[Drew68]

Vlad is not after occupying Ukraine. Read his speech, ( most have not, they prefer the corrupted MSM agenda). Vlad will do as he said he will, then leave keeping the Russian provinces ( Donbas).

He will need Mariupol if he wands a land bridge through the Pro-Russian Donbas into Russian-held Crimea, hence the heavy fighting. Kiev is just a bargaining chip, something he’ll concede to win peace and ease the sanctions.

[delta7]

He will need Mariupol if he wands a land bridge through the Pro-Russian Donbas into Russian-held Crimea, hence the heavy fighting. Kiev is just a bargaining chip, something he’ll concede to win peace and ease the sanctions.
—————
Agreed. Vlad is playing chess, Senile Joe, well, he is not even capable of playing old maid. Forecast: Sorry, folks, Vlad wins. Ukraine brought to the negotiating table as Vlad has been asking.

[Fido969]

Also linking the forces around Kiev to the southern groups will cut the country in half.

[FLT-bird]

They built a literal bridge between Crimea and the rest of Russia already. It opened a few years ago.