Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.

US pressure on Ukraine could thwart counteroffensive: Insider

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Business Insider
  • 14 May 2023 15:56
4 Min Read

Although the exact timing of the counteroffensive is still unknown, experts argue that it may start any day now.

  • x
  • Servicemen in the National Guard of Ukraine take part in military exercises in Kharkiv in April. (AFP)
    Servicemen in the National Guard of Ukraine take part in military exercises in Kharkiv in April. (AFP)

A report published by Business Insider on Sunday revealed that excessive pressure on Ukraine may lead to Kiev's counteroffensive plans being thwarted. 

Citing former Army officials, the report states that expectations for the war to end with a win for Ukraine are growing increasingly higher. Although the exact timing of the counteroffensive is still unknown, experts argue that it may now start at any moment.

But excessively high anticipations for a Ukrainian victory on part of western allies and the US seem to be causing more damage than help to the war-torn country. 

"Regardless of what happens on the ground, this has to be seen as a success to the Ukrainian people and US and European politicians," Mick Ryan, a retired Major General in the Australian Army and a military strategist, told Insider.

"There are many in the US and NATO who are concerned this is going to be a forever war, that it will go on for years and the West will continue to pour money into it without much progress," said Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies' security program.

Read more: Germany plans to send Kiev $3bln worth of military aid

Money is a considerable factor in this context, the report states. The US has been the largest contributor to the conflict, pouring billions of dollars in financial and military assistance to Kiev since the start of the conflict.  

Ukraine not so optimistic

If Kiev manages to regain the annexed territories, this would signal the US and NATO allies that prospects for a Ukrainian victory are in sight.

However, some Ukrainian officials have not been so optimistic relative to the final outcome of the counteroffensive, including President Volodymyr Zelensky who told the Washington Post earlier this week that forecasts of a massive change in war dynamics may be exaggerated.

Related News

Flights canceled as US-Mexico aviation dispute escalates

Trump’s $230 mln DOJ compensation claim criticized as legally baseless

But according to Ben Hodges, a retired lieutenant general and former commander of US Army Europe, turning the matter into a make-or-break for Kiev exerts tremendous amounts of pressure. 

"I would reject the talk that Ukraine's only got one shot, that if it doesn't achieve a knockout blow then that's it and everyone will say 'too bad,' and stop supporting them," Hodges told Business Insider. 

Some politicians have been pushing forth the narrative that if Ukraine were to lose, then aid would inevitably have to be cut. Hodges argues that this is a narrative deliberately used by politicians who either do not wish to see a victorious Ukraine or are rushed to put a quick end to the war. 

"We've spent billions of dollars, supposedly because we believed in what Ukraine was fighting for," Hodges said. 

Read more: US safety conditional to Russia's defeat: US CJCS Milley

There is far more to this conflict than simply two countries at war, he says, noting that Western allies are engaged in providing all the necessary support to ensure that the so-called "rules-based" order remains the Status Quo.

"If we're not willing to stick together and help Ukraine defeat Russia, then truly we don't actually value those things," Hodges said. 

He cites a range of several factors pertaining to why Western anxiety is so high regarding this conflict, including the non-belief that Russia could lose and other fears related to the use of nuclear weapons. 

He further expressed the belief that many of the high-ranking officials serving in the Biden administration are not truly committed to Ukraine winning, noting that the administration has itself failed to clearly define the US' strategic aims in assisting Ukraine in its war efforts. 

Nonetheless, many experts remain optimistic regarding Ukraine's counter-offensive, arguing that Ukraine's "superior" willpower will drive it towards the victory sought by the West. 

"The only thing I think that can screw this up is if the West exerts so much pressure on Ukraine and it causes them to stop short of a total victory," Hodges said.

Read more: Ukraine conflict could end if West halts weapons delivery: Borrell

  • United States
  • counteroffensive
  • war in Ukraine
  • Spring counteroffensive
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS