The Danger in Hyping Ukraine’s Spring Offensive
It’s troubling to imply that Western support for Kyiv might somehow be tied to the success of a counterattack against the Russians.
Ready to retake what’s theirs.
Photographer: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Ukraine’s ballyhooed “spring offensive” hasn’t even begun yet, but Western politicians are already using it to reframe their thinking about Kyiv’s defensive war against Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is a problem. By hyping expectations for the Ukrainians’ imminent military push, the US, Europe and NATO may jeopardize Kyiv’s long-term prospects.
The start of the offensive, expected right about now, has been a foregone conclusion since the winter. While the ground was frozen, the Ukrainians and Russians — regular army units as well as mercenaries of the Wagner Group — pinned one another down in a bloody war of attrition with little movement. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians were receiving and being trained to use new weapons, including the heavy battle tanks needed for a counterattack.