Will Putin now opt for the 'German blitzkrieg' strategy of Hitler and attack Mariupol?

In my last blog entry (2 January, 2019)I wrote that,

"Now that the Democratic Party is within a few hours short of taking full control of the US House of Congress, and with it full oversight over Trump's actions, Putin realizes that his 'Manchurian' hold over Trump is now counter-balanced by the incoming Democratic oversight over his 'Manchurian' Trump." (blog entry : 2 Jan., 2019)


And in an interview, the new Speaker of the US House of Congress, Nancy Pelosi, stated that the impeachment of Trump is now an open question. 

 MSNBC (3 January, 2019)

Even more significant, the 'Manchurian' hold that Putin has over Trump is now also bubbling to the surface.

Yesterday (3 January, 2019), Rachel Maddow reported 'strange' instances when Trump, since the start of his presidency, publicly mouthed Putin's pro-Russian propaganda.

And NOW it has just happened again!

 MSNBC (3 January, 2019)

This must be causing Putin some consternation since, as also reported by UNIAN,

"Leader of the People's Front Party Arseniy Yatsenyuk says Nancy Pelosi, the newly elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is "Ukraine's true friend."
...
 "At our last meeting in September 2018, we talked a lot about the prospects of Ukrainian-American cooperation. We are united by strong belief in the success of our partnership," he said. (UNIAN : 4 January, 2019) (my emphasis)

Added to which, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly (right), stated that,

"Ukraine expects arms supplies, including lethal weapons, from the United States in 2019.
...
"We are working together now. The Strategic Partnership Commission considers all issues, including military and technical cooperation, cooperation on security issues," he said. (UNIAN : 3 January,2019) (my emphasis)

These are not the only worries of Putin.

It is now being reported that,

"Russia has once again postponed the commissioning of the railway service via the Kerch Strait bridge over miscalculations in the blueprints of railway approaches to the bridge linking the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula with mainland Russia.
...
THERE WERE ROCK SHIFTS IN THE TUNNEL!" (UNIAN : 4 January, 2019) (my emphasis)

Added to which,

“Oil is flip-flopping on concerns of supply and demand,” said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. “It’s really a battle between the supply situation, which looks to be tightening, versus the possibility that demand will drop off.”
.....
Riyadh was expected to cut February prices for heavier crude grades sold to Asia due to weaker fuel oil margins while reducing prices for light grades to keep Saudi oil competitive against rising U.S. shale oil supplies, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday." (Alex Lawler (right): Reuters : 4 January, 2019) (my emphasis)

These developments underscore the reporting by Jamie Dettmer (left), that,


"Ukrainian officials are warning that Russia may be about to escalate its conflict with Ukraine, including possibly launching a breakout offensive from Crimea.
....
“Russia continues to build up and prepare its military forces for possible offensive operations against Ukraine from the Crimean peninsula and the East,” the institute has reported. It says Russia could conduct such operations on short notice." (VOA: ! January, 2019) (my emphasis).

Given that Putin has once again had to postpone the commissioning of the railway service via the Kerch Strait bridge, thus limiting the speed with which he can pour Russian troops and armaments into Ukraine's Crimea, will Putin now opt for the 'German blitzkrieg' strategy of Hitler and attack Mariupol?

(to be continued)