The New York Times article: are Ukrainians to blame?

It can be said that it’s an analysis of how things were, when viewed from the corridors of power. Immediately, people took this publication as proof of Ukraine’s "unruliness," which was driven by victorious plans developed for us by the Americans. This specifically refers to the "counteroffensive."

At the same time, another report from The New York Times seems to have been overlooked, in which unnamed generals, interviewed by the journalists, revealed details of a plan they developed. The plan discussed the possibility of cutting the "land corridor to Crimea" to "strengthen victorious positions." However, it was anticipated that Ukrainian military losses could reach 40%. Why such a high number? The interviewees explained that they recognized, and even factored in, the fact that storming the Surovikin Line without prior carpet bombing by aviation was not exactly in line with NATO's typical approach. But, in the end, it's about "improving negotiating positions!" For such a goal, the entire country’s sacrifice might be justified.

I won’t even mention that this Surovikin Line is the result of the delays by the Americans in supplying new types of weaponry. Let’s recall Zaluzhnyi’s article right after the liberation of Kherson, where he directly stated: "I’m standing 80 km from Melitopol. We need weapons, and we’ll liberate the occupied South." Did they give them? No. They spent nine months discussing it while the Russians built fortifications and trained 300,000 mobilized soldiers.

And it turns out that we — Ukrainians — are to blame for the fact that these grand plans didn’t go according to plan. Let’s remember the 10 Abrams tanks that only reached Ukraine after the "counteroffensive" had ended. This is just a detail in the narrative about the victory that would have happened if it weren’t for the disobedience of the Ukrainians.

It’s clear why the Americans are raising this topic again. It’s a message against the backdrop of Ukraine's "disobedience" regarding the brilliant plan of the new American administration on how Ukrainians should be sacrificed for them to have a constructive conversation with Putin. They are saying, "Look at these ungrateful Ukrainians. We developed something brilliant for them, didn’t give them weapons for it, knew and accounted for it — and yet they’re not satisfied."

I understand why the Americans are doing this — especially now. But I can’t understand why our local "witnesses of obedience" are doing this. After all, in that fresh article from the "respected American outlet," which they’ve been sharing all day on the internet, another example is directly cited regarding American plans and Ukraine's "disobedience." The sinking of the cruiser Moskva, as stated in the article, was quite an unpleasant surprise for the U.S.

The New York Times writes — direct quote: "For the Americans, there was anger, because the Ukrainians hadn’t given so much as a heads-up; surprise, that Ukraine possessed missiles capable of reaching the ship; and panic, because the Biden administration hadn’t intended to enable the Ukrainians to attack such a potent symbol of Russian power."

So, maybe Ukraine should have listened to the big, wise uncles and not sunk the enemy flagship? What do you think? Or perhaps Ukrainians should have bought a plane ticket to America when they were propagandizing? A government in exile, Ukrainians in Gulags and Bykivnias. Wasn't that the plan when embassies left the country before the invasion?

I think we should get rid of the post-colonial infantilism and shoot at the sound of being told to just obey and not annoy adults with our stubbornness. Because since the Maidan, we’re still alive because we didn’t listen. Because the experience of all previous generations has taught us that the only way not to become food for Moscow’s cannibals is to fight. Especially when the situation is hopeless.

Source

About the author. Larysa Voloshyna, journalist, psychologist.

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.