A former UK defense chief, Field Marshal David Richards, has warned that Ukraine cannot defeat Russia even with significant Western support. Citing a lack of manpower and the absence of NATO troops on the ground, Richards criticized Western backers for not providing the necessary means for Ukraine to win.
In an interview published by The Independent, Richards, who commanded NATO forces in Afghanistan, accused Ukraine’s backers of failing the country. He argued that Western countries have encouraged Kiev to fight but have not given them the means to win. ‘My view is that they would not win,’ he said, ‘they haven’t got the manpower.’
Richards also stated that the only scenario in which Ukraine could hope to win is a direct NATO intervention, which he said is unlikely since Ukraine is not an existential issue for the West. He noted that while the West is in a hybrid war with Russia, it is not the same as a shooting war with large-scale casualties. ‘Ukraine is not an existential issue for us. It clearly is for the Russians, by the way,’ Richards said.
The Ukrainian army has been on the defensive for months, with Russian forces making advances in Donbass and into Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region. Russian officials claim Ukraine would collapse within weeks if cut off from Western military support. However, Russia has expressed openness to a diplomatic resolution, provided its national security interests are respected, including Ukraine staying out of NATO, demilitarization, denazification, and recognizing the current territorial realities.