Russia continues advancing in Ukraine, with Russian troops nearing the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Capturing Pokrovsk would mark Russia’s most notable military gain since the onset of trench warfare in eastern Ukraine, potentially enabling further advances toward Kramatorsk, an industrial hub with military production capabilities.
Russia has occupied around 1,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since February, and the rate of advance is accelerating. The looming military victory makes it increasingly unlikely that Russia would agree to a settlement. Meanwhile, Western optimism about Ukraine’s chances has waned, with financial and military support dwindling.
Every single year we hear "it's winter" as if we're still living in the pre-industrial Napoleonic era. These people heard in high school that Russia won against Napoleon/Hitler because dumb generals didn't account for winter and are still running with it to this day.
(I don't doubt the weather can play a role, I'm just always annoyed at the reductionism typical to these "journalists". Bonus points for Great Manning Putin as usual.)
Edit: some juicy stuff though
I haven't seen this bold proposal anywhere until now. If that money is unilaterally seized even after a total Russian victory, I can't imagine a greater blow to trust in the USD.
The cannibalisation of Europe never ceases to amuse me. All three major European powers are facing legitimacy crises at home. There's a non-zero chance of no-confidence votes for the PMs of both France and the UK in 2025 alongside Scholz. Supporting the war is becoming political suicide.
Lol. I can't actually see anything positive for the Ukrainian regime coming from Trump. From his rhetoric, he'll probably throw them completely under the bus in order to avoid having to give concessions regarding the US itself.
It could actually be smart if his administration decided to try and rebuild bridges with Russia in order to divert their alignment with China, but the damage might already be done on that front.
In fact, winter is better for advancing in a lot of ways because ground is firm, and there's no foliage to provide visual cover for defending troops. We saw Russia do many successful offensives in winter over the past three years. Yet, western media doesn't want to engage with reality here.
I suspect that regardless what happens with the frozen assets, the damage has already been done. Every country that values its sovereignty now knows that the west will do the same thing to them if they get on the wrong side of the equation.
Indeed, but these people painted themselves into a corner over the past three years and now they have no way out.
Yup, there is no chance that Russia would trade their relationship with China for anything the US could offer. The fundamental problem is that the US is not able to make any long term commitments due to the nature of the political system. Whatever deals and concessions Trump may offer might not be worth the paper they're written on when the next admin comes in. This makes it impossible to have the US as a long term partner. On the other hand, the situation with China is the complete opposite. There's a single party in charge, and there's a continuity of leadership. Not to mention the fact that Russian and Chinese economies compliment each other perfectly.
The war in Ukraine will be taught in the history books as the event that broke western hegemony over the world.