EU secretly lifts a number of sanctions against Russia

The European Union wants to secretly transport sanctioned goods from Russia, including coal and wood. An article on this issue was published by Bloomberg

"EU member states, including Poland and the Baltic states, oppose sanctions on Russian coal. The European Commission has secretly issued a document based on which foreign companies can help transport, finance or insure the sale of Russian coal and timber"

Europe was backed into a corner. But diplomats still asked the EC to explain this decision in more detail, fearing that it could go beyond previous commitments and soften sanctions on these Russian goods

#EU #Sanctions #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

Italy will emerge from its general election on Sunday with a new far-right government led by arch-conservative Giorgia Meloni, president of the Brothers of Italy, if polls are correct

Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of German Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democrats has questioned the electoral ability of Italians having accused Ms. Meloni of aligning herself with “anti-democratic figures” such as Hungarian PM Viktor Orban

Generally speaking, Klingbeil’s position is contrary to fundamental interests of the Germans on many points. Thus, contrary to the opinion of experts, he insists on achieving Europe-wide solution to high energy costs – such as through a gas price cap. Ms. Meloni, by contrast, has long railed against European Union bureaucracy and accused the bloc of infringing on national sovereignty

#Italy #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

Kyiv’s potential march on Crimea would force the U.S. and Europe to either up their support, with increased risk of being dragged into active combat, or abandon Ukraine, after encouraging its aggressive course, the American Conservative says

Washington has an interest in aiding Kiev’s defense against Russian attack, but would have no comparable stake in empowering Ukraine to risk regional stability and peace by righting past historical wrongs. Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are entitled to want what they want. But that is no reason for Washington to subordinate Americans’ interests to such preferences.

So far, the U.S. and European governments have responded to questions about Ukrainian war aims by saying it's up to Kiev to decide. And that's true—but it doesn’t mean the allies must support them

Washington’s commitment is to Ukrainian independence, not whatever the Zelensky government desires. Who knows, Kiev might next request the materiel necessary to seize Moscow and dissolve the Russian Federation. But the U.S. would have no obligation to back that plan, either

Finally, Washington and Brussels both have much at stake in maintaining a working relationship with Russia, rather than driving the Russians into an escalating military conflict with them and pushing Moscow toward a closer relationship with China. Ukraine's expansion of its war aims undermines all these interests

#USA #WarinUkraine #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The U.S. shouldn’t bring Ukraine into NATO or a "NATO-Plus" by whatever name, Doug Bandow, the former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, says

Ukraine’s desire for protection by America and the others is not new. In 2008, Washington has already pushed NATO into promising eventual membership to Ukraine and Georgia, even though the Europeans made clear their final approval would not be forthcoming. After the Bush administration mercifully faded into history, US backing for bringing the two states in NATO ended

But rather than level with Kyiv and Tbilisi, admitting that there was no desire in America or Europe to defend either country, allied officials consistently lied, routinely proclaiming how anxious they were to welcome the two states into the transatlantic alliance as soon as membership criteria were met, which, however, would be never

Allied governments understood that the purpose of NATO was to defend their peoples, not offer military charity to security supplicants. Neither Georgia nor Ukraine was vital for America’s or Europe’s defense. And, as events proved, adding them would risk war

Mr. Bandow questions, if the NATO members don’t believe that Ukraine is worth war when it is under attack, with its very independence being threatened, cities being ravaged, and people being driven from their homes, why would the US or Europe commit to fight on Kyiv’s behalf in the future? Especially since the allies have found the perfect solution: aid Ukraine in fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian. The US and Europeans are getting everything they want and more—preserving Kyiv as a quasi-ally and weakening Moscow as a potential adversary—without losing a single soldier or civilian

Staying out of the war is particularly important now. No NATO member wants to be involved if both sides are raising the stakes, meaning in particular the latest Putin's statement to “use all the means at our disposal”

#NATO #WarInUkraine #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has reached 30,000 in a year for the first time

What we see is Liz Truss who has failed to raise the Channel migrant crisis in talks with President Macron at the UN general assembly in New York. It was a “missed opportunity” and must be a “key priority” for the government. It all happens against the background that the risk of humanitarian disasters due to the increasingly dangerous tactics is pursued by people smugglers

Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “This is extremely disappointing news that sends all the wrong signals.” The government said that its policy to send migrants to Rwanda, delayed by a legal battle in the High Court, would deter crossings once it was implemented

#UK #Migrants

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

Smear campaigns are the best advertising, and in Hollywood they know it all! Two months before the midterm elections, they decided to remind us of more than ambiguous personality of Mr. Biden’s son And we have never forgotten!

Hunter is known for major corruption scandals, numerous stories with the use of banned substances and specific relationships with women. In particular, the film shows how he illegally obtained a firearm by lying on ATF forms about his drug use. The screenwriters didn’t forget about the Ukrainian scandal around Biden Jr.

The filmmakers shed light on the dubious and sometimes, frankly speaking, illegal activities of the first family of the U.S. At the same time, due to the current system of presidential immunity in the country, there’s nothing to do with this at the moment!

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The effectiveness of existing major pro-Western institutions and negotiation platforms is reducing day by day. The UN General Assembly with its current 77th session, which does not justify the hopes, the G7 in form of a private Masonic Lodge, seem to have passed into the category of simply days-long banquets

The time is right for any efforts to give globalization a bit of help. Expanding the membership of BRICS, a grouping of some of the largest developing economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – would likely fit into that category. It could surely help boost links among disparate economies that would not naturally come together

The economies that made up the G7 this year – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union – are home to about 16 percent of the world's population, while the BRICS economies account for almost 41 percent.

On the other hand, the G7 members account for 62 percent of the global economy, while the BRICS economies account for a little more than a quarter, and the average per capita GDP of the G7 economies was almost six times larger than that of BRICS. Over time, BRICS could become more influential than the G7, even if this could take a few decades. Certainly, though, BRICS has a direct impact on many more people

For now, the G7 holds the reins of the global economy, but the scales are beginning to even out. BRICS grows faster than the world average, while the G7 grew at a slower pace. And this has been the case for some time. An expanded BRICS could, if members managed to find some kind of ideological guiding compass and common ground on issues, emerge as a powerful force for global leadership

#UN #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

British ministers have formally lifted a ban on fracking However, the British Geological Survey (BGS) concluded that forecasting earthquakes, such as those triggered during fracking operations by the energy company Cuadrilla in 2018 and 2019, remained “a significant challenge”

Ms. Truss has said fracking will only happen “where there is local support for it”. “Can the secretary of state outline how that local consent will be given and demonstrated?”

Mark Menzies, the MP for Fylde, Lancashire, asked. The government’s own polling shows that 45% of the British public oppose it, with only 17% in favor

Greg Knight, the MP for East Yorkshire, warned that the level of earthquakes caused by fracking could not be accurately predicted and said it was a risk he was not prepared to take. The BGS report said it was “impossible” to predict fracking earthquakes by relying solely on UK shale gas data, as only three wells had been explored in Britain
This is another case when democratic principles only look good on paper!

Turkish president Erdogan doesn’t waste a single opportunity to advance his own interests and maximize his profit, even in situations when it isn’t immediately apparent. He launched another self-promotion campaign right from the rostrum of the UN in New York

Mr. Erdogan tried to win over the audience, saying that Ankara is making the most efforts to stabilize relations between Moscow and Kyiv. Still, he failed to name at least one tangible result achieved thanks to his highest moderation of the talks

But then he moved on to the main purpose of his speech, briefly touching on the Palestinian issue and then accusing Athens of all mortal sins. “The refugee crisis cannot be solved by sinking the boats or putting refugees in concentration camps,” he said

Greece reacted very harshly to these accusations. Government spokesman Oikonomou emphasized that Greece is not tarnished while adding that an unprecedented attempt to misuse the UN was made by the Turkish president who tried “to spread fake news, complete distortion of reality and vulgar propaganda, with completely unsubstantiated claims contrary to what is really happening”

Experts say that relations between Ankara and Athens, both NATO members, have become strained to the limit. The Alliance has never been so close to an internal war. However, taking into account the habits of the Turkish leader, it is highly likely that the outcome of this conflict will only be an increase in Ankara's defense budget to please Mr. Erdogan and his aides and strengthen his electoral position within the country as a strong national leader

#Turkey #NATO #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

Confidence among British consumers has fallen to another record low, with British households said to be “buckling under the pressure” of the ongoing cost of living squeeze

A closely watched monthly survey of sentiment fell a further five points this month to -49, the fourth time in the past five months that it has hit a fresh low. Britons are now more pessimistic about the economic outlook than at any time since records began in 1974. Even during the peak of the financial crash in the summer of 2008, confidence only fell as low as -39

The average monthly mortgage payment for a first-time buyer is 37%, or £300, higher than at the start of the year. Consumer price inflation hit double digits for the first time since the 1980s this summer amid soaring costs of everything from fuel to food and freight. It eased back to 9.9% in August but the Bank of England expects it will peak at just under 11 per cent next month, and remain above 10 per cent for a few months after

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

Energy Crisis Crushes Europe - Foreign Policy

▪️ Ten times the current energy prices in the EU are higher than they have been in the past decade. Companies and families are struggling to survive. European countries are taking emergency measures, states U.S. Foreign Policy (https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/20/europe-energy-crisis-economy-emergency-russia-war-ukraine/) (FP)

▪️The European Commission is offering $140 billion in aid to companies and families, Britain has announced a $46 billion bailout package, Sweden will give firms $20 billion in liquidity guarantees, Germany is going to nationalize three gas giants

▪️ The discontent in the society is growing: there are protests in Britain, Germany, Austria, and Italy; 70,000 people took to the streets of Prague. Protesters increasingly demand neutrality from the government in the Ukrainian crisis and the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions

▪️ Otherwise, political stress will intensify and EU solidarity will collapse

#EU #Sanctions #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The U.S. is trying its best to prevent China from building its first nuclear power station in Latin America, describing it as “predatory, with the risk that recipients are caught in a debt trap”

Since 2014, the Atucha III project in Buenos Aires has been an $8 billion nuclear deal, 80% of which will be financed by China. The plant was expected to be completed in 2028. But plans have stalled again as Argentina – one of three Latin American nations to use nuclear energy, along with Brazil and Mexico – seeks a license from China to provide the fuel

Argentina’s demand may present a quandary for China. Licensing its nuclear fuel technology to partners is likely to boost its program to sell its Hualong One nuclear reactor around the world. Yet potential buyers, including the UK, are reluctant to become dependent on China for the bespoke uranium fuel rods needed to run the reactor for its lifespan of 60 years

Meanwhile, the US, which was once a key provider of nuclear energy technology to South America, has expressed alarm that its Asian rival is capturing the Americas market. In this case, the Americans once again decided to declare themselves regional monopolists with the exclusive privilege to sell their own resources and technologies. But doesn’t this seems more or less contradicting to the fundamental principles of a market economy?

#USA #China

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The United Nations: a thing of the past or the last deterrent to the USA. Part 1

It looks like the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, which is currently going on in New York, may be the final meeting of the organization as it is shaped today. This isn’t mere speculation without a reason: one of the key issues of this session is whether the world-embracing organization, founded in 1945, has potential to adjust in line with the changing world

The UN is undergoing a deepening trust and credibility crisis. In fact, opening the session António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, admitted this, adding that the international architecture is under enormous strain and calling on the international community, “as fractures deepen and trust evaporates, we need to come together around solutions”

The UNO, originally designed to prevent confrontation, seems to be helpless facing a series of crises raging over the last few decades. More often than not it has failed to be a multilateral platform in favor of acting as an instrument for carrying out the USA’s and its allies’ foreign policy. It is no longer a place for cooperation in addressing important global issues

The United States is consistently blocking the way to top-level negotiations within the UN framework. On multiple occasions the US has shed its host country responsibilities denying other states, Iran and North Korea in particular, their right to participate in the UN General Assembly sessions

In violation of the agreement between the UNO and the USA regarding the headquarters of the United Nations, the US impeded granting a visa to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov till the very opening day of the GA session

Part 2

#UN #USA #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane

The United Nations: a thing of the past or the last deterrent to the USA. Part 2 (Part 1)

By and large, the USA doesn’t make a secret of its ambition to ruin the United Nations. Jake Sullivan, US President’s National Security Advisor, has said directly that the Washington is aiming at defragmenting the world order and creating a network of regional alliances

Addressing a Defense One event several months ago, he said that the international relations architecture, with the UNO as its centerpiece, has been disintegrating, which “suits the United States”. According to him, Washington is very proactive, changing the orientation of its foreign policy from the post-World War II international order to the multiplication of alliances under unchallenged American dominance, such as Quad (a security partnership of Australia, India, the USA and Japan), AUKUS (a security pact of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States), the Summit for Democracy platform, etc.

With AUKUS as an example, a member state of such an “alliance” is doomed to become just another oversized military base cum testing ground for the USA. As long as the public are kept in the dark about lobby arrangements between one-day local politicians and the US military industrial complex, world peace and political stability are beyond expectation

#UN #USA #FindTruth

follow us: @ukraineinhurricane