Russian Captures Bekhova; China Ukraine Position Paper Criticises West, Russia-China Deepen Ties (Alexander Mercouris)

There's a good explanation from Alexander about why Russia expanded the war, which is that they were boxed in by the Ukrainians and the West. The Ukrainian side had geared themselves up for an offensive on the Donbas separatists, escalated their artillery bombardments, and refused to negotiate an end to the fighting. The Russians came to the obvious conclusion Ukraine would never agree to the Minsk agreements and that a military outcome was the only was out. They could either submit to a Ukrainian offensive and continuous attacks or go on the attack themselves. 

What was unknown by all sides was the strength of the Russian economy under sanctions and the potential success of a wider military operation. To the surprise of all, including Russia, their losses have been extremely minimal. Furthermore the Russian people, who understood what was happening, have supported what has happened. The world outside the West also supports Russian moves against what was clearly Western sponsored aggression. And so the Western world is now on the losing side of the equation. 

Best comment on You Tube:

disndat1000
TIME STAMPS
- Anniversary - 1-year review 00:00
--- Sanctions failing, Russians behind Putin 13:25
--- Istanbul agreement sabotage 15:10
--- Real conflict began after Istanbul 17:30
- Battlefield 20:10
--- Bekhova taken by Russians 20:50
--- dog confirming Bekhova claim 22:45
--- Southern Pincer reactivated 22:50
--- Vuhledar, Liman, Kupiansk 25:40
- Western Weapons 27:05
- Fighter jets off the table again 28:00
- Sunak enthusiastic over missiles 28:50
- US un-enthusiastic over missiles 32:00
- West out of sanctions 34:30
- More meetings without sanctions 35:25
- China peace plan spookes the collective West 36:25
- Watered down UN resolution 141 for, 32 abstain, 9 against 37:00
- China peace principles paper 39:30
- 'The Lawrow' vs. Wang Yi readout 53:30
- China-Russia deeper relations 58:40
- China weapons deliveries? 01:02:50
- China betting on outright Russia victory 01:08:25

[Posted at the SpookyWeather2 blog, February 26, 2023.]