• BECOME A MEMBER
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • ABOUT GEOPOLITICS & EMPIRE
  • PODCAST
  • ANALYSIS
  • DONATE / SUPPORT
  • CONSULTATION
  • SPONSORS

The Geopolitics & Empire Newsletter

Get the week's news headlines and a notification for every podcast.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

What's Hot

William Robinson: Rise of the Global Police State & Global Civil War

May 20, 2022

Is Germany Shooting Itself in the Foot By Joining the West’s Economic War Against Russia?

May 19, 2022

Putin, Russian Elite, & the Policy of Self-Destruction

May 18, 2022

Facebook Twitter Instagram
Twitter Telegram SoundCloud Apple YouTube Odysee BitChute Gab LinkedIn RSS
Geopolitics & Empire
BECOME A MEMBER MEMBER LOGIN
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT GEOPOLITICS & EMPIRE
    • GEOPOLITICS & EMPIRE PODCAST REVIEWS
    • AUTHORS
    • CONTACT
    • MEDIA APPEARANCES
    • BOOK REVIEWS BY GEOPOLITICS & EMPIRE
    • FAQ
  • PODCAST

    William Robinson: Rise of the Global Police State & Global Civil War

    May 20, 2022

    Sean Stone: The New World Order System Doesn’t Have the Energy Behind It to Succeed

    May 14, 2022

    Guy Mettan: Ukraine is the First Battle of the Third World War

    May 13, 2022

    Bob Moran: They Are Going To See COVID1984 Through

    April 27, 2022

    Yves Engler: Canada’s Key Role in the Russia-Ukraine War

    April 23, 2022
  • ANALYSIS

    Is Germany Shooting Itself in the Foot By Joining the West’s Economic War Against Russia?

    May 19, 2022

    Putin, Russian Elite, & the Policy of Self-Destruction

    May 18, 2022

    Has Venezuela Found a New Ally in Turkey?

    May 16, 2022

    Is Belarus’ Lukashenko Reviving Attempts to Play a Game of Balancing Between Russia & the West?

    May 12, 2022

    How the War in Ukraine Creates Global Food Insecurity  

    April 27, 2022
  • DONATE/SUPPORT
  • CONSULTATION
  • SPONSORS
  • ES
    • PODCAST
Geopolitics & Empire
Home»Analysis»Can Russia Really Win In Ukraine?
Analysis

Can Russia Really Win In Ukraine?

Nikola MikovicBy Nikola MikovicMarch 7, 2022Updated:March 18, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Twitter Telegram LinkedIn Facebook Email
9 December 2019, before the start of the Normandy format meeting. Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation.
Share
Twitter Telegram LinkedIn Facebook Email

The Russian Army is slowly advancing and capturing new territories in Ukraine, although its troops are suffering heavy losses. Unless tragic events in the Eastern European country are part of a wider geopolitical deal between the United States and the Russian Federation, in the long-term the Kremlin’s defeat in Ukraine seems to be inevitable.

Ukraine receiving fighter jets from the European Union could be a turning point in the conflict that erupted on February 24. Ever since Russia launched an invasion of the former Soviet republic, its Armed Forces had a significant air superiority over the Ukrainian Army. But if Ukrainian pilots eventually pick up MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland and other Eastern European NATO members, the situation on the ground could start changing.

Such a development would be a big test for Russia’s S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. In Ukraine, Moscow would finally have the opportunity to prove how efficient those weapons are. The problem for the Russian Armed Forces is that Ukraine is already supplied with Turkish-made Bayraktar drones, which have destroyed dozens of Russian military columns. Thus, in the near future Russia could have a hard time protecting both its anti-aircraft missile systems from the Ukrainian drones, and its troops on the ground from new Ukrainian jets.

Although NATO will unlikely deploy troops to Ukraine – at least at this phase of the war – it is entirely possible that the US-led alliance will implement a strategy similar to the one that Russia used in the Donbass in 2014. The Kremlin has been denying its involvement in the Donbass conflict ever since it began, claiming that regular Russian army was not taking part in any operations in the coal-rich region. As a result, a sarcastic name for Russian soldiers or mercenaries secretly deployed abroad has been coined – ihtamnet (meaning “they are not there”). NATO countries could eventually deploy their own version of “ihtamnet” to Ukraine, which will create additional problems for Russian forces on the ground.

That, however, does not necessarily mean that Russian military will stop advancing towards Kyiv, Kharkiv and other Ukrainian major cities, but its movements will certainly be additionally slowed down. Moreover, it will be very difficult for the Russian Army to control the territory it already captured, given that the local population and officials continue to provide passive resistance to the Russian occupation.

In Kharkiv, Eastern Ukrainian city where pro-Russian sentiment was very strong in 2014, Russia is facing a significant resistance. Even in the Donbass, in places where Russia-backed Lugansk People’s Republic established full control, locals came out to protest. Similar scenes were seen in Ukraine’s southeastern cities of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdyansk. In other words, local population in southeastern Ukraine does not see Russian troops as liberators, but as intruders.

The Kremlin strategic planners seem to have underestimated the Ukrainians’ determination not to be part of the “Russian world”. Even if Russia manages to establish full control over Kyiv, and all southeastern regions of Ukraine, it may take years, if not decades before it wins hearts and minds of the local population. But can Russian sanctions-hit economy afford feeding millions of Ukrainians?

Presently, Russian troops are still fighting on the outskirts of Eastern Ukrainian cities, where pro-Russian sentiment was relatively strong until 2014. If, eventually, Russian forces manage to advance westward, resistance is expected to be even fiercer than in the east of the country. Therefore, the Kremlin will have to start looking for an exit strategy. Russia’s maximalist demands – “denazification” and demilitarization of Ukraine – will make its exit from the Eastern European country even more difficult. If Moscow’s goals are not achieved, and its troops eventually leave Ukraine, Russia will be seen as a de facto defeated side in the conflict. Such a development will allow NATO to provide Ukraine with even more weapons, and to prepare Kyiv to eventually restore its sovereignty not only over the Donbass, but over Crimea as well.

Share. Twitter Telegram LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleRico Brouwer: Enemies of the State
Next Article Nathan Carson: We’re Looking at the Return of History & the Last Davos Man
Nikola Mikovic
  • Website
  • Twitter

Nikola Mikovic is a freelance journalist, researcher and analyst based in Serbia. His work focuses mostly on the foreign policies of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. His area of focus is the ongoing conflict in the Donbass, as well as relations between Russia and former Soviet republics. Nikola also covers Russia's involvement in Syria and Libya. He writes for several publications such as Diplomatic Courier, Asia Times, CGTN, Tsarizm, Global Comment, among others.

Related Posts

Is Germany Shooting Itself in the Foot By Joining the West’s Economic War Against Russia?

May 19, 2022

Putin, Russian Elite, & the Policy of Self-Destruction

May 18, 2022

Has Venezuela Found a New Ally in Turkey?

May 16, 2022

Is Belarus’ Lukashenko Reviving Attempts to Play a Game of Balancing Between Russia & the West?

May 12, 2022

Comments are closed.

The Geopolitics & Empire Newsletter

Get the week's news headlines and a notification for every podcast.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Social Media
  • Twitter
  • Telegram
  • Soundcloud
  • Apple
  • YouTube
  • Odysee
  • BitChute
  • Rumble
  • Gab
  • MeWe
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Recent Posts
Podcast

William Robinson: Rise of the Global Police State & Global Civil War

By Geopolitics & EmpireMay 20, 20220

Professor William Robinson discusses the unprecedented systemic crisis of global capitalism which has brought about…

Is Germany Shooting Itself in the Foot By Joining the West’s Economic War Against Russia?

May 19, 2022

Putin, Russian Elite, & the Policy of Self-Destruction

May 18, 2022

Has Venezuela Found a New Ally in Turkey?

May 16, 2022

About
About

The Geopolitics & Empire Podcast conducts interviews with prominent international experts on a wide-range of topics. The broadcast seeks to gain insight from guests who come from the left, right, and beyond. The host does not always agree with beliefs espoused by podcast invitees, but maintains an open mind, and believes it important to respectfully listen to a multitude of voices and let listeners come to their own conclusions.

Top Headlines

William Robinson: Rise of the Global Police State & Global Civil War

May 20, 2022

Is Germany Shooting Itself in the Foot By Joining the West’s Economic War Against Russia?

May 19, 2022

Putin, Russian Elite, & the Policy of Self-Destruction

May 18, 2022
Site Map
  • About Geopolitics & Empire
  • Geopolitics & Empire Podcast Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Analysis
  • Donate / Support
  • Consultation
  • Become a Member
  • Sponsors
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Twitter Telegram SoundCloud Apple Spotify YouTube Odysee Rokfin Rumble BitChute Brighteon VK Gab MeWe Minds Flote LinkedIn Facebook Instagram RSS
© 2022 Geopolitics & Empire.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?