Malofeyev seemed to speak on Putin’s behalf when he denounced Donald Trump’s Ukraine-Russia peace offer—before negotiations had even started. “For the talks to be constructive,” he said, “we need to talk not about the future of Ukraine but the future of Europe and the world.”

“Trump and his administration should understand that the Russian mainstream has shifted to the right,” Verkhovsky added. For Russia’s growing ultranationalist faction, he said, Trump’s “plan to let Kyiv stay independent would not be acceptable.”

I don’t think Trump reacts well to being disrespected, whereas a more normal politician wouldn’t make major decisions based on personal feelings. I suppose we’ll see what the Russians say to Trump’s face, but if this is going to be their attitude then his response might be dramatic (especially since Zelenskyy is sure to flatter him).

Is this how humans write diaries? It sounds very artificial, like the narration at the start of some movies or the scenes where to inform the viewer, characters tell each other things that, in context, they would already know.

I suspect that this is not genuine and that it is intended to sound heroic (by North Korean standards). Maybe it’s North Korean propaganda or maybe it’s something this guy actually wrote, but as a display of his loyalty rather than as a record of his thoughts. (I expect that he would know better than to write down anything other than a display of loyalty.)

The sanctity of a lack of indigenous people. Everywhere in the Americas was indigenous territory once, so I don’t see why this land is any different from all the rest. On the contrary, other land might still have a tribe with a historical claim to it, whereas this land clearly doesn’t.

But yeah, a circuitous path to protecting rainforest…

I guess they want another international arms dealer back. However, I don’t think that Trump is going to be as willing to appease as Biden has been.