Trump goes off on Putin…
Who’s really playing with fire?…
Dear Reader,
I see the president is cross with Mr. Putin.
The “CRAZY” Russian strongman has recently shot multiple projectiles into the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
And Mr. Trump does not like it:
I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…
What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!
Just so. Yet I am not certain the president is maximally informed about supposed Russian deviltries.
Did Ukraine Try to Assassinate Putin With Drones?
My agents inform me that Mr. Zelensky had heaved multiple hundred drones against Moscow in recent days.
If true — if true — Mr. Putin’s blows would be more retaliatory than provocative… in this instance at least.
Meantime, Russian military authorities claim that on May 20, in the Kursk region…
Ukrainian forces attempted to murder Mr. Putin through coordinated drone assault upon the helicopter conveying him.
Russian air defenses, reportedly, neutralized the threat.
The government of Ukraine does not confirm the claim. Nor does it deny the claim.
Again, I do not know.
Why It Could Be True
Yet I hazard an attempt upon a man’s life would leave him plenty sore.
Thus fresh bloodlust might have seized the Russian president following the presumed attack upon him.
He may well have ordered intensified strikes upon Kiev in consequence — again, if the claim is true.
Is it true? I incline in the direction that it is. Why?
I am informed the Ukrainians are highly adept practitioners of drone warfare. They are also the recipients of detailed Western intelligence.
Might Western intelligence have informed them of Mr. Putin’s precise movements in the Kursk region?
And that he was vulnerable to assassination?
I hazard it is possible.
Thus it is conceivable that the Ukrainians may have attempted the caper.
Yet I veer off course. Let us then return to the central question…
Escalation
The chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany — Merz — is out to extend Ukraine’s reach into Russia.
Bloomberg:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine has been given permission to use weapons supplied by its allies to launch strikes deep inside Russia.
“There are absolutely no range limits anymore for weapons delivered to Ukraine, not from Britain, the French or from us — also not from the Americans,” Merz said at a conference in Berlin on Monday. “That means Ukraine can defend itself by attacking military positions also in Russia.”
Direct NATO Involvement
My men inform me that targeting data for such weapons derive from American and NATO satellite sources.
Only American and NATO personnel are authorized to receive it and transmit that data.
Only they can type it into the missile.
Ukraine may technically launch the missile. That is, Ukraine may pull the trigger.
Yet the United States and NATO would load — and point — the pistol.
Thus the United States and its allies within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would facilitate direct assaults deep into Russian territory.
These are not Ukrainian drones.
Putin’s Warning
Mr. Putin is aware of it — and has bared his fangs over it:
Flight assignments for these missile systems can, in fact, only be entered by military personnel of NATO countries. Ukrainian military personnel cannot do this… It will mean direct participation of NATO…
This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia. If this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.
It appears the poker-faced Russian has painted his “red line.”
Should the United States and its mates march across it?
If they do march across it and Mr. Putin sits upon his hands, a great amount of egg will appear upon his facial features.
I hazard the fellow does not relish yolk upon his facial features.
The Dangerous Escalation Ladder
Meantime, as I wrote several months ago:
President Trump is a very boastful and prideful fellow. He is jealous, fantastically, of his appearance.
He has promised peace in Ukraine. He believes he must therefore deliver peace in Ukraine — else he lose “face.”
Thus he is out to “win.” Yet here was — and here remains — my central concern:
The American president might “double down” to get a handshake from the implacable Putin.
He might therefore bless Ukrainian missile assaults deep within the Russian landmass… to compel the Russian to the negotiation table.
Yet by all available evidence, Mr. Putin would likely remain entrenched.
He is a very determined fellow.
WWIII
Up the escalation ladder the two men may go, each of national jealousy — doggedly and determinedly — rung by perilous rung.
Here I offer no prediction… but a mere possibility.
Yet it is a possibility worthy of consideration.
Of President Trump’s comments, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev snarled:
Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this.
As do I, Mr. Medvedev… as do I.
Brian Maher
for Freedom Financial News