I watched General Jack Keane being interviewed on Fox the other day. When asked about the recent visit of Macron, Scholz, and Draghi to Kyiv, Keane said the three of them could not be trusted because of their desire to negotiate with Putin about an end to the war. It is clear that the US and the UK are pushing for continuing the war while many in Europe want an end to it sooner rather than later as the domestic opposition grows fanned by increased energy and food prices along with housing the refugees.
It is probably hyperbole to show resolve to the Russians, but NATO is now opining that the war could go on for years. If that were the case, I can see NATO being a casualty of the war.
Ukraine war could last for years, warns Nato chief
The West must prepare to continue supporting Ukraine in a war lasting for years, Nato's chief has warned.
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the costs of war were high, but the price of letting Moscow achieve its military goals was even greater.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also warned of a longer-term conflict.
And in a stark warning, the newly appointed head of the British Army said the UK and allies needed to be capable of winning a ground war with Russia.
Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, who started the job last week, said in an internal message seen by the BBC: "Russia's invasion of Ukraine underlines our core purpose - to protect the UK and to be ready to fight and win wars on land - and reinforces the requirement to deter Russian aggression with the threat of force."
Mr Stoltenberg and Mr Johnson said sending more weapons would make a victory for Ukraine more likely.
"We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine," the Nato chief said in an interview with German newspaper Bild.
"Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices."
First, I disagree that it doesn’t it matter who this ban came from, in the regards as to what some people have been suggesting, that Lithuania will be crushed by Russia because of its insolence, and my point was (and well made) that little Lithuania did not impose sanctions, nor even declare Russia goods from one part of Russia to another prohibited, but rather the EU did.
So, it IS an important distinction, in so far as how Russia reacts.
In this case it isn’t NATO, but rather the EU. Now here is another important distinction, as NATO directly involves the USA and Canada, while the EU doesn’t (and doesn’t include the United Kingdom).
Whatever happens with NATO in regard to member states hijacking it to settle scores, is very much dependent on American leadership. Under Trump, this would not be allowed/condoned, but under Biden’s weak hand is an issue of concern.
So perhaps people will understand why America needs to have a robust pro-American administration as opposed to a woke one. I doubt many will learn, but it is important I’m sure we all can agree.
Despite all of this, the Russians could end it all tomorrow by withdrawing from Ukraine. They could even withdraw but keep “peace keeping” forces in their part of the Donbas.
None of this needs to go on much longer if cooler heads prevail, but the initial invasion was wrong-headed and is rightfully condemned.
There could be a conference on Europe where some of these disputed areas are addressed. Russia should get and keep Crimea. Ukraine should get their Black Sea coast back. However, the Eastern shore of the Sea of Azov should be part of whatever rump state (that the people who live there agree to) that comes out of the Donbas.
I wonder if this is it?
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3020199/dod-leaders-say-training-ukrainian-forces-is-paying-dividends/
Defense Department leaders said today that the training of Ukrainian forces by Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine has paid off as Ukrainians defend their country against Russian forces.
Ukrainian service members trained at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center in the Lviv region of western Ukraine right up until the Russian invasion in February. The most recent trainers were part of Task Force Gator, composed of the Florida Army National Guard's 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
A soldier aims a gun.
From the beginning of that training mission until January 2022, the 7th Army Training Command had trained a total of 23,000 Ukrainians in Yavoriv, said Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Hilbert, commander of the 7th Army Training Command.
Spotlight: NATO
In February, the U.S. European Command re positioned Task Force Gator to Grafenwoehr, Germany, where the unit continues to train Ukrainians on a variety of U.S. and NATO weaponry to enable them to defend their nation.
A map shows Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Training included antitank weapons systems, doctrine, operations and, importantly, the development of a competent noncommissioned officer corps, he said. He noted that NCOs who have been through the training can take the initiative and make tactical decisions based on their commanders’ intentions.
“The biggest mistake that the Russians made was giving us eight years to prepare for this [war],” Hopkins mentioned a Ukrainian as stating to a U.S. trainer.
Army Lt. Col. Jeremy “Todd” Hopkins, deputy commander of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said the goal of training is to get the Ukrainians back into the fight as quickly as possible and with the proficiency they need to operate weapons platforms that are being rushed into their hands by the U.S. and partner nations.
A soldier waves a flag.
“They're doing really well with the training that we've given them. And I'm very confident with their abilities as they go forward,” Hilbert said.
“[Ukrainian] soldiers are extremely competent and eager to learn the systems that we are providing them. … They're absolutely focused on the task at hand and getting back to Ukraine,” he said.
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or this could be it as well,either way looks like Ukraine has ahad extensive help from nato since 2014:
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_192648.htm
5. How has NATO supported Ukraine since Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014?
Since Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has helped to reform Ukraine's armed forces and defense institutions, including with equipment and financial support. Allies have also provided training for tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops. Since 2016, NATO's support has been organized through a Comprehensive Assistance Package, which includes a wide range of capacity-building programmes and trust funds, focused on key areas like cyber defense, logistics and countering hybrid warfare. Ukrainian forces have also developed their capabilities by participating in NATO exercises and operations.