Ukrainian reports. The usual caveats apply.
Times story on Ukrainian armoured vehicle repairs.
Times story on Ukrainian armoured vehicle repairs.
We finally got an answer on the Abrams. They aren't likely to be used before the SpringThey were only very recently delivered. They will likely get used as part of a Ukrainian counter-attack somewhere against the upcoming Russian offensive. They might show up near Avdeevka, or Kupyansk. Depending on Russian efforts around Mar'inka and Novomihailovka they could show up there too.
Ukraine offered that guarantee before the Russian invasion started - Moscow didn't care.Another interesting revelation was that he believes that Russians would stop the invasion/war if Ukraine agreed to neutrality.
The big problem with all of this is that the Russians started this war, & the one before this one, & seized Crimea . . . . . and all of that was contrary to promises (including written agreements) they'd previously made.Lots of announcements and revelations today (yesterday?) in the interview by David Arakhamia (the head of Zelensky’s party, People’s Deputy). Among the revelations, the most interesting one (to me) was that the Russians left Kiev as a result of negotiations rather than anything else. Via Google translate.
In his opinion, the delegation coped with the priority tasks “8 points out of 10”, because the Russians nevertheless “left” (retreated from near Kiev - UP), and then everything turned into a purely military direction.
Arakhamia admitted that there was a moment when he believed in the possibility of encircling the capital.
That, if I recall correctly, was exactly what the Russians were saying when they withdrew troops from the area, as well as from Snake Island. And that, again, very strongly reflects on trustworthiness of the Ukrainian authorities (yes, trustworthiness of the Russian counterparts can be questioned as well, but this is just another episode that shows the Ukrainians cannot be trusted any more than the Russians and, in their case, actually via their own admittance). If anyone still remembers the chronological order of the events, Russians retreated from Kiev in what they called as a sign of goodwill or something like that, Ukrainians refused to negotiate shortly after, promises and deliveries of heavy equipment started rolling in from our side, “lightning counteroffensive” a couple months later, actual preparation by the Russians, etc -> here we are today, with revelations.
The other key point is Western resolve. Putin probably believes this resolve will evaporate. Putin can't be trusted anyway so for Ukraine it is soldier on or surrender depending on Western resolve.The big problem with all of this is that the Russians started this war, & the one before this one, & seized Crimea . . . . . and all of that was contrary to promises (including written agreements) they'd previously made.
We know that Putin & his government cannot be trusted at all. Negotiations with them have no point unless they're from a position of strength. The Russians withdrew from Kiev after taking a beating, & massive logistical failures. It wasn't a sign of goodwill. They've not made any even vaguely realistic peace offers, or shown any sign of sincerity, since. Indeed, Putin's announced that territories that no Russian soldier has yet set foot in are forever parts of Russia.
Peace talks can't begin with someone who's said that your country has no legitimacy, your nationality doesn't exist, & claiming it does is proof that you're a Nazi who should be eliminated. How do you have meaningful negotiations over peace with someone who denies that you have any standing? First, Putin has to accept Ukraine's existence, & that there is such a thing as being Ukrainian.
Any negotiation team would be Putin minions. There seems to be no indication Putin wants a reasonable diplomatic solution and it wouldn't be worth the paper it is written on any.Care should be taken to distinguish the Russian negotiation team from President Putin. The Russian negotiation team could be given a certain set of objectives and be told "if this objectives were met, there's no need for a military solution." It doesn't necessarily mean that President Putin actually intend to not start the war if the diplomatic objectives were met. After all, he believed that the special military operation will be a quick affair that would've costed little. There is no gain for Putin to tell the Russian diplomatic team to "this list of objectives is just for show". Rather, having his own people truly believing in the possibility for peace would make their Ukrainian counterpart more likely to believe that preventing the war was possible.
The issue is that you start with something clearly true and then descend into something completely untrue.The big problem with all of this is that the Russians started this war, & the one before this one, & seized Crimea . . . . . and all of that was contrary to promises (including written agreements) they'd previously made.
Trust is a matter of expectations and understanding the other side. And the lack of trust here goes both ways. Ukraine similarly negotiated in bad faith following the '14-'15 war.We know that Putin & his government cannot be trusted at all.
This is a deeply problematic point of view. What if Ukraine never has a position of strength vis-a-vis Russia? What then? Fight until Ukraine runs out of bodies?Negotiations with them have no point unless they're from a position of strength.
Of course. But this wasn't a result of negotiations either. It has no bearing on the question of negotiations. All it proves is that military defeats matter. But I don't think this needed proving.The Russians withdrew from Kiev after taking a beating, & massive logistical failures. It wasn't a sign of goodwill.
Posturing as part of a bargaining position is normal. Realistic offers depend on many factors including the military reality on the ground. Remember Ukraine is suffering much more from this war then Russia. Prolonging it does permanent damage. So for which side is it more realistic to wait and see? Ukraine's population losses are catastrophic not from war deaths, thought those are also mounting, but from immigration. The longer the war goes on the fewer of them will come back and the more will continue to leave. Russia has experienced far less of this. So how much more population and time is Ukraine willing to use for the empty, mine-strewn steppes of Zaporozhye. Or is Ukraine realistically expecting to recaptured the Donbas?They've not made any even vaguely realistic peace offers, or shown any sign of sincerity, since. Indeed, Putin's announced that territories that no Russian soldier has yet set foot in are forever parts of Russia.
Can you show me where Putin said those things? Not some vague re-interpretation. Those actual points. I've never come across them and again many Ukrainians live in Russia.Peace talks can't begin with someone who's said that your country has no legitimacy, your nationality doesn't exist, & claiming it does is proof that you're a Nazi who should be eliminated.
Pretty sure Russia has stated they're willing to negotiate with no preconditions. You could negotiate very easily by not demanding that Russia stop fighting and admit defeat despite being far from defeated as a precondition to being willing to discuss "realistic" peace offers. Many countries have negotiated with Russia in general and Putin specifically successfully. It requires a simple tit for tat approach. Given the realities on the ground, not the imaginary "legitimate situation" that Russia clearly doesn't care about, but the realities, what is Ukraine asking for and what is Ukraine willing to give for it? If the deal is "Ukraine will give you peace if you return all the territory" then obviously that's a non-starter. It's not even a close offer in terms of value especially when you consider Ukraine is suffering more from the war.How do you have meaningful negotiations over peace with someone who denies that you have any standing? First, Putin has to accept Ukraine's existence, & that there is such a thing as being Ukrainian.
Can you show me where Putin said those things? Not some vague re-interpretation. Those actual points. I've never come across them and again many Ukrainians live in Russia.
Now if only someone wasn't over him in English the entire time... The part he translates verbatim doesn't include the part you claim. The part where something to that effect was said was talked over. And considering the context of the part that we do get verbatim it's highly likely he's talking about a shared historic "Russian" identity that isn't national or ethnic but rather an umbrella under which people fall. Even I mentioned that in older texts you will find individuals and characters (depending on whether fiction or non-fiction) identifying as Russian even though they are clearly Ukrainian. This doesn't constitute their denial of being Ukrainian but rather a claim to a broader shared identity that doesn't supplant their ethnicity. When Putin talks about a Russian world he isn't inventing anything new, he's just trying to adapt history to suit his needs.
Here you go but you already knew this. Your stance and arguments have already been repeated countless times in this 450 page thread.
It is very remarkable, almost unbelievable that Armenia will send their OTR-21 Tochkas to Ukraine. It is a member of the CIS and CSTO, so this is comparable to an EU/NATO country sell advanced weapon systems to Russia during this war. And Armenia is also one of the selected small amount of countries operating the Iskander-E. This can be regarded as a stab in the back by Russia if true.Ukraine is on the way to getting their second Black Hawk helicopter. The first one they purchased from a private company in the US so it was more or less a civilian model. This unit is coming from the Czech Defense Ministry so is most likely a military model. The money is being provided through private donations in Slovakia, and the Czech Republic in the Present for Putin Campaign. So far $400,000 has been raised. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Ukraine is saying they are easy to fly, and they are ready for a fleet of American made helicopters.
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Czechs, Slovaks raise EUR 400,000 for helicopter for Ukrainian intelligence
Over EUR 400,000 was raised in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as part of the Present for Putin campaign in just one week for the purchase of a Black Hawk helicopter for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR). — Ukrinform.www.ukrinform.net
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Our First Look At Ukraine's UH-60 Black Hawk In Action
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence directorate says the Black Hawk is better than the old Soviet helicopters it uses, and it wants more.www.thedrive.com
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Ukraine begins requesting US helicopters such as the Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache
Having tested the capabilities of the UH-60 Black Hawk, Ukrainian commanders are satisfied and say they are ready to receive hundreds of U.S. helicopters of varwww.aviacionline.com
A Russian mother of 3 (Yekaterina Duntsova ) has announced that she is running for president. I don,t know if fair elections are possible in Russia, but from my perspective it is good to see this.
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Meet Putin’s Possible Election Opponent: A Single Mother of 3 Calling for Peace - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin is yet to formally announce his plans to run for re-election next year, but he might already have an unlikely potential competitor in Yekaterina Duntsova, a journalist from the Tver region who announced her bid for the presidency last week. “Why did I make this decision?www.themoscowtimes.com
Russia has delivered the third batch of the Strike fighter SU-34M this year. The quantity was not known, but estimated at 2 or more per batch.
Ukraine may be getting more of the Tochka-U tactical ballistic missile systems. The report is that they will be transferred from Armenia. Also possible Osa-AK ADS. I had thought that Russia still had troops in Armenia so this would be a surprising move.
Russia, and Ukraine, have lately been trading drones back and forth. It looks like this winter the electric infrastructure in Moscow will be also under pressure.
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Blast Reported at Russian Tank Engine Facility, Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant-Uraltrak
On the territory of the Russian enterprise Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant-Uraltrak there was a powerful explosionmil.in.ua
https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1728697391971229802?s=61&t=rmEeUn68HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Ukrainian hackers covertly attended the Russian Railways online conference, and said hello after recording it. It may have been better operational security to not reveal themselves, but the have to have their laughs.
https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1673769935334514689
Unfortunately it's not unbelievable. Armenia is heading in a certain direction and Ukraine can make quick and good use of WarPac kit and not that many sources of it are left within reach. Armenia is also busy cozying up to the West. While it's unclear that this particular bit of news is true (it seems to be conflicted) it's certainly not unbelievable.It is very remarkable, almost unbelievable that Armenia will send their OTR-21 Tochkas to Ukraine. It is a member of the CIS and CSTO, so this is comparable to an EU/NATO country sell advanced weapon systems to Russia during this war. And Armenia is also one of the selected small amount of countries operating the Iskander-E. This can be regarded as a stab in the back by Russia if true.
Have they offered any guarantees prior though? I don’t believe there were any such guarantees offered before the invasion. If I recall correctly, the only talk about such guarantees was from the anonymous sources in the RU government and two of the three sources said that such an offer came after the invasion began, while one claimed that Kozak (Putin’s aide and negotiator) said he had a peace plan before the invasion.Ukraine offered that guarantee before the Russian invasion started - Moscow didn't care.
Perhaps Moscow might accept the offer now if it was made again, but stopping the war is vague. Would Russia still hold on to its conquests or withdraw to the de-facto border before the war started? There's not much of an incentive for Ukraine to guarantee neutrality and accept a loss of territory, unless its backers threaten to pull the plug.
There is no argument, Russia started this war.The big problem with all of this is that the Russians started this war, & the one before this one, & seized Crimea . . . . . and all of that was contrary to promises (including written agreements) they'd previously made.
We know that Putin & his government cannot be trusted at all. Negotiations with them have no point unless they're from a position of strength. The Russians withdrew from Kiev after taking a beating, & massive logistical failures. It wasn't a sign of goodwill. They've not made any even vaguely realistic peace offers, or shown any sign of sincerity, since. Indeed, Putin's announced that territories that no Russian soldier has yet set foot in are forever parts of Russia.
Peace talks can't begin with someone who's said that your country has no legitimacy, your nationality doesn't exist, & claiming it does is proof that you're a Nazi who should be eliminated. How do you have meaningful negotiations over peace with someone who denies that you have any standing? First, Putin has to accept Ukraine's existence, & that there is such a thing as being Ukrainian.
Armenia discovered that Russia is not a reliable ally, & membership of the CIS & CSTO doesn't protect you if Russia decides to make friends with your non CSTO neighbour. Armenians see Russia as having stabbed them in the back, & not having anything to lose from irritating Russia.It is very remarkable, almost unbelievable that Armenia will send their OTR-21 Tochkas to Ukraine. It is a member of the CIS and CSTO, so this is comparable to an EU/NATO country sell advanced weapon systems to Russia during this war. And Armenia is also one of the selected small amount of countries operating the Iskander-E. This can be regarded as a stab in the back by Russia if true.
This is a small part of his response to a question and parts (of this small part) have been cut out. Also, why do people post info from UA outlets as factual? That’s the same as posting RIA Novosti as legit source for info. Here is a word for word translation of what he said when answering the question (some has nothing to do with it, but I thought I would leave the full translation regardless). This is coming back from 2014 and the full recording of the event can be found here:
Here you go but you already knew this. Your stance and arguments have already been repeated countless times in this 450 page thread.