-- PUTIN DIDN'T FREEZE EUROPE. A BATTLE WON AGAINST GAZPROM - ANDRZEJ KUBLIK IN GW: “Europe got through the winter without gas problems, becoming independent of Gazprom and not freezing as Russia threatened. Moscow is hinting at state aid for Gazprom. Spring is arriving and no one in Europe fears sitting in cold apartments due to gas shortages on frosty days. The European Union begins the first day of spring with gas storage facilities filled to 55 percent. This is two and a half times more than last year. At the same time, this result is 20 percentage points above the five-year average. With such reserves of gas unused last winter, Europe also has a chance to efficiently prepare gas reserves for the next winter, while avoiding sharp price fluctuations of this raw material and stabilizing them this year overall.” https://wyborcza.biz/biznes/7,179190,29575817,putin-nie-zamrozil-europy-wygrana-bitwa-z-gazpromem.html -- THIS ALLOWS US TO ASSUME THAT THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE HAS ENTERED A PHASE OF STALEMATE, CAUSED BY LOSSES IN EQUIPMENT AND SOLDIERS - PIOTR LEWANDOWSKI IN OKO.PRESS: “The Russian command faces a choice: whether to continue an offensive that will deplete its still-held reserves and has so far yielded no significant successes, or to transition to defense on several fronts, which will allow it to prepare forces to repel a Ukrainian offensive and, under favorable conditions, to launch a counterattack. In turn, the Ukrainian General Staff is trying to conduct persistent defense while simultaneously avoiding engaging units essential for launching an offensive, namely tank brigades, in combat.” -- UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES WILL REMAIN ON THE DEFENSIVE UNTIL THEY ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES, MEANING THE TRAINING AND COORDINATION OF BRIGADES IS COMPLETED - LEWANDOWSKI CONTINUES IN OKO.PRESS: “The Ukrainian armed forces will remain on the defensive until they achieve the required offensive capabilities, meaning the completion of training and coordination of newly formed brigades and the implementation of Western armaments. Furthermore, an intensification of precision strikes on Russian rear areas using newly acquired weapons with a range exceeding 150 kilometers can be expected.” https://oko.press/rosjanie-traca-sily-ukraincy-maja-problem-z-rezerwami-sytuacja-na-froncie -- IN GENERAL, THE RUSSIAN SPRING OFFENSIVE DID NOT GO VERY WELL. BASICALLY, THEY GAINED NOTHING, ONLY CAPTURING THE TINY TOWN OF SOLEDAR, OR RATHER ITS USELESS RUINS - MICHAŁ FISZER ON TYGODNIK POLITYKA'S PORTAL: “Overall, the Russian spring offensive didn't go very well. In essence, they gained nothing, only capturing the tiny town of Soledar, or rather its useless ruins, which cannot be utilized in any way. Near Bakhmut, they advanced a total of about 10-15 km (since November), entering the eastern part of the city and flanking it from two sides, although they still cannot complete the encirclement. Near Avdiivka, northwest of Donetsk, they gained even less, although Russian (and actually mostly separatist) troops have also slowly begun to outflank the city's defenders. And near Vuhledar, absolutely nothing: they lost so many people and equipment there that it's frightening. The 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade was practically annihilated.” -- IT CAN ONLY BE INTERRUPTED BY CONDUCTING AN EFFECTIVE ATTACK IN THE AMERICAN STYLE, EVEN SLIGHTLY SIMILAR. THE UKRAINIANS MUST THEREFORE EFFECTIVELY ISOLATE THE BATTLEFIELD AND LIMIT THE ENEMY'S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT - FISZER CONTINUES: “This must be stopped as soon as possible, because the Russians, like in the Winter War with Finland, will crawl on indefinitely, constantly throwing fresh recruits and equipment from reserves to the front. But it can only be stopped by conducting an effective attack in the American style, even slightly similar. The Ukrainians must therefore effectively isolate the battlefield, limit the enemy's freedom of maneuver, and then break into their defenses, concentrating forces rapidly on a chosen sector, paving their way with precision strikes to reach the intended objective as quickly as possible. What do they need for this? Unfortunately, Western-style air power. And as much precision ammunition as possible, both for ground artillery and for combat aviation.” https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/swiat/2205942,1,390-dzien-wojny-20-lat-roznicy-pouczajace-porownanie-czy-ukraincy-moga-tak-walczyc.read -- POLITICAL AGENDA FOR TUESDAY: ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, MORAWIECKI, SASIN, AND MOSKWA WILL SUMMARIZE THE GOVERNMENT'S "SAFE WINTER" CAMPAIGN, TUSK CONTINUES IN SILESIA, GOVERNMENT SESSION http://300polityka.pl/live/2023/03/21/polityczny-plan-wtorku-w-pierwszy-dzien-wiosny-morawiecki-sasin-i-moskwa-podsumuja-rzadowa-akcje-bezpieczna-zima-tusk-dalej-na-slasku-posiedzenie-rzadu/ -- SASIN ON THE POLL: RATHER BLACKMAIL THAN A SURVEY, CZARZASTY ON A SINGLE LIST: I DOUBT IT. NO ONE CAN BE FORCED - 300LIVE: http://300polityka.pl/live/2023/03/21/ -- IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT A SINGLE LIST, IN A SENSE, CREATIVE ACCOUNTING DESIGNED TO HIDE THE BALANCE OF LOSSES WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR THE OPPOSITION? - MICHAŁ SZUŁDRZYŃSKI IN RZ: “Is the discussion about a single list, in a certain sense, creative accounting intended to hide the balance of losses which is difficult for the opposition? Are the opposition leaders too dependent on Twitter, where the end of PiS is announced day after day, where every scandal is supposed to be the nail in the coffin of its rule, that they fail to notice what Poles who are not so deeply interested in politics feel, think, or talk about? Perhaps, seeing photos of US President Joe Biden greeting Andrzej Duda and Mateusz Morawiecki on all television channels and portals, they will conclude that despite all the flaws of the current government, we are still a normal country where normal life is taking place?” -- I DO NOT ABSOLVE PIS OF ALL SCANDALS, FROM THE ABSURD WAR WITH BRUSSELS, FROM THE GRAB FOR THE JUDICIARY AND RULE OF LAW. BUT APPARENTLY POLES DO NOT SEE OUR DEMOCRACY IN SUCH DARK COLORS - SZUŁDRZYŃSKI CONTINUES: “Indeed, 47.3 percent of Poles believe that democracy in Poland has weakened in recent years, but this is almost exactly the same as the average of such concerns across the entire EU. I do not absolve PiS of all scandals, from the absurd war with Brussels, from the grab for the judiciary and rule of law. But apparently, Poles do not see our democracy in such dark colors as the opposition leaders and their more ardent sympathizers on social media would like.” https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art38161911-michal-szuldrzynski-zaklinanie-rzeczywistosci -- VOTERS ARE WITNESSING CONSTANT SQUABBLES, FROM WHICH THEY EASILY CONCLUDE THAT SHORT-SIGHTED INFANTILISM AND PRETENTIOUS POSTURING DOMINATE THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL SCENE - PRZEMYSŁAW SZUBARTOWICZ IN INTERIA: “As the only remedy for the opposition's drops in polls, government's rises, and lack of faith in victory among the pro-European electorate – which is what the research shows – the long-buried idea of a common list is being proposed again. Forgetting that for such a construct – objectively beneficial for the opposition – to be created and play an effective role, it would have to be built not on fear, coercion, declarations, or blackmail, but on political desire, real choice, and building mutual trust. Instead, voters are witnessing constant squabbles, from which they easily conclude that short-sighted infantilism and pretentious posturing dominate the opposition political scene.” -- THE LIMITATIONS OF TUSK'S METHOD ARE EVIDENT FROM THE POLLS - SZUBARTOWICZ CONTINUES: “Donald Tusk, the leader of the largest opposition formation, who has opted for solo performances and believes his personal popularity is the best vehicle, must confront the limitations of such a method, which are visible in the polls.” -- TUSK DISCOURAGES THEM WITH FEAR RATHER THAN ENCOURAGES THEM - SZUBARTOWICZ CONTINUES: “Appeals for unity alone have proven insufficient. Lack of cooperation with other factions within Civic Platform results in anxious internal disintegration of the entire formation, and strained or uncertain relations with other leaders do not provide a basis for building bridges. The dream that Civic Coalition alone will defeat PiS, and that remorseful leaders of smaller parties will seek cooperation when they fall below the threshold, may not withstand the collision with reality and stubborn characters. Tusk, who said in Żywiec that opponents of a common list will receive 'severe beating' in the elections, certainly realizes that he is more likely to discourage them this way than encourage them.” https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/felietony/news-zardzewialy-zloty-rog,nId,6666256 -- PIS ENTERS SPRING WITH A CHANCE FOR A THIRD TERM IN POWER. EVEN WITHIN THE UNITED RIGHT, THERE ARE VOICES SAYING IT'S BETTER THAN EXPECTED - JACEK GĄDEK IN GAZETA.PL: “PiS enters spring with a chance for a third term in power. Even within the United Right, there are voices saying it's better than expected. The elections are in seven months, and in this camp, the most likely scenario is already being outlined: victory and 'recruiting' MPs from PSL and Confederation to build a majority.” -- PIS THANKS TUSK FOR THE GOAT - GĄDEK CONTINUES: “One well-known PiS politician says: 'The opposition brought a goat into Poles' homes. We let that goat out of the house. It's gone now, and people are satisfied. We can thank Platforma for this goat.'” -- MORAWIECKI'S FATE DEPENDED ON THE WINTER MANAGEMENT - GĄDEK CONTINUES: “Before winter, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki guaranteed that there would be no coal shortage. The head of government's fate depended on whether the ruling camp would get through the winter unscathed. And it did. Morawiecki, confident at the beginning of the year, wrote in a triumphant tone: 'Donald Tusk said there would be no: secure border – there is, coal – there is, gas – there is, patriots – there are. Now he says there will be no third term for PiS.'” -- EVEN THE "CITIZEN'S POLL" – DOUBTFUL REGARDING ITS METHODOLOGY – LEADS TO THE CONCLUSION: PIS IS STRONG, AND THE OPPOSITION IS WEAK - GĄDEK CONTINUES IN GAZETA.PL: “Looking at the polls from recent weeks, the sum of support for opposition formations is declining. IPSOS, IBRIS, Pollster, and Kantar surveys show trends: PiS is regaining support, the opposition is falling, Confederation is growing. And these are surveys for various media – from TVN's "Fakty" (e.g., PiS is growing by 3.8 percentage points to 35.6% support, KO is falling by 3.1 percentage points) to "Super Express." Even the "citizen's poll" – doubtful in terms of its methodology – conducted for the Long Table Foundation by Kantar Public with 4,000 respondents leads to the conclusion: PiS is strong, and the opposition is weak.” https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,29579110,pis-dziekuje-platformie-za-koze-kozy-juz-nie-ma-a-kaczynski.html -- NOT EVEN DONALD TUSK WILL BLAME PIS FOR THE PRICE OF VEGETABLES IN SWEDEN, GERMANY, AND GREAT BRITAIN - JAKUB SZYMCZAK IN OKO.PRESS: “All of Europe is struggling with this problem. Due to shortages, some retail chains in Great Britain have introduced limits on the number of vegetables per person. In Sweden, we are seeing the largest increase in food prices in 50 years. Food has replaced energy in Germany as the fastest-growing product group. The first point out of the three mentioned above shows that in times of climate crisis, increased prices of food, especially vegetables and fruits, may stay with us for longer. Droughts or extreme floods are becoming more frequent, and they affect harvests in regions crucial for global food production.” -- MOST FACTORS INFLUENCING TODAY'S HIGH FOOD PRICES ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON PIS - SZYMCZAK CONTINUES IN OKO: “Most factors influencing today's high food prices are not dependent on PiS. It's impossible to verify, but most likely the price of a kilogram of tomatoes would be very similar to today's if Civic Platform had ruled Poland for another eight years.” https://oko.press/tusk-o-cenach-zywnosci-w-2015-i-dzis-drogie-pomidory-i-cebula-wina-pis-sprawdzamy -- EXACTLY 60 YEARS AGO, IN 1963 – THE FIRST TON OF COPPER ORE WAS BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE FROM KGHM. CURRENTLY – KGHM IS AMONG THE GLOBAL LEADERS IN COPPER AND SILVER PRODUCTION.https://x.com/kghm_sa/status/1637801538520317953?s=20 -- BIRTHDAYS: Michał Olech (turning 30), Rafał Zasuń, Jerzy Jaskiernia, Krzysztof Varga, Jarosław Szymczyk.