Sources are even arguing that those fighters that surrendered were doing it in desperation and not taking orders from the very top. And many other groups are also said to have surrendered on their own initiative. How could they continue the standoff without food, medicine and ammunition? How could they be expected to fight in that condition? They knew reinforcements would never arrive and hanging on means certain death. Last drop of blood is all rhetoric at best.
Putin had all this planned to liberate Donbas and Luhansk. He was giving the impression initially that he wants to attack Kiev with troops massed for a siege, but that never materialised. His plan was to isolate the Ukrainian troops in Eastern Ukraine fighting with the two breakaway Republics, and prevent those troops from reinforcing the troops in the East. Even food and supplies could not break the encirclement and reach the Eastern front. It worked extremely well. Now that the Russian land bridge in Eastern Ukraine has been established and secured, Putin withdrew his troops surrounding Kiev and this was given the spin as that of a Russian withdrawal and a victory for the Ukrainians. Nothing is further from the truth. Russia now has control of the important Sea of Azov, cutting off Ukraine's access to it.
The fate of Ukrainian economy is also the same with the economies of the Europeans. Six more months of standoff in the oil and gas crisis and they will all collapse. The reality now is that they are still getting Russian oil and gas by paying for them in Rubles to enrich the Russians, whatever they tried to twist and spin around.
Moreover, some European countries have now been cut off completely from Russian oil and gas and are buying on the sly from those still getting their rations from Russia. Some European countries are just functioning on emergency stockpiles, which will be depleted eventually. Winter is coming shortly and the real crunch will be seen.
With more sanctions being talked about, Putin may retaliate and put a brake on more European countries to put his stranglehold to better effect. It is not just oil and gas, but commodities and essential minerals and fertilisers for agriculture that will also be affected. The effect is going to be far reaching.
Yes, let us see who will collapse first. An economy based less on manufacturing but dependent largely on resources and agricultural products like food, will survive better than one based largely on manufacturing like Germany, France and much of the European countries. Most importantly they still need cheap Russian energy to compete successfully. Buying oil and gas from anywhere else will not solve the problem going forward, even if it becomes feasible .Moreover, it will take years to come to fruition to put the logistics into place and the Europeans do not have that luxury of time.
All in all, they said that the USA and the West lifted a big stone to crush Russia, but it landed on their own feet.
Anonymous
'evacuation' not 'surrendered'
ReplyDeleteReminds of one who called sovereign fund "losses" under her watch as "negative wealth", the consternation lingers till today . .
Also when the stocks are sank, the newscasters will said "negative territory"
ReplyDelete"Negative Territory" means you are DEATH.
POWs kena shot on the knees.
Who actually created the energy shortage and the present energy crisis? Think carefully and it will lead you to the usual suspect, the USA itself. With all the embargoes on oil exports from Venezuela, Iran and now Russia, it doe not need a rocket scientist to know what did all this lead to. Iran, Venezuela and Russia are major oil producers and their volume of production cannot be easily substituted by an increase in production by the Middle Eastern Kingdoms nor the USA itself.
ReplyDeleteThe USA, under Trump ,had been actually planning all this in order for them be the dominant energy player, both globally and in Europe. Trump is a big supporter of the USA oil extraction lobby, and fracking is his favourite, and they want a bigger share and bigger control over the global energy market. The USA wants Europe to stop Russian oil and gas imports, so they can muscle in on the EU market and the silly Europeans did not realise they are being pushed under the bus. The USA's actions against NORD stream 2 was all a clear sign of their evil intentions. And the Europeans bought into the lie and are suffering the consequences. There is no going back for them now, like Sweden and Finland.
If Europe gets rid of Russian oil and gas, who benefits the most? But the bigger problem for Europe is not about getting energy replacements from elsewhere, which can be solved in time. The bigger problem is how much more expensive are they willing to pay for their energy cost and how competitive they will be for their products in the world market in the immediate present. This problem will be for the Europeans to shoulder, not the USA. It is a marriage of convenience, where the Europeans suffer the pain while the USA just reap all the gains.
And do not forget that Russia is selling discounted oil and gas to countries like China and India among others. With Asia fueled by cheaper oil and gas and Europe having to pay for more expensive energy, who is going to do better going forward?
So, do not be taken in by the USA's propaganda that the energy crisis is all created by Russia. It is their own creation, and as usual, others have to take the blame while they get away with murder. And the most ironical thing is people do not think but just soak in the propaganda.
Well, two can play the same game. They called the war in Ukraine a Russian 'invasion'. Sergei Lavrov calls is a Russian 'liberation' of Eastern Ukraine. I agree with him. Who else agree?
ReplyDeleteLiberation of those in need of liberation in the Eastern and Southern Ukraine is a more appropriate word to use.
ReplyDeleteIt is precisely because of the pro-Nazis forces operating in Ukraine, plus some common anti-Russian groups who have been victimising and terrorising those who speak Russian in the Eastern and Southern Regions of Ukraine.
That's why Russia has tolerated for more than seven years before taking this definitive action to liberate the victims of the undeclared war.