Deterioration of the Situation at the Front
Prominent Financial Times analyst Gideon Rachman warns that there may be a serious deterioration at the front by autumn if support from partners decreases, despite positive signals from the recent NATO summit. According to him, both the Russian and Ukrainian armies are approaching the point of exhaustion. Russia can maintain its current level of operations for another year, but Ukraine may reach a critical point in six months without new military support.
Changing Sentiments in Kyiv
It is also worth noting that the article emphasizes radical changes in the sentiments of the Ukrainian government. Rachman states that the Kyiv government is calling for a ceasefire in closed meetings with Western leaders, indicating a change in approach. These calls are gaining increasing momentum at this time. The main goal of Russia now is to capture Odessa, which Putin considers historically Russian territory, potentially denying Ukrainians access to their main port.
Support from partners could influence the development of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the change in sentiments within Kyiv's leadership indicates growing tension and a need to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation.