time. But high words are appropriate now, I need to make friends with them and with you too, but there is a certain obstacle that we cannot overcome at the moment. It seems that we are moving in different directions, but it should not happen in such a murderous way as it is happening now. You Russians, you who live in Russia, you are being deceived and lied to. And if you think you have to believe what you are being lied to by your leader's propaganda, you are no better than he is. I know that now in your country access to free information is very difficult and there is too little room to give you the right picture, to take you out of the full of lies framework where your political leader has put you, and to give you the true picture of what is happening. Already after the seizure of Crimea, which many of you welcomed as many welcomed in 1938 the seizure of Austria by Hitler's Germany: at some point they appreciated it differently, but it was too late. Then the Red Army was our savior.

Then the Red Army was our savior.

Eternal gratitude to it for that. The voice of reason was barely heard in those days, reason that objected to the annexation of a foreign country's territory as if it were nothing to its own. This jubilation is our historical guilt, which we must bear. I was not silent on the seizure of Crimea, but I didn't take a special part in it either, it was my fault. Although I was outraged, I did not express open solidarity. What do you call this beautifully? What can I do alone! But this time I can do something, I can tell you something.

+When I see brave women and men, mostly women, I see them demonstrating in the streets of Russian cities against the destruction in Ukraine, when I see these people ready to sacrifice their freedom, rising up against the destruction of a neighboring country under the pretext of its liberation, then I want to support you. Ukraine is opposed by a huge power, which despite its heroic resistance is thrown to destruction, this destruction, however, is officially presented as salvation and embellished in every possible way, at the very time when desperate Ukrainians are dying on their land.

I want to address to you, personally to each of you, but these are unpleasant truths that I utter. Unfortunately, I am not Ilya Ehrenburg (place of birth Kiev), who in his time passionately called for the murder of fascists. I am against murder, but it should be clear to you that the violence coming from your country is being lied to and lied about, blocked and censored in action, critical media sources dissolved and social media stifled so that Russian POWs and destroyed cities are never shown.

I have not rented the truth, I only pay rent for it, but I do have access to free information, which I wish you too. Until then, I can only say, if you believe me, that I am only a temporary fellow traveler and I have no weapons: protest, speak the truth. And your country will have to bleed. It is not nationalists or even neo-Nazis, as your leader claims, who are fighting in the Ukrainian military and all volunteers, many of whom are holding weapons for the first time. And there are many young men on your side who do not know what they are doing. The young recruits in your army thought they were called up for maneuvers, instead they had to shoot people. The Western powers are not using Ukraine, as you keep being led to believe, as a tool against your leader, who represents and defends one single power, namely their own. There can be no other next to it.

Such a great cultural nation as the Russian, whose literature I have always admired, should not be frozen in this clumsy lie, it should speak the truth. Just as your wonderful poetesses and poets, your writers and thinkers, who have thus become the heritage of humanity, have spoken the truth. Do not let yourself be excluded from this society, tell everyone who listens to you the truth that this war of conquest against such an independent state as Ukraine must be ended, this very minute. Your leader has the power to destroy us all with nuclear weapons, which he has already explicitly threatened to use. Then we will all fall into oblivion, from which there is no way back. Speak now! Speak if you can, in your name, in the name of the lives of all of us!

Julya Rabinowitch

Censorship gives birth to monsters

I know it's scary to see the truth. To speak it. To feel it. Especially when this truth is seen as a danger: by those who believe they have leased their own truth, and by those who sense and know that this truth of theirs is a real lie. But a lie that can cost you your life, your freedom, if you contradict it.

Russia is separating itself from the rest of the world. Is being cut off. Cut off like a piece of meat: from freedom of information, from freedom of demonstration, from freedom of choice. We know this, it was like this not so long ago, and we thought it would never happen again. The images of the city skeletons: we know them too. Torn bodies. Torn lives. Kyiv must not become Grozny. Russia must not become the USSR.

Censorship gives birth to monsters, and monsters have the unpleasant characteristic of becoming unpredictable. Everything is at stake, including the survival of humanity. I know that in the past, a joke was enough to get you sent to prison camp.I was blessed to be born late, none of this affected me.I don't live in Russia, I can write and say what I think without being deprived of my freedom.You, who live in Russia, don't have this luxury at the moment.I am painfully aware of that. And yet the fate of the world will also depend on how you react.What you believe.What you are prepared to question.I implore you: question.

Украина

Мне нужно говорить с русской, с русским, которых я не знаю. Я говорю в пустоту, но я знаю, что там есть люди, которые понимают, что я говорю. Ваш вождь Путин как раз разрушает европейскую цивилизацию. Я неохотно употребляю такие высокие слова, маленькие любят помогать мне больше, потому что во времена пропагандистских сражений у них меньше работы и они не должны всё время так пыжиться. Но сейчас уместны именно высокие слова, мне надо с ними подружиться и с Вами тоже, но тут есть некая преграда, которую нам в данный момент не преодолеть. Кажется, что мы движемся в разных направлениях, но это не должно происходить таким убийственным образом, как это происходит сейчас. Вы, русские, Вы, живущие в России, Вас обманывают и Вам лгут. И если Вы думаете, что должны верить в то, что Вам лжёт пропаганда Вашего вождя, то Вы не лучше его. Я знаю, что сейчас в Вашей стране доступ к свободной информации очень затруднён и здесь слишком мало места дать Вам правильную картину, вырвать Вас из полных вранья рамок, куда Вас вставил Ваш политический предводитель, и дать Вам истинную картину происходящего. Уже после захвата Крыма, который многие из Вас приветствовали так же, как многие приветствовали в 1938 году захват Австрии гитлеровской Германией: в какой-то момент они оценили это по другому, но было уже поздно. Тогда Красная Армия была нашей спасительницей. В��чная ей за это благодарность. Голос разума был едва слышен в те времена, разума, который возражал присоединению территории чужого государства как ни в чём не бывало к своему. Это ликование - наша историческая вина, которую мы должны нести. На захват Крыма я не молчала, но и не принимала особенного участия, это моя вина. Хотя я была возмущена, но не высказала открытой солидарности. Как это красиво называется? Что я могу одна поделать! Но на этот раз я могу что-то сделать, я могу Вам кое что сказать.

Когда я вижу смелых женщин и мужчин, по большей части женщин, вижу, как они демонстрируют на улицах русских городов против разрушений на Украине, когда я вижу этих готовых пожертвовать своей свободой людей, восстающих против уничтожения соседней страны под предлогом её освобождения, тогда мне хочется Вас поддержать. Украине противостоит огромная мощь, которой она несмотря на своё героическое сопротивление брошена на погибель, это уничтожение однако официально представлено как спасение и всячески приукрашено, в то самое время, когда отчаивающиеся украинцы погибают на своей земле.

К Вам, лично к каждому я хочу обратиться, но это нелицеприятные истины, которые я произношу. К сожалению, я не Илья Эренбург (место родждения Киев), который в своё время страстно призывал к убийству фашистов. Я против убийства, но Вам должно быть ясно, что о насилии, исходящим от Вашей страны, Вам лгут и Вас обманывают, блокируют и цензура в действии, что критические источники массовой информации распущены и социальные сети задушены, чтобы ни в коем случае не были показаны русские военнопленные и разрушенные города. Может ли это действительно исходить от Вашего имени? Короче: то, что Вам показывают, неправда. Картины лгут, им не хватает слов. Я не арендовала истину, я только плачу квартплату за неё, но у меня есть доступ к свободной информации, чего я Вам тоже желаю. До этих пор я могу только сказать, если Вы мне верите, что я только временная попутчица и у меня нет никакого оружия: протестуйте, говорите правду. И Вашей стране придётся истекать кровью. Это не националисты или даже неонацисты, как утверждает Ваш вождь, которые воюют в войсках Украины и все добровольцы, многие из которых впервые держат оружие в руках. И на Вашей стороне много молодых людей, которые не знают, что они делают. Молодые новобранцы Вашей армии думали, что их призвали на манёвры, вместо этого они должны были стрелять в людей. Западные державы не используют Украину, как Вам всё время внушается, в качестве инструмента против Вашего вождя, который олицетворяет и защищает одну единственную власть, а именно свою собственную. Рядом с ней не может быть никакой другой.

Такой великий культурный народ, как русский, литературой которого я всегда восхищалась, не должен застыть в этой неуклюжей лжи, он должен говорить правду. Так же, как говорили правду Ваша замечательные поэтессы и поэты, Ваши писатели и мыслители, ставшие таким образом достоянием человечества. Не дайте исключить себя из этого общества, говорите каждому слушающему Вас правду о том, что эта захватническая война против такого независимого государства как Украина должна быть закончена, сию минуту. Ваш предводитель имеет власть при помощи ядерного оружия, которым он уже однозначно пригрозил, уничтожить нас всех. Тогда мы все окажемся в небытие, из которого даже нет попутки вернуться назад. Говорите сейчас! Говорите, если Вы можете, во имя Вашей, во имя жизни всех нас!

Джулайя Рабинович

Цензура рождает чудовищ

Я знаю, что это страшно - видеть правду. Говорить ее. Чувствовать ее. Особенно когда эта правда воспринимается как опасность: и теми, кто считает, что взял в аренду свою собственную правду, и теми, кто чувствует и знает, что эта их пр��вда - настоящая ложь. Но ложь, которая может стоить вам жизни, вашей свободы, если вы ей противоречите.

Россия отделяется от остального мира. Отделяется. Отрезают, как кусок мяса: от свободы информации, от свободы демонстраций, от свободы выбора. Мы знаем это, так было не так давно, и мы думали, что это никогда не повторится. Изображения городских скелетов: они нам тоже знакомы. Разорванные тела. Разорванные жизни. Киев не должен стать Грозным. Россия не должна стать СССР.

Цензура рождает монстров, а монстры имеют неприятное свойство становиться непредсказуемыми. На карту поставлено все, включая выживание человечества. Я знаю, что в прошлом достаточно было пошутить, чтобы тебя отправили в лагерь. Мне повезло родиться поздно, меня это не коснулось. Я живу не в России, я могу писать и говорить то, что думаю, не будучи лишенным свободы. У вас, живущих в России, сейчас нет такой роскоши. Я с болью осознаю это. И все же судьба мира будет зависеть и от того, как вы отреагируете. Во что вы поверите. Что вы готовы подвергнуть сомнению. Я умоляю вас: подвергайте сомнению.

Ukraine

Ich soll zu einer Russin, einem Russen sprechen, die ich nicht kenne. Ich spreche ins Leere hinein, aber ich weiß, daß dort Menschen sind, die verstehen, was ich sage. Ihr Führer Putin ist dabei, die europäische Zivilisation zu zerstören. Ich verwende nicht gern so große Worte, die kleinen helfen mir auch lieber, weil sie in Zeiten der Propagandaschlachten weniger zu tun haben und sich nicht immer so aufplustern müssen. Aber hier sind große angebracht, ich muß mich mit ihnen anfreunden, und auch mit Ihnen täte ich das gerne, doch da ist eine Schranke, die wir derzeit nicht überwinden können. Wir scheinen in verschiedene Richtungen zu gehen, aber das sollte nicht auf diese mörderische Weise geschehen wie derzeit. Sie, Russen, die Sie in Rußland leben, werden belogen und betrogen. Und wenn Sie glauben, etwas glauben zu müssen, das die Propaganda Ihres Führers Ihnen vorlügt, dann sind Sie nicht besser als er. Ich weiß, daß freie Information in Ihrem Land derzeit schwer zu bekommen ist, und der Platz hier reicht nicht aus, Sie ins Bild zu setzen, Sie aus dem verlogenen Rahmen Ihres politischen Anführers herauszuschneiden und ins richtige Bild zu setzen. Schon nach der Annektion der Krim, die von vielen bei Ihnen begrüßt wurde, so wie viele 1938 die Annektion Österreichs durch Hitlerdeutschland begrüßt haben: Irgendwann wußten sie es besser, doch da war es zu spät. Damals war die Rote Armee unsere Retterin. Dafür gebührt ihr ewiger Dank. Man hat die Stimmen der Vernunft damals nur sehr leise gehört, einer Vernunft, die sich dagegen ausgesprochen hat, fremdes Staatsgebiet einfach ins eigene einzugliedern. Das bejubelt zu haben, ist unsere historische Schuld, die wir tragen müssen. Zur Annektion der Krim habe ich zwar nicht geschwiegen, mich aber auch nicht sonderlich engagiert, das ist meine Schuld. Ich war zwar empört, habe aber auch keine große öffentliche Solidarität gezeigt. Wie heißt es so schön? Was kann ich allein schon ausrichten! Doch diesmal habe ich Ihnen etwas auszurichten.

Wenn ich die tapferen Frauen und Männer, hauptsächlich Frauen, sehe, die auf den Straßen der russischen Städte gegen die Zerstörungen in der Ukraine demonstrieren, wenn ich also diese Menschen sehe, die sich, unter Einsatz ihrer eigenen Freiheit, gegen die Vernichtung eines Nachbarlandes und seiner Bewohner unter dem Vorwand der Befreiung stemmen, dann möchte ich mich Ihnen gern zur Seite stellen. Die Ukraine steht einer gewaltigen Übermacht gegenüber, der sie trotz tapferer Gegenwehr ausgeliefert ist. Diese Vernichtung aber wird offiziell als Rettung ausgegeben und beschönigt, während die verzweifelten Ukrainer im Boden ihres eigenen Landes zugrundegehen. Sie, jeden einzelnen von Ihnen möchte ich ansprechen, doch es sind keine ansprechenden Wahrheiten, die ich ausspreche. Ich bin leider kein Ilja Ehrenburg (geb. in Kiew), der einst leidenschaftlich zum Töten der Faschisten aufgerufen hat. Ich bin gegen das Töten, aber es muß Ihnen klar sein, daß Sie über die Gewalt, die von Ihrem Land ausgeht, belogen werden, betrogen, daß zensiert und blockiert wird, daß kritische Medien aufgelöst und soziale Medien erdrosselt werden, damit nur ja keine russischen Gefangenen und zerschossene Städte gezeigt werden. Kann, darf das wirklich in Ihrem Namen geschehen? Klar gesagt: Was Ihnen gezeigt wird, stimmt nicht. Die Bilder lügen, es fehlen ihnen die Worte. Ich habe die Wahrheit nicht gepachtet, ich zahle nur Miete für sie, aber ich kann mich frei informieren, dasselbe wünsche ich mir auch für Sie. Bis dahin kann ich nur sagen, falls Sie mir glauben, ich bin ja nur eine gelegentliche Mitfahrerin, und Waffen habe ich auch keine: Protestieren Sie, sprechen Sie die Wahrheit aus. Auch Ihr Land wird bluten müssen. Es sind keine Nationalisten oder gar Neonazis, wie Ihr Führer behauptet, die in der Armee der Ukraine und mit all den Freiwilligen kämpfen, von denen viele zum ersten Mal ein Gewehr in der Hand halten. Und auch auf Ihrer Seite sind es auch oft junge Männer, die selbst nicht wissen, was sie da tun. Junge Rekruten Ihrer Armee haben geglaubt, ins Manöver zu ziehen, stattdessen mußten sie auf Menschen schießen. Westliche Mächte, wie Ihnen die ganze Zeit.eingeredet wird, verfügen über die Ukraine keineswegs als Werkzeug gegen Ihren Führer, der eine einzige Macht verkörpert und verteidigt, nämlich seine eigene. Eine andre darf es daneben nicht geben. Ein großes Kulturvolk wie das russische, dessen Literatur ich immer bewundert habe, darf nicht in diesen plumpen Unwahrheiten erstarren, es muß die Wahrheit sprechen. So wie Ihre wunderbaren Dichterinnen und Dichter, Ihre Schriftsteller und Denker, die Wahrheit gesagt haben und damit zum Eigentum der Menschheit geworden sind. Lassen Sie sich aus dieser Gemeinschaft nicht ausschließen, sagen auch Sie jedem die Wahrheit, der Ihnen zuhört, daß dieser Angriffskrieg gegen einen souveränen Staat wie die Ukraine beendet werden muß, sofort. Ihr Anführer hat die Macht, mit einem nuklearen Krieg, mit dem er schon unmissverständlich gedroht hat, uns alle auszulöschen. Dann landen wir alle im Nichts, und von dort gibts nicht mal Mitfahrgelegenheiten zurück. Sprechen Sie jetzt! Sprechen Sie um Ihr, um unser aller Leben, wenn Sie können!

Julya Rabinowitch

Zensur gebiert Monster

Ich weiß, dass es Angst macht, die Wahrheit zu sehen. Sie auszusprechen. Sie zu fühlen. Vor allem dann, wenn diese Wahrheit als Gefahr betrachtet wird: von denen, die glauben, ihre eigene Wahrheit gepachtet zu haben, und von denen, die spüren und wissen, dass diese eigene Wahrheit eine ureigentliche Lüge ist. Aber eine Lüge, der zu widersprechen das Leben kosten kann, die Freiheit.

Russland trennt sich gerade ab vom Rest der Welt. Wird abgetrennt. Abgeschnitten wie ein Stück Fleisch: von Informationsfreiheit, von Demonstrationsfreiheit, von Entscheidungsfreiheit. Wir kennen das, es war vor nicht allzu langer Zeit schon einmal so, und wir dachten, das würde niemals wiederkehren. Die Bilder der Stadtgerippe: wir kennen auch diese. Zerrissene Körper. Zerrissene Leben. Kyiw darf nicht Grosny werden. Russland nicht die UdSSR. Zensur gebiert Monster, und Monster haben die unangenehme Eigenart, unberechenbar zu werden. Es steht alles auf dem Spiel, auch das Überleben der Menschheit. Ich weiß, dass früher ein Witz ausreichte, um im Straflager zu verschwinden. Ich bin gesegnet durch späte Geburt, mich betraf das alles nicht mehr. Ich lebe nicht in Russland, ich kann schreiben und sagen, was ich denke, ohne dass man mir dafür meine Freiheit nehmen will. Sie, die Sie in Russland leben, haben derzeit diesen Luxus nicht. Das ist mir schmerzlich bewusst. Und doch wird das Schicksal der Welt auch davon abhängen, wie Sie reagieren. Was Sie glauben. Was Sie bereit sind zu hinterfragen. Ich bitte Sie inständig: hinterfragen Sie.

These texts and (many) more were published and can be read here:

https://original.elfriedejelinek.com

#elfriede jelinek #Julya rabinowitch #russia #ukraine #Украина #Джулайя Рабинович #Цензура рождает чудовищ #war #us politics #democracy #russian politics

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tmarshconnors · 2 months ago

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President Trump and President Zelenskyy Meeting

I've never seen or heard anything like this in my lifetime. The recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nothing short of extraordinary. Tense, revealing, and ultimately a defining moment, this meeting less than an hour long will shape the course of history in ways we may not yet fully understand.

From the moment they entered the room, the atmosphere was charged with a palpable sense of unease. The weight of the ongoing war, the billions of dollars funneled into Ukraine’s defense, and the growing fatigue of Western nations loomed heavily. And then, something remarkable happened probably for the first time in history: every reporter in the room shut the hell up. The usual media circus, so eager to twist and spin every word, seemed to grasp the sheer gravity of the moment.

President Trump, always the master of the deal, was direct. His stance was clear: the United States has spent enough. The American taxpayer has been drained dry funding a war that shows no sign of a decisive conclusion. And for what? To prolong a conflict that Ukraine cannot win outright, while the West continues to bleed resources? There is no doubt that the Ukrainian people have shown resilience, but at what cost to the nations supporting them?

And then, there's Zelenskyy himself. Let’s be blunt: I genuinely think he is nothing but a clown. This man, once a comedian, now leads a war-torn nation, but his theatrics remain. He demands, pleads, and guilt-trips Western nations into financing his war machine rather than negotiating an end to the bloodshed. The Western media paints him as a hero, but to me, he seems more like an actor desperately trying to keep his show running.

Now, let me be clear: NO, I DO NOT SUPPORT Russia. This is not about taking sides with Putin or excusing his actions. But at some point, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the rest of the West need to leave Ukraine alone and let them sort this out themselves. Nations cannot be expected to endlessly bankroll another country’s fight while their own citizens suffer economic turmoil at home. The simple truth is that Ukraine would have already been forced into negotiations without Western support. And maybe that’s what should have happened a long time ago.

This meeting, though brief, was monumental. It wasn’t just another diplomatic gathering; it was a reckoning. Trump clarified that if he returns to the White House, the blank checks for Ukraine will stop. And whether you love or hate him, that stance marks a turning point.

The question now is, will history remember this as the moment the tide turned? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: this conversation, this tension, this cold reality will be felt across the globe for years to come.

Liberals used to be the ones opposing war, yet now they seem to crave an endless conflict at the expense of the taxpayer, of course. Without Britain and America pouring in billions, Ukraine would have already been overrun. The only logical solution is to strike a deal and save what can be saved. But instead, we’re expected to keep sending money to fund a war that Ukraine will never win, no matter how much we spend. And what’s next? Sending our own troops?

There’s no real answer from the usual lot, just the same tired nonsense about how "Trump is bad." The reality is simple: Trump doesn’t control Putin, and Putin doesn’t control Trump. Putin will do whatever he wants. Yet, I don’t see any other country stepping up to try to end this. Britain and America are doing more than anyone, but how long can this go on? How many more billions? How many more lives will be lost? The only way to stop the killing and the waste is a negotiated peace. But say that, and you’re met with empty slogans and blind hysteria.

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ceekbee · 2 months ago

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BREAKING: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy breaks his silence on Donald Trump's disastrous Oval Office outburst with stunning grace and class — but refuses to apologize to Trump as demanded by MAGA.

And the best part? He did it on Fox News.

This is what a real world leader sounds like...

"President Trump said after your meeting that you disrespected him and the vice president and all of America in the Oval Office," said Fox News' Bret Baier when Zelenskyy appeared on his show. "Do you think you did? And do you think you owe an apology to President Trump?"

"Thank you so much. First of all, thank you for the invitation, for this dialogue and good evening to all of your country, to all Americans," said Zelenskyy. "I'm very thankful to Americans for all your support. You did a lot. I'm thankful to President Trump and to Congress's bipartisan support and I was always very thankful from all of our people."

"You helped us a lot from the very beginning, here in three years of full scale invasion. You helped us to survive and anyway we are strategic partners," he continued.

"And even in such tough dialogue — and I think we have to be very honest and we have to be very direct to understand each other because it's for us very necessary," said Zelenskyy.

"To President Trump — and with all respect that he wants to finish this war — but nobody wants to finish more than we because we in Ukraine we are in this war, we are in this battle for freedom, for our lives," he went on.

"So I'm just telling that I think we have to be on the same side and I hope that the president on our side together with us and that is very important to stop Putin," continued Zelenskyy. "And I heard from President Trump a lot of times that he will stop the war and I hope he will. And we need to pressure him with Europe, with all the partners."

"And I think this dialogue had to be a little bit earlier to understand where we are," he continued. "Like you know, I don't remember exactly, but like President Reagan said that peace is not just the absence of war."

"Yes, we are speaking about just, lasting peace, about freedom, about justice, about human rights and that's why I said that 'I think so' to ceasefire," he went on. "And you know Putin, he's broken twenty-five times ceasefire during all these years, ten years."

"So I'm not hearing from you Mr. President a thought that you owe the president an apology," said Baier, clearly trying to pander to Trump who was almost certainly watching at home.

"No I respect the president and I respect the American people and if — I don't know, I think that we have to be very open and very honest and I'm not sure that we did something bad," replied Zelenskyy.

"I think maybe somethings we have to discuss out of media, with all respect to democracy and free media but there are things where we have to understand the position of Ukraine and Ukrainians," he added. "And I think that is the most important thing."

"We are partners. We are very close partners. We have to be fair. We have to be very free," said Zelenskyy, sounding far more like an American president than Donald Trump did today.

This is an astonishing display of statesmanship. Rather than give into ego or pettiness, Zelenskyy is rising above Donald Trump's childish bullying to serve his people.

Zelenskyy isn't interested in following Trump down into the gutter. He's interested in securing a lasting peace for his innocent embattled country, a task made all the more difficult by Trump's kowtowing to Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy is also correct that these conversations should take place behind closed doors instead of being exploited to create a media circus. Trump and Vance ambushed him in the Oval Office in front of reporters because they knew that it would make headlines and entertain their base.

They are not serious leaders. Zelenskyy is.

Please like and share!

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nicklloydnow · 11 months ago

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“Comparing 2024 to 1938, Timothy Snyder, a Yale University history professor specializing in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union said Ukraine was comparable to a Czechoslovakia "that has chosen to fight."

(…)

"If the Ukrainians give up, or if we give up Ukraine, then it's a different Russia making war in the future," Snyder said during a conference in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.

"It's a Russia making war with Ukrainian technology, Ukrainian soldiers, from a different geographical position," he added. "Then we're in 1939. We're in 1938 now. In effect, what the Ukrainians are letting us do is letting us extend 1938. They're helping us to stay out of 1939."

(…)

Kyiv has warned that, should Ukraine fall to Russian forces, other nations in Europe will be next on Russia's hit list.

"I would like you to come out on the streets and support Ukraine, support our efforts and support our fight because if Ukraine will not stand, Europe will not stand," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said shortly after Moscow's troops poured into Ukraine in February 2022. "If we will fall, you will fall."

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "everything is possible" when discussing whether a wider war could break out between Russia and Western countries backing Ukraine.

The globe is "one step away from a full-scale World War III," Putin said in mid-March.

"I think hardly anyone is interested in this," he added during a media session.”

“Benjamin Haddad—a member of parliament for Macron's Renaissance party and considered a leading voice in French foreign policy discussions—told Newsweek on the sidelines of the Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia last week that NATO and the European Union need to "turn the tables" on Russian President Vladimir Putin after more than two years of full-scale war.

Macron is seeking to re-establish Western strategic ambiguity and knock Moscow off balance, with the deployment of NATO forces inside Ukraine in non-combat roles among his recent proposals. Though immediately dismissed by the U.S., the idea has won backers in Europe, particularly in nations that sit along Russian frontiers.

Momentum for deeper NATO commitments—including troop deployment—in Ukraine is "clearly" building, Haddad said. "It was interesting to see that in the first couple days, everyone said, 'It's an isolated position by France.'"

But since then, leading European figures expressed their support for the proposal—or at least for an open debate about it—Haddad noted. Among them are Czech President Petr Pavel, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

(…)

"Right now, a lot of Ukrainian troops are stationed at the border with Belarus to prevent a potential invasion from the north," he said. "Western forces could be deployed along the frontier 'as a 'tripwire'—as you have troops in in the Baltic states or in Poland—to be able to liberate some of these Ukrainian troops to go to the front.

(…)

Russia has consistently warned its Western adversaries against providing any kind of aid to Ukraine while simultaneously framing its war on Kyiv as a direct confrontation with the U.S.-led "collective West."

This month, in response to a Ukrainian petition urging NATO to deploy forces, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "We have repeatedly said that direct intervention on the ground in this conflict by the military of NATO countries potentially carries enormous danger, so we consider this an extremely challenging provocation, nothing less, and, of course, we are watching this very carefully."

(…)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is again pushing Western allies to do more to bolster Kyiv.

"It's a question of will," he told Reuters this week. "But everyone says a word that sounds the same in every language: everyone is scared of escalation. Everyone has gotten used to the fact that Ukrainians are dying—that's not escalation for people."

Haddad said the latest developments are concerning.

"It's been concerning for a while," he said. "We see a Russia that's ramping up aggression, that's turned its industry to complete war economy footage, and I think we've been lagging in our response, both in Europe in the United States."”

#russia #ukraine #nato #france #wwiii #ww3 #world war #putin #zelensky #trump #timothy snyder

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kneedeepincynade · 2 years ago

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49 out of 54 African countries join the Russia-Africa summit. The presidential guard of Niger coup pro French president with support of the people.

Hello and welcome to a sov original. Today, we talk about the Russia-Africa summit and what it means in the context of geopolitics.

Let's start with an unexpected star, Uncle Prigozhin is back from Belarus,he appears in good health and comes to reassure Africa that the wagner pmc is here to stay

(Here, Uncle Yevgeny Prigozhin and the director of the publication "Afrique media" on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Economic Forum, a picture taken from the telegram channel orchestra W)

This star, in rather unformal clothing, has also said his opinion on the Niger coup,wich is as follow:

“The removal of the pro-French president is "in fact a conquest of independence" by the people of Niger. The former colonialists deliberately destabilize the situation in African countries, supporting terrorists and illegal gangs in order to prevent the further development of the former colonies.

(Source:orchestra W)

This is the effectiveness of PMC Wagner: a thousand PMC Wagner fighters are able to restore order and destroy terrorists, preventing them from harming the civilian population of states, ”

With Uncle Prigozhin out of the way,we can start talking about the main event

President Putin has confirmed that the end of the grain deal will not block delivers for Africa and that Russia will offer free grain to countries in need

President Putin has said that Russia is still very much willing to sit on the negotiations table and that it's Ukraine that is refusing compromise. The president added that the African peace proposal is similar in many ways to the one of China

President Putin has forgiven a large debt owed by Somalia,helping the economy of the struggling country.

(Source:Sputnik,intelrepublic)

The African delegates have shown support for Russia and have thanked once again President Putin for the offer of free grain and the deepening of economic partnership between Russia and Africa.

Fun fact: the president of Zimbabwe,during the meeting,was wearing an indument with the face of President Putin

The Eritrean president has maybe been the harsher on Russia,but in the opposite direction that what would be expected,he scolded Russia for not preparing more for the conflict in Ukraine and then re iterated full support for the russian cause

Source:intelrepublic,dd Republic

In Niger, the pro France president has been couped by its personal guard with the support of the people. Many Russian flags and pro Russian slogans were present during the pro coup manifestations,showing once more wich side the African people are on.

Source:Intel republic, DD republic

Once again, the weakness of the Western sanctions and the failure of the policy of isolation are absolutely clear. The west has lost allies,credibility, and an enormous amount of money in its failing anti Russian crusade. The Ukrainian suicide charge is giving no fruits, and Russia has even started its own counter offensive, re taking the no man land that Ukraine was previously able to capture at an enormous cost.

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mariacallous · 1 year ago

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Morning: day 659 of the full-scale invasion

From early, picket lines are set up near the walls of Kyiv’s city state administration. My friends and acquaintances are protesting, demanding that the capital’s budget be directed not to the repaving of roads, but towards the purchase of drones and FPVs for the battlefield. People close to me are saying: “I don’t want new roads; I want my friends to come back alive.”

A deputy from Kyiv city council has the audacity to suggest that the cities have enough on their plate: let the state take care of the war budget, he argues. Cities need their budgets for maintenance. And this perfectly sums up the widening gap between civilians and the military. Every day the same discussions take place – who should be mobilised? Who is ready to enlist? Can we live our lives for anything other than the war?

We are not even talking about replacing the hundreds of thousands of military personnel who have served in the army for almost two years now. Not to mention those who were already defending the country before the invasion. The latest mobilisation is a question of somehow restoring the military after daily losses.

The night before last, Kyiv was woken up by our air-defence sirens. But they began to sound after the first explosions, which meant that no one had time to run to the shelters. Russia had fired 10 missiles and 10 attack UAVs (drones). Our air defence forces shot down all of them, but the debris fell in four Kyiv districts. Fifty-three people were injured, mostly with lacerations. Nine of the victims are children.

The Russians are targeting infrastructure to deprive civilians of heat and electricity. The harsher the winter, the more missiles we can expect. And this expectation, the psychological threat, has been going on for three months.

Noon: day 659 of the full-scale invasion

A Russian cyber-attack targets one of the major phone networks. About 20 million Ukrainians are left without mobile connection and mobile internet for three days. On social networks Ukrainians post messages of support and gratitude to the network operator for its efforts.

For three days I have been catching a signal in wifi hotspots. I think about those areas where mobile is the only way to access the internet. Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, the phone connection reappears. I call my mother. I ask whether everything is OK, whether she has been worried. She says everything is fine, it is just wartime.

Every day there are reports of the deaths of artists at the front. Friends of friends. Within one week, several members of the film community perish. A cameraman, an actor. Not for the first time, I think: Russia is knocking us out one by one, dozen by dozen. Civilians, military. Cinema, literature, visual arts, agriculture, architecture, education, economics, sports – pick any field, there are irreparable losses everywhere.

The full-scale invasion turns social media feeds into endless obituaries of black-and-white photos. And at any moment in time, when it seems that the heart can no longer contain the losses, there’s another newsflash and another death appears.

Afternoon: day 659 of the full-scale invasion

A broadcast with Vladimir Putin is on at the Kremlin – a media spectacle during which the dictator allegedly speaks to the Russian people live. And while the tsar is talking to his lackeys, he is also sending a message to Ukraine – a MiG-31K is taking off from a Russian airfield, and Kinzhal missiles are flying in our direction. Those missiles will reach Kyiv in three minutes, and Kharkiv in two.

Despair and rage.

A video appears of Russian military using captured Ukrainian soldiers as human shields. The Russians attack Ukrainian positions, hiding behind the Ukrainians.

Despair and rage.

We discuss Oleksii Anulia’s story about his time in Russian captivity. The catalogue of torture inflicted on him is unfathomable. In civilian life, he used to be a kickboxing champion and an elite sportsman. He used to weigh 102kg; he lost 40kg in captivity. Oleksii also lost 6cm in height. Barely a single organ in his body remains intact – the Russians made sure of that.

Among other inhumane punishments, prisoners had to stand still for 18 hours a day. Holding their hands behind their backs with their heads lowered, they had to splay their fingers and were not allowed to move. They cut the tendons on his thumb with a rusty knife, saying: “You were shooting at our military with this finger, killing our soldiers.”

Once Oleksii brought in an earthworm from outside. He put it in the toilet cistern and after a week he had a whole brood of them. This is how he got his first portion of protein in a long time. Another time, he was hunting a little mouse and had to shove the not-yet-killed pest into his mouth and eat it alive so that the guards would not take his nutritious prey from him.

Despair and hatred.

Evening: day 659 of the full-scale invasion

At one of the many new bookstores that, despite everything, have opened in Kyiv this year, a “book of the year” ceremony, awarded annually by editorial staff of BBC News Ukraine, is taking place.

The fifth air-raid alarm of the day sounds. The organisers suggest that in keeping with their security protocols, we should go to the air-raid shelter. To which one of the members of the jury, a respected professor, replies: “Let the BBC be scared, we are not.”

The ceremony carries on uninterrupted, but most of us have phones in our hands. Mobile internet has been restored, and we monitor Telegram channels tracking Russian missile and drone launches.

Just another day of full-scale invasion, packed with pain.

I look around the event; these are my friends and colleagues, representing several literary generations. And as has become a habit in recent months, I simply cannot help but imagine all of us dead. All. At once.

In the rest of the world, hearts are hardening. Attention is divided between conflicts. Activists’ focus is absorbed by the rise to power of populists and rightwing conservatives. But two important things remain constant in the beating of these hardened hearts of ours.

The first: Russia always strives for chaos and for rightwing politicians to be in power.

The second: what Ukrainians have had to accept – is that there will be no other life. This is the way it is. And when you hear the promise of a politician who, instead of fighting for democracy and the future, promises you a return to stability, be sure to check who is financing him. Perhaps this is another Russian puppet.

Late evening: day 659 of the full-scale invasion

News breaks about discussions on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. What started nine years ago on the Maidan is now being decided on the battlefield. The future of Europe, in which the question will be determined: where will Russia stop?

Soldiers�� canteen. Eating with a colleague. It’s the 22nd month of my service in the military. Every time I scoop up the soup, I feel like I’m sipping my own sadness. I tell her about my anxiety before missile attacks, about my anger at those who dodge serving in the armed forces, and those who desperately pretend that the war is not about them.

She listens to me, puts her plate aside, looks me in the eye and says: can you imagine Ukraine without Kharkiv? Without Kyiv? Sasha, we might lose the country. And I will be in the armed forces until this threat goes away.

These are simple, clear words. But someone has to say them out loud. And when I think about the coming year, what 2024 will bring, I realise once again that the issue is not about my personal lack of hope, burnout or my non-existence.

The question is whether my country will still be there.

And when will the F-16s finally soar in our skies.

Morning: day 660 of the full-scale invasion

9am. As it does every morning, the country stands still, for a minute of silence in memory of the dead.

The thought occurs to me that by the end of my life, these minutes of silence will add up to 24 hours of silence for those who are no longer with us.

For those thanks to whom we still exist.

Translated by Maryna Gibson

Oleksandr Mykhed is a writer and member of PEN Ukraine. His book Language of War won the George Shevelev prize on 17 December 2023 and will be published by Allen Lane in June 2024

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workersolidarity · 2 years ago

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I was hoping in this article The Grayzone would be able to highlight more individual instances of direct and indirect spending in Ukraine, but unfortunately most of that information remains secret.

But The Grayzone was able to audit some detail out of the documented spending by the US Government and it sure doesn't fail to shock with its absurdity.

So US Government debt, as always, is only an problem when the money is being spent on American Workers.

Though Joe Biden likes to pretend to be a big defender of Social Security and Medicare, his history is one of someone waiting eagerly for the opportunity to gut and privatize Social Security, and along with his Republican counterparts, has largely succeeded in Privatizing Medicare. Which is, of course, turning into one big scam where Insurance companies charge the Govt whatever they feel like and being largely reimbursed for it.

At every opportunity, Joe Biden quietly reaffirms to his donors his commitment to cutting Social Security and uses the usual coded language of "adjustments" and "saving" the program, in other words, cutting it.

But when it comes to money for Ukraine, no "adjustments", "changes" or "saving" of the program is necessary, even a year and a half and at least $100 Billion dollars into it.

This is also important to keep in mind. The CIA's "Black Budget" allows the Agency to spend nearly unlimited amounts of money, ammunition, equipment and weaponry with little to no oversight whatsoever.

Even as the infrastructure of the United States falls apart from disrepair, we send billions to Ukraine for their own infrastructure needs.

Just as with Social Security and Medicare, it's okay for Americans to die in large numbers due to accidents related to failing infrastructure.

As a NY Times article from November 2015 describes:

"The Federal Department of Transportation estimates that obsolete road designs and poor road conditions are a factor in about 14'000 highway deaths each year. Research by Ted Miller, a senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, which receives financing from the Transportation Department, put the medical cost of highway injuries from poor road conditions at $11.4 billion for 2013 according to the latest data available."

"The problem extends beyond roads. Research by the National Transportation Safety Board shows that since 2004, about 77 deaths and 1'400 injuries could have been prevented if railroads had installed a safety system known as Positive Train Control. That includes an Amtrak derailment in May that killed eight people and injured hundreds more in Philadelphia."

But that's okay, we're preventing road deaths in Ukraine. We can always feel good about that!

But we're also suspiciously sending money designated for Ukraine to companies and governments completely unrelated to Ukraine, because literally anything can be tied to this war for Govt Lawyers and bureaucrats

Vast sums are also being spent on various psy-op programs and propaganda efforts through various media organizations, NGOs and think-tanks.

"The funds were earmarked 'to strengthen the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) initiative in implementing international advocacy campaigns to keep high levels of International solidarity with Ukraine' "

AKA Propaganda and psy-ops

Interestingly, much of the funds spent by USAID earmarked for Ukraine seems to have gone to various programs completely unrelated to Ukraine.

It shows us that these organizations are NOT in fact humanitarian organizations, and they have little interest in actually helping real Ukrainians.

Rather, the point of all these "Humanitarian" organizations, NGOs, etc. is wash public funds and put them into the pockets of Western Oligarchs through a web of programs and organizations that always conveniently hire all the well known Washington DC Law Firms and Consulting Firms, big Wall Street investors, Silicon Valley Tech Giants, and huge Western Corporations to get involved in these regime change wars and "Humanitarian" Interventions, as well the "rebuilding" after war.

Wall Street gets to collect public funds in the run-up to wars, during wars, and after the wars they funded are over.

Rinse and repeat in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and now Ukraine.

And then there are some expenditures that will raise eyebrows for another reason, because it very suspiciously looks like the funding for the Nordstream Pipeline terrorist attack and the supplies needed for the operation.

The Pentagon sponsors diving contractor with “history of fraud” to send mysterious explosives to Ukraine

The Department of Homeland Security sent $5.48 million to Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC on June 8, 2021 for the following purpose: “PROCUREMENT OF TWO 38-FOOT FULL CABIN RESPONSE BOATS, FOUR 38-FOOT CENTER CONSOLE RESPONSE BOATS, TRAILERS, SPARE PARTS, AND TRAINING AS REQUIRED UNDER FMS LOA DB-P-LCL FOR THE COUNTRY OF UKRAINE.”

The Department of Defense transferred $4.75 Million to Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. as of February 3rd, 2023 for "PRO SAPPER AND EOD EQUIPMENT [CONTRACTING SQUADRON] UKRAINE" and "Marine lifesaving and diving equipment.

Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Sapper equipment is exclusively used to blow things up or clear up explosives. And Atlantic Diving Supply is a military contractor originally founded to provide tactical gear to Navy Seal divers.

When a company like this is tasked with a highly specific delivery of explosives gear to any foreign nation, including Ukraine, it should prompt questions about the mission, particularly when US Intelligence is blaming Ukraine's Military for attacking the Nordstream pipelines without the knowledge of President Zelensky. (The payment does not necessarily correlate with the date of delivery from the vendor; in other words the equipment could have been provided at an earlier date.)

Luke Hillier, the founder of Atlantic Diving Supply paid a $20 Million dollar settlement in 2019 to resolve charges that he defrauded the Pentagon by falsely claiming his company was a small business. Atlantic Diving is consistently listed as one of the top 25 largest military contractors in the country.

In 2021, Hillier raked in a massive $33 Billion dollar contract under the same program, prompting fresh accusations of fraud. The pattern of malfeasance prompted a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to bluntly denounce Atlantic Diving as a "fraudulent company."

Hillier currently owns $13 Million dollar Mega-Yacht in the Cayman Islands, $24 Million worth of beachfront property in Hawaii, and two Bahamas-based companies with murky operations, according to the Project on Government Oversight.

This goes on and on and on and on.

I mean, I'm literally out of room to put more of these expenditures into this post, so instead I will just write out some more egregious examples I haven't yet included:

The Department of Defense has paid $4.9 Million to BAE Systems GCS International as of September 12th, 2022 for "UKRAINE LCS LW 155 SPARES" and "Guns over 155mm to 200mm." In Navy terminology, LCS means "Littoral Combat Ship" while "LW" refers to the Lightweight Gun. And "155mm SPARES" refers to the Gun mounted on the ship's main battery off the bow.

USAID sent $3 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 “to improve health outcomes in drought affected areas in Ethiopia.” The description stated, “partially funded with response funds and Ukraine Supplemental Funds.”

USAID sent 30.9 million to Chemonics International, Inc. for the “Ukraine confidence building initiative (UCBI) 4. A private, for-profit aid contractor, Chemonics’ founder said he launched the company to “have my own CIA.” The Grayzone has documented Chemonics’ role in delivering US government funding and supplies to the Syrian White Helmets, which served as the propaganda wing of the Al Qaeda-tied armed opposition. Chemonics previously reaped a massive windfall from the US occupation of Afghanistan, raking in as much as $600 million from USAID.

USAID sent $20.7 million to PACT, INC. for “USAID Ukraine’s public health system recovery and resilience activity and will strengthen the Government of Ukraine (GOU) capacity to address COVID-19 and other public health threats, sustain health services during a crisis, and protect the health of all Ukrainians including vulnerable and marginalized populations. According to its 2022 impact statement [PDF], “In Ukraine, Pact’s work empowers citizens to push for transparent and democratic governance, advances gender equality and human rights for women and girls, and accelerates efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control.” The contractor’s work contributed to “172 people increas[ing] their net income,” according to Pact.

USAID sent 7.6 million to UNICEF IDA for emergency nutrition response in ASALs (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) in Kenya. The description stated, ��partially funded with response funds and Ukraine Supplemental Funds”

USAID sent $1.2 million to University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. located in Atlanta, GA to “support humanitarian information management through geographic information systems, data analytics and visualizations”. Ukraine was listed as the place of performance.

Washington funnels cash to a private equity firm, Georgian finance corporation, a ‘private entrepreneur’ via Ukraine aid

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) sent $25 million to Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV, a “leading private equity firm in emerging Europe, “to back high-growth tech and export-oriented [Small and Medium Sized Enterprises] succeeding globally, based on platforms in Ukraine and Moldova.”

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) sent $1.5 million to the Gazelle Fund LP, another private equity firm, to relocate Ukrainian businesses to Georgia. Georgia does not border Ukraine, nor is it a primary location for Ukrainian refugee resettlement.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent $882'291 to a single individual described as an “private entrepreneur” in exchange for “overseas technical assistance program support services.” The private entrepreneur listed, Igor Lavreniuk, serves as the Program Coordinator for USAID’s Competitive Markets Program according to his LinkedIn.

The National Science Foundation sent 1.3 million to University of Illinois for faculty and curricular development in remote sensing. The place of performance is listed as Ukraine.

The Department of State has paid 8.3 million to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to help “refugees from Ukraine meet their essential needs during initial displacement.” According to SpendingUS.gov, Catholic Relief Services is listed as having received a total of 657 million from the State Department in 2021, 5.7 billion since 2008 and 670 million during the last 12 months.

As the war drags on, lawmakers like Sen. Lindsey Graham have marketed military aid to Ukraine in increasingly grim terms. As the senator boasted during a recent trip to Kiev, “The Russians are dying…it’s the best money we’ve ever spent.” Meanwhile, Congress has rejected any mechanism that would guarantee transparency on the billions sent to Kiev, and shunned a war powers debate over the US military’s presence on the Ukrainian battlefield.

President Joseph Biden, for his part, has pledged that official Washington will support Kiev “as long as it takes.” As the potential for blowback grows from Western pressure to push Ukraine into NATO, and a nuclear-armed Moscow is backed into an existential fight for its survival, while economic powers including China gradually decouple from the Western financial system, Americans can only wonder how much will this war cost them when it is finally over.

Of course this is nowhere near a full accounting of Washington's Proxy-war in Ukraine which is surely costing in the hundreds of Billions by now between the direct financial aid listed above, to weapons systems and ammunition deliveries, to the training of Kiev's Forces taking place in secret locations across Europe and the US.

And for all we can see, our Country's oligarchs and politicians seem satisfied to continue on the gravy train until they can no longer suck one more penny of wealth out of US public coffers.

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eleanorfenyxwrites · 1 year ago

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Twenty Questions for Fic Writers

Thanks for tagging me, @omgpurplefattie!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

78 😅

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

864,062 - this is apparently just a bit more than Gone With The Wind....twice. I don't know how to feel about this.

What fandoms do you write for?

The Untamed (I have also written a handful of fics for Word of Honor and a very tiny one-shot for Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, but I'm definitely a CQL/MDZS author lol)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

You Need Tending - A very young, tiny Wangxian meet as children in Yunmeng and canon diverges sweetly from there.

Unexpected Solutions - LXC POV - What if the other sect leaders got to see the Burial Mounds instead of taking JGS's word for it that WWX was raising an army?

You Are Of Their Ilk - Sequel to You Need Tending, a LQR-centric fic examining what it's like to actually raise the Jades (and WWX) when he's got a Sect to run and parenting insecurities to overcome.

Plans To Make - A Wangxian-centric Time Travel Fix-it AU, technically the prequel fic to my first 3zun fic (in which the fixings-of-it have already been done and the post-canon, 5-years-in-seclusion Lan Xichen wakes up in the altered timeline wondering how the hell he has two husbands who are definitely not dead).

Professor Lan, Babysitter Extraordinaire - Modern AU Professor!LWJ spends an afternoon minding A-Yuan for Mature Student!WWX and is instantly charmed.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Sometimes! I used to respond to every single comment I got when I first started posting, but then I just got really overwhelmed and had to stop, and I've never picked up the habit again. If I feel particularly strongly about a comment or have something specific to say I'll try to respond, but otherwise I bask in them all silently (sorry, and I love y'all, I really do read every single comment I swear).

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

The Shadow's Call - An extremely depressed Lan Xichen is violently dragged out of his seclusion in the Hanshi 8 years post-canon by fierce corpse NieYao, who definitely aren't sentient at all but still somehow feel incomplete without their third.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Aside from The Shadow's Call all of my fics end happily!! I just can't do the depressing ones most of the time 😅 I think some of my favorite happy endings for various reasons, though, are The Sculptor, After Each Midnight Begins A New Day, anything in the Orville Peck Cinematic Universe, and anything from the 90's Strip Mall AU, Tales From Jianghu Shopping Center. (Everything in the last two especially is just pure feel-good fluff, not only the endings haha)

Do you get hate on fics?

Not anymore! The XiYao troll must have found something better to do so we can now like JGY in peace 😌

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do! I don't know what kind though 😅 the smutty kind? I don't really delve too deeply into kink or BDSM, and I don't write omegaverse or tentacles or anything all that creative; I just write what I would consider bog standard 'I'm ace and I understand people like doing this, I really hope the allos find this enjoyable to read' kind of smut. (Usually for me it's more about the emotional impact/character development use of it rather than the porn-y-ness of it, if that helps??)

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Nope! I like writing AU's of my favorite ships blended with other media I like, but not direct crossovers.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Hope not!

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have! Вони — це ми/ They Are Us is a Ukrainian translation by sandbranco of 'They Are Us', El escultor By Eleanor_Fenyx is a Spanish Translation by ellieffect and KabiBaali of 'The Sculptor', and another Spanish Translation of 'The Sculptor' by GabyObando13. I'm always so flattered when someone likes something of mine enough to do such an incredible labor of love as translating it ❤

What's your all-time favorite ship?

3zun, my beloveds

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Plans To Make - In an ideal world I would finish this soon so I can stop being eaten up with low-simmering guilt about it (along with several other projects, let's be real), but the fact of the matter is that I never actually wanted to write the full fix-it for this universe in the first place. I started Lan Xichen's introduction into this universe after the fix-it has already happened partially because I find that dynamic of a depressed Lan Xichen suddenly partnered with a happily married NieYao really interesting, but also because I don't like all the tangled threads of a universe-wide fix-it and I knew I'd get way too bogged down in details to really enjoy it. That's exactly what's happened, and that's partially why the fic has been sitting so long without an update. I do really want to finish it one day, though.

What are your writing strengths?

I occasionally get comments praising my characterization/character voices, so hopefully that's one. I also like to think that I do a decent job with accurately communicating both relatable and not-quite-as-relatable experiences - queerness of various flavors, neurodivergence, strangely specific life experiences...I usually try to write what I know, and I'm always happy when it resonates with people in the ways that I'd hoped for while writing them.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I feel like I can get sooo long-winded, and I'm also kind of bad for setting up plotty bits in my longer fics that I never actually follow through on.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

The furthest I'll go is honorifics that I'm confident with using, I absolutely do not trust myself or any online translator to attempt whole lines of dialogue.

First fandom you wrote for?

BBC Sherlock - those fics are all orphaned now, though

Favorite fic you've written?

I'm going to choose three just because I can: After Each Midnight Begins A New Day (3zun), The Sculptor (Wangxian), and Main Objective : Destroy Yiling Laozu (Breath of the Wild AU, my beloved)

I'm going to tag: @little-smartass, @wei--wuxian, @scarlet-gryphon, @wishthatiwasnessiesgirl, @threephasebird, and anyone else who writes who wants to play!

#the untamed fanfic #personal #tag game #3zun #Wangxian #<- they're not the only ships I write for of course but they're definitely the two most popular so they're the only ones really in the list

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black-arcana · 1 year ago

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WITHIN TEMPTATION Shares Preview Of New Single 'A Fool's Parade'

On April 5, 2024, WITHIN TEMPTATION will release their brand-new song, "A Fool's Parade", which marks a collaboration with the talented Ukrainian producer Alex Yarmak. According to a press release from WITHIN TEMPTATION's publicist, "A Fool's Parade" "highlights Russia's pretense regarding the war, and condemns its lies, ongoing crimes and brutal intentions."

A preview of "A Fool's Parade" is available below.

For the recording of the accompanying music video for "A Fool's Parade", Sharon den Adel — the frontwoman of WITHIN TEMPTATION — traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine. The music video is being directed by renowned Ukrainian video director Indy Hait.

With involvement in initiatives such as the Ukraine Aid OPS foundation, WITHIN TEMPTATION aims to keep drawing attention to Europe's much-needed support for Ukraine's defense.

In March 2022, WITHIN TEMPTATION was one of the artists who took part in a telethon concert in support of Ukraine. "Save Ukraine - #StopWar" united more than 20 countries and bring together more than 50 participants. The marathon was broadcast from Warsaw on the Polish TV channel TVP. In addition, broadcasters from many countries around the world, including Estonia (EBR),Lithuania (LTR),the Czech Republic (ČT2),Georgia (GPB / First),Albania (RTSH 2),Montenegro, Slovenia, Latvia (LTV),Croatia (HRT),Slovakia (RTVS),Austria (Puls 4),Cyprus, Canada (OMNI) and others, rebroadcasted the marathon on their local channels.

youtube

#sharon den adel #within temptation #a fool's parade #Youtube

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hcer · 26 days ago

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Golly gee whiz, this sure is a productive presidency

We're really checking things off the list this time huh

Unilaterally shuttering a federal agency (the one that provided immeasurable humanitarian support and generated invaluable good will and influence abroad, for less than 0.5% of the federal budget) when it was the prerogative of Congress to do so.

Haphazardly firing nearly 25k federal employees, including ones essential to the operations of the National Nuclear Security Administration, then having to recall them, then having to ask them to try to contact each other because they tossed the contact info.

Talking shit about making Canada the "51st state" to the point that Canadians are boycotting American products, buying guns, and preparing for an actual happening.

Tag-teaming Zelenskyy in the Oval Office like some kind of high school posturing session.

Giving outrageously unbecoming speeches at the joint session of Congress and in the Dept. of Justice.

More-than-alluding to aiming for a third term, and going "trololo" when the media gets twitchy.

Setting loose a bunch of teenagers and private security goons deputized as US Marshals to strong-arm their way into various federal agencies and fuck around with complex, fragile, and critical systems they don't understand, including one place that wasn't even actually a federal agency but they broke into it anyway, lol.

Removing White House staff background checks from the purview of the FBI (which is led by a director whose term length is designed to shield the position from political influence, and which operates under the Dept. of Justice, headed by the US Attorney General, who is typically more independent, relative . . . ) to the Dept. of Defense / Pentagon (of which the president is the commander in chief and which generally operates without Congressional interference), because the checks were "too intrusive".

Proclaiming that "One way or the other, we’re going to get [Greenland]" because "We need" it.

Revoking the temporary legal status of 240k Ukrainian war refugees.

Using the Alien Enemies Act, the one used during WW2 to detain people who appeared potentially Japanese in the wake of Pearl Harbor, to summarily arrest >200 people accused -- not proven guilty in court -- of being members of a Venezuelan gang, and deporting them to go rot in an El Salvadoran gulag (designed expressly to ensure that they "will not see a ray of sunshine") where they get manhandled and queued up nut to butt like livestock, get their heads shaved like der Juden, and sleep on bare metal bunk beds stacked four high in overcrowded cells where they have nothing to do but stare at the wall and fight over food for 23.5 hours a day, between half-hour exercise sessions out in the hallway. Without due process, without oversight, without even actual certainty that none of them were US citizens. And in direct defiance of a US district judge who had ordered them not to do so, as well as ordering that the planes currently bound for El Salvador immediately turn around and return to the U.S. "Oopsie, too late," says the president of El Salvador, who is raking in US$20,000 per inmate.

Letting Elon Musk mug and ramble like a fucking idiot everywhere all the time.

I could go on.

Meanwhile, Americans take to the internet en masse to proclaim that they won't put up with these shenanigans very much longer, and if the president does something like that about five or ten more times, he's going to start to have a real problem on his hands, I tell you what!

"Herde you talking merde, ouai?" -- France

#usa #us politics #america fuck yeah #amurica #god bless you and god bless america #mission accomplished #strategery

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jdduck · 1 month ago

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Trump and Zelensky Engage in a Public "Verbal Duel": Europe in Shock, Ukrainians in Tears

On February 28th, the meeting between the presidents of the United States and Ukraine evolved into a "public verbal confrontation." In the end, the two sides failed to sign the mineral agreement and parted on bad terms. After the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his entourage immediately drove away from the White House.

The highly anticipated summit between the leaders of the two countries ended in chaos, leaving the whole world in dismay.

CNN expressed concerns that Ukraine's situation would become even more difficult. The UK's The Guardian exclaimed that US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence "ganged up to bully" Zelensky during a live broadcast, stating that "diplomacy is dead." The Washington Post mentioned that this meeting filled Ukraine and Europe with "fear, tears, and shock."

Unsurprisingly, this meeting once again caused division in Europe. Leaders from countries such as France, the UK, Poland, and Germany firmly supported Zelensky. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy even declared that "the free world needs new leaders." Hungary, on the other hand, sided with the United States. CNN also cited sources saying that immediately after the meeting, Zelensky "reached out" and had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Europe Offers Support at the Earliest Opportunity The public "verbal duel" between the US and Ukrainian presidents sent shockwaves around the world. Most European leaders promptly chose to support Ukraine.

Later that day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel issued a joint statement on the social media platform X, assuring Zelensky that "you will never be alone." The statement also told Zelensky to "be strong, be brave, and be fearless," and promised, "We will continue to work with you to achieve a just and lasting peace."

"Ukraine is an integral part of Europe! We support Ukraine." Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was even more direct, "We will increase our support for Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back against the aggressors. Today, it has become very clear that the free world needs a new leader. We Europeans must rise to this challenge."

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that "the aggressor is Russia, and the victim is Ukraine," and emphasized that France will continue to support Ukraine as always.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the UK chooses to "continue to unwaveringly" support Ukraine and is playing its part in finding a path to lasting peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and security. Olaf Scholz, the outgoing German Chancellor, expressed his support for Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said that "Ukraine is not alone" and promised that "Ukraine can count on the unwavering support of Germany, Europe, and other countries." European countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Moldova, Lithuania, and Estonia also expressed their support for Ukraine one after another.

Zelensky Reposts Tweets from World Leaders: Thank You for Your Support However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's reaction starkly contrasted with that of other European countries. He said on the same day, "The strong create peace, while the weak start wars. Today, (President Trump) bravely fought for peace. Even though it may be hard for many people to accept." Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for unity between the United States and Europe, saying, "Division will make the West weaker."

A Ukrainian source revealed to CNN that after the fierce quarrel with Trump at the White House, Zelensky immediately had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel. The source also said that shortly after, Zelensky also had a conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

In addition, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not side with the United States, his "closest ally." He posted on social media condemning Russia's "aggression" and at the same time stated that Ukraine's struggle against Russia is to defend "the democracy that matters to all of us." He wrote, "Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a struggle that concerns all of us."

"Ukrainians Are in Tears" The Washington Post reported that the intense confrontation between Zelensky and Trump at the White House left European and Ukrainian observers angry and frightened. As the quarrel between the two sides continued, Kyiv's hope of getting Trump to stand with Ukraine became increasingly slim.

Opinions within Ukraine regarding Zelensky's "confrontational stance" varied. Ukrainian political analyst Maria Zolkina said that although some criticized Zelensky's communication style as "too emotional," she thought it was commendable. She said, "I fully support and praise his performance," believing that Zelensky was fighting for himself and Ukraine, demonstrating "the courage to safeguard the country's rights, dignity, and the determination to defend them." Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's senior advisor, spoke out on the X platform in defense of Zelensky. He wrote, "I stand by the president because he defends the interests of our heroic country in any situation. We are grateful to those who stand with us."

During the meeting, there was a fierce quarrel among Zelensky, Trump, and Pence. (Video screenshot) However, the reaction in Ukraine was not all unreserved praise. "Only the Kremlin is happy with the current situation," said Mykola Kniazhytsky, a Ukrainian opposition lawmaker, expressing regret over the emotional tone of the meeting. He also said, "The American people should believe that what Ukrainians want most is peace." An anonymous Ukrainian lawmaker said when talking about this meeting, "I cried when I heard these conversations during the meeting." Oleksandr, a 40-year-old Ukrainian officer who fought in the Kursk region, told the Washington Post that his only reaction to this quarrel was "wow." He said, "We still have a lot of work to do. But war is better than a shameful peace." According to news from Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, a source from the Office of the President of Ukraine accused the US leadership of "openly colluding with Russia." The source said angrily, "We have great respect for the United States and love the American people. But unfortunately, our friends made a mistake with Trump." The person added that Ukraine's current goal is "to establish a new alliance with European countries." On social media, anger and fear spread among Ukrainian users. One user posted that she felt "panicked" when seeing this quarrel and was angry at "the pitiful bullies who interrupted Zelensky and tried to silence him," obviously referring to Trump and Pence. Another person said, "This is truly a historic day. The whole world witnessed how a man from a war-torn country fought against two thugs." Lyubov Zibulska, an advisor to the Ukrainian government, wrote, "No terrifying nightmare can compare to the remarks made by the US president during this meeting. It feels like an ambush, a deliberate humiliation." "I'm really disgusted," a diplomat told CNN. "I'm worried about the consequences of this meeting." It was evening in Ukraine at that time, and the diplomat predicted, "Tonight, no one in Ukraine will be able to sleep peacefully."

What's Next for Ukraine? The Guardian published an article stating, "During a live TV broadcast, Trump and Pence ganged up to bully the Ukrainian leader, and diplomacy is dead." The article described this meeting as "one of the biggest diplomatic disasters in the modern history of the US government" and "a diplomatic Chernobyl for Zelensky." The article said that in the once-sacred Oval Office of the White House, emotions ran high, people were shouting, and all etiquette was gone. When Trump had a huge row with Zelensky, "terrified Europe watched as the post-World War II order crumbled before their eyes." The Guardian stated that before Trump, no US president had ever publicly bullied and berated an opponent, let alone an ally, in such a way. Trump and Pence tried to scold Zelensky "like ungrateful children."

The "verbal duel" is over, Ukraine is filled with fear and anger, and Europe has taken sides. So, what should Ukraine do next? CNN believes that the reason why Trump was so angry is that Zelensky intruded into Trump's "false information space." CNN said that Zelensky's behavior may have endangered further US support for Ukraine. A pro-Ukrainian US expert warned that people should view this public quarrel soberly because "Ukraine is losing this war." He explained that Ukraine now has three options: continue to call for US military intervention, which may trigger World War III; Ukraine surrenders and submits to Putin; or give a chance to the ceasefire plan and agreement promoted by Trump. Just now, Zelensky gave an interview to Fox News in the United States. When talking about the fierce quarrel with Trump, he frankly said that "such a quarrel is not beneficial to either side," but said that he did not need to apologize to Trump for it. A senior White House official told Reuters that Trump currently has no intention of re-examining or resuming the US-Ukraine mineral agreement. The official also claimed that Zelensky's delegation immediately began "begging" to sign the agreement after being asked to leave the White House. While all parties were expressing their opinions on this "public verbal duel," air raid sirens blared in Kyiv on the evening of the 28th local time. It is reported that Russia continued to bomb Ukraine, and drones attacked the Odessa and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine, causing many casualties. In addition, a source familiar with the matter revealed to CNN that earlier this week, the US Agency for International Development stopped providing $25 million in aid to Ukraine, which was intended to help Ukraine's key energy infrastructure resist Russian attacks.

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bllsbailey · 2 months ago

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NEW: Zelensky Goes on a Tweet Storm, and It's Likely Going to Make Things Much Worse

Friday was one of the wildest days yet of President Donald Trump's second term, and things aren't slowing down. If you missed the fireworks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set off an argument in the Oval Office when he interjected during a presser to publicly interrogate Vice President JD Vance while making clear he has no intention of negotiating a ceasefire.

SEE: Zelensky Attempts Oval Office Grandstanding, Finds Out Trump and Vance Don't Play That Game

While that was the point where things truly touched off, the wider context was over 40 minutes of the Ukrainian president being antagonistic and dismissive of American concerns. As I wrote in my reaction piece, I have no idea what Zelensky was thinking with his approach. It's not controversial to suggest he lacks the leverage to make such a play, especially in a way that could be perceived as trying to use the press to bully the president. At the very least, disagreements on the use of diplomacy should be left behind closed doors.

After the meeting ended, Trump flew to Florida while Zelensky headed to London, leaving no clear path toward reigniting talks with the White House. The Ukrainian president did release a series of posts on social media about the situation. Unfortunately, I'm not sure they are going to help matters.

He opened by thanking the American people for their support but then seemed to contradict himself multiple times while still demanding more from the Trump administration.

ZELENSKY: America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals. It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine. It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival. As President Reagan once said, ‘Peace is not just the absence of war’. We’re talking about just and lasting peace – freedom, justice, and human rights for everyone. A ceasefire won’t work with Putin. He has broken ceasefires 25 times over the last 10 years. A real peace is the only solution.

If the goal is to bring everyone back to the table, this is going to have the opposite effect. I'm going to let Zelensky in on a little secret: Trump is far more malleable than either his critics or greatest admirers will ever admit. In almost any situation, all he's looking for is someone who is willing to talk.

Take the mineral rights deal as an example. What started as a fairly good deal for the United States was watered down into a highly favorable agreement for Ukraine over the last week, and Trump was still willing to sign it and smile for the cameras. The same is true of ceasefire negotiations.

What blew up the meeting in the Oval Office wasn't so much any personal sleight, though that was the juicy part for the media. It was that Zelensky undermined Trump by publicly denouncing any possibility of a ceasefire. Again, all the president wants is to get to the table. Disagreements about the details can be hashed out when the time comes, and Ukraine would maintain the ability to reject any deal it didn't like.

That's what makes Zelensky's ploy so counterproductive. What does "real peace" even mean if he's going to say a ceasefire is off the table? That's nonsensical on its face, as no one can articulate a path to total victory for Ukraine given its manpower issues (which can not be solved with more money). At some point, there has to be a negotiated peace, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is not stepping down anytime soon.

ZELENSKY: We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for three years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side. I cannot change Ukraine’s position on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and that’s the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiation table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and our partners are with us. We want peace. That’s why I came to the United States, and visited President Trump. The deal on minerals is just a first step toward security guarantees and getting closer to peace. Our situation is tough, but we can’t just stop fighting and not having guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow.

Again, this is so counterproductive. Ukraine is not in a position to make public demands like this. Whether you agree or disagree with Trump, he does not see great strategic importance for the United States in this war. He does not believe Russia will roll through NATO-backed Europe and across the Atlantic. Because of that, continuing to try to play hardball with him is a losing strategy.

"Security guarantees" appears to be a euphemism for NATO membership or some other involvement of American troops in the war to combat Russian aggression. I understand why Zelensky would want that, given the dire straits his country is in, but that is not going to happen. Continuing to use the public sphere as a place to make such demands of Trump is only going to push the American president further away.

ZELENSKY: Europe is ready for contingencies and to help fund our large army. We also need the US role in defining security guarantees –what kind, what volume, and when. Once these guarantees are in place, we can talk with Russia, Europe, and the US about diplomacy. War alone is too long, and we don’t have enough weapons to push them out entirely.

Is Europe ready? Because right now, it is spending more on Russian oil and natural gas than it is on financial aid to Ukraine. European leaders are great at tweeting. They are much worse at leading. Regardless, America does not owe Ukraine security guarantees, as in active military involvement (which is clearly what Zelensky is asking for).

ZELENSKY: I want the US to stand more firmly on our side. This is not just a war between our two countries; Russia brought this war onto our territory and into our homes. They are wrong because they disrespected our territorial integrity. All Ukrainians want to hear a strong US position on our side. It’s understandable the US might look for dialogue with Putin. But the US has always spoken about ‘peace through strength’. And together we can take strong steps against Putin. Our relationship with the American president is more than just two leaders; it’s a historic and solid bond between our peoples. That’s why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation. American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.

The suggestion that the US hasn't stood firmly enough on Ukraine's side, even after giving somewhere in the range of $200 billion in aid while also enacting sanctions on Russia, is not going to be a good thing for relations with the White House. In short, Zelensky needs to stop talking because Trump does not respond to public pressure like this. On the contrary, it causes him to recoil, and like it or not, America doesn't have another presidential election for almost four years.

Ukraine needs a new diplomatic strategy, and it needs it in a hurry. Joe Biden is not around anymore, and Zelensky needs to accept that if he is to garner anything positive for his country. Tweet storms just reiterating his demands aren't going to accomplish anything.

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