The Russian commander of the “Vostok” Battalion fighting in southern Ukraine said on Thursday that Ukraine will not be defeated and suggested that Russia freeze the war along current frontlines.

Alexander Khodakovsky made the candid concession yesterday on his Telegram channel after Russian forces, including his own troops, were devastatingly defeated by Ukrainian marines earlier this week at Urozhaine in the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk regional border area.

“Can we bring down Ukraine militarily? Now and in the near future, no,” Khodakovsky, a former official of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, said yesterday.

“When I talk to myself about our destiny in this war, I mean that we will not crawl forward, like the [Ukrainians], turning everything into [destroyed] Bakhmuts in our path. And, I do not foresee the easy occupation of cities,” he said.

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[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Nobody who has even a modicum of understanding of geopolitics doubts this. India and Russia have a very strong relationship that goes back to the days of USSR which was one of the biggest forces that helped liberate India from western colonization. Meanwhile, Russia losing the war would be an utter disaster for China. US is very openly trying to surround China militarily, and Russia acts as a shield in the west. The worst possible outcome for China would be the west managing to destabilize Russia and put a pro western government in power. If there was even the slightest chance that Russia could lose this conflict then China would step in.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I disagree. The Cold War is ancient history and China's probably just as happy carving up Russia as living beside it.

[–] Gelamzer@hexbear.net 25 points 1 year ago

Ancient history is when less thsn 35 years ago

[–] 420blazeit69@hexbear.net 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Every major head of state lived through the Cold War.

[–] Alaskaball@hexbear.net 8 points 1 year ago

For example, Joe Biden was literally born when the battle of Stalingrad of World War 2 was occurring. Biden's literally old enough to have lived in the same era as the generation that lived during the American Civil War were dying out.

Anyone that was born in the 70s, for a brief time, lived on the same earth at the same time as the last living emancipated American slaves still drew their breath.

"Ancient history" is closer to us who are alive than we can truly perceive and comprehend. The past's heavy hands rest on our shoulders, burdening the present with the acts performed hitherto each passing minute.

A quote:

'Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.'

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago

US literally says it wants to prevent China from developing and has surrounded it with military bases, but whatever you say buddy. The brains of Chinese leaders aren't as smooth as yours.

[–] GaveUp@hexbear.net 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Give any example or argument that shows China would want to carve up Russia

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

More territory is good, if the opportunity would present itself this would make China stronger. They also don't want another Xinjiang they have to genocide, though, so I imagine they wouldn't actually annex much. Maybe just take back the old Qing cities and puppet the rest.

[–] GaveUp@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like actual material evidence that China would want to do it and not just fantasy theory crafting in your mind

This is pure projection on what you'd do if you ran a country

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They fight over territory with India all the time. And some of their other neighbors too, I think.

If I ran China, I'd make nice with the West, accept immigrants, put in a low wealth cap and expand the size and scope of their basic income. I would get executed by a coup early in the processes. The guys that do run China are allowed to do so because they feed nationalist, protectionist ideas that actually appeal to both the masses and the elite. So yeah, if it advances China's position with low risks, they'll probably do it.

PS before anyone comes at me for being dictator of China, that was specified in the scenario.

[–] GaveUp@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yea cause colonial era borders drawn by the British are dumb and only colonizers would respect those

Did China used to own all of the Russia empire?

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

All borders are made up.

Northern borders were not defined in ancient times, but Vladivostok at least was theirs.

[–] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What do you base this on besides vibes?

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

OP gave me their vibes, and I responded with my vibes. Actual facts about the future of geopolitics are hard to come by (until they happen).

[–] yata@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody who has even a modicum of understanding of geopolitics doubts this. India and Russia have a very strong relationship that goes back to the days of USSR which was one of the biggest forces that helped liberate India from western colonization.

Only if you believe your own propaganda, because none of that occurred at all.