At a time when the United States, the EU, and aligned NATO countries are attempting to eradicate Russia, something extraordinary is happening. Several amazing things are taking place. One, a program for citizens of the U.S. to study at every level at Russian universities, is particularly ironic.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently addressed the western world elites at Davos, Switzerland, about the “threat” Russia represents to the world. At the same meetup of the crazy capitalistic cabal, EU President Ursula von der Leyen begged private financiers to fund Ukraine’s Zelensky to defeat Russia, once and for all. Meanwhile, in Moscow, the Russian government is advertising to fill the 2023-2024 academic year quota for a free education process for some foreigners.
According to the announcement, which Americans can only find on Telegram or other back channels, acceptance for applications for free education in Russia is now open. The statement says US Citizens, stateless persons, and Russian compatriots not registered in the territory of the Russian Federation can register. (test website) The scholarship program allows candidates to study in Russia for free at the undergraduate level, postgraduate level, residency, specialty areas, and other categories of study. Free college at some of the world’s top colleges and universities. The New York Times will say, “Putin is weaponizing learning and careers.”
Then the news that Russia took over the chairmanship of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, and the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission on January 1st demands mentioning. At a meeting of the heads of the union on January 23rd, President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke about the union gaining self-sufficiency and building mutually beneficial and equal cooperation between the union and external partners and international associations. He went on to suggest:
“Expanding the geography of the EAEU’s international links and contacts with countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America would help boost exports of the union’s products and build new logistics chains.”
The speech went on to address matters of union security. One section of great interest was the Russian president’s comments on the robust agro-industrial base, which guarantees self-sufficiency for the bloc, as well as export possibilities. Putin stressed that Russia would be drafting a wide range of measures to develop the agricultural sector further. I suspect someone at the US State Department is already preparing a memo to be leaked to the mainstream press that the Russians are broadening their weaponization of food.
Finally, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stepped off the plane in Pretoria, South Africa, the other day to begin a broader tour of the BRICS partner nation. Lavrov and his counterpart Naledi Pandor have so far discussed various issues. An upcoming Russia, China, and South African military exercises scheduled to be held in SA in February are foremost on the minds in Washington, London, and Brussels. However, the more positive and saner world is focused on the things like the fifteen African nations currently involved in Russian-financed nuclear power deals, not to mention business and security contracts. I’ve no doubt the Washington Post or some other American media news tabloid will tell the American public Putin needs South Africa’s navy to invade the United States.
The point here is Russia is carrying on as the world turns and not pouring trillions into arming the Taliban, and desperate Yemenis, sending Syria more tanks to attack Israel or Turkey, and certainly not asking Russians to pay for wars in countries no Russian can pinpoint on a map. On the other side of current west-east affairs, citizens in western countries hear nothing but China getting too big and Russia’s unquenchable thirst for conquest. There is another side. I just think more people should know.
Phil Butler, is a policy investigator and analyst, a political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe, he’s an author of the recent bestseller “Putin’s Praetorians” and other books. He writes exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.