Episode Details

I examine The Economist’s reporting that Vladimir Putin fears ending the war without control of all of Donbas—and may be preparing to send another 300,000 to 400,000 Russians into the war. The central question is not simply whether Russia can escalate, but why Putin may see escalation as safer than admitting failure.

I assess Russia’s stalled war, Ukraine’s strikes on oil refineries and logistics, the standing 2022 mobilization decree, pressure from pro-war Z-nationalists, and the danger of hybrid attacks on European factories and supply routes. I also consider reported incidents in Germany, Slovakia, and along Finland’s border, and why Putin may seek to pressure NATO allies while avoiding direct war with NATO.

00:00 Putin’s Fear of Defeat

01:58 A Stalemated and Costly War

03:20 Hybrid Warfare Risks in Europe

05:17 Putin’s Survival and American Signals

07:56 Why Escalation May Seem Safer Than Peace

09:09 The Pro-War Nationalist Threat

10:57 Assessing Putin’s Strategic Calculation

#UkraineRussiaWar #VladimirPutin #Donbas #NATO #RussiaMobilization

Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. Principle over partisanship.

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