Posted on 03/27/2025 5:06:41 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated on March 26 that the possibility of allowing Russian banks to rejoin the SWIFT international payment messaging system could be on the table, as negotiations continue regarding an end to the war in Ukraine. However, he emphasised that the White House would require backing from Europe to reintegrate Russia into the system.
“There would be a long discussion about many things in terms of the proper way to bring Russia back into the international system,” Bessent told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. “But I think this is premature to discuss the terms of a deal before we have a deal.”
-snip-
“I think everything is on the table,” Bessent remarked. “And as you mentioned, part of the national security effort that Treasury does is through the financial operations, is through our sanctions, is through sanctioning individuals, banks or countries.”
However, any decision to reinstate Russian banks would require approval from the European Union, which controls key institutions overseeing the SWIFT system. According to Anitta Hipper, a European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs, lifting sanctions or allowing Russian banks back into SWIFT would only be considered if Russia meets certain conditions.
“The end of the Russian unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine would be one of the main preconditions to amend or lift sanctions,” Hipper told POLITICO.
(Excerpt) Read more at caliber.az ...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
...too little, too late.
Trump's object is probably a reset with Russia which he might hope will lead to a detachment of Russia from China. So far, these might be's have cost us NATO, Canada, Denmark and the trust of Pacific rim nations.
The stakes are high, one can only hope that Trump can pull this off.
Marcus is becoming part of the Trump Resistance
Caliber.Az is an Azerbaijani news outlet that primarily covers regional and international politics, with a focus on Azerbaijan and its geopolitical interests. Based on available information and its reporting patterns, it tends to forward political positions that align closely with the official stance of the Azerbaijani government. Here’s an overview of the political positions it appears to promote:
Pro-Azerbaijan Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: Caliber.Az consistently emphasizes Azerbaijan’s perspective on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, portraying Armenia as an aggressor and supporting Azerbaijan’s military actions to reclaim disputed territories. It frames these efforts as a defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Anti-Western Criticism: The outlet often highlights perceived hypocrisy or bias from Western institutions, such as the European Union or the United States, especially when they criticize Azerbaijan’s policies or human rights record. For instance, posts on X and articles on its site have accused the EU of making baseless accusations against Baku without evidence, reflecting a defensive stance against Western influence.
Support for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy: Caliber.Az promotes Azerbaijan’s strategic partnerships, particularly with Turkey and Russia, while often casting a skeptical eye on Western involvement in the South Caucasus. It tends to frame Azerbaijan as a pragmatic player balancing relations with global powers to protect national interests.
Nationalist Undertones: The outlet’s coverage frequently carries a nationalist tone, celebrating Azerbaijan’s military successes, cultural heritage, and regional influence. It portrays the country as a rising power unjustly targeted by external critics.
Criticism of Armenia and Its Allies: A recurring theme is the vilification of Armenia and its supporters, including diaspora groups or nations seen as sympathetic to Yerevan. This aligns with Azerbaijan’s broader narrative of countering Armenian influence both militarily and diplomatically. While Caliber.Az operates in Russian, English, and Azerbaijani, its editorial line appears to serve as a mouthpiece for Azerbaijan’s state interests rather than an independent or neutral source. It doesn’t seem to advocate for a specific ideological spectrum (e.g., liberalism or socialism) but rather focuses on advancing a state-centric, pro-government agenda. Its coverage of international events is often filtered through the lens of how they impact Azerbaijan’s position on the global stage.
For a deeper analysis, I could search its recent articles or X posts for specific examples, but this summary reflects the general thrust of its content based on what’s observable. Would you like me to dig further into its output?
Fortunately, the Euros won’t let this happen except under the right — complete Russia withdrawal — conditions.
Well, since POTUS is the one holding ALL of the cards, it stands to reason that among all of the negotiations Rubio is tasked with a security guarantee - a 2-WAY STREET, btw - for Europe which would torpedo the hawks there and temper the tensions which they are now fanning.
I am not an insider, but my read of the media is nothing more than hysterical reactions, not an international crisis spawned by DJT actions.
President Trump always consults with the Europeans before making any key decisions.
Lol.
From GROK:
Why didn’t Putin conquer Kyiv in 3 days?
Putin didn’t conquer Kyiv in three days because Russia’s initial invasion plan in February 2022 underestimated Ukraine’s resistance and overestimated Russia’s own military capabilities. The Kremlin assumed a quick, decapitating strike—targeting Kyiv with airborne troops and a rapid armored push—would topple the Ukrainian government before a cohesive defense could form. They expected minimal opposition, banking on surprise, internal disarray, and a population ambivalent about fighting back.
Reality hit hard. Ukraine’s military, bolstered by years of training with Western forces and experience from the Donbas conflict, put up a fierce fight. The VDV (Russian airborne forces) dropped into Hostomel airport near Kyiv expecting to secure it easily, but Ukrainian units, including special forces and national guard, countered swiftly, turning it into a meat grinder. The 40-mile Russian armored column from Belarus stalled due to logistical failures—fuel shortages, breakdowns, and poor coordination—while Ukrainian artillery, drones, and Javelin missiles chewed it apart. Civilians didn’t just roll over either; they mobilized, making Molotov cocktails and feeding intel to the military.
Russia’s intelligence was also a mess. They misjudged Zelensky’s resolve—he didn’t flee—and overestimated pro-Russian sentiment in Ukraine. Three days in, instead of a victory parade, Russia faced a bogged-down offensive, heavy casualties (thousands dead or wounded), and a unified Ukrainian front backed by rapid Western arms shipments. Putin’s blitzkrieg turned into a slog because war isn’t a video game—assumptions don’t survive contact with reality.
Newsflash: Ukraine has been an obstacle for at least two decades.
Investment bankers want “Russia business” back on the menu.
It won’t happen overnight but it’ll happen.
You do understand that the U.S. neither owns nor controls SWIFT, that its headquarters is in Belgium, and that two of the three critical data centers are in Europe. Right?
No, of course you don't understand that.
"LoL"
The Euros are little puppy dogs and will do as they are told.
They bark loudly but have zero bite.
Trump told them all to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP, and they ignored him. So it is pretty clear that they don't just "do as they are told" by Trump.
He also told them not to open up the pipeline with Russia in the first place, and they did it anyway. So once again, they did not "do as they are told".
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