At the Munich Security Conference, embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again took his famous song and dance routine to the world stage.
Zelensky has just replaced his top general – and political enemy – Valery Zalozny, and after only a few days under the leadership of his replacement, Oleksandr Sirsky, Kiev lost the key, heavily fortified city of Avdiivka in the Donbas.
This is not a great start – and outmaneuvered and outmaneuvered Ukrainian forces appear poised to withdraw in many other front-line directions.
Now, it appears that not only is the former comedian facing widespread war fatigue, but the entire fundraising routine has become exhausting for him and many others.
The German magazine Der Spiegel published an explanatory article entitled: Exhausted President: Exhausted President.
We read there that Ukraine may not be able to withstand Russian pressure, and that the ammunition shortage is unlikely to be resolved this year.
Zelensky “I tried to dispel doubts before all decision-makers in Europe and the United States – whether Ukraine can survive a war with Russia.” However, his despair cannot be ignored..
The magazine noted his husky voice as a result of his endless presence on the fundraising — and frankly fear-mongering — bandwagon.
In Munich, the heads of the intelligence services of the Western allied countries expressed the difficult situation in which the Ukrainian army had fallen.
“At the beginning of 2023, the West and Kiev still had high hopes for the upcoming counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. There was talk of the return of territories seized by Russia, and perhaps even the Crimean Peninsula. A year later, it has become increasingly difficult for the Ukrainians to Keep the front. Spiegel writes.
Der Spiegel magazine describes the “desperate” situation for the Ukrainian forces at the present time, which is not an exaggeration at all.
Elsewhere in the MSM, we find them trying to be a bit more optimistic about Zelensky's journey, and more willing to tread water for his narrative.
The AP writes how allies “warned” us on Saturday that his country's “artificial deficit” in weapons “risks giving Russia breathing room, highlighting the need for artillery and long-range weapons.”
There are two big problems: If a country does not produce weapons or ammunition, it “naturally” does not have enough for a peer-to-peer war with one of the deadliest militaries in the world. There is nothing “artificial” about this.
Also, saying that this “risks giving Russia breathing space” implies that Ukraine controls Russia, which is not the case at all.
The Munich Security Conference is an annual gathering of security and foreign policy officials, so it is the perfect forum for Ukraine to play their advocacy game.
Barely maintaining his defensive posture against Russia, hampered by low ammunition supplies and personnel shortages, he must convince the world that foreign taxpayer money is the solution to all problems.
The Associated Press reported:
He added: “The Ukrainians have proven that we are capable of forcing Russia to back down.” “We can take back our land, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield.”
He added: “Our actions are limited only by our strength,” referring to the situation in Avdiivka. Ukrainian commander Colonel-General Oleksandr Sirsky said early Saturday that he was withdrawing his forces from the city, where outnumbered Ukrainian defenders had fought a Russian offensive for four months, to avoid encirclement and save the lives of soldiers.
[…] “Dear friends, unfortunately, keeping Ukraine in an artificial arms deficit, especially in light of the deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities, allows Putin to adapt to the intensity of the current war,” Zelensky said. “The self-weakening of democracy over time undermines our shared outcomes.”
One of the biggest comebacks was when he pointed out that Russia had not achieved much by invading Avdiivka. This is what Russia achieved. “It is a depletion of their army.”
It remains to be seen how many more cities Kiev will lose while emphasizing that Russia has “achieved nothing.”
He added: “We are only waiting for the weapons that we lack,” pointing out the lack of long-range weapons. “That is why our weapons today are our soldiers and our people.”
Speaking alongside European and other officials later on Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said “we all need more and more artillery ammunition” and stressed the need to increase production. Drones have become a real part of the game, he said; “It will solve some problems, but it will not replace artillery ammunition.”
As Europe strives to revive its military-industrial complexes, the United States sent to the all-important conference an uninterested Vice President, Kamala Harris, who met with Zelensky and said: “It is in the strategic interest of the United States to continue our support.”
Read more:
Watch: Invasion of Avdiivka – Ukrainians ordered to leave – Russians seize strategic strongholds – Kiev leaves 'low-value' troops (including women) to protect withdrawal
