This week seemed to mark a turning point in the Ukrainian War. Numerous reports indicate that Russia’s army is bogged down or on the run as Ukrainian forces reclaim territory and launch attacks inside Russia itself.
Behind the scenes, there is growing is evidence that the U.S. military and intelligence establishment is not simply arming Ukraine, but providing key advice as to when, where and how to use the advanced weaponry in the conflict.
In that sense, it really is a war between the U.S. and Russia, which may be why Putin is now panicking, because he cannot win that war. The U.S. has far more money, weaponry, technology and strategic intelligence than Russia, and that disparity is making all the difference in the outcome.
Putin apparently was counting on the U.S. and NATO staying out of the conflict much more than has proved to be the case.
Ukraine’s positive results against Russia send a clear message to China, which for months has been threatening to invade or at least encircle Taiwan. Biden has escalated the U.S. commitment to Taiwan — for the first time, he has stated that the U.S, would defend Taiwan during a Chinese invasion.
This is likely to have the desired effect, causing China to back down, because its leaders can see what invading Ukraine has wrought for Putin and do not want to risk a similar fate in the Far East.
For the present, U.S. superiority seems assured on the global stage.
Although the geopolitics of all this have been clarified by the results on the battlefield, grave dangers remain. Putin now has had to institute a draft, is facing domestic protests, and has resorted to desperate threats of nuclear blackmail.
As the rest of the world tries to sort out this mess, Beijing has distanced itself from Moscow and is watching, warily, to see what happens.
LATEST LINKS:
Putin announces partial military mobilisation to fight Ukraine war (BBC)
Putin ordered Russia's first mobilization since World War Two, warning the West that if it continued what he called its "nuclear blackmail" that Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal. (Reuters)
Putin calls up reservists amid war setbacks, backs annexation plans (WP)
Hundreds arrested in protests across Russia after announcement of partial mobilization (CNN)
Putin is admitting his previous threats were hollow by saying ‘this is not a bluff’ (Guardian)
Kremlin’s New Hail Mary Shows Putin Is More Panicked Than Ever (Daily Beast)
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