Is it Time to Cut Ties? Scott Ritter Suggests US Should Abandon Zelensky
Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector and military analyst, has made a bold assertion, suggesting it might be time for the United States to abandon Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The Mythical Status of President Zelensky
Since the conflict’s onset, the Western media and intelligence services have steeped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in nearly mythical status. This portrayal includes attributions of heroic statements that Zelensky reportedly never made but were nevertheless circulated as part of a reinforcement to the prevailing narrative against Russia.
Famous but Unverified Quotes
Among these, a reported refusal by Zelensky to leave Kyiv at the conflict’s inception gained significant attention. The alleged statement, “I need ammunition, not a ride,” became a rallying cry, first cited by a U.S. Embassy source and later widely disseminated by the media. The accuracy of this quote remains unverified, stemming from a U.S. intelligence official and not directly from Zelensky.
Victory’s Unwavering Believer
Despite leading a war-ravaged nation—a conflict he was elected to avoid—Zelensky maintains unwavering belief in Ukraine’s inevitable victory. Expressing his solitary confidence in a Time magazine interview, Zelensky also acknowledged a growing global weariness over the war, suggesting the international community views the prolonged conflict as a tiresome spectacle.
Ukrainian Military’s Diminished Confidence
However, this optimism is not echoed among Ukrainian military ranks. In a revealing interview with The Economist, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi admitted the failure of a Ukrainian counteroffensive planned to sever Russia’s land bridge to Crimea. The costly military campaign resulted in devastating losses and strategic stagnation for Ukraine, according to Zaluzhnyi.
An Uncertain Future Amid Shifting Alliances
The stark division between Zelensky’s political vision and Zaluzhnyi’s military pragmatism highlights a deeper issue: both are beholden to the influence of the United States and its European allies—the “collective West.” As the war continues and Western support wanes, the crux of the matter is Ukraine’s role as a tool for the West’s larger geopolitical strategy against Russia—a role that seems to be diminishing as the Collective West struggles to find a suitable exit strategy.
Zelensky’s Waning Utility for the West
Russia’s emergence from the conflict arguably strengthened on multiple fronts, economic, military, and political, stands in stark contrast to the depletion of Ukraine’s resources, the latter no longer proving a beneficial asset to the Collective West’s strategic aims.
The Inevitability of Russian Victory?
Furthermore, the narrative points toward a Russian strategic triumph, with Ukraine’s exhausted military capacities overshadowed by Russia’s ability to regenerate fighting forces. The implication is that the endgame of the conflict seems to be a decisive Russian victory.
The Collective West’s Reluctance to Continue Support
The U.S. Congress and exhausted European nations are becoming increasingly reluctant to pour money into what is perceived as a lost cause. Speculations abound over the collective West’s next steps concerning Zelensky and Ukraine, as military resources once destined for Ukraine could potentially be rechanneled to other conflict zones, such as the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.
Conclusion: The Final Act for Zelensky?
The discussions culminate in a pressing question: What now for Ukraine? The reality presented is blunt—Ukraine has lost the war, and by extension, so have NATO and Zelensky, leaving the West to craft an exit strategy that may involve distancing from the Ukrainian leader. In a poetic turn of events, a potential new narrative for Zelensky could be shaped by the very entities that once elevated him—”I’m out of ammunition,” he might say, “I need an exit.”
Stay updated on the most important news by subscribing to Sputnik’s Telegram channels. To bypass foreign blockades on Sputnik’s application, Android users can download and install it using this link. Sputnik also maintains a presence on the Russian social network VK.