Russia may open new front in Europe as Putin 'in dead-end situation' - Zelenskyy
newsukraine.rbc.ua
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    • rozodru@pie.andmc.caEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      Depends on what’s really going on in mother russia. Two reasons why he would open a second is A. to maintain power and B. to get the hell out of Ukraine. He’s too into the thick of it to simply pull out now. a 3 day operation has turned into a multiyear operation with very slow gains that have cost him A LOT. it’s not looking good and it’s something that’s going to drag out for the foreseeable future. He can’t just pull out either because then back home he’s going to look weak and that opens up for someone else to take his power. So he tries to take a very small tiny bit of europe to maintain his power OR he tries to take a tiny bit of europe and backs out of Ukraine and will say to his people that Europe is the bigger threat and that its land is more valuable than Ukraine.

      Like as another poster stated it’ll literally be like a russian speaking town or small city that Europe will concede to him as long as the Ukraine stuff is over once and for all.

      • flambonkscious@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        Is there anything he can pick on that isn’t a member of NATO, however?

        I’m quite out of the loop but through he didn’t really have any choices - unless he punches down on his old buddy Belarus?

        • incompetent@programming.devEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Probably somewhere in Moldova. I don’t think they’re a part of NATO and there were rumors that Putin was going to invade them next if he was successful in taking Ukraine.

          • flambonkscious@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            2·
            2 days ago

            That rings a bell. I’m curious however as Moldova is blocked by Ukraine.

            There is a small inlet through Ukraine to get there, but…

            • incompetent@programming.devEnglish
              2·
              2 days ago

              They already have a foothold in Transnistria. Like Georgia, they’ve been slowly working on invading by inserting Russians into occupied areas then claiming “Look, we’re Russian. The locals are oppressing us. We need to bring in more military to keep Russians safe.”

              I’m not that educated on the current situation and am oversimplifying what I think I know, but Russia pretty much controls Transnistria and there is a huge weapons depot there.

      • Perspectivist@feddit.uk
        3·
        2 days ago

        There’s nothing about unprovoked attack on NATO that would help him maintain power. The current war is not popular in Russia - it’s tolerated for as long as it doesn’t influence the life of an average middle class Russian. Putin can’t even do a second round of mandatory draft due to how unpopular the first one was. He simply doesn’t have the manpower to attack NATO while keeping the little ground he gained in Ukraine. He doesn’t want out of there if it means losing the currently occupied territories. He wants to act strong for as long as he can and then negotiate a peace deal.