And another demonstration of Vladimir Putin’s true intentions, i.e., to take control of as much Ukrainian territory as possible while trying to convince the world that all he really wants is peace, love and harmony, and that this whole “special military operation” is really Volodymyr Zelensky’s fault.

Only today, he may have screwed up.

Because in launching more attacks on multiple regions — the largest of this month so far — he hit U.S.-owned, non-military infrastructure.

The facility is a manufacturing plant that has no military application whatsoever. It is located in Mukachevo, in the Carpathian Mountains region of far western Ukraine, abutting the borders of NATO/EU member countries Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania. It is owned by Flex Ltd., whose public relations director, Conor Phillips, described it as “strictly focused on civilian consumer manufacturing,” producing household goods such as coffee machines. [RFE/RL, August 21, 2025.]

The plant was hit by two Kalibr missiles; the resulting fire spread over an area of 7,000 square meters. Phillips said that “A few employees and contractors were injured, and six individuals remain in hospital and are receiving medical care.” [Id.]

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the Mukachevo attack had caused serious damage and casualties, and — in a masterpiece of understatement — that the strikes were “contrary to all efforts to end the war.” [Id.]

As of this writing, I have not seen a reaction from the White House to this attack on U.S. property. There should be, at the very least, an expression of outrage and a demand for some form of restitution. But we’ll see what Washington’s response is.

In the meantime, while Zelensky pleads for a ceasefire and a U.S.-European agreement on post-war security guarantees; and Donald Trump says we’ll see what Putin comes up with in the next couple of weeks; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today that any presence of European troops in Ukraine would be “absolutely unacceptable” and would be considered a “foreign intervention in some part of Ukrainian territory.” [Id.]

Lavrov also said yesterday that the issue of security — which was the principal subject of the multinational meeting at the White House on Monday — cannot be discussed without Russia.

That meeting included a 40-minute phone call between Trump and Putin, in which Trump pushed for direct meetings between Putin and Zelensky. But the Kremlin continues to insist that such a meeting cannot be held until certain issues are first resolved. And one of those issues — which has served as a major delaying tactic by Putin — is his specious assertion that Zelensky has not been the legitimate president of Ukraine since 2024, when the regularly scheduled elections were postponed due to a constitutional provision that freezes elections during times of war.

In today’s statement, Lavrov had this to say on the subject:

“Of course, I hope when and if it comes to signing future agreements, the issue of the legitimacy of the person signing these agreements on the Ukrainian side will be resolved.” [Id.]

“ . . . when and if . . .”

So . . . Russia will not negotiate an end to the war as long as Zelensky remains in office; but Ukraine cannot legally hold a new election until the war is over.

Stalemate.

Yet Donald Trump has previously said that Zelensky could end the war now if he wanted to. Which makes me wonder in what parallel universe the delusional occupant of the White House really lives.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/21/25