The bad news:
1. During negotiations of the contact group between the representatives of Ukraine, the DNR and LNR [Donetsk– and Luhansk People’s Republics] with the participation of the OSCE, a protocol on the ceasefire starting at 6:00 PM EEST today was signed. As planned, any further negotiations on the resolution of the conflict must be conducted under the terms of the armistice.
This could be entirely attributed as good news if only terrorist leaders weren’t quick to announce that the ceasefire didn’t mean that the course of the annexation of the DNR and LNR from Ukraine would change in any way.
Here it is difficult to comment. Anyone is clear on the fact that Putin doesn’t [even] contemplate losing Donbas, but unfortunately, because the truce can only be temporary–there is very little hope for a peaceful resolution [of the conflict]. Unless, of course, we decided to say goodbye to this region, and later–to at least six more oblasts [regions] of Ukraine.
2. According to the IR group, the situation remains far from stable in the Donbas areas liberated from the terrorists. Yesterday’s separatist-terrorists and their henchmen – from small local officials and criminals to law enforcement officers – who remained unpunished for treason, keep crawling out of every crack.
All of this smalltime riff raft was a bit relieved when they saw that no one was taking them in hand or making them answer to their past sins. And so they have now begun taking up their old tricks, that is, sh*tting on everything (so far on the sly). If the special services and the Interior Ministry don’t begin to take urgent action–we will be unpleasantly surprised very soon how quickly one can lose all the fruit of local victories.
3. The Czech President Milos Zeman does not consider the actions of Russia in eastern Ukraine [to be] an aggression. According to him, several hundred “Russian volunteers” “cannot be regarded as a Russian invasion.” “We must honestly admit that a civil war is underway in Ukraine,” this aging wonder blurted out.
We, Ukrainians, are accustomed to political prostitution in our political environment. But the president of the Czech Republic is now showing [he’s at] master-class level, our native political prostitutes have are a far cry from him. But just recently, M. Zeman himself argued that the Western countries would have to take “serious actions,” to the point of sending NATO troops, “if Russia attempts to seize new territories of Ukraine.” “I’m not a combat hawk, but an attempt to seize the eastern territories of Ukraine for me–is a line that cannot be crossed,” he prophesized.
Yes, Mr. Zeman, you are definitely not a hawk. And not even a chicken. You remind [me] of something from the reptile class. And personally, I’m really glad that an immense number of Czechs–and I know this for a fact–do not share your Putinophile and Ukrainophobic statements. As they say in your beloved Russia, every family has its black sheep.
The good news:
1. And again on the main news for today–the cease-fire in Donbas.
Let’s be honest: we found out in June what cease-fire agreements with the terrorists are worth. The pause is guaranteed to be used by them to build up their strength, transfer new weapons and units from Russia, and prepare for the offensive. And it is possible that the “truce” itself will only be observed by the Ukrainian side again.
But today, the truce is badly needed by our troops as well. Vigorous invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army has not gone unnoticed–our troops, which were exhausted a few months ago in combat already, urgently need the respite. I won’t paint [the picture] as to how bad everything is–there are enough craftsmen [doing that] without me. But [I] very much hope that our military leadership will use this truce wisely. If, of course, the Ukrainian authorities still have the will to fight for their land.
2. Today, the DNR once again proved its African [stereotype-casting] core. Just as the leadership of this terrorist organization went to the talks in Minsk, an attempted “coup d’etat of the DNR” took place, as reported by the “minister of state security of the DNR” Lenka [diminutive from Leonid] Baranov.
According to Baranov, the rogue Vladimir Akinfeev, a buddy and a drinking companion of the current leaders of the DNR, tried to seize “power” in Donetsk. He “has removed several ministers,” issued arrest warrants for “DNR activists” and put Baranov’s secretary in a basement (as I understand it, Baranov’s secretary is a symbol of “state power” in the “DNR”).
What can I say? It’s easy to understand Vovka Akinfeev: he wants to steer [the ship], too. If this is acceptable for every huckster, why can’t he do it?
So, gentlemen, “prime ministers of the DNR,” be careful in the sauna [when] facing your backs to your accomplices. Anything can happen.
3. The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Rentsi called on NATO to “decisively support Ukraine,” and promised that his country will sell 90 armored Iveco vehicles to Kyiv.
Yes, 90 ACVs [armored combat vehicles] (even as good as Iveco) will not save the situation with re-equipment of the Ukrainian army. But this is a very important achievement for Kyiv: for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in Donbas, a Western country agreed to sell us not the “dual-use” or “purely defensive” product, but “fully adequate” military equipment. Therefore, I don’t even know in what area this success is more pronounced: in the military-technical or military-political.
4. And again on sanctions against Russia. Firstly, [I] am pleased with the position expressed by the Prime Minister of Great Britain David Cameron, that the announced truce in Donbas will not affect the sanctions being imposed on Russia–unless it’s after the establishment of a comprehensive peace in Ukraine.
Secondly, the EU might prohibit the state-controlled Russian oil companies to raise funds in European capital markets. A big hello to the boys of “Rosneft,” “Gazprom Neft,” and “Transneft.” This is a blow to the Russian sales of energy resources–the sacred cow of Putin’s empire.
And although we observe that the Kremlin hasn’t really responded to the imposed sanctions, any body fat sooner or later melts away. Even from a fatcat of a Russian bear.
Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
