The Vatnik Tell

The issue that makes the real pro-Putinites stand out

Hello All,

I thought I would write this primer—to give you a heads up on what is the key issue that really separates those who are determined to follow the Russian line, and those who might think they are acting independently. Here are two quotes, both talking about a potential peace deal that could emerge from the Presidency of Donald Trump. They say practically identical things—and its fascinating who said them (more on that below).

• With this in mind, there is still an imperative to ensure a non-aligned status for Ukraine….

• Assurances that Ukraine will remain nonaligned, that foreign forces and infrastructure will not be deployed in Ukraine, and that mutual understandings can be reached on the limits of Western military aid, could be put on the table…

The use of the phrase “non-aligned” for Ukraine is the first great tell. This is key in both quotes—the first saying it is “imperative” and the second saying that Russia needs “assurances” on this.

This phrase is being used more and more for Ukraine—though its meaning is being perverted.

And what is the key element of Ukraine’s new “non-aligned” status. Its not just that Ukraine can’t join NATO—that is simply not enough (as the person that makes the second quote makes clear). No, to be non-aligned not only can Ukraine not join NATO, it cant even host European peace-keeping troops within its own borders to provide security in case Russia decides to restart hostilities. The second quote already says that clearly with the phrase “foreign forces and infrastructure will not be deployed in Ukraine”. The first speaker makes that explicit earlier in his interview, when he says:

• We are not happy, of course, with the proposals made by members of the Trump team to postpone Ukraine’s admission to NATO for 20 years and to station British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.

Btw, in case you haven’t guessed by now, these close-to-identical quotes come from rather interesting sources.