Thank you for putting that together, I hasn’t made the connection and it is eye opening. The authenticity of the people fighting for Ukraine has stood out so much - Zelensky saying that now not just theoretical, but real democracy is possible. The Klitschko brothers talking about realities of Putin’s actions and Ukraine’s values. You said recently that this war is something polarized people can agree on and I find that very true. I have seen it be the final straw for some people on QAnon, ending friendships over people believing Russian propaganda.
Zelensky, Poroshenko, the Klitschko brothers, and everyone fighting in Ukraine are showing true democracy and freedom, and the Russian talking points do look increasingly hysterical.
Thank you for this insight and showing us how to be free people. Here’s a Klitschko clip - “We will not be slaves!” 💛💙🦁🇺🇦 Slava Ukraine! https://youtu.be/vf6EAiE1i0U
Thank you for this! Understanding the relationships between these countries now and historically is very important for understanding where we are now. I appreciate this very much!
Some 25 years ago Samuel Huntington described a "civilizational" boundary between Orthodox Russia and Catholic/Protestant Eastern Europe. He thought Ukraine might divide between its Uniate west and Orthodox east. This war suggests that he was wrong about that; in fact, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church seceded from the Moscow Patriarchate and is now governed by an autocephalous Kyiv Patriarchate. But Huntington's point seems valid for the boundary between Russia and Catholic Poland.
I haven't read Medvedev's piece, but it seems strange he would go back four centuries to account for Polish feeling toward. Up until 1919 Poland was part of the Russian Empire--a master it had revolted against, and had been ruthlessly repressed by, several times. In fact it had to defend itself immediately thereafter in a war brought by a Russian army whose commander was Josef Stalin.
"the whereabouts of Russia’s high military leadership are unknown". Indeed, one might wonder if the Russian leadership even have their feet on the ground, or are able to look anyone in the eye.
I have been wondering why climate concerns, and the supposed subsequent replacement of fossil fuels, has not been mentioned more often as the existential threat it is to Putin and his regime. Europe now trying to avoid Russian oil and gas will make the threat appear earlier, without hitting any climate ambitions in the short term. What is even less spoken about is the impossible case of reducing CO2 emissions in warfare, or has anybody heard of tanks and fighter jets only fighting when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Nuclear submarines and naval ships are of course already there. Will they maybe have to use their nuclear weapons for fuel?
I put it through google translate. Even with all of its problems of translating idiomatic expressions literally, you'll still get the general idea. Yes, it's really weird. "Almost like Ilyich in an armored car with German money" is a nice touch. (!)
About Poland.
While Europe is painfully aware of the damage that anti-Russian sanctions will inflict on it, our most beloved European country, as always, ran ahead of the speeding steam locomotive. Literally.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, together with Deputy Prime Minister Kaczynski, as well as the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia, traveled to Kyiv on a specially guarded train. Almost like Ilyich in an armored car with German money. We talked with Zelensky, promised friendship and help. They lied, of course. Returning, Morawiecki solemnly announced the development of a program for "de-Russification of the Polish and European economy." Courageously specifying that "this may be costly."
Absolutely and completely right: expensive and pointless. But Poland can no longer take into account the costs. Everything that she could lose because of her own long-term pathological Russophobia has already been lost. So now, as the beloved neighbors of the Poles say, "the shed burned down - burn down the hut."When it comes to Russia, Poland literally writhes from "phantom pains." It is very difficult for its elites to come to terms with the fact that the Time of Troubles almost 400 years ago ended with the expulsion of the Polish occupiers from the Kremlin. That the great empire of the Commonwealth did not take place later. And the reason for this is not the intrigues of Russia, but internal squabbles, corruption, economic failures, lost battles. And so - for many centuries.
Polish propaganda is the most vicious, vulgar and shrill critic of Russia. Community of political imbeciles.Despite the fact that in our country it is not customary to hush up even the darkest pages of our common history, in Poland they dream of forgetting about the times of the Second World War. First of all, about those Soviet soldiers who defeated fascism, expelled the invaders from Polish cities and did not let them blow up Krakow, liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz and Majdanek.
History is now being redrawn, monuments are being demolished. But the fascist occupation is openly equated with the "Soviet". It is difficult to come up with a more deceitful and disgusting rhetoric, but the Poles succeed.At the same time, there are no anti-Polish sentiments in Russia and never have been. Sociologists testify that the citizens of our country are quite friendly towards this people [the Poles]. It is impossible to forget the outburst of sympathy and compassion caused by the plane crash near Smolensk, when a high-ranking delegation led by the president died. People carried flowers to the embassy and churches, expressed condolences in the press and social networks. In Russia, I, as the head of state of the country, declared a day of mourning.Later, during my visits to Poland, I became convinced that our countries have no obstacles to improving relations, this is a road with oncoming traffic. However, the political elites, led by the PiS party of Kaczynski No. 2, controlled by the American masters, did everything to block the normal path.Now the interests of the citizens of Poland have been sacrificed to the Russophobia of these mediocre politicians and their puppeteers from across the ocean with clear signs of senile insanity. The decision to abandon the purchase of Russian gas, oil and coal, the opposition to Nord Stream 2 have already caused serious damage to the economy of this country. Now it will only get worse. The same applies to many other steps, which are based not on the economy, but on politicking under the guise of “de-Russification”. But now it is much more important for the vassal Polish elites to swear allegiance to their overlord - America, than to help their own citizens, so they will constantly support the fire of hatred for the enemy in the face of Russia.
What will citizens gain from this? Absolutely nothing.But sooner or later they will understand that hatred of Russia does not strengthen the society, it does not contribute to well-being and tranquility.What will citizens gain from this? Absolutely nothing.But sooner or later they will understand that hatred of Russia does not strengthen the society, it does not contribute to well-being and tranquility.
Thank you for putting that together, I hasn’t made the connection and it is eye opening. The authenticity of the people fighting for Ukraine has stood out so much - Zelensky saying that now not just theoretical, but real democracy is possible. The Klitschko brothers talking about realities of Putin’s actions and Ukraine’s values. You said recently that this war is something polarized people can agree on and I find that very true. I have seen it be the final straw for some people on QAnon, ending friendships over people believing Russian propaganda.
Zelensky, Poroshenko, the Klitschko brothers, and everyone fighting in Ukraine are showing true democracy and freedom, and the Russian talking points do look increasingly hysterical.
Thank you for this insight and showing us how to be free people. Here’s a Klitschko clip - “We will not be slaves!” 💛💙🦁🇺🇦 Slava Ukraine! https://youtu.be/vf6EAiE1i0U
It takes a lot of knowledge to understand and explain the absurdity of Medvedev's story line. They're really spinning out. Thanks (again).
What a fabulous newsletter today. I had really been looking forward to reading one. I have forwarded the link to a friend in Germany.
Thank you for this! Understanding the relationships between these countries now and historically is very important for understanding where we are now. I appreciate this very much!
Sowing confusion seems to be part of the arsenal of authoritarian rhetoric. The facts on the ground in Ukraine are clearing it all up.
Some 25 years ago Samuel Huntington described a "civilizational" boundary between Orthodox Russia and Catholic/Protestant Eastern Europe. He thought Ukraine might divide between its Uniate west and Orthodox east. This war suggests that he was wrong about that; in fact, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church seceded from the Moscow Patriarchate and is now governed by an autocephalous Kyiv Patriarchate. But Huntington's point seems valid for the boundary between Russia and Catholic Poland.
I haven't read Medvedev's piece, but it seems strange he would go back four centuries to account for Polish feeling toward. Up until 1919 Poland was part of the Russian Empire--a master it had revolted against, and had been ruthlessly repressed by, several times. In fact it had to defend itself immediately thereafter in a war brought by a Russian army whose commander was Josef Stalin.
I have a better understanding after reading your article…. Still having extremely hard time with the human atrocities…
"the whereabouts of Russia’s high military leadership are unknown". Indeed, one might wonder if the Russian leadership even have their feet on the ground, or are able to look anyone in the eye.
I have been wondering why climate concerns, and the supposed subsequent replacement of fossil fuels, has not been mentioned more often as the existential threat it is to Putin and his regime. Europe now trying to avoid Russian oil and gas will make the threat appear earlier, without hitting any climate ambitions in the short term. What is even less spoken about is the impossible case of reducing CO2 emissions in warfare, or has anybody heard of tanks and fighter jets only fighting when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Nuclear submarines and naval ships are of course already there. Will they maybe have to use their nuclear weapons for fuel?
So complex and, at the base of it all greed.
Great article. Adds additional facts to the Putin’s mythology of Russia. Is there an English translation to the “recent text” that is linked?
Ken Z
I put it through google translate. Even with all of its problems of translating idiomatic expressions literally, you'll still get the general idea. Yes, it's really weird. "Almost like Ilyich in an armored car with German money" is a nice touch. (!)
About Poland.
While Europe is painfully aware of the damage that anti-Russian sanctions will inflict on it, our most beloved European country, as always, ran ahead of the speeding steam locomotive. Literally.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, together with Deputy Prime Minister Kaczynski, as well as the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia, traveled to Kyiv on a specially guarded train. Almost like Ilyich in an armored car with German money. We talked with Zelensky, promised friendship and help. They lied, of course. Returning, Morawiecki solemnly announced the development of a program for "de-Russification of the Polish and European economy." Courageously specifying that "this may be costly."
Absolutely and completely right: expensive and pointless. But Poland can no longer take into account the costs. Everything that she could lose because of her own long-term pathological Russophobia has already been lost. So now, as the beloved neighbors of the Poles say, "the shed burned down - burn down the hut."When it comes to Russia, Poland literally writhes from "phantom pains." It is very difficult for its elites to come to terms with the fact that the Time of Troubles almost 400 years ago ended with the expulsion of the Polish occupiers from the Kremlin. That the great empire of the Commonwealth did not take place later. And the reason for this is not the intrigues of Russia, but internal squabbles, corruption, economic failures, lost battles. And so - for many centuries.
Polish propaganda is the most vicious, vulgar and shrill critic of Russia. Community of political imbeciles.Despite the fact that in our country it is not customary to hush up even the darkest pages of our common history, in Poland they dream of forgetting about the times of the Second World War. First of all, about those Soviet soldiers who defeated fascism, expelled the invaders from Polish cities and did not let them blow up Krakow, liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz and Majdanek.
History is now being redrawn, monuments are being demolished. But the fascist occupation is openly equated with the "Soviet". It is difficult to come up with a more deceitful and disgusting rhetoric, but the Poles succeed.At the same time, there are no anti-Polish sentiments in Russia and never have been. Sociologists testify that the citizens of our country are quite friendly towards this people [the Poles]. It is impossible to forget the outburst of sympathy and compassion caused by the plane crash near Smolensk, when a high-ranking delegation led by the president died. People carried flowers to the embassy and churches, expressed condolences in the press and social networks. In Russia, I, as the head of state of the country, declared a day of mourning.Later, during my visits to Poland, I became convinced that our countries have no obstacles to improving relations, this is a road with oncoming traffic. However, the political elites, led by the PiS party of Kaczynski No. 2, controlled by the American masters, did everything to block the normal path.Now the interests of the citizens of Poland have been sacrificed to the Russophobia of these mediocre politicians and their puppeteers from across the ocean with clear signs of senile insanity. The decision to abandon the purchase of Russian gas, oil and coal, the opposition to Nord Stream 2 have already caused serious damage to the economy of this country. Now it will only get worse. The same applies to many other steps, which are based not on the economy, but on politicking under the guise of “de-Russification”. But now it is much more important for the vassal Polish elites to swear allegiance to their overlord - America, than to help their own citizens, so they will constantly support the fire of hatred for the enemy in the face of Russia.
What will citizens gain from this? Absolutely nothing.But sooner or later they will understand that hatred of Russia does not strengthen the society, it does not contribute to well-being and tranquility.What will citizens gain from this? Absolutely nothing.But sooner or later they will understand that hatred of Russia does not strengthen the society, it does not contribute to well-being and tranquility.