Evo News

News, obvious and not

[evonews]

(5 March 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Yesterday, at one of the platforms set up for consultations between Russian leadership representatives and U.S. President Donald Trump’s team, the Politburo received an unexpected proposal.

Trump is effectively suggesting that both sides define their spheres of influence in Europe and develop a detailed plan to establish and formalise these spheres.

Since the beginning of negotiations, there have been hints from the U.S. side regarding this issue, though never in concrete terms. This was initially linked to the claim over Narva, with certain Russian officials informally referring to it as a “Russian city.” This notion was floated as a “wish list” to Trump’s newly formed team at the time.

Since then, the Americans have repeatedly probed how the Russian leadership intends to handle this issue, even suggesting discussions on potential options. Each time the topic resurfaced, debates broke out within the Politburo about whether it should even be seriously discussed with the Americans. Using it as leverage against the West was one thing, but getting drawn into someone else’s game was another matter entirely.

Now, however, the U.S. leadership is directly proposing to bring this old dream of certain Politburo members to life—at least as a strategic plan, but with a clear path toward implementation.

This has sparked heated debates within the Russian leadership. It is obvious to all that Trump’s goal is twofold:

1. To tighten his grip on Europe by splitting it and making most of it submissive to U.S. influence.

2. To drive a wedge between Russia and China.

This topic will be on the table during the upcoming Putin-Trump meeting, which is expected to take place very soon.

[evonews]

(4 March 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Despite the resumption of negotiations between Politburo representatives and U.S. President Donald Trump’s team, the Russian leadership finds itself with even more unanswered questions. The entire domestic political agenda in Russia now depends directly on decisions made by the U.S. president, without even factoring in Chinese allies. In fact, Xi Jinping and his associates remain on standby, watching as Trump sets an unpredictable political tempo.

It is worth noting that the U.S. president is not following a set script but rather improvising in real-time, baffling not only external observers but also his own team. This has become increasingly apparent from the behaviour of his negotiators.

On Sunday and Monday, the Russian leadership was informed of a “goodwill gesture”—a supposed willingness by the U.S. to lift some of the sanctions imposed on Russia. However, the number and significance of these sanctions fluctuated almost hourly. By Monday evening, the Politburo demanded clarity from the American side, urging them to stop “playing games” and instead provide clearly formulated proposals that, once mutually approved, would be formally locked in.

Trump’s team insists that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will soon change his stance under U.S. pressure—within days, rather than weeks or months. The Russian leadership remains skeptical but is willing to wait.

Adding to the uncertainty, Trump sent a personal message to the Politburo, stating that “a big surprise” awaits on 4 March, without providing further details. This only heightened tensions in Moscow, as Trump’s “surprises” have consistently complicated the negotiation process—a clear and growing trend.

[evonews]

(2 March 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Following the altercation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, the atmosphere within the Politburo could best be described as “disarray and turmoil.” By that time, negotiating teams from Russia and the United States had managed to agree not only on the framework for a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine but also on several economic projects.

For instance, Trump’s team proposed allowing U.S. companies to participate in the extraction of Russian gas and its subsequent sale to Europe via the Nord Streams (which the U.S. would help restore) and through gas transit via Ukraine, also under U.S. supervision. The gas would essentially be rebranded as “American,” and Europe was expected to view this as a “guarantee of stability” and proof that the Russian leadership harboured no ill intentions.

Moreover, Trump’s representatives suggested that the Politburo entrust nearly all Russian exports to the European Union to American intermediaries—naturally, for a “modest share.” The Russian leadership saw these proposals as an excellent way to navigate the economic crisis the country is sliding into and gave preliminary approval to several projects.

Negotiations resumed on Sunday, with U.S. representatives assuring that everything remained under control, though the timeline for implementation might need adjustments. However, the Politburo is concerned about the European Union’s reaction and a new proposal from several European countries to increase military aid to Ukraine. If Trump’s team does not take full control of negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership soon, continuing discussions with the Russian leadership—at least regarding the ceasefire—will become increasingly difficult.

[evonews]

(1 March 2025, 19:00)

Dear readers,

Since yesterday, all contacts at negotiation platforms between Russia and the United States have been suspended. Both sides are awaiting clarifications from Donald Trump regarding the current situation before discussing how to proceed with the preliminary agreements that had already been formed.

[evonews]

(1 March 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Yesterday’s heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky at the White House has left almost the entire Politburo in a state of gloom. One might think they would be pleased, but no. The issue is that the framework of an agreement between the Russian leadership and Trump’s team for a ceasefire in Ukraine had already been outlined, and many other agreements hinged on the success of that deal.

Now, everything is up in the air, and much of what had been agreed upon may have to be reconsidered.

[evonews]

(28 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

While the arrests of generals have been put on hold, the Politburo has launched a “major purge” of third-tier elites. In essence, this is a clear signal not only of a possible imminent truce—military leadership is set to undergo a complete cleansing after the war ends—but also of an impending power transition. Under the guise of an anti-corruption campaign, the plan is to purge at least 40% of regional elites. Some will face criminal prosecution, while others will simply be dismissed or will “resign voluntarily.”

Next in line is a reshuffling of governors, which is meant to serve as the prologue to a full-scale reformatting of power. While the system will retain its external structure, internally, it will undergo significant reforms. The presidential and parliamentary elections are expected to conclude this major transition.

Of course, all these plans will be adjusted in the course of implementing the peace settlement in Ukraine and dealing with the worsening crisis in Russia’s economy and financial system. However, the overall direction is expected to remain unchanged. The transition plan even accounts for a possible sharp deterioration in already fragile relations with the U.S. leadership. One thing is clear: the great power transition will be the dominant process in Russia throughout the year.

[evonews]

(27 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

What is happening in Russian politics right now can rightly be called an “American rollercoaster”, both literally and figuratively. Inside the Politburo, euphoria over new opportunities, which arise three times a day, is quickly replaced by bitter, if not brutal, disappointment. The main reason for this is U.S. President Donald Trump and his expressive, unpredictable approach to deal-making.

The Politburo is a diverse and fragmented body, while the proposals from Trump’s team are highly targeted, aimed at specific factions within it. This is creating instability at the highest levels of Russian leadership, leading to the first signs of a split within the Politburo. It would be an exaggeration to say that Trump is deliberately working to fracture the unity of Russia’s leadership, such a strategy would not serve his interests, at least at this stage. Instead, he simply acts as he sees fit in the moment, changing his mind within minutes and putting forward ideas that contradict his own previous positions.

This could eventually turn the cautious admiration for Trump, shared by most members of the Politburo to some extent, into outright rejection of his ideas. If that happens, it will deepen the internal crisis in Russia and put an end to the American president’s “peace initiatives,” pushing relations toward a new level of confrontation.

[evonews]

(25 February 2025, 19:00)

Dear readers,

The “new economic cooperation” between the U.S. and Russia could turn the Russian Federation into a vassal of two overlords, Washington and Beijing. At least, that is what the current proposal suggests.

[evonews]

(25 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

On the anniversary of the war’s beginning, the Politburo held consultations regarding the possibilities of ending the conflict and planning for the post-war period. Nearly everyone in the Politburo considers the war with Ukraine a major mistake, though there is no consensus on how to exit this “mistake.”

The faction once regarded as hawks insists that, while starting the war was the wrong decision, its conclusion must yield a “tangible result that can be presented as a victory.” Meanwhile, those advocating for a swift end to hostilities with potential mutual concessions are more focused on post-war strategies.

It has become clear that U.S. President Donald Trump cannot guarantee a reduction in European sanctions, nor those imposed by other nations. In light of the latest sanctions from the EU and the UK, Russia’s path out of the crisis appears increasingly difficult.

The Russian leadership finds itself trapped by its own problems and miscalculations. On the one hand, Trump’s proposals for ending the war are tempting but do not promise relief from European sanctions, leaving the economic and financial crisis unresolved. On the other hand, prolonging the war will only accelerate Russia’s downward spiral, pushing the situation beyond control.

A solution must be found in the coming months—otherwise, a steep economic decline seems all but inevitable.

[evonews]

(24 February 2025, 21:34)

Dear readers,

The Politburo has received a new proposal from Trump’s team that requires an “urgent” response. In light of this, operational consultations have been scheduled for tomorrow at 11:00 Moscow time to discuss the matter.

[evonews]

(24 February 2025, 19:00)

Dear readers,

The Politburo has expressed concern over the health of the Pope and the possibility of his passing. The issue lies in the fact that the Vatican has traditionally served as a convenient platform for negotiations, and with Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States, this venue has gained even greater significance. However, uncertainty looms over who will become the next Pope and, consequently, what stance he may take towards the Russian leadership.

[evonews]

(24 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Negotiations between representatives of the Russian leadership and President Donald Trump’s team are progressing productively across all platforms. The primary focus remains the prospect of a sustainable truce between Russia and Ukraine, but numerous related issues must also be resolved urgently. As we have previously reported, both the Politburo and Trump—driven by different motivations—are pushing their teams to reach a deal as quickly as possible.

Over the past few days, the positions of both sides have drawn significantly closer, fuelling hopes that discussions may soon reach their final stage. At that point, Donald Trump and “Putin” would need to meet in person to resolve the last remaining obstacles to a compromise. The Politburo has received assurances from the American side regarding the “swift removal of the most burdensome sanctions” imposed by the United States on Russia. This is expected to take place after the signing of the final agreement and the formal commencement of a truce.

Another key agreement has also emerged—one that directly limits Russia’s offensive capabilities on the front line. U.S. negotiators insist that Russian forces refrain from using North Korean-made weapons and ammunition delivered after 31 December 2024 for the duration of the talks. Additionally, the absence of North Korean military personnel from the front remains one of the preconditions set by the U.S. for engaging in negotiations.

[evonews]

(21 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

While the ongoing negotiations between the Politburo and President Donald Trump’s team continue to be all over the media landscape, and Trump’s bombastic statements is shocking the unprepared public, another set of discussions is unfolding quietly, without fanfare. Discussions between representatives of the White House administration and Alexander Lukashenko’s envoys are progressing far more productively than the Russian-American-Ukrainian tug-of-war, and their results will soon become evident.

Alexander Grigoryevich is playing a fascinating game of “servant to two masters.” He has successfully convinced the Politburo that he is willing to prioritise Russian interests over his own and those of his country, pushing them far into the background. In reality, the opposite is happening. Lukashenko has positioned himself before his American counterparts as the antithesis of “Putin,” portraying himself as “the primary factor restraining Russia,” despite his complete dependence on Moscow.

The Belarusian leader is effectively offering the United States a deal: make him less reliant on Russia by facilitating the transition of power that he has already negotiated with the Russian leadership. In return, Lukashenko promises to release “all” political prisoners, albeit gradually, and to carry out a “democratisation” of Belarus. In exchange, he expects open markets and generous financial support, which he describes as “mere dust” for the United States. Russian interests are not even on the agenda of these talks. At this rate, Trump’s team might soon be hailing Lukashenko as a model of democracy for Europe.

[evonews]

(20 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Across all negotiation platforms, representatives of the Politburo and President Donald Trump’s team are actively working to finalise the meeting between the “two presidents.” Negotiators on both sides have been instructed to act swiftly and agree on a date as soon as possible. However, a prearranged compromise, albeit not a major one, is required, particularly concerning a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. This remains a significant obstacle.

As of last night, no compromise had been reached on any of the proposals put forward by either side. Both Trump and the Russian leadership are eager for this meeting, but their objectives are entirely different. A faction within the Politburo insists that the meeting must serve as a confirmation of Russia’s “victory,” and this “victory” must appear convincing. Trump’s team, however, has no interest in granting such symbolic wins. Their proposals centre on the prospect of mutual cooperation and an alliance against Europe and China. Essentially, their message is: “Help us bring Europe to heel, and we will help you reduce dependence on China by reopening global markets”—naturally, only after some form of ceasefire in Ukraine, however fragile it may be.

While discussions over the date of the “Putin-Trump” meeting continue, Russia is already facing an acute medical crisis. Medicines essential for treating a range of illnesses are in severe shortage in 65% of the country’s regions. In 15% of regions, even seasonal illnesses cannot be properly treated due to a lack of supplies.

[evonews]

(19 February 2025, 19:00)

Dear readers,

One of the main sticking points in the negotiations between Russia and the United States over a possible end to the war is the issue of sanctions against Russia.

The Russian leadership has put forward a series of deliberately unrealistic demands, insisting that concessions must be met with the lifting of sanctions—some of which, according to their proposal, should be removed during the negotiation process rather than as a result of an agreement.

Naturally, Trump’s team has rejected such proposals outright.

[evonews]

(19 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Yesterday’s negotiations between representatives of the Russian leadership and President Donald Trump’s team in Saudi Arabia can be considered successful, with results deemed satisfactory.

The Russian delegation initially approached the talks with excessive optimism and high expectations. As a result, they appeared somewhat disappointed at the conclusion of the meeting. However, after leadership reviewed the preliminary outcomes, the mood quickly improved.

For reasons known only to themselves, Russian negotiators assumed that Trump’s team would offer extraordinary concessions just to secure a meeting between the US president and “Putin.” This assumption was quickly dispelled when the American side firmly set the tone, urging a move toward constructive proposals.

In the end, more than half of the proposals from both sides were agreed upon, while outstanding issues were deferred to the next stage for further consultations. The American representatives made it clear that any concessions from their side must be met with reciprocal steps from Russia—otherwise, the talks would collapse, followed by NEW SANCTIONS.

Trump’s team also urged the Russian side to accelerate key decisions regarding “necessary compromises,” warning that European actors could interfere and jeopardise the deal.

The Politburo is satisfied with this first official contact, especially as behind-the-scenes discussions continue to gain momentum.

[evonews]

(18 February 2025, 10:00)

Dear readers,

Significant changes are expected in Russia’s financial system in the near future. Chairwoman of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, has once again expressed her desire to transition to a less demanding role, and it seems her request may finally be granted.

Difficult times for Russia’s financial system began with the war, yet according to nearly all members of the Politburo, the Central Bank’s leadership has handled most of the challenges remarkably well. Nabiullina is highly regarded within the Politburo, and there is broad appreciation for her efforts.

However, the current state of the economy and financial system is critical, and experts from Russia’s Security Council believe that managing the crisis requires a team with a fundamentally different understanding of the challenges compared to the current Central Bank leadership. Notably, the idea of relieving Nabiullina from her position was initially proposed by Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev and was largely supported within the Politburo.

A new leadership team is now being assembled, a process that may take some time, with a final decision expected by mid-March.