I suspect Z-man played the Russians for time for weapons deliveries. Just a hunch.
Alternately, if Zelenskyy was wavering, ongoing events likely stiffened his spine.
Finally, I think a large portion of the population would have turned on him.
He’s gotten a fairly good amount of support. I would have
thought that the populace would have become critical of
him, but they’ve held in there > IMO.
Also, wouldn’t it be bloody funny if all those reports (mainly from pro-Russian sources in the first instance) of Ukraine flogging the arms off were not true.
People who bang on about Ukraine spreading fake news might want to consider, if that was really part of the game then why wouldn’t the Ukes con the Russians into thinking that Ukraine was on its knees after flogging off all the best freebies from America while begging daily for replacements?
Rope-a-dope; if they were actually stockpiling the kit that the Western trained troops would need when they shipped back in then that might explain the very sudden turnaround.
Russia’s already claimed to have captured and destroyed more HIMARS than have been shipped into Ukraine. And Russians believe any old pony put out by their military.
Russia’s pathological economy with the actualite can easily be turned against it...