🇷🇺Russian armed forces could seek to destroy Ukraine’s strongest military units on the pretext of defending Donetsk and Luhansk.
What happens now Vladimir Putin has sent troops into the Donbas?
Here’s the latest analysis from @RolandOliphant 👇🧵
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
What happens now Vladimir Putin has sent troops into the Donbas?
Here’s the latest analysis from @RolandOliphant 👇🧵
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
🔴Two things were clear by the end of Monday's session of the Russian security council:
Vladimir Putin would recognise the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states, and he would send regular Russian troops to defend them
Vladimir Putin would recognise the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states, and he would send regular Russian troops to defend them
❓But what will Russia do next?
The best case is that Vladimir Putin is continuing his game of incremental screw tightening and the Russian army will halt at the current line of contact, writes our Senior Foreign Correspondent @RolandOliphant
The best case is that Vladimir Putin is continuing his game of incremental screw tightening and the Russian army will halt at the current line of contact, writes our Senior Foreign Correspondent @RolandOliphant
🔴Vladimir Putin later signed two decrees: one recognising the Donetsk People’s Republic, and the other recognising the independence of the Luhansk People’s Republic
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
🔴When Russian-backed “people’s parliaments” proclaimed independence in 2014, they claimed as their legitimate territory all of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
That implies a war of “liberation” to seize Ukrainian-held cities such as Mariupol, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk
That implies a war of “liberation” to seize Ukrainian-held cities such as Mariupol, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk
🔴 In the process, the Russian armed forces would seek to destroy Ukraine’s strongest and most battle-hardened military units, all of which are concentrated in the east
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
🔴 What other Ukrainian territories could be targets for Russian Occupation?
🔴It is not clear how that would end, writes @RolandOliphant
A full occupation of left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv is the worst-case scenario, but one that also seems unsustainable
A full occupation of left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv is the worst-case scenario, but one that also seems unsustainable
🔴There will be enormous costs for Russia.
Despite disagreements, Western leaders are united in promising extraordinary sanctions if an invasion goes ahead
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
Despite disagreements, Western leaders are united in promising extraordinary sanctions if an invasion goes ahead
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…
🔴That is one reason why some optimists may still hope that the Russian army will stop at the current line of contact.
Perhaps Mr Putin thinks other world leaders will be so relieved to have escaped mass carnage that they will relent on sanctions, writes @RolandOliphant
Perhaps Mr Putin thinks other world leaders will be so relieved to have escaped mass carnage that they will relent on sanctions, writes @RolandOliphant
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