What's the new US strategy in Ukraine?Originally was to create a threat that Russia couldn't ignore: a nazi regime designed to draw the Russians into Ukraine & then imposition of attrition cost over years.On February 2022, the US was excited to see its plan work. Did it?
With columns surrounding Kiev, and Russia launching an all out missile attack and landings all over Ukraine, America was sure that the bait it set was swallowed by Putin.
And then, out of no where, Russia withdrew -- not as a result of military pressure but a political decision!
To review the events, it's important to note the following proliferation risk sites in Ukraine:
Chernobyl [captured, radioactive material removed]
Hostomel air base [captured by Russia in lightning attack]
ZNPP [captured]
SUNPP [failed salient, withdrawn]
xNPP [no attempt made]
Russia minimised the worst risks, Chernobyl for material [albeit 3 other NPPs], ZNPP right in Novorossiya and Hostomel which is said to have hosted soviet nuclear weapons that Ukraine failed to return to Russia.
By end of March 2022, Russia switched to an depletion strategy. Why?
So Russia took its sweet time, and exercised reflexive control to attack two centres of gravity of its enemy:
* Ukrainian man power using artillery and political-psychological operations, forcing Ukraine to hold, contest & attack territory.
* NATO's collective military strength.
The former is understood by all now. The latter is becoming clearer: NATO is running out of ammunition, fuel and sovereign capital to continue this war.
Every month that passes results in a stronger Russia and a weaker NATO (and US).
But why do they go on? Why doesn't NATO fold?
Because Russia flipped the table: Ukraine turned into a threat that NATO couldn't ignore.
A collapsed state bordering NATO will splinter into warlords, armed with dangerous weapons and a proliferation risk.
A defeat in Ukraine would result in a paradigm shift against the west.
The US/UK tried stinging terrorist attacks against Russian infrastructure around the world and inside Russia (Nordstream, Kakhovka dam,Kerch bridge x2) but failed to change this dynamic. And faced sometimes apocalyptic retaliation.
i.e. Russia firmly controls the pace of the war.