Malicious Intent

“A beautiful deal”, "a rotten fish" and a very long journey back to Russia. My reflections on a dramatic week. And Valentina has sent me a present. #ReadingRussia

I think that Ukrainian missiles and drones also wanted to cast a vote today in Russia. It is one of the few genuine votes in this fake parliament election.

"Diplomacy of the Doomed" is how one of today's Russian papers sums up Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's talks with Vladimir Putin, adding "Their mission was doomed to underachievement from the outset." #ReadingRussia

Change, apples and a national idea. An extended edition of #ReadingRussia

Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s economic problems: “Stagnation in industry” & “Investment downturn significantly worse than expected.” But it's not just Russia that has problems, thinks one paper: “The destruction of the world order can't be stopped.” #ReadingRussia

In this extended #ReadingRussia: Remembering Mikhail Gorbachev who died four years ago today. I read some of the new textbooks for Russian schools. And the petrol queues have made it into the joke pages of Russian newspapers. Plus, a long overdue spring clean.

The Russian press continues to discuss John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow. One paper: “The visit of a CIA chief is not a sign of peace & not a sign of war. It’s a sign normal channels are no longer effective and that the heavy artillery is required.” #ReadingRussia

In today’s Russian papers: a Putin decree, Russians “withdrew more cash than they deposited, praise for Marine Le Pen and a message for Andy Burnham: “He won’t see Moscow in his dreams. He should…in his nightmares.” #ReadingRussia

Spotted in a Russian newspaper: “The logic of this war is becoming more and more harsh: either they will destroy Russia, or we will crush them.” A week of petrol queues, growing geo-political tension & no end in sight to Russia’s war in Ukraine. #ReadingRussia

Kristi Noem Fired As DHS Secretary https://theonion.com/kristi-noem-fired-as-dhs-secretary/

Nation Admittedly Curious To Hear How Trump Pronounces ‘Strait Of Hormuz’ https://theonion.com/nation-admittedly-curious-to-hear-how-trump-pronounces-strait-of-hormuz/

JD Vance Cries In Bathroom After Trump Uses ‘Piggy’ Nickname On Someone Else https://theonion.com/jd-vance-cries-in-bathroom-after-trump-uses-piggy-nickname-on-someone-else/

Mike Johnson: ‘My Christian Faith Is More About Not Jacking Off Than Feeding The Poor’

Trump Writes Netanyahu Strongly Worded Check

George Galloway being detained is an opportunity to post his all time taken on Ukraine

Nigel Farage appears to have forgotten all the conspiracy he spread about Keir Starmer and Jimmy Savile. "How low can the Labour government sink?" He asked. Surprised to see them sinking towards your level?

Today’s Russian papers focusing again on economic problems: ▪️ “To pay utility bills some Russians are falling into debt" ▪️ “Rise in bread prices outstripping inflation” ▪️“Cement factories on the brink” ▪️ Call to "freeze basic food prices to battle inflation" #ReadingRussiahttps

Again today Russian papers are reflecting economic concerns: • “New car sales in Russia fall by a quarter” • “Russians struggle to pay off credit card debts” • “Wage arrears have tripled” • “June was most alarming month for manufacturing industry in 3 years” #ReadingRussia

In today’s Russian papers: federal budget readjusted due to lower oil prices; pork prices rise; One paper mocks Europe: “Like a monkey on a bicycle, Europe’s economy is careering towards the abyss.” And how “Putin threw fuel onto the fire of Trump’s vanity.” #ReadingRussia

Moscow bookshop.

I don't trust lawyers who say not to use ChatGPT for legal advice. They never appear to give an example of what ChatGPT gets wrong and I think they have ulterior motives.

A few thoughts about Vladimir Putin's three-day May ceasefire.

Swan Lake played as the USSR collapsed. What will be the equivalent for Trump? Music video like "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen? Or "American Pie" by Don McLean? Perhaps the West Side Story stage show? Or maybe a Bob Ross marathon?

Ukraine's intelligence services lit up the sky by detonating 160,000 tons of Russian ammunition in Rykov, a key military center in the occupied Kherson region. It was not just a strike - it was a spectacular defeat of Russian logistics. Boom. Precision. Retaliation. 🇺🇦💙💛

Tankies: The EU is corrupt & politicians just steal public money France: Convicts politician for stealing public money from EU Tankies: Stealing public money from EU is now not wrong

"It feels as if the old world order is cracking." My BBC News report from Murmansk where Vladimir Putin cited "historical roots" behind Donald Trump's claim to Greenland and I caught up with powerful Putin aide Nikolai Patrushev.

Democrats Huddle To Decide How Best To Let Massive Republican Fuck-Up Slip Through Fingers

Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution With Executive Order Because Of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole theonion.com/trump-c...

Steve Witkoff’s interview to Tucker Carlson is making headlines in Russia. One paper today: “US & Russian officials are now speaking the same language…for the first time in years the White House & the Kremlin are openly demonstrating their mutual attraction…” #ReadingRussia

One Russian newspaper today: “America now has more in common with Russia than Washington does with Brussels or with Kyiv.” #ReadingRussia

Judging by today’s Russian papers, Moscow’s rather pleased with Donald Trump. One paper: “Trump is ready to make significant concessions to Russia.” Another: “Events are developing in the right direction: right & beneficial for Russia.” #ReadingRussia

I'm calling it now. The counter to not attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure is that Ukraine can't attack oil refineries.

A lot of news saying Russia is quibbling about policing a potential ceasefire. Less clear that Russia means policing Ukraine during the ceasefire, whilst policing them is a red line.

Tesla Dealerships Attacked With Molotov Cocktails theonion.com/tesla-d...

You make it sound like Farage and Tate are buddies. Oh...

The JD Vance video that was deleted from (X) formerly twitter. You know what to do www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAPL...

I asked Russia's foreign minister if Moscow still opposes idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov replied "We see no room for compromise...this would mean no longer hybrid involvement, but the direct, official, unconcealed participation of Nato countries in war against Russia."

Russian state TV on the new world order: "Now everything is being decided inside a big triangle: Russia, China & the US. Within this, the new construction of the world will come to fruition. The EU as a united political force no longer exists..." ['News of the Week', Russia-1]

This is how Russia has been speaking of Ukraine for years. It’s really important to remember this context, when imagining ‘deals’ with Moscow

Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a hundred miles from Moscow we ask Russians about three years of war and whether they believe Donald Trump will help to end it. Producer @bentavener.bsky.social

I guess we need to send the bill for their Article 5 support for Afghanistan.

The pope is battling serious illness. Cells are dying on both sides. I hope the vatnik in the Vatican has the courage to wave the white flag. #NAFO #NAFOFELLAS

Donald Trump has moved from declaring he’d end the war in Ukraine in a day to conceding Moscow’s key demands & now blaming Ukraine itself for Russia’s invasion ‘You should never have started it…it’s the (Ukraine) leadership that allowed the war to go on’ That was some phone call he had with Putin

Today one Russian paper describes how Moscow views the idea of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine: “Russia is ready for talks. But on its terms. If you drop the diplomatic language, essentially that is called an ultimatum.” #ReadingRussia

In today’s Russian papers: “everything [in Russia] keeps jumping in price”. Plus, claims of censorship in a Siberian theatre.#ReadingRussia

Today’s Russian papers see benefits (for Russia) from Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade wars. One claims: “There are pluses for Russia from Trump’s actions… this will become an additional window of opportunity to expand our export market.” #ReadingRussia