#agreements

To believe the opposite would not be practical. It would mean we would have to monitor other people constantly, just to ensure they uphold their agreements. We would always be worried that the other is about to betray us. We would retreat into ourselves, relying on nothing but our own perceptions, judgments, and feelings. We would quickly become paranoid about others, about our community, and even about the world itself.

It's idiotic to trust Putin to adhere to any new agreement regarding Ukraine. He has already violated seven or eight such agreements. The most famous of the agreements which Putin blatantly violated is the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Just to refresh memories, this is the first of six points in the Budapest Memorandum.

^^^ without a doubt, quite unambiguous.

As diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine have intensified in recent days, Kyiv and its backers have sought to ram home a key point: lasting peace is only possible with credible, enforceable security guarantees for Ukraine, not merely symbolic pledges or paper agreements. This is rooted in Russia's record of ignoring treaty pledges to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence. "A security guarantee can also be something like the Budapest Memorandum of 1994," Clifford May of the U.S.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies told RFE/RL's Current Time. "Russia signed it. America signed it. Britain signed it. And it said, we will all respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. That security guarantee was not literally worth the paper it was written on," May said. The memorandum is one of at least six international agreements that Russia's aggression in Ukraine has violated. These include a 2003 border treaty signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, the 2010 Kharkiv agreements enabling Russia to maintain its naval base in Crimea, and the 2014-15 Minsk Accords aimed at ending combat in the Donbas.

They actually didn't mention the Budapest Memorandum in this table from the article.

That list also doesn't mention the 1975 Helsinki Accords and its 1991 successor the OSCE Accord. If you're counting, that makes eight agreements and treaties violated by Vladimir Putin.

All this makes Ukraine understandably wary of agreeing to a peace deal with Russia without having credible security guarantees in place.

No kidding!

When you deal with an untrustworthy lout like Putin, you need ironclad guarantees, not mere promises, to back you up.

"Miss... Weiss? I need to have a private word with you, if that's alright?"

Weiss sighed. "It's just Weiss, Oz... stop calling me miss?"

"At least you know it's me?"

"Yes, but we'd know that anyway. You're a little boy, Oz and your voice sounds like it. What do you need?"

Oz blinked at that, before deciding to ignore the comment. "You stated that you hate your father, Weiss. How far, precisely, does that hatred extend?"

"I want nothing to do with him. Again, why?"

"Because there may be another way to get Mr Taurus away from Miss Belladonna. However, it requires sacrificing your father."

"You think my father's death would get him away from her?"

"Frankly, yes. He was treated abominably by the Schnee Dust Company, under your father's orders. How far do you think he would be willing to go for revenge?"

"I'm not sure I like the idea of using my father's death to buy currency with the Faunus... but then again..."

"If he is dead, he can no longer harm your mother, or your brother. Or you. The way he has treated all of you... was I currently still an adult I may have dealt with him anyway. I'm certain James would look the other way. Considering his attachment to your sister..."

"... he may even help... Oz, I can't say yes to you killing my father. But at the same time, I can't deny that it might be justifiable. I just... don't tell me until after the deed is done? I'm still a trainee huntress and you're still a huntsman."

"And hunters are sworn to end monsters. All monsters, not just the Grimm. I'm sorry, Weiss. I understand if you'll never talk to me again, besides it is merely one possibility amongst a few."

"You are my friend. Blake is my friend. My father may have sired me but he would sell Winter and I both in a heartbeat if it got him some sort of advantage. He locked me away. Oz? Please, leave me alone for awhile? I need to think."

"Of course. My apologies, Weiss." Oz bowed his head and left her to it, the others giving him strange looks on his return.

"What did you tell Weiss?" Yang asked, sounding curious and protective at the same time.

"Nothing you need concern yourself with yet, Miss Xiao Long."

"... Oz, you said you wouldn't keep any more secrets." She sounded vaguely ominous and Oz sighed.

"It isn't a secret. Merely an idea and likely a terrible one. I just worry for Miss Belladonna with the situation with Mr Taurus..."

"We all do."

"Yes, well... part of me hopes to run into him. We have things to discuss."

"... Oz, you're human. He won't want to talk to you."

"We'll see."

In the end, Adam ran into them. He seemed delighted to see Blake... for a given value of delighted, but rather less impressed when confronted by a silver haired ten year old.

"Ah. Mister Taurus, I was rather hoping I might run into you."

"That eager to die, child?" Adam sneered.

"Not exactly, but I believe we could come to a mutually beneficial agreement."

"I doubt it, but say I'm listening, kid. What sort of agreement."

"Myself and my friends work together to deliver Jaques Schnee to you on a silver platter and you let Blake live her own life and make her own choices." Oz's voice could have been carved out of solid stone.

"... I'm listening, kid..."

"I do not know what he did to you, sir. But he is a monster who preys on those weaker than him. Monsters on Remnant get put down."

"... I almost believe you, child. But you're human, why should I trust you to deliver on your end of this bargain."

"Simple. We deliver Jaques Schnee to you and you leave Blake alone. If we do not, you are free to try. I will fight you if I must, but his death at this point would be justifiable germicide."

Adam laughed, harshly. "I'm not scared of you, boy. But if you can do this, I suppose I will owe you enough of a debt to let Blake make her own choices. You ask what he did to me?" Adam raised his blindfold, showing the brand over one eye. Behind Oz, Weiss let out a cry of fury.

"Mister Taurus? If i can locate that brand, promise to use it on my father?"

Adam's eyes lit up, looking at Weiss with far less hostility than any of them had deemed possible.

"For that, little Miss Schnee? You have my respect. If you can do this and your friend can deliver your father... I will leave Blake alone. More, I'll try not to kill any of you. Fair?"

"Entirely." Oz stated, evenly.

"You never did introduce yourself, child... you look almost like she does but not at the same time. Who are you?"

"I believe you would know a previous version of me as Ozaryn."

Adam looked poleaxed.

"You... you're Ozaryn? Or you used to be? Why didn't you say that to start with... you helped found Faunus society..."

The others were staring at him, now, too.

"It was a last resort. As it stands, we deliver you Jaques Schnee and you leave Blake alone."

"Of course. You'll hear from me soon. Sir."

Adam left, back stiff and fists clenched.

"... Oz? Explain. Now."

"I'm not sure how to. Maybe ask Blake when we get back?" Oz demured.

"Uh HUH. Just how many mythical figures were you, anyway?"

"I... I'm not actually sure?" Oz blushed, ducking his head in mortification. "Some of them. not all."

👰🏻‍♀️Seventh house in astrology collage and explanation 👫👭👬

The 7th house AKA the House of Marriage

The 7th House represents:

The Seventh House Traditionally this is the house of marriage, but this can rule any close partnership that is aboveboard, including business partnerships. The seventh house also rules agreements, contracts, and justice. Open relationships can include enemies! A sense of justice or injustice can be seen here, as well as anything to do with the law and legal matters.

Astrology: Your Personal Guide

Steven Bright - Wellfleet Press - 2018

Keywords 🔑:

agreements

business partners

contracts

enemies

equality

injustice

interpersonal style

justice

law/legal matters