The recognition by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaluzhny, of the failure of the counteroffensive has shocked the United States – Politico

The assessment by the high-ranking Ukrainian general, Valeriy Zaluzhny, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that the war with Russia has reached an impasse, is fueling political divisions. Debates about whether to provide substantial military support to Kyiv have ignited discussions in the U.S. Congress.

This is reported by the influential American publication Politico.

“The startling admission in The Economist by Valeriy Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that the counteroffensive has failed, shocked Capitol Hill, where Republicans saw these statements as a reason to reconsider American support for Kyiv. Zaluzhny’s assessment has caused a rift in Washington regarding further aid to Ukraine. The high-ranking Ukrainian general’s evaluation that Ukraine’s military is in a deadlock has sparked debates on whether to provide Kyiv with more weapons,” notes the publication.

In an interview with The Economist published on Wednesday evening, Commander Zaluzhny stated that without a sudden boost in technological superiority, “there probably won’t be a deep and beautiful breakthrough” against Russia. He acknowledged that the military conflict had reached an impasse and took responsibility for misjudging Russia’s capabilities.

General Zaluzhny also told the American publication that according to NATO textbooks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces should have been able to “reach Crimea, conquer Crimea, return from Crimea, and even go there again” in four months.

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican skeptical about increasing aid to Kyiv, stated that Zaluzhny’s candor has created a serious gap in the administration’s policy toward Ukraine. Their position, Hawley claimed, is: “we need to continue funding Ukraine in all aspects, not just militarily, we need to allocate money for their pensions and everything else, to keep the situation in a deadlock.”

“This naturally raises the question: what is our strategy to end the game?” the senator asked. “What’s the plan here? I don’t think they have one.”

His colleague, Jay D. Vance, who has openly called for ending military aid to Kyiv, stated that Zaluzhny’s remarks expose deep divisions within Ukraine’s leadership. He also noted that the Ukrainian crisis should end with Russia continuing to control the liberated territories, and the conflict being resolved through negotiations. According to the senator, this outcome is evident to anyone.

Politico reports that the position of American lawmakers is still a minority view in the Senate, as most senators from both parties currently intend to continue supporting Kyiv.

The article also notes that such protests are gaining a broader audience, especially as national attention shifts to aid for Israel in its war against Hamas.