The Ukrainian counter-offensive is very unlikely to make progress or regain territory lost to the Russians in the East and South of the country in the coming weeks, according to senior American diplomats who have called Zelensky’s lack of success is “sobering”.
Ukrainian forces continue to struggle to breach Russia’s highly-fortified defenses, comprised of thousands of mines and an extensive network of trenches. Ukraine – with assistance from a “massive” American-made HIMARS artillery strike – managed one major breakthrough yet has not been able to press on with the advantage.
The Ukrainians are “still going to see, for the next couple of weeks, if there is a chance of making some progress. But for them to really make progress that would change the balance of this conflict, I think, it’s extremely, highly unlikely,” states one senior Western diplomat.
“Even if they would keep on fighting for the next several weeks, if they haven’t been able to make more breakthroughs throughout these last seven, eight weeks, what is the likelihood that they will suddenly, with more depleted forces, make them? Because the conditions are so hard,” another unnamed diplomat told CNN.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed the lack of supplies at the army’s disposal, stating that the counter-offensive was launched later than anticipated due to the missing munitions, armaments, and adequate military training. However, a number of Western nations have admitted their “frustration” with the Ukrainian offensive, including Germany, which blamed Ukrainian tactics and decisions by the officers and troops on the ground.
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