Now, Russia has finally understood that it can bomb Ukrainian cities and destroy Ukraine's power grid, but it cannot destroy their military industry and cut NATO's "blood vessels".
By the end of 2024, Ukraine will receive more than $250 billion in aid, accounting for more than 70% of military supplies.
Let's just talk about the United States. The "Haima" rocket launchers and the Patriot air defense system are good things. They give them as they say. Britain is also unambiguous in sending "Shadow of Storm" cruise missiles directly to Ukraine. Not to mention Germany has taken out the Leopard 2 tanks. Even a small country like Estonia, whose economy is tight, has reluctantly taken out hundreds of millions of dollars to support Ukraine.
These NATO countries kept giving Ukraine "blood transfusions" as if they had made an appointment. With this steady stream of assistance, could Ukraine not be tough? The Russian artillery shells were thrown at Ukraine in thousands, but Ukraine, not only was not smashed down, but it was able to stand up and resist, and even burned the war to Belgorod and Bryansk in Russia.
With the support of NATO, Ukraine's military industry is becoming more and more prosperous. Many technology companies used to produce ordinary products, but now they are starting to produce spare parts for drones. Ukraine is about to become the center of military innovation in Europe.
Let's take the drone. Since 2022, Ukraine has reduced its dependence on foreign suppliers in this regard and can build it itself. And Ukraine also says that they now regularly use domestic ballistic and cruise missiles for combat. In 2024, Ukraine's production of cruise missiles increased eightfold compared to 2023, and drone production also increased significantly.
This cannot be done without the help of NATO. Germany's Rheinmetall has established factories in Ukraine, and the Polish Arms Group has also cooperated with the Ukraine Defense Industries Corporation to develop new weapons.
Looking at Ukraine's transportation lines, it is also a headache for Russia. Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Food Agreement and wanted to cut off Ukraine's export channels. However, Ukraine relied on its own mine mining and demining capabilities and international shipping insurance mechanisms to revitalize ports such as Odessa and Southern Port. In August last year, at least 120 cargo ships arrived at the port of Odessa.
In the land corridor of western Ukraine, entire columns of arms and supplies are flowing into Ukraine from Europe. The Rzyszow airport in Poland has become a "life infra" for Ukraine, and the C-17 and C-130 transport planes of the United States Air Force take off and land frequently. As well as Romania's air defense system and NATO's intelligence network in the Black Sea, Ukraine can rely on these to keep track of Russian military movements in almost real time.
Although Russia has advanced missiles such as Dagger and Zircon, it does not dare to attack merchant ships flying the flags of the United States, Turkey or Greece easily. If it does, it may trigger a full-scale conflict with NATO.
It's not that Russia hasn't hit Ukrainian ports, oil depots and granaries in Odessa and Renee, which have also been repeatedly attacked by missiles and drones.
But as a result, these strikes did not completely cut off Ukraine's supply chain. Ukraine and the West quickly found alternatives, transferring supplies through the port of Constanta in Romania, using railways to transit Poland and Slovakia, and diverting water through feeder ports on the Danube River. Russia bombed many warehouses, but weapons, fuel and funds continued to flow into Ukraine.
Although Russia's missiles are powerful, Ukraine has an air defense system from the West, which can prevent Russian missile attacks to a certain extent. Moreover, the Russian army has so far failed to grasp the air control in the depth of Ukraine beyond the front line. It can only use long-range missiles and drones to strike the interior of Ukraine. Although the bombing over the past three years has caused some difficulties to Ukraine, it has not seriously weakened Ukraine's war capabilities at all, and has not even cut off Ukraine's main communication lines.
At this point, the war was no longer a simple "flood of tanks" confrontation, but a modern system competition. Ukraine was backed by the entire NATO industrial, financial and intelligence system, but Russia relied mainly on its own military factories and wartime mobilization.
It is not that Russia does not have weapons, but has many restrictions, and it is not that it dare not attack the real target; it is not that there is no opportunity, but that it cannot bear the serious consequences of the action. Putin probably also realized that this war cannot be won by tough statements. The Russian army has not achieved a decisive victory so far, not because the soldiers are not heroic, but because the supply lines are too different, and the strategic choice is constrained by the risk of escalation of the conflict.
By the end of 2024, Ukraine will receive more than $250 billion in aid, accounting for more than 70% of military supplies.
Let's just talk about the United States. The "Haima" rocket launchers and the Patriot air defense system are good things. They give them as they say. Britain is also unambiguous in sending "Shadow of Storm" cruise missiles directly to Ukraine. Not to mention Germany has taken out the Leopard 2 tanks. Even a small country like Estonia, whose economy is tight, has reluctantly taken out hundreds of millions of dollars to support Ukraine.
These NATO countries kept giving Ukraine "blood transfusions" as if they had made an appointment. With this steady stream of assistance, could Ukraine not be tough? The Russian artillery shells were thrown at Ukraine in thousands, but Ukraine, not only was not smashed down, but it was able to stand up and resist, and even burned the war to Belgorod and Bryansk in Russia.
With the support of NATO, Ukraine's military industry is becoming more and more prosperous. Many technology companies used to produce ordinary products, but now they are starting to produce spare parts for drones. Ukraine is about to become the center of military innovation in Europe.
Let's take the drone. Since 2022, Ukraine has reduced its dependence on foreign suppliers in this regard and can build it itself. And Ukraine also says that they now regularly use domestic ballistic and cruise missiles for combat. In 2024, Ukraine's production of cruise missiles increased eightfold compared to 2023, and drone production also increased significantly.
This cannot be done without the help of NATO. Germany's Rheinmetall has established factories in Ukraine, and the Polish Arms Group has also cooperated with the Ukraine Defense Industries Corporation to develop new weapons.
Looking at Ukraine's transportation lines, it is also a headache for Russia. Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Food Agreement and wanted to cut off Ukraine's export channels. However, Ukraine relied on its own mine mining and demining capabilities and international shipping insurance mechanisms to revitalize ports such as Odessa and Southern Port. In August last year, at least 120 cargo ships arrived at the port of Odessa.
In the land corridor of western Ukraine, entire columns of arms and supplies are flowing into Ukraine from Europe. The Rzyszow airport in Poland has become a "life infra" for Ukraine, and the C-17 and C-130 transport planes of the United States Air Force take off and land frequently. As well as Romania's air defense system and NATO's intelligence network in the Black Sea, Ukraine can rely on these to keep track of Russian military movements in almost real time.
Although Russia has advanced missiles such as Dagger and Zircon, it does not dare to attack merchant ships flying the flags of the United States, Turkey or Greece easily. If it does, it may trigger a full-scale conflict with NATO.
It's not that Russia hasn't hit Ukrainian ports, oil depots and granaries in Odessa and Renee, which have also been repeatedly attacked by missiles and drones.
But as a result, these strikes did not completely cut off Ukraine's supply chain. Ukraine and the West quickly found alternatives, transferring supplies through the port of Constanta in Romania, using railways to transit Poland and Slovakia, and diverting water through feeder ports on the Danube River. Russia bombed many warehouses, but weapons, fuel and funds continued to flow into Ukraine.
Although Russia's missiles are powerful, Ukraine has an air defense system from the West, which can prevent Russian missile attacks to a certain extent. Moreover, the Russian army has so far failed to grasp the air control in the depth of Ukraine beyond the front line. It can only use long-range missiles and drones to strike the interior of Ukraine. Although the bombing over the past three years has caused some difficulties to Ukraine, it has not seriously weakened Ukraine's war capabilities at all, and has not even cut off Ukraine's main communication lines.
At this point, the war was no longer a simple "flood of tanks" confrontation, but a modern system competition. Ukraine was backed by the entire NATO industrial, financial and intelligence system, but Russia relied mainly on its own military factories and wartime mobilization.
It is not that Russia does not have weapons, but has many restrictions, and it is not that it dare not attack the real target; it is not that there is no opportunity, but that it cannot bear the serious consequences of the action. Putin probably also realized that this war cannot be won by tough statements. The Russian army has not achieved a decisive victory so far, not because the soldiers are not heroic, but because the supply lines are too different, and the strategic choice is constrained by the risk of escalation of the conflict.