Ukraine! (Title too short or invalid)

Russian advances (and retreats)
since February 24

Today (18 June) the lines stand in much the same place -- small Russian gains have taken place but they would be imperceptible on this map scale.

Russia is losing this conflict and has been since the end of the first week. It's stated goals when entering Ukraine were two-fold:

1) Denazification of Ukraine, a country with a democratically elected Jewish president.

2) Demilitarization of Ukraine, a country that had one of the smallest and oldest armies in Europe (that was then; today Ukraine has one of the best equipped armies in Europe and is growing stronger every day).

Those were the stated goals, but Russia's authoritarian leader has written much in recent years about Ukraine. He claims all of Ukraine for Russia and denies Ukraine's right to exist. He seeks to rebuild the Russian empire to the former Soviet borders. And he likens himself to Peter the Great, a cruel and tyrannical dictator.

Russia is losing this conflict and for all of Europe it needs to lose this conflict. As goes Ukraine, so will go Eastern Europe.

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carpediem · 61-69, M

It’s hard to ascertain winners and losers by looking at these maps. I agree Russia had a terrible strategy heading into conflict and they failed. But they regrouped. Not sure what the goal even was. I do know Ukraine has been destroyed.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@carpediem

It’s hard to ascertain winners and losers by looking at these maps.

Correct. The purpose of these maps is to show that Russia as lost ground since the initial invasion and has been forced to seek a smaller goal.

Not sure what the goal even was.

The (bogus) goals of the Russian Federation were announced to the world on 24 February. The (real) goals of the Russian Federation can be seen in the tyrant Vladimir's writings over the last 10+ years.

I do know Ukraine has been destroyed.

Some parts of Ukraine have been destroyed. Most of it has not yet been touched. And arguments are being prepared for presentation in the World Court for Ukraine to collect the seized Russian assets around the world in order to pay for reconstruction.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 It would interesting if they kept Russian assets. I doubt it will happen but an interesting approach. And that’s if they eventually win this. Who knows how that’s going to end.

Despite stated goals, what does Russian gain long term? NATO is now stronger and growing. I suppose access to ports. But he could have focused on that from the beginning but didn’t.

I do know since early 2021 the world has turned upside down. It was already a mess thanks to China’ s virus. But now it almost unrecognizable

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@carpediem Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014 and expanded that attack in 2022 because it was threatened by Ukraine.

Ukraine's threat to Russia was not military. Russia dwarfed Ukraine militarily.

Ukraine's threat to Russia was not economic. The two countries were economically integrated quite a bit prior to Russia's invasion.

No. Ukraine's threat to Russia was cultural. Ukraine had turned westward and dared to embrace freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. It was beginning to throw off the shackles of post-Soviet Kleptocracy. And that on Russia's borders was untenable for Putin.

carpediem · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 They we’re never being accepted into NATO. Putin failed because NATO is now expanding due to this action. The west didn’t give a crap about Ukraine prior.

Russia put itself into a no win scenario.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@carpediem Precisely.