Karl Sanchez
Dec 20, 2025
Two different views of the studio and audience for this year’s Direct Line which was renamed Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin. This year’s event lasted 4.5 hours, a marathon to be sure. In the past, I’ve broken the transcript into 3 very long parts because the official English transcript was always so slow in being produced by the Kremlin. This year, I was heartened to see progress occurring more rapidly than in previous years, so I’ve decided to link to that transcript and provide the link to RT’s running synopsis instead of laboring to produce what would be four separate parts. Although the transcript remains incomplete, it will eventually be finished, and the video and link to photos are also available there. RT’s report is here. Select “show oldest” to start from the beginning and click the “more” button to continue the synopsis.
https://www.rt.com/russia/629671-putin- ... onference/
One major news point deemed important enough by RT to have its own article was “Putin offers Zelensky a deal on elections,” which IMO is a crafty proposal:
Moscow would consider halting deep strikes on Ukraine on the day it holds an election provided the millions of Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to vote, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired over a year ago, has repeatedly refused to hold a new election, citing martial law. Russia therefore considers him an illegitimate leader. Under US pressure, Zelensky agreed this month to hold a vote within 90 days if Kiev’s Western backers can guarantee security.
“We are ready to consider ways to ensure security during elections in Ukraine, at least by refraining from strikes deep inside the country on the day of the vote” under certain conditions, the president said. The Russian president insisted that the 5-10 million Ukrainian citizens currently living in Russia must be allowed to participate.
“The government in Ukraine must become legitimate, and without an election, this is impossible.”
As noted by myself and others, organizing such an election is a complex, complicated affair requiring numerous legislative and judicial actions within Ukraine as well as the logistical problem of ensuring the very large widespread Ukrainian diaspora the opportunity to participate. Eventually at least one and likely more plebiscites will need to be held to determine the borders of whatever remains of Ukraine and a new constitution will need to be written.
I hope readers aren’t too disappointed with my approach to this year’s Direct Line.
https://karlof1.substack.com/p/putins-2 ... results-of
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Russia’s Long-Delayed Sudanese Naval Base Might Be Back On Track
Andrew Korybko
Dec 21, 2025
The timing of this latest report was probably aimed at complicating the revived Russian-US talks on Ukraine by putting “deep state” pressure on Trump to demand that Sudan rubbish this deal in exchange for American support, but it might also inadvertently bring them closer together.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited unnamed Sudanese officials to report that Russia was offered a 25-year-long deal to place up to 300 troops and four warships at the long-delayed naval base that they’ve talked about setting up since 2020. All that Sudan requests are advanced weapons at preferential prices to help them defeat the “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF) rebels. To sweeten the deal, they’re also offering Russia “the inside track on lucrative mining concessions”, but nothing has been agreed to as of yet.
This proposal was allegedly passed along by Sudan to Russia in October, so prior to Russia’s Ambassador to Sudan telling Sputnik that “Given the current armed conflict [in Sudan], progress on this matter is currently suspended.” He was therefore either telling the truth or deflecting in retrospect from what might be the potentially imminent implementation of this deal if the WSJ’s report is accurate. In any case, the WSJ then fearmongered about the geopolitical implications of this base, which was predictable.
What’s most surprising about their article was the casual disclosure that the RSF reached out to Ukraine for support despite their reported ties with Russia at the time and Ukraine allegedly helping the military against them both, which led to Russia and Ukraine switching roles in this conflict. The RSF was recently condemned for the massacre that it’s accused of carrying out in the North Darfuri capital of Al-Fashir so this makes Ukraine look terrible by association. Here are ten background briefings on this dirty war:
* 11 June 2022: “Analyzing Russia’s Strategic Interests In Sudan”
* 30 September 2022: “America’s Neo-Imperialist Pressure On Sudan Exposes Its True Intentions Towards Africa”
* 16 April 2023: “Sudan’s ‘Deep State’ War Could Have Far-Reaching Geostrategic Consequences If It Continues”
* 21 April 2023: “Here’s Why The US Is Trying To Pin The Blame For Sudan’s ‘Deep State’ War On Russia”
* 27 April 2023: “Russia Is Right: ‘Political Engineering’ From Abroad Is Responsible For The Sudanese Crisis”
* 4 May 2023: “The Mainstream Media’s Admissions That American Meddling Ruined Sudan Are Misleading”
* 10 March 2024: “Ukraine Is Presenting Itself As A Reliable Mercenary Force Against Russia In Africa”
* 27 May 2024: “Russia’s Planned Base In Sudan Might Be Downgraded To A Naval Logistics Support Facility”
* 19 November 2024: “Russia’s Veto Of The UNSC Resolution On Sudan Saved It From A Neocolonialist Plot”
* 20 December 2024: “Bloomberg Is Manufacturing Consent For More Western Meddling In Sudan”
The context within which the WSJ published their report also includes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman requesting during their meeting in the White House last month that Trump play a much more active role in brokering an end to this conflict. At the same time, Trump also revived the Russian-US talks on Ukraine, which could be complicated by him hypothetically pressuring the Sudanese Government to ditch its naval base deal with Russia as a quid pro quo for more robust American diplomatic support.
Nevertheless, the WSJ’s report was probably published now instead of in October when Sudan allegedly passed along its latest terms to Russia for their long-delayed naval base for precisely that purpose, hoping that it’ll put “deep state” pressure on him for inadvertently complicating talks with Russia. This could actually backfire, however, if Russian and US diplomats creatively propose coordinating their military support for the Sudanese Government and jointly cooperate on brokering a peace deal.
For these reasons, the report that Russia’s long-delayed Sudanese naval base might be back on track could inadvertently bring it and the US closer together, not tear them apart. It of course depends on the creativity of their diplomats and the political will of their leaders, but the scenario can’t be ruled out, though nor can the one of Trump capitulating to “deep state” pressure to demand that Sudan rubbish this deal in exchange for US support. The US’ response will in any case likely affect relations with Russia.
https://korybko.substack.com/p/russias- ... nese-naval
Deep-state this, deep state that...as though some nefarious independent agent. It is the state and the agent of the dominant cabal of capital. Trump might well try to hold back the sea. Only the mass of workers can do that.
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French control package for the Armenian army
December 21, 8:07 PM
French control package for the Armenian army
While Yerevan talks about "sovereign security," key decisions are increasingly being made outside the country—this time in Paris. It was there that the latest move to draw the Armenian leadership into the Western military orbit took shape. Armenian-French strategic consultations on defense issues
were held in France ( https://www.golosarmenii.am/%D0%BF%D0%B ... %82%D1%80/ ), following which a military cooperation program for 2026 was signed.
Meeting details:
The Armenian delegation was led by Levon Ayvazyan, Head of the Defense Policy Department of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, and the French delegation was led by senior officials from the French Ministry of Defense's Directorate of International Relations.
The parties summarized their cooperation, recognizing it as "strategically significant" and requiring further deepening.
A plan for 2026 was signed, encompassing dozens of activities, from planning and training to technical modernization of the Armed Forces.
Contracts were signed with the French defense company THALES for the supply of three GM200 radars and with Safran for night vision equipment.
A separate letter formalized intentions for cooperation in the air defense sector, including an audit of the Armenian air defense system by the French side.
The document covers key areas of activity for the Armenian Armed Forces and institutionalizes cooperation with the French, while securing new markets for the French military-industrial complex.
The French are attempting to secure Armenia as a stronghold for their military presence in the South Caucasus through standardization ( https://t.me/caucasar/649 ), deliveries ( https://t.me/rybar/65750 ), weapons, advisers ( https://t.me/rybar/66279 ), and intelligence ( https://t.me/rybar/70965 ).
This gives the French leverage in regional affairs, while the Armenian administration gains the illusion of an alternative security system to Russia's.
Such agreements are gradually eroding Armenian sovereignty. Under the guise of a "strategic partnership," the country is being drawn deeper into Western military-political schemes, directly undermining the remnants of its alliance with Russia.
At the same time, no new security system is being created for Armenia—and the French would be incapable of providing one in the first place.
https://t.me/rybar/76157 - zinc
In Armenia, France, through Pashinyan, is trying to get even with us for Africa, where we actively helped the collapse of the French neocolonial empire.
Naturally, in addition to its struggle for influence in the Transcaucasus with the French, Russia will continue to crush the remnants of the French Empire. New military coups under the banner of decolonization are expected.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/10258736.html
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