[…] Leading Nato powers have pledged to send main battle tanks to bolster Ukraine’s forces against any breakthrough by any new Russian offensive this spring, and to begin to mount a concerted, mobile counter-attack. Altogether, the Ukraine command expects to get up to 300 main battle tanks from Nato and other allies. […]
In the refined ratiocinations and calculations of diplomacy this has a certain logic. But in terms of military realism, it is dangerous sophistry. It risks depriving Ukraine’s commander of essential tools if they are to stay in the fight, to survive, let alone contemplate winning.
Look closely and you begin to see the divisions and cracks in the alliance. Chancellor Scholz of Germany urges restraint, suggesting Berlin opens up a line of negotiation with Moscow. President Erdogan of Turkey claims the same role for himself, as do the Pentagon and State in Washington. Where does President Zelensky come in? Are they planning to ignore him as Trump and Biden ignored Ashraf Ghani, the elected president of Afghanistan, when their botched diplomacy let the Taliban into Kabul? Läs artikel