Kiev’s problem is the army is split right down the middle. It can’t be sure of the loyalty of Russophone army units.
And those on Crimea have already shifted allegiance to Russia.
These are the sorts of problems corrupt governments run by crony-capitalists will face. I've said before - I am not sure Ukraine is a nation. Its a multi-ethnic appendage that fell off a leprous and dying Soviet Union. It also has the lowest birth rate in Europe. They sound rather like a group of cynical people who don't have much interest in surviving as a nation.
The West wants it to be a bulwark against Russian expansionism, but its a pretty sad horse to bet on.
Yet now we’re going to give them a billion dollars that will probably disappear in someone’s pocket without at trace.
They had third most powerful military in the world just 20 years ago. At least in numbers it was on par with modern US military, just slightly shorter in warships and strategic nukes.
And all their best assets ended up in hands of anyone willing to pay a dime. That is how China got an aircraft carrier and 4gen fighter technology at a ridiculous price.
There were numerous cases of criticism considering Budapest agreement on Ukrainian nuclear disarmament on this board but has anyone thought how could it work wouldn’t they’ve been disarmed?
I think hundreds heavily discounted warheads on black market is a realistic scenario.
Not only Iran but Hamas and drug cartels wouldn’t mind to offer a condo in Miami to a Ukrainian politician for one and get another for free.
A real president would have flooded Ukraine with money, weapons, and advisers as soon as this crisis began not to mention massing our military in Eastern Europe.
Send them some Warthogs.
Sounds like America in two or three years.