A little music, Maestro, if you please:

“Seems like old times . . .”

*. *. *

At least, that was how this post was intended to begin. Until I read this morning’s news, that is. But let’s begin at the beginning.

Yesterday, November 10th, it was reported by more than one leading news source that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had, on November 7th — just one day after speaking with Ukrainian President Zelensky — had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Citing a Washington Post report, the talk with Putin was said to have included a caution by Trump “not to escalate the war in Ukraine.” [RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, November 10, 2024.]

The Post also referred to “unnamed sources,” who said that Trump had supposedly told Putin during that call that they should have further talks on “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon.” [Id.]

Allegedly, “people familiar with the call” had also told the Washington Post that “Kyiv had been informed of the Putin call and did not object.” [Id.]

And based on those reports, I was preparing a few comments of my own (as usual). Until . . .

*. *. *

I never cease to be amazed at what a difference a day can make, not just in a single individual’s life, but in the entire world population’s state of mind. And today turns out to be one of those “but that’s not what they said yesterday” days.

And we’d better get ready to live through a lot of them, because we’re talking about Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin here: two of the . . . how to put this as diplomatically as possible? . . . least predictable people ever to hold the highest office of any country.

And two who enjoy only a passing acquaintance with the truth.

So, about today’s news: It’s a complete backtrack on yesterday’s report. Because the always dependable, allegedly unimpeachable (really?), and undeniably irrepressible Kremlin spokesman — my old standby, Dmitry Peskov — says: It never happened!

I beg your pardon??!!!

I read it again, and that is indeed what he said. In fact, he appears to have been totally gobsmacked by the whole idea.

His exact words were: “This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction, it’s just false information. There was no conversation.” [RFE/RL, November 11, 2024.]

Holy crap, Dmitry! But that wasn’t all. Apparently blaming the media for the purported bit of misinformation, he went on to say:

“This is the clearest example of the quality of the information that is being published nowadays, sometimes even by quite reputable outlets.” [Id.]

He also commented that there were “no concrete plans yet” for any such call. And then he gratuitously added that the Kremlin had observed “a certain nervousness” in Europe since Trump’s reelection [id.] . . . thereby also attempting to plant early seeds of discord between the U.S. and our European allies (not that he was necessarily mistaken).

Well, thanks a lot, Dima. You’ve certainly made everyone’s Monday more interesting.

Now, would someone please hand me a coin I can toss, so I’ll know whom to believe.

Actually, I’ve already decided . . . but I’ll keep it to myself for now, in case I’m wrong.

And as a loyal American, I can’t tell you how painful it is to have to admit that that possibility even exists.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/11/24