Experts from the Atlantic Council analytical center under the Alliance note that the most effective weapon of the Kremlin dictator and war criminal Vladimir Putin remains the fear of certain Western countries before a mythical escalation.
How Putin plays on the fears of Ukraine's Western partners
The authors of the material note the successes of the Ukrainian military in confronting the Black Sea Fleet of the criminal army of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea, which was achieved thanks to the determination of Western partners to supply appropriate weapons to Ukraine.
While the conflict's 1,000-kilometer front line has barely budged in the past twelve months, developments elsewhere suggest a military breakthrough may still be a realistic possibility. The most dynamic events of the war in 2023 took place on the Black Sea. Despite the lack of its own warships, Ukraine managed to force Putin's fleet to retreat, analysts note.
According to the article's authors, Ukraine's remarkable successes in confronting the Russian Federation in the Black Sea can become the basis for further achievements, particularly the deoccupation of Crimea.
Analysts note that Ukraine has the opportunity to unite and prepare the conditions for the further defeat of the criminal army of the Russian Federation.
Perhaps most of all, Ukraine's progress at sea confirms the futility of Russian threats and the complete stupidity of the West's desire to avoid escalation at all costs. Kremlin officials use threatening expressions because they believe that the West lacks determination, the publication says.
Why should the West abandon "red lines" in the Ukraine issue
Analysts emphasize that since the beginning of the large-scale invasion of the occupying Russian army in Ukraine at the end of February 2022, Western partners have limited and delayed the supply of critical weapons to Kyiv, also restricting the ability of the Ukrainian military to retaliate against the territory of the Russian Federation.
For almost two years, Western leaders allowed Russia to intimidate them. They deprived Ukraine of the weapons necessary to win the war, fearing to provoke Putin. This disastrous approach only prolonged the hostilities and emboldened the Kremlin. Now it should be painfully clear that nothing can provoke Russian aggression with greater probability than the continued weakness of the West, - note the authors of the publication.
Analysts claim that in 2024, Ukraine's partners should draw logical conclusions from the events on the Black Sea and apply them to create a winning strategy.
This means abandoning its own red lines and finally giving Ukraine the tools to end the war. Western fear of Russian escalation is Putin's secret weapon. It is high time to disarm it, analysts emphasize.
