Gesture of goodwill

Gesture of a good will is a term which in Russian military slang means decisive military defeat and the retreat that follows from a defeat. As admitting any sort of defeat is a taboo in Russian military one needs to use euphimisms in order to avoid admitting unpleasant facts.

Once an euphimism becomes widely mocked they switch to new ones. Later examples are "regrouping" and "withdrawal to more favorble frontiers".

Russia says pulling its forces from Ukraine’s Snake Island is a gesture of goodwill.

Gesture of goodwill by TonttuT October 2, 2022