International press review
In the spotlight: The dangers of Ukraine's stalemate, six months after the brutal Russian invasion
Audio 04:15
Destroyed Russian tanks parade in kyiv during Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, August 24, 2022. © AP / Evgeniy Maloletka
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
3 mins
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Already six months of conflict in Ukraine, and "
Putin's mad war has ended in a stalemate
", comments
The Observer
.
"
The lightning operation launched in February by Vladimir Putin enters its 7th month
", also notes the
Guardian
,
while the
Washington Post
welcomes at least "
that Ukraine can today celebrate its status as an independent state that Putin did not succeed in destroying
".
But the conflict "is
getting bogged down dangerously
", underlines for its part
Le Temps
, a situation fraught with perils, considers the Swiss daily, "
while diplomacy remains muted
".
Concern shared by the
New York Times
: "
Nobody knows how this war will end
", says the American daily, which underlines "
that after having silenced the dissidents, Putin proclaimed that nothing had started seriously
", whereas on his side"
President Zelensky, backed by the West, urges his people not to bend
”.
Russia controls 20% of Ukraine, "
but has not made much progress for several weeks
", notes a military specialist in
Le Soir
, for whom the conflict is moving towards "
a war of attrition which does not exclude a possible escalation
" in the coming weeks.
After the Moscow bombing and the attacks in Crimea, "
Putin could go a notch further in the horror, by adopting a scorched earth policy, by razing entire cities or by using chemical weapons
".
Always with the same objective: “
to scare Westerners
” to weaken their support for Ukraine.
Putin is betting on Western reluctance to bear the cost of war
This is the most shared analysis in the international press.
"
While Western sanctions have still not caused the collapse of the Russian economy
", notes the
Washington Post
, "
the world economy is increasingly threatened
" by the consequences of the war in Ukraine. .
“
Will Western support still hold as Europe prepares for a winter with little Russian oil and gas
?
asks the
New York Times
.
“
Russia expects European fatigue in favor of the winter
,” also commented
Le Soir
.
This is the whole bet of Vladimir Poutine who could thus accommodate "
a war of attrition
", underlines
Le Temps
.
'
Before Russia runs out of firepower, Russian president is banking on a lack of political will in the West
', '
when energy shortages and soaring cost of living will strain Westerners
“, explains the
Guardian
.
“
Will they then support with the same determination as last semester the cost of the war, in the next six months
?
“, worries the
Washington Post
.
For Europeans, next winter could be decisive
This is why Josep Borell, the head of diplomacy of the European Union, insists on the imperative need to "
maintain European unity from day to day
", reports
Le Soir
.
This is the great concern of Americans.
Because "
if the European countries closest to the conflict, such as Poland or the Baltic countries, have maintained the moral attention of the continent on the dangers of Russian aggression
", underlines the
New York Times
,
“
There are major divisions, particularly on the issue of energy sanctions.
Hungary and Serbia in particular, which maintain close ties with Russia, have rejected the sanctions pushed by Brussels
”, highlights the American daily, which also notes that “
even in Poland fatigue is mounting in the face of the massive flow of refugees Ukrainians
”.
“
Winter could be the moment of truth, the trial by fire
,” argues a French strategist, still in the
New York Times
.
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