The West accuse Russia of threatening Ukraine.

Russia declare the US has allowed "pure Nazis" to take over Ukraine. This shows Russian historical fears: yet note President Zelensky is Jewish. On said fears, the 'problematic' areas of Ukraine for Russia are partly so because of them having been part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1793, and the country's border having been shifted westwards after WW2, along with Poland's. Europe tries to forget this bloody history: the US doesn't seem to know it.

Russia warn "If our western partners push Kyiv to sabotage the Minsk agreements, something that Ukraine is...willingly doing, then that might end in the absolute worst way for Ukraine. And not because somebody has destroyed it, but because it would have destroyed itself and Russia has absolutely nothing to do with this."; and

The Russian UN delegate then walk out without even hearing what Ukraine had to say.

Against that backdrop it is perhaps no great loss that British PM BYO was unable to take a scheduled call with Russian President Putin because he was too tied up with the release of the Gray Report on No. 10 parties, which pointed out unacceptable leadership behavior, law-breaking, cover-ups, and excessive alcohol consumption. (Which there is no evidence of at all in the UK government, honest…doesn't the clip remind you of a certain 'Fast Show' family with a drinking problem?). PM BYO is off to Ukraine today instead, where the allegations made in the Gray Report are called a normal working Tuesday. French President Macron did manage to hold another call with Putin yesterday: but he isn't going to Ukraine, and neither are French weapons.

Clearly, geopolitical tensions, like blood alcohol levels, are rising, and the trees that have been climbed look harder and harder to climb down from: anyone hoping this can be achieved needs to first ask if those involved know how to climb much at all.

To underline this key point, Iran nuclear talks are "in the final stretch," and "can't go forever," according to a senior US official, who adds "We will know sooner rather than later whether we are back in the JCPOA...or whether we're going to have to face a different reality and reality of mounting tensions and crises." We have heard that before endlessly as Iran has continued to work towards threshold nuclear status. Guess who the US is leaning on to help get a deal over the line?