Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s deal to hold off cruel winter energy attacks for a week was putting off the inevitable – more miserable attacks, proving one thing about the Kremlin
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure indicate a visceral hatred of Ukraine which raises huge questions whether a meaningful peace deal can be struck.
A lack of clear military strategy other than to send waves of Russian troops into battle and make very slow progress is backed by a moronic concentration on hitting Ukraine’s civilians.
In almost four years of defending against this foul full-scale invasion Ukraine’s civilians have proved incredibly resilient, rising to the challenge against all hope. They are battling appalling winter conditions, thousands more last night suffering from lack of heating, but have been largely steadfast in their defiance of Putin’s attacks.
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Strategically this doctrine of attacking civilian resources with many millions of pounds worth of missiles and drones is pointless as it fails to dismantle Ukrainian resolve. But it does underline Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cruel contempt for any promises he makes to Washington about war in Ukraine, especially President Donald Trump.
Trump said clearly Putin had agreed to hold off on attacking Kyiv’s energy supplies by weaponising bitter winter temperatures to try and batter civilian morale. A so-called week-long pause in such attacks, as brokered by and promised to President Trump meant the temporary respite was just putting off the inevitable.
So by holding off on attacks, as apparently agreed with Trump, Putin was merely putting off the inevitable, with a cruel attack, one of the biggest in some weeks, on Ukraine. Putin has played for time, allowing the pause to happen, constantly shoving peace talks into the long grass but he is running out of moves.
Not we are awaiting more talks in Abu Dhabi but in the spirit of threat and projection of power Putin could not resist trying to show he has the upper-hand. Last night’s attack will not further Putin’s cause in winning the war strategically but he hopes it may somehow impress upon Trump’s negotiating team that he is winning the war.
It is a sign of desperation and disrespect towards US President Donald Trump who recently said: “I did call up President Putin. They have a tremendous cold wave. If you wouldn’t shoot for a period of one week, no missiles going into Kyiv or any other towns, and he’s agreed to do so. It’s something.”
No Mr President – it is ‘nothing,’ maybe worse than nothing because Putin’s utterances are meaningless in the face of calls for peace. Trump is being mocked daily by Kremlin mendacity, forcing Kyiv into a terrible dilemma, almost an existential choice.
That is finally and decisively to call out Washington’s idiotic belief in Putin’s lies and playing for time as his troops advance painfully slow on the frontline.
Or Kyiv can keep playing for time in the hope that Ukraine’s troops can hold the line, short of numbers and weapons but on the battlefield proving they are tremendously resourceful and courageous.
Volodymyr Zelensky can only hope Europe will step up further, that he will get a break or something momentous happens to force Washington finally to abandon its immoral ignorance of the Kremlin’s scheming for victory over Kyiv.
