Putin's dream of "Novorossiya" is now crumbling in his hands.

Denys Shmyhal (left), the prime minister of Ukraine, succinctly defines the war that Ukraine is currently waging against Putin's Russia.

In an article for Politico he states that,

"What will Ukraine’s victory in this war look like?

We often hear this question from our international partners. 

However, Ukraine is fighting an existential war — a war for survival. 

Therefore, Russia’s aggression against our country is a zero-sum game. Russia wants to destroy Ukraine; Ukraine wants to survive. And under these circumstances, it’s difficult to find compromise." (Politico : 21 June 2023) (my emphasis)

He goes on to state that,

"Today, for Ukraine, a stable and just peace is impossible without the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ten-point peace plan, restoring the country’s territorial integrity, establishing justice and building a new European security architecture." (ibid Politico)

We now learn from Patrick Wintour (right) that,

"The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has said all Nato allies are backing a plan to give Ukraine a fast track to Nato membership of the kind offered to Sweden and Finland earlier this year." (The Guardian : 21 June 2023) (my emphasis)

                                     

Sky News : 21 June 2023

However, 

"The French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna (left), was more cautious [ about fast-tracking Ukraine's membership of NATO] but said circumstances had changed since 2008 when Ukraine was last offered Nato membership on the condition it met the terms set out in an action plan." (ibid Patrick Wintour)

As Henry Samuel further reports,

"Paris considers pushing Ukraine’s membership as a “security guarantee” in its own right, since it could discourage Russia from continuing the war or, should the conflict come to an end, prevent any further aggression." (The Telegraph : 20 June 2023) (my emphasis)

This 'mealy-mouthed' approach of Macron is no doubt influenced by the fact that Putin is once again 'spitting nuclear nails' at the 'fast-tracking' on Ukraine into NATO.

Hindustan Times : 20 June 2023 : YouTube

 

As also reported by Max Parry,

"President Zelensky said: “Intelligence has received information that Russia is considering the scenario of a terrorist act at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - a terrorist act with a release of radiation.”

He added: “They have prepared everything for this.” (Express : 22 June 2023) (my emphasis)

More ominously, as reported by Aliss Higham and Alex Shipman,

"Vladimir Putin has warned new nuclear warheads will be ready use in the near future as Ukraine continues to advance in key areas.
...

Russians living in occupied Crimea have been told to flee the area after Vladimir Putin recently escalated nuclear tensions by saying nuclear warheads are ready for use.

Oleksiy Danilov (right), Kyiv’s national security and defence council (NSDC) secretary, has advised any Russians living [in Crimea]  to flee to their home country, saying they are not permitted refuge in Ukraine." (Express : 22 June 2023) (my emphasis)

Perhaps most disconcerting of all, Joel Day reports that,

"Vladimir Putin is said to suffer from multiple mental and physical issues, with one alarming recent episode reportedly experienced by his closest guards.
...
It was the first report of its kind: Vladimir Putin had suffered a nervous breakdown.
...
Added to the difficulties around Russia's offensive is Putin's deteriorating health. The Russian President is believed to be undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer." (Express : 22 June 2023) (my emphasis)

Further taxing Putin's mind, Philip Andrew Churm (right) reports that,

"Diplomats and business leaders from dozens of countries met in London on Wednesday to drum up funds to help rebuild Ukraine.

The cost of reconstruction is estimated by the World Bank at over €366bn in the long-term with €12.8bn in immediate aid but the figure is rising alongside the human toll of the 16-month war.
...
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to announce a new US assistance package at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is both a fundraising forum and a message to Russia that Ukraine’s allies are in it for the long haul." (EuroNews : 21 June 2023) (my emphasis)

EuroNews : 21 June 2023

Putin's "Novorossiya" dream that he conceived of shortly before invading Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 is now hanging by a very very slender thread, and he is FULLY aware of it.

 As reported by Nick Paton Walsh,

"Almost as if to answer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement the counteroffensive is “slower” than some might have imagined, a pinpoint strike hit a key pair of bridges for Russia’s occupation. The Chonhar bridges are both rail and road crossings, and head from the northeast of occupied Crimea to Ukraine’s main target in this counteroffensive: occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
...
Alexei Zhivoff, a Russian military blogger, said Thursday the Chonhar bridge was more a “land corridor”, and carried 70% of the military and civilian traffic to and from Crimea. He added the blast showed the area was easily within reach of NATO-supplied missiles and that Russian air defences were inadequate." (CNN : 22 June 2023) (my emphasis)

 Times Radio : 23 June 2023 : YouTube

Putin's dream of "Novorossiya" is now crumbling in his hands.  

IMPORTANT UPDATE 07.04 on 24 JUNE 2023

One could not have imagined the speed with which Putin's hold on power is slipping fast from his hands!

As reported by Christy Cooney & Rebecca Seales,

"The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary [Yevgeny Prigozhin (left)] group has vowed to "go all the way" to topple Russia's military leadership, hours after the Kremlin accused him of "armed rebellion". (BBC News :24 June 2023) (my emphasis)

More significantly, Putin's FSB boss and current close confidant, Nikolai Patrushev  now finds himself next-in-line for the wrath of Prigozhin.

 

CNN : 24 June 2023: YouTube

"Russian state media reported that the FSB (headed by Nikolai Patrushev (right)) , Russia's security service, has opened a criminal case against Mr Prigozhin, accusing him of "calling for an armed rebellion" and attempting to start armed civil conflict in Russia.
...
The FSB also reportedly called on Wagner fighters to disobey his orders and to take steps to apprehend him. (ibid Christy Cooney & Rebecca Seales)

 This totally fluid situation within Putin's Kremlin and his "Command and Control" centre has the international community watching with deep concern.

Hindustan Times : 24 May 2023 : YouTube

For Zelensky and the Army of Ukraine, these developments could not have come at a better time as Putin's "Command and Control" Generals now find themselves having to deal with Yevgeny Prigozhin's army at the expense of mounting a defence against the imminent punch of Zelensky's final counter-offensive.

We now wait to see what is going to happen.

 IMPORTANT UPDATE 08.33 on 26 JUNE 2023 

The swift "backtracking" by Putin of his criminal case against Mr Prigozhin, accusing him of "calling for an armed rebellion", has left many international observers scratching their 'political heads'. 

As reported by Steve Rosenberg,

"After a weekend of mayhem, I'm beginning to understand why Russia's national symbol is the double-headed eagle: two heads staring in opposite directions.

First, Yevgeny Prigozhin declares he's ready to "go all the way" in his mutiny against the Russian military. Then he makes a sudden U-turn and orders his Wagner fighters back to base." (BBC News : 26 June 2023) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"In a TV address, President Vladimir Putin declares the rebellion "a criminal adventure… a grievous crime… treason… blackmail and terrorism." Yet just a few hours later, as part of an agreement with Prigozhin, it's revealed that all criminal charges against the Wagner leader are being dropped." (ibid Steve Rosenberg) (my emphasis)

Fox News : 25 June 2023

As reported by John Bacon and David Jackson,

"This is just the latest chapter in a book of failure that Putin has written for himself and for  Russia," Blinken [US Secretary of State (left)] said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." "Economically, militarily, its standing in the world – all of those things have plummeted." (USA Today : 25 June 2023) (my emphasis)

As I stated (cf above),

"Putin's dream of "Novorossiya" is now crumbling in his hands. 

 

(to be continued)