In the journalist's opinion. Other opinions are available.

He is not a journalist. And I am afraid he has a point. Whether you call what he describes as the least improbable outcome a Russian victory is another question.

I really don't want to open a nuclear war thread on a Fridsy, so I put this here. Anniversary of quite some false alarm in NORAD about a massive Soviet nuclear attack in 1980.

https://twitter.com/AtomicAnalyst/st...DdPMstsiA&s=19

Another more nuanced and somber analysis by Ian Bremmer. I often find myself in disagreement with his opinion pieces on various topics, but I have to say, this is well-thought and I tend to agree with him.

https://ianbremmer.bulletin.com/the-tide-is-turning

Ukrainians seem to be utilising their new Western artillery very well in the Popasna region, we will have to wait and see if it makes a difference.

it will be quite interesting to watch western propaganda slowly start walking back all their lies and disinformation.

Why interesting? You seem to have figured it all out already.

its always interesting to watch a fabricated narrative fall apart.
i dont mean to take anything away from the ukrainians though. they have have shown amazing bravery and courage. just a shame the west couldn't be a bit more 'dinosauric' and also embrace such values

I can still remember when the russian government (or it should be called "mafia clan") were telling the world "we have no intention to invade Ukraine" "it's all western hysteria", while they were massing troops along the border.

Seriously, what the F are we reading with your posts. When we read what your account older posts https://www.englishforum.ch/search.p...&pp=25&page=15, it's like someone hijacked your account belonging to a middle-aged English man, with a genuine Russian troll and now we have to read this mind-boggling level of Russian apologism and trolling every single day. It is sinister to watch someone literally lying out of their ass every day to defend Russian aggression.

People are banned from all kinds of social media for this level of pro-Russian trolling and misinformation, but apparently it's ok do it on EF. I wonder if thelocal know their forum is now being used for this in this political climate.

Yup.

He writes in a newspaper - he's a journalist. As well as a political scientist.

I think you're confusing western media with Russian propaganda. They're the ones who a) tell lies b) promote disinformation and c) slowly start changing history.

I do find it interesting that people from Eastern Europe who are used to their media outlets lying and spewing government propaganda believe that western media does the same. With Western media you can find a whole range of baises and prejudices. But they don't all sing from the same hymn sheet.

Will check it out, thanks. Also, another guy whose views are a tad disconcerting for us (maybe) but....he's got a point too. H.R. McMaster. He criticised Biden and frankly he does have a point.

The problem is if they negotiate a ceasefire then what stops the Russians from invading again after another eight years.

Ukraine already handed over its nuclear weapons in return for security assurances which turned out to be worthless.

The Ukrainian nukes would by now be degraded and almost useless. By the way, the low shelf life of nukes is one of the reasons why the US and Russia are currently upgrading their nuclear weapons.
Having a Nuke is like having a second language..... use it or lose it!

Protecting the nukes, and even maintenance on a low level, would have cost money the Ukraine didn't, doesn't, and won't have.

Just imagine the Euromaidan and ousting of the government happening in a country with nuclear arms. Everybody would have welcomed a Russian invasion back then, possibly with the exception of the ever-plotting US.

From 2006 "the weapons should be okay for at least 85 years".

Despite all the doom and gloom, there are multiple reports of the Ukrainians pushing the Russians back in Severosdonetsk, Luhansk. The UK Defense Ministry noted that Russian forces on all other axes have gone over to defensive operations to concentrate all available forces in Severodonetsk.

If it is true that the Ukrainians are pushing the Russians back in Severosdonetsk then that would blow a big hole in the UK Defense Ministry forecast that Russian forces will likely establish control over Luhansk Oblast in the next two weeks - meaning what sort of an effective fighting force will the Russians have left to make such advances if there is a defeat in Severosdonetsk or if their forces are tied up fighting in Severosdonetsk.

And today the UK Ministry of Defense agree with me

Biden has now said US will deliver the MLRS systems with ca. 80Km range.

For those worrying about possible nuclear consequences panic over, Putin has de-escalated, according to Tass;

So there was something real in this scene from the 1983 film Wargames after all but surely wouldn't you rather play tic, tac toe.