Enkaly
JF-Expert Member
- Aug 14, 2014
- 307
- 428
Will we all regret not helping Ukraine?
It’s not that we haven’t helped. We have. The West has delivered thousands of anti-tank missiles. Note: Russia has not committed a thousand tanks to the battle. The West has delivered thousands of MANPADS, anti-aircraft missiles to deal with Russia’s superior numbers of aircraft.
A US Marine Stinger launch in the year 2000
Just yesterday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, said Poland has a green light to deliver its Mig-29 aircraft (a type Ukraine already knows how to fly) to Ukraine.
Blinken says NATO countries have "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine
The secretary of state says the U.S. is considering providing fighter jets to Poland if the country sends its own to Ukraine.
Blinken says NATO countries have "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine
Polish Mig-29
Additionally, more than 16,000 people from the West and other countries like Nigeria, have offered to go to Ukraine to fight for them. Curiously, this doesn’t strictly meet the definition of mercenaries since they will not be well-paid. They are volunteers.
At least 16,000 foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine, says Zelensky
Volunteers will ‘join the defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world’, says president
At least 16,000 foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine, says Zelensky
What Zelenskyy is asking for, and not getting, is a no-fly zone over Ukraine. While I can understand his frustration, especially while his people are getting killed in airstrikes, it’s not a good idea. If we did so, it would not be long, before NATO must engage and destroy a Russian aircraft. If that happens, a reprisal is likely, and sooner or later, Russia may shoot down a NATO aircraft.
Once that happens, we’ve all got a real problem. NATO’s article 5 stipulates that an attack on one country is an attack on all. Once Russian and NATO forces begin firing on one another, tensions will rise, not diminish, and it could lead to World War Three. A no-fly zone creates the possibility of a far wider war that no one wants. So, while I sympathize with Zelenskyy, the decision not to is the smart one.
Why are Ukrainian military forces not attacking the long Russian column of vehicles heading for Kyiv? Surely some drones could be deployed to take at least part of them out and disrupt the advance.
Well, I can think of several reasons why they have not done it - YET.
It’s not that we haven’t helped. We have. The West has delivered thousands of anti-tank missiles. Note: Russia has not committed a thousand tanks to the battle. The West has delivered thousands of MANPADS, anti-aircraft missiles to deal with Russia’s superior numbers of aircraft.
A US Marine Stinger launch in the year 2000
Just yesterday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, said Poland has a green light to deliver its Mig-29 aircraft (a type Ukraine already knows how to fly) to Ukraine.
Blinken says NATO countries have "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine
The secretary of state says the U.S. is considering providing fighter jets to Poland if the country sends its own to Ukraine.
Blinken says NATO countries have "green light" to send fighter jets to Ukraine
Polish Mig-29
Additionally, more than 16,000 people from the West and other countries like Nigeria, have offered to go to Ukraine to fight for them. Curiously, this doesn’t strictly meet the definition of mercenaries since they will not be well-paid. They are volunteers.
At least 16,000 foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine, says Zelensky
Volunteers will ‘join the defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world’, says president
At least 16,000 foreign volunteers to fight for Ukraine, says Zelensky
What Zelenskyy is asking for, and not getting, is a no-fly zone over Ukraine. While I can understand his frustration, especially while his people are getting killed in airstrikes, it’s not a good idea. If we did so, it would not be long, before NATO must engage and destroy a Russian aircraft. If that happens, a reprisal is likely, and sooner or later, Russia may shoot down a NATO aircraft.
Once that happens, we’ve all got a real problem. NATO’s article 5 stipulates that an attack on one country is an attack on all. Once Russian and NATO forces begin firing on one another, tensions will rise, not diminish, and it could lead to World War Three. A no-fly zone creates the possibility of a far wider war that no one wants. So, while I sympathize with Zelenskyy, the decision not to is the smart one.
Why are Ukrainian military forces not attacking the long Russian column of vehicles heading for Kyiv? Surely some drones could be deployed to take at least part of them out and disrupt the advance.
Well, I can think of several reasons why they have not done it - YET.
- Ukraine has only very few drones. They will probably wait until the Russian column will be going hungry and desperate for fuel before striking.
- They might want to wait until the column is close enough to bring enough soldiers from Kyiv to start the fight.
- They might wait for the delivery of more Javelins, stingers etc., which is currently ongoing.
- They might want that column to actually enter the city before taking them on in an urban kind of warfare, where Russian casualties will be high and where their supply vehicles will be easier to target. It is a lot easier to bog down such a mass of mostly unarmored vehicles in a city setting than it is to do so in the countryside.