LOS ANGELES.–Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, 56, said Ukraine has moved its forces closer to the Nothern Zhytomyr region of the Belarus border, causing alarm since Belarus is a key ally of the Russian Federation. Belarus Defense Ministry said Ukraine was amassing troop close to the border in what looks like a possible invasion. Ukrainian officials denied the allegation blaming it on a Russia “information operation,” saying only the Kiev moved forces to prevent any provocations around the Belarus border. Russia finds itself in a war of attrition in Ukraine, defending certain captured territory but resisting an assault by Ukraine using U.S. and NATO weapons, serving notice that the Ukraine War, at least to the Kremlin, is a U.S. war against the Kremlin. Dmitry reminded the press that Minsk and Moscow have a close partnership, defending their mutual interests against the U.S. and NATO.
Russia considers Belarus a “union state,” still part of the old Soviet Union of Warsaw Pact countries the once provided a defensive shield to Moscow after Russia’s devastation following WW II. Russia lost some 28 million troops and civilians in its battle with Nazi Germany over the course of at least five years. White House officials don’t acknowledge Russian sacrifices to end Nazi Germany in WW II, taking much of the credit at an 80-year anniversary of D-Day June 7, 1944. When Adlolf Hitler was toppled April 30, 1945, it was Russian troops that reached Berlin, not U.S. and allied forces. So when it comes to Ukraine’s war against the Kremlin, the Kremlin sees outside forces like the U.S. and NATO and potential invaders, seeking to topple the Russian government. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in Ramstein Germany April 25, 2022 that the U.S. aims to degrade the Russian military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 71, takes the Ukrainian troop buildup near Belarus seriously, something he’ll discus with 69-year-old Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko when they meet July 3 in Astana, Kazakhstan. “And our ministries of defense are in constant contact with each other. Of course this is a cause of concern, not only for Minsk, but also for Moscow, because we are indeed allies and partners,” Peskov said. Peskov wants to serve notice to Washington that any encroachment on the Belarus border would be considered an act of war against Moscow. Ukraine has been using U.S. and NATO weapons to strike inside the Russian border, escalating the conflict beyond its current conflict. Putin has said that he will hold the U.S. and NATO responsible for any attacks by Ukraine inside Russian border using U.S. and NATO weapons.
Meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Council July 3-4 in Kazakhstan, Peskov said Putin would discuss Ukraine’s troop movements near the Belarus border. Putin knows that 81-year-old President Joe Biden signed a 10-year security agreement June 13 with Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Voldymyr Zelensky, signaling that Biden has no intent of moving the conflict to the peace table anytime soon. Biden and Zelensky have accused Putin to trying to topple Ukraine then move on to Poland, the Baltic States and other NATO countries. Putin told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an exclusive 90-minute interview that he had no intent to taking on NATO or seizing any European country. Putin told Carlson he wanted to resolve the conflict and get back to normal diplomacy with the U.S., including dealing with any prisoner exchanges of U.S. citizens held in Russian jails.
Biden’s proxy war in Ukraine has ended U.S.-Russian relations, finding common ground and ways to make the world a safer, more stable place. Biden’s proxy war in Ukraine against the Kremlin turned a once cooperative partner into a mortal enemy. Biden is the first and only U.S. president to go to war against the Kremlin, ending cooperative relations, including arms control, with Moscow. Biden showed in CNN June 27 debate that he’s not capable of negotiation, compromise and deal making with Russia or China, leaving the U.S. on a war footing. Biden’s memory and cognitive impairments prevent him from dialoguing with U.S. adversaries, necessary to maintain the peace. Putin asked Biden on several occasions before the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion to discuss new security arrangements for Ukraine before he moved the Russian Army across the border in what’s now a three year conflict.
When it comes to Belarus, any attack on by Ukraine would be considered an attack on the Russian Federation. Putin wants the U.S. and NATO to stop supplying arms to Ukraine and move the conflict to the peace table. Biden and Zelensky have shown zero interest in ending the conflict, only escalating the war by moving the conflict outside Ukrainian borders into Russian territory. With Belarus already shooting down a Ukrainian drone near the border, relations are already tense between the two countries. Biden defers all decisions to underlings, including his 73-year-old wife Jill and 78-year-old sister Valerie Owens. Knowing Biden’s cognitive impairments, he can’t function as president today or in the future. Questions of Biden stepping away from the 2024 campaign go without saying. But he should resign the presidency and let 58-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris take over.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
