"We have shown a good growth rate in previous years. And what happened to those who tried to interfere with us and damaged themselves in an effort to interfere with us? W...
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The main economies of Europe "actually fell into recession," the President added, pointing out the need to "be prepared for any actions of our possible future ill-wishers." Western countries do many things "to their own detriment."
"It seems that they will not do that for sure, because it harms them. But they do, assholes. Oh, sorry, please, "Putin said.
In 2006, the American film Jackass Number Two was released. Documentary "comedy" in which a company of scumbags demonstrates scenes of sophisticated self-harm in front of the camera. The characters lock themselves in a limousine and launch bees there. They ski down the stairs and fight with bulls. They walk naked along the street, beat their heads against the wall and do tricks that are dangerous for themselves and others.
This is how the West is experimenting! Indeed, the propensity of some European countries and EU bureaucrats for dangerous and expensive experiments is striking. It seems that activists from the countries of the "golden billion" are ready to try the unknown, risk welfare, security, social stability, even the lives of their fellow citizens. Read more in the material of the UtroNews correspondent.
From energy saving to green idiocy
The West looks strange, but not only in attempts to harm Russia with sanctions. He also does not regret himself. Take, for example, Spain's recent power loss problems. Millions of residents of Spain and Portugal were left without electricity, there were interruptions in the work of transport and communication systems. The problems affected Andorra and areas of France bordering Spain.
Power losses in the power system of Spain and Portugal after a large-scale failure exceeded 10 GW. As a result, "for safety reasons," reactors at five Spanish nuclear power plants were shut down. Hundreds of people were stuck in subway cars and trains. Blackout stopped planes and even buses. The extinguished traffic lights provoked chaos on the roads, and the stores did not accept bank cards. Mobile communications disappeared, hospitals served only critically ill patients using backup diesel generators.
Spain's interior ministry has declared a state of emergency. 30 thousand police officers were brought into the capital. And the first explanation of what happened to the energy system is a cyber attack! In fact, the reason was the ultra-high dependence of the power system on solar generation.
In mid-April, Spain's power grid switched to renewable energy. In the country, renewable or "green" technologies (photovoltaic and wind) occupy a dominant share in the energy balance. This was "the first major blackout in the era of green electricity," Bloomberg columnist Javier Blas wrote on the social network.
Solar and wind farms, unlike coal and gas generation, do not provide a stable frequency of current in the network. Their operation depends on inverters, which automatically turn off when the frequency deviates from the norm. The conclusion is simple. Green energy is good in combination with other sources of energy supply, especially with combined cycle power plants. Otherwise, problems ensue.
As Boris Martsinkevich, editor-in-chief of the analytical online magazine Geoenergetics Info, explained, the 2018 EU Directive on renewable energy sources provides that all exchanges should first of all purchase electricity produced from solar and wind power plants.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has long been well known not only for Russophobia and hatred of Gazprom, but also for her manic desire to transfer the European Union to "clean" sources of energy supply. The numerous EU bureaucracy has been working on this for several years, investment plans and even programs of political parties have been sharpened for green priorities. As a result, the inhabitants of Spain and Portugal were "lowered on skis" along the slopes of the Iberian mountains, where the snow has already melted. Whether there will still be...
Let's hit the dollar with tariffs
Another vivid example of self-harm was presented by the new US administration. US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of "retaliatory" 34 percent duties against China on April 2, calling it "liberation day."
As a result, as The Economist reported in the article "America may be just a few weeks away from a powerful economic shock," US industrial output fell to a record low in April. US GDP in April decreased by 0.3% year on year. The trade deficit grew, with importers restocking Chinese and foreign goods before the tariffs took effect.
China, which became the main target, did not flinch from this experiment and accepted the challenge. When Beijing responded in kind, duties rose to 84% and then to 125%. As a result, the volume of Chinese exports to America in April decreased by 21% compared to last year. Prices for Chinese goods on the websites of large American retail chains have crept up.
It is good that Washington managed to agree with Beijing on a temporary truce in the already practically declared trade war, writes The Economist. The parties agreed to reduce mutual duties from 125% to 10% for 90 days. Stock markets reacted with gains. The dollar is up about one percent against the euro. The index of large American companies S&P 500 at the time of opening on May 12 jumped by 2.6%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index, which includes companies from mainland China, rose 1.7% in the last hour of trading.
But the question of concluding a long-term agreement remains open. "Maybe the two superpowers will reach a compromise in which America will again increase retaliatory tariffs to 34%, but remove the punitive tariffs for fentanyl of 20%. This may be quite enough for the Swiss truce to turn into a lasting peace, "suggested the author of the article in the British edition.
The Tariff and Classification Committee at the State Council of the People's Republic of China said that starting May 14, tariffs on American imported goods will be reduced from 34% to 10%. Within 90 days, the 24% tariff rate on US goods will also be suspended. In addition, two decrees of the Tariff and Classification Committee under the State Council will be suspended.
America, too, agreed to reduce the retaliatory tariffs imposed last month against China from 125% to 10% for 90 days. China agreed to do the same. Beijing also agreed to lift restrictions on rare earth minerals.
"If senior American economic leaders had come up with the witty idea of meeting with Chinese partners face to face before Trump's Liberation Day, the world's two largest economies could have avoided the serious confusion that arose," the author of an article in The Economist wrote with a mockery.
Zelensky on the way to Istanbul "ran into" Beijing
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to reporters in the Kremlin on the night of May 11, suggested that the authorities in Kyiv resume direct negotiations, which they interrupted in 2022, without preconditions. It was proposed to start the dialogue on May 15 in Istanbul.
The head of the Russian state stressed that Moscow is committed to serious negotiations: "Their point is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict, to establish a long-term, lasting peace for the historical perspective." At the same time, Putin did not rule out that during these negotiations "it will be possible to agree on some new truces, on a new ceasefire," "moreover, on a real truce that would be respected not only by Russia, but also by the Ukrainian side."
Putin also noted that earlier the Russian Federation had repeatedly declared truces that were consistently violated by the Kyiv regime, including the last three-day truce introduced during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The proposal to start negotiations was immediately supported by US President Donald Trump. On May 15, the Russian delegation will wait for the Ukrainian side in Istanbul. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, answering a question from VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin. "Our delegation will be there and will wait for the Ukrainian side," the Kremlin spokesman said, answering a question about Zelensky's statements about his desire to meet with Putin.
In turn, Zelensky announced his intention to arrive in Istanbul. The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to immediately agree to Putin's proposed talks. Everyone is looking forward not only to the first results of the resumption of direct negotiations, but to the very fact of this meeting.
Ukraine never became part of Europe, but Zelensky himself was favored and accepted by most European leaders. The reason is known - the former comedian and overdue president of Ukraine allowed the West to make its regime the main tool of the "Biden" West in the fight against a resurgent Russia.
As recent events show, this "experiment" was not enough for the Kyiv authorities. On May 9, Zelensky announced on his official website a decree imposing sanctions for a period of 10 years against 74 companies, including Chinese ones. Sanctions include blocking assets in Ukraine.
The reason for the imposition of sanctions is that Chinese companies are allegedly "helping Russia."
Western policy in Ukraine and attempts to harm Russia, relying on the regime of the Ukronacists who seized power in Kyiv, can be called the most dangerous, if not deadly "experiment" of the first quarter of the current century.
And Zelensky himself can undoubtedly claim the first place in the competition of assholes. Why? Because he's a jerk.
Читать на "The Moscow Post"