Larry Johnson: Russia Warns It Expects War with Europe

Russia requires recognition of four oblasts and Crimea as Russian, new Ukrainian elections, denazification, and NATO withdrawal as non-negotiable terms. The U.S. and Britain pressured Ukraine to walk away from an April 2022 agreement that would have left the Donbas under Ukrainian control.

Russian generals fully expect a war with Europe and are preparing for that contingency rather than waiting to be attacked. Russia views European military buildup and rhetoric as direct threats and will retaliate in force if a red line is crossed.

NATO expansion and Western interference in Ukraine's internal politics are the fundamental root causes of the conflict. The 2014 Maidan events were an organized intelligence effort that separated Ukraine from Russia and led to attacks on Russian speakers.

The global diesel shortage stems from the February 28 U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran that closed the Strait of Hormuz. The shortage is structural and worsening as reserves deplete and the Saudi East-West pipeline is disabled.

The Houthis have captured Dhubab, gained full control of Bab el Mandab, and are threatening Aden and Marib. The Saudis lack the military capacity to defeat Ansar Allah, which can mobilize hundreds of thousands of fighters. The U.S. reportedly declined to intervene militarily to assist Saudi Arabia against the Houthi advances.

The U.S. lacks viable military options in the Gulf due to depleted weapon stocks and Chinese-controlled supply chain disruptions. Iran destroyed a $30 billion AI infrastructure investment in the Middle East using about a million dollars worth of weapons. U.S. diplomatic credibility and economic leverage in the region have been severely damaged.