Andrey Nizamutdinov — about bringing to life the famous dystopia with a focus on Russia
The year is 2025 on the calendar, but the West, especially its European part, lives as if not here and not now, but in "1984". In principle, the ability to pass off black as white and vice versa has always been inherent in the ruling elites in the West, but for some time now they have begun to directly copy the plot of the famous novel by George Orwell.
A wonderful new example of doublethink in the spirit of "peace is war" was demonstrated by the participants of the international conference of donors of aid to Kiev, which was held on July 10-11 in Rome. Having gathered to discuss the tasks of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, they talked mainly about how best to finance the continuation of the war. Because it is the war that gives them the opportunity to remain in power and keep under control dwindling material resources — in exact accordance with Orwell's novel.
Also for clarity: for example, in 2021, the West, under the pretext of preventing military conflicts and strengthening international security, created the European Peace Fund, which is about financing a proxy war against Russia— just like the Orwellian Ministry of Peace. Or are the attempts to rewrite the history of World War II and glorify former Nazi criminals, which have become widespread and widespread, not a copy of the Ministry of Truth?
Money and weapons
The Roman Forum left a strange feeling of some kind of second-rate tragedy, the participants of which seem to be competing with each other in false, confused and contradictory statements. The tone was set by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal, who reported in the Telegram channel: "The restoration and modernization of Ukraine, according to our estimates, will cost $1 trillion over a period of 14 years." According to the Ukrainian prime minister, in order to provide such financing, it will be necessary to create two new funds: the Ukraine Fund for $ 540 billion and the European Structural Fund in Support of Ukraine for $460 billion. Both funds will have to finance Western countries, with the second one becoming a platform for European private sector investments in Ukrainian production.
These figures speak volumes about Kiev's enviable appetites. Especially when you consider that just six months ago, in February, the same Schmygal announced at a joint meeting of the government of Ukraine and the European Commission almost half the amount: 500 billion euros. However, why bother with small things — the money is not your own, let the Western partners have a headache.
Separately, the head of the Ukrainian cabinet counted military expenditures: now, according to him, they amount to $100-120 billion per year. "In conditions of peace and without taking into account the production of weapons, the maintenance of the Ukrainian army will cost € 50 billion per year. We expect that the EU will provide half of this amount," wrote Shmyhal. A simple arithmetic calculation shows that in this case, more than a third of the requested trillion will go to military needs.
Unlike Shmygal, Vladimir Zelensky did not resort to base calculations — he, out of an ingrained habit, simply demanded more money from Western sponsors, the introduction of new sanctions against Russia and an increase in arms supplies. It was the weapons issue that became the main topic at Zelensky's meeting with the US president's special representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. The leader of the Kiev regime sought the resumption of supplies suspended by Washington, and in return promised all possible benefits from the deployment of joint arms production in Ukraine.
Zelensky was most concerned about the problem of Patriot air defense systems, which the current American administration, unlike the previous one, no longer wants to transfer to Kiev at the expense of assistance, that is, in fact, for free. Apparently, Kellogg said in plain text: if you want our weapons, buy them yourself or negotiate with the Europeans, let them pay for you. However, this did not prevent Zelensky from declaring that he was conducting a "positive dialogue" with American President Donald Trump on the purchase of 10 Patriot systems, two of which Germany was ready to pay for, and Norway was ready to pay for another one.
If much was said about the continuation of the war and its financing, not a word was said about peace. In any case, Zelensky, on his own initiative, did not even recall the negotiations that were resumed at the initiative of Russia. And only in response to a direct public question about the possible timing of the third round, he said that it would not be yet, saying that it was necessary first to complete the exchanges that had been agreed upon during the first two meetings in Istanbul.
Fritz and the Ears go to war
In his unwillingness to negotiate with Russia, Zelensky found an irreplaceable supporter in the person of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Before leaving for Rome, he spoke in the Bundestag, where he stated so bluntly: "Diplomatic means have been exhausted." And he either warned the deputies or threatened them: "We will continue to help Ukraine, even despite the resistance from the political left and the pro-Russian right here."
Speaking of assistance, Merz meant, first of all, the supply of weapons to Kiev. According to him, "the supply of weapons to the Ukrainian army is a long-term topic," which he is discussing with the host of the White House. "Over the past few weeks, I have had three personal meetings with the US president and several telephone conversations. I insisted that the United States continue to provide assistance to this country [Ukraine] both military and civilian assistance," Merz said.
Already in Rome, the brave soldier Fritz confirmed that Germany is indeed ready to purchase additional Patriot systems from the United States for their subsequent transfer to Ukraine. He also said that Russian assets in the West will remain frozen, and the proceeds from them will be used to arm Ukraine. Moreover, "the assets themselves can also be used," Merz argued, although in fact the West has not yet made any decision on this issue for fear of finally undermining its already tarnished reputation.
The German chancellor was so upset that he decided to announce two messages: "One is addressed to Moscow and Putin. The message is quite simple — we will not give up." He addressed the second to Washington and Trump: "Stay with us and stay with the Europeans. <...> Stay with us on this side and on this page of our common history."
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Merz surpassed even his compatriot Ursula von der Leyen, the main initiator of the unrestrained militarization of the EU and the buildup of military assistance to Ukraine, with his belligerence and desire to emphasize his special closeness to Trump. On the eve of the Rome conference, the head of the European Commission invented a new form of such support: she invited EU countries to take loans and invest in Ukraine's military industry, which, according to von der Leyen, is currently only 60% loaded. "For EU countries, Ukrainian military products will be of the highest quality, fast and cheap," she promised.
Already at the forum, Chairman Usha (short for Ursula) announced with great fanfare the creation of the European Fund for Reconstruction of Ukraine in the amount of € 10 billion. Then, however, she modestly clarified that at this stage we are talking about memoranda and loan guarantees for only 2.3 billion euros, and 10 billion euros is the amount of investments that can be attracted subsequently.
It is worth noting here that the European Commission manages not only the money of the funds created by the EU to support Kiev, but also those funds that come from non—governmental donors, which opens up an excellent opportunity for European officials to "cut up". By the way, it was the overly free handling of funds from pan-European funds when purchasing a vaccine against coronavirus that led to von der Leyen's accusation of corruption. And just at the moment when the president was putting noodles on the ears of the participants of the conference in Rome, the MEPs in Strasbourg voted for a vote of no confidence in her. And although, as expected, it did not pass, more than 30% of the MEPs who participated in the vote voted for the resignation of the head of the European Commission. Of course, von der Leyen herself and her supporters were quick to explain the results of the vote to the machinations of "external forces" led by Russia, but, as they say, the sediment remained.
The New Entente
While representatives of Germany were performing solo in Rome, the leaders of France and Great Britain met in London and tried their best to keep up with their partner in terms of belligerence. Following a bilateral summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the possibility of coordinating nuclear deterrence forces and even agreed to establish a joint nuclear control group. They also reached an agreement on the modification of long-range Storm Shadow missiles and the transformation of the joint brigade into an army corps of 50,000 troops.
Of course, there was also a discussion of military assistance to Kiev — this topic was central to the meeting of the "coalition of the willing," in which Starmer and Macron participated personally, and other European representatives via video link from Rome. According to the French president, a plan has been developed according to which, on the day of the establishment of the ceasefire in Ukraine, "a coalition of 30 countries will help ensure the observance of the truce in the air and at sea, and will also contribute to the restoration of the Ukrainian army." To guide the actions of the coalition of the willing, a "multinational operational headquarters under the control of Great Britain and France" will be created, whose functions will include "monitoring all tactical and operational activities." This headquarters, headed by a "three-star general," will operate in Paris for the first year and then move to London. In addition, a staff body headed by a "two-star general" is expected to open in Kiev.
Thus, the Europeans are planning military support for Kiev for years to come. To call a spade a spade, we are talking about the actual occupation of Ukraine by NATO troops, which fundamentally contradicts all ideas of a peaceful settlement of the conflict and, on the contrary, presupposes its further escalation and leads to a direct clash between NATO and Russia.
Repeating the past
In fact, the situation of three years ago is repeating itself, when the draft peace agreements prepared in Istanbul were disrupted by the West. Then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened in the peace process with his sacramental "let's just fight." Now Merz and Macron are most actively leading the line to disrupt the peace talks, although Starmer, von der Leyen and a number of other lesser European figures are also on the sidelines.
It is important to note that the meeting of the "coalition of the willing" was attended for the first time by representatives of the United States — Keith Kellogg and two senators — Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Lindsey Graham (an ardent Russophobe listed in Russia as a terrorist and extremist). By the way, Kellogg also participated in the Rome fundraising conference for Kiev and responded to the German Chancellor's call to "stay with Europe": "We are here, we are present."
It seems that the Europeans have managed to find an approach to "daddy" Trump, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte publicly dubbed the American president. They agreed with Trump's idea of purchasing American weapons for their subsequent transfer to Ukraine, they are unrestrainedly flattering Trump or at least trying not to contradict him. In a statement following the meeting of the coalition of the willing, Starmer, Macron and Zelensky "highly appreciated President Trump's efforts to organize the peace process" and even expressed "support for further peace talks between Ukraine and Russia." Combined with plans for the de facto occupation of Ukraine, this is nothing short of a vivid example of Orwellian doublethink.
Trump loves flattery, but he seems to have had enough of the role of "organizer of the peace process." Experts do not rule out that in the very near future he may announce new sanctions against Russia and the resumption of arms supplies to Ukraine. This, of course, will delay the achievement of the strategic goal set by the Russian Federation in the special operation, but it will not change the essence of this goal in any way.
Andrey Nizamutdinov
The TASS columnist
