New Zealand is sending troops up there to train Ukrainians on the artillery. Knowing our Government, they won't be going in-country, but it is likely going to be done somewhere like Poland. It takes away another target for the Russians.
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New Zealand is sending troops up there to train Ukrainians on the artillery. Knowing our Government, they won't be going in-country, but it is likely going to be done somewhere like Poland. It takes away another target for the Russians.New weaponry is exactly stuff like the 777s and other guns coming in from other countries. Couple of weeks to pull crews off for cross-training, and I bet setting up logistics for the new ammo and such requires a little time too. I don't think t's as simple as "here's a gun, now shoot it".
Granted that small arms are easily transferable, but even APCs require a supply chain that Ukraine may not have in place.
It stands to reason that integrating this new (to them) stuff is not going to get a Star Trek matter-transporter solution. And that means that they are right now fighting for time, to get sufficient numbers to the front lines.
I don't think Ukraine has any interest in attacking Russia proper - their sole aim is to get rid of the invaders and reclaim their land.
I can see them perhaps hitting a supply depot or a command center near the border, but it's highly unlikely they'll target anything further inland.
I suspect the diplomats are just making legal noise that'll be overheard by Putler, sort of a disclaimer of sorts.
Presently it does look that way
Pragmatism will prevail. The West and US have already been nudging for an immediate ceasefire. My prediction is that Putin will soon take most of the Donbas, declare victory and stand down, calling for talks.
New Zealand is sending troops up there to train Ukrainians on the artillery. Knowing our Government, they won't be going in-country, but it is likely going to be done somewhere like Poland. It takes away another target for the Russians.
No, not that extreme;You are probably right. The revanchist/irredentist would only push to reclaim previously controlled territory. The Baltic states, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Alaska. Espousing a Greater Slavic Co-prosperity Sphere, you could throw in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria. Rumenia, Hungary and Germany just to round out the old Soviet Empire. But Puton is a true believer in a sort of Manifest Destiny of Russian led world communism. So why stop?
The risk to Ukraine is that wherever the front line is at time of the ceasefire will become the new defacto border. A smart Russia will then reinforce the new border whilst publicly declaring their wish for peace. It would then likely be up to Ukraine to recommence hostilities - potentially against a changing global opinion.Calling for talks and getting them are two very different things. And who would blame Ukraine for refusing?
You're presuming Vladimir Vladimirovich is a reasonable actor. He hasn't been yet; why would he start now?The risk to Ukraine is that wherever the front line is at time of the ceasefire will become the new defacto border. A smart Russia will then reinforce the new border whilst publicly declaring their wish for peace. It would then likely be up to Ukraine to recommence hostilities - potentially against a changing global opinion.
The risk to Ukraine is that wherever the front line is at time of the ceasefire will become the new defacto border. A smart Russia will then reinforce the new border whilst publicly declaring their wish for peace. It would then likely be up to Ukraine to recommence hostilities - potentially against a changing global opinion.
I think that doesn't matter really.The risk to Ukraine is that wherever the front line is at time of the ceasefire will become the new defacto border. A smart Russia will then reinforce the new border whilst publicly declaring their wish for peace. It would then likely be up to Ukraine to recommence hostilities - potentially against a changing global opinion.
It's Mariupol again.Russian forces in eastern Ukraine captured the centre of the railway hub town of Lyman and encircled most of Sievierodonetsk
It does if the guy refusing to talk is being bankrolled and armed by a fickle world, members of which may seize at the first opportunity to dial back aid. The West, with its short attention span won't keep on arming and financing Ukraine indefinitely. That's especially true if it increasingly appears that the West is backing a losing horse, the Donbas is fully taken and then annexed into Russia, making it a fait accompli, with the West treating it like Crimea in 2014.Again, calling for peace doesn't mean jack if the guy whose land you're stealing refuses talks.
It does if the guy refusing to talk is being bankrolled and armed by a fickle world, members of which may seize at the first opportunity to dial back aid. The West, with its short attention span won't keep on arming and financing Ukraine indefinitely. That's especially true if it increasingly appears that the West is backing a losing horse, the Donbas is fully taken and then annexed into Russia, making it a fait accompli, with the West treating it like Crimea in 2014.
For what was a 1.5 trillion dollar economy (before the invasion of Ukraine), that is a big chunk of GDP.Interesting piece on the need for the Russian government to prop up the economy in order to overcome sanctions and keep funding the "special military operation" (Source: BBC). I expect inflation to go up like a helium balloon:
Russia requires substantial financial resources in order to continue supporting both its economy and its "special operation" in Ukraine, the country's finance minister says.
"Money for a special operation" means "huge resources" are needed, Anton Siluanov says at a university event.
Moscow officials insist on referring to the invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation."
He adds the Russian government will be spending 8 trillion roubles (£95.8bn) in the form of an economic stimulus package this year.
"Huge funds. We need these resources to support the economy, support our citizens."
The Russian economy has fared poorly in the last few months after being hammered by Western sanctions, with some forecasts projecting its GDP to shrink by between 8.5% and 15% this year.
And now on video.