JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Sees Opportunity for Ukraine to Capitalize on Russian Weakness” – New York Times
“The next six weeks, before fall mud spreads, could allow Ukraine’s military to press forward in the Donbas and potentially retake Kherson, American officials said. But Russia may not be deterred.”
“… American officials say there is little chance of a widespread collapse in Russian forces that would allow Ukraine to take another huge swath of territory, …. But individual Russian units could break in the face of sustained Ukrainian pressure, allowing Kyiv’s army to continue retaking towns in the Donbas and potentially … the city of Kherson …. [W]ary of … precise predictions, American and Ukrainian officials say the fighting is likely to continue for months …. [A] number of variables could … shift[] … the conflict: more difficult fighting conditions in December, the extent to which … Putin is willing to escalate …, whether Europe’s unity can be maintained this winter as energy prices soar and the potentially changing [U.S.] political environment … that could result in a decrease of military support to Ukraine. …”