By Lee Fang, Substack, 9/13/24

In the not too distant past, the New York Times eviscerated a set of establishment think tanks in Washington, D.C. The paper revealed documents and emails showing nonprofit research institutes how defense industry interests routinely and covertly influence the media and policymakers. The target of its reporting focused on a prominent think tank called the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Think Tank Scholar or Corporate Consultant? It Depends on the Day,” ran one NYT headline. The story showed that a scholar at CSIS doubled as a security industry lobbyist who used the think tank to press his client’s interests. “How Think Tanks Amplify Corporate America’s Influence,” blared another NYT investigation, featuring internal emails unmasking CSIS for pushing military drone-friendly policies while raking in drone industry donations. 

The NYT series on think tank corruption began ten years ago. Little has changed in terms of the behavior of defense industry-funded think tanks. Instead, the NYT has gone on to embrace them.

In its ongoing reporting on the Ukraine-Russia war and the debate over whether to fuel the conflict, the NYT routinely goes to CSIS for quotes to justify more weapons and more war. The latest flashpoint is the news that NATO powers are moving to likely approve Ukraine’s use of Army Tactical Missile System missiles, known as ATACMS, to strike deep into Russian territory, potentially targeting oil refineries, factories, and other infrastructure that serve a mix of military and civilian purposes. The move would amount to a major escalation that may provoke a wider war across Europe, strikes on U.S. assets, or even nuclear war.

President Vladimir V. Putin has said that such missile strikes from American-provided ATACMS into Russian territory would “mean that NATO countries — the United States and European countries — are at war with Russia.”

In reporting on the decision, the NYT did not speak to outside experts who raised concerns about a potential nuclear conflict. Instead, they quoted a single outside expert voice, a scholar from CSIS, to push back on any dangers and to argue that such strikes are par for the course:

“The strikes would help degrade Russian military capabilities, and Russia already uses Iranian, Chinese and North Korean weapons and components against targets in Ukraine,” said Seth G. Jones, a senior vice president with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Aside from the fact that this quote makes almost no sense – the North Korean weapons to Russia consist largely of short-range artillery rounds – the NYT is engaging in the same type of industry opinion laundering it once decried.

CSIS vice president Seth Jones doubles as an official at Beacon Global Strategies, a consulting firm that lobbies on behalf of the defense industry, with previous clients that include Raytheon.

As the NYT has previously reported, CSIS is funded and routinely directed by the largest defense contractors in the world. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer behind the ATACMS missile system, is among the think tank’s largest corporate benefactors. As we’ve reported, Lockheed Martin stands to benefit financially from the war, citing $10 billion in opportunities.

By Andrew Korybko, Substack, 9/3/24

21stCenturyWire published an intriguing report over the weekend about how “Austrian Court Case Reveals More Evidence of Biden, Democrat Corruption in Ukraine”. The gist is that Austria ruled against the US’ requested extradition of a prominent Ukrainian businessman in 2015 on the basis that it couldn’t prove his guilt, plus the documents that he shared in his support proved “the blatant political overtones” of the case. Readers can learn more about the details upon reviewing the preceding hyperlinked report.

What’s sufficient for casual observers to know is that a GOP victory in November could lead to the political will required to thoroughly investigate Biden’s meddling in Ukraine during his time as Obama’s Vice President. This sequence of events can’t be taken for granted though since Trump might lose and/or the Republicans might not win Congress. He declined to investigate Hillary during his first term despite his infamous call to “lock her up” so he might not investigate Biden either if he wins again.

After all, the incumbent is now considered to be senile, which is why Kamala was coronated as the Democrats’ replacement candidate. Biden is also at the end of his life cycle, and it’s unlikely that he’d make it through the extended legal process required to bring him to justice even if Trump won and Congress had the political will to launch a criminal investigation into him. Even if other Democrats in the Obama Administration are investigated, they might just conveniently pin the blame entirely on Biden.

For as despondent as some Americans might feel upon realizing this, they shouldn’t forget that they can still make a difference in reshaping their compatriots’ perceptions about his family and party over the long term through the work that they can do on this in the Alt-Media Community (AMC). There are many passionate investigative journalists who could ensure that this becomes Biden and the Democrats’ defining legacy if they dedicate their lives to exposing them.

The US media space is totally different than it was in 2016. Dozens of non-Mainstream Media news channels have since popped up, Twitter transformed into X after being bought by Musk who then proceeded to reform it into an imperfect but nevertheless much better free speech platform than before, and Telegram is all the rage among American dissidents nowadays. These three have combined to create a powerful media ecosystem for maximally disseminating “inconvenient truths”.

Trump might end up disappointing some of his followers yet again if he wins, or the “Republicans-In-Name-Only” (RINO) might once again sabotage his agenda, so it falls on the AMC to ensure that a form of justice is served by investigating the Biden Family and the Democrats’ meddling in Ukraine. It’s an admittedly overwhelming thought to undertake such an endeavor, but it’s not impossible once the election ends regardless of the outcome since political researchers might then have much more time.

Given what’s already been discovered but has yet to be assembled in an easily accessible and readable way, there’s no doubt that Biden and then his son Hunter led the Democrats’ influence operations in post-Maidan Ukraine, but the details need to be more widely known to make a difference. If the AMC put its mind to it and musters up the resources to fund proper investigate journalism into this, after which they then effectively disseminate it, more Americans might become aware of what happened.

Therein lies the long-term goal that could make a meaningful difference after the election regardless of the outcome since it could result in turning more Democrats into Independents, Republicans, or getting them to become politically apathetic after realizing how corrupt Biden, his family, and his party are. After all, they played a leading role in the events that preceded the worst conflict in Europe since World War II and which carries with it the risk of a nuclear apocalypse, so this is all actually a pretty big deal.

It sounds like the west figured out that Telegram was financially vulnerable and that arresting/convicting its founder and CEO would be likely to destroy the company, thereby eliminating a non-western controlled information source. As the Kim Iversen video at the bottom shows, they are seeking to do the same to Twitter/X. This, combined with reports of anti-war/anti-establishment journalists being harassed and arrested by the British government and regular British citizens being arrested for social media posts, these are dark days for freedom of speech in the west. – Natylie

The Bell, 9/3/24

Pavel Durov opposed strict moderation — it could cost him his freedom, and his company

Telegram founder and Russian tech icon Pavel Durov spent just 96 hours in a French jail. Released on house arrest, the case is far from over, and will have repercussions way beyond him and his platform. The saga looks set to go a long way towards shaping the future relationship between Western democratic governments and internet platforms in general.

• Pavel Durov’s four-day detention came to an end on Aug. 28, when a Paris judge granted him bail. Durov was officially indicted on a string of charges — all related to Telegram’s “complicity” in crimes plotted, planned and executed over the platform. Although out of jail, Durov is obliged to report to the police twice a week and cannot leave France. The substance of the allegations against him can be summed up in a single phrase: Telegram has consistently failed to cooperate with French police in its attempts to investigate crimes committed with the help or, or explicitly enabled by, the platform.
• The Bell spoke with people close to Telegram’s leadership and those working for the platform about how Telegram moderates content and typically doesn’t cooperate with Western law enforcement bodies — and how this set Durov on a collision course with French authorities.
• Telegram has just 50 employees — 30 of which are developers, Durov said in an interview with Tucker Carlson this spring. He contrasted his company’s lean approach with rival big-tech companies that, he said, had bloated headquarters and inefficient processes. The company has no HR department or many other divisions that would be mandatory for a large business. It’s reasonable to conclude from this that there has never been a significant number of people working on content moderation for the service. Everything that can possibly be automated is automated, one source told The Bell.
• Telegram has three levels of moderation, said Fedor Skuratov, creator of the Combot moderation service. The first is in chats, communities and channel comments. These are moderated by admins, using outsourced solutions. Level two is a complaints system. Any user can report any public post (though not private ones) using a “Report” button in the app. Users can do this to highlight pirated content, threats, pornography or child abuse. External contractors moderate these complaints — but nobody knows who they are or how many are involved. The third level of moderation is an algorithm that is mostly used to filter spam in private messages based on suspicious patterns of behavior associated with bots. Automated moderation can be used in group chats, but it tends to be unpredictable and therefore the feature is rarely activated. 
• The weakness of this moderation framework is partly explained by an approach purposefully adopted by Telegram’s creators. Moderation options exist on a spectrum. At one extreme is Meta, which blocks or suspends users for even minor infringements. At the other end is Telegram, which argues that censorship benefits nobody and it should staff as hands-off as possible. “Durov believes that the platform should not interfere with what people write to one another in private messages on Telegram,” one of his acquaintances explained. For example, as long as pornography is not published on public channels, leave it alone. “The most important thing for moderation on Telegram is user comfort, so that they don’t receive unwanted messages. There are essentially no restrictions on users being able to find something on Telegram for themselves,” explained Skuratov.
• A second reason behind the approach is more of a business factor: Telegram’s aversion to hiring more staff. The company believes this would strip them of their advantages of being a small, flexible business, as well as threaten security. “Hiring human moderators is a one-way street — there will never be enough of them,” Skuratov said. “And there is a high risk of leaks: the more people with access to data, the worse it is for security,” he added. When Telegram was just starting out, this approach worked. But the problem has grown as it became a service with hundreds of millions of users — making it impossible to comply with even its own small set of rules. As a result, specific content began to leak into the public parts of Telegram and due to a lack of people and money, Telegram could not cope.
• There’s another important business factor. Almost from day one, Telegram wanted to act not just as a messenger, social network and blog platform, but also as a marketplace. Back in 2015, Telegram introduced the opportunity to create bots that made it easy to set up a simple online store inside the app. But unlike the Apple or Google stores, Telegram had no moderation of these mini-apps, meaning developers could release anything they wanted without any meaningful checks. This lowered the entry threshold, paving the way for a plethora of different businesses to flock to the platform — including those operating in the black, or gray market. For instance, the platform became famous years ago in Russia as a hotbed for the trade of personal data — with people able to buy gigabytes of information, hacked or leaked, for next to nothing.

What next for Telegram?

• Telegram’s financial position was already uncertain before Durov’s arrest. From launch, the company struggled to monetize the platform. At first it was financed by Durov’s personal funds from the sale of VKontakte. Then the company tried to launch its own crypto token, which was successful with some of the world’s most well-heeled investment funds — but was ultimately blocked by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Over the last three years, Telegram has turned to loans, having placed bonds worth more than $2.3 billion.
• Durov’s arrest could tip the company into a financial crisis, the Financial Times wrote after analyzing the company’s previously secret financial statements for 2023. Telegram has no money of its own and is massively unprofitable, the FT found. In 2023, the platform had revenues of $342 million, posting an operating loss of $108 million and a post-tax loss of $173 million. The company partially covered those losses by increasing the value of crypto assets on its balance sheet, which were valued at almost $400 million.
• The debt on the Telegram’s bond-issuing spree is due to be paid off by March 2026. If the company conducts an IPO before then, the bonds are converted into shares at a discount — a good deal for Telegram. If not, the platform must repay bondholders with interest (at a rate of 7% per year). With Durov facing a lengthy legal saga that could end in years of prison time, it’s unclear whether a stock market launch is still on the table. The FT suggests not: the case against Durov is already causing too much damage to an already unprofitable business.
• Investors are nervous. Telegram bonds fell below 90 cents on the dollar after Durov was arrested. And Telegram is in no rush to reassure its backers. According to one bond holder, there has been no contact from the company’s representatives in the past week.

Why the world should care

For the first 10 years of Telegram’s existence, Pavel Durov managed to strike a balance between privacy and public safety. If Telegram had found a more reliable means of monetization, it might well have had the funds to pay more attention to security and moderation, as its bigger competitors do. We will soon find out whether the service will get a second chance. In post-Soviet countries, it’s worth remembering, this is not just about the survival of gray businesses and shady online marketplaces, but of one of the last major platforms for free speech.

Russia Matters, 8/20/24

Since Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6, the U.S. press has published dozens of newsstories on what qualities make the Minnesota governor most appealing to American voters concerned with domestic issues. Significantly less, however, could be found in American media on Walz’s record and views on foreign policy issues in general, and U.S. policies in the post-Soviet space in particular. This RM compilation is meant to remedy that lack, detailing Walz’s views on this region, as expressed since first serving as a member the U.S. House of Representatives, and later as the governor of Minnesota. The compilation also details what bills and edicts related to post-Soviet Eurasia he co-sponsored and signed while a Congressman and a governor, respectively.

Born on April 6, 1964, in Nebraska, Walz grew up there before enlisting in the U.S. Army National Guard at 17. In 1989, he graduated from Chadron State College, after which he spent a year teaching, and then served full-time as an Army National Guardsman. He then became a high school teacher and football coach. In February 2005, he submitted documents to represent Minnesota’s 1^st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, before retiring from the National Guard in May of that year after 24 total years of service. Walz won that election and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007–2019. While still in Congress, he ran for governor of Minnesota in 2018, won, and was reelected in 2022.

The first evidence of Walz’s public support for Ukraine in its interaction with Russia dates back to his first term in the U.S House of Representatives. In September 2008, Walz co-sponsored H.Res.1314: “Remembering the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) of 1932–1933.” Walz then repeatedly acted in support of Ukraine in his subsequent years in Congress. For instance, in 2015, he co-sponsored a bill to authorize assistance and sustenance to the military and national security forces of Ukraine. He remained supportive of the Ukrainian course upon leaving Congress to take up his post as the governor of Minnesota. 

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, the governor instantly condemned the attack as “unprovoked,” adding “It’s time to unite, protect democracy and work together to hold Russia accountable.” In 2022, Walz also issued an executive order to compel Minnesota state agencies to terminate any contracts with Russian entities over Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

In 2023, Walz met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying it was “an honor” to speak with the Ukrainian president and to promise Minnesota’s “unwavering support.” Speaking on the two-year anniversary of the invasion in February 2024, Walz declared that Minnesota supports Ukraine as it fights “to defend freedom and democracy.” That same month, Walz signed an agricultural deal between his state of Minnesota and the north Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, saying “It’s a really important showing of friendship and a real important showing of ties.”

It’s worth adding that Walz’s long support for Ukraine, and his repeated criticisms of Russia, have not gone unnoticed in either Ukraine or in Russia. Just this month, Walz has been praised by Oleksandr Merezhko, Ukrainian foreign affairs chairman, who described Walz as “very pro-Ukrainian and our press and our people, they view him as a friend, as a true friend of Ukraine,” and the Kyiv Independent described Walz as an outspoken Ukraine supporter. And in comments given to European Pravda, a Ukrainian online newspaper, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova praised Walz’s record on Ukraine. “Governor Walz is definitely one of the leaders of such support and a reliable friend of our country,” Markarova said. His long record of support for Ukraine in Congress and as Minnesota’s governor also landed him a spot on a list of 77 newly sanctioned U.S. nationals unveiled by the Russian Foreign Ministry in February 2023, and which bans these individuals from travelling to Russia for being involved in arms supplies from the U.S. to Ukraine.

What emerges from a review of Walz’s foreign policy views and votes in Congress and as governor is that like his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, Walz believes that Ukraine deserves support for aspiring to develop as a democracy under the shadow of a predatory Russia. Like most American foreign policy thinkers of the post-WWII generation, he also shares the American view that economic growth and trade go hand-in-hand with healthy democratic governance. This explains the consistency of his positions on U.S. trade and security assistance with Ukraine.  

In addition to being staunchly pro-Ukrainian in the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow, Walz has also once confessed that concerns related to Russia and nuclear security keep him awake at night and called for lifting Moscow’s restrictions on exports of American dairy products to Russia.  Walz also co-sponsored the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2018, which established in the Department of State a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI individuals, a move that could not have possibly pleased Vladimir Putin—who seeks to portray himself as an international defender of traditional values. 

The compilation of Walz’s views on various issues, which you can find below, is part of Russia Matters’ “Competing Views” rubric, where we share prominent American figures’ takes on issues pertaining to Russia, U.S.-Russian relations and broader U.S. policies affecting Russia. All sections may be updated with new or past statements. The quotes below are divided into categories similar to those in Russia Matters’ news and analysis digests; reflecting the most pertinent topic areas for U.S.-Russian relations broadly, and for the drivers of the two countries’ policies toward one another. Text that is not italicized or in brackets is a direct quote from Walz.

I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda

Nuclear security and safety:

• Asked during a 2010 Star Tribute Editorial Board endorsement interview to identify a global threat that kept him up at night, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz pointed to Russia and nuclear security. (Star-Tribune, 03.24.14)

North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs:

• No significant statements could be found.

Iran and its nuclear program:

• No significant statements could be found.

Humanitarian impact of the Ukraine conflict:

• When a sovereign nation is threatened, each and every one of us stands up, fights back and does right by humanity and peace in this world …We cannot stand idly by; we all must do our parts [to help Ukraine]. (AP, 03.07.22)
• [When inking an agricultural deal between Minnesota and the north Ukrainian region of Chernihiv:] It’s a really important showing of friendship and a real important showing of ties. (Al Jazeera, 08.07.24)
• [During a virtual meeting with Zelenskyy in 2024:] It was an honor to hear from President Zelenskyy firsthand and offer him our unwavering support. (Al Jazeera, 08.07.24)

Military and security aspects of the Ukraine conflict and their impacts:

• We stand with Ukraine and condemn Russia for these unprovoked and unlawful attacks. (Office of Gov. Tim Walz, 02.25.22)

Military aid to Ukraine: 

• Walz co-sponsored H.R.955 that was to authorize assistance and sustainment to the military and national security forces of Ukraine. (Congress’ official web site, 02.12.15)
• Walz voted in support of H.Res 162, “Calling on the President to provide Ukraine with military assistance to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” (GovTrack.us, 03.23.15)
• We stand ready to support the federal government in guiding our nation through this violent time, and I am committed to standing together with leaders at all levels of government, regardless of political party, to work towards peace. It’s time to unite, protect democracy, and work together to end this violence and hold Russia accountable. (Office of Gov. Tim Walz, 02.25.22)

Punitive measures related to Russia’s war against Ukraine and their impact globally:

• [When signing  Chapter 43, HF 4165 into law to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine in his capacity as a governor:] Today, I was proud to sign this bipartisan bill into law to help ensure that our state does not aid the Russian government’s illegal aggression against Ukraine … Ukrainians are our friends, family and neighbors and we continue to stand firmly with our Ukrainian community here in Minnesota and abroad. (Gov. Walz’s official site, 04.01.22)
• [When issuing Executive Order 22-03 in March 2022, directing more than two dozen Minnesota state agencies to terminate any contracts with Russian entities:] Minnesota stands firmly with Ukraine and strongly condemns the Russian government’s actions….I encourage other individuals, companies and organizations to stand with their Ukrainian neighbors and end support to Russian entities. (Star-Tribune, 08.05.22)

Ukraine-related negotiations: 

• No significant statements could be found.

Great Power rivalry/new Cold War/NATO-Russia relations:

• No significant statements could be found.

China-Russia: Allied or aligned?

• No significant statements could be found.

Missile defense:

• No significant statements could be found.

Nuclear arms:

• No significant statements could be found.

Counterterrorism:

• No significant statements could be found.

Conflict in Syria:

• The Assad Regime, which is backed by Putin’s Russia, committed an unconscionable war crime against the Syrian people when it carried out a chemical attack killing innocent men, women and children. I condemn Assad’s use of chemical weapons in the strongest possible terms… Assad must be brought to justice, but we cannot enter into another perpetual war. If we are to take further military action in Syria, we owe it to our brave service members to provide them a clear directive, an unquestionable path to victory and a coalition of allied forces to fight by their side. (Congressional Documents and Publications, Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 04.07.17)

Cyber security/AI:

•  No significant statements could be found.

Elections interference:

• [A statement released by Congressman Walz following reports of communication between the White House and the FBI concerning potential Russian ties to U.S. political operatives during the 2016 election:] The fact that any communication whatsoever took place between the White House and the FBI on the pending investigation in question is further grounds for the necessity of an independent, nonpartisan commission to investigate the Putin-Russia attack on our electoral system, including but not limited to any potential ties between U.S. political operatives and Russian intelligence agents. We must get to the facts to restore faith in our democracy. The American people deserve to know the truth. (Congressional Documents and Publications, 02.24.17)
• At the very least, it appears [Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Devin] Nunes’ ability to independently investigate Russia’s attack on our democracy is compromised. As the credibility of any congressional investigation relies on a commitment to bipartisanship and the independence of those conducting it, I call on Chairman Nunes to immediately recuse himself. (Congressional Documents and Publications 03.31.17)
• Walz co-sponsored H.Con.Res.47: Expressing the sense of Congress that until the conclusion of the FBI’s criminal and counterintelligence investigations into the nature of the Russian connection to the Trump campaign, the Trump Administration is acting under a “gray cloud” of the appearance of a conflict of interest, and, as such, should refrain from taking any actions or making any changes to United States policy that could be seen as benefitting President Putin or his inner circle. (Congress.gov, 04.05.17)
• Former FBI Director James Comey‘s testimony today raises serious questions and concerns about the President’s actions and what appears to be his attempt to personally influence the investigation into the Russian attack on our 2016 election. I am deeply alarmed that President Trump seems to be more concerned about clearing his own name than on preventing future attacks on our democracy. Russia’s attack on our electoral process isn’t a political or partisan issue. It’s an American issue. The American people need and deserve the whole truth. We need to establish an independent commission immediately. (Congressional Documents and Publications, 06.08.17)

Energy exports:

• No significant statements could be found.

Climate change:

• No significant statements could be found.

U.S.-Russian economic ties:

• [A letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging them to make full use of all of the World Trade Organization‘s tools to address issues that have continued to prohibit U.S. dairy exports from having fair access to the Russian market:] When [the bill] is signed into law and the U.S. permanently grants Russia normal trade relations, the United States will be able to use the WTO’s mechanisms to address Russia’s non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to American dairy exports. We strongly urge you to consider using the WTO’s mechanisms to reopen these markets and ensure that American dairy producers and processors have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in the Russian market. (Office of Rep. Ron Kind, 10.20.12)
• Walz voted against a House resolution authorizing the extension of non-discriminatory trade relations with the Russian Federation. (GovTrack.us, 11.15.12)
• Walz voted to support a bill prohibiting the Department of Defense from purchasing equipment from Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport unless it could be shown that the firm was cooperating with a U.S. defense contractor. (GovTrack.us, 06.14.13)

U.S.-Russian relations in general:

• Walz voted to support H.R.6156, better known as the Magnitsky Act, which was intended to punish Russian officials responsible for the death of Russian tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009. (GovTrack.us, 11.16.12)
• Walz co-sponsored the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2018 which established in the Department of State a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex) individuals. (Congress.gov, 06.07.18)

II. Russia’s domestic policies

Domestic politics, economy and energy:

• Don’t associate citizens [such as Russians] with their governments in many cases. (Star-Tribune, 08.05.22)

Defense and aerospace:

• No significant statements could be found.

Security, law-enforcement and justice:

• No significant statements could be found.

III. Russia’s relations with other countries

Russia’s general foreign policy and relations with “far abroad” countries:

• No significant statements could be found.

Ukraine:

• Walz co-sponsored H.Res.1314: “Remembering the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine (Holodomor) of 1932-1933 and extending the deepest sympathies of the House of Representative to the victims, survivors, and families of this tragedy, and for other purposes.” (Congress.gov, 09.23.08) [An estimated 3–5 million Ukrainians lost their lives due to starvation during the Soviet Union’s first forced collectivization campaigns. Russia does not recognize this famine as a consequence of Soviet policy.]
• Walz voted in support of H.Res 447, “Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.” (GovTrack.us, 02.10.14)
• Walz voted to support H.R. 4152, “Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014” and H.R. 4278, the “Ukraine Support Act.” (GovTrack.us, 03.06.14, GovTrack.us, 03.27.14)
• Walz voted to support H.Res 348, “Supporting the right of the people of Ukraine to freely elect their government and determine their future.” (GovTrack.us, 10.20.15)
• Walz declined to vote for or against H.R. 1997, “Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act of 2017.” (GovTrack.us, 02.07.18)
• I’m proud to declare today as Ukrainian Solidarity Day in Minnesota …We stand with our Ukrainian community here in Minnesota and abroad as the brave and resilient people of Ukraine continue to defend freedom and democracy against this unlawful, unprovoked Russian invasion. (Office of Gov. Tim Walz, 03.06.22)
• To our Ukrainian Minnesota communities, you are woven into the fabric of this state. Without Ukrainian Minnesotans there is no Minnesota, and today, we are all Ukrainians. (AP, 03.07.22)
• One year ago, Russia attacked Ukraine—an independent, sovereign, and democratic state. And as long Ukraine must defend freedom against tyranny, Minnesota will continue to stand with our Ukrainian community and the people of Ukraine. (Walz’s X account, 02.24.23)
• This week, I visited the Ukrainian Embassy to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to Ukraine. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Minnesota stands with the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend freedom and democracy. (Walz’s X account, 02.24.24)

Other post-Soviet republics:

• One of Walz’s first votes as a Congressman was to table a motion to reconsider H.Res.1166, “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia.” (Congress.gov, 05.07.08) [Walz was one of the two-thirds ‘aye’ votes needed for the special resolution to stand.]

By Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com, 9/9/24

Former US State Department official Victoria Nuland has acknowledged that the US discouraged Ukraine from signing a peace deal with Russia during the early days of the Russian invasion.

Nuland, who recently resigned from her post as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, made the comments in an interview that was published on YouTube on September 3.

Mikhail Zygar, an exiled Russian journalist, asked Nuland about former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet’s claim that the US and its allies blocked his efforts at mediation and reports of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to sign a deal.

Zygar also mentioned that David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian official who led negotiations with Russia at a meeting in Istanbul in March 2022, acknowledged last year that a deal was on the table at the time and that Russia’s main demand was for Ukrainian neutrality.

Wow! Nuland basically admits that Ukraine-Russia peace deal, which was close to being finalized in spring 2022, “fell apart” because US, UK & other Western governments “advised” Zelensky government that it was not “good deal” even though even members of Ukrainian delegation… pic.twitter.com/HPsrpOzQNf

— Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) September 8, 2024

Nuland claimed the US took a hands-off approach to the negotiations when they first started and said it wasn’t until “relatively late in the game” that the Ukrainians started seeking the advice of the US and its allies.

“The Ukrainians began asking for advice on where this thing was going, and it became clear to us, clear to us and the Brits, clear to others, that Putin’s main condition was buried in an annex to this document that they were working on. And it included limits on the precise kinds of weapons systems that Ukraine could have after the deal,” Nuland said.

She said the deal would make Ukraine “neutered” as a military force and said there were no similar constraints on the Russian military. “People inside Ukraine and people outside Ukraine started asking questions about whether this was a good deal, and it was at that point that it fell apart,” Nuland said.

Boris Johnson traveled to Ukraine on April 9, 2022, and, according to Ukrainska Pravda, told Zelensky that even if Ukraine was ready to sign a deal with Russia, the “collective West” was not. Arakhamia confirmed this account in November 2023, saying that when the negotiators returned from Istanbul, Johnson visited Ukraine and “said that we would not sign anything with them at all, and let’s just fight.”

On April 20, 2022, around the time the talks broke down, then-Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey thought a deal could be reached following the Istanbul talks, but then it got the impression that some NATO members wanted to prolong the war to weaken Russia.

“After the talks in Istanbul, we did not think that the war would take this long … But, following the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, it was the impression that… there are those within the NATO member states that want the war to continue, let the war continue and Russia gets weaker. They don’t care much about the situation in Ukraine,” Cavusoglu said.

On April 25, 2022, after visiting Kyiv, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin declared that one of the US’s goals in the war was to see a “weakened” Russia.