War in Ukraine

The executions of the troops will continue until morale improves

 

I believe Putin may have been convinced of that himself, just like we were convinved that saddam had wmd's. Covid closed his feedback loop very tight

 

I think it was a convenient excuse, made semi-plausible by the fact that there are neo-Nazi groups within the Ukrainian military (just like there are in the Russian and U.S. militaries).

 

^ I would say something foolish like that if my side was losing a war . . . badly.

 

Ukraine knocks out two more air defense systems (one an S-400) in the last week. The S-400 was in Luhansk, and the other was in Crimea.

Ukraine confirms strike on Russian air-defense site in Crimea, S-400 destroyed near Luhansk (yahoo.com)

 

He’s wrong. He has at least one believer …

 

is this a sign that putin may be gone. guess when they put Crimea on the table we will know they are serious

Russia Finally 'Ready' for Ukraine Peace Talks (msn.com)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday that Moscow is ready for talks on the "post-conflict settlement" of the war in Ukraine.

Shoigu made the remarks at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China's largest military diplomacy event, saying that Russia is also ready for talks on further "co-existence" with the West, but said Western countries needed to stop seeking the strategic defeat of his country.

 

Putin ally Lukashenko turns on him and urges fighting in Ukraine to 'stop' immediately (msn.com)

Vladimir Putin's close ally Alexander Lukashenko has made a huge intervention after warning Russia and Ukraine are locked in a "serious stalemate" as he called for sit-down peace talks and an end to the brutal war.

The Russian and Belarusian presidents have been close allies for several years, with territory in Lukashenko's neighboring country used as a launch pad for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They have also held regular meetings since the start of the war.

 

WOW. That feels big

 

Yea, that is a move. Weird in that a lot of the pessimistic takes I have heard (from Ukraine supporters, but fearful), is that Russia had picked up its manufacturing infrastructure for artillery shells and would have an advantage after the Winter weather was over and Spring came. Got me worried

 

He better hire a food taster....stat.

 

And avoid balconies

 

I suspect Putin has put him up to this. Putin doesn’t want to look weak, but having a 3rd party suggest him come to the table is a face saving move. Putin threatens nuclear war and then Luka does this. Classic good cop bad cop routine.

 

Very strange indeed that a defense minister is talking about negotiating for peace, with Putin silent on the subject. It is really not his place as a defense minister to negotiate a settlement.

 

“The West needs to stop seeking the strategic defeat of Russia.”

I got a chuckle out of that one.

If Russia really wants that, all it needs is a new definition of “strategic victory.” I’ll propose one:

- Russian troops are permitted to valiantly return their January 2014 borders in good order with all of their equipment.

- All people in Ukraine who consider themselves Russian are allowed to return to Russia unmolested and are free to be resettled in Russia at Russian expense.

- All other such people who prefer to stay in Ukraine are allowed to swear an oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian government and live out their lives as Ukrainians.

I am willing to bow to this Russian strategic victory right now, and I quake at the Russian negotiating skill.

 

Great let's talk.

Russia retreats to pre 2014 borders and Ukraine stops fighting.

That was easy

 

Well, now that’s true … unless it is his place. Anyone know what the legal Russian line of succession is?

 

Point of order, Mr. Chairman. I object to the use of the ugly word retreat. Since we are a magnanimous people, I prefer my proposed language of “valiantly withdraw in good order.”