All right, Alexander, let's talk about the situation in Ukraine, and let's start things off

with the situation on the front line, the encirclement of Pakrovsk, Mirnokrad, and Kupyansk,

which is in the Kharkov region. This was announced by Yerazimov as well as Putin. There are still some analysts

on the Ukraine side of things who do not believe this. Zelensky talked about how Russia has

advanced into the city of Bakrovowski, and the situation is critical,

but the collective West is avoiding the word encirclement.

But in my opinion, if Putin and Yerazimov publicly come out with statements saying that this is an encirclement and they

place an ultimatum on the Ukraine soldiers to surrender, or else I will bet that this is indeed

a catastrophic situation for the Ukraine military and that they are indeed

trapped in both regions.

Anyway, your thoughts on this situation?

I'm completely in agreement with you, and I would add further this.

I mean, we both follow the military developments very closely.

We've been seeing how the battle for Pachrovsk

has played out since it began in earnest in August. The fact that there has been an announcement

by Gerasimov and Putin that there is an encirclement in Pakrovsk. I think I can safely say, has come as no surprise to either of us.

I don't think it's come as much of a surprise to most of the people who have been following

the battle closely. The problem is most people don't follow the battle closely.

And if you're talking about media in the West, and I suspect Western governments,

they over-rely on what the Ukrainians have been telling them.

The Ukrainians since August have been claiming that they have had the situation in

Pukovk under control,

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