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I mean, the only way for Putin to politically survive a retreat is to convince Russians that this catastrophic failure was actually a huge success, and their sons didn't die for nothing.

Seing them push a narrative that they have already achieved what they came there for is therefore kind of uplifting. If the Russians could leave Ukraine without losing face they would have done it months ago, and this seems to be the beginning of the effort to create such an opening.

Of course nobody in the West is going to buy it (well, almost nobody, without pointing any fingers), but much like the rest of Russian propaganda we don't really need to either. The only limit is which lies the Russian people are willing to believe, and for once I actually want them to believe this one - or at least I want the Kremlin to believe they believe it.

Don't care about the reason why. Just get out.

If they pull out under the pretense that Ukraine has been demilitarized, and Ukraine turns around and joins NATO, they have egg on their face. Any withdraw would still have to be predicated on assurances that Ukraine won’t join NATO, from Russia’s perspective, or they won’t be able to claim success.

I don't mind pretending Russia won if it means Pootin can get the fuck out of Ukraine.

I wonder if the irony is lost on them?

My guess is that they will declare the operation a success and end further advances, but without ceding the territory that they have won so far.

For all I care they can even hang a large "Mission Accomplished" banner from their ~~aircraft carrier~~ ~~heavy aircraft cruiser~~ scrap-heap Kuznetsov.

It's so strange how they think they are demilitarising Ukraine when in reality they are actually demilitarising themselves

And can we stop giving tanks to that tank-lady that lives in the apartment down the hall? She barely takes care of the ones she has.

America doesn't 'give away' weapons, Ukraine will pay for them eventually, just like Israel, SK, Taiwan, and the rest always do.

They could argue is that they want to protect their IP or something. If that gives them a "win" so they leave then mission accomplished I say!

if I read that correctly and if it is true it would mean that ...
the Kremlin is seeking an excuse to get the fuck out of Ukraine without losing face in front of their own population.

Yeah, when you see totally barmy stuff like this from Russian media it's usually not particularly intended to convince people like you, it's meant for internal consumption.

it already has ... it is here :
[email protected]

On top of that this actual post is cross-posted in there 👍

Be the change you want to see?

I can see the "Задание выполнено" banners now

Totally reasonable concern, fuck Russia but Pravda does have a bit of a vested interest in their reporting to say the least. In this case they're just actually reporting what was said on a Russian propaganda outlet. Disclaimer, I know zero Russian, but a Google translate of the Russian propaganda news networks seems to confirm that Pravda is being factual and this is what Russia is saying.

https://tass-ru.translate.goog/politika/18051163?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true.

My understanding, and I am nothing like an expert in Russian media so salt to taste, is that Pravda is at least government affiliated, so they have a checkered history with respect to the truth but can be assumed to accurately report what it is that the government wants to project.