Russia has finally ejected all Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region who invaded on orders of NATO/EU last August 6th, ending the most significant incursion into Russian territory since World War II. This has certainly removed Kursk as a pawn in peace negotiations, which Zelensky refused to accept when he met at the White House in a desperate effort to embarrass Trump into keeping the funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
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The day after Moscow announced the completion of the Kursk operation, President Vladimir Putin declared a unilateral three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s and its allies’ victory in World War II, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that international recognition of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as part of Russia, is a non-negotiable condition for any settlement. There was the Minsk Agreement that Europe signed in bad faith, only to allow Ukraine time to raise an army. They now have 1.1 million dead Ukrainians’ blood on their hands, and they do not have a problem sleeping at night.
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Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear on Monday, April 28, that Moscow would accept nothing less than a total victory. Lavrov insisted that the Russian Federation will not negotiate unless Ukraine recognizes that the original regions that were supposed to be allowed to separate under the Minsk Agreement after a vote, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, now belong to Russia. “The international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as part of Russia is an imperative,” Lavrov said, emphasizing that Ukraine must legally acknowledge these regions as Russian territory. This seems to be reasonable after the false negotiations by Europe over the Minsk Agreement. But Russia must now realize that Europe cannot be trusted, and any peace deal would NEVER mean that there will still not be war after Europe builds its European army.
NATO’s INVOLVEMENT IN UKRAINE
NATO conducted military exercises in Ukraine between 2000 and 2010 in advance of the start of the civil war as part of its partnership programs aimed at enhancing cooperation and interoperability with non-member states. Key exercises and initiatives during this period include:
1. Partnership for Peace (PfP) Program
Ukraine joined NATO’s PfP program in 1994, which facilitated joint training and exercises. These activities continued into the 2000s, focusing on peacekeeping, disaster response, and military interoperability.
2. Exercise Sea Breeze
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An annual naval exercise co-hosted by the U.S. and Ukraine in the Black Sea since 1997.
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Conducted throughout the 2000–2010 period, involving NATO allies and regional partners to enhance maritime security and coordination.
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3. Exercise Rapid Trident
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A land-based exercise focused on peacekeeping and interoperability.
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While later iterations became more prominent post-2010, initial drills began in the mid-2000s as part of the PfP framework.
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4. Exercise Cooperative Partner
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Air force exercises aimed at improving compatibility with NATO standards.
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Held in Ukraine during the mid-2000s, involving aerial maneuvers and joint training.
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5. NATO-Ukraine Action Plan (2002)
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This formalized deeper cooperation, leading to increased joint exercises and defense reforms in Ukraine.
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Exercises often emphasized peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and crisis management.
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6. Annual National Program (ANP)
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Under the NATO-Ukraine Commission (established 1997), Ukraine implemented defense reforms and hosted NATO-linked training events.
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These exercises were part of NATO’s broader effort to build trust and capability with Ukraine, though full membership was not on the table at the time. The 2008 Bucharest Summit later affirmed Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership prospects. In summary, NATO-Ukraine military exercises during this decade were regular and multifaceted, reinforcing Ukraine’s gradual alignment with Western defense structures in preparation for war with Russia.
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Finland’s Prime Minister has shown herself to be a staunch supporter of Zelensky to the detriment of her people.
Now that Sweden has surrendered its neutrality, which protected its people through two world wars, they have joined NATO and even sent planes to Poland. This has led the Kremlin to expand its military bases along the Finnish border in response to Sweden and Finland’s decision to join NATO. As you can see from the map, it’s not very far from Finland to St. Petersburg in Russia. Sweden and Finland have now placed their populations in the Kremlin’s crosshairs for joining the NATO alliance.
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Russia is reportedly expanding its army bases on the border with Finland and rapidly expanding its military as it prepares for a potential clash with NATO. Russia’s kill chain, defined as how quickly the army moves from finding a target to firing on it, is now far more responsive than that of NATO’s capability.
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Then, on the other side of the world, the risk of war during May also exists between Pakistan and India, two lifelong enemies. On top of all of this, Pakistan says India is preparing to strike in 36 hours, if not days.
