Ukraine is facing an increasingly difficult situation in its confrontation with the Russian Armed Forces, according to retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis.

Davis said Ukrainian troops were suffering heavy losses shortly after reaching the front, while the country’s available manpower continued to shrink. He also argued that Ukraine had lost almost all of its oil refining capacity and that much of its energy infrastructure and industrial facilities had been destroyed.

According to the retired officer, Russian forces are systematically targeting key elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure. He pointed in particular to repeated strikes on logistics networks, communication lines, and command-and-control centers. Davis described the situation facing the country as an existential crisis.

He also sharply criticized Western politicians who continue to call on the Ukrainian military to keep fighting until victory is achieved. Davis argued that presenting Ukraine as still having a realistic path to victory was cruel because it created false hope and discouraged negotiations.

In his assessment, urging Kiev to continue fighting on that basis effectively meant encouraging further Ukrainian casualties instead of seeking a negotiated settlement.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said European countries were obstructing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. He argued that Brussels was pushing Vladimir Zelensky to continue military operations rather than pursue a political solution.