Ukraine stands firm on land amid Trump-Putin talks
A Ukrainian flag in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, March 28, 2022
Reuters
Ukraine has warned that delays in Western military and financial aid risk giving Russia time to strengthen its positions, with officials citing past pauses in support that led to territorial losses and heavier casualties.
From Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city and a frequent target of air raid alerts, the reality of the conflict remains stark despite ongoing political discussions abroad. The daily wail of sirens serves as a reminder that high-level meetings have done little to ease life for ordinary Ukrainians.
Conversations with military personnel and officials in the city reveal deep distrust toward Moscow, with many dismissing any agreement that excludes Ukraine from the negotiating table. They see Russian overtures for peace as tactics to prolong the status quo and legitimise occupation.
On the front lines near Kharkiv, shortages are acute from weapons and ammunition to manpower. Soldiers say that even brief interruptions in Western aid result in immediate vulnerabilities, as happened months earlier in the Vovchansk sector, where Kyiv’s forces suffered significant losses.
Every pause, they warn, allows Russia to reinforce its defences, deploy additional troops, and move in more weaponry, drones, and ammunition. The cumulative effect, they say, is a steadily worsening battlefield situation that makes it harder for Ukraine to hold its ground.
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