The Ukrainians are “systematically in the process of making Crimea uninhabitable for Russian forces”. This is the view of Ben Hodges, a former commander of American forces in Europe and a senior adviser to NATO. He makes an excellent point: Ukraine doesn't need to actually recapture Crimea at this point - it just needs to make it untenable for Russia to maintain their occupation by cutting off supply lines.
Thanks for this, Barry. Is it possible for Russia to survive the fall of Putin? It seems that the foundations of the nation (institutions, economy, infrastructure, beliefs, etc.) are so badly damaged that a national breakdown (break-up?) is inevitable. With China in the east salivating over eastern Russia and ethnic groups within recognizing their heavy losses in the war, what could keep the country together?
Funnily enough, I was just on a web seminar from the Economist, and a related question emerged. If Putin calls, Russia will change its direction. There are regions that want to separate, and they will be hard to stop. Russia will need a very different 'motivating vision' to hold itself together...
Thanks, Barry. A new "motivating vision" would have to overcome centuries of tsar-ist thinking. What other values might be unearthed in the Moscovite mind that would lead to a more democratic government? (How does the world perform psychotherapy on 35 million [est.] Moscovites, let alone a nation of 140 million people?) I suspect a break-up would be a healthier outcome.
😊 I hope the mainstream media starts reflecting the better news from Ukraine. It would be nice to see Putin gone before November. (I’m probably being way too optimistic, but one can dream)
Yes, you may be optimistic but that is the right way to be! :-)
Thanks for this, Barry. Is it possible for Russia to survive the fall of Putin? It seems that the foundations of the nation (institutions, economy, infrastructure, beliefs, etc.) are so badly damaged that a national breakdown (break-up?) is inevitable. With China in the east salivating over eastern Russia and ethnic groups within recognizing their heavy losses in the war, what could keep the country together?
Funnily enough, I was just on a web seminar from the Economist, and a related question emerged. If Putin calls, Russia will change its direction. There are regions that want to separate, and they will be hard to stop. Russia will need a very different 'motivating vision' to hold itself together...
Thanks, Barry. A new "motivating vision" would have to overcome centuries of tsar-ist thinking. What other values might be unearthed in the Moscovite mind that would lead to a more democratic government? (How does the world perform psychotherapy on 35 million [est.] Moscovites, let alone a nation of 140 million people?) I suspect a break-up would be a healthier outcome.
😊 I hope the mainstream media starts reflecting the better news from Ukraine. It would be nice to see Putin gone before November. (I’m probably being way too optimistic, but one can dream)