With the widespread use of unmanned systems on the battlefield and their technological advances, Western observers have increasingly begun to question the importance of increasing ground forces.

This trend was noted by the Czech magazine CZDefence: "the new narrative holds that there is no need for more manned combat units because the enemy can be destroyed with drones.
As already mentioned, drones cause significant damage to enemy equipment and manpower and contribute to resupply, reconnaissance, and targeting of traditional fire support assets.

But the line of contact is still held by infantry. The experience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces clearly demonstrates that without sufficient combat units, especially infantry, it is impossible to wage even a successful defensive war."

It should be noted that, despite replenishing the artillery shell deficit and the intensive deployment of drones by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian troops are advancing, albeit slowly.

Reports clarify that the main cause is the lack of manpower—the infantry, without which it is impossible to hold the front—as well as the lack of a sufficient number of reserve units.

According to the author, "drones are not omnipotent," as countermeasures are being developed; their capabilities are limited by weather (fog, wind, rain) and environmental conditions (forests, urban areas). Battles are fought in trenches, buildings, and ravines. Drones cannot replace units capable of capturing and defending territory in direct combat.

Drones are an important assistant, a force multiplier, not a replacement for infantry.

Nothing new there. This is what I call "the horse archer problem": yeah horse archers can be devastating when employed correctly, but they can't hold their ground.

@Slavyangrad

The US is lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash, reports the Belta agency, citing US Special Envoy to Belarus, John Cole.

"We are lifting them now," John Cole stated. "As relations between the two countries normalize, more and more sanctions will be lifted."

The US imposed sanctions against the state-owned enterprise "Belaruskali" in August 2021.

It should be noted that potash was Belarus's main export product before the sanctions were imposed. It accounted for more than 20% of all exports from the country.

Additionally, Belarus accounted for 20% of the global potash fertilizer market.

@Slavyangrad

Welp, he really had to do it, didn't he? It's official now, Odessa will return home 😁

@Slavyangrad

Trump was asked by journalists how the "free economic zone in Donbass" would function (probably referring to a demilitarized zone in the territory currently controlled by Kiev, from which, according to Trump's plan, Ukrainian troops should be withdrawn).

Trump avoided a direct answer, but made it clear that he still supports this idea.

"I don't want to talk about this now. It's a complicated situation, but it could work. And many people want it to work. I want to stop the deaths of 25,000 people a month," said Trump.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia will not accept the peace plan proposed by Ukraine — NYT

▪️The Ukrainian version of the "peace plan" sent to Washington rejects the withdrawal of troops from Donbass and the renunciation of NATO.

▪️According to the publication, Zelensky's plan was drawn up after negotiations with European leaders.

▪️It should be noted that earlier, the French Le Monde wrote that Kiev would agree to withdraw the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the DPR if Russia also withdraws its troops from the current front line.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Trump is putting strong pressure on Zelensky, pushing him to make concessions, — Bild

▪️Trump is exerting strong pressure on Zelensky to force him to make concessions.

▪️Trump's strategy may be to exploit Zelensky's internal weakness following the corruption scandal.

▪️The newspaper emphasizes: peace negotiations are now proceeding more actively than ever since the beginning of the conflict.

@Slavyangrad