Journalist Alex Raufoglu, Chief Washington Correspondent for the Kyiv Post asks a dead-simple, completely fair question: why are we pressuring Ukraine—the country being brutally invaded—to stop hitting Russian oil refineries, instead of putting the pressure on the actual invader? Instead of a straight answer, we get a ridiculous attempt from Marco Rubio to play the "both sides" game. It is exactly the kind of weak, spineless talk we constantly hear from Trump and his corrupt cronies who would always rather appease putin than actually stand up to him. Let's get one thing straight: putting Ukraine’s strategic strikes on Russian oil money in the same category as Russia’s barbaric, murderous bombings of Ukrainian homes, civilians, and civic infrastructure is completely outrageous. Human lives and innocent families being destroyed is not even remotely the same thing as a dip in oil profits or a headache at the gas pump. Ukraine is hitting those Russian refineries for one reason: to cut off the cash putin uses to slaughter their people, so they can defend themselves and finally stop this war. Alex Raufoglu: “Ukraine says its refinery strikes inside Russia is aimed at targeting revenues that are main income source for Russia. Why lean on the country that is being invaded and an invader?” Marco Rubio: “What is that? I'm sorry, the...” Alex Raufoglu: “The US asks Ukraine to stop targeting Russian energy, you know, sites…” Marco Rubio: “Well, there's two energy...” Alex Raufoglu: “rather than asking Russia to...” Marco Rubio: “Well, I mean, how do you know we haven't asked Russia to stop? So, so look, I mean, when you talk to energy, for the Russian side, the energy strikes they're facing are refineries and their oil and gas. For the Ukrainian side, energy means their electrical grid. And going into winter with a fear of losing the electric grid. So when you talk about energy, it means two things to different people. And what complicates it further is that energy strikes are at the core of the tactical pursuit that both sides have. The Ukrainians are inflicting pain on the Russians by hitting their energy sector, which is a revenue source. The Russian side is inflicting pain on the Ukrainian side by targeting their electric grid, especially as we head into winter. So, there's the challenge, is that both sides have identified energy as a strategic objective of their war aims. But it's having a global impact in the case of oil and gas, and it's having a very real and immediate impact on the life in Ukraine, especially these threats to it. So that's why it's not easy overnight to just say let's reach an agreement. But it's something that I think is worth investing in, trying to make that happen, because I think it would be beneficial to the world and beneficial to both countries. I think if you ask President Zelenskyy, he would argue that the ability to protect his electric grid is at the core of their interests, and we'd, you know, so that's something that we can help achieve through a deal. And obviously the Russian side is facing strikes it has not seen before deep in Russian territory and against key industries. So that's what makes making a deal on that limited basis difficult. But it also is the reason why it's so important that we try. So we'll try, and I think we're prepared to play a positive role if we can in making that come about.”

America 🇺🇸 is absolutely lost 💯 Russia destroys a US-owned defence factory in Ukraine 🇺🇦 Nothing… US prosecutors allege a Russian intelligence plot to murder a dissident in Washington. Nothing… Russia reportedly supplies Iran with intelligence on US military assets. Nothing… Then Putin gets an invitation to the G20 by Trump… WTF 🤷‍♂️

India and China are swimming in Ukrainian blood. India and China directly financed approximately 45% of Russian military spending. The value of their Russian crude oil purchases alone during the fourth year of the war amounted to about 45% of Russia's annual military expenditure. China + India → approx. €75 billion in Russian crude oil during the fourth year of the war → roughly $85–87 billion → around 45% of Russia's annual military budget of $190 billion. Fuck India. Fuck China.

. @SecRubio: "we've invited President Putin to the G20. We think it's an opportunity for him to engage not just with the president, but also with other world leaders. we hope that's an invitation he'll accept. there's an opportunity in December, if that happens."

Melania Trump on Fox and Friends this morning: "We have a direct channel with Russia" (Direct channel?)

If Trump and the United States insist on inviting a war criminal like Putin to their table - that’s their business. But no civilised democratic minded country or person should attend - drop the G20