Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Exactly. The bridge is a good hit from PR point of view but changes little in the bigger picture.

Here's a sober assessment of how the counteroffensive is going from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. I think it's fair to say he sounds neither overly upbeat nor hopeless:

Yeah, but isn't Russia the largest grain exporter? They'll just sell at a discount, and suddenly the rest of the world likes them again.

Just to highlight the importance of not overreacting to catchy negative headlines:

Citing an Ukrainian outlet there is nothing to see here there is no threat,

When there's a clear and obvious threat,but remember before the invasion last year the Ukrainians themselves downplayed the idea of a Russian invasion and went to the point of blaming the US for ramping it up ,

Then came the invasion that wasn't going to happen

But it's been openly discussed for ages that the Russians were planning an attack in the area, which seems to be getting down played, while people have been telling us all about the collapse of Russian lines and forces for months this goes completely against that notion,if they do go on the offensive this could well cause major issues for the Ukrainians

It's not a case if they have the equipment or not ,they have the men to go on the offensive,the biggest question will be If they do go on the offensive and take even more ground then what ?

For all we know the Russians are happy to sit and watch watch the Ukrainians going through multiple meat grinders like bakmut,then make a move ,and then We will be back to breaking news f16s been discussed,a handful of f16s won't change the the current situation either

And yet they hold large areas of Ukraine, areas Ukraine are absolutely struggling to make ground were heading into 2 months of this counter offensive and they are not much further than they started off , breaking news is single vehicles blown up is all well and good but if your in the same position as you were 12 months ago despite tens of billions in weapons and vehicles been delivered questions will start to be asked

Not sure standstill will be enough. I think they really need a big victory this year. If they could take another massive chunk of territory like they did last year that could be a game changer and make the war unsustainable for Russia. If Ukraine can truly threaten Crimea then Russia may look for a fast way out.

It seems to me the way to win is attrition by artillery or economic collapse in Russia, or both. If Ukraine can hold out long enough Russia might implode economically.

But if they withdraw the economy won’t improve. The sanctions will still apply, the west may pursue reparations. What will actually improve for them?

Either way they are f'ed.

When suddenly articles like these start appearing in conservative western media outlets it's most likely kite flying and to start maneuvering the public for an outcome.

Paywalled, can you paste the full text of the article, ta.

The NYT has started producing similar clickbaity titles like the above, but the content is usually the same as anywhere - the counteroffensive isn't going as fast as hoped, but still making progress.

Another US package should be announced in the next days, 1.3 billion, I see a lot of drone stuff being mentioned (Phoenix ghost's, Switchblades and jamming)