As the above quotation exemplifies, I have devoted most of my posts in this thread to urge all parties to this appalling tragedy to come forward and negotiate.
Those participants in the debate who confidently predicted that last year's counter-offensive would result in Ukrainian forces, with the aid of superior Western weaponry, sweeping across huge swathes of occupied territory - causing Russian troops to flee in terror - have fallen silent. Likewise, those who predicted that Russia would succumb to an economic collapse.
The reality has been very different, as these two articles show:
Outgunned and exhausted: what hope for Ukraine if US military aid dries up?https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/11/ukraine-outgunned-and-exhausted-what-hope-if-us-military-aid-dries-upExhausted Ukraine struggles to find new men for front linehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68255490As I predicted, public support in the West for the Ukrainian cause has markedly declined. Western politicians, while still publicly adhering to the "as long as it takes" rhetoric are clearly looking for a way out, while some Ukrainian leaders are reportedly preparing to blame the West if they are unable to realise their declared objective of driving Russia out of every inch of the territory it now occupies.
How on Earth did it come to this? In his recent "interview" with Tucker Carlson (in reality, a long-winded and eccentric history lesson combined with a party political broadcast) Mr Putin clearly indicated a willingness to negotiate along the lines that were being discussed in the spring of 2022. Mr Zelensky and his close aids should seize the opportunity. They need not meet Mr Putin face-to-face. They need not give in to all Russia's demands: but they will need to compromise. Any further financial support for Ukraine should be contingent on this approach and be directed towards defensive capabilities, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
In the early stages of the conflict, I made donations to Ukraine. I was and still am highly sympathetic to their plight. But, at the same time, I believe that Mr Zelensky has been incredibly naïve in heeding those Western leaders who, for their own reasons, encouraged him to fight when he could have reached a settlement of his own devising. Now, as the above articles show, he is faced with an exhausted populace who are beginning to wonder whether all the sacrifices they are being asked to make are going to be in vain.