The US decision to suspend military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine has further disadvantaged Kyiv's forces on the battlefield.
Ukraine's difficulties are getting more difficult
Reuters on March 7 quoted informed sources as saying that the situation of Ukrainian forces in Kursk province (Russia) has significantly deteriorated in recent days, as the Russian army organized counterattacks and almost cut off supply routes to frontline units. From an attack on Kursk that surprised Russia in August 2024, Ukrainian operations here have gradually fallen into a disadvantageous position. The Russian Defense Ministry announced yesterday that it had regained control of three settlements in Kursk. Ukraine has not responded to developments in this area.
How will the US suspension of military aid affect Ukraine?
The situation on the battlefield has become even more difficult for Kyiv after the rift with the US. Washington this week suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. In addition, Washington announced on March 7 that it was restricting Ukraine's access to commercial satellite imagery purchased by the US government, including clear images that provide a picture of the battlefield. The Guardian newspaper quoted a source as saying that the lack of information has reduced the accuracy of Ukrainian drones when attacking by about 10-15% compared to before.
Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire at a building in Kharkiv province on March 8.
Meanwhile, Time magazine quoted military officials as saying that hundreds of Ukrainians had died because of the US halting intelligence sharing. "The biggest problem is morale," one official said, adding that it was the US, not Russia, that was preventing Kyiv's military from using its best weapons.
Lacking valuable information from the United States, especially about activities taking place on Russian territory, Ukraine’s ability to identify and warn of airstrikes is significantly reduced. Ukraine’s ability to strike targets on Russian soil is also limited. It is not a matter of time before Europe can fill the US intelligence gap for Ukraine, while the US also prevents European partners from sharing with Ukraine the information they receive from Washington.
Action from the US
Republican lawmakers in the US on March 7 urged President Donald Trump to restore aid to Ukraine. The group of lawmakers said the White House boss has the right to temporarily halt weapons transfers to assess the situation, pressuring Western allies to increase their contributions to Ukraine and creating an opportunity for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. However, they warned that a prolonged suspension of aid could affect Ukraine's combat capabilities, thereby reducing Kyiv's leverage when entering negotiations with Moscow, according to The Hill.
Mr. Trump 'believes' Mr. Putin, says working with Russia is easier than Ukraine
Senator Thom Tillis said Ukraine still has enough weapons to hold out, but hoped the decision to suspend aid would not last long. Meanwhile, Senator Susan Collins, who is also the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, opposed suspending military aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia had carried out a large-scale airstrike on many areas in Ukraine in the early morning of March 7, deploying nearly 70 missiles and 200 UAVs. The Ukrainian military yesterday announced that Russia had attacked the city of Dobropillia in Donetsk province, killing at least 11 people. Moscow did not respond to this information.
Asked at a White House press conference whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was using the US suspension of support for Ukraine to direct an increased attack, Trump said: "I think he (Putin) is doing what anyone else would do. He wants to end the war. I think Ukraine wants it too, but I don't see it." In a post on the social network Truth Social on March 7, Trump wrote that he would consider imposing sanctions and tariffs on Russia until Moscow and Kyiv reached a peace agreement.
Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Germany
US President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing 35,000 US troops from Germany and redeploying them to Eastern Europe, a move that could seriously affect relations between the US and Europe. According to The Telegraph on March 7, Mr. Trump wants to transfer US troops from Germany to Hungary. There are currently about 160,000 US military officers operating outside the country, most of them stationed in Germany. Sources familiar with the matter said the US president wants Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities, and is increasingly frustrated with the continent fueling conflicts. Hungary, a country with friendly relations with Russia, on March 6 vetoed the European Union's (EU) commitment to increase support for Ukraine.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ukraine-that-the-khi-bi-my-quay-lung-185250308233050378.htm
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