Your point that the euro is riding on a nestegg of dirty money from around the world is a critical piece of reporting that is not widely understood.
When the EU bankers said that providing the full 300b of Russian assets to Ukraine would be "destabilizing" I just took it at face value. Perhaps the banks are serving as a noble, apolitical trust.
Putin will not agree to any truce, no matter what Trump does in trying to reach an agreement in halting the war. It would be a death sentence for Putin. Any failure for Trump would just be an embarrassment. That’s the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship - perhaps Trump should bear that in mind.
Whilst I agree that crude oil sales to India, China & Turkey from Russia should be sanctioned/suspended/halted, what happens to the refined products from this oil? Surely, if there was no market for the refined products, they would not be purchasing as much crude oil as they are from Russia.
$300 billion in frozen Russian assets. This old chestnut? What is preventing Europe from using this money? And whilst they’er at it, they can have a look at all the other dirty money, Russian and otherwise lying around Europe (including the UK). It is time to clean up the system in Europe, despite the pain it may cause. Whilst the dirty money remains, Europe will be beholden to it.
Lets face it, there will never be peace in Ukraine let alone Europe, if Russia is not defeated in Ukraine and sent back to its pre 2014 borders. EU troops will need to be sent to Ukraine prior to any peace deal. US only needs to supply weapons & materials. Europe is already at war with Russia, as the actions in the Baltic have shown. Stop all Russian bound shipping in the Baltic, if the sabotage of undersea cables stops, then that should be damning proof enough.
Some of this argument may seem extreme, but the killing has gone on for long enough. Some extreme measures have to be taken if this war is to be halted.
In the recent meeting in the EU, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said “Russia can produce weapons in a quarter the EU can in a year”, some paraphrasing on my part.
I took that statement with a heavy heart for Ukraine. Sometimes ago, Ukraine President admitted that Ukraine does not have enough fighting bodies to win the war.
Ukraine is struggling with so many disadvantages against Russia. As of now, the biggest enemy of Ukraine are Russia, the US, China in that order. Ukraine has only one friend the EU.
Russia’s intention is clear, taking entire Ukraine and wipe out the ethnic of Ukrainian.
The US under this despicable regime would sacrifice Ukraine for the fame of the detestable US president.
China is an opportunistic third party would do whatever it takes for its own benefit.
Ukraine is in a very precarious situation and rely entirely on the EU for survival.
There are encouraging signs that the EU are coming together to fight the threats from the US be it the Greenland or the tariffs.
But there is some hope, Russia has been weakened considerably in almost three years of fighting.
The EU can do it. They should stand together and tell Russia Ukraine sovereignty is the EU security and be ready to put troops in Ukraine. That is the only way the EU and Ukraine can achieve a long lasting and just peace.
There is so much corruption - under the guise of 'reputable banking' - the Swiss have to be taken to task on this - but then again, if you're reporting this info then the entire European group know it - AND they sit? and watch UKR get shattered? I am alarmed at the stupidity of it all.
Very insightful interview. Did not know about how the Euro is floating on the world’s dirty money but it certainly makes sense when you point it out. Can’t help but think what the world would be like if someone with the smarts of Diane Francis were the head of NATO.
You praised Rubio as an old-school voice of reason.
Rubio voted against the last, critical Ukrainian aid package. It doesn't matter what good intention rest or project inside him, he is incapable of standing up to Trump in any useful sense. Rubio does not even have the intermittent spine of Niki Haley.
Excellent as always thank you
Your point that the euro is riding on a nestegg of dirty money from around the world is a critical piece of reporting that is not widely understood.
When the EU bankers said that providing the full 300b of Russian assets to Ukraine would be "destabilizing" I just took it at face value. Perhaps the banks are serving as a noble, apolitical trust.
So much to unlock here.
Putin will not agree to any truce, no matter what Trump does in trying to reach an agreement in halting the war. It would be a death sentence for Putin. Any failure for Trump would just be an embarrassment. That’s the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship - perhaps Trump should bear that in mind.
Whilst I agree that crude oil sales to India, China & Turkey from Russia should be sanctioned/suspended/halted, what happens to the refined products from this oil? Surely, if there was no market for the refined products, they would not be purchasing as much crude oil as they are from Russia.
$300 billion in frozen Russian assets. This old chestnut? What is preventing Europe from using this money? And whilst they’er at it, they can have a look at all the other dirty money, Russian and otherwise lying around Europe (including the UK). It is time to clean up the system in Europe, despite the pain it may cause. Whilst the dirty money remains, Europe will be beholden to it.
Lets face it, there will never be peace in Ukraine let alone Europe, if Russia is not defeated in Ukraine and sent back to its pre 2014 borders. EU troops will need to be sent to Ukraine prior to any peace deal. US only needs to supply weapons & materials. Europe is already at war with Russia, as the actions in the Baltic have shown. Stop all Russian bound shipping in the Baltic, if the sabotage of undersea cables stops, then that should be damning proof enough.
Some of this argument may seem extreme, but the killing has gone on for long enough. Some extreme measures have to be taken if this war is to be halted.
Agree with everything else you say Diane.
In the recent meeting in the EU, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said “Russia can produce weapons in a quarter the EU can in a year”, some paraphrasing on my part.
I took that statement with a heavy heart for Ukraine. Sometimes ago, Ukraine President admitted that Ukraine does not have enough fighting bodies to win the war.
Ukraine is struggling with so many disadvantages against Russia. As of now, the biggest enemy of Ukraine are Russia, the US, China in that order. Ukraine has only one friend the EU.
Russia’s intention is clear, taking entire Ukraine and wipe out the ethnic of Ukrainian.
The US under this despicable regime would sacrifice Ukraine for the fame of the detestable US president.
China is an opportunistic third party would do whatever it takes for its own benefit.
Ukraine is in a very precarious situation and rely entirely on the EU for survival.
There are encouraging signs that the EU are coming together to fight the threats from the US be it the Greenland or the tariffs.
But there is some hope, Russia has been weakened considerably in almost three years of fighting.
The EU can do it. They should stand together and tell Russia Ukraine sovereignty is the EU security and be ready to put troops in Ukraine. That is the only way the EU and Ukraine can achieve a long lasting and just peace.
There is so much corruption - under the guise of 'reputable banking' - the Swiss have to be taken to task on this - but then again, if you're reporting this info then the entire European group know it - AND they sit? and watch UKR get shattered? I am alarmed at the stupidity of it all.
Very insightful interview. Did not know about how the Euro is floating on the world’s dirty money but it certainly makes sense when you point it out. Can’t help but think what the world would be like if someone with the smarts of Diane Francis were the head of NATO.
Excellent!! Russia is not a country; it’s a criminal organization!
You praised Rubio as an old-school voice of reason.
Rubio voted against the last, critical Ukrainian aid package. It doesn't matter what good intention rest or project inside him, he is incapable of standing up to Trump in any useful sense. Rubio does not even have the intermittent spine of Niki Haley.