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As Ukraine’s counteroffensive falters, the blame game begins

Zelenskyy told US and EU leaders that Ukraine would have liked to start their counteroffensive earlier. Credit: Getty

July 7, 2023 - 4:00pm

With Ukraine’s counteroffensive progressing more slowly than hoped, a change in the relationship between Kyiv and its Western backers may lie in store. In an interview with CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed the West for the faltering operation, saying that slow weapons deliveries to Ukraine thwarted plans to begin sooner. 

“I’m grateful to the US as the leaders of our support,” Zelenskyy said, “but I told them as well as European leaders that we would like to start our counteroffensive earlier, and we need all the weapons and materiel for that. Why? Simply because if we start later, it will go slower.”  

Zelenskyy went on to note that the delay in launching the counteroffensive allowed Russia to build up stronger defences. “Everyone understood that if the counteroffensive unfolds later, then a bigger part of our territory will be mined. We give our enemy the time and possibility to place more mines and prepare their defensive lines,” the Ukrainian President said.  

The leader’s complaint comes close to openly admitting that the counteroffensive is not going to plan. Expectation management was always going to be a challenge for Ukraine; memories of Russia’s shambolic withdrawal from the Kharkiv region last autumn raised unrealistic hopes for more rapid territorial gains and crumbling Russian defences this time around. But Moscow was not going to allow lightning to strike twice.  

Instead, weeks into the counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces still haven’t reached Russia’s main defensive positions and Zelenskyy claims operations in some areas can’t even begin due to a lack of equipment.

As the realisation dawns that a lightning strike to end the war isn’t in the offing, the West must face up to the demands of a drawn-out conflict — especially the huge industrial and logistical challenge of sustaining an attritional war effort for years. Calls for more “red lines” to be crossed will only grow louder; Zelenskyy lamented, again during the CNN interview, of Ukraine’s lack of modern fighter jets, saying counteroffensive ground operations are “very difficult without cover from the air”. 

Such statements seem to be an attempt to lay the groundwork for future interpretations of potential failure. If Ukraine’s counteroffensive isn’t successful, Zelenskyy wants the history books to blame Western supporters, not Kyiv’s decision-makers. He isn’t the only one now pushing this line — senior advisor Mykhailo Podolyak took to Twitter this week to rage against Western hesitation, as “every decision has to be literally gnawed out with teeth, wasting months of empty talk”. 

For some Westerners, this will be hard to digest. Many believe their countries have been more than generous to Ukraine, and amid suspicions that Western taxpayers will ultimately end up footing the bill for the war, the idea that not enough has been done will be a bitter pill to swallow. 

The sternest test of Zelenskyy’s famous communication skills now lies in store. Ukraine’s future depends on his ability to chide the West into even stronger support, without allowing failures to foster resentment. With Russia racked by internal division over its own handling of the war, Vladimir Putin would surely take solace from a faltering counteroffensive driving a wedge between Ukraine and its allies. 


William Nattrass is a British journalist based in Prague and news editor of Expats.cz

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Steve White
Steve White
1 year ago

The big deal is this NATO meeting on the 10th. Those of us who pray, ought to pray for some sort of desire for a peace deal to come out of this. Not escalation, which there are plenty who want this to escalate. It’s going too take bravery for a Europian NATO member to say “no”. “no more money, weapons, or ammunition that we can’t afford.” If one does, others will follow. No more Ukranians or Russians dying! That ought to be our goal.

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve White
Steve White
Steve White
1 year ago

The big deal is this NATO meeting on the 10th. Those of us who pray, ought to pray for some sort of desire for a peace deal to come out of this. Not escalation, which there are plenty who want this to escalate. It’s going too take bravery for a Europian NATO member to say “no”. “no more money, weapons, or ammunition that we can’t afford.” If one does, others will follow. No more Ukranians or Russians dying! That ought to be our goal.

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve White
Robert Pruger
Robert Pruger
1 year ago

Ukraine “counter offensive” is entering week six. Russia’s first defensive line is in tact. Translation: Ukraine is losing and more sophisticated weapons are very unlikely to make a difference. It takes many months of training (sometimes a year) to employ successfully these highly sophisticated weapons; a few months won’t cut it.
If Russia goes on the offensive, the men and material advantage is Russia’s. The Irish have a saying: “this will all end in tears”, for Ukraine.

Robert Pruger
Robert Pruger
1 year ago

Ukraine “counter offensive” is entering week six. Russia’s first defensive line is in tact. Translation: Ukraine is losing and more sophisticated weapons are very unlikely to make a difference. It takes many months of training (sometimes a year) to employ successfully these highly sophisticated weapons; a few months won’t cut it.
If Russia goes on the offensive, the men and material advantage is Russia’s. The Irish have a saying: “this will all end in tears”, for Ukraine.

Samir Iker
Samir Iker
1 year ago

Looks like the battle of Kursk all over again. And against pretty much the same country’s tanks!

D Walsh
D Walsh
1 year ago
Reply to  Samir Iker

Yes, the Russians are winning

martin logan
martin logan
1 year ago
Reply to  D Walsh

Winning?
–By losing most of their regular army in the first year?
–By losing nearly all their nuclear capable missiles?
–By losing most of their significant gains around Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, etc?
–By driving their nation’s currency down to 93/$, and their stock market below 970?
–By arresting their best general, Surovikin?
–By turning their best troops (Vagner) into traitors?
–By recruiting mobiks from the very factories that are already suffering from labour shortages?
Oh yes, just like Germany was winning in 1944…

Last edited 1 year ago by martin logan
P Branagan
P Branagan
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

Herr Professor Logan, this is getting tiresome. Yesterday I commented that you were a bit of a waffler.
I was wrong. You’re a complete waffler.
Join the real world.
You badly need to grow up and to shut up until you do.
Once you’ve grown up (I fear it may be a long, long process) and joined the real world I’m sure some of us would be delighted to read your musings.

P Branagan
P Branagan
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

Herr Professor Logan, this is getting tiresome. Yesterday I commented that you were a bit of a waffler.
I was wrong. You’re a complete waffler.
Join the real world.
You badly need to grow up and to shut up until you do.
Once you’ve grown up (I fear it may be a long, long process) and joined the real world I’m sure some of us would be delighted to read your musings.

martin logan
martin logan
1 year ago
Reply to  D Walsh

Winning?
–By losing most of their regular army in the first year?
–By losing nearly all their nuclear capable missiles?
–By losing most of their significant gains around Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, etc?
–By driving their nation’s currency down to 93/$, and their stock market below 970?
–By arresting their best general, Surovikin?
–By turning their best troops (Vagner) into traitors?
–By recruiting mobiks from the very factories that are already suffering from labour shortages?
Oh yes, just like Germany was winning in 1944…

Last edited 1 year ago by martin logan
D Walsh
D Walsh
1 year ago
Reply to  Samir Iker

Yes, the Russians are winning

Samir Iker
Samir Iker
1 year ago

Looks like the battle of Kursk all over again. And against pretty much the same country’s tanks!

Will K
Will K
1 year ago

The madness of this war is now becoming apparent even to those who initially thought it a good idea. Russia has clearly understood, and has changed to a ‘hold’ military position. Ukraine is still insane, insisting on ‘victory’. Biden realises he’s driving Russia to a nuclear war, but can’t admit his mistake. The EU should speak up, and decline to fuel the war further.

Will K
Will K
1 year ago

The madness of this war is now becoming apparent even to those who initially thought it a good idea. Russia has clearly understood, and has changed to a ‘hold’ military position. Ukraine is still insane, insisting on ‘victory’. Biden realises he’s driving Russia to a nuclear war, but can’t admit his mistake. The EU should speak up, and decline to fuel the war further.

Peter Joy
Peter Joy
1 year ago

Lack of weapons is not the primary problem. Ukraine has nothing like the manpower required to break through the Russian defences, let alone win the battle and seize Crimea. Russian firepower, air surveillance and manpower are overwhelming. It is hopeless, pointless campaign.

Peter Joy
Peter Joy
1 year ago

Lack of weapons is not the primary problem. Ukraine has nothing like the manpower required to break through the Russian defences, let alone win the battle and seize Crimea. Russian firepower, air surveillance and manpower are overwhelming. It is hopeless, pointless campaign.

martin logan
martin logan
1 year ago

The usual prediction about Ukrainian defeat.
They usually come about once a month. Been doing so since 24 March 2022.
But somehow things keep getting worse for Russia, and better for Ukraine.
Whether or not the Ukrainian offensive achieves all its objectives, the more Russia’s economy and political system is permanently crippled.
Every Ukrainian knows that. Every intelligent European knows that. Every intelligent American knows that.
This war won’t end until Russia ceases being a threat to the Ukraine, the EU and the US.

D Walsh
D Walsh
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

100% delusional, something seriously wrong with you

Hugh Bryant
Hugh Bryant
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

“This war won’t end until Russia ceases being a threat to the Ukraine, the EU and the US.”

Peter Joy
Peter Joy
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

The war won’t end in Ukraine, until Ukraine ceases to be territory from which the USSA’s ruling neoliberals (and its pitiful catamite-cheerleader UKania) can threaten Russia.

D Walsh
D Walsh
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

100% delusional, something seriously wrong with you

Hugh Bryant
Hugh Bryant
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

“This war won’t end until Russia ceases being a threat to the Ukraine, the EU and the US.”

Peter Joy
Peter Joy
1 year ago
Reply to  martin logan

The war won’t end in Ukraine, until Ukraine ceases to be territory from which the USSA’s ruling neoliberals (and its pitiful catamite-cheerleader UKania) can threaten Russia.

martin logan
martin logan
1 year ago

The usual prediction about Ukrainian defeat.
They usually come about once a month. Been doing so since 24 March 2022.
But somehow things keep getting worse for Russia, and better for Ukraine.
Whether or not the Ukrainian offensive achieves all its objectives, the more Russia’s economy and political system is permanently crippled.
Every Ukrainian knows that. Every intelligent European knows that. Every intelligent American knows that.
This war won’t end until Russia ceases being a threat to the Ukraine, the EU and the US.