How to Compensate the Withdrawal of US Support? Take the Reins off the Ukraine | Phillips O’Brien

Phillips O'Brien is an American historian and professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. As a scholar, he was interested in the strategies of the Second World War. Over time, he began analyzing how these strategies work in conflicts of the 21st century. With the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, O'Brien has been monitoring the situation on the battlefield and the political processes surrounding the war. He argues that analysts' assessments of Russia's strength and its ability to wage war are incorrect. The researcher reminds that history is full of examples where smaller states won wars. Although the West, due to its fears of escalation and the potential collapse of Russia, forced the Ukrainians into a prolonged trench war, Kyiv still has a chance for victory. Ukraine can emerge from this war, at least in a relatively good position, even if U.S. support were to stop. Europe will play a crucial role here, particularly in how it can mobilize and understand that it is responsible for its own security. The world that existed since 1945, with U.S. hegemony in global defense matters, has disappeared. Phillips O'Brien advises to "follow the money" now. If Europe starts investing significant funds into its own defense, it will have understood the new reality. If not, it signals that European leaders hope that everything can still be reversed.Journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk talks to Phillips O'Brien about how to win wars, how Ukrainians should fight now, why Trump supported Russia, what can replace American aid, and the lessons of the Russia-Ukraine war that the world should have already understood.Do you like our podcast? Support the Public Interest Journalism Lab with a Donationhttps://www.journlab.online/donations