Here's a theory, I'd love some input on:
Putin's retreat from Kherson has something to do with the fact there's no RED WAVE of GOP-ers headed to dominate Congress come Jan 1, 2023 and he was holding out for them, (with pressure from the now also politically wounded) DFG to end military support of Ukraine.
Oh okay then, wasn't sure of the timeline.
Given current morale, I'd have to imagine that "You guys hold the line while you get artillery shells dropped on you until we find out how the US election went" would be a risky order to issue.
I mean, the UPSIDE of such a proposition would be, "Our GOP friends will cut US aid to our Ukrainian foes NO SOONER THAN THREE MONTHS FROM NOW. If Biden doesn't just VETO it."
Volodya's bad at strategy, but he's not a complete idiot.
I think he was effed regardless of our election. His economy and army's a shambles, the GOP was just mouthing off, they love spending $$$ on the military and backing out would be more than tacit approval for China.
@TheAbbotTrithemius An interesting way to 'join the dot's - but you could postulate that the #Ukraine invasion didn't start earlier with #Trump in power due to Covid
@The_GodParticle @TheAbbotTrithemius Well, they've kind of been saying all along that Putin was better on the West losing interest, and that never happened. Not sure the election really is a factor.
@The_GodParticle @TheAbbotTrithemius better = betting.
@The_GodParticle I agree, and I don't think he will give up until he's removed from within by the Russians themselves.
@Stevo k I think that little 'Bridge incident' and the Nord Stream pipelines sabotage might have been Russian home-grown
Taking away Putin's options puts him in a very vulnerable position both at home and abroad
He has nothing he can point to as a success - can;'t quite see the EndGame for this one
@TheAbbotTrithemius
He's need to be a prophet, they were running for the hills on SUNDAY.