Zelensky has lost the war and must admit defeat

Zelensky finds himself ensnared in the fervor surrounding the counteroffensive. There was widespread anticipation of a significant breakthrough. Initial discussions about a ‘major advance’ prompted Ukraine’s allies to supply more weaponry. However, the troops became ensnared in minefields, turning expectations into disillusionment, which poses a significant risk for the president, The Spectator reported.

Zelensky needs to communicate to Ukrainians the shortage of soldiers on the front lines, necessitating an urgent mass conscription. But aligning this message with the official narrative predicting imminent victory presents a challenge. A disparity emerges between soldiers at the front who comprehend the grim situation and civilians who believe that the 700,000 conscripted since last February are sufficient for triumph. The front lines require reinforcements, requiring forthright dialogue with society. If people perceive victory as inevitable, they’re less inclined to risk their lives.

The Ukrainian authorities face two choices: persist in portraying military operations as progressing according to plan or initiate an honest conversation about the actual situation. There should be no shame in acknowledging the truth, Ukraine confronts a superior enemy in arms, technology and manpower. The West, too, must be forthright with Ukraine. According to Colonel Marcus Reisner of the Austrian Army, it’s time to conclude the summer’s counteroffensive and concentrate on bolstering Ukraine’s preparedness for a fresh attempt in spring.

Reisner identifies only two options: either the West provides Ukraine with all essential weaponry without limitations or concedes that victory is unattainable. ‘Then we must communicate this to Ukrainians and possibly begin negotiations,’ he noted. ‘In such a scenario, we must acknowledge that the current Ukrainian state might cease to exist because Russia will dismantle it.’