Part 6/7:
Beyond the battlefield, there are significant political motivations behind Ukraine’s current offensive. Some speculate that this initiative aims to send a message to the incoming Trump Administration about Ukraine's military capabilities. Although capturing territory, even in small amounts, is beneficial, the scale of these gains pales in comparison to Russian advances in Eastern Ukraine.
The political calculus in Washington remains largely unaffected unless Ukraine can demonstrate a substantial and sustained territorial retention that shifts perceptions of the war's viability and the necessity of continual support.