Ukraine to withdraw troops from Severodonetsk

[former9thward]

Ukraine will withdraw its troops defending Severodonetsk, the embattled eastern city that is the locus of Russia’s war effort, regional governor Serhiy Haidai said early Friday. Russian troops were also advancing toward the neighboring city of Lysychansk, he added. The retreat “may take some time,” the head of the Severodonetsk regional administration told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The Pentagon sought to downplay the significance of the withdrawal. A senior U.S. defense official said Friday that the Ukrainians are moving to a “position where they can better defend themselves.”

The setbacks in eastern Ukraine are in contrast to Kyiv’s recent wins off the battlefield. On Thursday, the European Union decided to grant Ukraine membership candidate status — a first step in a lengthy process but a move President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed as “historic.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday accused the E.U. and NATO of assembling a “coalition” for “war.” Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the E.U.'s decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status while cautioning that Russia’s relationship with Europe was at a low ebb.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/24/russia-ukraine-war-putin-news-live-updates/

[The Magistrate]

1. Assuming They Got The Soldiers Out, Sir

It is not much of a set-back.

The place became a political symbol, it is of no military importance. It is for the Ukrainian government to judge what the political value in hanging on there was. In purely military terms, just about any Russian casualties incurred in reducing the place were a waste. We cannot at this point know the ratio of casualties incurred by the contenders. If Russian losses were in greater proportion than their overall numbers relative to Ukranian forces, it would have been a successful operation.

[former9thward]

2. Unfortunely the Ukrainians are running out of troops.

Zelensky says there are losing about 100 a day killed and 3 to 5 times that many wounded. The West seems to want to fight this to the last Ukrainian but that may happen sooner than many think.

[The Magistrate]

3. Interesting Comment, Sir

Hard to get a clear view of actual force levels, with recruitment and conscription underway.

Regarding the 'fight to the last Ukrainian' line, which do advocate, NATO troops or surrender by Ukraine?

[former9thward]

5. Neither.

I think the suggestions by France and Germany concerning a compromise settlement should be looked at before Ukraine is totally trashed. I am not in the camp, which I think is totally unrealistic, that says the war should be continued until Russia is pushed back to its borders.

I think it is a reality that President Biden acknowledges. From the White House website:

Q Mr. President, does Ukraine have to cede territory to achieve some peace?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, you’ve been always fair with me. The — from the beginning, I’ve said and I’ve been — not everyone has agreed with me — nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. It’s their territory. I’m not going to tell them what they should and shouldn’t do.

But it appears to me that, at some point along the line, there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here. And what that entails, I don’t know. I don’t think anybody knows at the time.

But in the meantime, we’re going to continue to put the — the Ukrainians in a position where they can defend themselves.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/06/03/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-may-jobs-report-2/

[The Magistrate]

6. That Is The Surrender/Appeasement Camp, Sir

It's dolled up in a lot of Chamberlain redux, but the thing is clear. I distinctly recall Herr Hitler had no territorial ambitions beyond the Suedetenland, it was stated quite clearly by any number of serious commentators at the time, and the man did say so, after all..

The nearest thing to an acceptable compromise is Russia holding sway over no territory it had not seized already by a war of aggression prior to its current criminal enterprise. Russia will not voluntarily withdraw, nor will it abide by any negotiated agreement once the ink is dry. The people kidnapped are as gone as the people murdered under Russian occupation, none will return home.

There is no doubt, however, returning Russia to its start-line simply punts the thing off a few years, barring some decisive change in governance in Russia.

[EndlessWire]

4. They should plan to defend Odesa.

If they could prevail there, they could round up and retake Crimea. From there, they could push back and retake all their territory.

Our news has slowed because of the various political concerns we have at the moment. We are still providing armaments, money, and intelligence to Ukraine, and they are not giving up. The armaments they are receiving may help to equalize the fight.

Plus, the UN is beginning to talk about opening the Black Sea for food transport. They may be rethinking their hands off approach to solving the World's food shortages. Nothing has worked with Russia. All the emotional, begging speeches haven't worked.