I wasn't aware of Zelenskyy's back story until tonight when I saw it discussed on the news. For those that don't know, it's pretty wild.
agreed. the chemical majors making and distributing molotov bombs is emblamatic of a resistance that Putin could not have anticipated. If this doesn't end quickly and the army doesn't have the stomach for these kinds of losses, Putin's inner circle may turn. The russian losses need to be on the airwaves in Russia
Biden will never send in troops. As long as Putin believes we aren't sending troops, his finger is off the button. That's the main question, would Putin use limited nuclear strikes in Ukraine? He's barked before but we didn't let him bite when we let him take Crimea. My educated guess is he would do it if this turned into a slugfest. The issue in even tactical nukes is the winds would carry fallout into Russia. But Russia has done it many times before to their own people.
Russia apparently has only thrown a third of their available troops at this so far, so they will win it eventually, probably fairly soon. The question is how it is perceived in Russia. I honestly think for the first time Putin has miscalculated. He’s a bully, so when no one tries to stop him he will take things. But starting an unprovoked war on the European continent is a whole other animal. He will get Ukraine, and lose his ability to further advance his military capability due to sanctions. And his people going to suffer greatly, which may or may not impact his ability to stay in power. His country is losing the public war world wide, even China will only support him in the narrowest of ways. They lost the pipeline and several major sporting events, and more will follow, which can’t be covered up by their propaganda arm. And oh by the way, this may push Finland and maybe others to join NATO, which means at least one more bordering adversary. The calculus just isn’t there for this, unless the west caves on sanctions, but right now the opposite is happening. The worry is that he will now have nothing to lose and really go scorched earth. Cyber attacks, shutting off the existing pipeline, seeing unrest in the west etc.
So I'm not a Trump apologist nor could I ever be considered to be someone who idolizes any politician. And as is his habit he's a bit redundant, but his stance here was prescient and in light of current events right on the money. You're welcome to point out specifically where he was wrong.
Putin is an absolute madman. He's willing to skirt with WW3 and nuclear annihilation just to fuel his own KGB ego. It's disgusting to even have to watch, let alone know that innocent Russians and Ukrainians are dying to fuel his mania. Long live the Ukraine and I hope they keep kicking Russian ass.
Unfortunately it does. It still requires more assets than just air to air assets. It also would mean that right or wrong, Putin could target the airfields they are taking off and re-arming from.
There is no confusing that either. Videos are going to keep coming out & good luck trying to spin/justify THAT or incidents like it.
The new fear is this is about to go nuclear, meaning Finland and others who border Russia may move quickly to join NATO because they don't want to end up like Ukraine. That I wonder would complicate things. Would Putin go postal if neutral countries around Russia asked to join NATO?
Do I think Putin wants a nuclear war? No. That doesn’t serve his ends, and he has been very deliberate and patient in achieving his ends. What does seem to be serving his ends is making us think he has suddenly snapped and would roll the nuclear die. I stand by my assessment that the only reason he is doing this is that he firmly believes we would not do anything to stop him. His analysis seems to be correct. That strikes me as a rational actor.
they need to give him portable communications equipment with dedicated satellite connection and maybe a little personal security and get his family out of the country
Zelensky straight up gangsta live-posting from the hornet’s nest with his boyz telling his country to never accept this historical atrocity. I expect him to be murdered in the near future. That vid will live forever.
No doubt Trump was 100% correct on that. I'm not sure I understand his motivation. On the one hand, this would give the appearance that he is standing strong against Russia, contrary to popular opinion of his affinity to Putin. On the flip side, it may be that he is sewing discontent and division in NATO which is OK by Russia. But whatever the case the substance of what he is saying is true.
