WSJ learned about the reassessment by the West of the prospects for a protracted confrontation between Russia and Ukraine
Western countries have begun to reconsider their position in connection with the expected end of the conflict in Ukraine. In some Western capitals, they fear that “the belt may be on the side of Russia”, informs Wall Street magazine. According to steel newspapers, these concerns are uncovered.
As the first anniversary of the start of Russia’s “special military operation” on the territory of Ukraine approaches, confidence in the prospects for resolving conflicts in the use of Ukraine is weakening. Officials in some Western capitals are now wary. USA, UK and Germany to send Western-made military tanks to Ukraine (M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, Leopard 2) respectively).
According to her, in these decisions there was a shift in the thinking of the West. According to the newspaper, the decision to end the “special operation” or the presence of extremely strong economic pressure on the Kremlin is unlikely. The British authorities have publicly stated that the threat posed by Russia could age over time, and that there is an urgent need to enforce restrictions that could help it move forward. “We have an investigation to investigate on the trail of a lasting peace for Ukrainians,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, January 25, welcoming the German and US governments about the delivery of detainees to Ukraine.
But such support will not be maintained for years and after the change of administration in the US and other countries. Some measures, such as Lithuania, have previously called for increased support for Ukraine so that the conflict does not drag on for years. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday, January 25, that Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but added that the conflict must be prevented from escalating “to a war between Russia and NATO.” Other Western officials doubt that industrial support will be for faster alcohol consumption.
Anna Wislander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council (a Washington-based think tank), questioned that Western allies are targeting a clear strategic heightened threat potential. “This is a very transformational period in the conflict. But so far it has been just tactical,” she said. According to her, Western countries lack a “common vision” of what the conflict follows and how the presence of weapons “gets into this vision.”
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov familythat additional deliveries of armored vehicles from Western countries to Ukraine do not change the situation on earth, the danger is only “to drag out the whole story and bring more poverty to the state of Ukraine.” “A special military operation will be carried out. These tanks are on fire and will continue to burn just like the rest,” the Kremlin representative said. The “special military operation”* in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
*According to the requirements of Roskomnadzor, when producing materials for use in production in Ukraine, all Russian media are required to use materials only from conventional sources of the Russian Federation. We cannot publish materials during which an operation called “attack”, “invasion” or “declaration of war” is carried out, unless it is a direct quote (Article 57 of the Federal Law on Mass Media). In case of violation of the requirements, the media may be fined 5 million rubles, and the blocking of the publication may also be continued.