Getty Images via Spectator

They admit: Ukraine is losing the war and Europe's strategy has failed.

• uncut-news.ch 9 September 2026.uncutnews-ch/sie-geben-es-zu-die-ukraine-verliert-den-krieg-und-europas-strategie-ist-gescheitert

Over the years, Western capitals have reported that Russia is weakened by sanctions, Ukraine reinforced by arms supplies, and Kiev's military triumph is only a substance of time. Now, of all publications, British “ Spectator’ pulls out the crushing request . “Ukraine loses war,” writes Owen Matthews, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine and author of a book on Putin’s war. His analysis is not a Russian success story, but a settlement with Western politics.

The promises of the West face reality.

Matthews sees 3 sobering conclusions from fresh talks between Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow and Kiev: Putin did not abandon his war goals, Trump has no fresh peace plan outside the agreement on Russian terms, and Kiev runs out of money, soldiers and anti-aircraft ammunition.

The diplomatic initiative did not bring a breakthrough. While Washington talks about the economical benefits of ending the war, Zelenski describes the fight for Donbas as a war for survival.

Especially disturbing are military events. Russia is increasingly deploying faster and more precise assault drones, developing economical maneuvering rocket systems and expanding ballistic rocket production. Ukrainian Defence Technology Advisor, Serhij Bieskrestnow, warns that the attacks have become stronger than the defense. Ukraine is not expected to receive adequate missiles this winter to full defend its cities.

Sanctions, weapons, diplomacy: triple defeat

However, the real bomb of the article is Matthews' criticism of Europe. He talks about a triple failure: The sanctions were announced with a large pump, while Russian energy purchases continued; crucial weapons systems were halted for fear of escalation or due to Europe's own defence interests; and above all, Europe refused to seriously consider negotiations with Moscow, while constantly encouraging Ukraine to fight.

Matthews thus undermines the central war strategy of the West. Repeated promises to support Kiev ‘as long as necessary’ and ‘with all essential means’ describes it as fundamentally misleading. The West, he claims, raised expectations he was incapable to fulfill. At the same time, he failed to paralyze Russia economically and did not make any diplomatic alternative.

This is simply a fundamental contradiction: Europe has promised Ukraine a long war, until victory, without, however, presenting the means to accomplish this triumph – and without presenting a convincing plan for the failure of this strategy.

Kiev is facing a tab.

Matthews expects the military to be exhausted soon the financial crisis will deepen. It points to an upcoming budget deficit of EUR 26 billion, although the EU has already provided a debt of EUR 90 billion. There are besides shortages of personnel, shortages of anti-aircraft ammunition and severe winter. The budget amounts mentioned in the article originate from the author; their exact amounts would require verification in the current Ukrainian budget documents.

The country besides describes the government under expanding pressure. Corruption scandals, investigations against high-ranking officials, conflicts between safety services and falling assurance in Zelenski have exacerbated the situation. Matthews cites investigation "New York Times" , which showed that in 2024 about $1.2 billion was lost due to overpriced prices and corrupt military contracts.

Uncomfortable question: What are we inactive fighting for?

‘ The Spectator’ so asks a question which has long been considered undesirable in European policy: What is the realistic nonsubjective of continuing this war if neither military triumph nor economical collapse of Russia is anticipated?

Matthews claims that any fresh peace offering for Kiev was worse than the erstwhile one. He fears that Russia will further strengthen its military position, forcing Ukraine to negociate on even more unfavourable conditions. Europe is inactive talking about support, but it lacks a concrete plan to save Ukraine, importantly weaken the Russian economy or break Putin's will to war.

This does not mean that the complete collapse of Ukraine is inevitable or that Russia will accomplish all its war objectives. Moscow besides bears immense costs, and further developments stay uncertain. Matthews' analysis, however, clearly shows that the Western strategy so far failed to fulfill its promises.

Political losses are devastating: billions were spent, hundreds of thousands of people were killed or injured, full regions were destroyed – and now the leading British magazine admits that Ukraine is losing the war.

The question is not just how long Kiev will last. The question is besides how long European governments intend to stick to a strategy that is increasingly acknowledged by failures.

Source: Ukraine loses the war