negotiating is futile. 
perhaps give them an ultimmation via a backdoor channel, If nothing solid emerges. Wipe out the snake head, perhaps start with zel himself.  That should focus their thoughts.
They will never comply with any agreement so start telling them what your going to do. America and Europe out and a destroyed country for some responsible adults to govern. All under the beady Russian eye.
sorted, your welcome 

Posted by: James | Jan 14 2026 17:22 utc | 4

Good Question Caveman 1
 
And uh…I’m not talking about DC/London/Jerusalem’s words/actions, I’m talking about the Kremlin/Putin/General-Staff think. Are they finally going to do what it takes to win/intimidate the west or, continue to putter about in the hopes of getting the 3LAs to agree to term.  Because, if it’s the latter, the war has got a long way to go.

Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 14 2026 17:26 utc | 6

Thank you as well, Jeremy and S. I did see a thing about the EU slowly coming around, but I suspect they are incapable of truly perceiving their place in the current world order (on par, in my mind, with say Paraguay, or Lesotho) and will just send someone making the same crazy demands until they get what they want

Posted by: Caveman | Jan 14 2026 17:32 utc | 8

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 17:24 utc | 5
 
I think the ‘EU-Russia envoy’ is just a very temporary idea with there being a lot of real hatred of Trump among eurocrats, it’s their version of sticking it up to Trump. But judging by EU media preparing the serfs for the annexation of Greenland by US (they will just hand it away, already saying it’s vital to counter Russia), this envoy idea will soon be history and we’ll be back to escalation in Ukraine.
 
That is why Russia is correctly completing the groundwork in Ukraine. No more electricity or infrastructure like railroads for Nato to to use in eastern or central Ukraine, they need to bring their own fuel, generators and trucks. Russia is now hitting everything, locomotives, electric lines, Nato trucks, ships around Odessa port, etc. A lot of Nato supply lines are disrupted, just aggravating situation for AFU in the current front.
 
Right now Zaporozhye direction is interesting, there are several juicy cauldrons forming and can net bulk of remaining AFU troops, which are now relatively immobile and without artillery or FPV support.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 17:41 utc | 10

It seems that the west like EU and the US are discussing the terms of the peace with zelensky offering one impossibility after the other and while this circus is going on, Russia keeps doing what it set out to do close to 4 years ago. Zelensky is just a useless obstacle and the EU a gang of delusional incompetents with nothing of value to add towards the outcome – odessa it should be! 

Posted by: nisse s | Jan 14 2026 18:03 utc | 12

Posted by: S Brennan | Jan 14 2026 17:26 utc | 6
“the war has got a long way to go.”
 
Well, of course the SMO has a long way to go. Trump might want a settlement (on his terms) so that he can get access to Russian resources, but he hasn’t got the power to over-rule the megabucks men and the ‘deep-state men’ who would rather keep things going for either profits or the indulgence of ideological hatred. In any case, Russia will not settle for anything less than their very well known and stated goals. They have things under control, 404 is losing support and money hand over fist, the Ukr. Army has ever increasing shortages of men, munitions and morale, and Russian losses have probably by now gone from 1 to 20 to something like 1 to 60. The EU/NATO are in turmoil over Greenland, and Trump will take it eventually, leading to the vassals being pushed to the edge of cognitive dissonance. Germany is threatening to re-arm – the French are panicking about that, no country in Europe except maybe Poland has any real armed forces. Macron, Starmer, Merz, Kallas, vd Leyen are the most unpopular heads of state in history (as we know it, Jim), and Trump too is losing it with the MAGA crowd. Really, what’s not to like, except that we will all be pulled down with these creeps as they plunge into the dustbin of history. All Russia has to do is stay well back from it all and keep slowly on with the disintegration process, until it all falls into their hands.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 18:17 utc | 14

The Duran: ‘Putin’s Long Silence’
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZLuMM3MQ4c
 
“Russia debates future dealings with Trump.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 14 2026 18:23 utc | 16

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 14 2026 18:17 utc | 15
“the lack of significant results on the front lines in Ukraine.”
 
Anyone who thinks that is a description of reality needs to take a good hard look at their mental processes. Taking territory in the SMO is a mere by-product (although not unwelcome) of the total annihilation of the Ukrainian Army. If you are going to do concern-trolling you will have to try harder in the plausibility area.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 18:33 utc | 18

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 18:33 utc | 18
Yours is an old and very tired argument. 

Posted by: Maverick | Jan 14 2026 18:52 utc | 20

Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources, that US Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff and US President’s son Jared Kushner will travel to Russia in January for renewed negotiations. Neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the rumor to date.However, the topics are said to be limited to Greenland and Venezuela’s oil.
https://de.rt.com/russland/267267-medien-reisen-witkoff-und-kushner/
 
Putin is unlikely to have much interest in another useless meeting for the media at this point. Russia’s goal is Odessa, the Black Sea coast, and “New Russia,” and then to pose a moral dilemma to the Europeans.

Posted by: smartfox | Jan 14 2026 18:54 utc | 22

Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector

Zelensky announced the introduction of a state of emergency in the energy sector
 

This is reported by RegioNews with reference to the statement of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
 
On Wednesday, January 14, Zelensky held a meeting on emergency circumstances in the energy sector of Ukraine, special attention was paid to the situation in Kiev.
 
“The consequences of Russian strikes and worsening weather conditions are severe. Repair teams, energy companies, utilities, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine continue to work around the clock to restore electricity and heating supplies. Many issues require urgent solutions, ” he said.
 
According to Zelensky, due to the difficult situation in the energy sector of Ukraine, a state of emergency will be introduced.
 
The First Vice Prime Minister-Minister of Energy of Ukraine has been appointed as the head of work on supporting people and communities in such conditions, as well as solving practical issues.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/ukraine/1768413231-v-ukrayini-zaprovadili-nadzvichayniy-stan-v-energetitsi (via translation add-on.)
 
To quote someone, somewhere: “What difference, at this point, does it make ?”

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 19:00 utc | 24

So, tell me why they refuse to take into account the COUP.
 
IN 2014 THE UNITED STATES CONDUCTED A COUP IN UKRAINE.
 
In 2014 the United States (aligned with a faction in the Ukrainian government) conducted a coup in Kiev (to replace the democratically elected Yanukovich government which was considered insufficiently pro-Europe).
 
Many in Eastern Ukraine rebelled against this coup-government.
 
A civil war began.
 
The coup-government claimed authority over all of Ukraine
 
and called itself “the Ukrainian government”.
 
The coup-government sent in the military to deal with the eastern rebels.
 
The media claimed, and still claims, that the U.S. backed coup-government had a “right” to all of Ukraine and they champion (vigorously support) a march to the Russian border.
 
WHAT IF THE RUSSIANS HAD CONDUCTED THE COUP IN 2014?
 
Imagine that in 2014 Russia (aligned with a faction in the Ukrainian government) conducted a coup in Kiev (to replace the Yanukovich government which many considered too pro-Europe).
 
Perhaps many in Western Ukraine rebelled against this coup-government.
 
A civil war began.
 
The coup-government claimed authority over all of Ukraine
 
and called itself “the Ukrainian government”.
 
The coup-government called in the Russian military to deal with the western rebels.
 
Of course, to be consistent, the media would have to claim that the Russian backed coup-government had a “right” to all of Ukraine and that they championed a march of the Russian military to the Polish border.
 
The important point is that statements such as “coup-Ukraine will not give up any of its land,” and “Zelenski Rejects Giving Land” make no sense.
 
This is because the coup-government, and its successors, never established authority over all of Ukraine.
 
WHAT IF THE CHINESE HAD CONDUCTED THE COUP IN 2014?
 
What if the Chinese (aligned with a leftist/communist faction in the Ukrainian government) had conducted a coup in Kiev. Would this give them authority over all of Ukraine?
 
What is the legal situation?
 
A few notes on the 2014 Coup in Ukraine.
 
About a month before the coup the US Under/Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, was taped telling US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, why she wanted Arseniy Yatsenyuk to be the prime minister of the upcoming coup-government, rather than the boxer Vitali Klitschko who was apparently the favorite for the position.
 
The Russians released the tape to the internet. Some thought this would stop the coup going ahead.
 
However, the coup went ahead, Nuland’s order was carried out, and Yatsenyuk got the job of prime minister. Klitschko got the job of mayor of Kiev.
 
Everyone in sight (except possibly Tyahnybok) was a Jew but you are not allowed to call it a Jew coup.
 
You are allowed to call it a Nazi coup though.
 
All this led directly to the 2014 coup-Ukraine vs rebel-Ukraine civil war,
 
which led to the 2022 coup-Ukraine-NATO vs rebel-Ukraine-Russia war.
 
So here we are; the Jews get 80% of Ukraine with a coup. And they demand more.
 
And the Russians get 20% by war. Clearly, the Russians should get into the coup business.
 
And the Ukrainians get,…. killed in large numbers.

Posted by: John | Jan 14 2026 19:14 utc | 26

Russia stockpiled large amounts of new Iskander-1000 missiles.
https://x.com/ripplebrain/status/2011457211990675518

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 19:17 utc | 28

Posted by: Maverick | Jan 14 2026 18:52 utc | 20
 
And your post is without evidence for refutation or anything else – i.e worthless. If you are going to waste good pixels at least try to put together an argument.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 19:20 utc | 30

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 14 2026 19:19 utc | 30
 
Yes, well we can get that sort of shit almost anywhere at any time. No need to bring pollution here too.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 19:27 utc | 32

Crooks have infighting, too.
 
See Trump vs. EU.
 
Denmark vs. Trump.
 
Republicans vs. Democrats.
 
Much of it is performative.
 
A crew arguing over who gets to be the next Captain of the pirate ship, and who holds onto the treasure map in the meantime.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 19:47 utc | 34

karlof1 @ 32
 
The Sumy front is notable, IMO the attack into Kursk was to stop a Russian offensive into Sumy to stretch out Ukrainian forces a year ago. Kursk was a success for Ukraine as it delayed the Russian Sumy offensive for almost a year, but it was stupid because overall Russian forces were and are in no risk of thinning. In the long run Kursk may have worked out better for Russia as the timing now is working perfectly, the fronts are all collapsing as if orchestrated. A force multiplier in itself.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 14 2026 19:59 utc | 36

*** No need to bring pollution here too.
Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 19:27 utc | 33
 
My point of interest is observing how the various security services are crafting narrative, what media outlet (stenographer) publishes and how the narrative diffuses. I have stated in this bar numerous time I believe that Oreshnik makes tripwire bases obsolete. That this geopolitically altering topic is tiptoed around with the nonesense narrative i have listed is all the more interesting. 

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 14 2026 20:11 utc | 38

Russia Open to Further Contacts With Trump’s Envoys – Lavrov
 
https://www.rt.com/630961-lavrov-russia-open-contacts-witkoff=kushner/
 
“President Vladimir Putin has met with Steve Witkoff six times and will likely accommodate his request for more talks on Ukraine, the diplomat has said…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 14 2026 20:15 utc | 40

Posted by: frithguild | Jan 14 2026 20:11 utc | 39
 
Hmm – sometimes it’s not readily apparent whether content is put up for analysis or for perpetuation of the propaganda within. Perhaps if you provided some context or your own analysis this might become clearer. Otherwise, it’s just spam.

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Jan 14 2026 20:21 utc | 42

@44
 
An interesting addition to the Comedy Hour. Ukraine. The gift that keeps on giving. Scammers paradise. 
 
From SHOT on Telegram: 
 
⚡️ A telephone scammer has been appointed Ukraine’s new Minister of Defense. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine confirmed Mykhailo Fedorov for the post. In honor of this, SHOT is publishing criminal case materials from the Dnipropetrovsk Department of Cyberpolice. These materials reveal that Fedorov was part of an organized crime group, scammed people out of money, and escaped prison thanks to Zelenskyy.
Fedorov and his company enjoyed their richest years before the start of the Second World War. The scammers created a website promoting a unique, rapid weight loss method called “Innocenter.” Of course, there was no miracle drug in reality. They were selling a sham. Fedorov played a key role in this scheme, managing online advertising, purging negative reviews, and finding clients with deep pockets. The company also received a steady income from classic Ukrainian phone calls posing as security officials. The future minister acted as a sort of communications specialist, feeding his “colleagues” the numbers of potential victims with money.
As SHOT has learned, Fedorov and his partners had been scamming people for several years. The scam center was based in Zaporizhzhia: they purchased phones and SIM cards and registered websites there. The bank cards, to which victims transferred money, were registered under the names of proxies.
The Dnipropetrovsk Department of Cyberpolice managed to expose and detain the call center employees. All those involved, except Fedorov, were convicted under Part 3 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, “Fraud on an especially large scale.”
Upon taking office, the new Minister of Defense declared that he knew where the money was and would be able to increase military funding.

Posted by: MattMoscow | Jan 14 2026 20:41 utc | 44

Water pipes in Kiev keep bursting. The city is becoming completely destroyed and uninhabitable.
 
https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/2011536498513101132

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 21:08 utc | 46

Everything at this point really depends on how much Nato meat is in the pipeline.  Don’t think the supply of Colombian mercs is limitless and the supply of Euronazis has plateaued and been declining for well over 2 years. Also think AFU grabs less people from the street or elsewhere every month. So it’s nearer to the end.
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 21:13 utc | 48
 
Just wait. Trump has not thought of having the ICE round up illegal immigrants as conscripts for the Ukies yet.
 
IIRC his position is that they don’t have any rights, human ones included, so not beyond possible.

Posted by: ftp | Jan 14 2026 21:21 utc | 48

It appears ZH has picked up on the pushback against the TCC press-gangs: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukrainians-fight-back-family-friends-neighbors-start-standing-men-being-dragged-war

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 21:31 utc | 50

Thanks gents.
 
I believe direct talks between Moscow and the Europeans could signal positive impacts.  The very fact the Europeans having conceded that contact with Moscow is needed is already in Moscow’s favour. 
 
Add in the fracture between the Master and it’s straps, the situation is ripe for widening the divide. 
 
US mistake in the ME will render it as impotent as the EU and NATO. 

Posted by: Suresh | Jan 14 2026 21:34 utc | 52

@ cegnoveltyesq | Jan 14 2026 21:27 utc | 50
 
There’s no need to hurry, or for “urgency”. As said in an earlier thread:
 
“Sit back, observe and absorb ”.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 21:38 utc | 54

Posted by: cegnoveltyesq | Jan 14 2026 21:27 utc | 50
 
There is nothing new in that post ans it is perhaps significant that it comes at a time when Russia (ie Putin) has pulled off the gloves and is going all out in Ukraine.
 
Why now to remove Putin.
 
Look i am really sorry to say this but Roberts and Doctorow I think are very dubious. i am not saying they are deep state plants, but they think western and have a cowboy mentality 

Posted by: watcher | Jan 14 2026 21:43 utc | 56

The very fact the Europeans having conceded that contact with Moscow is needed is already in Moscow’s favour. Add in the fracture between the Master and it’s straps, the situation is ripe for widening the divide. US mistake in the ME will render it as impotent as the EU and NATO.
Posted by: Suresh | Jan 14 2026 21:34 utc | 53
 
That’s only because they realize they’re no longer sitting at the adults’ table; they want to be able to puff themselves up again.
 
Just more pointless media babble, as long as they don’t accept Russia’s terms, but continue to dream of victory in the war and use it as a pretext to transform themselves into a dictatorship and plunder their population.

Posted by: smartfox | Jan 14 2026 21:45 utc | 58

@60
 
You know!

Posted by: paddy | Jan 14 2026 21:56 utc | 60

Look i am really sorry to say this but Roberts and Doctorow I think are very dubious

Posted by: watcher | Jan 14 2026 21:43 utc | 57
 
Certainly no need to apologise, you are not the only person who has doubts about the veracity or agenda of some of the analysis on offer; PCR is just stuck in the past, and honestly I think Doctorow is largely a click-chaser, occasionally offering some decent morsels, but most of the time it is distracting chaff.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 21:57 utc | 62

@ Night Tripper | Jan 14 2026 21:46 utc | 60
 
But why does it matter to you, personally, how long it takes? Are you, or were you, a lower or middle manager in your professional life? Always obsessing about timelines and deadlines?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 22:05 utc | 64

@ LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 22:07 utc | 66
 
Yep, the enduring engineering options: cheap, quick, good, perm any two from three.

• cheap and quick, but it won’t be any good
• cheap and good, but it won’t be quick
• good and quick, but it won’t be cheap

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 22:16 utc | 66

Today’s report by Khairullen focuses on the incursions by Russia into the Sumy oblast which now total five. The previous two reports focused on progress being made in Zaporozhye oblast. Progress also continues to be made in the direction of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk and within the Kupyansk sector.  I asked my Russian friend how the reports of increased pressure from Duma MPs to increase the number of troops committed and thus increase the SMO’s pace were being viewed within Russia. She replied, although it sounds more like a reply by one of her now discharged soldier sons: “Adding more units to a fixed command structure will only give marginal gains of combat effectiveness, and the increased losses could not be justified.” The Sumy development provoked this comment from Khairullen: The Russian Armed Forces are stretching the already scarce reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the border line, diverting them from the main zone of the special military operation in Donetsk and Zaporozhye oblasts. It remains a mystery to the enemy where and when Russian units will break through its defenses and penetrate the territory of the Oblast. So, silly people who think nothing is happening are just that–silly.     
Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 14 2026 19:23 utc | 32
 
Bravo Karlof, you beat me to today’s Marat and did a much finer job than I do. 
 
And yes, things are at the now regular circa 1.300 AFU casualties and yes  Zaporozhye  is going just dandy and Sumy is (as some weeks ago, ) either something that will happen or just a way to force AFU to pin forces there.
 
So thank you. Now for the bar, I’m offering a round. We now have a new shadowbaned pet, don’t over-feed him
 
 

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 14 2026 22:19 utc | 68

Night tripper
 
I think you will find pokrovsk ended several weeks ago.  Dopropilla is the relevant goal now.  Lyman and Kostianivka the go to. Kupiansk is still contested.
 
2 or 3  super biggies in the firing line. Zaporizhia city , Odessa and dnitropetrovsk 

Posted by: Watcher | Jan 14 2026 22:22 utc | 70

@67
 
Did a lot of DoD projects.
 
Never quick!  Never cheap!  Never good!
 
Cheap, does not serve good or quick.
 
Good is not served by cheap or fast
 
Fast happens if you ignore good.
 
Fast is US DoD w/o good or cheap.

Posted by: paddy | Jan 14 2026 22:25 utc | 72

Looking back over 2025 I think it is safe to say that Russia underperformed relative to their expectations for the year. I don’t think only acquiring 0.8% of Ukraine was an objective they would have been satisfied with, and despite the entrance of Trump the EU continues to increase military and economic support for Ukraine. The strike campaign against the refineries and the low price of oil also has to increasing the cost of war in excess of what they had planned.
 
I am asking around on different forums that discuss the war to hear how people think Russia will do in 2026. Do people think Russia will be able to force Ukraine and the EU to capitulate and attain the majority of its war aims? Or will another year only mean that Russia will take ~1-2% more of Ukraine, but not be substantially closer to actually winning the war.
 
How do people feel about the Russian economy going into 2026? The liquid assets of the NWF are essentially depleted (there are a lot of fixed assets like state owned companies they can’t sell), interest rates and inflation remain high, expectations for growth range from recession to stagnation, there is pretty broad double digit contraction of production in several industrial sectors, and the state budget is in deficit so Russia is funding the war with debt on which it will pay a high rate of interest.
 
The Ukranian war economy doesn’t face the same constraints as it receives funding and war production from the EU. Polling indicates that while the Ukrainian population is ready to accept and end to the war at the line of contact, they are not willing to accept surrender on terms that Russia is demanding. Their manpower situation in not good, but it does not look like a collapse of the UAF which is a prerequisite for Russian victory is imminent, and some reforms to the brigade system and mobilization may ameliorate the situation.
 
To me it looks like the trends of 2025 will continue and intensify. An acceleration of Russian territorial gain (even 100% increase in pace only means 1.6% of Ukraine captured tho), intensification of the refinery strikes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see greater European engagement in the war; EU fighter planes and air defense helping to protect western Ukraine etc.

Posted by: Remote Page | Jan 14 2026 22:33 utc | 74

LLM alert!

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 22:40 utc | 76

Posted by: Remote Page | Jan 14 2026 22:33 utc | 75
 
Controlling 0.8%? Do you know division calculations? Try 119000 divided 600 000. That’s the first thing you get wrong, casting a lot of doubt on the other claims.
 
Russian gold reserves have been going up continuously in value regardless maybe they sold some oz’s or kgs. It’s prudent economic management and balancing.
 
Meanwhile the EU, which supposedly has unlimited funds for Ukraine (here’s a secret, it doesn’t and it won’t, it itself is imploding) has no gold or silver at all. All was leased to Britain who leased it hundreds of times forward and now everything is lost.
 
From purely Russian point of view, they are doing a balancing act. Some immigration, some savings here and there, some tax cuts, some gold selling.  They defeated the west which has 100x (nominal) GDP and resources. 
 
If Russia were defeated, you would see it turning into a dictatorship. Instead, we only see Ukraine turned 100% into a dictatorship, EU very far in this development, Britain, Australia and USA advancing in this process. Russia is still very open, too open for some liking.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 22:53 utc | 78

@ unimperator | Jan 14 2026 22:53 utc | 79
 
Our new friend @ Remote Page is LLM copypasta, 100% guaranteed on that. Waste of time actually trying to engage with it, there won’t be a direct response that makes any coherent sense.
 
It‘s hard to describe how to spot it, there’s just something about the flat ‘tempo’ of the language in the post.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jan 14 2026 23:03 utc | 80

It’s like being trapped in a vice, pressure from both sides.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 23:03 utc | 82

Nobody should care less about the loss of Caracus to the US…
 
Posted by: tobias cole | Jan 14 2026 22:52 utc | 78
 
####
 
It’s Caracas.
 
The US hasn’t captured Caracas. Venezuela is NOT ruled by Trump now. LOL

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 23:07 utc | 84

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 14 2026 23:14 utc | 86
 
####
 
5 years from now, Ukraine is going to need a lot of money for reconstruction.
 
A lot of money.
 
Russia isn’t going to rebuild Western Ukraine. That will be Poland and Germany’s problem. Their turn to border a failed criminal state, just as the EU is going bankrupt.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 23:18 utc | 86

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 14 2026 23:14 utc | 86
Just a hunch, but whereas some time, maybe years ago a decision was made to preserve as much as possible, the decision was made for there being no more need to preserve anything in Ukraine. Everything is war infrastructure, utilized by Nato to attack Russia.
Russia won’t rebuild anything in Ukraine the way it was before. It will just build whatever is needed there. It doesn’t matter if most is empty land, it will just be recolonized not quickly but over time.
 
It seems Kiev is becoming destroyed, it will probably end up a desolated place, kind of like Detroit. The de-facto capital is now in Lvov.
 
Destroy infrastructure, remove Nato’s ability to utilize it makes it much more costly for Nato to wage war.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2026 23:22 utc | 88

Something to think about — Who is fighting whom?  
 
Clearly President Trump is not interested in fighting Russia — which makes him very unpopular with the Usual Suspects.  On the other hand, the EuroScum are all in on war with Russia — preferably a war in which poor Ukrainians do the fighting and dying.  Meanwhile, President Trump is making assertive noises about little Denmark’s colony Greenland.  (Why are the EuroScum suddenly colonialists again?)
 
One might think that President Trump is deliberately opening a Second Front in the EU’s war, with Europe now stuck between Russia on their East and the US on their West (admittedly on Europe’s far far west).  Perhaps the Germans will remember how two front wars tend to go.  And perhaps both President Putin and President Trump are smiling.

Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Jan 14 2026 23:32 utc | 90

Denmark fails to resolve ‘fundamental disagreement’ with Trump over Greenland
https://www.rt.com/news/630980-greenland-us-fundamental-disagreement/
 
This will not be resolved militarily; Trump is not that foolish.The Europeans are loudmouths; they have nothing, but they act as if they were the powerful ones.
 

Posted by: smartfox | Jan 14 2026 23:44 utc | 92

It’s like being trapped in a vice, pressure from both sides.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 14 2026 23:03 utc | 83
 
Yes , that is where Russia has them.
 
 Russia knows it is fighting the whole western empire not Ukraine
Russia was on its knees 25 years ago.
They just got strong enough in 2022 to begin stopping the onslaught.
They have the west on a line nice and close to supplies from home.
They are building a serious formidable military and
not letting the west out of its own trap.

Posted by: arby | Jan 14 2026 23:49 utc | 94

I have just been reading about prices raising in Russia so as we thought the sanctions have been a gradual process.
 
Since January 1, utility rates have increased by almost 2% due to the VAT hike. “However, this is only the beginning,” warns the leader of A Just Russia.
The second stage of indexation, Mironov recalled, is scheduled for October 1, 2026. According to the parliamentarian, it will be much more significant—tariffs are planned to increase by an average of 18% nationwide, compared to 12% last year.
Moreover, local authorities can “add” as much as they want to the average tariff within the so-called maximum permissible deviations established by the government, Mironov noted. “Housing tariffs need to be calculated separately. For example, in Moscow, the fee for ‘maintenance and repair of common property in apartment buildings’ increased by 15% as of January 1, 2026,” the parliamentarian noted.
But that’s not all, warns Mironov. Starting October 1, the gas transportation tariff through distribution networks will increase by 11.6%, meaning those with gas stoves in their apartments will pay more, the leader of A Just Russia explained. “You could say the population pays for housing and utilities three times. First, as homeowners. Second, as taxpayers, since the budget spends hundreds of billions of rubles on upgrading utility networks. And third, as consumers, since the indexation of utility rates, built into the price of goods and services, is passed on to citizens as increased inflation,” the RTVI source reasoned.
The main question, which, according to Mironov, remains unanswered, is this: where does the government get the indexation figures? While tariff increases were previously at least formally tied to the rate of inflation, now the authorities are “running further and further away from it,” the parliamentarian laments.
Water bills will triple in 2026, but not for everyone.
Russians who do not have working water meters installed, even if it is technically possible to install them, will now pay for cold water at a rate three times the standard, instead of one and a half times the standard. “New rules came into effect in December 2025, according to which cold water charges for those living without meters will increase severalfold. Now, the consumption standard for such residents is tripled, whereas previously it was only increased by 50%. This will lead to a significant increase in payments,” said Dmitry Bondar, a public figure and housing and utilities expert.
According to the expert, the new calculations will apply not only to those who have never installed meters, but also to residents with faulty devices, as well as those who have not submitted readings for more than three months or who do not allow inspectors to inspect them.
 
The economy is still chugging along nicely though for now. Stupid westoids think its going to collapse.

Posted by: Sandgrowun | Jan 14 2026 23:53 utc | 96

@82
 
Barflies that count square km deserve quick rebuttal.
 
During the American war between its states US Grant sat in the trenches in front of Petersburg from June 1864 to April 1865!  Gained no ground and looked like the western front in 1917.
 
Tx!

Posted by: paddy | Jan 15 2026 0:00 utc | 98

Posted by: Remote Page | Jan 14 2026 22:33 utc | 75
 
Comparative progress has been excellent in 2025
 
Let’s talk cities and towns not land area
July 2022/23 Russia gains 6 but loses 7
July  2023.24  Stalemant both sides
July 24/25   Russia gains 9 towns, Ukraine zero
July – December 25: Russia gains 8 towns (6 Donetsk and one in each of Zaporizhia and Kharkov)
 
At the pace of the last 6 moths expect another 8 big towns to fall Prediction Kupiansk (almost gone), Lyman close, Sloviansk and Karamatorsk (targets), Zaporizhia city (super big and hard, but also hard to defend), Izium and Balalaika (Kharkov) , Dopropilla.
 
 

Posted by: watcher | Jan 15 2026 0:18 utc | 100