Russian President Putin sat down for a rear-ending chat with is long-time ally Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s CEO to discuss the year’s doings. (For those not familiar with Gazprom, I highly suggest this current bio.) Miller’s report has some wow highlights. Yet, what makes this an intoxicating article is
" the Academy of Martial Arts...is the largest facility for sambo and judo in the world. Even in a country like Japan, where judo is a national sport, there is nothing like this."
Another result of Putin's high ranking black belt in judo. Many people don't know about sambo, the Russian equivalent of judo:
"Russian support for the potential “re-annexation” of country 404 border regions "
Mercouris was big on that in a recent Duran video. I still don't see it happening. I see this as Putin keeping the West off-balance as to what Russia will do once it decides to pass the Dnieper. Offering the border countries pieces of Ukraine will cause them to hamper any Western notions of "intervening" once Russia approaches Kiev. Not to mention those countries might be a bit nervous that if the West intervenes in Ukraine from their territory that Russia will roll over those countries once the West's forces are defeated inside Ukraine. I'm sure cooler heads in those countries are taking note of that possibility. All this speculation just aids Russia in keeping its cards close to its vest.
But everyone is too focused on "leaving Ukraine a rump state" to think about other possibilities. I don't even know where that notion originated - no one in Russia ever suggested it, to my knowledge. It seems to be simply an extrapolation based on Putin's initial speech concentrating on freeing Donbass and further speculation about Odessa and a connection to Transnistria. Not to mention speculation based on Russia allegedly being "afraid of an insurgency" like the late '40s-early '50s. It's juvenile thinking.
Yeah, IMO at the outset given SMO's goals that all of Ukraine would need to be "pacified," neutered of its military capability and the regime's ideology. Medvedev has been consistent throughout, and it must be recalled that Dmitri's been a Putin partner since the 1990s just like Miller.
Yes, it's very cool! Pepe and I have had a correspondent relationship for going on three years now, and before that I constantly and consistently promoted his articles on various venues. Our aims are the same--informing the uninformed masses, which is where Pepe's multilingual abilities are a great asset.
Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023Liked by Karl Sanchez
"Russian development of the Northern Sea Route happens to run in total synergy with the Chinese drive to develop the Arctic leg of BRI. On the oil front, Russian shipments to China via its Arctic coast takes only 35 days: 10 days less than via Suez." Interesting. But if you look at the shipping map somebody at MoA provided, there's not a single vessel up North right now. Maybe because it's December. Perhaps after June or July that changes...
Yes, what's moving now are LNG tankers from Yamal to the West. Only ice class vessels would be allowed this time of year IF Russia were to declare the entire Northern Sea Route open year-round, which it hasn't yet. There's infrastructure needed to be opened to support Winter operations. Plus, at the moment there are very few ice class oil tankers.
" the Academy of Martial Arts...is the largest facility for sambo and judo in the world. Even in a country like Japan, where judo is a national sport, there is nothing like this."
Another result of Putin's high ranking black belt in judo. Many people don't know about sambo, the Russian equivalent of judo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_(martial_art)
"Russian support for the potential “re-annexation” of country 404 border regions "
Mercouris was big on that in a recent Duran video. I still don't see it happening. I see this as Putin keeping the West off-balance as to what Russia will do once it decides to pass the Dnieper. Offering the border countries pieces of Ukraine will cause them to hamper any Western notions of "intervening" once Russia approaches Kiev. Not to mention those countries might be a bit nervous that if the West intervenes in Ukraine from their territory that Russia will roll over those countries once the West's forces are defeated inside Ukraine. I'm sure cooler heads in those countries are taking note of that possibility. All this speculation just aids Russia in keeping its cards close to its vest.
But everyone is too focused on "leaving Ukraine a rump state" to think about other possibilities. I don't even know where that notion originated - no one in Russia ever suggested it, to my knowledge. It seems to be simply an extrapolation based on Putin's initial speech concentrating on freeing Donbass and further speculation about Odessa and a connection to Transnistria. Not to mention speculation based on Russia allegedly being "afraid of an insurgency" like the late '40s-early '50s. It's juvenile thinking.
Yeah, IMO at the outset given SMO's goals that all of Ukraine would need to be "pacified," neutered of its military capability and the regime's ideology. Medvedev has been consistent throughout, and it must be recalled that Dmitri's been a Putin partner since the 1990s just like Miller.
Congratulations, Karl! Pepe Escobar giving you a shout out is an honor indeed!
https://twitter.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1740057104059080806?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Yes, it's very cool! Pepe and I have had a correspondent relationship for going on three years now, and before that I constantly and consistently promoted his articles on various venues. Our aims are the same--informing the uninformed masses, which is where Pepe's multilingual abilities are a great asset.
"Russian development of the Northern Sea Route happens to run in total synergy with the Chinese drive to develop the Arctic leg of BRI. On the oil front, Russian shipments to China via its Arctic coast takes only 35 days: 10 days less than via Suez." Interesting. But if you look at the shipping map somebody at MoA provided, there's not a single vessel up North right now. Maybe because it's December. Perhaps after June or July that changes...
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:114.5/centery:51.6/zoom:2
Yes, what's moving now are LNG tankers from Yamal to the West. Only ice class vessels would be allowed this time of year IF Russia were to declare the entire Northern Sea Route open year-round, which it hasn't yet. There's infrastructure needed to be opened to support Winter operations. Plus, at the moment there are very few ice class oil tankers.
rear ending chat first line? typo or funny?
Yes, a typo of the sort that spellcheck doesn't catch. Year-ending is how it's supposed to read.