Ukraine (Mod Note & Threadbanned Users in OP)

It will be interesting to see how Russia pulls back all it's troops elsewhere in Ukraine now that they are giving up on it. Hopefully the Ukrainians will relieve them of as much of their equipment as possible and send troops back with their tails between their legs.

Surely Ukraine will turn it's full attention to taking back Donbass now. Russia will have to devote ongoing resources to keeping it for a very long time, hard to see how it will be worth it to them. Full sanctions should remain in place until a proper resolution is agreed, and Russia doesn't have much of a bargaining position now. The Russian plan was likely to go full Mariupol on Kyiv until Ukraine submitted and gave them everything they wanted, thankfully they didn't get that opportunity.

And even then, in true Stalin fashion, he pitted them against each other, just to keep them off balance. And given his previous history of purges, especially with the military, that was a very uncomfortable place to be...

No, it definitely has not been a win for them, and neither is the war over ..... so its not "Game Over yet!!!

Update for today - Given these announcements on Russia 're-concentrating its efforts' to the Donbas, it will be interesting to watch Russian movements to the west of the Dnieper - specifically the large force north of Kiev is 'out of place' (and barely moving)

Also these musings on the French evacuating Mariupol - hoping it at least puts pressure on the Russians

The immediate goal for the Ukrainians should be to prevent as much Russian military hardware making out of their country. They should make it clear that all Russian tanks, APCs, artillery, etc. remain targets on their withdrawal. Soldiers are not targets and non-armoured vehicles will be given safe passage, even put on buses to bring them to the Russian border. See how many Russians are willing to risk their lifes bringing tanks, etc. home and how committed they really are now that the Russian military leaders have said all the soldiers killed outside Donbass was for nothing.

I thought it was made quite clear that there are multiple translations of what Zelenskyy said, and only one could be taken as negative. I’m not surprised with the posters on Boards that are taking the one negative meaning.

It’s not hard to find information to counter the negative translation.

One poster that understands the language also explained it on the CA Russia thread.

The only people who think “to hell with them” are supporters of the Russian regimes. No empathetic or logical person would think it.

Do you think he has time to go and correct a simple mistranslation? Russia has invaded and there are more pressing matters…just in case you haven’t noticed.

It has been explained, and unless a person is sitting in the bunker in Orwell Road with their fingers in their ears, they won’t be getting too hot and bothered trying to push this. So to hell with your arrogance.

Ohh look another russia war crimes apologist who puts their own feelings before verifiable facts.

I think most would be more likely to direct your last sentiment towards you rather than them.

The only verifiable fact 😂 so much waffle to get in one paragraph to have a moan about a perceived sleight was unnecessary tbf.

What we should do, is ignore the likes of you and continue to support our Ukrainian neighbours in every way we can.

I am confident the majority of the population doesn't need a pat on the head from anyone to do the right thing, and also that they can listen to what people actually say, consider it in context, and not turn into something that makes up the comment section on the daily mail website.

Look, your game is not a new one and is transparent. It's just background noise though. Zekensky has done a fantastic job for his people and that is literally his job. His use of the media, his continuous pressuring other countries (The US and Germany in particular, Christ can only imagine how much hurt your poor heart would have felt if you had been German when he was genuinely criticising them) and his ability to thread the needle has been awe inspiring.

Natural leadership in full flow, using everything at his disposal.