US Blames Minefields Ukr Failure; Zaluzhny Syrsky Rivalry; Yellen Visit China Markets Support (Alexander Mercouris)

Summary comment from You Tube:

@darthex0
1:10 Conflict summary, no significant Ukrainian progress at all.
2:15 Brian Berletic, using the official Ukrainian map, the situation in the last 24hours extremely stable.
3:03 Russian newspaper Readovka- patriotically biased, but reasonably accurate, with regards to the state of the fighting...
6:30 Chechen forces, Prigozhin mutiny.
8:38 Summary of the strategic aims of the counter offensive.
10:52 New York Times, 20% of all armored vehicles destroyed in the first week...essentially nothing to show.
11:28 Ukraine is conducting not one but two offensives simultaneously, with two rival generals.
12:04 Zaluzhny has been obsessed with retaking Crimea. He gives ongoing updates in the Washington Post.
14:46 Syrskiy has been similarly obsessed with Bahkmut.
22:05 When all is said and done, Russia's heaviest losses have been in fighting over Bahkmut.
23:39 On Zaluzhny's front the casualty ratio is 7 to 1 in Russia's favour. In Bahkmut, under Oleksandr Syrskiy, it is closer to 3 to 1.
26:45 Russia continue their successful advance in the north toward Kupyansk and Lyman.
27:19 US involvement in favouring Zaluzhny, directing tactics, and the dawning recognition of failure in Washington.
28:45 Brief on reasons for armoured failure in the south...mines!(Russia able to dispense them remotely, camouflaged by the grass).
34:45 Recriminations appear, failed tactics, changed policy.
36:27 McGregor, Ritter, cluster munitions are not as effective in these conditions, a tactical reversal in doctrine.
39:25 The conflicted history of western commentary, tactics and weapon systems.
40:12 These reversals are transposed and mirrored in US strategy(Ukraine's Nato membership has been kicked into the long grass).
42:30 Heading for US embarrassment, in an election year.
45:35 US administration shifting the blame.
46:35 Russian telegram channel Slavyangrad...Just as Russia expands the range and scope of their drone army, Ukraine's use of cluster munitions will in turn decrease theirs.
48:24 Summary of situation on the battle fronts.
49:30 No negotiations to speak of. Still irreconcilable geopolitical positions.
51:30 Drone attacks on Crimea.(Kerch bridge not mentioned, most likely due to Alexander's explanation at the start of the video. I suggest referencing The New Atlas. Russian reports emphasized the orphaned girl, western outlets didn't.)
53:25 The US proposal to freeze the conflict is a one sided solution.
55:15 What the Russians want.
57:25 We are at an impasse..."inconceivable!"
57:41 US cooling on F16's, summary of concerns.
58:02 dog enters...
58:30 dog jumps...
58:35 Lavrov reiterates Russia's nuclear trigger.
1:00:00 US in a difficult position summary.
1:01:30 Mystery factors affecting US policy that we are unaware of.
1:01:57 Janet Yellen's trip to China.
1:06:40 Thomas Longo's theory.
1:13:05 July has been a decisive month.
1:13:38 Putin on TV, "The Ukrainian offensive has failed".
1:15:08 1956 Suez crisis.
1:16:28 Putin visiting Beijing in October.
1:17:10 Russia not changing its position on the grain deal.(Putin had a friendly conversation with Cyril Ramaphosa).

[Posted at the SpookyWeather2 blog, July 19, 2023.]