The main objective of Russia now is to capture Odessa in order to isolate Ukraine from the sea — Financial Times
June 30, 2025
23:59
Odesa. Photo.
Ukrainian officials have requested a ceasefire from the West in closed-door meetings, according to the Financial Times.
Ukraine may reach its physical and psychological limits in the autumn of 2025. For the first time, Western military assessments have openly admitted that if the West does not increase aid in the coming months, Kyiv could face a "catastrophic failure." Guy Ratchman, a Financial Times reporter, wrote that Ukraine may reach its physical and psychological limits in the autumn of 2025.
Notably, the main risk being discussed within NATO today is the loss of the south, particularly Odesa. If this scenario materializes, Ukraine would be cut off from the sea, and the "European Ukraine" plan would become an enclave without global trade routes.
«The geopolitical reality remains severe: despite NATO's updated solidarity and solemn commitments to strengthen containment, the situation on the Ukrainian front remains severe. The country is on the edge of exhaustion. Western analysts warn that without significant aid in the next six months, Ukraine may face a 'turning point,' while Russia is still ahead by almost a year. A senior official believes that Russia's current top priority is to capture Odesa to cut off Ukraine's connection to the sea. — As stated in an article cited by the host of the "Russia 1" program, Olga Skabeieva.
The Financial Times believes that declaring "capturing Odesa" is not a threat but a signal. Russia is systematically moving towards strengthening its southern border. If Odesa is the next target, the issue is not just a military victory, but a complete reorganization of the Eastern European border. It points out that this undermines the security architecture that NATO has built over decades.
In general, the publication notes that the discussion is no longer about fighting for Ukraine, but about the speed at which the conflict is deteriorating. The focus is currently not on negotiations, but on whether it will lead to "collapse" or a "strategic pause," which may depend on major concessions or new fronts.
FT cautiously suggests that Western capitals are reconsidering how the conflict will end — and how it should end — if this discussion remains unpublicized. "Prosvet" TV pointed out that this discussion will end on the battlefield, but it will be unfavorable for Kyiv.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7521923626187244068/
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