[GK3]

Putin and Trump had a 2 hour call. Seems Putin is rejecting a ceasefire.

Thanks for the multiple updates in this post. I am still hoping Putin will overplay his hand. It may be hard to predict when or if the US will conclude trying to broker a cease-fire is not going to work. I hope Putin reads it wrong and the backlash is "massive".

I just do not think that Ukraine will agree to someone else's negotiated "peace" unless Russia is on the verge of destroying the entire country.  As of now, Russia has hardly done what Putin thought they would 3 years ago.  More of their oil and gas infrastructure keeps getting hammered. 
It appears that Ukraine's ability to take out a good number of S400's has created problems where Russia has to keep moving what they have around to defend probable targets, then only to get hit where the just left.  A perfect situation for Ukraine's reported "in house" cruise missiles. 
I think if Ukraine had the same assets as Russia, the war would be over and Russia would not be the winner.
If Western Europe steps up and helps fill in for stuff we are no longer sending it will help a lot.  The result of all that has happened up to now has made Western Europe far more cognizant of the need for more arms and bigger armies.  I do not think Putin took this possibility into account when he started out.

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Here's the WH readout of the call

The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.

.....

The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has brobdingnagian upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.

https://x.com/PressSec/status/1902049487457071248

The emphasis on deals is IMHO not encouraging. Russia has very little to offer to the US in terms of trade. Talking that up in the readout seems to indicate Trump wants a deal no matter what. 

Trump publicly accepting Putin's version of Ukrainian troops desperately encircled in Kursk, as BC's post pointed out, is also a bad sign.

Not good for Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s readout of the Trump-Putin call says that a 30-day ceasefire must require Ukraine to stop the mobilization into its armed forces, its rearmament, and will require an end to foreign military assistance and intelligence cooperation. Basically a surrender.

https://x.com/yarotrof/status/1902060395407532536

Oh, and also the US and Russia are going to play some hockey matches on Putin's suggestion

US President Donald Trump supported an idea proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to organize US-Russia hockey matches, the Kremlin said Tuesday, following a call between the two leaders.

“Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL,” the Kremlin said in a readout.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/t...index.html

Once again, if you make a deal with Putin's Russia and expect it to be adhered to, I have a few nice bridges to sell you cheap!

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https://www.wsj.com/world/all-robot-assa..._permalink

Interesting article about a completely drone based assault on a Russian bunker including aerial and ground-based drones.

The December attack involved about 50 unmanned aerial vehicles and destroyed a Russian position north of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to the force that conducted the operation, Ukraine’s 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiya. The Wall Street Journal viewed video footage of the assault.

The attack served as a proof of concept. Though it had its problems, other Ukrainian units are now planning similar missions.

BC

Thanks, BC
The grand view of drones are that they are not the be all and end all of future conflicts.  But we always have to remember that when you fight a war you fight the enemy and that enemies abilities with those that you have.  If you can make low cost drones in the  thousands and use them to replace your infantry when needed and it works, then that is all that is important.  the Woulda, Shoulda, and Coulda don't count in real combat, only what works counts.

[GK3]

Putin and Trump had a 2 hour call. Seems Putin is rejecting a ceasefire.

Thanks for the multiple updates in this post. I am still hoping Putin will overplay his hand. It may be hard to predict when or if the US will conclude trying to broker a cease-fire is not going to work. I hope Putin reads it wrong and the backlash is "massive".

I just do not think that Ukraine will agree to someone else's negotiated "peace" unless Russia is on the verge of destroying the entire country.  As of now, Russia has hardly done what Putin thought they would 3 years ago.  More of their oil and gas infrastructure keeps getting hammered. 
It appears that Ukraine's ability to take out a good number of S400's has created problems where Russia has to keep moving what they have around to defend probable targets, then only to get hit where the just left.  A perfect situation for Ukraine's reported "in house" cruise missiles. 
I think if Ukraine had the same assets as Russia, the war would be over and Russia would not be the winner.
If Western Europe steps up and helps fill in for stuff we are no longer sending it will help a lot.  The result of all that has happened up to now has made Western Europe far more cognizant of the need for more arms and bigger armies.  I do not think Putin took this possibility into account when he started out.

---

Here's the WH readout of the call

The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.

.....

The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has brobdingnagian upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.

https://x.com/PressSec/status/1902049487457071248

The emphasis on deals is IMHO not encouraging. Russia has very little to offer to the US in terms of trade. Talking that up in the readout seems to indicate Trump wants a deal no matter what. 

Trump publicly accepting Putin's version of Ukrainian troops desperately encircled in Kursk, as BC's post pointed out, is also a bad sign.

Not good for Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s readout of the Trump-Putin call says that a 30-day ceasefire must require Ukraine to stop the mobilization into its armed forces, its rearmament, and will require an end to foreign military assistance and intelligence cooperation. Basically a surrender.

https://x.com/yarotrof/status/1902060395407532536

Oh, and also the US and Russia are going to play some hockey matches on Putin's suggestion

US President Donald Trump supported an idea proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to organize US-Russia hockey matches, the Kremlin said Tuesday, following a call between the two leaders.

“Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL,” the Kremlin said in a readout.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/t...index.html

Once again, if you make a deal with Putin's Russia and expect it to be adhered to, I have a few nice bridges to sell you cheap!

---

https://www.wsj.com/world/all-robot-assa..._permalink

Interesting article about a completely drone based assault on a Russian bunker including aerial and ground-based drones.

The December attack involved about 50 unmanned aerial vehicles and destroyed a Russian position north of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to the force that conducted the operation, Ukraine’s 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiya. The Wall Street Journal viewed video footage of the assault.

The attack served as a proof of concept. Though it had its problems, other Ukrainian units are now planning similar missions.

BC

Thanks, BC
The grand view of drones are that they are not the be all and end all of future conflicts.  But we always have to remember that when you fight a war you fight the enemy and that enemies abilities with those that you have.  If you can make low cost drones in the  thousands and use them to replace your infantry when needed and it works, then that is all that is important.  the Woulda, Shoulda, and Coulda don't count in real combat, only what works counts.