Daily Star / UK
By Ewan Gleadow
EXCLUSIVE: A ‘stalemate’ has left Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘perplexed’ – meanwhile an expert has predicted what might happen even if headway is made with Russia
The war in Ukraine will see “no change until Spring” according to an expert who believes the Russian and Ukrainian forces are in a stalemate.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine back in February 2022 and Professor Anthony Glees, speaking to the Daily Star, believes a “stalemate” is in effect and will likely continue for some months. Said state of war has left Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy “perplexed”.
A slow crawl of war is likely given the harsh winter months though Professor Glees believes Ukraine would not be receiving any active military support from NATO member countries.
Ukrainian generals are now suggesting a stalemate has been reached and will remain until Spring, a conclusion echoed by expert Glees, who believes peace would be a “catastrophe” for the West.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Professor Glees said: “Not much is happening in terms of big shifts, and General Valery Zaluzhny’s suggestion, that the offensive against Russia has to date now halted in stalemate, must be heeded, despite the fact that it’s winter now and no one could expect much to change until spring.
Despite the horrid losses during the war, there is “no sign of a breakthrough” for either side throwing troops at one another.
Professor Glees continued: “There is no sign of a breakthrough: on present form, Russia will not take Kyiv and Ukraine will not take Crimea.
“Brave Zelensky is looking increasingly perplexed; the very thing that was sustaining him, Western and particularly US support for the courage of his nation, is now beginning to seem less secure for the medium term that he could ever have imagined.
“This has always been about the Ukrainians fighting the war albeit with US and NATO weapons and assistance. There will be no NATO armies joining in the fighting, no US cavalry. I suspect much of 2024 will see pressure being put on Zelensky to let Putin take what he’s already got and make a peace with him.
“Of course, this will be a catastrophe for Ukraine and for us. We may get peace, Putin’s peace, in 2024. But if we do, we have Putin’s and Russia’s aggression in 2025 and every year thereafter.”