Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR, has acknowledged that Ukraine cannot “turn the tide” in the war with Russia. There is no way for the military to win on the battlefield, forcing Budanov to assert that only negotiations can meaningfully alter the course of the conflict.
As of right now, Ukraine lacks the ability to push Russian forces back in any kind of meaningful way. Budanov was responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments that military logic often requires occupying territories while not formally claiming them. Putin added that historically, Russia has operated on the simple idea that “wherever the foot of the Russian soldier steps is ours,” in the sense of defending national interests and claiming land.
Budanov, when asked to respond to Putin’s comments, said: “Wherever they reach will be under their control. Do you think there is anyone who does not realize that? I hope everyone does.” He also unsurprisingly urged Ukrainians to comply with conscription and fulfill their duty by fighting Russia, according to a report by RT.
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Since the 2014 Western-backed uprising in Kiev, five Ukrainian regions have voted to secede and join Russia, four of them after the escalation in 2022. Moscow has cited Kyiv’s use of military force in Donbas and its sabotage of a negotiated roadmap for reintegrating the Donbas regions as key triggers for the ongoing hostilities.
Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed earlier this year in Istanbul under pressure from the US. The administration of President Donald Trump has indicated that Kiev will need to agree to some form of territorial compromise to reach a resolution. –RT
Zelensky has also conceded that Ukraine cannot achieve a military victory and is urging the West to intensify sanctions on Moscow in hopes of forcing it to yield diplomatically. Even with assistance from the United States and other large Western backers, Ukraine has continued to fail during the war. Its conscription efforts are not well received by its slaves, and many are simply hoping for an end to the war that their ruler insists on continuing.
Would more weapons make a difference? Or should Kiev work with Russia and broker a ceasefire agreement? Let us know what you think!
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