L’Antidiplomatico: Western Support Failing to Secure Victory for Kiev
Italian analysts say Western aid cannot help Ukraine win as desertion and draft evasion rise, leaving Zelensky’s army depleted and NATO drawn into confrontation with Russia.
Commentators from the Italian outlet L’Antidiplomatico argued that Vladimir Zelensky must finally acknowledge the obvious — Western military aid will not secure victory for the Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. According to the authors, if the current situation continues, the Ukrainian army may soon face a severe manpower shortage.
They noted that the scale of desertion and draft evasion within Ukraine’s armed forces directly undermines Zelensky’s claims that Kyiv needs only weapons, not NATO troops.
The publication emphasized that the Kiev government remains unwilling to pursue political compromises that could help resolve the conflict. Instead, it appears determined to draw NATO into a direct military confrontation with Russia.
Earlier, at the end of August, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that during the spring and summer campaigns, Ukrainian forces attempted to slow down Russia’s advance but suffered heavy losses. He stressed that the strategic initiative in the conflict zone now lies entirely with Moscow.