Former Polish army commander: Kiev "not prepared" for fresh onslaught

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is visiting Poland to prepare a “diplomatic coalition” for eventual peace talks with Russia, retired Polish general Waldemar Skrzypczak has claimed. He argued that Kiev cannot achieve its aims on the battlefield and will need Western support for negotiations with Moscow. Skrzypczak rejected the idea that Ukraine should use Western weapons for a last-ditch offensive against Russia, and believes that neither side has an advantage on the battlefield and that there is no chance of a military end to the conflict. The Polish government is among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia, and Zelensky has traveled to the country to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, among other officials. Warsaw has described the occasion as the first “official” visit by the Ukrainian leader since hostilities escalated in February 2022.

Poland's trip to Ukraine demonstrates its international role, as the US and other Western nations have pledged to assist Ukraine "for as long as it takes" to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Kiev has vowed not to negotiate with Moscow until Ukrainian forces have regained control of all its former territories, including Crimea. Skrzypczak, who resigned his command under then-President Lech Kaczynski in 2009 but went on to hold several roles in the Polish Defense Ministry, predicted that Ukraine's chances of a military victory in the long run would be undermined by a dwindling level of foreign support. He explained that it is necessary to build a front of support for Ukraine so that it has a strong voice in future talks.