Stalemate Poem by David Wood

I'm no military strategist, but using business
Strategy thinking, Vladimir Putin's war with
Ukraine has entered a different stage where
Encircling cities and destroying them by
Missile and artillery is aimed at destroying
Moral of the people. This can be seen by
Opening humanitarian corridors for people
To escape then shelling them.

Putin's army has failed to overcome Ukrainian
Resistance in the original 3 day plan to win.
His army is bogged down. He didn't anticipate
Western support with weapons, money and
Sanctions which are hurting. He didn't expect
Tens of thousands of Russian people taking to
The streets shouting ‘no to war.'

Now he is getting Russian mothers asking why
Their sons are being killed in Ukraine and he
Knows the whole world is against him. He must
Also realise that if his army is having trouble
Winning this war, he will have even more problems
Holding any city in Ukraine as the Ukrainian
Army will dissolve into insurgents and quickly
Kill Russian troops in those cities.

Yet he will not lose face by withdrawing his military
Forces without the Ukrainian's giving something up
Like Donetsk and Luhansk and agreeing to the
Crimea being Russian territory. Even this I cannot
See the Ukrainian's agreeing to.

The problem for Putin is he may see the military
Situation on the ground is beginning to look so bad
That the cost of peace is less than the cost of
Continuing the war, and he is already seeing thousands
Of dead Russian troops, many tanks, aircraft,
Helicopters and other military equipment losses.

We could get to the situation where both sides have
Taken such a pounding that the war becomes a
Stalemate where both sides believe their situation
Is not going to improve by continuing to fight. I don't
Think Putin will use chemical or nuclear weapons
Because the Russian people will never forgive him
For using them on fellow Slavs.