Kathrine Frich
For nearly three years, the war in Ukraine has reshaped military planning across Europe and the United States.
Washington’s political mood has shifted repeatedly, and with elections approaching in both countries, the expectations placed on American leadership are only growing heavier.
Former commanders now warn that the position on the battlefield is sliding, and that Washington’s approach lacks urgency.
These concerns intensified after recent comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
His assessment of the fighting in eastern Ukraine and his reluctance to promise new pressure on Moscow have prompted a wave of criticism at home and abroad.
One of the strongest reactions came from Reserve Colonel Piotr Lewandowski, a former commander at the Redzikowo base, who spoke to Wirtualna Polska about what he sees as a dangerous slowdown in Washington’s support.
Signs of strain
Secretary Rubio, attending a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Canada, was asked whether he believed Russia was seeking an end to the conflict.
His reply drew global attention. “The Russians have made it clear they want the rest of the Donetsk region, and the Ukrainians will obviously not agree to that,” he said.
He also warned that Moscow continues long-range strikes “to weaken the energy grid and try to destroy the country’s morale.”
Rubio acknowledged that Russian forces “have made some progress in the Donetsk region,” while suffering what he described as losses of “7,000 soldiers a week.”
He stated that Moscow had made “a demand that Ukraine cannot agree to,” referring to territorial division. Yet he confirmed that new sanctions are not on the table and left open the question of additional military aid.
Lewandowski argues this is not enough. He told Wirtualna Polska that “today, the American message is a pat on the back for Ukraine, a ‘keep fighting, we’ll see what happens.’
But the situation for Ukrainian soldiers on the front is dire.”
Warnings from the field
Responding to Rubio’s remarks, Lewandowski said that strong statements are not matched by strong policy.
He noted that Ukraine requested Tomahawk missiles and did not receive them.
The colonel stressed that it was already clear Ukraine would not accept the loss of the entire Donetsk region.
“The problem is that it may be forced to do so,” he said.
He pointed to the intense pressure around Pokrovsk and a growing shortage of Ukrainian personnel.
“Last month, Kyiv recorded the highest level of desertions since the beginning of the war. Ukrainians claim that approximately 20,000 men have left their units,” he told the outlet.
Ukraine meanwhile faces increasing attacks on its power network. Rubio confirmed that Washington is discussing potential support for winter months, noting that “the Ukrainian energy grid is weakened every year.”
But when asked about additional sanctions, he replied:
“There aren’t many sanctions left on our side. We’ve hit their main oil companies. I just don’t know what else can be done. We’re running out of areas where we can still impose further sanctions.”
A decisive year ahead
Lewandowski believes U.S. President Donald Trump is currently concentrating heavily on domestic priorities.
He argues that Trump’s position on Russia has changed, saying the president “has become disillusioned with Putin and has become more pro-Ukrainian.”
Even so, he insists that words alone will not shift the battlefield.
“Next year will be decisive for this conflict. If Ukraine doesn’t receive modern weapons, i.e. medium-range missiles, its capabilities on the frontline could be critical,” he said.
He described the situation in the east as increasingly precarious. “I’ll put it bluntly: the front looks the worst it has since the first three months of the war, when the Russians were pushing forward.”
He pointed to Russian movements near Zaporizhzhia and toward the Dnipropetrovsk region, which he believes could open a path toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Lewandowski concluded that if Washington is unable to escalate sanctions, then it must compensate with advanced weapons supplies.
Sources: Wirtualna Polska, interviews with U.S. officials, AFP reporting
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
