Ukraine may already be winning World War III for an oblivious West

The opinion article argues that Ukraine’s resistance to Russia is central to a wider global confrontation between Western democracies and an authoritarian grouping led by Russia and supported by China, Iran and North Korea. Its authors contend that Ukraine’s recent asymmetric attacks inside Russia may be shifting the conflict from a defensive struggle towards one that weakens Russia’s ability to sustain the war, though this is presented as analysis rather than established fact.

Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet say Western governments have wrongly treated the invasion as a regional conflict, rather than linking it to pressure from China in Asia and other challenges from Russia’s partners. They argue that Russia has failed to achieve key initial aims, including overthrowing Ukraine’s government or dividing NATO, and call for the West to recognise Ukraine’s role and provide stronger, more decisive support.