Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British Army officer, is convinced that only strong military support from international partners will allow Ukraine to defeat the Russian Federation on the battlefield. First of all, it is about missiles, tanks and aircraft.
Why the new counteroffensive of the Armed Forces did not change the course of the war
Colonel Kemp points out that it was precisely because of the lack of aviation, artillery and engineering that the Ukrainian army was unable to break through the powerful and extensive Russian defences that were being built at the same time as the Ukrainians were preparing to break through.
Having seen it first-hand on the frontline, I cannot fault Ukraine's military prowess. But the determination of Western countries to provide them with the tools they need to finish the job is sorely lacking.
Colonel Kemp visited the front line of the Ukrainian counteroffensive together with the online.ua team and told what the Ukrainian military had to face. See here:
It is also worth remembering how often Western countries have slowed down and blocked crucial decisions to help the Ukrainian armed forces.
First of all, we are talking about Germany, which at the beginning of the Russian invasion provided Ukraine with only first aid kits and helmets. Then came the story of blocking the decision to provide tanks for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
There have been many similar situations with various partners of Kyiv, who feared or continue to fear the reaction and revenge of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Everything that is happening now on the Ukrainian front is the result of insufficient Western assistance.
No matter how hard American leader Joe Biden tries, his initiative alone is not enough to make a breakthrough in Ukraine.
The munitions sent by the US and other countries were subject to strict restrictions on their use. This included the condition that they could not be used against Russian sovereign territory where they could cause game-changing damage.
More and more countries are weakening or withdrawing support for Ukraine
Colonel Kemp calls on the international community not to ignore the fact that the Ukrainian people are finding it increasingly difficult to resist Russian aggression amidst the dramatic change in the policies of some countries.
As you know, Slovakia has been a loyal friend and ally of Ukraine from the very beginning, but the new government of this country with a pro-Moscow platform cancelled the plan to send missiles and artillery shells to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and called for peace talks and the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
Of course, the suspension of military aid from Slovakia is a setback, not a turning point.
However, her new political stance will exacerbate the growing scandal in the EU over Ukraine's membership negotiations, as well as over financial support and military aid.
The position of Hungary, led by pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has not changed in recent years.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy's attempt to persuade Putin's protege has not yet yielded the desired results.
Membership and funding negotiations require the agreement of all EU countries, so if a compromise is not reached, Ukraine will be in a difficult position. Financial and military assistance from the EU is crucial, especially against the backdrop of the impasse in Washington over the latest Biden aid package.
It should also not be forgotten that the White House's plan to provide Kyiv with another $61 billion in aid was blocked by Republicans in the Senate.
Colonel Kemp names the formula for Ukraine's victory in the war with Russia
Against the backdrop of recent events in the international arena, Ukraine has found itself in a difficult situation, but it still has a very real chance of winning this war.
Colonel Kemp warns that the Russian army may be preparing for a new large-scale offensive in 2024.
To stop this potential attack and to have any chance of returning to the offensive, Ukraine cannot retreat from its allies. It needs a large number of long-range missiles, as well as tanks, fighter jets and artillery shells.
Nevertheless, Kyiv may face a new inhibition of decisions in the capitals of Europe and the United States, as war fatigue has set in and attention has shifted from Ukraine to the Middle East.
And there are indications that Biden will try to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine before next year's US elections to present himself as a peacemaker. European leaders, at least in the West, will support him. The problem is that this can only lead to Russia retaining the territory of Ukraine that it has already seized. If this happens, it will be a defeat not only for Ukraine, but also for NATO.
According to Colonel Kemp, after Ukraine's defeat, the Alliance will finally lose the remnants of its credibility, especially after the failure in Afghanistan two years ago.
