Posted on 08/19/2025 2:29:06 PM PDT by marcusmaximus
Ukraine’s most heavily fortified region has become the center-point for peace talks to end the war with Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly demanding that Kyiv cede the entire territory to Moscow.
But the Donestk oblast — which is smaller than Massachusetts and home to about 4 million people — has been at the center of some of the most brutal fighting of the war, and the Kremlin has not been able to take the entire region after more than three and a half years.
A source familiar with Friday’s meeting between Putin and President Trump described negotiations over the fate of Donetsk as “the ball game.”
“Every issue is an ancillary issue, except Donetsk,” the source previously told The Post.
-snip-
Despite its advancements in the frontlines, Russia has found it increasingly difficult to take all of Donetsk, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that his forces still hold the strategic cities of Sloviansk and Kramators, which have served as a “fortress belt” guarding against Moscow’s fighters.
-snip-
Putin reportedly told Trump his forces could conquer Donetsk by October if Ukraine didn’t give up the land as part of a peace deal — but Kyiv and US observers point out that the Kremlin has failed to take it for more than a decade.
“Even if we’re being generous to the Russians and say they can maintain their current advance, which we know they can’t keep up and have been pushed back from… It would take about 475 days for Russia to take the entirety of Donetsk, that’s December 2026,” Barros said.
One American veteran serving in the Ukrainian Armed Services scoffed, “Donetsk by October? They’ve been saying that since February of ‘22.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Ohnoes! The Canaduh-ian “Dat” is ignoring the fascism in his own country, and worrying about the descendants of Hunka!
Nicky - you’re back!
😂😂😂😂
A "report" from The Institute For Grifting On War? "Cookies" Nuland's group?
Right, building defensive lines are sure sign that you are going to attack. I guess France was planning to attack Germany when they built the Maginot Line.
Moar one-liner trollink.
What Kursk doink?
What Sapsans doink?
“Trump will increase secondary sanctions on Russia”
They are a very bad idea. Trump is just making countries angrier at the US. The Chinese might decide to cut off Walmart and Amazon, causing the US stock market to crash. The Chinese can temporarily cut VAT on selected consumer items until the Dow Jones drops 25% to keep up domestic employment. Putin might hold off on a reasonable deal hoping that Trump will crash the stock market.
“more weapons to Ukraine”
The weapons are being held so Zelensky has an incentive to sign up to a reasonable deal. Trump knows a lot about getting a deal done.
“wait until the Russian banks start failing”
Loans can be rewritten to be affordable. Loans don’t have to be called as they were in early 1933 in the USA.
Yeah I’m obsessed with you, nothing burger.
I lie about the war and it’s origins?
I say very little about the war. I react to anti American kooks.
You as a propagandist accuse every patriotic American of the same stuff.
I wish the powers-that-be do something about all of this garbage in here that's ruining the forum. It's nothing but a flame-fest in here nowadays. The DU flakes must be laughing at us in here.
Just.... THANKS for posting !!!
It’ll be given over, one way or another.
Or...maybe z can push Russia out.
Oh...wait...that’s right..they can’t
She’s going to get raped. Might as well enjoy it.
Try me.
This explains a lot:
Canada has a significant Ukrainian population, the third largest in the world outside of Ukraine and Russia, with approximately 1.36 million people identifying as having Ukrainian ancestry. This community represents about 3.8% of Canada's total population.
Just like France knew Germany would attack them.
France had the surrender papers ready.
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