Analysis of London after a year of war – A minute’s silence and events in Britain
Thanasis Gavos, London
Her unwavering support of Britain and its allies in Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion, the British Ministry of Defense notes.
“There is no loss of momentum from the UK and its allies in 2023,” the ministry tweeted.
In today’s security intelligence analysis, the department provides a brief review and assessment of current Russian strategy.
It is therefore noted that since 2014 Russia’s strategic goal in Ukraine has been to control the neighboring country, initially by subversion, by inciting an undeclared war in Donbas and by annexing Crimea.
The full-scale invasion signaled a new approach, the official British analysis says, aimed at seizing all of Ukraine and overthrowing the government.
By April 2022, however, Moscow had realized it had failed and so turned to expanding and formalizing its rule in the Donbass and the Ukrainian south. In this he has made “slow and extremely costly progress”.
In recent weeks Russia “probably changed its approach again.” It is now believed to be primarily focused on weakening the Ukrainian military rather than seizing territory.
“The Russian leadership is likely pursuing a long-term operation in the belief that Russia’s advantages in population and resources will eventually wear down Ukraine,” concludes the analysis by the British Ministry of Defence.
As for the outcome of the war, the Times newspaper lists six possible scenarios: a peace agreement that nevertheless seems like a “Herculean task”, an ongoing war of attrition, as the ministry’s analysis points outa ceasefire that would “freeze” the conflict, a Russian retreat and Ukrainian victory, a Ukrainian collapse and Russian victory, or a nuclear war or nuclear mobilization by Russia that would trigger NATO intervention.
At the same time, the debate about sending fighter jets to Ukraine is raging in Britain. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a new intervention in favor of sending them on Thursday night.
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected, according to the Times, to tell allies today that Ukraine needs a “decisive advantage” on the battlefield.
In this context, it is estimated that he will renew the proposal to replace the Soviet-era MiG-29s with British Typhoons that Poland could immediately send to Ukraine – a move that has been banned in the recent past by US President Biden.
Britain’s clearer stance in favor of bolstering Ukraine with fighter jets is also said to be motivated by fears of Moscow’s imminent deal with Beijing to receive Chinese arms.
Mr Sunak will also lead Britain today at 11am local time in a minute’s silence for the victims of the war in Ukraine. He will later welcome Ukrainian soldiers training on British soil to Downing Street.
On Wednesday night, central London’s Trafalgar Square hosted a pro-Ukraine vigil. There, famous British actress Dame Helen Mirren recited a visibly moved Ukrainian poem, while Defense Secretary Ben Wallace praised the bravery of Ukrainians.
A memorial service is being held this morning at London’s central Ukrainian church and in the afternoon a trisag will be held in memory of the victims at St Volodymyr’s memorial in west London, near the Ukrainian embassy.
From there, a protest march will take place to the Russian embassy located on the same road, one kilometer away.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
