Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Lukashenko is very much aware that the only reason he's still in power is because Russia stepped in during the election protests in Belarus, and also that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is unpopular with Belarusians. He knows full well that sh*t would hit the fan and splatter all over his face if he attempted to join the war against Ukraine. It would be the end of his rule, if not himself personally, since Russia is not in much of a position to help prop him up this time.
He needs his armed forces outside the Presidential Palace, not in Ukraine. And he knows it.
Russia meddled as best they could. Used the NRA to funnel money, all that.
Did it rise to the level of "conspiring", let alone "stealing an election"? No. But they've been trying their best to deepen the fractures.
But probably nothing new, just a little more of it. Mueller report showed that the Russians helped promote rallies for Trump, Sanders and Hillary Clinton, all three!
Not enough pressure has been applied to Russia to make that happen.
Ukraine can exhaust Russia and drive them out of Ukraine, but they don't have the capability to defeat them. Russia is way too big. They could never drive to Moscow.
The pretense that Russia is going to come storming back is over, but it's going to get a lot stickier the closer to the Russian border they get.
Then toss in what happens if the Crimea is cut off and being lost?
I just think that politically, it's a giant catch-22.
Ukraine isn't going to cede anything to Russia that they can then call a victory...and Russia can't have taken such losses and cut a deal gaining them nothing.
On top of that, any deal that Ukraine cuts comes with the full expectation that unless they're part of NATO, Russia will try again in 5 years.
Ukraine can exhaust Russia and drive them out of Ukraine, but they don't have the capability to defeat them. Russia is way too big. They could never drive to Moscow.
I agree that Russia is way too big. They do not need to take Moscow. They do need to kick the Russians out of Ukraine.
Russian Military is over stretched. They have troops all over the former USSR. Needing the Russian military to keep all the tin pot dictators in power and the ethnic groups from killing each other.
The Russians can be kicked out of Ukraine and force them to abandon Crimea. I do not think a negotiation for Crimea is possible anymore.
The pretense that Russia is going to come storming back is over, but it's going to get a lot stickier the closer to the Russian border they get.
Then toss in what happens if the Crimea is cut off and being lost?
I just think that politically, it's a giant catch-22.
Ukraine isn't going to cede anything to Russia that they can then call a victory...and Russia can't have taken such losses and cut a deal gaining them nothing.
On top of that, any deal that Ukraine cuts comes with the full expectation that unless they're part of NATO, Russia will try again in 5 years.
Pretty much.
Regardless of how this ends, unless the Russian military is destroyed, Russia will be back at in a few years.
I agree that Russia is way too big. They do not need to take Moscow. They do need to kick the Russians out of Ukraine.
Russian Military is over stretched. They have troops all over the former USSR. Needing the Russian military to keep all the tin pot dictators in power and the ethnic groups from killing each other.
The Russians can be kicked out of Ukraine and force them to abandon Crimea. I do not think a negotiation for Crimea is possible anymore.
Will have to see how it all shakes out, but I think you're right about Crimea. At a certain point, any Russian soldier in Crimea will be a sitting duck
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
