Russia has decided to play with MICE – Money, Ideology, Compromise, and Ego – in negotiating with Trump:
MOSCOW TIMES reports Russia plans to include a Trump Tower Moscow to get what they want from Trump. 🤔
Should be another huge scandal. Won’t be. The normalization of corruption has sunk in deep. This is how countries fall. 🇺🇸
www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/21/t…— Opheliasblue (@opheliasblue.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
From The Moscow Times: (emphasis mine)
As Moscow prepares for possible negotiations with Washington aimed at ending its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is seeking a far more ambitious outcome than a mere ceasefire: a global reordering of spheres of influence.
In the Kremlin’s view, such an agreement would effectively mean U.S. recognition of Russian dominance in the post-Soviet space — including Ukraine — and, to some extent, an acknowledgment of its influence in Europe.
To secure that goal, the Kremlin is now scouring for incentives it believes can catch and hold President Donald Trump’s attention, ranging from rare earths deals and geopolitical leverage in Iran and North Korea to a long-dreamed-of Trump Tower in Moscow.
Five current Russian government officials, including two diplomats, three sources close to the Kremlin and employees of three major state-owned companies confirmed this to The Moscow Times, all speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“The main thing is that they [the Americans] don’t interfere in our affairs and don’t tell us how to live,” said a senior Russian official familiar with the Kremlin’s negotiating logic. “That they don’t hinder us in doing what we are doing.”
The Kremlin, recognizing the limitations of its negotiating position, has tasked officials and experts with analyzing and identifying all possible incentives that could grab Trump’s interest and keep the talks from narrowing to a limited agenda.
With few remaining levers, Moscow sees the war in Ukraine as its most potent bargaining chip, and officials hope to take advantage of Trump’s eagerness to secure a ceasefire.
“We need to milk Trump as much as possible, dangling the possibility of a ceasefire like a carrot before him,” one participant in the discussions said.
There is little illusion about the fragility of this opportunity.
“The window may slam shut. Trump could lose interest or, worse, bear a grudge,” diplomats and officials who spoke to The Moscow Times agreed.
However, many in the Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin hold a different view.
“We are on the right track. The priority is to recalibrate relations with the United States — a task that is anything but simple — while keeping dialogue on Ukraine alive,” one Russian diplomat said. “From there, the situation on the ground will dictate the next moves. Ultimately, it’s all about time, patience and staying the course.”
Formally, the Kremlin has signaled a willingness to make concessions.
Officials see two main scenarios. The first is to agree to a Trump-brokered ceasefire in exchange for concessions like limitations on U.S. weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
“Though this doesn’t mean weapons won’t still come in via Europe,” one Russian diplomat cautioned.
The second: if talks collapse, blame Kyiv.
“If Russia refuses a ceasefire, we must be ready to once again face a united Western front, and in an even less favorable configuration for us,” another official warned.
And then there’s the idea of a Trump Tower in Moscow. Officials have brainstormed building a 150-story Trump Tower in Moscow City, the capital’s business district. The project could be quickly launched, and Trump himself could participate in the groundbreaking.
“Speed, impact and showiness: those are things Trump intuitively values,” said a source close to the Kremlin. This all the more so given that Trump’s team and Russian officials had discussed this project in the past, he added.
Across all of these proposals, the Kremlin is guided by a single axiom: initiatives must be personally tailored to Trump, achievable within a single term and offer strong media appeal.
“Without that,” said a senior Russian official, “it’s naive to expect any progress.”
More at the link.
President Zelenskyy did not give an address today. He did do a press conference.
Zelenskyy offered a new partnership model to the United States.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Here’s the video:
Georgia:
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 146— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
🚨Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli marks 100 days in unjust detention.
The Batumelebi & Netgazeti CEO faces 4–7 yrs on political charges.
‼️GD officials have openly violated her presumption of innocence, calling for harsh punishment to ‘create a chilling effect.’
#RepressionInGeorgia
#MediaUnderAttack— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) April 22, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Join the campaign #FreeMzia and sign the statement: ⤵️
ipi.media/free-mzia-to…— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) April 22, 2025 at 7:06 AM
1/ Mzia Amaglobeli — journalist and a founder-director of the newspaper Batumelebi and the online platform Netgazeti — was arrested on allegations of assaulting a police officer.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
2/ She faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years. As a form of protest, Mzia Amaglobeli went on a hunger strike for 38 days.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
3/ Batumelebi and Netgazeti are respected outlets that, among other topics, report on corruption. Batumelebi revealed how the ruling Georgian Dream party allegedly used voters’ personal data during the 2024 elections.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
4/ Many international and local groups consider Amaghlobeli a political prisoner, while the government claims that slapping a police officer is a serious crime.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
There was a significant unrest during political prisoner Saba Skhvitaridze’s unjust trial which spilled over outside, and one person has been detained. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Moscow on the Muscovy and Moscow on the Potomac:
I’m told Trump envoy for Russia Steve Witkoff will not attend the Ukraine talks tomorrow in London. The US State Department just confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not go either. via @financialtimes.com
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) April 22, 2025 at 1:16 PM
That’s a pretty good indicator that Trump and his people aren’t expecting much.
The reason they’re not expecting much is that what is being publicly bandied about is never going to be acceptable to anyone in Ukraine.
What a generous “concession”.
“The Russian president told Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, during a meeting in St Petersburg earlier this month that Moscow could relinquish its claims to areas of four partly occupied Ukrainian regions that remain under Kyiv’s control”
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Yes. “European officials briefed on US efforts to end the war cautioned that Putin would probably use the apparent concession as bait to lure Trump into accepting Russia’s other demands and forcing them on Ukraine as a fait accompli”
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 22, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks.
Putin reportedly conveyed the offer during a recent meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. This could be the first formal indication from Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responding to the report, cast doubt on its accuracy. “A lot of fakes are being published now, including those published by respected publications, so one should only listen to primary sources,” he told the Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti.
Russia illegally declared ownership over Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014 and over Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, in violation of international law. Russia only partially occupies the four oblasts.
Moscow has repeatedly demanded international recognition of the regions as Russian and that Ukrainian troops completely withdraw from them as part of any peace negotiations.
Putin’s message reportedly prompted Washington to propose a “peace settlement,” elements of which have since been revealed in media reports, according to the FT.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. proposal — presented in a confidential April 17 meeting in Paris — involves potentially recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership.
Ukraine has been asked to respond this week, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in London on April 23 involving delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., and France. If the parties reach a consensus, the proposal may be formally introduced to Moscow.
European officials cited by the FT expressed concern that Putin’s offer is designed to push U.S. President Donald Trump toward accepting broader Kremlin demands.
President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected such conditions on April 22, reiterating that Ukraine will not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea under any scenario.
“This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war.”
Witkoff, who conveyed Putin’s position and is expected to visit Moscow this week, has drawn criticism for backing proposals perceived as aligning with Russian interests.
Washington has signaled that if no progress is made in the coming days, it may abandon its ceasefire mediation efforts.
Patrushev hates America, and has not suddenly turned friendly – he’s simply following the current Kremlin line of trying to exacerbate divisions between the US and Europe. The aim is to spilt the West, and, ultimately, NATO, removing constraints on fascist Russia’s imperialism.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Here’s the full video:
Back to Ukraine.
Kharkiv:
Violent Shahed drone attack on Kharkiv right now—over dozen explosions. Odesa was heavily hit overnight. A friend called it “carpet bombing.” This is Russia’s idea of negotiations.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
One of the 13 russian drones that attacked Kharkiv today struck a road as cars were passing by, seriously injuring a driver. Additionally, eight other civilians were injured.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Smoke from drone strikes over Kharkiv: After capturing world headlines with his fake “Easter Ceasefire” (just a brief halt to air attacks) Putin has resumed indiscriminate attacks on civilians in major Ukrainian cites: Struck to far – Odesa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya,and Kharkiv.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🚨 Russia attacks two Ukrainian cities—Kharkiv hit with 12 drones, 8 injured; 26 wounded in Zaporizhzhia, 1 elderly woman killed.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Odesa:
Russian drones are attacking Odesa right now
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Every night in Odesa looks like this! 💥
Shaheds are flying into the densely populated neighborhoods of our city!
A big bow to our sky gods from the AFU who shoot down this buzzing shit with explosives inside! 🫡🇺🇦— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 7:07 AM
💪 The work of combat mobile groups tonight in the Odesa region 🔥
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 7:07 AM
🔥🇺🇦 The Russian enemy has massively attacked Odesa with attack drones: civilian infrastructure, residential houses, educational institutions and vehicles have been damaged. According to preliminary information, three people were injured.
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Zaporizhzhia:
🚨 A Russian glide bomb hit an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia.
Local authorities say two people are injured so far.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 22, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Russia attacked Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least 13 people, including 2 children ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:16 AM
At least one person died in the Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhia—a 69-year-old woman. At least 13 people were injured.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 6:43 AM
🔥🦾 GUR warriors thwarted a large-scale Russian offensive in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
The enemy used more than 300 orcs, 40 armored vehicles, 3 tanks and about 10 buggies, which advanced in 6 columns.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
⚡💥 The first 3 infantry fighting vehicles burned down 8 kilometers before the contact line as a result of successful actions of FPV operators and artillery. The rest of the columns were also destroyed on the outskirts of our positions.
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Sumy:
Dog found alive in rubble after latest Russian attack on Sumy.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 22, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Pokrovsk:
Russian strikes leveled Pokrovsk’s St. Volodymyr Church, forcing evacuations as daily air attacks turn the city into a danger zone.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:
Russia is turning over 50,000 Ukrainian children into tools of war through camps, indoctrination, and forced deportation.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 22, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The Russians do this to their own children too. Part of the Immortals’ Regiment mythology, as well as how the history of WW II is taught in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, includes indoctrinating Russian children, from toddlers to high schoolers, in mythologized and largely ahistorical Russian militarism.
Russian occupied Bakhmut:
Russian occupiers know no bounds in their cynicism. They walk through war-torn Ukrainian Bakhmut — destroyed by their own hands — where they’ve already hung posters celebrating their so-called “great holiday” and flags bearing Soviet symbols.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Vladimirsky Oblast, Russia:
There’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing Russian munitions explode in storage—each detonation is one less threat to our homes and hospitals. Beautiful 😍
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The sight and sound of hundreds, maybe thousands of Ukrainian lives being saved in an instant, as a massive secondary explosion hits a Russian ammo depot 80km ENE of Moscow, after an attack by Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, fascist Russia bombs apartment blocks in Ukrainian cities.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM
KA-BOOOOM!
Massive secondary explosion looks like a volcanic eruption!— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Part of a Russian munition buried in a road 6 km from the Russian ammo depot in Vladimir Oblast hit by Ukrainian drones on April 22, causing vast explosions. Source: t.me/dronbomber/1…. The depot is 530km from the nearest Ukrainian territory, and 80km ENE of Moscow.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A fresh set of phone backgrounds to choose from.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Forests caught fire near the 51st GRAU arsenal.
Detonation is still ongoing.— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
St. Petersburg, Russia:
A warehouse in Saint Petersburg also suddenly caught fire, covering 500 square meters.
Residents are filming a large column of smoke from various locations.— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos tonight.
Here is some adjacent material.
It happens 🦮
An unplanned morning run by a AFU soldier 💙😉— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 21, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
Just a FYI for everyone: I’m aware that it was reported that Pope Francis personally paid for a drone for the Kholodniy Yar Regiment. The report at United24 Media has been pulled and the source appears to be a Ukrainian historian’s initial and then follow on Facebook posts. Which basically boil down to: “I was involved with this you can trust I’m relating something that did happen.” Without independent sourcing, put this under RUMINT.
Westyny
Thanks Adam, and fuck Georgia Dream.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Jay
Mice pretty much describes DJTdiot’s admin and the Rethugs.
NutmegAgain
That dog video? It looks a frightening lot like me trying to teach my current dog (140 lb Newfoundland, rescue) to walk on a leash. I made the mistake of wrapping the leash around my hand, and got away with only bruises, but I learned the meaning of de-gloving.
Thank you Adam for your dedicate endurance.
grumbles
I can only guess at how many high windows Trump Tower Moskva would have.
Shalimar
Since we’re talking about Putin, I assume the grand plan includes throwing Trump out of a window from the penthouse when the building is complete.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@NutmegAgain: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Bupalos
Thanks for the work Adam, I’m generally unable to engage with these lately but somehow my stomach was up to it tonight.
I have no idea what to make of this supposed leaking to Western Media of the plans to bribe and flatter Trump. Almost just sounds like a kind of insulting and trolling Trump. Or I guess it could be a genuine attempt to sabotage a cease-fire negotiation by the ultra-nationalist faction? Dunno. It’s certainly hard to take at anything like face value.
Adam L Silverman
@Bupalos: You’re most welcome. It’s all maskirovka.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Thank you Adam.