I disagree. Both sides are now struggling to build any kind of momentum, Russia are scourging through the dredges of their prison's promising freedom just to build any kind of BTG. The simple fact Russia has had to reinforce Kherson with battle groups from Donbass gives Ukraine an edge on where they can dictate an attack. I don't agree on your point something big needs to help them, far from it, but what they may need is some kind of win just to show the west that they can indeed liberate some ground. The west is key for Ukraine and I dont think they will just turn the tap off, I think time is against Russia, Germany is making huge strides to wean itself off Russian gas, as one expert put it, its the biggest mobilisation outside of wartime for Germany.
Of course tactics can change and the Russians are learning from mistakes albeit very slowly. We are also heading into a very nervy winter where they could be a lot of political pressure across the EU. But Russia certainly dont have the edge...right now.
They're all off to turkey on their holidays anyway ...turkey is playing an " interesting" game , they're kinda in NATO , they need Russian gas ,grain ,minerals and cash .. they control access to the Turkish straits ,
They've a lot to gain from a weakened Russia , and a lot to lose from a strong Russia if they're out of NATO ... Moscow has wanted Istanbul for centuries ... They'd have had it too of they hadn't pulled out of the first world war ..
Video of missile strike at Antonivsky bridge overnight
Yeah, objectively I think Saudi Arabia is every bit as bad as Russia, from the Yemen war to the funding of militant Islam to what it does within its own borders, but I agree it's not directly trying to destroy, say, European unity the way Russia is, sow disharmony within our countries, launch cyber attacks on essential infrastructure, etc. At least as far as we know. In that sense I see the argument for singling Russia out.
The flip side of that would be granting residence to people persecuted by the Russian state, opposing Putin, and looking to flee, which I would also support.
Much as I hate to say it, Russia seems to have the edge. Ukraine are a far better army but they need a strong air force badly. Something big needs to happen to help them.
And?
More of it
You don't have to know what this guy is saying to get the message
Just on that (a charge of some "double standards" vs the citizens of other autocratic states), Saudi Arabia's govt. is unpleasant and I don't trust it myself, but it is not openly working to destroy us.
I don't think it is sensationalist to say that Russia's is since Feb. this year (it was hostile before then too, but at a much lower level than launching wars on the EUs borders and the govt. publically threatening EU members with use of force in future).
Its citizens should not get the easy access to the EU that they still have today for leisure and business + abilities to evade the sanctions as well by travelling to the EU to buy products and take them out etc. It just does not make sense any more (for multiple reasons).
The EU as a collective is pretty much entering a new Cold war, with Russia on the opposite side now - this will mean an end to all kinds of interactions, economic, social, political. Even if Ireland (Irish public, maybe the govt. too?) hasn't actually fully internalised it yet or still thinks its nothing much to do with us really, apart from giving some charity to Ukraine + wringing our hands.
The sanctions are already a "collective punishment" on Russia's population anyway, they're not just aimed at the regime. The desire is to strangle the whole Russian economy + make it hard to rearm and rebuild for more military adventures to the West (probably involving some EU/NATO member states next time if opportunity knocks for Putin or successor).
What people are saying is that Russia is on a trajectory that is leading towards losing. They are somewhere along that curve. How soon and when is hard to say but it's been inevitable since the early days of this conflict.
Putin and his administration have beggared their country and sooner or later that truth will hit ordinary Russian citizens.
I don't normally like punishing a population for the acts of its government but in this case I would also like to see a ban.
Though would also understand the inevitable cries of double standards if citizens of places like Saudi Arabia can still get visas
Stalingrad to Berlin was 3 years. Midway to Tokoyo harbour was 3 years. War is not quick easy or glorious, its slow painful and hard with a lot of death. Russias invasion has failed but it will still be a long road to remove them.
I never said they were winning. I said people have been talking on here for nearly six months about how Russia has been losing. They seem to be taking their sweet fecking time doing so, and inflicting countless horrors on Ukraine all the while.
I can’t see your point of view. Yes, Ukraine is also losing people. Putin is a psychopath and doesn’t care about his people. So?
Russia’s best chance of victory was a quick win and to tell the rest of the world ‘nothing to see here. None of your business, Russian internal business’ Crimea mk11.
The Ukrainians seem to have decided to not go quietly into that dark night. And seem adverse to being raped and pillaged. Thankfully Western powers have decided enough was enough and to stop the 21st century Hitler. That’s not to say Ukraine isn’t getting hurt, but what’s the alternative? And while Russia are being utter bastards it would take some twist of logic to claim they are winning.
The next claim is up for debate. I think the war is turning, and Russian defence of its territorial gains are looking dodgy.
4% gdp drop in q2 alone, probably double that as official figures are fake
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-gross-domestic-product-wholesale-trade-ab305cecb9c4276a0d690f7ffd6f1dd4
I don't think any outcome would have been a "great success"; the invasion was the act of a madman in the first place.
Make em sign a “I do not support Putin’s war” clause in visa, just like Americans ask (used to) if you were a Nazi
make the names of those get visas public as Russians are so cynical
You said you didn't think Russia was losing. Do you think their "special military operation" has been a great success? It seems to me they haven't managed to do much since they ran away from Kyiv. Ukraine are fighting for their survival, and so far they've managed to do it quite well. Meanwhile Russia has been reduced to a terrorist state whose only friends are North Korea, Syria and Iran.
Excellent news.
More countries to follow would be great especially major ones like Germany, Italy & France.
Hopefully the penny will finally start to drop with the Russian populace and its lead to widespread unrest in Russki land.
Ukraine is also losing people, and Putin does not care about the lives of the Russian soldiers so long as there are replacements.
Also, this suggestion of "bias" that is trotted out any time someone is pessimistic about the war is reminiscent of the start of covid where people were understandably worried and you had posters respond to others' concerns with the "You love all these deaths, don't you?" and similar fuckwittery.
People have different outlooks on things; claiming people whose outlook is different to yours must be because they're rooting for the enemy is tedious nonsense.
Perhaps that is not what you meant by "biased" here, and if so apologies perhaps, but it is a tendency that pops up too often.
Nah. The ones that would pay it, would likely get up to something on behalf of Putin. Keep the murderer's accomplices out.
Of course I’d be amenable to a ban on visas to Russians, but would a better move be placing a heavy cross-EU tax upon them with all proceeds to Ukrainian defence?
good good let em holiday in Crimea or back arse of Tannu Tova
It's not really rhetoric, just another opinion from a man who has spent his life giving opinions.
According to Ukr. stats they lost 1,200 this last week.
Hah! And D’oh!
"Not advancing in an evasion".
Hmm. The point of "an evasion", is not to advance. I like your paradoxical strategic thinking!
That's it, that's the explanation for Russia's military failures. They are unable to tell the difference between "evasion" and "invasion" !
Poor analogy. You do realise Russia is losing 10s of thousands of men. It takes a weird/biased view to come up with your analogy.
I'm inclined to agree that we should be deporting Ukrainian men wanted for service, back to Ukraine to do their bit of service. Thanks for pointing this out. More hands the merrier and spreads the load, will drive the Russian bastards back quicker.
Its not like that at all as Russia are not able to mount any significant offensive operations anymore. A better (though still flawed) analogy would be they are half way through a boxing match where Russia took the first few rounds on points but they are now just trading blows.
Russia have "lost" the ability to advance any further. It is likely, though not guaranteed, that Ukraine will continue to get stronger as Russia continues to get weaker. Where the endpoint is going to be no one knows but it won't be anywhere close to where Russia were aiming.
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