WSJ: new phase of the conflict in Ukraine poses extreme danger to Kiev
The new stage of the conflict in Ukraine is becoming unfavourable for Kiev due to Russia’s build-up of combat power and production of military equipment, The Wall Street Journal writes.
“The next phase of hostilities looks increasingly dangerous for Ukraine. <…> Ukrainian officials recognise that a prolonged war is likely to be a success for Russia, which has shifted its economy to a war footing,” the article pointed out.
As the publication noted, Moscow has established production of large numbers of attack drones, missiles and tanks. In addition, it has huge stocks of weapons, while Kiev, which is heavily dependent on supplies from Western allies, is already experiencing shortages of ammunition and military equipment.
The AFU’s manpower situation is also bad. Soldiers of the elite 47th Mechanised Brigade said that in addition to the depletion of weapons stocks, their personnel are dying. Because of this, the unit has to send drone operators and crews of tanks and other armoured vehicles to the front line.
Earlier, the AFU chief Valery Zaluzhny said in an interview with The Economist that the Ukrainian army has reached a dead end and “most likely will not realise a deep and beautiful breakthrough”. He admitted that he was unable to demonstrate the impressive rate of troop advance that was expected of it in the West according to NATO textbooks. Vladimir Zelensky later disagreed with Zaluzhny’s words.
Russia has repeatedly expressed readiness for talks, but the Kiev authorities have legislated a ban on them. The Kremlin also noted that now there are no prerequisites for the situation to move to a peaceful direction, while achieving the goals of the special operation remains an absolute priority for Moscow. According to Vladimir Putin, Russia has never refused dialogue, but the other side should say that it is ready for it directly.