Russia on the phone for you ... Also, Brookings was prescient in 1997. Have you thought to adjudge the nations doing the asking ? “The sixteen members of NATO will soon invite Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and possibly others to join. There are strong arguments for enlarging the alliance, above all securing the democratic and Western orientation of selected former Warsaw Pact states and hedging against political uncertainty in Russia. But there are arguments at least as strong against enlargement. Expanding NATO could complicate its ability to achieve consensus, weaken the security of those countries not brought in, increase demands on defense budgets when they are already overstretched, and alienate Russia. In the process, Europe’s security could well diminish, not grow.” And does it really matter if various countries asked to join NATO when Russia gets to have its say in the matter ?
And here I thought Russia didn't need any help because things were going so well for them? Oh well, good luck with their Chinese military alliance! And yeah, NATO has held together pretty well in this conflict, so that quote doesn't seem to prescient at all, in fact.
One net effect of the West’s intention, to weaken Russia: Russia and China have never been closer. Another net effect: NATO has never been creakier.
Yep, which totally explains why all those countries in Eastern Europe are asking to ally with Russia and China and not NATO.
I wasn’t finished with your last question. Here’s the rest of my answer ... Betting on the wrong horse ?
Human Verification It does look like the Russians will finally be able to claim they took Bakhmut. Ukraine should probably withdraw soon and find a more favorable defensive position.
if this is true, Putin may be jumping the shark. I can't imagine that people are going to take well to sending their college kids to the meat grinder. Send them country boys from the outlying regions and they might cheer but sending the university gang from Moscow and St Petersburg might provoke a stronger reaction at home. or perhaps it is a misinformation campaign encouraging university students to flee Russia before they are drafted. Russia's planning a new wave of mobilization that may target students (msn.com) Russian authorities may be planning a new wave of mobilization that will specifically target the country’s full-time students according to leaked documents shared by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence and reported on by Insider's Chris Panella. "Russia is preparing to draft college students to the front lines in its war in Ukraine," wrote Panella, who was citing a statement released by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence on Telegram which read: "The Russian Federation is preparing for a mass mobilization of full-time students.”
Back in October Russia withdrew, with few if any losses, from an indefensible position in Kherson. This was regarded as a devastating defeat for Russia. Ukraine has lost tens of thousands of soldiers in a fanatical attempt to hold the town of Bakhmut and now looks like it will withdraw. This will be regarded as a tactical repositioning by Ukraine.
Yeah, not sure I would trust what Ukraine says on this. More likely trying to foment some unrest within Russia. Hope it works though. As far as Bahkmut, it seems to be an important supply line town, which is why Ukraine has defended it so hard. If it falls it might mean more gains for Russia.
Yes, if only those countries had access to the deep strategic thinkers that had substantial knowledge about the situation involving countries that they border and with which they have substantial historical and cultural connections.
I could have done double-duty, for half the pay, and far fewer would have died, in 2020, and Europe wouldn’t be roiled by bloody war.
"Why is nobody listening to me when I tell them all my brilliant thoughts?" shouts area man at nobody in particular.
NYT reporting that Russia lost epic tank battle a with over 130 tanks and/or armored personnel carriers destroyed. One captured russian tank operator was a medic told to go drive a tank. and this is before Ukraine gets new and improved tanks NYT story behind a paywall but here is public link discussing it NYT: Russia loses 'epic' tank battle in Vuhledar, 130 vehicles destroyed (msn.com) According to the New York Times article published on March 1, the Ukrainian forces have destroyed at least 130 tanks and armored personnel carriers over a three-week fight in Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian officials stated this was the “biggest tank battle of the war so far, and a stinging setback for the Russians,” according to the article. The article suggests that the lack of expertise, alongside the fact that most of the professional Russian military personnel had been demolished earlier, contributed to such a large-scale defeat. Vuhledar remains one of the most crucial targets for Russia in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk Oblast.
More bad news for Russia. ONE SOLDIER took out FIVE Russian tanks with Javelin missiles. He also took out four BMP's or armored personnel carriers. It is rumored that he had his missile launcher set to "full auto" before he started blasting away. He said he didn't even break a sweat. This was outside Marinka, so it is separate from the humiliating (for the Russians) battle in Vuhledar. A Ukrainian soldier took out 5 Russian tanks in a single day using US-supplied Javelin missiles, Ukraine says
Gee, I wonder if everyone’s favorite trollski is going to drop an edgy “Ghost of Kiev” zinger on you. Guess I’ll never know.
They pretty much lose them as they’re deployed. They’re mostly from the seventies and 60’s so as soon as they are spotted the Ukrainian’s enjoy a little BBQ’d tank crew. They’d like to desert but can’t retreat due to fear of being shot in the head. Though given the binary choice I’d take a bullet to the brain. If the Russian army was smart they just shoot the tank ices to save time and money.
