The American columnist, economist James Rickards, in an article entitled ‘Sorry, Russia is winning the war’ for the Daily Reckoning, expressed the opinion that while Russian troops constantly achieve their goals, Ukraine risks becoming a ‘splinter between Kyiv and Lviv.’

He says, ‘if you believe the Western media, the White House, the Pentagon and official sources in Britain, France, Germany, as well as in the headquarters of the EU and NATO in Brussels, it seems that Russia is retreating, Russian troops are demoralized, and Ukraine’s complete victory is only a matter of time.’

Such a description is being used only to justify increased high-interest aid and debt from the European Union, the United States and arms supplies from NATO member countries, he stressed.

‘The real situation on the battlefield is almost completely at odds with this narrative,’ stated Rickards. According to him, the Russian side prudently created an ‘organised withdrawal to the fortified areas,’ yielding the open land in the Kherson region to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukraine Army was led into a trap and ambushed: ‘They retreated to the eastern bank of the Dnieper, allowing Ukrainian troops to retake the centre of Kherson. Russia avoided a battle for a city of no strategic value. At the same time, Russia retained control of river traffic from the eastern bank. Russia viewed Kherson as a non-strategic ledge,’ the analyst explained. ‘The open area occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine will become a training ground for Russian artillery, he notes.

The former CIA adviser recalls that almost all industrial, technological and natural resources of former Ukraine are located in the Donbas, which became part of Russia. ‘Meanwhile, the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has significantly decreased due to the high level of losses,’ the author of the article notes.

According to Rickards, when Russian troops have the opportunity to reunite with Transnistria, ‘Russian strategic goals will be completed,’ and Ukraine ‘will remain as a fragment between Kyiv and Lviv.’

Earlier, retired American Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg expressed the opinion that the decision of the command of the Russian Armed Forces to transfer troops to the left bank of the Dnieper was ‘very thoughtful . ‘