The Guardian: Ukraine's fall would be a catastrophe for the whole world

Ukraine has been fighting for 40 months against Russia, which attacked the sovereign country in February 2022. During this time, the country has suffered huge losses: tens of thousands have been killed and wounded, millions have been left without homes, and towns and villages have been subjected to devastating shelling. Simon Tisdal, a columnist for The Guardian, wrote about this.

He emphasised that despite the numerical and technical superiority of the enemy, Ukraine continues to fight.

Ukrainian heroism has become commonplace. It has almost ceased to be noticed. Meanwhile, Putin is intensifying strikes on cities, and Ukrainian forces are depleted," the author said.

Tisdahl warns that if Ukraine falls, the consequences will be catastrophic for the entire West. It would be a strategic failure comparable to the failures in Afghanistan and Iraq - or worse. Europe, Britain, NATO and international law would face a blow from which they might not recover.

In his assessment, Ukraine today teeters on the brink. Russian troops continue to advance, especially in the east, despite millions of casualties. At the same time, Ukraine's defenders are short of ammunition, men and air defence equipment. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian army is still capable of inflicting serious damage on the enemy - including strikes on the Kursk region and Russian strategic facilities.

But temporary successes do not change the overall picture, the author said. After all, Moscow has secured the support of China, Iran and North Korea, while the Western coalition is looking less and less confident. The US is wavering, and Donald Trump, according to Tisdahl, is acting on instinct - sympathising with the powers that be, and therefore with Putin.

Now, as the columnist emphasises, the West faces two scenarios: a protracted, endless war or the defeat of Ukraine and peace on the Kremlin's terms. He calls the second option particularly dangerous: "It will be the defeat of the entire West. And the beginning of a new era of aggression in Europe."

The way out of the situation, according to Tisdal, is possible: "The main culprit of this tragedy is Putin. He must fall, not Ukraine".