Cold war 2.0

[Virtual ghost]

Ukrainian missiles strike Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Crimea, Moscow says

Putin and Kim Jong Un begin talks as Russia seeks weapons

Russian minister denied entry to Denmark for European health conference




Von der Leyen invokes ‘call of history’ as she backs EU membership for Ukraine

The top all over the union finally realized the full picture. At this point there are still 8 countries that are in the gray zone between EU and Russia (Ukraine is just the largest of them). Therefore since any kind of a friendship between the two is over something must be done with this gray zone since the reality is that the zones of influence should be completely defined. Russia is trying to pull all of these relatively small countries into it's sphere and there is no real sense in leaving those areas to the China-Russia axis. After all over the years they were trying to play all kinds of tricks to grab some of those countries. What didn't fully work but the collective west was kinda passive and didn't care too much about the issue. What put many of those countries in a pretty difficult position over the years.

However since the global order fell apart over the last few few years it simply became unwise to ignore this subject. Of course you just can't let those countries in because their institutions are too weak and there is still plenty of post-Communist swamp left there. So through negotiation about membership you have to speed up clearing of these swamps. Especially since through those swamps Russia wants to pull those countries back. Therefore this is going to be political struggle that has no real alternative. Because leaving those countries to Russia is simply a bad idea, since the new eastern border has to be as solid as possible around Russia. Plus some of those countries are already in NATO and that is already half of the way.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

 

[Virtual ghost]

We can’t rely on Russia to protect us anymore, Armenian PM says
This is a good example of how Russia is falling apart in the big picture due to all the losses. Which is the picture that is much wider than war in Ukraine.

Germany’s Social Democrats throw party for Putin’s pal Gerhard Schröder
These people really want to have 12% of the vote in next elections (now it is at only 17%).


China slams EU over electric vehicle subsidy probe

Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump not to drop US support for Ukraine

 

[ceecee]

Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump not to drop US support for Ukraine

He has to in order to support the GOP impeachment dumbassery. Boris should also stfu and go away.

 

[The Cat]

He has to in order to support the GOP impeachment dumbassery. Boris should also stfu and go away.

and find a hairbrush or a comb.

 

[The Cat]

Kif, bring me my velour uniform.​

 

[Virtual ghost]

G77 summit in Cuba calls for new global order

Macron: French ambassador held hostage in Niger

Chinese defense minister faces corruption probe — reports

North Korea’s Kim inspects nuclear-capable aircraft during Russia visit

 

[Virtual ghost]

The Ukraine is pushing through in Bakhmut area.





China blasts Germany after Baerbock calls Xi Jinping a ‘dictator’

China top diplomat heads to Russia for 4-day talks

US national security adviser, Chinese diplomat talk in Malta

NATO’s Bulgaria finds crashed killer drone on its land

Italy’s Meloni gets tough on migrants

India has Russia over an oil barrel

 

[Red Herring]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/world/canada/canada-india-sikh-killing.html

Justin Trudeau Accuses India of a Killing on Canadian Soil​

The Canadian leader said agents of India had assassinated a Sikh community leader in British Columbia in June. India called the accusation “absurd.”

That's something one is more accustomed to see from Russia (which has a habit of killing expats in Europe).

 

[Red Herring]

WTF is going on in Nagorno-Karabakh?

 

[Virtual ghost]

WTF is going on in Nagorno-Karabakh?

New round of the war.
That place is unstable for decades at this point.


Just in case someone wants to track the events live.
Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan sends troops into enclave


Plus I find it kinda funny what is going on in Mali after the coup. Supposedly the west is pulling out while new government and Wagner are unable to stop the Islamists from taking over huge parts of the country. Which got so bold that they are even overrunning local bases and security installations. What suggests that new order wouldn't last.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Azerbaijan launches attack in Nagorno-Karabakh, announces ‘evacuation’ of Armenian population

EU warns China on Ukraine disinformation and cyberattacks

Don’t let Putin keep us out of the EU, Moldova implores

Poland: Will cash-for-visas scandal cost PiS the election?

UK won’t stop India trade talks despite row over murder of Sikh leader

 

[Virtual ghost]

 

[Virtual ghost]

Warsaw makes a risky political bet in attacking Ukraine

Why ? Because Poland is voting in 3 weeks. Slovakia votes next week. While Hungary doesn't like Ukraine too much.
However this is interesting because after many years this could be the time when government in Poland changes. In other words national conservatives should loose their absolute majority and that would have very wide circle of consequences in various spheres. Plus this is kinda strange way to try to save yourself, since you are messing up one of you main achievements and all the stuff you have said over the years. What suggests that the ruling party is panicking over polls.



Bulgaria kicks out Russian church boss

Russian soldiers deliberately kill Ukrainian kids, new film says

Syria's Assad visits China for first time since civil war

Azerbaijan to begin ‘reintegration’ of Nagorno-Karabakh

 

[SensEye]

Ukraine made a tactical error in carping about the grain deal. They may be technically correct in terms of international trade agreements, but this issue is the wrong hill to die on. I'm sure they can sell their grain somewhere else even if it costs more to get it there. Military aid from Poland is much more important IMO.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

Ukraine claims senior Russian navy officers killed, injured in Crimea missile strike

Biden agrees to send long-range missiles to Ukraine

EU to China: Don’t take us for suckers on trade

‘Nobody is helping us’: Inside the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh

 

[Virtual ghost]

Ukraine made a tactical error in carping about the grain deal. They may be technically correct in terms of international trade agreements, but this issue is the wrong hill to die on. I'm sure they can sell their grain somewhere else even if it costs more to get it there. Military aid from Poland is much more important IMO.

To finally answer.
In my opinion this is very "English speaking world" take on the issue. Especially since it sounds almost naively moral. Maybe this is correct interpretation but there are also likely alternative explanations.


1. The elections in Poland are on the door and current national conservative government should loose their majority. What means that they will lose power or make a coalition with some parties that will force them to change various positions. While the crucial vote in all of this is the rural one. So in lack of options it is possible that Poland requested some tensions in trade to try to get a few more votes it needs. What works for Ukraine since the current government is one of the key allies of Ukraine. So they have direct interest that it survives in the current form (that is without Russia friendly elements). After all Poland did just about nothing about stopping western help that goes into the Ukraine from there.


2. While there is one more possible option. EU and US want to see current Polish government gone since they are playing with democratic rules and act as spoiler in some situations. Therefore since those two are really two main backers of Ukraine it is possible that they asked Ukraine to rise tensions with Poland in crucial moment. Which is now causing a short circuit in the Polish plans and talking points. What is because EU and US want to see that in upcoming elections center right and their allies replace the national conservative government. So now center right that doesn't need farmers can freely say "Full support for Ukraine!" and win those few percent more that they need in the polls.


In other words don't forget that we are talking about Eastern Europe here. Which is still the land of political intrigues, nationalism, genocide, mass destruction, backstabbing, ... etc. I am saying this just in case you didn't notice that from the media.

 

[Virtual ghost]