Russia - threadbanned users in OP

The reason Russia waited was because most of their forces were mechanized. There were tanks etc that couldn't move as well through soggy ground. That would mean that the Russian forces won't be as maneuverable during the coming winter.

Ukraine doesn't have that many tanks. And the way the war has been going, it's turned into an artillery slogging match. And the Russians have far more artillery than Ukraine. So they just bombard Ukrainian positions and move forward. It's slow, but it works.

However NATO standard artillery has a longer range than the Russian stuff. So with NATO resupplying Ukraine with better, longer ranged and more accurate artillery and rockets, when winter comes, Ukraine will be able to hit Russians without getting hit back. And because the Russian tanks won't be as maneuverable, they'll be easier targets.

The NATO artillery units don't have to be together, they can be tens of miles from each other and they can target remotely. So you pick a spot to hit and all the artillery stops, sets up, and 10 minutes later they bombard that spot. Then packs up and moves before Russians can hit them. The artillery can fire multiple rounds per minute so they can effectively cover an area with shells.

So at that point, the balance of the war shifts towards Ukraine. And they follow the russian tactics of a slow slog forward.

Of course, that's just two dimensions. It's not including Airforces or any other number of variables, but I'm assuming that's what the poster you were quoting meant.

Another Putin setback! Lol

It's an odd line of argument ZenNature engages in on here as well. He mocks EU countries for "sending money to Russia", and also says sanctions are useless and just hurt us and don't affect Russia. However more money for hydrocarbons (and worse, technology + dual use exports that can be turned on Ukraine) would be flowing into Russia were trade continuing as normal. I don't think that is going to help us here in Europe, given Russia's aims? They don't end with Ukraine IMO.

So he has no bananas and is just hawking demoralisation. When you try to persuade people that our political leaders are wrong, there's no point taking any economic actions against Russia, and also suggest no solutions or alternatives, that's all it is.

As I've said before a focus of trolls on reducing public support for sanctions with such messages, the occasional bursts of fury and frustration coming from Russia's leadership (I think Medvedev and Putin have described these sanctions as "acts of war" on Russia by the US/EU), Russia's wheedling with the UN & non Western countries, trying to use their hold on grain exports to pressure/bully the West to get them lifted...that all tells the real story of negative effects these sanctions have + will have on Russia.

Best of luck to Ukraine but the sound track to that and the Eurovision song are Fuckin horrendous.

The long term outlook for the war and for Russian politics is actually extremely difficult to predict. Even the likes of NATO and Pres. Biden are saying that they don't really know how long the war will last and how it will end, just that it won't end in Putin taking Kyiv and all of Ukraine.

Those who are saying that Ukraine will 'win' the war are not specifying how long this will take or what victory would even look like. In truth, nobody really knows what the next year or two hold. The war might still be underway or long over, who knows.

As Grayson has already given a good enough answer I will add my voice to that. Ukraine is set up for modern warfare and Russia is basically doing it WW2 style. Once Russia gets bogged down, like when the invasion started, they will find things much harder to do anything. That's why Putin is in such a rush to force the Russian army to get moving despite all the losses their army is suffering. Russia can not sit and wait. Come September Ukraine will have much better mobility and hopefully air support. without air support, things could be very messy for them on the ground. With Ukraine jets in the air, Russian ground units will lose all confidence and look for an exit. Especially conscripts and young men. With no Ukraine air support they [Russia] will dig in and that's where it gets messy. Ukrainian choppers and jets in the air will have a very important psychological effect. The Ukraine must also make sure Russia cannot regroup or resupply when the push takes place.

Indeed. A lot can still happen and it would be great if Ukraine can ultimately emerge victorious. Unfortunately the only thing certain is more suffering and destruction along the way, where it all ends up time will tell

Actually a few weeks ago the "victory" camp here were making very clear predictions of what a win meant: Russia being pushed right out of Ukraine, Crimea being retaken, and this all happening very quickly.

And it is those two countries the US and U.K. where Russian interference had its most dramatic results. They obviously knew what they were at targeting those votes in 2016.

They didn’t have to worry about Germany and France they had them where they wanted them.

Are you sure about the timeframe? I don't recall anyone predicting the war would be over by this summer or summer's end - even by early to mid May, it looked like the war could go on for another 6-9 months minimum.

Explosions at warehouses with ammunition at Donetsk railway station