Summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised year-end press conference, said Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier with better preparation.
He defended his policies, highlighting strengthened ties with China, Russia’s aggressive nuclear doctrine, and military gains in Ukraine, while dismissing claims of setbacks.
Putin claimed economic “stability” despite sanctions but acknowledged 9.1% inflation.
He emphasized “sovereignty” as a key success of reducing Western reliance.
The press conference was highly choreographed and tightly controlled.
You know, I still say it’s incredibly depressing we didn’t loan them a couple A10 warthogs to hit that convoy that was pushing to Kyiv.
I mean, seriously.
all those tanks… all those fuel trucks and other supplies? all just lined up and stuck on a road? just waiting for an A10 driver to just… do their thing…
It was the one incredibly specific scenario where the A-10 would actually have been useful.
Unfortunately that’s not necessarily true. The north of Ukraine at the time was covered by S-300 and/or S-400 AA systems deployed in russia. While these can be dealt with by F-35(As demonstrated by Israel), something as old and slow as A-10 wouldn’t fare well. Which is one of the reasons why the US Air force is trying to retire them.
I think the UAF were already jury-rigging HARMs onto their aircraft by that time, but point taken.
Putin should die earlier than his natural death.
Another option would have been to not invade at all, you asshole.
If he could still read he’d be very angry.
Whoops, this contradicts the copy & paste link list of reasons why it wasn’t an invasion and totally a reasonable reaction of all the coercion by others some posters use
Most people didn’t care about Russia and respected their sovereignty. Until they disrespected that of another country.
I feel invading and killing thousands of people could be described a little harsher than “disrespectful”, but I agree. I was so relieved after the iron curtain fell and we could finally care about other things. Russia was a neighbor and a trade partner. It’ll be a long time until anyone trusts them again, no matter if the war ends next week or drags on.
Medvedev and Obama eating some at Mac in 2010 was the peak of russian sovereignity and power, CMV.
