It’s time for a plan C in Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine is reaching a critical point as calls for negotiations grow, but there are concerns about the effectiveness of negotiations with Russia and the lack of clear war aims from Western allies.
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Eastern European countries are concerned about Ukraine being pushed into peace talks with Russia, as they believe international partners should focus on supporting Ukraine to achieve a decisive victory.
Ukraine's military has reported advances and strong defense along the front lines of its war with Russia, with Moscow acknowledging tension in the southern sector but dismissing Kyiv's campaign as unsuccessful.
Ukraine's former defense minister warns that negotiations with Russia won't bring peace as Putin aims to destroy Ukraine and assimilate its citizens into the Russian Federation, emphasizing the need for international support to prevent world war III.
The Republican Party is facing internal tensions over the U.S. assistance to Ukraine, with a growing number of conservatives questioning the continued funding of the war and urging President Biden to justify the need for it.
Officials at the G20 summit expressed a desire for "just and durable peace" in Ukraine, but Russia successfully watered down a statement on the war, avoiding any mention of its military action "against Ukraine."
The West's reluctance to provide sufficient military aid to Ukraine and growing concerns over corruption may lead to a Russian victory and a defeat for NATO, necessitating a robust damage-limitation strategy and continued economic warfare against Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes the importance of continued support from the West in the face of slow progress in the counter-offensive against Russia, expressing that Ukraine must be prepared for a long war while urging Western leaders to maintain their commitment to funding and supplying arms, or risk aiding Russia's victory.
The Biden administration is considering whether to send long-range missiles to Ukraine, but a final decision has not yet been made, and it is unlikely to happen before the U.N. General Assembly; if approved, the missiles would provide Ukraine with the ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
America's top military commander warns that Ukraine has limited time to pursue a stagnating military offensive, as tensions with Western allies rise, potentially putting Ukraine and the US at odds.
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests that Ukraine is likely to initiate peace talks only when it runs out of resources and would use any ceasefire to rearm with Western assistance again.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that he is preparing for a prolonged war in Ukraine, stating that Kyiv could potentially use any ceasefire to rearm and that the US will continue to view Russia as an enemy regardless of the outcome of the 2024 US election.
An alliance between North Korea and Russia could impact the conflict in Ukraine by providing Russia with additional weapons and potentially escalate the nuclear arms race in Asia.
Ukraine's military offensive against Russian forces in the south and east has made limited progress, prompting discussions about whether the US and other Western countries should provide more powerful weapons or seek a negotiated settlement.
Russia and Ukraine will face off in the International Court of Justice where Russia claims its invasion of Ukraine was to prevent genocide, while Ukraine argues Russia is abusing international law; the case is focused on legal arguments about jurisdiction and has potential future implications for reparations claims.
The Polish Foreign Ministry has summoned the Ukrainian ambassador over comments made by President Zelensky suggesting that some European allies were playing into Russia's hands by politicizing a dispute over the export of Ukrainian grain, further escalating the disagreement between Ukraine and Poland, which could threaten Europe's cohesion in its support for Ukraine.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Israel are getting closer to normalizing relations, but the treatment of Palestinians remains an important issue to be resolved; any deal would require major progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, which is a challenge for Israel's current government.
Ukraine needs to shift its focus from post-war recovery to preparing for a long war, as a ceasefire or peace talks with Russia are unlikely, and instead should aim to ensure it has the staying power to thrive despite the ongoing conflict, according to The Economist.
Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for a united front against Russian aggression in his speech at the UN General Assembly and asks former President Trump to share his peace plans, claiming that Trump could get a "fair deal" with Putin to end the war in Ukraine.