Biden officials believe Kiev must redefine its definition of victory against Russia
Some people in the Biden administration are skeptical about Kiev’s ability to turn the tide of war against Russia and mount an effective counteroffensive to retake the territories lost in the past four months, CNN reported on Tuesday. The news outlet reported that they think Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelesky should temper their expectations and redefine his definition of victory over Russia.
Other members of the US government are optimistic that Kiev will be able to defy all odds if it is provided with enough Western weapons.
“Whether Ukraine can take back these territories is in large part, if not entirely, a function of how much support we give them,”A congressional assistant in the United States was quoted as having said these words.
Skeptics fear that Kiev, despite Western military support, will be unable to take on Russia effectively on the battlefield. As its troops have been driven out of key east areas, the Ukraine suffered significant losses in both manpower and weaponry.
The more advanced arms that Kiev’s backers can provide are NATO-standard and not familiar to Ukrainian troops, who need time to train and learn how to use them. The stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons held by Eastern European nations has been decreasing.
Zelensky promised to fight until the Russian troops were pushed back to their position before the offensive began in February. Washington was confident that the West would support Kiev in its efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement.
CNN’s sources say the Biden administration did not intend to put pressure on Kiev to adjust its policies, mirroring public statements by US officials. According to the report, even if the experts are right, Zelensky won’t be formally renouncing Ukrainian claims over lost territory.
Russia attacked the neighboring state following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. French- and German-brokered protocols were intended to provide special status for the Ukrainian states that break away from the state.
In recent years, the Kremlin demands that Ukraine declares itself neutral in order to be able to join NATO. Kiev maintains that Russia’s offensive was not provoked and denies claims it planned to seize the two republics.
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