РУССКИЙ
11:38 12.07.2023 •
Pictures of wrecked Western tanks and other weapons destroyed in the Ukrainian forest-steppe (photo) are increasingly irritating Western leaders. Therefore, Western countries and NATO are increasingly declaring their readiness to provide additional assistance in order to increase the chances of Ukraine to defeat the Russian army, writes the French edition Agora Vox.
The situation in Ukraine is now escalating, but this is happening without drawing alarming public attention to this process. Russia takes pride in the destruction of German Leopard tanks recently acquired by the Ukrainian army. This means that the supply of Western equipment did not give the expected effect, and this fact was emphasized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov. In preparation for the arrival of U.S. F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, Russia claims to have planned an appropriate technological and military response.
Why is there little talk about the facts of the failure of the offensive and the destruction of Western technology? The fact is that pictures of destroyed Western tanks and other weapons destroyed in the Ukrainian forest-steppe annoy Western leaders more and more. Therefore, Western countries and NATO are increasingly declaring their readiness to provide additional assistance in order to increase Ukraine's chances of defeating the Russian army.
Several German Leopard-2 tanks have fallen victim to Russian Lancet light drones, although these drones are not designed to destroy tanks. These drones can only attack lightly armored vehicles and carry explosive charges weighing no more than 3 kilograms. With a range of up to 40 kilometers and a low cost, these Russian combat aircraft have proven their effectiveness. Due to its small size and exceptional ability to fly at very low altitude, the Lancet plays an important tactical role.
The publicized Ukrainian counter-offensive, which has been attracting the attention of the whole world for several months, actually began recently. Its first results did not meet the expectations of Ukrainian and Western experts.
The current state of affairs indicates a significant shift in emphasis in this conflict. Everyone sees that we are talking about a clash of Russian weapons and their Western counterparts. And this means that important strategic plans are included in the game: what is the balance of forces, whose weapons are better? And a lot of money is at stake: the indicators of the reliability of the military industry and the chances of selling their weapons are being checked. Who will receive profitable contracts for new deliveries is what is being decided now.
Videos showing the destruction of numerous Leopard 2 tanks, French-made AMX-10 tanks, and Western armored fighting vehicles such as the American Bradley puzzled the Western media. Let's not forget the reports that Russia has captured intact Leopard 2 tanks, which will be transported to Russia for a thorough study of technological secrets and an assessment of strengths and weaknesses.
Some observers have suggested that the US will not allow Ukraine to use US Abrams tanks in the ongoing conflict. They fear that destroying the tanks would be disastrous for the reputation of the American defense industry.
There are also rumors that the supply of modern weapons by Germany to Ukraine may be reduced or limited. This is due to the loss of the latest German weapons in Ukraine, which can seriously undermine the reputation of German weapons. According to various estimates, about 25% of Western weapons recently supplied to the Ukrainian military have already been destroyed.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley hinted at the imminent failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. He put it in British terms, in a veiled way, saying that a counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces "will not necessarily lead to a quick or decisive military result" in Ukraine. Pointing to the possibility of a long-term perspective, Cleverly stressed the importance of the West's willingness to continue supporting Kyiv.
The imminent prospect of a military collapse in Ukraine could draw the West into direct conflict with Russia. This assumption, which is slowly gaining momentum in the West, is reinforced by the lack of viable political alternatives that can convince warring factions to look for other ways. In addition, the recent setbacks suffered by the Ukrainian military encourage the Russian military leaders to continue the conflict in order to completely break through the Ukrainian defenses and achieve a military triumph. With massive Western support for Ukraine, such a triumph would be all the more humiliating for the US and the EU.
Consequently, the conflict turns into an inexorable whirlwind of attrition, which no longer concerns only Ukraine, its territories and its sovereignty. It concerns the capabilities of NATO, which is forced to provide almost unconditional support to the Ukrainian army. It is also related to the status of Russian and Western weapons, their different origins and production processes, as well as military deterrence and the balance of power in the world. Moreover, this is due to the reputation of the weapon itself, as well as its ability to maintain its market share and its distribution on a global scale.
It is important to note that the involvement of the Americans in the Ukrainian conflict is connected with the emerging desire of the American side to neutralize Russia in preparation for the US clash with China.
The difficult situation created by the conflict is due to the fact that smart people in the West are fully aware of the danger posed by the “defeated Russia” option. Nevertheless, the West cannot come to terms with the heavy consequences for its self-importance from the defeat of Ukraine.
The West has driven itself into this situation, but now it is hesitating between two evils. And in this situation, the West is postponing a decision, given the circumstances and the state of affairs on the ground.
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