Russians will win if Russians want to win-- but that is far from clear. It seems that a prolongation of the conflict is their plan. As a Serb (born in Croatia) and therefore a Russian nationalist, it was hard for me to admit to myself that Putin and his government did not care about Russia. On the Russian alternative media, there are r…
Russians will win if Russians want to win-- but that is far from clear. It seems that a prolongation of the conflict is their plan. As a Serb (born in Croatia) and therefore a Russian nationalist, it was hard for me to admit to myself that Putin and his government did not care about Russia. On the Russian alternative media, there are rumors about agreements between Russian and Ukrainian forces, which seems to be supported by some facts, such as Russian forces' withdrawals from conquered territories. and their failure to attack the military supply lines.
I am not sure that it is wise to rely on any media at this stage. Russia's aim was to remove the threat of NATO using Ukraine as a base from which to attack Russia and to transform the country politically (remove the ultra-nationalists and CIA backed politicians). Territory per se is of secondary interest. Withdrawl itself means nothing. Do not read anything in it. It is a tactic. Withdrawing to preserve the lives of one's troops make sense. Land can be retaken. Soldiers cannot be resurrected. Tactical withdrawl has been a staple of war on the steppes since time immemorial. War on the steppes is not like war in a mountainous region. And the rivers make it much more complicated...fighting while crossing a flowing river (as opposed to a frozen one) is a nightmare and exceptionally costly in terms of life.
Russia did not attack with a large army, relative to the size of the country. They expected Kiev to negotiate, which it did but the West convinced Zelenskiiy not to sign the peace treaty negotiated in Istanbul in April 2022. They (Russia) had to hold key points of defence while preparing an army large enough to finish the job. Russia was not ready in 2022 for major war. They are now ready or very soon will be.
The Russians, especially Putin, are patient. Also, Putin halted progress on several occasions to give negotiators the opportunity to do their jobs. Probably against military advice.
The Russians are determined to win. Do not doubt their resolve. They either defeat the West in Ukraine or they fight the West on Russian soil. Wars are very confusing and the idiots (all countries have them) who think that they can guess the fast-evolving plans of the Stavka are fools. Just wait. Russia has killed between 125,000 and 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers and there are something like 300,000 to 400,000 serious casualties, half of whom are unable to return to service. Russia's losses are relatively small. The ratio of Russian to Ukrainian losses is 1:10. The Ukraine now rely heavily on foreigners (Poles, Rumanians and North Americans) to fight for them.
Finally, Russia still has to be cautious because NATO may panic, now that its proxy army is in the process of being destroyed.
The Russians are so far playing the same slow game they played in Syria, 2d Chechen War, for that matter since the Slavs drove out the Mongols.
There's no rush, in particular as the Ukrainians basically commit mass suicide by enemy artillery and Russian encirclement with a dismal consistency.
There is simply no need to rush for the Russians.
The tactical diplomacy you refer to above Sir between Russian and Ukrainian forces is consistent in modern times for Russia again in Syria and 2d Chechen war and indeed is ancient to warfare.
Total war and unconditional surrender are among modernity's more heinous and idiotic policies.
See "Golden Bridge" in 18th century warfare: You're beat, but I want to spare my soldiers and possibly yours , withdraw in this direction and we'll let you.
Say what you will about Putin and his methods, I think he comes across very patriotic. I would say he cares far more about Russia than any Western leader cares about their country and the citizens they're supposed to represent. This is absolutely undeniable when westerns such as Baerbock explicitly say their voters opinions are irrelevant.
Instead of building their economy, the Russian government is planning to create central bank digital currency based on electronic surveillance and control. What a disgrace!
The Russian gov't is encouraging citizens to buy precious metals. They changed the tax system to incentivise this.
It is far from clear what a digital currency in Russia would involve. Given the high level of tech literacy and STEM skills it would be difficult for the gov't to fool anyone with a surveillance-focused system. My guess is that they may well develop something like a dual system. A single ruble, but with regular currency and a digital version for settlement and exchange with overseas partners who are developing their own digital currencies. It is about interoperability with overseas systems. Just a guess.
Putin is the first Russian leader ever who respects the Russian people. His predecessors saw them only as a means towards one end or another. He is undeniably a good and decent man who is doing the best that he can for his people.
In the West, by contrast, we are governed by a political class who despise and fear us and are replacing us as fast as they can. They have no loyalties except to themselves.
I suspect the truth is some combination of both. As Sonja pointed out, Russia is adapting the same WEF biotech and CBDC agenda we're seeing pushed in the rest of the world.
I'd be careful about making any assumptions on those areas.
Putin is a champion of organic farming and gardening (meaning urban households growing some of their own food in allotments). Russia said no to GMO food. During COVID they developed their own vaccine (Sputnik) from an existing anti-influenza vaccine and the Russian defence people have been releasing evidence of Western Big Pharma using labs in the Ukraine to do gain of function on lethal pathogens (as well as reseach on the genome of local Russians). There is no way on earth Russia is ever going to trust the West on biotech. None.
As for banking, Russia's banking system is separate from the Western one. The ties between the Russian central bank (a real fifth column of Western influence) and the West are being slowly but deliberately severed. Anything digital may well follow or complement Chinese practice in one way or another. The whole issue of settlement and exchange via digital platforms is very complicated but I doubt that Russia is going to allow itself to be yoked to anything that is being pimped by the WEF.
Yes but everyone is centralizing digital money and its in some ways digital money like all money must be accounted for, and the state exists to protect its citizens, including from their own folly. That the gamblers won’t bring us all down has been disproven so many times as to be risible.
Russians will win if Russians want to win-- but that is far from clear. It seems that a prolongation of the conflict is their plan. As a Serb (born in Croatia) and therefore a Russian nationalist, it was hard for me to admit to myself that Putin and his government did not care about Russia. On the Russian alternative media, there are rumors about agreements between Russian and Ukrainian forces, which seems to be supported by some facts, such as Russian forces' withdrawals from conquered territories. and their failure to attack the military supply lines.
I am not sure that it is wise to rely on any media at this stage. Russia's aim was to remove the threat of NATO using Ukraine as a base from which to attack Russia and to transform the country politically (remove the ultra-nationalists and CIA backed politicians). Territory per se is of secondary interest. Withdrawl itself means nothing. Do not read anything in it. It is a tactic. Withdrawing to preserve the lives of one's troops make sense. Land can be retaken. Soldiers cannot be resurrected. Tactical withdrawl has been a staple of war on the steppes since time immemorial. War on the steppes is not like war in a mountainous region. And the rivers make it much more complicated...fighting while crossing a flowing river (as opposed to a frozen one) is a nightmare and exceptionally costly in terms of life.
Russia did not attack with a large army, relative to the size of the country. They expected Kiev to negotiate, which it did but the West convinced Zelenskiiy not to sign the peace treaty negotiated in Istanbul in April 2022. They (Russia) had to hold key points of defence while preparing an army large enough to finish the job. Russia was not ready in 2022 for major war. They are now ready or very soon will be.
The Russians, especially Putin, are patient. Also, Putin halted progress on several occasions to give negotiators the opportunity to do their jobs. Probably against military advice.
The Russians are determined to win. Do not doubt their resolve. They either defeat the West in Ukraine or they fight the West on Russian soil. Wars are very confusing and the idiots (all countries have them) who think that they can guess the fast-evolving plans of the Stavka are fools. Just wait. Russia has killed between 125,000 and 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers and there are something like 300,000 to 400,000 serious casualties, half of whom are unable to return to service. Russia's losses are relatively small. The ratio of Russian to Ukrainian losses is 1:10. The Ukraine now rely heavily on foreigners (Poles, Rumanians and North Americans) to fight for them.
Finally, Russia still has to be cautious because NATO may panic, now that its proxy army is in the process of being destroyed.
Totally agree
The Russians are so far playing the same slow game they played in Syria, 2d Chechen War, for that matter since the Slavs drove out the Mongols.
There's no rush, in particular as the Ukrainians basically commit mass suicide by enemy artillery and Russian encirclement with a dismal consistency.
There is simply no need to rush for the Russians.
The tactical diplomacy you refer to above Sir between Russian and Ukrainian forces is consistent in modern times for Russia again in Syria and 2d Chechen war and indeed is ancient to warfare.
Total war and unconditional surrender are among modernity's more heinous and idiotic policies.
See "Golden Bridge" in 18th century warfare: You're beat, but I want to spare my soldiers and possibly yours , withdraw in this direction and we'll let you.
It's ancient to war.
Why do you think Putin doesn't care about Russia?
Say what you will about Putin and his methods, I think he comes across very patriotic. I would say he cares far more about Russia than any Western leader cares about their country and the citizens they're supposed to represent. This is absolutely undeniable when westerns such as Baerbock explicitly say their voters opinions are irrelevant.
Instead of building their economy, the Russian government is planning to create central bank digital currency based on electronic surveillance and control. What a disgrace!
The Russian gov't is encouraging citizens to buy precious metals. They changed the tax system to incentivise this.
It is far from clear what a digital currency in Russia would involve. Given the high level of tech literacy and STEM skills it would be difficult for the gov't to fool anyone with a surveillance-focused system. My guess is that they may well develop something like a dual system. A single ruble, but with regular currency and a digital version for settlement and exchange with overseas partners who are developing their own digital currencies. It is about interoperability with overseas systems. Just a guess.
Putin is the first Russian leader ever who respects the Russian people. His predecessors saw them only as a means towards one end or another. He is undeniably a good and decent man who is doing the best that he can for his people.
In the West, by contrast, we are governed by a political class who despise and fear us and are replacing us as fast as they can. They have no loyalties except to themselves.
I suspect the truth is some combination of both. As Sonja pointed out, Russia is adapting the same WEF biotech and CBDC agenda we're seeing pushed in the rest of the world.
I'd be careful about making any assumptions on those areas.
Putin is a champion of organic farming and gardening (meaning urban households growing some of their own food in allotments). Russia said no to GMO food. During COVID they developed their own vaccine (Sputnik) from an existing anti-influenza vaccine and the Russian defence people have been releasing evidence of Western Big Pharma using labs in the Ukraine to do gain of function on lethal pathogens (as well as reseach on the genome of local Russians). There is no way on earth Russia is ever going to trust the West on biotech. None.
As for banking, Russia's banking system is separate from the Western one. The ties between the Russian central bank (a real fifth column of Western influence) and the West are being slowly but deliberately severed. Anything digital may well follow or complement Chinese practice in one way or another. The whole issue of settlement and exchange via digital platforms is very complicated but I doubt that Russia is going to allow itself to be yoked to anything that is being pimped by the WEF.
Yes but everyone is centralizing digital money and its in some ways digital money like all money must be accounted for, and the state exists to protect its citizens, including from their own folly. That the gamblers won’t bring us all down has been disproven so many times as to be risible.