Dmitry Medvedev's Speech On Russia's Strategic Borders
One may not like Russia or even feel hostile towards its current policies and leadership.
But that should not hinder one to recognize and acknowledge how Russia is seeing itself and it defines its own role in the wider world.
The former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev is currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia recently spoke about multiple definitions of borders.
Medvedev has lately become a bit of the bad guy who spits the harsh truth with the good guy being Russia's President Vladimir Putin who is using less vitriolic language. But if one removes the rhetoric chaff the concepts espoused by both in various speeches are quite similar and should be seen as the basis of Russia's policies.
The Russian magazine Expert reproduced an edited version (in Russian) of Medvedev's speech (machine translation):
Dmitry Medvedev: "Russia, like any great power, has strategic borders far beyond geographical ones"
The speech presents a Russian view on the border concept along six theses.
Below are some excerpts which I believe deserve a further discussion:
First. We don't need someone else's land. We will never give up on our own. So it was and so it will be. This is the principle that governs our state border policy.
...
The authors of various geopolitical theories of various countries (from China to Europe and America) proceed from one obvious thesis. Any state as a sovereign subject of international relations has two types of borders — geographical and strategic.The former are stable and officially recognized in accordance with international law demarcation and delimitation lines that fix the geographical limits of the State. This is one of the main elements of its political and territorial framework.
...
[The later] borders are not limited to the physical size of countries, their airspace and territorial waters. They are not directly related to State sovereignty. The strategic boundaries of a state directly depend on how far its political power extends. The more powerful a state is, the further its strategic frontiers are located outside its state borders. And all the more extensive is the strategic space that such a country exerts economic, political, socio-cultural influence on. This is the zone of the so-called national interests of the state. Although strategic borders and national interests are not the same concepts.In return, the powerful powers that set the tone in world relations offered their wards military and political protection. Weak states or, even worse, those that reached the end of their glory and power became puppet or vassal states for their patrons, or, as they later began to say, "friendly" nations (the same thing, but less offensive).
The strategic borders of states, or spheres of influence, do not create a reason for physical extension. They come at several levels:
Second. The presence of strategic borders outside their own territory today does not mean that strong and responsible countries intend to go to war with their neighbors and redraw the political map. This is the difference between our time and previous centuries, when borders were subject to constant fluctuations and could be challenged at any time.
...
In general, Russia, like any great Power, has strategic borders far beyond geographical ones. And they are based not on military force or financial injections, but on a much more solid, almost unshakable basis.The third. There are several levels of Russian strategic borders.
The first level is limited to the natural landscape (the Carpathians, the Iranian Highlands, the Caucasus Mountains, the Pamirs). And civilizational frontiers-it is clear that a number of our neighbors, for historical reasons, are illogical to include in the Russian ecumene.
...
The key point is that we have no territorial disputes with the countries included in this belt. In the years that have passed since the collapse of the USSR, we have maintained profitable trade cooperation and comfortable interpersonal communication.
...
If we talk about our second-level strategic borders, they cover the space that is commonly called Greater Eurasia. That is why Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward the initiative to create a Large Eurasian Partnership. This is the key integration path on our continent. Its essence is to unite the potentials of all states and regional organizations of Eurasia as widely as possible.
...
And about the highest level of our strategic borders. Russia's global interests in the world are quite understandable and natural. They have not changed in recent decades. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, our country is a great world power. And it will continue to show healthy, appropriate care for those who need help. This is evident in the traditionally strong relations with African countries and Latin America.
Russia sees Ukraine as being inside of Russia's innermost strategic border:
Fourth. In the case of the so — called "Ukraine" (or rather, with Little Russia), all our opponents need to firmly and forever understand the simple truth. Territories on both banks of the Dnieper River are an integral part of Russia's strategic historical borders. Therefore, all attempts to forcibly change them, to cut them off "alive" — are doomed.Our enemies constantly insist that the main goal of Russia is to "seize" Ukrainian lands, some "untold treasures of Independence": wheat, steel, gas, coal. But in fact, it turns out that there is nothing so special in Bandera's "Ukraine" in terms of the economy that Russia — unlike the West — would not have itself and in much more serious volumes.
In "Ukraine", the main wealth for us is of a completely different kind. The great value that we will not give up to anyone and for nothing is people. Close to us and relatives. ...
Fifth. There is one contrasting difference between the approaches of Russia and the "collective West" (mainly the United States). America and its satellites are trying to extend their strategic borders to almost all regions of the world. Under the pretext of "spreading democracy", wars are being fomented all over the planet. The goal is quite transparent-money making.
...
Knowing full well where our strategic borders extend, the West spat on the century-old foundations and organized a geopolitical intervention first in Georgia, and then to Ukraine. We observe similar attempts in Moldova and in the countries of Central Asia. Fortunately, the authorities of the Central Asian states show restraint and wisdom. In their desire for prosperity for their peoples, they focus on their neighbors in Greater Eurasia, rather than on an obese and dependent Europe.
The conflict comes to a conclusion:
Sixth. For the West, the conflict over Ukraine has now turned into a confrontation between two civilizations. Our, all-Russian or Russian (the core of which is the territory of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine), and western.
Directly, our opponents are afraid to go against us. Although recently Western madmen from politics and the military have been increasing their pressure (just recall the conversation of Bundeswehr officers — and how much of this has not been published), however, Washington-Brussels puppet masters prefer to play the war using their puppets.
...
On the margins of propaganda battles, our enemies deliberately resort to shameless substitution of concepts. The West's seizure of "Ukraine" is called "liberation from the Russian dictatorship." And planting and supporting a bastard neo-Nazi regime created by a comedy series actor is "supporting democracy and freedom." Conversely, our efforts to preserve the common Russian space are described as Russian "intervention" and "occupation."All normal people have long understood that this is a lie. Healthy political forces in the world are also gradually becoming aware of the true state of affairs.
For any reasonable person who is not infected with Russophobia and is not fooled by Anglo-Saxon propaganda, the conclusions are obvious.
- There is a harsh reality that Western countries will inevitably have to accept. [...] Time is playing against the so-called "golden billion" today.
- The strategic borders of states that do not depend on the Anglo-Saxons will become wider and stronger. [...]
- We strive to make the space defined by our strategic borders a zone of mutual understanding and constructive cooperation. [...]
- The current neo-Nazi "Ukraine" is a battering ram against Russia, which is used to aggressively push through Western ideological principles in the all-Russian historical space. Another attempt to realize the centuries-old dreams of the West to throw our country into the borders of the Moscow Principality. The goal is obviously unattainable. [...]
- We will certainly bring the special military operation to its logical conclusion. Until the final victory. Before the neo-Nazi capitulation. Sad senile people from Washington and Brussels are afraid: if, they say, the Russians gain the upper hand, then after Ukraine they will go further — to Europe and even overseas. You won't know what's more in these delusions: the habit of shameless lies or senile dementia. But in reality, everything is simple: we do not need the territories of Poland, the Baltic States or other European countries. But the people who live there, who are one with us, are not allowed to be harassed by anyone.
- Russia's inevitable victory will also create a new architecture of Eurasian and international security. It should be reflected in new interstate documents that will "concretize" these realities. This includes observing international rules of decency with all countries, paying close attention to their history and existing strategic borders. The Western world must finally learn a simple lesson and learn to respect our national interests.
But will the Western world learn the lesson?
Or what can/will it do to avoid learning it?
Posted by b on April 17, 2024 at 8:40 UTC | Permalink
The Western world must finally learn a simple lesson and learn to respect our national interests.But will the Western world learn the lesson?
Or what can/will it do to avoid learning it?
Firstly, as Putin has said, there are no hostile nations, only hostile elites. The usury elite are psychopaths. They do not respect anything or anyone, not even God. They cannot learn, they must be utterly defeated and shorn of all wealth and power. Until that happens, they will continue warmongering for profit in service of their death cult.
Posted by: Drifter | Apr 17 2024 8:58 utc | 2
If I were the West, I would tense up, is it worth overthrowing Putin.
Posted by: Old Sovietologist | Apr 17 2024 8:59 utc | 3
"You won't know what's more in these delusions: the habit of shameless lies or senile dementia."
He got that right. A bit of both i say.
Posted by: KingCobra | Apr 17 2024 9:00 utc | 4
"But will the Western world learn the lesson?
Or what can/will it do to avoid learning it?"
"There is a harsh reality that Western countries will inevitably have to accept. [...] Time is playing against the so-called "golden billion" today."
The answer? Economic and social defeat.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2024 9:13 utc | 5
Thanks b, hope you slow. Don't want you burning out like The Saker.
I like this bit:
We will certainly bring the special military operation to its logical conclusion. Until the final victory.
Quite a few commentators are saying that Iran's display signifies a seismic shift in military powess from the West to the East.
What Iran can do, North Korea, China and Russia can do better.
My humble guess is the West will backdown and play nice, while scheming behind the scene.
It's the economic fallout that needs to be addressed first, then military industrialisation, conscription etc.
Hopefully I'll be long gone by then.
Cheers
Posted by: Suresh | Apr 17 2024 9:14 utc | 6
Preaching to the converted? That is all.
I cannot imagine anyone in the western sphere bothering at all with this commentary, nor giving any such notions any credence at all.
Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Apr 17 2024 9:15 utc | 7
Russia's inevitable victory will also create a new architecture of Eurasian and international security. It should be reflected in new interstate documents that will "concretize" these realities. This includes observing international rules of decency with all countries, paying close attention to their history and existing strategic borders. The Western world must finally learn a simple lesson and learn to respect our national interests.
Posted by b on April 17, 2024 at 8:40 UTC
This point, along with Mr. Medvedev’s references to “strategic borders” brought to mind the December 2021 draft European security treat published by Russia. To me he is obliquely reminding the West that this document hasn’t gone away and will need to be incorporated to Russia’s satisfaction in any long-term comprehensive settlement.
The West will of course ignore this completely; instead it will scratch its head in increasing puzzlement and dismay as it watches the wheels fall off, one by one, its hegemonic agenda.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:26 utc | 8
sad thing is, the west does not care.
nato is in full genocide mode against the slavs. nazis never forgave them for resisting, and nato only continiues this tradition.
in serbia, they keep the slow burn going via kosovo and the refusal to implement un resolution 1244. (the same way they did minsk. sign, refuse to implement, and then accuse the other side of breaching it)
in ukraine, they push the slavs to be killed, but russia refuses to do the full genocide like in gaza that the west so endorses, so they will keep pushing and pushing and pushing.
and in russia, they kill civilians on a daily basis.
and dont forget the hundredfold increase in cancer rate in serbia after natos use of "completely safe" du munitions.
we should start calling a spade a spade. nato endorses genocide. it may not be as quick as the israelis are doing it in gaza, but its one.
the people in the west should go out in the streets, but they rather sit in their chars. "hey, its not us". until it is.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Apr 17 2024 9:30 utc | 10
Posted by: Justpassinby | Apr 17 2024 9:30 utc | 10
Speaking of "genocide", guess who have been busy "preventing" it:
An estimated one million (or more) Uyghurs live in state-run internment camps and are subjected to forced labor and sterilizations — a situation that was labeled “genocide” by the State Department in 2021. This unsettling reminiscence propelled Elisha Wiesel, the chairman of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, to deeper inquiry. This has culminated in “Disrupting Uyghur Genocide,” a two-day conference at the 92nd Street Y in New York, which begins today. (NYT)
Posted by: Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 9:33 utc | 11
"the habit of shameless lies"
This. The crux of the western worldview.
Posted by: Winston, journalist | Apr 17 2024 9:36 utc | 12
Too bad for Russia and everyone else. All your bases are belongs to US.
Posted by: Surferket | Apr 17 2024 9:38 utc | 13
An ex British FO diplomat.
Can't remember his name right now.
Had a simple bit of advice for dealing with Russia diplomats their government.
Read their speeches.
Read their essays.
Why's it that isn't being done?
Degree mill graduates with the attention span of a soundbite?
Or total arrogance and hubris.
"The Russkies don't get it.
An we're going to show them their place in the world"
Times a changing!
Posted by: jpc | Apr 17 2024 9:40 utc | 14
"One may not like Russia or even feel hostile towards its current policies and leadership.
But that should not hinder one to recognize and acknowledge how Russia is seeing itself and it defines its own role in the wider world."
It's a pity that the proud fools in Kiev and NATO don't want to listen to this. The result is war. These same fools continue to call Putin the aggressor...
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 17 2024 9:43 utc | 15
Posted by: Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 9:33 utc | 11
Hmm, it seems that having exhausted the Aztecs as a credible distraction topic the 1st Battalion of Derailment Engineers are now trying to bring the Uyghurs into a thread about Dmitry Medvedev's Speech On Russia's Strategic Borders...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:46 utc | 16
Whenever I hear (or read) about Dimitri Medvedev, I'm reminded of the American expression : "he's all hat and no cattle".
I mean, such speeches are nice, of course. But it's a bit like Zakharova's screeds or Lavrov rants. Rambling, repetitive, heavily moralizing blurbs, which do not say anything new but are avidly lapped up by the faithful believers.
It's all nice and well to pontificate about strategic borders, that Russia considers Ukraine to be in its strategic sphere, and so on and so on... But the question is : Has Russia the means to back up its ambitions ? If not, these are just juvenile fantasies of war nerds. I mean it's a bit like discussing if Russia should claim the northern or the southern hemisphere of Mars or Saturn. It's an interesting debate, but in reality Russia does not have any practical means to claim a part of Mars. And that's the same for Ukraine, Russia simply has not demonstrated realistic capabilities to impose its will on Ukraine and its backers. And nobody among the 5D-crowd ever bothers to explain practically how they intend to extract the famous capitulation from Ukraine, or go to Odessa for example.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
If I were Putin's advisor I would suggest to him the following policy:
Russia donates all of the $300 billon in Russian assets that the Empire has frozen to repaying IMF debt of the Global South countries by pro rata populations ie the larger indebted countries would get more of the loot.
The Empire would never agree yet it would give more sympathy from the ROW to Russia and more derision for the Empire.
@jpc An ex British FO diplomat.
Can't remember his name right now.
Had a simple bit of advice for dealing with Russia diplomats their government.
Read their speeches.
Read their essays.
Why's it that isn't being done?
I believe that certain diplomats in the various foreign offices do read these speeches. Unfortunately their bosses are not interested in the conclusions that come from it.
The diplomat was Laurie Bristow as quoted by Patrick Armstrong
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
[...]
Has Russia the means to back up its ambitions ?
[...]
--------
Yes.
Incidentally your long winded screed is a perfect example for empire's delusions, ignorance and projection.
Where when Russia shows over and over again that it has the means and resolve to see things through up to kinzhaling nato stooges' buttholes, empire releases some articles about russians with shovels and sticks lacking the superioir mental state of the terminally deluded liberal believing the world is akin to harry potter where in the end the 'good side' wins.
Posted by: kspr | Apr 17 2024 10:03 utc | 21
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:46 utc | 16
Today's China is very open. If you can enter you don't need any special papers to travel straight to Xinjiang.
I guarantee you'll find it impossible to find these concentration camps but the millions of Uyghurs living in peace with other ethnic groups, without US incitement to terrorist acts. Domestic tourism is very big in Xinjiang.
I live in China.
Posted by: Surferket | Apr 17 2024 10:05 utc | 22
Has Russia the means to back up its ambitions ?
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
Questions can always be turned round. In this case it looks something like “Has the West the means to stop Russia achieving its aims?”. There will be a range of answers to this, from a hubris-blinded “Of course!” to a rather more granular analysis including F-35 mission availability, the in-theatre performance of Leopards, Challengers and Abrams or the Schroedinger-like “appearance” of the F-16s.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 10:05 utc | 23
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
Unlike you, they are stronger people and do not use Mars and Saturn in their speech. Sympathetic maximalism on your part.
Posted by: Виктор | Apr 17 2024 10:10 utc | 24
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
Umm, yes? Have you somehwat missed that little conflict in Ukraine, where Russia is proving over and over again that they are better equiped, better trained with better morale than the Western forces.
Posted by: Axxis34 | Apr 17 2024 10:16 utc | 25
The Western world will learn the lesson B ... with the help of violence as ever.
You told us yesterday about those "DUK" battalion recently dissolved and in my view, there might be an other reasons for the dissolution than the General 200 not loving those not ready to die for "our father bandera" (Did they know the lyrics of that song ?).
Let me explain ; the air in 404 reeks the coup right now. There are two possible scenarios for a coup : a genuine popular uprising for peace & coop with the Russians or a Maidan 3.0 full of "DUK" or right sector/svoboda wishing for strike the "pause button" for a "korean scenario", keeping the westerners in and the Russians out.
Hellensky feeling his death in Maidan 3.0 incoming was frantically sending the nationalist brigades on the worst places in the hell that is the front-line : Avdeevka , Kleeishivka , Chasov Yar etc .. The guys were like : nope ! And orders are right now incoming from above (Langley) to send all those guys home. How convenient.
They really want to keep a presence in 404 you know : for that they need some troopers to make any uprising a new Maidan. Not sure the Russians will cope with it but the usual neo-cons couldn't care less about what the Russians could think... let's see how this game plays ... /popcorn
Posted by: Savonarole | Apr 17 2024 10:17 utc | 26
Micron @ Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
As written by B in the intro, Medvedevs role is "bad cop" right now. What you call rambling and repetitive is logically structured speech the like of which is no longer heard in the west. As opposed to US presidents, Russian leaders still seem capable of coherent thought. If you are bothered by this it should give you cause for self reflection.
So what with your word "ambitions"? Was "imperialism" too much for you in the face of a speech that explicitly disavows such a concept?
All Russia is asking from the wider world is an ethnically defined historical core (yes, including parts of Ukraine) as well as strategic security and partnerships with surronding countries (without replacing or annexing them).
What is so hard to grasp about that? Is it easier to deny that strategic security is a concept? Easier to believe that the USA actually has security interests in Ukraine, Middle East and China?
Being aligned with China and Iran the BRICS world scares the bejeezus out of the West because the Heartland theory is coming to fruition, spelling decline for the US and Europe. Tell me who in the West doesn't feel that decline every day and isn't afraid of the consequences? Those who can't honestly face it resort to arrogance, bravado and seek to go out in a bang through total war.
If Article 5 were called today I would take bets it would look exactly like the support for Ukraine today. Lots of posturing, lackluster support and big brother USA suddenly realizing EU is no longer useful and not worth saving.
And yes, if you want to go there - look at a map. The Ukraine conflict was lost the moment it started because Ukraine is the underbelly of Russia and merely adjacent to Western Europe. Look at how the Ukraine conflict goes and tell me the West is winning. NATO couldn't stop Russia east of Berlin if they tried.
And that's the same for Ukraine, Russia simply has not demonstrated realistic capabilities to impose its will on Ukraine and its backers.
With Russia advancing westward and Ukraine going dark, morale sagging, lack of AD missiles, lack of ammo, lack of vehicles, lack of air superiority - how is Russia not imposing it's will? Give me a single metric that shows Ukraine can turn that tide?
Taking Odessa by force won't be necessary once UKR army falls apart. It may not take a march all the way to Kiev if UKR has to stop paying it's soldiers.
Posted by: SOS | Apr 17 2024 10:24 utc | 27
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:46 utc | 16
Very perceptive. But you are wrong about Aztecs having been exhausted. You just need to be granular.
Posted by: Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 10:36 utc | 28
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:46 utc | 16
You made me chuckle. But hey we have the Denisovans, Martians, Richard III, who wrote Shakespeare's plays and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin as additional discussion topics.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 17 2024 10:52 utc | 29
Nobody takes Medvedev seriously.
Russia must concentrate on ATACMS and how to prevent these attacks.
Russia must escalate on teh only field where it can escalate and that is destruction of energy system.
Posted by: vargas | Apr 17 2024 10:59 utc | 30
russia pulling their peacekeeping forces out of azerbaijan now. karabakh to be precise.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Apr 17 2024 11:14 utc | 32
often we read in UK press about Rusdian ships being threatening in international waters ...Russian planes being tjreatening in intetnatiohal airspace... both tequiring military responses.. at the moment investigation and claims of "seeing them off .. chasing them away .. making clear they are intruding...unwelcome.. could be the start of more military action" etc .. but they refer to "economic interests and space ...economic territory...spheres of interest ...and the like "...clearly illegal claims.
Posted by: Jo | Apr 17 2024 11:17 utc | 33
Posted by: SOS | Apr 17 2024 10:24 utc | 27
On yesterdays article on BMA, Alex implies that the US has all but abandoned Ukraine. They have agreed (behind the scene) that US and Russia will not fight a war over Ukraine. Hence, you see what 'admiral' Kirby, spokesman of the Pentagon said about not defending it like Israhell.
That doesn't mean they won't utilize all Ukrainians to the end. The occupation of western parts is intended to release the need for rear services and release rest of Ukrainians to Donbass.
The only intended objective of funding Ze-regime is to enable it to fund services which are related and necessary for enabling mobilization.
Consequentially, all arming and funding of Ukraine has fell on the EU. US has recognized the EU as becoming useless. US might even have schemes to try and send Europeans to Ukraine, and/or they would certainly like to see a European war, as well. But US wants Europeans to fight in Ukraine without article 5. US has told Macron to send troops to Odessa, which is the latest variation/attempt of this.
Victoria Nuland was cast off as representing the casting off the 'heavy anchor' US was tied to.
The talk of hitting the Crimea bridge with Taurus missiles, and Macron sending troops to Odessa are the latest attempts to involve Europe in Ukraine. These seem to have been fended off for now.
Alex says Nato is dead as a military organization as it has no intention to fight Russia. Nato remains as a political organization to cobble EU states together under 'western' or American leadership.
The main goal is to kill off as many Ukrainians to deny them as a resource to Russia.
Putin saying Odessa being a Russian city is a message to the west: Odessa will be a Russian city, or there will be no cities left at all.
US sees Europe as a lost cause and useless. So they have no inhibitions in attempts to throw Europeans against Russia, perhaps in Ukraine without triggering article 5.
https://bmanalysis.substack.com/p/prospects-for-world-war-3-i
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 17 2024 11:28 utc | 34
Well, end of the day, Russian or not, both Putin and Medvedev are still politicians, so what they say and what they do will always be up to interpretation and loosely related to the truth.
Bearing in mind their December 2021 proposed treaty for European security, where does the 'pre-1997 NATO borders' ambition fit in with all this in concrete terms?
Let's assume all things go Russia's way and one day they get their land bridge to Odesa and Transnistria. NATO will not back off. In some form or another, the same power and influence competition will continue to the next battleground or newly defined borders.
So, if you were Russia, would you not see Romania as the next piece of the puzzle to sort out in your favour? Romania would finally give Russia a land bridge to friendly Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia. A perfect way to counter the Northern front where NATO has now further penetrated further up to it borders with Sweden and Finland.
Why not counter that with pursuit of a southern corridor to the Balkans? Road and rail trade all the way to the Pacific and Caspian (+Indian via Iran) seas, land based military supply lines deep into Europe, plus the possibility of expanding on existing oil and gas pipelines in controlled/allied territory through to Austria, Italy and further West for anyone else who wants it, bypassing those problematic Ukraine/Poland/Baltic routes to the north.
Naturally i dont buy into all the overhyped Russian aggression baloney, but does anyone really think ambitions along those lines do not already feature into Russia's 'strategic border' plans? It would make perfect sense to me if i was in their place. At the very least, would it not be great leverage to try and exchange for the removal of NATO in the Baltic?
If only the Russians were as effective at color revolutions as they are at fighting attrition wars, they likely could save themselves a lot more trouble...
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 11:44 utc | 36
Posted by: Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 9:33 utc | 11
Amazing how the Uighur "genocide" turns up in trollery when a distraction is required. Of course the accounts all come from US-funded NGOs and the actual evidence is non-existent or comes from clearly biased sources like Falun Gong. https://thegrayzone.com/tag/uyghurs/. Oh, and Uighur population: In 1953 there were 3.6 million Uyghur in Xinjiang. In 2,000 there were 8.4 million. Wikipedia says that in 2018 Xinjiang had a total population of 25 million of which 11.3 million are ethnic Uyghur. You'll have to do better.
Posted by: tpaine | Apr 17 2024 11:49 utc | 37
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 17 2024 9:46 utc | 16
Hmm, it seems that having exhausted the Aztecs as a credible distraction topic the 1st Battalion of Derailment Engineers are now trying to bring the Uyghurs into a thread about Dmitry Medvedev's Speech On Russia's Strategic Borders...
Indeed Sir. But IMO the Aztecs assault was simply a diversion to allow for the withdrawal of the 5’th Whitehall Shadow Hussars back to the rear for refurbishment, repatching and probably a new brigade designation. Over a period of a few weeks of intense and bitter cyber conflict this redoubtable FUD outfit failed to breach the common-sense defences of MoA barflies and proved utterly ineffective in attempts to incite the population, government or armed forces of the RF to overthrow the despicable Putin or convince the RF regime to launch WW3 by obliterating one or more Western capitals with H bombs.
Despite the sterling effort, this unit requires a serious time for R and R in preparation for future deployments. Rumour has it that new cyber wonderwaffles have been developed which will re-equip this experienced unit, and which will be “game changing” for the next battles for brain control, and are expected to massively advance the causes of Correct Think.
While this is on-going, reserve units of Creative Bullshit Peddlers supported by currently unscathed Derailment Engineer have been brought to the front and begun new operations on the MoA front. The exact identities of these new cyber shock troops is as yet known only to their State sponsors..
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 38
If only the Russians were as effective at color revolutions as they are at fighting attrition wars, they likely could save themselves a lot more trouble...
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 11:44 utc | 36
Color revolutions are dirty, under-handed, and passive-aggressive. Perfect for Western politicians. Russians are more straight-forward than that.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 39
The "outgunned" and "under manned" Ukraine just leveled another airfield, this time in Crimea. 15 wounded and 22 missing. This was not a small attack.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 40
The Sun?
They also said an Ukrainian pensioner shot down a jet aircraft with a shotgun.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 17 2024 12:05 utc | 41
@ "And nobody among the 5D-crowd ever bothers to explain practically how they intend to extract the famous capitulation from Ukraine, or go to Odessa for example."
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
Yes, you do raise an interesting point. Unlike many of the partisan pundits would like to convince us, yes, none of this has or will come easily for Russia, of course.
In relation to your question, i believe the end game is being pursued with the latest demolition of Ukraine's power generation capacity, as explained by John Helmer:
This would have the dual benefit of:
1- depopulating the regions East of the Dniepr, creating the Buffer/DMZ/Cordon Sanitaire zone to protect Russia proper, and
2- give Russia the leverage to make an offer that Ukraine can't refuse, ie, give us Odesa and we will leave you a working grid and land people can live in to the West, or we will take a depopulated Odesa anyway and you can all migrate to Western Europe. That part of the threat implicitly also deals w the EU/NATO entities.
Will it work?
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 12:10 utc | 42
A military defeat and inflation from dedollarisation. That's how the West dies. The risk of nuke even limited use is a dance I'm sure Russia China Iran are all keenly manoeuvring around. Printing can only prop up the scam so long , a week before covid REPO t bonds inverted, which meant great depression, averted by sleight of hand and forgotten.
Posted by: Hankster | Apr 17 2024 12:16 utc | 43
The "outgunned" and "under manned" Ukraine just leveled another airfield, this time in Crimea. 15 wounded and 22 missing. This was not a small attack.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 40
Hey. Dumbass. How does one 'Level another airfield?' Given the whole point of an airfield is to be level in order to launch and recovered those airplane thingies you may have heard about.
Your CIA handlers should just go ahead and fire your dumbass, because you're an embarrassment to the Company.
Posted by: Zippy the Pinhead | Apr 17 2024 12:17 utc | 44
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 17 2024 11:28 utc | 34
Good summary agree with all of that
Posted by: Hankster | Apr 17 2024 12:19 utc | 45
NEWS FLASH-URGENT
Seems as if the the 5’th Whitehall Shadow Hussars have returned from leave.
I for one am in trepidation of what this might portent. See @205 on the main Ukraine thread.
Do you all miss me?
Posted by: Shadowbanned | Apr 17 2024 6:56 utc | 205
Posted by: Barrel Brown | Apr 17 2024 12:26 utc | 46
The "outgunned" and "under manned" Ukraine just leveled another airfield, this time in Crimea. 15 wounded and 22 missing. This was not a small attack.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 40
A pinprick compared to the devastation Russia are daily enacting against the Ukraine forces.
Another great piece by b.
Strategic borders sounds very similar to sphere of influence, but more hard-nosed.
I still wish there were a better term than Anglo-Saxon. It excludes the Hebrews, French, Christian, European skeins in the mix, plus it sounds very 19th Century to my ears. Anglo-Zionist is better, but still not quite right. Maybe he could just say 'Western Bloc' or some such. A niggle.
Overall thrust is very clear, something almost no Western voices can rise to these days. The States is about to (performatively) elect one of three candidates who speak either gibberish, gobbledygook or mangled verbiage. None of them can come up with something this intellectual but also straightforward when discussing statecraft or geopolitics because all are beholden to 'special interest groups', especially Jewish.
But then perhaps it is to provide cover for the latter that Medvedev et alia cleave to the old term 'Anglo Saxon '.
@ Color revolutions are dirty, under-handed, and passive-aggressive. Perfect for Western politicians. Russians are more straight-forward than that.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 17 2024 12:02 utc | 39
So, war is clean now then? Sending the poor to die should always be the last resort. Particularly when Ukraine was snatched from right under your nose and you've been playing catch up ever since.
You sound a bit naive if you don't think the Russians try all they can to flip NATO partners over to their camp. They can't either because they are incompetent, abusive, or, most likely, simply because their pockets aren't as deep as the Americans'.
But assuming you are correct, I wonder if any of the 50,000+(?) widows and orphans were running the Kremlin, might they not have been tempted to learn or try some of the West's dirty tricks for the chance of getting their loved ones back?
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 12:33 utc | 49
And nobody among the 5D-crowd ever bothers to explain practically how they intend to extract the famous capitulation from Ukraine, or go to Odessa for example.
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
I would submit that it isn't a necessary condition, and may not even be a sufficient one, for Russia to take Odessa in order to achieve its goals. Odessa could be included in any surrender package that Kiev signs, whether Russia "takes" it or not.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 16 2024 23:25 utc | 144
It doesn't matter how much territory Russia seizes now. It's about momentum and morale. Sapping the will to fight of the Ukrainians. Russia doesn't have to reach Kiev, or Odessa, or even all of the Donbas to effect regime collapse. And when you surrender, terms are dictated to you, including how much, and what, territory you're going to lose.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 16 2024 22:07 utc | 288
There you go Micron. I have addressed these issues. I wait with bated breath your response.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 17 2024 12:37 utc | 50
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 12:33 utc | 49
My sarcasm is lost on you. Oh well, not everyone on the Internet can catch dry humor. Try again, please.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 17 2024 12:38 utc | 51
I'm thinking the ultimate diplomatic coup for Russia in Ukraine will be to secure unconditional surrender, then to administer referendums over the entirety of Ukraine asking which county the various regions want to join, or if they would rather stay as Ukraine. I would include Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson that already voted, just to reaffirm. I would also propose to reintroduce an option for all regions to reinstate the Ukrainian borders to 2014 less Crimea (can't take that chance) with an agreement similar to Minsk. Basically, give the Ukrainians the option to federalize and let the individual states compete like in the original framing of the US Constitution.
I would bet vast majority east of Dneiper would vote to join Russian Federation. West would mostly want to joint Poland and/or Hungary. I bet a close second would be federalization, while hardly anyone would want to stay in rump Ukraine. That would be a true shaming of the West with real statesmanship. Europe (not the elites) would certainly take notice, as in, "Hey NATO, I thought you said they wanted to remake the empire." So would ME, as if they haven't already but are just hedging at this point.
Posted by: ge0m0 | Apr 17 2024 12:39 utc | 52
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
"Has Russia the means to back up its ambitions?"
Has the US the means to back up its ambitions of maintaining total global dominance and total submission of other countries to its agenda? Will the US succeed in breaking Taiwan away and 'containing' China, defeating and balkanizing Russia, achieving control of the Middle East by humiliating Iran and returning Israel to a position of dominance there? Which country is more delusional?
Posted by: Mike R | Apr 17 2024 12:46 utc | 53
Reports say AFU launched perhaps 12 ATACMS missiles toward Crimea. 5 with cluster munitions and 7 'normal', and more Storm shadow missiles.
US recon drone was flying south of Crimea at the time.
There's no reports of damage, other than Ukro claims of damage. Legitimny says de-centralized ammunition depot were hit.
Here's another thread de-bunking Ukrainian claims of 'civilians hit in Chernigov'. It was a military barracks, with bed bunks, blurred faces of wounded mercs, blood donation requests circulating (do '26 injured' need blood donations?) and Oleh Lyashko (deputy of Rada) admitting military target.
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1780570849667387793
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 17 2024 12:48 utc | 54
@ My sarcasm is lost on you.
Posted by: James M. | Apr 17 2024 12:38 utc | 51
I see. Maybe try stick one of these at the end next time? /s
This is after all a comments thread where all kinds of views get exchanged by complete strangers, don't be surprised if your opinions on the most serious of topics are taken at face value.
As for the actual humour... being a little generous weren't we? As we all know, the best jokes are the ones that needed explaining...
:-)
Posted by: Rubiconned | Apr 17 2024 12:53 utc | 55
Speaking of "genocide", guess who have been busy "preventing" it:
An estimated one million (or more) Uyghurs live in state-run internment camps and are subjected to forced labor and sterilizations — a “genocide” by the State Department in 2021. This unsettling reminiscence propelled Elisha Wiesel, the chairman of the Elie Wiesel Foundation. This has culminated in “Disrupting Uyghur Genocide,” a two-day conference at the 92nd Street Y in New York, which begins today. (NYT)
Posted by: Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 9:33 utc | 11
SMOKESCREEN for the genociders:
The real story
https://transnational.live/2021/10/16/%f0%9f%9f%a5-breaking-the-xinjiang-genocide-determination-as-agenda/
About Uygurs, thier mosks, chinees investments in the province
https://worldaffairs.blog/2019/07/05/xinjiang-and-uyghurs-what-youre-not-being-told/?fbclid=IwAR0nrSaXgYHSoIxGo4qlZ2-IJnhS7gTfgmnGBH3YhgMYc7gGx-CnJ10r57g
The real story- Led by God
https://thegrayzone.com/2019/12/21/china-detaining-millions-uyghurs-problems-claims-us-ngo-researcher/
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Apr 17 2024 12:54 utc | 56
Maybe this can explaine the "figth" within Nato:
- UK (with Cameron from the family of slaveprofiteers) and their puppet France (macron), will escalate together with Polen (Sikorsky/ Appelbaum)
- US are bacing down, (will not give money), together with their puppet Germany who will not give Taurus.
Are there two tribes, who are figthing for reources here? British City against?
Medvedev:
Directly, our opponents are afraid to go against us. Although recently Western madmen from politics and the military have been increasing their pressure (just recall the conversation of Bundeswehr officers — and how much of this has not been published), however, Washington-Brussels puppet masters prefer to play the war using their puppets.
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Apr 17 2024 13:05 utc | 57
RE: Unfortunate, idiotic speech.
Posted by: burak | Apr 17 2024 9:52 utc | 18
Agree. Nothing new, follows “Monroe Doctrine” or “America’s backyard” mantra.
Before SMO, Putin told NATO to get their weapons off Russia’s “front porch”.
Nation State powers that are able to subjugate their surrounding “geographical” statelets, do.
It’s always been that way, and always will be that way.
You’re a vassal, or a power, and no time on history has it been any different.
Why Medevev felt compelled at this time to elaborate such an obvious doctrine is unknown to me, but a waste.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 17 2024 13:07 utc | 58
The diplomat was Laurie Bristow as quoted by Patrick Armstrong
Posted by: b | Apr 17 2024 9:58 utc | 20
Thank you!
Posted by: jpc | Apr 17 2024 13:12 utc | 59
b, this post is very timely. (And I pick up the thread started by Paul from Norway @ 57.) To this discussion, a bit of news from Canada.
First:
“The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, will visit Canada from April 18 to 23, 2024. President Duda will travel to Vancouver and Esquimalt, British Columbia, as well as Edmonton, Alberta.
During the visit, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Duda will hold a bilateral meeting in Esquimalt to discuss their unwavering support to Ukraine and their shared commitment to transatlantic security ahead of the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Washington in July, as well as bilateral cooperation on energy security and clean energy.
Canada and Poland share a longstanding relationship built on the Polish-Canadian community and our shared values. President Duda’s visit to Canada will be an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and make life better for people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
See, the interesting thing here is that Esquimalt is actually on the Pacific. And it’s home to Canadian Forces base.
https://www.colwood.ca/discover-colwood/points-of-interest/canadian-forces-base-esquimalt
Also, on April 15, Trudeau met with “Opposition Leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya”
Interesting times.
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Apr 17 2024 13:14 utc | 60
Has Russia the means to back up its ambitions ?
Posted by: Micron | Apr 17 2024 9:51 utc | 17
Yes. Duh.
Posted by: Honzo | Apr 17 2024 13:24 utc | 61
Strategic borders? Isn't that what Israel uses to justify holding on to the Golan Heights? That it can keep Syria from attack if it keeps holding that ground?
Posted by: Inka | Apr 17 2024 13:27 utc | 62
Perhaps Medvedev wasn't feeling well that day and Putin wrote the speech for him?
Posted by: Perimetr | Apr 17 2024 13:27 utc | 63
Excellent piece, b. This clarifies the thinking of the new multipolar world. Neocolonialism on the other hand loves to blur the truth and feed ridiculous pablum (“they hate us because we love freedom”) to its citizens in the collective West.
This speech is similar to what Putin said a few months ago about the new world order being not only about nations but the great historic civilisations learning to live with themselves and each other.
It is truly gratifying to be alive today to see Western imperialism and its legions of liars exposed and facing defeat. I wish my dad were alive to see it.
Posted by: Moses22 | Apr 17 2024 13:29 utc | 64
@ Jonathan W | Apr 17 2024 9:33 utc | 11
A quick web search of Elisha Wiesel shows me that he's just another Zionist hiding behind the Holocaust to fund the Palestinian genocide in Israel. A "greedy elite" that Medvedev refers to who uses his criminal position to steal the wealth of nations, including the USA.
The conference you advertise includes the front group, The World Uyghur Congress. This is nothing more than a barely disguised attempt to distract from the Israeli genocide in Gaza and to accuse China of crimes it is not committing. The reason for much of the conflict in Xinjiang is because of financing from the NED in support of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.
Brian Berletic and Pepe Escobar have extensively covered the controversy.
Aaron Good has an excellent series on the criminal nature of America's Deep State and the Plutocracy that runs it. I recommend downloading it since youTube may make it disappear.
Posted by: John Kauai | Apr 17 2024 13:32 utc | 65
canuck | Apr 17 2024 9:56 utc | 19
An interesting suggestion. However doesn't most of the indebted world already support Russia (save for a few outliers like Argentina). Isn't a desire to join the BRICS evidence that the West has already lost?
Still, it would be fun to see how the West would react to such a proposal.
Posted by: John Kauai | Apr 17 2024 13:41 utc | 66
Tangential perspective from Moldavian author and ex politician Iurie Roșca in Russia's 'strategic' borderlands:
[Intro:]Developments on the Ukrainian front show an imminent prospect of a collapse of the Ukrainian defensive line and a decisive offensive by the Russian army. One of Russia’s strategic targets is the port of Odessa. And in the event of a successful operation, the Russians officially declare that their next target is the separatist region in eastern Moldova bordering Odessa, Transnistria. There the Russians illegally maintain a military contingent, claiming to be peacekeepers and to protect the Russian-speaking population or even Russian citizens, the latter receiving Russian state passports en masse. Transnistria is a “frozen conflict” that risks thawing to the advantage of the Russian Federation and to the detriment of the Republic of Moldova. But what does that matter on the “big chessboard” in WWIII? Not for the rest of the world, but for my country it is a vital issue.
https://www.arktosjournal.com/p/moldova-on-the-brink-of-war-or-impossible
@ Inka | 62
You misrepresent the reality of the Golan Heights.
It's called the Heights because it's about 3000 feet or 1 km above sea level. At the top of this slope, it's a short dash to Damascus.
So Zionist occupation of the Golan Heights represents a grave threat to Syria. But the Golan Heights do not represent a reciprocal threat to "Israel" because they have no major strategic sites near its bottom.
Posted by: JessDTruth | Apr 17 2024 13:55 utc | 68
Medvedev speeches are meant for internal audience only, he's a twitter warrior.
MoD says it 6 intercepted atamcs and 191 drones in total last day, plus one French bomb.
What is more interesting is that ukros started to use balloons to drop small bombs over cities, like their friends from Japan.
And funny that Russia jammed/hacked some Ukro TV satellite channels.
Posted by: rk | Apr 17 2024 13:58 utc | 69
It ain't a complicated policy, and it woulda been easy to be in compliance with it simply by making no overt or large covert moves against Russia in its general vicinity. But nooooo, the West just HAD to play "all or nothing", deal strictly in absolutes and declare that only the Anglo-Saxon-Zionist mutant empire is to be treated as such, whereas literally everyone else is evil for seeking to be treated as a sovereign power.
Sadly the West went full original Ozymandias in this. It appears the movers and shakers genuinely believed no-one would be able to simply stop them from doing what they want by force amd they'd have to recognize they aren't omnipotent. Russia does it now and perhaps some are realizing China can do the same, especially with Russia very much treating East Asia as one of the tiers of its "strategic borders" and not about to allow an Anglo-Saxon victory there after what's happened in Eastern Europe.
Well, now the global imperials are staring down at the barrels of many guns - the question is, indeed, whether they are going to understand that and finally cease pursuing global imperial domination, or whether they'll believe themselves invincible.
Posted by: Red Outsider | Apr 17 2024 13:58 utc | 70
Add to my other post the fact that Iran has just joined the "keep off the darn grass" club by showing the Zionists and their cronies can and will get hit if they screw around too much. In other words, demonstrably limiting their heretofore believed impunity and putting a border around their aspirations as well.
Posted by: Red Outsider | Apr 17 2024 14:00 utc | 71
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