If all else Fails, Blood and Guts will Win
Except for the pomp and circumstance, the annual fall ritual of debates in conjunction with the latest United Nations General Assembly session – the 79^th this year – will get under way on Tuesday in New York City.
World leaders, the regular ones that we see habitually on television or read about in newspapers and news magazines, will be presenting their points of view about the most important topics that pertain to the planet and their nations.
President Joe Biden, as the leader of the host country, will kick off the slew of speakers tomorrow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak on Wednesday. Other world leaders or their designees will line up on either side of the great global political divide and give it their best – the free world plus the former captive nations of Russian subjugation vs. the undemocratic world or Russian-lead evil empire and the uncertain developing world.
With major wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East all other topics that have been addressed at the United Nations such as health, underwater resources, space exploration, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, climate and ecology, poverty, social inclusion, equality and inequality, civil society, even the elusive aim of peace, security and development will undoubtedly be relegated to the “also ran” bin.
The two wars that I cited previously, that are separated by the Mediterranean and Black seas and different cultures, are united by the fact that Russia and Iran are deeply involved in both. Iran is making an untold amount of money manufacturing missiles and drones for Russia and Hezbollah and its supporters. Those missiles and airborne projectiles kill civilians, destroy their homes and contaminate the environment in Ukraine and the Middle East. According to intelligence sources – among them Ukrainian – Russia and Iran have shaken hands on a deal to eliminate each other’s nightmares: Ukraine for Russia and Israel for Iran. That chessboard offers a lot of military and civilian targets for both inhuman criminal perpetrators.
Experts and amateurs alike are watching developments in both regions as well as the words that will be spoken this week in the hallowed halls of the United Nations.
About a dozen years ago the UN General Assembly used the term “aggressor-nation” in reference to Russia and its seizure and occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea. That derogative moniker has taken to Russia like the term Holocaust to Nazi Germany. In peaceful and passive ways, the UN and its agencies have reminded the member-states and the international community that Russia is a pariah nation that should be expelled from all regional and global institutions. But the UN is not likely to do that. Newspapers like the New York Post and The New York Times also denounce Moscow for its crimes against humanity in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Inside the UN headquarters, on the eve of the UNGA, Russia has been left badly isolated, reported The Guardian, when it made a surprise move to derail an ambitious pact designed to revive the UN – a favorite topic of discussion about revitalizing the UN – but Moscow failed. Russia’s move to defer adoption of the agreement on the grounds that it supposedly represented western interests was rejected on Sunday by 143 votes to seven with 15 abstentions. With a bloodied nose, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will mount the stage to say his piece.
Three positive developments have occurred against the backdrop of events at the UN. First, Ukraine enjoys the White House’s comprehensive military and moral support; second, Ukraine has successfully and noticeably taken the war to the enemy by invading Kursk and launching long-range missiles and drones against 200 military targets deep in Russia. And finally, President Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena, arrived in the United States diplomatically armed to the teeth with new proposals about ending the war in Ukraine. For Zelenskyy and Ukrainians around the world this is a significant point about ending the war. It’s not about doing anything detrimental to Ukraine and the nation, giving up Ukrainian acreage or negotiating an end, he clarified. He wants to apply diplomatic pressure on Russia to give up the war against Ukraine and leave. Zelenskyy emphasized on television today that he does not intend to surrender any Ukrainian land that Russia is temporarily occupying.
He also poignantly visited a munitions factory in Scranton, PA, that’s manufacturing arms for Ukraine. The significance lies in the fact that he negated all nay-sayers and Russian sympathizers’ comments about America’s wasteful and useless support for Ukraine’s war effort. That factory in Pennsylvania employs hard-working Americans who take home salaries to feed their families while making weapons for the Ukrainian army. That’s a win-win.
While Zelenskyy, Ukraine and the war still occupy a favorable and central point in the attention of the world, the President of Ukraine must be given the leverage to push his plan to a fair and victorious conclusion for the nation.
The latest iteration of Russia’s war against Ukraine has been going on since February 2022 and before that since 2014 and before that for a millennium. Ukrainians, in the words of the late Israeli Prime Minister Gold Meir, have no choice but to fight against this or any other aggressor because the alternative is death.
As for hoping against hope that the UNGA will come up with a solution? It’s better to put your faith in the blood and guts of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

X-Captive Nations: Protect Ukraine’s Frontline and Skies

One of our recurring editorial points of view has been the essential necessity of the nations that experienced Russian aggression, subjugation and domination to form an impenetrable regional multi-functional military and political bloc.

Moscow’s ongoing threats and its brutal, unforgivable war against Ukraine have testified to the legitimacy of this belief.

Ukraine and the Baltic states at their periodic meetings have reinforced this mission and have begun forming special military detachments in case Russia escalates its aggression to the West.

On the occasion of the 33^rd anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė – two of the strongest allies and supporters of Kyiv.

“It is very important that the states of our region equally perceive the Russian terrorist threat and, accordingly, increase cooperation to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. The more such cooperation we have, the sooner Moscow will realize the hopelessness of its terrorist tactics,” the President said.

Indeed, it is not an outlandish thought that Putin could order his cutthroats to cross into Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and then press on. The question of manpower is irrelevant because Putin’s military minions capture potential conscripts like the anecdotal dog catcher, hand them a rifle and send them to  the front. Once there quite frequently they are killed or they simply surrender. Furthermore, what is not reported in the mainstream media is that novice cutthroats mostly come from the Asian regions of the Russian empire, from the east of the Ural Mountains, thousands of miles from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Why are they fighting for Russia, the POWs have been asked, because their families are held hostage back home.

At the meeting with his regional colleagues, Zelenskyy informed that Ukraine is increasing the capabilities of its defense and industrial complex, and it needs to strengthen cooperation with partners for joint production of weapons.

“Each such decision to finance production in Ukraine, to develop production facilities, will add the strength we all need and make a just peace for Ukraine and the whole of Europe inevitable,” he said.

Ukraine’s surprising, creative and heroic invasion of nuclear Russia demonstrates its added strength and boosted morale. If only the free world’s active weapons support were authorized earlier then certainly the war would be over and peace would blanket Ukraine and Europe.

Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s partners to encourage all of the allies to endorse the use of long-range weapons against Russia.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda congratulated Ukraine on the 33rd anniversary of independence and assured that Poland will continue helping our country: by providing political, military, and other necessary support, as well as training Ukrainian warriors, medical workers, and rescuers.

“We have no doubt that it is our duty as fellow citizens of this part of Europe to support Ukraine on its way to the EU. That is why, Mr. President, we support and will continue to support you on your way to the European Union and NATO,” Duda said.

Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s victory in the war and spoke about the recent aid package to Ukraine, which includes 10 short-range air defense systems, 30 missiles, anti-drone and other equipment, weapons, and ammunition. In addition, Lithuania hopes to provide more than 5,000 drones of its own production by the end of the fall.

“It is our duty to help Ukraine recover, but the only real way to finance these efforts is to make the aggressor pay. Lithuania will never tire of repeating that all Russian assets frozen and blocked as part of our sanctions should be transferred to Ukraine. We must continue strengthening sanctions against Russia and its accomplices,” Šimonytė concluded.

Zelenskyy: Russia will be Held Accountable

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, in his address on the occasion of the 33^rd anniversary of his country’s independence, warned the Kremlin in words that would not lead to confusion or misinterpretation that Russia would be held liable for its crimes and destruction in Ukraine.

For every civilian killed, for every child killed, for every girl and woman raped, for every church, home and hospital destroyed, for every forest, field and river polluted.

Zelenskyy declared: “We know what independence looks like. On the morning of February 24, it was in our eyes. Today, independence is in the trenches in all directions. It is in our cities and villages: in each episode when we find the best in ourselves, find Ukraine in ourselves, and fight for it. Independence today has tired eyes that have seen it all. Independence smiles when Ukrainians succeed. Independence is silence when we lose our people. Independence is the oath to never forget the fallen heroes. Independence tastes of smoke and dust on the battlefield and in civilian life. Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid alert to survive and to rise again to tell the enemy again: you will not succeed. You will fail. You will not prevail. And you will be held accountable for everything.

This is how we feel freedom. This is what Ukraine looks like. This is what independence looks like. And this is what it sounds like:

“Happy Independence Day, Ukrainians!”

Openly alerting Moscow about Ukraine’s intentions in this Russian war against its democratic existence, Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian national trait is to pay back debts. “And whoever wished misery upon our land shall find it in their own home. With interest. Whoever seeks to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own territory,” he declared.

As we say in the USA, his words apparently are not idle threats but rather real promises.

“This is not a prophecy, not gloating, not blind revenge; it is a pattern. It is justice. A boomerang for evil. And its launch began not far from the place where I am recording this address. The Sumy region. Mohrytsya. The river of Psel. A few kilometers from our border.

“The border between Ukraine and oppression, between life and death. The border between an independent European state and the number one terrorist organization in the world.

“913 days ago, Russia unleashed war against us, including through the Sumy region. It violated not only our sovereign borders, but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. It was endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy us. Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home.”

Ukraine’s successful invasion of nuclear Russia was the vehicle that brought Moscow’s war directly to the Russian people. As Ukrainians have experienced since February 22, 2022, Russians do so now. They will feel every missile, every death, every tear.

However, there is a significant difference. Russia invaded Ukraine and indiscriminately killed innocent, unarmed Ukrainian men, women and children. Not by accident, not as collateral damage. But in a targeted fashion.

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army’s invasion of Russia is different.

He confidently declared: “Ukraine astonishes once again. Russia reverts once again to its repertoire. This is how the world media generally portray the events in the Kursk region. They show how Russia treats its citizens, whom it calls “the population.” How Russia “does not abandon” their own. How their soldiers loot their local shops. This is what Putin's Russia looks like in the eyes of the world. And in the same way, the entire world sees how our warriors provide water, food, and medicine to the local people, who say: ‘It's good that you are here now, not the Kadyrovites.’ This is what Ukraine's dignity looks like. Civility. The virtue of our independence.”

Ukrainians, who have fought against many invaders for ten centuries for their independence appreciate what it means to be free, Zelenskyy said. They also know how difficult it is to revive and restore their lost independence, and how difficult it is to defend it.

“But we know: everything depends on us,” he emphasized.

How true that is today. Ukrainian soldiers, pilots and sailors – men and women – are defending their freedom and simultaneously safeguarding Europe. All they want and require are the weapons to do so.

“And no one else in the world will say: ‘Where is Ukraine?’ Because every continent now says: ‘Ukraine must win.’ This fuels our independence. Our Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

Many have helped Ukraine in this uneven war, and Zelensky expressed gratitude to all of them:

“I thank everyone who helps our warriors and our state, all those who live and work to keep our independence working and living. Our medical workers, our rescuers, our firefighters, power engineers, our volunteers and entrepreneurs, police officers and farmers, railroad workers, teachers and students. All of them. Ukrainians here, Ukrainians abroad, who help, find, send the necessary supplies, tell the world about Ukraine. And everyone who stays with Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories. All Ukrainians whose strength has no borders, whose will is boundless. All those to whom I am immensely grateful.”

US Official to Moscow: ‘Get the Hell out of Ukraine!’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy with
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham.

It’s been a little more than a week since the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the first time in history invaded Russia in the vicinity of Kursk and then Belgorod and for all intents and purposes the international reaction to this daring attack on Russia has been quietly supportive.

As Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine enters its 30th month and collateral damage, civilian deaths and destruction of non-combatant infrastructure rising, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his military commanders had no other option than to take the war to Russia in hopes of slowing the bloody Russian war machine. And if anything, Russians’ bewilderment halted Russian advances.

Ukraine started its invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast a week ago shortly after receiving its first F-16 fighter jets, according to the Ukrainian military. The objectives of the operation are still a subject of debate among experts. However, as we stated, Ukrainian soldiers managed to capture the “faucet” and controls the flow of petroleum from Russia to Europe.

And to the surprise and delight of most of the free world, Ukraine has succeeded in capturing about 1,000 square kilometers of Russian real estate and taking hundreds of prisoners.

A week into Ukraine’s shocking invasion of Russia, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Moscow does not have the situation under control.

Tens of thousands of Russians have been forced to flee their homes as Ukrainian troops continued to capture Russian territory over the weekend and this week. Shocked Russians were dumbfounded as they stared at Ukrainian tanks and armor rumbling along their streets. They were horrified by the sight of burning bodies of Russian cutthroats.

Battlefield videos reveal Russians surrendering by dozens, falling to their knees and discarding their weapons. Surely the Kremlin leadership was perplexed, bewildered, stunned and embarrassed by the cleverness, ingenuity, skill, heroism and daring of Ukrainian soldiers.

Reportedly, Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov three times sought the United States’ intercession in telephone calls to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin but the American official did not pick up the call.

John Kirby, the US national security communications advisor, said on Monday that if Ukraine’s invasion into the western Russian region made Putin uncomfortable, “there’s an easy solution: He can just get the hell out of Ukraine and call it a day.”

Russian media reported that Putin was enraged by the Ukrainian invasion. The scale of the crisis became clear in Moscow on Monday, when Putin held a tense meeting with top security and government officials and the heads of the border regions, vowing to “kick the enemy out.”

A video of the meeting published by the Kremlin shows Putin scolding his subordinates, at one point shutting down the Kursk region’s acting governor Alexei Smirnov as he attempts to outline the scale of the invasion.

Russia also criticized Western allies of Ukraine at the United Nations on Tuesday, August 13, for not condemning Kyiv’s invasion into the Russian region of Kursk, accusing Ukrainian forces of killing civilians and questioning the goals of the cross-border assault.

Ukraine’s allies on the U.N. Security Council, including the United States, France and Britain, stood firm in their support for Kyiv during an informal council gathering convened by Russia. They did not mention the Kursk offensive.

Two US senators, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), completed their sixth visit to Kyiv on August 12, 2024, meeting with Zelenskyy and other government officials. The senators expressed optimism about Ukraine’s military efforts, particularly praising the country’s offensive in Kursk as “bold and brilliant,” as noted by Blumenthal.

Lawmakers stressed the need for bipartisan support for Ukraine, pledging more military aid in 2024, and urged NATO to invite Ukraine to join this year, calling it “making real what is inevitable.” Zelenskyy and the senators discussed a strategic agreement on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, crucial for the US economy. The senators emphasized that the deal would reduce reliance on “foreign adversaries” – i.e., China – for resources like lithium and titanium.

Blumenthal and Graham announced plans to introduce the Stand With Ukraine Act when the Senate reconvenes in September. This legislation aims to codify the bilateral security agreement reached between the Biden Administration and Zelenskyy’s government in July 2024. They stated in a joint release:

“After our sixth visit to Kyiv, we are more hopeful than ever that the tide of war has turned against Putin and his cronies. Ukraine’s decision to go on the offensive in the Kursk region of Russia was bold and brilliant.

“Bipartisan support for Ukraine is critical to American interests, and we will do whatever we can in 2024 to build on these successes and secure additional future military aid necessary to maintain the momentum.

“We urge NATO to issue an invitation this year to Ukraine for membership, making real what has been described as inevitable. 

“President Zelensky was excited about and was committed to obtaining a strategic agreement with the U.S. regarding the more than a trillion dollars-worth of rare earth minerals owned by Ukraine and expressed a commitment to create a working group with the U.S. to make this happen.

“Expanding economic cooperation with Ukraine makes America stronger and accelerates Ukraine’s economic recovery. Ukraine is blessed with significant lithium, titanium, and other rare earth minerals that are needed by the American economy. An agreement with Ukraine in this area would make the U.S. less dependent on foreign adversaries for rare earth minerals.

“In addition, we will introduce the Stand With Ukraine Act, led by Senator Blumenthal, when the Senate reconvenes in September. This bipartisan piece of legislation will codify the bilateral security agreement reached by the Biden Administration and Zelensky’s government this past July. We believe this will send an important signal to the world and show that the United States continues to stand with Ukraine.

“After listening to President Zelenskyy, we urge the Biden Administration to lift restrictions on weapons provided by the United States so they can strike the Russian invaders more effectively. 

“Additionally, President Zelenskyy told us both that he would be looking to supplement his Air Force by establishing a program to enlist retired NATO F-16 fighter pilots. We support this effort. Ukraine is already fielding units of freedom fighters on the ground, and this volunteer force should be replicated in the air.

“Now is the time to form a strategic partnership with Ukraine that can have tremendous economic benefits to the United States and lead to stability in Europe. Ukraine has demonstrated it has a genuine desire to join the democratic family of nations. We must not abandon them in their hour of need. We should accelerate the gains that have been achieved through dogged determination and courage.”

219-plus Ukrainian Children Killed by Russians in July

There are acceptable military targets during war and there is collateral damage caused by accidental death and destruction of civilians and non-combatant targets.

Sadly, russian cutthroats do not know the difference between the two. For them, apartment buildings, schools, churches, theaters, restaurants, hospitals, supermarkets and food lines are primary military targets in their demented minds.

According to the latest United Nations report, at least 219 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 1,018 injured in Ukraine in July due to russian attacks, which makes it the deadliest month for civilians since October 2022. The high number of casualties in July continues a trend of increasing civilian casualties since March 2024.

The UN noted the large-scale coordinated attack launched by the russian armed forces across Ukraine on July 8 that killed at least 43 civilians, including five children, and injured 147, including seven children, in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region) and Kyiv region. One missile the 8 July 8 attack also struck a hospital complex in Kyiv, completely destroying the toxicology department of the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital and significantly damaging the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

In June and July, the most intensive offensive military operations by the russian armed forces shifted from northern Kharkiv region to the Donetsk region. As a result, verified civilian casualties in Donetsk region increased from 125 civilians killed or injured in May to 224 in June and 269 in July 2024. 

The UN said the vast majority of civilian casualties (90 per cent) and damage to educational and health facilities (86 per cent) continued to occur in Kyiv-controlled territory.

Ukraine Occupies 130 km of Russian Territory

Ukraine Occupies 130 km of Russian Territory as US Provides Kyiv with more Weapons

WASHINGTON, DC — As Ukraine’s soldiers crossed the Russian border for the first time in history and scored humiliating victories against Russians at home, the  U.S. announced today that it is sending Ukraine an additional $125 million in weapons to assist in its military operations against Russia.

The package includes much-needed air defense capabilities, radars to detect and counter enemy artillery and anti-tank weapons, the White House announced Friday. 

National security spokesman John Kirby said Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons in the offensive was in line with administration policies. The Biden administration has approved their use in cross-border counterstrikes against Russia but not against targets deeper inside Russia, although the specific distances are not clear.

It is reported that Ukrainian forces have occupied 130 km of Russian territory.

The Ukrainian expeditionary invasion of Russia via Kursk has grown from 300 heroic soldiers to a force of thousands along with tanks and armor. 

The prize includes the “faucet” that controls the flow of petroleum from Russia to Europe. Reportedly this resulted in a 80 percent increase in the price at the pumps across Europe.

The latest package comes as Ukraine has launched its largest ground offensive on Russian soil since the war began in February 2022. The offensive in the Kursk region has prompted Moscow to declare an emergency and send reinforcements there. 

Russians at home are able to watch for the first time decimated Russian military convoys and burning bodies of Russian soldiers.

Simultaneously, the Russian cutthroats struck a Ukrainian supermarket in Kostiantynivka , killing at least 14 and wounding 44. Moscow continues to demonstrate that it regards apartment buildings, restaurants, hospitals and supermarkets as military targets.

The weapons in this latest aid package will be drawn from existing U.S. stocks and will include Stinger missiles, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) ammunition and vehicles. It brings the total amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine since 2022 to $55.6 billion. 

July saw the heaviest civilian casualties in Ukraine since October 2022, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said Friday. Conflict-related violence killed at least 219 civilians and injured 1,018 in July, the mission said.  

White House Announced more Aid for Ukraine

White House Announces More Security Aid & Weapons for Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC — The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 29 additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs at this time when Russia’s ground forces are apparently making new inroads.

The assistance includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to $200 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: air defense interceptors; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.

In addition, DoD is announcing a significant package of support using approximately $1.5 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds. This package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, fires, and anti-tank weapons, as well as funding to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States.

The capabilities in this announcement include:

Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);

Short- and medium-range air defense munitions;

RIM-7 missiles for air defense;

Electronic Warfare equipment;

Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);

155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

120mm mortar rounds;

Precision aerial munitions;

Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;

Small arms;

Explosives material and demolitions equipment and munitions;

Secure communications systems;

Commercial satellite imagery services; and

Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment.

This is the Biden Administration's twentieth USAI package and sixty-second tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine and since August 2021.

The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression.