In a special video analysis for Times Radio, I discuss Vladimir Putin’s latest gamble in his 27 1/2-month invasion of Ukraine — and why it may be failing.
Russia’s month-long cross-border offensive into the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine appears to have stalled.
Meanwhile, Putin’s decision to attack has led the US to ease its restriction on Ukraine’s use of American-supplied weapons inside Russia. Kyiv, which is reguarly hitting Russian military facilities, naval and air forces, and oil refineries, may also be using long-range British and French missiles.
And billions of dollars of US and European military aid is beginning to reach the frontline.
What is Ukraine trying to achieve by striking Russia’s early warning radars? Concerns have been raised here in the West about the nuclear-capable F-16 aircraft provided to the Ukrainians. Could the destruction of Russia’s early warning radars be a prelude to a nuclear attack on Russia using an F-16? Were these strikes carried out with NATO’s approval? I’m trying to understand why these early warning radars were targeted.
The problem Putin is facing is the pressure mounting on him to make more aggressive moves against Ukraine and NATO. Putin has acted with a high degree of restraint so far in this conflict. The moderator at the St. Petersburg forum — Sergey Karaganov — pressed him pretty hard, which may indicate sharp disagreements in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about his laid-back approach. Why else would Karaganov be appointed as moderator?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13403981/Putin-hires-hardline-professor-suggested-nuking-Europe-test-NATOs-resolve-Kremlin-role-deterring-West.html
Yeah, right. Let us hyperventilate about the prospect of Ukraine attacking Rascist with nuclear weapons. Oh, wait. There was that Budapest agreement, in which Ukraine gave away its nukes, in return for agurantee from Russia, among others, that is would respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. How is that working out? Ukraine has no nukes, and this post is an obvious troll attempt to distract us from the reality that a fascist scumbag like Putin invaded a neighboring country, and has been screaming like a stuck pig that he is going to use his nukes if we continue helping Ukraine defend itself.
Why would Ukraine attack Russia with nuclear weapons, plus Ukraine gave up ther nukes when they split with Russia as part of the agreement.
Ukraine doesn’t have nuclear weapons, but a few NATO members do. NATO is providing this aircraft to Ukraine. The Russians may not be able to identify the weapons payload the F-16s are carrying when they are sent into Ukraine to fly their missions. Furthermore, the F-16s may have to take off from NATO countries because, according to some analysts, the F-16 would have trouble operating on Ukraine’s rough airfields.
Putin is doing what he can to avoid direct conflict with NATO, but Western analysts mistaken his prudence for weakness. Listen to what Dr. Scott Lucas said in the interview.