Kyiv’s allies are largely withholding judgment over the Ukrainian offensive into Russian territory amid uncertainty over the ultimate goal of an operation that’s sought to redraw the map of the Kremlin’s 2 1/2-year war.

Western officials fear that the attack by Ukrainian forces on the Kursk region, which Moscow has labeled a provocation and terrorist act and which resulted in civilian casualties, could sow discord among Kiev’s allies, according to Bloomberg.

Some have expressed concerns both publicly and privately, pointing out that the escalation of fighting might divert much-needed Ukrainian troops from the fragile front line and potentially create rifts among Kiev’s backers.

According to a senior official quoted by the agency, the West believes that Kiev chose an inopportune time for the attack on the Kursk region.

Additionally, some of Ukraine’s allies are dissatisfied with the lack of clarity regarding Kiev’s objectives in this action.

https://archive.ph/ZMbdR

  • JayTreeman [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    10·
    1 month ago

    I feel like what’s your end goal is a really valid question. My theory is that Ukraine is going to use it for negotiation. They were coming from a very weak position, but now it’s less weak

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOPEnglish
      10·
      1 month ago

      Their position is far more weak now because they wasted thousands of troops on an incursion that has no strategic value. In fact, Putin has already come out and said that there can’t be negotiations after this. Russia is still advancing all across the front that’s collapsing at an increasing speed, and this just made Russia’s job easier because instead of having to storm fortified positions, Ukraine brought out their troops into the open. Once Russia is done mopping up in Kursk, it’s almost certain that they’re going to push in from there in a big way.

        • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOPEnglish
          8·
          1 month ago

          Threatening the nuclear power plant along with ZNPP was most likely the original goal, and that was probably the hare brained scheme to try and get some leverage over Russia when the negotiations start. Given that they got nowhere close to it, I think it’s safe to say the gambit failed.

            • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOPEnglish
              4·
              1 month ago

              They are absolutely desperate at this point. The brewing conflict with Iran is taking attention from the war already, and on top of it Russia is taking territory at an ever increasing rate. Convincing western sponsors to dump more money into this must be very difficult right now.

    • kittin [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
      7·
      1 month ago

      If Russia believes they can push Ukraine out then all this achieves is to delay a cease fire and Ukraine isn’t even able to hold their extremely well fortified Donbas line so they won’t be able to hold in Kursk.

      It’s Battle of the Bulge. This is the last hoorah. The next step is either the Donbas line breaks, which makes Kursk irrelevant, or they rush the elite units out of Kursk to reinforce the Donbas line, which means Kursk falls.

      They’ve scored a PR win only and that’s not actually worth much.