This week marks the 3,194th — all right, I exaggerate — but it marks yet another attempt at negotiations between delegations from Kyiv, Moscow and Washington at Abu Dhabi. The familiar envoys from the U.S., Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will not be present at the talks on Wednesday and Thursday; their replacements, to my knowledge, have not yet been announced.

Instead, Witkoff and Kushner were in Florida over the past weekend, along with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum, for discussions with Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

Though no details of that meeting were released by either side, Witkoff did post on X:

“Today in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings as part of the US mediation effort toward advancing a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict. We are encouraged by this meeting that Russia is working toward securing peace in Ukraine.” [The Guardian, January 31, 2026.]

Yeah, yeah . . . we’ve heard all of that before, ad nauseam. And frankly, I don’t hold out any greater hope for the upcoming trilateral meeting in the UAE, as Vladimir Putin continues to stand firm on his draconian territorial and post-war security demands.

Meanwhile — despite Donald Trump’s assurances that Putin had acceded to his request to halt attacks on civilians and their energy infrastructure for a week during a brutally cold period — Russia launched a ballistic missile and more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight on Saturday. None of them hit the capital city of Kyiv; but in the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region, one person was wounded by shelling, and three residential buildings and 12 homes were destroyed.

In Dnipropetrovsk region, one person was killed and seven others wounded, with damage sustained by high-rise buildings, homes, shops and cafes. And in the Donetsk region, at least two people were killed and five wounded in 13 separate attacks across multiple districts. [Al Jazeera, February 1, 2026.]

Also on Saturday, a critical power failure occurred, affecting at least 3,500 buildings in Kyiv, as well as interconnection lines with neighboring Moldova that took hours to repair. The Kyiv metro shut down, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people; the city’s water supply was also disrupted. While the incident is being investigated, a statement was issued saying that “as of now, there is no confirmation of external interference or a cyberattack. Most indications point to weather: ice buildup on the lines and automatic shutdowns.” [Id.]

But regardless of the cause, it only added to the misery of a people already exhausted from four years of war and deprivation.

In a continuation of the onslaught, on Sunday 12 miners were killed and seven others severely injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region when their bus was targeted and struck by a Russian drone. In addition, at least nine people were injured in strikes on a maternity hospital — a maternity hospital! — and a residential building in Zaporizhzhya. [Al Jazeera, February 1, 2026.]

Donald Trump’s optimism aside, Vladimir Putin clearly had no intention of stopping his assaults, even for a few days . . . just as he has no intention of negotiating a peace treaty. Like Hitler, Hirohito, and other warmongers before him, Putin will not quit of his own volition. It is up to the Western nations to stop him.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/2/26

I’m not sure how many members of the current administration would know — or, for that matter, care — about the works of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert “Rabbie” Burns . . . other than their once-yearly singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”

But it almost seems as though Burns knew them, or others of their ilk, back in the 18th century, when he wrote:

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us / To see oursels as ithers see us! / It wad frae monie a blunder free us, / An’ foolish notion.”

Or, in the English translation:

”Oh, would some Power the gift give us / To see ourselves as others see us! / It would from many a blunder free us / And foolish notion.”

– Robert Burns, “To a Louse”

Unfortunately, politicians aren’t much given to introspection.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/2/26

To mention just a few:

> The war in Ukraine that was supposed to have been stopped within 24 hours of his taking office.

> The Epstein Files.

> Greenland’s refusal to be bought.

> Humiliation at Davos.

> The Epstein Files.

> The plunging poll numbers.

> The elusiveness of “affordability.”

> The Epstein Files.

> The Kennedy Center fiasco.

> The horror, and forced retreat, at Minneapolis.

> Members of his own party finally saying “Enough!”

> And, of course, the endless — “Why-won’t-they-go-away?!!” — Epstein Files.

It’s been a bad start to the new year for the supposed leader of the free world. And even his back-up plan to rescue his reputation and legacy — his so-called “Board of Peace” — is in question. It was supposed to be the glorious alternative to the United Nations; but so far, it is turning out to be a gathering of authoritarians seeking a place at the table in some sort of new world order.

Originally touted as a means of settling the crisis in Gaza, it quickly expanded to include conflict resolution throughout the world. And then details of its proposed mandate emerged:

• A permanent seat on the Board could be bought for a measly billion dollars.
• The Chairman of the Board would be Donald Trump . . . no election required.
• The Chairman would have veto power over the Board’s decisions, including membership.
• The Chairman would have the power to choose his successor.

From the very start, Trump’s “Board of Peace” is presenting itself as his own little fiefdom.

These conditions seemed to be fine with a number of autocratic nations, such as Argentina, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Belarus, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, and several others who quickly signed up. Even Vladimir Putin is said to be considering membership for Russia — though he is slyly attempting to negotiate the unfreezing of some of Russia’s foreign assets to cover the billion-dollar permanent membership fee.

But how have the democratic leaders reacted to their invitations? Well, let’s see . . .

Canada. Following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s contentious discussion of tariffs with Trump at Davos, he was spared the necessity of declining when Canada’s invitation was petulantly withdrawn by Trump.

Denmark. It’s hardly a surprise that Greenland’s mother country has similarly been snubbed by Trump. There is no real question as to what their response would have been in any event; and this way, Trump can claim that it was his choice, not Denmark’s.

France. Declined. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that Trump’s “very extensive powers” as chair were concerning, adding that “This is very, very far from the Charter of the United Nations.” [Ryan Mancini, The Hill, January 31, 2026.]

Germany. Declined. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany could not accept a place on the Board in its current form on “constitutional grounds. We are, of course, ready to explore other forms, new forms of cooperation with the United States of America.” [Id.]

Greece. Declined. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the Board “goes way beyond” the U.N. Security Council mandate, and, “I think we have to recognize that moving forward what has been established is something in which most European countries can’t join.” He added that the U.S. involvement in the redevelopment of Gaza should be “only for a limited amount of time.” [Id.]

Italy. Declined. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Italian state television: “Some elements are incompatible with our constitution, and this prevents us from signing tomorrow. My position is still one of openness.” [Id.]

New Zealand. Declined. The word from Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters was: “As a leading founder and longstanding supporter of the United Nations, it is important that the Board’s work is complementary to and consistent with the UN Charter. It [the Board of Peace] is a new body, and we need clarity on this, and on other questions relating to its scope, now and in the future. New Zealand will not be joining the Board in its curent form but will continue to monitor developments.” [Id.]

Norway. Declined. While confirming that Norway shares Trump’s stated “goal of lasting peace in Ukraine, Gaza and in other situations,” Norwegian State Secretary Kristoffer Thoner said, “The American proposal raises a number of questions [requiring] further dialogue with the United States. Norway will therefore not join the proposed arrangements for the Board of Peace, and will therefore not attend a signing ceremony in Davos. [Id.]

Slovenia. Declined. Robert Golob, the Prime Minister of Melania Trump’s native country, stated: “The main concern is that the committee’s mandate is too broad and that it could dangerously undermine the international order based on the United Nations Charter. Although we find any initiative that can calm the situation in the Middle East to be commendable, this invitation dangerously encroaches on the broader international order and not just on pacification in Gaza.” [Id.]

Sweden. Declined. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said simply: “As the text stands right now, Sweden will not sign.” [Id.]

United Kingdom. Declined. Expressing concern over Russia’s likely involvement, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC: “There’s a huge amount of work to do. We won’t be one of the signatories today. Because this is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, and we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace, when we have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine. And to be honest, that is also what we should be talking about.” [Id.]

Ukraine. Declined. Not surprisingly, President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea out of hand. His Foreign Affairs Chairman, Oleksandr Merezhko, told The Kyiv Independent: “The very idea of inviting to this board of ‘peace’ the biggest violator of peace and international law, Russia and Belarus, complicit in the crime of aggression, is absurd.” [Id.]

*. *. *

So, with approximately half of the countries originally invited already having declined or still analyzing the pros and cons, it is likely that Trump is considering alternative methods of swaying the holdouts. There is always the threat of tariffs, of course . . . although those have recently proven less effective than he had hoped. He could — if he had any sense at all — determine that his organization’s charter needs serious revision as to the issues of control, succession, and the Board’s overall mandate.

Or, more up his alley, he might actually start reviewing those damnable Epstein files to see whether they include the names of any high-level officials from the uncommitted countries. A little blackmail always does seem to cheer him up.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/2/26

Since September 8, 1971 — for more than half a century — the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been the grande dame of theater venues in the nation’s capital. Built on the banks of the Potomac River as a memorial to the slain president who, together with his wife Jacqueline, brought a new level of elegance and culture to Washington in the 1960s, it has featured every conceivable form of entertainment, from opera to rock, classical ballet to funk, Shakespeare to children’s programming.

That is, until Donald Trump set his sights on that venerable institution, decided it was too “inclusive” and “woke,” and seized control. He fired the Board of Directors and replaced them with his sycophants; he began filling the halls with his personal friends, booking acts that met with his personal approval; and, as a final insult, he rebranded the Center itself, adding his own name above that of the man to whom it was dedicated . . . in blatant contravention of Public Law 88-260 (Senate Joint Resolution 136).

But then the people spoke. Orchestras, dance companies, and individual performers began withdrawing their scheduled appearances. Long-time subscribers cancelled their subscriptions in protest. Seats were left only half-filled.

And today, he announced that the Kennedy Center will close for two years beginning — ironically — on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation, for “renovations.”

His excuse? According to his social media post, we are supposed to accept this as gospel:

“The Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4th, 2026, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin Construction of the new and spectacular Entertainment Complex. Financing is completed, and fully in place! This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment, far better than it has ever been before. America will be very proud of its new and beautiful Landmark for many generations to come. Thak you for your attention to this matter!” [Ted Johnson, Deadline.com, February 1, 2026.]

“In honor of” the 4th of July? Or because the planned performances have also been cancelled?

Trump claims that closing completely will allow for a faster and higher-quality renovation. Perhaps. But in the meantime, where will the National Symphony Orchestra go? What will Washington do for first-class entertainment? The other local venues — the excellent but much smaller National Theater and a handful of others — cannot possibly take up the slack, though they will no doubt do their best.

And the Kennedy Center will be without a source of income for two years. The $257 million already allotted for the renovations in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — given his penchant for glitz and glitter — will no doubt prove insufficient . . . just as the projected cost of his White House golden ballroom has already doubled, while still only an enormous hole in the ground.

In short, we can chalk up another dismal failure to the growing list of Donald Trump’s failed projects. But don’t despair. When last reported, his plans for an “Arc de Trump” at the Virginia end of the Memorial Bridge were still very much alive.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/1/26

This is not about one of Vladimir Putin’s hostages. This is the story of two hostages to the Trump administration’s mad purge of people who don’t fit within their mandated parameters of acceptability: five-year-old Liam Ramos and his dad Adrian.

We have all seen — and been horrified by — this picture:

And we know how little Liam was used as bait by ICE agents to lure his father to the door of their home in Minneapolis, where they were both seized and whisked into detention 1,300 miles away in Texas . . . for no reason other than the fact that they are asylum-seekers from Ecuador.

Now, thanks to the intervention of Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), and the swift action of U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, father and son have been released and returned home to Minneapolis.

But for little Liam, the damage is already done. He is too young to understand why his life was upended in this way, or what — in his mind — he might have done to deserve it; yet he is old enough to retain the memories of the traumatic experience, and quite possibly to suffer nightmares, and an unshakable fear and distrust of all authorities, for the rest of his life.

So, while we rejoice in their safe return and reunion with the rest of their family, let us not write this off as a completely happy ending. The lives of this decent, honest family — along with thousands of others — have been irreparably damaged . . . and someone needs to be held accountable.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/1/26

I love Mitch Albom’s books. They are filled with warmth, humor, and optimism — all so sorely needed in our world today.

But yesterday, I had to take exception to one of his quotations — one that previously had resonated positively with me — and all because it snowed.

First, the quote:

“Embrace aging. If you’re always battling against getting older, you’re always going to be unhappy, because it will happen anyhow.”

– Mitch Albom, “Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson”

It’s sound advice. Logical. True. Well-meaning.

But, as i said, it snowed yesterday. That doesn’t happen often down here in the southeastern United States; and being from the north, I miss it. So today, as the first inch of white stuff accumulated on the lawn, my first impulse was to grab my winter coat, scarf, boots and gloves, head outdoors, and challenge someone to a snowball fight.

Only I couldn’t. To begin with, when I moved here five years ago, I gave away my heavy jackets, snow boots, gloves and scarves, because I was so sure I would never need them again.

Sure, I could have layered up in sweats and a jacket. What was still missing, though, was the physical ability to navigate down the steps without falling and breaking a hip, bend down to scoop up a fistful of snow without losing my balance, and get either of my shoulders to work well enough to launch a snowball toward its target.

Instead, I looked longingly out the window, told myself that Mitch Albom was too young to know what the hell he was talking about when he wrote those words, and recalled instead the wisdom of the late broadcaster Andy Rooney, who said:

“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.”

Right you are, Andy. Right you are.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/1/26

It’s been another no-news week with regard to the world’s political hostages, which means it’s a good time to pay our respects once more to the Americans still being held overseas. And in double-checking my information, I found an item of good news that had escaped my earlier attention, as it doesn’t seem to have received a great deal of fanfare when it happened.

Back in September of 2025, Wells Fargo banker Chenyue Mao was released by Chinese authorities, and returned home to the United States. So it is with great glee that I remove her name from our list, and welcome her back.

*. *. *

But eight Americans still remain incarcerated in Russia, and I bring their names forward again as a reminder to U.S. authorities that they and their families continue to suffer through another brutal winter as we pray for their safe return.

Once again, please do not forget:

David Barnes
Gordon Black
Robert Gilman
Stephen James Hubbard
Michael Travis Leake
Eugene Spector
Joseph Tater (whereabouts unknown)
Robert Romanov Woodland

And the others:

Victims of Greed:

The President, First Lady, and citizens of Venezuela

Europeans Under Threat:

The Nation and the People of Greenland
The people of NATO and EU member states

Prisoners of War:

The 19,500 Kidnapped Ukrainian Children
The People of Ukraine

Immigrant Detainees in Russia:

Migrants from the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Endangered Exiles:

Mikita Losik
Yulia Navalnaya
Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents

Political Prisoners:

In Afghanistan:

Dennis Coyle (American)

In Azerbaijan:

The “Azerbaijan 7”:
— Farid Mehralizada
— Ulvi Hasanli
— Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifqiai)
— Mahammad Kekalov
— Hafiz Babali
— Nargiz Absalamova
— Elnara Gasimova

In Belarus:

Andrei Chapiuk
Uladzimir Labkovich
Andrzej Poczobut
Marfa Rabkova
Valiantsin Stafanovic
Yuras Zyankovich

In Georgia:

Mzia Amaglobeli

In China:

Chenyue Mao (American)

In Russia:

The “Crimea 8”:
— Oleg Antipov
— Artyom Azatyan
— Georgy Azatyan
— Aleksandr Bylin
— Roman Solomko
— Artur Terchanyan
— Dmitry Tyazhelykh
— Vladimir Zloba

James Scott Rhys Anderson (British)
David Barnes (American)
Gordon Black (American)
Hayden Davies (British)
Antonina Favorskaya
Konstantin Gabov
Robert Gilman (American)
Stephen James Hubbard (American)
Sergey Karelin
Timur Kishukov
Vadim Kobzev
Darya Kozyreva
Artyom Kriger
Michael Travis Leake (American)
Aleksei Liptser
Grigory Melkonyants
Nika Novak
Leonid Pshenychnov (in Russian-occupied Crimea)
Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler)
Sofiane Sehili (French)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Grigory Skvortsov
Eugene Spector (American)
Joseph Tater (American, disappeared)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland (American)

You will not be forgotten.

*. *. *

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/1/26

On this date 36 years ago — January 31, 1990 — the first McDonald’s opened its doors on Pushkin Square in central Moscow, to a rousing welcome.

For the average Russian worker in those days, a Big Mac, a shake and an order of fries could cost several days’ wages. But this was the West — this was America! — coming to the USSR. And it brought, not only good food and friendly service, but hope for a brighter future.

It wasn’t until three and a half years later that I finally gave in and agreed to eat at a Moscow McDonald’s; I mean, who travels halfway around the world from the U.S. to do that, when the local cuisine is so fantastic? But it was at the request of some Russian and American friends that I finally surrendered. I was outnumbered, after all.

It was the beginning of July, 1993. I had been working in Moscow for a couple of months with an American humanitarian aid foundation, providing healthy food for children in orphanages and hospitals. When I received a call from an American friend, Mary, telling me she and her teenaged son would be in Moscow for a few days, I was thrilled, and invited them to stay with me rather than the Russian hotel they had been booked into.

Mary’s son Colin had done a little research on sights to see while in Moscow, and one thing that had piqued his interest was the Military Museum. My neighbors — all of them — were military officers and their families, as the building in which we had rented our office/apartment belonged to the Ministry of Defense. And one couple on my floor had become my good friends and guardian angels.

So I went to them to inquire about access to the Military Museum, and they offered to take us there and make a day of it. In return, I said I would treat everyone to lunch . . . and they chose McDonald’s. Mary and Colin were also curious to compare it to the ones back home, so — not being a huge fan of grease — I nevertheless gritted my teeth, forced a smile, and said, “Great.”

And it was there that I received one of the biggest surprises of my time in Moscow. In addition to being incredibly inexpensive (by U.S. standards), that was the best fast-food meal I had ever eaten, or expected to. Everything — the meat, the fries, the lettuce and tomatoes — was fresh from local farms, perfectly seasoned and prepared, and served piping hot. Even the buns were freshly baked at a local bakery.

By 1993, more U.S. and other Western businesses had begun popping up, particularly in the larger cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg: I recall Pizza Hut being next. The Soviet Union had collapsed under its own weight in December of ‘91, and Russia was in the midst of an economic and social boom.

But in another six years, it would all begin to slide backwards when Boris Yeltsin — old, sickly, and pickled in alcohol — resigned as President, and Vladimir Putin stepped into the breach. The burgeoning market economy gradually gave way to an oligarchy; Putin became increasingly authoritarian; and finally, on February 24, 2022, his army invaded Ukraine.

The world first recoiled in horror, then reacted with sanctions. Western businesses began pulling out of Russia — some selling out at prices ridiculously below market value, others simply abandoning their holdings completely.

One that sold quickly was the still-popular McDonald’s — purchased by Russian businessman Aleksandr Govor, who changed the name to “Vkusno i Tochka” (“Tasty and That’s It”), added a logo faintly reminiscent of the McDonald’s “M,” and offered a “Big Hit” in place of the Big Mac.

I haven’t been back to Russia since 2009, so I can’t tell you how the new burger joints are doing. Russians are deservedly proud of their cuisine; but I don’t know whether the owners of these successor establishments feel the same way about fast food. My guess would be that, even if the quality of the food has remained high, the service has probably slipped back to the surly attitude of Soviet times, when the popular meme of the workers was: “They pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work.”

I prefer to remember it as it was in 1993, when five of us piled into my neighbors’ little Lada automobile, shared a most congenial feast at an exotic restaurant, and went on to inspect the Military Museum, where I was nearly arrested — or possibly shot — by the security guards when . . .

Oh, but that’s a tale for another day.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/31/26

What my Ukrainian grandmother lacked in formal education, she more than made up for with her incredible food, limitless amounts of love, and old-world folk wisdom. For example: “If you keep frowning, your face will freeze like that.” Or: “Don’t sit on the cold concrete steps, or you’ll get piles (hemorrhoids).”

And this actually useful bit of advice: “You are judged by the company you keep.”

As I recall, her exact words were: “Stay away from that girl; she’s a “kurva.” (Google Translate can help you with that one, though it’s probably not necessary.) But the meaning of her warning was unmistakable: you are indeed judged by the company you keep.

And she was an amazing judge of character. So I wonder what she would have said if she were here today to witness this photo being hung in a place of honor in the U.S. White House:

I can think of a few appropriate expletives that might have come to my grandmother’s mind. But beyond the numerous synonyms to be found in my little “Dictionary of Russian Obscenities,” I know what that picture says to me: that the real “enemy within” is not the alleged murderers, rapists or drug dealers; not the undocumented immigrants; and not the so-called “terrorist” demonstrators.

The real enemy of our democracy is the guy in the red tie, welcoming an internationally-wanted war criminal onto our territory in flagrant disregard of an outstanding ICC warrant, rolling out the red carpet, greeting him like a long-lost brother, and making back-room trade deals with him while his Russian troops continue to decimate Ukraine.

That is the company Trump chooses to keep, and to flaunt. I know that my grandmother — whose greatest joy was feeding people — would not have allowed either of the people in that picture to set foot in her kitchen. She had escaped the horrors of Tsarist Russia, and she knew evil when she saw it.

And that’s enough for me.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/31/26

. . . which I was, in my earlier posting today.

So, of course, I immediately began a search for something incredibly wise to say on the subject, and found this by the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Heraclitus. It explains, in one brief sentence, the inability of a certain current occupant of the Oval Office to accept, not only criticism, but any sort of sound advice:

“Stupidity is doomed, therefore, to cringe at every syllable of wisdom.”

-Heraclitus, “Fragments”

That explains a hell of a lot, doesn’t it?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/31/26