What’s happened in New York against former President Donald Trump is a blatant violation of the Eighth Amendment, and Mark Levin is going to prove it.
The Eighth Amendment reads: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
In a case from 2019 between Tyson Timbs and the state of Indiana, the standard was set for the United States, as well as the state court, on what it can and cannot do regarding the Eighth Amendment.
Timbs had pleaded guilty in Indiana State Court to dealing in a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit theft.
The response was completely disproportionate to his crimes.
At the time of his arrest, the police seized a Land Rover SUV Timbs had purchased for $42,000 with money he received from an insurance policy when his father died. The Indiana trial court denied the state’s request to turn over his $42,000 car, determining that it would be grossly disproportionate to the gravity of Timb’s offense, and therefore unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines clause.
“It was a nine to zero decision, not a single justice agreed with the state prosecutors and the state government, not one. The majority opinion had seven bipartisan justices. There were two concurring opinions, but they all agreed that it violated the Eighth Amendment,” Levin explains.
The Supreme Court ruled that these fines undermine other liberties and can be “used to retaliate against or chill the speech of political enemies.”
“In other words, that case that was brought against Donald Trump should never have been brought. There shouldn’t even have been a sentencing hearing, there shouldn’t have been fines, there shouldn’t have been anything,” Levin remarks.
“This case against Donald Trump is a greater, more grave violation than anything we’ve ever seen under the excessive fines part of the Eighth Amendment, and much worse than the Timbs' case,” he adds.
NEW YORK — The call of Donald Trump has been clear and constant for years: Buy, buy. But the tycoon's talk could turn to bye-bye if he's forced by an imminent cash crunch to peddle his yacht, his hotels or his casinos.
Trump - whose name adorns nearly everything, from airplanes to board games -also may have to wave arrivederci to the glitzy, fast-lane lifestyle he enjoyed during his rise in the 1980s.
Creditors reportedly are pressing the billionaire-turned-multimillionaire for cash, and negotiations are under way that could compel Trump to sell huge chunks of his empire and reorganize his holdings. The real estate and casino magnate has a reported $2 billion in bank debt.
The Taj Mahal, his centerpiece Atlantic City casino, is said to be for sale. The Trump Princess, his yacht, is on the block. The Trump Shuttle, his airline, is up for grabs.
And his estranged wife, Ivana, still awaits her share, with her $25 million prenuptial agreement looking better all the time. Trump's empire, once estimated at $1.5 billion, now is worth about $500 million, Forbes magazine said last month.
"He'll have to trim the fat: Get rid of the boat, the mansions, the helicopter," one unidentified banker involved in the Trump talks told The Wall Street Journal about Donald's woes.
Among his biggest problems, analysts say, is the extravagant Taj Mahal, which opened April 1 to much fanfare but is failing to generate enough cash to allay lenders' fears about Trump's ability to meet his long-term obligations.
Trump, through spokesman Dan Klores, declined to comment on the situation yesterday.
One person who predicted troubles for the Taj Mahal was Marvin Roffman, the Philadelphia analyst who says he was fired in March by Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. because of those forecasts.
Roffman, apparently vindicated by the reports of layoffs and losses at the Taj, bit his tongue yesterday. "My attorneys have cautioned me, and I really can't talk," he said. Roffman is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Trump and Janney Montgomery, where he had worked for 16 years.
Privately, many securities analysts say the Taj, which took in $36.5 million last month, is siphoning off business from his two other casinos, Trump Castle and Trump Plaza, in an already shrinking market.
In May, the Castle's revenues were off 17 percent from May 1989; the Plaza's receipts, however, were up 23 percent, boosted by the $10 million loss of Japanese gambler Akio Kashawagi.
Real estate experts also link Trump's problems to a weaker real estate market, particularly in the Northeast. "Trump's publicized problems are due to a weak real estate market and excessive lending on real estate in the late 1980s," said David Shulman, director of real estate research at Salomon Bros.
Also of import are Trump's marital status and his prenuptial agreement with his estranged wife, Ivana, who is president of Trump's Plaza Hotel in New York.
Until the marital issues are resolved, it is unclear who controls the Trump assets, making it harder for Trump to get credit, said one analyst, who declined to be identified. These issues are "more than trivial," the analyst said.
News of Trump's financial woes have sent the three Trump casino junk-bond issues into a tailspin.
Trump has outstanding loans of about $2 billion, and bond investors are concerned that Trump's bankers would press the developer to skip bond payments this month unless they can be assured of interest and principal payments due them.
Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet. In a terse statement issued Monday, Trump called his assets "among the best in America."
"They are unique (and) well-positioned and they have great long-term value," said the statement from the Trump Organization. "We are confident we will arrive at a mutually beneficial solution."
TRUMP'S EMPIRE
* The Trump Shuttle - Purchased from Eastern Airlines for $365 million in cash. Assets include 17 aircraft and valuable landing slots and gate space. Trump has said the shuttle may be sold, if he gets the "right price," $500 million to $600 million. Business Week magazine recently surveyed experts who estimated it could fetch $350 million.
* Trump Tower - A posh, 68-story tower on fashionable Fifth Avenue that contains some of Manhattan's most-expensive condos and a shopping arcade for tourists. Forbes magazine puts the tower's market value at $100 million; Trump thinks it should command $200 million.
* Plaza Hotel - The 18-story, 1,000-room hotel overlooks Fifth Avenue and Central Park. Purchased from Allegis Corp. for $408 million, Trump's experts value it at $600 million to $700 million. But a Business Week survey estimates the value at $450 million.
* Trump Plaza - A 175-unit Manhattan residential cooperative; most of the units have been sold.
* Trump Parc - A 350-unit condominium on Manhattan's Central Park South. Most units have been sold. Forbes estimates it is worth less than half of Trump's valuation of $111 million.
* Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino - Trump paid $73 million for the 600-room hotel and casino in Atlantic City. Trump values the Plaza at $637 million, but Forbes thinks the price is closer to $616 million.
* Trump Castle Casino Resort - This Atlantic City casino was purchased for $320 million. Trump believes its going price should be about $650 million, but Business Week's experts say the value is closer to $324 million.
* Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort - $1.1 billion was pumped into this mega- project. Forbes' estimated valuation for the Taj is the same as Trump's - $834.7 million.
* Alexander's - Trump paid nearly $70 million for a 27 percent stake in the New York retailer and was planning to develop its real estate holdings into large commercial and retailing centers. The current market price for the stake is about $65 million; Trump values it at $159 million if sold at a premium.
* West Side Rail Yards - Trump paid $95 million for 76 acres of undeveloped land on New York's Upper West Side, land that he has planned to turn into a massive office, hotel and apartment complex. But strong community groups are opposed to his grand plans. Trump values the property at more than $600 million but Business Week says the undeveloped land may fetch only $160 million.
* Foundling Hospital - This East Side Manhattan building is still a hospital, awaiting construction of a new building. Trump plans eventually to build new apartments on the site.
* Grand Hyatt Hotel - A 1,400-room hotel in Midtown Manhattan owned in equal partnership with Hyatt Corp. Forbes' and Trump's market valuations for his 50 percent stake are $70 million.
* Trump Plaza of the Palm Beaches - Residential towers with 220 units each in Palm Beach, Fla.. About half remain unsold. Forbes says Trump values this property at $43 million, but it thinks the towers are worth $30 million.
* Trump Princess Yacht - One of the world's largest private yachts, bought by Trump for $30 million. Trump recently put it on the auction block, saying he wanted a better one.
After extensive analysis using raw survey data coupled with mail-in vote totals, we concluded that mail-in voter fraud almost certainly changed the 2020 election outcome in all six crucial swing states.
According to the legacy news networks, social media platforms, various deep state actors, and other corrupt institutions, the 2020 election was the safest and most secure in history and anyone who questioned Joe Biden’s victory was a wacky “election denier.”
That has been the dominant narrative for the past three years, which has produced a chilling effect and caused many to forgo conducting a deep dive concerning whether the 2020 election really was as safe and secure as we have been told it was.
It is incumbent upon the 50 states to ensure that their voting systems are as safe and secure as possible. We still have time to make necessary changes.
In reality, the 2020 election was most likely marred by widespread mail-in voting fraud. And even worse, the extensive mail-in voter fraud almost certainly tipped the election in favor of Joe Biden.
In other words, had rampant mail-in voter fraud been prevented in the 2020 election, Donald Trump would have won the Electoral College and been re-elected to a second term.
At this point, you may be wondering how I can be so sure that the 2020 election was tainted by mail-in voter fraud. The answer is simple: The voters have told us so.
In late 2023, the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports conducted a simple survey to gauge the degree of voter fraud in the 2020 election. We asked 1,085 voters who participated in the 2020 election about their voting behaviors three years prior. To our surprise, the results showed that at least one in five mail-in voters admitted to committing ballot fraud in the 2020 election.
Our findings caused quite a stir in the media, especially among those who suspected the 2020 election was not completely secure due to the dubious changes to voting rules state officials unconstitutionally imposed under the cover of COVID-19.
Shortly after the poll was released, former President Trump called it “the most important poll released in the last 20 years” and “the biggest story of the year.”
Eventually, we began to wonder if we could apply the poll results to publicly available election data to determine whether mail-in voter fraud impacted the outcome of the election. This was no easy task.
After extensive analysis using the raw survey data provided by Rasmussen coupled with state-based and other reputable sources documenting mail-in vote totals, we concluded that mail-in voter fraud almost certainly changed the 2020 election outcome in all six of the crucial swing states.
This is all laid out in great detail in the Heartland Institute’s latest policy study, aptly titled “Who Really Won the 2020 Election?” (Spoiler alert: not Joe Biden.)
Here are just a few of the main takeaways:
Upon further analysis of the Rasmussen survey data, we found that more than one in four mail-in voters (28.2%, to be precise) admitted to committing at least one kind of election fraud in the 2020 election.
Under multiple scenarios, with differing rates of mail-in voter fraud taken into account, our results indicate that Trump would have won the Electoral College in the 2020 election had fraudulent mail-in ballots not been counted.
Even if the level of fraud detected in the Heartland/Rasmussen survey substantially overstated mail-in voter fraud by multiple orders of magnitude, Trump would likely still have won the 2020 election.
According to the official 2020 election results, Biden defeated Trump in the Electoral College 306 to 232. The national vote tally was similarly lopsided, with Biden receiving approximately 81 million votes to Trump’s 74 million votes.
In almost all the hypothetical scenarios we lay out, Trump would have won enough Electoral College votes to defeat Biden soundly.
But the 2020 election, like most recent national elections, was ultimately decided in the swing states.
In 2020, Biden won each of the six swing states by fewer than 20,000 votes, a tiny margin in the context of the overall vote.
But here’s the rub: When we extrapolated for mail-in voter fraud in the six crucial swing states, using state-specific mail-in voter data and accounting for a variety of fraud rates (from the 28% level all the way down to the 1% level), the Electoral College vote changed considerably.
In almost all the hypothetical scenarios we lay out, Trump would have won enough Electoral College votes to defeat Biden soundly. In other words, Biden’s Electoral College victory, although seemingly large, was predicated on razor-thin margins in all six of the swing states.
We know for a fact that each of the six swing states changed its election rules in the months leading up to the 2020 election to allow for mass mail-in voting based on inaccurate state voter registration rolls. We also know that several of these states made it easy for mail-in voting fraud to be committed by eliminating common-sense guardrails like signature verification and permitting shady election practices to take place like ballot harvesting.
So it stands to reason that these unprecedented last-minute changes to voting procedures likely resulted in a flood of fraudulent ballots being counted. It also stands to reason that widespread mail-in voter fraud in the 2020 election disproportionately benefitted Joe Biden, seeing that he received more than twice as many mail-in votes as Trump.
When considering all these factors, it seems obvious that Biden’s 2020 victory was aided and abetted by rampant mail-in voter fraud. But as they say, what’s done is done. It does no good to cry over spilled milk or shady elections.
With less than nine months before the 2024 presidential election, however, we must ensure that this does not happen again. It is incumbent upon the 50 states to ensure that their voting systems are as safe and secure as possible. We still have time to make necessary changes.
Going forward, will enough states do the right thing? Or, like so many other things in today’s upside-down world, is the quaint American tradition of free and fair elections a vestige of the past?
Former Trump White House Lawyer Confirms He Quietly Sabotaged 2020 Election Challenge By Shane Devine
In a court hearing regarding the de-barment of Jeffrey Clark, who played a key role in former President Donald Trump’s attempt to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election, former Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin confessed to leading the resistance against the effort by organizing a mass resignation threat to undermine the president.
Just days before January 6th—when Congress was scheduled to certify the results of the 2020 election in Biden’s favor—Trump began to put into motion a plan to replace the Department of Justice head with Jeffrey Clark, a lower-level DOJ official who was expected to halt the process in Trump’s favor.
It was at this point that Philbin called up Clark to try to convince him otherwise. In his testimony—the first public testimony he has offered since the Capitol riot—Philbin explained that he had worked alongside Clark in private practice during the 1990s.
“I tried to explain to him that it was a bad idea for multiple reasons,” Clark said at the hearing. “He would be starting down a path of assured failure … If by some miracle somehow, it worked, there’d be riots in every major city in the country and it was not an outcome the country would accept.”
Former WH lawyer confirms he, behind Trump's back, organized threats of mass resignations to successfully thwart Trump from appointing an acting attorney general (@JeffClarkUS) who would seriously investigate 2020 election. https://t.co/MEqDUEm6aI
Both Philbin and former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue, who gave testimony just before Philbin, argued Clark had succumbed to conspiracy theories.
Philbin went into his conversations with Clark viewing him as woefully misinformed about the 2020 election, and dangerously naïve regarding the aftereffects that would be caused by contesting the outcome.
“I believe that he felt that he essentially had a duty,” Philbin said. “I think Jeff’s view was that there was a real crisis in the country and that he was being given an opportunity to do something about it.”
Philbin then claimed at least partial credit for orchestrating the threat of mass resignation to resist Trump’s appointment of Clark. Taking his cue from a similar effort under the Bush administration, Philbin fanned the flames of rebellion to DOJ through acting attorney general Jeff Rosen. Almost every major DOJ official put up threats to resign, which influenced Trump to ultimately give up on the contest.
Philbin then called Clark again to inform him about the mounting discontent. “We talked about some of the theories of fraud that were around. They’d been debunked and there wasn’t really any there-there,” Philbin said. “If the president made him acting attorney general … people at DOJ would probably resign, there’s going to be just a massive wave of resignations. People weren’t going to be following him to pursue these theories of fraud.”
Philbin said he would have resigned had it come to that point. “It was not a course of action that I could countenance,” he explained. “I thought there was not a justification for it. It was a sufficiently bad idea and unjustified interference with the completion of the Electoral College count. I wouldn’t want to be there in the White House any longer participating in that.”
1. Respecting the sovereignty of all countries. Universally recognized international law, including the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, must be strictly observed. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All parties should jointly uphold the basic norms governing international relations and defend international fairness and justice. Equal and uniform application of international law should be promoted, while double standards must be rejected.
2. Abandoning the Cold War mentality. The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly. There is no simple solution to a complex issue. All parties should, following the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and bearing in mind the long-term peace and stability of the world, help forge a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. All parties should oppose the pursuit of one’s own security at the cost of others’ security, prevent bloc confrontation, and work together for peace and stability on the Eurasian Continent.
3. Ceasing hostilities. Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control. All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually deescalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire.
4. Resuming peace talks. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. All efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be encouraged and supported. The international community should stay committed to the right approach of promoting talks for peace, help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible, and create conditions and platforms for the resumption of negotiation. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
5. Resolving the humanitarian crisis. All measures conducive to easing the humanitarian crisis must be encouraged and supported. Humanitarian operations should follow the principles of neutrality and impartiality, and humanitarian issues should not be politicized. The safety of civilians must be effectively protected, and humanitarian corridors should be set up for the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones. Efforts are needed to increase humanitarian assistance to relevant areas, improve humanitarian conditions, and provide rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, with a view to preventing a humanitarian crisis on a larger scale. The UN should be supported in playing a coordinating role in channeling humanitarian aid to conflict zones.
6. Protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs). Parties to the conflict should strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, protect women, children and other victims of the conflict, and respect the basic rights of POWs. China supports the exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine, and calls on all parties to create more favorable conditions for this purpose.
7. Keeping nuclear power plants safe. China opposes armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other peaceful nuclear facilities, and calls on all parties to comply with international law including the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) and resolutely avoid man-made nuclear accidents. China supports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in playing a constructive role in promoting the safety and security of peaceful nuclear facilities.
8. Reducing strategic risks. Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought. The threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed. Nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crisis avoided. China opposes the research, development and use of chemical and biological weapons by any country under any circumstances.
9. Facilitating grain exports. All parties need to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the UN fully and effectively in a balanced manner, and support the UN in playing an important role in this regard. The cooperation initiative on global food security proposed by China provides a feasible solution to the global food crisis.
10. Stopping unilateral sanctions. Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the issue; they only create new problems. China opposes unilateral sanctions unauthorized by the UN Security Council. Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” against other countries, so as to do their share in deescalating the Ukraine crisis and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and better the lives of their people.
11. Keeping industrial and supply chains stable. All parties should earnestly maintain the existing world economic system and oppose using the world economy as a tool or weapon for political purposes. Joint efforts are needed to mitigate the spillovers of the crisis and prevent it from disrupting international cooperation in energy, finance, food trade and transportation and undermining the global economic recovery.
12. Promoting post-conflict reconstruction. The international community needs to take measures to support post-conflict reconstruction in conflict zones. China stands ready to provide assistance and play a constructive role in this endeavor.
EXPLAINED: Zelensky’s 10-Point Peace Plan By Maryna Shashkova
Ukraine's 10-point plan, which addresses everything from child abductions to environmental damage, is a step-by-step path for peace that's actually gaining some traction among world leaders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting with the US President at the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 12, 2023. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
1. Nuclear safety
2. Food security
3. Energy security
4. Release of prisoners
5. Territorial integrity and restoration as per UN Charter
6. Cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
7. Justice and special tribunal
8. Environmental safety
9. Prevention of future aggression
10. Confirmation of war’s end
If you’ve been following the news, you might know that Ukraine has been working to get the world on board with its “10-point peace plan” to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first presented the blueprint, sometimes called the “Zelensky Peace Plan” or the “Ukrainian Peace Formula,” at a November summit of the Group of 20 major economies.
On Aug. 5 and 6, Ukraine started working to gain support for the 10-point plan among the 42 countries that participated in the first organizational peace summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Although not every country that participated in the summit was fully on board with every point, most were broadly supportive.
Eventually, Kyiv hopes that a global peace summit involving world leaders will be held and that they’ll agree to Ukraine’s vision.
But just what are these 10 points?
Well, they start with nuclear security and end with the confirmation of the end of the war in Ukraine with an emphasis on international security and justice.
Kyiv Post presents a summary of Ukraine’s blueprint for peace here:
1. Nuclear safety
In March of 2022, Russia became the first country in the world to militarily take over a working nuclear station when it took control of a nuclear plant located in Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine.
Since the occupation of the power plant, Russia has been reckless with the plant, even using it as a military base, knowing that Ukraine won’t shoot at it.
Furthermore, since being run by the Russians, the power plant has repeatedly been brought to dangerous levels. “Ukrainian nuclear power plants and installations must operate safely under full sovereign control of Ukraine. Russian troops shall be withdrawn from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and its territory shall be completely demilitarized,” according to Ukraine’s peace plans.
With its bombing and shelling, Russia’s war on Ukraine has also put other nuclear power plants at risk.
Under Ukraine’s plan, the International Atomic Energy Agency plays a lead role in implementing nuclear safeguards until power plants are returned to Ukraine.
2. Food security
It’s become very difficult for Ukraine to deliver its grain abroad, particularly to poorer Asian and African countries, where, without the grain, many risk starvation.
As part of the peace plan, Russia should stop shelling Ukraine’s ports and grain elevators and ensure the safety of Ukraine's grain exports.
“The matter of food security shall be de-weaponized,” the document says.
In July 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Deal, and there have been multiple attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and warehouses since then. On Nov. 9, a Liberian-flagged civilian ship traveling to Odesa was hit by a Russian missile.
3. Energy security
The upcoming winter will likely be another test for Ukraine. This past winter, despite many attempts, Russia failed to destroy Ukraine's energy resources and facilities, which would have left Ukrainians without light and heat.
Nevertheless, Russia did do significant damage.
This winter, Ukraine believes Russia will likely attempt to freeze Ukrainians once again.
As part of Zelensky’s peace plan, Russia should end its energy terrorism, and that Ukraine’s energy facilities should be internationally monitored, protected, and restored.
4. Release of prisoners
A staggering number of Russia’s prisoners – including both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians – have undergone torture.
Also, as many as 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia against their will – an abduction, Ukraine says.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, for the forced abduction of Ukrainian children – many of whom have been adopted by Russian families.
Under the peace plan, Russia should release all of its prisoners and deported people.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky addresses participants via videoconference during the Paris Peace Forum at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, on Nov. 10. PHOTO: AFP
5. Territorial integrity and restoration as per UN Charter
“All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,” reads Article 2 of the UN Charter.
Russia must fully restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea, which it invaded and annexed in 2014. The United Nations General Assembly rejected Crimea’s so-called “referendum” to join Russia.
In mid-2023, Russia also held multiple referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine in a bid to annex them. In his peace plan, Zelensky urged for a full restoration of Ukraine's state border as established in 1991 during its independence.
6. Cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
Russia must withdraw its army from Ukraine and cease hostilities.
7. Justice and special tribunal
A special tribunal should be created to prosecute Russian war crimes, and Russia should be held accountable for its violations of international law.
National and international evidence-gathering efforts, including by the International Criminal Court, are continued and strengthened.
8. Environmental safety
Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused environmental damage on an immense scale.
It’s led to unprecedented levels of pollution, destruction of ecosystems, and the deaths of massive numbers of animals.
Ukraine says that one of the most devastating acts of environmental destruction happened on June 6, when Russia detonated explosives from within the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. With consequences that will be felt for years, dozens of farms, villages, and towns were wiped away by flooding and thousands of people were evacuated.
“It's really ecocide that the Russian Army committed in Ukraine,” Oleksandr Todorchuk, the founder of Ukrainian animal welfare charity UAnimals told Newsweek.
Tens of thousands of animals likely died in the flooding, Todorchuk said.
Beyond the destruction of its dam, a great deal of Ukraine has been mined with explosives. First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said that as much as 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine could be contaminated with explosives.
Ukraine is calling for three steps:
Short, medium, and long-term damage assessment, including the impact on human health and biodiversity
Prosecution for those responsible for the environmental damage
Recovery and reconstruction
9. Prevention of future aggression
With an unpredictable and belligerent neighbor at its border, Ukraine wants a refined post-war security architecture so Russia won’t simply invade it again.
For that reason, the security guarantees for Ukraine should come from its international partners.
10. Confirmation of war’s end
This is the final step. The framework is set for ending the war, guaranteeing Ukraine’s future security and its reconstruction – peace for Ukraine in its entirety.
The end of the war should be confirmed at a peace conference, held with the widest possible number of countries participating and contributing. A legally binding international agreement should be signed.
Kyiv hopes its peace plan will then be used for “preventing the repetition of aggression against Ukraine and any other state in the future, small or big.”
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, hundreds of peace talks have taken place between Ukraine and Russia since 2014, but none of those negotiations “prevented Putin from launching a brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.” Thus the need for Zelensky's peace plan arose – a plan that not only ends the war but ensures peace in the long run.
Maryna Shashkova
Ukrainian journalist. Senior Corespondent at Kyiv Post. I have been working as a journalist for almost 10 years. I write about Ukrainian politics and social issues.
Trump describes how he could solve Russia-Ukraine conflict in 24 hours: Trump says President Biden isn't capable of dealing with world leaders By Anders Hagstrom
Former President Donald Trump explained his plan to secure peace in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking back the White House on Sunday, saying he would tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal.
Trump made the comments during an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" with host Maria Bartiromo. The former president said he has a good relationship with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and added that President Biden is not capable of dealing with world leaders.
"These are smart people, including Macron of France. I could go through the whole list of people, including Putin.… These people are sharp, tough and generally vicious. They're vicious, and they're at the top of their game. We have a man that has no clue what's happening. It's the most dangerous time in the history of our country," Trump said.
"So what should be the response?" Bartiromo asked. "You said you could end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. How would you do that?"
Former President Donald Trump explained his plan to secure peace in Ukriane within 24 hours of securing the White House on Sunday, saying he would tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
"I know Zelensky very well. I felt he was very honorable because when they asked him about the perfect phone call that I made, he said it was indeed, he said it was. He didn't even know what they were talking about. He could have grandstanded–" Trump said before Bartiromo cut him off.
"That's not going to be enough for Putin to stop bombing," she pointed out. Trump then explained how he would get Russia and Ukraine to end their conflict.
"I know Zelenskyy very well, and I know Putin very well, even better. And I had a good relationship, very good with both of them. I would tell Zelenskyy, no more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you don't make a deal, we're going to give him a lot. We're going to [give Ukraine] more than they ever got if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day. One day," Trump responded.
Trump says he would convince Zelenskyy to cut a deal with Putin. (Mykola Tys/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Trump is among several Republican 2024 presidential candidates who are skeptical of the war in Ukraine.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
The US repeatedly blocked peace in Ukraine — is it rethinking its strategy yet?
In 2022 the West insisted on bleeding Russia — and Ukraine — as much as possible. Now that ‘victory’ has disappeared from its rhetoric, pressure for a truce deal seems likely, write JOHN WOJCIK and CJ ATKINS
NEEDLESS MISERY: The family of Yuriy Anisimov, a Ukrainian flight engineer, cry during a funeral ceremony near Poltava, September 2023
ARE the US and its Nato allies beginning to rethink their strategy for the war in Ukraine? Officially, the US continues to stand in lockstep behind President Volodymyr Zelensky, with President Joe Biden pushing for over $60 billion in new weaponry and other aid for Ukraine as part of his recent $105bn war budget request that included Israel and Taiwan.
Other signs, however, suggest US policy regarding the war may actually be in deep trouble.
The head of Zelensky’s faction in the Ukrainian parliament, Davyd Arakhamia (aka David Braun), is openly expressing worries that Kiev’s Washington benefactor is losing interest. Stepping up his anti-semitic rhetoric, Arakhamia says Ukraine’s dependency on the US and a lack of strategy are impediments to resolving his country’s conflict with Russia.
A few days ago, Arakhamia gave an interview on Ukrainian television that grabbed international attention. He leads Zelensky’s Servant of the People Party parliamentary faction, which has eliminated most other parties in the legislature, with the exception of the extreme right-wing ones. He occupies a top spot in the president’s inner circle.
In the interview, Arakhamia accused the Biden administration of turning away from Ukraine because of “the Jews” and “the Jewish lobby” in the US. He said US Jews are “widely represented on all levels and in all decision-making centres” and that they are exerting pressure to downgrade Ukraine’s fight against Vladimir Putin so as to prioritise US backing for Netanyahu’s war in Gaza.
Arakhamia is apparently unclear about whether the alleged international Jewish conspiracy is headquartered in Tel Aviv or Washington.
Setting aside the issue of the anti-semitism reflected in the remarks by Zelensky’s top parliamentary operative, comments from Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in recent days suggest that US confidence in Kiev is indeed waning, though not because of any Israeli or Jewish distractions.
Signalling in both directions
“It is for Ukraine to decide what are acceptable ways to end this war,” Stoltenberg said Monday, a short time after Arakhamia’s interview aired. “Our responsibility is to support Ukraine and… put them in the best possible place when or if negotiations may start.”
It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to detect a change of rhetoric. No more discussions about successful counteroffensives or fighting valiantly until every inch of land is retaken from Russian forces.
“War is by nature unpredictable,” the Nato chief continued, “the more military support we provide to Ukraine, the stronger their position will be on the battlefield and the stronger their position will be on a potential negotiating table.”
To assure Zelensky that Nato isn’t totally hanging him out to dry, however, Stoltenberg promised that all the allies still want Ukraine to become a member. Some day. After some unspecified “reforms.” Gaining membership during the war, though, remains “impossible.”
Essentially, Stoltenberg was flashing both turn signals, clearly hinting at a downgrade of expectations for an outright Ukrainian military victory but still saying just the right thing to provoke Russia and ensure that the fighting will continue.
In Stoltenberg’s words, there is a glimpse into the current thinking among the Nato leadership. It’s a revelation that exposes a major flaw in Arakhamia’s analysis of the war and his conclusion that “Jews” are stealing Biden’s attention away from Ukraine: unlike Stoltenberg, he fails to give any importance whatsoever to how the war has actually been going on the ground in eastern Ukraine.
Nato and the US have been aware for some time that the war in Ukraine wasn’t really about “beating” Russia on the battlefield any more — if it ever really was. This was evident even before the current Israeli war against Palestine began. Instead of looking for a way out, though, they repeatedly propped up their now apparently ill-fated campaign with just enough weapons infusions to keep Ukraine afloat.
Peace was possible
The bankruptcy of US and allied policy in the war is reflected first of all in the failure of Ukraine’s much-hyped “summer counteroffensive,” which cost thousands of lives and only gained a few miles of muddy fields. Those pitiful “gains” cost US taxpayers many billions of dollars.
The resultant destruction and loss of many more thousands of Ukrainian and Russian lives continue, however, to provide the benefit of an unending profit stream flowing into the coffers of US armaments makers, who enthusiastically fund lawmakers who back the war.
What is becoming all too apparent is that this conflict didn’t have to still be going on right now; it didn’t have to stretch into the bloody war of attrition that it has turned into. The killing could have ended long ago.
Though Arakhamia’s anti-semitism has him looking in the wrong direction for explanations as to why Ukraine is losing, he does offer insights that are useful for understanding why the battles in the east are still raging.
It is clear that the US and its allies were out to sabotage possibilities for peace immediately after the Russian invasion. Were it not for their interference, the current war could have ended in early March 2022 — about a week after it started. Thanks to Arakhamia, we now have confirmation of this fact.
He was at the talks in Belarus and said the Russians would halt the invasion and leave Ukraine if there was agreement on Ukrainian military neutrality and its leaders gave up on Nato membership.
Rather than report this to the public, however, the media in Europe and the US focused on sensational statements that were not actually part of those negotiations. They insisted that the Russians made official demands in the talks to “de-nazify” a country that the Allies said had no Nazis. Further, Russia supposedly demanded direct control of not only the eastern Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine but also other vast stretches of the country.
Madeleine Albright, the now-deceased and famous US diplomat, once said that during negotiations, one must distinguish between what participants really want and what is just political theatre. In Belarus in March 2022, the US chose to focus on political theatre, diverting attention from the two key Russian demands.
Arakhamia said that internationally mediated negotiations in Istanbul, shortly after the March 2022 talks in Belarus, actually produced an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to bring the fighting to an end — based on those same points.
“[The Russians] were ready to end the war if we accepted neutrality like Finland once did. And we were ready to make a commitment that we would not join Nato. When we returned from Istanbul, [then-British Prime Minister] Boris Johnson came to Kiev and said: ‘Do not sign anything with them at all; just go to war,’” Arakhamia said.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was also in Istanbul, confirmed that a Russia-Ukraine peace deal was nearly reached in the spring of 2022. His remarks were reported in an interview with Berliner Zeitung on October 21.
According to Schroeder, the deal would have included four main points: the first was that Ukraine would abandon plans to join Nato. The second was that bans on the Russian language in Ukraine would be removed. The third was that Donbass would remain in Ukraine but function as an autonomous region. The fourth was that the UN and Germany would offer to supervise the security agreements. The Crimea situation was left to be addressed in the future.
Lost opportunities
Arakhamia’s revelations about the talks in Belarus and Turkey show there have been several possible and realistic chances to end the war in Ukraine. But publicly, the US and Nato still refuse to accept the fact that they bear any responsibility for time and again stonewalling and trashing negotiations that could have yielded peace.
Had the US and Nato not sabotaged peace, the war might have ended, and Ukraine would also have kept all the territories like Lugansk and Donetsk that Russian forces have taken since then. Thousands of lives could have been saved.
The US also would have avoided the very damaging proxy war defeat that some observers believe is becoming more imminent. But rather than seeking to negotiate a peace now, Nato leader Stoltenberg’s remarks betray a willingness to let the whole affair drag on for months or even years to come. Indeed, by continuing to hold out the possibility of Ukrainian membership in Nato, he is angling to sink any possibility of successful Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.
We have to wonder as well, what role does Biden’s re-election effort play in the matter? Is the sacrifice of thousands more Ukrainian and Russian lives seen by the White House as part of the price to pay in order to defeat the MAGA extremists? Surely Democratic strategists can come up with a way to win against Trump that doesn’t require further expenditure of human life in eastern Europe.
Had the peace deals that were already on the table not been sabotaged, everyone would have been better off economically as well, except, of course, for the armaments makers. Ukraine would not be a devastated leftover of its former, already very poor self, and its economy wouldn’t be on life support from US taxpayers. Germans and others in Europe would not be freezing for yet another winter due to the high energy prices caused by this war.
The Biden administration should be pushing for a ceasefire and talks, not calling for tens of billions of dollars more for additional weapons to be sent to Ukraine to prolong the war — a war that is really about weakening Russia so that US imperialism can ultimately focus its attention on China.
It’s not too late to end the madness with that first important step, a ceasefire now. The war profiteers must be told they have already done enough damage. As in Gaza, the time for the peace forces to demand a ceasefire in Ukraine is now. The time for negotiations to end this war is now.
Gail Ann (Mazzoni) Kahan passed away on March 30, 2024, in Voorhees, NJ, at the age of 77. She was born in Vineland, NJ, to the late Yola (Viveralli) and Ben Mazzoni. Gail is survived by her husband, Robert Kahan; her loving daughter Danielle Heckman-Hughes (Kevin Hughes); stepchildren Scott Kahan (Hillary Kahan) and Amy Kahan and grandchildren Nicolle, Tara, Sean, Miles, Vance, Junah, Eliyah, and Maizy.
Gail was a vibrant soul who lived life to the fullest. She was fun-loving, always cherishing happy hours and Manhattan cocktails. Her passion for life was evident in her love for various activities, especially her creative pursuits as a talented artist. Gail also had a deep interest in politics and cared for animals, with a special fondness for her pets Roxie, Max, Kai, and Brooklyn.
In her career, Gail worked as a bookkeeper from 1967 to 1975 and later as a fragrance model from 1983 to 1995. She was known for her impeccable sense of style and love for designer bags, shoes, and clothing. Gail's dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle was reflected in her regular gym visits and diligent self-care routine.
Gail will be remembered for her independent spirit and unwavering determination to live life on her own terms. She adored her friends and family, bringing smiles and laughter wherever she went. Gail found joy in the sunshine of Florida, where she loved to shop and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Rest in peace, Gail, as your spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved you.
A church visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 10:30am to 11:30am followed by a funeral mass at 11:30am from Christ The Good Shepherd Parish - Church Of Sacred Heart, 1010 East Landis Avenue, Vineland. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland.
ARRANGEMENTS are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
Donations in memory of Gail may be made to: South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter, 1244 N. Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360 or Samaritan Hospice, 265 S. Route 73, Voorhees, NJ 08043
To send online condolences please visit our website at www.RONEFUNERALSERVICE.com
Mary Bernadette Haffert Anninos, 85, of Sea Isle City, died peacefully on March 22, 2024 surrounded by her family. The oldest of six children of Helen and Horace Haffert, she was born in Philadelphia, PA on March 7, 1939 and grew up in Sea Isle City, NJ. As a child, she attended St. Ann’s grade school and Wildwood Catholic High School, graduating as the Valedictorian of her class. A graduate of Duquesne University, she received a BA degree in Education.
In 1958, Peter Anninos, the summer manager of the Howard Johnson, Exit 17 on the Garden State Parkway, hired Mary as a waitress. Two years later, they were married in St. Joseph’s Church in Sea Isle, a union that lasted 62 years. Mary and Peter raised their family in Delran, NJ, where she taught second grade in the School District for thirty years. She influenced many young lives with numerous former students reaching out over the years to thank her for her kind and nurturing ways.
After they retired, Mary and Pete moved back to Sea Isle in 2003, making new friends and valuable contributions to their community. Mary continued her lifelong commitment to compassionate care for animals with Sea Isle City’s Save Our Strays (SOS). Their successful trap, neuter, and release program ultimately led to zero new births from feral cats in 2020. Active in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church as a member of the Bereavement Committee, she also volunteered for the Sea Isle City Historical Society.
Like her mother, a fervent believer in the power of prayer, she spent several hours each day actively praying for those she knew and the world at large. Known for her sense of humor and positive outlook, she formed and maintained many lasting friendships throughout her life. Mary treated her friends like family. Loving and kind, she embraced all of God’s creatures of both the two- and four-legged variety.
Predeceased by her husband Peter Anninos Sr., and her brothers, H. Joseph Haffert and Gregory Haffert. She is survived by her children, Peter J. Anninos, Jr. (Suzanne), Christopher Anninos (Colleen), Nicole McIntyre, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Anne Louise Bogda, and her brothers George W. Haffert and Mark Haffert, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her furry feline friend, Silverado. There will be a viewing from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at St. Joseph's Church, 43rd Street and Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 AM. The Service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/radzietafuneralhome/. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Carmelite Monastery, 61 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Boston MA 02119 or Save Our Strays, 4208 Landis Ave, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243, or St. Joseph’s Church would be appreciated. Condolences at www.radzieta.com.
Harriet L. Rothstein (nee Spector) passed away on March 21, 2024 surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of Joel Rothstein; loving mother of Adam Rothstein and Toby (Steven) Gruber; step-mother of Jill (Jason) Greshes. Grandmother of Shae, Jack, Sydney, Arianna and Xander. A longtime educator in the Philadelphia School District. Relatives and friends are invited to graveside services on Monday, March 25th, 2024 at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery at 1:00PM precisely. Contributions in her memory can be made to Love-Feeds, or to the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
