West Seeks New Narrative to Frame Failing Ukraine

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for December 17, 2023…

– Russian forces continue mounting pressure along the line of contact, executing a war of attrition grinding down Ukraine’s manpower and its Western sponsors’ military resources;

– Ukrainian lawmaker admits Ukraine is running out of ammunition and unable to respond to Russian firepower;

– The Western media now admits Ukraine’s cross-river “offensive” in Kherson is an abject failure;

– US military officials now admit that even with continued US support, Ukraine could still lose;

– A search for a “new” strategy for Ukraine requires ignoring the fundamental (and unsolvable) problems Ukraine and its Western backers have;

– The Western media is rebuilding its narrative regarding Ukraine, suggesting victory is not possible, but improving Ukraine’s position ahead of negotiations may be;

– West is still pinning hope on “wonder weapons” including the F-16;

References:

NYT – Ukrainian Marines on ‘Suicide Mission’ in Crossing the Dnipro River (December 16, 2023):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/16/wo…

NYT – U.S. and Ukraine Search for a New Strategy After Failed Counteroffensive (December 11, 2023):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/us…

Alexander Mercouris – Ukraine’s Terrible Week: No US EU Funding; Rus Gains Avdeyevka, Marinka, Bakhmut, Ukr War Being Lost (December 16, 2023):
https://youtu.be/93SQ4KrWnE4?si=p-y19…

Guardian – Putin says there will only be peace in Ukraine when Russia achieves its goals (December 14, 2023):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/liv…

ABC News – Ukrainian troops unable to respond to Russian attacks, says lawmaker (December 15, 2023):
https://abcnews.go.com/International/…

Business Insider – Ukraine says Russia has it outgunned 7 to 1 when it comes to drones (December 13, 2023):
https://www.businessinsider.com/russi…

BBC – Ukraine war: Shell shortages force us to limit firing, Ukrainian troops tell BBC (December 14, 2023):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe…

US Department of Defense – Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance for Ukraine (Dec. 12, 2023):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases…

Raytheon – AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile:
https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-…

Defense News – Lockheed wins $4.8B guided rockets contract (April 2023):
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-s…

CNN – Russia’s jamming of US-provided rocket systems complicates Ukraine’s war effort (May 2023):
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/05/po…

US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence – Infantry Brigade Combat Team Scout Platoon AntiArmor Engagements at the Joint Readiness Training Center (regarding 19% hit rate for all anti-tank weapons):
https://www.moore.army.mil/Armor/eArm…

NY Times – Russia Overcomes Sanctions to Expand Missile Production, Officials Say (September 2023):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/us…

Reuters – The air war over Ukraine (December 14, 2023):
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRA…

Air and Space Forces Magazine – Romania Is a Model for Training Ukraine’s Pilots to Fly F-16s (August 2022):
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/rom…