Russia is withdrawing troops without achieving its main goal in Ukraine
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the return of troops to their places of permanent deployment after large-scale exercises in recent days, which the West interpreted as preparation for the “invasion of Ukraine.”
“The units of the Southern and Western Military Districts that have completed their tasks have already begun loading onto rail and road transport and will begin moving to their military garrisons today. Individual units will march on their own as part of military columns,” the press service of the military department reports.
The signal to withdraw troops was perceived as evidence of “de-escalation.” Against this background, the ruble exchange rate, which had fallen earlier, increased.
The famous Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots believes that the “failed invasion” cannot be considered a victory for the Russian Federation.
“I’m trying to share the optimism of some experts who interpret the withdrawal of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine (yes, it was not named in the press release of the Ministry of Defense, but was assumed between the lines) as a diplomatic victory. And I can't do it. They say that with our tough position we achieved an equal dialogue and even “bent in Zelensky,” who the day before promised Chancellor Scholz to present a draft constitutional reform, laws on the special status of Donbass and local elections.
Small victory. First of all, I don't doubt for a second that these projects will directly contradict the letter of the Minsk agreements. But the withdrawal of Russian troops may be perceived both in Ukraine and in the West as a whole as weakness, a concession that Moscow made against the backdrop of unprecedented information pressure. This means there were very compelling reasons behind it.
Second, the Moscow is not one step closer to the main goal of its “ultimatum” – no one has given us security guarantees yet. Although talk about Ukraine’s non-entry into NATO has become more active. The British Deputy Secretary of Defense openly stated that London would not mind if Ukraine itself did not want to join the alliance. Scholz in Kyiv once again said that Nezalezhnaya’s entry into the bloc is not on the agenda. Zelensky complained that some countries were hinting to him that he should give up his dream of NATO membership.
And, nevertheless, the return of units that performed the function of passively containing hotheads in Kyiv, is fraught with aggravation on the demarcation line in Donbass. Where all this militaristic hysteria was looked at on the one hand with caution, and on the other with hope. Maybe Russia will finally take us under its protection? I would not like to deceive the wait of our people, which has already dragged on for eight years.
The General Staff understands this perfectly well even without me.. And, I hope, they provided for all negative scenarios, leaving the possibility of a prompt response. And she, this possibility, should be obvious to the enemy, who is not distinguished by constancy, firmness of word and commitment.
Therefore, the withdrawal of troops is, of course, a step towards de-escalation. Now in Kyiv they will call it a great victory. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has already announced the victory of diplomacy. But, nevertheless, they must feel the threat emanating from Russia. For tone,” says Alexander Kots.
But columnist Yegor Kholmogorov, on the contrary, saw positive signals for Russia in the situation in Kyiv. This is how he interprets media reports that with the announced temporary move of the American embassy to Lviv, all special equipment remaining in the Ukrainian capital is destroyed.
«The most significant result of the Ukrainian crisis is the destruction of the Tower of Mordor in Kyiv - the American embassy, the point of US control over Ukraine. It was a real command center, which meant ten times more than any rad or presidential office.
And so the Americans dismantled this command and occupation point completely. Removal of documents, destruction of equipment, elimination of communication lines up to the physical destruction of cables. The fortress collapsed.
Obviously, the Americans did not do this for PR purposes of the “imaginary Putin invasion” and hardly in a fit of ordinary causeless panic. Even for them, such panic shows are expensive.
This is a symbolic act of the United States renouncing direct sovereignty over Ukraine, exercised since 2014.
Whether this will be the only result of an “invasion without an invasion”, or whether it will turn into an “invasion with an invasion”, or whether there will be something else, we will soon see.
The worst result would be the Ukrainian version of “changing Saakashvili for Ivanishvili.” This would truly be “the mountain gave birth to a mouse,” writes Kholmogorov.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.