Ukraine is inside Russian territory
The unexpected and surprising attack by Ukrainian forces and their crossing into Russian borders has drawn experts’ attention to the special dimensions of the interactions and relations between Ukrainians and Western countries. On Friday, as the Ukrainian soldiers’ entry into Russian territory reached its fourth day, we witnessed the brave defiance of Ukraine’s President Zelensky and the continued warnings from the Russians about their severe response and the occurrence of an unprecedented and full-scale war. What is particularly noteworthy in this context is the stance of Western countries regarding Ukraine’s attack. The Ukrainians have crossed the unofficial red lines set by the United States, and after the attack with Western-donated F16s on Russian soil, they are now in Russian territory with American and German weapons and armored vehicles, without any intention or plan for a temporary operation. A Pentagon spokesperson mentioned that the U.S. Department of Defense was not informed in advance of the attack, yet no warning or even doubt about this attack has been announced to the Ukrainians by Western officials. Some articles published in American journals expressed doubt about the success of this operation but did not go beyond that level.
Recent reports, especially today’s special analysis by the Financial Times, indicate that Ukraine, which is not in a good position on many battlefronts, is well aware of the need for special advantages to leverage in potential negotiations with the Russians. Therefore, it has acted in the weak spot of the Russians and wants to advance as much as possible to use the territories it conquers in negotiations.