“Why don't people talk about Russia's failed counter-offensive? I think it's probably because the Russians themselves call it a big offensive or a big mobilization or whatever doing but it doesn't look like it. I mean there they're losing a thousand people per day getting killed in these mindless meatwave attacks and I think that Ukraine probably is going to continue to bleed Russian forces and the Russians are not gaining anything.

I don't think the Russians have the ability to knock out Ukraine. There is no big force out there waiting over the horizon to come in, that's trained and modernized it. It doesn't exist. So I think Russia's only hope is to continue what they're doing to convey the impression that they can do this forever because they see that the Western countries, at least the United States and Germany, are not fully committed to helping Ukraine actually win”.

How long will the United States hold off on approving aid to Ukraine, and why has domestic politics taken priority over the importance of supporting Ukraine?

In the new episode of the "(Un)Safe Country" podcast, its permanent host Alina Frolova talks to Lt General (retired) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of US Army Europe and NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics. The conversation is about the Black Sea, Ukraine's ground and air operations, the liberation of Crimea, US assistance and possible post-election decisions, NATO, international partners' support and position on the situation in Ukraine, the numerous conflicts unfolding in the world today and the production capabilities of Western countries, as well as what will happen inside Russia after Ukraine's victory.