Pentagon’s acquisition deputy Plumb talks stockpiles, industrial base
The place America is in manufacturing didn’t happen overnight, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight. Part of getting us into a resilient and robust manufacturing state of play involves making sure we can build those communities and those local investments so that you have the workforce, you have the people and you have the capital infrastructure.
US and EU officials discuss possible negotiations with Russia with Ukraine
Background: In September, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kyiv could not conduct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin because he could not be trusted.
Kuleba also stated that the war
startedby Russia could not be stopped by sitting down at the negotiating table.
H/T: Emil Cosman
Related:
US and Europe in Talks With Ukraine on Possible ‘Peace Deal’ With Russia – Report
As for ‘peace’ talks with Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it is ready for negotiations, but Kiev has introduced a ban on them at a legislative level. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized at the UN General Assembly in September that Moscow would not consider any proposals of a ceasefire, “because the one time we did consider it, you [Kiev] deceived us.” Speaking about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point “Peace Formula,” Sergey Lavrov noted it is not remotely realistic, although the West regards it as the only basis for peace in Ukraine.
Ukraine has spearheaded a collective call to action, joining forces with seven other Central and Eastern European nations to combat “disinformation” on social media platforms.
Zelensky regime leads request for social media platforms to censor “disinformation”
Related:
Social media has become a potent channel for spreading false and manipulative narratives. Paid ads and artificial amplification on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, are often used to call for violent social unrest, bring violence to the streets and destabilize governments.
Now, Kyiv wants to repeat the trick by starting an “Information Ramstein” to combat Russian disinformation on a larger scale.
Deep Background: In a letter written by Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko and addressed to the European commissioner responsible for transparency and values, Vera Jourova, he notes that “Ukraine is up against Russia’s vast and centralized information warfare and international influence machine, which includes assets from troll farms to state media, energy companies to corruption networks. Though it cannot compete in terms of scale, Ukraine does have one huge advantage: It can ally with its international partners to create coordinated, targeted, joint-influence operations.”
Thousands of Italians have demonstrated across the country in Rome, Florence and Genoa against Western sanctions imposed on Russia and transfer of lethal military hardware to Ukraine, a day after the first anniversary of the Ukraine-Russia war.
Thousands in Italy protest West’s weapons supplies to Ukraine as war enters 2nd year
Video via World Politics
Related:
Anti-NATO, Anti-EU, Anti-War, Protest Rallies Hit Germany, France, Italy
Around the world, more people are taking the streets to demand peace and an end to the war that tragically continues to rage in Ukraine. The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights announced that almost 7,000 civilians have been killed and 11,075 injured over this past year. Tens of thousands of soldiers are dead on both sides and millions of people displaced.
Canadians take to the streets to demand an end to Ukraine war and NATO
Ukrainian forces are unlikely to be able to recapture Crimea from Russian troops in the near future, four senior Defense Department officials told House Armed Services Committee lawmakers in a classified briefing. The assessment is sure to frustrate leaders in Kyiv who consider taking the peninsula back one of their signature goals.
Ukraine can’t retake Crimea soon, Pentagon tells lawmakers in classified briefing
Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for November 21, 2022
– Russian makes incremental gains in the Donbass region;
– Ukraine’s power grid continues to degrade under Russian missile and drone strikes;
– Ukraine continues denying responsibility for missile strike in Poland;
– US claims NASAMS air defense systems performed at 100% effectiveness, provide no numbers or proof of this claim;
– There are not enough NASAMS arriving in Ukraine over the next several years to protect Ukraine from further Russian missile and drone salvos;
– Ukraine has more or less abandoned Kherson city;
– US DoD admits Ukraine cannot achieve its main objective of expelling Russia;
– Failure to achieve Ukraine’s objective while continuing to fight and lose men and equipment equates to demilitarization;
References:
Russia Continues Grinding Away Ukrainian Military & Electrical Power (Odysee)
The general reaffirmed his view that diplomacy is possible but said the US is prepared to support Ukraine for the long term if they keep fighting
Milley Says Chances of Ukrainian Military Victory ‘Not High’
Ukraine blames Russia for alleged ‘missile strike’ on Poland
AP reported, citing an unnamed US intelligence official, that Russian missiles crossed into Poland. The Pentagon then stated it “has no information” to corroborate such reports, adding that it is aware of the situation and would look further into it.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied any responsibility for the incident by saying that the nation’s military did not strike any targets near the Polish-Ukrainian border. It also branded the Polish media reports a “provocation.”
Related:
What is NATO Article 5 and how does it apply to the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
Although it is not yet clear where the shells came from, it is known that they fell at around the same time as a Russian missile strike in western Ukraine.
The US Department of Defense repeated after press reports that it “will defend every inch of NATO territory” while it awaits more information.
Fall ends and winter starts at the moment of the December solstice. But what if the Vernal Equinox arrives instead? In these times of climate change, anything is possible. There are subtle signs. Backyard birds are singing, butterflies and bumblebees are returning. How can one possibly miss it?
US breaks ice, Russia thaws
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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