As 2023 draws to a close, the conflict on the battlefield between Russia and Ukraine has escalated again. The Ukrainian side seemed eager to show its determination to resist Russia, but the move angered Russia and provoked even more violent retaliation. On December 26, Ukraine launched missiles at the Russian Black Sea Fleet, severely damaging the Russian landing ship "Novocherkassk". Russia then launched its largest attack on the 29th, dispatching strategic bombers and using various types of missiles, successfully destroying all targets. Although the Ukrainian side did not disclose the specific damage, the Russian report does not seem to be an exaggeration.
Ukraine seems to be particularly concerned about gains and losses on the battlefield, and immediately launched a counterattack against Russia despite its own losses, this time targeting residential areas in the city of Belgorod. According to reports, at noon on December 30, the Ukrainian army launched an artillery shell on the city of Belgorod, killing more than 20 people and injuring more than 100, including more than 30 seriously wounded, as well as women and children. Putin was extremely outraged by this, immediately sent a representative to the scene to deal with it, and expected that the Russian army would once again launch a more violent retaliatory action. Ukraine is currently in a difficult situation, their Western aid is about to run out, ammunition is running out, and even Zaluzhny has publicly stated that there is a serious shortage of Ukrainian soldiers.
Why should Ukraine suddenly provoke Russia at this critical juncture?Is Zelensky trying to make a final desperate resistance, or does he have something else in mind?What kind of considerations and intentions are hidden behind this series of events is worth going deeper. Zelensky is facing not just a fight, but an extremely risky gamble. While Ukraine is not going to make an unwise move for his sake, Zelensky seems to be trying to provoke a bigger game. The biggest risk for Ukraine now is not to be abandoned by the West, because it is impossible for the West to abandon Ukraine.
However, the West seems to be adjusting its strategy, no longer counting on Ukraine's victory over Russia, and instead seeking negotiations with Russia to maintain the territory and strategic resources of Ukraine currently controlled by NATO. This means that some compromise will need to be made, and Zelensky is likely to be the first bargaining chip. Thus, despite the subtle change in the attitude of the West, the ** office in Kyiv issued an "ultimatum" to Russia. It seems that Ukraine has the active advantage on the battlefield, and not Russia. Zelensky is well aware of the fears of the West, which fears that Russia's expansion of offensive targets directly threatens Europe and NATO.
Thus, Zelensky is trying to provoke Moscow and make the West realize that they must fully support Ukraine until the victory over Russia. If the Russian-Ukrainian war stops, then Zelensky's fate may be threatened, and Putin will not let this opponent go. For the West, he will also lose the value of exploitation, it is only a matter of time.