Zelensky’s ‘delusional’ 10-year funding plan may be domino that topples US-led economic order

Neither Kiev, nor Washington have the long-term financial wherewithal to continue the proxy war with Russia for another decade, renowned economist and author Dr. Rodney Shakespeare told Sputnik, commenting on President Zelensky’s plans to secure long-term US funding for Ukraine into the mid-2030s.

In Ukraine’s case, “the loss of productive assets in east Ukraine, the rapidly weakening military situation, and the dislocations produced by the war mean that the Ukrainian economy is a basket case (which will get worse, if that is possible),” Shakespeare said.

As far as the US is concerned, the Washington establishment may be able to ignore rising poverty and debt levels, crumbling infrastructure and other domestic problems to send more money to Ukraine in the short term, but in combination with other factors, the funding could become the straw that breaks the back of the US Empire over the long run, the academic believes.

“The long term consequences could be dire because the funding will be taking place in circumstances in which other big negative factors will be operating e.g., a weakening of the US dollar; a global shift from unilateral to multilateral power; a possible global financial collapse (starting with banks in the USA); and the great technological shift by which actual production is increasingly being done by the capital instruments rather than by human labor,” Dr. Shakespeare explained.

It’s unfortunate that the Biden administration and the entire US political class seems to have “deluded” themselves into thinking that the US economy is prosperous and doing well enough to continue pursuing imperious ambitions abroad, the economist added, warning that American society “is showing signs of a coming profound disintegration,” and US foreign policy only expected to hasten the process.

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Sanctions against Russia are not working, Harriet Baldwin, Chair of the UK House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, has admitted.

“There’s a general consensus that sanctions are not working in terms of their stated intent — causing real trouble for the Russian economy . . . The IMF are forecasting it’s going to be one of the strongest economies this year," Baldwin said in an interview with the FT.

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📹 WATCH: Russian T-80BVM tank wipes out a Ukrainian stronghold to the south of Donetsk.

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🔺Zelensky’s ‘delusional’ 10-year funding plan may be domino that topples US-led economic order

🔺Ex-Pentagon advisor says Russia’s Mideast clout 'very strong,' while US looks 'ridiculous'

🔺Burial Sites of Tortured Civilians Discovered in Avdeyevka — Russian Investigative Committee

🔺US economic growth is “unlikely to last” — IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva

🔺The only right is right to die for US? Ukraine regime ramps up assault on human rights

🔺Russian tanks give Ukrainian army Hell, wiping out its strongholds — officer

🔺Ukraine’s push for security pact with US sign of its 'looming military collapse' — ex-Pentagon analyst

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Ukraine is already receiving weapons that the US previously announced as part of a renewed military aid program, the White House stated

Texas state police have started arresting pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Austin, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

“Hands off students,” students began shouting when the police officers started arresting the protesters.

“We need a medic,” one of the students shouted.

The state troopers have encircled the protesters' encampment on the university lawn, while legal observers from the Austin Lawyers Guild are surrounding the officers.

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First US nuclear power plant in over 30 years goes fully online

The fourth and final unit of the first nuclear power station to be built in the United States in more than 30 years finally went online after a seven year delay, Georgia Power announced in a press release.

"Georgia Power declared today that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers and the state of Georgia," the release said.

The new unit, which can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses, will provide energy to customers for at least 60 to 80 years, the release said.

"With all four units now in operation, Plant Vogtle is the largest generator of clean energy in the nation, expected to produce more than 30 million megawatt hours of electricity each year," the release said.

The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear on behalf of Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities, the release added.

The third and fourth Plant Vogtle units may also be the last nuclear reactors built in the United States, according to media reports.

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US journalist Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, whose daughter "was murdered by the Ukrainian government"

"Aleksandr Dugin is the most famous political philosopher in Russia. His ideas are considered so dangerous, the Ukrainian government murdered his daughter and Amazon won’t sell his books. We talked to him in Moscow," Carlson said via X.

In August 2022, Daria Dugina was killed in a car bombing attack, which the CIA reportedly linked to the Ukrainian government.

Dugin himself is a scholar known for his work in sociology and political philosophy.

Carlson and Dugin discussed topics including the nature of liberalism and shifting attitudes toward Russia over time.

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Argentina classifies purchase of F-16 jets from Denmark

The Argentine government has declared the acquisition of 24 US-made F-16 fighter jets from Denmark classified military information, according to a decree published in the official gazette.

"The contract transaction in progress has been declared classified military information under the terms of decree No. 9390/63," the decree read.

Argentina expects to spend a total of $301.2 million on 16 single-seat, eight two-seat jets and related equipment.

The purchase was announced by Argentine President Javier Milei and Defense Minister Luis Alfonso Petri in mid-April.

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Macron’s tough talk on European ‘sovereignty’ is just an election fodder

The tough talk from Macron is likely designed to appeal to French and European voters more than achieve his stated goals of a European army, Mark Slelboda, a security and international relations expert, told Sputnik’s Fault Lines.

“He is simply doing a bit of cynical electioneering. His people have determined that words like ‘sovereignty’ play very well among potential voters of this upcoming European parliamentary election season, and he’s playing to that,” Sleboda explained. “That’s all there is to this, nothing else.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has over the last few weeks and months, been advocating for Europe to take an active role in the continent’s defense to ensure it never becomes a “vassal state” of the US.

Macron has advocated for a European defense alliance to reduce reliance on US-led NATO and has called for an “open-debate” on how French nuclear weapons can be utilized to protect Europe.

“I look at actions more than words,” Sleboda explained, adding “and, sorry, Macron, we all know you’ve got ‘US vassal’ tattooed on your buttocks. You can’t deny it.”

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