“We will no longer tolerate criticism of our democracy and claims that it is not what it should be. Our democracy is the best, and we will continue to build it,”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/08/patriotic-films-youth-festivals-the-1bn-push-to-get-vote-out-for-putinr-russia-election
The problem with Ukraine at the moment is that they're slowly and consistently losing territory and really struggling to take any back.
Ukraine really needs to be able to hold their lines without heavy losses at this stage and they can't do that.
They can't win the war by slowly losing territory.
Once the elections in Russia are over Putin can go ahead with another mass mobilisation, he could empty every prison in the country if he wanted.
They've no issue with throwing troops and equipment for small gains.
America military support is looking increasingly unreliable, if Trump wins it's very bad news for them.
I feel concerns about Ukraine are warranted and it's why we're seeing increasingly alarming statements from European leaders, even contemplating direct intervention should Ukrainian lines collapse.
Well done! If only 1% of EU troops and firepower was deployed to aid Ukraine it would make a huge diffference to the war.
Even if deployed as a kind of rear-guard, maybe a defensive shield against attacks on cities, civilians or at potentially vulnerable rumps, it could make a difference in allowing Ukraine focus its assets on critical areas. I wonder are there many Ukrainian troops stationed around the BElarussian border, for instance.
Cos I presume whatever's percolating in Macron's head, it isn't French troops, opening fire on Russian ones. It couldn't, cos that would be a naked act of war by France, and drag the continent along with it. We truly would have Russian ships off our coast before we knew it.
‘The Russians have more of everything’: Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back enemy in Mariinka | Ukraine | The Guardian
Sasha suggested Russia’s generals were winning because they were prepared to accept huge battlefield casualties, with sometimes hundreds killed and wounded in a single offensive operation. “They send in conscripts to take a machine gun position. All their men are wiped out. But our location is discovered,” he said. “They then call in air support to drop a 500kg bomb on one or two of our guys. There is nothing we can do.”
Grim.
Saw a report that a senior Russian intellegence office was killed in Moscow? Could be Ukraine or even Putin..
The ships are there only we don't see them..
I found "after Russia-friendly Republicans in the U.S. Congress blocked funding back in October" to be quite bluntly put from Forbes. They could have given the reason for blocking as simply being anti-Democrat politicking, but they are implying something much more malign. Is Forbes normally pro Democrat ?
F-16s would make a difference in this scenario.
Indeed and they'll be far more seen if France, and by extension the EU, put boots on the ground and finds itself having to fire on russian positions or troops. Macron talks big and it's "good" to see a more robust challenge but actually deploying a force could get complicated really quickly. France's history of expeditionary forces aren't that great past Napoleon I.
No use talking if he isn't willing to send military aid.
Perhaps it has to do something with that ukraine does not have any defense lines built to fall back to.
To no surprise, they include Ukrainian, Armenian, and Georgian film directors such as Larisa Shepitko, Sergei Parajanov, and Otar Iosseliani, and present their work as "russian culture". ( 1 of 6 tweets )
I believe he has used up all the prisoners. They are dead or their bodies destroyed.
So the Russians can advance at a maximum of 120m (that's meters) a day against Ukraine when Ukraine have no defensive lines. I'm not singing praises of the speed of the Russian advance, I'm just wondering is this what people consider a successful advance (excluding any armor Russians loose, because there's a belief they have infinite numbers)
What ships? Their Black Sea fleet is dwindling even while cowering in ports. Their subs are mostly docked up, presumably for a lot of maintenance. Their aircraft carrier is never leaving dry Dock.
I'm not supportive of French boots on the ground pretty much solely cause of the risk of nuclear escalation. But the idea Russia could do anything with conventional warfare is a bit silly at this point.
If Russia can put its boots in whatever country it likes so can France.
And Ukraine can give permission to whoever it wants to put boots in its country. It’s their country not Russias.
This fear and appeasement to Putin has gone on far too long.
I don't think Russia would need much of its north sea fleet to make Ireland feel hassled. I'm just saying what France does might and would have potential repercussions for the rest of the EU.
And as to the nuclear threat. I've said it before but based on what we've seen in Ukraine, and the rumours or tattle down the years, I'd question how much of Russia's nuclear arsenal either works or is still present. Not a game of chicken I'd like to play mind you
There are a lot of eyes we can be sure on Russia's nuclear capabilities and if they so much as twitch, there would be swift intervention so as to minimise collateral damage elsewhere.
This war will end in a settlement that favours Russia. It is becoming clearer by the day.
How do you reach a settlement with a country that doesn't respect any agreements? If it were that easy, the war would have ended already.
It is basically going to be China, at Russias behest, telling the EU/NATO/US what is what.
You think Russia is dictating anything to China? Tail wagging the dog?
Russia singularly failed to adhere to the last agreement,not sure what any party is gonna believe them another time around.
China brokering a settlement is a lot more palatable. Ukraine will not have a choice. Nor will the EU / NATO. Once the US pivots it is a done deal.
And when is this taking place exactly? You speak with a strange degree of confidence not reflected in events happening in reality.
Let me guess: the settlement involves Russia taking its gains, Ukraine losing more of its own land? Not sure what you think Ukraine have no choice, their current and continued fight suggests otherwise.
Until the next time, and the time after that, and .... Either deal with the problem properly now or have to deal with it repeatedly in the future.
What is not happening in reality? Ukraine has already lost this war.
I doubt there will be a next time tbh. It will be peace through strength rubbish ad infinitum until a world order collapses.
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