Thug Putin’s War on Ukraine is being undermined by his own army of conscript soldiers.

These young men, forced to participate in the War of Aggression are taking a heroic stand and telling Thug Putin, “We don’t want your War.”

These soldiers want to live their lives in PEACE and not be a part of Putin’s unhinged crusade.

New York Times 3.1.2022

WASHINGTON — Plagued by poor morale as well as fuel and food shortages, some Russian troops in Ukraine have surrendered en masse or sabotaged their own vehicles to avoid fighting, a senior Pentagon official said on Tuesday.

Taken together, these factors may help explain why Russian forces, including an ominous 40-mile convoy of tanks and armored vehicles near Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, have come to a near crawl in the past day or two, U.S. officials said.

Some entire Russian units have laid down their arms without a fight after confronting surprisingly stiff Ukrainian defense, the official said. A significant number of the Russian troops are young conscripts who are poorly trained and ill-prepared for the all-out assault. And in some cases, Russian troops have deliberately punched holes in their vehicles’ gas tanks, presumably to avoid combat, the official said.

The Pentagon official declined to say how the military made these assessments — presumably a mosaic of intelligence including statements from captured Russian soldiers and communications intercepts — or how widespread these setbacks may be across the sprawling battlefield.

Besides dealing with shortages of fuel, food and spare parts, the Pentagon official said, Russian commanders leading that armored column toward Kyiv may also be “regrouping and rethinking” their battle plans, making adjustments on the fly to gain momentum for what U.S. intelligence and military officials say is an inevitable push in the next several days to encircle and ultimately capture the capital.

“They have a lot of power available to them,” said the Pentagon official, adding that 80 percent of the more than 150,000 Russian troops amassed on Ukraine’s borders have now joined the fight.

But U.S. analysts have been struck by the “risk-averse behavior” of such a large force, the Pentagon official said. Russia launched an amphibious landing to seize Mariupol, a pivotal port city on the Sea of Azov, but landed forces around 40 miles from the city. That allowed the Russians extra time and space to mount an invasion, but also gave the city’s defenders time to prepare.

Russia’s vaunted air force has yet to gain air superiority over Ukraine, with Russian warplanes thwarted by Ukrainian fighter jets and a surprisingly resilient and potent array of air defenses, from shoulder-fired Stinger antiaircraft missiles to much larger surface-to-air weapons, the Pentagon official said.

 

The World may be decrying and imposing sanctions against Thug Putin and his warmongering in Ukraine.  The reality is that the world’s insatiable appetite for oil and gas does not stop even as the Russian people are feeling the pain caused by Thug Putin’s War of Aggression.

Excerpted from Daily Mail U.K 3.1.2022

Vladimir Putin’s grip on the world’s oil and gas taps means that Europe and the US are still buying almost $1billion-a-day from Russia. The UK also imports smaller amounts from Russia.

It was revealed the West is still paying Russia more than $1billion-a-day for oil and gas that Putin can use to subsidise his $15billion-a-day invasion of Ukraine as his troops remain bogged down after hitting fierce resistance from Volodymyr Zelensky’s heroes.

Putin today moved to block foreign companies pulling out of Russia and trap their cash to prop up their imploding war economy after BP and Shell pledged to sell up £15billion ($20bn) of joint ventures following the invasion of Ukraine.

Mishutin has told a governmental meeting in Moscow that Russia will impose temporary curbs on foreign investors seeking to exit Russian assets to ensure they take a ‘considered decision not one driven by political pressure’. But Mishustin did not provide details about how it would be imposed, as Shell told MailOnline their plans to sever ties with Russia will continue as planned. BP is yet to comment.

The Russian PM said: ‘In the current sanction situation foreign entrepreneurs are forced to be guided, not by economic factors, but to make decisions under political pressure. In order to give business a chance to make a considered decision, a presidential order was prepared to impose temporary curbs on exit from Russian assets’.

Last night Shell said it will ditch its work with Gazprom and pull out of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Western powers reel from President Putin’s warmongering in Eastern Europe. Shell is said to have offered £600m of finance for the project.

Shell warned that it could take a £2.2billion hit as it laid out a plan to exit a series of projects. These include its 27.5pc stake in Sakhalin 2 – a flagship facility in the Russian Far East that is majority-owned by Gazprom and produces around 4pc of the world’s liquefied natural gas.

Shell did not announce who they would sell their stakes to. Shell isn’t quitting Russia altogether, however. It has a network of around 400 petrol stations and a lubricants business in the country which it said it intends to keep. 

Shell’s announcement came a day after BP said that it was cutting ties with Kremlin-backed oil company Rosneft, valued at around £13billion last year. BP is now looking to offload its 19.75pc stake in Rosneft and current boss Bernard Looney has stepped down from the board.

ALL IS NOT GOOD FOR THUG PUTIN AT HOME

However, despite the huge daily cash injection from the West, the Kremlin is facing unprecedented liquidity problems. Its central bank, which raised interest rates to 20% yesterday, is expected to turn to its ally China to try to sell off Chinese assets worth up to $77billion back to Beijing. Britain, the EU and the US will be watching to see just how far President Xi is willing to support Putin and his war.

In a sign the Russian people are paying the price for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the country’s currency dropped 30 per cent against the US dollar. It has stabilised this morning after hitting rock bottom yesterday.

And after days of turmoil on financial markets, regulators in Russia refused to open the Moscow stock exchange, while long queues formed outside banks as panicked families tried to withdraw cash.

A Moscovite called Anton said: ‘There are no dollars, no roubles – nothing. Well, there are roubles but I am not interested in them. I don’t know what to do next. I am afraid we are turning into North Korea or Iran right now’.

One designer called Andrey told the BBC that rising interests rates mean he can’t pay his mortgage. He said: ‘If I could leave Russia right now, I would. But I can’t quit my job’.

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10563533/US-Europe-paying-Kremlin-1BILLION-DAY-oil-gas.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490

Lee Heidhues 2.28.2022

Thug Putin may not care what World political powers think as he presses on with his War of Aggression against Ukraine which has resulted in the deaths of thousands; Soldiers on both sides and countless civilians.

Thug Putin, who hosted the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, certainly cares about Sports and the World Cup in particular. Now the governing body of Fifa has suspended Thug Putin’s Russia from all Fifa and European football tournaments until further notice.

The European football federation has also taken an important economic step hitting Thug Putin where it hurts. His bank account.

The Federation (Uefa) ended it relationship with the Russian energy company Gazprom and moved the final of the 2022 tournament form St. Petersburg to Paris.

These are important steps  that convey a message to Thug Putin that his unilateral War of Aggression against Ukraine will cause Russia a lot of  grief and pain both culturally and economically.

• Russia had been due to face Poland in World Cup play-off
• Women’s side set to miss out on place at Euro 2022
• Uefa ends sponsorship deal with Gazprom

Excerpted from The Guardian 2.28.2022

Fifa and Uefa have acted in unison to suspend Russian teams from international football competition on Monday as global sport closed the door on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The most powerful bodies in football joined the International Olympic Committee in acting after days of growing protest. The suspension means Russia will not be able to face Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final next month, while its women’s team will also be barred from this summer’s European Championship in England and its remaining club side in European competition, Spartak Moscow, will no longer compete in the Europa League.

Uefa also announced a second highly significant move, confirming that it had cancelled a long-standing and highly lucrative sponsorship deal with Gazprom. The Russian gas company had been a sponsor of the Champions League for a decade and the final of this year’s competition was to have been played in the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg.

Last week Uefa moved the match to Paris, however, and has now severed the relationship entirely. “Uefa has today decided to end its partnership with Gazprom across all competitions,” a statement said. “The decision is effective immediately and covers all existing agreements including the Uefa Champions League, Uefa national team competitions and Uefa Euro 2024.”

In a joint statement the two organisations said: “Fifa and Uefa have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both Fifa and Uefa competitions until further notice.

“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the Fifa Council and the Executive Committee of Uefa, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters. Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/28/fifa-and-uefa-suspend-russian-clubs-and-teams-from-world-cup-and-all-competitions

Lee Heidhues 2.27.2022

Ominously, Vladimir Putin has put Russia’ vast nuclear arsenal, ON ALERT.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russians have 5977 nuclear weapons deployed across the Triad system, bombers, land based and submarine based missiles. 90% of targets for these weapons lie within the United States, though retargeting can be accomplished.

Gustav Holst wrote his classic Symphony The Planets between 1914-1917 during World War I. The opening piece of The Planets is ‘Mars. The Bringer of War’.

World War I – A catacylsmic war which began after the June 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in what is now the political, financial, social and cultural center of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

World War I began later that year and lasted from 1914 until late 1918.

World War I resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths throughout Europe.

A War into which the United States entered in 1917. World War I resulted in the overthrow of the Czarist regime, ushered in the Bolshevik government in Russia and laid the groundwork for the Nazis who took power in Germany in 1933.

Today in The Ukraine we are witnessing this horrific cycle of violence being played out, again. Russian strongman Vladimir Putin is claiming with no evidence whatsoever that Ukraine is a Nazi State and his goal is “de-Nazification.”

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 2.27.2022

Since the first tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine early on February 24, 2022, Russia has intensified its attacks across Ukraine. Explosions and shellings have been reported in several major cities, including the capital Kyiv. The city of three million people has suffered significant damage but has so far managed to hold off Russian advancements.

This map shows the locations of verified attacks in Kyiv over the past three days and territory that has come under Russian control..

Russian attacks on Kyiv on February 25, 26 and 27, 2022

Russia’s military power is superior to Ukraine’s in virtually every way — on land, at sea and in the air.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday signed a decree on the general mobilization of the population. Conscripts and reservists will be called up over the next 90 days to “ensure the defense of the state, maintaining combat and mobilization readiness.” All men between the age of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country. Meanwhile,Germany reversed its position on sending weapons to Ukraine.

Russia outnumbers Ukraine in personnel, equipment and weapons

Shortly after the attacks began, traffic jams started forming on arterial roads leading towards Ukraine’s western neighbors. People were leaving Ukrainian cities in droves. According to media reports, more than 100,000 people have already packed their bags and left their homes, thousands more have fled abroad. Their only option is overland, heading west and south-west. Germany is also preparing for an influx of Ukrainian refugees.

https://www.dw.com/en/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-in-5-graphics/a-60909241

Lee Heidhues 2.26.2022

The Russian people and outraged citizens around the World are taking to the streets in the face of brutal war, intimidation and harassment by Putin’s State machinery.

People are outraged and ‘everybody is scared’ is the common thought as Thug Putin continues his war of aggression against Ukrraine. The World has witnessed nothing like this since the end of World War II in 1945.

Vladimir Putin, the ex-KGB agent, wants to turn back the clock and  subjugate countries on the periphery of Russia to the Cold War totalitarian system.

What has changed that in today’s 24/7 news cycle people can witness events for themselves and take action to stop the wanton death and destruction this unhinged Dictator is foisting upon the Ukraine.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 2.26.2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked a host of anti-war demonstrations in cities around the world on Saturday.

Thousands of people gathered in London, Sydney, Geneva, Frankfurt, Berlin, Athens, Helsinki and other cities, with many demonstrators carrying the Ukrainian colors and banners denouncing Russia’s invasion.

There were thousands of people in the German city of Frankfurt on Saturday with a rally organized by the co-ruling Green Party under the slogan, “Solidarity with Ukraine — Peace in Eastern Europe.”

There have also been growing calls within Russia to bring a halt to the ongoing invasion.

A petition signed by hundreds of Russian medical professionals stated opposition to the actions in Ukraine.

“We, Russian doctors, nurses and paramedics, are decidedly against the attacks conducted by Russian troops on Ukrainian territory,” the petition with more than 300 signatures stated.

Humanitarian groups have also spoken out, writing an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling on him to bring an end to the fighting, saying: “War is a humanitarian catastrophe that leads to pain and suffering… We consider violent solutions to political conflicts inhumane and call upon you to cease fire and begin negotiations.”

Russian authorities have clamped down on dissent and have arrested more than 2,000 people at demonstrations staged in the days following the invasion.

Many of those attending rallies have been calling for their governments to take tougher action against Russia, while expressing support for the people of Ukraine. The demonstrations follow similar protests seen around the world, including in Russia, since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

In Switzerland, organizers said around 20,000 people flooded the streets of the capital of Bern.

In Geneva, hundreds gathered outside the headquarters of the United Nations with posters reading: “Say no to Putin.”

In London, hundreds marched on the Russian embassy and smeared fake blood at the front of the embassy.

“You look at the people gathered here and everybody is scared… We had peace for 80 years and all of a sudden, war is back in Europe,” said a protester among a gathering of around 2,500 in Munich’s Karlsplatz square.

There have also been protests in India, where anger has been directed at NATO and Western powers.

“The kind of aggression we are witnessing in Ukraine has been forced by the US through NATO and also the Russian military forces who have entered Ukraine. Both are responsible for this situation,” said a student activist at a protest in New Delhi.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted about a large protest in Estonia, saying: “The largest demonstration in the modern history of Estonia took place in support of Ukraine. I am grateful to the Estonian people for their solidarity in these difficult times.”

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-anti-war-protests-take-place-around-the-world/a-60930141

Every Picture Tells a Story – San Francisco Fire Department edition

Lee Heidhues – 2.24.2022

Walking Jack this afternoon I came upon the scene of several pieces of fire equipment by our neighborhood school, Lafayette.

A firefighter was up on the roof of the school and his comrades were standing by.

The Captain told me a Hot Plate had set off the fire alarms and the Fire Department responded immediately. Everything was fine. It’s reassuring to know that in this City of 850,000 people crammed into 50 sq. miles we have such a dedicated group of fire fighters with the best equipment.

MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia declared the start of a “special military operation” against Ukraine pledging he would seek to demilitarize but not occupy the country, addressing the nation in a televised speech broadcast just before 6 a.m. local time.

Mr. Putin said the operation would aim for the “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” referring to the Kremlin’s contention that Ukraine’s military threatens Russia and that it is run by neo-Nazis.

As he spoke, large explosions were heard and seen in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other parts of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said that rockets hit fighter jets at an airport near Kyiv and that Russian troops had crossed the border in Kharkiv and Odessa.

“The purpose of Russia’s offensive military operation is to destroy the Ukrainian state, seize Ukrainian territory by force, and establish occupation control,” Georgiy Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs, said in a statement. “Russian troops are attacking peaceful Ukrainian cities from various directions.”

President Biden said in a statement the world would “hold Russia accountable” for what he cvalled a “unprovoked and unjustified attack.”

In his televised speech, Mr. Putin said he was acting after receiving a plea for assistance from the leaders of the Russian-backed separatist territories formed in eastern Ukraine in 2014. He said Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine.

“I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation,” Mr. Putin said. “Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as taking to court those who carried out multiple bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.”

Mr. Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to immediately lay down their arms.

“All service members of the Ukrainian army who follow these demands will be able to leave the battle zone,” he said. He also offered what appeared to be a warning to other countries, such as the United States, that have supported Ukraine.

“Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history,” Mr. Putin said. “We are ready for any turn of events.”

Mr. Putin cast his operation both as an attack on “Nazis” in Ukraine, as well as rejection of the American-led world order. Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO, he said, represented a dire threat to Russia. He evoked the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 and the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 to make it clear that he viewed the West as morally bankrupt.

“For 30 years, we deliberately and patiently tried to reach agreement with the NATO countries on equal and indivisible security in Europe,” Mr. Putin said.

But Russia was met, he said, with “cynical lies” and “blackmail” on the part of the West.

“Where is the justice and truth?” Mr. Putin asked. “There is only pure lies and hypocrisy.”

The American-led West, he said, represented an “empire of lies.”

In his statement, President Biden sought to place responsibility squarely on Mr. Putin’s shoulders.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Mr. Biden said. “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.”

In his speech, Mr. Putin went on to address the Russian people, arguing that they were on the right side of history.

“You and I know that our strength lies in fairness and truth, which is on our side,” Mr. Putin said. “And if this is so, then it is hard not to agree that it is strength and readiness to fight that are the foundation for independence and sovereignty.”

As he spoke, the U.N. Security Council met in New York in a last-ditch attempt to avert war. Several ambassadors among the NATO allies, including the U.S. representative, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called on Russia to pull back and return to the negotiating table.

“Back away from the brink before it is too late,” Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said.

Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.

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Lee Heidhues 2.23.2022

 People are destined make a profit in times of conflict. Call them profiteers or shrewd business people. Whatever the description there will be those who gain through human suffering.

Wall Street has cast a keen eye on the global energy markets while Russia struts the World stage in its moves against Ukraine.

Most prominent in the news is the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline running from Russia, under the Baltic Sea into Germany. Certification of the project has been halted by the German government. The Americans have imposed sanctions against Nord Stream 2.

This and other sanction actions are already impacting the global economy. Still, there will be those whose bottom line will be enhanced irrespective of any sanctions.

Excerpted from InvestorPlace 2.23.2022

President Joe Biden has confirmed that we have seen the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The eyes of the world remain on the small nation as Western economic powers levy sanctions against its much larger aggressor. The ramifications of the conflict are significant for both countries. Financial markets across the globe, too, are feeling the sting.

While many stocks are being pushed down, the oil and gas sector is enjoying a ride to the top. Crude oil prices are nearing $100 per barrel, pushing up many oil stocks. These prices haven’t reached triple digits since 2014.

Russia is one of the world’s largest oil and gas exporters. For the countries that rely on its supplies, these sanctions could mean trouble. As the Washington Post reports, much of Europe is dependent on Russian exports for heating homes and industrial buildings. Ryan Fitzmaurice, a commodity strategist at Rabobank recently speculated that further disruptions in Russia’s oil supply chain could indeed send prices up even further.

The Post also notes, though, that many analysts do not foresee significant disruptions in the oil supply chain. For an economy like Russia’s to simply shut down its extensive oil and gas operations would pose a significant expense. At this point, it is impossible to predict how Russia will react to these sanctions.

For as long as prices continue to rise, though, oil stocks will continue to benefit. Let’s take a closer look at the oil stocks to buy as the conflict persists.

• ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
• Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN)
• Enbridge (NYSE:ENB)

 ConocoPhillips (COP)

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

One of America’s leading oil and gas producers, ConocoPhillips has already been hailed among the potential winners of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Based on production and proved reserves, it bills itself as the world’s largest independent exploration and production (E&P) company. Its holdings expand across 14 countries, encompassing much of Europe and parts of the Middle East. As InvestorPlace contributor Josh Enomoto describes, ConocoPhillips is “one of the biggest oil stocks levered to the upstream component of the energy supply chain.”

Devon Energy (DVN)

Source: Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock.com

Another consistent winner of the American oil boom, DVN has enjoyed a better season so far than many of its larger peers such as COP and Chevron (NYSE:CVX). The Oklahoma-based company is primarily focused on the hydrocarbon exploration business. It has enjoyed bullish action since its reported earnings for the fourth quarter beat analyst expectations.

As InvestorPlace contributor Joel Baglole recently reported, this impressive start to the year saw several Wall Street institutions raise their price targets on DVN stock including Credit Suisse.  “With proven oil reserves of 752 million barrels, Devon Energy is well-positioned to perform strongly,” Baglole wrote.

 Enbridge (ENB)

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Earlier this month, MarketWatch reported that analysts were favoring Canadian oil producers. One name that stands out among the country’s growing field is Enbridge.

Based in Calgary, this company has carved out an impressive market share. In addition to its pipelines, Enbridge also boasts operations in natural gas utility operations. What some may not know, though, is that the company is responsible for transporting more than one-quarter of North America’s crude oil production. This means it moves more than 30% of the continent’s crude oil and as well as almost 20% of the United States’ natural gas. Enbridge is also interested in renewable energy, and its assets include a wind portfolio.

3 Oil Stocks to Buy as Russia-Ukraine Fears Ignite Oil Prices

One of the first substantive reactions to the Russian incursion into the eastern Ukraine is the status of the long controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.  

The German government has announced it is halting certification of Nord Stream 2 which will bring natural gas from under the Baltic Sea to Germany. The Russians appear to be dismissive of this action. Time will tell how it impacts the Russian economy and the availability of natural gas to European energy consumers.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 2.22.2022

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that Germany has taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

Russian news agency Interfax cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Moscow regrets Germany’s suspension of the Nord Stream 2 certification. Interfax quoted Peskov as saying that the Kremlin hoped the delay was temporary.

Russia’s former president and deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said the decision would come at a cost to Europeans. 

“Oh well. Welcome to a new world where Europeans will soon be paying 2000 euros per cubic meter of gas!” Medvedev tweeted. 

Scholz told reporters in Berlin that his government was taking the measure in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Reinhard Bütikofer, a foreign policy expert with the Green Party and a member of the European Parliament, called the move a clear “turning point” in Germany’s relationship with Russia.

“I do still hope that other countries will take an example from the decision that Berlin has just taken,” he told DW.  “Germany is now willing to effectively reduce our gas dependency on Russia, and that’s a momentous change,”  Bütikofer said.

The White House has welcomed Scholz’s announcement and said it would be following up with measures of its own.

The German chancellor labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine “unjustified and incomprehensible.”

“Now it is down to the international community to respond to this unilateral, unjustified and incomprehensible action taken by the Russian president. We need to coordinate our approach … in order to send a clear signal to Moscow that activities of this kind cannot remain without consequences.”

Construction of the pipeline project has been completed, but the project still needed regulatory certification from German authorities before the gas could be delivered.

The pipeline has been a source of contention with the US, which has expressed concern that it increases European dependence on Russia for its energy needs.

Earlier this month US President Joe Biden said there would be no chance of the project going ahead if Russian tanks and troops crossed the Ukraine border.

Nord Stream 2 would double the amount of gas flowing from Russia to Germany and would bypass Ukraine, owing to it running along the bed of the Baltic Sea.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the US had been in close consultation with Germany and welcomed the move.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord_Stream

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-crisis-germany-halts-nord-stream-2-approval/a-60867443

The average American is being treated to a diet of press releases and Washington talking heads being trotted out to spin the predictable anti-Russia version of events in Ukraine.

It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fiction.  What I know is that America has promoted a staunch anti-Communist (translate Russia and China) policy during my entire lifetime.

To gain some perspective I read People’s World. I am unsure what’s the reality. But, at least I can avail myself of the view from the other side and judge for myself.

It’s a dangerous situation and no government can absolve itself of responsibility for this brewing international crisis. It must be resolved. Now.

Excerpted from People’s World 2.10.2022

After U.S. credibility was strained again Thursday by yet another declaration coming from President Joe Biden that he expects a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the next few days, Secretary of State Antony Blinken rushed to the U.N. to assure the Security Council that “I am here today not to start a war but to prevent one.” He followed his declaration with a string of provocative remarks and claims that Russia is on the verge of invading Ukraine. Russia insisted, once again, that it has no such plans.

In Moscow, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry told the press that she hoped the U.S. would make up its mind soon about the day Russia will invade because the shifting predictions have forced her to repeatedly give up plans to take time off work. She issued a “request…for the schedule of our ‘invasions’ for the coming year,” in a jab at the Western powers and corporate media. “I’d like to plan my vacation,” she said.

Some in the U.S. intelligence community, noticing that their predicted Feb. 16 invasion failed to materialize, are now circulating Feb. 20 as the new date on which the world can expect the invasion to begin.

The real war danger, however, has dangerously increased as the result of several moves by the U.S., not Russia, in the last two days.

The increased tension in the east is precisely what can be expected from the hyperbole and fear-mongering by the Biden administration, especially when it is coupled with massive arms shipments to Ukraine, which have been funneled to the Ukrainian Army stationed in the east. As the tension predictably increases, the Biden administration has tried to characterize the outbreak of fighting as “false flag operations” by the Russians, moves intended to justify an invasion.

All of this happened Thursday after the Russians announced several additional troop reductions from the areas along the Ukraine border. The U.S. claims the Russians have not reduced the placements of troops along Ukraine’s borders.

U.S. diplomats, in an example of analytical nonsense, are saying Russia is trying to overturn “30 years of peace” in Europe allegedly brought about by NATO. The claims are absurd enough on their face when we see the war danger unfolding over Ukraine but are clearly even more absurd when we go back a bit in history.

After World War II, there began a period of almost 50 years of peace in Europe resulting from the presence of the Soviet Union and a bloc of socialist countries in Eastern Europe. The continent, in its entire history, had never experienced a half-century of peace before that.

Once the Soviet Union was dismantled and the socialist countries disappeared, NATO filled the vacuum. Conflicts and wars, beginning with fratricide and genocide in Yugoslavia, began and continued up until what we see developing today.

U.S. diplomats also point to Crimea and Georgia to claim that “Russia is trying to do the same thing today in Ukraine.”

War danger rises after continued U.S. fearmongering on Ukraine