Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of WW II today, as did the Allies yesterday. Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill worked together during the war in order to face the might and madness of Hitler and the Third Reich. The Soviet Union occupied German forces on the Eastern Front, as did the US and UK on the Western Front.
Roosevelt understood that if Hitler conquered the Soviet Union, the war would be lost. America created the Lend-Lease agreement to overcome strict neutrality laws that had been in place since the 1930’s. America First is not a new concept. Billions of dollars worth of military equipment, medical supplies and food were transported to Russia during WWII. It was a Catch-22.
Don’t supply the Soviets and lose the war, or supply the Soviets and in the process create a formidable force that would end up becoming Americas enemy during the Cold War. Instead of America being the only Superpower after the war, the world was literally split in two. East and West. The fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 and 1991, led to America becoming the undisputed heavyweight of the world.
The Sino-Soviet split of 1961 between China and Russia over the ‘soul’ of communism, made it much easier for the West to combat the Soviets. Tensions eased after the collapse of the East Block, and by inviting China to join the global community in the early 2000’s, the West inadvertently created another formidable foe. China is now the undisputed champion of free market communism as Russia has reverted back to its roots, Orthodox Christianity.
UNI-BI-MULTI: This monumental difference in ideology has not stopped the two friends who became enemies, to become friends again. Only this time, China is the senior partner and Russia the junior. Putin’s failed invasion of Ukraine has diminished Russia’s reputation as a major superpower. What was supposed to take 3 days, became 3 weeks, then 3 months, and now the ‘special military operation’, has lasted for more than 3 years.
And the only reason it has, is because of China. Without Xi, Putin would be hiding in a bunker somewhere trying to avoid being assassinated. This dynamic has weakened Putin tremendously and he is now indebted to China. Xi wants to be accepted on the world stage so he can’t be too cosy with Putin, and at the same time, he is sending a clear message to Trump. 47 overestimates his friendship with Putin, seeing that it is now 110 days later and the promise of ending the war on day one is long gone.
As is Americas undisputed claim to be the sole superpower. If anything, we’ve gone from a unipolar world just after the war when only America had access to nukes, to a bipolar world during the Cold War, back to a unipolar world, and finally we are entering a multipolar world order. Yes America and China are the most formidable countries, but Russia has proven mightily resilient. Add the EU, India, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Iran into the mix, and the geopolitical tectonic plates have, and are shifting as we speak.
American Exceptionalism is a thing of the past. Harking back to a time when white men ruled the world will only postpone the inevitable. America needs to grow up. Learning to respect other cultures and races would go a long way in avoiding a Third, and possibly final World War. Which would be MAD, mutually assured destruction. No one wins in this scenario, it is a lose lose.
That’s why Xi and Putin warned Trump not to build a Golden Dome missile protection system. There has been a moratorium on weaponising space since the 1960’s. Both Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are pushing Trump in this direction, hence the reason the military budget has increased by 12% for 2026 to over a trillion dollars. SpaceX and Palantir will benefit from massive military contracts, as will Boeing and other companies that form part of the military-industrial complex.
SUBCONTINENTAL DOGFIGHT: Chinese tech is currently being put to the test in the war between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers. In fact the largest dogfight between nuclear powers just occurred as fighter jets clashed with each other over subcontinental skies. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Pakistan managed to down five Indian jets, a huge surprise to analysts. China supplies more than 80% of Pakistans military hardware. If their weapons can match or even supersede the tech found in the West, it will be a game changer of epic proportions.
China hasn’t been involved in a military conflict for over four decades, so a large portion of their equipment remains untested on the battlefield. That scenario changed as soon as India decided to attack Pakistan because of the murder of 26 tourists in Kashmir. It just so happens that JD Vance was visiting India at the time of the attack. America desperately needs India to help them contain China. Two nuclear powers with over a billion people each that live right next to each other is a rather scary thought.
Imagine a world where money, time, energy and expertise were dedicated to solving the many issues facing humanity today. The climate crisis being at the top of the list. The current administration doesn’t believe in science, and don’t want you to believe in hard facts either. They’d rather play foolish games and put the entire planet at risk than do the grown up and responsible thing. In that sense humanity is but still a child. We haven’t evolved even nearly enough to call ourselves civilised.
80 years later, and history is on the verge of repeating itself. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has set the apocalypse in motion. What happens next will determine the longevity of our planet and species. Putin lying to Russians by telling them that they are fighting the Nazi fascist West in Ukraine is not helping to calm the waters. Yes the Soviet Union made great sacrifices during WWII, but that doesn’t give Putin the right to twist, bend, and break the truth.
UPDATE 10/5 – COALITION OF THE WILLING: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Zelensky and other European leaders to place pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire, a day after Putin hosted his allies for a Red Square Victory Day parade.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland arrived in Kyiv on Saturday for talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky in a show of unity of the ‘coalition of the willing’.
The summit will discuss a US and European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the Russian war in Ukraine that, if refused by Moscow, would see them jointly impose new sanctions, a French diplomatic source said.
But the US this morning warned that Putin is feared to be plotting an attack on the Ukrainian capital while the leaders are in attendance.
American officials issued a public warning, which read: ‘The US Embassy in Kyiv has received information concerning a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days.
‘The Embassy, as always, recommends US citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.’
The visit by British Prime Minister Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled together to Ukraine.
It is also the first time a meeting of global leaders is being held in the country since the outbreak of war after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE: Starmer, Macron and Merz earlier all travelled to Ukraine together by train.
‘Alongside the U.S., we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace,’ the four leaders said in a joint statement.
Their statement continued: ‘We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire, and prepare for a full peace deal.
‘We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come’.
‘We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine.’
The visit comes at an unpredictable diplomatic moment in the war against Ukraine as US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid peace after tearing up the policies of his predecessor since entering the White House in January.
After engaging directly with Russian officials, clashing publicly with Zelensky and briefly cutting vital military aid to Ukraine, the Trump administration has patched up ties with Kyiv and signed an arduously-negotiated mineral resources deal.
There has also been a palpable shift in tone from Trump, who has signalled growing frustration with Putin’s foot-dragging over a ceasefire and Russia’s restatement of its demands for a settlement. By ELIZABETH HAIGH for DM.
May 09, 2025 10:24:11 pm
