WSJ predicts a difficult winter on the front for Ukraine, but without major Russian successes
According toThe Wall Street Journal, winter will be a test for Ukraine in the war, but no significant Russian successes are expected. “Ukrayinska Pravda quotes Marcus Walker of the WSJ as saying that while Russia has military, political and economic superiority, its progress on the battlefield is limited.
The article emphasizes that Russia is mobilizing resources by using oil revenues to circumvent sanctions, while Ukraine is dependent on Western support, which is very slow and insufficient. Walker notes that Ukraine needs to increase mobilization and training, as well as strengthen its defense lines.
Michael Coffman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggested that Russia’s material advantages in 2024 will not be sufficient to achieve its political goals. He also emphasized the importance of the right approach by Ukraine and Western support to ensure success.
The WSJ points out that Zelenskyy’s military goals of fully restoring Ukraine’s borders in the coming years are unrealistic. The article also mentions the concern of European officials about potential changes at the front in the winter.
According to the WSJ, the Ukrainian army lacks infantry and many of those mobilized are underprepared. In addition, the article points to the lack of ammunition, which makes it difficult for Ukraine to conduct offensive operations.
According to Kofman, next year could be important for building and rebuilding the Ukrainian army. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, noted that the war is moving into a “positional” stage with static battles, where success requires high technology, because Ukraine does not have as many people as Russia.
