A paywalled 5 November article in the German edition of Business Insider (I saw no equivalent in the English site) cited an 30 October NATO report, which was released at least in part to select journalists:
‘The Joint Intelligence and Security Division of NATO therefore writes in a secret report, which is available to Business Insider, of a “largely static situation at the front”. Ukraine is trying to penetrate into the south of the country; Russia is trying to build up pressure from the east – and suffers “more losses than territorial gains” in the process.
‘According to NATO intelligence officials, the standstill described in the report dated October 30 will continue. “Despite the ongoing fighting, neither Ukraine nor Russia have the strength, equipment or logistics to achieve an operational breakthrough and make significant territorial gains in the coming weeks.“ Local offensives would probably be pushed further. However, the muddy conditions would slow them down.’
This is consistent with other media stories stating that the Ukrainian 2023 offensive has underperformed or outright failed. However, I do not consider these signals as an indication that the USA and NATO are looking for an immediate exit ramp to the war. The January 2023 report by the RAND corporation, Avoiding a Long War, is probably still representative of American interests, even after the failure of the Ukrainian offensive. In short, RAND considers an absolute Ukrainian victory “unlikely.” Instead, RAND advocates for a negotiated settlement in the medium term, though concedes that this is politically unlikely under current circumstances.
The recent warning by Stoltenberg that western audiences should be prepared for “bad news from Ukraine,” and Biden’s statement that Russia intends to attack NATO after winning in Ukraine, are likely more indicative of the establishment stance on the war. There is still a lot of promised aid that won’t arrive until 2024 or even 2025, so it makes little sense to attempt to end hostilities before then.
Statements to the press like the 30 October NATO report are likely intended to maintain a sense of urgency in the public. American funding for Ukraine will be interrupted by the end of the year unless Democrats and Republicans agree on a budget, and European NATO members may be obligated to give a larger share of the aid.
To reiterate, I do not consider such calculated information releases to the media as an indication of of declining political interest in Ukraine.
Ian Kummer
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The Western media is full of shit! Stoltenberg is an incompetent sycophant. The elites and leaders of the West are incompetent fools with a Nazi mindset. The Anglo-Zionist Empire of Lies and Hate is on the road to ruin.
Skru them!
Although am a belonnging of Western Empire of Lies , I hope to collapse this shit ASAP.
cuz this shit never stop doing shit (like maidan, color revolution, iraq invasion etc) to other countries till its death.
I’m with you 100%! There’s a big problem however, the rulers have our nation divided and tribalised. They’re fomenting a racial civil war. Every book about the next American Civil War describes and race war. Consider the books Civil War 2 and Camp of the Saints.
What needs to happen is unity and the Second American Revolution against the Neocon Nazis, Neolib Nazis, Femi-Nazis and Zio-Nazis who control our government. AIPAC is the most powerful and influential lobby in DC and controls Congress.
Well, as I told you personally, I would be glad to see the Western media to say smth like, “hey, it’s time we reconsider our attitude to this conflict. We misjudged it, it’s not our war, Ukraine is not that good and democratic”, etc. THAT would mean they (the media) have orders to start grooming the public opinion for a peace.
Now they are preparing the public opinion for more war and spending.
Same for the Zio-Nazi Apartheid State of Israel.
Ian, I’m curious about the image of the machine-gunner you used to illustrate this post. It’s a good pic — captures a stop-motion moment in time with spent cartridges falling through the air; clods of dirt on the sandbags depicting how grimy life on the front lines is, white flakes of snow dropping to remind us of how cold the scene is. But is it also Photoshopped? The Union Jack on the gunner’s helmet — do Ukrainian soldiers really sport those insignias? (When they’re not wearing SS regalia) The colours on it are more vibrant than the subdued tones of the rest of the photo. Is that Cthulu on the patch the guy has on his right sleeve? Maybe a Ukie unit logo I don’t recognise, but it looks like the Dark Lord to me! The “US IFAK” stencil on the kit bag could be real since the Ukes are running on the rest of the world’s military surplus, but it’s visually jarring. Again — I’m not knocking you for using this photo. I presume it’s something you scraped off the ‘net. Wherever you got it, do you think that it had been techno-tweaked for some purpose that I can’t even guess? There’s so much fakery in our global Illusionland that whenever I see or read anything, I’m looking at it for signs of unreality. Scepticism (as it’s spelt Downundahere) is realism!