Over the past few weeks, Western partners have promised Ukraine about 500 tanks and armored personnel carriers. With their help, the Armed Forces of Ukraine must give a powerful rebuff to the enemy.
However, what looks like a Ukrainian army build-up on the surface is seen by decision-makers in Kyiv as a last chance, says BILD war correspondent Yulian Repke.
Bild writes that by supplying offensive weapons, the West gave Ukraine an unambiguous signal that with the help of these weapons it is necessary to inflict a turning point in the course of hostilities. If this does not happen, Kyiv will have to start painful negotiations with Moscow.
Ukraine intends to strengthen its armed forces not only with Western weapons, but also with soldiers. By the end of April, about 200 thousand people should be mobilized to the front. Together with them, the strength of the Ukrainian army will amount to more than a million servicemen who must liberate the occupied territory and force Russia to cease fire.
So the development of the situation at the front looks like the best scenario that the West expects. In reality, everything can be different.
Ukrainian soldiers and some politicians in Kyiv, with whom Yuliana Repka managed to talk, say that 500 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles is the absolute minimum, which is only enough to hold the existing front.
They refer to information according to which more than 4,000 Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers are currently undergoing repairs. This means that in the spring or summer they will be ready to break into Ukraine from several directions. The situation is aggravated by the fact that Russia is preparing 250,000 conscripts and another 200,000 people mobilized last autumn for exile to the front.
One way or another, the outcome of the war will be decided in 2023, a BILD military expert believes. At best, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to push the enemy back with the help of Western weapons and tens of thousands of soldiers. At worst, this will not happen, and then the hostilities will shift even further to the west or to the central part of Ukraine, Repke states.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.