All are millennium-old foxes—why play 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'?

"All are millennium-old foxes—why play 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'?" This exclamation arises from a string of recent dramatic, almost surreal reversals. Just moments earlier, the U.S. had issued stern, threatening warnings—vowing to sanction any country purchasing Russian oil. Moments later, it suddenly announced it had reached an agreement to purchase large quantities of Russian diesel. Upon hearing the news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately erupted in fury, declaring he’d been stabbed in the back by the U.S. and denouncing the move as “a gift to Putin.” Meanwhile, an enraged Donald Trump lambasted Zelenskyy as “uncooperative,” accusing him of deliberately creating trouble for American farmers and ranchers—and suggesting Ukraine needed a new president. The latest development: Trump solemnly declared—effective immediately (October 11)—that the Russia-Ukraine conflict had entered an “energy ceasefire” phase, with both sides having agreed. “Do not disrupt it!” Note: “Both sides have agreed!” But is this true? The most ironic scene unfolded when Zelenskyy responded instantly: “This is news to me too!” The one announcing the ceasefire radiated confidence and bravado; the one supposedly “ceasefired” looked utterly bewildered. This alone reveals how absurd this ceasefire farce truly is—and confirms Trump’s status as the undisputed master of self-generated, self-scripted, self-performed headline-grabbing news. Oh—and perhaps sensing his earlier statement carried too much shock value, Zelenskyy later added a clarification: “If Russia agrees to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree too… We’re awaiting details from the U.S.” So what was the final outcome? Zelenskyy—appearing visibly exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept in days—appeared on video delivering his latest indictment: “Today, the U.S. President issued a statement claiming an energy ceasefire agreement has been reached. That’s good news for everyone—and ensuring its implementation is vital. Unfortunately, however, Ukrainian skies were filled all day with Russian Shahed drones. Glide-bomb attacks occurred, and our energy infrastructure was struck. Tonight, a power plant in Kharkiv was attacked…” The subtext couldn’t be clearer: Trump’s loudly proclaimed “energy ceasefire” is pure fiction—the Russian air raids never stopped, and Ukrainian energy facilities continue to be hit. Put bluntly: “Trump, Trump—you’re fabricating again… and again…” Oh—and Zelenskyy also appeared on ABC News in the U.S., where the host asked: “It’s not just President Trump—we’ve also heard Elon Musk say you’ve gone too far. Why do they blame you for prolonging this war?” Zelenskyy replied with palpable frustration: “Because these people cannot find the key to stop Putin. Stopping Putin is harder than pressuring others. It’s simply easier to talk about rising prices and link them to Ukraine. Everyone worldwide understands that prices are rising because of the Middle East war—and because the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked. That’s common knowledge. If we want to communicate fairly with the public—if we want to speak plainly and honestly to peoples across the globe—we must stop… I mean, we must make reality known to people. Don’t play tricks on them.” What does this mean? Trump blames Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries for soaring oil prices—but the entire world knows the real cause lies in the Middle East war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Zelenskyy counterattacks; don’t be fooled by Trump’s businessman façade.

This move proves Ukraine’s long-range strikes are highly effective. Trump’s diesel deal emerged precisely against this backdrop. Ukraine’s subsequent strikes on oil export terminals signaled clearly to Trump: Zelenskyy would not yield. Hence, Trump revived his old refrain—calling for Ukraine to “change its president.” Zelenskyy’s response was remarkably calm. He first stressed that only Ukrainians hold the right to decide who leads Ukraine. On October 11, during a video interview with ABC News, he stated: “Although I deeply respect President Trump, the ultimate decision rests with our society—with our people—who will choose either this or that leader.” He added that while holding a presidential election during wartime violates Ukrainian law and poses grave risks, it is not entirely impossible—provided Russia agrees to a two-month ceasefire. He asked journalists to relay this message: “Please tell Putin: Give us two months—60 days—of full ceasefire, and we’ll hold elections.” This was a sharp, forceful countermove—because Russia, of course, will never agree to a 60-day ceasefire. Winter is approaching, and Moscow aims to break Ukrainians’ will to resist by destroying their power grid—especially now, amid Trump’s diplomatic pressure. In other words, Trump’s call for Ukraine to “change its president” will vanish into thin air like a puff of smoke. This leaves Trump deeply frustrated. Not only must he fulfill the Kremlin’s mandate to defeat Ukraine—he must also feign concern over the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, just one month away. Why say he’s only “feigning”? Because he genuinely doesn’t care whether the Republican Party loses the midterms—after all, he’ll be out of office in two years. The future of the GOP—or of America itself—means nothing to him. Early this morning, Trump suddenly posted online: “Ukraine and Russia have reached an energy ceasefire agreement!” Ukraine swiftly responded: “This is big news—for Ukrainians!” Meaning: Ukrainians had no prior knowledge of such an agreement. The Kremlin didn’t help Trump cover up the lie either. Not only did it launch fresh attacks on Kharkiv’s power plants and substations, but it also publicly declared it had “no knowledge” of any so-called energy ceasefire. So—what’s the point of telling such a blatant lie? Of course there’s a point. Immediately after Trump’s announcement, global oil prices plunged: Brent crude fell to $103 per barrel; U.S. crude dropped to $91. Unsurprisingly, once markets realize Trump’s statement was false, prices will rebound—yet in this dip-and-rise cycle, Trump’s family and associates have already cashed in handsomely on stock and futures markets. This tactic is nothing new: Trump has deployed it dozens of times during the Iran conflict. Over 90% of his announcements regarding U.S.-Iran negotiations have since been exposed as fabrications. But if you think Trump’s sole motive is profit—you’ve been fooled. Every day, readers comment beneath my articles: “Trump is a profit-obsessed businessman.” Brother—you’ve been fooled! He merely wears the mask of a profit-obsessed businessman to conceal his true role—as a political operative for the Kremlin! Waging trade wars against the entire civilized world—and attempting to forge economic ties with Russia—how could that possibly benefit America’s economy?

Oil Falls as Trump Claims Russia-Ukraine Agree to ‘Energy’ Truce

1 day ago

Oil prices dropped after President Trump claimed a Russia-Ukraine energy truce, though Middle East conflicts and refinery attacks continue disrupting global diesel and crude supplies. Brent crude fell below $104 per barrel.

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