WSJ today:
"As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its sixth week, the script has flipped. Russia’s advance has stalled, and Ukraine now wants to go on offense to push back Russian forces from the land they’ve taken. But the country needs U.S. and NATO help to do it, and it seems the Biden Administration is reluctant to provide those weapons and intelligence."
"The peace terms Russia is demanding in negotiations suggest that such a consolidation in Ukraine’s east and a long-term occupation is now Russia’s goal. He’ll have won the long-sought “land bridge” between the Crimea and the Donbas. Mr. Putin could claim victory, pause for some years while he re-arms, continue trying to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and otherwise make political, cyber and other trouble for a Western-leaning Ukraine government.
That’s why Mr. Zelensky now wants to go on the offensive. The more territory his forces can win back, the stronger position his country will have at the bargaining table. The experience of Russia’s behavior in Georgia in 2008 and eastern Ukraine in 2014-15 is that Mr. Putin doesn’t give up territory once his troops occupy it. The result is another “frozen conflict,” with the country he has invaded weaker than before and more vulnerable to more Russian mayhem.
The Ukrainians need heavier weapons to go on offense, including tanks and fighter aircraft like the MiG-29s that Poland wants to provide under the political cover of NATO. It also needs intelligence on Russian troop movements and vulnerabilities in the east. Now is the time to help Ukraine take the offensive. Reports of demoralized Russian forces are more frequent, including defectors who have taken equipment with them.
That’s why Mr. Zelensky now wants to go on the offensive. The more territory his forces can win back, the stronger position his country will have at the bargaining table. The experience of Russia’s behavior in Georgia in 2008 and eastern Ukraine in 2014-15 is that Mr. Putin doesn’t give up territory once his troops occupy it. The result is another “frozen conflict,” with the country he has invaded weaker than before and more vulnerable to more Russian mayhem.
The Ukrainians need heavier weapons to go on offense, including tanks and fighter aircraft like the MiG-29s that Poland wants to provide under the political cover of NATO. It also needs intelligence on Russian troop movements and vulnerabilities in the east. Now is the time to help Ukraine take the offensive. Reports of demoralized Russian forces are more frequent, including defectors who have taken equipment with them."
Net of this to me is that Biden doesn't want U to push R out of their gains, which many apparently think U can if they could act now, & are happy to wait 5-10--20 years till R decides to take more. Me, I'd give U more weapons now & bleed R dry. Apparently not to be.
www.wsj.com
"As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its sixth week, the script has flipped. Russia’s advance has stalled, and Ukraine now wants to go on offense to push back Russian forces from the land they’ve taken. But the country needs U.S. and NATO help to do it, and it seems the Biden Administration is reluctant to provide those weapons and intelligence."
"The peace terms Russia is demanding in negotiations suggest that such a consolidation in Ukraine’s east and a long-term occupation is now Russia’s goal. He’ll have won the long-sought “land bridge” between the Crimea and the Donbas. Mr. Putin could claim victory, pause for some years while he re-arms, continue trying to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and otherwise make political, cyber and other trouble for a Western-leaning Ukraine government.
That’s why Mr. Zelensky now wants to go on the offensive. The more territory his forces can win back, the stronger position his country will have at the bargaining table. The experience of Russia’s behavior in Georgia in 2008 and eastern Ukraine in 2014-15 is that Mr. Putin doesn’t give up territory once his troops occupy it. The result is another “frozen conflict,” with the country he has invaded weaker than before and more vulnerable to more Russian mayhem.
The Ukrainians need heavier weapons to go on offense, including tanks and fighter aircraft like the MiG-29s that Poland wants to provide under the political cover of NATO. It also needs intelligence on Russian troop movements and vulnerabilities in the east. Now is the time to help Ukraine take the offensive. Reports of demoralized Russian forces are more frequent, including defectors who have taken equipment with them.
That’s why Mr. Zelensky now wants to go on the offensive. The more territory his forces can win back, the stronger position his country will have at the bargaining table. The experience of Russia’s behavior in Georgia in 2008 and eastern Ukraine in 2014-15 is that Mr. Putin doesn’t give up territory once his troops occupy it. The result is another “frozen conflict,” with the country he has invaded weaker than before and more vulnerable to more Russian mayhem.
The Ukrainians need heavier weapons to go on offense, including tanks and fighter aircraft like the MiG-29s that Poland wants to provide under the political cover of NATO. It also needs intelligence on Russian troop movements and vulnerabilities in the east. Now is the time to help Ukraine take the offensive. Reports of demoralized Russian forces are more frequent, including defectors who have taken equipment with them."
Net of this to me is that Biden doesn't want U to push R out of their gains, which many apparently think U can if they could act now, & are happy to wait 5-10--20 years till R decides to take more. Me, I'd give U more weapons now & bleed R dry. Apparently not to be.
Opinion | Let Ukraine Go on Offense Against Russia
The U.S. is still not providing all of the weapons it needs to retake territory from Vladimir Putin.
www.wsj.com
