Putin’s new cannon fodder won’t win the Ukraine war

What does the decision to call in reserves say about the state of the war, and how should the West react, asks James Stavridis

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation to announce a mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to be thrown into the war in Ukraine.

Russian president Vladimir Putin tripled down on the war in Ukraine in a short but defiant televised speech on Tuesday.

Politically, he announced a series of referendums on joining Russia to be held in the conquered territories of eastern Ukraine this week. Militarily, he repeated previous not-so-veiled threats to use nuclear weapons, and announced a mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to be thrown into his flailing “special military operation”.