Food as a weapon

A Ukrainian defence official stated that the country’s counteroffensive has regained over 200 sq. km. of territory.

- HARSHA KAKAR

A report in the New York Times mentioned that Ukraine lost large quantities of equipment gifted by Nato and also suffered heavy manpower losses. The report further assessed that Kiev’s chances of success are dim. Russia, aware that Ukraine would launch a counteroffensive, had spent months preparing for it. Truth has always been hard to come by in this conflict, though it is known that Ukrainian forces are weaker than Russia’s.

Ukraine even attempted to take the war to Moscow. Kiev’s suicide drones hit Moscow’s financial district prompting Russia to respond in kind. Ukrainian sea drones attacked a naval base in Russia, damaging a warship in the Black Sea, hundreds of miles from Ukraine. Western support for Ukraine continues unabated, despite countries facing their own economic slowdown.

The US has even provided banned cluster ammunition, as it is unable to meet artillery ammunition demands of Ukraine. For the West, collapse of the Ukrainian offensive would signal the possible end of the war, forcing Kiev to the bargaining table, compelling it to accept Russian terms.

A defeat of Ukraine would embolden Russia as also be a political challenge to ruling dispensations in the US and Europe. The public is unhappy at levels of finances being spent on Ukraine. Basically, western taxpayers are funding Ukrainian forces.

A warning restricting West’s support to Kiev was given by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, who stated, “(If the offensive) succeeded and ended up with part of our land being taken away…then we would have to use nuclear weapons.” While Nato is providing weapons and paying Ukrainian mercenaries, it will not risk a direct confrontation with Russia. The withdrawal of the Wagner group does not appear to have altered the scenario on the front in any way.