Quote Originally Posted by Shaggy Hiker View Post
A small country like Ukraine can't outlast a large country like Russia, but they don't have to. They have to outlast the will of Russia to keep pushing forwards despite the costs. I wouldn't say for certain how that will end up. Too many different factors weigh into the calculation.

As to whether they can do it without help, I would say that the answer was absolutely not two years ago, probably not today, but perhaps they can in another year. The point people need to keep in mind with that war is that it is changing the face of warfare at such an astonishing pace that predicting the future is harder than normal. Technology has often leapt forwards during wartime, but I can't think of any leaping as bouncy as what is happening in that war. Smaller, lighter, and far more lethal, autonomous fighting vehicles (I use the term loosely to include air, ground and sea) are coming out at such a frenetic pace that what was cutting edge a month or two back may not be working today. Ukraine is also ramping up the home-grown industry along those lines to such an extent that other countries ought to be buying from them. Not only do they have some superior kit, but buying from them would fund their warfighting. If that were to happen, then...it's not so clear that they couldn't support themselves. It's way too fluid a situation to be certain about.
So Ukraine that had all the US and NATO help before and he just kept losing grounds can now somehow do it at it's own? That does not make sense.
Also if you see Russia map of conquered you will know what they are doing and also remember that a full scale attack will kill millions of innocent so they don't go that about as they are the same race as Ukraine, or believe your media than from what I read lately they don't brag no more for Russia somehow losing.
Anyhow will see today. Trump is calling Putin. On a side note both US and Russia want Ukraine natural resources, so I'm curious to see what will happen.