Ukraine: the reversal of expectations

First round victory went to Ukraine almost by default, but the second round will be more difficult as the Russians regroup in eastern Ukraine, allowing for their traditional, methodical tactics to function as designed.

In a press briefing at the Polish border last week after a quick visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said the U.S. wanted to see Russia 'weakened to the point where it can’t do things like invade Ukraine.' The official U.S. goal now is to reduce Russia to a state so weak that it cannot credibly threaten Ukraine, and keep it there, writes Gwynne Dyer.Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

April 28, 2022

LONDON, U.K.—Two months ago, when Russian tanks first rolled into Ukraine, every message from Washington or NATO about the invasion included a prominent passage saying what the western alliance would not do. It would not send NATO troops to help Ukraine. It would give Ukraine some "defensive" wea...

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