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What about tanks? Is anyone going to provide modern MBTs? Have the UAF been training on Leo II or Abrams? What of the Polish T-72s?About equipment delivery to Ukraine.
Tom Cooper summarised nicely:
"Ah well: at least the — cumulative — results of all the 'strenuous efforts' of the EU/USA/NATO to help Ukraine already have-, or at least are in the process of resulting in delivery of 118 M777s from USA, Canada, and Australia; 72 Krab self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) from Poland (18 are already in Ukraine); 20 M109A3GN from Norway, on top of at least 8, probably more of Zuzana-2s from Slovakia, and about 30+ Dana/Dana M2s from the Czech Republic, etc…. well, with Estonia- and Italy-provided FH.70s, and French-delivered Caesars…. plus all the possible support equipment and about 400,000 rounds of associated ammunition….sometimes by July or August Ukrainian Army is going to have one of 'most potent artillery corpses in Europe'.
For me the big unknown is what is happening regarding aircraft. No one seems to be talking about it but it will be critical. If heaven forbid, the Russians do spring a surprise then only supporting aircraft may stop it turning into a rout. If Ukraine are able to make a breakthrough you can be sure anything that can fly will be thrown by Russia into the fray to stop their forces routing, (which is far more likely).What about tanks? Is anyone going to provide modern MBTs? Have the UAF been training on Leo II or Abrams? What of the Polish T-72s?
I am quite sure that UAF pilots have been trained on e.g. F-16 and other aircraft already in the past months - the question is as to how far the USA or NATO want to go towards escalation by actually supplying diverse aircraft to Ukraine. Presently discontent/disagreements among NATO members towards prolonging this war at it's present level seem to be rather on the rise.For me the big unknown is what is happening regarding aircraft. No one seems to be talking about it but it will be critical. If heaven forbid, the Russians do spring a surprise then only supporting aircraft may stop it turning into a rout. If Ukraine are able to make a breakthrough you can be sure anything that can fly will be thrown by Russia into the fray to stop their forces routing, (which is far more likely).
Personally I hope the USA are getting a serious number of F16's out of storage and preparing them, whilst suitable training regimes are in place to fly and support them. The cost the the taxpayer will be relatively low and the benefit huge.
JagI am quite sure that UAF pilots have been trained on e.g. F-16 and other aircraft already in the past months - the question is as to how far the USA or NATO want to go towards escalation by actually supplying diverse aircraft to Ukraine. Presently discontent/disagreements among NATO members towards prolonging this war at it's present level seem to be rather on the rise.
GliderJag
I hope your right about the training and general preparation regarding fighters. Also I do believe that you are right about the first signs of disagreement between Nato members in particular France and Germany. However on a more positive note, Urkraine now seems to be getting Drones that can fly considerable distances and drop very effective payloads. The difference between a drone that have that ability and aircraft that have a similar ability is starting to narrow.
On a more general note, the quality of the equipment that Ukraine seems to be getting is increasing, whilst the quality of the equipment that is being issues to the Russian front line seems to be getting worse. That can only be a help to the Ukraine
The way to prevent endless war is to utterly annihilate Russia's ability to wage war. Putin must be humiliated (contrary to to what Macron might think) and not be allowed to claim any gains. Putin's complete military defeat is the only way he will be removed (by the Russians). I would think Macron would do well to remember the cost of appeasement.
From a military tactical view of point I would say - Yes absolutelyThe way to prevent endless war is to utterly annihilate Russia's ability to wage war. Putin must be humiliated (contrary to to what Macron might think) and not be allowed to claim any gains. Putin's complete military defeat is the only way he will be removed (by the Russians).
Well... Versailles 2.0 revanchism is already there in Russian Federation. Despite all the help given by the West, the wealth gained thanks to Western expertise and investments, opportunities to leave peacefully and prosper.At the same time we must be wary of Versailles 2.0 fueling revanchist sentiments in Russia the next few decades. It's a fine line to walk here.
Well... Versailles 2.0 revanchism is already there in Russian Federation. Despite all the help given by the West, the wealth gained thanks to Western expertise and investments, opportunities to leave peacefully and prosper.
Could it be that the Russians on purpose start to draw back slightly at Severodonetsk in order to draw in more UAF units?
Looking at a map, anyone (including the UAF) can see that ca. 30km behind is a gap (presently UAF controlled) which measures less then 15km in depth from Berestove to Siversk, with no rivers or larger forested areas in between.
If the RF manage to close that gap, then around 35-40 UAF BTG's are trapped in this "Lysychansk" pocket.
There are around 20 RF BTG's assembling around Berestove presently reinforcing around 12,000 other RF , maybe the UAF should rather draw back then to keep going in? what do you guys think?
At the same time we must be wary of Versailles 2.0 fueling revanchist sentiments in Russia the next few decades. It's a fine line to walk here.
Versailles resulted in the loss of some territory, constraints on German weapons and army, and payment of compensations. That resulted in WWII a couple decades later.
However after WWII Germany, was totally destroyed, lost much more territory, and was split in four zones of occupation that took more than 4 decades to reunify.
In my opinion the second was a much more humiliating defeat, and yet, it resulted in almost 80 years of peace ...
VeryOptimistic?
Ukraine counteroffensive likely within weeks & should focus on Crimea
UKRAINE is likely to launch a major counteroffensive within weeks, according to a former military officer who fought against the Russians in 2014.www.express.co.uk