Absent a compromise settlement, massive levels of aid for Kyiv would have to continue, perhaps indefinitely

The controversial story of the Ukrainian peace deal reached with Russia in March 2022 came up again at the weekend, after senior Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov published an extract from his upcoming book in the paper that includes a denial that a deal was done by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

I read this stuff so you don’t have to. Shout out to Gary in Australia who flagged this tripe to me. Emma Ashford and Kelly A. Grieco are two chick academics who do not know a damn thing about military operations and capabilities. Geez. This article is just another Dumb and Dumber episode with a dash of Ground Hog Day tossed in.

Sullivan likely to raise strategy issue with Ukraine leader. Tensions seen as war heads into third year with aid stalled

ROME, Jan 10 (Reuters) – The time has come for diplomacy to pave the way for peace between Russia and Ukraine, Italy’s defence minister said on Wednesday, adding that firm Western support for Kyiv was crucial to ensure serious negotiations.

The Defense Department inspector general ― the military’s leading oversight authority ― released a series of announcements in late September about planned accountability probes regarding the now more than $100 billion worth of military gear and equipment the United States has sent or promised to Ukraine.

Moscow, Kyiv and Washington are caught in a fog of miscalculation

Thus far, the US federal government has spent about $9 billion on Ukrainian pensions. If Congress approves President Biden’s next supplemental aid package, the Ukrainian pension payments will continue at a rate of up to $600 million per month. Previous reports of this spending have raised eyebrows. Critics argue that the US should shore up its own retirement system before bailing out that of a foreign nation.

The war in Ukraine continues to grind on and Ukrainian troops are falling back all across the 600 mile front. Not a good start to the New Year for Zelensky and the future is bleak at best. Russia is methodically destroying Ukrainian factories set up to manufacture military tactical clothing, ammunition, drones and vehicles. Repair facilities also have been hit and obliterated. Ditto for military training facilities aka bases. Ukraine’s recent use of cluster munitions on Belgorod and Donetsk killed a few civilians but enraged Putin and his military commanders. In response Russia has unleashed a devastating series of missile, drone and rocket attacks across the breadth of Ukraine and vowed to keep doing so. So much for Western hopes of building manufacturing plants in Ukraine to keep it in the war.

After the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive, Kyiv finds itself at a major crossroads and with no easy options.