Turkey will veto Sweden and Finland NATO membership.

[ESay]

You still missed something which seems common to most people since it is a major reason why Russia is slow to advance.

What Russia didn't do with Ukraine?

What it didn't do? You aren't going to claim that it fights in Ukraine in 'white glows', right?

Russia hasn't declared a war on Ukraine. Is it that?

 

[Sunsettommy]

What it didn't do? You aren't going to claim that it fights in Ukraine in 'white glows', right?

Russia hasn't declared a war on Ukraine. Is it that?

Bingo!

 

[ESay]

Bingo!

I have an explanation for that, at least from a point of view that I support.

Putin and his cronies miscalculated before the war. They thought there wasn't a need to conquer anyone, to storm major cities and so on. What should have been done was just 'taking' these cities with clearance of some hotbeds of resistance afterwards.

When it became evident that a 'special military operation' format failed, two options arose - to carry on with somewhat limited war or escalate it with declaring a war and mobilization in Russia. And many people expected that the second option would be declared on 9 May during Putin's Victory Day speech.

But that didn't happen. Why? Maybe because Putin and his cronies feared a civil unrest because of that. One thing to cheer that in the front of TV, but another one to be drafted to fight in a war. Especially with possible troubles in the economy. Russia is projected to have a two-digit inflation and maybe a two-digit recession at the end of the year. Despite record revenues from energy exports in the first half of the year.

So, the decision was made to carry out the war in a 'special military operation' format with scaling down the goals. Now, it is a protection of the Donbas people. Denazification and demilitarization disappeared from public discourse.

 

[Sunsettommy]

I have an explanation for that, at least from a point of view that I support.

Putin and his cronies miscalculated before the war. They thought there wasn't a need to conquer anyone, to storm major cities and so on. What should have been done was just 'taking' these cities with clearance of some hotbeds of resistance afterwards.

When it became evident that a 'special military operation' format failed, two options arose - to carry on with somewhat limited war or escalate it with declaring a war and mobilization in Russia. And many people expected that the second option would be declared on 9 May during Putin's Victory Day speech.

But that didn't happen. Why? Maybe because Putin and his cronies feared a civil unrest because of that. One thing to cheer that in the front of TV, but another one to be drafted to fight in a war. Especially with possible troubles in the economy. Russia is projected to have a two-digit inflation and maybe a two-digit recession at the end of the year. Despite record revenues from energy exports in the first half of the year.

So, the decision was made to carry out the war in a 'special military operation' format with scaling down the goals. Now, it is a protection of the Donbas people. Denazification and demilitarization disappeared from public discourse.

But if he finally declares war Ukraine would be defeated rather easily since Ukraine is already showing exhaustion as they are conscripting women to fight as well.

But then he would wide open to nations declaring war on him in defense of Ukraine.

Putin started too small and struggled ever since.

 

[ESay]

But if he finally declares war Ukraine would be defeated rather easily since Ukraine is already showing exhaustion as they are conscripting women to fight as well.

But then he would wide open to nations declaring war on him in defense of Ukraine.

Putin started too small and struggled ever since.

Maybe they understand that full mobilization will bring them more troubles than get desired goals. It is easy to gather thousands of reservists, but what to do with them next? They will need boots and fatigues, foods, equipment and so on.

And as the first phase showed, the Russians sucks greatly in logistics. Many of their reserves are in junk condition. Already now they have to bring equipment and ammunition from Belarus for their operation in the Donbas.

Yes, significant part of Ukrainian army is exhausted and tired. They fight on the edge of their capabilities. But even in such shape they were able to make some gains in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts.

Maybe deliveries of heavy equipment from the West will help turn the tide somewhat. At least in the last several days, Russian stockpiles of ammunition burn regularly in the occupied areas.

 

[JohnDB]

As far as things in Russia....this guy tells it like it is.

 

[AntonToo]

Stop sucking Russian propaganda.
View attachment 664601
The blue arrows are territory cleared from Russian intruders. March was the month of their widest expansion.

You still missed something which seems common to most people since it is a major reason why Russia is slow to advance.

What Russia didn't do with Ukraine?

All of these short term stories of advances are meaningless.

Germans blitzed through many countries including Ukraine...and then got beat right back to Berlin.

It's not about land gain but balance of power that Russia fundamentally can't keep up with their volunteer army long term.

 

[Sunsettommy]

All of these short term stories of advances are meaningless.

Germans blitzed through many countries including Ukraine...and then got beat right back to Berlin.

It's not about land gain but balance of power that Russia fundamentally can't keep up with their volunteer army long term.

Do you realize they haven't used the remaining 90% of the army since they didn't declare war on Ukraine?

Germany was beaten due to a combination of factors that you seem unaware since it isn't to what is happening in Ukraine today.

 

[gipper]

I post in good faith what I belive to be true, so you can take your flaming little bullshit and shove it up your Russian sock puppet ass.

Lol. You couldn’t find your ass with either hand.

 

[AntonToo]

Do you realize they haven't used the remaining 90% of the army since they didn't declare war on Ukraine?

You don't know what you are talking about, if Russia declares mandatory draft Putin would be out of power within months.

It's not in the cards for his regime.

 

[AntonToo]

The early attacks on Kiev was to help keep part of the Ukranian army tied down to the north and west away from the East region a good idea.

Where the **** do you get this bullshit from?

Early attack plan was swift removal of Ukranian government in Kiev. It included import of Russian police units to establish order in taken over areas and failed assassination attempts on Zelensky.

It failed miserably, embarrassed "world's number two army" and cost Russians huge casualties. Russian sock puppets like you trying to spin that as part of the plan is laughably pathetic.

 

[Ringo]

“Sweden promised us that it will give us those 73 people,” Erdogan said. “We will now follow it up and we will make our decision accordingly.” “They have to comply with this document, if they don’t then we won’t allow them to join NATO,” said Cavusoglu

 

[Hum Dinger]

Uh Russia is slowly winning..... every week their control of the disputed territories increases.

This is an infantry and artillery war now. The Ukrainians pick their defensive positions and dig in. The Russians have to attack across open ground.

The Russians may be gaining ground very slowly, but their soldiers are being slaughtered en masse. The Russian army is being bled.

 

[Ringo]

"Turkey threatens to veto the membership of Sweden and Finland in NATO, despite the fact that the military alliance is preparing to officially pave the way for the accession of the two Nordic countries"

The Sultan will squeeze everything out of this situation