.... The qualification ‘may’ is important – as on Ukraine policy, the EU is more rancorously divided than during the Iraq War. And in a system (the EU system) that structurally insists on consensus (however much it is a confected one), when the wounds go deep, the consequence is that one issue can gridlock the whole system (as occurred in the lead-up to the Iraq war). If anything, the fractures in Europe today are wider and more acrimonious (i.e. acerbated by Rule of Law enforcements).
Whilst the tag ‘realist’ has acquired (in present circumstances) the connotation of ‘appeasement’, what Macron simply is saying is that the West cannot, and will not, maintain its current level of support for Ukraine indefinitely. Politics is intruding in all European states. In Germany, in France and in Italy too, there is a body of opinion against continued engagement in the conflict. Simply, the coming economic train crash is becoming all too apparent and threatening.
.... Moscow says it is open to talks with Kiev. The Kremlin however, is not looking for a ‘way out’ (public opinion is dead-set against it). Call it ‘talks, if you will, but a better translation might be that Moscow is ready to accept Zelensky’s ‘surrender document’ under the rubric of ‘talks’ – no easy ‘win’ there for a Team Biden to tout to a sceptical American electorate!
Thus, in one sense, this ‘long war of attrition’ formula has certain ‘failure’ baked-in to it – for it was not military attrition, but the financial war that was configured as the West’s ‘first strike’ capacity. The “rouble would become rubble” almost immediately, as full-spectrum economic war collapsed Russia structurally (pulling down its will to fight in Ukraine). The warning to China (and others such as India), was expected to be stark.
At least that was the pre-war plan. Military action was never intended to be the ‘heavy lift’ for crushing Russia, but rather to act as the amplifier of domestic discontent as Russia’s economy crumbled under unprecedented sanctions. A Donbas insurgency, planned and prepared over eight years, was never supposed to get a ‘starring role’, precisely because the U.S. always imagined it likely that Russian forces ultimately would prevail. Nonetheless it became ‘the only game in town’.
But the financial war, on which hopes for a quick Russian collapse were founded, has not only failed, but paradoxically has rebounded to wound Europe very, very badly. That, and collapsing Ukrainian esprit de corps, have become an albatross hanging from the neck of the EU. There’s no walking away from sanctions, nor from the imminence of Ukrainian military implosion, without Russia emerging the clear ‘winner’.
It is a debacle (however much the ‘spin artists’ twist and turn). Unsurprisingly then, European leaders are looking for an off-ramp from the noxious effects of policies which they – the EU – so breathlessly adopted, without even bothering to do ‘due diligence’.
....This came at a cost however – the cost of catapulting the United States into a position of renewed hegemony over western Europe. It has forced Europe to continue wide-ranging, indeed crippling economic sanctions on Russia, which as a collateral effect, reinforces the position of U.S. dominance as a supplier of energy and raw materials to Europe.
It rules out completely Macron’s ideas that the EU needs a ‘European strategic sovereignty’ that can mitigate Russia’s legitimate security concerns. Europe now is stuck ‘up to the gills’ with wide-ranging economic sanctions on Russia, and unable to confront the consequences. There is literally ‘no way’ the ensuing structural inflation or the economic contraction can, or will be, contained. The EU has abdicated on the means to bring the war to its end. Only sharing a table whilst Zelensky signs the surrender document remains to it.
FULL- ‘If We Don’t End the War, War will End Us’* - TheAltWorld
A "news" story for bsnub + followers.
Southern Ukraine is the priority in NATO’s planning - Indian Punchline
Last edited by OhOh; 23-06-2022 at 04:36 PM.
June 22, 2022 by M. K. BHADRAKUMAR
Southern Ukraine is the priority in NATO’s planning
The desolate Snake Island in the Black Sea off Odessa has become a major theatre of contestation between Russia and NATO
"On the night of February 24, when Russian forces crossed the western and northern borders of Ukraine, the world’s attention was riveted on the fate of Kiev. Hardly anyone paid attention to the far south in the Black Sea, some 140 kms from Odessa, when Russian Navy attacked that night and captured the entire Ukrainian garrison on Snake Island, an obscure small clump of rock with little obvious value, just 46 acres of rock and grass.
But yet another massive attempt by Ukrainian forces on June 20 early morning to land troops on Snake Island signals that the Russian occupation remains under stiff challenge still. The Russians say they spotted a Global Hawk RQ-4 strategic reconnaissance UAV of the US Air Force at high altitudes near Snake Island, apparently feeding coordinates to the Ukrainian combat positions.
The MOD in Moscow issued a lengthy account (in English) on Snake Island during the daily briefing on Tuesday by Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the chief spokesman. The statement said:
- “On June 20, at about 05.00 AM, the Kiev regime attempted to capture Snake Island.”
- “The plan of the operation composed by the Kiev regime was supposed to launch massive air and artillery attacks at Snake Island, to disembark troops and capture it.”
- “The air attack involved more than 15 Ukrainian attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) adjusted by two Bayraktar-TB2 UAVs.”
- “Russian means detected a Global Hawk RQ-4 strategic reconnaissance UAV of the U.S. Air Force at high altitudes near Snake Island.”
- “Ukrainian UAVs were supported in air by S-300 air defense systems from their combat positions near Tuzla and Ochakov (in Odessa Region).”
- “Missile and artillery attacks at Snake Island were launched by Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles, Uragan multiple rocket launchers and M777 155-mm howitzers from their combat positions to the west from Odessa and in Kubansky island.”
- “Russian air defence means (Pantsir air defense missile and cannon system and Tor air defense missile system) have destroyed all the destruction means of the enemy launched at Snake Island.”
- “The destroyed targets were: 13 UAVs, 4 Tochka-U missiles and 21 projectiles of Uragan multiple rocket launcher.”
- “No Ukrainian destruction means have reached their targets in Snake Island.”
- “The unsuccessful fire attack forced the enemy to abandon the landing to Snake Island.”
Control over Snake Island is of strategic importance. Located near the southern coast of Odessa, it is a necessary springboard for the expected Russian operation on that port city in a conceivable future. By the same token, the removal of the Russian control of Snake Island becomes important for Kiev.
If the Ukrainian military regains control of the island, it can not only ensure the safety of the air and sea near Odessa, but can also be used for the supply of military equipment by NATO by sea. Although the Snake Island is only a fraction of a square kilometre in size, its importance for control of the sea lanes in western Black Sea is not in doubt.
If Russians set up their long-range air-defence systems they will control the sea, land and air in the north-west part of the Black Sea and in the south of Ukraine. It would also give Russian troops the chance to break into Transnistria, Moldova’s breakaway territory under Russian control that lies next-door to Ukraine and not far from Odesa. The US is working feverishly to do “another Ukraine” against Russia in Moldavia which has a president and top officials with dual American citizenship who seek EU and NATO membership.
Snake Island is only 45km away from the coast of Romania, which is a member of NATO, where the alliance has deployed an estimated land force of upto 4,000 troops currently drawn from the US, Germany, France, UK, Poland, etc. Snake Island lies close to the mouth of the River Danube, which delineates Romania’s border with Ukraine. Military analysts have pointed out that Russian troops on Snake Island could be in a position to control traffic into the Danube delta, the gateway to south-eastern Europe. Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta is not far south.
Clearly, the involvement of the US and UK in the planning and conduct of Ukraine’s repeated attempts to regain control of the Snake Island shows that they have given the Snake Island a vital and almost mythical status in the war. Any Russian deployment of S-400 missile system in Snake Island would of course endanger NATO’s southern flank.
Suffice to say, the NATO’s permanent presence in the Black Sea and future expansion toward the Caucasus and the Caspian and Central Asian regions will remain problematic so long as Russia is in control of Snake island.
Snake Island epitomises the hopelessness of the Ukraine war. Russia cannot end its operation even after a successful completion of the Battle of Donbass. Kiev is unlikely to sue for peace. Kiev is seriously preparing for a counteroffensive once the heavy weapons arriving from the US are deployed.
Kharkiv is only 40 kms from the Russian border and Ukrainian forces are in no mood to give up there. In the south, Kiev vows to retake Zoporozhizhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions which the Russians plan to integrate. The Ukrainian forces are well ensconced in Odessa. Clearly, the NATO is preparing for a big fight for Odessa. The ongoing battle for Snake Island is symptomatic of that.
The two US weapon systems that could be game-changers in an island fight are Harpoon anti-ship missiles and High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). While Harpoons could help the Ukrainians cut off the Snake Island from seaborne resupply, HIMARS could allow them to bombard the island at will.
The Black Sea Fleet remains in control of the Black Sea and Russians apparently managed to ship a Tor air-defence system to Snake Island. But that may change once the US supply of truck-mounted launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles reach Ukraine. The Harpoon has a range of 150 kms or more. HIMARS can fire M30 rockets out to a distance of over 70 kms —more than enough to reach Snake Island.
To be sure, a long war lies ahead and it cannot really end without the collapse of the Ukrainian state and abject surrender. Most certainly, Ukrainians will renew their assault on Snake Island. It is evident that unlike eastern region, southern Ukraine is the priority in NATO’s planning."
Southern Ukraine is the priority in NATO’s planning - Indian Punchline
Last edited by OhOh; 23-06-2022 at 04:43 PM.
A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.
It is not a news story, it is bullshit, The article is just parroting Russian MOD propaganda. Every time Russia gets its ass kicked, it comes back with fake reports claiming the opposite of what really happened.
Ukraine attacks Russian forces on Snake Island: June 22 recapSatellite images released by U.S. space technology company Maxar Technologies show the island on June 17 and again on June 21, depicting newly charred areas. Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, was the site where Ukrainians soldiers refused to surrender to a Russian warship in the early days of the war.
The truth...
Ukraine mounts Snake Island counterattack against Russia
The Russians got smoked on Snake Island again.
Thank you for your sources, started to follow them:
The first, "USA Today":
Ukraine claims ‘significant losses’ to Russia in Snake Island airstrike attacks: June 22 recap
"Ukrainian forces claimed late Tuesday that airstrike attacks on Snake Island in the Black Sea resulted in "significant losses" to Russian forces.The Ukrainian military’s southern operational command said in a post on Facebook it had dealt “significant losses” to Russian forces “with the use of various forces," the Washington Post reported.
"Satellite images released by U.S. space technology company Maxar Technologies show the island on June 17 and again on June 21, depicting newly charred areas. Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, was the site where Ukrainians soldiers refused to surrender to a Russian warshipin the early days of the war."
This link takes one to The Washington Post:
"The Black Sea: Ukraine’s military claimed that it launched airstrikes Tuesday on Russian-occupied Snake Island in the Black Sea, saying it inflicted “significant losses.” The Russian military said its air defenses “destroyed all enemy weapons” as Ukraine made “another crazy attempt” to claim the island. Satellite images released by U.S. firm Maxar Technologies appeared to strengthen Ukraine’s claims."
This link takes one to ....
Ukraine mounts Snake Island counterattack against Russia
Its actual source, and does provide another link:
"Ukraine’s southern operational command said late Tuesday that it had counterattacked Russians on the Black Sea island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, using “various forces” that “inflicted significant losses” on Kremlin troops positioned there,
the Ukrainian outlet Ukrinform reported.
The original source is:
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Мультимедійна платформа іномовлення України
ЗСУ вдарили по Зміїному: гарнізон росіян зазнав значних втрат
Which does not have your images but another link.
"The truth...which is allegedly from Reuters, but undated.
"Ukrainian troops destroyed Russian air defenses and radar systems on Snake Island
"via REUTERS"
A search of Reuters fails to provide a link.
There are many more links to links, but it's teatime.
A poor attempt, in my opinion.
Last edited by OhOh; 23-06-2022 at 06:49 PM.
There is photographic evidence dumbass, and that targeting overlay is from a Bayraktar drone. This is not the first time that Ukraine has blown that island to shit.
The good ol Poles again.
"The only gas that Russians deserve is Cyclone B.
Such stickers on the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, June 22, appeared in the former Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, reports @news_lv.
![]()
Test tessstttt
Yeah. The attack started some brush fires. Ukraine has tried and failed to take this island multiple times. They are trying to take it for a strategically meaningless propaganda story.
This is the kind of stuff the nazis did as they were losing. Little propaganda wins help lure more suckers into the buzzsaw to die in a war they had zero chance of winning.
Russia begged them to surrender. Gave them a chance to stand back a week before the war. Gave them 2 weeks at the start to surrender. Then one last time before phase 2 started.
Now here they are. Zero sympathy.
you and the Russians are obsessed with Nazis, so much so they are behaving like them
Kaliningrad zero sympathy, but does that little man in Moscow have the balls to take on NATO, i'm betting not - his bluff has been called and all he's doing is moaning.![]()
Anyone got a quick synopsis for someone that couldn't be bothered keeping up with world news?
It's been dragging on a bit, 2 months? The Rushkies shoulda had it done and dusted in a week, surely.
Russia skipped this phase.
Running over a country militarily and pacifieing and securing a political victory are 2 different things.
The areas that Russia has taken over are 100% pacified and in the middle of integration. Russian currency , Russian electricity , banking , school text books , you name it. Its a big job.
Last edited by Backspin; 24-06-2022 at 03:08 AM.
Pacified, they've been leveledl you fukin dumb twat and if by integration you mean any Ukrainians living there that are not Russian sycophants have been carted of for re-education then yes exactly, integrated.
You know only someone like you could survive in the West in your cushy little existence and hold a fukin idiotic outlook on life such as yours. You have spent years bitching about how unfair life has been to you living off the back of your fathers business and since Russia have invaded Ukraine its acted like some Lithium for you and you've stopped bitching about your hard Yooof and become a cheerleader for one of the worst atrocities since WWII.
You are just an entitled little queen, the poofy little pics on your whittle mocy in Patts and the yellow queer mobile just confirm it.
Christ can skidmark get any more fucking stupid?!
Still gonna kick those russkies out of Donbas, Kherson, Zapo and Crimea e'hhh.![]()
MLRS have arrived in Ukraine...
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