Last Toss of the Dice

Ukrainian President [V]ladimir [Z]elensky's last toss of the dice. 

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 15, he urged for the creation of an "army of Europe" because "we can't rule out the possibility that America might say 'no' to Europe on issues that threaten it". There is this creeping realization that the old relationship between Europe and America is "ending" and the continent "needs to adjust to that". 

Much of Europe is agitated and alarmed when it was revealed that US President Donald Trump had phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday where they reportedly discussed peace talks regarding Ukraine (and apparently sidelining key allies). This phone call broke nearly three years of silence between Washington and Moscow.

And on Saturday, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov "building on" Trump's initiative to reach out to Putin.

Russia's foreign ministry confirmed Saturday's call had been made "at the request of the US side". The statement said both sides had "reaffirmed commitment to restoring a... dialogue" between the two countries. 

[Z]elensky and Europe have said it loud and clear that they don't wish for any attempts at rapprochement with Russia unless they say-so. Mereka ni pikir diorang banyak besar! 

I guess you can't blame [Z]elensky for being strung up, shook and spooked. Being told in no uncertain terms by the US vice-president that they are undemocratic, not paying their way and now excluded from peace talks on their own soil in a conflict that affects them directly is the last straw. 

Liverpool edged past lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Sunday and Anfield roared with relief as much as joy. It was a hard-fought victory but I have to point out that the Reds disappointed (again) in the second half. 

In fact, this was the first time on record (since 2003-04) that they went an entire half of football without attempting a shot in a home league match.

The 15th minute opener came when Luis Diaz bundled the ball over the line after Mohamed Salah's pass was deflected in the box by a Wolves defender. Then, they scored their second of the game, when the goalie brought down the onrushing Diaz to concede a penalty which, no surprise, Mohamed Salah coaxed home for 2-0.

To their credit, Wolves fought back and reduced the deficit in the sixty-seventh minute. And there was even a rising crest of skittish nervousness around Anfield as they pushed for an equaliser late on but Liverpool held on to reinstate their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.