You don’t decide what the objectives of this war were.
The were defined and today you are “chaging the goal post” in order to pretend Ukraine did not lose.
(Politically) and the cause of this was was Ukraine entering NATO. That did not haoopen and it will not happen. Therefore, Ukraine did NOT achieve their political goal.
(Militarily) the goal was to prevent Russia from seizing the Eastern and Ethnic Russian areas. It was ALWAYS known that Russia as in 2014 with Crimea will go after areas that long term are easy to hold because contrary to your feelings, the people there actually see themselves more Russian. Ukraine was NOT able to hold these lands and they are today part of Russia. Therfore, Ukraine did not achieve their military objectives.
***When you FAIL to accomplish your stated political and military objectives, you lost.***
What now?
Ukraine’s last shot was their counteroffensive which also failed. There will be no retaking of their once Eastern lands. It’s gone.
Russia has ZERO ambition on taking all of Ukraine, that was never their goal. BUT if Ukraine does not end this, the Russians will continue to eat them up, little by little. That’s called keeping the pressure on. The longer the West continues this war, the longer Ukraine stuggles, the more Ukraine loses.
For us however, it is politically extremely embarassing (for the Biden administration, NATO, our Euro allies), especially going into an election year in the US to fail like this. So we need to figure out a way where we can get out of this with our tail between our legs but not appear to have failed.
The only complete loser in this, is Ukraine. ***We were not their freinds when we pushed NATO.*** They are left with lost land, lost part of their population, lost industrial area, lost port city, a damaged infrastructure, tens of thousands dead, even more crippled, millions of refugees many never to return (brain drain), a GDP that imploded, dedt that exploded, internal instability, a birthrate that is abysmal, no NATO, and EU membership that was in reach before the war is now off the table. That is called an abject failure.
You trying to pretend Ukraine didn’t lose by creating your own and new goal posts is like some kid losing a chess competition but getting a participation award.
Ukraine was cooked a few month ago, when the counter offensive failed. The West will not supply and pay for such an event again.
Now it’s just a question of how many Ukrainians we’re going to send to their graves so that we don’t look like we failed because in reality Ukraine (Mr. Z) is a marionette which does whatever we say. When Trump says he can end this war in 24 hours, that isn’t a joke.
“Chagingthe goal post”, that is an interesting comment.
I could say the same about your “analysis “ of the situation.
The great goodwill gestures of retreating from Kiev (without installing new govt), kherson, and Kharkiv were all part of the plan???
Two years into the war and two cities are taken, but none of the “annexed” territories completely occupied?
Yes let’s talk changing the goal posts
I am sure losing 1/3 of Black Sea fleet was part of the plan, losing many aircraft was part of the plan, having to rely on nk and iran for war effort was part of the plan, emptying soviet military equipment stocks was part of the plan, T-55s on the field of battle were part of the plan.
Muskova may indeed gain territory in the end, but what have they gained.
Maybe you can put your name in for apartment wait list in avdiivka, I hear there are some real fix er up opportunities there.