The Russians are denying that they have entertained such feelers. The initial reports sounded rather definite, but the more recent ones sound much sketchier. For example: OSINTdefender @sentdefender Subscribe A number of Current and Former-U.S. National Security and State Department Officials, with the Knowledge of the Biden Administration,
The biggest problem, as I see it, is that the US is no longer agreement-capable. Since Biden clearly isn't in charge (or, for that matter, sane), the US Gov't is being run by a bunch of factions, none of which are capable of dominating the others. With whom would the Russians negotiate?
But wouldn't such a pullout would leave Russia successfully annexing large swaths of Ukraine, leaving Ukraine as nothing but the "rump state" so many predict will be the eventual outcome? Pretty hard to keep up the "Russia is hurting" official line in that case, even with the vast propaganda machine that is so much putty in the hands of the permanent-war types.
We could try, but in Afghanistan we didn't leave any countries behind that we cared about. This time we'd be leaving Europe behind. That will be noticed. The Neocons have put the US between a rock and a hard place. To be fair, there were lots of other Americans living in a dream world created for them by an utterly irresponsible ruling class.
I don't see the Russians accepting any kind of negotiated settlement except one built upon an irrevocable Russian victory in Ukraine. We can't go back to the status quo ante bellum, because before the ink is dry on the settlement, Nuland et al will begin rearming whatever is left of Ukraine and getting up to the same old tricks. Putin knows too that he won't survive any sort of weak deal with the West. I suspect the Russian response will be: "We'll get back to you later in the year when our military steam roller has done its work"
US is trying to save face with the negotiations claim. It’s just PR showing how reasonable the US is. It’s a reaction to the failure of trying to get the Brics to abandon Russia.
The public failure / destruction of the Patriot Missiles had a major impact. The previous failures were covered up, blaming “software failures”.
Combined with the Bradley, Leopard, and Storm Shadow failures and there is a major pr issue.
Somebody has finally woken up to the fact the Russian Military is improving, while the Western backed Ukrainian Forces are degrading. Russia is attacking rear areas, destroying Western Combatants and equipment.
And the constant Russian meat grinder with no meaningful Ukrainian advances.
And the Nato summit is in 5 days, July 11 and 12.
Plus everyone can see how weak the US is. Other countries leadership notices the trans fetish / obsession of the U.S. military and government.
Plus Biden’s dementia is getting worse, and this is becoming more obvious. His losing battles with teleprompters is unbelievable.
Why is a French jet in Syria / Iraq? Strange.
Swag - Russian strikes killing Westerners included some active duty US forces. And this is panicking the Biden Administration.
Yes, the moaning and groaning from Zelensky is reaching fever pitch. The US/Nato has driven him, entirely with his consent, down the primrose path to death and destruction. It is shocking how, even at this late stage, he shows no awareness, no accountability, no ability to stand up like a man and call up Putin. But then we choose our puppets well! Takes one to know one - and ours still sits in the Oval with his pathetically addicted son, like Zel also controlled and manipulated by his father…
Jaw Jaw is better than War War. Unless it forces Russia to accept the Draw Draw of a frozen conflict. I don't think Putin's dumb enough for any halfway settlement that allows the neocons back in the game.
The biggest problem, as I see it, is that the US is no longer agreement-capable. Since Biden clearly isn't in charge (or, for that matter, sane), the US Gov't is being run by a bunch of factions, none of which are capable of dominating the others. With whom would the Russians negotiate?
Yes, and the new post gets into some of that.
We could always declare victory like in Afghanistan, and pull NATO out. The official line is the Russians are hurting.
But wouldn't such a pullout would leave Russia successfully annexing large swaths of Ukraine, leaving Ukraine as nothing but the "rump state" so many predict will be the eventual outcome? Pretty hard to keep up the "Russia is hurting" official line in that case, even with the vast propaganda machine that is so much putty in the hands of the permanent-war types.
And Afghanistan left the Taliban...
We could try, but in Afghanistan we didn't leave any countries behind that we cared about. This time we'd be leaving Europe behind. That will be noticed. The Neocons have put the US between a rock and a hard place. To be fair, there were lots of other Americans living in a dream world created for them by an utterly irresponsible ruling class.
i'm guessing Zhou and company will leave the EU wagging their tails between their legs and left alone at the alter.
I don't see the Russians accepting any kind of negotiated settlement except one built upon an irrevocable Russian victory in Ukraine. We can't go back to the status quo ante bellum, because before the ink is dry on the settlement, Nuland et al will begin rearming whatever is left of Ukraine and getting up to the same old tricks. Putin knows too that he won't survive any sort of weak deal with the West. I suspect the Russian response will be: "We'll get back to you later in the year when our military steam roller has done its work"
US is trying to save face with the negotiations claim. It’s just PR showing how reasonable the US is. It’s a reaction to the failure of trying to get the Brics to abandon Russia.
The public failure / destruction of the Patriot Missiles had a major impact. The previous failures were covered up, blaming “software failures”.
Combined with the Bradley, Leopard, and Storm Shadow failures and there is a major pr issue.
Somebody has finally woken up to the fact the Russian Military is improving, while the Western backed Ukrainian Forces are degrading. Russia is attacking rear areas, destroying Western Combatants and equipment.
And the constant Russian meat grinder with no meaningful Ukrainian advances.
And the Nato summit is in 5 days, July 11 and 12.
Plus everyone can see how weak the US is. Other countries leadership notices the trans fetish / obsession of the U.S. military and government.
Plus Biden’s dementia is getting worse, and this is becoming more obvious. His losing battles with teleprompters is unbelievable.
Why is a French jet in Syria / Iraq? Strange.
Swag - Russian strikes killing Westerners included some active duty US forces. And this is panicking the Biden Administration.
Simplicius had another drop:
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-7623-zelensky-builds-one-last?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2
Yes, the moaning and groaning from Zelensky is reaching fever pitch. The US/Nato has driven him, entirely with his consent, down the primrose path to death and destruction. It is shocking how, even at this late stage, he shows no awareness, no accountability, no ability to stand up like a man and call up Putin. But then we choose our puppets well! Takes one to know one - and ours still sits in the Oval with his pathetically addicted son, like Zel also controlled and manipulated by his father…
Jaw Jaw is better than War War. Unless it forces Russia to accept the Draw Draw of a frozen conflict. I don't think Putin's dumb enough for any halfway settlement that allows the neocons back in the game.
Yes, some my thunder, thanks for the correct spelling...I was so concerned!