Us and them
And after all we're only ordinary men
Me
And you
God only knows
It's not what we would choose to do
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died
And the general sat
And the lines on the map
Moved from side to side
(Pink Floyd - Us and Them from the Dark Side of the Moon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deU_uwlNpOo&ab_channel=HDPinkFloyd Lines on the map moving from side to side mean nothing without considering the wider "strategic objectives" of all of the opposing factions involved in the Ukraine conflict and the wider economic and finance war that fuels it.
What are the strategic objectives of Russia?
What are the strategic objectives of Ukraine?
What about the rest of the world, who all have skin in this game?
Russia's objectives have been stated clearly enough and nothing that has happened so far contradicts those stated aims. Never have they stated any ambition to conquer and occupy territory. Russia have made clear that once Ukraine is demilitarised and any threat to Russia neutralised then each oblast can hold referenda to decide their own status.
The fact that Russia's objectives are being achieved is demonstrated in the ever more desperate and criminal escalations by the puppet Kiev regime at the behest of their real masters.
The most unfortunate aspect of the Kharkov withdrawal is those civilians seen as "collaborators" and the treatment and reprisals they are now receiving. The Ukrainian/NATO troops who have "liberated" Kharkov will soon be demilitarised, having left their fortified bunkers for the open steppe where they will be obliterated by Russian air and artillery power. As with every other "victory" they have celebrated over the last few months. Kherson being the last glorious victory that turned out to be a trap for the routed Ukrainians who found themselves in possession of new territory but suddenly cut off from support and supply lines. Minimal Russian losses and thousands of Ukrainian losses. Those behind this strategy are criminals and psychopaths caring nothing for the huge Ukrainian losses that are bound to result.
It isn't about capturing cities to Russia, it is demilitarisation and the removal of threat to their borders by NATO or their proxies. The oblasts can choose for themselves how to be governed.
Ukraine, or more accurately NATO's, strategic aims are wholly different to this. NATO are acting as usual on the behalf of corporate and financial interests. Zelensky and his TV production crew currently masquerading as the Ukrainian government have no agency. He was a comic actor and he still is.
Ukraine/NATO are adamant that those areas that have no desire to be part of what they consider a hostile government state run from Kiev (Crimea, Donbass, Luhansk + other probable oblasts), should not have the right of self determination. Ukraine is rich in natural wealth, not the least of which is their "black soil" agricultural land. The constitution makes illegal the privatising of this precious resource. Zelensky's criminal puppet regime sells it anyway to corporate behemoths Monsanto. Fossil fuel and mineral wealth. Western corporate interests again.
Crimea is also of huge strategic importance and value. The Ukrainian govt.(NATO) have no care for the population of Crimea though, just the land and the Black Sea access, from which they wish to threaten Russia. Who would support Crimeans being forced against their will to be governed by a regime they want no part of? Crimeans overwhelmingly and repeatedly have made clear their wishes.
https://mronline.org/2022/09/12/zelensky-is-literally-selling-ukraine-to-u-s-corporations-on-wall-street/ It is clear that the Ukrainian government is a criminal proxy of corporate and financial interests, of whom NATO are the military wing. They aren't really there to defend your freedom, David.
They have no interest in the wants and needs of the Ukrainian population, only the wants and needs of Blackrock, Monsanto, Exxon, Shell, Raytheon etc.
Russia offers referenda and self determination.
The Kiev regime currently sending conscripts to their certain death to defend this criminality, offers subjugation and the natural assets of the country sold to corporations.
There are more economically, politically and strategically significant events unfolding than the lines on a map moving side to side. There is a much wider picture and context, David. Ukraine is just the square on the board that has been chosen for now. You need to view the rest of the board.
