Friday, September 22, 2023

Editor's Note

Stuck in meetings all day. Blogging will be difficult today.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

4 Charts Reveal The Aid That Has Been Given To Ukraine

BBC News: How Norway outstrips US on Ukraine spending 

The United States has poured more than a hundred billion dollars into Ukraine's effort to repel Russia's invasion, spending far more than any other nation. 

But as President Volodymyr Zelensky comes to Washington to ask for more, there is growing Republican scepticism about funding the war effort. 

 In his Tuesday speech to the UN, Joe Biden made a passionate plea for the global community to not turn its back on Ukraine. 

"Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalise Ukraine without consequence," he said.

"But I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the United States to appease an aggressor, can any member state in this body feel confident that they're protected?" 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Ukraine sources that I trust are telling me that over half of this aid is now being lost due to corruption. It is almost as if everyone has come to the same realization that aid from the West is not going to be forthcoming as it has been in the past, and now is the best time to grab what you can before the spigot is turned off. 

I can speak personally on how rotten this corruption is. I am part of a group that helps to send needed drugs and medicines to Ukraine. Specifically it goes to my father's home town that is south of Kyiv. We always had some losses, but our last three shipments of vital supplies just disappeared.

Russia - Ukraine War: Military Summary And Analysis For 9.20.2023 (Videos)

 

WNU Editor: A lot of updates today.

Tweets On The Russia - Ukraine War

Tweets Of The Day

U.S. President Biden Collides With Flagpole And Leaves Stage Without Shaking The Hands Of Brazilian President Lula

NYPost: Confused Biden walks into flag, then appears to anger Brazilian prez with handshake snub at UN 

President Biden looked confused again Wednesday as he walked into a giant flag at the United Nations — then appeared to anger Brazil’s president by walking off stage without shaking his hand. 

The gaffe-prone oldest US president in history walked into the 7-foot-tall Brazilian flag as he took the stage, taking a moment to get his bearings as the flag wobbled. 

 He then struggled with the headset of his translation device, soon noted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was with him for a joint speech agreeing to partner on workers’ rights.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Joe Biden collides with flagpole and leaves stage without Brazilian president in gaffe filled incident (GBNews)  

Update #2: Watch: President Biden's embarrassing moment with Brazilian president Lula da Silva (Hindustan Times)  

WNU Editor: The optics of the US President looking lost and confused are terrible.

Poland's Prime Minister Says Poland Will Stop Providing Arms To Ukraine

 

CNN: Poland will stop providing weapons to Ukraine as dispute over grain imports deepens 

Poland said Wednesday it will stop providing weapons to Ukraine amid a growing dispute between the two countries over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports.

“We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on social media. 

Poland has long been one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers since Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor, alongside multiple former Eastern bloc nations who fear they could be next if Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expansionist war is successful.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: A recent poll in Poland revealed widespread opposition to continue supporting Ukraine with weapons (approximately 75% against), and Polish parliamentary elections are coming up (October 15). So politics is at play right now.  

Update: The Polish government is backtracking on the Prime Minister's remarks .... Polish President Says PM Was Misinterpreted On Ukraine Arms (AFP). 

Poland's Prime Minister Says Poland Will Stop Providing Arms To Ukraine 

Poland no longer supplying weapons to Ukraine amid grain row -- BBC  

Poland says it will stop future weapons transfers to Ukraine -- CBC  

One of Ukraine’s strongest allies says it will no longer supply Kyiv with weapons -- CNBC 

Poland says it will no longer supply Ukraine with weapons -- DW 

Poland signals halt to Ukraine weapons transfers amid trade dispute -- Financial Times

Syrian President Assad Is In China On His First Trip Since 2004

 

DNYUZ/New York Times: Syria's Leader Visits China in Search of Friends and Funds 

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria arrived in China on Thursday as he sought financial support to rebuild his country and to improve his international standing after being ostracized over atrocities committed during Syria’s ongoing civil war. 

His visit takes place as China seeks to present itself as a powerful influence in the Middle East, and a partner to nations that are shunned by the United States and the West. He is expected to meet with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: China invited him. They even sent a passenger jet to pick him up. This is another sign on the importance of the Middle East to China's long term prosperity and security. 

 Syrian President Assad Is In China On His First Trip Since 2004  

Syrian President Bashar Assad is in China on his first visit since the beginning of war in Syria -- AP  

Syria's Assad in China, seeks exit from diplomatic isolation -- Reuters 

Syria's Assad visits China for first time since civil war -- DW 

Syria's Assad to Meet Xi on First China Trip Since 2004 -- Time  

Syria’s Assad to visit China in first trip since 2004 -- Al-Monitor

Ukraine's Ministry Of Defense Fires Its Transgender Military Spokesperson Over 'Unapproved' Statements

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo Suspended as Spokesperson for Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Ukraine's territorial defence force spokesperson Sarah Ashton-Cirillo reacts during an interview in Kyiv, on September 7, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The 46-year-old trans woman from Nevada with a background in journalism and research came to Ukraine in March 2022 planning to report on refugees. But she stayed and is now the official spokesperson of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces, tasked with explaining the war to an English-speaking audience. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)

Daily Mail: Sarah Ashton-Crillo is suspended as Ukraine war spokeswoman after trans Floridian posted blood-curdling video threatening to 'hunt down' Russians 

* Transgender Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, 45, has been suspended by Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces 

* In a statement they said that her comments were 'not approved' by her chain of command 

* Ashton-Cirillo was born in Florida, lives in New York and first arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 to work as a reporter 

A transgender American woman has been suspended from her role as Ukrainian military spokesperson after posting a video threatening to 'hunt down' Russians. 

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, 45, has been removed from her post after making a video where she said that the 'Russian devils' will 'pay for their crimes.' 

The Ukrainian Army said her words were not approved by higher-ups, though it is unclear exactly which statements provoked the suspension.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This is why she was fired .... Ukraine Says It Will Hunt Down "Russian Propagandists" Around The World (September 13, 2023). Why it took the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense a week to fire her is another story.  

Update: Glenn Greenwald is right (see tweet below).

Ukraine's Ministry Of Defense Fires Its Transgender Military Spokesperson Over 'Unapproved' Statements  

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo Suspended as Spokesperson for Ukraine’s Territorial Defense -- Kyiv Post 

Ukraine suspends US spokeswoman Sarah Ashton-Cirillo over unapproved statements -- AFP  

Ukraine Suspends American Spox After GOP Senator's 'Spy' Warning -- Daily Beast  

Ukraine's Transgender Military Spox Fired For 'Unapproved' Statements -- Zero Hedge

Reports Say Ukraine Will Not Get ATACMS Long-Range Missiles 'Anytime Soon'

US Army  

Zero Hedge: Ukraine Will Not Get ATACMS Long-Range Missiles 'Anytime Soon': Fox 

Currently, with Zelensky in New York and soon to arrive Washington, the big question remains whether the Biden administration will grant him something that has long topped Ukraine's wish list: the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS. 

Fox News Pentagon correspondent Lucas Tomlinson says it's looking like the White House is set against it, for now at least. His sources told him the following:  

Ukraine will not get ATACMS, the 190-mile-range tactical ballistic missiles, urgently requested by Zelensky to destroy Russian forces in Crimea and other Russian-held territory ‘anytime soon,’ officials say. News comes one day before Zelensky visits Biden at the White House.  

Read more ...  

Update #1: Reuters: US to send more cluster munitions to Ukraine, not ATACMS -- Euromaidan  

Update #2: Reuters: Planned $325 million US military aid package for Ukraine not to include ATACMS - Kyiv Independent  

WNU Editor: It looks like Zelensky and his allies are going to be disappointed .... Will Zelenskyy’s Washington visit help deliver ATACMS for Ukraine? (Atlantic Council). But I am still predicting the U.S. will eventually ship ATACMS in the near future .... Decision To Give ATACMS To Ukraine Is About To Become Easier (The Warzone).