🇺🇸 Putin Punts on Press Conference

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Putin Punts on Press Conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin just announced he won’t hold a year-end press conference for the first time in 10 years. Meanwhile, reports indicate he has ordered a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to be ready.

Reporting from the Left: What the US sending Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine means for Putin's war (NBC News)

Reporting from the Right: Putin cancelled annual press conference over Russian anti-war feeling, say British defense chiefs (Evening Standard)

From The Flag: In the past, we’ve covered Putin’s nuclear posturing and threats. With the war nearing the 10-month mark, here’s fresh commentary from both sides.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

With Ukraine In Tatters, US Risks All-Out War With Each Passing Day

• The Ukrainian economy has been devastated, and the West must help the nation survive both from a military and financial standpoint.

• While the US moves closer to a direct war with Russia, the American people are being misled.

• This conflict remains extremely complicated, as evidenced by some of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s actions.

“The West Must Help Ukraine Outlast Russia” William A. Galston, Wall Street Journal Opinion: “After a lag, Western sanctions have slowed the Russian economy… Production has collapsed in Russia’s auto industry, retail sales are down 10%, and tax revenues from non-energy sectors have declined by about 20%. The fall’s large military draft has further weakened the civilian economy. But there is no evidence that these setbacks will force Vladimir Putin to end the war. On the contrary, he seems determined to shift equipment and manpower from civilian to military production. … We have no idea when this war will end. What we know is that Mr. Putin thinks he can win it by outlasting Ukraine and its allies. It is up to political leaders here and abroad to prove him wrong, a task that would be much harder if House Republicans cut the flow of aid to a beleaguered people whose courage and determination to defend their freedom has inspired the world.”

“When Did Congress Vote To Go To War With Russia?” Michael Wilkerson, American Greatness: “With each passing day… the US is being drawn closer to direct military conflict with Russia. We’re already engaged in a proxy war, and we are now tempting the dogs of war to slip off the leash well beyond our ability to control them. This is both extremely dangerous and foolish. And it’s being done without the full knowledge and support of the American people. … The US government has sent military personnel—ostensibly as ‘advisors’—to Ukraine to monitor and track the contributed weapons, and of course to train the Ukrainians in their lethal use. We also sent advisors to Vietnam, and before long they were engaged in direct combat with the North Vietnamese and opening a Pandora’s box of unintended consequences. The US Army’s 101st Airborne Division is now on European soil on a ‘combat deployment’ for the first time since World War II. And this just covers what we know.”

One more opinion piece from the Right: There’s No Such Thing As Press Freedom In Zelensky’s Dissent-Crushing Ukraine Liam Cosgrove, The Federalist

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Ukraine’s Civilians and World Peace Are at Risk if Russia Wins

• Civilians are being increasingly victimized as it becomes clearer that Russia cannot win a traditional war.

• Putin’s invasion has put the world’s “New Peace” at risk, and he must not be allowed to succeed.

• The incoming Republican majority in the House of Representatives is threatening to cut off much-needed support for Ukraine.

“Is Putin Finally Getting Smart About His Ukraine Disaster?” Hal Brands, Bloomberg: “The Ukrainian winter will be brutal, but it won’t bring the war to a freezing halt. … US officials believe Putin is belatedly realizing something that has been blindingly obvious those outside the cocoon of sycophancy in the Kremlin: Russia lacks the military means to accomplish its political ends in Ukraine. Russia is blowing through missiles and munitions faster than its heavily sanctioned defense industry can replenish them. Its troops are struggling to hang on to their early gains, let alone seize all the territory that Putin has illegally and somewhat farcically claimed for Russia. … So Putin’s best strategy right now is a characteristically cruel one: the weaponization of winter. Russia is using missiles, drones and artillery against the Ukrainian electrical grid and other key infrastructure to make an exposed population suffer.”

“The End of the New Peace” Yuval Noah Harari, The Atlantic: “If Putin’s gamble succeeds… Autocrats around the world will learn that wars of conquest are again possible, and democracies, too, will be forced to militarize themselves… We’ve already seen Russian aggression prompt countries such as Germany to sharply increase their defense budget overnight, and countries such as Sweden to reinstate conscription. The money that should go to teachers, nurses, and social workers will instead go to tanks, missiles, and cyberweapons. At 18, young people all over the world will do their mandatory military service. The whole world will look like Russia—a country with an oversize army and understaffed hospitals. A new era of war, poverty, and disease will result. Alternatively, if Putin is stopped and punished, the global order won’t be broken by what he did—it will be strengthened.”

One more opinion piece from the Left: Zelenskyy is stuck selling democracy to American leaders who no longer want it Nayyera Haq, MSNBC Opinion

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Hope for Peace, but Russians Reluctant Regarding Crimea

Recent polling found a majority (53%) of Russians would like to see peace talks begin with Ukraine, with over 6 in 10 saying they’d be especially in favor if that stopped Russian soldiers from being killed.

That said, 78% indicated it would be unacceptable if negotiations returned Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014) to Ukraine (​​Chicago Council-Levada).

Nearly half (47%) of Americans say Ukraine should be pushed into a peace agreement with Russia as soon as possible (Chicago Council-Ipsos).

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