The West’s Ukrainian Strategy Will Mean a Prolonged Bloody Standoff

Last month, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization rallied around a new slogan for Ukraine: « As long as it takes ». When a reporter asked President Biden to explain what that meant, he replied, « Until it takes, Russia cannot, in fact, defeat Ukraine and go beyond the Ukraine. Note what he doesn’t say: how long it will take for Ukraine to win.

The West’s strategy is to provide the Ukrainians with sufficient military aid to defend against Russian advances and counter Vladimir Putin’s belief that he can win on the ground or wait until the Alliance runs out of gas. , wheat or patience – in other words, waiting for Mr. Putin to come out. The likely result will be a prolonged and bloody stalemate reminiscent of the Western Front of 1915.