Financial Times: Ukraine turns to defense after its failed counterattack
The Financial Times reported that Ukraine changed its tactics and moved to the defense after its failed counterattack last summer, and the West doesn’t expect a new attack from Kiev before 2025.
The Financial Times continued in an article entitled “Active Defense: How Ukraine Plans to Survive in 2024,” quoting an unnamed Western official, who said, “After the summer counteroffensive ended in failure, Kiev is moving toward a new strategy”.
The Western official said that the strategy of active defense, meaning maintaining defensive lines while exploring weak points to exploit them along with long-range strikes, would allow Ukraine to build up its forces this year and prepare for 2025, when the counterattack will be more powerful and have a better chance.
At the same time, the Financial Times notes that the main factor that could determine Ukraine’s fate is the uncertainty surrounding Western military aid, including ammunition.
The biggest source of concern is the United States, as Congress hasn’t yet been able to approve the White House’s request to provide assistance to Ukraine.
There are still open questions about the West’s resolve, and whether it can continue to support Ukraine; If so, to what extent.
The Financial Times points out that even if US Congress agreed to provide assistance to Ukraine, it’s unlikely that Washington would be able to provide such a leap in capabilities and technologies, which would allow Kiev to decisively regain its advantage in 2024.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, during its counterattack, the Ukrainian armed forces lost 159,000 soldiers, 121 aircraft, and 766 tanks, including 37 German Leopard tanks.
The Russian Defense Minister had previously stated that the supply of Western weapons and the Ukrainian command’s introduction of strategic reserves into the battle did not change the situation on the battlefield.
