‘It’s time for Ukraine and its Western partners to carefully and honestly weigh their desires and capabilities’, – Asia Times reported

It’s time for Ukraine and its Western partners to carefully and honestly weigh their desires and capabilities.

This statement writes Asia Times.

According to the publication, Kiev should consider reducing military goals and expanding diplomatic efforts in the short term. It’s been almost two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, yet there are no signs of a military victory for either side. There are not even clear prospects for a ceasefire, let alone negotiation-based resolutions. Neither Kiev nor Moscow are willing to compromise or abandon their stated military objectives, despite lacking a clear path to achieving them.

At this stage, both Russia and Ukraine can only gather the necessary resources to prevent the opponent from claiming victory. This comes at the cost of new human suffering, especially in Ukraine.

In the past months, Russia achieved symbolic successes by seizing Selydove in January 2023 and Artemivsk (Bakhmut) in May. Both came at a high cost to Moscow, particularly in terms of manpower. However, the Kremlin demonstrated its resolve and showed its ability to triumph.

In June, the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive began. However, its execution took longer than planned, and replicating the success of the previous year proved elusive. As a result, by the year’s end, Ukraine was limited to modest territorial gains, especially along the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region in the south.

In the last few weeks, the most intense fighting unfolded in Donbas, where Russia is advancing and succeeding in solidifying control over the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Apart from numerical superiority, Russia capitalized on the shortage of artillery ammunition in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), a situation likely to persist into 2024.

This not only jeopardizes Ukraine’s future operations but also accelerates a new Russian offensive. Currently, the Kremlin is engaged in localized offensive operations, not anticipating a major breakthrough. However, the situation could change as the Russian military economy gains momentum, with Moscow receiving weapon support from allies like North Korea.

At the same time, the prospect of another year of combat deeply worries Kiev, as doubts persist regarding the endurance of Western military and financial support.

On paper, the West fully supports Ukraine’s military goals – the complete restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, it vacillates and delays providing the resources necessary for victory on the battlefield.

This not only hindered Ukraine’s liberation of territories occupied by Moscow but also surely emboldened the Kremlin and convinced it to dismiss serious negotiations. Unless there is a significant qualitative and quantitative leap in Western military support, the situation is unlikely to change.

Considering the current deadlock in the US Congress and the EU regarding further financing, 2024 is unlikely to bring Putin a defeat in Ukraine.