Vantage | Does Ukraine's military think the war is unwinnable?

One thing is clear – the advantage in the war lies with Israel, and by a long margin. However, in the Ukraine war, things are not so clear. It’s been a battle of attrition this year.

Ukraine’s top general admits stalemate

Ukraine’s top general admitted that the war had reached a stalemate. But President Volodymyr Zelensky has a different perspective stating that while the situation is difficult, it’s not a stalemate.

“I believe that today, indeed, the situation is difficult. I don’t think that this is a stalemate. That occurs and I think, it’s a check on the part of the Russian army. But before that, we did a lot. We had done a lot. We were in a difficult situation," said Zelensky.

This discrepancy raises questions about a potential rift between civilian and military leadership and whether the military views the war as unwinnable.

Russia’s escalation

Russia is intensifying its efforts, with recent attacks on Odesa and a village near Zaporizhzhia, resulting in casualties and damages. Moscow has also tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, named “Bulava”, from a nuclear submarine. This, coupled with Russia’s increased activity after the Israel-Hamas conflict, indicates a strategic shift aimed at minimising international attention.

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“Of course, Russia understands that now when focus from Ukraine is taken off and when this focus to the Middle East and when they try to divide the world in these crises, Israel-Palestine crisis and of course, of course, Russia is very happy with this war. They don’t count how many children were killed there,” said the Ukrainian president.

US support in jeopardy

President Zelensky faces another challenge as support from the United States appears to be dwindling. The US Congress rejected a request for military aid to Ukraine, which included $60 billion. With the absence of US support, Ukraine’s ability to sustain the war is in jeopardy. The importance of US support cannot be overstated, as the total US aid to Ukraine stands at $75 billion, far surpassing that of other nations. Polls show a decline in American support for Ukraine and some are advocating for reduced funding.

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Donald Trump’s Influence

Notably, former president Donald Trump is gaining momentum with polls suggesting he is leading President Joe Biden in several swing states. Zelensky’s invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine adds an intriguing layer to the complex situation.

EU assessment and expansion

In a show of support, EU president Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to review the progress made by Ukraine. She expressed satisfaction with the reforms undertaken despite the ongoing war.

“I want to tell you how impressed we are by the reforms you’ve made in the midst of a war. We should never forget you are fighting an existential war. And at the same time, you’re deeply reforming your country. You have reached many milestones, reforming your justice system, curbing the oligarch’s grip, tackling money laundering, and much more,” said Ursula von der Leyen.

However, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister insists on completing all reforms before seeking EU membership.

Lengthy path to EU membership

The path to EU membership can take around two years and the final decision now rests with European leaders. EU expansion, a topic that was less prominent until recently, has now gained significant attention.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

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