On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 5:10:14 AM UTC-4, A. Filip wrote:
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu
Chapter II · Waging War
故兵貴勝，不貴久。
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations. 兵久而國利者，未之有也。
There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged
warfare.
The quotes above apply to *both* sides but IMHO significantly more to
the side which had chosen to start _open_ war.
Feel free to "counter quote" even if merely for entertainment value.
The way I see it, Russia's offensive phase was kind of stopped when Kherson was taken but later abandoned. The incorporation of the 4 oblast certainly signals a degree of Russian victory.
At present, it is Ukraine's turn for offensive action and Russia is waiting for its
opportunity for bigger gain.
Concerning prolonged warfare, an influential Chinese expression is "chicken rib."
Not much meat to chew on, yet to much to give up. Zelenskyy and his supporters had their position frozen long ago, the war has to continue. How about the average
Ukrainians? Concerning Ukraine's foreign backers, the US and some ex-Soviet nations may also prefer the conflict to continue until the large Ukrainians. How
about other European nations? Do they want the war to continue indefinitely?
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)