If you mean inevitable victory is occupying Eastern Ukraine they will probably grind it out without western military intervention.

It doesn't end the conflict though its still war through clenched teeth, the location being further into Ukraine itself.

It looks like Russia's 'Dad's Army' will have to do the job, age limit lifted, the Russian military super-power a bit of a joke.

Just a faint hope something dramatic might happen in Russia itself.

Apparently you only appear to be listening to people in basements and not thinking for yourself. Strange that your analysis appears more accurate than the supposedly accepted sources have been for months.

The sources who told us that the Ukrainians were 'evacuated' out of Azov instead of surrendered....A media that essentially just repeats whatever the Ukrainians say.

It's not good but don't think the situation is quite dire for the Ukrainians (militarily I mean...the country is completely fecked economically now...but hey they have a s***e load of weapons). Let's remember that the Ukraine is a massive country and the contested areas are the borderland regions. The further in the Russians go the more the extended line they have to cover and the more troops and equipment is required.

In their 'wisdom' the west have thrown about 60 billion at defending this none Nato country and that equates to a long war. It's the very opposite thing you would do if you were supporting a negotiated settlement.

The speed of the Russian progress will depend upon over coming heavily entrenched positions that have had since 2014 to prepare but after months those breaches are being made....and once in retreat further in the entrenchments are less effective.

However, any large city brings a full stop to that advance....unless you are going to knock it down.

The problem with making this war an existential war without any realistic 'out' for Russia except victory or defeat is that you encourage the 'all or nothing' mindset and that means far more people will die and negotiation becomes harder.

Just about everything in the war has been the opposite of reason.

Edited by Stirlingsays (26 May 2022 1.38pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

If there is a single smidgen of the tiniest silver linings in the tragedy that is the terrible, terrible war, it is the fact that we no longer have to even masquerade around the illusion that our mainstream media is unbiased.

From the Snake Island fiasco at the beginning to the 'Ghost' of Kiev to this 'evacuation', then the notion that our media even attempts to be balanced has just gone.

In 1967, when Polish mercenary Rafal Ganowicz was asked what it felt like to take human life, replied: "I wouldn't know, I've only ever killed communists."

To be fair he was arrested and missing for several days. Most people assumed the worse.

It seems reality is coming out. The Ukrainian people have been led down the garden path by Zelenski and NATO:

[Link]

Ukranians held their own for a good while in many areas. Even BBC and co well acknowledge that Russia are making a lot of gains now. It's not a secret, and the vast majority of people either on here, or media outlets haven't suggested that Ukraine will perpetually repel Russian forces. It was always more a matter of limiting progress. Let's not forget that Putin appeared to think he could make his way to the Capital and win this within days. Maybe you'd have prefered that? Arming people to give them the ability to defend themsleves and their country isn't leading them down the garden path. It is what we would all hope for in the same situation..

Edited by BlueJay (27 May 2022 5.30pm)