Rumor has it that gigantic convoy is just for show. It's not moving because of no fuel.
Should have bought Tesla tanks instead.
Should have bought Tesla tanks instead.
Rumor has it that gigantic convoy is just for show. It's not moving because of no fuel.
Should have bought Tesla tanks instead.
Do you understand the logistic problem?
Putin has created a situation where he is left with no off ramp.* Russia has one however via objections of the Russian People and the Oligarchs who are losing their Western Held Assets. Ordinary Russians may rally and force Putin out. But it will take way more than a few thousand protestors. It will take hundreds of thousands in the streets. Recognition of this will hopefully inform the best strategy of the Western Nations.Depends on his goals, my view beeing he wants inflation for the west, doesen't care about Ukraine. I mean if he really wanted to what would stop him, yet he is not even sending in all forces he has at the borders...he doesen't seem committed to it.
Piezoe, you're mistaken - that is not and cannot be Putin's offramp. It may be Russia's offramp, but Putin, unfortunately, created a situation where he has no offramp.His only off ramp is via objections of the Russian People and the Oligarchs who are losing their Western Held Assets. Ordinary Russians may rally and force him out. But it will take way more than a few thousand protestors. It will take hundreds of thousands in the streets. Recognition of this reality will hopefully inform the best strategy of the Western Nations.
So stay tuned. If he isn't removed from office soon, he will level Ukraine's Cities. He's a sociopath along the lines of Trump and Hitler.
Yes. You are right! "Putin has no off ramp". As you correctly point out, only Russia has the off ramp. Will they take it? I will go back and Correct my post. Thank you.Piezoe, you're mistaken - that is not and cannot be Putin's offramp. It may be Russia's offramp, but Putin, unfortunately, created a situation where he has no offramp.
I think it is pretty clear that he hugely miscalculated.
I am probably as surprised as Putin about just how fast and ferocious the sanctions response was. I am just as surprised at the incompetence of the campaign to prepare Russia for the sanctions. Just the fact that out of that vaunted rainy day $600+B fund access to around $400B is cut off, and the rest is in illiquid stuff like gold that is almost impossible to sell for hard currency under present financial sanctions regime.
- First rule in politics is "don't believe your own propaganda". I think he broke that rule. I think he actually thought that he'd be welcomed in Ukraine as a liberator.
- He hugely underestimated Zelinskyy. He counted on the guy running away and instead got this almost mythical hero who almost singlehandedly is defeating Russians (yes, it is obviously not true, but this is the way with myths).
- And, most importantly, he completely miscalculated the strength of the West's response and Russia's preparedness to withstand it. You can understand the miscalculation, Europe's image of weakness, wishy-washiness, and avariciousness has been justified over multiple decades and Western businesses' reputation for willingness to betray the West's interests for money has been well earned.
End result - enormous miscalculation left Putin no path to win. None. He has no way to save face with a withdrawal, and occupying 44 million of people who hate your guts and slaughter your soldiers every day when you don't even have enough domestic technology infrastructure to maintain your armed forces is not possible.
A cornered rat is dangerous. I am just hoping that there will be someone sane enough in whatever is left of the Russian leadership to squash the rat before he destroys the world.
My guess is that it may have to do with range and/or cover.I don't understand the reason why Ukraine commanders haven't dropped a few bombs at both ends of convoy, then send snipers out with rocket launchers to harass the convoy or even fighter jets. I think that'd be opportunity for easy picking.