The Western powers want to broker a peace in the Middle East. They want to prolong the war in Ukraine. Why this difference?
The policy towards Ukraine is based on condemning Putin for his aggression. It does  not offer Ukraine enough military support to allow them to win the war, preferring to drag it out through withholding important weapons and understandably refusing to commit NATO forces.
President elect Trump has indicated a wish to bring about a negotiated peace. European governments are against this, claiming it means helping Russia. They do not complain about a negotiated peace in the Middle  East which  on the same logic would be helping Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.Meanwhile France provides very little financial or military help to Ukraine and Germany always offers les than Ukraine wants with delays in providing more effective weapons.
I remain against the idea of a NATO/Russia war so do think the U.K. should work with President Trump on what a peace agreement would look like. Central to it should be to give to all Ukrainians who want to live beyond Russian control a place to do so with better security guarantees. It seems unlikely that Crimea can be brought back into Ukraine.Of course the West should do all it can at any talks to support the Ukrainians seeking to restore peaceful authority over their lands and  who wish to live in a country independent of Russia. The EU needs to rethink its position to be more helpful to peace. Whilst the West sees this as a war against Russian invasion, Russia sees it as a war against EU expansion. .
November 11, 2024
Good morning.
The Ukraine / Russia war is a war fought by Ukraine on behalf of the West. It is designed to weaken Russia and bring her into the Globalist fold. Until that is acheieved there can be no peace. A President Trump administration will want to stop the war or, at least, call a ceasefire.
The Israel / Arab / Persian war is never ending. The Palestinans, or at least their terror arm, are engaged in a war of survival. Many Arab States surrounding Israel have come to terms and made peace. Those that have not have been in turmoil.
Whatever happens, the UK should have no part in either.
November 11, 2024
+1 Mark B. Your last sentence sums it up: we should have no part in either.
Trump will broker something. We should be thankful. He’s more aligned with our national interest when it comes to Ukraine, than British politicians and British diplomacy. We harm ourselves with sanctions, ensure death and destruction over there, and throw away our money in the process.
As for the Middle East, goodness knows what Trump will achieve. It’s a much thornier issue.
Anyway, we should cut the FO budget and rid ourselves of some diplomats, since they just do what the Americans /WEF tell us to do. Though with Trump diverging from the WEF, we may diverge from the US… and probably harm ourselves even more in the future.
November 11, 2024
@Wanderer +1
Sums up the real state of play and the real interest shown by our Politicians- they are deceiving themselves
November 11, 2024
Mark
” It is designed to weaken Russia and bring her into the Globalist fold.”
I’d forgotten… Putin was at some point involved with the WEF, but walked, saying ‘no thanks’ to all their schemes for globalism!
Your comment makes perfect sense…
November 11, 2024
Ukraine is NOT fighting on behalf of the West. It is a mere puppet of those in the West who wished to dismantle and plunder Russia.
The net result has been to force Russia into the sphere of China, the worst result possible and one which wiser geopolitical experts always sought to avoid…successfully during the Cold War.
November 11, 2024
Interesting that you write ‘The Palestinans, or at least their terror arm, are engaged in a war of survival. ‘
I could have written ‘The Israelis, or at least their settlers, are engaged in a war of survival. ‘
November 11, 2024
Indeed I thought that the âThe Palestinans are engaged in a war of survival. âwas astange comment. As someone said,
“If the Palestinians were to lay down their guns tomorrow, there would be no war. If Israel was to lay down its guns, there would be no Israel.”
November 11, 2024
The Trump administration did much to broker better relations between Israel and nearby Arab states. Tackling Persians and their allies may be more difficult. Their prime ally used to be China. Russia was not supportive, as Iran backed Islamists in and near Russia, but that threat has been lifted. Getting Russia back into the fold of those seeking to contain Iran is now difficult, and needs a resolution of Ukraine. The further danger is that there has been rapprochement between Iran and Saudi, which is also moving into the BRICS camp and unwinding its US ties. China constantly threatens to increase its global hegemony. They will have plans to counter Trump’s tariff threats.
Much to be done while the UK marches into its isolationist COPout instead of reading the room.
November 12, 2024
Mark B: “Whatever happens, the UK should have no part in either.”
Too late!
My understanding is that the British government has extended guarantees to the loans to Ukraine ( in the hope of looting said country when the war is settled in Ukraine’s favour ).
The story I’ve heard, the big finance houses have extended loans to the Ukraine government ( a not insubstantial fraction of which has gone up Volodymyr’s nose.) But the Ukraine ‘technically’ defaulted on the loans back in September, which left those countries hoping to profit from the looting of Ukraine, as guarantors to the big finance houses.
Want to know what the ÂŁ20 billion ‘black hole bullshit’ is really about ?
The politicians took on liabilities, now they expect the poorest in the UK population to pay down their obligations.
November 11, 2024
Good Morning,
Is it not true that Putin wants ALL of Ukraine, and also the smaller states that were once part of the Soviet Bloc? Therefore agreeing to Putin’s terms to keep a third of Ukraine, with all its natural resources, is but a first step in his re-acquisition plan?
If there is a deal, who will enforce its terms? Hasn’t gone so well in Hong Kong.
A clear eyed view of the best route forward, to protect the European democracies from a dictator seeking personal legacy objectives at all costs. Strong economies working together defeat weaker ones.
November 11, 2024
Yes, Peter, you’re quite right. The stronger economy (Russia’s, now with GDP growth at 4% or so) is defeating the weaker economies – the EU countries with their negative growth, and especially Germany, with its collapsing industries. America’s military hardware production is way behind Russia’s, which is partly why Ukraine is running out of weapons.
Glad to see you’re now asking questions about Putin’s alleged plans to overrun Eastern Europe, rather than claiming that as a fact.
November 11, 2024
Not only that,I saw a videoclip released by the Chinese a couple of weeks ago showing a fully automated,robotized factory producing missiles(cruise missiles,I think) at an extraordinary rate(I forget the exact figure).All being stockpiled in readiness for any war the US might provoke in the South China Sea.
November 11, 2024
propaganda video.
November 11, 2024
Have you seen the Su-57 at the Chinese airshow? Just someone thinks Russian technology is âbasicâ.
November 11, 2024
No that isn’t true. Russia doesn’t want it…and cannot do it. It is NATO which expanded…having said it wouldn’t. Unsurprisingly Russia “won’t get fooled again”…
November 11, 2024
@ Peter Wood “Is it not true that Putin wants ALL of Ukraine, and also the smaller states that were once part of the Soviet Bloc?” – no, not true.
Let us suppose it was though. Then we should be ready to issue a pious statement of condemnation. Beyond that, prudence suggests building more four star hotels but no more.
November 11, 2024
Your last sentence is bad news because the collective west is economically weaker than BRICS and Russia itself is the 4th richest nation on earth by ppp and the richest in the world in commodities.
November 11, 2024
No, itâs not true. So where does that leave you?
November 11, 2024
‘The invasion of Ukraine has clearly not gone according to plan. Putin anticipated a short and victorious war that would extinguish Ukrainian statehood and force the country decisively back into the Russian orbit’
You and other can read more here, perhaps this might open your eyes.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/putins-dreams-of-a-new-russian-empire-are-unraveling-in-ukraine/
November 11, 2024
Ah – the Atlantic Council đ
They explain why Putin was signed peace treaties, pulled troops from Kiev? Has only ever had a SMO – and the Ukrainian defence force in tatters. Imagine if he had wanted a war!đł
November 12, 2024
The Atlantic Council article is as unpersuasive as it is tendentious. One reported allusion to Peter the Great is very thin evidence indeed.
November 12, 2024
If you had been reading the Atlantic Council’s ravings for any length of time,you would already be aware that they are complete and utter delirious rubbish.
November 11, 2024
As usual France and Germany have their long term interests front and centre. As with NATO they are happy for the USA to provide the lions share of aid to Ukraine. Trump is against this and will probably manage to negotiate a peace although not entirely favourable to Ukraine. The EU played a big part in provoking Putin with their …to the Urals nonesense.
I feel enough blood and treasure have been expended and Putin would welcome a DMZ staffed be Europe.
More interesting is what will happen when he starts to drill baby drill and foreclose on the whole climate scam. Shares in the windmill subsidy sucking companies have already started to tank.
Maybe some common sense at last.
November 11, 2024
+1
President Trump is close to winning the House of Representatives. If so, the GOP get to choose who the Speaker will be. This means President Trump may have a freehand for at leasr another two years. After that it all comes down to the economy and how well his policies are working.
November 11, 2024
The RINOs in the Senate are mounting a coup already to choose a leader who will thwart Trump.
November 12, 2024
This is the ‘get rid of Boris to stop Brexit’ playbook. Many Tory MPs from Soubrey to Sandbach from Grieve to Greening were thwarting Brexit. Can the public recall their Senator?
November 11, 2024
Indeed.
The last 6 or 7 Dr John Campbell videos are all excellent:- Covid era death with Pathologist Dr Clair Craig, Trump and the WTO, Pharmaceutical product recall and educated hesitancy towards new drugs and novel vaccines, reviewing the pandemic wreckageâŠ
November 11, 2024
Annabel Denham in the Telegraph.
Trump is about to expose the lie at the heart of net zero
Americaâs inevitable turn away from its climate commitments will pave the way for Britain
Thank goodness Trump won and for so many reasons.
November 11, 2024
Here here to that. The sooner the climate change scam is exposed the better. It should do away decisively for the uniparty which have lead us up this blind alley
Prosecutions should follow
November 11, 2024
Sadly I here in the UK I very much doubt that will happen. Too much skin has been invested by the Establishment.
They will just double down.
November 11, 2024
They will try to but as more and more people realise the whole thing is a scam they will struggle. Hopefully Trump we get a team of sensible physicists like Prof WILLIAM HAPPER to point out what a deluded exaggeration and blatant fraud the whole think is. Then he can cut all the subsidies and research grants to the Net Zero religion.
A bit more CO2 tree, crop and plant food is, on balance, a very good thing, a bit warmer is a good thing too and anyway the things they push EVs, heat-pumps, public transport, walking, cycling, solar, wind, wave, tidal, burning wood at Drax… save little of no CO2 anyway at best they just export it many actually increase it..
November 11, 2024
IW indeed.
âProsecutions should followâ also in the regulation of & coercing of net harm Covid vaccines (done even into people who had no need of them, as young, health or had had Covid – even had they been remotely safe and effective).
November 11, 2024
I agree with you Ian – I reject the climate nonsense.
November 11, 2024
What America does today the UK will usually do in 10 years time, but by then it may be too late to save us from the huge fallout, blackouts, and wasted money.
November 11, 2024
Trump and Putin should sit down together to ascertain what each side expects to gain from the present war.
The hesitance in French and German all out support for Ukraine suggests to me that they see both sides of the dispute and hang back from all out support of Ukraine, prefering a holding war. So they are open to a settlement.
What remains of Ukraine after an end of the war should be offered a Marshall Plan for recovery, association with the EU and NATO, but not membership for at least 25 years. Effectively allowing borh sides to win or claim such. Long term, Russia should be offered a gradual normalisation of trade in the World market place.
I see Iran in the current political sense as beyond the pail. They should have the consequences of continuing support for Hamas, Houti, and Hezbollah are terminal consequences. If the message is ignored and atomic ambitions continued then shock and awe should be applied. The degrading of their military, atomic ambitions, and quasi religious political leadership should be the consequence. Then the people of Iran should be offered a path to return them to normality.
November 11, 2024
Putin has said Russia has no objection to Ukraine joining the EU. That part of what you suggest could be implemented right away. Whether the EU would want that drain on their resources without ‘reparations’ from Russia to compensate, I rather doubt.
November 11, 2024
The EU countries signed up for mutual defence. Ukraine joining with or without Crimea presents a new problem.
November 11, 2024
No chance.
France and Germany were grantors of the Minsk Agreement and went on to boast publicly that they had no intention of guaranteeing the peace settlement but were buying time for Ukraine to establish the fortress cities and lines in the Donbas.
Russia has expended much treasure and blood pushing NATO away from is border, there is no way they will settle for a 20 year ceasefire so NATO can gear up again.
November 11, 2024
Iran and Russia will shortly be signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with military protocols.The Iranian President,Masoud Pezeshkian will be visiting Moscow before the year end,presumably to sign the official document.
Apart from military cooperation,Russia is developing Iran as a low cost manufacturing centre and an energy hub for the middle east and the Indian Ocean.They are also key partners in developing the new trade routes which will move huge amounts of east-west trade out of western control-China’s BRI and the INSTC which will link India to Europe via Iran and Russia.
As I have predicted for the past ten years the integration of Russia,China and Iran is geopolitical checkmate for the west,hence the desperate warmongering on the fringes of Eurasia-all in vain.
November 11, 2024
Donald Trump has a formidable point that the present Western policy (of helping Ukraine to defend themselves but not sufficiently to win) is both very expensive over the medium term and ineffective. I don’t however favour compromise with Russia (which given its nuclear arsenal and huge natural resources it can potentially trade with cannot have a rational fear of either NATO or the EU destroying it) but rather giving Ukraine the weapons and the freedom to use them to actually win. I simply do not believe that an alliance comprising nearly a billion people, the biggest economies and the most advanced technology in the world cannot supply the weaponry to beat a country of about 150 million people with a modest economy and a very uneven and in many ways backward technology.
November 11, 2024
@ Geoffrey Berg – of course extra weaponry can be supplied to overwhelm Russia although manpower would likely remain short. The questions arise though to what purpose and at what cost? Subjugation of Russia is a doubtful prospect: its retaliation with nuclear weapons delivered outside the present theatre of operations highly probable. Much better to leave matters as they are or support President Trump’s initiative perhaps?
November 11, 2024
There are no extra weapons or indeed ammunition. The west has been out manufactured.
November 11, 2024
Well you are going to have to believe it when Ukraine (read NATO) the unconditional surrender enacted.
Rutte has said that âif Trump imposes a settlement on Ukraine (without the restoration of pre-2014 borders) he will kick the USA out of NATO. Brave employee!
November 11, 2024
brave words for one with no backbone!
Putin would wet himself with laughing if it happened.
November 11, 2024
What would “winning” look like? Daily drone attacks on Moscow until they submit? Demands to cede parts of Russia and control of the Volga river? An ongoing army of occupation in the lands taken that are primarily Russian ethnically?
In 1991 Ukraine was a mess left over from the USSR and before. Crimea had been appended to it by Khruschev. Various populations had been moved wholesale in previous decades and centuries. Its name means Borderlands and was earned through centuries of being at the frontiers of clashes between tribes and civilisations. It marked the Southern extent of Viking influence, and has been at the edge of the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish empires, and colonised by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The opportunity to partition it sensibly was missed, probably due to beady eyes on its resources and trade and naval ports.
November 11, 2024
Ukraine is desperately short of men and furthermore does not have a properly functioning economy- much of western financial assistance is actually helping fund normal public spending in Ukraine-and the recruitment of foreign mercenaries,thousands of whom have already been killed.
Western economies are a product of financial engineering.Emperor’s new clothes!
November 11, 2024
I wonder, given, as you say, the vast natural resources of Russia, why Russia seems to be much less successful, economically speaking, than China.
November 11, 2024
Look at the numbers, per capita Russia is much more successful than China.
November 11, 2024
Russia is 4th in GDP ppp, but 43th in GDP per capita ppp. Iâm sure that Lynn, our distinguished in-house Kremlinologist, could easily explain this fact.
November 11, 2024
Simple really, numbers. The Isle of Man beats Russia (and China, and the UK) per capita, so does Singapore, countries with very few people head the per capita list.
I would have thought you would have noticed that.
November 11, 2024
4th (GDP ppp) to 43rd (GDP ppp per capita) for Russia, vs, eg, 10th to 28th for the UK. If Russia is soooooo successful, how can you explain that the standard of living of a Russian individual is not so much better than that of an Estonian or a Romanian.
Could it be that âRussiaâ does not care much for its citizens?
November 12, 2024
Hefner to respond to your post below – Russia cares enough for ethnic Russians under fire in Donbas to challenge the Zelensky production Team acting for NATO. They care more than the UK Government cares for its citizens, no mRNA vaccines in Russia, no âgrooming gangsâ trading ethnic Russian children in a sex slave trade, no Russian children given to non-traditional-married-people for adoption.
No cutting off energy, income tax 13% and no other taxes in Russia.
I could go on. Have you been to Russia recently? Itâs an eye opener.
You also need to remember that in India you can live on ÂŁ1 per day. They are in 3rd place.
November 13, 2024
No, not recently, my trips to Russia were over the 1991-1999 period (essentially pre-Putin).
But since I have had ÂŽbad readingsâ: M.Galeotti, and C.Belton.
November 11, 2024
Because it’s not. The 2024 projected GDP per capita at Purchasing Power Parity of China is $26,310, of Russia is $47,299.
November 11, 2024
+1
November 11, 2024
China was way behind until capitalism was unleashed.
November 12, 2024
Until the west outsourced their manufacturing to China.Chinese capitalism is heavily state-directed.
November 12, 2024
Thank for China is held in the communist vice, else they would dominate the world.
November 11, 2024
According to GB News (yes I know) Keir-Ching! was out in Paris posturing for Remembrance Day and then discussing with Macron how they could oppose Trump’s policy of negotiating an end to the Ukraine war – so that the appalling slaughter of Ukrainians could continue.
Does the little Marxist really think he and the French Popinjay will be able to oppose a President Trump he told only a few days ago that he “stood shoulder to shoulder with?”
I loathe that man almost as much as I loathe Blair.
November 11, 2024
I too loath Starmer, Blair, Brown, Major, Cameron, May and Sunak who foolishly gave Starmer his huge majority by quitting early. They all pushed the climate alarmist lunacy, the tax borrow and waste economics and vast low skilled legal and illegal immigration levels. They all serially lied to the electorate. Most pushed two tier justice too.
The ‘Establishment’ even banned Farage & Reform UK from laying a wreath at the Cenotaph.
November 11, 2024
I think a good many in the military (and retired from it) would align more with Farage and Reform than any of the others.
November 11, 2024
@Donna +99
November 11, 2024
Time will tell if there is a winner, possibly a tie!
November 11, 2024
Yes, a close run thing like the Harris/Trump contest.
November 11, 2024
@Donna +1
Think? his actions and words show he doesn’t , getting as Gaffe prone as his mate Biden
November 11, 2024
Given the military stalemate, a ceasefire along the line of control looks a possible outcome. But it’s stability will be uncertain. Bothe sides will have unfinished business. The European interest, including the UK interest, is to attempt to secure the independence of the Ukraine (or what is left of it) by continued supply of military equipment and weapons plus financial support to help rebuild its infrastructure and economy.
It is not obvious that the UK has any significant influence left in the Middle East so that it’s opinion matters very much if at all.
November 11, 2024
Can I suggest you acquaint yourself, David, with what is happening on the ground?There is no stalemate. Russia is gaining territory in the Donbas at the fastest rate since 2022, and Ukraine’s troops are pulling back from their disastrous incursion into Russia in the Kursk region. This is why prospects for Ukraine are very bleak if it continues to oppose peace negotiations. The longer the war goes on, the more likely it is that unconditional surrender will be all that’s left to Kiev. Better a ceasefire now.
November 11, 2024
As Mr Putin said at the annual Valdai summit last week:”all the objectives of the SMO will be met”and “decisions made in Washington -or elsewhere in the west- have no relevance here.”
November 11, 2024
Why would Russia agree to a ceasefire now when its attrition has worked and there is basically no Ukrainian Defence force left?
The more long range western missiles are threatened the deeper the buffer zone will have to be so the further Russia will go.
November 11, 2024
now that Ukraine is able to hit targets within Russia they will find the damage and bodybags wakes the poor Russians up to reality of Putin’s aggression.
November 12, 2024
Britain was hit with waves of V1 and V2 rockets towards the end of WWII but that didn’t change our determination to defeat Nazism. It’s the same with Russians now. They know they’ve got to see this one out if the Zelensky regime and its neo-con backers abroad are to be decisively defeated.
November 11, 2024
Not so
Ukraine are holding out and the Russians are losing 1500 soldiers EVERY day
They havenât advanced very much
Watch Jake Broe on utube
He is an ex military American who has lots of info on the war which we donât get on our media
November 11, 2024
Watch Col. Douglas McGregor on YouTube. He is an American military analyst, led men into battle, graduate of West Point, a Professor and ex Presidential Defence Advisor.
He has been saying for nearly 2 years that Ukraine canât win. Ukrainian Kia almost 800,000.
November 11, 2024
It is not obvious that the UK has the military or financial resources to influence anything to any great extent these days I’m afraid Dave. Defence is way down the list of priorities of this government (and indeed those that preceded it) because it’s not a vote winner. Ballistic missles hitting city centres would change that view of course but far too late in the day.
Unfortunately, strong defence costs money (wisely spent) and that requires a thriving economy. Horse, then Cart – not the other way around.
November 11, 2024
@IanT +1
November 11, 2024
The Uk does not have the Foreign Secretary or PM to influence.
November 11, 2024
Ukraine has been a deeply divided country for almost 100 years with a nationalist western province adopting fascist ideology, lead by Sandera, similar to the German nazis during pre second world war and joining them during the war in massacre of Poles and Jews. The Russian speaking Eastern provinces also suffered under the Soviets in common with Russian population in Russia. After the end of the Soviet Union the country managed to co exist peacefully. The Crimea was part of Russia until transfered to Ukraine by a Ukrainian soviet leader.
When the western areas were infuenced by the EU and American neo con politicians to leave the Russian sphere of infuence the peace was broken and with the ban on the Russian language and control taken by nationalists it was inevitable that a civil war began. The US and UK trained and armed the west. During the Soviet period the US backed the nationalists.
Putin is a Russian nationalist and backed the Russian speaking provinces, leading to outright war when the Western forces had advanced towards the independent East. He may have mistakenly thought that there were enough pro Russian anti nationalists in the central areas to overthrow the US backed government. Instead the Russian forces have taken most of the Easter areas with overwhelming greater forces and will not retreat. The Russian Eastern population will not wish to hand over their independence.
The negotiations could perhaps agree to maintain the Ukrainian borders as a whole but enforce a separate regional government. There are other non Ukrainian speaking regions which would be pleased to have their regional government. And there was never any advantage to the UK, EU or USA to advance Nato to the Russian border or to userp a popular Russian leadership. The War is a disaster with Ukraine in ruins and hundreds of thousands dead and injured on both sides.
November 11, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Ukrainian_Nationalists
November 11, 2024
The difference is that the trouble in the Middle East has been going on now for more than seventy years, it is a war of confiscation and attrition against a hapless indigenous people being carried out by a vastly superior army – all started with the Balfour Declaration 1917
The war in Ukraine is different, it is more personal from the point of view of Putin who thinks that Russia is not getting the proper ‘respect’ that it deserves – with the Ukraine war the fighting is more equally balanced between the combatants and the surprising thing is how one European country can be seen to hold up the entire Russian army almost to a stop.
President elect Trump might think he can resolve this Ukraine war with a few phone calls and that he can get agreement from Putin to settle things on present borders but he will find that Zelensky and the Ukranians have shown that they are battle hardened and will not be such an easy pushover.
There is plenty of news today about the terrorism of Hamas and Hezbollah etc but we must not forget that before all of this there were other terrorist groups roaming the palestinian lands namely the Irgun and Stern Gangs who came on the back of the Haganah – being born 1946 myself I remember years afterwards the old people still talking about the bombing of the King David hotel 1946 – So despite what some would have us believe – this trouble did not start on Oct 7th.
November 11, 2024
The Israel and Palestinian wars are a matter of survival on both sides. When Britain and France were given the task of dividing up the Arabic areas following the defeat of the Ottoman empire, their appointed ‘kings’ agreed to the Jews having a smaller state. However the Mufti of Jerusalem was a determined anti semite who had allied with Hitler and aimed to get rid of Jews in Europe and the Middle East. Many of the Arabic people agreed with him and still do. Hamas and His bollards still declare the aim to expel or kill all Israeli Jews.
The War will have to end with one lot defeated for the time being.
November 11, 2024
The war w up ok have to end with one lot being defeated forever.
November 11, 2024
One side will always have a Government, the other will always have terrorists.
November 11, 2024
There is simply no realistic prospect of ending the Ukraine war on anything other than Russia’s terms. These have been clearly stated by the Kremlin: removal of the extreme nationalist (‘Banderite’) influence on Ukraine’s government, removal of NATO weaponry from the country, removal from Ukraine’s constitution of its wish to join NATO, and recognition of the autonomy of Russian speaking Eastern provinces. The last one would now mean accepting their secession from Ukraine, as the March 2022 peace accord, allowing them autonomous province status within the country, was torn up at NATO’s insistence, a very unfortunate move.
I don’t see anything in these terms that threatens Britain’s interests. On the contrary, opportunities for foreign trade should be better, and less expensive, once peace is established. In any case, no NATO country leaders are prepared to see body bags come back from a continued war in which their soldiers would take part. There will be no Western ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine, therefore Ukraine’s depleted army can only lose if the war continues to its conclusion. There have to be peace negotiations. This pointless slaughter has gone on long enough, and at ÂŁ12bn and rising, we in this country have spent out more than enough on it.
November 11, 2024
The USA set up the whole thing with its biolabs in Ukraine. If China had set up biolabs in Wales we might have objected with some force, too. There was also the issue of Ukraine remaining neutral and not joining NATO, but our support for Ukraine almost belies that. Unless Trump is able to secure a peace we will continue to pour money into this apparently bottomless pit, and in due course the Russian bear may extend its âhugâ. I think that poking bears is not very wise at the best of times. We are not the worldâs police, and for us to try to take any sort of âhigh groundâ seems to me inappropriate in these times, with a communist PM.
November 11, 2024
It would be helpful if all worked from different sources to stop aggression.Why wait for others to agree .Get going.
November 11, 2024
We can not trust any agreement that allows Putin to remain in power, what about war crimes and associated tribunals. A cease fire would only buy time for Putin to rearm. Ukraine must retain all of its territory including Crimea, without exception.
November 11, 2024
It’s funny, James, how similar what you say is to what Putin thought afterwards of the 2015 Minsk agreement to a ceasefire in the Donbas. It allowed the Kiev putsch regime to remain in power, with no punishment for the war criminals who shelled their own people day in day out, and bought time for the defeated Ukrainian military to rearm. The only difference is that what you’re saying is pure surmise, whereas the trick the EU played on Russia with the Minsk agreement is a matter of historical record, publicly admitted by Angela Merkel and one or two other leaders.
November 11, 2024
+1
November 11, 2024
So you’re off to fight with Ukraine? I’ll buy you boots and a rifle… Or is fighting…and dying…for others to do? Possibly the significance of today’s date has escaped you…
November 11, 2024
Will someone wave a few sheets of paper saying ‘peace in our time!’?
November 11, 2024
@ James “Ukraine must retain all of its territory including Crimea, without exception.” – and who is going to provide for that, at what cost? Also, do you pay no heed to the UN Charter where it speaks of the right to self-determination, something the pro-Russian people of Crimea voted for in overwhelming numbers and would likely vote for again if presented with the chance?
November 11, 2024
Why would Russia agree to a ceasefire now when its attrition has worked and there is basically no Ukrainian Defence force left?
The more long range western missiles are threatened the deeper the buffer zone will have to be so the further Russia will have to go.
November 11, 2024
You are SO out of touch or misinformed!Merkel and Hollande have long since admitted that they acted in bad faith wrt the Minsk agreements;that they were just a delaying tactic to allow Ukraine to re-arm-or ,more accurately,to be re-supplied by NATO.
November 11, 2024
SJR, can you please answer a qhestion that puzzles me. It is highly unlikely that Nigel Farage would avoid placing a wreath at the Cenotaph on Sunday. I must assume that by some quirk of parliamentary proceedure he was excluded from paying his respects on behalf of the four million UK citizens who voted Reform. As all the other political suspects past and present were there, why was Nigel not invited. Please clarify.
November 11, 2024
You have to have more than 5 MPs
November 11, 2024
No reply of clarification I note.
November 11, 2024
Brokering a peace between Russia and Ukraine – well I think that’s just wishful thinking. Putin didn’t invade Ukraine as a negotiation, he wanted regime change. He doesn’t want a bit of Ukraine, he wants it all, under his control.
There’s no value in any negotiation with Putin, he will lie, lie some more, then lie again. You may as well write a treaty on tissue paper. He will break it then lie that he hasn’t and it’s someone else’s fault.
If Ukraine’s army fails to hold the line, the Russian army will sweep through with rape and pillage (it’s what victorious soldiers do). Then the West will be lamenting they didn’t help Ukraine more.
Give Ukraine all the help they need. If they are degrading Putin’s military capabilities they are doing all of us a service.
November 11, 2024
To solution to Ukraine should surely be what the people want. As I understand it, the Crimea was part of Russia within the USSR until the early 1950s when it was administratively transferred to Ukraine but has a majority population that prefers to be Russian. For the rest of Russian-occupied Ukraine I am less clear as to the wishes of the inhabitants. There was a rebellion against Ukraine, but was it Russian inspired or a genuine popular revolt? Russia currently occupies part of Ukrainian territory where the genuine inhabitants wish to remain Ukrainian. The big question is Putin sane enough to negotiate?
November 11, 2024
Crimea is a Tatar region, Putinâs wife is a Tatar so the stopping of water supply to her people by Ukraine struck close to home.
The 4 regions, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya held internationally scrutinised Referenda. The results were conclusive and the 4 âoblastsâ have been legally incorporated into the Russian Federation. Film of a rebuilt Mariupol has been released. Russia is investing heavily in restoring the towns and cities destroyed in the war.
Perhaps there should be internationally scrutinised referenda in other regions too, to see whether the people want to rejoin Russia or remain in Ukraine? Kiev? Sumy? Odessa? Kharkiv? Dniepropetrovsk? Nicholaiv? Poltava? All are Novorossiya.
November 12, 2024
Putin’s alleged partner is not a Crimean Tatar,she is half Uzbek Tartar,born in Tashkent.The Tartars are a diverse ethnic group stretched out in communities from Ukraine to the Chinese border,reflecting their nomadic past.
November 11, 2024
The war in Ukraine is not only to weaken Russia but also to weaken the EU financially and, if possible create a crisis. In particular, Germany and an energy crisis. Mrs Merkel, who was once a senior member of Agitprop in East Germany created the failing renewables Energiewende, made Germany reliant on Russian gas and closed down working nuclear power plants. In addition to inviting 1m refugees into the country pretending they would be much needed âworkersâ for their expanding factories. PM Cameron assisted in 2013 to ramp up the rhetoric by going to Kazakhstan and declaring that the EU should extend further into the former USSR and reach from the Atlantic to the Urals.
November 11, 2024
PS :
Our current Uniparty section intends to ramp up the energy crisis further by declaring at COP29 their intention to also sabotage our electricity supply with a target to decarbonise, by hook or by crook, by 2030 even if it means our electricity is exorbitantly expensive and chaotically intermittent. We are told that this will âsave the planetâ which is odd given that the UN itself only puts âclimate actionâ at #13 in its list of âsustainable goalsâ. Never mind, of course, that both recent and distant past climate history and the science shows there is no danger from either more CO2 or a higher average global temperature. The IPCC Working Group 1 (âthe scienceâ) calculates just 1.2 degrees C for a doubling of CO2 (P95 footnote), Happer & Wijngaarden calculate 0.7 degrees C and Shula and Ott say that CO2 as a trace gas has no affect at all.
November 11, 2024
The decision was made when Putin grabbed the Crimea – the World including the UK shrugged their shoulders and said OK you can have it.
It does mean the Political decisions of the Worlds corrupt leaderships has said in one can take what they want as long as they use force. We just need to be prepared(which the UK isn’t) when the arrive on our shores.
Just remember the Labour Government has given the Chagos Islands without consulting the Chagos people to a Nation some 1,300 miles away that has never inhabited those Islands. So what’s next, the ball is rolling?
November 11, 2024
Ukraine shut off the water supply to the million people in Crimea. That is a war crime. Are you surprised that they voted to remain out of Coke Zelenskyâs production!
Did you honestly not know this? Russia had to supply water in tankers!
November 11, 2024
The answer is twofold:
1- they want to harm Russia and force it into a Russian spring;
2- USA deep state interests in Ukraine require continued secrecy.
Putin has never gone along with the West’s love of woke, nor does it support the NWO. For these reasons Russia was provoked into war.
There have been plenty of opportunities for real negotiations to end the war, ignored by us and the USA, because the West hopes that a prolonged Ukraine war will drain Russia and force Putin out – For our sake that shouldn’t happen.
November 11, 2024
There is a fine balance between helping Ukraine and providing too much, such that there is a danger of NATO becoming embroiled, with possible terminal consequences. Natural justice requires that Putin fails and is seen to fail. If he thinks that the West is not strong enough either militarily or in intent, then will be tempted to think his invasion a success. He will then use a period of peace to regroup and try again or, worse, try to recover the Baltic States. I think we should provide a bit more strength to Ukraine so that they are seen as winners, then negotiate.
November 11, 2024
We should not normalise relations with Russia until all territory, including the Crimea is returned to Ukraine; no peace deal; no UN forces; no ceasefire; no appeasement
I war, one side needs to lose
November 12, 2024
Sorry, Glen, but one side is already losing, and losing badly. It’s the one you’re supporting.
November 11, 2024
Sir John it is very disappointing that no UK MP past and present has had the courage to publicly put forward the facts behind the Ukraine – Russia war, and thus promoted the great loss of life and destruction on both sides.
Crimea was part of Russia until the USSR gave it to Ukraine in 1954. The US/ UK/EU promoted the overthrow of the democratically elected Kiev Government in 2014 because it would not join the EU and was friendly with Russia. The ethnic Russian Ukrainians in the East did not support this illegal overthrow and broke away. The new Kiev government then started shelling the breakaway region. Not unreasonable for Russia to support/defend ethnic Russians in the East of Ukraine. The Various Minsk agreements to cease the hostilities h came to nothing and Boris Johnson is alleged to be responsible for this, urging the Kiev Government to fight on.
There is the point of NATO moving up to the boarder of Russia when there was an agreement not to do so when the USSR was no more. But this was never put down in writing.
In theory when the USSR was no more there was no need for NATO. Instead we have a bigger NATO now than when the USSR existed.
So NATO can’t justify itself unless it has Russia as the enemy.
Hopefully ordinary UK voters will begin to see through the Politics of the current elites and follow the example of the Trump win in the USA.
It is very good that the mother of the current US president is Scottish and we have an MP with very close ties to him to offset the current UK governments feelings about Trump.
WW3 may have moved a little further away on this Remembrance Day
November 11, 2024
Looking at the Armistice event I am reminded that the Kaiser the Czar and King George were cousins and millions died. Then one day before armisticec 1918 the Kaiser was allowed to step over the border into the Netherlands and claim asylum? Young people should take note.
November 11, 2024
The conflict in Ukraine is effectively yet another US proxy war using NATO to fulfil US State Department objectives. Do the people of our country and Europe want war with Russia? Have we been consulted? I donât think so Sir John and I strongly suggest the answer would be an emphatic NO. We donât want war. Our political elites are unwilling to examine the documented history of this conflict including deception against Russia by US State Department. This conflict began because Russia believed Ukraine joining NATO presents an existential threat to them, just as Cuba was seen as a threat to America. Fundamentally itâs not about territory, Russia has no interest in controlling Ukraine or indeed any other country. Thereâs no evidence of this. President elect Trump is right to move to negotiate a settlement and I think itâs disgraceful for our Prime Minister to even consider a short term escalation which would result in more death and destruction.
November 11, 2024
You ask âWhy this difference?â – The answer I would think likely lies in the belief peace in the Middle East is not deliverable, although the recent eradication substantially of Hamas and Hezbollah removes two obstacles whilst meanwhile advancing normalization of inter-state relations in the region. It might be true too that tension in the Middle East suits many, a point Stalin recognized that prompted his swift recognition by the Soviet Union of the State of Israel.
By contrast, peace in Ukraine is deliverable (certainly and quickly if supply to Ukraine were halted) and there is more to be gained from ending the conflict than allowing it to proceed. The escalation and spread risks arising from continuance of the war do not suit many in the international community. Supposing a war aim of the instigators was to weaken Putin and Russia, that has been achieved to a good extent. The E.U. is no longer dependent upon Russian gas, another possible aim. Time to call a halt.
November 11, 2024
Passing comment nowadays on all these areas of conflict seem a bit benign. Yes, most of these places of conflict can be identified as having a historical connection with the UK, as such you get the idea we might have some sway. The reality is lack of UK Political foresight is what has left these places as basket cases.
The other thing that works against the UK is while it might offer a verbal utterance to make its Politicians and Talking Heads feel personally good about themselves, it is now a pygmy on the World Stage, it is unable to project power to defend itself let alone support others. While all those that work in the civilian section of the MOD could fill Wembley Stadium, those that are expected to put their lives on the front-line in the Army couldnât.
November 11, 2024
We have always been at war with Eastasia.
November 11, 2024
Quite right, Sir John.
The fundamental flaw in Western foreign policy is the decadent idea that it is not quite nice to win. Presumably because it is reminiscent of the imperial past. Yet they keep getting entangled in war. So the word “proportionate” was coined to stop the Israelis winning, an attitude we first saw in the Vietnamese war. Don’t go into Gaza, don’t go into Khan Younis, don’t go into Rafah, don’t take the Philadelphi Corridor…don’t go into Lebanon, don’t go near Beirut,,,In both cases, Ukraine and Israel, the wrong weapons were delivered and too late; and with the prohibition: don’t you dare use them as you think fit. In the case of Israel, a disgraceful propaganda war was joined by the cowardly Western powers and pursued through the corrupt anti Western alliance of dictators and torturers, otherwise known as the UN. This propaganda war may yet lose the war against the Ayatollahs and their proxies. The old Biden/Obama regime will continue it to the last minute and do much damage.
The consequence of the “proportionate” approach to war is that it is greatly prolonged, costing more lives and limbs.
November 11, 2024
Apparently NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has said that if Trump âhands over Ukraine to Putinâ, (by which Rutte presumably means attempts to negotitate a peace), he will âpersonallyâ kick the US out of the alliance.
Hilarious.
November 11, 2024
209 criminals arrived in the UK yesterday from the safe country of France âŠ
November 11, 2024
gc :
We shouldnât make the mistake in thinking that just because these undocumented criminals have arrived asking for asylum using the immigration lawyersâ buzz words âoppressionâ, âvictimâ, persecution, etc. that these people are law abiding, look favourably upon our country, its people and democracy and wish to integrate. We already have 3 distinct groups, although often appearing in in bed together, who do not like our country and its people and wish to change it quite dramatically : Communists, Islamists and Malthusians/environmentalists who say we must unilaterally impoverish ourselves to save the planet. BTW note that Macron, Scholz and Ursula von der Leyen are not attending COP29. But of course Starmer and Miliband are.
November 11, 2024
And in a few years time they’ll be demanding what’s yours under equality laws and via taxes/benefits.
November 11, 2024
Yet again, I fully concur with your logic.
Why is it that UK and EU politicians cannot see it? Could it be that their decisions reflect their preferences?
November 11, 2024
Until now the US policy on Russia has been one of containment which denies Russia access to world trade routes by sea, carrying 95% of the world’s trade in goods, via one of its only two ports that are ice free all year round. Crimea is of strategic importance to Russia, not to the West.
Russia is also concerned that Ukraine joining NATO would mean nuclear weapons being sited on its borders. This simply mirrors the US concern when Khruschev third to site nuclear weapons in Cuba in 1962.
It should not be difficult for the West to recognise these as legitimate concerns. Members of NATO do not have to accept nuclear weapons on their soil. As far as I know, Sweden, Norway and Iceland do not.
Germany’s and the EU’s primary objective is to gain control of Ukraine’s vast mineral reserves of which lithium and rare earths alone are worth up to US$12trillion, to support Green Energy. Why not revert to a supply arrangement as it was before Russia’s invasion?
Ukraine never delivered on its commitments to grant a degree of autonomy to the Russian speaking areas of Ukraine.
Prior to 2014 Ukraine wanted to be neutral. Why can it not be neutral now? Short answer, EU expansionism.
It seems to me that a negotiated settlement should be entirely feasible.
Contrast that with middle east, where one side believes it is the will of god that it should annihilate the other and no sacrifice is too great to achieve that. A negotiated settlement is not possible. The only path to peace is the unconditional surrender Iran’s proxies and perhaps regime change on Iran.
The threat from this war is a threat to destroy all Western culture. Putin’s aims are local and easily accommodated.
November 11, 2024
100%.
November 11, 2024
We are told proximity of nuclear weapons is no longer much of an issue.
Why go to war over such a meaningless point?
November 12, 2024
Who on earth told you that?!
November 12, 2024
You are behind the times.The Arctic route (NSR)is operational all year round from this year and the Iranian alliance and development of the INSTC infrastructure give Russia unrestricted access to huge and growing Asian and African markets by sea.Meanwhile,the Houthi blockade of Israeli-supporting western ships in the Red Sea is forcing western shipping to take the long route via the Cape.
November 11, 2024
This discussion is interesting but hypothetical as Trump and his team will do whatever they want irrespective of what the EU or UK say. I imagine Starmerâs only contribution might be to say that any Ukrainian who wants to can settle in the UK.
November 11, 2024
Off topic. According to https://www.solar.sheffield.ac.uk/pvlive/
we are generating 0.39 gw of solar power from an installed base of 17 gw. Doesnât seem worth bothering with.
November 11, 2024
But your daily reported energy farce is most welcome.
November 11, 2024
MW :
Yes, and that is why they’re pushing ahead with decarbonisation based upon renewables. The fact that nuclear, the only affordable and reliable low CO2 emitting source of power, is ignored is evidence if still needed that decarbonisation has absolutely nothing to do with âsaving the planetâ.
November 11, 2024
For nearly 20 years Iâve served as Mace Bearer for Reading Borough Council. Today during our Armistice Day commemorations we were disrupted for the first time in my experience by a protestor seemingly about the conflict in Gaza. No police were present. The Mayor and I felt physically threatened and many of the crowd were unnerved . Why was there no security when plenty of warnings had been given about planned disruption. Weâve always assumed the police would protect us but they failed us today. Thankfully it ended peacefully but the ceremony was ruined.
November 11, 2024
I’m surprised that no violence was metered out on such a disruption.
November 12, 2024
MT
Agree a disgusting opportunist act of publicity.
According to the TV reports there were also a few supporters of the protester present in the crowd, and so perhaps a huge escalation may have happened if someone had attempted to force the lady away.
No surprise that no Police were present, they simply do not have enough members to be available on duty to Police every Public event.
Been in many meetings with the Police over the years, as I have been a senior organiser of many charity events over the years, including large public Firework displays, which are officially regarded as Non Policing events, even Henley Regatta is now regarded as a Non Policing event !
We had a similar disturbance/Protest last year when unveiling a blood trauma kit in a local Town Precinct, fortunately it was a lone protester, and so I was able to calmly talk to them, explain that this was not the time and place for such protests, and they did shut up, I made it my business to stand with them throughout the rest of the presentation (which was being Filmed by the BBC) and we had a lengthy but friendly conversation afterwards about his thoughts and actions.
November 11, 2024
I agree with your comments. Russia will not back down and the EU will not either. So it looks like it is up to Trump to sort it out. Starmer has made it quite obvious he is going the way of the EU on everything so Trump will have to deal with him too – hefty taxes on imports/exports?
November 11, 2024
Maidan Square (the prelude to civil war/invasion) was about Ukraine’s right to join the EU.
Hopefully Trump will call Putin’s bluff on peace rather than war. That is to say Ukraine should cede the land already taken but Putin must go no further.
There is little point in men dying over land that cannot be recovered. What’s left of Ukraine may then be allowed to join the EU.
November 11, 2024
Most people in the Crimea are ethnically and culturally Russian. When we fought the Crimean War, we fought Russia – not Ukraine. Russia left a million of its men dead in the. Times in WW2. I can understand why Russia thinks the Crimea is theirs.
November 11, 2024
dead in the Crimea – not âdead in the. Timesâ – mobile phones and auto gibberish!
November 11, 2024
Any knowledge of history would have taught Nato that it is madness to try to claim Ukraine for the west. Holding Nato exercises along its southern coast tweaked Russia’s nose: Putin just waited for five years, then simply stepped in and annexed Crimea. (Long-term, he probably wants the whole coast up to Odessa.)
The EU is a form of occupation without military involvement, one that mercantalist Germany keenly furthers (see its role in Yugoslavia’s dismemberment), while constantly proclaiming good will to men. Putin will not let that pass either. And the moment Starmer or some other misguided western politician ‘helps’ Ukraine by providing it with arms to invade or destroy Russia internally, there could well be missiles attacking western Europe, including the UK.
Have we not had enough of counter-productive attempts at regime change?