Ukraine is eating through ammo (mainly 155mm howitzer shells from what I understand) because the war is in a WWI-style stalemate due to the lack of air superiority at the front from either side. All they can do is pound each other over and over again along the front line. There's no way to advance.
Likely if the west provided jets, this would change drastically.
I actually agree Russia is not stupid enough to engage in a direct attack on a NATO nation. They would likely move next against in Transnistria, Georgia, etc. And I don't see what would stop them, if they have success in Ukraine.
But they will engage in hybrid warfare against the west (already were), and they will be twice as emboldened if they are given Ukraine.
This is a country that felt free to unleash radioactive poisons against persons on UK soil, shoot down a civilian airliner, etc. Why do you want to appease them?
If west provided modern jets last year, if west provided long range missiles last year, and mainly: if Ukraine was allowed to use them against invader's military target on their soil - there would not be a stalemate now.
There are airports, ammo depots and other facilities less than 100 km from Ukrainian cities, and Russians are safe(mostly) there.
While at the same time Russians every day continuing their terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Russia is a terrorist state, but world doesn't care if they can have profits from Russia.
At first I felt like maybe this was a reasonable strategy from the west, because it allowed NATO to escalate capabilities slowly without at any point performing actions that would have looked like a direct attack on Russian home soil, justifying military action against the west, etc.
But after this summer of letting the Ukrainians flounder along the front in a stalemated counteroffensive, I am frustrated. The F16s should have been there this summer.
And now Avdiivka will become this winter's Bakhmut and the US could very well end up with a Putin-allied Trumpler in the Whitehouse next year.
I have a feeling that west doesn't want Ukraine to win. They want to bleed Russia, to make it weak, but to stay in one piece and with current government.
Unfortunately for Ukraine, there is no powerful politician like Reagan nowadays.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.
We had decades of peace and prosperity and now hard times are coming.
Do you really think Russia will give up the already occupied territories? Crimea?
I think this could happen when Putin would be removed and NATO would deploy to Ukraine.
Just sending more and more weapons will not change anything.
They already have given up lots of occupied territories. Guess why? Because of the advances of Ukrainian army. If west will send more weapons, without restrictions to use them against Russian army - all territory of Ukraine could be liberated from occupation.
If you think that west should give up and let Russians win and keep occupied territories - you should learn European history better.
Remember "peace for out time" agreement with Hitler in Munich 1938?
Likely if the west provided jets, this would change drastically.
I actually agree Russia is not stupid enough to engage in a direct attack on a NATO nation. They would likely move next against in Transnistria, Georgia, etc. And I don't see what would stop them, if they have success in Ukraine.
But they will engage in hybrid warfare against the west (already were), and they will be twice as emboldened if they are given Ukraine.
This is a country that felt free to unleash radioactive poisons against persons on UK soil, shoot down a civilian airliner, etc. Why do you want to appease them?