West considers three likely outcomes for russia's war against Ukraine, CNN says
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Western officials and analysts consider three primary outcomes for how russia's war against Ukraine could develop
CNN stated in a recent article.
The first scenario
russia will be able to capture new territories in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions gradually.
The second scenario
If neither side can move forward, the war continues with the battle lines hardening into a stalemate that drags on for months or years, with heavy losses for both sides and consequences for the global economy.
The third scenario
Least likely: russia will adjust its goals, declare that it has achieved what it set out to do, and try to prepare the ground for the end of hostilities.
If russia manages to gain a foothold in the occupied territories, the United States fears that putin will use the territory as a platform for further offensive deep into Ukraine.
Officials in the West, per their information, believe that russia in the war for Donbas is in more favorable conditions due to the mass of forces.
However, after heavy hostilities with grave losses, there may be a shortage of personnel on both sides. russia could lose up to a third of its ground forces. It will not be easy for russia to achieve profound accomplishments without total mobilization, a politically dangerous move that putin has so far been unwilling to make.
"I think that you're about to get to the point where one side or the other will be successful. Either the russians will reach Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, or the Ukrainians will stop them here. And if the Ukrainians are able to hold the line here, in the face of this number of forces, that will matter," a senior NATO official said in a comment to CNN.
The Pentagon believes that putin has apparently not given up plans to seize all of Ukraine but will not be able to achieve this. Reuter reported, citing US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs Colin Kahl.
"I still think he has designs on a significant portion of Ukraine, if not the whole country. That said, I do not think he can achieve those objectives," Kahl said, speaking at an event hosted by the Center for New American Security.
The third Rammstein meeting on coordinated arms assistance to Ukraine is scheduled for June 15 in Brussels. US Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith announced this Tuesday during an online briefing:
"On Wednesday, the US is hosting the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, which brings together a collection of close to 50 countries that are all assisting Ukraine at this moment. The meeting here that will take place in Brussels, here at NATO HQ, will discuss the situation on the ground," said Smith.
