I wanted to remark on the first sentence of the editors’ of the Wall Street Journal’s observations on Germany’s steps of late last week which included stepping up its shipments of munitions to Ukraine and demurring from negotiating with the Russians separately from Ukraine, “over the heads of the Ukrainians” as the editors put it. I think both are steps in the right direction.
Here’s the sentence in question:
It’s a good bet Vladimir Putin hopes that, as his Ukraine war drags on, Western allies will be tempted to sacrifice Ukraine for the sake of ending the conflict.
My concern is that “the West” will discourage the Ukrainians from negotiating or accepting a negotiated settlement which they would otherwise be prepared to accept. IMO that’s a formula for continued escalation and many more Ukrainian lives lost.
It doesn’t help that Rear Admiral Kirby decided a press conference was a good time to audition for a job at CNN and following the lead of various newscasters and program hosts, let his emotions fly, (or seemed to), sending unwelcome confirmation of their low opinion of the West to the Russians.
Having Nancy Pelosi suddenly descend in Kiev this weekend, meeting with Zelensky and vociferously promising aid and munitions indefinitely, is a call to arms, IMO. Also, we are giving Ukraine armaments which will be difficult to restock in a timely manner, should we need it in the near future. Such a depletion of arms becomes a tremendous opening for China in their calculation of if and when to muscle in on Taiwan.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pelosis-victory-rhetoric-during-surprise-trip-kiev-making-some-allies-nervous