RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 04.05.2024
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.
*** THE COLLAPSE OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMY IS IN PROGRESS ***
“Ukraine. What is the truth...?
Why won’t western media tell both sides…?”
VIRTUALLY UNREPORTED ATROCITY IN LUGANSK, 2nd JUNE 2014
A lot has been said about atrocities in the western media claimed to have been perpetrated by the Russians, for example at Bucha and Mariupol among others. These assertions are conveyed on the say so of the Ukrainian authorities. How willing though are western news broadcasters to convey atrocities attributed to the Ukrainians? The following will I think provide the answer.
If anyone wonders if they are receiving accurate coverage of the conflict in Ukraine I would suggest watching the video below of an event which occurred on the 2nd of June 2014 and ask themselves if they recall hearing about it on any mainstream media news channel at the time.
The video is harrowing to watch. The bodies (five women and three men) are real. Yet across western media there was only one single news report that occurred a day later. This was from CNN and occurred only because a CNN team happened to be nearby at the time of the atrocity and so the network could hardly ignore it as all others so obviously did.
The video below shows the unvarnished truth that was not considered newsworthy in western mainstream news.
THE SINGLE WESTERN MSM REPORT ON THE LUGANSK ATROCITY, 3rd JUNE 2014
The video at the CNN link below is the crime scene sanitised by CNN, though played straight with honest reporting on the scene not playing things to Kiev’s tune.
(There was a time early in the war in the Donbass when CNN were not afraid to contradict the Ukrainian regime in Kiev.) Watch, because it's the first and last time you will see this.
5 women and 3 men died, all civilians.
Air attack on pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk kills 8, stuns residents.
COLLECTIVE WEST-UKRAINE <-> RUSSIA
Moscow puts Zelensky on wanted list.
The Russian interior ministry has listed the Ukrainian president among people suspected of committing a crime.
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. © Cemal Yurttas / dia images via Getty Images
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky appeared on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list on Saturday. The exact offense he is charged with remains unclear.
The ministry’s website says the Ukrainian president is wanted under an article of Russia’s Criminal Code and contains his full name and photograph, as well as his date and place of birth. No data has been released about criminal proceedings against him.
The development comes a day after the head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, Aleksandr Litvinenko, was also put on Russia’s wanted list. He took the position over from his predecessor Aleksey Danilov in March. In this instance, too, no charge details have been specified.
In April, Litvinenko claimed it was necessary to launch drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, to exert “pressure” on Moscow. He described this tactic as a key element of Kiev’s strategy.
READ MORE: Zelensky’s Crimea Bridge threat proof of Kiev’s terrorist intent – Kremlin
Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of employing terrorist methods throughout the ongoing conflict between the two neighbours. Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said threats by Zelensky to destroy Russian civilian infrastructure were proof of his government’s terrorist intentions.
Peskov was responding to the president’s statements concerning the Crimean Bridge, which has already been targeted in two major bomb attacks, each leading to several civilian deaths.
READ MORE: Russia puts ex-Ukrainian officials on ‘wanted’ list
Former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko was also placed on the wanted list on Saturday. Again, no details about a case against him have been made public so far.
Poroshenko took office in June 2014, as the post-Maidan coup Ukrainian government was using military force in its attempt to quash a rebellion in Donetsk and Lugansk Regions. He was also the one to sign the Minsk Agreements, aimed at reconciling Kiev with the two Donbass republics that refused to recognize the post-coup government.
In 2023, Poroshenko claimed that the accords were used to buy extra time to arm Ukraine. The former president said that he turned to NATO to prepare for a conflict instead of following the Minsk Agreements’ peace roadmap.
On Friday, Ukraine’s former finance minister, Aleksandr Shlapak, and the nation’s former central bank head, Stepan Kubiv, were also put on Russia’s list of wanted persons. Although details about their criminal cases remain unclear, the Russian Investigative Committee had earlier charged both former officials with financing Kiev’s military crackdown on Donbass back in 2014. The operation marked the beginning of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ shelling of populated areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
Moscow puts Zelensky on wanted list.
The Bloom | Russians Captured Arkhanhelske And Kotliarivka | Zelensky Is On Wanted List. MS 2024.5.4
ALEXANDER MERCOURIS of THE DURAN: Panic Zelensky Any Cost Defence; Chasov Yar Crumbles, Biden Blames China, Saudi No Rus Asset Theft.
The Russians Captured Arkhanhelse | The UK Demands Urgent Evacuation. Military Summary For 2024.05.4
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU of THE DURAN: Borrell, I don't want war to end. Biden ends Ukraine talk. Cameron ditches Macron. Joe-bi Wan Kenobi.
*
SCOTT RITTER: Ukraine on the Verge of Complete Collapse.
ANDREI MARTYANOV: Odessa 2014 Anniversary.
INTEL Roundtable w/ Larry Johnson (Ex-CIA) & Ray McGovern (Ex-CIA) : Weekly Intel Wrap Up.
RACHEL BLEVINS: Macron Doubles Down on Threat of 'NATO Troops in Ukraine' w/ George Szamuely.
Macron’s Fresh ‘Troops In Ukraine’ Pitch Slammed By Fellow NATO Members; ‘Will Be World War III’.
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU of THE DURAN: Macron; Europe in danger. Pirate says Ukraine on brink. 300 sanctions, Russia & China. Swiss Minsk 3.
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU & ALEXANDER MERCOURIS of THE DURAN: Shoigu, Russian offensive. Ukraine, Donbass collapse.
DANNY HAIPHONG - PEPE ESCOBAR: Russia and Iran Brace for War as Leaked Israeli F-35 Attack SHOCKS World.
DANIEL DAVIS: Deep Dive Intel Briefing: Week of 5/3/24.
LARRY JOHNSON (EX-CIA) ON ARGENTINA, RUSSIA'S FROZEN ASSETS AND THE CIA's PLAYBOOK.
LEVAN GUDADZE: ATACMS missiles shot down over Crimea, Kyiv wants refugees back, Rostec, G7, Hungary, Georgia.
LEVAN GUDADZE: Kiev has lost over 111,000 troops this year – Moscow.
Russia Captures Berdychi; Putin’s Guided Aerial Bombs Hit Kharkiv; Donetsk Shelled Over 2000 Times.
A triple strike by Vikhr missiles on armoured vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Moscow warns West of ‘retaliatory blow’.
Kiev is openly readying for a new attack on Russian territory, with the support of its Western backers, FM spokeswoman has said.
Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. © Sputnik/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Any Western-backed Ukrainian attack against Russia’s Crimean Bridge or Crimea itself will be met with a powerful revenge strike from Moscow, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
The warning follows a recent post by Ukraine’s envoy to the UN, Sergey Kislitsa, which had a threatening tone, implying that the bridge connecting the Russian peninsula to the Krasnodar Region will not be standing by the end of the year.
According to Zakharova, Kiev is openly preparing for a new attack on the Crimean Bridge, with the support of the West. She told a press briefing on Friday that, on the eve of May 9, Russia’s annual Great Victory Day commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, “the Kiev regime and its Western masters are hatching plans for new terrorist attacks on Russian territory.”
“I would like to again warn Washington, London, Brussels, that any aggressive actions against Crimea are not only doomed to failure, but will also be met with a retaliatory blow,” the diplomat said.
Moscow had earlier condemned British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remarks, which he delivered while visiting Kiev, that Ukraine has the right to use weapons provided by London to strike targets on Russian territory.
According to Zakharova, Kiev is now expecting the arrival of US-made F-16 fighter jets, which could be used to destroy the 11-mile (18-km) road and rail bridge.
READ MORE: Ukrainian diplomat issues Crimean Bridge threat
Senior Ukrainian officials have declared the destruction of the Crimean Bridge, also known as Kerch Bridge, as a priority throughout their country’s conflict with Moscow, claiming it is a legitimate military target.
On Wednesday, Kislitsa issued a post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a picture of a “2024 list of six Main Types of Bridges.” The example labeled “Kerch” showed an empty space.
Last week, Lithuania’s ambassador to Sweden, Linas Linkevicius, suggested on social media that the US supply of ATACMS missiles would result in the destruction of the Crimean Bridge. The senior diplomat urged people to take selfies with the structure while they still can.
Moscow completed the structure spanning the Kerch Strait in 2020. Crimea voted to break away from Ukraine and to rejoin Russia in 2014, following the US-backed coup in Kiev earlier that year.
READ MORE: Ukraine can use British weapons to strike Russia – Cameron
Since 2022, when long-simmering tensions between the neighboring states turned to open fighting, Kiev’s forces have repeatedly targeted the Crimean Bridge. In October of that year, the structure suffered a major bombing attack that killed five civilians. In another strike last July, one of the bridge’s sections was blown up, killing two people and wounding a child.
Moscow considers Ukrainian threats and tactics as confirmation that using military force against its neighbour was the correct decision. Russian officials have also suggested that Kiev has escalated its sabotage and bombing campaigns because of its battlefield failures.
Moscow warns West of ‘retaliatory blow’.
ISRAEL-PALESTINE-IRAN-SYRIA-IRAQ-LEBANON-YEMEN-DPRK-TAIWAN
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU & ALEXANDER MERCOURIS of THE DURAN: ICC (International Criminal Court) is finished.
‘Israel is too cowardly’: Houthis speak to RT about war, Zionism and Palestine.
Exclusive interview with Nasr al-Din Amer, an official representative of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement.
Yemen’s Houthis (officially the Ansar Allah movement) have dismissed US peace proposals, The National writes, citing Yemeni sources.
Over the past week, Ansar Allah fighters have attacked US and Israeli ships in the Red Sea at least four times, following a brief pause in hostilities. These attacks have caused considerable economic damage and undermined the public image of the US and its allies. Unable to deal with the Yemenis by means of the “stick,” the US resorted to the “carrot,” promising to lift the blockade on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the port of Hodeidah if the Houthis stopped the attacks. However, the Ansar Allah movement does not intend to stop its operations until Palestine is liberated.
Nasr al-Din Amer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yemen’s Saba news agency, and deputy head of the press service of the Ansar Allah movement, spoke with RT about all this and more, in an exclusive interview.
Palestine’s freedom and Yemen’s security is the main goal
RT: In recent days, there has been a lot of talk in the media about Ansar Allah fighters, who have once again attacked US and Israeli commercial ships, and a US destroyer. Do you think these actions will lead to any results?
Nasr al-Din Amer: Our operations consist of two [goals]. The first one is to support the oppressed Palestinian people by blocking Israeli ships or vessels heading to the ports of occupied Palestine. The second goal of our operations is to respond to US and British aggression against our country. We do this by blocking US and British navigation [in the Red Sea]. Through these operations, we strive, first of all, to stop the aggression in Gaza and lift the blockade imposed on it, and, secondly, to defend Yemen’s sovereignty. And, God willing, we will continue this work.
Read more: Shia Army: How Iran formed a ring of enemies around Israel
RT: And how did the US react to these attacks? Were they able to offer effective resistance?
Nasr al-Din Amer: Almost four months ago, the Americans and the British began attacking us as a sign of their support for Israel. US and UK attacks on Yemen are a continuation of Israeli crimes, they demonstrate aggression against our country. Their goal is to stop our [actions] in support of the Palestinian people, but despite these attempts, we have continued to develop and expand our operations. For its part, US and UK aggression has completely failed. They have not achieved any results, and have not even managed to reduce the scale of our operations.
Iran has destroyed the Israeli myth
RT: How would you assess Iran’s recent attack on Israel? Do you think this attack was effective?
Nasr al-Din Amer: Yes, definitely. It had a considerable impact on the course of events and destroyed Israel’s prestige. Iran’s attack was effective, powerful, and historic. Moreover, [self-defense] is the legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This step has demonstrated Tehran’s great support for the oppressed Palestinian people.
RT: What do you think Israel’s response will be? Is there a chance that it will attack Iran again and a full-scale war will begin?
Nasr al-Din Amer: Israel today is a criminal and aggressive [political] entity that resorts to terrorist methods. Currently, it is too cowardly to respond to the Islamic Republic in full measure. However, caution is still necessary.
RT: The US has recently decided to provide additional assistance to Israel and Ukraine. Do you think this can be stopped?
Nasr al-Din Amer: The Zionist lobby which controls the US administration does not care about the interests of the American people and is ready to go quite far in its support [for Israel], even despite the losses that such support entails. Therefore, we need to exert pressure on the US administration until it stops supporting violence around the world.
Yemen’s Houthis are ready for any turn of events
RT: What is Ansar Allah capable of in the event of a large-scale war with Israel and the West? Do you have the technological capability to fight against such a powerful enemy?
Read more: Neglect, abuse, torture: The West is ignoring the fate of Palestinians stuck in Israeli jails
Nasr al-Din Amer: Today, we are fighting against Western forces that support Israel and possess more advanced, modern technologies. Nevertheless, they have not been able to stop our operations [in the Red Sea]. Thank God, we have quite a lot of determination and perseverance. We are also supported by the people and [possess] weapons that we have developed over the years. We can resist any opponent and react to any turn of events. We never submit or give up. Our doctrine is resistance until complete victory.
RT: Do you believe that a second front will be opened in southern Lebanon? Do you think Hezbollah is ready for this?
Nasr al-Din Amer: Anything is possible. Especially when we are talking about the actions of an enemy that understands its imminent defeat. We are confident that our brothers from Hezbollah are prepared for any Israeli aggression. We will stand at their side in any confrontation, however the situation develops. We are confident that Israel will lose in any upcoming conflict, this has happened before.
Russia is doing a lot and can do even more
RT: How would you assess Russia’s role in resolving the Palestinian issue?
Nasr al-Din Amer: We believe that Russia plays a positive role as a member of the UN Security Council. However, the Security Council’s actions are hampered by the US veto. I believe that Russia can play an even more important role in supporting the Palestinian people and putting an end to the crimes against them.
By Abbas Juma, an international journalist, political commentator, Middle East and Africa specialist.
‘Israel is too cowardly’: Houthis speak to RT about war, Zionism and Palestine.
Congressman Andy Biggs Shocking Truth About AIPAC Influence.
GEORGE GALLOWAY MP - LARRY JOHNSON: Netanyahu is just a symptom of a far deeper sickness.
AMBASSADOR CHAS FREEMAN: Israel Losing the War on every front - Russia's Role in Destroying Hegemonic Policies.
PROFESSOR RICHARD WOLFF: Israel is Echoing Historical Failures.
‘Student revolution’: US protesters vow to continue despite crackdown.
A Brief Lesson on Free Speech w/ Q & A.
Days After Houthis Rejected USA's Offer, Yemeni Group Announces '4th Phase' Of Red Sea Ship Attacks.
Turkey Halts Trade with Israel over Gaza War.
MULTIPOLARITY - RUSSIA-CHINA / BRICS
BRICS should be ready for dollar collapse – Russian IMF rep.
The international group could create an alternative currency based on their national legal tenders, according to Alexey Mozhin.
FILE PHOTO. © Iliya Pitalev; Ria Novosti
The BRICS group of nations could offer an alternative currency in the event of a collapse of the dollar and the international monetary system, according to Russia’s executive director at the International Monetary Fund, Alexey Mozhin.
In an interview with RIA Novosti published on Friday, the expert noted that the shortcomings of the current financial system are becoming more apparent and that many publications have started to mention BRICS “in the context of the fact that this association can offer an alternative.”
Mozhin explained that it is possible for the economic bloc’s member countries to create a currency that would be “built on a basket of currencies of the five member countries,” which would include the Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Russian ruble, Brazilian real, and the South African rand.
“Such a proposal is being discussed. In the event of the collapse of the dollar and the international monetary system, it will be necessary to turn the said BRICS accounting unit into a real currency, backed by exchange goods,” the director told the outlet.
Earlier this year, during a meeting of BRICS finance ministers and heads of central banks, representatives of its member states expressed support for moving away from the dollar and for trading in national currencies instead.
Russia’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Ivan Chebeskov, said at the time that “most countries said that payments in national currencies are what the BRICS countries need. We are already a large BRICS family, consisting of ten countries. Most countries supported the need to build new payment mechanisms and shared their experience developing central bank digital currencies, building new platforms, and participating in pilots of various platforms.”
Read more: BRICS should create alternative international monetary system – envoy
Chebeskov surmised that the majority of the participants of February’s BRICS forum supported boosting bilateral trade and strengthening economic ties by moving to independent settlement mechanisms in national currencies.
Meanwhile, according to a recent Bloomberg report, economic aides to former US President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election this year, are currently looking at ways to punish countries that choose to shift away from using the US dollar.
As reported by the outlet, Trump’s team is discussing penalties against both allies and adversaries who seek to divert their trade from the greenback to other currencies, with countermeasures including export controls, currency manipulation changes, and tariffs.
The global trend towards de-dollarization comes after Russia was cut off from the Western financial system following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Additionally, financial experts have raised concerns that the seizure of Russia’s foreign assets, and Western plans to confiscate these, could further spur the trend.
BRICS should be ready for dollar collapse – Russian IMF rep.
Serbia’s new China Cultural Centre prepares to open as President Xi Jinping’s visit approaches.
Serbia Firmly Upholds One-China Principle: Vucic.
Xi's Visit of Great Significance, Comes at Right Moment: Serbian President.
Serbian President Sees Cooperation with China as Best Amid Rock Solid Friendship, Trust.
China-Built Railway to Significantly Facilitate Travel Between Belgrade, Subotica: Vucic.
Chinese-backed Rail Line Brings Benefits to Serbia, Hungary.
NON-ENGLISH NEWS
ВС РФ Установили Контроль Над Архангельским И Котляровкой. Военные Сводки И Анализ За 04.05.2024
Arhankhelske & Kotliarivka sind gefallen | Zelensky in RUS "WANTED". Military Summary 04.05.2024
LIU SIVAYA: RUSIA DESARROLLA EL ÉXITO: UCRANIA PIERDE TERRITORIO, HOMBRES Y EQUIPO | ÚLTIMAS NOTICIAS DEL FRENTE.
MAPPING CHANNEL UPDATES
The Bloom | Russians Captured Arkhanhelske And Kotliarivka | Zelensky Is On Wanted List. MS 2024.5.4
RUAF Capture Kotlyarivka & Arkhanhelske | ENTIRE Industrial Zone of Krasnohorivka Has FALLEN.
The Russians Captured Arkhanhelse | The UK Demands Urgent Evacuation. Military Summary For 2024.05.4
AFU Withdraws From Arkhanhel's'ke | RUAF Captures Half of Kotlyarivka.
NEW FEATURE: EXPATS IN RUSSIA
😇Religious Persecution has sent this family from 🇺🇸America to Russia?! 🇷🇺w/@homeinrussia 🇦🇺
WHAT DO RUSSIANS THINK ABOUT AMERICANS? 🇷🇺🇺🇸
👶How is KID Life in RUSSIA?🇷🇺 See an 🇺🇸AMERICAN Family in MOSCOW!
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.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
RUSSOPHOBIA
The following is partially based upon the book 'Creating Russophobia - From the Great Religious Schism to Anti-Putin Hysteria' by Guy Mettan.
Western political elites and the totality of western legacy media sees Russia in almost 100% negative terms. When you read of the last few centuries’ compilation of anti-Russian literature you rapidly come to understand that this is no new phenomenon. Russophobia is centuries old, as is the seeming constant inability of western elites to see beyond the stereotypes involved.
In centuries past the various tactical alliances involved within the sphere of great power politics, colonialism and imperialism meant that conflict was all but inevitable. Alliances created groupings of temporary ‘friends’ against a common enemy or common enemies at one moment in time, then at a later date an enemy would became friends with one or more protagonists they had formerly been at war with. Russia was deeply involved in this ‘game’ and indeed in ‘The Great Game’ where the British conceived themselves to be competing with Russia to maintain its empire.
In the case of the British, or better said, the English, the animosity in which Russia was held appears to have been founded only on the convenience of Russia as a political football where one political party could assert that the other did not hold an aggressive enough policy or stance on Russia. This of course became a contest of who could talk most tough on Russia with always a view to the general public for electoral approval. Much as it was in the USA in recent history.
Through all this talking about her Russia remains an enigma to most political elites in the West. Churchill put this common bafflement of western elites best when he said: “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” This ignorance of Russia however, never stopped all and sundry from roundly criticising her at every possible opportunity.
From the time when Russia adopted the Eastern Orthodox form of Christianity she was seen as suspect and more Asiatic than western. This added to all her other perceived failures by western elites who considered European culture to be the absolute and unassailable centre of civilisation and they to essentially be the proper masters of the world, put Russia in the worst possible light. She was always expected to bow down and be taught how to be civilised. Or else threatened with attack if she determines to carry on as she is and develop herself as she, not others, see fit.
One can imagine many of today's western political elites, at least those in Europe, having been steeped in the kind of anti-Russian literature that Guy Mettan meticulously lists in his book. Those who had, to some degree, an academic predisposition toward geopolitics/foreign affairs. Russia, apparently something of an obsession for European and the English political elites, extremely rarely escapes the stereotypes long pinned to it.
Within the literature there appears to have been two main viewpoints, that Russia was irredeemably flawed and dangerous or, marginally more positive, that it could be made tolerable by accepting to become civilised in all the ways shown at their best within western cultures.
The near perfectly encapsulated (in western elite eyes) archetype of Russia as hopelessly autocratic, barbaric, backward and slavish to authority as well as being too Asiatic and having a strange form of Christianity appears to have been inescapable for pretty much 100% of the western political class. Not surprising then that we have what we have now.
As the Soviet Union fell there was the phase of reconstituting Russia to as a nation with western liberal values, to be made civilised in effect, taking pity on the poor uncultured beast and teaching it how to be like the West, liberal and economically viable. Then with Putin coming along and rejecting 'all that' the other half of the Russophobic coin comes into its own with the same kind of criticisms seen down the centuries.
The tragedy is that Russia appears to remain terra incognita regarding anything approaching a detailed understanding of her. These extremely old stereotypes that generate both anger, fear and increased misunderstanding prevail constantly within western political elites and media with seemingly no incentive being perceived to look beyond them.
So it is that despite all the reforms that have transformed Russia since the days of Yeltsin, when the whole country appeared doomed to permanent chaos, poverty and constant decline, there is in essence no change to the two viewpoints held within the minds of western elites. Russia is expected to bow to the pressure applied to her to become a mirror image of all the West insists is the proper way to be. And if not then Russia will find herself attacked and every cliche from the long history of Russophobia relentlessly applied to her.
