France uses very little Russian gas. It is primarily nuclear powered. Germany's actions confirm they are serious about weaning themselves off of Russian gas as quickly as possible without going into a recession. No way either makes a separate peace in defiance of the US and the rest of Europe, even if they could convince Putin and coerce Zelenskyy, which they can't. At most, we may see diplomatic posturing from Macron until he gets past France's legislative elections in June.Jayhawk said:As I see it, keeping the Europeans (France and Germany basically) onside is the single key strategic vulnerability for the Ukrainians. The biggest vulnerability for the Ukes is that they can't self-pay for this war and they are going to be dependent on political, financial, and logistic support from the EU. Worst case if France and Germany make a "separate peace" with Russia to turn the gas back on, the US would have to shoulder essentially 100% of the financial burden for the war (appreciate the gesture UK but let's be serious here)... Poland would undoubtedly continue to provide a ready logistics hub ... but even for a globalist democratic administration in this scenario of "America alone" bankrolling the war there would be steadily increasing pressure to arrive at peace, whether or not the Ukrainians felt all of their war aims were satisfied.Rossticus said:Just spoke w/ a senior European official about Ukraine and the situation in Bosnia and the broader Balkans. One of his comments sums up our conversation: "France is a problem. I mean, they're really a very big problem." Indeed.
— Jasmin Mujanović (@JasminMuj) May 13, 2022
Yeah, that worked out well in 1914 and 1939. You know where we always end up.Rossticus said:
I wish there was a way to dump this in Germany's lap without the inevitable tragedy that would result for millions of Ukrainians (and potentially other peoples) and significant likelihood that it would eventually come back around to bite us in the ass. They're the ones who deserve to be dealing with this because they, as much as anyone, created this.
Rossticus said:Just spoke w/ a senior European official about Ukraine and the situation in Bosnia and the broader Balkans. One of his comments sums up our conversation: "France is a problem. I mean, they're really a very big problem." Indeed.
— Jasmin Mujanović (@JasminMuj) May 13, 2022
Yah, it's like a violent criminal breaks into your home, kills half your family and the government tells you to let him keep your house and car - so he doesn't kill your remaining family members.Waffledynamics said:
The world leaders promoting an immediate ceasefire while Russia holds territory are repugnant. Ukraine has no reason to ceasefire. They have every reason to win. I'd like to see them singing the same tune while their country is literally being pillaged and raped. I doubt they would say the same things.
They have other options. Ukraine does not, and a full Ukrainian victory has better long-term benefits than a Russian full or incremental victory.PeekingDuck said:
They are terrified of a cascading economic collapse. Ukraine losing separatist territory isn't a concern of theirs.
AGS-R-TUFF said:Yah, it's like a violent criminal breaks into your home, kills half your family and the government tells you to let him keep your house and car - so he doesn't kill your remaining family members.Waffledynamics said:
The world leaders promoting an immediate ceasefire while Russia holds territory are repugnant. Ukraine has no reason to ceasefire. They have every reason to win. I'd like to see them singing the same tune while their country is literally being pillaged and raped. I doubt they would say the same things.
Absolute bull*****
I'm very interested in looking at force ratios from this war, but Russia's invasion force was far smaller than the numbers here suggest (probably 80k troops in the 125 BTGs) and Russia's strategy didn't mass its forces at critical points. So it often did not achieve 3:1 or 2:1. https://t.co/qt4OF8N879
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 14, 2022
In some ways, we're only seeing a useful force ratio comparison in the fighting in the Donbas where Ukrainian forces are defending and Russian forces are conducting a deliberate, and better supported, offensive. But Russia doesn't appear to have a numerical advantage there. 3/
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 14, 2022
One of the biggest failures of Russia's strategy in Ukraine is that it failed to achieve favorable force ratios for the key objectives in this war (e.g. Kyiv).
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 14, 2022
⚡️ Japan to ban high-tech export to Russia.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 13, 2022
The ban, due to start on May 20, will include catalysts for oil refining, control devices for machine tools, 3D printers, and spare parts for quantum computing, slowing down Russia’s advance in this field.
Russian SIMs roaming in Ukraine. Gives you a good idea of the concentration of their forces. pic.twitter.com/L5gzD10oR3
— Dr Mike Martin ⛵️ (@ThreshedThought) May 12, 2022
Захватившее Мариуполь отребье ради развлечения расстреливает дома и давит танками машины местных жителей.
— Денис Казанський (@den_kazansky) May 13, 2022
Очевидно, что россияне пришли не защищать, а грабить, убивать и разрушать. Защитники не ведут себя таким образом pic.twitter.com/SRdInHraiH
Pardon my ignorance but what are SIMs?ATX_AG_08 said:Russian SIMs roaming in Ukraine. Gives you a good idea of the concentration of their forces. pic.twitter.com/L5gzD10oR3
— Dr Mike Martin ⛵️ (@ThreshedThought) May 12, 2022
Commander of the 🇬🇪 Georgian Legion on an ELEEK Atom electric bicycle in eastern 🇺🇦 Ukraine.
— Visioner (@visionergeo) May 13, 2022
This electric bike is super useful since it can operate silently on the front lines or even behind enemy lines. pic.twitter.com/RAHXFlpHbA
who is next, Europe? it’s better to #ArmUkraineNow than meet russian soldiers in NATO country pic.twitter.com/YsjXINi8J3
— Daria Kaleniuk (@dkaleniuk) May 14, 2022
Вице-спикер Госдумы Кузнецова посетила Херсон https://t.co/byZ5fQa3Wq pic.twitter.com/XTgQSkOcOh
— РИА Новости (@rianru) May 14, 2022
Waffledynamics said:
Question for the more strategically educated:
It seems like Ukraine has several fixed positions in the East. Should these be considered weak by modern strategy by nature of them being so fixed? Would it be more ideal if they were more mobile? It seems like a fixed defense is one that gets surrounded and pulverized eventually.
Is Ukraine making the right plays around Severodonetsk?
The US is sending MANTAS T-Series Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) to Ukraine. Different models do different tasks,including naval patrol,search & rescue,mine warfare & naval security as well as carry different payloads. https://t.co/XQLg8hriUS #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #PutinsWar pic.twitter.com/1jkUtwaIbL
— raging545 (@raging545) May 14, 2022
aggiehawg said:
Through Constanta?
Lots of planes have been in the area.
"A commercial quadcopter isn’t going to be in a dog fight with a Russian Sukhoi Su-35, but neither is that Su-35 well equipped to stop the quadcopter from carrying out an aerial attack." https://t.co/cfDZlwg4wJ
— Modern War Institute (@WarInstitute) May 14, 2022
The occupiers are beginning to prepare for the defense of the frontiers where they stopped. This shows that they decided to make the war long. According to Andrusiv, the invaders hope that the crises caused by the war will put the West at the negotiating table with Russia.
— ТРУХА⚡️English (@TpyxaNews) May 14, 2022
Українська диверсійно-розвідувальна група влаштувала засідку російській військовій колоні та знищила 3 бронетехніки ворога. pic.twitter.com/9bdbK0RJUS
— Ridnа_Vilnа 33% 🇺🇦 (@ua_ridna_vilna) May 14, 2022
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 14 May 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 14, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/tAa8K8A12w
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Ya1mzfvjY4
Update for 13 May done on https://t.co/YKKYG1vWhk
— Henry Schlottman (@HN_Schlottman) May 14, 2022
Data: https://t.co/sB1tTfkLqU
Assessment: 🇷🇺 will likely reevaluate options following losses sustained in Siverskyi Donets crossing attempts. Main ground effort will possibly shift towards developing an offensive out of Popasna
I've never felt so much hate towards someone in my entire life
— Yana Morozova 🇺🇦 (@jane_in_vain) May 14, 2022
It is in the hands of 🇺🇦 and Int. community to end the impunity. This is a responsibility that we are carrying on our shoulders in relation to current and future generations. We allowed Russia way too long to go unpunished for its criminal actions. #AccountabilityForUkraine
— Iryna Venediktova (@VenediktovaIV) May 14, 2022
Rossticus said:Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 14 May 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 14, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/tAa8K8A12w
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Ya1mzfvjY4
You are ignoring the role of air power and air supremacy. much less the large role of tube artillery in the Russian order of battle.Waffledynamics said:
Question for the more strategically educated:
It seems like Ukraine has several fixed positions in the East. Should these be considered weak by modern strategy by nature of them being so fixed? Would it be more ideal if they were more mobile? It seems like a fixed defense is one that gets surrounded and pulverized eventually.
Is Ukraine making the right plays around Severodonetsk?