via RT

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has claimed that the world is transitioning to a new diplomatic order in which Washington must lead the way in overcoming increasing threats from Russia and China by working with its allies to build trust among nations for whom the old system failed.

“One era is ending, a new one is beginning, and the decisions that we make now will shape the future for decades to come,” Blinken said on Wednesday in a speech at John Hopkins University in Washington. He said the “post-Cold War order” ended as “decades of relative geopolitical stability have given way to an intensifying competition with authoritarian powers.”

Namely, those powers are led by Russia and China, Blinken said, adding that “Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is the most immediate, the most acute threat to the international order.” China poses the biggest long-term challenge, he claimed, because it aspires to reshape the international order and is developing the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do so.

“Beijing and Moscow are working together to make the world safe for autocracy through their ‘no limits’ partnership,” Blinken argued. He claimed that Russia and China have framed the existing order as a “Western imposition,” but that system is anchored in universal values and enshrined in international law. Ironically, he also accused the two rivals of believing that big countries can “dictate their choices to others,” a charge that is increasingly made against Washington.

“When the Beijings and Moscows of the world try to rewrite – or rip down – the pillars of the multilateral system, when they falsely claim that the order exists merely to advance the interests of the West at the expense of the rest, a growing global chorus of nations and people will stand up to say, ‘No, the system you are trying to change is our system. It serves our interests,’” Blinken claimed.

Blinken suggested that the US will lead “from a position of strength” largely because of its “humility.” He added, “We know we will have to earn the trust of a number of countries and citizens for whom the old order failed to deliver on many of its promises.”

Alliances will be key to Washington’s success, Blinken said. He claimed that just a few years after the capabilities and relevance of NATO were openly questioned, the Western military block has become “bigger, stronger, more united than ever.”

The Russia-Ukraine conflict proved that “an attack on the international order anywhere will hurt people everywhere,” Blinken said. He added that the US aims to ensure that Ukraine defeats Russia and emerges from the conflict as a “vibrant and prosperous democracy.”

by Ilya Tsukanov via Sputnik Globe

Russia last proved its penchant for innovation in breakthrough weapons designs in 2018, unveiling a series of cutting-edge strategic systems. Fast-forward five years, and the Russian president has again mentioned work on mysterious new arms based on “new physical principles.” Sputnik turned to top Russian and US military experts for comment.

Russia’s defense sector is working on state-of-the-art weapons based on “new physical principles,” President Vladimir Putin has revealed.

“If one looks into the security sphere, weapons based on new physical principles will ensure the security of any country in the near historical perspective. We understand this very well and are working on it,” Putin said in a wide-ranging speech at the Eastern Economic Forum on Tuesday.

Putin did not elaborate, leaving media and military observers scrambling in a search for more information.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s official online encyclopedia defines“weapons based on new physical principles” as “new types of arms whose destructive effect is based on processes and phenomena which have not previously been used for military purposes.”

As of the early 21st century, these weapons are said to include:

• Directed energy weapons (laser, accelerator, microwave and infrasonic-based arms designed to destroy or disable enemy manpower, equipment, or hardened facilities and infrastructure). “All types of directed energy weapons are practically inertia-free, and with the exception of infrasonic weapons, are instantaneous […] The greatest successes” in this direction “have been achieved in improving laser weapons,” according to the MoD.
• Electromagnetic weapons (ultra-high frequency and laser-based), whose destructive properties are achieved through the use of a “powerful, usually pulsed stream of electromagnetic coherent optical radiation [featured in some types of lasers, ed.], or incoherent optical radiation.”
• Non-lethal weapons, designed to disable weapons, equipment, materiel, and personnel without inflicting irreparable losses on the latter. The Russian military divides these into anti-personnel, anti-equipment/materiel, and combined anti-personnel/anti-equipment/anti-materiel systems. These include various weapons designed to replace existing tools used by domestic security services, such as teargas, rubber bullets, psychotropic devices, infrasonic weapons, and electronic suppression, as well as military-grade biological and chemical agents which can decompose or otherwise render useless fuels, insulation and rubber products, and ultra-high frequency systems meant to disable radio-electronic components of enemy weapons and equipment.
• Geophysical weapons (seismic, climate, ozone, environmental), collectively defined by the MoD as “means to deliberately influence the environment to use the forces of nature for military purposes.” These hypothetical weapons are designed to act against the solid, liquid, and gaseous properties of the planet and its atmosphere, and can include using powerful explosives to cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, and other catastrophes, as well as altering the weather or climate in certain parts of the planet, resulting in droughts, floods, storms, etc. Ozone weapons are designed to create holes in the ozone layer, causing widespread damage using ultraviolet radiation from space across vast geographic areas. Finally, environmental weapons are categorized as those designed to target forests, crops, water, air, or soil resources, possibly through the use of chemical or biological agents.
• Radiological weapons include arms whose destructive effect “is based on the use of radioactive substances capable of poisoning manpower with ionizing radiation without a nuclear explosion,” with radiation-spewing materials obtained from the leftovers of nuclear fuel, or by exposing chemical elements to neutron fluxes to produce radioactive isotopes. These arms can be fitted inside shells, air-droppable bombs, missile warheads, and other conventional munitions, and are designed to contaminate the environment for tens if not hundreds of years.
• Finally, genetic weapons are defined as “a type of weapon capable of damaging the genetic (hereditary) apparatus of human beings,” including through the use of viruses with mutagenic properties, as well as “mutations derived from natural sources by chemical synthesis or biotechnological methods, to cause damage or changes to DNA. This type of prospective weaponry is considered particularly dangerous in light of “the unpredictability of the consequences” of their use, in the Russian military’s estimation.

US Working on ‘Universal’ Genetically Engineered Bioweapon: Russian Parliamentary Investigation

What Types of Weapons Based on New Physical Principles is Russia Working on?

Russia’s military, the state, and military-affiliated research institutes have been mostly tight-lipped about the types of weapons based on new physical principles the country is developing, but have nevertheless dropped hints about their priorities and concerns.

For example, as a party to the Biological Weapons Convention, Russia has set a blanket ban on the creation of genetic weapons. At the same time, the Russian military has revealed in great detail the extent of illegal US research in this direction at biolabs in Ukraine and other countries around the world under the guise of anti-pandemic preparation and other civilian research.

As the possessor of the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, Moscow has also eschewed the creation of radiological weapons, or “dirty bombs,” citing the danger of their development and possible use by terrorists or enemy powers, including for false flag attacks against Russia.

Veteran Russian military observer Viktor Murakhovsky told Sputnik that President Putin’s comments on weapons based on “new physical principles” are most likely a reference to lasers and other high-energy physics-based weapons.

As in the field of hypersonic missiles, in which Russia got a head start thanks to a solid foundation of research going back to at least the 1970s, Russia’s modern research in laser weaponry also dates back to fundamental studies carried out by brilliant 20th century scientists, Murakhovsky said, pointing to the Nobel Prize-winning work of physicists including Alexander Prokhorov and Anatoly Vlasov.

“We have been working on laser weapons for quite a long time, since the 1970s,” the observer said. “Today, Sergey Grigorievich Garanin has been appointed general designer of laser systems. He’s working at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics, and currently leading the development of two projects, including a laser complex, and a whole complex of systems designed to ensure [national] security.”

In 2016, Murakovsky recalled, then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev got a demonstration of an anti-drone laser weapon at the Institute of Laser Physics, after which the state gave the go-ahead on the technology’s speedy introduction into the military.

“Amongst other things, the Peresvet laser installation was created, designed to blind enemy spy satellites in areas where our mobile ballistic missiles are located…A second laser-based system was designed to destroy small drones. Today, elsewhere in the world, including in the US and China, laser systems like Astra Gemini are being used intensively on some ships. But so far we have not seen any clear demonstration of such systems,” Murakhovsky said.

WATCH Russian ‘Peresvet’ Combat Laser System Getting Battle Ready

At present, Murakhovsky believes, the NATO-proxy war against Russia in Ukraine makes anti-drone lasers the most urgently-needed kind of weapon based on new physical principles. Here, he said, a number of teething issues, including lasers’ performance in fog, rain and cloud cover, and the tremendous amount of power they require to operate, have prevented their widespread adoption and deployment.

“The advantage of laser weapons is clear: they instantly destroy their target. But the disadvantages, especially in field applications, are very great. It’s necessary, in effect, to build a separate electrical generator for ground-based systems…So the president was talking about upcoming developments. We will watch, and the entire Western world will also be watching,” the expert summed up.

US’ Aggressive Posture as Primary Motivator

Asked about the factors pushing Russia’s work on fundamentally new kinds of armaments, retired US Air Force ieutenant colonel and former Pentagon analyst-turned whistleblower Karen Kwiatkowski told Sputnik that the US and NATO’s “containment” doctrine, used “to justify its defense spending and maintenance of dollar dominance in the world for a good 40 years after this concept had become hollow and meaningless,” is most directly responsible.

“American military expansion, and more specifically, the US government’s struggle to maintain dollar dominance and global energy control, has caused the rest of the world to think defensively, develop both military and economic strategies to counter US force and hegemony,” Kwiatkowski said.

It’s a dialectical process, in the observer’s view.

“When the US brings its Air Force, Army and Navy close to a country’s shores, and when it targets all parts of a country geographically, as in Asia, Russia, and the Mideast, those countries react accordingly. Those that are economically or politically weaker and non-nuclear choose terrorism and sometimes, compliance; those that are mid-sized will group together with others; and the largest countries, and those with the most to lose, plan strategically to counter the known threat,” Kwiatkowski said.

“The US military does not and is not capable of defending the United States proper, nor can it well defend its many bases around the world…American politicians confuse offense and hegemony with defense, and this vulnerability has shaped the defensive and offensive actions of [areas] of the world that the US considers its enemies and threats,” the observer added.

Ultimately, Kwiatkowski believes that the countries that will set the trend in the creation of new advanced defense systems of the future will be those that will be “open to all kinds of technology” are willing “to design new weapons and improve on the old,” and which have “a well-educated and scientifically-minded country.”

via https://t.me/Slavyangrad edited by Algora

Some or many won’t agree with my assessment, but I do believe that it is worth contemplating.

We are using the phrase “to the last Ukrainian” too often (and I wrote about that earlier). To emphasize and make an argument stronger, we always combine that with talk about their nonstop mobilization and now, also, with mobilizing those who are unfit for military service. If it’s followed by a video of the forceful recruiting methods, even better. For us. However, we tend to forget one crucial thing. In Artemovsk, many of those who fought for the AFU were territorial defense units, with little or no training. They were sent, along with better-trained and equipped troops, to try to hold the city. As a logical conclusion of their participation, they were mostly wiped out, or rendered ineffective due to the terrible losses sustained. No one contests that fact, because it’s true and well-known. Wagner did a good job. But you will remember that many are territorial defense units. Right? Let’s go forward. Only a few months later, the AFU attacked with heavy force in Zaporozhye, and recently in Donetsk. They still hold Marinka, Avdeevka, and Ugledar, and are only slowly retreating in the Kupiansk direction.

Those attacking in Zaporozhye & Donetsk are Western and domestically-trained troops, heavily armed, in significant amounts with Western weapons. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel and claim something, but Artemovsk was a delaying action, and was paid for dearly by the AFU. Ukraine’s high command decided to buy time with the blood (to be honest, they couldn’t do it any other way) but sent those with lower combat value to save troops for the main attack. Now, after all this time, the main attack wasn’t decisive or lethal, as some feared. They’re not idiots in the UA HQ. They are trained in the same schools as Russian generals. If you believe the opposite, you are wrong. They tried a type of blitzkrieg attack, probably under the influence of NATO generals, which proved futile. However, they are still attacking. A logical question arises. Why are they attacking? Is it time to call it off?

Often the response is, 1) They can’t do it, NATO doesn’t allow it; 2) It’s for PR purposes. I will offer answer no. 3), which you may agree or disagree with. Offense is the best defense.

While the grouping currently fighting is being spent, (at this point, already over 80.000 KIA/WIA/MIA), UA is doing the same thing that the Artemovsk group did – meaning: forming, training, and equipping another main battle group, and at the same time creating, again, a secondary group which will consist of defense units. The job of the latter will be to take and try to absorb the Russian counter-strike as much as possible without the need to sacrifice too much of the main strike group, in terms of men and equipment. The idea is similar to ours, to allow the enemy to attack, slow him down, wear him out as much as possible and when the time is right, strike again with a newly-created main group. Then repeat if necessary. You see, thecUA complains about men, but maybe not because of what we are thinking of.

Recruitment centers were under pressure to fulfill quotas. Being corrupt, they let many off. Kiev and bigger cities are full of military-capable men. The problem is the inefficiency of recruiters. All those who are fit will go to better training to create a new main group. All those unfit, young, old, women (maybe), who are intended to contain the Russian attack, will get minimal training. They don’t need anything better, just to know how to shoot, because they will be sitting in the trenches and fortifications, waiting for the Russian army to flush them out, but at the same time waiting for Russians to wear themselves down in the process. Everything that we have seen so far, from the beginning of the SMO and onwards, leads us to think that such development is not only possible but has already been used on several occasions. Such an approach is paid for dearly in terms of human lives and it’s not honorable, but those who fight with honor obviously don’t wage war.

In fact, we can find similar examples in the old Soviet manuals and teachings, some directly from the battlefield of WW2 against the Germans, where some low quality divisions were put out there first, to try to weaken the Germans, thus allowing more worthy Soviet troops to capitalize on a weakened enemy. Both sides know that.

Regarding weapons lost, losses in hardware have been considerable for the UA, but they have plenty. Keep in mind that weapons are flowing non-stop. The news that the USA was sending 190 MRAPS a few days ago passed almost unnoticed. There are many such cases. So, no, Ukraine will not run out of weapons anytime soon.

Personally, I believe that the path to victory in this conflict, chosen by Moscow, is to break the possibility of UA waging war for generations to come. Degradation, exhaustion, breaking their will, and utter defeat, a kind of war of attrition, but on a much grander scale is the accepted solution. Similar recommendations are written in Soviet strategic doctrine. That means that the war will not end anytime soon.

After that, there won’t be any Ukraine anymore.

——————————————-

Comment by M S:

I believe that the approach you are describing is exactly correct…. with one significant difference – what you call territorial defence, or old and feeble are nothing but Russian speakers! And what you call “trained” and/or strong soldiers are the “Real Ukrainians” if you get my drift (Banderites, if you really know what’s going on).

And if you ask me how is that possible? There is a simple answer – Ukraine is running 2 books (surprise) one for the nationalists and the other marked as ‘the rest – gender, age, health or skill is irrelevant.

Now if you accept the above premise then it is very easy to also understand why the general staff of UA would use the tactics they have …. both in Bachmut and now down in Zaporhozie ….. which is all skilled and well equipped units are used only in the event of high impact and high success operations…. whether they succeed or not after each operation they are rotated out and replaced with the so called “territorial units” … or Russian speakers cannon fodder.

This is also why the saying “to the last Ukrainian” has not alarmed Kiev at the slightest – neither Nuland nor Blinken ‘blinked’ about any of this – and for precisely above stated reason. This is their genocide agenda taken officially to another level.

It also explains why they doggedly deny that UA has too many casualties – they only count as Ukrainian losses those from the first list. Also they are more than happy to assign the second group as really a RF losses …. I know it’s ridiculous but again if you accept the above segregation of the forces it makes a perfect sense.

The total blackout of reporting other than official Kiev assigned sources and making publishing of any media criminal serves one purpose – to contain and scatter any documentation, evidence or even a tell sign that this is going on …. that is genocide at the fastest possible rate (if they don’t want to use gas chambers like the German nazis did) It is also very effective defence against RF army because they know that most of the trenches are manned by those who they [the Rusdians] really don’t want to kill!

I’ve watched this conflict daily from the day 1, from many sources and checked the background of it in detail also. So my statement here as much as you can call a speculation has a deep understanding behind it. Also I come from what you call the Eastern block and thoroughly understand how or why Banderites would generate 2 lists and create 2 layers of population – those who they are keen to preserve and the rest…. I’ve seen that attitude and as revolting as it is, Nuland and Blinken know whose blood is being spilled on the front line (mostly) ….. If RF ever wants to attain the SMO goals they will have to literally sweep clean the Ukrainian step to Lvov…. and even then they will face “the government abroad” claiming to be the real Ukraine same as Taiwan keeps insisting that it is the real China …. in both cases a ghost supported by US of A through smorgasbord of phony “international” fully subordinated organizations.

That’s the main reason I think Russia is not pushing to fasttrack the end of the conflict even though they currently already could. The aspect of building up a strong enough section of Global South which can economically and politically sustain viable opposition to the neocolonial western block – this aspect is as important as the millitary conflict with proxy Nato puppet in Kiev.

Anyone doubting that this is the case should examine at what point was Russia willing to start the open millitary confrontation with the west …. my answer would be – only when Putin knew that Russia has achieved strategic superiority to the West through the functional implementation of hypersonic capability into their nuclear doctrine. The West of course will deny this until blue in the face, but the fact that no nuclear weapon has been used as yet is screeming laud enough to those in the know (if you remember the ‘lettuce lady’ prime minister who didn’t last even 11 days is on record yielling ‘I’ll push the button, just give it to me’ – that was no joke she said that) Since then Pentagon has been happy to empty all armouries of EU so MIC an get decades worth of contracts to rearm, but they also clamped down on any early calls for going nuclear, which there were plenty to start with – a sign that West has had that plan on the table for a very long time …. bullying is one of the critical traits of any top political players in the west!

Yes there was plenty of ‘hope’/wishfull thinking that RF will break down from the applied pressure so going nuclear would never come to play….. but if anyone thinks that these people are just making stupid statements and don’t follow a predetermined game-plan they are grossly mistaken. Of course as time goes by plan A turns to plan B & also whatever was prepared ahead must be adapted …. accepting that Russian nuclear doctrine has gotten well ahead of US means that as much as Russia needs time to build a new political block called Global South to sustain it’s future existence, the West needs time to re-arm and more importantly figure out how to get on equal footing in the nuclear doctrine as well.

Considering they are hopelessly behind in the hypersonic space it will have to come from an asymmetrical approach – all that takes time and for time they will play! If it takes 100 false flags in Ukraine, new international crisis or anything else below the belt they will go for it – the entire western system has been built to run on the platform of creating uncontested supremacy by any means necessary – that is a doctrine which the rest of the world hates, protests against but so far can’t do nothing about!

via https://m.vk.com/wall-46217147_238837?lang=en

Machine Translated

You have not yet understood what Russia is preparing for and what is the main meaning of Surovikin’s new position

JUST ABOUT VERY COMPLICATED

Unfortunately, we still have many people who do not understand the true nature of the events taking place or misjudge it. It is for this reason that we constantly hear about Putin’s slowness and indecision. Someone really does not understand the true meaning of what is happening, others are just trying to make a split in our society in this way.

It is not necessary to consider what is happening as a kind of local conflict on the territory of a neighboring state. In fact, we are seeing a confrontation between the collective West on the one hand and Russia on the other. And we must understand that this conflict will not end in a draw. It will definitely end with the victory of one of the parties. There are no other options. No peace negotiations, both possible and impossible in principle, should mislead you. If they happen, they will carry only two meanings: it will either be a pause for regrouping forces and additional training, or it will be someone’s surrender. And again, I repeat that it is about the collective West and Russia.

There are different ways to treat a possible pause now. And here it is worth understanding that the main thing is not the pause itself, but its conditions and how each side uses it. So both the West and Russia can get positive moments for themselves at the same time, and it is not at all a fact that the KZ uses it better than we do.

So far, Russia is clearly winning in the confrontation. Victory is not just about territories. Not even so much them. The main thing is different. How exhausted is the resource of each side. And here Russia’s resource is not only not exhausted, but it is increasing every month. At this time, the resource of the West is weakening, despite the fact that they have already given almost everything they could to our opponents. Now the last argument remains in the form of F 16.

This argument is not so much important for the conduct of the operation as it is dangerous for the security of our country. After all, the main task of these supplies will be to ensure the ability to strike with long-range missiles. And we must understand that this is the last argument of the West. If it doesn’t work, then there are two options left. Either an open entry into the conflict, or capitulation on the terms of Russia.

But it is important to understand that this step is not aimed at the theater of operations itself. With all due respect to the F16, this outdated model will not make a significant change in the balance of power. Here the goal is completely different.

In combination with the statements of our enemy about the preparation of almost 200 thousand UAVs, it is not difficult to guess what the main goals the West sets for itself. They don’t need a fracture in the Theater of operations, they need a fracture in the situation inside Russia. They understand perfectly well that this is the only way they can achieve victory.

Their plan is extremely simple. To strike at Russian territory so that they have a wide public response. And not only media, but also, let’s say, natural. The calculation is that if Russians living on a fairly large territory of the country suddenly feel unprotected, then this will lead, if not to direct unrest, then at least to Putin’s problems in the presidential elections.
So you don’t have to be a great visionary to assume that the main blow will fall on the period before the presidential election. And for this, preparatory work is now underway in the West.

But Russia and its leadership understand this very well. So, they are preparing for this in every possible way. Even Shoigu’s statement at the inspection of defense plants, about the need to build up the radar, says this. After all, radar is more about defense.

Well, the main step in preparing the country to repel this provocation was the appointment of General Surovikin to the post of head of the coordinating committee on air defense issues at the Council of the CIS Defense Ministry. And we must understand that this step is absolutely logical.

General Surovikin has already shown himself to be a master of building defenses on the ground. The so-called “Surovikin line” has become an insurmountable obstacle in the way of our enemies. And it’s not just our opinion. Almost all Western experts declare this with one voice.

Now it’s time to create something like this already in the sky to protect us from the actions of the West. But the most remarkable thing about this is that we are talking about the coordination of air defense systems not only of Russia, but also of the entire CIS. In simple words, all air defense systems that are located on the territory of the CIS countries (naturally included in the CSTO) will be involved. But first of all, of course, we are talking about Belarus. After all, it is from this direction that we should expect the greatest threat to our territory, which the recent events in Pskov have only confirmed.

In my opinion, Surovikin has enough time to organize everything at the proper level. There is no reason to doubt his abilities. And if they are also backed up by the necessary supplies of air defense and radar, then the enemy is waiting for the same thing that we are now seeing on the ground.

It is very important for Russia not to let the West implement its plan. And I will remind you once again that it is designed for you and me. To make us panic. And here we must understand that there is no fence without “holes” and no air defense system gives 100% result. So some kind of trouble may well happen. And here, for the country, our correct reaction to such possible events is no less important than the work of our military-industrial complex and Surovikin.

It is no coincidence that recently General Surovikin, “General Armageddon”, has been appointed Head of the Coordination Committee for Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Missile Defense of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In addition to promises to supply Ukraine with F16 aircraft, the West declares preparation for attacks against Russia by a swarm of almost 200,000 (that’s two hundred thousand) kamikaze drones, as well as the possible delivery of long-range missiles to Kiev. Frequent drone attacks against Russian territory probing the Russian DAA, always in the presence of NATO reconnaissance aircraft, prove this.

The attack by a swarm of drones in combination with missile bombings must, according to NATO experts, cause not only military, but political effects, provoking fear and discontent in the population…

There is still time to prepare for this “Air Counteroffensive.” And it is very logical that Surovikin is entrusted with building a new line of defense, but now – an anti-aircraft line of defense. And at the CIS level. That is, a common defense, together with Russia’s allied countries within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO). With Belarus, at front end.

Recently, the Minister of Defense, Shoigu, carried out an inspection of plants producing anti-aircraft and electronic warfare systems, announcing a considerable increase in production of this equipment.

The Russian leadership is confident that General Surovikin has enough time and will have enough means to organize a Collective Anti-Air and Anti-Missile Defense Line against a collective “Air Counteroffensive” of the West.

See World War-III – More Signs of Escalation

by M.K. Bhadrakumar via Indian Punchline

Any longtime observer of Russian politics would know that the state of play in the Russian-American tango is best assessed from subplots, often obscure and unnoticed, away from its amphitheatre where gladiators cross swords. Therefore, two alleys on Ukraine crisis need to be explored.

[ . . . ]

Meanwhile, on September 6, Blinken embarked on quite an untypical visit to Kiev. There was no fire in his belly. For once, he didn’t threaten Russia or ridicule Putin from Ukrainian soil. Nor did Blinken show much enthusiasm for Kiev’s counteroffensive.

Rather, his focus was rather on the war’s horrific trail causing human suffering, Ukraine’s post-conflict recovery as a democracy and its economy’s reconstruction. Blinken said repeatedly that he was undertaking the visit on Biden’s instruction. In the presence of President Zelensky, Blinken stated:

“We are determined in the United States to continue to walk side by side with you. And President Biden asked me to come, to reaffirm strongly our support, to ensure that we are maximising the efforts that we’re making and other countries are making for the immediate challenge of the counteroffensive as well as the longer-term efforts to help Ukraine build a force for the future that can deter and defend against any future aggression, but also to work with you and support you as you engage in the critical work of strengthening your democracy, rebuilding your economy.”

Stirring words, but there was no boastful talk of liberating Crimea, carrying the fight into the Russian camp or forcing Russia to vacate the annexed territories and negotiating with Russia only from a position of strength. At Blinken’s joint press availability with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the latter claimed that they had a “substantive” discussion on providing long-range rockets, ATACMS to Kiev. But Blinken sidestepped the topic.

The most unusual thing about Blinken’s visit was that it spilled over to a second day. This must be the first time Blinken spent a night in Ukraine. Blinken had a rather tight schedule on the first day meeting Kuleba, Zelensky and Prime Minister Denis Shmigal, but the itinerary for the second day [September 7], was left open. Obviously, he came to Kiev for some serious discussions.

Conceivably, Biden could be interested in starting peace talks between Moscow and Kiev now that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed to meet its politico-military objectives, and there are worrisome signs of support waning in America and Europe for the proxy war, while a Russian offensive could deal a knockout punch on Ukraine’s military. Both Russian and western estimates are that close to 65-70,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in these past 3 months alone since Kiev’s “counteroffensive” began.

Meanwhile, in an interesting coincidence, on September 6, Ukraine’s parliament Verkhovna Rada approved the appointment of Rustem Umerov as the new Defence Minister replacing Alexei Reznikov. A Crimean Tartar born in Uzbekistan (USSR), Umerov has no previous military background. But he is trusted by Zelensky and is acceptable to the Americans.

What distinguishes Umerov is that he was a key negotiator at the peace talks with Russia in Istanbul last year in March, which actually resulted in an agreed document (from which Zelensky subsequently retracted under Anglo-American pressure.) Again, he was instrumental in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative (so-called grain deal between Ukraine and Russia) which became operational in July last year at Istanbul. These are straws in the wind that must be duly noted.

On September 7, one day after Umerov’s appointment, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced in Ankara: “We are closely monitoring the events unfolding between Russia and Ukraine, which seriously threaten the security of our region and the entire world. We confirm our readiness to play an active and assisting role in ensuring a ceasefire and a stable peace, as well as provide comprehensive support in alleviating the humanitarian crisis.”

Again, on September 7, Zaporozhye Region Acting Governor Yevgeny Balitsky (a Kremlin appointee) told TASS out of the blue that Russia and Ukraine need a neutral platform where the two countries can negotiate pragmatic solutions to mutual issues, including prisoner swaps, which would work even as the special military operation continues. Balitsky was responding to a pointed question from TASS about the current possibility of Russia-Ukraine talks. He went on to state that:

“There should be a negotiating platform somewhere — at the level of foreign ministries, at the level of other mediating countries. People are needed who are, unfortunately, disengaged from the situation. They are able to tackle the issue in an objective and pragmatic way, however, there should be a table somewhere where authorised representatives would interact. This will allow [POW] swap issues to be resolved, or, for example, the issue of a moratorium on shelling nuclear power plants. This will benefit everyone, even in war time, no matter how cynical this sounds.

“So, in any case there should be some kind of platform. It could launch the beginning of more extensive talks. And something could grow from this as a result. And, perhaps, we would be able to resolve the task set forth by the president peacefully.”

Balitsky is a seasoned Ukrainian politician from Melitopol hailing from a military family who served in the Soviet army and had two terms in the Ukrainian parliament since he entered politics in 2004. No doubt, he spoke on instructions from the Kremlin.

By the way, Putin met Balitsky at the Kremlin two weeks ago. Balitsky’s doctored remarks were carefully timed, and Blinken and his Ukrainian hosts wouldn’t have missed the message that Moscow is open to negotiations.

Even as cracking sounds are audible on the frozen lake of Russian-American relations, what lends enchantment to the view is that both Biden and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are arriving in Delhi today for the G20 summit through Sunday.