Russia’s War of Aggression
What if Ukraine’s counteroffensive fails?
Part three on the Ukrainian counter-offensive, the consequences if Kiev doesn’t win – and the appropriate words for this war.
Published
A Ukrainian woman cries during a liturgy at the Volodymyrskyi Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, on April 16, 2023.
Reuters
Ukrainian counteroffensive begins: A Ukrainian soldier near the front line near the newly liberated village of Neskuchne in Donetsk region on June 13, 2023.
Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers in the Storoshchev region of Donetsk region on June 12, 2023. In the country’s south, the Russian military said on Friday that heavy fighting was taking place near a group of villages.
Aeronavtyua via REUTERS
It said five attacks by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled.
Reuters
Reports say that the Russian defense line along the border between the Russian-controlled regions of Zaporizhia and Donetsk has slipped back several kilometers.
Reuters
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied reports of success on the Ukrainian front: “They are not achieving their goals any time soon.”
via REUTERS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg added that there was heavy fighting in many places along the 1,000 kilometer front. Ukrainian armed forces advanced.
Reuters
Still, Western observers warned that a counteroffensive to expel Russian troops from Ukraine could be drawn out.
Reuters
In the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian missiles hit industrial plants.
Reuters
Local officials said one person was injured.
Reuters
A rocket attack also hit the center of Kherson city early in the morning. On Friday, June 16, 2023, the cities of Kharkiv and Odessa, Kiev and the surrounding areas were attacked by drones.
via REUTERS
Mr. Bob, what is Ukraine’s goal?
The Ukrainian side wants to use the newly established units to attack with Western supplies and try to gain the initiative to gain territory – this is intended to break the will of the Russian side to go to war or continue to strengthen the Western will. Receive weapons supplies.
What if the Ukrainian counteroffensive fails?
It will be interesting to see how the politics continue after that. If the counteroffensive fails, there will be a moment in the conflict when, for the first time in the conflict, there will be a strong call for peace talks – perhaps even from quarters we’ve never heard of before.
“Attack attempts will primarily have a major political impact.”
Roland Pop
Will the attack have ramifications beyond Ukraine and Russia?
Yes. Whatever happens in the next four to six weeks with regard to the attempted Ukrainian offensive: it will primarily have major political implications. I’m thinking specifically of the upcoming NATO summit, where some tensions are expected within the alliance, because some states want to give more far-reaching guarantees to Ukraine, while others are fighting tooth and nail.
For you, a historian, which statement from history applies to this war?
As the old saying goes, Providence is always on the side of great battalions.
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