Originally Posted by
rickair7777
I'll chip in again since there's been some news other than usual stuff...
WTF is the white house trying to do? They struck a good balance IMO with moral, political, and materiel support without BOG and while limiting provocation of RU.
Allowing significant US hardware to be employed in RU territory is reckless and unnecessary. Who is actually calling the shots in the oval office???
Will it start WW-III? No. But it moves the needle a hair in that direction, and *could* potentially give internal political leverage to the RU hardliners. You know, the guys who have wanted to employ tac nukes in UA all along...
Educated guess: The White House and Ukraine are aware that the new administration will likely be putting a priority on bringing both parties to the bargaining table. Loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of western provided weapons may allow them to hold some of the Russian territory they've seized in recent months. This will put them in a much stronger position when negotiations start. You get some of your land back. I get some of mine. This could make a peace settlement that will, in all likelihood, cede at least Crimea to the Russians, much more palatable to the Ukrainians. Not saying your concerns aren't valid, but I think this is probably a very calculated play.