The Telegraph understands the Kremlin has already made a decision to cut off diplomacy at least until after the Nov 8 US elections, in the hope of striking up a more “sincere” relationship with Barack Obama’s successor.
The Slide Toward War With Russia (The Nation)
The Nation has long argued that “no modern precedent exists for the shameful complicity of the American political-media elite” in the rush to a new Cold War. As German Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier recently observed, “It is an illusion to believe this is the old Cold War. The new times are different; they are more dangerous.”
Stop this stupid sabre-rattling against Russia (The Spectator)
I have been wondering these last few weeks whether it would be cheaper to excavate a basement and buy a Geiger counter and iodine tablets, or emigrate to New Zealand. Call me frit, but I don’t like the way things are heading
Putin’s Response Options To U.S. Cyber Attack (Jeffrey Carr)
We already have enough real problems with Russia in Syria and Ukraine. Someone, maybe Russian, has embarrassed the Democrats but there’s no hard proof as to who’s responsible. And the bottom line is that the DNC bears at least some of that responsibility no matter who attacked them.
PODCAST: Did the White House Declare War on Russia? (Stephen F. Cohen)
Nation Contributing Editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com.) Cohen reports that a statement by Vice President Joe Biden on NBC’s Meet the Press on October 16, released on October 14, stunned Moscow (though it was scarcely noted in the American media).
Syria war: Russia halts Aleppo bombing for humanitarian pause (BBC)
Russian and Syrian warplanes have suspended air strikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo ahead of a humanitarian pause on Thursday, Russia has said.
Paul Robinson Reviews The New Politics of Russia
Given the hyperbolic hysteria which characterizes so much analysis of Russia, it is good to come across a book which studiously avoids all that and instead calls for ‘a sophisticated, empathetic understanding of Russia and how it works.’
Leaders to meet in Berlin for Ukraine peace talks (The Guardian)
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, will host a meeting in Berlin with the Russian, Ukrainian and French presidents on Wednesday to discuss efforts towards peace in eastern Ukraine in their first summit in a year, her office has said.
NYT’s Absurd New Anti-Russian Propaganda (Robert Parry)
The New York Times is so determined to generate hate against Russia that it has lost all journalistic perspective, even portraying Russia’s military decoys – like those used in World War II – as uniquely evil, writes Robert Parry.
US, Britain consider sanctions against Syria, Russia for actions in war-ravaged Aleppo (Reuters)
The threat of more sanctions on Syria came before a European Union summit on Thursday and Friday which discussed sanctions against Russia.