RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 19.12.2022
Including geopolitical issues affecting the balance of power in the ongoing end game war to establish our common future, a closely monitored prison planet or tolerance for diverse modes of governance.
THE ROAD TO THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION OF WORLD WAR III RUNS THROUGH HERE.
*** ARE YOU READY TO DIE FOR UKRAINE? ***
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“Ukraine. What is the truth...?
Why won’t western media tell both sides…?”
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Lead feature:
Latest update from Brian Berletic of 'The New Atlas' (197k subscribers):
Western Media Whitewashing Extremism in Ukraine.
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Latest update on events within Ukraine and their knock-on effects on the western world, by Alexander Mercouris of ‘The Duran’. (189k subscribers):
Putin in Belarus as Russia Plans Offensive; Russia Captures More Bakhmut Positions, Launches Drones.
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Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of ‘The Duran’ discuss geopolitical events of the day in answering subscribers questions. (319k subscribers):
Kiev guessing game, as Putin and Shoigu land in Belarus.
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Aaron Maté of ‘The Grayzone’ - ‘Pushback’. (244k subscribers):
How Ukraine's far-right, with NATO backing, block peace.
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Latest update from Alex Christoforou of ‘The Duran’ on the geopolitical events of the previous 24 hours (151k subscribers):
Qatargate and Eva Kaili. Elensky, 'reconquest of Crimea has started in people’s heads.' U/1
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‘Jeremiah Alphonsus’ with ‘George Galloway’ clip (26.2k subscribers):
For Ukraine? Are You Ready to Die For Ukraine?!?
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‘Schiller Institute’ (62.9k subscribers):
Col Richard Black: Will NATO Provoke World War III With Russia?
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‘Gerald Celente’ (187k subscribers):
UKRAINE WAR: Patriot Missiles Are Offensive Weapons That Can Target Moscow...WWIII Has Begun.
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SCOTT RITTER: NATO and U.S. Appear Willing to Fight Russia Until the Last Capable Ukrainian.
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‘Fox News’ with Colonel Douglas Macgregor from 2 months ago. (10.2 million subscribers):
Would Ukraine joining NATO start World War III?
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‘BlazeTV’ (1.63k subscribers):
How a Ukrainian LIE Almost Started World War III | @PatGray
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‘AdizzPro’ from 6 months ago. (86.2k subscribers):
What If World War 3 Broke Out Today?
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‘BORZZIKMAN’ (117k subscribers):
Russian Strategic Missile System ''YARS'' began to Knock Some Sense into Pentagon and NATO.
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Latest update on events within Ukraine and their knock-on effects on the western world, by Alexander Mercouris of ‘The Duran’. (188k subscribers):
Russia Captures Marinka, Ukraine Digs Trenches Bakhmut, Kissinger Admits & Warns Against Neocon Plan.
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‘FINANCE MAIL’ (17.5k subscribers):
Douglas Macgregor: Special Military Operation In Ukraine. Putin Is Killing Ukraine Economically.
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True InFo’ with ‘Tucker Carlson’ clip (73.1k subscribers):
Russians Care Less: U.S. sanctions against Russia did not have the expected effect.
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'Master B Editor' (76 subscribers):
US Senator The ongoing battle for Bakhmut (Artemovsk) in Ukraine has gradually become a disaster.
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‘Hindustan Times’ (5.02 million subscribers):
Putin preparing allies for a full-blown war against U.S-led West? China, Russia hold Naval drills.
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Putin winning, West losing? Anti-NATO protests in Europe; Protesters denounce sanctions on Russia.
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Horror show for Zelensky: Putin's rocket-propelled grenade hits Armored Carrier, counterattack fails.
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Putin extends cargo transit ban on EU, UK after Russian oil price cap rebuff | Key Details:
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Russia's fire & fury: Soledar in ruins, soldier shows devastation | Ukraine Army positions destroyed.
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Putin's Wagner Group marching towards Bakhmut, Ukraine Army digs trenches in centre of the city.
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‘Deepin Moments’ (47.3k subscribers)
SANCTIONS INVALID! Russia's Exports to Europe Soar by 50% As Western Sanctions Fail Completely.
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‘iAFRICAN’ (28 subscribers):
French volunteer fighting for Donbass on Russian side.
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'U.S. Tour of Duty' (19.9k subscribers):
Scott Ritter Extra Ep. 32
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'Douglas Macgregor Col (8.85k subscribers):
Douglas Macgregor - What’s Going to Happen to the Ukraine?
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'George Galloway' (235k subscribers):
INTERVIEW: Sanctions are doing more damage to #Europe than #Russia says #JohnnyMiller.
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'ShanghaiEye魔都眼' (116k subscribers):
Flying beyond borders: China's homegrown ARJ21 jetliner delivered to first overseas customer.
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‘Redacted’ (1.53 million subscribers):
EMERGENCY! This is heading for ALL OUT disaster at U.S. border | Redacted with Clayton Morris.
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Upcoming from ‘The Duran’ (319k subscribers):
Global economic crisis & the geopolitical reaction w/Jeffrey Sachs (Live).
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Article from Russia Today (RT) - 19th December 2022:
One year ago, Russia gave the West a last chance to prevent a full-blown conflict – what went wrong?
Towards the end of 2021, the Kremlin made an attempt to push the West to negotiate on Russia’s long-standing political and defense grievances.
It's been a year since a Russian document outlining proposals (or demands, if you prefer) for long-term guarantees on European security was delivered to NATO and the US. This was the starting point of the major politico-military crisis that defines the global situation today.
Was the Russian ultimatum (and that is how it was formulated) designed to be rejected, or did it envisage a path to negotiations?
President Vladimir Putin probably reasoned along the following lines: after so many years of ignoring our wishes and convictions, let's give it one last chance. Let's put forward the maximum set of demands, everything that has been said before, but outline them in one place and in a concentrated form, and see what happens. If they realize that this time that it’s extremely serious, and with that in mind, decide on a real discussion, we are ready. However, if they start to waste time again, then that's it. Let's cut to the chase.
If the response from the West was not satisfactory, the military operation in Ukraine would be the next step. There was apparently no chance of avoiding it by then. After all, the logic behind the need for the offensive was outlined in Putin's big article in the summer of 2021. That is, the security demands were made when the internal readiness for action was already in place.
The scale of the consequences leads many to return to the question: Was what happened inevitable? The argument that “we had no choice,” often heard at the highest level in Moscow, is problematic because it effectively means that Russia’s previous policies were wrong. A policy which leads to no alternative solution, i.e. forcing one to act in a certain way and no other way, cannot be considered successful.
So an analysis of the long period since the early 2000s will at some point be an important lesson for the future. Was there an urgent need to make demands and initiate the military operation at that point in time? Based on what we know now (which is probably not everything), there was room for maneuver and an opportunity to prepare better. Strategically, a conflict over Ukraine was probably inevitable, but the specific circumstances and timetable could have been different.
Is anyone in the West kicking themselves right now? An ultimatum can only be accepted by great powers, and even more so by superpowers, as a result of a military defeat. So there was, I think, no chance of the demands being accepted.
I have to say that the consultations that took place in January 2022 showed that the US was ready for some concessions on specific issues of military security. To a greater extent than they had indicated before the demands were made. However, this amounted to very little relative to the overall picture. Most importantly, NATO and the Americans categorically refused to discuss the main political issue: a formal rejection of NATO expansion.
For them, this is unacceptable because the military bloc’s enlargement is the basis of the entire international security philosophy as it has been understood in the West since the end of the Cold War.
But even beyond this, in the West there is a complete absence (or perhaps a disappearance) of reflection on the history behind current events. The view that Russia has no political, economic or moral right to demand anything has become an axiom and a basis for policy. And what has happened even seems to have brought some form of relief – there is no need to pretend any more.
After one year, how should we assess the outcome for our country, based literally on what was said in the document? The main outcome is that the politico-military situation has changed radically. Consequently, Russia's dissatisfaction with the previous state of affairs has been partially sated. As it was, it will no longer be.
NATO will not take further expansion lightly, realizing that the “nothing will happen in response” point of view no longer applies. Admittedly, this does not preclude a deliberate expansion for declared anti-Russian purposes, if there is enough determination, and that determination could well be inversely proportional to Russia's military achievements.
By Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
MAPPING CHANNELS
* Updates will be added here as and when they become available.
LATEST UPDATE FROM DIMA OF THE MILITARY SUMMARY CHANNEL (76.2k subscribers):
Ukraine. Military Summary And Analysis 19.12.2022.
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LATEST UPDATE FROM THE 'DEFENSE POLITICS ASIA' MAPPING CHANNEL (50.6k subscribers):
[ Ukraine SITREP ] Day 298 (18/12) Summary: Ukraine push back Russians near Pobjeda | Bakhmut Algo.
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LATEST UPDATE BY ‘NEW WORLD ECONOMICS’ (27.9k subscribers):
No update posted so far today.
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LATEST UPDATE BY THETI MAPPING (14.7k subscribers):
No update posted so far today.
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LATEST UPDATE BY ‘BALKAN MAPPING’ (134k subscribers):
Ukraine [19 Dec 2022] 'Today' - UA advancing in Marinka.
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LATEST UPDATE BY THE ‘MILITARY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS NETWORK’ (55.7k subscribers):
No update posted so far today.
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LATEST UPDATE FROM ‘RYBAR’ via‘Itapirkanmaa2’ channel. (24.6k subscribers):
RYBAR Highlights of Russian Military Operation in Ukraine on 17-18 Dec 2022.
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LATEST UPDATE FROM ‘M MAPPING’ (4.4k subscribers):
Russian Invasion of Ukraine [19 December]''Today''- Russian forces captured Yakolivka.
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Detailed situation reports can be found on a daily basis concerning events in Ukraine over the past 24 hours at the ‘A SKEPTIC’ Substack account:
Link to 'A SKEPTIC' Substack channel.
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SUPPORTING SCOTT RITTER
I've been listening to Scott Ritter describe how things are for him and I suspect have been for him for quite some time now.
He has been doing a LOT of unpaid work with a great many interview requests coming in that he has been ready and willing to agree to. But the work where receives some pay for have suffered due to this, being left until the wee small hours of the night to complete work on.
Scott, I think you will agree, has been one of the most influential voices out there on Russia and Ukraine.
I was moved by Scott's words to take an annual subscription to his Substack account that he runs in coordination with his colleague on 'U.S. Tour of Duty', Jeff Norman. This is the main way that Scott recommends to help him with finances with which to upgrade his delivery of comment on Russia and Ukraine, via a better microphone etc. and perhaps the creation of a recording studio in his basement to create a more professional and impressive look. To invest in these things he would like to be sure that this has a viable financial future.
Would you also like to help by subscribing at one of the various levels to Scott's Substack account? I hope so. If so the link is here:
Below you'll find the edited part of the video where Scott talks of his commitments to get the facts out on events in Ukraine and of the finances that would come in handy to enhance their delivery:
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VICTORY BELONGS TO RUSSIA: IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Each day that passes makes a conclusive Russian victory in the Donbass and beyond more certain. As Russia bolsters her forces, and weaponry, those of Ukraine decrease. Russian forces gain ready access to rest and recuperation as troop numbers increase. The increasingly exhausted and demoralised Ukrainian troops have an ever decreasing prospect of such respite. This situation is likely to bring them to complete breakdown as Russia unleashes the firepower of the more modern and advanced weaponry that is arriving with the newly mobilised Russian troops.
The various Ukrainian offensives are now weak when confronted by the reinforced Russian lines. A few futile efforts achieve quite miserable results before fire reigns down on the Ukrainian troops and they are forced back to their starting positions.
And now, all this being said, we have arrived at the wet, and later, freezing conditions where these pathetic Ukrainian forces will be subject to myriad forms of abject misery with death and injury all around them while they lie sodden or frozen, abandoned to their fate by Kiev.
The pitiable young and old of Ukraine have been frogmarched to their deaths as cannon-fodder while the bestial elites of the collective West urge their "president" to add more to their number there at the gates of Hell and their doom. We must feel for the majority of them as they are not the Nazis we revile, in most part they are decent men, fathers, sons, brothers, husband and uncles, who no doubt saw through the coup of 2014 for what it was. But sadly, their fate seems sealed.
Nothing will stop Russia now. Every factor favours them. Victory will be Russia's. In Donbass and beyond and in due course across the world.
Victory belongs to Russia: It is now only a matter of time.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
