A remarkable document has come to my attention which I feel obliged to share with you. It is a highly classified transcript of remarks made by Vladimir Putin to a select audience of Russian elites in the Terem Palace at the Kremlin. The secret conclave was held on the eve of the virtual summit with Joe Biden. For our privileged access to this English translation, we are indebted to our old friend Anna Chapman whose singular access to Kremlin policy circles is unmatched. That honour owes to her decorated service as the FBS’ head of station in Bloomingdale’s for more than a decade.

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A shadow has fallen upon the European scene so lately lighted by the end of the Cold War. Nobody knows what America and its military organization NATO intend to do in the immediate future or what are the limits – if any – to their indefinite expansive and proselytizing tendencies. I have a strong admiration and regard for the valiant trans-Atlantic peoples. There is sympathy and goodwill here in Russia towards the Americans – and I doubt not also towards all the peoples of the West. Their wish is to preserve peace – despite many differences and rebuffs in establishing lasting friendships and inter-state comity. 

We understand the Westerners need to feel secure by the removal of all possibility of terrorist attack. So, we welcome them in our common fight against the forces of violence and disorder. Above all we welcome constant, frequent and growing collaboration in the campaign to suppress those global elements which seek to sow discord. It is my duty however, for I am sure you would wish me to state the facts as I see them, to place before you certain discomforting facts about the present situation in Europe.

From Vilnius in the Baltic to Dnipropetrovsk on the Dnieper, an opaque curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie the principal cities of the ancient states of Central Europe: Krakow, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Pressburg, Lemberg, Trieste, Kyiv, Chernivtsi. All these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the United States sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to American influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Washington.

Athens, too, with its immortal glories, has been yoked to the juggernaut of Western finance – indentured in debt servitude. They are not free to choose truly egalitarian democracy instead of an imposed, exploitative neo-liberalism – with a neo-Fascist future looming over them. Their political institutions are subverted through the strictures of the IMF, and the machinations of so-called Western NGOs who, in alliance with dissidents, seek to topple legitimate governments via their confected ‘color revolutions.’ 

Rejected at the ballot box, these agitators are prepared to revert to anti-democratic coercive measures to seize power. We should bear in mind that these subversive methods have long been used by the United States in the Middle East and Latin America. Here is a sampling of episodes from the 21st century alone: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay as well as neighbors and cousins Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. Just a short time ago, Russia itself was the target of such an insidious plot. We must stay on our guard, ready to protect ourselves against this hostile meddling. 

The predatory capitalist and plutocratic parties, which historically were very small in the central European states, have been raised to pre-eminence and power by money and agitation from abroad, and are seeking everywhere to obtain economic control. Commanding Finance and Big Tech are prevailing in nearly every case – except Iceland.

Turkey and Persia are both profoundly alarmed and disturbed at the claims which are being made upon them and at the pressure being exerted by the Washington Government. A particularly audacious attempt is being made by the Americans in Ukraine to build up an autocratic regime by showering special favors on groups of extreme right-wing Ukrainian leaders. They include unabashed neo-Nazis dedicated to stirring up the ghosts of tyrannies past. 

Whatever conclusions may be drawn from these facts – and facts they are – this is certainly not the Europe whole, free and at peace – grounded in cooperation and cordial engagement – that we thought was on the brink of achievement in 1991. It is a regrettable but demonstrable fact that the foundation agreements reached at that time on a continent of equals, observant of the solemn pledges made to subordinate military blocs to the common security, are being progressively violated.

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From what I have seen of our American friends and their vassals over the past 30 years, I am convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness, especially moral weakness. For that reason, the old doctrine of peaceful, constructive engagement is unsound. We cannot afford to work on narrow margins of goodwill, offering temptations to a relentlessly expansive American-led West.

If we stand together, though, in strict adherence to the principles of international law, our influence for furthering these principles will be immense and no one is likely to menace them or molest them. If however we become divided or falter in our duty, and if these years are allowed to slip away in drift and distraction, then indeed we will be in mortal danger, and our cherished identity and autonomy in an interdependent yet diverse world is at risk of being obliterated.

Here and now, we take a solemn oath that this shall not pass. We will resist these reactionary forces in every domain at every level.  We shall defend ourselves, whatever the cost may be.

We will fight them on the energy markets, on the currency exchanges, on social media, on the Black Sea – if necessary, on the seabed. We shall persevere; we shall prevail.