U.S. warns Ukraine it faces a pivotal moment in war

[former9thward]

As the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears, U.S. officials are telling Ukrainian leaders they face a critical moment to change the trajectory of the war, raising the pressure on Kyiv to make significant gains on the battlefield while weapons and aid from the United States and its allies are surging.

Despite promises to back Ukraine “as long as it takes,” Biden officials say recent aid packages from Congress and America’s allies represent Kyiv’s best chance to decisively change the course of the war. Many conservatives in the Republican-led House have vowed to pull back support, and Europe’s long-term appetite for funding the war effort remains unclear.


“We will continue to try to impress upon them that we can’t do anything and everything forever,” said one senior administration official, referring to Ukraine’s leaders. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters, added that it was the administration’s “very strong view” that it will be hard to keep getting the same level of security and economic assistance from Congress.

The war in recent months has become a slow grind in eastern Ukraine, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Biden officials believe the critical juncture will come this spring, when Russia is expected to launch an offensive and Ukraine mounts a counteroffensive in an effort to reclaim lost territory.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/13/us-ukraine-war-critical-moment/

[lastlib]

1. We cannot quit this.

We need to support them to the bitter end, as if our own survival was at stake, because in a very real sense, it is. Putin CANNOT be allowed to win this. The Ukraine MUST be preserved, with ALL of its territory, including Crimea.

[PSPS]

4. Yes, but tell that to the kremlin kaucus

[bluestarone]

2. I'm quite sure

They DO NOT need to be told ANYTHING about the critical moment they are facing! They have been screaming about this very thing for almost a YEAR now!

[PortTack]

3. Many conservatives vow to pull back support. There were a total of ten...10 that supported the

Latest bill to stop aide to Ukraine.

Who writes this? Are they on the battlefield? Do they know the conditions? It’s fucking winter for gods sakes. Not to mention British intel says the counter offensive planned by russia has already started.

[Chainfire]

5. If you follow the military maps you can see that that both sides are in Winter Sitzkrieg mode.

Small maneuvers here and there to set the stage for the Spring Offensive. The clock favors Russia over Ukraine. The Ukrainians need to hand Putin his head in the next month or so or be slowly ground down. Russia is much like they were in 1941; they were unprepared for what they were facing. By 1942 they started being able to use their mass to their advantage and by 43 they were pushing the Nazis around.

If the Europeans let Putin occupy the biggest part of the Ukraine, they better be prepared to continue the fight elsewhere, because Putin won't stop there. The Baltics will certainly be toast! Let him have a win in Ukraine, and he will begin to believe his own legend. The French and Germans should get it and act accordingly. They can either defeat Putin in Ukraine, or fight a "victorious" Putin in Poland.

If there were a God, he would push Putin out a window before he causes the deaths millions of people.

[WarGamer]

6. Disgree with your prediction post Ukraine.

Russia's military has performed pathetically vs Ukraine armed by NATO.

Any Russian move into a NATO country will be annihilated.

In fact it won't even be close.

Not a chance Putin starts a head to head war with NATO... in Poland or anywhere else.

[Chainfire]

8. The point I was making was that, historically, Russia does better as time progresses.

They have a lot of people and a lot of resources. Once they stop stepping on their own crank, which they have done for the past year, they can be a big problem to Europe and beyond. It appears that the Spring Offensive may be kicking off a little early with the Russians making some small gains while the Americans are telling the Ukrainians that they are using ammo faster than we can make them. That is not an optimistic message, especially when Russia is using twice the number of shells that the Ukrainians are.

With Russian lines of communications outside of Ukraine apparently out of bounds for attacks, the Russian logistical system, as bad as it is, still has the advantage of secure landlines of communications.

I am pulling for the Ukrainians with all of my heart, but they are in for some tough fighting. I hope we maintain the resolve to give them what they need to prevail. I would like to see their Western European neighbors strengthen their resolve as well. I would like to see the EU committed to Ukraine's survival. At this time they are more "involved." and we all know the old story about involved and committed...

[WarGamer]

11. I have Russian family...

And I can guarantee that the people are counting the days...or years until they have a Western friendly gov't.

[Chainfire]

12. I don't doubt it for a moment. I differentiate between the Russian people and

their government. Sometimes I think that we may be moving toward the same situation that the Russians find themselves in. Our Oligarchs and their pet lawmakers gain power every day.

[WarGamer]

7. Most GOP'ers are warmongers and like the proxy war...

Don't forget, this is a neocon fantasy.

[Chainfire]

9. Yep and they are pulling for the opposing team...

[Kaleva]

10. Providing them with the weapons needed to accomplish that would help

Ukrainians are just now starting training on the Leopard tanks and it's going to be sone months before Abrams tanks become operational.