Running Newsticker for the War in Ukraine

The Baltics, for example, cannot appear vulnerable to a Russian quick strike.

 

...that's just a stock line and has no meaning outside of being a policy statement

 

bless em...the Russians haven't got the ability to strike a match at the moment let alone engage NATO over the Baltic states

 

We'll have to disagree on that. China has become increasingly menacing over the past 18 months.
The fundamental issue behind all this has been the disappointing inelasticity of western defense industry's ability to ramp up.

 

I suspect that in extremis they might gamble on a quick grab and dare NATO to come and get them.

 

AP News
Zelenskyy to attend G7 summit Sunday as world leaders tighten sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

 

Taiwan has been preparing for a Chinese invasion since 1945, and they have had the industrial strength to do it right for decades.
If they are not prepared to destroy an invasion fleet and the ports that support it -- shame on Taiwan's leaders.

Which is not to say we should not sell them whatever they think they need.

 

Depending on one supplier for critical defense systems is always a mistake.

"Sole supplier

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings is the sole supplier of rocket motors to US missile manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies.

However, despite receiving a $216 million contract from the Pentagon last week to increase production, Aerojet claimed that it was still recovering from a fire that occurred in one of its factories the previous year, and antitrust authorities are still looking into the company’s sale to aerospace giant L3Harris Technologies.

While rocket artillery and guided missile production are apparently hindered, Ukraine is also grappling with a shortage of conventional artillery rounds. Leaked Pentagon documents recently suggested that the shortfall is delaying a planned spring offensive by Kiev’s forces, while the US is reportedly looking to its allies to replenish its depleted stockpiles."
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-...g-to-meet-ukraine-demand-report-12480432.html

 

Yeah fair comment.....but China can be economically whacked by denying them oil....plus the US needs to re-examine its Middle eastern geopolitical stance and by emasculating Russia you leave it open to it cracking up through the disintegration of the weak alliances it has with the outlying "stans"...if Europe and the US make diplomatic overtures to these states...then...one can close a noose on China. China though is not an expeditionary nation.

Anyway what the fkuc do I know....???

 

We shall see.

 

Zelensky, on surprise Saudi visit, seeks Arab League support in war
Zelensky used his address to build common cause with countries that have experienced their own years of violent strife, and to plead for stronger condemnation of Russia President Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
By Victoria Bisset33 minutes ago

 

U.S. and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, official says

 

Ukraine war live updates: Russia hit with more sanctions from UK and U.S.; G-7 leaders meet in

 

Zelenskyy will tell ‘swing states’ India and Brazil it’s time to take sides

 

USA Today
Biden backs international plan to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s

 

Russia may lack reserves to respond to Ukrainian counteroffensive: Officials

 

At last.

 

This is very scary shiit.

 

Interesting case. Thanks for sharing!

I guess I was speaking from a perspective of limited resources, which politically, is realistically all that Ukraine will get.

 

I was watching a great interview of a British defense expert after the most recent bombardment of Kiev. He suggested that the time needed for training and logistical support for f-16s would be too late. Whereas surface to air can be supplied and trained fairly quickly.

I can't find much on the net to support this argument but this is an interesting article:

https://warriormaven.com/russia-ukraine/surface-to-air-missiles-rockets-ukraine-aid-package

 

Ukraine still needs to know the language of it’s enemies.

 

I have no doubt that surface-to-air could be operational more quickly. The problem would be available weapons stocks.

 

Ukraine Conflict Updates
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 19, 2023

Click here to read the full report.
Key Takeaways

• A Ukrainian official stated that Russian forces have concentrated most of their available reserves to the Bakhmut area and slowed Ukrainian counterattacks in the past 24 hours.
• Ukrainian counterattacks near Bakhmut have notably likely eliminated the threat of a Russian encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut and forced Russian troops to allocate scarce military resources to defend against a limited and localized offensive effort, as Ukrainian command likely intended.
• Russian forces conducted another series of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine on the night of May 18 to 19.
• President Joe Biden reportedly informed G7 leaders on May 19 that Washington will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and other fourth generation aircraft.
• The Kremlin reportedly spent 3.1 trillion rubles (approximately $38.7 billion) in an undisclosed section of the Russian budget in 2023, likely to on fund the war and maintain occupied territories in Ukraine.
• Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that he will run for reelection as a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party for the first time, prompting criticism from select Russian ultranationalists.
• A Ukrainian source reported that elements of two brigades of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) have deployed to border areas of Kursk Oblast in order to conduct counter-sabotage activities and provocations.
• Russian sources claimed that Russian troops continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove line.
• Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks in the Bakhmut area and slightly increased their tempo of ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• Ukrainian officials stated that Russian forces are preparing defenses by flooding fields in Russian occupied Zaporizhia Oblast.
• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev claimed that the Russian military has recruited 117,400 contract personnel in volunteer formations since January 1, 2023.
• The Russian State Duma adopted the final reading of a draft law authorizing regional elections under martial law. . . . . .

The United States, Australia, and G7 member states have imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia as of May 19.[49] The United Kingdom (UK) government sanctioned 86 individuals and entities connected to Russian theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources.[50] The new UK sanctions also target individuals and entities connected to Russian nuclear energy company Rosenergoatom’s support for Russian military efforts.[51] The US sanctions, in coordination with G7 member states and other partners, target 22 individuals and 104 entities involved in Russian sanctions evasion, critical technology supply chains, future energy extraction capabilities, and financial services.[52] . . . .

 

I don't need to know Russian
I voted for Zelenskyi and Poroshenko.
let them do it
only Russians are enemies?