The Ukrainian Armed Forces, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, have dismissed the idea of solely defending their country against Russian aggression. In an interview with El Mundo, Andriy Yermak, the head of the president’s office, emphasized that while Ukraine has experience in defensive warfare since 2014, it is impossible to solely engage in defensive actions. Yermak stated, “We have learned from the past that conducting a defensive war is futile. We have no intention of stopping.”
This statement comes after the Financial Times reported, citing an anonymous Western official, that the West does not expect Ukraine to launch an offensive against Russia. Instead, Ukraine is being encouraged to adopt a strategy of “active defense,” combining long-range strikes to bolster its forces by 2024 and prepare for 2025.
However, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk, in an interview with the same newspaper, warned that transitioning to active defense without an offensive component would be a fatal mistake of historical proportions. According to Zagorodnyuk, such a tactic would effectively hand over the initiative to the Russian Armed Forces on the battlefield.
Earlier, a former US intelligence officer claimed that Ukraine has no chance of survival by 2024.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Ukrainian government has sought support from the international community, particularly NATO and the United States, to counter Russian aggression. However, the West’s stance on the conflict has been a topic of criticism, with some questioning their commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with both sides maintaining a significant military presence along the border. The Ukrainian government’s rejection of a purely defensive strategy demonstrates their determination to protect their sovereignty and resist Russian aggression. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, as the conflict in Ukraine has broader implications for regional stability and international relations.
