By some unanticipated happenstance, the day after I published The Continuing SMO Meme …’Goals Unchanged’, more details emerge on these currently important affairs. And this time we have the direct words of President of the Russian Federation, Mr Putin.
I will let TASS set the scene, first in the words of the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister…
Also occurring yesterday, Thursday, July 13, 2023, the Russian president took part in the plenary session of the Future Technologies Forum, afterwards answering journalist questions relevant to this discussion. Again TASS sets the scene…
The Wagner issue is interesting, though not, on the face of it, directly relevant here, and I assume a subject which must have come up during the Future Technologies event session. It is my use, as a seque, from the final paragraph of this piece which links to the journalist’s ‘corridor’ snatch of the President’s time – as recorded on the Kremlin website.
‘Answers to media representatives ‘ questions’ – Website of the President of Russia – July 13, 2023 (which should automatically translate to English for you – or other languages I assume – or you can use an online translator)
What can I say? The issues are clear. The real-life situation is clear. The Russians are entirely clear and very open on the subject. Only the western/NATO representatives are befuddled, bemused and befogged. Do they live in the same world that we do? What are they smoking?
I particularly want to emphasize what Mr Putin said on the subject of the earlier (I think April 2022) document (a peace agreement of sorts between Ukraine and Russia – drawn up by Russia) the west seems to want Russia to sign as an off-ramp to soothe the west’s agonies. I said yesterday that I did not know what that document contained but that it couldn’t take into account today’s situation. Well, now, we have it from Mr Putin that there is nothing in it that should present an obstacle to it being signed as the basis of a current peace agreement. I admit to being surprised by that revelation but know that the Russians are very clever and so careful about their commitments – and what they commit to they also stand by. And reliably so (unlike others).
By the way, in the draft document that I have already mentioned many times, namely, the draft agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which was prepared in Istanbul and which was later thrown into the trash by the Ukrainian regime, the issues of ensuring Ukraine’s security were set out in great detail in this draft. We still had to think about whether we agreed with everything that was stated there, but in general I think that this document was acceptable.
So, there it is. Take careful note. Something may develop from this. But you can bet your best boots Russia will never over-commit or take on trust any western commitment ever again. In any case, and I assume this may be the only basis on which Mr Putin could make such a statement, this is only a potential agreement between Russia and Ukraine. It can have, or is likely to have, no bearing on the wider issues of Russian national security as pertains to the activities of the wider combined west. I rest in that secure knowledge. That, as I said yesterday, is an entirely separate issue which will require much more careful consideration. Russia already made its considerations on that, documented them, and presented them to the west not much more than 18 months ago. I suggest that Russia should consider re-submitting those proposals, unchanged – or maybe the west should dust off their copy and make representations to Russia for the opportunity to jointly sign them, without amendment or demurrance on their part, asap.
I believe this whole development is something worthy of note. We are now at a point where a range of issues could be settled, amicably – or amicably for Russia and the wider world anyway. Amicable also for the west, if they could only envision what appropriate change could do for them. But of course, western intransigence could also lead us in an entirely different direction. My gut tells me they have unfortunately not yet been humiliated enough for them to take such a dramatic step. They may need to reach rock-bottom before that happens. But there is always hope for a better result.
Not Something Else 
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