Ukraine Crisis and Putin: Putin has come to the end of the line in his war with Ukraine.

Yesterday (19 November 2024) there were two significant develoments in Putin's 'land grab' war with Ukraine.

1. Since the use of US ATACM missiles by Ukraine to attack military targets inside Russia Putin has, once again, shaken his 'nuclear' fist particularly at the US, UK, and France, and also NATO countries, by LOWERING the treshold at which he would used 'nuclear bombs' against them.

Times of India: 19 November 2024: YouTube2

2. More significantly, as reported by Kanjyik Ghosh and Lidia Kelly (right), "The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has received information of a potential significant air attack on Wednesday and will be closed, the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs said in a statement.

"The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced." (Reuters: 20 November 2024) (my emphasis)

These two events indicates Putin broadening his war with Ukraine to potentially include NATO countries.

It is therefore no coincidence that on the battlefront, Jaroslav Lukiv and David Willis report that, in light of Korean troops now joined up with Russian troops fighting against the army of Ukraine

"US President Joe Biden has agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines, a US defence official told the BBC, a move seen as an attempt to slow Russian troops who have been steadily advancing in Ukraine's east in recent months." (BBC News: 20 November 2024) (my emphasis)

And conspicuous by his absence at the 2024 G20 summit taking place in Brazil at the moment, we also learn from Divya A (right) that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India and the dates for his trip are being finalised, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.
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This will be Putin’s first visit to India in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war that started in February 2022. The announcement comes days after the election of US President Donald Trump, who is also expected to visit India next year for the Quad Summit." (The Indian Express: 20 November 2024) (my emphasis)

However, as Geeta Mohan (left) reported,

"The Quad Summit, originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi this September, was relocated to New York [next year] due to a scheduling conflict among the attending leaders." (India Today: 6 November 2024) (my emphasis)

Is Putin's upcoming visit to Narendra Modi a hint that Putin is now desperate for Modi to chair a "ceasefire" agreement between himself and Zelensky in his losing war with Ukraine?

Indeed, one has to assume that Putin and his 'siloviki' realise that if he sparks off a nuclear war with NATO countries that it will also spell the end of Russia.

Putin, it would seem, has come to the end of the line in his war with Ukraine.

Except for Kim Jon Un of North Korea; with no-one else left to turn to for help as his army of Russian soldiers is being dangerously depleted in his war with Ukraine, Putin has become a spent force.

Hoping that Narendra Modi of India will help him is all that he now has to 'save face'.

EMERGENCY UPDATE: 21 November 2024 : 15.23 (GMT)

Putin has taken his first step onto the abyss of the unknown.

Today,November 21, 2024, at 2:46 PM GMT, Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov reported that,

"Ukraine claimed Thursday that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight at one of its cities [Dnipro]. If confirmed, it would be the first time Moscow has used such a weapon in the war.
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“If true, clearly this would be another example of grave, reckless and escalatory behavior from Russia and only serves to strengthen our resolve,” he [Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman, Dave Pares] said." (AP News: 21 November 2024) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Sabine Siebold, Mark Trevelyan and Pavel Polityuk, (November 21, 2024 3:21 PM GMT)

" Ukraine said Russia fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday, in what would be the first use in war of a weapon designed to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes.
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"Today there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics – speed, altitude – are (of an) intercontinental ballistic (missile). An expert (investigation) is currently underway," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video statement." (Reuters: 21 November 2024) (my emphasis)

As Rober Fox (left) also reports,

"Putin is desperate to achieve a recognised victory on the battlefield before the end of the year.
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But progress is slow, and very expensive in manpower and ground attack equipment. Up to 2,000 soldiers are being killed and wounded a day, with an average of 100 tanks and 200 artillery pieces destroyed every month.

The Russian forces have needed reinforcement by 10,000 North Koreans to fight for Kursk. They are expected likely to call on several times that number of North Koreans before the winter is out." (The Standard: 21 November 2024) (my emphasis)

This desperate and dangerous escalation by Putin of his war with Ukraine has led to,

"Countries bordering and near Russia have begun issuing survival guides to all of their citizens, amid fears that Vladimir Putin's warmongering in Ukraine could spill over into neighbouring territories. In spite of the threat of further Russian aggression, Nordic states have told residents “You are part of Sweden’s overall emergency preparedness.”
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With Putin's war in Ukraine appearing to escalate in danger for the NATO countries, many of which now border Ukraine or Russia, Swedes are being told to defend their nation.
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Meanwhile Finland, which borders Russia and has defended itself against its neighbour's territorial ambitions since declaring independence over a century ago, has issued similar instructions to its citizens in a digital self-defence guide. " (William Morgan: Express: 21 November 2924) (my emphasis)

Putin is opening "Pandora's Box" of WW3.