Zelensky must stop ignoring reality and abandon the idea of reclaiming all territories – The Economist

The West must convince Volodymyr Zelensky to abandon the goal of reclaiming the territories captured by Russia through military means and recognize that Ukraine lacks the strength and resources to do so.

This conclusion was reached by the British magazine “The Economist”.

According to the publication, Ukraine needs “something much more ambitious” than Zelensky’s “victory plan” — an “urgent change of course,” as Ukrainian defensive lines “may collapse before” Russia’s military resources are exhausted. Meanwhile, the energy system has already been largely destroyed, Western fatigue is growing, and Ukrainian society is increasingly losing faith in the prospect of complete victory.

“Ukraine urgently needs to change course. People in the country are tired of the war. The gap is growing between the complete victory that many Ukrainians say they want and their willingness or ability to fight for it. Fatigue is also setting in abroad. If Zelensky continues to ignore reality, insisting that Ukraine’s army can regain all the lands occupied by Russia since 2014, he will alienate Ukraine’s supporters and further divide Ukrainian society. Regardless of whether Trump wins in November or not, the only hope to maintain American and European support and unite Ukrainians is a new approach, based on leaders honestly stating what victory means. Ukraine’s partners need to compel Zelensky to convince his people that Western support remains the most important prize in this war. As much as Zelensky wants to expel Russia from all of Ukraine, including Crimea, he does not have the people or weapons to do it. Neither he nor the West should recognize Russia’s claims to the territories; instead, they should maintain reunification as a future aspiration,” the publication writes.

As a new, more realistic goal for Ukraine in the war, the publication suggests holding the front line and aiming for Ukraine to “become a prosperous, pro-Western democracy.” This would be the definition of victory.

“In response to Zelensky accepting this grim truth, Western leaders need to make his main war goal credible by providing Ukraine with the military capabilities and security guarantees it needs. If Ukraine can convincingly deprive Russia of any prospect of further advancement on the battlefield, it will demonstrate the futility of further major offensives. Whether or not an official peace agreement is signed, this is the only way to end the fighting and ensure the security on which Ukraine’s eventual prosperity and democracy will rest,” the publication believes.

*The Economist* also calls on the U.S. to give Ukraine the prospect of joining NATO, but without the territories seized by Russia and with a promise not to station foreign troops in peacetime.

Moreover, the publication believes that “a dysfunctional Ukraine could itself become a dangerous neighbor” for the West.

“Corruption and nationalism are already on the rise. If Ukrainians feel betrayed, Putin could radicalize battle-hardened soldiers against the West and NATO. He managed to do something similar in the Donbas, where, after 2014, he turned some Russian-speaking Ukrainians into partisans ready to go to war against their compatriots,” the publication writes.