All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the Translate Website button below the author’s name.
To receive Global Research’s Daily Newsletter (selected articles), click here.
Click the share button above to email/forward this article to your friends and colleagues. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
***
Ukraine is failing miserably in its “counteroffensive”.
After nearly 3 months, Ukraine has lost probably more than 50,000+ dead. For that price, Ukraine has in the south advanced 6 km to the village of Robotine. That is only 2 km per month at a small narrow point of Ukraine’s maximum advance. And Ukraine is still more than 20 km from the main railway hub of Tokmak, 70 km from their main objective Melitopol, and 90 km from the Sea to cut off Crimea. Ukraine has also after immense casualties marched 6 km to Urazhaine, which is practically nowhere. South of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), Ukraine marched closed to the village of Klischiivka, but is now pushed firmly back as the Russians have taken over the offensive actions. North of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), Ukraine is not moving even a meter. And in the north, Ukraine has evacuated the strategic logistical hub of Kupyansk and from more than 50 settlements around it as Russia is rolling out a major offensive in that area.
Ukraine is losing its “precious” western equipment on an industrial scale. Leopard 2, Challenger, Bradley, Stryker, CAESAR … they are all being destroyed on conveyor belt.
There is only one month left of this summer’s fighting season, and suddenly these realities are starting to press on decision makers in the US, the EU, and even in Ukraine.
Everywhere in the West, a new discourse is unfolding
New discourse in the US:
“The U.S. intelligence community assesses that Ukraine’s counteroffensive will fail to reach the key southeastern city of Melitopol, people familiar with the classified forecast told The Washington Post, a finding that, should it prove correct, would mean Kyiv won’t fulfill its principal objective of severing Russia’s land bridge to Crimea in this year’s push.” – The Washington Post, August 17, 2023
New discourse in the EU (former French President Sarkozy):
“Sarkozy, who was in office (2007-2012) when France held the EU’s rotating presidency in 2008 during Russia’s invasion of Georgia, told Le Figaro in an interview the bloc ought to “clarify [its] strategy” with regards to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“Being at war whilst not being at war” is no longer a sustainable stance, Sarkozy said, calling on all parties to find a “compromise”, else things could take an ugly turn “at any moment”.
The comments were largely received as a move to distance from French President Emmanuel Macron’s Ukraine policy.” – Euractiv, August 17, 2023
The West is desperately looking for a way out of this.
*
Note to readers: Please click the share button above. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.
Karsten Riise is a Master of Science (Econ) from Copenhagen Business School and has a university degree in Spanish Culture and Languages from Copenhagen University. He is the former Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Mercedes-Benz in Denmark and Sweden.
He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
