Today at 14:50
Does the West really want Ukraine to win? Can Ukraine finally use the British Storm Shadow missiles? Why is the U.S. hesitating to give permission to strike on Russian territory.
This question and more were answered by Cormac Smith, former British civil servant & advisor to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
— The Kharkiv and Kursk operation were successful, well-prepared by Ukraine without informing our partners and allies.
Now, when we have the ability to use Western weapons to end this war with a Ukrainian victory, and we ask the United States and Europe for permission, they seem to procrastinate. Russia can simply move their air bases deeper inside its territory.
So, does the West really want Ukraine to win?
— This is the golden question. It’s always been my golden question. I can say that in Britain, we certainly want Ukraine to win.
However, there’s been a fear that Washington, Berlin, and other Western capitals fear a Ukrainian victory and a Russian defeat.
A good Ukrainian friend of mine recently said, “The problem is, some in the West can imagine Ukraine being defeated but can’t imagine Russia being defeated.”
We need to get over that fear and prepare for Russia’s defeat.
— But the UK has been more decisive, especially with breaking the logjam for weapon deliveries. Can we finally use the British Storm Shadow missiles?
— Not yet. Britain has been breaking these logjams, like when we first sent anti-tank weapons that helped save Kyiv, and later, modern battle tanks.
We also led the way with long-range artillery and the Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers. At the time, we gave them on the condition they were only used within Ukraine’s 1991 borders.
Ukraine is now asking for permission to use Storm Shadow and the U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike military targets inside Russia. This would either destroy airfields launching attacks on Ukrainian civilians or push those bases back out of range.
There was a summit in Washington between Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but there was no final decision. However, Biden’s team said that in the last months of his presidency, he would ensure Ukraine is in a position to defeat Russia.
— Why is the U.S. hesitating to give permission?
— I suspect Washington fears escalation. They are afraid of triggering a nuclear response from Russia, though many experts believe Putin won’t use nuclear weapons, even if red lines are crossed. Ukraine’s recent incursions into Russia are an example of crossing red lines without significant consequences.
Another factor is the upcoming U.S. election. If Trump wins, it could be disastrous for Ukraine, as he has indicated he might pull the U.S. out of NATO. This is likely weighing on Biden’s administration.
— What if Ukraine strikes without permission, as it did with the Kursk operation?
— I don’t believe Ukraine would risk losing Western support by striking without permission. But if the West does give the green light, Ukraine could eliminate Russian air bases, saving countless Ukrainian lives and significantly reducing the pressure on cities and infrastructure.
— Do you think Putin is under pressure now?
— Yes, Putin is under immense pressure. He’s lost over 600,000 troops, far more than in Afghanistan. His economy is struggling, and conscription of the middle class in Moscow and St. Petersburg is looming. If Ukraine gets the weapons it needs, it will win.
My fear is that the West risks snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Now is the time to go all-in on defeating Russia.
Read also: Ex-Zaluzhny’s Advisor Answers UATV Questions. Interview with Daniel Rice
