The Latest In an unusually blunt assessment calling for more honest analysis of the so-called special military operation, a former military commander of the Southern District turned Russian parliamentarian says the Ukrainian counteroffensive has switched tactics and gained enough ground to make Russian helicopters and artillery much less effective. While still maintaining that Russia will prevail, Russian Duma member Andrey Gurulev said Friday on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian forces “have switched to squeeze-out tactics, they are massively using cluster shells, inflicting fire on the strong points of our units and assault groups. They have a lot of ammunition, they are trying to burn out absolutely everything.” That in turn is forcing Russian troops to “retreat deeper,” said Gurulev, who did not specify any locations. “Not far, but in some places they lost up to 10 kilometers of territory. The enemy has somewhere occupied our defensive positions, which are very well equipped with our own hands.” The territory recaptured by Ukraine “created conditions for the impossibility of using anti-tank missiles by our helicopters; due to the deflection of the line, they became accessible to enemy [man-portable air defense systems] MANPADS. The efficiency of our helicopters has decreased.” If this assessment is accurate, that’s a huge change from the beginning of the counteroffensive nearly four months ago when Russian Ka-52 Alligator and other attack helicopters were causing havoc for Ukraine’s armor. You can read more about that in our story here. In addition to keeping Russian rotary wing aviation at bay, Ukraine has “learned to work with our very well-made minefields. They competently clear them of mines, inflicting artillery fire and using trawls.” While it has improved its counter-battery warfare, with some positive results, Russian artillery is no match for the range and maneuverability of Ukrainian fires, Gurulev said. “Basically, all of [Ukraine’s] guns are installed in depth at a distance inaccessible to our artillery. An estimated two artillery brigades were concentrated in the ‘hottest’ directions, not counting the artillery of local brigades. We burned a lot of their towed artillery, they switched to using self-propelled guns. Our people say that it is very difficult, almost impossible, to catch them; after the second sighting shot they move and change position.” https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-small-town-near-bakhmut-recaptured
If you dont think the most important thing for the world is to keep trump out of office then im not sure what world you're living on. This has nothing to do with Biden but the danger Trump presents. Have you seen what hes planning for a 2nd term?
Or they can focus on lower energy prices and get Interst rates low again? Focus on basic issues and its easy win. Leave gas prices 4 dollars and interest rates 5.5% and you're flipping a coin.
I imagine a rewrite would pit the Pepsi faction against the Coke faction. As someone with diabeetus in the family history, I'll pretend to be above it all and stick with Dasani.
I would accept Trump as dictator of the West and Putin in the east if we could expel Pepsi once and for all. I'm not afraid to take sides on this subject.
Im not a fan of the man, but he wants to plead his case to the American people. Many have decried that we must stop Russia at all costs. Zelensky believe this lie. The West was only happy to see someone fight the Russians so they didn't have to. Zelensky was told he could join NATO if he fought. Laughable. Zelensky was told the United States or NATO would not send troops, even thought this is an 'all costs mission' Now Zelensky wants to appeal to the people of the US, the US Congress. They did say 'At all costs'! At least the news media stated that. Now all he gets is a room of a few senators, who no doubt have ulterior ambitions on their own.
What do you get out of lying? It makes everyone lose respect for you. If you're going to debate do it in good faith. Why so you and @StupidMoniker lie and make **** up? It's so God damn annoying how as a society we spew lies and disinformation when we have the internet ahead of us - first thing biden did when he came into office was de escalade by removing trumps sanctions Nordstream 2. This pissed ukraine bcz it gave Russia what it wanted which was cheap gas exports to eu while cutting off Ukraine -zelensky came to the WH in 2021 and tried to guilt trip biden and lecture him on NATO. Biden told zelensky he wasn't going join nato and he didn't appreciate zelensky lecturing him. - if you read the newest book about the inside of the WH biden and zelensky are not friends at all. Biden thinks zelensky is a sales man and think his emotional pleas work on folks on the west but biden seesn through the bullshit -theres one point in the discussion where zelensky was asking biden for advanced fighter jets and even asked biden for a no fly zone and biden told zelensky that, '' youre trying drag us into WW3 and i'm not a idiot and he literally hung up on zelensky Theres this MAGA booomer conspiracy that @Salvy right wingers spin that somehow biden wanted war with RU. If you did some actual research you'd know biden is the most dovish person in the WH and he doesn't buy any of zelensky bullshit. He blames zelensky for refusing to listen to him and biden holds a grudge for zelensky picking Ted Cruz over him in the early days of his presidency. There's no universe Biden is going let the UKR war cost him the next election. There will be peace before next fall and folks here can be upset @rocketsjudoka but thank God Biden is thinking about the danger of trump and not "democracy in the donbass."
Well uhh first, I never said a word about Biden. On word though, with your narrative. Am I understanding you that by removing Trumps sanctions, Biden pissed off Russia? Lots of people here talk about Ukraine joining NATO. Granted you're one of the few who post any logic, there is a wide spread notion that Ukraine will join NATO. By in large, you are agreeing with me. Zelensky is delusional and the West really doesnt care THAT much about Ukraine.
When Biden removed Trumps sanctions on Nordstream 2 it pissed off the ukrianians because it meant that Russia didnt need to pay Ukraine to transport gas through their country no more. When this happend Ted cruz was bashing biden for being weak on RU nd anti USA and zelensky joined his side. It pissed Biden off that zelensky choose ted cruz and these right wingers over him and biden never forgave zelensky for that. Leading up to the war Zelensky called biden a war monger and behind the scenes folks at the WH never forgave zelensky. Again GO READ THE BOOK. Zelensky in his 2021 meeting told Biden that NATO was meant to protect freedom and he had a right to join. Biden according to the book nearly cussed out Zelensky and told zelensky hes been dealing with UKR politics longer than zelesnky has been in politics. Biden has always seen through zelenskys emotional pleas and has never given into them. This is why biden never gave zelensky fighter jets, no fly zone, long range missles, etc. Zelesnky is way over his head and has no idea how to be a diplomat. If you actually read behind the scenes reporting its all a show that theyre putting up. Most folks in the WH think hes over his head and think theres still massive corruption in UKR. This idea that biden wanted this war against russia is utter fantasy and bullshit. Biden did everything in his power to avoid the war and if you read the book you will see hundreds of stories of how Jake sullivan and others were begging for bring down the temperature leading up the war.
And again how is Biden going to unilaterally declare peace in Ukraine that the both Russia and Ukraine will be willing to accept and bide by? In your post above you are pointing out that Zelensky doesn’t seem to be interested in peace and that becaue he and Biden don’t personally get along convincing Zelensky might not be an easy matter.
Both you and @astros123 seem to have this idea that peace can be made by Biden simply deciding to lift aid to Ukraine. That Russia secretly wants peace and Ukraine will just agree once they don’t have US support. All of that is speculative and all the factual evidence of actions in the battlefield and rhetoric indicate that both sides are determined to fight on. It’s also not just Biden who can decide who can and can’t be in NATO. Any single country can veto adding a new NATO member and several countries have said now is not the time to do so.
Everyone in this thread keeps acting like Russia is the impediment for peace when zelensky is literally saying this. We all agree that Ukraine deserves to keep all of its land. Unfortunately we live in the real world where the leading canidate for the opposing party is on record for throwing ukraine to Russia within 24 hours. This guy lives in lala land. He has no idea what he's doing and he has no idea the buzz saw which is the GOP. Trump will make zelensky kiss his feet in public. Zelensky has no idea what he's doing just like he had no idea before the war. Zelensky is a great hype person but has zero iq has a diplomat Trump said yesterday that he would force ukraine to give up all of its land up within 24 hours and he wouldn't allow us troops in ukraine aka no security guarantee. This is like if you're at the blackjack table with 100 bucks and you have no gas in the car and your friends keeps wanting to play another hard. Zelensky doesn't understand that there's no morality in Western politics. Americans are selfish humans
The invitation to speak to Congress isn’t granted by the President but by the Speaker of the House. Given the antipathy that many in his own caucus have towards Ukraine and his precarious position it should be no surprise that McCarthy didn’t invite Zelensky to speak.
yes it takes two to make peace and right now neither Zelensky or Putin wants to make peace. You also keep on blaming Zelensky. His country was invaded yet you expect him to just agree to a deal that would reward battlefield gains of the invader. So yes Zelensky doesn’t understand or care that much about US politics he cares about Ukraine. this is yet another area where history is helpful. During the US revolutionary war Washington frequently complained about how the French were slow walking aid to the Continental Army. John Adams all but insulted the French. The French stated that there were other issues such as opposing the British in places like Canada and even the pacific that meant they couldn’t commit as much to the US cause. There were also French who said similar things that the Americans were ungrateful, over their heads and that it might be better off to cut off aid to them and concentrate efforts elsewhere. Like Zelensky now even though Washington depended on the French aid his interest weren’t the same as the French. The current situation is even more complicated as Biden isn’t King Louis and in addition to trying to keep Congress in his side has to try to hold NATO together too.
Again. You are asking a question of morality. Theres no morality when it comes to the real world of politics. You look at the facts on hand and you make a judgement on the facts you see in front of you. The facts are Trump entire 2024 platform revolves around ending the war and bringing down inflation. And his platform is resonating with half the nation. It doesn't matter what you and I think. The only thing that matters are the facts on hand. The facts on hand should tell zelensky that he should sign a security agreement ASAP before trump can throw ukraine to Putin. Once something is codified Trump can't pull troops or change guarantee. Even if there's a 35% chance of trump winning you still can't risk your country If trump wins there will be no NATO so your question makes no sense. The most important thing for NATO is to keep trump out of office.
