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The Ukrainians are moving ahead with their offensive in Eastern Ukraine against the pro-Russian, and probably Russian armed and supported, rebels. This despite the large Russian military presence/buildup immediately to their East.

Either they are desperate and willing to bet that either the Russians will not come across the border, or that the West will help them if the Russians do.

Or...they know something we do not, and perhaps agreements are already in place and forces already on alert and prepared to come to their aid if the Russians do act. I’d like to hope the Europeans would be willing to do this in support of the Urkaine...and the US too...but I would be very surprised if under the current leadership in France, the UK, GErmany and the US this were the case.

But you never know.

The Ukrainians continuing an offensive against pro-Russian seperatists is just too reminiscent of the trap Georgia fell into in 2008 when the Georgian forces did the same and then the Russians invaded. The Ukraine saw that happen, soo you have to know that they are accutely aware of the danger.

With Obama there are two likely possibilities, the Kyiv government would rely assurances and then Obama would then leave them hanging out when they needed help, or Obama would involve the US in a hot war if he saw domestic political advantage to distract from his myriad failures in the US.

Possibly the Ukraine sees its freedom dying under the Russian boot one way or the other and they’ve decided to go out fighting.

The Ukes have to fight for their country, or they don’t have one. It’s existential. Consequences of this that or the other type matter not a whit when you either DO or DO NOT have a country.

Russia’s nose has to be bloodied, or they will bully their way to the English Channel.

Or...they know something we do not, and perhaps agreements are already in place and forces already on alert and prepared to come to their aid if the Russians do act. I’d like to hope the Europeans would be willing to do this in support of the Urkaine...and the US too...but I would be very surprised if under the current leadership in France, the UK, GErmany and the US this were the case.
But you never know.

The Ukrainians continuing an offensive against pro-Russian seperatists is just too reminiscent of the trap Georgia fell into in 2008 when the Georgian forces did the same and then the Russians invaded. The Ukraine saw that happen, soo you have to know that they are accutely aware of the danger.

I wonder if the Ukrainians, suspicious they would eventually be on their own squirreled away a nuke or two just for an occasion such as this?

Cossacks coming over border into Antrarsyt greated with fanfare and horn blowing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usEioTKJJUk

I don't think that there is any planning for even a small engagement with Russia. Look at the usajobs.gov listing for federal jobs requiring Russian language skills. There are only two listed. Both with the Department of the Interior, Geological Survey - one for a Physical Scientist, the other for an Economist. Nothing for CIA, NSA, DIA, FBI, DSA, or Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force for that matter. That's hardly a nation gearing up to meet a Russian threat.

https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?Keyword=russian&Location=&search=Search&AutoCompleteSelected=False