Crisis in the Ukraine
- Thread starter bd popeye
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Equation
Lieutenant General
Well first it's a military drill after all involving NATO, US and the Ukraine forces. It will sharpen the skills of the Ukraine military with more training and acquiring and learning of new equipment without eating up on their budget.
solarz
Brigadier
Interesting that they talk about a medical evacuation convoy, but then says their driver drives past their tanks. Why are there tanks in a medical evacuation convoy?
The first sentence of the Forbes article says:
This is a daft description of what happened. Putin suggested that the Kiev will talk on Friday in Minsk with the representatives of Novorussia about a ceasefire on the basis of the seven points he mentioned. The ceasefire will begin at the time stipulated in the agreement that may or may not be written and signed tomorrow.
There are more "inaccuracies" in the article.
As for sharpening the skills of the Ukrainian military they have had training from the Americans for the last twenty years and they were beaten by amateurs who were numerically and materially inferior and didn't have air support. Something similar happened in Iraq not long ago.
thunderchief
Senior Member
Russian stratagem at this point seems to be to end armed confrontation as soon as possible. Some circles in the West may not like that, but Ukrainian government has little or no choice - they are loosing both troops and territory. So, I would say there is large probability shooting war will end in few days.
After that, second phase of conflict begins - unarmed one
. Negotiations will be long and arduous, but behind the scenes Russia will do everything possible to strengthen Novorussia (as de facto independent state) and to undermine government in Kiev. Winter is coming, economy is deteriorating, news about heavy casualties of Ukrainian Army will trickle in ... Poroshenko will have his hands full of internal troubles. Russia is hoping to sway either him, or someone succeeding him to move away from the West back towards position Yanukovich had in exchange for economic aid . Would that work - we shall see. I just hope for the sake of everybody involved that there will be no more bloodshed.
After that, second phase of conflict begins - unarmed one
. Negotiations will be long and arduous, but behind the scenes Russia will do everything possible to strengthen Novorussia (as de facto independent state) and to undermine government in Kiev. Winter is coming, economy is deteriorating, news about heavy casualties of Ukrainian Army will trickle in ... Poroshenko will have his hands full of internal troubles. Russia is hoping to sway either him, or someone succeeding him to move away from the West back towards position Yanukovich had in exchange for economic aid . Would that work - we shall see. I just hope for the sake of everybody involved that there will be no more bloodshed.I think it is clear. They reached agreement on the transport of wounded and dead, as happened twice before, and then tried to get everyone and their equiment out. So they broke the agreement and flight of many of them failed. We saw many of the survivers.
Tomorrow the first report on MH17 is to be published based on radar, radio communications and the black boxes. After the truce the remains of the aircraft can be investigated. As they lie in the free area Kiev cannot monkey with them but the results may be long delayed.Russian stratagem at this point seems to be to end armed confrontation as soon as possible. Some circles in the West may not like that, but Ukrainian government has little or no choice - they are loosing both troops and territory. So, I would say there is large probability shooting war will end in few days.
After that, second phase of conflict begins - unarmed one
thunderchief
Senior Member
Rebels rocketing Ukrainian positions near Mariupol
[video=youtube;A7k6bHCoBcw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7k6bHCoBcw[/video]
[video=youtube;A7k6bHCoBcw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7k6bHCoBcw[/video]
Mariupol's position resembles that of Dien Ben Phu just more than sixty years ago. It's fall would rub salt in the wounds of the Kiev delegation. But I don't think Kiev is able to send help to the garrizon.
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