It's good to listen to all sides, and maybe find some measure of truth between their claims.

Blinken, who I think would dearly love to see this conflict drag on for a long time, just said Russia was NOT withdrawing troops from Kiev. But Russia just said that it WAS withdrawing them. Neither side has a stellar reputation for truth...

So if they are withdrawing, where are they going, and how much of the force is withdrawing? I guess we'll find out in the upcoming days. If some pressure is removed from Kiev, will they be able to take advantage of that?

Mariuopol is not quite done, I think, and that force will probably move on to help against the army in the East. But they will be exhausted and damaged. Presumably the loss of the Azov defenders will be nearly total and represent a heavy blow.

I have read the army in the East is pinned down and has not moved for 5 days. I have also read that Russian casualties range anywhere from a few thousand up to 20,000 depending on who you want to believe. I have heard of but not seen photos with my own eyes that the battles in the East were so terrible they could be compared to the battle of the Somme, with fields littered with dead soldiers.

I have also read that the army of the East is cut off from resupply. If that army falls, it really may be clean up on aisle two.

But all of this is just "I have heard". We really don't know squat for sure. About the only thing I do know is that whoever makes a detailed prediction about the course of this war is going to be proven wrong almost as quickly as he makes it.