Head of the Ukrainian army, Zaluzhny in an interview with the Economist magazine admits Russia’s victory.
Is it near the end for Zelensky?
From Hal Turner
U.S. and Europe Talking with Ukraine about PEACE NEGOTIATIONS with Russia!
U.S. and European officials have begun quietly talking to the Ukrainian government about what possible peace negotiations with Russia might entail to end the war, according to one current senior U.S. official and one former senior U.S. official.
The conversations have included very broad outlines of what Ukraine might need to give up to reach a deal, the officials said.
Some of the talks, which officials described as delicate, took place last month during a meeting of representatives from more than 50 nations supporting Ukraine, including NATO members, known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the officials said.
The discussions are an acknowledgment of “the dynamics militarily on the ground in Ukraine” and politically in the U.S. and Europe, officials said.
In other words, despite all the media hype that Ukraine is winning, Ukraine is actually losing. Imagine that.
More at NBC News HERE
From WarNews24/7
Confession of defeat by V. Zaluzny sparks serious crisis with Zelensky: “All our calculations were wrong – I changed soldiers and commanders but Russia wins”
“Danger of destruction of the Ukrainian state” – The West is afraid
Fierce confrontation has erupted after the unprecedented admission of defeat by the head of the Ukrainian army, V. Zaluznhy, who, in an interview with the Economist magazine admitted Russia’s victory.
In an interview with the Economist magazine, he admits that Russia has the advantage while Ukraine is losing in a war of attrition, which is currently being waged.
This is a clear admission of defeat by the head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who already with his promotion by the Western media seeks to take the lead in the fierce confrontation with V. Zelensky for the leadership of Ukraine in a post-war field and with Ukraine defeated and completely disintegrated.
According to him, the conflict in Ukraine is reminiscent of the First World War.
“Just like in the first world war, we have reached the level of technology that leads us to a stalemate ,” he says.
The Ukrainian general concludes that it would take a huge technological leap to break the deadlock.
My mistake
“There probably won’t be any pretty solution,” he admits.
“That was my mistake.
Russia has at least 150,000 dead.
In any other country such losses would have stopped the war.
But not in Russia, where life is cheap and where Putin’s reference points are the First and Second World Wars, in which Russia lost tens of millions of people, Zaluzny noted.
An army of Ukraine’s standards would have to be able to move at a speed of 30 kilometers per day as it breached Russian defense lines, he claims.
“If you look at the NATO manuals and the maths we did in planning the counter-offensive, four months should have been enough time to get to Crimea, fight in Crimea, get back from Crimea and back and forth,” he said. says the Ukrainian commander-in-chief in a veritable delirium.
The quagmire and the impasse – “I changed soldiers and commanders”
Instead, Ukrainian troops have stalled in the minefields at Bakhmut while equipment sent by the West is hit by Russian artillery and drones.
The same story is unfolding in the main thrust of the attack, in the South, where the fledgling and inexperienced brigades, despite being equipped with modern Western weaponry, immediately ran into problems, notes the Economist.
“At first I thought something was wrong with our commanders, so I changed some of them.
Then I thought that our soldiers are not fit for purpose, so I moved soldiers to some brigades,” says General Zaluzny.
When these changes failed to make a difference, the commander told the staff that he found a book he had once read as a student at a military academy in the Ukraine.
Its title was ” Breaking the Fortified Defensive Lines”.
It was published in 1941 by a Soviet major general, PS Smirnov, who analyzed the battles of the first world war.
“And before I got halfway there, I realized that this is exactly where we are because just like then, our level of technological development today has put both us and our enemies in a quagmire.”
This thesis, he says, was borne out as he went to the front line in Avdifka, also in the east, where Russia recently advanced a few hundred meters in several weeks by dropping two of its brigades,
General Zaluzny describes a battlefield in which modern means can identify any concentration of forces and modern precision weapons can destroy them.
“The fact is we see everything the enemy does and they see everything we do.
To overcome this impasse we need something new, like the gunpowder that the Chinese invented and that we still use to kill each other ,” says Zaluzny.
Danger of destroying the Ukrainian state
But by holding back on the supply of long-range missile systems and tanks, the West has allowed Russia to regroup and strengthen its defenses after a sudden withdrawal to the Kharkiv region in the north and Kherson in the south in late 2022.
He also admits that the F-16s are now less useful, the general points out, in part because Russia has improved its air defenses.
An experimental version of the S-400 missile system can reach beyond the city of Dnipro, he warns.
“It is important to understand that this war cannot be won with the weapons of the previous generation and outdated methods ,” he insists.
“They will inevitably lead to delay and, consequently, defeat.”
It is, instead, the technology that will be decisive, he argues.
: there is no indication that a revolutionary technological breakthrough, whether in drones or electronic warfare, is just around the corner. And technology has its limits.
Even in the First World War, the arrival of tanks in 1917 was not enough to break the stalemate on the battlefield: it took a range of technologies and over a decade of tactical innovation to produce the German blitzkrieg in May 1940.
The bottom line is that Ukraine is locked in a long war — one in which it recognizes that Russia has the upper hand.
“The biggest danger of a war of attrition is that it can last for years and destroy the Ukrainian state,” is the dramatic epilogue of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief.
Zelensky’s office: Wrong that the chief of the Ukrainian army Zaluzny revealed what is happening on the front
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, V. Zaluzny, should not have told the Western media about the situation at the front, said the deputy head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Zhovkva.
“If I were a military man, I think the last thing I would do would be to comment about the press, about what is happening at the front, what could happen at the front, what options are there,” commented Igor Zhovkva … the army chief of Ukraine.
Zhovkva added that Zaluzny’s interview caused “panic” among Ukraine’s Western partners.
“I got a call from one of the heads of the leaders’ offices and they’re in a panic asking:
“What should I report to my leader? Are you really at a dead end?’
In addition, as Igor Zhovkva said, the interview of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, V. Zaluzny, raised many questions for Ukrainians.
Times: Against Zelenskiy-Zaluzny for Ukraine’s defeat
The failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive has caused disagreements between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Zaluzny over the strategy to be followed, the Sunday Times reported, citing sources.
General Zaluzny believes that Ukraine should no longer conduct offensive operations and should focus on maintaining its current positions and preparing for military operations in 2024.
However, Zelensky disagrees with this view, believing that if the offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine stops, the West may conclude that it is impossible for Ukraine to achieve its goals by military means.
According to the Times, the West had hoped that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would win a landmark victory on the battlefield during the 18-week counteroffensive, but those plans fell through.
From RT
Kiev’s top general criticized for causing ‘panic’ in West
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny should have kept his thoughts about the “stalemate” in the conflict with Russia to himself, Igor Zhovkva, the deputy head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, has said. He also lamented that Zaluzhny’s comments have rattled some of Kiev’s backers in the West.
Speaking on national TV on Friday, Zhovkva expressed his displeasure with Zaluzhny’s interview with The Economist published earlier this week. Speaking to the British magazine, the top commander, who has been in charge of the country’s military since 2021, compared the Ukraine conflict with World War I and suggested that both sides had reached a level of technological prowess that makes “a deep and beautiful breakthrough” very unlikely.
The general also pointed out that “the biggest risk of an attritional trench war is that it can drag on for years and wear down the Ukrainian state.”
Zhovkva argued that “the last thing I would do is comment for the press… about what is happening at the front [and] what could happen at the front,” adding that this kind of revelation plays right into Russia’s hands.
The official also pointed out that Zaluzhny’s comments did not go unnoticed in the West. “I received a call from one of the heads of the offices of the leaders [of partner countries], and they asked in a panic: ‘What should I report to my leader? Are you really at a dead end?’ Is this what we wanted to achieve with this article?” he asked.
The criticism of Zaluzhny came as Ukraine’s large-scale counteroffensive that has been underway since early summer has failed to gain any substantial ground. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has estimated Ukraine’s losses at more than 90,000 soldiers while claiming that Kiev’s troops are suffering from low morale.
Meanwhile, Time magazine reported last month that some Ukrainian officials believe that Zelensky has become “delusional” in his desire to defeat Russia at all costs. “We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that,” one aide told the magazine. It also reported that the Ukrainian leader was looking for scapegoats after the counteroffensive failed to achieve the desired results.
The article sparked outrage in Kiev, with National Security Council chief Aleksey Danilov suggesting that those in the Ukrainian government who have any doubts about the country’s ultimate victory should be sacked.
Ukraine civil war in full swing at the top. Zelensky replaces top commander without informing him.
“Save the city at all costs” pleads Zelensky: Ukrainians move all Brigades to Avdifka – Leopard 2A6 and Bradley’s on fire
Ukrainians vacate Zaporizhia
Shocking images of burning Leopard 2A6s and Bradleys are coming from the Avdivka front as the Russian Army advances towards the main road leading into the city, which remains open for evacuation and logistical support of Ukrainian formations.
The Ukrainian military command ordered that all available reserves from the front mainly Zaporizhia, and secondarily Bakhmut, Kupyansk and even Kiev, be rushed to Avdivka, so that the city does not fall.
According to the Russians, Zelensky begs Zaluzny to do what he can to prevent the city from falling immediately. Such a thing would mean not only the end of the Ukrainian counter-offensive and the bullet but probably also the end of Western military aid.
The situation is borderline for the Ukrainians.
The Russians managed to break through Ukrainian defenses and advance north of Opytne despite dense minefields while north of Spartak the Russians bypassed a Ukrainian fortification and cut off Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces are fighting for the last road to the city of Avdifka
The armed forces of the Russian Federation are gradually pushing back the Ukrainian formations, trying to pin the Ukrainian Armed Forces group located in Avdiivka and its surroundings.
Gradually, Russian Forces move towards the only road leading to the city near Orlovka.
Ukrainian units fighting in Avdifka are supplied along this route. If the Russians cut off this axis, then the Ukrainian Armed Forces group will be trapped in Avdifka.
Another primary objective of the Russian troops in the Avdeevsky sector of the front is the capture of the Avdeevsky coke plant. If the Russians find out, then they automatically enter the city.
US military analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War claim that the Russian Armed Forces are carrying out a tactical reconstitution of forces in the Avdeevsky sector of the front with the aim of capturing the coke plant.
-From the South, the Russians took control of a railway section of the former Tsarskaya Okhota recreation center, which had been turned into a fortified area.
-From the north, fighting is taking place near Berdychy and the Stepovoye area after Russian forces previously crossed the railway line.
-The waste dump near the northwestern suburbs of Avdeevka is fully controlled by the Russian Army.
Ukrainians transfer all available reserves to Avdivka – “elite” 47th “Magura” Brigade transferred
The command of the Ukrainian forces is moving all their available reserves to Avdifka in an attempt to stop the advance of the Russian forces.
Recently it became known that the “elite” 47th separate mechanized brigade “Magura” (47 Separate Mechanized Brigade, military unit A4699), formed in 2022, was transferred to the Avtnifka region.
The brigade is equipped with variants of the Leopard 2 tank (A4/A6) and the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.
According to the Russians, it is not yet clear whether the Ukrainian command split the 47th brigade into two directions, sent part of the units to Avdifka temporarily, or sent the entire formation there.
Probably, the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be completely redeployed to Avdiva in order to strengthen the front as this direction is now considered a priority for Kiev.
But the transfer of even a part of the “elite” formation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to this part of the front indicates that the situation there is developing in favor of the Russian Armed Forces.
What other powers did Zaluzhny carry?
In addition, the Ukrainian Administration transferred to Avdifka units of the 101st Security Brigade of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which reports directly to V. Zaluzny.
Since the beginning of the war, this brigade was in Kiev and did not participate in hostilities, but, apparently, there are no more reserves.
Inside Avdivka, the 31st Brigade and the 2nd Battalion of the Presidential Guard were deployed, while to the north, the 129th and 116th Brigades were deployed.
See the maps with the encirclement of Avdivka
Putin Says Western Nations Are ‘Changing Tune’ On Defeating Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin in fresh remarks before a national policy advisory body has said that Russia has humbled the West and remains undefeated, after over a year-and-a-half of the Ukraine war, and after the NATO’s military and intel involvement has only deepened.
Putin asserted that Western nations are slowing changing their perspective: “They are changing their tune now, saying different things,” the Russian leader told a conference of the Civic Chamber on Friday, according to a translation in state-funded media.
He held this out as encouragement that Russia must continue on its path of strengthening all aspects of society, especially on the economic and military levels. “They (EU nations) excluded our energy. So what? What is the result? Our GDP will grow [up to] 3% this year, and the leading European economies are shrinking,” he said in the speech.
“They suffer; they have real problems,” he pointed out, with the caveat: “This doesn’t mean that we should behave aggressively. It means we must be sovereign in every sense of the word.”
The Biden administration has been open since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine about wishing to “weaken” Russia and to ultimately inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia.
On Thursday, the US had unveiled a new round of anti-Moscow sanctions, which as Reuters describes “targeted Russia’s future energy capabilities, sanctions evasion and a suicide drone that has been a menace to Ukrainian troops and equipment, among others, in sanctions on hundreds of people and entities.”
The Kremlin has dismissed the move, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying, “This is a continuation of the policy of inflicting as they call it – a strategic defeat on us.” She then emphasized, “They will have to wait in vain forever before that happens.”
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Council in a new position paper is warning NATO allies that “Putin will win unless the West finally commits to Ukrainian victory”:
These factors mean there is currently little incentive for Putin to end the war. Indeed, any outcome other than an unambiguous Russian military victory would likely lead to uncomfortable questions being asked regarding the sacrifices Russians have made since the start of the invasion. From Putin’s point of view, it is far better to maintain a long-term conflict in Ukraine with the prospect of increasingly favorable circumstances.
The hawks are worried that if more isn’t urgently done to support Kiev, including sending more advanced weaponry and billions more in defense aid, Putin will have his victory. But what’s so far been very clear is that Ukraine’s offensive has been stopped and pushed back no matter the many billions spent.
THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL SYSTEM HAS BECOME MIRED IN BETRAYAL AND MILITARISM BECAUSE OF THE HEAD OF STATE, VIKTOR MEDVEDCHUK HAS CLAIMED.
Ex-Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk, now in exile in Russia, denounced Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in a column published by the Russian media platform Smotrim on Friday. The politician claimed that the current Ukrainian head of state may well be the last, and he will only have himself to blame.
Medvedchuk branded Zelensky a merciless “professional traitor” whose pattern of stabbing everyone in the back for his own gain has ruined the country.
After being elected president on a platform of peace with Russia and reconciliation with Donbass, Zelensky “ceded power to radical nationalists, adopting their rhetoric and behavior,” Medvedchuk wrote. In doing that, he betrayed the people who voted for him.
“Zelensky simply got scared of becoming a peacemaker since it would require him to oppose aggressive forces inside and outside of the country,” he argued.
Instead of delivering on the promise of fighting corruption, he and his team “saddled the financial flows.” And after hostilities with Russia broke out last year, the president “realized that the war can be profitable” too. According to Medvedchuk, Zelensky acted as a US tool to pressure European nations to sacrifice their economic well-being for Ukraine.
“In fact, Zelensky betrayed the interests of not only Ukraine but also the EU,” he claimed.
The column mentioned the recent arrest of Yury Kolomoysky, a once-powerful oligarch whose media empire allowed Zelensky to become a popular comedian before running for office. Medvedchuk claimed that it was another example of the president’s backstabbing.
“Having betrayed everyone, [Zelensky] is now alone. He has no allies, only a flock of flatterers, who will sell him out if given a reasonable price,” he wrote. Zelensky has built “a criminal dictatorship of Nazism and militarism, and that is why he will be the last president of the nation, which he had betrayed with such cynicism.”
Medvedchuk led a political party, which had the largest opposition faction in the Ukrainian parliament, before 2022. Amid the conflict with Russia, Kiev branded him a traitor, cracked down on his political activities, and seized all his assets. The politician was arrested and handed over to Moscow in a prisoner swap in September last year.
His column was a comment on a Time profile of Zelensky, in which insiders described the president as delusional and calcified in his determination to pursue a military victory. Aleksey Danilov, a senior Ukrainian security official, said the anonymous sources who spoke to the magazine should be identified and punished for disloyalty.
