'Extreme Skepticism' Of Moscow's Claims Of Scaling Back Invasion

[L. Coyote]

The Russian military is saying it will reduce its military combat operations in Kyiv and Chernihiv as peace talks are underway with Ukrainian officials, but those claims are being met with skepticism. The Morning Joe panel discusses.

[PortTack]

1. Pulling back or just regrouping? President Zelensky thinks the later and they are preparing

[L. Coyote]

3. Disruption of supply in Belarus, railroads sabatoged.

They had to pull back of be completely defeated. When you can't fill the gas tank on a tank .... it's just a $2 million dollar pile of scrap.

[Warpy]

2. Ukraine isn't giving up territory, unless it's Crimea

which is a logistical nightmare to supply and defend, Russia would have to do everything by sea. Plus, the Crimeans would eventually object to Putin's iron fist.

And of course Putin is lying his ass off. However, at this point, if he pulls troops from other parts of the country, he's going to find himself under attack by some of the 'stans. They'd like their own ancestral land back, along with the oil underneath it.

I will say that last night's bombardment of Kyiv suburbs was far lighter and didn't last as long as previous nights, so something is going on. Either they're on holdiay or supplies are very low. I suspect the latter.

This is the first time an army depleted by corruption and inadequate training has faced an army not composed pf tribal factions. A wise leader would get what he can at peace talks. Then the task of rebuilding Russia's military could commence.

Putin has never shown himself to be wise.