Dear CCI Friends,

Russophobia or ‘Irrussianality’ is so much a part of American culture now that attempting to counter it with something as simple as critical thinking or rational argument seems hopeless.  How can a mere citizen dare to argue with an “Official Narrative?”

That being the case, the article below from Patrick Lawrence and Christian Muller comes as a refreshing surprise.  It seems the generalized fear of imminent invasion by the Russians is not a threat, the Russians aren’t coming, not to the United States and not even to Europe.  And we are assured of this by the ultra-conservative Rand Corporation, of all unlikely sources.

Take a look at their assessment and see what you think.

“The Myth of Russian Aggression”

“RAND was as Cold War-ish as any think tank serving the U.S. government was bound to be during those decades, and this makes its conclusions here all the weightier. The Russians are not coming, to turn the title of the old Alan Arkin comedy upside down. They pose no military threat either to Europe or the United States and do not pretend to do so. As history shows, it is essentially reactive and acts defensively. We have had this from RAND for six years.”

https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/the-myths-of-russian-aggression

Scott Ritter has produced a summation of his journey on the road to peace and civilized relations with Russia – the other exceptional super power in the world today.  His dedication is an inspiration to us all.

“I traveled to Russia to prevent a Third World War.”

https://scottritter.substack.com/p/the-fifth-year

This week marks the anniversary of the end of World War II.   Russians remember that war vividly; do we?  

Does ‘Never Again’ Mean Anything Anymore?

https://leonvermeulen.substack.com/p/victory-day-and-europes-strategic

Best wishes to all in the CCI community.

The Center for Citizen Initiatives

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”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoYbBQMNRIs

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