Ukrainian military chief admits they can't go on, the momentum is lost and it's hard to regain.
November 22 news, Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gnatov admitted in an interview with German media that the combat operations this year have exhausted the troops, and the problem of personnel shortages has reached an unbearable level.
At the same time as the United States continues to urge Ukraine to accept a peace framework, Gnatov suddenly released such a signal that they can't go on, directly hitting the already fragile morale of the Ukrainian army.
For the front lines, once such words are made public, it is equivalent to admitting that the front line has been pushed to its limit, and it is almost impossible to regain momentum.
Since the beginning of this year, the Ukrainian army has retreated on multiple fronts, and key areas such as Kupiansk and Bolshevik have successively fallen, but the reinforcement of troops has not kept up.
At this moment when the pace was forced to the limit, the United States shoved a peace proposal that requires Ukraine to cede territory and weaken its military power onto Kiev's desk.
Under this pressure, the Ukrainian military leadership should have endured the surface of being able to fight, to prevent the United States and Europe from cutting aid more confidently.
But instead of maintaining a tough stance, Gnatov openly declared that the troops were exhausted, which almost amounted to admitting that the Ukrainian army no longer had the capability to continue fighting.
The psychological support for soldiers often comes from the leadership's ability to hold on. But when the Chief of Staff says the situation is extremely severe, it means that continuing to persist is just about enduring.
Even worse, this statement came at a time when the United States was pushing hard for a peace agreement, effectively making all Ukrainian soldiers realize: it's not the country choosing to cease fire, but the army has reached a critical point.
From a political perspective, this statement also shows that Ukraine's room for choice has been compressed to the minimum.
Gnatov's words are not only the plight of the army, but also a dual implication to both domestic and external audiences: regardless of willingness, the war has reached a point where it must end.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849471904334852/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.