Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Scottyboi]

I'd prefer to read the direct quotes to that before deciding if it was good news haha.

 

[west didsblue]

Too much to expect China to start supporting Ukraine but if they have realised that their own national interest is not served best by giving Putin exactly what he wants then that’s the best we could have hoped for.

I suspect the diplomatic channels between Washington and Beijing have been quite active recently. Wouldn’t surprise me if their was a tacit acknowledgement from the West that China seeking to reclaim eastern Russian territories that used to be part of historic Chinese empires wouldn’t be met with anything more than a bit of hot air. If the Chinese did this then they might lower their priority of getting Taiwan under their control. Win win for everyone (except the Russians of course).

 

[CTID1977]

I'd prefer to read the direct quotes to that before deciding if it was good news haha.

China’s Ambassador to the E.U. Tries to Distance Beijing From Moscow​

The ambassador, Fu Cong, said China was not on Russia’s side in the war in Ukraine. “‘No limit’ is nothing but rhetoric,” he said, referring to a statement from last year about the countries’ relationship.

In an hourlong interview ahead of a European diplomatic mission to Beijing, China’s ambassador to the European Union said that critics had misinterpreted his country’s relationship with Russia, and suggested their ties may not be as limitless as their leaders once declared.

Here are a few highlights of the interview:

• The ambassador downplayed Russia and China’s declaration of a “no limits” friendship last year.

Just three weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine Presidents Vladimir V. Putin and Xi Jinping signed a joint statement declaring “no limits” to their countries’ friendship. But Mr. Fu said China was not on Russia’s side on the war and that some people “deliberately misinterpret this because there’s the so-called ‘no limit’ friendship or relationship.”

He added, “‘No limit’ is nothing but rhetoric.”
Mr. Fu said that China had not provided military assistance to Russia, nor recognized its efforts to annex Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and the Donbas.

Beijing has not condemned the invasion, he said, because it understood Russia’s claims about a defensive war against NATO encroachment, and because his government believes “the root causes are more complicated” than Western leaders say.

• China will not provide arms for Russia to use in Ukraine now or in the future, the ambassador said.

Mr. Fu blasted Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for saying in February that China was considering providing Russia with lethal weapons. Mr. Blinken, Mr. Fu said, was spreading “lies on TV.”

 

[lee_wsm]

Somewhere a window is getting opened for this Chinese ambassador

 

[red 2 hats]

Somewhere a window is getting opened for this Chinese ambassador

Or he will fall down the bungalow stairs.

 

[CTID1977]

Somewhere a window is getting opened for this Chinese ambassador

this comrade spoke the words of comrade Xi

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

But Kaz, Trad Republicans in both houses wouldn't allow that. There would be a 70%+ majority in bith houses to continue supplying Ukraine. The power of the President is blocked by a super Majority in both houses.
Its's only the MAGA wing of the Republican party and the ant-any-war extreme left of the Democrat Party who who are insane.

To be honest, even if the yanks pulled out NATO is far stronger than Russia. Russia has fked itself in Ukraine. Russia is now basically a nuclear shit hole. Too dangerous to mess with but not really an offensive force.

 

[mosssideblue]

Yessssssss

 

[CTID1977]

The Russian winter offensive has entirely failed. We can see that in all sectors. No matter whether you look at Vuhledar, Kreminna, Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhia and, yes, even Bakhmut the Russian advances were little or not even existent. Russia wasted huge amount of resources and gained almost nothing in return. In the contrary, they are no more than ever under threat to lose more. But that's the next episode.

Based on all Russian attempts I have drawn maps of their intention. The operation, indeed, was aimed to take the entire Donbas, as well as all areas east of the Oskil river. I believe that Russians intended to execute this in 4 phases:

PHASE 1: Strike and breakthrough Ukrainian lines at Kupyansk, Kreminna, Bakhmut, Avidiivka, Marinka and Vuhledar and encircle the cities of the 1st defense line

PHASE 2: Break the resistance of those cities and move deeper into Ukrainian space. Starting to encircle the 2nd line of defense, most notably Kramatorsk and Sloviansk

PHASE 3: Break Ukrainian resistance at 2nd line of defense. Take over of Kramatorsk/Sloviansk, clear out all remaining Ukrainian units east of Oskil river and launch attack on Pokrovsk and Dobropillya

PHASE 4: Strike and take over of Pokrovsk and Dobropillya. Clear out all remaining pockets and conquer the rest of Donetsk Oblast. End of all offensive operations and fortify this position.

Political Conclusion: Declare victory and offer cease fire and demand this to be the new border or line of contact. The areas of the Kharkiv Oblast stay under Russian rule, in exchange for Ukraine keeping Kherson and Zaporizhzhia city.

If this Russian operation would have succeeded Russia would have not only gained 13,000 km² of land but also would have neutralized the bulk of the Ukrainian army.

Reality: A bold plan which never made it even over phase 1. Epic disaster for Russia

 

[BlueAnorak]

Very interesting article on the logistics equipment recently supplied to Ukraine:

The United States Has Given Ukraine All The Heavy Trucks, Tankers And Recovery Vehicles the Ukrainians Need To Breach Russian Defenses

Pay close attention to the support equipment the United States is providing as part of a $2.6-billion aid package the U.S. Defense Department announced on Tuesday.

www.forbes.com