Quick, come look! Trump has once again transformed into Krasnov! Skyy is calling on the EU to provide another €70 billion in aid.

Zelenskyy’s appeal strikes me as entirely normal. After the U.S. withdrew its aid to Ukraine, the EU proposed a bill to lend Ukraine €90 billion for 2026–2027—but this sum falls short, especially given that Ukraine now faces threats from ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones. Though €70 billion sounds substantial, as one Western diplomat put it, it amounts to little more than ‘a bottle of beer per EU citizen.’ I believe Ukraine will get what it seeks. 【4.2】Zelenskyy also criticized the U.S.–Russia diesel deal, stating that Moscow has no genuine intention of negotiating peace: At the EU summit on the 16th, he condemned Trump’s diesel agreement with Russia and welcomed a greater role for European allies in negotiations. He described Moscow’s attitude toward peace talks as a ‘farce.’ He said: ‘The revenue generated by this diesel deal falls far short of offsetting the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on global markets. Yet it channels more funds directly into Putin’s pockets—funding this war.’ He added: ‘Putin simply does not want peace negotiations in any form. He plays with words, claiming Russia has responded… Frankly, it looks like a farce—there’s absolutely no sign he genuinely intends to end this war.’ Ukraine is bearing the brunt of Russia’s assault on behalf of all of Europe and the West—yet suffers such betrayal from Trump. No wonder Zelenskyy is furious. Fortunately, the whole of Europe stands behind Ukraine; I’m confident Ukraine will pull through. 【4.3】At a press conference in Brussels, Zelenskyy stated that speed restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink service remain incompletely lifted. He said SpaceX is gradually restoring connection speeds, but service has not yet fully resumed. 【4.4】Following his meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Zelenskyy announced that Sweden would supply Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets ‘in the near future.’ These jets will complement Ukraine’s F-16 fleet and help intercept Russian jet-powered drones. The two leaders also discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. 【4.5】Russian Finance Minister Siluanov faced walkouts during his IMF speech: The International Monetary and Financial Committee meeting opened on the 17th in Bangkok. As Siluanov delivered his remarks in Russian, roughly a dozen delegates—including those from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—walked out in protest. A European diplomat stated: ‘For us Europeans, the war in Ukraine is an existential issue. We cannot normalize relations with Russia.’ Germany issued a warning on the 15th against efforts to reintegrate Russia onto the international stage. Though Russians are currently enjoying relatively warm treatment in the U.S., globally they remain ‘diplomatic pariahs.’ Call me Xiao Kao—or call me Gao Fei. An author who tells truths—and speaks plainly. V. Rumor Debunking & Dialogue: 【5.1】Finally, let’s vent about Trump one last time at the very end of today’s article. Over the past week, he hasn’t done a single good thing. On the 9th, after speaking with Putin, Trump announced eased sanctions on Russian diesel trade—and publicly thanked Putin, calling lower diesel prices his ‘top priority.’ On the 10th, before White House reporters, Trump blamed Zelenskyy for rising diesel prices, accusing Ukraine of attacking Russian refineries and ‘causing trouble for our farmers and ranchers,’ and openly declared, ‘It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.’

[Trump proposes a Ukraine peace agreement including European re-purchase of Russian natural gas; Germany explicitly opposes it. What are Trump’s deeper motives? Will Germany’s AfD win the election?]

1. Trump will not follow the Democratic ‘left-wing’ playbook of ‘aiding Ukraine to contain Russia’ or bow to ‘political correctness’—even if Britain and Europe object. 2. Though the U.S. and Russia share proximity across the Bering Strait, Russia has traditionally been viewed as a European power; Trump sees the Russia–Ukraine war as an internal European affair. 3. With midterm elections approaching, U.S. inflation and employment data have outperformed expectations, and interest-rate hikes are widely anticipated—triggering a ‘severe blow’ to global stock markets. Trump is seeking new leverage. 4. Trump’s new leverage includes stabilizing energy prices—for instance, urging Europe to resume purchasing Russian natural gas and the U.S. to buy Russian diesel. 5. In late September, China and the U.S. successfully cooperated: China placed massive orders for Boeing aircraft and U.S. oil and gas, while continuing to supply high-quality rare earths—leaving Trump highly satisfied and inclined to reciprocate with goodwill toward China. 6. Given traditional Sino-Russian friendship, China may have urged the U.S. to moderately ease sanctions on Russia—granting Putin breathing room and facilitating Russia’s return to great-power status. 7. Trump and Putin enjoy a personally friendly relationship; Trump admires Putin’s strongman style of governance.

Germany Slams US Move to Bring Russia Back to the Global Stage

Oct 14, 2026

German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil criticized US efforts to normalize Russia's global standing, specifically opposing plans to release Russian diesel supplies to lower fuel prices. He emphasized European support for Ukraine despite discussions among G20 finance chiefs.

bloomberg

Germany Slams US Move to Bring Russia Back to the Global Stage

FAQ