Congressional leaders are aiming to pass Ukraine and Israel supplemental aid before Christmas
NBCDec 05, 2023
The Facts
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Ukrainian marines and special forces have suffered "colossal" losses after successfully crossing the east bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region. This comes as the UK Defense Ministry said both sides have been fighting in several villages including Krynky, characterizing the fighting as "confused, dismounted infantry combat and artillery exchanges in complex, wooded terrain."
Over the past day, Russia has also reportedly launched five missile strikes, 61 air strikes, and more than 60 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) attacks in several regions, including Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Kherson per Ukrainian media. Russian artillery reportedly impacted over 150 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions.
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
As the war has reached the two-year mark, Vladimir Putin has learned that his military cannot win a decisive military victory without completely depleting his arsenal and risking his domestic political power. If the West put its entire financial, technological, and military might up against Moscow, Putin would be finished and Ukraine safe. The future of the West is up to its leaders and how much they want to defend its borders from future Russian aggression.
Pro-Russia narrative
Ukraine is absolutely right when it says its only path to victory is complete Western involvement in the war. However, the powers that be decided to only offer help "for as long as it takes" but not "with whatever it takes." In the meantime, it's stretched itself too thin in the Middle East as its so-called allies in Kyiv endure devastating loss after devastating loss. Europe and the US do not want to go to war with Russia, so they're best bet is now to concede and finally accept Moscow's offer to negotiate peace.