Weekend Update #171: The Week Trump Helped Putin Commit Two War Crimes

Hi All,

It was an extraordinary week in one way and an absolutely predictable one in another. In the predictable way, Donald Trump aided the Russian war effort by deliberately supporting a Russian narrative which was designed to fool Ukraine and Ukraine supporters. It was extraordinary in that this happened as part of a more coordinated Russian attack/war crime operation than we have seen before. The Russians used what was clearly now a period of restocking and preparation, presented by Trump as a humanitarian moment, to change tactics and unleash two attacks in relatively quick succession on Ukrainian civilian targets. They seem to have done some serious damage.

There were two other stories worthy of note. There was talk of the outline of a US-Russian economic (bribe) plan that might come into force regardless of what happens. It highlighted the need for the US not to be allowed to be the sole mediator between Ukraine and Russia. Europeans need to demand a role in these talks—and the Ukrainians are desperate for them to do so. Finally, Trump lies about India not buying any more Russian oil and the press maddeningly reports it as a possible truth.

Before we get to the heart of the update, I did want to extend thanks again to those readers who support Come Back Alive. Amazingly, after posting the link to support CBA’s Dronefall project for a second time in last weekend’s update, the money raised more than doubled. That means that you have provided funds to buy well more than 20 anti-drone/UAVs of the type that Ukraine desperately needs now. So while Trump is helping Putin kill and freeze Ukrainians, you are helping them live.

The Week Trump Helped Putin Commit Two War Crimes

The Russians changed tactics this week. What they have been doing in the months before this is building up for regular large missile/drone attacks every 10 days or so, and interspersing those with mostly UAV-only raids. This one large raid tactic, was helped a great deal by US slow-walking air defense to Ukraine and has helped Russia do significant damage to Ukraine’s power generation and heating infrastructure.

However, these Russian attacks have not been capable of driving Ukraine out of the war. And actually in the coming weeks, time will turn against this campaign. Though