Get deeper insights on the news from inside sources.

Get deeper insights on the news from inside sources.

Stay with the question. When it comes to Russia, thousands of Russian troops are reported to be amassing on the border of the Donbas region in Ukraine. The question is why are they there? We also want to look at some of the things in terms of how Ukraine is being armed with the addition of cluster bombs as one component to additional us and international

Stay with the question. When it comes to Russia, thousands of Russian troops are reported to be amassing on the border of the Donbas region in Ukraine. The question is why are they there? We also want to look at some of the things in terms of how Ukraine is being armed with the addition of cluster bombs as one component to additional us and international

support. Uh Will that be formidable? Will that be helpful? What will it mean in terms of the execution of Ukraine's counter offensive? And what does Russia do from there? Really pleased to have back on the program with us once again, Mark Toth, he's an economist, entrepreneur and former board member of the World Trade Center, ST Louis.

support. Uh Will that be formidable? Will that be helpful? What will it mean in terms of the execution of Ukraine's counter offensive? And what does Russia do from there? Really pleased to have back on the program with us once again, Mark Toth, he's an economist, entrepreneur and former board member of the World Trade Center, ST Louis.

And uh Mark, welcome back to the show and uh you and uh your partner, Jonathan Sweet. Uh had another great piece in the hill uh entitled the Russians are coming. Why Putin might be amassing 100 and 80,000 troops near the Don bus? So give us a little lay of the land. What are we seeing? And and more importantly, what are we sensing in all of this.

And uh Mark, welcome back to the show and uh you and uh your partner, Jonathan Sweet. Uh had another great piece in the hill uh entitled the Russians are coming. Why Putin might be amassing 100 and 80,000 troops near the Don bus? So give us a little lay of the land. What are we seeing? And and more importantly, what are we sensing in all of this.

Uh, sure. Uh, boy, first, thanks for having me back. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about it.

Uh, sure. Uh, boy, first, thanks for having me back. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about it.

Um I think what we're seeing is a lot of head faking going on right now and, uh if you can kind of picture yourself or have your listeners picture themselves kind of back to where Eisenhower and Rael were at the early days of D day. Not quite sure where the counter offensive was going to strike there. Was it going to be further up in Calais or was it going to be in Normandy? Didn't know. And so we're seeing a lot of activity,

Um I think what we're seeing is a lot of head faking going on right now and, uh if you can kind of picture yourself or have your listeners picture themselves kind of back to where Eisenhower and Rael were at the early days of D day. Not quite sure where the counter offensive was going to strike there. Was it going to be further up in Calais or was it going to be in Normandy? Didn't know. And so we're seeing a lot of activity,

you know, in the past few days, that was over the ZNP, the nuclear power plant that Russia controls further south, will they blow it? Will they not blow it? Is that a head fake to make Ukraine think about launching a counter offensive en mass there? I think we're seeing the same thing with these 180,000 troops being a mass in the Donbass itself could be a couple of reasons why one just is a head fake. Putin wants to keep

you know, in the past few days, that was over the ZNP, the nuclear power plant that Russia controls further south, will they blow it? Will they not blow it? Is that a head fake to make Ukraine think about launching a counter offensive en mass there? I think we're seeing the same thing with these 180,000 troops being a mass in the Donbass itself could be a couple of reasons why one just is a head fake. Putin wants to keep

Ukraine away from Crimea at all costs. That's a game changer for him, potentially a regime costing loss if he loses it. He also may prefer to fight on that terrain because as we said in the piece, John and I had written

Ukraine away from Crimea at all costs. That's a game changer for him, potentially a regime costing loss if he loses it. He also may prefer to fight on that terrain because as we said in the piece, John and I had written

that it would shorten his own supply lines and that was a critical failure early on last year. When his supply lines got stretched, he couldn't keep up. So, Russ up on Don made famous by Pagos uprising last week

that it would shorten his own supply lines and that was a critical failure early on last year. When his supply lines got stretched, he couldn't keep up. So, Russ up on Don made famous by Pagos uprising last week

uh is the key supply logistical depot if you will for the war effort in Ukraine, and they'd be much closer to that if they fight the battle there.

uh is the key supply logistical depot if you will for the war effort in Ukraine, and they'd be much closer to that if they fight the battle there.

Yeah, supply lines are always a, a fascinating part to watch in any kind of uh waging of war. And clearly Vladimir Putin uh failed in, in that component early on. Uh rolling into Ukraine. I want you to dig into a little bit because you had some really fascinating components in your piece in the hill

Yeah, supply lines are always a, a fascinating part to watch in any kind of uh waging of war. And clearly Vladimir Putin uh failed in, in that component early on. Uh rolling into Ukraine. I want you to dig into a little bit because you had some really fascinating components in your piece in the hill

uh talking about Crimea and why this is so important and, and not just as a military win and a hold, but you dug into some other spaces that I think are really interesting in terms of what might be going on inside Vladimir Putin's head and what that strategy might be really driving toward.

uh talking about Crimea and why this is so important and, and not just as a military win and a hold, but you dug into some other spaces that I think are really interesting in terms of what might be going on inside Vladimir Putin's head and what that strategy might be really driving toward.

Yeah, really to understand Crimea and how it factors into Putin's thinking goes back to the earliest days of his regime. He created a false historical narrative about Kiev and Rusk. Kevin Rusk was a loosely prototype state that existed mostly in Ukraine as we know it today upwards

Yeah, really to understand Crimea and how it factors into Putin's thinking goes back to the earliest days of his regime. He created a false historical narrative about Kiev and Rusk. Kevin Rusk was a loosely prototype state that existed mostly in Ukraine as we know it today upwards

into Poland bits of Belarus and slightly into what is modern day Russia, but it didn't reach up into Russia itself. So you've got three different countries that kind of claim it as their ancestral heritage, their, their history. But it's not quite true. It's a contrived notion on Putin's part

into Poland bits of Belarus and slightly into what is modern day Russia, but it didn't reach up into Russia itself. So you've got three different countries that kind of claim it as their ancestral heritage, their, their history. But it's not quite true. It's a contrived notion on Putin's part

also to kind of cover the immorality of his regime. He partnered with patriarch Cairo, who's the head of the Russian Orthodox church. And they believe the Russians do that Christianity or orthodox Christianity first came to the Russian Empire via Crimea. That man by the name of Valdemar, which is Vladimir, by the way in Russia

also to kind of cover the immorality of his regime. He partnered with patriarch Cairo, who's the head of the Russian Orthodox church. And they believe the Russians do that Christianity or orthodox Christianity first came to the Russian Empire via Crimea. That man by the name of Valdemar, which is Vladimir, by the way in Russia

was baptized in Crimea. And that was the start of the Russian Empire. But again, they're seeking somebody else's history to do that. So for, for Putin Crimea is about restoring his kind of Peter the great vision of what the Russian Empire used to look like. But it also has a lot of folklore and a lot of history behind it. So that's why for

was baptized in Crimea. And that was the start of the Russian Empire. But again, they're seeking somebody else's history to do that. So for, for Putin Crimea is about restoring his kind of Peter the great vision of what the Russian Empire used to look like. But it also has a lot of folklore and a lot of history behind it. So that's why for

and why Crimea symbolically is important. It's also terribly important from a strategic standpoint, their base that they've had there since the late 17 hundreds has helped them control the Black Sea. So there are other more practical reasons, but it goes to Putin's narrative that he uses inside of Russia for why Crimea is so important for the Russian psyche if you will.

and why Crimea symbolically is important. It's also terribly important from a strategic standpoint, their base that they've had there since the late 17 hundreds has helped them control the Black Sea. So there are other more practical reasons, but it goes to Putin's narrative that he uses inside of Russia for why Crimea is so important for the Russian psyche if you will.

Yeah. And I think that is an area that has really gone on

Yeah. And I think that is an area that has really gone on

reported in terms of the, the communication strategy and the story. Everybody wants to be part of a winning story. And Vladimir Putin has been a master at controlling that narrative and here he, he really is putting together a pretty toxic elixir, I think of his own hubris, uh, along with a little bit of history and a whole lot of mythology, uh, to create something that, hey, we, we are the, the noble ones. Uh, we're on the side of the angels on this thing.

reported in terms of the, the communication strategy and the story. Everybody wants to be part of a winning story. And Vladimir Putin has been a master at controlling that narrative and here he, he really is putting together a pretty toxic elixir, I think of his own hubris, uh, along with a little bit of history and a whole lot of mythology, uh, to create something that, hey, we, we are the, the noble ones. Uh, we're on the side of the angels on this thing.

Uh And it's, it will be interesting to see how that plays out and if Ukraine is able to repel them back, uh and that Crimea suddenly starts to become a uh changing of hands moment to me, that would really be the beginning of the end of, of Vladimir Putin's story.

Uh And it's, it will be interesting to see how that plays out and if Ukraine is able to repel them back, uh and that Crimea suddenly starts to become a uh changing of hands moment to me, that would really be the beginning of the end of, of Vladimir Putin's story.

Uh It would be and, and General Hodges who has been Hodges, the former US army commander Europe has stated this repeatedly that Crimea is the decisive terrain of the war. The war will be decided one way or the other in Crimea. If, if Putin loses Crimea, it's game over. And that's why it's so important for Ukraine to take it one way or the other. They don't have to militarily take it. They can also take it by cutting it off. They've got options there.

Uh It would be and, and General Hodges who has been Hodges, the former US army commander Europe has stated this repeatedly that Crimea is the decisive terrain of the war. The war will be decided one way or the other in Crimea. If, if Putin loses Crimea, it's game over. And that's why it's so important for Ukraine to take it one way or the other. They don't have to militarily take it. They can also take it by cutting it off. They've got options there.

Yeah, very important. I want to go quickly to a little bit of sound. Not long ago, national security adviser, Jake Sullivan explained to reporters why they're sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. Take a listen, we base our security assistance decision on Ukraine's needs on the ground and Ukraine needs artillery to sustain its offensive and defensive operations.

Yeah, very important. I want to go quickly to a little bit of sound. Not long ago, national security adviser, Jake Sullivan explained to reporters why they're sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. Take a listen, we base our security assistance decision on Ukraine's needs on the ground and Ukraine needs artillery to sustain its offensive and defensive operations.

Artillery is at the core of this conflict. Ukraine is firing thousands of rounds a day to defend against Russian efforts to advance and also to support its own efforts to retake its sovereign territory.

Artillery is at the core of this conflict. Ukraine is firing thousands of rounds a day to defend against Russian efforts to advance and also to support its own efforts to retake its sovereign territory.

Uh And uh mark, give us some perspective on that. I thought it was uh most interesting and noteworthy that Jake Sullivan uh pointed, he went out and, and criticized Russia for using these types of cluster bombs. But then went on to explain that the, the bombs that the US are sending are quite different from, from Russia. Give us a little explanation there.

Uh And uh mark, give us some perspective on that. I thought it was uh most interesting and noteworthy that Jake Sullivan uh pointed, he went out and, and criticized Russia for using these types of cluster bombs. But then went on to explain that the, the bombs that the US are sending are quite different from, from Russia. Give us a little explanation there.

Yeah, and I think there's a little bit of gas from the ship here as well. Clearly, Ukraine is running low on artillery shells. They're firing a lot a day and it's clear that our own supply chain has to be ramped up in order to provide them what their needs are.

Yeah, and I think there's a little bit of gas from the ship here as well. Clearly, Ukraine is running low on artillery shells. They're firing a lot a day and it's clear that our own supply chain has to be ramped up in order to provide them what their needs are.

But I also think what's happening is that on two levels because of all this gas that's going on with Russia, whether it's the CCP or thinking with this 180,000 troops in the Donbass is the US, is trying to ratchet it up. If, if they, if Ukraine is indeed struggling in the very early stages of a counter offensive, nothing made

But I also think what's happening is that on two levels because of all this gas that's going on with Russia, whether it's the CCP or thinking with this 180,000 troops in the Donbass is the US, is trying to ratchet it up. If, if they, if Ukraine is indeed struggling in the very early stages of a counter offensive, nothing made

has happened yet. It could be that the cluster bombs and the munitions, they're a force multiplier. They are a means of taking one bomb and taking out armor on the ground, taking out personnel on the ground. And if they can do that, they may need to clear those pathways into fixed Russian defenses. If they're going after the Crimea, if they're confident that Putin is going to try to launch a counter offensive in the dons,

has happened yet. It could be that the cluster bombs and the munitions, they're a force multiplier. They are a means of taking one bomb and taking out armor on the ground, taking out personnel on the ground. And if they can do that, they may need to clear those pathways into fixed Russian defenses. If they're going after the Crimea, if they're confident that Putin is going to try to launch a counter offensive in the dons,

the provision of these cluster bombs as a force multiplier may be to avoid another back type uh meat grinder, not from the Russian side, but from the Ukrainian side, they can't afford another uh slog like that now that they're trying to go on the counter offensive. So having 100 and 80,000 green troops there, the cluster munitions would be effective way of breaking their morale and spirit to fight that battle

the provision of these cluster bombs as a force multiplier may be to avoid another back type uh meat grinder, not from the Russian side, but from the Ukrainian side, they can't afford another uh slog like that now that they're trying to go on the counter offensive. So having 100 and 80,000 green troops there, the cluster munitions would be effective way of breaking their morale and spirit to fight that battle

in that locale. So I suspect that's really behind the use of these weapons. They are controversial. 100 and 23 countries have agreed to ban them. Ukraine hasn't, the United States hasn't nor has Russia

in that locale. So I suspect that's really behind the use of these weapons. They are controversial. 100 and 23 countries have agreed to ban them. Ukraine hasn't, the United States hasn't nor has Russia

fascinating stuff and great insights again, great piece in the Hill Mark, Toth. We always appreciate you joining us and we're going to keep our eyes on Crimea. The head fakes are going to happen in a multitude of different places and spaces. But as you pointed out, this is going to be

fascinating stuff and great insights again, great piece in the Hill Mark, Toth. We always appreciate you joining us and we're going to keep our eyes on Crimea. The head fakes are going to happen in a multitude of different places and spaces. But as you pointed out, this is going to be

of Vladimir Putin and a really interesting combination of history. A little bit of mystery and a whole lot of hubris from Vladimir Putin. And we'll see how that continues to play out. Mark as always. Thank you so much for your insight.

of Vladimir Putin and a really interesting combination of history. A little bit of mystery and a whole lot of hubris from Vladimir Putin. And we'll see how that continues to play out. Mark as always. Thank you so much for your insight.

Thank you. Appreciate it. All

Thank you. Appreciate it. All

right, we're going to continue on to this conversation a little later on in the two o'clock hour as we continue to see all the nuances underneath the headlines as it relates to Russia and Ukraine, what comes next and ultimately, that fight for freedom, more insight sources coming up next, stick around.

right, we're going to continue on to this conversation a little later on in the two o'clock hour as we continue to see all the nuances underneath the headlines as it relates to Russia and Ukraine, what comes next and ultimately, that fight for freedom, more insight sources coming up next, stick around.