Dear CCI Friends,

In the dark, remote past of a little over a decade ago, Alex Krainer took a deep dive into the world of William Browder, American hedge fund manager and originator/sponsor of the US Magnitsky Act named after Browder’s accountant who died in a Russian prison.  Most of us know the history as presented by Browder in his self-serving book and as presented before the US Congress.  Far fewer followed Krainer as he delved into real facts and timelines to prove that what we thought we knew as ‘truth’ of the affair was all too often fantasy.

Krainer has trained the same harsh light on the war in Ukraine as it commenced in 2014.  It is uncomfortable reading in that the more we go into the granular details of what happened 12 years ago, the more we are forced to face the fact that what we are seeing (and doing) in Ukraine today must be cause for deep shame – right down to the minor note played by that all-American, Jeffrey Epstien.  

Not for the faint of heart:

It’s the Collateral, Stupid!

“Why, we might ask, were the banking interests so keen that their Kiev junta retain control of the Donbas? It all had much less to do with its freedom and democracy and more with its large coal industry, ferrous-metallurgy industry, machine building, chemical industry, construction sector, enormous energy resources, diversified agriculture, and a dense transportation network – all coveted prizes for the western financial interests.”

https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/kievs-2014-anti-terror-operation

On  a different but related subject, you might take a look at Krainer’s latest – a cold eye on the King of England who is in the US on a charm tour.  It is interesting to contemplate the King’s urging – that we follow his advice and launch into World War III – in this particular year, the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War.  Back then we were fed up to the teeth with kings and had no use for their useless advice on how to live our lives.  Now?

“Charles III and Britain’s Pathological Obsession With Russia”

“Yesterday, Charles III called for World War III, echoing the 1945 “Project Unthinkable” Britain’s obsession with waging war on Russia is now a mortal danger to all of us.”

https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/charles-iii-and-britains-pathological

Many of our readers will disagree with Krainer’s analyses.  Please do give us your take on his take on the US proxy war against Russia and on Britain’s historical fixation.

Sincerely,
Krishen, Charles, Paula
Directors, Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

Please consider the article and the video below in light of these questions: is the EU activerly obstructing the possibility of peace in Ukraine and is it actively campaigning for an all-out war with Russia?  

Patrick Lawrence, Ian Proud and Richard Sakwa make the case that that is indeed what is going on in Europe, unbelievable as it seems.  Professor Sakwa’s historical perspective is particularly disturbing; the war hysteria that is becoming more and more evident in Europe today is eerily, disturbingly like what we know occurred there in the lead-up to World War I.  

Please let us know how all of this strikes you.

Two Theatres, One War

“What animates these two confrontations such that to understand our moment we must see Ukraine and Iran as two theaters of a single war?”

https://consortiumnews.com/2026/04/18/patrick-lawrence-iran-ukraine-two-theaters-of-non-wests-single-war-for-parity/

“Excluding Russia from the West Caused the Ukraine War”

The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

With the possibility of a two-week breather in the US/Israel/Iran war before us we may be permitted to focus our attention on the possibility of some sort of peace plan in the works between the US and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.  

Andrew Korybko, an American living in Moscow who posts an impressive amount of daily geopolitical analysis,  provides details of recent meetings between US and Russian lawmakers that have received almost no coverage in mainstream media here.  Sanctions have been “temporarily lifted” to make the mutual meet-ups, in Washington and in Moscow, happen.

“Newly Revived Russian-US Interparliamentary Dialogue”

“Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna hosted a delegation of Russian lawmakers who visited DC after the sanctions upon them were temporarily lifted to facilitate their travels there. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assessed the talks that they held with their bipartisan American counterparts as “very helpful.” Putin’s Special Envoy for talks with the US, who worked with Luna to help make this happen, then invited US congressmen to Russia. The sanctions upon them would also be temporarily lifted to facilitate this.”

https://korybko.substack.com/p/whats-the-importance-of-the-newly

Is there room for hope?

Sincerely,
The Directors
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

Shane Fitzgerald is a new (to us!) geopolitical commentator who, unlike most in the commentariat class, discusses Crimea from a unique perspective; he has actually been there.

Further, some of Fitzgerald’s trips to Crimea included the period over the last decade when many CCI travelers visited the peninsula, also.  We will be very interested to learn whether your perceptions are in line with his, or not.

Please consider:

“6 Myths of the Russo-Ukrainian War”

“What people really want matters more than what some want them to want.”

https://truthandbalance22.substack.com/p/6-myths-of-the-russo-ukrainian-war

Best regards and best wishes to all in the CCI community for a peaceful Easter holiday.

The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

The ramifications of the war on Iran are spreading beyond anyone’s imagination with no end in sight.  Its effects on Russia and on US/Russia relations appear to fall into the category of unintended consequences – perhaps the most tragically common consequence of all wars.

Please consider the following commentaries;  Gilbert Doctorow sees the US/Israeli assassinations in Iran as a possible precursor to similar attacks on Russian leaders while Alexander Mercouris speculates on the Russian support for Iran.  Neither of these gentlemen are prophets but they are both deeply immersed in the study of all information available to the West on these subjects.  Please let us know your assessments.

“Iran War Transforms Ukraine War”

Is There a Power Struggle in the Kremlin?

https://gilbertdoctorow.substack.com/p/last-days-of-the-putin-regime-with

For a possibly positive outlook on the future between Russia and Ukraine, please see the article by Scott Ritter  below.  Could the Russian/Chechen experience show the way to a peaceful, cooperative future for today’s adversaries?

When Combatants Find Reconciliation Impossible

https://scottritter.substack.com/p/how-the-chechen-miracle-kick-started

Very best wishes to all of our CCI friends in these very dark times.

The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives