Putin Recognizes Donbass Republics, Sends Russian Military to 'Denazify' Ukraine

[Bluegazer]

La Batalla Cultural

Moscú, San Petersburgo y otras ciudades en esta zona donde se concentra el 75% de la población de Rusia. El viernes Joe Biden recibirá en la Casa Blanca al primer ministro británico Keir Starmer para...

www.facebook.com

Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities in this area where 75% of Russia's population is concentrated. On Friday, Joe Biden will receive British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House to decide whether to give Zelenski the missiles to attack these targets in Russia.

These are long-range missiles manufactured in the West. Put another way, on Friday at the White House Biden and Starmer can start World War III. By giving Zelenski weapons to attack Russia, Washington and London will be declaring war on Moscow.

You can identify with Ukraine and may even sympathize with Zelenski, even though Zelenski is a cocainomaniac and a criminal. What you should not lose sight of is the unfeasibility of a direct war between the U.S./NATO and Russia. World War III cannot happen.

Or it can, but it is useless. After 1945, with the advent of the nuclear bomb, conventional warfare between powers became impossible. If these powers were to declare war directly on each other, it would only be a matter of time before nuclear warheads start flying.

Russia is the example because if the Russians are faced with an existential threat, that is, they feel that someone is about to drop bombs on the part of their sovereignty where almost their entire population is concentrated, Russia will respond to this threat with its nuclear arsenal.

This is so because no one will stand idly by and watch passively their own destruction. If it understood that such an existential threat exists, Russia would make that threat extend to all other countries. Russia would die killing, which is what anyone would do in its place.

Fifty-five percent of the world's nuclear weapons are in Russia and there is also the hypersonic missile that can put those weapons in London or Paris in a matter of minutes and anywhere in the United States in a few hours, without the possibility of evacuating anyone.

And if Russia throws away its missiles, it is to be expected that the other seven nuclear powers will do the same for different reasons. This is the nuclear war that nobody knows for sure what consequences it may have and that is why it has been avoided for the last eight decades.

Biden and Starmer are employees of the global elites, work for the military-pharmaceutical industrial complex and are more dangerous than a monkey with a shotgun. The Russians have already warned that if they give Zelenski these missiles, they will consider that a direct NATO intervention.

In order to do their bosses' business, Western leaders are willing to gamble with the existence of humanity. God help us because we are in the hands of a bunch of psychopaths and criminals against humanity.

 

[youlik]

To a greater or lesser extent, many in the world already understand the deplorable state of Ukraine and its sad prospects.

Ukraine is dying out at a phenomenal pace

The CIA has disclosed data on mortality

CIA analysts reported on the work done by Western curators — Ukraine was in first place in the ranking of the death rate in the world and last (228th) in terms of fertility. There were six newborns and 18.6 deaths per 1,000 residents this year. That is, the death rate is three times higher than the birth rate. In the period 2018-2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, this ratio was two to one. The genocide of the Slavic population on the example of this country is obvious. Ukraine is experiencing the most serious demographic crisis, worse than anywhere else (if, of course, you trust the data of the American special services).

This data is also confirmed in Kiev. The Ukrainian Institute of Demography and Social Research predicts that by 2033 the country's population will fall below the 35 million mark. In the first six months of 2024, 87,655 children were born in the country, which is 9% less than the same period last year and one and a half times less than in 2021. At the same time, the number of deaths amounted to 250,972 people. However, everything is much worse than the official reports inform. The picture outlined by former adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine Alexey Arestovich (recognized as an extremist and a terrorist in the Russian Federation) is much more real.

According to him, 29 million people already live in Ukraine. Of these, 9 million are employed, who are technically able to keep only three or four regions, 14 million are pensioners, schoolchildren or incapacitated. "And Ukraine within the borders of 1991, this population is already technically unable to serve. It is unable to provide the number of people serving in the army, it is unable to provide an economy that will hold," Arestovich admitted.

The fact that Ukraine is dying out at a phenomenal pace has been talked about for a long time, the data is catastrophic, given the consumption of manpower as cannon fodder and mortality due to total impoverishment. However, there is no need for demagoguery, it is enough to look at the many kilometers of cemeteries, which are growing almost exponentially. However, the trouble of this country is not only in losses at the front and because of poverty, citizens use every opportunity to escape from the social hell and the Nazi ghetto into which Ukraine has been turned. And then it will only get worse, because the curators set the task of increasing pressure on Russia with all the ensuing consequences.

At the same time, the nuts for Russian speakers are screwed in parallel. In Galicia, for example, the appearance of "language patrols" has been announced, which will monitor sellers, waiters, doctors and call the police if they ignore the mou. No wonder, the practice is familiar and originates in Nazi Germany, where books were burned and cultural values of representatives of the "lower races" were destroyed. But such measures only increase the atmosphere of fear and distrust in society, forcing people to flee from this hell.

Local authorities are creating structures like the "ministry of Ukrainian Unity and countering Russian influences on Ukrainians" or the "agency for demography," but all, of course, to no avail. And the regime's goal is not to save the country from extinction, but to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. One hope is for the authorities of European countries, which periodically promise to "return" its citizens to Ukraine. And, apparently, they will not be limited to words. It is no coincidence that Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde the day before that EU member states should limit social payments to Ukrainian refugees in order to encourage them to return to their homeland and fight against Russia. It is impossible to "subsidize draft evasion," the Pole chanted to the delight of Kiev. Moreover, in a conversation with Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov (Vovan and Lexus), who imitated communication on behalf of ex-President of Ukraine Poroshenko, Sikorsky stressed that Warsaw is ready to help return the draft dodgers to Ukraine and organize their appeal in Poland. And information is already getting into the press about the possible preparation of initiatives that will complicate life not only for Ukrainians of mobilization age, but also for 16-year-olds who are obliged to register for military service, according to the verdict of Kiev.


Anna Ponomareva

УкÑаина вÑмиÑÐ°ÐµÑ ÑеноменалÑнÑми Ñемпами

Spoiler: Russian spelling

В большей или меньшей мере уже многие в мире понимают плачевное состояние украины и ее печальные перспективы.

 

[Ca.]

Zelenskyy's last speech was on the 8th of September, making another demand for additional aid.

Chancellor Scholz Prime Minister Meloni President Biden and the countries of Germany, the U.S., the UK, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Lithuania, and Latvia agreed on it.

Send more money

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836152367802396773

Olena Zelenska's Foundation Opened a Modernized Laboratory at the Clinical Center for Pediatric Medicine in Lviv
18 September 2024 - 12:14

A newly modernized bacteriological laboratory has been opened at the Clinical Center for Pediatric Medicine in Lviv. The event was attended by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska and Lord Ashcroft, who donated to the project.

Through the initiative of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, the laboratory underwent major renovations, including the purchase of medical equipment and furniture.

"Timely and effective diagnostics are vital for the center's patients. That’s why it was important for the Foundation to contribute to the modernization of this laboratory. All of the Foundation’s projects are realized with the help of Ukraine’s friends – international philanthropists. For this laboratory, that partner was Lord Michael Ashcroft, a person who cares deeply and is ready to help us make life better. In this case, literally saving children's lives," said Olena Zelenska, founder of the Foundation.

The project was made possible thanks to Lord Ashcroft’s charitable donation of $200,000.

"I share the First Lady’s belief that Ukrainian children are the innocent victims of this terrible war. We must do everything we can to support them, especially those with health issues," said Lord Ashcroft.

The Clinical Center for Pediatric Medicine is one of the few in Ukraine that performs bone marrow and kidney transplants. Each year, over 20,000 children from across the country receive inpatient treatment here. However, until now, the center lacked the capacity for fast and high-quality diagnostics.

"Now, doctors and lab technicians will work in comfortable conditions with modern medical equipment. Soon, the laboratory will undergo accreditation to operate under the international ISO standard," noted Nina Horbachova, CEO of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

The upgraded laboratory will be able to examine around 18,000 children annually.

Ukrainian servicemen captured: developments in Kursk Region
Over the day, Ukraine lost up to 400 troops and 23 armored vehicles

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. The Russian military continued its offensive operations in the Kursk Region and repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks over the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the agency, eight Ukrainian servicemen were captured. Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, Commander of the Akhmat special forces, Major-General Apty Alaudinov, told TASS that Russian fighters destroyed two pontoon crossings set up by the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk Region during the week.

TASS has gathered the key news about the unfolding situation.

Operation to neutralize Ukrainian forces​

- The Russian military repelled four enemy counterattacks towards Bolshaya Obukhovka, Malaya Loknya and Lyubimovka, as well as repulsed Ukrainian attempts to attack the settlements of Olgovka and Borki. Eight Ukrainian servicemen were captured.

- The army also repulsed five Ukrainian attempts to break through the border near the settlements of Veseloye and Medvezhye.

- The advance of Russia’s battlegroup North continues, its units delivered strikes on Ukrainian formations near Lyubimovka, Daryino, Nikolo-Daryino, Tolsty Lug and Plekhovo.

- The Russian military hit concentrations of enemy manpower and hardware in Guevo, Daryino, Kurilovka, Kruglenkoe, Lyubimovka, Mirny, Martynovka, Malaya Loknya, Nikolo-Daryino, Novy Put, Novaya Sorochina, Novoivanovka, Orlovka, Plekhovo, Russkoe Porechnoye, Serdlikovo, Tolsty Lug and Yuzhny.

Ukraine’s losses​

- Over the day, Ukraine lost up to 400 troops and 23 armored vehicles, including two tanks, one Leopard, five infantry fighting vehicles, including two CV-90 IFVs, an armored personnel carrier and 15 armored combat vehicles, as well as four artillery pieces, two mortars and 12 vehicles.

- Since the beginning of hostilities in Russia’s borderline region, Ukraine’s losses have amounted to more than 14,600 troops, 121 tanks, 50 infantry fighting vehicles, 92 armored personnel carriers, 758 armored combat vehicles, 457 vehicles, 107 artillery pieces, 28 multiple rocket launchers, including seven HIMARS and six US-made MLRS, eight anti-aircraft missile launchers, four transport-loading vehicles, 26 radar stations, seven counter-battery radars, two air defense radars, 14 pieces of engineering equipment, including eight engineering demolition vehicles and one UR-77 demining unit.

Alaudinov’s statements​

- Russian troops have destroyed two pontoon crossings set up by the Ukrainian army in the Kursk Region over the past week, Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, Commander of the Akhmat special forces, Major-General Apty Alaudinov told TASS.

- He added that the enemy is now unsuccessfully trying to retain positions, while the Russian army advances daily.

Kiev asks West's permission for strikes on Russia, funds for defense, NATO membership
Kiev believes these measures would increase pressure on Moscow in military, economic, political, and diplomatic terms

TOKYO, September 18. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's plan, which he believes will help end the conflict, includes a request for Western long-range weapons strikes on Russia, investments in the Ukrainian defense industry, and "early accession" to NATO, the Kyodo news agency reported, citing an unnamed senior Ukrainian government official.

According to Kyodo, the draft document outlines the "necessary for victory" range of US and European weapons, including ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, Patriot anti-missile systems, their volumes, delivery terms, and intended uses. Kiev also requests permission to strike Russian territory with long-range weapons and aims to clarify the results of the attack on the Kursk Region.

In addition, Kyodo says, the plan includes a request for investment in Ukraine's defense industry, stating the amount needed to ramp up production of drones and artillery shells in the country, pointing to vulnerabilities in the sanctions regime against Russia, and a demand for Ukraine's "early accession" to NATO.

Kiev believes these measures would increase pressure on Moscow in military, economic, political, and diplomatic terms. Zelensky plans to present the plan in September during his visit to the US during his meetings with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump, Kyodo reported.

Earlier, Zelensky said that he had a certain plan to end the conflict. However, he put the responsibility for its implementation on Biden. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that there was no point in commenting on Zelensky's statements.

President Vladimir Putin has pointed out that Ukraine is unable to strike Russia without Western assistance because it needs satellite intelligence and flight missions to do so. The Russian leader noted that NATO countries are now not just debating about Kiev's possible use of Western long-range weapons: in fact, they are deciding whether or not to get directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. Putin emphasized that Moscow would make decisions based on the threats that would emerge to Russia.

Russia Slams NATO’s 'Reckless' Rejection of Putin’s Red Line on Ukraine Attacks

The position of not taking seriously the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the consequences of allowing Ukraine to attack Russian territory with Western weapons is provocative and dangerous, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

sputnikglobe.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836430352946204904

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836427482414625174

 

[Windmill knight]

This could be a problem. Supposedly, Ukraine launched drone strikes against a military installation in Toropets, Russia, hitting an ammo depot and causing a huge explosion. The thing is that this installation is more than 450 km from the border with Ukraine (more than 200 km from the border with Latvia though). So people are wondering if these were really drones or some of the infamous long-range NATO missiles! If that's the case, I guess we'll soon hear about it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836400501409055129

 

[Evan]

I’ve never shared an X post here before, and I’m not sure of the rules or methods, so I hope you’ll excuse my doing it for this one. It’s images and commentary regarding the aforementioned blast north of Moscow.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836455448935043172

 

[Evan]

So a few views courtesy of Simplicus: The gist is that the Toropets site stores largely old Soviet stock, and in no way serves the SMO. In truth it’s primarily a PR move for Ukraine and doesn’t hurt Russia in any significant way. However, the flip side is that this site was significantly updated in 2018 as a reserve arsenal for the new Moscow and Leningrad Oblast forces as a bulwark against Finland’s new western bases. So this serves to whet the appetite of NATO planners looking at closing the Gulf of Finland as part of a Baltic-based attack. This does cause Moscow some headache, no question, but no immediate bleeding.

This attack, like the one on Murmansk, are pinprick PR moves that reap no benefit for Ukraine, but do serve long term plans for NATO.

This also happens to have occurred right on the heels of Russian announcement of resuming nuclear testing in Novaya Zemlya. In fact it was announced that they’ve been ordered to build mockups of Washington and London to test strike results on those locations.

I want to be clear that this is a very rough summary of a large, paid to view article, which I am not sure is appropriate to copy and share here. I’ve left out huge amounts of information, but hope I’ve gotten the important stuff right.

 

[loreta]

So a few views courtesy of Simplicus: The gist is that the Toropets site stores largely old Soviet stock, and in no way serves the SMO. In truth it’s primarily a PR move for Ukraine and doesn’t hurt Russia in any significant way. However, the flip side is that this site was significantly updated in 2018 as a reserve arsenal for the new Moscow and Leningrad Oblast forces as a bulwark against Finland’s new western bases. So this serves to whet the appetite of NATO planners looking at closing the Gulf of Finland as part of a Baltic-based attack. This does cause Moscow some headache, no question, but no immediate bleeding.

This attack, like the one on Murmansk, are pinprick PR moves that reap no benefit for Ukraine, but do serve long term plans for NATO.

This also happens to have occurred right on the heels of Russian announcement of resuming nuclear testing in Novaya Zemlya. In fact it was announced that they’ve been ordered to build mockups of Washington and London to test strike results on those locations.

I want to be clear that this is a very rough summary of a large, paid to view article, which I am not sure is appropriate to copy and share here. I’ve left out huge amounts of information, but hope I’ve gotten the important stuff right.

Thank you Evan. But maybe you can put the link?

 

[Evan]

Thank you Evan. But maybe you can put the link?

As I said, it’s behind a paywall. I’ve asked in the past about copying and pasting from paid Substack content here and the mods asked me not to do that so I won’t. However, if you go to Substack, you can put in your phone number and claim a onetime free access to a specific post. If you’d like to do that, then simply go to Substack and look up Simplicus’s Garden of Knowledge, and choose his post titled “SITREP 9/10/2024: European Antimony Squeezes Zelensky From Both Sides as Kursk Front Crumbles”. Best I can do.

 

[loreta]

As I said, it’s behind a paywall. I’ve asked in the past about copying and pasting from paid Substack content here and the mods asked me not to do that so I won’t. However, if you go to Substack, you can put in your phone number and claim a onetime free access to a specific post. If you’d like to do that, then simply go to Substack and look up Simplicus’s Garden of Knowledge, and choose his post titled “SITREP 9/10/2024: European Antimony Squeezes Zelensky From Both Sides as Kursk Front Crumbles”. Best I can do.

Thank you Evan.

 

[Evan]

Thank you Evan.

You’re most welcome, Loreta.

 

[thorbiorn]

This could be a problem. Supposedly, Ukraine launched drone strikes against a military installation in Toropets, Russia, hitting an ammo depot and causing a huge explosion. The thing is that this installation is more than 450 km from the border with Ukraine (more than 200 km from the border with Latvia though). So people are wondering if these were really drones or some of the infamous long-range NATO missiles! If that's the case, I guess we'll soon hear about it.

There was from https(://)www(.)nato(.)int/cps/en/natohq/news_228911(.)htm [Too many (), but you get the idea!]

Ukraine joins NATO counter-drone exercise for first time​

• 10 Sep. 2024 - 20 Sep. 2024
• |
• Last updated: 19 Sep. 2024 16:03
• 
  
• English
• French
• Ukrainian

From 10 to 20 September 2024, over 450 participants from 19 NATO Allies and three partner-countries gathered in the Netherlands to test the ability of commercially available counter-drone systems to operate seamlessly together. Ukraine participated for the first time, alongside members of the private sector and research community.

During NATO’s annual Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Technical Interoperability Exercise (TIE), more than 60 counter-drone systems and technologies such as sensors, drone-on-drone systems, jammers and cyber interceptors were tested live.

Ukraine’s first active participation in the exercise is part of the NATO-Ukraine Innovation Cooperation Roadmap endorsed by Allied and Ukrainian Leaders at the Washington Summit. Exercises like the C-UAS TIE provide a unique opportunity to address pressing challenges together, such as drone autonomy and interoperability while also learning from Ukraine’s battlefield experience in countering small drones.

Integrating counter-drone technologies into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) is important to the Alliance’s enhanced deterrence and defence posture. At the 2024 Washington Summit, Allies took steps to further improve the readiness, responsiveness and integration of NATO IAMD, and agreed to support the design and implementation of an integrated air and missile defence architecture for Ukraine.

The following could in part be damage control:

So a few views courtesy of Simplicus: The gist is that the Toropets site stores largely old Soviet stock, and in no way serves the SMO. In truth it’s primarily a PR move for Ukraine and doesn’t hurt Russia in any significant way. However, the flip side is that this site was significantly updated in 2018 as a reserve arsenal for the new Moscow and Leningrad Oblast forces as a bulwark against Finland’s new western bases. So this serves to whet the appetite of NATO planners looking at closing the Gulf of Finland as part of a Baltic-based attack. This does cause Moscow some headache, no question, but no immediate bleeding.

And what if the pagers from Lebanon has a parallel in Russia having used bits and pieces that were infected?

 

[lilies]

So a few views courtesy of Simplicus: The gist is that the Toropets site stores largely old Soviet stock, and in no way serves the SMO.

Those large explosions came from less important munitions. Still the fire and smoke were colossal in size. Imagine what important explosives lie underneath:

Couple of the buildings of the ABOVE ground storage detonated after one of the 404 UAVs fell (it was shot down) on one of the buildings. Most of the weapons and explosives are stored deep under ground and they haven't been affected.

(source)

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin to Europeans: You will have three minutes and 20 seconds to think wisely about your future.

 

[XPan]

A day or two after the strike in Poltava, which killed an unknown number of Swedish instructors, the Swedish Foreign minister has resigned and quits politics all together. The timing suggests that the strike in Poltava has something to do with it.

SAAB Aerospace, Poltova, Coffins, Arlanda Airport 'drones', CIA Hangar

He (Foreign Minister Billström) did indeed get cold feet days after Poltova. Since it is assumed that most SAAB Aerotech people where killed in Poltava (4 Sep 2024) - which, let's face it, is a huge blow to SAAB and its spy & surveillance airplane project and everything surrounded. (Earlier I have seen those airplanes many times flying many rounds along the borders to Belarus and Ukraine (via flightradar24.com)

It has come to my attention that the Arlanda incident with several drones flying around (8-9 Sep 2024) [or possibly; that the "drone incidences" happened without any drones ever flew] - but it was likely was related to the military airplane that left Leipzig in the evening on its way to Stockholm Arlanda airport - with arrival after midnight on 9 September 2024. It is also rumored that the CIA has a permanent hanger at Arlanda Airport, likely send up several drones, or the myth of such, which lead to the total closure of Arlanda's airspace ! (5 flights had to be diverted to Nyköping/Skavsta, Gothenburg and one to Helsinki/Finland, if i remember correctly)

Why ?
Speculative; Likely to get the coffins out of the military plane without anyone watching / unable to document it. After all, the Swedish people know absolutely nothing about the vast casualties to the Swedish SAAB instructors/designers/etc at Poltava.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport closes due to drone sightings - AeroTime

Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport was temporarily closed during the night after mysterious drone sightings, forcing the diversion of several flights.

www.aerotime.aero

Interesting is also
Yesterday Svt, Swedish Television reports via Radio P3, that all three investigatiosn about the drones over Arlanda Airport, have been put down.

Samtliga utredningar om drönarlarm vid Arlanda nedlagda

Samtliga tre utredningar om drönare över Arlanda flygplats har nu lagts ned, uppger polisen för P4 Stockholm.

www.svt.se

- There is simply nothing to touch, nothing we can work on, says police spokesperson Carina Skagerlind to SVT.

Is that so ? Muzzled as usual, i'll say.

An earlier report from 11 Sep
stated that there were no drones over Stockholm Arlanda Airport, says Svt, Swedish Television.

Inga drönare på Arlanda bekräftade

Tre kvällar i rad har drönare observerats över Arlanda. Men ingen av händelserna har bekräftats som drönare av polisen.

www.svt.se

Three nights in a row, drones have been observed over Arlanda. But none of the incidents have been confirmed as drones by the police.

On Tuesday evening, a drone was observed over Arlanda by security guards, which Aftonbladet was the first to report. A report has been drawn up and the incident is being investigated as a violation of the Aviation Act, the police confirm.

On Monday night, several drones were observed at the site, and at least one more the following evening. Both incidents are being investigated as violations of the Security Act and the Aviation Act.

No arrests have yet been made.
Robert Sennerdal, police spokesperson, emphasizes that all incidents are unconfirmed sightings.

- “There is still no confirmation that it is a drone,” he says.
According to the police, it is difficult to identify drones and determine distances in the dark. Common confusions include airplanes, helicopters, satellites and stars, they write on their website.

The Swedish Armed Forces have been informed of the incident.

- But we have not received any request for support and we are not involved in the investigation, says Henrik Nyström, press secretary at the Swedish Armed Forces.

- It is a police matter, he says.

 

[thorbiorn]

Are we seeing a replay of the method they used during COVID, when all alternatives to a vaccine were banned and suppressed to justify the only solution they wanted to promote which was subjecting the people en masse to mRNA injections? For years the US and satellites have carefully and systematically closed down all alternatives to continued escalation.
From X.com

Another

What is the peace plan of the text co-written with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, but unmistakably the work of the latter: From https(://)www(.)project-syndicate(.)org(/)commentary(/)western-allies-must-show-long-term-commitment-to-ukraine-security-by-anders-fogh-rasmussen-and-andriy-yermak-2024-09 we have this article, which is little but vitriolic warmongering. The article repeats the NATO talking points and is at the same time probably a text from which the chief puppets, their spin doctors, and associated political analysts take their talking points to make sure they are properly aligned with the dominant Western narrative. It is not that I'm recommending you to read the article, but it is there for the sake of the record, and because of what follows.

Achieving Peace Through Strength in Ukraine​

Sep 17, 2024 Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Andriy Yermak
To secure a lasting peace, Ukraine’s allies must make Vladimir Putin understand that he cannot dictate the terms. Guaranteeing Ukraine’s security will require increased military support, a clear path to NATO membership, and international support for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan.

COPENHAGEN – Russian President Vladimir Putin denies Ukraine’s right to sovereignty, having invaded it twice since 2014. Thankfully, his efforts to subjugate the country have been thwarted by the courage of the Ukrainian people.

After two and a half years of fiercely defending their homeland, it has become abundantly clear that Ukrainians will never submit to Russian tyranny. But despite their resilience, Putin’s brutal war of aggression continues. If Ukraine’s allies fail to show the necessary resolve, the conflict could drag on for years, undermining European stability.
Moreover, an increasingly militaristic Russia threatens not only Ukraine but the entire world, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Russia’s war has already sent shockwaves around the world, driving up energy and food prices and jeopardizing nuclear safety. By violating fundamental principles of international law, Russia has destabilized the global order.

To promote peace, Ukraine’s allies must make Putin understand that he cannot dictate the terms of how the war will end. They can do this by building global support for a peace agreement rooted in the fundamental principles of international law, strengthening Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, providing long-term security guarantees, and outlining a clear path to NATO accession.

While Putin aims to prolong the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is actively pursuing a sustainable peace. This summer, he gathered representatives from more than 90 countries in Switzerland to rally support for his ten-point peace formula, which calls for strengthening nuclear safety and addressing the conflict’s environmental repercussions, in addition to full Russian withdrawal.

Global pressure will be critical to reaching an agreement, but enduring peace also requires strong security guarantees. Given that Russia has repeatedly shown its disregard for international law and basic human rights by violating treaties and committing widespread war crimes, peace cannot rest on Putin’s promises alone. The outcome of the war will depend on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

But along with immediate support, Ukraine’s allies must commit to providing it with military equipment and financial resources for as long as needed. Ukraine has already received long-term security guarantees from more than 30 countries as part of the Kyiv Security Compact, which we co-authored. Now is the time to prove that these guarantees have teeth.

In the coming months, our efforts will focus on ensuring that the guarantees deliver on their promise. This involves monitoring their implementation, assessing evolving threats, and highlighting the ways Ukraine’s security needs align with Europe’s broader defense strategy.

Preventing Putin from winning the peace will require more than security guarantees. Ukraine’s allies should expand their support by taking steps like training Ukrainian forces within the country and deploying civilian contractors or specialized military teams to repair damaged equipment on-site. Neighboring allies could establish an extended air-defense shield over Western Ukraine to intercept incoming Russian missiles and drones, thereby saving civilian lives and enabling Ukraine to redeploy its air-defense systems to the front lines.

Each of these steps will undoubtedly strengthen Ukraine’s position in any future negotiations. But ultimately, the only way to ensure long-term peace and security in Europe is to bring Ukraine into NATO. Leaving Ukraine in the grey zone between Russia and the Alliance would only invite more instability, aggression, and violence. NATO leaders must act decisively and offer Ukraine a path to membership. While this does not mean that Ukraine will join overnight, such a commitment would send a strong message to Putin that his war will not prevent its eventual accession.

Faced with Putin’s heavily militarized and increasingly revanchist Russia, Ukraine and its allies must embrace the ancient Roman maxim si vis pacem, para bellum (“If you want peace, prepare for war”). Over the past two and a half years, the Ukrainian people have demonstrated an unwavering determination to defend their freedom. But to achieve lasting peace, the international community must muster the courage and strength to support and maintain it.


Anders Fogh Rasmussen Writing for PS since 2002
19 Commentaries
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former NATO secretary-general (2009-14) and former prime minister of Denmark, is Founder of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation.
Andriy Yermak Writing for PS since 2024
1 Commentary
Andriy Yermak is Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

One of the rumor mills on TG (considering that this is after all not an official source) wrote on Thursday September 19:

Is the above source giving a reliable interpretation of the situation? It is possible. Even before the war began in February 2022 there was this article: WWII redux: The endpoint of US policy from February 21, 2022 which begins:

The threatened peoples of East Asia and Europe can stop the US drive to restore its global domination

"This is not going to be a war of Ukraine and Russia. This is going to be a European war, a full-fledged war." So spoke Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just days after berating the US for beating the drums of war.

If during COVID many Europeans were enthusiastic about getting as many shots as recommended, hundreds of millions of citizens in the European NATO countries are supporting their Governments when it comes to their Ukraine policies many without being entirely and consciously aware of the consequences. The 25 % that drag their feet or even oppose have so far been marginalized.