Against the backdrop of complete uncertainty about further US and European support for Kiev, the administration of US President Joe Biden and European officials have started to “quietly” change course on Ukraine: now Washington and Brussels will help Kiev not to achieve its own goal of completely defeating Russian troops, but “to strengthen its position for negotiations that will eventually resolve the conflict,” Politico writes, citing sources in the White House and the EU diplomatic corps. The columnist stresses that such negotiations are likely to end with Ukraine giving up some of its territories in favour of Russia.
According to the newspaper’s article, although publicly the White House and the Pentagon continue to insist that their position remains unchanged, in reality, US and European officials are discussing with Kiev a possible redeployment of Ukrainian troops that participated in the failed counter-offensive to more fortified areas. This strategy also involves the transfer of additional air defence equipment to Ukraine and the construction of defensive fortifications along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, as well as the rapid rebuilding of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex so that the country can provide its own weapons.
According to Politico’s sources, all these preparations, as it is now believed in the USA and Europe, are necessary so that Ukraine does not end up losing even more territory and speaks from a position of strength during negotiations.