Ukraine

[HighlandDougie]

Among the other pensées of Freedman père et fils, there are some thoughts on Kursk:

https://samf.substack.com/p/answering-your-questions-464?utm_campaign=email-post&r=w1xt&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[french frank]

This is a 3-day-old article in the Kyiv Post. Some speculative but some seeming to be on-the-spot knowledge:

https://www.kyivpost.com/analysis/37222

[HighlandDougie]

This may be pay-walled but Sir L's take on Kursk et al:

https://samf.substack.com/p/ukraines-invasion-of-kursk

[french frank]

This may be pay-walled but Sir L's take on Kursk et al

It was fine: I got the 'Continue reading' link. No predictions, then, but as to Putin's response:

"Putin has only shown interest in a peace process based on Russia having the upper hand so that it can dictate terms. It is therefore not surprising that he does not see recent developments as supporting his idea of a peace process. He can no longer simply insist, for example, that any cease fire must take account of the territorial realities."

I was also heartened by the statement that there seemed to be little resistance from the population and that the Ukrainian (neo-Nazi, Russia-hating) troops were au contraire well disciplined and treating local people well.

"...there has not been – as yet – evidence of local resistance, in contrast to the Ukrainian responses to Russia’s invasion. In addition, Ukrainian forces are behaving themselves and looking after the left-behind civilians, undermining propaganda claims of depraved neo-nazis torturing and murdering anyone who spoke the Russian language."

[Serial_Apologist]

It was fine: I got the 'Continue reading' link. No predictions, then, but as to Putin's response:

"Putin has only shown interest in a peace process based on Russia having the upper hand so that it can dictate terms. It is therefore not surprising that he does not see recent developments as supporting his idea of a peace process. He can no longer simply insist, for example, that any cease fire must take account of the territorial realities."

I was also heartened by the statement that there seemed to be little resistance from the population and that the Ukrainian (neo-Nazi, Russia-hating) troops were au contraire well disciplined and treating local people well.

"...there has not been – as yet – evidence of local resistance, in contrast to the Ukrainian responses to Russia’s invasion. In addition, Ukrainian forces are behaving themselves and looking after the left-behind civilians, undermining propaganda claims of depraved neo-nazis torturing and murdering anyone who spoke the Russian language."

Clearly Putin's disinformation service does not work as well as Tommy Robinson's over here did after Southport.

[Anastasius]

We just need TTK to get off the pot, along with other Western leaders and let Ukraine have the wherewithal to engage supply bases and transport hubs deeper into Russia

[DracoM]

And then? A really jolly, everyone's-in-it, woopee WW3?

[vinteuil]

We just need TTK to get off the pot

... TTK - who or what is ???

.

[Anastasius]

And then? A really jolly, everyone's-in-it, woopee WW3?

That is what I call the 'cop out' option. If we were not prepared to go the distance then we should never have raised the hopes of Ukraine in the first place.

[Anastasius]

... TTK - who or what is ???

.

Two Tier Keir or 'Kneeler' as some would call him.

[Anastasius]

Full disclosure. I am 50% Ukrainian on my mother's side and so I do have some skin in the game.

[french frank]

Full disclosure. I am 50% Ukrainian on my mother's side and so I do have some skin in the game.

Does that mean "So I'm biased"?

[eighthobstruction]

....definitely one for Pedants Paradise...

....I do in fact like American Football analogies....

[Anastasius]

Does that mean "So I'm biased"?

Just a tad.

[french frank]

Just a tad.

We're a medium power, small in size. There are other global concerns. I think Ukraine v Russia is existential, so is Israel v whoever is not unconditionally pro-Israel, so is climate change. If we had unlimited resources we could chuck as much as was needed wherever it was needed. For better ... or worse ..., we have to look over our shoulder at the US. Things have been bad over there: let's hope they will get better soon.