I know, I know . . . I’m supposed to be taking a break from the news while I pack for my move. But when my favorite Kremlin spokesman speaks, I find it hard to turn a deaf ear — even when he’s not saying anything we haven’t heard a thousand times before.

The only difference is that this time he was addressing the leaders of Europe instead of Donald Trump, most likely because he and his boss have come to the realization that a united Europe is indeed a force to be reckoned with, whereas Trump is . . . well, most likely . . .

Recently — with Trump focused (when he is able to focus) on ending or not ending his war with Iran, invading or not invading Cuba, finding someone to blame for the Reflecting Pool fiasco, and insulting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — the members of the EU have begun considering how best to deal directly with Vladimir Putin. The office of European Council President Antonio Costa said they have made “brief contacts at diplomatic level to open communication channels” with the Kremlin; and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has suggested that the EU should push ahead with efforts to reopen negotiations with Putin. [Dmitry Antonov, Reuters, June 19, 2026.]

The response from the Kremlin was predictably cool. While acknowledging that common sense would dictate the need for such discussions, Dmitry Peskov offered this caveat when speaking with reporters on Friday:

“The Europeans have a very serious misconception: They assume that negotiations with Russia must be conducted from a position of strength and based on Russia’s weakness. This is the biggest mistake . . . Such talk will lead nowhere. Does this stem from European incompetence, misinformation, or stupidity? We don’t know for sure, but it’s a fact.” [Id.]

He added that Russia would be willing to talk if there was openness on Europe’s part to engage in real dialogue, “not to engage in moralising or, especially, to issue ultimatums.” [Id.]

That’s tough talk from a country that has lost over a million troops, gained no ground in its push through Ukraine for months, and now sees its main source of funding for the war — its oil industry — being decimated by Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries, some just a few miles from the Kremlin itself.

But Vladimir Putin is not one to surrender willingly; and in his mind, compromise is the same as capitulation. So he continues to spew his particular brand of braggadocio, hint at the nuclear option, maintain his ludicrous demands for one-sided concessions from Ukraine, and . . . what then? Hope that his bluffs will work?

Meanwhile, the whole of Europe has been strengthening its military defenses as well as its offensive capabilities, and stands united under NATO’s Article 5 guaranteeing collective defense.

Methinks it’s time for the Kremlin’s spokesman to work on a new script, because the old one isn’t really cutting it any longer.

Maybe this guy could help:

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/20/26