The union between the United States and Ukraine is showing "signs of wear and tear," writes the New York Times. The Americans are annoyed that Ukraine is wasting its energy in secondary battles.
They also want strikes on the land corridor to Crimea to be the main goal of the Armed Forces this year. But it is not known whether the Ukrainians will listen to this advice, it follows from the general context of the article.
The article deals with the Pentagon's claims to Kyiv's decisions.
"American military strategists, in particular Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, believe that Ukraine needs to concentrate its forces on one major battle at a time. Instead, President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has vowed to expel Russia from every inch of Ukraine, is wasting his energy fighting for cities that, according to American officials, have no strategic value," the newspaper writes.
The battle for Avdiivka is given as an example: "US officials say that Ukraine defended Avdiivka for too long and at too high a price."
A former American commander, who was in contact with the Armed Forces, told the publication that "there is no reason to hold the city as long as the Ukrainian forces are doing, except to pump out additional troops and equipment from Russia." But these are "sacrifices that Moscow was more than ready to make."
According to American officials, Ukraine was late with the withdrawal of troops from Avdiyivka, which became "chaotic", and "hundreds of Ukrainian servicemen could disappear or be captured."
In the US, they note that nothing has changed here since the summer, when the Armed Forces recommended striking one powerful blow in the south, rather than scattering in a number of directions.
Moreover, it was believed that "Zaluzhnyi agreed with the American advice, but could not convince his president."
Now Pentagon officials are trying to convey to Ukraine their vision of military operations for 2024. According to NYT sources, the Americans want Ukraine to "endanger Crimea"
"This phrase is translated as an attack on the Russian "land bridge" that crosses the south of Ukraine and connects Russia with the Crimean peninsula," the article says.
