The war in Ukraine: Convincing Putin he holds a losing hand - Yahoo News

After 10 months of aggravated combat and a staggering expenditure of ammunition, the warfare successful Ukraine heads into a acold and acheronian New Year. For Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is simply a combat for survival; for Russia and Vladimir Putin, it's a subject debacle.

"He understands that this has been a mess," said subject student Fred Kagan. "I don't deliberation he's accepted that helium is defeated, due to the fact that the essence of being Putin is ne'er accepting that you've been defeated."

Kagan's Institute for the Study of War produces regular maps showing however overmuch crushed Russia has been forced to springiness up since its penetration stalled.

Putin is trying to marque up for it by unleashing drone and rocket strikes against Ukraine's cities.

Kagan said, "Putin is looking for ways to interruption Ukraine's volition to proceed the fight, and astir importantly, I think, he's focused connected trying to interruption Western enactment for Ukraine."

Martin asked, "Which does helium person a amended accidental of breaking?"

"The volition of the Western democracies. I deliberation helium has precise small accidental of breaking the volition of the Ukrainians successful immoderate abbreviated play of time."

On December 21 the Biden medication enactment connected a Christmas pageant of enactment for Zelenskyy during a whirlwind sojourn to the nation's capital. The embodiment of his country's warring spirit, Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. for the $22 cardinal successful weapons it has already committed, and made wide helium volition beryllium asking for more. "We person artillery, yes. Thank you," helium told the U.S. Congress. "Is it enough? Honestly, not really."

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Ukraine is heading into the dormant of wintertime nether a continuing barrage of Russian drone and rocket strikes.

President Biden said, "Destroying the strategy to supply vigor and airy to the Ukrainian radical during the coldest, darkest portion of the year, Russia is utilizing wintertime arsenic a weapon."

Zelenskyy vows Ukraine "cannot beryllium broken" arsenic Russia bombs civilians into darkness, but runs abbreviated of missiles

Kagan thinks Ukraine tin crook the limb of wintertime against the Russians. "Right now, the Ukrainians person a model of opportunity," helium said. "This winter, particularly arsenic the crushed freezes, if we supply them with the systems they need, the Russian service is inactive disorganized and mostly reeling, and the Ukrainians person an accidental to regain a batch of territory."

"How overmuch longer bash you expect this warfare to spell on?" asked Martin.

"It tin spell connected for years; that's unlikely, but possible," Kagan replied.

How agelong is apt to beryllium determined by however overmuch much territory Zelenskyy retakes – and Putin loses.

"The creation present is helping Putin recognize that he's mislaid this round, and it's clip to fold this hand," Kagan said. "We person to transportation him that this approach, this subject approach, is done, and helium cannot different than proceed to suffer here. He's not determination yet, and we request to assistance the Ukrainians get him determination arsenic rapidly arsenic possible."

   
For much info:

Institute for the Study of War

      
Story produced by Mary Walsh. Editor: Karen Brenner. 

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