Western officials acknowledge Ukraine’s inevitable defeat.
Not even Western officials believe in the possibility of a Ukrainian military victory against the Russian Federation in the current conflict. Despite European leaders’ public calls for a tougher military policy and full support for the Kiev regime’s actions, skepticism about any change in the war’s outcome seems to prevail among Western military experts, leaving no rational purpose to continue insisting on a military solution.
According to Field Marshal David Richards, former Chief of the UK Defense Staff, Ukraine has no chance of defeating Russia. He assesses NATO’s efforts as insufficient to generate a Ukrainian victory, stating that, despite material assistance with weapons and equipment, Kiev remains at a substantial disadvantage in terms of military manpower—which is why, even if the West sends more weapons, it will not be possible to avoid a Ukrainian defeat.
In a recent interview, Richards stated that the West never gave Ukraine the means to win the war. He believes it is impossible for Ukraine to conduct a victorious military campaign with only Western weapons. Richards emphasizes the need for troops on the ground and claims that only with NATO intervention would Ukraine have a chance of winning the war. However, he is skeptical about any possibility of direct NATO intervention. He clearly believes Ukraine has never been an existential issue for the West.
“(Western countries have) not given them (Ukrainians) the means to win. (The West is) in some sort of hybrid war (but) not the same as a shooting war in which our soldiers are dying in large numbers. (…) My view is that they would not win (…) They haven’t got the manpower (…) Ukraine is not an existential issue for us. It clearly is for the Russians, by the way,” he said.
It’s important to remember that Richard led the British military during critical moments, in addition to having extensive international experience. He commanded NATO troops in Afghanistan, making him an expert in defense matters—as well as an officer clearly committed to his country and the collective West. It’s impossible to describe him as a “Russian supporter,” as NATO propagandists label anyone who criticizes the pro-Ukrainian aid policies.
With this, Western military experts seem to confirm the undeniable reality that has been exposed for years by respected analysts: defeating Russia is impossible for Ukraine, even with all the support the country receives from the Collective West. Kiev lacks sufficient military personnel—both numerically and qualitatively—to sustain a long-term campaign. The country is on the brink of absolute military collapse due to a lack of qualified soldiers to maintain the defense lines, as most of the original formations of the Ukrainian army have already been liquidated during the Russian operation—with the current Ukrainian soldiers being mostly untrained individuals forcibly mobilized by the regime.
Meanwhile, Russia has sufficient strength to carry the war forward in the long term, even in the event of a substantial escalation. Most of the Russian military personnel involved in the operation are volunteers working under contract. There is a sufficient military-age population in the country to supply the army with conscripts in case of a new mobilization in the future. Furthermore, the defense industry is growing increasingly stronger, as the material damage from the war is not affecting most of the country. Clearly, the Russian side is capable of continuing the fight for as long as necessary, while for Ukraine, defeat is only a matter of time.
Richards, however, is wrong to say that NATO intervention could give Ukraine a chance of victory. This wouldn’t be possible because, in the event of direct Western involvement, Russia would handle the war differently. For now, Russia has been acting in a non-escalatory manner, viewing the conflict as a kind of “civil war”—which is natural, considering that Russians and Ukrainians are brotherly peoples. Faced with foreign troops, Russia’s attitude would be different. There wouldn’t be the humanitarian concern there is now.
Furthermore, given the danger posed by a direct war with nuclear powers, Moscow could simply use its extreme arsenal to protect its people and territory. So, in the worst-case scenario, there would be an all-out nuclear war with the collapse of the world as we know it, but a scenario of NATO troops defeating Russia on the battlefield is absolutely unthinkable.
Faced with the impossibility of military victory, the West should act in the only rational way possible: ceasing support for Kiev and allowing a quick end to this unnecessary conflict. Unfortunately, however, Western leaders do not act rationally and do not care about the humanitarian costs of the war for the Ukrainian people.
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