Posted on 08/19/2025 2:29:06 PM PDT by marcusmaximus
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It’s all about Russian getting warm-water ports.
Isn’t that the area with rare earth minerals?
Logic says don’t give it to him.
If we have to enforce that peace agreement, no need to start them out in fortresses and us on the open plains.
Goad Ukr to fortify Donetsk then Rus advances toward Odessa?
Does that mean Ukraine can keep Zap and Kherson ?
“It’s all about Russian getting warm-water ports.”
The direction of Russian surface warships has been downward.
Z needs to cut a deal or war on, on his own.
I mean, c’mon, Z is snatching people off the street; next morning, they’re at the front w/ zero training. Or so I heard on a news channel.
Heavy industry, coal mining, steel.
I would guess not... which almost shuts out Ukraine from the Black Sea... Odesa would be their last port. But in Donetsk, Putin is apparently trying to win through negotiation what he’s been unable to take by force.
Also coal and iron. That is why it is Ukraine’s industrial center. That is also why there is a Russian population there. They are not the historical population. They came with industrialization in the 19th century, which is also why they are concentrated in the cities while the countryside is still mainly Ukrainian.
It’ll be given over, one way or another.
Or...maybe z can push Russia out.
Oh...wait...that’s right..they can’t
It would be cheaper for Russia to pay unhappy residents of the Ukrainian-held part of Donetsk to relocate.
To lose ~50,000 more soldiers to be able to safeguard ~20,000 unhappy residents would be stupid.
I read further in this report: there's a note stating "A Ukrainian military observer claimed on August 18 that Ukrainian forces liberated Zapodine and Dorozhnie.".
So things are still quite fluid in that region.
“The total [Russian iron ore] export volume is only 20 million mt, with exports to China reaching just around 8 million mt.”
https://news.metal.com/newscontent/103131596/current-status-of-russian-iron-ore
Russia doesn’t need to snatch Ukraine’s iron ore.
At least they are no longer fighting over Dumbass. Maybe this is progress.
>> If we have to enforce that peace agreement, no need to start them out in fortresses and us on the open plains.
In your fantasy there, who is “we” and “us”?
Russia has been working on that for centuries. Read about their naval expedition in the Russo-Japanese War. A Navy fronted by the Three Stooges would have been different. I think the only ship they sank was an ancient British fishing boat.
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