Zelensky is now calling for new talks next week with Trump and the European leadership while admitting Ukraine is not going to retrieve lost territory any time soon.
Zelensky's emphasis now seems to be on security guarantees rather than ceasefires though they are just as unrealistic.
He’s calling for guaranteed supplies of western weapons and a rebuilding of the Ukrainian army.
He’s calling for NATO article 5 ‘type’ guarantees from NATO.
And he’s calling for massive sanctions on Russia and that he should be given their frozen assets.
These demands just guarantee Russia will keep going and show that Zelensky still doesn't understand he's not in a position to demand anything.
The delusion is that if the west does all this then everything will be fine forgetting that the Russians are in the driving seat not NATO or the EU/UK or Trump.
The Russians will not be bothered by any of Zelensky’s demands, they will just keep rolling on. The west has already failed and if they want to send their own troops as well to try to stop the Russians good luck with that.
There is increasing talk of when the conflict ends there will be a partition and so therefore there will also need to be a buffer zone, and if so who will man it? The FT is saying Trump is considering China.
Putin will not allow NATO troops into Ukraine no matter what, the prospect of NATO troops in Ukraine leading to WW3 is very high.
The fact that this topic is even being discussed indicates that parties recognise Russia is not really interested in taking over the whole of Ukraine after all.
The reality is that a buffer is inevitable but where will it be?
Along the current frontline (plus all of Donetsk) if Zelensky agrees to Russian terms now.
Along the Dnipro river if Zelensky doesn’t, or worse still for Ukraine, along the old borders of Novorossiya (includes Odessa, Kharkov and Sumy).
Those are the only 3 options available to Ukraine and the west, which one it will be depends solely on how long it takes Ukraine and the west to make up their minds.
A detailed Russian military report released yesterday says Russian troops have taken half of the city of Kupiansk and have entered the city limits of Siversk and Konstantinovka.
Meanwhile it turns out that the biggest supplier of diesel to Ukraine is India using Russian oil. Will Lyndsey Graham now demand 500% tariffs on … err - Ukraine.
Trump Gives Ukraine DEEPER STRIKE Capabilities /Lt Col Daniel Davis
