Putin to conscript 160,000 more Russians for war with Ukraine – POLITICO
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Summary

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered 160,000 more Russians aged 18–30 be drafted from April 1 to July 15, amid U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the Kremlin is preparing a major offensive in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia, accusing Russia of stalling negotiations to gain territorial leverage.

Over 100,000 Russian soldiers are confirmed dead. Ukraine reported 46,000 dead and 380,000 wounded.

  • lumony@lemmings.worldEnglish
    94·
    2 days ago

    Pretty much the only Western-aligned nation that’s ready to fight a war is Israel.

    War, for Americans, really is just all fun and games right now. Most people haven’t seen friends die. When that starts happening and the reality of war sets in, I don’t think most Westerners will stick around. They value their lives too much.

    • Phoenicianpirate@lemm.eeEnglish
      41·
      2 days ago

      Isnotreal can barely hold their own against hezbollah and hamas. They cannot fight an actual country that doesn’t have a postcolonial arranged military.

    • gabbath@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      You think Israel would help the West fight Russia? I kinda doubt it. They don’t seem the type to fight real wars, only massacre innocents they fanatically hate.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
      41·
      2 days ago

      Most people haven’t seen friends die.

      And they didn’t learn the lessons from their grandfather’s experience.

    • Denixen@feddit.nuEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      I don’t know that it is quite that bad, I think people will surprise you. Europeans stuck with Ukraine even though it costs and while some are turning their back they are a minority and they consider Ukraine none of the their business.

      I think when another NATO or EU country is affected Europeans will see it very differently. It is an existential threat then. Russia wants to paint Europe as decadent and lazy, but Europeans stand firm when it really matters. We’ve proven that with Ukraine.

      The bigger problem for Europe is to produce armed forces in the hundreds of thousands within the next few years. Making the hardware and training the soldiers in that small off a time will be difficult.

      As for Americans… I don’t really know where we have them. I do think there is a non-negligible chance they will be in a civil war by the end of the decade or the start of the next.

      • lumony@lemmings.worldEnglish
        11·
        2 days ago

        Europeans stuck with Ukraine

        I mean, giving weapons is different from sending soldiers. This is what I mean by “most people haven’t seen friends die.” It’s a completely different ballgame that most of us in the West do not have experience in and are not prepared for.