The hour is long past for Russia to put its foot down and act like a great power. The EU poodles have no real sovereignty and no moral authority to speak with Moscow on equal terms—and neither does their boss in Washington. —Eds.
Russia had recently said that it would take a more assertive stand against the sanctions and Navalny nonsense the 'west' is throwing at it.
Today the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Moscow. He had a talk with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
It was showtime:
Borrell said he had conveyed the EU’s unhappiness about the jailing of Navalny. “I have conveyed to Minister Lavrov our deep concern and reiterated our appeal for his release and the launch of an impartial investigation of his poisoning,” (NB: An investigation Russia wished to conduct but which received no help whatsoever from Germany and the rest of the Western vassal states.—Eds)
But his remarks were overshadowed by Lavrov’s forceful rebuke, in which he repeated his doubts about the West’s conclusion that Navalny was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent — a conclusion that German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally announced in Berlin, where Navalny was treated. Laboratories in France and Sweden, as well as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, confirmed the German findings.
Overall, it was a disastrous performance by Borrell, who acknowledged that the EU had not taken any step toward imposing new sanctions on Russia over the Navalny case. Borrell, a former foreign minister of Spain, then stood by silently and semi-smiling as Lavrov took the last word to slam the EU as “unreliable” and to say he hoped EU heads of state and government use a planned discussion about Russia at their March European Council summit to adopt a new path.
“We are getting used to the fact that the European Union is trying to impose unilateral restrictions, illegitimate restrictions and we proceed from the assumption at this stage that the European Union is an unreliable partner,” Lavrov said. “I hope that the strategic review that will take place soon will focus on the key interests of the European Union and that these talks will help to make our contacts more constructive.”
Adding an exclamation point to Borrell's troubled visit, Russia expelled three EU diplomats — from Germany, Poland and Sweden — for attending demonstrations in support of Navalny, an EU diplomat said.
The Politico writer above has missed the point of today's visit.
Borrell could say little to defend his position as it is Europe that needs Russia. The EU, under the ever incompetent leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, has screwed up the common purchase of vaccines against Covid-19. Van der Leyen has bought too little too late. Called out for that she reacted with panic and nearly started a trade war over the issue:
The EU's bulk purchase of vaccines had been agreed by member states in June last year, but press coverage in Germany had been turning hostile since late December. The knives were out for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The commission went into fight mode, wading into a highly public row with AstraZeneca, which lasted throughout last week. However, by Friday the vaccine issue took an explosive turn, when the commission triggered Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In the space of a few hours, the commission was on a collision course with the Irish Government. Unionists, who had already called for Article 16 to be invoked, were outraged. Brexiteers gloated that the true nature of the EU had been laid bare, and even die hard supporters of the European project were left scratching their heads.
Since Friday, the commission has been trying to explain what happened. However, it appears a sizeable amount of goodwill has been burned at a time when Ms von der Leyen has been desperate to steer the EU’s vaccine policy on to an even keel. And within the commission a blame game is under way.
Von der Leyen has personally screwed up the vaccine purchase. She needs to get hundreds of millions of vaccine doses and she needs them fast. Otherwise she has little chance to stay on her job.
Russia has developed an excellent vaccine:
From 21 days after the first dose of vaccine (the day of dose 2), 16 (0·1%) of 14 964 participants in the vaccine group and 62 (1·3%) of 4902 in the placebo group were confirmed to have COVID-19; vaccine efficacy was 91·6% (95% CI 85·6–95·2).
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is still not approved for use within the EU but that will soon happen. It could be produced relatively fast if Russia would give licenses to EU companies. Van der Leyen sent Borrell to Moscow to ask for that and to thereby save her ass.
Lavrov of course took the chance to give the EU a well deserved dressing-down.
Borrell could say little to counter him. He later released a rather lame statement that condemned the expulsion of the diplomats but announced no counter move.
The U.S. should expect a likewise assertive treatment from Russia.
Yesterday President Joe Biden gave an aggressive (and stupid) pep talk at the State Department in which he also bashed Russia:
I made it clear to President Putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions — interfering with our elections, cyberattacks, poisoning its citizens — are over. We will not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests and our people. And we will be more effective in dealing with Russia when we work in coalition and coordination with other like-minded partners.
Trump did not 'roll over' with regards to Russia but constantly took very aggressive actions against it. Russia did not interfere in U.S. elections, it did not launch cyber attacks and it did not poison its citizens. Making such false claims will not help to gain Russia's help when it is needed.
It will be impossible for Biden to solve issues in Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere without Russia's cooperation. It will take more than saying 'pretty please' to get that.
Biden added this nonsense:
The politically motivated jailing of Alexei Navalny and the Russian efforts to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are a matter of deep concern to us and the international community.
Mr. Navalny, like all Russian citizens, is entitled to his rights under the Russian constitution. He’s been targeted — targeted for exposing corruption. He should be released immediately and without condition.
Navalny is in jail because he has constantly violated, since April 2020, the conditions of his probation. The case goes back to a lawsuit a private company, the exclusive distributor for Yves Rocher in Russia, had brought against him ten years ago. Back than Navalny and his brother ran a transport business that bilked the company out of several hundred thousand dollars. In another case Navalny defrauded a state owned timber company he worked for by channeling its purchases through a company he owned. Several regular courts have found him and his brother guilty. The dude is a fraudster who should serve his time.
As for 'Russia's' handling of 'peaceful protests' take a look here.
Russia's Foreign Ministry first reaction to Biden's talk shows that it knows what the 'west' is really attempting.
Russia in RSA ???????? @EmbassyofRussia 9:42 UTC · Feb 5, 2021
????
#Zakharova: We took note of the Western comments on social & political situation in Russia. It's an attempt to contain our country, interfere in its domestic affairs. Russia isn't the only one who [the] West has its sight on: it is concerned about everyone who can compete with it.
Russia will take care that these plans will end in failure.
Biden should stop bashing Russia and President Putin. He can only lose by competing with him. Biden's approval rating is only at 61%. Putin latest approval rating is 64%. Time to declare a winner?
Posted by b on February 5, 2021 at 19:06 UTC | Permalink
Comments Sampler Leyen only screwed up in a world where using the Russian (or Chinese, for that matter) vaccine was a realistic option. We don't live in the world: in the real world, there's pressure from the Big Pharma lobby, and geopolitical pressure from the USA. In this world, Ms. Leyen (the EU) was just collateral damage from American imperialism. RE: b on February 5, 2021 at 19:06 UTC "It will be impossible for Biden to solve issues in Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere without Russia's cooperation. It will take more than saying 'pretty please' to get that." I doubt that Biden really wants to solve any of those issues. As I have been saying for years, from the viewpoint of Biden's bosses -- the US power-and-financial elites -- the cost of the wars is the purpose of the wars. There is truth in the oft-heard saying "all wars are bankers' wars." Posted by: AntiSpin | Feb 5 2021 19:34 utc | 3 Didn't the clown also promised to "defend democracy globally"? Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts. Posted by: Mao Cheng Ji | Feb 5 2021 19:35 utc | 4 Analyzing the 2020 coup d'état Some new analysis has come out about the 2020 US presidential elections.
The establishment is accusing Trump of a coup.
January 6th was just the culmination of the coup d'état. It had been ongoing for over four years. Philip Schuyler said it best on Twitter:
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Feb 5 2021 19:36 utc | 5 Thanks b! kudos to Russia for standing up for itself... it needs to do more of this when faced with constant lying and propaganda... the west is not going to stop any of it.. whether it is navalny, or guaido or whatever other stooge they want to use as a wedge to bash others, it is not going to fool everyone... russia and etc, need to counter and get the message out... @ karlof1 - the video we wanted to see is in b's post .. see the link in this line "As for 'Russia's' handling of 'peaceful protests' take a look here." i was unable to open your lavrov comments from the other day karlof1... Posted by: james | Feb 5 2021 19:36 utc | 6 Well, if Euros come to the conclusion that relying on US and UK is a bad idea because they will take everything for themselves and will leave other Westerners to die, then it's a good thing - whether the mess is Leyen's fault or another nasty trick from UK/US. Anything that can push Europe further towards Russia and far away from America is a good thing. Posted by: Clueless Joe | Feb 5 2021 19:39 utc | 7 Thanks b! I see you acquired the video provided to borrelll by the MFA from its Twitter page: "As for 'Russia's' handling of 'peaceful protests' take a look here." Biden's approval numbers will rapidly sink over the gross mishandling of the Covid relief package as I noted in a comment yesterday that's now supplanted by this newer description that only captures a fraction of the divisive politics ongoing within the Outlaw US Empire. Every single pocketbook related issue will be under the political microscope and the vast majority go against the Donor Class's desires. Biden ought to heed Maria Zakharova's advice to mind his own business and deal with the Outlaw US Empire's numerous internal problems. This is how the ending of empire looks like. It's fun to watch. It is clear that the West is out of its depth. And the rest of the world is taking notice. Posted by: Steve | Feb 5 2021 19:42 utc | 9 The US has squandered its over whelming economic superiority since WW2 by allowing a handful of oligarchs to hijack the economy for their personal financial gain. China is the rising economic power in the world and Russia will be most likely be firmly allied with them. In all probability the US will continue to bankrupt itself with military spending while the Dollar collapses due to QE. Does Europe want to go down with the ship or make new friend to the east? Best stock up on popcorn. Posted by: Ramon Zarate The US h | Feb 5 2021 19:45 utc | 10 |
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Thank you B for keeping us informed of the intricacies of the EU bullshit and Russia's hardening towards it. The change in the balance of power between China+Russia (and even Iran) is becoming palpable, the US and their UK and EU sidekicks can blow as hard as they like but they cannot blow the house down. Quite the opposite, they just make the house stronger and squander what is left of their soft power.
Nordstream 2 will supply NG to Germany and the EU, Navalny will stay in prison where he cannot provide irritation (and be kept alive), EU citizens will be getting lots of shots of Sputnik, and China will continue to grow while the West stays stuck in its malaise. Even the oil price has recovered strongly to bolster Russia's finances.
The repeated meltdowns and tantrums from the West at the new realities will be entertaining to watch, as long as they keep their fingers away from the red war button.
Posted by: Roger | Feb 5 2021 19:20 utc | 1