Who’s Playing All-In Here? #Geneva#Russia#tri-lateral negotiations#Ukrajine
I was struck by a newspaper article that evaluates the peace negotiations in Geneva with the headline that the Ukrainian delegation is divided and Kyiv is playing all-in. The dispute is about whether to surrender immediately and accept the Russian ultimatum, or continue fighting with the risk of even greater territorial losses.
Ukraine playing all-in? Total nonsense!
If the headline is framed this way, it’s complete nonsense! Ukraine has been going all-in since the first day of aggression, when citizens – despite the hesitation of the army and political leadership of the state – decided spontaneously to defend themselves.
Unlike the Russians, Ukrainians have nowhere to retreat. The dilemma of whether to capitulate now or after further fighting and losses of lives and additional territories is only an apparent dilemma. In reality, it’s all the same.
As long as there is no external mechanism that would prevent Russians from continuing the war or renewing aggression later, they will continue in aggressive expansion.
Immediate capitulation = invitation for further aggression
Immediate capitulation today, without real guarantees in the form of tens of thousands of guarantor soldiers on Ukrainian territory, is just an invitation for further Russian aggression after a brief rest and resource replenishment.
Russia has enormous resources, but also an enormous problem returning to normal life. The easiest thing for the current Russian leadership is to continue aggression, especially if they see it bearing fruit in the form of gains.
Ukraine has a chance if it persists
If Ukraine continues with tenacious defense and maintains external support, it has at least a chance that in a war of attrition, Russians will run out of breath and will to continue the senseless aggression and foolish dream of restoring and expanding the Russian empire sooner.
In this type of conflict, the one who endures longer wins, not the one who is bigger on paper.
Ukrainians are buying time for themselves and us
Ukrainians, through their tenacious resistance, are buying time for themselves and us. Despite two years of tactical initiative, Russians in the last two years have:
🔹Advanced by a few kilometers
🔹Captured less than 2% more territory
🔹Achieved no operational breakthrough
🔹Seized no major city
The facts speak clearly
I remind you of these important data:
🔹In summer 2022: Russians controlled 29% of Ukrainian territory
🔹Today: they still don’t have even 20%
🔹They’ve been fighting for Pokrovsk for almost two years and still don’t have it 100% under control
🔹Russians lost Kupiansk in autumn 2022 and have been trying to recapture it since April 2024! Unsuccessfully.
Russians are the ones really playing all-in
The situation is extremely difficult for Ukrainians and they are running out of strength and will. But if someone here is playing all-in, it’s the Russians.
Why is this so?
Because if Ukrainians don’t surrender now:
🔹They may (but don’t have to) collapse later
🔹The result will be the same for them
🔹They will cease to exist as a free nation
🔹They will be just a Russian protectorate
But if Russia collapses, it can lose a lot – existence in its current form. Inside and especially around Russia, there are enough of those waiting for prey.
NASPAŤ