Is that true? I wonder. Ukraine is supposed to have struck its own airport with a ballistic missile in the opening hours of the war because it had been seized by Russia airborne and special forces. We discussed at the time the way that would redefine the tactical use of airborne to seize airheads (see comments).
It would be nice to see the escalation winding down. The good news is the provision of land mines, which suggests a hardening of the lines that will make it easier to accept the current status quo as a condition of peace. Odd to think of land mines as a humane consideration, but by setting the current boundaries as firm they satisfy Russian demands to keep what they’ve won as a condition of ending their operations. Likewise Ukraine’s concession that Crimea can only be recovered diplomatically, i.e. not at all.
The outgoing government here seems to be trying to tie the hands of the incoming administration, but it’s a dangerous game. I’ll be glad when they run out of time for it.
UPDATE: Per the Bismarck Cables, more signs of peace on the horizon: polls in both Russia and Ukraine show waning support for the war, and public desire for a negotiated peace. The exhaustion of the public coupled with the hardening of the lines suggest that there's little more for either side to gain by continuing the war.
2 comments:
I hadn't thought of that aspect of land mines; good point.
I figured that using the big missiles was supposed to be a warning to the West--to remember what else might be on those things. It's pretty wasteful otherwise.
I'd not think most of us would need a reminder, but I am never quite sure that the upper levels of administration know what they're doing.
The Bismarck Cables make fascinating reading. It's remarkable how far from reality some can wander seeking to broaden their minds. A ready excuse for literally every inconvenient little thing.
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