[…]

P. Zarubin: Good evening!

Pavel Zarubin, Russia TV channel. The main global topic of the past few days has been Trump’s peace plan. We have a lot of questions for you.

To what extent does the draft that was initially published take into account our position? Have we received a revised version of the document after the negotiations between the United States and Ukraine? When will the Russian-American negotiations begin, which we have heard are not being conducted regarding this document? When will Steve Witkoff visit you? What are your current thoughts on the prospects for a peaceful resolution?

Thank you.

President Putin: Regarding the draft treaty: there were no draft treaties, there was a set of issues that were proposed to be discussed and formulated definitively. In general, I have already spoken about this many times, we discussed it with the American negotiators before my visit to the United States and before my visit to Alaska, and after that, a list of possible agreements consisting of 28 points was created. As I have already announced publicly, this list was provided to us through certain channels, and we have reviewed it.

After that, negotiations were held in Geneva between the American delegation and the Ukrainian delegation. As I understand it, they decided among themselves that all 28 points should be divided into four separate components. And this was all passed on to us.

In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements. However, it would be impolite of me to talk about any final options right now, as there are none.

Some things are of a fundamental nature, and in general, we see that the American side takes into account our position, which was discussed before Anchorage and after Alaska. In some cases, we definitely need to sit down and seriously discuss specific issues, and we need to put everything into diplomatic terms. Because it’s one thing to say that Russia doesn’t intend to attack Europe. It sounds ridiculous to us, doesn’t it? We never intended to do so. But if they want to hear it from us, let’s record it, no problem.

It’s just that there are people there, and I think they’re a little bit crazy, or they’re some kind of crooks, and they want to get something out of it when they publicly tell their population, their citizens, that Russia is preparing to attack Europe and that we need to immediately strengthen our defense capabilities. Either they’re serving the interests of the defense industry and private companies, or they’re trying to boost their domestic political ratings in light of the dire state of the economy and social sphere. It’s hard to say what they’re guided by, but from our point of view, this is complete nonsense, a blatant lie. However, if this has been promoted in the public consciousness, if they have frightened their citizens and they want to hear that we have no aggressive plans towards Europe, please, we are ready to record this in any way you prefer.

Maybe there is some sense in this, I mean, if we want to talk and discuss together and put some points on the map in terms of pan-European security. Maybe, yes, we have proposed this ourselves at some point. If our Western – let’s call them “partners” again – want this now, please, we are ready. But we both understand that this needs to be discussed seriously, and every word counts.

Or, for example, one of the documents mentions that we should resolve the issue of strategic stability together with our American partners. For God’s sake, are we against it? We have already proposed this, and we also suggested that the Obama administration negotiate on certain issues, but they said “yes” and then everything got stuck a month before the Obama administration left the White House. Now, we are approaching the end of another treaty, the New START Treaty, which will expire in February. If they don’t want to do anything, then let them.

But from these papers, we can see that there is a general desire to return to these issues. However, each of these issues is a separate and very serious matter. We are certainly ready for this serious discussion. The American delegation is scheduled to visit Moscow next week.

It’s just that there are people there, and I think they’re a little bit crazy, or they’re some kind of crooks, and they want to get something out of it when they publicly tell their population, their citizens, that Russia is preparing to attack Europe and that we need to immediately strengthen our defense capabilities. Either they’re serving the interests of the defense industry and private companies, or they’re trying to boost their domestic political ratings in light of the dire state of the economy and social sphere. It’s hard to say what they’re guided by, but from our point of view, this is complete nonsense, a blatant lie. However, if this has been promoted in the public consciousness, if they have frightened their citizens and they want to hear that we have no aggressive plans towards Europe, please, we are ready to record this in any way you prefer.

Maybe there is some sense in this, I mean, if we want to talk and discuss together and put some points on the map in terms of pan-European security. Maybe, yes, we have proposed this ourselves at some point. If our Western – let’s call them “partners” again – want this now, please, we are ready. But we both understand that this needs to be discussed seriously, and every word counts.

Or, for example, one of the documents mentions that we should resolve the issue of strategic stability together with our American partners. For God’s sake, are we against it? We have already proposed this, and we also suggested that the Obama administration negotiate on certain issues, but they said “yes” and then everything got stuck a month before the Obama administration left the White House. Now, we are approaching the end of another treaty, the New START Treaty, which will expire in February. If they don’t want to do anything, then let them.

But from these papers, we can see that there is a general desire to return to these issues. However, each of these issues is a separate and very serious matter. We are certainly ready for this serious discussion. The American delegation is scheduled to visit Moscow next week.

[…] A. Kolesnikov: And the second question was ...

President Putin: You understand ‒ I will tell you very briefly now, I think it will be clear at once what I am talking about ‒ we still get requests to stop the fighting there, there, there… The Ukrainian troops will leave the territories they occupy, and that will be the end of the fighting. If they don’t leave, we will achieve this by force. That’s all.

.

Russian President Putin Says Fighting Will Stop When Ukraine Withdraws | Al Arabiya English |

In this episode of Global News Today with Tom Burges Watson on Al Arabiya English, we examine a potential United States peace proposal that could bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine initially feared that President Trump's plan favored Russia and required territorial concessions, but allies now welcome the modified proposal since it aligns with Kyiv's demands. European partners are also moving quickly. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that troops from France, the United Kingdom, and Turkey will join a Coalition of the Willing to provide security and training in cities such as Kyiv and Odesa once a peace deal is reached.

Tom Burges Watson speaks to a distinguished panel of guests:

• Sir Liam Fox, former UK Defence Secretary and former British International Trade Secretary
• Jim Townsend, former United States Deputy Secretary of Defence for Europe and NATO
• General Dominique Trinquand, former Defence Adviser to President Macron and former Head of the French Military Mission to the United Nations and NATO

The episode also covers Pope Leo's arrival in Turkey earlier today. This marks his first trip outside Italy. The Chicago-born pontiff, who was elected in May, has begun a six-day mission focused on peace and unity across the region. After Turkey, he will travel to Lebanon only days after Israeli airstrikes struck its capital, Beirut.

Tom speaks to Dr. Gavin Ashenden, former Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II who later converted to Catholicism.

Anyone taking this British product of elite schools seriously?

Yet more abhorrent & deeply unhelpful comments from @BorisJohnson which PM May should condemn. [_link]

— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) January 18, 2017

From previous diary …

European Union a Broken Entity [Update]

The Brits still love their hero PM Boris Johnson …

President Zelenskyy’s inspirational leadership and the heroism of the Ukrainian armed forces are for the benefit of the whole world. Strategic patience is what we need. Ukraine will win. 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/fqAirIlB5X

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 12, 2023

Boris Johnson had close friendly ties with Dutch Atlanticist PM Mark Rutte over many years …

• The Tory Brexit Pandemic | 23 Jan 2021 |
• England Herd Immunity Stage 2.0

The expert conversation: Separating signal from noise in Trump’s Ukraine peace plan | New Atlanticist |

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena attend a commemoration ceremony at a monument to the so-called "Heavenly Hundred", the people killed during the Ukrainian pro-European Union (EU) mass demonstrations in 2014, to mark the 12th anniversary of the start of the uprising (Photo credit Reuters)

In a somber video statement, Zelenskiy pledged to work with the United States on the plan but said he expects more political pressure over the next week. He urged Ukrainians to remain united in the face of what he said were additional attempts by Russia to derail the peace process.

"Now is one of the most difficult moments of our history. Now, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the heaviest," he said.

"Now, Ukraine can face a very difficult choice — either losing dignity or risk losing a major partner." Russia is grinding forward on the battlefield and pounding Ukraine's energy system with missiles and drones as a domestic political crisis unfolds over a massive corruption probe involving senior officials and business elites.

No one has been held accountable for the despicable sniper murders @ the Maidan … likely flown in from Chechnya or Georgia in MI6/CIA act of regime change.

Analytical State of Ukraine narrative by Prof Sachs

Inside Washington: A secret war is determining Ukraine's fate! | Prof.Jeffrey Sachs |

A gripping geopolitical breakdown of the Ukraine conflict as Washington fractures, Europe panics, and Zelensky faces impossible choices.

This 5-part narrative exposes the hidden power struggle inside the Trump administration, the battlefield collapse Ukraine cannot stop, and the global consequences of a rushed U.S.–Russia peace deal.

Dramatic, analytical, and sharply cinematic, this script dives into the political warfare behind the frontlines—and reveals how the fate of nations is being rewritten behind closed doors.

NORTH POLE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IS VERY CRITICAL [??] TODAY

NATO's Rutte, Iceland PM on Security, Ukraine Support, Russian Threats, More | DRM News |

So Mark is exiled to the North Pole nowadays … a courtesy visit 😊

American empire expansionism …

Trump says U.S. must control Greenland | CBS News | I Danmarks UD sitter en nattevakt og følger med på Trump

Translation:

In Denmark's Foreign Ministry, a night watchman sits and monitors Trump

Politiken writes about how the Trump administration has led to changes in Danish diplomacy.

Mark Rutte sat silent next to President Trump as he announced US goal for owning Greenland