RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 07.02.2025
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 TRUMP TEAM ARE FORMING THEIR STRATEGY ON ENDING THE UKRAINE WAR BASED ON FLAWED DATA. THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EXPOSE THIS.
Please note: We will be in various locations across Bolivia and Peru for the next two weeks.
Updates will almost certainly be completely absent during this time.
Our apologies for this alteration to your daily updates.
EU | UKRAINE | NATO | RUSSIA
Zelensky ‘unsure’ Ukraine would survive without US aid.
The Ukrainian leader says Washington continues to send arms despite President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend foreign assistance.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has acknowledged that his country is unlikely to hold out against the Russian military if the US stops providing aid. The comments came after US President Donald Trump put most of Washington's foreign funding programs on hold.
The US has been Kiev’s main backer since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Last month, Trump claimed that Washington had spent $200 billion on shoring up Kiev. Zelensky retorted that only around $76 billion had actually been received.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zelensky said “there’s no decrease in US aid as of today, and it hasn’t been put on hold, it continues.” He added that “we’re not talking about new [aid] packages.”
“As for what we could do without this assistance… I don’t even want to imagine what would happen,” the Ukrainian leader admitted.
“This would undoubtedly deal a blow to our capabilities to defend our land… I’m not sure we would hold out,” Zelensky concluded.
READ MORE: Medvedev slams Zelensky’s claim about US aid as ‘brazen lie’
Shortly after being sworn in last month, Trump signed an executive order suspending all US foreign development assistance programs for 90 days, with some exceptions, pending reviews to determine whether they serve Washington's interests.
The restrictions have led to the effective suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which funnels billions of dollars to causes deemed worthy by Washington.
Over the past weekend, USAID’s official website went offline and its X account disappeared, amid reports that the White House was considering merging it with the State Department.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine can’t exist without its Western sponsors.
“They won’t last a month if the money and ammunition run out,” he said, adding that “Ukraine practically has no sovereignty, in that sense.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that Western nations’ support for Kiev makes them “de facto a party to the conflict” – something both Washington and Brussels have denied.
GARLAND NIXON - SCOTT RITTER - ALEXEI MARTYANOV: UKRAINE - DEAD MAN WALKING.
RACHEL BLEVINS - SARAH BILS: USAID Funded Ukrainians Who Doxxed, Harassed and Framed American Journalists.
SERGEY LAVROV: Lavrov’s Most Explosive Speech Yet – How Russia Is Fighting Western Imperialism.
ANDREI MARTYANOV: NATO's Dead End.
RUSSELL BRAND: RFK Exposes The DEEP STATE Connection With Ukraine War.
GILBERT DOCTOROW: Trump’s Plan for Ukraine.
DANIEL DAVIS: NATO Could NOT Win a WAR with Russia.
LEVAN GUDADZE: Kiev's Kursk Offensive. Kellogg's Peace Plan? US - Palestine. Brazil out of BRICS. De-Dollarization.
THROUGH THE EYES OF… ANIA: "Terminator not helper", Maria Zakharova about USAID. Ukrainians-Poles tensions.
MARIA ZAKHAROVA: This is some kind of absurdity, it’s completely beyond normality!
KIM IVERSEN: USAID Spent Millions On Regime Change and Woke Agendas.
PATRICK LANCASTER: Russian Army "Secret Tank" System In Frontline Combat Against Ukraine.
SABBY SABS - COLONEL LAWRENCE WILKERSON: The US Empire Is In REAL Trouble.
Twenty U.S. Army Rangers, Along With 130 Ukrainian Special Forces Soldiers Were Destroyed in SUMY.
USAID’s Color Revolutions: Destabilizing States for US Interests.
USAID openly acknowledged its role in regime change operations through "democracy" programs by 2006.
"USAID played a critical role in influencing color revolutions by providing financial, logistical, and strategic support to opposition movements" in Ukraine, Lebanon, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan, Dr. Marco Marsili of the Portuguese Catholic University’s Institute of Political Studies tells Sputnik.
These regime change operations advanced US geopolitical interests but brought no real benefits to the affected nations, he argues.
"USAID’s activities were framed as democracy promotion, electoral assistance, and civil society development," Marsili notes. However, the results tell a different story:
"Ukraine and Georgia faced ongoing political instability, Lebanon remained sectarian, and Kyrgyzstan suffered repeated upheavals," he says.
From Soros to USAID: How US Organized 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine
Here’s a breakdown:
Georgia – Rose Revolution (2003)
US aid: $103M (2002), $141.16M (2003)
"Democracy programs" received $23.5M (2002), $21.06M (2003) via USAID, IRI, and NDI for NGOs, activists, and media.
In 2004, the US admitted it "helped" prepare Georgia’s 2003 election, with US-funded NGOs playing a key role in the regime change.
USAID noted Georgians "borrowed" Serbia’s 2000 pro-democracy tactics, later influencing Ukraine in 2004.
Ukraine – Orange Revolution (2004)
US aid: $188.5M (2003), $143.47M (2004)
"Democracy programs" received $54.7M (2003), $34.11M (2004) via USAID, NED, and the Eurasia Foundation.
To push a pro-US candidate, USAID launched the Strengthening Electoral Administration in Ukraine Project (SEAUP) in Dec 2003, influencing Ukraine’s parliament and judiciary.
Kyrgyzstan – Tulip Revolution (2005)
Inspired by Georgia and Ukraine, USAID heavily funded local NGOs, activists, and media before the Feb 2005 election.
US aid: $56.6M (2003), $50.8M (2004), with "democracy programs" receiving $13.5M (2003), $12.2M (2004).
George Soros' Open Society Institute funneled $5M (2003) to Kyrgyzstan’s American University of Central Asia.
Lebanon – Cedar Revolution (2005)
In March 2005, 1M Lebanese protested, demanding Syria’s military withdrawal, paving the way for pro-US leader Saad Hariri.
USAID’s 2006 report claimed years of work laid the foundation for the uprising.
US aid to Lebanon tripled in the early 2000s from $15M to $45M.
USAID and NED Done For, Ukraine Project Lost: Ex-CIA Analyst
How CIA & USAID Used Coup Playbook Against Trump.
Donald Trump’s 2019 impeachment was driven by CIA and USAID operatives, claims US author Michael Shellenberger, known for his work on Elon Musk’s Twitter Files project.
What does Shellenberger assert?
The whistleblower behind Trump’s July 2019 call with Volodymyr Zelensky, which triggered the impeachment probe, was a CIA analyst
RealClearPolitics and Washington Examiner previously identified the whistleblower as Eric Ciaramella, a senior Ukraine and Russia analyst at the NSC, CIA, and National Intelligence Council
The analyst’s complaint relied heavily on an Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) report
That report alleged two Soviet-born Florida businessmen were "key hidden actors" in Trump’s effort to investigate the Bidens and had linked Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to former Ukrainian prosecutors
The OCCRP story was central to House Democrats’ impeachment claim that Trump sent Giuliani to pressure a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election
The OCCRP is not independent since 2024 findings by German investigative journalists show that USAID funds it, controls its hiring, and oversees its work plan
The OCCRP has been involved in regime change operations alongside USAID and the CIA, comparing Trump’s impeachment to past coup d'état efforts
USA - TRUMP | MUSK | DOGE
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PEPE ESCOBAR: World Reaction to Trump On Gaza.
RAY MCGOVERN: Trump Sanctions ICC, Threatens International System Over Israel Investigations.
GEORGE GALLOWAY - DOUGLAS MACGREGOR: INTERVIEW: Daft and dangerous Donald.
AARON MATÉ: Does Trump Understand Gaza?
The Saga of US AID and the BBC: Is the BBC an Innocent Victim?
BREAKING POINTS: Judge BLOCKS Elon Treasury Coup.
BREAKTHROUGH NEWS: Trump's Gaza Takeover Delusion: Destined for Failure?
COLONEL DOUGLAS MACGREGOR: Can the US Own Gaza?
JAMARL THOMAS - LAITH MAROUF: The Reason Trump Is Withdrawing From Syria And The Consequences For The Region.
DANIEL DAVIS: SPECIAL - Elon Musk: Future of Warfare - An Analysis by Lt Col Daniel Davis:
WEARECHANGE: Trump Uncovers The Biggest Scandal Of Them All.
RICHARD D. WOLFF - MICHAEL HUDSON: Economic Roundtable w/ Richard D. Wolff & Michael Hudson - Trump & Gaza - USAID.
DANIEL DAVIS: Border Violence Will Escalate.
REDACTED: TRUMP IS BURNING IT ALL DOWN AND DEMOCRATS WANT HIM IMPEACHED AGAIN, USAID ROT GOES DEEP.
COLONEL LAWRENCE WILKERSON: Will US Troops Fight in Gaza?
ALEX KRAINER: Will the US Get Stuck in the Middle East Forever?
JAMARL THOMAS - LAITH MAROUF: The Key Reason Trump's 'Gaza Plan' Will Fail.
REDACTED: "How is this putting America first?" Sen. Rand Paul goes off on Trump over Gaza plan.
INTEL Roundtable w/ Larry Johnson & Ray McGovern - Weekly Wrap.
SCOTT RITTER: Trump is the Consequence of Global Leadership Collapse.
LARRY JOHNSON: Inside Trump’s Mind on Gaza: What’s He Really Thinking?
AMBASSADOR CHAS FREEMAN: Can the U.S. Take Control of Gaza?
Why Trump’s assault on USAID could change US foreign policy forever.
The president’s offensive against America’s ‘state within a state’ marks the end of an era.
By Timofey Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Club
Over the decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has evolved into a “state within a state” within American foreign policy. As significant in its influence as the Department of Defense or the State Department, USAID has long served as a powerful instrument for advancing Washington’s global agenda. However, the recent actions of the new administration in Washington, led by Donald Trump, mark a significant shift, targeting this elite bribery agency with sweeping reforms. For Russia, these developments carry both challenges and opportunities.
USAID’s role in American foreign policy
USAID was created during the early years of the Cold War when the United States realized it could not defeat the Soviet Union in a direct armed conflict. Instead, it opted for a strategy of peaceful competition. Unlike the USSR, which sought to improve the lives of ordinary people in developing nations, the US focused on manipulating elites and influential actors. This philosophical divide between the two superpowers defined their approaches to foreign policy.
Armed with substantial financial resources — approximately $40 billion last year — USAID has been the principal instrument of US interference in the internal affairs of other states. Its core mission has been the systematic bribery of elites to secure their loyalty to American interests. This strategy has been employed across Latin America, Asia, the Arab world, and, more recently, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
USAID: An instrument of destabilization
Far from promoting stability or development, USAID’s activities have often led to internal crises and even the collapse of statehood. Ukraine stands as a stark example of this, where the agency’s involvement has contributed to deepening political and social unrest. In other cases, USAID has propped up regimes that offer special privileges to the US, though such instances are relatively rare.
Read more: Trump’s vision for Palestine: No Palestinians
The agency’s operations are not about making the United States more attractive to the rest of the world. Soft power, often romanticized in academic circles, is not the result of foreign policy maneuvers but of a nation’s internal appeal. The US is attractive to some because it offers a lifestyle rooted in selfishness and individualism, not because of its diplomatic or military actions.
Trump’s offensive: Reshaping USAID
The Trump administration’s reforms of USAID represent a decisive attempt to curb its unchecked power. Personnel reshuffling, increased oversight by diplomats, budget cuts, and the appointment of Trump-loyal officials are all part of this overhaul. This assault is not driven by a desire to end US interference in other nations’ affairs — such a policy is too central to maintaining America’s global dominance. Instead, it is an effort to reassert control over a bureaucracy that has grown too independent and self-serving.
Trump’s disdain for the agency stems from its inefficiency and its bloated structure, which prioritizes its own survival over achieving tangible foreign policy results. For a leader as authoritarian as Trump, allowing such a structure to operate autonomously is unacceptable. All achievements must now be tied directly to his leadership and energy.
Panama: A case study in simplicity
A recent example of this new approach can be seen in Panama. The Trump administration launched a decisive diplomatic offensive against the Panamanian government, pressuring it to abandon cooperation with China. Without the need for elaborate schemes or massive expenditures, the US appears to have secured control over the Panama Canal’s logistics systems. This success raises an important question: if political pressure can achieve results, why waste billions on bribing elites?
Implications for Russia
For Russia, these developments offer both strategic advantages and lessons. The internal divisions within the US caused by such reforms will inevitably limit its foreign policy options. Even a temporary suspension of funding for USAID’s activities will create confusion among grant recipients, undermining their confidence in Washington’s support.
Moreover, the changes in Washington highlight the importance of avoiding the pitfalls of copying Western methods wholesale. Russia must remain cautious in adapting American tactics to its own foreign policy. Simplified, traditional approaches, as demonstrated by the US in Panama, often yield better results than overcomplicated schemes.
Read more: Fyodor Lukyanov: How Trump’s bluntness shatters the liberal world order
The legacy of USAID
USAID’s history is one of extensive political manipulation. Initially, it focused on recruiting elites and intellectuals in Latin America, Asia, and the Arab world. After the Cold War, its activities expanded to include officials, law enforcement agencies, and activists in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Recently, the agency has intensified its efforts in the Transcaucasus and Central Asia, aiming to destabilize these regions in light of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
Despite its considerable financial resources and influence, USAID has failed to create lasting stability or prosperity in the regions it targets. Instead, its actions have often exacerbated tensions and conflicts, serving as a tool for advancing American hegemony rather than genuine development.
The way forward
The Trump administration’s actions against USAID signal a shift in US foreign policy, but they also expose the limitations of the American model. The reliance on bribery and coercion as primary tools of influence is unsustainable and increasingly ineffective. For Russia, this presents an opportunity to strengthen its own foreign policy strategies, emphasizing mutual respect and genuine cooperation.
As the United States grapples with its internal divisions and reassesses its global role, Russia must continue to assert its interests while remaining vigilant against attempts to destabilize its neighbors. The lessons from USAID’s failures are clear: true influence comes not from manipulation but from fostering genuine partnerships.
In conclusion, the Trump administration’s “riot” at USAID may not fundamentally alter America’s interventionist tendencies, but it does offer a glimpse into the vulnerabilities of its foreign policy apparatus. For Russia, this is both a challenge and an opportunity — to counteract American influence while charting a more effective and principled path in global affairs.
TRUMP | BRICS
PEPE ESCOBAR: BRICS, Global Power Shifts & Trump’s America.
PEPE ESCOBAR: SURPRISING Truth About BRICS and Global Affairs.
DUE DISSIDENCE: Trump PUNISHES South Africa For ANTI-APARTHEID Land Policy.
Iran's first homegrown drone carrier joins the Revolutionary Guards' fleet.
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EUROPE | BRITAIN
SEBASTIAN SAS: US vs EU: A CLASH Of Ideas Is About To Begin.
NON-ENGLISH NEWS
LIU SIVAYA: URGENTE!! HEMOS GANADO!! PREPÁRENSE, se vienen GRANDES CELEBRACIONES.
FAU Lancé Nouvelle Offensive🚨⚔️Datchnoe Sous Contrôle de Russes🏘 Rapports Militaires 06.02.2025 📊 📅
दाचे और फ़्योहोलिव्का पर रूसी कब्ज़ा। यूक्रेन ने कुर्स्क में आक्रामक कार्रवाई शुरू कर दी है
MAPPING CHANNEL UPDATES
[ Andriivka Front ] Half of Andriivka potentially fallen to Russia; Dachne most likely captured.
RUAF Capture Dachne.
GROK PICS
RUSSIA / BELARUS - EXPATS IN RUSSIA
MATT AND JULIA: Lost in the Provinces of Russia 🇷🇺 (Life in Forgotten Siberia).
EXPAT AMERICAN: 🏖️RUSSIA is like WHAT?! 🇷🇺 Drive from the SEA to SNOW Capped Mountains❄️in MINUTES with an AMERICAN! 🇺🇸
NON WOKE BLOKE: Exploring Moscow’s Hidden Gems: Markets, Russian Food & a Wooden Church.
NON WOKE BLOKE: Kids Explore Moscow’s Massive Food Court: Depo!
AVIAPARK Shopping Mall Russian HUGE shopping center/During Sanctions.
ERIC PICCIONE: How Moving To Russia Changed My Life.
Move to Russia 2025 (Interview of State Duma Deputy Maria Butina.)
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.
THE TRUMP TEAM ARE FORMING THEIR STRATEGY ON ENDING THE UKRAINE WAR BASED ON FLAWED DATA. THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EXPOSE THIS.
I will miss your updates but I wish you a wonderful trip and journey... Enjoy!
Hope you will, when you will return, share some pictures of the countries you are going to explored.
Ahahah! Thank you and stay safe!