Ukraine: The UN Urges an Immediate Pause in Fighting as the Situation in Mariupol Deteriorates Sharply (24.04.2022)

Ukraine: Zelensky is right on the Russians lack respect for Ukrainian statehood…

If our people in Mariupol are destroyed, if pseudo-referendums are announced in occupied territories, Ukraine will withdraw from any negotiation process. [Russian current actions in occupied territories] are not supporting diplomatic solution. They demonstrate that any negotiation process is fiction and political theater so far. We are fighting for the right to live and for independence. We are not considered an independent state by the Russian government and, unfortunately, by a large part of society. They do not respect our culture, values, language, people…and therefore our right to live. Now we see a change in the attitude of our partners. Especially the change in speed [of aid] from the United States. If this pace increases, if the steps correspond to the words, as soon as Ukraine gets enough weapons, we will immediately liberate our territories” – President Volodymyr Zelensky (Zelenskyy at the press conference in Kyiv Metro, 23.04.2022 – Source Euromaidan Press).

President Zelensky had a press conference in the Kyiv Metro today, which is a bold move and shows what his willing to do in the middle of war. The Russian-Belorussian Invasion is on it’s 59th day. Things have clearly not gone the way the Russians planned for their brief and quick takeover of Ukraine. It was supposed to be a quick and easy war.

Zelensky is righteous in the case of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, which the Russians doesn’t believe they have. We have heard from Russian high ranking officials and others, who has all spoken ill of and disregarded the statehood and history of the Ukrainian nation. Therefore, the Ukrainian President is right in his statement.

We know that Kremlin and Duma has downplayed Ukrainian statehood. President Putin even stated that on the day of invasion and recognizing the People’s Republic’s of Donbas. Just like Putin has annexed Crimea and will not consider it to be Ukrainian soil. That’s why Moscow defends their invasion and doesn’t value Ukraine’s independence. This is very obvious and President Zelensky is right in calling this “political theatre” with the “diplomatic solution”.

The speech or address of Zelensky fits very well to the ideals and talks of a new Budapest Memorandum. As the Russian Federation will not adhere to this one and will neither respect a new agreement either. Just like they didn’t respect or follow the Minsk Agreement either. That’s why the diplomatic solution is only buying time and finding new offensives to hopefully finish the warfare and occupying whole Ukraine by that time.

We can only hope the West, NATO and United States can supply and secure the weapons that Ukraine needs to defeat and take back it’s territory. The Russians are coming in with total warfare and conquer with brutal force. There is no stop of war-crimes and massacres, neither the deaths of civilians and loss of innocent civilians in the cross-fire and on the front-lines.

Ukraine needs help and more than ever, as the offensives are happening. The Russians are using all means, their army and targets certain parts to ensure it has corridors and routes to ease of military logistics. That’s why the Ukrainian defence needs to block these and stop the opportunities to make these.

We can hope Ukraine can stop it in time and get the weapons which it needs. The Russians are planning to create new “People’s Republic’s” out of Ukrainian territory. That is what it does and just shows how they want to carve up the nation of Ukraine. Piece by Piece and Oblast by Oblast. That’s why it has done these things and continues with the same modus operandi. We have seen it and President Zelensky’s words needs to be spread. Because, Europe and the West needs to support Ukraine today. Not in the near future, but right now. Peace.

Ukraine: No need for another Budapest Memorandum … Russians will not adhere to it anyway..

Today is the 59th Day of the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine. As the use of vile forces continues. The Russians continues to target multiple fronts and trying to invade more territory by all means. There is no stop in the warfare and there reports of deployments of about 20,000 Russian mercenaries from Syria, Libya and wherever who would conscript to the conflict. Therefore, there is nothing, which Kremlin and Duma will not do to stop the Ukrainian forces from defending it’s homeland.

What is striking is that the blitzkrieg of Moscow didn’t work. The quick-fix and stationing troops, mechanical divisions and having military exercises around the Ukrainian border didn’t help either. Since, the Russian moral and lack of progress is evident. The brutality, the looting and the massacres isn’t helping them either and neither is it giving any trusts in the invading forces as a human or caring new ruler. No, it is just an epitome of tyranny and total destruction with no concern of the future.

There is talks of another Budapest Memorandum, the sort of which Boris Yeltsin, John Mayor, Bill Clinton and Leonid Kuchma signed in December 1994, the agreement of sovereignty and territorial integrity as a pre-condition to not continue have nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The price of doing that we are seeing today. As the mightier neighbour is invading it and doing so on it’s own merit. While it has violated this agreement on the regular since 2014. With not only annexation of Crimea, but also arming separatists in Donbas. Which is where the “special operation” is currently having the largest offensive of late.

With that in mind… here is two crucial articles of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994:

1. The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of CSCE Final Act, to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine” (Budapest Memorandum – Memorandum on security assurances in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Budapest, 5 December 1994, 1994).

2. The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, and none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defense or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations” (Budapest Memorandum – Memorandum on security assurances in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Budapest, 5 December 1994, 1994).

So, when I read that there are talks of creating another Budapest Memorandum in 2022. I’m hesitant and credibly concerned. Not because, I don’t believe Ukraine, United Kingdom or United States of America will not adhere to an agreement, but that Russian Federation will tear it apart and find new excuses to execute the current regimes ideas in Kremlin.

That’s why a Budapest Memorandum 2.0 will not be useful, but be a nice publicity stunt and a “diplomatic victory” but only for a short amount of time. If the articles are not well crafted and stipulated extended guarantees or safety measures for Ukraine. Russians will violate it like they did to the 1994 memorandum. There will be no different from today, because the Russians are currently not concerned about the first or second article.

Secondly, the ones that says Ukraine violated the Minsk Agreement of 2015. While I would state one key aspect of that in concern to Donbas. The Russians has supported Russian separatists for years in Donbas. One key article, which the Russians has violated is this:

Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment, as well as mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under monitoring of the OSCE. Disarmament of all illegal groups” (Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements, 12.02.2015).

And we know perfectly well that this was violated on the regular for years. Why do I state this now as there is talks of a second Budapest Memorandum to safeguard Ukraine. Well, when they could not adhere to either of these agreements. Why should we believe that the Russians will follow a new one or respect that even?

We know the current regime in Moscow doesn’t speak or have a rhetoric of taking into account the statehood or the leadership of Kyiv. That’s why we should have doubts that any sincerity in their resolutions or ideals of an agreement. I’m hesitant with that, because they rather get puppets in power and have someone they can control in Kyiv. That’s what Moscow wants and this is deliberate.

So, if the ones who was participating in the Budapest memorandum works for a second one. It should be iron-clad and no loopholes for Moscow to return with violence. There should be no short-cut or anything. Because, that will most likely be vetoed or not accepted by Moscow. Since they want to have the freedom to take away the liberty and sovereignty of Ukraine. That’s why I have little faith and don’t trust the Russians in this regard.

I would have had more faith, if they had adhered to either of these agreements mentioned, but they have breached them both on various of counts. Not only on arming separatists in Donbas. While they did breach the sovereignty and territory of Ukraine in 2014 and continuing doing so in Donbas. Therefore, why should the world and nations work on a diplomatic missions, which is in the end worthless. When we know Kremlin and the Duma will not follow or even try to respect any agreement in concern to Ukraine. Peace.

Ukraine: UN allocates an additional $50 million to extend urgent relief operations in Ukraine (21.04.2022)

Ukraine: Civilian casualties as of 24:00 20 April 2022 (21.04.2022)

Opinion: Russia waged the war [but warns everyone about the possible affects it has]

It is like Kremlin, Duma and the Russian Federation is living in such a vacuum and closed quarters of the world. That the ones working with diplomatic measures or incentives forgets that the rest of world can think for themselves as well. Because, the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine has effects all across the globe and in the near proximity of the Russian borders.

That is all natural that the West and European Union reacts when the Russian Federation violates, destroys and occupies Ukrainian territory. The Russians are directly invading and attacking a sovereign nation. This is why the alliances and the governing bodies of Europe is changing. They will not naively believe in goodwill from a nation who brought war to it’s borders.

The war of Ukraine is close to the Baltic nations, its close to Moldova, Bulgaria and Poland. Heck, the Ukrainian war is even involving the waters of Turkey. Therefore, this war is European and the European neighbours are acting accordingly.

The Russians are warning everyone about the sanctions. They are screaming out loud and mocking them. The Russian government are coming with counter-measures against the “unfriendly” countries. The latest was to banish diplomatic people “non-grata” in Moscow. Just like the European nations has done to the diplomatic corps across the continent.

Alas, here is the issue. We know early on in the war. That President Vladimir Putin warned Finland and Sweden of joining the defence alliance of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Just like it warned and wanted Kyiv not to do the same. These are all nations with borders to the Russian Federation.

Ukraine has as well pushed for closer relations with the European Union (EU) and showing it’s Eurocentric means at heart. As they are distancing themselves from the ones who is waging war, looting, destroying and massacring their citizens. The Ukrainian has all the rights to pick their alliances and create diplomatic ties as it see fit. However, we know Kremlin and Moscow thinks otherwise.

We also know that Moldova and Georgia have both applied for membership in the EU after the war started. As that is happening, the Russians are occupies vast amount of territories in both of these nations. Which is implicating them both and their sovereignty as is. Therefore, they seek stronger ties to Brussels and Europe to help them. Because, they see what the Russians do and there is no hope for redeeming factors in the regime in Moscow.

That’s why Russia is now warning Stockholm and Helsinki. They are doing this by the voices of Kremlin. Using RIA Novosti and Komsomolskaja Pravda is now busy printing pieces of damaging sort. Where they are further warning and speaking of the implications of joining NATO. However, the damage was already done when the Russians decided to wage war in Ukraine.

What did they expect everyone else to turn a blind eye and look the other way? Hoping that the Reds of Moscow wouldn’t come their way. Alas, the Swedish and Finish decides this, because they fear and alarmed by what the Russians are currently doing. The way of the warfare and how it is handled. Isn’t giving much credit or goodwill for a respectful or an honest neighbour in the East. No, Russians has made this bed and they got to sleep in it.

It seems like the Russians expected the world not to see the hurt and damage. They expected that an attack in it’s backyard wouldn’t have any consequences. However, it does and sovereign nations change their ways. When they see a similar nation and a bordering one being invaded. They don’t want to be violated or destroyed by Russia either. These just wants alliances and defence mechanisms that can possibly counter the Russian army. Because, there is no trust that Russians wouldn’t use their armies and violate them in the future.

When the Russians can try to invade and annex the whole Ukraine. What stops them from going further? Heck, it wasn’t long ago Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev wrote in March “About Poland” and had romantic ideas about Warsaw. While glossing over how the Soviet and Russians terrorized and killed the Poles. That just shows what sort of mediocrity of propaganda the Russian are producing of late. When he can direct and pin Poland. Where else can the Russians plan to go next?

Because, the Russians thought this would be a quick blitzkrieg and takeover Kyiv within 48 hour or 3 days. However, we are at 50 something days and they are now trying to tear apart the Donbas regions, which they have already “liberated” and promised “freedom” as the “Special Operation” was announced by the mighty President a while ago.

With that all in mind. The Russians cannot think warning the Swedish and Finnish now. They waged war and they are reacting within reason. It is only reasonable for them to do something. We the world can easily assess that the Kremlin, Duma and Moscow isn’t to be trusted. They can easily speak of military training exercises on the borders for months and with a blink of an eye decide to invade a sovereign nation. When the Russians could do that to Ukraine. They can do that to everyone else too and the neighbours should find ways of defending themselves.

So, the Russians cannot use NATO as an excuse either or the EU membership of former USSR republics. That ship is sinking like the Naval Ship “Moscow” did the other day. If not it is burning on the open sea and struggling with the damages made. The Russians should consider for a moment that their actions creates a reaction. However, the imperial powers thinks they can act and it will not have any sort of reaction. This is not new, by Russians or Americans who cause havoc and hurt. While thinking it doesn’t carry any costs or ramifications. Nevertheless, it does and the neighbours does what they see fit.

In Europe and the neighbours of Russia should consider their stances and what sort of alliances they want to have. For their own safety and the values of their states. Some might consider close ties to Moscow and others wants to distance themselves. That is all natural and how things evolves. Now, the Russians have to live with it and warning others isn’t the way to go.

Kremlin can warn everyone… but it doesn’t help their cause. Only weakens it, because they cannot bully everyone into submission. Everyone isn’t Putin’s bitch like Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Minsk will answer every call and memo from Russia. That’s for one simple reason, the Belorussian President wouldn’t stay in power without help from Moscow. He knows that and the world does too. It is sad, but someone has to be the side-piece of an imperial power. It just happens to be Lukashenko and we know Putin wants more puppets in office.

That’s why the Russians are bitter and coming with warnings. Their power and intimidations aren’t helping. The Kremlin might think this is a power-play, but it is not. It is a pity-party and a sausage-fest. This is a kitty funeral and an honourable priest will not make a farewell-ceremony for that. However, Putin is asking for that… and think the world will cry out loud for his dead cat. Peace.

Ukraine: OCHA – 1.4 million people without running water across war-affected eastern Ukraine (15 April 2022)

Ukraine: WFP appeals for access to encircled cities in Ukraine (15.04.2022)

WFP ED Visit to a local church and meets with Sergei Anohin, a local pastor in Bucha, took in 160 people who lived inside the church for ten days as fighting raged. WFP is providing assistance here.
WFP has scaled up significantly in the past 6 weeks. So far, we have already supported 30,000 people with cash assistance and over 1.3 million (mostly in hard to reach areas) with in-kind food

KYIV — The United Nations World Food Programme today called for unimpeded access to families trapped in conflict areas and encircled cities in Ukraine, saying lack of access was the biggest obstacle to its life-saving operations in the war-torn country.

“We’re calling on everyone to give us the access we need to reach the people in besieged cities,” WFP Executive Director David Beasley said at the end of a three-day visit to Ukraine. “It’s one thing when people are suffering from the devastation of war. It’s another thing when they’re being starved to death.”

The encircled city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine is thought to be running out of its last reserves of food and water. No humanitarian aid has been allowed into the city since it was encircled more than two weeks ago. To the west, the city of Mykolaev remains unreachable due to active conflict in the area. WFP is also concerned about several cities in the east.

WFP has so far delivered food assistance to 1.4 million people in Ukraine and is ramping up to reach 2.3 million people this month. But getting safe access to cities like Mariupol, where more than 100,000 people are believed to be trapped, will be key.

WFP this week expanded food assistance operations to areas which until recently were on the war’s front lines. In towns such as Bucha, Hostomel, Borodyanka and Irpin, near Kyiv, WFP is now distributing boxes of pasta, rice, canned meat and cooking oil to traumatized survivors amid the rubble of their former homes.

WFP chief Beasley went to Bucha on Thursday to see first-hand the operations being carried out in the area with the help of local church communities. He also spoke with women and children in a nearby centre for displaced people.

“I am shocked. The horror of war is so visible here and I shudder to think what these people have been through,” he said after walking through streets littered with unexploded mortar shells and visiting a bombed out orphanage. “But I see hope. I see a community working with energy to clean up and rebuild. We need to support that process.”

WFP is scaling up its response to the conflict in Ukraine on a “no-regrets” basis, giving out food and assistance very broadly, with the goal of eventually supporting 6 million people caught up in the world’s fastest growing humanitarian crisis. Families in conflict-affected areas are receiving food parcels similar to those distributed in Bucha. Meanwhile, in areas where markets are functioning, cash is being distributed so families can buy what they need.

Over 7 million people are displaced inside Ukraine and the pre-conflict supply chain systems for feeding the country’s population have broken down in many areas. WFP estimates one third of the people in the country and more than half (60 percent) internally displaced people are worried about finding enough to

The conflict in Ukraine is also triggering a wave of collateral hunger elsewhere in the world. Global food prices have increased sharply since the onset of the conflict and are now at an all-time high. These hikes are expected to further limit access to food for millions of people who are already under stress because of food inflation in their countries.

Ukraine: Civilian casualties as of 24:00 13 April 2022 (14.04.2022)

Opinion: BRICS is concerned about the money and not about the War in Ukraine

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China released the “BRICS Countries Clarify Common Position on the Ukraine Issue”. What was very clarifying about it… was their real issues and what was important for the BRICS countries.

The BRICS countries consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. I will first release the vital part of that statement and then dissect it into pieces, which is only fair.

The BRICS countries are highly concerned about the current situation in Ukraine, and reiterated respective national positions. The BRICS countries expressed their support for multilateralism, adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect for the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and support for continued dialogue and talks between Russia and Ukraine to seek a comprehensive solution to the Ukraine issue. The BRICS countries expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and supported all humanitarian assistance efforts to Ukraine, including the contributions of the International Committee of the Red Cross and UN agencies. The BRICS countries are particularly concerned about the serious impacts of unilateral sanctions on world economic recovery, stability of industrial and supply chains, energy and food security, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and call on great importance to be attached to and effective solution to the concerns of developing countries at large to ensure that their economies and people’s livelihood are not affected” (People’s Republic of China – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14.04.2022).

The first is just showing some sort of token of what is going on in Ukraine. As the Russian-Belorussian invasion are going and it has waged war soon for about 50 days in the whole Republic of Ukraine. So, the “highly concerned” is just empty posturing and nothing else. The speaking of UN Charter and legitimate security concerns are just boosting the ego of Moscow and Kremlin. That is not being said in concern to the legitimacy or the sovereign rights of Kyiv or Ukraine. No, that is just mention to cater to the ideals of the conflict in concern to Russia.

Neither is it hard to believe their true interests or support of the dialogue. When they are siding with Russia. That will be very clear later on, but not shocking, because of the tone of the Press Release or “Common Position” on Ukraine.

The concern for humanitarian situation is more just being diplomatic, but not taking a direct stance – here nor there. It just showing that they value life and don’t want people to suffer. Which is all good, but meaningless… when the BRICS are so on guard for the needs of Russia, which is the R in the BRICS.

The tone very swiftly changes, when it’s concerning the sanctions. That is very evident here. They are saying it is a reason for trouble in the energy market, food security and going against Sustainable Development. However, it is not considering the implications the war in Ukraine already has, neither that it should have consequences for Russia, which is the aggressor in this war. Nevertheless, of this alliance and coalition of countries. We wouldn’t expect it to counter or dismiss one of their own. That is not how the BRICS role and it would betray their alliance.

They are just against sanctions, because they are worried about livelihoods of the population in Russia. The BRICS is worried about the international trade and how it affects the powers within the alliance. Not about the reasons for the sanctions or why they have occurred. No, that is for someone else to be worried about. That is evident and we cannot expect anything positive or legit from the BRICS.

The strongest language was put on the sanctions and not on the war directly. That says it all about the priorities of the BRICS. These countries and clarification only shows that money and foreign exchange or export U.S. Dollars matters more than the illegal warfare in Ukraine. The world needs to know this and BRICS just show the world their heart at the very moment. Peace.