Yves here. John Helmer provides some background below on the back and forth over draft texts on the UN resolution that attempts to put lipstick on the pig of the US-Israel takeover of Gaza. Since there is still no actual ceasefire, the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d is premature. But then again, Trump is all branding, with it being routine that the box that he is selling is empty.<\/p>\n
There is a lot of unhappy chatter among anti-globalist sorts over the fact that neither Russia nor China vetoed the UN resolution. But with all the Arab states supporting it, Russia and China did not have a great basis for having a hissy (which is what a veto would amount to, the scheme was going to go forward regardless).<\/p>\n
A new bit of Trump flim-flammery, which we may address longer form but is adequately covered in the soon-to-fire Links feature is that Trump is attempting to revive Ukraine talks. Recall (as Lavrov explained in excruciating detail over a series of interviews) that Witkoff presented a set of terms to Putin, which apparently in large measure conceded to long-standing Russian demands about what it would take for Russia to stop prosecuting the war. That led Putin to agree to meet in Alaska, where he went over the Witkoff points to confirm that Trump did indeed concur with them. Putin agreed and then Trump immediately retraded, saying he would need to see if he could get Ukraine and the Europeans on board. That may be why the meeting in Alaska was cut off so quickly.<\/p>\n
The meeting with Zelensky, which did happen shortly after the Alaska summit, led to a total reversal by Trump, of him abandoning his commitment to Putin and reviving the demand for a ceasefire, which Russia has repeatedly rejected save as a component of a complete settlement pact.<\/p>\n
Now Axios has reported that the Trump team is talking again with Ukraine about a peace agreement, as if Ukraine has meaningfully changed its position. It ought to, given the state of the battlefield. But the leadership is full of and surrounded by hard core Banderites, who among other things would be subject to Russian war trials. So this revived effort looks like some combination of a new Trump sale of an empty box and\/or an effort to again try to blame the failure of talks on Russia.<\/p>\n
Oh, and even if Ukraine has become a tad more realistic about its future, the Europeans have worked themselves into such a lather over Russia that they won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at <\/i>Dances with Bears<\/a><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Start with the condition of President Donald Trump\u2019s brain, according to his mouth<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cQuestion: Mr. President, could you tell us why you needed to get an MRI? I, I understand that the results were good, but what was it for?<\/em><\/p>\n Donald Trump: Because it\u2019s part of my physical. Getting an MRI is very standard. Well, you think I shouldn\u2019t have it? Other people got it. I had an MRI. Here\u2019s what you s- \u2014 serious. I had an MRI. The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor. That\u2019s it. But I had an MRI as part of my standard yearly or every w- \u2014 I think they do it every two years, but I have the physical every year. And the result was outstanding.<\/p>\n Question: Is it your brain or \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Donald Trump: Uh, I have no idea what they analyzed, but whatever they analyzed, they analyzed it well. And they said that I had as good a result as they\u2019ve ever seen. Now the other thing I took is I took as you know, a, uh, advanced, very advanced test on mental acuity. Because I think a president should have to do that. And as you probably heard, I aced it. I got a perfect score. I got the highest one, I got a perfect score. And the only reason I tell you that is it\u2019s one subject, unlike Biden and others, that you can take off your plan<\/u><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Now measure the distance which Trump\u2019s legs have been running from his warmaking fronts against Russia in the Ukraine, Germany, India, and Venezuela \u2013 and in the latest debate over Gaza peace terms in the United Nations Security Council. Listen to the new podcast<\/u><\/a>\u00a0with Nima Alkhorshid.<\/p>\n The back-up files:<\/p>\n Question: On Venezuela, sir \u2014 On Venezuela, sir, you\u2019ve had a lot of meetings on Venezuela. I know you can\u2019t tell us what<\/em>\u00a0your next steps will be, but could you say, have you made up your mind on what you\u2019d like to do for as far as action for Venezuela?<\/em><\/p>\n Donald Trump: I haven\u2019t made up my mind yet. I mean, I can\u2019t tell you what it would be, but I, I said, man\u2026<\/p>\n Question: What do you say to your, some of your supporters might not be excited about another foreign campaign. What would you \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Donald Trump: What happens? I mean, uh, I can\u2019t tell you what it is, but we\u2019ve made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in. But we have a Mexico problem. We have a Colombia problem, meaning Colombia, the country, uh, we, uh, we\u2019re doing very well. Drugs coming into our country are greatly slowed as you can imagine<\/u><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Question: With, with the designation of that cartel associated with Maduro, does that mean that the US government can target Maduro\u2019s assets for infrastructure inside Venezuela?<\/em><\/p>\n Donald Trump: It, it allows us to do that, but we haven\u2019t said we\u2019re going to do that. And, uh, we may be discussing, we may be having some discussions with Maduro and we\u2019ll see how that turns out. But they would like, they would like to talk<\/u><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n ONE-YEAR SHARE PRICE TRAJECTORIES FOR RHEINMETALL AND OTHER GERMAN ARMS MAKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n For my summary of the UNSC debate, and Russian opposition to the US draft of the resolution I have relied on this detailed UN report<\/u><\/a>. \u00a0\u201cOn 12 November, the US put a second revised draft under silence procedure, which China and Russia again broke. \u00a0On 13 November, Russia introduced an alternative draft text and convened consultations on its draft on the following day. Russia then requested written comments from Council members by Monday (17 November). Concurrently, the US put its second revised draft in blue without changes and requested a vote by Monday as well\u2026Algeria, China, and Russia broke silence on the first revised draft, contending that it did not sufficiently address their concerns. These apparently included continued ambiguity regarding the powers, composition, and mandate of the BoP and the ISF [International Stabilization Force] as well as the lack of an empowered role for the PA [Palestine Authority] and of references to the two-state solution. In its second revised draft, it seems that the main change made by the US sought to address the latter objection, as it added new language\u2014also from the Comprehensive Plan\u2014stating that \u201cconditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood\u201d after the PA has completed its reform programme and Gaza\u2019s redevelopment has advanced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChina and Russia broke silence on the second revised draft too, maintaining their objections, and Russia then circulated its alternative text. The Russian draft resolution does not mention the BoP and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report with options for the deployment of the ISF. In response, the US issued a joint statement with Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, T\u00fcrkiye, and the UAE expressing support for the US draft\u2014a position also echoed by the PA. Russia issued its own statement contending that the objective of its text was to \u201camend the US concept so as to bring it into full conformity with long-standing and previously agreed decisions\u201d of the Security Council, adding that \u201cour document does not contradict the American initiative\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe objective of our draft,\u201d reads the Russian document<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cis to amend the US concept so as to bring it into full conformity with long-standing and previously agreed decisions of the UNSC. We would like to stress that our document does not contradict the American initiative. On the contrary, it notes the tireless efforts by the mediators \u2013 the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey \u2013 without which the long-awaited ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees would have been impossible. We also welcome the relevant provisions of President Trump\u2019s Comprehensive Plan that brought about the ceasefire, release of hostages and detainees, exchange of bodies of those killed, and resumption of humanitarian access and aid flow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe rationale behind Russia\u2019s draft resolution on Gaza is to enable the Security Council to define clear modalities for deploying a peacekeeping contingent and establishing administration in Gaza, while ensuring that these modalities are fully in line with universally recognized international legal standards and genuinely facilitate cessation of violence and durable stabilization. That is why the document calls on the Secretary-General to prepare a report for the Security Council setting out options for implementing the relevant provisions of President Trump\u2019s Plan. It is also crucial to preserve the international legal framework for the Middle East peace process, which has been developed over many decades on the basis of the two-State solution. We stand convinced that only a truly equitable and inclusive approach to resolving the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can ensure a durable cessation of hostilities and lay the groundwork for durable stability in the region. We hope that the Security Council will be able to reach agreement on this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n At the same time in the General Assembly, Russia sought member state votes in support of its resolution condemning the neo-Nazi and racist ideology of the Kiev regime and its US and NATO allies. Read the text here<\/u><\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0On November 14, three days before the UNSC vote, the Russian initiative defeated the US-led opposition, 144 votes to 52, with 12 abstentions. \u00a0Pakistan and Israel voted in favour; all the Ukraine war-fighting states voted against; Turkey, Iran, Venezuela, Myanmar and others abstained.<\/p>\n The day after this vote, on November 15<\/u><\/a>, President Vladimir Putin initiated a telephone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Kremlin communiqu\u00e9 claims the conversation covered a \u201cdetailed exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East, including the recent developments in the Gaza Strip in light of the agreement on ceasefire and exchange of detained persons being implemented, the state of affairs surrounding Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, and issues concerning encouragement of further stabilisation in Syria.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/00-retreat.webp\")
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<\/p>\nSource: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=00R49QiRYEQ<\/u><\/a><\/code><\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure>\nLeft to right<\/em>: \u00a0Valery Zaluzhny, Kirill Budanov, Andrei Biletsky. According to Korotaev\u2019s assessment<\/a> of the internal Ukrainian evidence, \u00a0\u201cZaluzhny, who was commander-in-chief from 2021 to early 2024, is closely connected with the liberal opposition and the western capitals funding them. Actual nationalists in the army despise him\u2026Zaluzhny fled military service to London in 2024. His \u2018London front\u2019 is often ridiculed by nationalists in the army\u2026And the current head of the army, Oleksandr Syrsky, is known for his lack of political ambitions and total loyalty to Zelensky.There are two real alternative centers of power in the army. The first is the Azov family, led by brigadier general Andriy Biletsky, the \u2018white fuhrer\u2019\u2026The second is what might be called the Budanov family. Kyryllo Budanov, in charge of the Main Intelligence Directorate [GUR], has at his disposal a number of fanatically devoted special forces units. A number of units in the GUR emerged from the world of Azov, such as the Russian Volunteer Corps. Kraken, until recently part of the GUR, recently migrated to the Third Corps. The neo-nazis of Azov literally sing songs praising Budanov. Azov and Budanov enjoy close relations, in other words...The extent to which Budanov and Biletsky are actually oppositional towards Zelensky and his team remains up for debate. Nevertheless, were a military alternative to Zelensky to take power, these would be the first in line. This might not involved removing Zelensky, at least at first, but merely increased control by the military over political life.\u201d <\/code><\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure>\nLeft<\/em>: Richard Grenell, Trump\u2019s special negotiator with President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, January 31, 2025. Right<\/em>, the 150-history of US \u201cdrug wars\u201d, their real politico-economic purposes, and their failure to prevent American drug demand from continuing to enrich foreign drug suppliers<\/a>. \u00a0For the two-track Trump policy towards Venezuela -- negotiations and covert operations -- \u00a0read this<\/a>. \u00a0<\/code><\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure>\nSource:\u00a0https:\/\/markets.ft.com\/data\/equities\/tearsheet\/charts?s=RHMX:GER<\/u><\/a>\u00a0In this report of treasury payout practice at the leading US defence companies, the rewards to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks and dividends from the corporate treasury fall short of cash on hand and so they are covered by loans secured by speculation of rising state defence procurements to continue the war against Russia<\/u><\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0For the time being, \u00a0this is not the practice at Rheinmetall. Although a stock buyback of up to 10% of the issued shares has been authorized for the company board since 2021, the market takeoff of Rheinmetall\u2019s shares has made such a buyback unnecessary, as well as costly. See Rheinmetall\u2019s presentation on its shareholding structure<\/u><\/a>. \u00a0The company reveals that in the three years of the Special Military Operation, institutional investors, especially Americans, have been selling down their holdings, while private shareholders and unidientified others have increased their stakes. At present, the principal stockholder of Rheinmetall is Merz\u2019s old firm, Black Rock, which holds 7%; together with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. These US financiers hold 21.2%. \u00a0<\/code><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/00-retreat-6.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\u201cThe Stoxx Europe aerospace and defence index has more than tripled since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with more than half of that increase coming in 2025. The index has outperformed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite since the start of the year.\u201d -- https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/6d7a441c-1b27-42d9-b91b-6d05f1a9f4d3<\/u><\/a><\/code><\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure>\nSource: \u00a0https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_2803<\/u><\/a>\u00a0following https:\/\/www.middleeasteye.net\/news\/full-text-us-resolution-gaza-approved-un-security-council<\/u><\/a><\/code><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/00-retreat-8.webp\")
<\/figure>\nSource: https:\/\/russiaun.ru\/en\/news\/comment_gaza_141125<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/code><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/00-retreat-9.webp\")
<\/figure>\nSource: https:\/\/x.com\/27khv\/status\/1990142713837031884<\/u><\/a>\u00a0<\/code><\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure>\nPakistan\u2019s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir wait \u00a0in the White House to meet Trump. Original source: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/11\/13\/world\/asia\/pakistan-trump-lobbying.html?searchResultPosition=1<\/u><\/a>\u00a0Read without paywall: https:\/\/archive.is\/o4kBk<\/u><\/a>\u00a0According to this report, \u201cAnna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement that Pakistan has been a \u2018vital partner\u2019 in countering \u2018radical Islamic terrorism\u2019 since the start of the administration.\u201d<\/code><\/p>\n
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