Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday that the biggest problem Kyiv has faced in its war against Russia is the Western concern for escalation and the risk of provoking Moscow.
“Ever since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, the biggest problem Ukraine has been facing is the domination of the concept of escalation in the decision-making processes among our partners,” Kuleba said, according to Reuters.
The foreign minister’s comments come as Ukraine is pushing hard for the US to allow long-range strikes inside Russian territory using US-provided missiles. Russia has strongly warned against the move and suggested that it would risk World War III.
“The war is always about a lot of hardware: money, weapons, resources but the real problems are always here, in the heads,” Kuleba said. “Most of our partners are afraid of discussing the future of Russia… This is something that is very upsetting because if we do not speak about the future of the source of threat, then we cannot build strategy.”
Throughout the war, the US and NATO have taken steps that they previously ruled out over escalation concerns, such as providing tanks and fighter jets. The most recent significant escalation was President Biden’s decision to give Ukraine the greenlight to use US weapons in attacks on Russian border regions. A few months later, Ukraine launched its invasion of Kursk.
Kuleba made the comments during a conversation with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who expressed support for allowing Ukraine to launch long-range strikes with NATO weapons. Sikorski said NATO should “let Ukraine fight with whatever it has, with whatever we have delivered them, and let’s deliver them more.”
Ukraine’s biggest problem is Zelensky.
I know right. The only problematic thing with war is the people who are against it. If those didn't exist, war would be so much fun
Excellent irony!….But tragic none the less…
"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we should grow too fond of it." – Robert E Lee, 1862
War is simply too easy to wage today, and far too sterile for the American public to have a distaste for it. We can literally destroy a country halfway around the world with no more effort than picking up a phone or pushing a few buttons, while Smalltown USA is completely insulated from the effects of that war save for those with a family member involved. We can level entire neighborhoods and displace or kill hundreds of people, while Joe the Plumber mows his grass or fires up the grill for a cookout.
One might almost be tempted to think that what passes for 'national defense' is really nothing more than making sure Smalltown doesn't get destroyed by an enemy and turns public opinion against our government using our military as a tool to force our will on other nations. It's easy for Joe to sit back and 'support the troops' and 'wave the flag' when he is completely safe from any danger.
Simply put, we have grown too fond of war.
Go ahead and attack Russia and every last Ukrainian in the West will be targeted for elimination by patriots.
Ummm…they already are attacking Russia. Where’ve you been?
Read the article, it relates to long range strikes into Russia by US weapons. The response is to this article not a suicide mission on the border.
OK, tankie.
Irony would be if your scenario came to pass after Ukraine attacked the Russian Federation with Patriot missiles.
It's troubling that Ukraine has repeatedly targeted nuclear assets. Not only the nuclear plants in Kursk and Zaporohzia, but the radar posts for their ICBM warning system.
Agreed, it signifies Washington targeting, striking the eyes of Russia from behind the skirts of Kiev. And I don't see how Russia puts up with it. Especially as the USM right now has got to be stretched so thin the Generals must be in a nervous panic.
Putin is walking a fine line, he has to tolerate provocations designed to get him to react in a way that NATO can use as a ‘causus belli’, while at the same time keeping his public and the Kremlin satisfied that he’s responding appropriately. Not a job I’d want.
Kursk offensive brought Ukrainian army in a very difficult situation. Russians are advancing in central front much faster than ever before. Why Putin should be unhappy about that?
Two meters a day instead on one? Inching ever closer to the heavily fortified positions.
In the last two days Ukraine army lost several villages and town Novogrodovka in Pokrovsk direction. Novogrodovaka (14 thousand population before the war) was left without fighting. The trenches were there but no soldiers in trenches. In other fronts Ukrainians also losing territory but Pokrovsk is the most important. At the moment Ukrainians evacuating from Pokrovsk civil population and trying to organize some kind of defense. At the moment there is a fighting in Selydove (town of 21 000 population before the war); Russian army entered in the town also a couple of days ago.
And?
What is the implication or all of that? Do you understand any of that or are you just repeating the talking points you get handed?
Show me your tactical and strategic chops and break down what it means.
Now I see you are not Ukrainian. Otherwise you would understand what does it mean for Ukrainians to lose Pokrovsk. It is not only strategically important town but also an important industrial center.
After losing Pokrovsk, all territory to the south of it would be very difficult to defend. To the west of Pokrovsk there are no defense lines. Ukrainians need urgently move there some fresh troops. Otherwise Russian army (if it choses) can easy move west to Dnepr river splitting south from north.
That’s the only possible way to read that I guess. A flattened factory town with no defenses beyond it. Sounds a bit suss.
What are you mumbling?
Pokrovsk is last place where Ukraine can get the coking coal from. The lost of Pokrovsk means the lost of Ukrainian metallurgy.
In clear language that you don’t know what you’re posting about. It’s a common failing of those that have nothing but approved talking points and lies. Once you get even slightly beyond the talking points, you’re lost and flailing around.
You do you though.
I see only your bla-bla which makes no sense whatsoever.
What I described is the real situation at Pokrovsk direction. Obviously you have no clue what is going on over there.
Sure. You are smart. A tactical and strategic genius. Not just parroting whatever you’re told to parrot. I belive you.
Especially the part where the Ukrainians apparently forgot to set up fortified fall back positions. They’re so stupid like that, right? Just a simple people who need the strong hand of Russia to rule them for their own good.
I have information from different reliable sources: western, Russian and Ukrainian. So I have my own understanding about the situation in Ukraine, Russia and The West. You can only bla-bla because of your ignorance.
Information from reliable sources? Western, Russian, and Ukrainian you say?
Name them.
That should clear this up.
No proof of any of that. Post your sources (hopefully they’re not Russian MOD!)
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target Russian Nuclear Radar Stations
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/world/europe/ukraine-drones-russia-nuclear.html
“On Monday, Ukraine struck a radar station near the border with Kazakhstan that was more than 1,100 miles away, a Ukrainian intelligence official said. Ukrainian experts said the facility was used to detect missile threats from Asia.”
That’s not the same as attacking nuclear power stations…
Here's his comment:
It's troubling that Ukraine has repeatedly targeted nuclear assets. Not only the nuclear plants in Kursk and Zaporohzia, but the radar posts for their ICBM warning system.
You said, "no proof of any of that".
Whose comment?
Will the UN do? How about Reuters?
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153706
The senior UN official further expressed alarm regarding reported incidents around nuclear facilities in Ukraine and Russia, in particular the deterioration of the nuclear safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
On 17 August, a drone strike hit the road around the power plant’s site perimeter. This incident followed a significant fire at one of the cooling towers on 11 August, which resulted in considerable damage.
Mr. Jenča added that concerns are also rising over nuclear safety and security in Russia’s Kursk region.
On 22 August, Russia reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that remains of a drone were found within the territory of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
————————-
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-drone-targets-russian-early-warning-radar-record-distance-kyiv-source-2024-05-27/
KYIV, May 27 (Reuters) – A Ukrainian drone targeted a long-range radar deep inside Russia on Sunday, the second such strike in a week on infrastructure used by Moscow to monitor Ukraine’s military activities, a Kyiv intelligence source said.
The source said the strike was aimed at a “Voronezh M” radar near the city of Orsk in the Orenburg region some 1,500 km from the closest territory held by Kyiv’s forces.
The source, who declined to be named, did not say if there was any damage, but the move would make it one of the deepest attempted drone strikes in Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the matter, although Russia’s Izvestia newspaper and other media outlets reported that a drone had come down in the Orenburg region on Sunday and that no civilian infrastructure had been hit.
The Kyiv source also confirmed reports of an earlier Ukrainian drone attack on a “Voronezh-DM” radar in southern Krasnodar region on May 22.
The Russian service of U.S. media outlet RFE/RL cited satellite imagery showing damage at the Voronezh-DM radar site in Krasnodar region. Reuters has not independently verified the imagery.
Thord Are Iversen, an independent defenсe analyst and former Norwegian Navy officer, said the radars were part of Russia’s ballistic missile early warning system. Russia is a major nuclear power.
Their primary function, he told Reuters, was to detect and track intercontinental ballistic missiles and to determine if Russia was under nuclear attack. They also have secondary roles such as space tracking.
“Russia reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that remains of a drone were found within the territory of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.”
RUSSIA reported.
”Their primary function, he told Reuters, was to detect and track intercontinental ballistic missiles and to determine if Russia was under nuclear attack”
RADARS for tracking nuclear missiles. (Not nuclear facilities.)
You guys are struggling with this today…
Grossi, the IAEA inspector on-site, confirmed the drone in Kursk.
Gotta love how the Western press always uses the passive voice when speaking of attacks on Russians or Palestinians. Palestinians are “killed by an explosion” rather than an Israeli bomb/missile, “remains of a drone were found”, as though it just appeared from nowhere rather than having been shot down.
If — as you say — the drones were shot down, they could land anywhere. That’s not confirmation the nuclear facilities were targeted — just that that’s where they landed.
I’m sorry, but what? There are no other strategic or military targets in the area of Kurchatov except the nuclear plant. At the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station IAEA inspectors on site have been complaining for over a year about the almost continual attempts to target the plant, one drone finally managed to hit its target a couple of weeks ago and started a fire which disabled one of the cooling towers. The plant is shut down because of the attacks so it’s not currently an issue, but if it were operating that might be another story.
I’m puzzled by your insistence that Ukraine is somehow not doing what it very clearly **has** been doing for over a year.
“…Ukraine is somehow not doing what it very clearly **has** been doing for over a year.”
Except that it’s NOT clear they’ve been trying to do that. It’s just people insisting that they are.
Maybe try this exercise:
Ask yourself if Ukraine benefits from destroying a nuclear plant. I think you’d struggle to see how they’d benefit.
Then, ask yourself if Russia benefits from disinformation that Ukraine is trying to destroy a nuclear plant. The Ukrainians would seem like they were insane. That might even cause Ukraine to lose support from the West.
If one party benefits more than another, look at the issue with a skeptical eye.
“People insisting they are”, such as the IAEA inspectors that are **ON SITE** and seeing rockets and drones arriving from the direction of the Ukrainian forces? Who have taken photos of fragments of US-manufactured missiles at Zaporizhzhia? Those are the people who you believe are generating disinformation for Russia? There’s nothing accurate about your nic, is there?
(Please refer to my previous comment.)
Now by repeatedly targeting you mean:"shit you made up". Get it right
Who cares what this moron says? The important thing is, as Professor Doctorow told Nima, is that the Russians might consider the two US carriers in the Med as a preparation for a nuclear first strike. Personally I think this is an idiot concern – Doctorow got it from some Russian MP on a Russian talk show who doesn't have a clue about military planning – but basically the Zelensky "Victory Plan" resembles what Doctorow laid out.
So who cares? None of it is going to work. Where Doctorow has a problem is that the Russians may be forced to take some of this crap seriously and decide to preempt with a hypersonic, if not nuclear, attack on NATO territory.
Personally I doubt that will happen UNLESS Ukraine and NATO have some ACTUAL success in attacking Moscow directly with long-range weapons, meaning for some reason the Russian air defense fails enough to cause real damage. Which I doubt, but anything is possible.
What you allude to is very important. It does not much matter what WE (the West) think the Russian Federation thinks of carrier groups or disabling DEW-line type radar installations.
It matters what the Russian Federation ITSELF thinks on such matters. Our leaders' "na'ah, it'll be fine, Moscow, you got no worries" platitudes do not address what the Russians themselves think or worry about.
A very important and often overlooked point. What we think about a situation is not anywhere near as important as what your opponent thinks about the matter. Of course, getting into your opponent's head requires education, understanding, imagination, and empathy which is in short supply on our side of the table.
It's frightening I almost miss that nice piano-playing young lady what Dubya Bush installed as Sec of State. The one with degrees and expertise in the Soviet Union, which is at least a START to understand postmodern Russian military and geopolitical leadership styles.
Condi was shockingly ignorant of her supposed subject area of expertise. We are led by ignoramuses who think they aren’t.
Kuleba is wrong. NATO loves escalation. It was Boris Johnson who in April 2022 didn't allowed Ukrainian crooks to shirk their duties. At the time Kuleba was advocating for a peace deal.
That has been proven to be a BS, Russian talking point. Keep trying, Ivan.
April 7, 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov accuses the West of trying to derail the peace talks, claiming that Ukraine had gone back on previously agreed proposals. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett later states (on February 5, 2023) that the U.S. had blocked the pending Russia-Ukraine peace agreement. When asked if the Western powers blocked the agreement, Bennett answered: “Basically, yes. They blocked it, and I thought they were wrong.” At some point, says Bennett, the West decided “to crush Putin rather than to negotiate.”
Rumor and conjecture. Try again.
You said it was a "Russian talking point". By Bennet?
“Bennett was the leader of the New Right party from 2018 to 2022, having previously led The Jewish Home party between 2012 and 2018.”
Yeah. Right-winger using Russian talking points. (Just because it’s an Israeli doesn’t mean he’s not using Russian propaganda.)
C’mon, Wars! You’re usually better than this!
What the hell does Bennet's political background in Israel have to do with anything? That is some weak shit. The fact that you deny the west had anything to do with the peace talks breaking down just shows how biased you really are. Especially after all the rhetoric from high-ranking US officials stating that the goal was to weaken Russia and what a great "investment" it was. Same thing with your denial of the 30 years of provocations towards Russia that followed the cold war. I used to think you were different than the moron Julio, but you're his fucking clone.
Hahaha. I love your naiveté, Wars.
I’m not saying that the West didn’t try to undermine the peace talks. I’m saying you have no proof. I’m saying, biased, right-wing Israelis aren’t a good source.
(I DO enjoy getting under your skin though.)
How's this?
Boris Johnson Pressured Zelenskyy to Ditch Peace Talks With Russia: Ukrainian Paper
The Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda reported Thursday that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used his surprise visit to Kyiv last month to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cut off peace negotiations with Russia, even after the two sides appeared to have made tenuous progress toward a settlement to end the war.
"The first is that Putin is a war criminal; he should be pressured, not negotiated with. And the second is that even if Ukraine is ready to sign some agreements on guarantees with Putin, they are not. We can sign [an agreement] with you [Ukraine], but not with him. Anyway, he will screw everyone over," is how one of Zelenskyy's close associates summed up the essence of Johnson's visit…
Johnson's position was that the collective West, which back in February had suggested Zelenskyy should surrender and flee, now felt that Putin was not really as powerful as they had previously imagined.
Moreover, there is a chance to "press" him. And the West wants to use it.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/05/06/boris-johnson-pressured-zelenskyy-ditch-peace-talks-russia-ukrainian-paper
“Citing unnamed sources from Zelenskyy's "inner circle" and advisory team…”
Keep trying.
I give you quotes from Bennet and that's "rumor and conjeture". I give you an article from the home team and that's "citing unnamed sources". What exactly do you need? I mean, Boris Johnson putting the kibosh to any further negotiations is something that shouldn't even have to be argued about and yet here you are playing dumb. Are you telling me that Johnson didn't visit Ukraine at that time? And after his visit there weren't multiple sources that said the same thing as the Ukrainian newspaper said?
I made my point and you keep talking in circles…
You didn't make any point. I provided you with links that proved my point. You just brushed them off since you had no way of refuting them.
If you're trying to get Ratio Stinker to read, pay attention, or accept valid evidence, don't waste your time.
His racism aside, RT is of the same intellectual clown village as Sully, and Donald "muy insisto" Julio. Evidence and facts DO NOT MATTER to them.
They fixate on emotionally-driven policy positions and defend their opinions with no reason and against ALL reason. They're wannabelievers. Granny told 'em, if they WISH hard enough, Reality will suddenly conform to their imaginations.
They're almost indistinguishable from a Poe on some hot button topics.
Neocons and the first cousins Neolibs, lie by nature, ignore any factual information that disturbs the script, deny their own claims when proven wrong and when in real trouble, their critics become gasp, Putin lovers.
Irrational Moron can write only nonsense
Awww. Russian troll has hurt feelings?
Risk WWIII?!?!?!!!
Well, the foreign minister needs to remember that for the powers that be in the west, this is just a money making caper, plus one to separate Russia from EU and tie the latter more closely to the empire. The more dead "deplorables" on both sides here, the better as far as UKUS are concerned.
This is NOT a plan to start nuclear annihilation of all and sundry … so, sorry, we don't want to sign up for WW3.
Only crazy people may wish a full scale nuclear war. However, the use of proxy wars for promoting a globalist project is quite okay for American imperialists.
You know how you KNOW the Russians are not doing well? Putin’s lackeys and the tankies start whining about NUUUUUUUCLEAR WAAAAAAAAR!!!
Where exactly is the American imperialism and how does it compare and contrast with the Russian imperialistic, colonial invasion of Ukraine?
U.S. has several hundred military bases all over the world. How many has Russia? Two or three? Who is keeping under military control EU, Korea, Japan and many other countries? Who bombed Yugoslavia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya? Who organized "color revolutions" in Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia? Who is poking in non stop regime Russia and China?
I don't know you are Ukrainian or American. It is difficult to understand why people like you are supporting this crazy American politics with one trillion military spending per year and 35 trillion debt. Do you really believe U.S. is promoting democracy in the world?
I see.
Argle bargle, conspiracy, some more conspiracy, rewriting history, whataboutism, and so much more.
I’ll give you this: You’re not even wrong.
Speaking of escalation. . .
https://watcher.guru/news/brics-126-nations-meet-with-alliance-to-discuss-ditching-the-us-dollar#google_vignette
So no one accuses me of having my head-in-the-sand, and acting like US weapons are invincible, I’ll post this:
https://www.twz.com/air/ukrainian-pilot-killed-in-first-f-16-loss
1) ANY weapon is vulnerable. (Just note that a British Challenger tank was also destroyed this month.)
2) Don’t gloat, tankies, it looks like a crash — and not a shoot-down.
One F-16 down…! Five more to go…!
Another article claims F-16's downed Russian missiles. Either Ukrainian pilots are savants with learning English and mastering unfamiliar combat aircraft OR I have been judging the impossibly amazing skills of "Top Gun" fan-fiction self-insert protagonists much too harshly.
It's only been two years of training on how to fly and use them. There's no one on earth, especially already seasoned pilots that could do that.
Perhaps “Ukrainian” is Latin for “a region populated by Mary Sue’s”
Perhaps you’re dumb as shit and think everyone is as dumb as you?
I get it. You couldn’t do it, so it’s only logical that no one else can either
I don't believe in magic, Shi Vaskeeper, and "magic" seems the only explanation for under qualified walk-ins to pull off the kind of aerial stunts that would make "Iron Eage 4" 's writing team blush with embarrassment.
You don’t believe more modern avionics. Magic has nothing to do with it.
Let’s put it out to our crowd on here, Beekeep. I know we have some ex-military in the Commenters on here.
Anyone know how long it’d take for a non-native-English speaker to go from “never sat in one” to “so good in an F-16 they can spot, engage, and shoot out inbound missiles” ? And is six (6) months a reasonable estimate ?
Because my assertion remains – either magic was involved (or a f**king epic 1980s movie training montage) OR it was actually NATO pilots in the ’16s.
I assert this because the “NATO pilots pretending at being Ukrainians” is, by default, the more plausible option than “piloting modern military aircraft is f**king easy”.
What does being a non-native English speaker have to do with it.
Are you a driver? If so, how long does it take you to go from “never drove a stick shift” to “being able to drive to and thru McDonald’s without popping the clutch, jumping the curb, and hitting a parked Ford F-150?”
A little while, yes, but you’re already an experienced driver, just like an already qualified combat pilot can already fly a combat aircraft. It’s just familiarization with model.
I have been given to understand, from essays on here, that the instrumentation within F-16 cockpits is all in English.
And while a person CAN learn another language in a short period of time, it is the case that in high-stress situations, a secondary mental function like language interpretation (especially between Western and pseudo- or full-Cyrillic character sets like Ukrainian) can be impaired as survival instinct sets aside “less critical” brain functions.
My real-life example may be more apt than your driving one. I am a heavy-equipment operator. I’m rated in 4 different machines, excavator my most proficient. If I got into a grader or a dozer, even with 1000’s of hours in an ex, I’d be completely worthless because not only are the control schemes wildly different, the operating techniques are as well.
Unless a bomber, supersonic interceptor, fuelling tanker, ground-attack aircraft, fighter-bomber, and attack helicopter all operate and function precisely the same. Which I am certain they do not.
Can we put a seasoned Cessna pilot in a 777 and expect a smooth landing in night-time Hong Kong ? Put your trust in “six months” of government-approved training ?
Does my 23 years of military experience, including 2 years training allied and partner troops count? If it doesn’t then neither does anyone else’s here.
You’re sticking with a conspiracy theory?
Are or were you air force ?
If so then yes, I’ll defer. If Armoured; still cool but no, not relevant.
Not s conspiracy theory. For one it’s war and everything is a conspiracy. Two, it’s the explanation best fitting extant evidence.
Unless you find an AF pilot, fully qualified on the F16, who has also trained and qualified foriegn Slavic pilots it’ll be irrelevant
Good luck with that
So that’s a “no”, you don’t have relevant experience either.
That’s the point. Good job recognizing that. You still going to leave that appeal up?
Three things for Ukraine to do. (1) Get rid of Zelensky (2) Tell US to FO and (3) Sit down and negotiate with Russia.
Got it. US gave you the permission to say this. US wants to escallate. The fact that Ukraine has resorted to send ARMED recruitment hunters tells a volume. People have stated to attack rectuiters in order to free up recruiters’ pray.
Here is a fundamental problem. US is losing this conflict. Europe has paid a hugh price. Germany economy is destroyed. Europe is about to sit out the escallation. And ket US carry the torch, making it even more of a US loss.,
Each escallation has been a predictable failure. And provocation, such as Kursk, is a predictable faillure. Already quite visible . Strikes inside Russia is the next moment of truth. Russia is not likely to be provoked, and it will continue demolishing the Ukrainian army. This will disintegrate Ukraine — just the question of time.
What is Russia afraid of? Loser will resort to nuclear weapon. This is why Russia is warning US — remunding the juvenile leaders that Russia has nukes too.
And the latest change in Russia’s nuclear posture is as follows: Nuclear response will not be directed to Europe, but to US. Europe is considered secondary, not decision maker. It will be highly necessary for US politics in the middle of election to be cognizant of the dangers. And it will be fair to American oublic to be aware what these escallations as they are leading to direct confrontation.
Especially as we are fully aware that there could be no change on the battlefield. While the chaange in population sentiment is marked — anger, hatred of tge Zeleensky regime is on all time high.
Russia has been moving very slow, deliberately, tovalliw for US to save face and prod Ukraine into settling the conflict. US is not interested. Must keep up the pretence of agressiveness and escalation dominance.
In what world is Russia constantly threatening to use nuclear weapons, to risk WWIII, to target the US, but it's just a reminder to the loser to not use nukes?
Did you think any of this through to see if it made any sense at all? Or is stringing a bunch of weird propaganda talking points together enough to get you applause?