Any hesitation on the part of the West could break Ukraine's neck

Let's be frank: the situation of the Ukrainian military in the city of Bakhmut is dramatic. There are too few fighters and not enough ammunition. Russian snipers have an easy time at night, killing many Ukrainians. Ukrainian soldiers on the spot told me all this openly. I reported from the Bakhmut region for a week, two days of it from the hot combat zone.

One notices: Vladimir Putin really wants to take over the city. His troops charge in waves, gaining more and more territory. "We're losing new positions every day," Jura, a commander within the 93rd Brigade, told me. He fears that Bakhmut will soon fall and he will have to retreat with his troops.

So while Jura fought, Western leaders met at the Munich Security Conference. They swung the usual solidarity speeches and tried to show strength. Even the federal government now dares to say openly that Ukraine “must win”. Whatever this could mean.

The truth is: the West could have influenced Ukraine's current military situation. Without Western restraint, the Russian troops would not have been able to rehabilitate and regroup over the winter. Bachmut now shows what that means: the Ukrainian military is also being weakened for possible counter-offensives by Russia's assaults.

Only the indecisiveness of the western alliance, above all the federal government, made Russia strong again. The Leopard tanks and other planned arms deliveries are at least three months late.

Ukraine still had the momentum in this war in the winter of 2022. First, Ukrainian troops overran Russia's positions in Kharkiv, weeks later they recaptured the city of Cherson. Putin's troops stumbled. At that time it would have been possible with the right weapons to use the situation for further offensives. Missed the chance.

Everything is still open. After the arrival of Western weapons, the Ukrainian military can still be expected to launch a successful counter-offensive. But after the days with Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut, it hurts me that we put them in this situation. Any more hesitation could break Ukraine's neck.