Volodymyr Zelensky says he will be in Istanbul tomorrow, May 15th, waiting for the face-to-face meeting that Vladimir Putin said he would attend . . . and may have backed away from, yet again.
Over the past weekend, Putin himself — finally agreeing to direct talks with Ukraine’s president — suggested Istanbul as the site and May 15th as the date. Zelensky immediately agreed, and has said that he will definitely be there. But, he cautioned, he expects to meet with his counterpart Putin, and not with lower-ranking officials:
“It is with [Putin] that I must negotiate a cease-fire, as only he can decide on it. If he takes the step to say he is ready for a cease-fire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war.” [RFE/RL, May 13, 2025.]
But there has been no confirmation as yet from the Kremlin . . . only this from spokesman Dmitry Peskov:
“As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement” . . . adding that Russia continues to “move forward with preparations for the talks.” [Id.]
I believe that’s what is known as speaking without saying anything.
Kremlin Speak
Zelensky said that he has invited Donald Trump, who is currently in the Middle East, to join in the talks. But it is not yet certain what Trump’s schedule will permit, though he did indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be among the top U.S. officials traveling to Turkey for the meeting; and there is indication that the U.S. delegation will include Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg as well. [Id.]
But whether the trip proves to be fruitful, or becomes yet another waste of time, remains to be seen . . . and depends entirely upon Putin’s game plan. Top diplomat Kaja Kallas of the EU has said that Putin wouldn’t “dare” to show up, as “Russia is clearly playing games, trying to buy time. I don’t think they are interested in peace. They are still bombing Ukraine. If they were interested in peace, they could stop right now.” [Id.]
In light of Putin’s continued attacks on Ukraine, and his refusal to discuss a meaningful ceasefire, that sounds more than likely. But we’ll just have to wait and see who shows up tomorrow.
As I was following detailed reports of a meeting of European leaders in Ukraine last week, the name of one of the participants — Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz — seemed to strike a familiar note, though I didn’t recognize his face from the news photos.
I kept staring at this distinguished-looking gentleman, but . . . nothing registered.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz
And then it hit me. The person whose name I was recalling was the original “Fred Mertz” — a fictitious character of somewhat less distinction from the smash hit comedy series of the 1950s: “I Love Lucy.”
William Frawley as “Fred Mertz”
He played the part of Lucy and Desi Ricardo’s landlord, neighbor and good friend . . . an amiable, if sometimes slightly grumpy, guy who was a whiz at repairing the plumbing, but had no political acumen whatsoever. Certainly no one who would ever be mistaken for the head of any government.
Frankly, I never cared for the show . . . even in those more innocent days of the ‘50s, I found it silly and a little too slapstick. But for some inexplicable reason — though I’m unlikely to remember the name of someone I just met, or what I had for breakfast a couple of hours ago — the names of the characters have stuck in my mind. That seems to be just one of the many idiosyncrasies we develop and learn to live with as we grow older.
The Ricardos and Mertzes on a Road Trip
Anyway, as Shakespeare famously asked, “What’s in a name?” Apparently, the answer is: “Not much.” Any similarity between Friedrich Merz and “Fred Mertz” is, of course, purely imaginary.
And I’ll bet I’m the only person who would even think to connect the two. Which does say something about the circuitous workings of my mind.
I’m just not sure what . . . nor do I really want to know.
Saturday, May 9th, marked the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory over fascism, thus bringing World War II to an end. Or so it is celebrated in Russia.
While no honest student of history would ever deny Russia’s immense sacrifices and their enormous contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, they really didn’t do it alone. Still, their pride is well deserved, and they have every right to celebrate . . . and celebrate, they did.
But the massive parade in Moscow’s Red Square was not the only party held in Russia that day. Cities and towns across the country held their own commemorations — including Nizhny Novgorod, where the Feenstra family from Canada were able to celebrate alongside their adopted countrymen.
As always, they documented the occasion with some excellent video coverage. But for this special event, dad Arend refrained from his usual running commentary, letting the proceedings speak for themselves. Thus, my notes are from my own observations.
Arend did say that they were privileged to have received tickets for the entire family to stand in a choice spot, on the side nearest the Kremlin, and to attend the concert following the parade.
Now, for those not familiar with the Russian language — which would be the vast majority of people outside of Russia — the word kremlin means citadel, or fortress. And the Moscow Kremlin, while the largest and most well-known, is far from the only one in Russia. There are about a dozen in all, including this hilltop beauty in Nizhny Novgorod:
The display here was, of course, on a much smaller scale than the one in Moscow. There were just a few tanks and trucks, no heavy armaments, no drones. But there were parades of perfectly-synchronized marching military units, and a review of the various branches of the military by local officials, one of whom was addressed as “Tovarishch Polkovnik” . . . “Comrade Colonel,” to us English speakers. I found this rather jarring, as I had thought the term “Comrade” dropped out of use with the supposed fall of Communism; but perhaps there are still exceptions.
Along the parade route, there were several Jumbotrons placed at intervals for the viewing pleasure of the crowds, which showed not only the local event, but the extravaganza taking place in Moscow as well . . . including Putin’s 10-minute speech.
Most interestingly in Moscow, as Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov rode along Red Square in an open convertible, he too addressed the assembled troops as “Comrades.” Leaving the car, he then walked to the reviewing stand to present himself to Vladimir Putin, also referring to himself as “Comrade.”
“Greetings, Comrades.”Belousov (standing, left, in profile), Presenting Himself to Putin
*. *. *
Back in Nizhny Novgorod, when the parade ended, the crowd walked to a war memorial, where local officials placed flowers and offered a couple of brief speeches . . . accompanied by a military band playing the Russian National Anthem, and followed by a hymn from a church choir.
Church Choir
And I must confess, I choked up a bit at that moment. The martial strains of that anthem are intended to invoke patriotic fervor, and the familiar music drew me back more than 30 years to my time in Moscow. I could easily understand then, as now, how the mixture of a continuous appeal to patriotism and blatant propaganda could imbue an intense nationalistic fervor in a people who have never known anything different.
It is, in truth, a very powerful and dangerous combination. Lenin knew it; Stalin knew it; and Vladimir Putin knows it all too well.
*. *. *
And then the big day was over, and there was just time for a brief sit-down and a family photo op before heading back to the farm . . .
The Eight Little Feenstras
. . . including, somewhere along the way, an interview with eldest daughter Cora . . . who was able to show off her newly-acquired Russian language skills.
Speaking about what “men and women did many years ago.”
*. *. *
It becomes more and more obvious, as I follow this family on their journey through life in Russia, that the Feenstras are a multi-talented group. What the future holds for them, no one can know. But whatever opportunities come their way, I’m sure they’ll make the most of them.
Well, Donald Trump is off this week on his first state visit of this term. He won’t be dropping in on any of our European friends, or the good people of Japan, or any of our other traditional allies. Instead, he’ll be feted by the leaders of the three countries most compatible with his preferred opulent, gold-and-jewel-encrusted lifestyle: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Sort of like being at home at Mar-a-Lago, but without cocktails.
Mar-a-Lago
Granted, there are legitimate political reasons for the visits with the heads of three oil-rich nations that have already pledged trillions of dollars in U.S. investments, and who could prove to be helpful in mediating conflicts in such places as Iran and Gaza.
Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at Bahrain’s International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN:
“In Trump’s book, the Gulf states tick all the right boxes. [They] pledge to invest trillions in the US economy and spend colossal amounts on US weapons systems.” [Nadeen Ebrahim and Abbas Al Lawati, CNN, May 11, 2025.]
But no one gives away that kind of money without expecting something in return, and the three Gulf states have made no secret of their desire to strengthen their security and economic relationships with the United States. According to Ebtesam Al Ketbi, founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center in Abu Dhabi, each of the countries has its own priorities; and the return of Trump to the White House signals that this is the right time to “secure greater privileges in their relationship with the world’s most powerful nation.” [Id.]
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, During First Administration (NYTimes Photo)
While that all seems to be business as usual, there is news of a potentially troublesome issue in the form of a Boeing 747-8 jet that Qatar has offered to Trump . . . and that he proposes to accept. His plan is to have it retrofitted for use as Air Force One for the remainder of his term, “in a very public and transparent transaction” — and then to be donated to his presidential library, where it would be available for his continued personal use.
Both sides are coloring the gift as a government-to-government transaction, which Trump said on Sunday night would be accepted by the Defense Department as a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.” [Kaitlan Collins and Kit Maher, CNN, May 11, 2025.]
But, at risk of becoming repetitious, let me . . . well . . . repeat myself: “no one gives away that kind of money without expecting something in return.”
Which is precisely why the framers of the U.S. Constitution included a Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8), which specifically states:
“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
Needless to say, the partisan wrangling over legal definitions has already begun. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.-NY) put it succinctly:
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.” [Id.]
The New Air Force One Logo?
And although Trump dismissed criticism from Democrats, even one of his most hardcore supporters, Laura Loomer, said that accepting the plane would be a “stain” on the administration “if this is true.” [Id.]
Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, said that Trump’s administration is “structuring a transaction to try to avoid the obvious application of the law,” as Congress has not consented to the gift. She added: “It is ridiculous. It’s a gift to Trump. The federal government is a pass-through.” [Id.]
*. *. *
Furthermore, the U.S. Secret Service — more concerned with security than legal semantics — said the plane would present a “security nightmare”:
“The (US Air Force) would have to tear it apart looking for surveillance equipment and inspect the integrity of the plane.” [Id.]
It is estimated that retrofitting would take up to two years to complete, by which time Trump would be more than halfway through his term. The plane would then be used as Air Force One for less than another two years, after which it would move to his Presidential Library . . . where, as previously indicated, it would become his personal plaything.
*. *. *
There have, of course, been issues raised during past administrations concerning gifts offered by foreign governments. But Jordan Libowitz, a spokesperson for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that this one is in a category of its own:
“We’ve never seen something on the level of a $400 million plane. It is a scale well beyond anything we’ve ever seen before.” [Id.]
That certainly fits well into Donald Trump’s lifelong philosophy of “go big, or go home.”
And let us not forget his own words, delivered via X on February 15th of tis year:
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
Well, there you have it: The Gospel According to Trump. I wonder what Congress will think about that.
On April 27th, I wrote the following concerning Steve Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow two days earlier with Vladimir Putin, special adviser Yuri Ushakov, and special envoy Kirill Dmitriev . . . and only one interpreter — theirs:
“And speaking of that last Putin-Witkoff meeting in Moscow, how does the U.S. negotiator walk alone . . . by himself . . . unaccompanied . . . into a meeting with the Russian president and two of his top advisers — Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev — with only a Russian interpreter, and none from the U.S., present?”
[The following photos are screen shots from a CNN broadcast.]
Witkoff Entering AloneMeeting the Russian InterpreterThe Russian Side of the Table
“That’s three experienced, diabolically savvy politicians against one businessman with zero background in politics or diplomacy who, like his boss, takes whatever Putin tells him as gospel.
“Can you say ‘set-up’?”
*. *. *
And now it comes to light that that was not the only occasion on which Witkoff allowed himself to be trapped in meetings with no American interpreter, or even an aide with a command of the Russian language. A U.S. official and two other Western officials with knowledge of talks held between Witkoff and Putin on February 11th, March 13th and April 11th said that Witkoff had “ . . . used their translators. If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn’t know what they are saying.” [Keir Simmons, NBC News, May 10, 2025.]
Witkoff does not speak or understand Russian. He has no way of knowing what the Russian participants are saying to each other, or whether their interpreter is translating correctly.
*. *. *
Let me give you an example from my own experience. Many years ago — shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, when Russia was adjusting to Gorbachev’s programs of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), and the West was naively pouring money into new enterprises there — two attorneys asked me to arrange a meeting for them with the Russian Trade Representative in Washington, Robert Ruzanov, to discuss an opportunity for construction of housing for the military troops who would be returning from their Eastern European postings.
Although I had never met Ruzanov, I knew that he spoke English; yet throughout the meeting, he and his aide spoke only Russian, relying on their interpreter. I, in turn, spoke only English.
The talks were proceeding nicely, until one of my colleagues mentioned the sum of $8 billion, which the interpreter incorrectly (probably inadvertently) translated as $6 billion. Without hesitating, I jumped in and corrected her, saying, in Russian, “Vosem. Vosem milyardov.” Translation: “Eight. Eight billion.”
She was, of course, surprised . . . and more than a little embarrassed. I assured her — again in Russian — that it was not a problem, and explained to my colleagues what had happened, downplaying it as a simple mistake. And as I looked across the table at the Trade Representative, I saw a sly smile creep across his face as he caught my eye.
The person in the Russian Embassy who had helped me arrange the meeting had told me that Ruzanov spoke English, so quite naturally, I assumed he had also mentioned that I spoke a bit of Russian. It was simply how the game was played . . . and it still is. In diplomacy as in business, you take your advantages wherever you find them; and language differences can be a huge advantage — or disadvantage.
*. *. *
In Steve Witkoff’s case, taking those meetings without an interpreter of his own was an untenable decision on his part. According to Michael McFaul, a former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, relying on the Kremlin’s interpreter was “a very bad idea” that put Witkoff “at a real disadvantage.”
McFaul further said: “I speak Russian and have listened to Kremlin interpreters and U.S. interpreters at the same meeting, and the language is never the same. At the end of every meeting that I attended, I debriefed the interpreter to make sure we heard everything correctly, to get the ‘memcom’ [memorandum of conversation] exactly right. You can’t do that using a Russian official.” [Id.]
The memorandum of conversation, or “memcom,” is a written account of the meeting prepared for the rest of the government. Not having detailed notes of Witkoff’s meetings could create problems for other senior members of the administration, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, as they continue discussions with the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
“How does Kellogg know what Witkoff agreed to with Putin? He only knows it through a ‘memcom,’” McFaul added. [Id.]
“Oh-oh!”
*. *. *
Vladimir Putin surrounds himself with professionals . . . the best and the brightest in their fields. If they don’t deliver the goods, they’re fired, or transferred somewhere more suited to their experience and skills. That is the one thing Donald Trump should be learning from Putin . . . and the one he can’t seem to grasp. Experience and ability don’t count in Trump’s world. He demands and rewards just one thing: total, unquestioning allegiance to him. When he should be receiving valuable advice from his so-called advisers, what he actually wants is blind obeisance . . . and never to be told he is wrong.
Well, he’s getting what he demands from his cadre of friends. The tragedy is, it’s not what the country needs.
So, it turns out that no single individual — not even the almighty Donald Trump — was able to evoke a response from Vladimir Putin beyond a half-hearted offer of a three-day ceasefire that never actually happened. In the end, it took the combined resolve of 30 nations to make a meaningful dent in Putin’s armor.
And even that dent isn’t a guarantee of a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. But it’s a start.
It began as usual, though, with some well-scripted Kremlin-speak offered by Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen in Moscow. Following the May 10th meeting in Kyiv of the aptly-named “Coalition of the Willing” — led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk — the interview in Moscow went as follows (transcribed from CNN News video, May 10, 2025):
Pleitgen: “In Kyiv they said they are demanding a ceasefire. Do you feel Russia is being pushed into a corner?”
Peskov: “No, I don’t think so. Well, actually a couple of days ago Putin announced a ceasefire for three days. Have you heard any reaction from Kyiv? No. We haven’t heard it either. Have you heard any criticism of Kyiv for not being able to respond or not willing to respond? No. So if Kyiv is willing to have a ceasefire, why not have a ceasefire for at least three days?”
Pleitgen: “They want the three-day ceasefire to essentially go on for 30 days.”
Peskov: “We have to think about that. These are new developments. So we have our own position. Yes, definitely. We see that Europe is confronting us. Europe is actually confronting us very openly. And we are quite accustomed to that.”
Pleitgen: “And do you think that Russia can be pressured in this case?”
Peskov: “Well, if you look during the history — during the old history, during the modern history — you will see that Russia is quite resistant to any kinds of pressure. We are open for dialogue. We are open for attempts to have a settlement in Ukraine. We do appreciate efforts of mediation. We do appreciate, and we are very grateful.”
Pleitgen: “From the Trump administration?”
Peskov: “But at the same time, it’s quite useless to try to press upon us.”
*. *. *
But then Putin had some comments of his own to make in an unusual late-night televised address, indicating a more amenable attitude toward direct negotiations:
“We would like to start immediately, already next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, where they were held before and where they were interrupted.” [Mariya Knight, CNN, May 10, 2025.]
He emphasized that the talks should be held “without any preconditions,” adding that:
“We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine . . . [intended to] eliminate the root causes of the conflict . . . [and] reach the establishment of a long-term, durable peace.” [Id.] [Bold emphasis is mine.]
Then on Sunday, Putin denied that Moscow has refused to enter into a dialogue with Kyiv, and said that the “decision now lies with the Ukrainian authorities”:
“We do not exclude that during these talks there will be a possibility to arrange some kind of new truce, a new ceasefire.” [Id.]
*. *. *
But how much stock can we place in Putin’s words? His promises thus far have meant nothing . . . how can we now believe he has truly had a change of heart? Particularly when he speaks of eliminating “the root causes of the conflict.”
Keep in mind what he considers — or claims to consider — the “root cause” of his “special military operation” in Ukraine: i.e., the alleged (and totally fabricated) oppression by Ukraine’s “nazi” government against Russian-speaking Ukrainians in regions he claims as belonging to Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and the long-occupied Crimean Peninsula.
He also faults the West for impinging on Russia’s borders by having admitted former USSR republics and Soviet Bloc countries to NATO and the EU, claiming that their proximity represents an ever-present danger to the security of Russia.
So, if he plans to come to the table in Istanbul with his mind still firmly set on eliminating these so-called “root causes,” then I fear his alleged willingness to negotiate may be nothing more than another delaying tactic, staged to lay the blame . . . yet again . . . on Ukraine and its Western allies.
Unfortunately, there is a new name to be added this week.
In December of 2021, Ihar Losik, a blogger and contributor to RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, was convicted on multiple charges, including the “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order,” and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is presumed to be somewhere in a Belarusian prison, though he has not been heard from in about two years . . . one of Putin’s hostages, courtesy of Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenka.
Ihar Losik
And now word has been received that Losik’s younger brother, Mikita Losik, has also been arrested in Belarus on extremism charges related to Russia’s war against Ukraine. [RFE/RL, May 9, 2025.]
Mikita Losik
Twenty-five-year-old Mikita was detained in mid-April and accused of “assisting extremist activity,” for allegedly sending photographs of Russian military equipment movements to a now-defunct independent Telegram channel known as Belaruski Hayun. He is said to be in jail in the northeastern city of Vitebsk, Belarus. [Id.]
Belaruski Hayun, which shut down in February of this year, was engaged in monitoring military activity in Belarus — a country closely allied, politically and militarily, with Russia. The head of the channel has said that Belarusian authorities hacked into a database and gained access to information about its contributors, resulting in the arrest of a number of people on similar charges. [Id.]
And so it goes in Belarus, as in Russia, where independent media are not merely discouraged, but are actively being destroyed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko
Now, as we await the outcome of Mikita Losik’s arrest — no doubt a trial, followed by a guilty verdict and prison sentence — we must add his name next to his brother’s on our hostage list.
*. *. *
And, as always, we pay tribute to all of Putin’s prisoners who have fallen victim to his totalitarian regime:
The Azov 12 David Barnes Ales Bialiatski (in Belarus) Gordon Black Andrei Chapiuk (in Belarus) Antonina Favorskaya Konstantin Gabov Robert Gilman Stephen James Hubbard Sergey Karelin Ihar Karney (in Belarus) Vadim Kobzev Darya Kozyreva Artyom Kriger Uladzimir Labkovich (in Belarus) Michael Travis Leake Aleksei Liptser Ihar Losik (in Belarus) Mikita Losik (in Belarus) Daniel Martindale Farid Mehralizada (in Azerbaijan) Nika Novak Marfa Rabkova (in Belarus) Igor Sergunin Dmitry Shatresov Robert Shonov Eugene Spector Valiantsin Stafanovic (in Belarus) Siarhei Tsikhanouski (in Belarus) Laurent Vinatier Robert Romanov Woodland Vladislav Yesypenko (in Crimea) Yuras Zyankovich (in Belarus)
The meeting referenced in my earlier post today took place in Kyiv, with around 30 world leaders attending. Most participated virtually; but four risked their lives by traveling to the war-torn capital in person: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Standing Tall: Tusk, Starmer, Mrs. Zelenska, Zelensky, Macron, and Merz
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that achieving a ceasefire is the main goal: “First that, then everything else.” [Id.]
In a news conference following the talks, U.K. Prime Minister Starmer said: “All of us here, together with the US are calling Putin out,” and warned that it is time for Russia to show that they are “serious about peace.” [Rorey Bosotti, Henry Zeffman and Frank Gardner, BBC News, May 10, 2025.]
And Starmer added, in discussing additional coordinated sanctions and other measures to be taken against Russia:
“Putin, of course, cannot be trusted. There are sanctions in place at the moment, they are already having an impact on the Russian economy so by further co-ordinating sanctions on oil, on fossil fuels, etc. will make a material difference.” [Id.]
*. *. *
The talks were followed by a call to Donald Trump, who is said to have reiterated his support for the ceasefire. Zelensky described the call as “positive and concrete”:
“We share a common view: an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire is needed for at least 30 days . . . [but they’re] waiting for Russia’s response. Once the ceasefire begins, there will be the best moment for diplomacy. Ukraine is ready for meetings and negotiations in any format.”[Id.]
The Call to the U.S.
And they didn’t have long to wait for that response. The Kremlin has quickly dismissed the threat, with the following message from spokesman Dmitry Peskov:
“We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more.
“It is very difficult to isolate a country like Russia because we take a very large part of the globe. But this is not the main thing. The main thing is that Russia actively develops relations with a large number of countries in all directions where they have interest in developing cooperation with our country. And we will continue doing so.”[Id.]
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov
Or in other words — as so eloquently stated in a social media post by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev — “Shove these peace plans.”
Would you like to know how I feel at this moment? Well, I’ll tell you anyway. I feel like putting my fist through a wall . . . only I’m too sane to actually do it. I need both of my hands.
But total, helpless frustration is the best description for my mood today. And it’s all because 54 people have been granted refugee status in the United States.
Am I anti-immigration? Absolutely not! This country was built by immigrants, including my own grandparents. Those who have come here legally over the past two centuries have made America the beautiful, diverse, successful “melting pot” that it is.
So what is it about these 54 people that has me so pissed off? Just this: they are not “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” that are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. They are not fleeing desperate poverty, criminal gangs, or religious persecution.
They are, in fact, white South Africans. Afrikaners. The very people who themselves — or whose parents and grandparents — watched their black neighbors beaten, tortured, and imprisoned under their country’s system of apartheid not that many years ago.
South African Victims of Racial Discrimination?
And now they claim they are in need of refuge from alleged racial discrimination.
SERIOUSLY??!!!
An executive order signed by Donald Trump on February 7th of this year read as follows:
“The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take appropriate steps, consistent with law, to prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.” [Kate Barlett, NPR, May 8, 2025.]
In a most unusual move, a press conference is being planned for the group’s arrival next week at Dulles Airport, to be attended by high-level officials from both the State Department and Homeland Security. They have, in an exceptionally short period of time, been granted P1 refugee status, which, according to the State Department, is given to “individual cases referred by designated entities to the program by virtue of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement.” [Id.]
There is no identification of the “entities” by whom they were referred, or why these 54 were chosen out of all the thousands who might be in the same circumstances.
This also places them on the path to U.S. citizenship, and renders them eligible for government benefits — the very benefits that American citizens are now in fear of having taken away from them by DOGE’s massive defunding.
Those who do not have relatives in the U.S. have been told they will be placed in a location that has a local organization to provide them with support. A document seen by NPR read, in part:
“Your case manager will pick you up from the airport and take you to housing that they have arranged for you. This housing may be temporary (like a hotel) while a local organization helps you identify more long-term housing. . . . You are expected to support yourself quickly in finding work. Adults are expected to accept entry level employment in fields like warehousing, manufacturing, and customer service. You can work toward higher level employment over time.” [Id.]
Well, there go a few dozen jobs that could be filled by American citizens.
And what circumstances have led to these lucky people receiving the red-carpet treatment? According to Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and South African-born Elon Musk (now, there’s a coincidence for you!), Afrikaners — many of whom are farmers — face persecution in South Africa. Trump says the South African government is guilty of “doing some terrible things . . . they are confiscating land, and actually they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.” [Id.]
“Perhaps?” I don’t suppose you could be a bit more specific, could you?
Well, let’s see. The South African government has passed a new land reform bill, but thus far no land has been confiscated, and “expropriation without compensation” would only occur in rare instances. In fact, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides, in Section 25 headed “Property,” that:
“(1) No one may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property.”
And in response to Trump’s allegations of discrimination, the South African Department of International Relations had this to say:
“It is ironic that the executive order makes provision for refugee status in the U.S. for a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged, while vulnerable people in the U.S. from other parts of the world are being deported and denied asylum despite real hardship.” [Id.]
Yesterday was Vladimir Putin’s biggest day of the year: Victory Day — the 80th anniversary celebration of what Russians call “their” victory over Hitler’s Axis powers in 1945. And from all reports, it was a roaring success.
Red Square – May 9, 2025
But not everyone came to the party. China’s President, Xi Jinping, was there, of course . . . seated next to Putin in the viewing stand in front of the Kremlin wall in Red Square. And leaders from other Putin-friendly nations attended, despite fears of possible drone attacks by Ukraine (which didn’t happen), and detours necessitated by the refusal of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to permit the visiting dignitaries’ planes to fly through their air space en route to Moscow. But only one EU country — Slovakia — was there, represented by its Prime Minister, Robert Fico, as was EU-hopeful Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic. The rest of the West stayed at home.
The Western leaders weren’t idle, however. They were busy scheduling meetings to be held today, May 10th, in Kyiv, with some attending virtually. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that leaders of the “Coalition of the Willing” — a group of Western nations pledged to continue defending Ukraine against Russia — will be in attendance. According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the group will include, in addition to himself, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and President Zelensky. [Ivana Kottasova, CNN, May 9, 2025.]
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Starmer said that the group’s purpose is to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Putin agrees to a ceasefire.
The United States has not been excluded from these talks. Both Zelensky and Macron have spoken with Donald Trump several times, and Macron commended Trump on “his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.” He added in a statement on X:
“We must all work towards this goal without delay, false pretenses, or dilatory tactics. Ukraine has already expressed its support for such a ceasefire nearly two months ago. I now expect Russia to do the same.”
And further, he said that if Russia should fail to accept the proposal, France was “ready to respond firmly, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States.” [Id.]
French President Emmanuel Macron
Calls were also placed to both Zelensky and Trump on Thursday by the leaders of ten northern European countries — the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland — that form a security alliance known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). According to Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson:
“Our message to both presidents was that we are committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We also conveyed our full support for the proposal for a 30 days ceasefire and continued European and US commitment to the peace process.” [Id.]
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It is encouraging to finally see the leaders of the European nations that are most at risk from Putin’s aggression working in concert with the United States, instead of arguing over who should step forward to take principal responsibility. They need to stop Putin’s endless stalling tactics and force him to sit down to serious peace negotiations . . . starting with a meaningful ceasefire. And that can only be accomplished through a solid, united front. Let’s hope today’s meetings will prove to be the beginning of that process.
Still, it all depends on the reaction of this guy, doesn’t it?
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