Russia fears China could annex part of its Far East region, including the port city of Vladivostok, and beyond, according to a leaked document from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
The eight-page internal FSB document, obtained by The New York Times, reveals that despite Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s outward projection of warm ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he fears Beijing is “trying to encroach” on Russian territory.
Vladivostok was ceded to Tsarist Russia in 1860 under the Treaty of Peking, which established the border between China and Russia along the Amur and Ussuri Rivers, as indicated on Newsweek‘s maps in this article. This agreement granted Russia control of Vladivostok, a key port city in the Russian Far East.
Per the FSB, China has sought to bolster its historical claims in the Russian Far East by researching traces of “ancient Chinese peoples” in the region. In 2023, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources mandated that new maps use the Chinese names for Vladivostok and seven other cities in the region. The document suggests that China may be trying to influence local opinion to support its narrative.
The FSB memo also alleges that Chinese intelligence agents are interested in the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, which is located by the northern coast of Russia. The route, which significantly reduces shipping time between Asia and Europe, would allow China to export its goods more efficiently.
The sooner the better. Do not be afraid of Trump doing this. It is the only way to preserve American civilization. Giving in to the left or falling for their moralistic bs has sunk one civilization after another, one nation after another. The sooner USA (and Europe) take strong corrective action, the quicker we will succeed and the less violent the corrective will be. Russia and China were utterly destroyed by communists. That’s what will happen here if we fail to act. ABN
Current Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, was chair of the senate select committee on intelligence (SSCI) and a Gang of Eight member since day one of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Due to his role in the Gang of Eight Senator Rubio was briefed on all the covert activities being carried out in Ukraine by the CIA and Pentagon.
That is why when Secretary of State Marco Rubio told media months ago that “Ukraine was a proxy war for the United States against Russia,” it was a jaw-dropping statement. If anyone would know the receipts, it’s the former Chair of the SSCI, who became the Secretary of State. However, to say the truth so openly and publicly was something entirely unexpected, especially from Rubio.
As Secretary of State Rubio represented President Trump’s America-First foreign policy and national security interests very effectively, many people were shocked at the seemingly 180° degree turn Rubio took to represent the MAGA perspectives. Rubio adroitly navigated the media with exceptional support for President Trump’s positions, and diplomatic action to back it up.
While most of us continue watching Rubio closely, obviously President Trump saw the unique perspectives held by the former Senator on intelligence matters. President Trump then appointed Rubio to a dual role as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.
While the Secretary of State represents the public face of President Trump’s diplomatic policy toward the world, the Nat Sec Advisory represents President Trump’s outward view to the global intelligence network. Marco Rubio now carries both extremely important titles and responsibilities.
Keeping in mind the prior statements by Rubio about Ukraine being a proxy state for U.S. operations against Russia, both Marco Rubio and President Trump have been mostly silent and very measured in their comments about Russia after the Ukraine attack on the Russian nuclear-capable bombers.
Obviously, both Secretary Rubio and President Trump know the Senate control of the BBB is unfortunate timing for their solutions to the Ukraine-Russia war. Their solution is likely to be something the Senate will not like. The Senate will never publicly admit that Ukraine is a U.S. proxy war against Russia.
However, while the Senate needs to retain these ridiculous pretenses, ultimately Russian President Vladimir Putin does not. Putin is well aware of the USA support level, open and covert, taking place within Ukraine. This is the context for all of President Trump’s communication with Putin.
To understand the dynamic, it is necessary to remain elevated and unemotional as the confrontation takes place.
The U.S. Senate currently has two issues of great importance to President Trump within their upper chamber. The first is the Big Beautiful Bill (a reconciliation spending and budget plan). The second is Senate positioning on sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. Both are of great importance when you consider the domestic and geopolitical ramifications.
President Trump wants the BBB structurally passed and doesn’t care about the nibbling on the edges or customary Christmas Tree decorations (special interest add-ons). Trump wants the Term-1 tax cuts extended and the border security money, these are must haves.
On the Ukraine/Russia stuff, Trump basically wants the Senate to back away from doing anything that influences his leverage positions for a resolution he will construct. However, President Trump knows the Senate fully supports the proxy war aspect to the conflict (he doesn’t).
Trump has remained relatively quiet on Ukraine-Russia because he doesn’t want to antagonize the Senate who will use their affirmative votes for BBB as leverage to maintain the proxy war and support Ukraine. That’s the background on the BBB, Russia, Ukraine and Trump’s position.
Into this foray comes the always self-interested and short-sighted Elon Musk who -despite being an influence asset at times- has the most annoying habit of never considering the downstream consequences for his selfishness.
As Musk rails against the BBB, which took 14 months of work from the House to get across the line he runs the risk of collapsing the BBB in the senate.
The longer the BBB sits in the Senate and/or gets changed so much it will take forever to get through the House again; the longer Trump has to bite his tongue on solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Musk in his infinite selfishness, cannot see how he is doing real damage to Trump’s objective around Russia by stirring up opposition to the BBB. Things were getting ugly yesterday and became more so today.
Steve Bannon does not learn about the story of Elon Musk having a physical confrontation with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent without Trump saying he wants to hit back against Musk. The subsequent leak to Bannon is made, the story is told to the Dail Mail and Elon Musk is now facing the ire of a pissed off White House.
…[…]” Former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon told DailyMail.com that Musk’s turbulent time in the White House was marred when he physically ‘shoved’ 62-year-old Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he was confronted over wild promises to save the administration ‘a trillion dollars’. ‘Scott Bessent called him out and said, ‘You promised us a trillion dollars (in cuts), and now you’re at like $100 billion, and nobody can find anything, what are you doing?” the prominent MAGA figure revealed. ‘And that’s when Elon got physical. It’s a sore subject with him. ‘It wasn’t an argument; it was a physical confrontation. Elon basically shoved him.’”
The revelation of a confrontation between the pair was confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday. (source)
I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields. We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!
Tragic that Zelensky can disrupt peace talks and Putin feels politically forced to take revenge for the drone attacks. Behavior at the top can be childlike game theory, raw KOBK. ABN
On a visit to Gotland late last month, Sweden’s Chief of Defence Staff and Vice Supreme Commander Carl-Johan Edström said his vision for Gotland as a future NATO hub and first line of defence against Russian aggression.
He also warned that the transatlantic security alliance ‘cannot take its eyes off Russia for the next 15 years’ and said that Gotland must be ready to ‘take a hit’ from Moscow’s forces and keep fighting.
The importance of Gotland’s position is hard to overstate.
It sits just 120 miles from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all NATO members – and only 230 miles from Russia’s heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave.
With Sweden now part of the transatlantic security alliance, Gotland offers allied nations an ideal base from which to surveil and deter Russian air and naval threats over the Baltic Sea, and – in wartime – provide air cover for NATO troops engaged in Europe while striking Russian-held positions.
This is believable and also other signs point to this — both Putin and Trump have been silent, Zelensky has been bragging, it was a cheap act in the grand scheme of things, an obvious attempt to derail peace negotiations. Only Zelensky and his handlers want the killing to continue. I will be surprised if Trump does not do something to Zelensky. ABN
Last week Ukraine presented President Donald Trump with their “term sheets,” what they require in order to accept a ceasefire. Today in Istanbul, Turkey, the Russian Federation presented the Ukraine delegation, and likely a transmission to the White House, with the Russian “term sheets.”
This further clarifies the content of the significant meetings this afternoon in the White House, where President Trump assembled his “military leadership” and likely foreign policy team.
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul, said Russia is offering Kyiv a temporary ceasefire. Medinsky said that Russia has prepared a two-part “memorandum” proposing a ceasefire and ending the war it started. The second part of the “memorandum” provides for “variability” and “several paths”, he said.Here are the two primary parts of the Russian terms: Section 1 “Settlement of Crisis”, and Section 2 “Terms for Ceasefire”.
It should also be noted, the lack of a severe response by Russian President Vladimir Putin to yesterday’s attack on Russian air force bases likely indicates President Putin has what he wants. These terms and condition sheets were created prior to the Ukraine attack on Sunday. These are Putin’s conditions to stop further military conflict.
In Section II containing the “Ceasefire Conditions” (below) Russian President Putin demands Ukraine conduct democratic elections (#7, #8). Putin seemingly knows western installed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will lose and as a consequence weaken the western influence operations. Both President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio have previously advocated for the same.
American Buddhist Net 