Yuri, I hope you are right. The USA's betrayal of Ukraine and embrace of Putin are bad portents, not just for Ukraine but for the world.

Only someone steeped in the fantasy land of theology could write a fairy tale like this!

Russia has no ambitions beyond Ukraine's borders. There's no statement coming out of Russia anywhere which indicates it has any intention of militarily intervening in any other country. Russia has clear goals based on a long history of US and NATO provocation and attempted regime change, which the author here doesn't even mention ... it just wouldn't fit his fairy tale narrative. Russia has unambiguously stated its conditions for peace and security in Europe for many years. They are the demilitarisation, denazification and neutrality of Ukraine, the inclusion of the four Russian-speaking oblasts into the Russian Federation and treaties establishing a new security architecture in Europe. Russia has always been ready to negotiate a treaty. It's Ukraine which under the West's orders has refused to do so.

Russia is not rotting or crumbling from within. Considering the West's brutal and bullying sanctions against it, its economy is holding up well and its people are as united as they've ever been. The support of the global south is not falling away. BRICS is going from strength to strength with new countries applying to join all the time. The global south represents over 85% of the world's population. Most either remain supportive of Russia or claim neutrality. All want the war to end, as does Russia ... as does the whole world, apart from fools like Starmer, Macron and Von Der Leyen who are doing their best to keep it going indefinitely. The majority of African countries are more interested in forging closer ties with Russia and China than with the West who've exploited them for decades. They know the reason for the Ukrainian grain disruption was the West's refusal to keep its end of the agreement.

So many more lies in this fantasy piece ... hopefully, OLO can provide some counter balance ... written by someone who understands the history and the full circumstances of the current conflict, including the West's provocative role in initiating it.

Hi Bronwyn,
Very well said.
I thought I'd have to spend the whole afternoon and evening going through everything in this article point for point, and I just don't have the time today.
Every SINGLE thing I read in this article (as far as I read - halfway through point 2 of 5) is completely wrong.
I'm glad you fixed a few of them.

There isn't any victory plan.The deal you outlined above will soon expire.
All the Ukrainians are doing is deluding themselves and throwing away more lives and territory, and trying to sell us a pack of lies to extend the conflict, to it's inevitable end.

- Russian victory.

Browyn is on the ball. Is the conflict still going ? Because nothing's on the News about it these days.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, pro-Kremlin narratives have sought to justify Moscow’s aggression. These claims distort history and misrepresent geopolitical realities. A critical analysis exposes their falsehoods.

Russia’s assertion that it has no ambitions beyond Ukraine is demonstrably false. The Kremlin has a history of territorial aggression, including the 2008 invasion of Georgia and the long-standing occupation of Transnistria in Moldova. In 2014, it annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. High-ranking Russian officials have even questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states, implying further expansionist goals.

Another common claim is that NATO provoked Russia. However, at the time of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was not a NATO member and had no immediate path to join. NATO, a defensive alliance, has never invaded Russia or forced any country to join. Ukraine’s westward shift stems from Russia’s own hostile actions, particularly its illegal annexation of Crimea and interference in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow’s justification of "denazification" is entirely baseless. Ukraine is a democratic nation with a Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and no significant Nazi influence. Ironically, Russia harbors far-right elements, such as the Wagner Group, known for neo-Nazi ties. Likewise, calls for Ukraine’s "demilitarization" ignore that Ukraine, not Russia, is the victim of aggression.

Russia claims to favor diplomacy, yet it consistently violates international agreements. It broke the 1994 Budapest Memorandum by seizing Crimea, ignored the Minsk Agreements, and withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Deal, exacerbating global food insecurity.

Despite claims that Russia’s economy is strong, it faces severe labor shortages, currency devaluation, and increasing reliance on China. Its wartime economy is unsustainable. The notion that the Global South overwhelmingly supports Russia is also misleading—many nations, including India and Brazil, remain neutral, while African nations like Kenya and Ghana have condemned the invasion. UN votes overwhelmingly oppose Russia’s actions.

The idea that Russia is acting defensively is a fabrication. Its long history of aggression, violations of treaties, and economic decline contradict its claims. Understanding these distortions is crucial in countering pro-Kremlin propaganda and ensuring the truth prevails.

Ukraine doubles down on failure.
It's lost more men and equipment in its failed Kursk offensive as it did in its failed counteroffensive.

Ukraine broke the Budapest memorandum when they stopped being neutral and became a western vassal state.

Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko stated they were only buying time to build up the military, Ukrainians were already being trained as a defacto member of NATO by the West while they were killing Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the Donbass.

Ukraine broke the Black Sea grain deal by using it as a pretext to bring in weapons, Erdogan turning a blind eye.

Ukraine has 31 NATO countries plus more who are trying to stave off bankruptcy by moving to Keynesian war economies which is also unsustainable.

'Pro-Kremlin propaganda', is what they say so people won't check facts.

All Ukraine has are narratives, behind this are weapons and manpower issues, and a delusional victory plan based on a imaginary ceasefire that's not going to happen and non existent security guarantees by U.S.

The EU couldn't produce the shells it promised years ago, and Russia and China control the supply chains for producing antimony needed to make them.

'The idea that Russia is acting defensively is a fabrication'
You can sell any narrative, Russia said no NATO on their doorstep back at the NATO conference Budapest 2008.
It's NATO that sought to march to Russia's border using Ukraine as it's proxy.
Stolteberg refused to roll back NATO.
Blinken refused to make any agreements on weapons stationed in Ukraine.
Ukraine foolishly bought into the Wests false promises, and now Ukraine can prolong the war as long as they like but they'll only lose more lives and territory if they don't accept Russian terms.

Trumps minerals deal means Ukraine loses more to the West than they ever did to Russia.

I'm truly sorry to tell you that I told you back in early 2022 Ukraine had jumped out of the frypan and into the fire.