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JOHN HALTIWANGER JAN 29, 2022, 03:03 IST

Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of causing 'panic' with warnings of a Russian invasion that hurts the Ukrainian economy

You are right about the Ukrainian people giving Putin far more resistance than he expected, he thought i did this in Crimea with no world backlash, so thought he could do the same with the rest of the Country.

I have to assume from previous replies Phoenix that you are a US citizen, i say this as most None UK Nationals remember Churchill as some kind of Brilliant Leader, i will explain.

The Military regard Churchill very differently than others. He was a Brutal Man who wasted good peoples lives on mass during the First World War. The Dardanelles and Gallipoli will never be forgotten by UK Armed Services, his solution to throw as many men as possible against well defended Machine Gun posts was a waste of life and a mistake. Think of him as a tool in a toolbox, a kind of "Break Glass When Needed" type of man. As A Brutal man we brought him back into power as we needed a brutal man to combat Hitler during the Second World War, a conflict his brutal ways were well suited too, But and there is always a but, when he ran for power at the end of WW2 he was kicked out as we no longer needed a man of his type running a Country Not at war. He did what was required of him during WW2 and that is what most None UK remember about him.

I Stand With The People Of Ukraine.

Slava Ukraini .

Naroon1, Yes I am a from the US. It is interesting because I have visited the UK and even went as far as visiting the popular Churchill war rooms and on the surface I can tell there is a lot of pride in the UK for their part in WW2. Honestly, you are the first person from the UK that has actually told me about this other side of Churchill. But, I am guessing that what you are saying is quite true about how Churchill is viewed there. I always did kind of wonder why he was voted out of office so shortly after ww2.

With the history of ww2 Churchill is probably the main world leader that led to the defeat of Hitler and I believe that is why he is so highly regarded in places like the US.

I don't want to go off topic...but you should have said "ANZAC Forces".   ....

All the armed forces involved in WW1 should never forget.

Now we have the first Terms if preliminary from The Russian Federation, Become an Independent or Neutral Country, With there own Army with No intention of joining NATO or European Union.

Do not get me wrong Phoenix, many peeps in my country worship Churchill and what he did during the second world war, we only have to look at his funeral to see that. He was lorded based on his successes, and past Victories can be forgotten as that is the way of things

Military peeps have long memories and can never forgive wasting Soldiers lives in such a brutal way. There has always been a duality in the thinking of my countrymen.

I can give you another massive duality about UK Soldiers Ex or serving. We have all seen the Loyalty to Queen and Country, we see it in film, books and other historical sources. When you ask any Soldier who has seen Combat who he fights for, the answer most none military think is.

I Fight For My Queen And Country.

Every Soldier who i have served with, when asked the same question, always give the same gesture, they point over there right or left shoulder, and say, For Him Or Her (usually him, but times change), what they mean is they fight for the Soldier next to them, and the soldier next to him/her say the same thing. In Combat this is the way it is.

Do not get me wrong, i hold no grudge for My Queen, I Love her as he has dedicated her whole life to service of the People, she works very hard and any respect she has, has been earned through long years . Civilians and Military just see things in another way, for men who are trained to fight and Kill when necessary, we respect people who Value Life and especially those who hold it uppermost in there minds even in a combat situation. Soldiers have to fight and Kill, the best leaders understand this and do all they can to bring those people home in one piece, not always possible, but the need to try to achieve this is respected most of all.

You are missing the biggest terms that are preventing the end of the war.

Putin also wants... A chunk of territory of Ukraine to become Russia and an official admission from Ukraine that Crimea belongs to Russia.

I was not missing something Phoenix, Donbas even though a part of Ukraine has been (so called) under RF control under the Banner of Donetsk People's Republic or in simple terms Stolen territory since the war in 2014 or just after. Try telling that to the brave people of Mariupol .The Russian Federation already see it as theirs along with Crimea, those sections of the terms as far as Putin is concerned, just needs a Rubber Stamping to give his land grab some form of legitimatisation.

Putin's lust for power and land grabbing is what this so-called was is all about.  I has nothing to do with Ukraine becoming a NATO member, though Putin would prefer it didn't.

The grab for Mariupol and surrounding districts is about economic greed, given the coastal location and industry in the region.  That is what Putin wants and why thousands still in Mariupol are living in stoneage conditions and hundreds are dead... including a lot of Russian soldiers who would rather have been at home with their families and loved ones, not out there fighting a dictator's self-interest war to acquire greater wealth and power.

The Siege of Mariupol is actually intended to link up forces from Crimea , meeting his attacking Army from the north east, this then will give Putin control over the region he thought was controlled by Russian Separatist's. Putin really did think this region would fall first, well first is not 100% true, in the first two days , Elite Paratroopers were meant to take Kyiv the capitol. Putin did not count on the fighters of Mariupol giving everything they can to keep him out, that is the reason why it is the most Artillery/Rocket/Missile Hit City in the country, over 95% of the Buildings in Mariupol are showing Damage from extreme to lower levels of Bombardment destruction.

I agree to some extent about the RF forces, many of them are conscripted but as a world superpower, many will be Regular Army Units.

Almost all Professional Soldiers around the world (none Conscripts) expect to go on active service during some part of there career, at the end of the day, this is what they are trained for. War is brutal and all the Current or Ex Soldiers i have came into contact with, all say the same, they do not wish or hope for War, but accept that is what they  train for. They understand fighting and Dying in a Warzone, if and when needed, It will be them who are called upon to do there job.

I was just reading that 1000's of Russian soldiers are abandoning their vehicles and weaponry and walking away, such is the frustration of the slow progress being made and an estimated 10,000 of their comrades being killed by much stiffer Ukranian resistance than was first thought.  Apparently, the Ukrainians are taking over abandoned tanks, trucks and arms for their own use.

I also read that Belarus may even join the conflict militarily because Russia/Putin is not making the inroads that were initially hoped for... expected, even.

That is the reason why 5 RF Generals have already been killed. Usually Generals get nowhere near the fighting as it is there job to organise things at a secure base camp well behind the front. Those Generals frustrated by the lack of a push, have moved forward to take control, putting them in the crosshairs of Ukrainian Snipers.

The Ukrainian Army have actually gone on the offensive , taking back control of areas already taken by RF Forces.

As for reading about thousands of RF conscripts leaving there weaponry and walking away, that is some of the Pro propaganda the west would like us all to believe. There life would not be worth living if they were found to be Deserters, and would be treated very harshly back at home, more likely due to supply issues, Fuel , Water, Food etc, will be the reason for these reports, seeing the conscripts as None Active or not pushing forward.

The Ukrainian Army are capturing RF Hardware and using it against RF soldiers as they are starting to retake ground, they are taking prisoners though, and any Hardware becomes Ukrainian.

Belarus has long been a Puppet Government of The Russian Federation and will do exactly what they are told to do by Putin, they are not none combatants as they have already allowed RF Troops, Hardware etc to be allowed to attack Ukraine from the North. The Air Strikes made on Kyiv right now all originate from Belarus Airstrips, and there ground crews are working on those Military Ariel Machines, so they are already involved and that is the reason why the west is Sanctioning them too already.

Slava Ukraini .

As for reading about thousands of RF conscripts leaving there weaponry and walking away, that is some of the Pro propaganda the west would like us all to believe. There life would not be worth living if they were found to be Deserters, and would be treated very harshly back at home, more likely due to supply issues, Fuel , Water, Food etc, will be the reason for these reports, seeing the conscripts as None Active or not pushing forward.

I don't know that it's entirely propoganda.  I saw some interviews with deserter Russian troops and some were saying that they will not return home for the reasons you noted... life would be made very difficult for them.  Some were saying that they will remain in Ukraine and help rebuild, offer humanitarian assistance where needed because they were disillusioned by the war, the senseless bombing and killing, and wanted to take no further part.

("As for reading about thousands of RF conscripts leaving there weaponry and walking away, that is some of the Pro propaganda the west would like us all to believe. There life would not be worth living if they were found to be Deserters, and would be treated very harshly back at home, more likely due to supply issues, Fuel , Water, Food etc, will be the reason for these reports, seeing the conscripts as None Active or not pushing forward."-)

I don't know that it's entirely propoganda.  I saw some interviews with deserter Russian troops and some were saying that they will not return home for the reasons you noted... life would be made very difficult for them.  Some were saying that they will remain in Ukraine and help rebuild, offer humanitarian assistance where needed because they were disillusioned by the war, the senseless bombing and killing, and wanted to take no further part.