Luxon’s values on show re Zelensky

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 pm, December 22nd, 2023 - 32 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, Peace, Russia, Ukraine, us politics, war, Zelensky - Tags:

It is not clear exactly who persuaded Luxon to put Zelensky on his Xmas calling list. It might have been Albo or MFAT, no doubt on orders from the US, who are desperate to keep the illusion of victory alive until after the US Presidential election.

Luxon said it was about shared values. But Zelensky has deferred the 2024 Ukraine Presidential election, as he is losing support, and banned opposition political parties. Forced mobilisation is on the up, as Ukrainian casualties are huge. Corruption is rife. The US Congress has deferred Biden’s request for future funding, without which Ukraine cannot survive. Hungary has blocked similar funds from the EU.

Luxon’s office released a tweet and a grovelling photo to let us know about the call, which got the thumbs down from most commenters. I don’t think Luxon should speak on behalf of New Zealand; he can speak for himself on this one but not for me. He said it was to find out from Zelensky how the war was going. He should tell us all the answer; I’ll bet it was wall-to-wall bullshit.

And we won’t get the dinkum oil from our media. But mainstream media in Europe and the US are starting to raise important questions.

On top of the horrendous carnage in Gaza, only made possible by direct support of US weaponry, Kiwis are becoming aware that our so-called leaders, political and official,  are drawing us closer and closer to more US-led wars, all of which in the past have led to embarrassing loss as well as dreadful suffering.

At least Winston Peters has the sense to stop loose talk from National and ACT about expelling the Russian ambassador. He is right to emphasise that talk is preferable to war. Not that Russia is likely to want to do that immediately, as trust is lost after the Minsk debacle. But it will eventually be necessary, by which time Zelensky is likely to no longer be on the scene.

From a bookshop in Poland:

32 comments on “Luxon’s values on show re Zelensky ”

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  1. Barfly 1
    23 December 2023 at 4:39 am

    Yeah…nah. The article writer is well known as a 'tankie'. I find the 'boo Ukraine' tone quite ugly,

    • Morrissey 1.1
      23 December 2023 at 8:04 am

      You see a "Boo Ukraine" tone, do you? Mike Smith critiques the bloodthirsty U.S. regime, Zelensky's puppet regime, and the role of politicians like Luxon in keeping the blood flowing. Nowhere does he "boo" the people of Ukraine.

      Mike also draws attention to the Minsk Accords. I suggest you do a little reading about what the U.S. and U.K. did to that peace agreement.

    • Incognito 1.2
      23 December 2023 at 9:50 am

      This is what you’re doing here: you go to a restaurant that has a dinner chef that night (and you know it) whom you intensely dislike because he/she dresses funny and talks with an accent. You order a dish that you hate, don’t taste it, then complain about it loudly, and walk out, spoiling it for yourself, your company, the staff, and other patrons. And then you leave a bad on-line review. But the worst of it is that next week you’ll do it all over again.

      Choose differently!

    • Ed 1.3
      23 December 2023 at 4:37 pm

      If you disagree with the author, all well and good.

      But debate your point of view.

      Don’t name call.

  2. Pat 2
    23 December 2023 at 6:47 am

    4.99….I think recession may be occurring in Europe.

  3. Francesca 3
    23 December 2023 at 8:08 am

    Arestovych also plans to run in the next presidential election , if indeed such an election takes place

    https://thepressunited.com/updates/old-ukraine-is-dead-ex-zelensky-aide/

    Zelensky is increasingly facing political threats at home

    https://thepressunited.com/updates/the-knives-are-out-in-kiev-once-ukraine-loses-the-war-its-elites-will-eat-each-other-alive/

    A different perspective from an Indian point of view

  4. Tricledrown 4
    23 December 2023 at 2:16 pm

    Putin puppets Putin pushed Iran to give Hamas more modern rockets its a 2 way street Iran supplying Russia with drones Putin gets to widen his aggression stirring trouble in Africa with Wagner Stirring trouble between Venezuela and Guyana.Putin is trying to take the news focus on the Ukraine plus reduce arms supply by putting pressure on other Hotspots.Then he has Donald Trump aiding and giving comfort to the US enemies starting with Putin ,North Korea, Venezuela,Victor Orban all dictators dictatorships.

    Who do we want to be aligned with .Keep walking the tightrope to please China which is using every means at its disposal to gain huge influence in the pacific. Do we just hold up the white flag in a rapidly changing world. The Iranian backed houthi's slowing trade costing us in exports oil and imports do we just roll over and say we have peace in our time.Remember that saying.

    • Ghostwhowalks 4.1
      23 December 2023 at 3:39 pm

      The US stirred trouble in Venezuela when it had a 'strong man anti communist' President over the possible 'lost territories' in Guyana when they had a leftist PM and were coming up for full independence from UK

    • Subliminal 4.2
      24 December 2023 at 3:36 pm

      I realise that life is a lot easier when you believe in evil Putin. It means you no longer need to take the time to find out what really is happening in the world. Anyone who talks to him is then evil by association and anyone willing to discuss issues that Russia raises becomes a puppet not worth engaging with.

      And yet, the fact remains that it is absolutely indisputable that the genocide in Gaza could not continue without a continuous resupply of shells and missiles by the US. So to hold the US up as some beacon that we in the West should all rally behind is quite obscene. You also mention China as some sort of Pariah? Given the current slaughter in multiple theatres, it would seem that the rational thing to do would be friendliness towards them as they are contributing the least to the carnage.

      Venezuela is another case in point. The territory of Essiquibo, between Venezuela and Guyana has been in dispute for 200 years. The simmering only started to boil over when oil was discovered off the coast in 2015 and Guyana sold rights to Exxon Mobil. Now of course the US is interested enough to want to set up a military base in disputed territory on the border with Venezuela. Really, you'd be pushing it to pin this one on Putin.

      And as for the Houti. These are the only people with the courage to stand unequivocally with Palestinians in Gaza. They are prepared to enforce a blockade of shipping to and from Israel for as long as Israel continues its genocide in Gaza. They have said they will lift it when Israel stops the carnage and opens all borders for humanitarian aid. And all you can think of is that prices will go up? And does it follow that this is the value you place on Palestinians lives? A far simpler path would be to agree to the blockade until Israel desists. China's biggest shipping company, OOCL has agreed to cease all shipping to and from Israel and has no trouble in the Red Sea.

      • SPC 4.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 7:38 pm

        The thing is it is not a blockade on shipping to and from Israel, it is shipping going through the Red Sea before or after using the Suez Canal.

        Which is why shipping is simply going around Africa to Asia and beyond (and back).

        While it is nice that a Chinese shipping company can use its Iranian connections to manage its own arrangement that is just indicative of the geo-political machinations in play.

        • Subliminal 4.2.1.1
          25 December 2023 at 6:37 am

          Sorry to dissapoint you but it is a blockade on shipping to and from Israel. I supplied a link to an in depth analysis of the Houthi response to the genocide in Gaza and all you can do is supply your reckons.

          The Houthi stand in absolute solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. They have a long history for this support. They have made many statements about the reasons and conditions of their blockade of Israeli ports. They have also stated the conditions by which safe passage can be assured. Your desire to move Israeli genocide in Gaza from the spotlight can not in fact change the fundamental reasons for this blockade.

          • joe90 4.2.1.1.1
            25 December 2023 at 7:36 am

            Sorry to dissapoint you but it is a blockade on shipping to and from Israel.

            Nah, provocation by an Iranian proxy.

            New Delhi: The Iran-backed Houthi drone attack on Mangalore bound MV Chem Pluto took place 210 nautical miles off Dwarka with the Iranian coast 500 nautical miles to the north-west and the Yemen coast 860 nautical miles off the incident site on December 23.

            https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-iranian-attack-on-mv-chem-pluto-is-a-threat-to-global-maritime-security-101703392183177.html

          • SPC 4.2.1.1.2
            25 December 2023 at 11:27 am

            Yet it is not.

            Given the Red Sea location of the attacks on shipping, it is not a blockade on shipping to and from Israel. Nor is it one confined to shipping of Israel affiliated shipping (as per ownership).

            The Iranians, the ones supplying the weapons to the "Houthi", state it would force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza.

            Not one word about Israel. And Russian and Chinese ships can still use the Red Sea.

            And note the use of the word Houthi, not Yemen. As per Shia militias in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran acts through the groups it arms – this is how they become affiliates of its own military.

            https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67811929

            Shipping companies, not Russian and Chinese, are sending their ships around Africa, that is not something that would happen if it was a mere blockade on shipping to and from Israel.

            The Iranian statement indicates it is a blockade on shipping between Europe and Asia.

      • SPC 4.2.2
        24 December 2023 at 9:58 pm

        Later, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander warned it would force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza.

        Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Naqdi said these could include the Mediterranean Sea and Strait of Gibraltar – but offered no details of how this would happen.

        https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67811929

        • Subliminal 4.2.2.1
          25 December 2023 at 7:07 am

          You have just supplied a quote that proves my point!!. "…if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza" !!!

          The inference is stop comitting crimes in Gaza and there will be no blockade.

          And your attack reported in the Indian Ocean is yet to be independently verified says bbc.

          Well this has escalated fast. Around 30 surface vessels in the area from a large number of nations. No one standing back to take a breather. What could possibly go wrong!!

          • SPC 4.2.2.1.1
            25 December 2023 at 10:43 am

            Your pretence that the closure of waterways to shipping is a just a blockade on Israel is matched by the Iranian making a statement on the matter stating it was an action against America and its allies – which explains the negotiations with a Chinese shipping company.

            • Subliminal 4.2.2.1.1.1
              26 December 2023 at 9:59 am

              Hmm… I wonder why it's America and its allies?? Perhaps you could enlighten us to who else supports and supplies the essential weapons and bombs, shells and missiles that it would be impossible for Israel to continue their genocide without?? Who is the lone voice that saves Israel from any censure from the UN??

              None other than your shining beacon of the West!

              • SPC …
                26 December 2023 at 10:34 am

                Weapons to Israel would come from the USA via the Med and not via the Red Sea. There is no blockade on the Mediterranean Sea ports of Israel.

                Given the Houthi, are not the government of Yemen their sanctions blockade, is what it is.

                • Subliminal …
                  26 December 2023 at 11:06 am

                  You're kidding. But no, given your previous support of Israeli action I guess not. You're really only concerned about how the weapons are shipped? No problems with their end use then?

  5. SPC 5
    23 December 2023 at 3:36 pm

    The West is beginning discussions about what to with $300B of frozen Russian assets.

    The Ukrainian government had previously called on its supporters in the west to seize Russian assets to create a reconstruction fund for Ukraine, but the Biden administration has demurred, with Yellen saying in 2022 that the seizure was “not something that is legally permissible in the United States” without an act of Congress.

    It’s necessary to work on concrete mechanisms for using frozen Russian assets to compensate for the damage caused by Russia,” said the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, during a gathering of global finance leaders in Washington in April. “It will be a peacemaking act on a global scale. Potential aggressors must see this and remember that the world can be strong.”

    Putin signed a decree in April authorising the state to take temporary control over foreign companies’ assets in Russia in an apparent retaliation to the freezing of Russian assets abroad.

    Putin this week ordered stakes held by Germany’s Wintershall Dea and Austria’s OMV in gas- and condensate-producing ventures in Siberia to be given to Russian companies.

    Biden on Friday also signed an executive decision that would blacklist banks and other financial institutions that support Russian arms-making industries, in an effort to starve the Russian war machine of key components like semiconductors and machine tools.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/22/russia-europe-us-ukraine-seized-assets

  6. Thinker 6
    23 December 2023 at 5:31 pm

    How do we know the photo is Luxon calling Zelensky?

    It could be the "Mirror" app.

  7. UncookedSelachimorpha 7
    24 December 2023 at 12:20 am

    Mike Smith uncritically absorbs russian propaganda and regurgitates it here. Not worth addressing all his disinformation, but a couple of points anyway. Here Mike repeats russia's lies that Zelensky is deferring elections to try to usurp power:

    But Zelensky has deferred the 2024 Ukraine Presidential election, as he is losing support, and banned opposition political parties.

    Zelensky would quite likely win an election called now and if holding power was his priority, pressing ahead would likely be in his interest. But under martial law (which is normal if your country is being invaded) the Ukrainian constitution specifically forbids elections being held. Further, all political parties sitting in the Ukrainian parliament (including Zelensky's opponents) have agreed elections should be postponed until after martial law. Of course, Britian similarly agreed to suspend elections during WWII. And they didn't have the additional problem of how do you hold elections when many of your citizens are in occupied territory, subject to torture, censorship and propaganda by russia?

    Ukraine has a vibrant media and opposition, and Zelensky is widely criticised and challenged in Ukrainian society. Political parties with direct ties to russia have been quite rightly banned – can you imagine Britain tolerating parties with direct ties to the German government during WWII?

    You could compare russia – where there is no political opposition, no criticism of the ruler, no free media and one tyrant sits in power election after election. Ukraine in the meantime, has changed president after every election except one, since 1991.

  8. UncookedSelachimorpha 8
    24 December 2023 at 1:05 am

    …and the 'Cheap Shot' biography book photo. Widespread on russian disinfo accounts on twitter. Can find no info anywhere supporting its authenticity (e.g. where, when). Does Mike have any idea of its actual origin, or just 'putting it out there'?

    I had a quick look using Error Level Analysis – seems the 4.99 bit has been added with photoshop or similar.

    Mike's intended message is that a Polish biography (in Polish, with only middling reviews) on Zelensky being discounted…means something????