Russia Today

The Russian invasion is, shall we say, behind schedule. Again, Ukraine is fighting back.

Quite correctly, Russian forces who are bombing areas outside the battle zone in the East are being targeted. This targeting should include forces outside of Ukraine. The best defense is a good offense. The Russian forces bombing non-combat zones to damage Ukrainian logistics are fair game - as are any supply lines within Russia.

The willingness to engage in this matter will be the stick to go with the carrot of possible truce negotiations. If the Russians can bomb Ukraine with impunity, they will continue to bomb Ukraine. If they are bombed in the same way, perhaps the zone of conflict could be limited to eastern Ukraine. Until such limit are in place, a negotiated settlement, especially one which cedes any part of that zone to Russia must be off the table. 

Until the terror bombing outside the battle zone stops, Russia's claim of limited war aims must be called out as a lie. In any war without such limits, Russia is (and should be) at risk of losing its entire army within and around the theater of battle - which if reports are right - is most of their available forces.

If the Russian strategic forces are in as bad a shape as its invasion force, America and NATO have nothing to fear from increasing Ukrainian pressure. Indeed, if Ukraine kills Russia's army and Putin is removed from power for initiating this fiasco, Russian nuclear forces should be negotiated away before someone realizes we can actually simply take them away.

The sad fact of the matter for Russia is that it has nothing that anyone wants. No one will ever want to invade Russia. Their fear of invasion can best be described as delusions of grandeur. If it leaves the world alone, the world will leave it alone, unless it wishes development assistance like any other Third World backwater.

Given the chance (and they have the chance), Ukraine could probably liberate Russia from its dictator. Again, it has no interest in doing so. The nesting dolls are all broken. No one wants to open them.