Missile escalation. Sanctions escalation. Orban betrayed. EU targets China. Sarkozy in prison
Topic 1854

Trump throws Orban under the bus, as he rides escalation escalator
The Duran: Episode 2368

No More Trump Illusions, War Till Victory; US Sanctions Russia Oil Pressures India; Pokrovsk
Topic 1710

The Duran: Episode 961
France's Marine Le Pen Acquitted in Case Over Violating Hate Speech Laws
https://sputniknews.com/europe/202105041082797685-frances-marine-le-pen-acquitted-in-case-over-violating-hate-speech-laws/

By Alexander Mercouris

We are soon approaching the first anniversary of the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s Baathist government in Syria.

Assad himself and his family are in exile somewhere in Russia, probably in Moscow. As widely reported in the media the man whose Jihadi militia overthrew him and who is now Syria’s interim President - Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, aka ‘Abu Mohammad al-Julani - also recently visited Moscow where he had a very friendly meeting with Assad’s friend and erstwhile protector President Putin of Russia. The Kremlin has published the opening comments Putin and al-Sharaa made at the start of the meeting http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/78213.

Most of the commentary about al-Sharaa’s visit to Moscow has centred on the future of the Russian bases. Here I will briefly state my own view, which is that most commentary is getting this topic the wrong way round, assuming that it is the Russians who want to remain, whereas the reality is that it is al-Sharaa who is trying to persuade the ...

Mr. Putin is the master of 'don't let them see you sweat' model of diplomacy (which is why it is a bit over-the-top to claim anything about being furious or embarrassed):

"Question: Yesterday, we heard yet another statement by the US President regarding him either meeting with you or not meeting with you, and the Ukraine crisis, too. Almost at the same time, the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies.
Today, the EU imposed another round of anti-Russia sanctions, this time placing a ban on toilet bowls, motorised toys, puzzles, and tricycles.
Putin: They cancelled imports of our toilets, I think they will need them if they keep the same policies with regard to Russia.
What can I say about the US President’s statement? In the most recent telephone conversation, the idea of a meeting and the venue were proposed by the American side. I agreed with the idea and expressed my views in this regard pointing out that, without a doubt, such meetings must be well prepared. It ...