Read this morning that the current Russian assembled forces outside of Kyiv is not enough to encircle the city, then I saw an interview with a Ukrainian member of parliament saying that supply lines are still open and supplies are coming into the city. Now I am seeing the below and wondering is Russia calling it quits or are they just going throw what they have into the meat grinder that is Kyiv?
Russia definitely not calling it quits, except one definition of "calling it quits" could be "calling it quits on thinking the Russian Army can do it. That definitely seems to be the case as they are shopping around for foregeign fighters and China help bigtime. As I said the other day, this business of recruiting Syrians and Chechens and that kind trash is scary as hell because they - in partnership with Russia- turned Aleppo into a moonscape. At the same time, I said that it did not have a good look to it though as it was a sign that they did not seem to have additional waves of Russian pigs to bring in. It is all about re-supply for both sides now. The Ukrainians are increasingly cut off while the Russian pigs unload their pent-up supply to try to do shock and awe and the full Aleppo routine. But what does it look like after that? Those Russians in the convoy have a hodge podge of supplies. Some of it can move now but was expecked to be back up to support a blitzkrieg strategy into Kiev which did not happen. So now they are being re-deployed to add firepower but as really part of a Plan C strategy rather than Plan A. They can do some damage but they are below their originial highest and best use. There be lots of them and their artillery is going to shoot their load and people are going to die bigtime. I just don't know what they are going to do for an encore when they need re-supply. And I can guarantee you that the convoy troops are- after this many days- feeling the effect, wear, and tear from the cold weather. Lots of those trucks and tanks ran out of fuel or were extremely low. They sure as hell have not been running the engines just to stay warm. And the residents in the area of the convoy reported that the ruskies were looting houses for food because they were so hungry. Again, I allow for the probabily that they can fight with what they have for a week or so. But what do they have after that? The foreign fighters and china help are supposed to change that equation but that's only their dream at this point. You would think that the Ruskies- would have dropped thousands of paratroopers into that open gap in their circle of Kiev just to mess up Ukrainian supplies forces a bit until they could get their other forces into position from the convoy or coming up from the south- but apparently they don't have them or something. Maybe with all the MIckey D's closing down in Russia, they will have some new troops soon. Little joke there. OR NOT.
So NATO nations on the door-step of Russia are demanding a no-fly zone in Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine: Parliament of NATO country Estonia calls for 'immediate' establishment of no-fly zone Estonia is the first NATO member nation to have a body formally call for the implementation of a no-fly zone amid Russia’s war on Ukraine. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ru...ls-for-immediate-establishment-of-no-fly-zone
Calling it quits was probably not the best description, perhaps I should have said seriously negotiating an end - as be a better way of putting it. On another note, I’m seeing reports that the Chinese are showing some willingness to supply the Russian invasion effort. I don’t know if the rationality is they want to mix it up with the west and settle all the business now or if they want to keep the Russian efforts going to string them into deep, deep economic troubles. Either way if China moves in a significant way it would represent a significant escalation.
I’m not sure of NATO rules but if Estonia wants to send in their planes I’m not against it. Have at it. Them former bloc states should just gang up and run the Russians back to Moscow. They’re better off united.