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The unpalatable truth in Ukraine
Politico ^ | 06/02/22 | ANDREW LATHAM

Posted on 06/03/2022 3:43:07 AM PDT by Mount Athos

Once we have eliminated all the impossible scenarios, the least improbable outcome of the war in Ukraine is a Russian victory.

Any conceivable Russian victory now will entail such a loss of blood and treasure that it will have to be judged Pyrrhic at best.

But it will be a victory nonetheless — and we in the West had better come to grips with that hard truth.

Let’s begin by eliminating the impossible.

The first unrealistic endgame is the reduction of Ukraine to a vassal state of the Russian empire.

The second impossible scenario is the total defeat of the Russian military and the restoration of Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders.

The third and final impossible scenario is a limited Ukrainian victory that would reverse all or most of the Russian gains since Feb. 24, 2022.

While once viewed as a realistic outcome, by now it should be obvious that this is impossible. Just as Ukraine lacks the ability to liberate all its pre-2014 territory, it also lacks the ability to liberate the recently conquered territory in the Donbas or along the Azov coast. Unlike in the north of Ukraine, these territories are central to Russian interests in Ukraine and, as such, Russia simply will not withdraw from them as it withdrew from Kyiv earlier in the war. Nor will Ukrainian forces – themselves, it should be noted, suffering terrible attrition all along the battle front and growing weaker with each passing day – be strong enough to compel them to do so.

And that leaves only one other conceivable outcome: a fragmented and partly dismembered Ukraine, neither fully part of the West nor entirely within the Russian sphere of influence. This outcome is not only not impossible, it’s not even improbable.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Russia
KEYWORDS: agitprop; andrewlatham; appeasement; bidenpuffers; bidensbuttboys; bidensdementia; bidenworshippers; cancer; chechens; chechnya; cowards; fearpers; keyboardneocons; landforpeace; neocons4biden; notwinning; pedos4biden; pedosforputin; politico; pollutico; putincoloncancer; putinlovertrollsonfr; putinmissing; putinsbuttboys; putinvspoopin; putinworshippers; russia; russianaggression; scottritter; ukraine; ukraineslushfund; wherearethemen; whereshunter; wheresputin; zottheneocons; zottherussiantrolls; zotthesorostrolls
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To: jimjohn

Thanks for that. I share your sentiment too.


41 posted on 06/03/2022 7:03:49 AM PDT by dforest (We have to put a stop to this now.)
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To: Mount Athos
It is "unpalatable" only to globalist Soros stooges.

The military situation in Ukraine, as seen by an ex-member of the Swiss strategic intelligence

42 posted on 06/03/2022 7:05:13 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Contempt for pre-born human life breeds contempt for post-born human life.)
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To: Pollard

That’s an AT-4, not a Javelin. The seller deserves a downvote and chargeback.


43 posted on 06/03/2022 7:18:49 AM PDT by Justa (If where you came from is so great then why aren't Floridians moving there?)
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To: Mount Athos

I could have almost written this. He even uses some of the same words and arguments I have in my comments.

The realpolitik of this war for the US and Western Europe is to wear down Russia so they cannot engage in this kind of expansionist adventure again for a long time. Making it expensive for them is in Ukraine’s long term interest as well.


44 posted on 06/03/2022 7:28:52 AM PDT by Data Miner
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To: Mount Athos

It’s not impossible that Russia will have another internal collapse like it did in WWI. Russia entered WWI with the largest standing army in Europe. It lost ground in the Northeast to the Germans in the Baltics and Poland. It made gains against the Habsburgs in Galicia. Russia suffered tremendous losses, which eventually resulted in the Bolshevik Revolution. That could happen again.

Reports are that Russian troops are refusing to fight, and Russian gains recently are due to extensive rocket and artillery bombardments from long range. Essentially, the recent Russian advance in the Donbas, which are quite limited, have resulted from long range artillery strikes to rubble places. Don’t know if that can continue if the Ukies are given better long range artillery and rockets to counter that tactic. Also, many Russian troops are now free to return to Russia, since no war was declared and their 90 day contracts are expiring. Time could be on the Ukrainian’s side if the West continues to support them.


45 posted on 06/03/2022 7:34:25 AM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: dforest; Travis McGee

... and please forgive the typos. it’s just that I’m getting pissed off to the point that maybe I need a week’s break from the news.

apologies and respect to you also, Mr. McGee.


46 posted on 06/03/2022 7:35:11 AM PDT by jimjohn (We're at war, people. Start acting like it.)
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To: Pollard

Seen a report US Javelin missiles being sold out of Ukraine for $30,000 each.


47 posted on 06/03/2022 7:37:27 AM PDT by 1066AD
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To: Celtic Conservative

“What about holding and administering it?”

They have no trouble holding Crimea.

They will simply ask their militias to clean up the Donbas.

Non issue.


48 posted on 06/03/2022 7:40:43 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Reaganez

“Total victory (including Crimea) for Ukraine is possible as long as weapons and aid continue to flow.”

Hilarious.


49 posted on 06/03/2022 7:41:51 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: 1066AD

Not a bad price. Drug Cartels and Muslim groups should be able to put them to use. And the American politicians and Hunter Biden will of course, get their cut. Win! Win!


50 posted on 06/03/2022 7:45:32 AM PDT by sport
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To: Reaganez
When Russian troops fell back from Kyiv and Ukrainian troops began to attempt to push Russians out of Donbas some of us predicted that the outcome must be a military stalemate leading to a bifurcated Ukraine along the lines drawn by combat and the "unavoidable" outcome would lead to peace talks as the parties approach exhaustion.

The author seems to accept this hypothesis but he adds that the inevitable result will be a Ukraine that is neither a member of NATO nor of the European Union. This is not nearly so inevitable.

First, as the sanctions against Russia begin to take their toll, Russia will be more inclined to cut its losses and accept a geographical settlement. As part of those negotiations, one might expect the sanctions to be relieved in exchange for some sovereignty for Ukraine.

Thus, there are many variables which might cause Russia to accept its geographical gains and forsake attempts to control Ukraine's geopolitics as an unrealistic expectation that is destined to fail over time, even if agreed to by Ukraine in talks, because of the bitter animosity between these belligerents and because Russia will have no way to enforce such an agreement. One can hardly expect Russia to attempt another invasion of Ukraine after this fiasco simply to bring Ukraine's foreign policy to heel.

That leaves Moscow with only one lever, nuclear blackmail which the Ukrainians are not likely to submit to. Look for Ukraine under the circumstances to somehow acquire the bomb themselves.

Both sides might be nearing exhaustion with very little prospect of total victory over the other. Declarations of neutrality may or may not be part of the settlement, but are unlikely to prevail over time.


51 posted on 06/03/2022 7:53:45 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, attack! - Bull Halsey)
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To: Reaganez

Where are you getting this erroneous info from? The Daily Mail?

Face it, the admissions are now emerging that all the West and tales from Ukraine were made up to influence the sheep in the west.

This should anger anyone since we have been fleeced for taxpayer dollars to support another lost cause.

Don’t forget the total lack of caring or reverence for the troops sacrificed by Joe Biden’s corrupt state department and Pentagram is Afghanistan. Nor should we forget the billions of US military arms and equipment put in the hands of lunatic Taliban as we up and left people behind.

Why would anyone in their right mind support any war effort proxy or not by the traitorous Biden regime?


52 posted on 06/03/2022 8:16:45 AM PDT by dforest (We have to put a stop to this now.)
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To: Travis McGee
Maybe a national divorce, Czechoslovakian style, is a better solution than [...]

1. False Dilemma Fallacy! Other alternatives are not only conceivable, but actually likely.

2. False Comparison! The dissolution of the Czechoslovakian state was entirely voluntarily on the part of both parties, and did not involve any invasions.

3. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, and should decide its destiny for itself.

Regards,

53 posted on 06/03/2022 8:28:48 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Mount Athos

And, none of this would have happened if BeijingBiden and the other globalist elite parasites hadn’t persuaded Zelynskyy to betray his agreement to the Minsk agreement — which ceded the Donbas states to Russia — as their citizens asked.


54 posted on 06/03/2022 8:29:29 AM PDT by bobbo666 (Baizuo)
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To: foundedonpurpose
This article is a joke.

How so? How do expect it to end?

55 posted on 06/03/2022 8:50:59 AM PDT by libertylover (Our BIGGEST problem, by far, is that most of the media is hate & agenda driven, not truth driven.)
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To: Mount Athos

I disagree with this assessment.

If Ukraine can continue of constant warfare within it’s 2014 boundary, Russia will have to continued to deploy troops and treasure to maintain their “gains”. Those gains will not be productive economically and will be a drain on the already fragile Russian economy.

Ukraine only has to harass, Russia has to control.

Russia is already starting to default on it’s obligations. Its economic collapse will take about 6 months. Ukraine just needs to hold out. Once the collapse takes place, Russia will be internally forced to withdraw troops.


56 posted on 06/03/2022 9:20:56 AM PDT by taxcontrol (The choice is clear - either live as a slave on your knees or die as a free citizen on your feet.)
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To: Krosan

Didn’t it?:)


57 posted on 06/03/2022 10:47:56 AM PDT by NorseViking
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To: taxcontrol

Russia’s “default” is only happening because the mechanisms for them to pay in dollars were taken away from them because of the sanctions, and the bond holders refuse to allow payment in rubles as an alternative.

If you have money that no one is willing to take, why should you care if they then declare you to be in default?


58 posted on 06/03/2022 10:52:14 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (There is nothing new under the sun.)
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To: Pete Dovgan; Mount Athos

I suspect the Russians were surprised at the level of resistance in Ukraine.

The piano player was not very popular, had been banning his opposition, trying to limit or remove Russian cultural influences, and being just an a$$.

Now, 100 days later, they are in a long bloody fight that they probably won’t lose, but are burned out and broken down. Also, Belarus is stepping back, Finland and Sweden want to join NATO, and Poland is, well honestly being Poland so no change there.

What was supposed to be a repeat of Desert Storm I has become a mess. Russia slapped the Tar Baby, and is realizing that no matter what happens now there is a big mess.

Russia is going to win tactically. The question is are they going to lose strategically


59 posted on 06/04/2022 8:26:46 AM PDT by redgolum (If this is civilization, I will be the barbarian. )
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To: jimjohn

You do realize the “southern border” is now somewhere in Kansas right?

But here is an interesting thing, a lot of those Mexicans are not true blue Dems. The dems have a demographic problem in that they are running out of old white boomers.

Which is the same problem the GOP has.

I do not thing either party will survive longer than 10 years in their current form. Even Trump is to old, to out of touch, to hold the reigns.

We have had our Crassus, we are waiting on our Caesar. May God have mercy on us.


60 posted on 06/04/2022 8:30:50 AM PDT by redgolum (If this is civilization, I will be the barbarian. )
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