Washington is threatening to cut off the supply of weapons and intelligence to Ukraine unless Zelensky signs Trump’s proposed peace deal by next Thursday (27th). According to Reuters, the US is now putting increased pressure on the Ukrainians, with one source reportedly saying “they want to stop the war and want Ukraine to pay the price“. Zelensky and Trump are scheduled to speak by phone next week…
Starmer has just told pool cameras “Ukraine must determine its future under its sovereignty” following his own discussion with the Ukrainian leader. The 28-point peace plan involves surrendering the Donbas and Crimea to Russia, halving the size of Ukraine’s military, and readmitting Russia into what is now the G7. All in exchange for security guarantees…
Typical Jonathan Powell behaviour is reported in the FT this morning – this time how the Chagos giveaway architect tried and failed to open a secret back channel to Putin. Starmer’s National Security Adviser took the unusual step of calling Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov…
Despite the ice cold climate in UK-Russia relations (there is little contact except at the Embassy level) and extensive sanctions on the Kremlin, Powell believed he could open a new communication channel on his own. The paper reports:
“…the phone call between Powell and Ushakov proved to be a one-off and failed to open up a new line into Putin’s inner circle, according to the people briefed on the matter, with one saying it “did not go well”.
As Guido has reported, things are going a little better for Powell in Syria, where the consultancy firm he founded is deeply embedded in the government. Moscow next?
Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro is begging Putin for help as pressure from Donald Trump ramps up on his regime. A dog appeals to its owner…
According to a US intelligence briefing given to the Washington Post, Maduro has requested from Russia:
This comes after multiple US military strikes on Venezuelan and other drug traffickers in the open ocean. Which have dispatched 61 people since last month…
Russian interests in the country are long-held since Hugo Chavez was in power: From 2005-2007 alone Venezuela signed 12 arms contracts with Russia to the tune of $4.4 billion. Moscow is keen on using Venezula as a base for its strategic bombers. It wields huge influence in its axis of likeminded states Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua…
Over the weekend Maduro and Putin ratified a new strategic treaty and on Sunday an Ilyushin Il-76 transport jet arrives in Caracas.
The latest UK Trade and Investment statistics on Venezuela, published today, shows total UK imports from the country “amounted to £41 million in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2025 (an increase of 57.7% or £15 million in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q2 2024).” Our trade with the dictatorship has been increasing from its 2020 low…
Wheels down in Anchorage…
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet face-to-face in the next week, with a second three-way meeting including Volodymyr Zelensky on the cards afterwards. Kremlin officials claim a venue has been decided and full details are to follow…
Zelensky had a phone call with Trump yesterday, and now says he believes Russia is “more inclined to a ceasefire”. Time will tell…
Attention is increasingly turning towards the judges responsible for providing 2019’s advisory ICJ opinion on the Chagos Islands – the legal insecurity which Starmer uses as his only justification to hand over the islands. And adherence to which is purely voluntary…
One of the judges, Xue Hanqin, was a Chinese state official and diplomat prior to joining the ICJ. She wasn’t the only one…
Another judge to support the 2019 opinion was Kirill Gevorgian. Formerly of the USSR/Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gevorgian was appointed by Putin as Russia’s ambassador to the Netherlands back in 2003 – a role he occupied until 2009. Hanqin happened to be China’s ambo there from 2003 to 2008…
After leaving his ambassadorial role Gevorgian returned to Moscow to serve as the legal director for the Russian foreign ministry. He has received four state awards from Putin, including a certificate of honour in 2011 “for active work to protect the interests of the Russian Federation.” Gevorgian voted in 2023, along with Hanqin, against an ruling that Russia should suspend its invasion of Ukraine…
His awards in full:
China and Russia are both very keen on the Chagos surrender deal and it was only a judge from the United States supported the UK in that 2019 advisory ruling. Is Starmer about to hand our enemies their biggest joint legal victory yet…
Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”