The West should seriously consider the fall of Kyiv

Western policymakers are facing the grim possibility of a Ukrainian retreat and the eventual downfall of Kyiv, which is being discussed as a worst-case scenario. With ongoing intense battles on the frontlines, Britain, USA and EU are now compelled to strategize for the contingency of a “catastrophic failure” of the Ukrainian military, which is grappling with severe shortages of weaponry and munitions. This is reported by The Times columnist Ian Martin.

Contrary to the common notion of freezing the conflict, active combat continues unabated on the front lines. Additionally, there’s a genuine concern that Ukrainian forces could be pushed back, leading to a crisis that could overshadow the imminent significant NATO summit in Washington, as outlined by the author.

Should Russia achieve success, it will not only spell disaster for Ukraine but also present Western allies with a pivotal decision, exacerbating the existing division among them. While France is considering deploying troops to aid the Ukrainian military, other nations like Germany vehemently oppose such actions, Martin highlights.