Ukraine is likely to fall if Western countries cut off aid - CNN

CNN reports.

Western officials fear that the loss or further delay of US support will affect assistance from their allies.

“If looking at taking and holding further territory,” said one European diplomat, “it is hard to see how that could succeed without continued US support.”

“There is no guarantee of success with us, but they are certain to fail without us,” a senior US military official added.

Now, Western intelligence agencies are calculating how long Ukraine could hold out without US and NATO help. One senior US military official estimated months, with a worst-case scenario of a significant setback or even defeat by the summer.

Without additional US aid, Western officials assess that Ukraine would first run out of long-range missiles, then air defense missiles and later artillery ammunition and short-range missiles such as shoulder-fired Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

Assessments of what a Ukrainian defeat would mean for Europe is causing deep fears among some of America’s closest European allies.

“I don’t think people fully realize what Ukraine’s fall would actually mean,” said a European diplomat. “We would see horrible things: ethnic cleansing and total destruction of Ukraine. Remember what they did in Bucha. So, it is already success if we can prevent that from happening. And that is why we must carry on.”