The War in the Ukraine
- Thread starter SampanViking
- Start date
A negotiated settlement could mean anything. Getting Zelensky to sign on the dotted line at gunpoint could be technically a negotiated settlement.
Most of the economic damage to Russia has already been done, western companies have left. It'll take time for trade from China and the rest of the world to replace it, but that will only benefit Russia.
If Putin was only interested in the Donbass Russian advances would be a lot more aggressive now. He also wouldn't declare the annexation of the Kherson Oblast. Russia seems prepared to drag this war out as long as it takes to achieve its objectives.
That's the way I see this war going. America can fund Ukraine indefinitely thanks to the dollar reserve and Russia can do the same by selling their resources for. The only loser will be Europe and obviously Ukrainians.
I think everybody including me thought Ukraine or the eastern side would fall quickly but day 3 of the war I knew something was wrong with Russian military and it has been downhill from there. A perceived superpower, at least when it comes to ground forces, has been force to fight a WW1/WW2 style of war... yikes.
Putin made these statements knowing his German audience. he knows German psychology. he used to give rides to German in Germanic cars to make them feel special. Putin is trying to do it now is pull another Syria on Germany. where he used Turkey and France to impose that deal of refugees and expenses. what Putin trying to do it now some kind of peace inducement to Germans knowing fully well American will oppose it. I think German President already spoke to Chinese president. Putin by using Chinese to communicate with Europeans will make American mad. who knows what kind of stick they will use to discipline Germans. that is his personal satisfaction.
see this former Italian PM confirmation who is close to German. he was the ECB.
You are correct.... technically, even 'Unconditional Surrender' is a negotiated settlement. That being said, I highly doubt Russia would force 'unconditional surrender' upon Zelensky, and not annex the entire country. This isn't like US where they force Japan to re-write their Constitution, then leave a puppet regime and a military base. Putin is going to stay in Ukraine forever, he already said the dissolution of Soviet Union was a mistake and Ukraine is an aberration of history. Putin would be insane to allow NATO to rearm Ukraine into Israel 2.0 after conflict subsides, and only permanent occupation of Ukraine would permanently crippled their ability to wage further war. So 'unconditional surrender' is tantamount to annexation of whole country, which I doubt Putin will go for.
Russia withdrew from Kiev, Kharkiv, Kherson to concentrate on Donbass front, so yes, Donbass is still the original objective. Also, Russia evacuated from Kherson city, which is the regional capital of Kherson Oblast, so annexation claims are flexible.
Pretty much what I think. But I don't think Putin or Russians in general will be fussed that Ukrainians control Ukraine, as long as they aren't Nazis or pro NATO.
If Putin gets what he wants it'll be like a Warsaw pact country, or American controlled Japan today.
Whether correct or not, the withdrawal from Kherson, Kiev, etc was a military decision. In the case of Kherson wasn't accompanied by the renouncement in claim on the city. I think Russians have every intention of retaking the Kherson when they deem it favourable.
I don't know how you can agree that Russia will want to remain in Ukraine forever, agree an independent Ukraine in the orbit of NATO is unequivocally bad for Russia yet think Putin will end the war the moment the Donbass is liberated.
The Ukrainian problem is a lot more than the Donbass.
Who is this Tom?
What started as a “Special Military Operation” by Russia escalated into a “Proxy War” by US/NATO acts. Or as Orbán said, "The US has turned a local conflict into global hysteria and catastrophe".
Orban and Erdogan seem to be the only European leaders who care about Ukraine and Ukrainians.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: Peace in Ukraine depends on Washington
24 Dec, 2022
Allegedly an explosion just occured at Engel airbase, possible flight mishap or Ukranian UAV strike?