OH, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  Isn't it wonderful how Comrade Putin seeks to assure us, to put us at ease, to resist the warmongering class in American politics?  He is a peacemaker, just like our magnificent Saint Barack the First.  From AFP: 

Moscow (AFP) - Russia is not a threat to the West, President Vladimir Putin insisted in an interview published on Saturday, saying he was still committed to a Ukraine peace deal after a fresh flare-up in the country's east.

"I would like to say - there's no need to be afraid of Russia," Putin told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview published Saturday, ruling out a major conflict between Russia and NATO member countries.

"The world has changed so much that people in their right mind cannot imagine such a large-scale military conflict today."

"We have other things to do, I can assure you," the Russian president said.

"Only a sick person -- and even then only in his sleep -- can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO."

The Russian president spoke ahead of his visit to Italy next week that will include a meeting with Pope Francis.

COMMENT:  Oh, it's so comforting.  I shall go through this weekend recalling his words.  I will not think about Ukraine today.  I'll think about it tomorrow.  After all, tomorrow is another day.

June 6, 2015